30yo. the mothman is real. set me free, let me bathe in your sunlight. take my hand, and we'll take flight. i've been feeling your love, i know you are the one who holds it all.
my name is ellie! i'm thirty years old and i love writing fics!
i might not be super fast at writing fics but i try my very best and you know what? atleast it isn't ai.
this is an anti-ai account.
my blog is mostly angst, comfort, fluff, sfw stuff. i do not write smut anymore. i try my very best to tag things as they should be.
i do not take requests.
minors DNI.
my biggest fandom atm is One Piece; currently watching Egghead arc.
i try to write for any character in One Piece but you can tell I have favorites, it's mostly because I can write those characters more easily than others.
One Piece:
scorched earth series:
twin flames - prequel to scorched earth - ace/reader
scorched earth - zoro/ace/reader
the journey - sequel to scorched earth (coming soon!) - snippet
one shots/drabbles:
the kidnap - zoro/reader
*°•. you are home .•°* - shanks/reader
anatomy lesson - law/reader
ᆞᆞnext time, just ask ᆞᆞ- penguin/reader
ᆞᆞI love you ᆞᆞ - sequel to next time, just ask - penguin/reader
I need some opinions of whether I should make The Journey multiple parts or one large part. I'm currently at 18k and 48 pages on google docs.
If you are interested in reading the sequel to Scorched Earth, please vote in this poll. I need feedback cause I'm currently stuck on whether I want to make it multiple or one fic.
You were probably the loudest person on the Grand Line.
You laughed, fought, and loved with all your heart.
And somehow, for reasons no one could understand, you'd fallen in love with the most emotionally repressed pirate alive.
Trafalgar Law.
The alliance between Luffy, Law, and Kidd was supposed to be professional. Then you met Law.
The problem wasn't that he was handsome. Or his tattoos, or his hat, or the way he looked down on everyone.
The problem was his reactions. Or rather, the lack of them.
No one around you remained calm.
Except Law. Which completely captured your attention.
But despite all of that, Law genuinely liked you somehow. And he hated that. You were loud, reckless and chaotic.
He preferred plans, preparation and silence.
Yet somehow every time you entered a room, his attention followed you.
The thing about loving someone out loud was that you never hid it. You kissed his cheek in front of everyone or smiled beside him while holding his hand.
Law, despite keeping a straight face, secretly adored it.
What no one expected about your relationship with Law was that neither of you were jealous in a normal way. You were both terrifying about it. Only in completely different ways. You would push or threaten to hit anyone who came near him.
Law wasn’t any better. Actually, he might've been worse, because at least you were loud about it. He was terrifyingly quiet.
People always assumed Law was the calm one in the relationship,the reasonable one and compared to you? that was true.
A pirate who once challenged an entire Marine battalion because insulted one of his nakamas.
But the people who thought Law was the safer half of the relationship didn’t know him very well. Because Law didn't express his love openly, but he was dangerous when this one was threatened.
Law looked up from his book. His gaze drifted toward the upper deck where you were currently attempting to teach Luffy how to fish using your hands (a terrible idea actually since neither of you could swim). You were laughing completely unaware of the conversation. Law’s expression softened. The way it only ever did when he looked at you.
“As far as necessary.”
Because the loud one in the relationship was you, the one who shouted their love from rooftops. Law wasn't like that. He loved silently and patiently until the day someone threatens what he loves. Because he would burn down islands and turn the seas upside down without a second thought if it meant bringing you home safe and seeing that smile of yours.
Before the alliance, Law was desperately trying to convince himself that you were merely a crewmate. A temporary one, not even from his own crew but from the Straw Hats.
A very powerful, annoying and beautiful
Just a crewmate. No more.
Then he found you asleep on a cliff.
Not near a cliff, not beside it. Literally on the edge of it. One wrong movement and you’d fall hundreds of feet into the ocean below.
Law stopped walking. And he saw you. Then he looked at you more closely, trying to determine if he was hallucinating from staying up late reading a book. He rubbed his eyes and looked at you again.
“…Bepo?.” He asked calmly
“Yes, Captain?”
“Am I seeing things right?”
Bepo followed his gaze, then he almost passed out.
Law's soul briefly left his body. Zoro, following behind, walked calmly. "They do that all the time." He said casually.
Law's eye twitched. Then he started walking toward you, gently moving you further away from the cliff, and sat beside you while you were sleeping. He stayed there for two hours.
A week later happened again...
Years later, after you started dating, things somehow got worse.
Because now he cared officially. Which meant every terrible habit became infinitely more stressful.
Every time you disappeared, he searched for you.
Every time you got hurt, he was first at your side.
Every time you climbed somewhere ridiculously dangerous, he looked like he was seconds away from developing gray hair.
But despite all of that, he loved every single second by your side.
"Hey, Hey! Easy! I promise I'm alright. See? It still works and everything!"
A young Shanks tries to reassure you as you keep fussing over his now scarred eye, blood trailing down the side of his cheek, collecting at his chin and dripping onto the deck.
Teach, that bastard, what a cheap shot. That fucker cant even fight fairly, you think as you try to keep your tools as clean as you possibly can.
Its bad enough with the wound, youd dread to think how bad it would be with an infection.
"Stay still Shanks. You're very lucky that those blades didnt hit your retina."
You chide. Watching as Shanks grimaces from the stitches around the scars.
"Hehe, atleast ill end up with some pretty cool scars, huh?"
"Shanks."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up. I need to focus so you dont go half blind."
"Fine fine, but"
Shanks flashes a smile as he leans closer so you can access his injured eye easier.
"You've gotta to help me steal a barrel of rum. Im an injured man, Gaban always said that alcohol dims the wounds that affect us most"
"...Fine fine."
You pull the bandage over his bad eye and then shift, leaning up and pressing a kiss to the edge of the bandage, making sure that your lips dont touch the wound directly as to not irritate the stitches you have just finished.
Shanks grins like an idiot, his cheeks flushing and he slings an arm around you, pulling you closer.
"Hah! What would I do without you?"
"Die."
"...Well you're not wrong, but it wasnt that bad, lighten up. Im still living"
You had grown up alongside Shanks, had been recruited to help Tom with repairs on the Oro Jackson once that beauty of a ship started to get targeted more frequently due to Roger becoming King of the pirates.
Tom was good, the fishman shipwright was the best of his era, but even in his old age as a powerhouse of yanking out rusted nails and reinforcing the hull. He needed an extra set of hands.
You'd grown close to Shanks very quickly. It was hard not to get yanked into his orbit. After all, Buggy had been yanked in kicking and screaming before ending up enjoying running beside the red haired boy.
"Hey."
Shanks started, looking at you with his good eye.
"I know your worried, but im alright. The seas have a way of telling us things. I just didnt think that it was going to tell me that I needed a scar!"
Shanks puts his hand on your shoulder and squeezes slightly. He knew that look, it was the same look of worry that both you and Shanks had when Buggy had fallen ill when you were younger.
You still remember all falling asleep in that bed, not caring if you got sick despite Crocus's protests that the two of you would get sick aswell.
"It wasnt my fault this time..."
"I know..."
A shuddering breath comes from your lips as you grip the stitching kit in your hands.
"Shanks, you could of died"
"You have such little faith in m-"
"No. Shanks. You could of died"
You reiterate firmer, looking up at him, grabbing the collar of his cloak.
"You could of died, and you were so lucky that i was there... You know Crocus taught us how dangerous open wounds were, especially with infection rates. You aren't invincible Shