Currently on Hiatus!!
ππππΈπππ ππ πΆ π»πΎπππππ ππ» ππ πΎππΆππΎππΆππΎππ
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Pairings: Luffy x Reader; Sanji x Reader; Zoro x Reader
Summary: Two years apart is torture to him, and all he wants is you.
Warnings: hurt/comfort, reverse comfort, SPOILERS for Marinefod Arc and Beyond
A/N: I'm so sorry for not uploading, exams have been killing me π
[One Piece Masterlist]
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- Luffy -
Luffy was filled with a pain he had never known.
Despite being the one to adhere to Rayleigh's advice and deliver the message - to meet in two years instead of three days at Sabody - sometimes it was hard to ignore the ache in the back of his chest. He knew at the forefront, there was grief, but buried beneath, perhaps as a side-effect, lay loneliness.
He lost his brother, Ace.
The man he grew up with, the man he had chased and admired and loved.
Ace had died saving him.
Luffy had felt as the warmth usually emitted in waves was extinguished in seconds; so quickly, so ruthlessly, so unnaturally. He had felt unwavering strength collapse so suddenly, strong limbs losing all their life as Ace slumped atop him. And yet he could only tremble in shock, as a cascade of memories raged through his head. Memories of the man, the brother, he would lose. He could only hear broken promises, broken organs, the shattering of something deep within him. Then silence, escape, only to wake to reality again.
And in the absence of his brother, there was also the absence of his friends; his nakama.
Luffy needed his crew more than ever now.
Crewmembers hold a special place in their hearts for Luffy; their captain, the man who saved them and guides them with his ambition, his kindness and his strength. But most don't know how much they saved him in return. Luffy hated solitude; despised it. It stemmed from a youth spent fighting for a place next to Ace and Sabo, desperate for company, for connection, for love. So, when he created his crew, he silently felt like he finally had it all. Friends, a family he would protect by any means, and trust in every sense.
But now, he was back in the overwhelming void.
He had grown so used to life with friends.
He missed pranking Zoro with Usopp and Chopper; his laughter had come so easily then, so natural as it mingled with annoyed shouts and teasing remarks. He missed as Robin would tell him of the stories in books he did not care to read; somehow, she could make them sound so interesting to him, though he only saw paper and dull words. He missed the thrill of dinnertime, Sanjiβs meals a treasure he looked forward to every second of the day. He missed Frankyβs cool inventions, Brookeβs exhilarating music and even Namiβs shouting was nostalgic now.
And you.
God, he needed you.
He was so sure that one hug from you would be enough to cure the turmoil he faced in quiet nights, when no company could keep darker thoughts at bay. So sure, that a soft caress was the cure to the overwhelming and confusing ache that resided where his heart should be. He never had the time to stop and realise how much you saved him every day. In the extra meals you would sneak him, in the quiet words you would utter, in the kisses that brushed his cheek and the hands that held him. He never realised how much he had been ignorant to its value, how much reliance he placed on those simple gestures.
He never knew what it felt like to be tethered to another being. To feel every emotion you felt tenfold in his own skin, to feel warmth and ease by one smile, to feel belonging and comfort by oneβs presence. Luffy had never loved someone that way before. The rush of emotion and devotion was confusing, but it was also everything to him. And the withdrawal felt like there was this void, an emptiness in the shape of you. An emptiness that even with his other crewmembers, he doesnβt think could ever be filled without you.
So, Luffy trained, desperately, relentlessly, grateful for Rayleighβs guidance and presence. He even spoke to the giant fauna on his island of you, because there was no one else to listen to just how much he missed you. He focused on building his strength so that he could protect his crew, so that he could be strong the next time he saw you. So that he never felt what it was like to have that bond severed by such things as distance again. Temptation would run rampant, and sometimes Luffy would want to just cross the seas to know you were safe, but the captain kept at it.
Missing you, but hoping to become better, for you and his nakama.
.....
Two years apart from the crew changed you, as your physical strength and abilities seemingly multiplied alongside your features. However, although things changed, some things remained constant, almost unbearably so. You had spent the past years in a constant worry, in a constant pain as you thought of your boyfriend and all he had to face alone. You hadn't been there to support him, to hug him and love him as he faced grief, turmoil and separation from a crew you know he adored. So, when you step foot back onto the Sunny, after years without its wooden floors beneath your feet, you are filled with unspeakable excitement, but nerves lie heavy against your chest.
"[y/n]!!"
There is a squeal, and instantly warm arms wrap around you, as the sight of a familiar navigator enters your vision.
"Nami, I missed you!!"
You smile easily as tears fill your eyes, with years spent unable to see or contact your friend for months on end, building up and pulling emotion from you. When she lets go of her vice grip and you step apart, your eyes widen at her beauty and the glow of her strength, clear she too had made the most of the two years separated.
"Missed you too, you look amazing!!"
"Speak for yourself," you grin, before your eyes dart to other members of the crew who grin excitedly at your presence.
"Yo ho ho ho, it's lovely to see you again [y/n]-san, may I see your pant-"
Nami thwaks Brook before he continues, but your smile doesn't waver as a nostalgic air fills the space between you all. Robin, too, had grown even more beautiful than you could think possible, and Franky and Ussop had been so happy to see you again. They clamour in their greeting, already sharing brief stories on the adventures had with such time that pulled you all apart. And as you drown in the joy of reuniting with comrades, there tugs in the back of your mind, the absence of a certain trio and Chopper.
"Hey, do any of you know where-"
But before you voice your thoughts, you look to the sky and hear Chopper calling down to you all, and Zoro, Sanji and Luffy look down from atop a massive bird that approaches the ship.
"Finally!!"
Nami grins as she meets your gaze knowingly, though your eyes are torn away quickly, back to the sight of the man you missed more than anything.
"Hey, everyone!!"
You see his wide grin, his raven hair beneath the straw hat you hadn't seen in too long, and he seems happy and he seems grown. You all wave back, smiling and yelling in greeting.
"Luffy!!"
"It's so good to see you again!!"
"We've missed you!!"
Shouts fill the sky.
Sanji gets a nosebleed that takes him to the sea.
You look on, surprised to see that Zoro now only has one eye.
But then, his eyes meet yours.
Eyes that soften when he catches your gaze, and widen slightly as though surprised you were actually there after so long apart. And as your heart fills with contentment in seeing him so safe, and strong and joyous, his heart squeezes tight at the sight of you, beautiful, smiling and within arm's reach once more. Crewmates gather tight to greet the remaining four crew members, and Chopper cries as he sees you, holding tight to your leg. Sanji is barely conscious, and Zoro grunts in greeting, though a smile plays on his lips. Yet, your gaze gets dragged back to him, to Luffy, as he greets his friends.
When a moment passes, and friends disperse to talk to other friends, it is suddenly and finally you and Luffy in front of each other, and the air shifts a little. You see your boyfriend's eyes waver, as despite the way he grinned and yelled in his happiness as he greeted his beloved nakama, the crew he so longed to see, his heart gives way to you. You see beneath his gaze a glimpse of the hurt he buries, and the love that swims endlessly in a constant motion, never changing. Luffy's wide grin wavers, just slightly, and in its stead, a warm and gentle smile, full of relief, takes its place.
Long rubber limbs wrap around you, and you can hear your crewmates hush as they witness the two of you reuniting, yet you don't care about the prying eyes.
"I missed you, [y/n]"
You hear the slight crack in his voice as he says your name to you for the first time in years, and only for you to hear. He buries his head deep into the crook of your neck as he breathes you in, and you feel him physically relax, take a breath, as he drowns in you like he wanted to do when Ace died. Like he wanted to do when long nights left him feeling lonely and in need of one of your hugs, the ones that made every problem seem small, and made him feel all that was important.
"I missed you, too, Lu"
Tears gather in your eyes as you squeeze him tight, and you feel his smile forming against your skin. He rocks you playfully in his arms, just before he pulls apart, just so he can see you with his own eyes again. And when he does, he looks at you like you were the treasure he longed to find, and he glows, he radiates a happiness you were all too glad to find. A kiss is placed gently on the crown of your head, as one limb snakes its way around your waist, keeping you close, instilling his warmth on your skin. When you both turn to your crewmates, they look on with their warm gazes and fond smiles.
Finally, everything is as it should be.
"Shi shi shi! Alright! We're all back together, let's head to the New World!"
Your crewmates yell in excitement, and you laugh in delight, but when Luffy catches the mirth in your irises, he makes a secret promise to never let you so far out of arm's reach again.
- Sanji -
Sanji wanted to perish, just a little. Β
He would look often to the sky like it had something to do with the current situation he was in. Two years stuck on an island, devoid of his crew, devoid of women, devoid of you. Everyday he was met with the incessant shouting to wear a dress, met with the task of mastering recipes and haki and techniques. And he knew, that the situation was externally, quite funny. He figured that if the men of his crew were here with him on this garishly pink island, they might laugh at it all. But at the end of long days, Sanji wanted to cry a little, wanted to be held a little, wanted to be loved a little.
He was terrified in every sense of the word when he saw you vanish right in front of his eyes. He didnβt think he couldβve shouted louder your name, until he was eventually whisked away too with raging emotions and worry and the relentless pounding of his heart against his chest. When he awoke to the island, he felt like he had been whisked off to a nightmare, with no knowing the fate of his crew or you. But when the message from his captain had travelled to him, and with no inkling of where on earth you could be, he had resigned himself to the two years of training on Momoiro Island.
The days were long.
But the nights were even longer.
At least during the day, there was company. Despite the okama maybe not being his first choice in said company, they were a distraction at least. A distraction from the absence of a crew, he considers now his second family. A distraction from the fact that he was on an island in God knows where, with crewmembers scattered in places he could not know. A distraction from the fact that he was very much alone, and months away from the feeling of belonging he had been so anchored to not so long ago.
But when the day crept away and gave way to the long nights, Sanji could not fight the presence of grave absences so easily.
Most often, he would think of you.
Yes, there were no women on this island, but Sanji found himself feeling he couldnβt care less, if only you were here. But you werenβt. Every night, he would dream of your smile, of your softness and your grace, only to wake and feel like he was in a living nightmare again. He missed your kindness and your love. Sanji never thought he was a man who could be loved the way you loved him. He never thought a woman as perfect as you would spare a time of her life for him, but you cared so deeply, so immensely for him.
He couldnβt count the number of times your form would fit against his back as he cooked, your sweet reassurances and caresses making him feel like it would be okay to die because you had sent him straight to heaven. He canβt tell you how grateful he was when you caught that distant look in his eye, the one he would bear when plagued by the thoughts and memories that werenβt kind to him. How often you would save him from himself by your smile and presence and warmth. He didnβt know how to live without that, without you anymore.
He missed you.
He needed you, desperately.
And yet, the sun would rise to the same routine, and distance and time would keep him from you. Sanji can feel himself getting stronger, with every passing day, but inside he feels as though he is wilting without the remembrance of the way that you loved him. He can feel himself getting weaker to the temptation of searching for you, but every time he was drawn back, knowing you were spending the years getting stronger for the crew, too. So, he focused and willed himself to work, for you, for Luffy, for the crew.
He just hoped that when you saw him again, you hadnβt forgotten how much you loved him.
.....
Wandering the streets of Sabody after two years, you are full of anticipation and the excitement of catching a glimpse of a friend, of a crewmate you missed so dearly. The two years apart had been a turmoil of emotions, of worry and concern, of training and hardships as you honed your strength and of the desperate need to be in the vicinity of your boyfriend once more. Each day would drag on, and though now you were thankful for your newfound power and skills, long nights without company left you wishing to cross the sea.
But now, finally, you are here, and the man you longed to see has just arrived.
Sanji knew it was time, time to return home, to the crew, to you. But his hands wouldnβt stop trembling. As soon as he said his brief goodbye and farewell to the okama that brought him to Sabody, he was overwhelmed by the presence and the sight of women. Over the years he knew you, he had found it so easy to get out of the rhythm of falling to women's feet, because why would he want to with you by his side? But now, after years apart and blessed with the sight of women with curves, and smiles, and light laughter, he struggles to keep the blood in his system.
He is eager, almost desperate, to be by your side again, but he feels he may actually die once he sees you. He could tolerate these nameless women on the streets, but you? The woman he loved? The woman he hadn't seen in two years, and yet knows him more than he knows himself? Excitement and fear mingle within him at the thought of reuniting, of wondering if your love remained true, if he could stay upright or if your beauty would cause him to utterly collapse, if you would look to him as you always did.
But then, he caught a glimpse of it.
[h/c] hair that caught the light of the sun, soft skin that ran over curves and edges he had run his hands along a million times, [e/c] eyes that glimmered and a warm voice that spoke to a shopkeeper just meters away. And it was you, and you were right there after so long, and Sanji felt his heart rate leap within his chest and blood rise to his face. You were so beautiful, so ethereal, so much more the goddess than his mere imagination could conjure in the days and nights spent away from you. He struggles to remain upright, but when your eyes turn to him, he sees them widen in surprise and yet swim in the light and the love and the warmth they always did when you looked to him.
And suddenly, everything was okay in the world again.
Fear drains instantly from Sanji as he steps towards you, hands still trembling, but his body craving its solace with you. His voice is lost, but you are overwhelmed with the joy of seeing your boyfriend safe, strong, and there.
"Sanji!!"
Your smile is brighter than it has ever been, and Sanji feels like he truly is lost in heaven when you rush to him faster than he can take a breath, and tackle him into a sure embrace. He falters on his feet just once, before he catches himself and catches you. He feels your soft skin and the warmth you emit in waves, he can smell your sweet scent, and he feels his heart come undone. All that time alone, untethered to you and the crew, was worth it to be here again.
"I missed you, love"
Sanji's voice is quiet against your skin and full of emotion that makes tears catch at your lower lashes. You pull apart briefly, though Sanji doesn't let you go too far, too scared this was just another dream, too scared you would run off to where he can't find you again. You watch as tears gather in his eyes too, and you let out a soft laugh and caress the curve of his cheek. He leans eagerly into the palm of your hand, face flushed and eyes swimming in adoration of you.
"I missed you, too, Sanji"
"You're so beautiful"
"Hmm, and you look so handsome, my love"
There is a moment of silence where you gather your excitement and simply look at the other and cherish the other, and then you move, and your lips are on his, and he threatens to implode. You are warm, so warm, and gentle and soft. Sanji is lost in you. Those that pass by remain ignorant of the turmoil the two of you faced in the months spent apart, not knowing who was safe, or injured or alive. And you feel the depths of his emotion ignite when his mind comes together and he returns the kiss.
When the two of you pull apart, Sanji takes your hand in his. No extreme nosebleed that threatens to kill him, no limbs that give way and threaten to pull him to the ground. Just security, comfort and love and you. Both of you travel in the direction of the Sunny, too caught up in each other to spare anyone else a second of the time spent now reunited.
- Zoro -
The silence was new, unusual, unbearable...
When once laughter could be heard from the next room, and company sought him even as he sat in solace, now there is nothing. Dracule Mihawk's castle was cold and silent. The only source of conversation would come from Perona, who would merely appear to annoy him, trying to find a cure to her own boredom. There was no gentle lull of the sea beneath his feet, no company to live by or protect, no adventure, no light, no joy.
No crew.
Zoro didn't realise how accustomed he had become to the general life of those he had grown to call friends. How much Luffy's shouting could fill the void in between, how much the sound of conversation between Robin and Nami brought an ease to the atmosphere, how much Ussop and Chopper's shenanigans filled him with silent comfort.
How much he had grown to need it all.
Zoro knew he was in the depths when he found himself even missing dinner, warm and cooked by a chef he would often berate, served among rowdy friends and you. Each night, Zoro finds himself clawing at the hole in his chest, searching through the cold sheets for your warmth and soft skin. But he never found you. His days are filled with headaches and cold sweat, like his body had an actual aversion to not being by your side. But there was no cure for the absence of you.
He didn't know what happened when he found himself on Kuraigana island, the home to the man he was destined to exceed. He didn't know if you were hurt, how far you were, if you were lost like he felt he was... if you were dead. All he knew was you had to be alive, and he had to trust in his Captain's message. All he knew was there were no answers to be had here, in the cold, bare island he was resigned to for two years. All he knew was he could not find you without clues and the skill to take him across the sea.
He could not protect you.
So every day, he drowned himself in the violent swing of his swords, in the honing of physical strength. Silent meals were eaten before he slept on silent nights. There were no whispers as you gushed about the events of the day in his bed. There was no latching onto arms as you spoke into the night with his hums and caresses, a sign he listened. No kisses greeted him after a day of hard work, no worried voice interrupted his training sessions, asking him to take a break, to not push too hard. No excited greetings ignited his dull heart, no smile that filled him with warmth, and softness and ease.
Soon, Zoro forgot what gentleness felt like.
He forgot what comfort felt like.
He forgot what warmth felt like.
All he knew was the same rhythm every day for two years. The same morning sun, cold in its greeting. The same day spent fighting ridiculously overpowered baboons, relentlessly training his haki with a silently demanding teacher, just trying to survive through it all. The same night he dreaded, nursing new injuries, wondering why wetness would form in his eyes, wondering why tightness gathered at his chest. Wondering why he couldn't sleep like he used to, before Luffy, before the crew, before you.
God, he missed you.
Zoro felt like he was stronger than he had ever been, and yet he feels like the shell of the man he once was. Despite loosing an eye, and burdening himself with training that was sure to pull him apart, he found no pain harder to bear than the lack of you. He felt weak in your absence, berated himself for the lack of peaceful sleep he had and the lack of his mind at ease. He wondered if you felt the same. He wondered if this is what love was supposed to feel like.
He wondered if you knew how much he needed you now.
.....
When you walked up to Shakkyβs bar, nostalgic after two years without seeing the same sight, you had expected the lack of your crewmates. You were a few days early, after all. But when she greeted you, she looked at you knowingly, and you didnβt think you could keep your jaw off the floor when she told you that someone had already arrived.
That someone?
Roronoa Zoro.
The two years spent apart had been full of training until your limbs gave out, honing power until you collapsed, and worrying endlessly about the fate of your crewmates and your Captain, and your boyfriend. When you were whisked away to your island, it was after you saw Zoro disappear from the face of the planet by Kuma, worse for wear and bearing injuries, you agonised over his fate. But now, hearing he is here and hearing he is the first to arrive, you cannot simply wait for him to find you. And so, you travel amongst Sabody for the first time in two years, hoping to catch a glimpse of a wandering swordsman and see if he truly had gotten better at navigation or if his early presence was merely a fluke.
The streets of Sabody are busy, and even a bed of green hair was hard to find, but Zoro couldn't even find the Sunny. He cursed as he looked left and right, annoyance gathering in his system as everything looked the same to him and directions were damned. Nevertheless, he travels the space in between, unwilling to acknowledge that it is fear that mingles beneath his subtle excitement.
He would see his crew again, his Captain, he pledged to serve.
He would see you again.
He wondered if things would be as they always were, but two years apart felt like eons when not tethered to you. He wonders what changed about you and what stays the same. Would you still smile at his stubbornness as you used to? Would you still gently caress his scarred face as he slept? Would you look to him with loyalty and devotion as you always did? The thoughts that mingle overtake Zoro's senses as he scolds himself for the doubt that gathers despite his loyalty and his belief in you.
You would be strong, you would be safe, you would love him as you always did.
Reassurances tried to drown his doubts, and they worked for a moment, until his sharp eye caught a glimpse of [h/c] hair and [e/c] eyes, and something in Zoro broke and caught life all at the same time. And you saw him, and you smiled at his wandering state, and you knew that was the man you missed for so long.
"Zoro!!"
Zoro doesn't get a chance to catch a breath or take in your form or relish in your beauty until you've run to him so quickly that he stumbles when you gather at his chest. However, when he looks down and catches your eyes and the way you grin wide and full of love, he finds himself finally relaxing beneath your touch. Finally, the tension he didn't even know had gathered in the two years apart came undone, and he feels your softness, your gentleness, your joy.
"Wait, what happened to your eye?!"
Zoro panics when he sees your bright smile waver and a frown gather on your face. Your joy soon turns to worry as hands reach out to the scar that travels to his left cheek, and your brows furrow in upset. Heart hammering at your gentle touch, face flushing at the glimmer in your eyes, and your concentration, he tries to calm his racing heart, untrained after too long without you. A calloused hand reaches out, catching the one that caresses his face.
"You worry too much"
His words are low, heat gathering at your own face when you look up and see him looking at you, with a softness and a care he hadn't encompassed in two years. God, he missed you. Missed the sensation of comfort you elicit just by being there. And despite never being one for words, and even in the crowded street, Zoro pulls you back into an embrace that has you surprised.
"I missed you"
His words catch an edge of emotion, and you smile against his chest, safe, warm and together again.
"I missed you, too, Zoro"
Pulling apart only to catch your lips in a brief, blissful kiss, your heart feels so full as you relent to his being and to his love. And in that moment, Zoro knows, and he pledges to himself that you were the woman he won't let go of, never again. Never again did he want to feel the uncertainty of your fate, eons apart. Never did he want to forget your comfort, and your gentleness and your love.
Thank you so much, lovely!! I'm so glad my works provide you a bit of relief, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that!! So sorry for the late reply, I was in fact 'not' thriving π¬, but I got through it and hopefully I can write some more now!! π₯°
Thank you so much for the support! These comments mean the world to me <3
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Pairings: Luffy x Reader; Sanji x Reader; Zoro x Reader
Summary: They misplace their wedding ring/band and are sent into a panic.
Warnings: Some Angst, Fluff, Female Reader
[One Piece Masterlist]
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- Luffy -
Everyone knows that Luffy's most prized possession is his straw hat. It is always on his head or within his reach wherever he may go, and if it was not, he would be sent into an untamable panic that almost always ended with tears if the hat was not found within the day. However, unbeknownst to most, there is now a second possession he cherishes just as much: his wedding band.
The simple strip of gold around his ring finger adorned with crushed rubies was a fitting wedding band you had picked out just for him. And though Sanji often berates his Captain for wearing such precious jewellery during battles, his concern was for naught; you had sought Franky's help, ensuring the band could survive Luffy's battles and keep up with his elasticity.
Thanks to those facts, the ring remained on Luffy's finger indefinitely, just like the iconic straw hat on his head. It reminded him of his wedding with you upon his ship; the banquet far larger than any he had thrown before, the lively music and laughter, the utter joy. But more importantly, it reminded him of you and your pledge to stay by his side as he became the pirate king; it was an oath you undertook with pride every day of your life.
So, imagine his utter despair when he realises it has gone missing.
You were sitting at the dining room table with Nami and Robin, the three of you chatting and looking over magazines away from the harsh summer sun when you heard a familiar shout. You startle along with the two women you sit beside, meeting glances with utter confusion.
"What was that-"
You barely get to finish your sentence when the door to the kitchen slams open, revealing a wide-eyed Luffy who looks as though he is about to be sick. Your brows furrow together, Sanji looking over from his kitchen and about to give his Captain a piece of his mind, but you are concerned seeing your husband look as though on the brink of rare dread.
"Lu, what's wrong?"
You stand from your chair and run up to him but he already has comical tears almost pouring from his eyes. He is on his knees and instantly grabs your hands, and shakes them in his despair.
"[y/n] it's gone!!!"
You are still lost in your confusion as you look at him, his straw hat still attached to his head. You remember his outbursts in the past when he had thought he lost his hat for good, so you look down at him confounded at why he is having a similar breakdown with it still on his person.
"But Luffy, you still have your straw hat. It's on your head."
Luffy shakes his head like a downtrodden puppy as he looks up to you with tears falling from his eyes.
"No, my wedding band, it's gone!!"
Your eyes widen for just a moment as you look at the hands that still hold yours, noticing for the first time that there remains a tan line where Luffy's wedding band used to be. You feel your heart drop lightly at the predicament, and at that point, your friends had also gathered around in the fuss their Captain seemed to cause. Sanji seemed shocked the most whilst Robin and Nami frowns in concern behind you.
"What?! You lost the wedding ring [y/n]-san especially bought for you?!"
Sanji starts berating Luffy but you can hardly be mad at him when he looks so genuinely upset and in despair on the ground before you. You instantly kneel down to his level, and caress his raven hair gently trying to soothe the turmoil in his eyes. "W-wedding band-" He murmurs, and you are touched by how much he seems to hold the simple piece of jewellery so dear, to the point where he reacts to losing it just as he does his straw hat. You smile gently, and pat the straw hat that remains atop his head.
"It's okay Lu. I'm sure we'll find it."
"W-what if we don't?!"
You sigh as he looks at you imploringly, but you take his hands and help him to his feet.
"We'll all look for it, surely we'll find it then."
You turn to the cook who stands beside you, still glaring at his Captain as though he had committed the worst crime in the world.
"Right, Sanji? You'll help us too right?"
Sanji instantly perks up at the mention of his name past your lips and turns into a puddle of nods and affirmations.
"Of course, [y/n]-swan-"
You sigh at his never changing demeanour but turn to your husband who seems to have collected himself and nods in grim agreement. You smile as you take Luffy's hand, ready to search every nook and cranny of the ship. Nami, Robin and Sanji also help, with Chopper joining in when he bumps into you all searching the ship for a glimpse of gold and red. You force Luffy to retrace his steps entering the rooms he went to the past day for the glimmer of jewellery, but soon hours pass with no sign of his beloved ring.
"W-wedding band-"
You had all returned to the kitchen, Luffy now with his head on the table and tears pouring down it like a river of defeat. Chopper tries to cheer up his Captain but it is for naught, and you pat his shoulder in comfort whilst the others look on sympathetically.
In his mind, Luffy cannot believe that he has lost the one piece of jewellery he thought he would cherish until the day he died. Gold was often a mere bonus to him as a Pirate amongst the sea; an afterthought often intertwined in his adventures on the path to becoming Pirate King. But the gold around his finger was another story.
"I'm sorry Lu, I'll ask Franky if he can make you another one?"
But Luffy seems inconsolable as he is adamant the one he received on his wedding day, was the only one he wanted. However, before you can even input another word, the door smacks open, revealing the very man you had just spoken about. What's more, in his hand, the shine of gold and red reflected from the kitchen lights; Luffy's wedding band.
"Here you go Luffy! Sorry, it took a while but I promise I added some SUUUPER upgrades to keep up with your SUUUPER gears."
For a moment, there lasts a long and lingering silence in the wake of Franky's words, when suddenly, Luffy sits up like he was told the day's weather.
"That's right, I did give it to Franky yesterday."
Everyone falls off their chairs in utter bewilderment at Luffy's words; the day spent searching that could've been solved by one trip to Franky who had been working away all day, or by lack of Luffy's dense memory. Sanji instantly stands back up, kicking the underside of his Captain's head in utter rage and causing his head to hit the table.
"Idiot! We searched the whole day for that damned ring!"
But Luffy seems unfazed, and you have to let out a small laugh as he collects the ring from Franky and puts it back in its rightful place. You don't know if your laughter comes from relief or discomposure at the stupidity of the scenario you were in, but Robin joins you, your other crewmates more agitated. When Luffy looks up to you, however, with his wide and satisfied grin, ring shown proudly on his ring finger you can't help but get up and kiss his cheek lightly.
"I found it!"
He was an idiot, but he was your idiot.
- Sanji -
Sanji adores you, he is utterly in love with you, and if anyone asks what the happiest day of his life is, they don't even need to wait a second before he tells them about his wedding day. The gorgeous atmosphere, the pleasant music, the wedding cake he pondered and spent hours making just right, you adorned in your beautiful white dress. He could speak hours on his love if you let him, and he is not afraid to shout it out for everyone else to know and hear: you were his and he was yours.
If there was anything that symbolised the depths of your love and his, it would be the wedding ring around your finger and the wedding band around his. Yours was gorgeous but simple, a beautiful diamond reflecting the strength of the love you both shared. His was personal and beautiful, a gold band etched with sapphires, engraved with the date of the wedding until the end of time.
He adored it, he adored the weight of it on his finger, a reaffirmation of the oath you both pledged. He adored showing it off to people, just as he adored seeing you pointing to your ring when asked if you were taken. He would only remove it when absolutely necessary, such as when he prepared meals for his crew, but even then it stayed close to him where he could never misplace it. He told you he would look after it forever, but amongst Sanji's abundance of thoughts, there was a moment where the location of his prized ring slipped his mind.
Sanji has been absent all day, hastily making meals, moving swiftly from your side, and not even a murmur of hello as he leaves every room you enter. You are confused and slightly hurt, but most of all you are concerned.
Have you done something?
Was he feeling okay?
Why was he avoiding you?
When you asked your crewmates about his behaviour, however, they said similar things. How his answers had been short, unable to request meals due to his haste to enter the next room, even Nami and Robin claimed he had seemed more distracted. So you frown at the entrance of the kitchen; you had just seen him enter and knew you could try and talk to him now. You only hoped he would share in his troubles.
As the door to the kitchen creeps open, Sanji freezes at the sound of your footsteps and looks up at you standing before him. When your eyes meet you catch guilt and trepidation in the depths of his, and you are instantly more worried than before.
"Sanji, what's wrong? You're not being yourself."
Your husband grits his teeth in regret, and you catch a slither of tears amongst his lower lash line, causing you to reach up and caress his face in concern. But in his mind, Sanji feels as though he does not deserve your touch or your care. He had lost his wedding band and could not for the life of him remember where he put it. He felt as though he had been searching the whole day, but as the hours passed, he felt his hopes withering along with the sun.
His most prized possession, a symbol of your love and a remnant of the best day of his life, was lost due to his carelessness.
His eyebrows furrow together as he reaches out and holds your hand that lingers on his face, his words low and softly spoken.
"I lost my wedding band. I- I'm so sorry love."
Your eyes widen slightly in surprise, and Sanji readies himself for the disappointment and your swift anger, rejection, your swift dismissal of him from in front of you. But instead, you collect yourself before continuing to bear the concern in your gaze mixed with what looked like understanding; finally knowing why he was acting this way.
"It'll be okay Sanji, no need to work yourself up. We'll look for it together, I'm sure we'll find it."
Sanji's eyes spark open in his own surprise at your kind words and conduct. God, he didn't deserve you. Guilt still travels freely within him, especially as he feels the coolness of your own wedding ring against his cheek; you had looked after your ring with so much care.
"I'm sorry love."
You smile but you release the touch on his face in favour of grasping his hand in comfort.
"It's okay, now come on, let's retrace your steps shall we?"
The next few hours are spent all around the Sunny, every room Sanji had been in before he remembered losing the ring was searched from the roof to the floor. You asked your crewmates if they had seen the mix of gold and blue you both are so adamant to find, had looked in every small crevice that may contain the precious jewellery. And as the sun started to dim, you were now looking in your shared chambers one last time.
Your hair was ruffled like his, clothes wrinkled under the time spent trying to find the ring, but to Sanji, you were still the beautiful, thoughtful and loving wife he married. You had spent all day trying to find something due to his own mistake, and he was never more regretful for losing the wedding band, nor more grateful for having you as his wife than he was now. Moments pass in silence, but finally, you let out a delighted gasp.
"Sanji!!"
Your husband instantly perks up from the other side of the room and in your hands is the wedding band, finally found. Your smile is wide, as you quickly run over to him, taking his hand and sliding it on his ring finger where it lay as perfect as it did all that time ago at your wedding. Sanji meets your gaze with such gratitude he cannot describe and impatiently presses his lips to yours. You smile as you return his fervour and pull away.
"Thank you, my love."
You let out light laughter as you roll your eyes.
"Of course, I am your wife you know? You can come to me about these things."
Sanji's heart warms even more than he thought possible as he tucks away a loose strand of hair from your face, admiring your features.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Sanji makes you your favourite dinner and dessert as a thank you for your help and your love. You never see him without the ring on his person, again.
- Zoro -
Among the straw hats, Zoro seemed the least likely to be intertwined with thoughts of love and rings and weddings, well at least that's what the Strawhat crew initially thought. But as time passed, he fell for you, and what would you know, suddenly he is asking Robin and Nami about weddings and dresses and ceremonies; how it works, what would you like, how soon could he pledge his love and you yours? In utter reluctance and on rare occasions he would even approach the 'idiot cook' for advice; something he would often regret afterwards.
But suddenly, the two of you were married and had rings on your fingers and he was your husband and you were his wife. The ring he got you was surprisingly thoughtful, and you knew the girls had something to do with it as it looked so much like how you wished it to be when you talked to them. His was simple. A gold band, but on the underside there etched your name. He very rarely took it off, and it became a part of him just like the earrings he wore or the three swords always at his hip; secretly finding strength in the piece of your love always present.
Zoro is a man, adamant about loyalty, and it is one of the things he adored most about you. The rings symbolised that for him; that an oath had been pledged and the two of you belonged to the other. It was something you both took pride in every day, and he found satisfaction watching the crestfallen faces of men when they spotted your wedding ring, just as you did when you saw women leave him be when they spotted his wedding band. He took care of it and treasured it, more than he would allow you to know, so he is honestly shocked when one day, he finds it missing.
Zoro feels cold sweat rising on his skin, and he honestly can't remember a time he felt more stressed. He is looking down at his hands again and again, as though he can't believe the absence of jewellery he always had on his finger.
He looks frantically around your shared chambers, looking in drawers of bedside tables, under the bed, and every nook where gold might enter his vision. He spent many moments, searching in utter silence, but he finds no semblance of a ring anywhere.
The door suddenly creaks and Zoro stands upright, hair and clothes slightly ruffled, swords leant against the wall in his haste to find the missing ring. You enter your room, looking up in surprise at the rare presence of your husband in the middle of the day, but it was lucky for you as you had been searching for him.
"Zoro," you smile, before your eyebrows pull together in confusion. "Are you okay? I thought you're usually in the crow's nest about this time?"
Your husband freezes, static under the weight of your searching eyes and scouring for an excuse. You step closer, and instantly his hands go behind his back, causing you to stare at him in bewilderment at his strange behaviour. You eye his discomposure, his hidden hands and his guilty expression with suspicion.
"Zoro what are you hiding?"
"N-nothing woman just got up from a nap. I'll be in the crow's nest-"
He doesn't let you continue your words and is out the door in a swift movement. You frown but shrug looking down into your hands. Ussop had found Zoro's wedding band in the bathroom, no doubt from the shower you had somehow forced him into this morning. You had simply wanted to give it back but decided to wait until a better time when he wasn't in such a hurry to get to his training. As you are about to let the matter go, however, you spot three familiar swords on the wall of your room where Zoro left them.
You frown at the sight, just what was your husband up to?
Meanwhile, Zoro is moving at speed throughout the Sunny, every room he barges in, searching in what he hopes is discretion before running off in frustration again. Many times he left his crewmembers in utter surprise at his uncharacteristic demeanour, usually he was training or napping, not found running around deck in discomposure.
You had bumped into a few of your friends who shared the same concern you had earlier; his strange behaviour and franticity. Nami complained that he had barged in while she was making a map, ruined due to her shock, Robin said that she had been reading on deck when he had been looking closely at the floor for something, Luffy exclaimed that he thought he was looking for some sort of treasure but quickly left in his boredom of nothing found.
You start to put the pieces together and begin to realise, that he was looking for something. And that something was probably the ring the Ussop had turned to you, so even if Zoro did check the bathroom it wouldn't have been there for him to find. You sigh as you quickly get up, trying to find him, Robin assuring that she had last seen him enter the kitchen and with the sounds of two men fighting, you supposed she was right.
When you open the door to the kitchen, Sanji and Zoro who seemed as though they had been arguing look at you blankly before crossing their arms and looking away from the other. You hear Zoro murmur something along the lines of, "Don't tell her," but you ignore it, hoping to relieve the tension in the room.
"Hey guys, everything alright?"
You ask, and Sanji sighs at your words before walking out of the kitchen; he seemed disappointed in your husband, more than usual. "I'll be outside [y/n]-san." You turn back to your boyfriend in Sanji's absence and you furrow your brows in concern.
"Zoro-"
"I lost my wedding band."
Zoro interrupts you before you can continue or pass him the ring in your grasp. You pause at the abruptness of his words, and the surprising amount of regret and hurt in his downcast eyes; he looked as though he had failed you.
"Zoro, it's okay I-"
"No, it's not okay, dammit." He looks to you then, and his eyes betray the stress and worry he had held onto all day, softening at the sight of his wife - you - looking at him in concern when he has just lost a treasured possession you had given him. You watch the way your husband's eyebrows pull together, and a frown makes its way to your face at the sight of him so worked up over the ring.
"It was my wedding band, a part of an oath we pledged on our wedding day, and I- I lost it. I should've looked after it better, I know that. I'm sorry."
You look, wide-eyed at the sight of the swordsman apologising to you. One of the rare times he would, but you realise now how much he placed importance on what the ring symbolised and what guilt must've filled his senses at his readiness for your disappointment. You step forward, caressing the curve of his face with one hand, as his eyes look at you, emotion betraying his eyes, but you smile softly and unravel your other hand. A moment of shock enters your husband's vision at the sight of the golden band he had almost turned the ship over for.
You smile sheepishly then, "I'm sorry, I tried telling you and giving it to you earlier but you were, you know, you seemed busy. Ussop found it in the bathroom."
You expect him to become irritated, having searched so long for something already found, but instead, Zoro smiles wide, kissing your lips suddenly in one swift movement. When he pulls away, he puts the ring back on his finger, satisfied by the light weight of it on his hand. "Thank God," he murmurs before looking at you so determinately it makes you blush. "I won't lose it again." You collect yourself before nodding, warmth spreading in your chest at his rare emotion in front of your eyes.
_____
Pairings: Roronoa Zoro x Female Reader
Summary: You think your love is one-sided, but is it?
Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Jealous Zoro, Soft Zoro, Alcohol
A/N: Been obsessed with Zoro lately π
[One Piece Masterlist]
_____
You were transfixed by him.
Roronoa Zoro.
He had found his way into your heart and had taken the undue liberty to consume all of its devotion. You didn't know how friendship had morphed so suddenly into the hopes of something more, but that was the predicament you found yourself in now.
What had started as general respect for the other had turned into sparing sessions, light bickering and laughter, drinking and confiding in the other. The days spent at sea spared you much time to get to know the green-haired swordsman, no matter how rigid he stood behind his walls. You chipped and chipped away at them until he let you in on small details, let you pull laughter from him and let you linger in his presence.
The bond you both shared was built on loyalty and an undying trust forged through time and trial. You knew to him, you were a rare individual: one he trusts, one he protects, a comrade and a friend. But to you, the more you chipped away at his walls, the more you got to know the man, stoic and strong and silent, the more he crashed through your own borders and delved straight into your heart.
To you, he was everything, but everything you were so sure you could not have.
"Oi, [y/n], you're zoning out again."
Your eyes snap upwards, and you are met with the sight of Zoro, his sharp eyes on you as he lifts an ungodly amount of weight back and forth over his head, mimicking the movements of his swords. Both of you were out on deck, the only crewmembers that lingered outdoors apart from Luffy, who was somewhere on the figurehead.
"I'm sorry, were you desperate for my attention?"
You tease as you go back to the duty of polishing his swords, a frequent task you found yourself undertaking, but one you did not take lightly. You knew how much Zoro treasured his swords, how much worth was forged upon their blades. They lay heavy in your hands: heavy with responsibility and the weight of Zoro's trust. You didn't know of anyone else he would allow to even breathe near his swords, let alone touch them.
The thought of that made your heart warm.
"Shouldn't you be focusing on your training?"
"Tch, whatever woman, I only said something cause you looked like you were about to fall asleep on the blade. Next time I'll just watch it happen."
You roll your eyes, but a smile lingers on your face as your eyes meet his. The sun had fallen, just mingling with the ocean as it delved deeper into the Earth, bringing forth warm lights that traced the muscles on Zoro's skin. His irises swim in the fervour of the lights, and you swear you see something deep within as he abruptly breaks away from your gaze, the pink on his cheeks surely from his workout and nothing more.
Nothing more, right?
There is more silence as Zoro shifts his focus to his weights once more, the rhythm of his training the only sound that touches the cooling air, until you decide to break the quiet.
"Hey, Zoro..."
You murmur, eyes locked on the blade carefully placed in your lap and the cloth that delicately traces it until you see your own unwavering reflection.
"Yeah?" Zoro grunts as he brings down the weights towards the deck.
"Have you ever thought about love before?"
There is abruptly the seizing of movement, but when your eyes travel upwards again to meet his, he merely looks at you incredulously.
"What kind of question is that?"
You grin at his expression, but continue on, nonchalantly, despite the way your heart pounds against your chest at your own boldness.
"Oh, come on, Zoro. You've never been tempted? I can't count on my hands the number of times women have literally fallen at your feet. Beautiful women, too good for you, of course, but nonetheless."
A beat of silence, and he answers.
"Nope, never thought about it."
His words are blunt, and he continues his training as though nothing was said. You can't deny the slight disappointment that filled you at his abrupt words. But you decide to push a bit more. You want to know more, more of what he thought about you. If you had a chance, if another claimed his heart, if his words were true.
"Really? What about Tashigi? She even knows her way around a sword, you know-"
"Nope."
"Perona? You guys literally spent two years together-"
"So? Still no."
"Hiyori? You two seemed all cosied up-"
"No."
You roll your eyes, unsure as to why your heart starts to feel heavy even as he rejects women you were so sure he could sweep off their feet. Maybe it was the lack of interest in the topic of relationships. Maybe it was the voice in the back of your mind mocking your hopes that he would turn around and say he would choose you instead.
"Nami, Robin??"
You ask, a teasing tone in your words despite the smile that strains on your cheeks.
"What? No way, they're crewmates-"
"You've actually never been tempted? They're literally all so perfect."
You sit in slight disbelief, analysing his expression, but his gaze does not falter, and he reveals nothing. If anything, you witness the tightening of his jaw as he moves to a silent rhythm. You wonder if you have pushed the topic too far.
"It's nothing against them, I have a responsibility and a goal. To become the world's strongest swordsman and to see Luffy become the pirate king. I don't have time for distractions."
His words are blunt to you as they are confirming. You allow the silence to consume the space between the two of you for a moment longer, and yet your heart twists unbearably.
He doesn't have time for distractions.
Of course, he doesn't.
You had witnessed more than anyone the way he trained from daybreak to sundown, every minute for the dream he held, and in support of Luffy's ambitions. What time could he spare for relationships, for women? He already had so much on his mind, so much responsibility on his back. And yet, a question leaves your lips before you can stop yourself.
"Not even time for me?"
You whisper, but Zoro misses your words, his eyes trained on his weights, the crease between his brows a show of his concentration, but the glint in his eyes, one that unravels frustration.
Why? Maybe this conversation was one he did not wish to partake in.
"Did you say something?"
Zoro's words touch the air once more, as sunlight travels his face until it lies static as he meets your gaze again.
"Nothing," you say, more dejected than anything else, despite knowing you should feel unsurprised. You watch as he continues his workout, the air solemn as you let out a quiet sigh, unsure why your heart feels so heavy despite a lack of rejection.
You supposed it was the lack of recognition that had done it.
In-tune crew members had already witnessed your gravitation towards the swordsman, but it was clear to you that your affections were not recognised, nor could they be considered anything beyond friendship by Zoro. Though stupidly relieved to know that he did not have a favourite among the women you listed, you felt stupid in your hopes that maybe, just maybe, you were his favourite.
That he recognised that the way you polish his swords as you do now wasn't out of mere generosity but deep-rooted admiration and care. The way you saved a seat for him beside you at dinner wasn't out of mere friendship but out of hope to get to know him more. The way you seek him out and spend hours by his side, even when there is nothing to be said, was from a yearning to be beside him for as long as he would let you be.
You loved him.
Roronoa Zoro.
Loved the way he would smirk when he teased you to the point where you were sure to combust. Loved the way he is so protective of crewmates in battles, his strength and loyalty unmatched. You loved the way he was so unwavering in his values, so predictable in the best of ways. Loved the way that he cared and was kind, no matter how hard he tried to keep up the tough-guy facade. You loved the quiet moments stolen with him, the way his eyes would soften in the presence of you and the presence of crewmates, the faint smile he bears when he has had too much to drink.
Loved the way he would listen quietly.
Loved the way he ruffled your hair.
Loved the way he searched for you after battles.
You loved him.
But as you watch his devotion to his swords, to Luffy and to his crew. Deep down, you had resigned yourself to knowing that you could never be anything more than a friend. No princess, swordswoman or model could turn his head. How could you?
What did you offer that they didn't?
Emotion fills you suddenly, but you force it away, scolding yourself and quickly finishing off the last of your task. Zoro releases his hold on his weights, stretching lightly as he readies another workout, but he is surprised as you stand and go to walk away.
"Hey, you okay?"
He asks, and you hate the way your heart lurches at his concern, the way you can feel his eyes burning into your back.
"Yeah, I just promised Sanji I'd help him for dinner, I'll see you later!"
Your words are as cheerful as you forced them to be, wandering towards the kitchen unseeingly. You don't see the way Zoro's brows furrow in his confusion, the twitching of his hands as though he wants to stop you and ask why you would indulge in the cook's company over his own. But he merely nods and continues his training.
You merely walk away.
.....
A week has passed, and you didn't know what you were doing.
Were you moving on? But from what exactly?
Exploring other opportunities? Maybe, but why?
You weren't rejected.
Didn't have the hammer beat down on your budding devotion to the swordsman. You were just provided an unspoken resignation by his words.
"I don't have time for distractions."
Like, ever? Was that long-term, short-term, or were you even a card in his hands that he would play?
You were confused and downtrodden, but you were also tired.
One-sided love.
So focused on possibilities and what-ifs, you had forgotten how exhausting it can be. How burdenous longing can be. How the dichotomy of your mind and of your heart can feel like you're being torn in two. Was that dramatic? Maybe a tad. But you now realise how long you have loved Zoro, the years you spent by his side. How can you teach yourself to let go, even a little bit, to seek distance so that if he does choose to reject you in the future, you are not utterly shattered?
You hate that you still hope.
Hope that because you had not named yourself, and because he had not rejected you, that you still had a chance, even if it was years down the line. You grit your teeth as you take a rough swing of your beverage, alcohol burning as you force it down your throat, trying to quieten your mind, trying to forget your feelings.
"Hey, slow down, it's not water, you know?"
And there it is, the provocative tone in his words. The glint of amusement in his sharp eyes as he catches your gaze. The swordsman laughs at your distasteful expression as he downs his second bottle of the night.
"I know that, but do you? You're downing that like it's nothing."
You ask incredulously, deadpanning at the way liquid disappears from bottles. He smirks, much more at ease next to you and with his sake, though he couldn't let you know that. Couldn't let you see how you have him so wrapped around your finger. Couldn't let you know that the smile you bear had him fighting to remain nonchalant, to remain strong in the face of temptation. The temptation in your lips, in your gaze, in you.
"I know, but I can handle it."
You roll your eyes at that.
He notices, but you turn away quickly, hiding your gaze in the dim light of the bar the two of you found yourselves in. Zoro can hear his Captain laughing with a stranger, can hear the love-lorn cook as he talks to Nami and Robin, can hear Brook chatting with the musicians in the bar, and yet he finds himself next to you. He always finds himself next to you. Always you he looks for after battles, always you he sits by when he naps, always you who lingers when he works out, always you he celebrates with, always you.
He wonders why you have been acting strangely this week.
Recently, it hadn't been you who lingered, or you he sits beside. You hadn't been saving the seats you usually do for him, with your bright eyes and wide smile. More often, you had been absent as he worked out, left wondering why the empty space you usually sat in was left cold and dull without you. More often had he taken notice of the unspoken things you do - reminding him of dinner, polishing his swords, filling the quiet in between - disappearing. He wondered if he had taken you for granted.
Even now, as he sits next to you, the closest he has been for days. You are quieter, more sullen, more lost in your mind. The heart in his chest that he didn't know could fluctuate in the face of another, missed you. God dammit, he missed you. And he didn't know what he had done wrong.
You take a glance to your side, only to see that Zoro was now lost in his head, drinking from bottles, with thoughts behind his eyes. You are about to ask what burdens him, but your pursuit is interrupted by that of another.
"Excuse me, love? Can I buy you a drink?"
Your gaze snaps upwards when you meet the eyes of a stranger who has approached your side without your notice. He hadn't been the first to approach you tonight; in fact, you were used to men approaching you with hope and admiration and lust twisting in their irises. It had been so easy before to brush them off in favour of Zoro's company, so easy to say no. But you find yourself considering the offer. Zoro is still distracted by a thought you cannot see, and this man was charming and attractive.
What harm was there really?
"Okay," you say, your words more unsure than you hoped they would be, but the man does not care nor seem to notice, all too pleased to have you on his arm. That is, until you feel a sharp tug on your other hand that lies limp to your side. Your gaze snaps to your left, and you are met with sharp eyes you have memorised all too well.
"Oi, where are you going?"
Zoro's voice is low, protective, his hand lingering on his swords. But his irises betray confusion, and was that hurt that lingered on the crescent edges? Zoro's insides twist uncomfortably at the sight of your hand on another man's arm.
You never indulged in the company of such men; why now?
"I'm just getting a drink, Zoro."
You say confusedly, missing the smirk on the man beside you, missing the tension in Zoro's jaw as he meets his cocky gaze. You feel Zoro's fingers twitch against your skin, his grip not painful but sure against your skin. He didn't want to let you go. But you were now confused.
Why was he acting this way?
But before you can say anything, Zoro lets you go silently, and the man next to you takes you to the bar for a drink.
.....
When you make your way to the Sunny, the sun has touched the horizon, leaking light onto the earth.
Your eyes were trained on the pavement, steps slow and deliberate, but your mind was churning. Along the way, you had seen crewmembers sprawled together on the streets and in bars, but paid them no mind, knowing it was merely a symbol of them having had a good night. Happy to see them indulge in an evening of laughter, drinks and food and each other. You hadn't expected to be out so long, but you found the need to wander a little.
The man who had taken you to the bar was okay at first, that is, until you saw the lust that travelled his features, move to his hands. He had mocked your crew and Zoro in his drunkenness. Had earned himself a good slap to the face and your swift absence, only for you to find that Zoro had left the bar already. You had only been gone for an hour at most, but following everything you had walked the length of the island several times, leading to the sun rising, signalling the beginning of another day.
You travel up the steps and onto the deck, expecting silence, expecting nothing. But you are surprised to see the swordsman, your mind had lingered all night on - had lingered years on - sat looking to the horizon with a pile of bottles scattered around him. Your heart picks up pace quickly, both in concern at the sight of him so adrift he does not notice you and of the devotion you still try to bury. Approaching hesitantly, you are met with the strong scent of alcohol, a sign that he has drunk too much, despite himself.
"Zoro?"
You murmur, nudging his shoulder gently, unsure of his reaction. He turns to you slowly, eyes masked in rare emotion, bottle clunking onto the deck from his grasp, spilling its contents. You furrow your brows, but his voice is low as he speaks to you, avoiding your gaze once more.
"How was he?"
You are taken aback, shocked that despite his inhibited state, that is what he suggests to you. Though you suppose that is what conclusion you would come to if Zoro disappeared with a woman, only to return to the Sunny in the daybreak.
"What's it to you?"
You ask lightly, watching the way his grip tightens on his own skin, sharp eyes on yours as he watches you closely. He is about to bite back until he watches you sigh and pick up the bottles that have been scattered and some shattered, cleaning the mess he has made. He meets your eyes that are on his, and he sees the concern you bear. His heart twists painfully against his chest as he pictures you with the man he left you with.
You.
You were meant to be his.
You were his angel, the one he protects, the one he looks to in quiet moments and laughs with in the confines of the other. He was meant to be the one you adored, the one who came first, the one you sought out. He was the one you were meant to nudge teasingly and drink with and celebrate wins and comfort losses with. He was the one you were meant to grace your presence with. Not some leechy stranger, not some unworthy man he can only now picture in your bed, in your arms, in your heart.
"I asked first." He says, voice quiet, tone low, eyes adrift again.
You smile half-heartedly at his stubbornness, but as you brush away bottles and put them away, you let the silence linger for a while. Once you are done you sit by his side, Zoro hates the way his heart spikes just by your warmth, you hate the way your heart does the same.
"He was an asshole."
You say, feeling Zoro's gaze meet the side of your face as your voice touches the air, but you do not turn yet, admiring the sun as it rises higher. "Wanted me in his bed long before our first drink, talked shit about me, talked shit about our crew..." You feel as Zoro tenses at your words, and that is when you meet his gaze, his eyes widening at your gentle smile, at your adoring eyes, at your proximity.
"... talked shit about you."
You grin as you see his eyebrows twitch, but you don't move, overindulgent in his presence. Yes, you might not be his, not now or ever, but you would take what you got, even if it was the show of his protectiveness from time to time. But to Zoro, he was fighting so hard not to allow his hands to travel to yours, to spill the words he constrained. You turn away quickly before you get too lost in his gaze, though he is already too far gone in yours.
"That was the last straw, you know," you grin teasingly at the sun, "had to give him a good slap to the face to bring him back to reality, then wandered around the island for a good few hours because somebody decided to leave early."
Zoro's gaze widens a fraction of a millimetre, but you do not catch it, yours still to the sky. You don't notice how his chest loses the tightness that had plagued him the whole night. The way he had used the alcohol he usually loved to force an escape from thoughts of you and the man he had regretfully left you with. He couldn't handle it, the thought, the sight of you with another. Couldn't handle another day where you continued to place distance between the two of you.
Then it comes to Zoro so clearly, after so long in despair.
He loved you.
He can't let you go.
There is a warmth on your hand, and it takes you a while to realise that it is Zoro's hand over yours, hesitant, hovering. Your eyes snap to his so fast, he is almost taken aback. He fights the blush on his cheeks as he lowers his calloused hands onto yours, pulling warmth to your own face.
"Zoro?" Your words are hesitant, but his are blunt and unwavering.
"Don't do that again, woman," he says, voice even, eyes far from yours. Two beats pass in silence until his voice reaches the air again, in turn, rendering you temporarily speechless.
"I think I like you."
There is no teasing in his words, no underlying joke. He is vulnerable under your gaze, touch faltering on skin, uncertainty clouding his mind. But to you, a wave of shock travels through your system, and you can't help but let out a yell of surprise.
"What?!"
Zoro winces as he squeezes his eyes shut, not used to the effects of too much alcohol.
"Damn woman, do you have to be so loud?"
You hurriedly silence, before returning to your spot next to him, mind buzzing. Is this a dream? Did you hear correctly? Have you gone and lost your mind? You quickly come to your senses, gathering thoughts that have scattered, until one question clouds your mind.
"But I thought- I thought you said you didn't have time for distractions?"
Zoro pauses, his mind travelling to the conversation the two of you had a week ago. A week ago, when you named women, he could never have considered that way. The frustration he felt when it sounded like you were writing yourself off the list of options, forcing people onto him when all he wanted was you. Was that why you put distance between the two of you? Was that the question that plagued your mind? Was that what you thought?
You hear him sigh, but he pulls you into his side, still a mixture of drunkenness dictating his movements.
"You're not a distraction, just another focus, a vulnerability maybe, that I choose to have," he smirks slightly at your surprise spilling into your stare. "But you're mine, or I want you to be."
Silence touches the air, but Zoro takes comfort in knowing that you have not moved from where you sat, have not moved from his touch, have not wilted under his vulnerable words. In a movement, he feels your hands touch his face, a shine to your gaze that has him blushing to his ears. A hammering against his chest like he has never known.
"I want to be yours."
And somehow, that was all he wanted to hear.
His lips touch yours, in a mix of warmth, of roughness and of the taste of too many drinks. But you feel his hands, strong, secure against your skin, pulling you closer. Your mind is a haze as he moves, still tipsy off of alcohol, still stumbling with nerves, but lost in the place you have wanted to be for so long. He growls low under his breath, his hands moving as though to erase the touch of any other. When you pull away, you are breathless, and so is he. You sit on his lap, and he holds you closer.
A moment of bliss travels the two of you, and yet a yawn comes through your system, exhausted emotionally, of the time spent last night wandering, of the thoughts that raged through your head. And yet now, next to him, you can't find the courage to drift asleep, afraid to wake to your bed and to harsh reality. Zoro seems to be having the same thoughts as you, but in the caress of soft hair, he murmurs against your skin.
"Sleep, woman. I'll be here when you wake up."
Your eyes meet his hesitantly, and though you know alcohol is still in his system, you don't think that is the reason why his eyes soften when he meets your gaze. No, you knew that look, it was familiar, shining with care and softness and that unspoken emotion you had seen all too much before. That unspoken emotion, now free of its speechlessness, is only for you to know. You nod to him, surprisingly comfortable, like everything was how it was supposed to be.
When sleep consumes you, it takes only a beat more for it to consume Zoro, too. Finally free of his burdenous thoughts, of regret, and of needing alcohol to erase his feelings. Zoro now indulges your warmth, the softness of your skin, the weight of you against his broad chest. As a smile lingers on his face, it is then he realises how often you pull the corners of his lips upwards, how often you bring him to a place of peace in a world clouded with anything but.
A distraction? How could you ever be?
He was utterly devoted to you.
And you were now his.
When both of you wake the next day, it is to the incoherent screaming of Sanji, the laughter of your Captain and the agape expressions of Chopper, Brook and Ussop. Nami, Franky and Jimbei look on, unsurprised and grinning. But Robin looks to the two of you asleep in the arms of the other knowingly.
_____
Pairings: Law x Reader; Kid x Reader; Ace x Reader
Summary: Your fears come to light, but your boyfriend is there to protect you.
Warnings: Hurt, comfort, fluff, fears/phobias mentioned at the beginning of each character pairing, Female Reader
[One Piece Masterlist]
[Part 1: Luffy, Sanji, Zoro]
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- Law - (Fear of Needles)
If there was one thing that Law was adamant about, it was the health of his crew. You can't remember the number of times you bore witness to his angry facade as he finds crewmates sick or hiding injuries, neglecting their health in the confines of his ship. Whether fear of burden or bedrest, Law did not care for excuses; he would much rather have a healthy and functioning crew. You knew better than to hide from him, especially after being one of the many whom he finds out about anyway.
But god, you wished you'd tried to hide a bit longer this time.
Being Law's girlfriend, it was harder to keep confined how you truly felt about things or your general well-being than others. You were constantly prey to his ever-observing eyes, his constant worry and constant fear that he might lose you to something he could not control. After knowing of his past, you feel like you could understand where he was coming from, and you tried to be better at telling Law rather than waiting for him to figure out that you had a cold or a cut from a battle that you neglected.
You were doing better, but you just had to make an exception this one time.
You noticed your health had slowly started to deteriorate over the past week since your crew had left an island, plagued, quite literally, by some mystery illness. Your boyfriend, despite his foreboding coldness, had found a cure surprisingly quickly, and the kindness he tried to hide was brought forth as he cured an island's worth of people. And normally, you could only be proud of his endeavours, but the only problem was, the cure he made could only be administered by a needle.
Your greatest fear.
Your greatest fear, which your boyfriend was all too aware of.
You could not even bear witness to Law curing the island's people because of that needle-like apparatus disappearing so unnaturally into skin. And God, had you tried not to get sick whilst helping gather remedies and organising townsfolk as they awaited treatment. But as you compile symptoms of fever and aching pains in your limbs, and chills that seem to have no end, you know you have failed to do so.
You had tried to convince yourself you were fine, but you weren't, and you were terrified. And unfortunately for you, your time was up when Bepo found you collapsed with a fever in the kitchen.
Law wasn't surprised that some crewmembers caught symptoms of the illness he had just cured; they had much contact with patients, and sometimes illness just finds a way to spread despite the amount of protective gear he made them wear. In fact, a couple had come and received medication already. But when he sees Bepo carrying you in haste to his door, he couldn't help the fear that crept up within him despite his confidence that the medication would work.
But would it work on you?
Would it be enough?
But even more so, he hates the flash of fear in your irises as you struggled weakly in Bepo's arms, shaking your head in rapid increments.
"No... please, Law..."
A needle was already prepared, full of the cure, ready to be registered in your system, but Law knew that getting to that point would be a struggle. He was adamant on the health of his crew; on the health of you. It was one of the most important things to him, if not the most. But Law was also adamant on your comfort, on your safety, on your ease. He hated being the one who made you subject to a fear he knew you could not control.
Your breathing, already uneven from illness, starts to become even more uncontrolled as tears spring to your eyes in apprehension. You eye the sharpness of the metal edge like it would be the cause of your undoing. And you were so sure it would be. Sweat rises on skin, limbs tremble, anxiety fills you, and all you know is that you need to get away from the needle, get away from this room; away from your boyfriend.
"[y/n], please, let me cure you."
You shake your head rapidly, and Bepo sits rigidly, concerned but unable to do anything but try and hold you still. In all honesty, the weakness of your figure is no struggle for him to hold, and that makes him worry too about your state; if they do not hurry, the illness may take over your body completely.
"[y/n], come on-"
"No!! Please, Law, don't make me do this- You can't, I can't do this-"
Your voice is faint with exhaustion but thick with desperation. Your boyfriend's brows furrowed tightly together, hesitating as he glanced between you and the cure in his fingertips. God, he hated seeing you scared; despised it. But he couldn't risk losing you; he would beg you to take it if he needed to.
"Love-"
"Law, please don't-"
"[y/n]..."
You shake your head quickly, tears flowing down your cheeks as you see the inevitable outcome, despite your pleas. Your boyfriend's hands are gentle as he guides your face upwards to meet his gaze. You see within his irises worry, hesitation, and hurt. You know he is hurting from seeing you like this, you know you had to put him at ease, but how?
How can you overcome this overwhelming fear?
The hand that holds your face moves to your hand, squeezing it lightly. If you had been sober of fear, maybe you would find yourself surprised at the depths of patience this man has for you, even with his reputation as the surgeon of death. His gaze looks to you imploringly; it asks silently for permission. You don't know how long you both stay unmoving and in silence, and there is comfort in knowing that Law can do nothing in good conscience without your permission.
But you also know how torturous this is to him.
"[y/n], you know I can't lose you."
Tears slip past your lower lash again, as you squeeze your eyes shut, the thrumming of your heart unbearable as you nod.
"I promise, it will only hurt for a second... please."
You continue to shut your eyes, anxiety making you feel dizzy, but you find yourself speaking shakily to your boyfriend, knowing what needs to be done.
"Q-Quickly, b-before I notice."
With the adrenaline coursing through you, and your boyfriend's ever careful hands bridled with accuracy and experience, you only feel one prick of skin until you are told it is over. You feel Bepo's fleeting warmth as he leaves you and your boyfriend be, and when you open your eyes, you are met only with the sight of Law, carefully applying a small bandage to your shoulder. When he looks up to meet your gaze, he gives you a small smile, rare even to you.
"Thank you, love."
His hands caress your hair once he is done, and he catches the last of your tears as you nod wordlessly, falling into his arms in exhaustion of both a subsiding illness and the depths of uncontrollable fear.
"That was so scary..."
Law's heart clenches at your soft-spoken words as he finds you succumbing to sleep in his arms. He vows silently to make every illness curable, even without the sharp edge of a needle. But in that moment, he simply caresses your hair, glad you were alive and safe in his arms.
- Kid - (Fear of Snakes)
You walk with your boyfriend, whose wide strides take him a few steps in front of you, with barely a care in the world. You know that as a pirate, maybe you should exercise more caution when travelling to new Islands in the New World, but you couldn't help your ease. You were part of the Kid Pirates, your boyfriend was one of the most powerful and ruthless pirates at sea, and you could hardly talk down your own strength after countless battles won time and time again.
It seemed your crew could get through anything the world threw at you, and you had never seen your crew members succumb to fear, apart from maybe when your boyfriend loses his temper. Yes, fear was uncommon, maybe even unnatural to members of the Kid Pirate Crew. And maybe that's why you had decided not to let anyone know of your very embarrassing but very real fear of snakes.
God, you hated those slippery things.
You don't know from where such fear arose, but you knew the sight of scales and lack of limbs caused an unbelievable amount of dread to creep into your system, rendering you useless. Whenever you had had the rare misfortune of coming across the wretched creatures along your journey, it had been easy to hide amongst your crew as they either walked past or got rid of them. However, now, alone with your boyfriend, it was much harder to hide your fear.
"Tch, why do I have to do this shit?"
You roll your eyes as your boyfriend grumbles about the task of finding herbs on the island you now find yourselves on. You remember back to the previous battle your crew had faced at sea, and it was difficult to admit, but it had been an awful one. Many crewmembers had been injured and resigned to bed rest, but you hoped a week of rest, with the right herbs for medicine, would be enough to bring them back to their feet.
"We're the only ones without life-threatening injuries, you do realise that, right?" You tease lightly as the two of you start to split up and look to your natural surroundings for a treasure unlike those you usually look for. You hear your boyfriend grumble but not rebuke your words as he travels a short distance from you, doing the same. But it is only a few minutes later, when you witness a sight that fills you with sharp fear.
A snake.
A snake that moves from within a bush you stand beside.
Instantly, it is like your laid-back nature is foreign to you.
You let out a sharp yell, and you stumble backwards several steps, your heart picking up pace so suddenly it hurts in your chest. Your feet lose their usual rhythm in your haste, and a rush of movement entraps them within the other, causing you to fall. You hit the ground hard, but you don't seem to register any pain as you scramble backwards, the beaded eyes of the creature still looking at you, alert.
Maybe you should've thought logically and simply run away.
Maybe you should've noticed the pattern on its scales, displaying its non-venomous nature to you.
But how could you, when suddenly your limbs are slack and your ears are ringing with an anxiety you cannot control?
Your breath comes in faster as the creature moves slowly toward you, curious about the human before it, who stumbles backward in its path. Your hands try to gather feeling as you try to move. Sweat rises on your skin as you unravel panic. One thought clouds your mind; it begs for escape.
Luckily, or maybe unluckily for you, your boyfriend heard your initial yell of surprise and turned abruptly to the noise you made.
"Babe?"
But his call of your name had been unanswered and unheard by you, causing him to move and find you. He would deny in that moment that it was worry that filled him by your lack of response, but when he finds you scrambling in a fit of fear on the ground, he is instantly alert.
As you register your boyfriend who stands by you now, you find the strength in you to scramble, fighting embarrassment as you move to your feet. Your hands clutch the depths of your boyfriend's red coat as you shut your eyes and bury yourself in his back.
Kid is rigid and confused.
"Hey, what are you doing, woman?! Let g-"
"The snake!" You say, rushed and muffled, uncaring of your lack of bravery now that safety in the form of your temperamental boyfriend has come. "Please, get rid of it." You try to control the wavering of your voice and to control what fear has you wrapped around its finger, but you know you fail. Your trembling limbs, the choked-up noise you make, the tears that threaten to fall...
Kid bears witness to all of it.
And weirdly, to him at least, he feels no anger or annoyance at you asking him to do something, although had it been someone else, he surely would've lost his temper. Instead, a weird feeling twists his forgotten heart as he sees you, the strongest woman he knows of, in fear of something. But most importantly, in need of something; something he can provide.
Safety, protection.
In a mix of surprisingly gentle movements, you feel as hands unclench your hold on the coat, and you look wide-eyed at Kid, who feigns annoyance as he moves away from you and moves to the snake. He grabs it without hesitation, comically even, and the snake falls victim to his vice grip as he continues to move a short distance away. When Kid returns, the snake is no longer within his grasp.
He moves to you, not a word, and you feel a flush rise on your cheeks now that your fear has been frayed for him to see.
"S-sorry, I mean thanks, I guess? I- I didn't mean, well, what I mean to say is-"
You don't know why you ramble, but you figure your boyfriend seeks some sort of compensation for your show of weakness, or for his services. But he surprises you when he moves to you, and his rough fingertips catch a single tear that you had forgotten passed your lashline. He stares at it a while, eyebrows furrowed, only now realising he had never seen you cry, had never seen you fearful, and how much he despised that helpless look on your face.
Not because of weakness, but because he found he didn't like that you would doubt your safety when on his crew.
He moves past you then, grumbling something under his breath you do not quite catch.
"Tch, come on then, I though we were supposed to be looking for some damned herbs."
His voice is gruff as it reaches your ears, and you find yourself confused but relieved that he did not mock your fear. Unbeknownst to you, he makes a silent vow to rid any snakes you would come by before you witness them, so he doesn't have to see you so fearful again.
- Ace - (Fear of Darkness)
Why did you have to get lost now?
In the middle of the night?
In the middle of a forest, with your lack of navigational skills, which honestly rivalled Zoro's?
That is what you think as you travel in darkness that seems to want to encase you, invade you, torture you.
Hands tremble as they try to reach for an anchor in the uncertain world around you, but every surface your hands find and every small sound that flares in between causes you to jump involuntarily. The depths of the night seem to unravel noises you were unfamiliar with, and as your eyes fight to adjust to your surroundings, irregular shapes continue to invoke fear within you.
You let out a shaky breath, trying to convince yourself that it is alright, trying to find rational thoughts amongst those that try to persuade you that those irregular shapes you see are monsters, or that the next noise you hear brings ruin. More sounds crack and creak as your feet catch roots of trees and dried-out leaves, causing your heart to hammer hard against your chest. Overwhelmingly, you are filled with dread that you cannot escape from.
You would do anything for a flicker of light.
You would do anything for the call of a crewmate.
Anything for your boyfriend, bright with his flames to find you.
Two more steps, then suddenly a creature moves unbeknownst to you and flies swiftly past your head. You let out an involuntary scream as you stumbled and hit the hard etch of a tree. Your heart hammers so hard, you find yourself unable to get up from where you sit, and still, the darkness creeps up on you, suffocating you.
Tears fall freely now from your eyes as you try to make yourself small, knowing you should be stronger - you were a whitebeard pirate, after all - but after all that time with your boyfriend's safety and warmth and light, you had forgotten what the darkness does to you. Hands pull on arms, and you tuck your head within your limbs, squeezing your eyes shut and trying to remember how to breathe.
You are so lost in your fear, you do not hear the worried call of a man who looks for you.
Ace had been searching for what he felt like too long for your presence. After your division members returned to the ship without you, worry filled him instantly, and he had ignored the calls of crewmembers as he ran to search for you. The fallen sun and the size of the wretched forest he travelled through hindered his pursuit of you, much to the added apprehension in his heart.
But you could not know the depths of the fear he felt when he heard your scream ripple through the darkness.
His figure had instantly stilled, his call for your name rushed along with his footsteps. And yet now, as he finds you crumpled beneath a tree and shaking, he finds himself locked in dread too.
What happened?
Did someone hurt you?
Was that danger still imminent?
Lost in his worry, he forgets to move, and all of a sudden, his movement is quick as he reaches for you.
"[y/n], babe, are you okay?!"
Your eyes shoot upwards, shock rippling through your system and causing you to jump. The fear you behold lingers, and yet your sight is suddenly filled with a soothing light that emits from the figure of a man in front of you. And when your eyes meet your boyfriend's and your skin registers the warmth in his touch, you instantly fall into the depths of his waiting arms.
"A-Ace?"
His heat is overwhelming as he encases you, safe and grounded once more, and yet you cannot help but let a few more tears slip in your relief. Your trembling starts to subside, your dread lost simply because of the glowing man now with you once more; your prayers had been finally answered.
Ace breathes you in, but relief has yet to find him; he quickly releases you from his hold as eyes search your figure for injury or harm.
"Babe, what happened? Are you hurt?!"
Worried gaze searches yours for answers, and you feel embarrassed now as your fear has subsided. But as you see the franticity and nerves travel in waves from your boyfriend, as though he was getting ready to fight what has troubled you, you know you should put him at ease. "No..." You murmur, eyes moving from his gaze, but he holds your face gently in his fingertips, lifting it so he can catch your eyes once more.
"Babe-"
"I was just scared, okay... I- I don't like the dark."
Your voice is rushed and low, as though you were ready for him to be annoyed at your proclamation, and your face feels like it has caught Ace's flames and has lit on fire. But to your surprise, your boyfriend just pulls you into his embrace once more, and you feel his relief fall from deep within him.
"Thank God," he murmurs as he lets out a deep sigh that you feel rumbling against you.
"You're not mad?" You mumble into his chest, surprised by his quick dismissal of such an irrational fear.
He laughs out, but it sounds slightly choked up to you, and when you meet his gaze once more, there is love within that seems to have no end. The warm light he emits seems to glow a little more, and maybe you mistake the light for the tears that skim the lower lashes of his eyes.
"Of course not, you're safe, you're here, and as long as I'm here, I'll make sure the darkness doesn't touch you."
Aww thank you so much lovely!! π I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed my stories!! π₯° I've been so busy lately, but I'm back on track and can't wait to write more! Thank you for the support and your kind comment, it means the world to me!! π«Άβ¨
I happened upon your exquisite concept of The straw hats boys,especially Sanji,losing his ring, and I must say,it stirred my imagination in the most wondrous way. With your blessing, I would be most honored to carry this idea into a tale of my own weaving. Naturally, I shall credit you as the muse who first breathed life into it.
Pray, let me know if this humble request meets your favor. Regardless of your answer, know that your creativity has truly enchanted me.
With warmth and admiration,
Pretty-Royal
Hello, lovely, thank you so much for your kind words!! π₯Ή
Of course, you can pull off this idea to create a story of your own π, I'm so happy to hear I inspired something. Thank you for asking permission and for giving me credit, that's all I ask π₯°!!
_____
Pairings: Luffy x Reader; Sanji x Reader; Zoro x Reader
Summary: Your fears come to light, but your boyfriend is there to protect you.
Warnings: Hurt, comfort, fluff, fears/phobias mentioned at the beginning of each character pairing, Female Reader
A/N: Sorry for the lack of uploads, I've been swamped by assessment and exams, I hope you enjoy :)
[One Piece Masterlist]
[Part 2: Law, Kid, Ace]
_____
- Luffy - (Fear of Spiders)
You were in your room, not a care in the world. You were hiding from the raging sun that lay on the deck, relishing the peace that comes from immersing yourself in a book after weeks of fighting; finally, back on the open sea. The pages passed through your fingers like clockwork, and you were lost in the ease and safety the Sunny provided you.
You turn your body to the side, your book falling with you as you do so, but your heart is suddenly torn from leisure as your eyes catch movement beyond the pages you look to.
There is a Spider on your bedside table.
In a blur of moments, your heart drops, eyes darting from your book to the black creature, mere moments away from crawling onto the bed with you. Instantly, cold sweat rises from within you, and your breath is suddenly lost and within you all at the same time.
Before you can help it, you scream.
You rush in a hurry of scrambled movements away from the spider that had been only a few inches away from your head, and your back hits a wall now meters away. But there's not enough space. You can feel its eyes watching you, you can see its creepy being as it moves, and you feel a sickening pool in your gut at the thought of it having been so close.
You know you should move - the door to escape is just a few steps in front of you - but fear has made your limbs useless. You feel your eyes fill with tears, and you find yourself silenced; the only sound is the pounding of your heart as your phobia sets in. Your hands tremble as the spider moves, and you resist the urge to squeeze your eyes shut; you do not want to lose sight of the wretched creature.
God, why now? Why me?
You are so panicked, your heart jumps when the door to your room is suddenly opened.
"[Y/N]!!!"
Your boyfriend bursts through your now-opened door, eyes wide and frantic and breath light as though he rushed to get to you.
Because, well, he had.
When Luffy had been sitting on his figurehead as he always does, with the cool breeze on his face and the peace of the open sea, the last thing he expected was an unfamiliar scream bringing him into motion. Unfamiliar because Luffy was not used to you being so alarmed; he was not used to hearing the echoes of your voice catch onto fear.
Luffy swears his heart had almost fallen to his feet when he heard your scream, and despite other crewmembers looking up in surprise and concern. They were no match for the speed of your boyfriend as he travelled quickly to the deck and disappeared in a blur of movements to your side.
The entirety of the ten seconds it took for him to get to you, his heart had paced his chest in worry, but now, as he witnesses your tearful eyes and the way you seem to try to hide within the walls, his worry only increases tenfold. This was you, [y/n], one of the strongest women he knew, and he felt a flare of protectiveness as he witnessed a sight he was not used to: you, scared.
"[y/n], what's wrong?" His voice is rushed, soft hands reaching for you, eyes searching yours for the cause of the dread he sees etched within them. His heart pounds.
Was someone here?
Did someone threaten you?
Who does he need to beat up?
What does he need to protect you from?
His eyebrows pull together as he watches you, the love of his life, try to form words. But it is then that he realises your eyes seem distant, not in an emotional way, but you had been staring past him, not meeting his gaze for some time now. And you know you should feel embarrassed, but you do not find it in yourself to hesitate when you raise a shaky hand towards the direction of your bed-side table.
"[y/n]?"
The Spider.
"L-Lu, please, can you g-get rid of it?"
Your voice is soft but trembles under your fear, a few tears slip past your cheeks, and it breaks your boyfriend's heart to see you that way. His eyebrows furrow in confusion when he sees you gesture in the direction of your bed, and he witnesses the creature you were so afraid of. In normal instances, he feels as though he would've laughed, but when he looks to see you, looking at him tearfully, in need of help, all he wants to do is reassure and protect you.
He quickly goes to your bedside, tilting his head at the creature as though waiting for it to protest to its removal before grabbing it swiftly between his hands. "I'll be back!" He quickly runs from the room, leaving you in silence, but returns shortly after with the absence of the creature in his hands. You finally feel yourself take a breath, and a rush of heat travels to your cheeks.
"Thanks, Lu..."
You murmur, unable to meet his eyes, but all you hear is your boyfriend's laugh, and all you feel is his warmth as he travels up to you, wrapping an arm around you tightly. It causes you to look up, and his grin is so bright and proud it rivals the sun.
"It's okay [y/n], you don't have to worry about Spiders when you're with me. I'll protect you!"
- Sanji - (Fear of Heights)
God, how did you get yourself into this situation? Maybe it was the lack of thinking, or the barrage of enemies that rushed you into movement, but now, in the middle of a dense forest, you found yourself stuck atop an abnormally high tree.
You sigh shakily as you look down at the forest floor, instantly regretting your decision to do so; it seems eons away. You feel sickness fill you and sweat promptly rises across your body, along with a flush that reaches your cheeks. You were a Strawhat, for God's sake, and yet you could not seem to move. Your hands burned at the tightness you held the trunk, bark etching itself onto your skin, and courage was a distant being to you.
Panic invades your senses, and your breath comes to you in short and shaky increments. You didn't know where your friends were, and you didn't want to call out, only for them to see you in no real danger, but lost in your head because of your irrational fear. Irrational. But to you, it was perfectly rational; to you, it felt as though you were on the brink of falling to your death.
Your mind scrambles, in a haze of wanting relief from the stress and the fear, but also in knowing you would likely get laughed at if you were ever found. Luckily for you, however, you hear the voice of one man, who you think will save you from turmoil. A voice calling to you, that took on a worried edge, most likely because of the onslaught of enemies that separated you from him.
"[y/n]!! Love, where are you?"
You find your boyfriend's familiar figure, his blond hair travelling far beneath you. Instantly, you feel queasy at the sight of him so far from you, and you force your eyes to face forward once more. But you don't know if you have the voice to reply.
"Love?!"
But you have to.
"S-," your voice is lost for a moment, but the tears that fill your eyes seem to encourage you to shout out to him; your fears are too much to bear. "Sanji!! I'm up here!"
You find solace in the fact that your voice stayed strong, and didn't give way to the tremors that invaded your body.
"Love?" Sanji's eyes instantly dart upwards, relief filling him in an instant at the sight of you unharmed. You were far up the breadth of an extremely tall tree, and Sanji could only imagine that you were rushed up the branches in the pursuit of safety from the enemies that had swarmed you.
Your boyfriend almost laughs out in ease, but his senses seem to pick up on your distress and the way you stand so rigid and unmoving, even when there is no adversary near.
"Love, you can come down now, there's no one here."
You hear the ringing of Sanji's voice in your ears, but again when you look down, you are instantly regretful, eyes looking sharply upwards and trying to contain your cries and embarrassment. You feel the branches creak at your movements, the breeze ruffles your hair slightly, and you hold tighter and unwavering.
"Love?"
Another swift breeze has you clutching onto the trunk of the tree like your life depended on it. More tears slip past your lashline, and you can't hide the way you are so afraid anymore. Sanji's brows come together in concern and worry, his heart beating faster as he realises you are so distressed. The love of his life, afraid.
"Love-"
"I-I can't! It's too high! Sanji- I can't-"
Sanji's heart drops sharply as he hears the trembling of your words falling from your mouth. He can practically feel the pain of the bark etching itself on your skin, can see the way you are so static and unmoving, can see your tears that threaten to break his heart. Never had he seen you so distressed, so scared of something before. Never had he acted so quickly to one's words.
Instantly, Sanji moves, kicking at the air in a rush to get to your side and reassure you.
"Don't worry, love, I'll come get you."
"Sanji..."
Only a second passes and you open your eyes from when you have fought to keep them tightly shut. You feel the pain in your limbs after being so rigid and stubborn, but you have yet to feel the relief that comes with safety. You can scarcely see past your tears, but Sanji's gaze reflects one of worry, as he caresses your face and catches the teardrops that run along them.
"I've got you, love."
Quickly, he gathers you into his arms, and you squeeze your eyes shut once more as you feel his gentle hands prying you into his chest. You only feel your fear start to fade when you feel your boyfriend's arms wrap themselves around you, in a cocoon of his scent and safety and warmth. Sanji doesn't feel his worry fade as he still feels light tremors travel through your skin.
When you are finally both on solid ground, you open your eyes slowly, a deathly grip still on your boyfriend. You meet worried eyes and try to smile sheepishly, fighting embarrassment as you wipe your tears frantically from your face. "S-sorry Sanji, guess that was stupid huh, afraid of heights, what a-" But Sanji quickly cuts you off with a gentle smile and the caress of hair that has fallen to your face.
"Love, it's not stupid, you were afraid, and that's okay. Everyone gets scared sometimes."
You still feel hesitant even under his love-lorn gaze, and the flickers of his eyes as he admires you, and relishes in the feeling of having been able to save you from your dread.
"But-"
"No matter what, I'll protect you, love."
- Zoro - (Fear of Enclosed Spaces)
"Take them away."
You grit your teeth at how the men behind you handle you harshly; their fingers gripping tightly onto the flesh of your arms. You do not turn, but you hear your boyfriend being treated the same, despite a lack of struggle on both of your parts. You don't exactly know how the two of you had gotten into this predicament, but Nami had told you both to surrender if ever captured; there was an easier escape route from the dungeons.
You try to contain your want to wrench free from grasps and show the men behind you what you are truly capable of, but you know (and Zoro knows) that this place was the primary breadth of enemy territory, and in doing so, it would be almost impossible to find a way out. You are both escorted through hallways and down several flights of stairs, the whole time you can feel your boyfriend's eyes trained on how the guards handle you. But finally, the men slow down and you find yourselves in what you are supposed to be the dungeons.
Supposed, because instead of jail cells, what greeted you was rows of metal doors.
You try to ignore the increased thrumming in your heart and try to stay voiceless when the men start to mutter about the cells you and Zoro would be confined to. You had been expecting metal bars and open spaces, not a metal box to be confined to. But before you can say anything, the guards move once more, opening a metal door before shoving both you and your boyfriend into the small space.
"W-wait-"
But the guards slammed the door shut and you were stuck in essentially, a box, where there was just enough space for the two of you to sit, and only just tall enough for the two of you to stand. The only light was the thin lines that seep in from the edges of the door, and the only sound is a humming sound and a soft breeze you knew to be air that was blown into the space.
Air, and yet you seem to forget how to breathe.
Zoro groans as he sits on the floor, but you remain standing, suddenly static on your feet. A harsh dread has kicked in, and as your eyes dart around the dark and enclosed space, sweat rises on your skin and your heartbeat burns against your chest. There is a panic, an indescribable phobia that fills you, as your trembling hands reach the coldness of metal that surrounds you, your eyes darting every which way to try to find an opening in the space around you.
Your boyfriend, unfazed and simply waiting on the crew to notice their absence and save them, is ignorant of the silent fears that your mind has entrapped you in. But he still feels you tense and standing next to him, and he furrows his eyebrows, confused.
"Oi, sit down woman. They're gonna be a while."
But you do not move, you can barely hear or accept his reassurances. Your panic flares wilder as you think of being entrapped in this space for a long period of time. Instantly you move into action, anxiety coursing through your veins. The chains around your wrists clatter noisily as trembling hands travel the metal box, breath coming in more laboured increments and trying to stop the sobs that want to break free. A rush of tears has fallen past your eyes, and all of a sudden Zoro is all too aware of you, the love of his life, in turmoil.
"Oi, wo-, [y/n], what's wrong?"
His voice is urgent, tense as if he doesn't notice a danger you are all too aware of. But now you can't control the way your breathing is beyond you, and your cries fall more freely from your lips.
"Z-Zoro, I can't- we- we have to find a way out. Zoro please, I can't stay here, I can't-"
Zoro's heart drops at the pain that is etched in your voice, at your pleading and your fear that entwines itself with your words. He cannot see much but he feels the frantic of your trembling movements, the way the woman he considered strongest in the world, crumbled beneath the weight of the metal room they were confined to.
"[y/n]..."
"Z-Zoro," your voice is etched with the weight of your tears, and though you think you should be embarrassed that a strong fighter such as you, crumbles in an enclosed space, those thoughts are beyond you. You just need to get out.
"Zoro, please- please I can't-"
Instantly, calloused hands reach for yours, and Zoro's worry increases tenfold as he feels the way you tremble beneath his gentle hold. You fight the fear that invades your senses as you feel your boyfriend pull your muttering form to the ground next to him and into his warm embrace. More tears spill as you feel one of Zoro's arms encircle you as though to shield you from what burdens you. You let out a gasping breath, feeling as though you were drowning in your fears.
"Z-Zoro..."
You bury your head into his chest and close your eyes tight as if to try and pretend that the two of you were just on the Sunny, lying in the comforts of your chambers. Zoro's heart aches against his chest at the feeling of you curling up against him, small and afraid of something he cannot save you from. He grits his teeth harshly as he thinks of the unknown amount of time the two of you may be stuck here for.
Soothing circles are splayed on your skin, a gentle murmur of words in the silence but still you keep your eyes shut and try to match your boyfriend's breathing.
"It's fine, woman. Nothing hurts you, as long as I'm here, remember?"
Zoro's voice is gruff in the ringing silence of the room, and if there was light and if you weren't so afraid, you would notice the blush on his cheeks as he murmurs his words to you. But instead, you feel his words cure the racing of your heart and slow the rate of your tears cascading down your face. You nod into him, relishing his warmth and strength and scent. Zoro merely holds you to him tighter.
You do not know the length of time that passes until Nami and Chopper appear from beyond the metal door, harsh light invading your senses. But all you know is that your boyfriend was quick to silently offer you a hand, never speaking of the fear that had reduced you to tears, but providing a gesture that silently promised he would protect you, from whatever you needed him to protect you from.
Omg, I just found your work recently and love your stories! I read your post with a reader with tattoos and it was really sweet since Iβve also been made fun of for the same reason. So I just wanted to say that your stories make me smile π
Aww thank you so much!! π₯° Iβm so happy you liked my stories!! π Im so sorry that happened to you but hearing you found comfort in my fic just makes sharing my stories all the more worth it π«Άπ₯Ή Thank you for the support lovely, I hope you have a lovely day/evening!! ππ
hiiiii lovelyππ€ ive recently come across ur blog since i just got into one piece and i must say ur writing is absolutely GORGEOUS love ur ficsπβ€οΈβπ₯ stay happy and healthy bbππ«Ά
Awww thank you so much!! π«Άπ₯° It just makes my day whenever I hear that someone enjoys my works!! β¨ I hope you have a lovely rest of your day/evening lovely and thank you for the support!! πβΊοΈ
I wanted to say that I love your work. I've been having a rough time lately and your posts are always a nice respite. So, thank you for sharing your writings with us! :)
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Pairing: Zoro x Female Reader
Summary: You tend to be clumsy, and because of your boyfriend's past, you give him a mini heart attack every time you fall.
Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Injuries, Worried Zoro, SPOILERS for Zoro's past??
[One Piece Masterlist]
_____
Zoro knows you're strong.
He's seen you defeat opponents three times your size, seen you throw yourself in danger for the safety of your crew, had seen you win gruesome battles, and what's more, when you spar with him, he actually breaks a sweat. The two of you often train together, and Zoro bears witness to how you mould your strength, bettering yourself for the next battle and the next.
He knows.
But god dammit, why did you have to be so clumsy?
Zoro knows that, technically, it is no one's fault: the way you trip over your own two feet, the scattered bruises you bear, the odd yelp after the hundredth time dropping glassware in the kitchen. But he can't help but fall victim to the spike of his heart, the sweat that seems to rise instinctually, and his limbs that carry him quickly to the wake of your curses or the crash of your miseries.
And, most of the time, the new injury you hold is small and insignificant; rarely would you require medical attention afterwards. But Zoro finds himself still hating it. Hating the fact that he has no one to fight or to blame, has no one to curse or berate, no one to protect you from. Because your injuries are the cause of your own, and it wasn't like you particularly loved the misfortune of wounds from everyday activities either.
You had to admit, though, and to Zoro's muted gladness, that the number of injuries you bore had significantly decreased after meeting the stoic swordsman. Even before the two of you started dating, Zoro had noticed your affinity to the most unseeming dangers and had unknowingly taken it upon himself to prevent purple and blue from tainting your skin.
His curses as hands guide you away from walls and obstructing objects you somehow do not notice.
The twitching of his brows as he quickly catches you before you fall face-first to the ground, panic clouded beneath his irritation.
Every movement, every moment you take a step towards another hazard, carefully judged by his sharp eyes and willing instincts.
You were grateful beyond measure that your now-boyfriend, though oftentimes bearing an annoyed facade, cared and was patient enough to save you from the minor disasters you thought were an everyday norm. His efforts had increased tenfold, especially when the two of you became official, as he had an excuse to linger by your side as often as he pleased.
Though embarrassed sometimes that such a capable fighter as yourself found defeat in the lack of coordination of your own limbs, you could not deny that Zoro's protectiveness was an attractive and oftentimes welcome response. However, you did not realise the brunt of his actual panic, his actual aversion to the sight of you injured, until the time you accidently fell down a flight of stairs on the Sunny.
.....
You had been standing at the front of the ship, your Captain on the figurehead as you both tried to spot the pod of dolphins that had been swimming in front of you. Your boyfriend was half-sleeping against the mast of the ship, though his senses still lingered on the voices of you and Luffy, laughing and talking and challenging yourselves to see how many of the sea creatures graced the forefront of the Sunny.
"There's nine!"
"What are you talking about? I counted at least twelve!"
Your voices were caught by the gentle breeze and the timid sun as it fell slowly to the horizon. Everything was peaceful, everything was calm, and Zoro was on the brink of actually sleeping, knowing all was well and that you were safe. Your conversation with your captain had dwindled into more casual talk of adventures and plans of endeavours on future islands.
Your bright discussion lasted many sparing moments but, of course, was interrupted by the familiar grumble and groan of your Captain as he fell on the sunny's figurehead exaggeratively.
"[y/n]~ I'm hungryyy."
You roll your eyes at his whining words after only a moment's silence in conversation.
Luffy never seems to find satisfaction with the amount of food he eats.
"What do you want me to do about it? Sanji's got the whole kitchen on lockdown after the incident you pulled this morning."
You faintly remember your Captain and the crew's cook, causing a ruckus in the kitchen that no doubt stemmed from Luffy's devouration of food.
"He'll listen to you pleaaaseee"
You continue looking to the horizon, unfazed.
"No."
"Pleaseee"
"No"
"Pleaseeee"
"No."
"Pleaaaaseeee-"
You grit your teeth in irritation, sighing heavily as you push yourself off the railing of the ship. Luffy, however, meets your frown with a grin in anticipated satisfaction.
You always did give in too easily.
"Fine, something small, though. It's almost time for dinner."
Luffy lets out a laugh and nods enthusiastically, upright once again on the figurehead. You step away from the blatant joy on his face, making your way to the stairs that lead to the green of the deck below.
Sometimes, you don't know if Luffy is the Captain of this ship or a child the crew look after.
You move, still lost in your thoughts and quite, honestly, simply not thinking. Because, well, you feel a normal human would not have to think too hard about going down a flight of stairs to get food. But you forget that you are not the average person.
In fact, you probably should've grabbed the railing and counted down the steps back to solid ground because one minute your foot was on wooden steps, and the next you were walking on air.
You let out a yelp of surprise as you slip on the rigidity of the stairs that were supposedly beneath you, and you feel your world turning in your head. The spike of your heart comes with a fraction of a second of weightlessness and a single thought in your head.
Shit, not again.
You stumble, and you fall, limbs hurdling and gracing the rigid edges of the stairs. In a flurry of movements, you are suddenly on the grass of the deck, but in a way that would surely leave remnants of your clumsiness. You groan as you finally come to a halt, back against the ground as you look to the sky, exasperated. You can hear the light laughter of your Captain.
"You alright [y/n]?"
But you do not reply, hearing the amusement in Luffy's tone. You did not blame him, however, as the crew had become accustomed to the way things, such as walking, were not so much a given but a privilege to you. You roll your eyes, still on your back as you lie in defeat for a moment. Sure, you were not too badly hurt - you were a member of the straw hat crew after all - but you'd be damned to try moving again for a few seconds.
To your boyfriend, however, your sudden shout, fall and lack of response had sent him into a spiral.
Zoro was shot awake the instant he heard the yelp you let out as you lost your balance and succumbed to your fall on the stairs. But he was too late to move, and in all honestly, though half-awake, he felt something die within him when he saw your limbs tumble and hit the edges of the wooden planks.
"[y-]"
His voice is caught in his throat, as his heart rate spikes abnormally high. Higher than the instances when he saw you fall before. His mind unwillingly travels far into his past, to the dojo where he found the dream he still clings onto today, to his childhood friend and rival, Kuina.
She had been strong, too.
Hell, she had bested him in all battles he called for.
He thought that she would be a constant in his life, a source of rivalry and challenge and growth. She had seemed invincible in his young age. But then, the news had travelled.
The news of her death.
And the cause of it, was the very stairs he watches you fall on now. The unnerving atmosphere, her haunting funeral, and the will he holds onto through battles alongside her swords.
But you.
You were strong, capable, grown...
You were the love of his life...
You were falling...
He can't save you.
Your limbs stumbled to a halt as you hit the soft grass, a stark contrast to the stairs that would be the root of bruises on your body later. And you were okay.
But your boyfriend didn't know that.
Zoro's heart rate continues to rise, and he thinks that he is on the brink of hyperventilating. One sharp breath in, and his limbs are pulled into forced movement as he travels to you, cursing himself for looking blankly at the scene so uselessly. He stumbles forward, and he hears his Captain, words filled with teasing amusement.
"You alright, [y/n]?"
But you don't move, you are facing the sky, face shadowed by the falling sun, and he doesn't know if you are conscious or okay. You stay silent, not replying to the words of Luffy, and Zoro hates how long it has taken him to travel mere meters to your side. But when he enters your vision, you are met with a sight you have never seen before.
Zoro... scared.
"[y/n]!!"
The green-haired swordsman looks down at you frantically, hands giving way to light tremors you feel quickly cradling skin and causing you to look up in concern. Zoro sees your eyes, awake, and lets dull relief relieve his heart, but he is not yet satisfied.
"Zoro, I'm okay, I just-"
"What were you thinking, woman?"
There is a pause as you register his rushed words and the way his eyes seem to travel to every crevice of your face and body, searching for an indication that you were not okay. He measures your gaze, and he pulls you closer, willing you to anchor his nerves.
"Zoro-"
"You could've been seriously injured-"
"Zoro-"
He meets your gaze once more, but hesitantly, eyes wavering at your worry, only now realising the vice grip he has around you. His breaths are uneven, and even his Captain grows silent and confused at the sight of his second-in-command in rare loss of composure.
You start to sit up from within his embrace. You reach out and cradle his face in one hand, watching as more relief starts to fill his system and replace the panicked look on his face, replace his uneven breaths with more steady ones. Just what had gotten into him?
"You could've died."
His voice is low, and it causes a jolt of your heart. This was your always stoic, serious, calm swordsman... He now looks haunted, and his gaze is only half with you, as though reliving a moment only he could see.
"Zoro," you murmer, there remains a crease in your brow as you are still confused but also concerned about his unusual behaviour and haste. You gently run your thumb on the skin of his cheek, hoping to soothe him the way he so often does whenever you are lost to the confines of your mind.
"I'm okay, stairs aren't going to kill-"
"You don't know that."
His words are sharper this time, and your eyes widen, slightly startled. You watch guilt envade your boyfriend's eyes, then his grip lightning further on your skin, as sharpness fades in a heavy sigh. His gaze is more sullen now, though his nerves are calmed, and he allows you to sit up fully.
"Okay, I'm sorry."
Your words are soft and anchoring, and Zoro stands reluctantly, gently guiding you to your feet as though one wrong movement would tear him away from the reality of you, alive and well before him.
"Don't apologise just- tch, let's go see Chopper."
Your boyfriend refuses to meet your gaze then, but you nod silently. Luffy decides to look away from the sight of Zoro, his arms wrapped securely around you, in a mix of not understanding but knowing there must be some sort of invisible battle Zoro faces. You, on the other hand, allow his limbs to wrap securely around your shoulders, holding more of your weight than necessary, but you remain in silence, allowing him to look after you.
In the infirmary, Zoro remains uncharacteristically worried and rigid. Before entering, his only words to you were those that indicated he wanted to be with you as Chopper checked up on you. Only when the small doctor gives you the all-clear does Zoro let the tension fall from him fully. You thank Chopper, and the two of you make your way out of the infirmary, quiet though the air is still murkey with apprehension.
"Zoro, what's wrong?"
In the hallway, you stop him abruptly with the pull of his arm, still unsure as to why a stumble on stairs - unlucky but not necessarily unforeseen - has him in a state you have rarely seen. Your boyfriend turns to you hesitantly, eyes far away.
"I just know what a fall is capable of."
His low voice catches an edge of emotion. His hand lingers absentmindedly on a sword by his side. The white one he always holds close to him. You remember him saying faintly about how it was given to him long before you met him. Zoro was a private man, and even you had barely formed the cracks on the enclosures of his past, but you saw clearly now that there must've been a connection.
His incessant protection over every minor fall.
The way he would always treat your injuries so carefully afterwards or make sure Chopper saw to it that you were okay.
Every careful caress and action is rooted to a past you do not know, but you also now find understanding.
Zoro moves close to you so you can feel the heat radiating off his body and so that he can feel the warmth your skin emits. He seems to search your eyes and analyse their lustre and spark. A single caress as he moves away lingering hair, and his lips were suddenly on yours.
You are taken aback, not used him so spontaneously kissing you in an open space, but you return the favour quickly, pressing against him and feeling the way he cradles you so delicately, so carefully. There is a moment of him and a moment of bliss. When you pull away, there is a warmth to his eyes and a softness enveloped just for you.
A vulnerable love that lingers.
You, the root of his worry.
You might not know the depths of his past, but you sure as hell take a lot more care walking down a flight of stairs after that.
i wanna say i really like your writing and i do hope youβre doing well :)
-π
Aww, thank you so much!! π₯ΉπComments like this really brighten my day!! I'm doing great, though uni work has been challenging π¬. I'm looking forward to the next break so I can write more!!
feel like if the strawhats knew what these βfriendsβ were saying those people would be in for a WORLD of humiliation
i wouldnβt wanna be at the end of namiβs anger
You are so right!! I feel like they would be so protective over reader (especially bestie Nami π«Ά) I was contemplating whether I would let the strawhats know/hear what the βfriendsβ were saying but I didnβt for this fic, maybe another story idea?? π
Pairings: Luffy x Female Reader (+ Strawhats and Reader)
Summary: After a bad encounter with past friends, you just want your boyfriend and your crew.
Warnings: Hurt, Comfort, mean friends, bullying
[One Piece Masterlist]
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When you returned to the Sunny, you didn't expect to feel so heavy and self-decrepit; you honestly expected the opposite.
When Nami informed you that the next island you would visit was your hometown, you had been ecstatic, instantly writing to your childhood friends in the hopes that you could meet up in the short time you were there. Your heart thrummed with the anticipation of being back on land you knew and breathing the nostalgic air of home. When you had gone to tell Luffy the news, he had joined in on your enthusiasm, grinning wide as you told him all you missed and all you hoped to see.
It had been several years since you had left the island and town you grew up in as a child. Orphaned at a young age, the people of the village had all become your caretakers in a way. They all adored you, a sign that the parents you have little recollection of were also adored before they passed away, and you had grown close to most who resided there. But you shared no deeper connection than the one you shared with your friends.
From the early stages of your childhood and into your teenage life, they had been the backbone of your delight in adventures, and the joyous memories spent despite being left with little place to call home. You would spend much of your time travelling areas of the island you had yet to explore, running in meadows on the back end of town, and giving puppy eyes to cafe owners who would spare you sweet treats. In later years you would gossip about boys, laugh at inside jokes, share in troubles and secrets and happiness.
When you had left your island, the goodbyes had been tearful, and bittersweet. Luffy offered all you had wished for since childhood: adventure, devotion, and answers about the world. With your mysterious devil fruit powers and harbouring an unnatural strength, you would be an asset to the straw-hat crew just as much as the crew would be an asset to you. That didn't make it harder to hug your friends goodbye or wave to them atop a ship that takes you far away. And as much as you adore your life now as a pirate on the sea, you could not help but reminisce.
You missed them, and you could not wait to see them again.
Upon arriving on your island, your senses instantly fill with a vibrancy and an air you had missed. "Come on!!" Your crewmates had smiled wide at your enthusiasm, basically dragging Luffy from the ship; a stark contrast to how he would usually be the one dragging you to islands. In an instant, the townsfolk had gathered, seeing a familiar straw hat and the young woman - a little bit older now - they said goodbye to several years prior, now back home.
"[y/n]!!"
"Welcome home!!"
"How long are you staying!?"
You smile tearful smiles as you greet the villagers who are all alive, safe and well. Familiar faces gather in your vision; the island's renowned cook, waitresses from cafes, shopkeepers and old family friends. They all seem so happy to see you and proud of the accomplishments they have read of in newspapers that travel the sea. '[y/n] [l/n], pirate of the Strawhat crew.' You were surprised by their support of your role as a pirate but it only amplified the nostalgia and warming feeling in your heart as you greeted them.
In fact, the only people absent were the childhood friends you hoped to see.
As people dispersed and gave you space, the local bookshop owner assured you that your friends were somewhere close by and that you would surely bump into them soon. Taking his words in confidence you had turned to your crew who had all been smiling and looking on fondly at the sight of your reunion with the townspeople.
"All right, let me show you guys around!"
You had taken your friends around the island, allowing them to see and explore the town that raised you as a child. They smiled when you spoke to them of the different places and what they meant to you, took suggestions on where to explore to heart and seemed genuinely happy to see where you had grown up.
"The restaurant where [y/n]-swan used to eat- The house that [y/n]-swan used to live- The shop where [y/n]-swan used to-"
"Oi, shut up, cook!!"
"Shi shi shi, this place is so cool [y/n]!!"
You grin as your friends seem to enjoy and appreciate the place you adored just as much as you. Sanji swooning over everything that had something to do with you, Zoro eying the liquor store down the street, Robin taking interest in the ancient books the island held, Brook in the music, Franky in the strange inventions, the list could go on. Your heart warmed at the sight of your makeshift family, getting along so well with the family that raised you. Luffy especially seemed excited to explore the island he visited before, keen to try the food that it was famous for.
"And that's about it! You guys can go and explore on your own now if you-"
Your words stumble to a halt when you see three familiar figures approaching you, grins wide and hands in the air in greeting.
"Hey [y/n]!! Is that you?"
Your smile instantly enlightens your face as you turn from your crew briefly. And sure enough, your old friends are waving to you in greeting, eyes gleaming in their joy to see you again.
"It's been so long!!"
They instantly envelop you in a hug, filling the air with their questions on where you have been, and what you have been up to, and finally turning to your crewmates who smile wide at the company of those you have talked fondly about. Of course, they know of your friends, you would often speak of the adventures you went on and the times you spent together to whatever crewmate would listen.
"And this must be the famous Strawhat crew!!"
"Yep! Guys, these are my childhood friends I always tell you about!"
Your friends turn to your crewmates, eyes shining in awe at the crew you were a part of, now infamous due to the battles you won and the strength that every individual pulled. You smile proudly at the sight of your friends greeting your other friends, the compliments thrown and the sheepish laughter of crewmates as they thank them for looking after you.
"Shi shi shi, alright!! It's time for food now!!"
Your boyfriend wraps his arms around you suddenly, grinning wide as he tries to pull you to the restaurant on the island he adores as much as you do. You roll your eyes, but other crewmembers also perk up.
"Actually, I was gonna check out the bookstore."
"And I should grab some groceries-"
"Those inventions earlier looked SUPERRR, I was gonna go check them out!!"
Nami smiles to you emphatically, as she grabs Luffy's ear and drags him from you. "Ow!! Nami!!" She pays him no mind, however, and turns to you and your friends once more.
"Why don't you go catch up with your friends [y/n]? I'll take Luffy to the restaurant and we'll probably be around town anyway."
"But I want to go with [y/n]- Ow!!"
You smile wide at Nami's understanding that you had missed your friends and hoped to catch up. Other crewmembers nod in encouragement.
"Yeah, [y/n]! You should go, we'll be around here if you need us!"
Chopper smiles happily at you and you hesitate at Luffy's crestfallen expression, but ultimately take the invitation.
"Okay, thanks, guys!!"
"Take your time, we'll be here until tomorrow morning!"
Nami continues to drag Luffy away in bright words and smiles, as the Strawhat crew wave and disperse to the areas that each ignited curiosity in them. Luffy pouts, telling you to not be too long but ultimately persuaded that the food at the restaurant could keep him company for the time you spent away. And in their absence, you turn to your friends eager to hear what you had missed in the years spent at sea.
The beginning goes as you expected, courteous questions, still tentative in the presence of friends you had not seen in a while.
"So, how have you been, [y/n]?"
"How's life at sea?"
And to the questions you received, you replied in the same manner, still joyous, seeing your friends once more. Time away with the future pirate king did mean leaving a life you had grown so attached to behind but in its place, the Sunny became your temporary home. You still missed the simplicity of life on the quaint island you resided in, and seeing your friends ignited memories of the times you spent together.
"I've been doing great!! So many cool adventures, I don't even know where to start-"
You had thought your keenness in the stories you told of the adventures at sea would be received with the same enthusiasm. After all, you had spent so much time away and shared a heartfelt goodbye before you left the island. However, the longer you spoke of your adventures and the longer you spoke of Luffy and your crew, the more their upturned lips started to turn downwards. Their gaze on you started to waver, and in the absence of your crewmates as they walked to restaurants or looked to places around the island, their interest in you also started to falter.
"-and then, you wouldn't believe. But Luffy, he changed gears and punched him through-"
"Yeah, yeah, that sounds great [y/n], but we were actually going to go to the shops right about now."
You pause, surprised by the abruptness of your friend who interrupts the words from your mouth. Suddenly, flustered and thinking you have talked too much (though having only spoken a few sentences), you instantly quietened and nodded in inclined understanding.
"Oh, yeah! Of course, don't let me stop you guys! Where were we thinking of going? I remember that clothing store down the road to that cafe we liked-"
"Oh... you wanted to come too?"
You frown as they interrupt once more, the vibrant air suddenly dwindling with what their words imply, or the feeling you suddenly did not belong in a space you were so sure you did.
"I mean, I thought we could catch up! It's been a while right?"
Your words are less confident than you hoped, lingering with the hesitance that matched the sudden weight of your thoughts. You watch as your friends look at each other, the same hesitance on their faces making you more confused as to why they are acting this way. They seem to share thoughts between their eyes, but ultimately they seem to come to a silent agreement.
"Okay."
But the day that passed had been nothing like what you were used to, and the friends you thought you knew acted nothing like the friends you spent your childhood with. It seemed like an invisible wall was put between you and them, and you followed behind them as you travelled the streets and to the shops. You hear them talk of dinner plans, of meeting people and of events they do not bother explaining to you. They laugh at jokes you don't understand, pass you a sympathetic smile and words like, "You just had to be there," and, "Oh, sorry [y/n], you wouldn't understand, would you?"
And you didn't know exactly why, but those words hit harder than the times they would ignore you as they picked out clothes and giggled with each other. Or when they went through stores and chose jewellery for an event that would take place a week from the current day. Or when they seemed to talk in whispers and not let you in. Each time they acted like you were a fly on the wall, invisible to them though you spent the whole day with them. Suggestions from you to visit the meadow, or go to cafes you so missed fell on deaf ears and all you received were hums and, "Oh, we don't go there anymore."
Your heart felt heavy and the day was long. You tried to convince yourself that this was just what happens when you don't see friends in a while. They grow, they move on. But you also remember how often you spent missing your friends, how you wrote to them even with their sparse replies, or how you cherished and held the memories of them so dear. And now, you see them trying to get rid of you silently, push you away from the circle they made, and their initial interest in your happenings as a pirate had long gone.
It seemed, their interest in you had gone.
But the worst was when you had left to use the bathroom. When you had gone briefly and returned to your friends who looked at dresses, the afternoon sun was already falling to the ground. You were surprised at how the day had passed unbeknownst to you when it had felt so long. You wonder what Luffy was doing, and how Nami was doing taking care of your boyfriend while you were away. He didn't necessarily need to be taken care of, but the two of you often explored islands together and you wondered if he missed you as you missed him.
When you had passed through rows of clothing and were walking past patrons to your friends, you heard your name amongst words you know you shouldn't have heard.
"Damn, was [y/n] always like this?"
"Beats me, do you see the letters she sends us like she's better than us, travelling the sea with the Strawhats."
"Yeah, it's still a wonder they let her join. I only went up to her 'cause I wanted to see if her crewmates were worth all the hype they're getting..."
"Right?! Why did she have to send them away?"
You freeze, still hidden from your friends' view by a clothes rack that impairs their vision. Stomach churning at the words you hear slip past their lips. Your eyes widen, as though you do not see them, your name and their voices confirm it is they who speak to you like a stranger they ridicule, and in such a way that makes your heart sink. Your childhood friends, who you had placed such value in, mocked you for your life choices, and your role on the Strawhat crew, and hoped only to use you to get closer to your infamous crew.
"Did you see the swordsman? Zoro, I think it was? Talk about muscle..."
"And omg, Nami's sense of fashion is just so good, I wish I could've had her tag along instead of-"
It is then that you step forward past the racks, and your friends perk up at your sudden movements, words dying on their tongues. But you try to keep a neutral expression, despite the breaking of your heart. They seem to be convinced you have heard nothing as they wait a moment for you to say something.
"I-I think I'm gonna go now. I don't wanna keep my crew waiting."
Again, your words are hesitant, low but you keep them sturdy enough to sound like a genuine concern you are going to adhere to. Instantly, your friends stand, giving you more attention than they did the whole day.
"Oh, really? Are you sure you don't wanna stay? You could come for dinner, maybe even invite your crew-"
"It's fine."
You smile, straining against your cheeks as you do, hoping your lips have upturned enough to contain the falsity of your expression.
"Thanks for today though, it was nice seeing you guys again."
Words slip your lips almost robotically, hands numb as you feel your friends awkwardly hug you and say their goodbyes. You faintly remember them waving and muttering words like, "Good luck," and "We'll see you next time," but as your legs pull you free from the stuffiness of the store it is like your numbness comes undone. Raging feelings course through your body, and suddenly a line of tears lay on your lower lashline.
You curse yourself.
You hate the way you have been so excited to see your friends when clearly the same sentiment was not returned. You hate the way you wrote to them and reminisced about them and spoke to your crew so fondly of them. You hate the way they have such influence over your joy and the disappointment that drips into your system because of their words and actions. You had spent the whole day with people who barely spared you any mind, when you could've been with Luffy and your true friends, showing them your home town.
Luffy.
Suddenly, and perhaps, more than ever, you crave your boyfriend's presence and his wide smile. And so, you walk through the streets you used to adore, now burdened with the day you spent. Smiling half-heartedly at townsfolk who recognise you and bid their greetings, travelling concrete roads that glow with the sunset, walking familiar paths to the Sunny that was silent on the sea. A moment passes when you look up at the sight, remembering when Luffy had asked you to join him. The image of the ship was parallel to the day you joined the Strawhats: you were on the island looking at the Going Merry and making a decision that would change your life.
You walk, up to the deck, confused about the silence until you hear a yell from inside the kitchen.
"LUFFY!! What are you doing!! That's for [y/n]!!!"
"But I'm hungryyy!! She won't mind, she always shares with me!!"
"You ate at the restaurant!!"
When you open the door, you are met by the sight of Nami trying to wrangle food from Luffy's clutches. You recognised the meal as something your favourite restaurant makes, it was your favourite meal, and something you missed dearly, along with the island. There are two beats of silence until Luffy turns, face suddenly going from frustrated to a wide grin the instant he notices you.
"[y/n]!!"
Luffy jumps from the spot where he had been trying to steal food from Nami, instantly enveloping you in a hug that takes you stumbling back a few steps. Nami sighs loudly before putting the packed meal on the counter and stomping outside the kitchen.
"Idiot... I'll be on the island with the crew!!"
She doesn't wait for your reply and leaves the kitchen in abrupt frustration. Luffy doesn't seem to mind her absence though as he lifts his head from where he embraces you, a smile tugging against the corners of his lips. Still downtrodden from the day's events and trials, you take the sight in and feel the weight of the day fall onto you and disappear at the same time. Tears start to line your eyes once more, but you hold them in, unfortunately for you, however, Luffy notices your quiet and despondency.
"[y/n]? What's wrong?"
He releases you from his deathly embrace as he looks at you seriously. You on the other hand laugh softly as you shake your head, suddenly relieved to be with your boyfriend and away from the friends who made you feel so awful about yourself.
"Nothing's wrong... I just missed you."
Luffy hums in contemplation, staring and tilting his head for several moments as though analysing your features for a trace of a lie. But you guess your words are not a lie. You did miss him after all, more than ever when you were with your childhood friends; a burden and outcast. Your smile is still on your lips, and though sadder than usual, Luffy decides to trust you, as he matches your expression with a grin.
"I missed you too!! Look, we got something for you."
Luffy instantly turns to the counter where Nami just put the meal she claimed to have gotten you. Luffy smiles cheekily as he hands it to you. You smile at the gesture, it was a massive assortment of foods the local chef knew you adored.
"Wanna eat together?"
You don't even have to ask as Luffy jumps on a chair by the dining room table, eagerly waiting for you to join him. However, he must've sensed something was off with you because instead of going straight into the meal, he watches as you unpack it carefully. There was more food than you thought there would be, so you were glad you had enlisted your boyfriend's help to devour it. You pick up your fork and take a bite, savouring the way the food melts in your mouth, and ignites feelings of nostalgia buried so deep within you that it almost makes you cry.
"Luffy, this is sooo good!!"
"Really!?"
You turn and grin, but are taken aback when you witness the way Luffy is smiling to you. It is in a way that seems gentler, and softer than usual. There is adoration in his eyes like you were the treasure he searched the seas for, but hidden within are also the depths of understanding you do not usually see. It is instantly diminished, however, as he clutches a fork and takes a bite of the meal himself, face brightening at the taste. However, as he speaks there is a serious undertone that makes you think that maybe he was not so quick to diminish your sullen behaviour earlier.
"Your friends... They weren't nice to you, were they?"
You freeze and look to your Captain who looks from the food to you imploringly, a serious glint in his eyes, but a sad smile on his face.
"What do you-"
"You only look like that, when you had a bad day."
Luffy's lips turn to a frown now as he bites into the meal and lets the silence linger between the two of you. Still surprised by his words, but also moved by the way your oblivious captain seems to understand you to no end, you smile softly despite the tears that fall from your eyes, now unstoppable. Luffy still looks at you in concern, as he witnesses the upturn of your lips, and the falling of tears, and he waits for the words you speak softly.
"Yeah. They were different, changed, and maybe this isn't the home it used to be..."
You look to your boyfriend who remains patiently waiting for you to finish speaking your thoughts. You remember back to when you accepted his offer to join the crew. You recall the adventures you went on, your beloved crewmates and how so many had joined and how you had all come so much closer, like the family you never had. You remember confusing love confessions due to Luffy's inability to understand his feelings.
You remember the depths of care your boyfriend held throughout the entirety of your relationship.
How he would listen when you spoke of your adventures, lured in by the spark in your eyes when you talked of something enthusiastically. How he would laugh and smile and never make you feel excluded from the company around you. How he treated you and his nakama with such importance and faith. The stark contrast to what you experienced today.
"... but it's okay. The crew is my home now."
You smile and Luffy's eyes widen for a second before he grins, his same, wide and unfaltering smile. The two of you share in your gaze once more before Luffy takes his Strwaht and places it on your head. It fits snugly atop your hair, but more so there lingers the symbol that you were accepted, loved, and adored by the man you sit beside. Smiles linger as the both of you continue to dig into the meal in front of you and soon, crewmates come back to the ship and greet you in their pure, true contentment.
"Hey [y/n]!!"
"Damn [y/n], you never told us how SUPERRR your island is!"
"I had a lovely time."
βSo many cute dresses!!β
As you watch your crewmates gather around the table, their own meals in hand no doubt by the local cook who provided them, you let the heaviness of your heart dissipate for a while. Whilst this island still holds memories and places you adore, with people you still hold dear, it felt like for the first time in a long time, you know where you belong.
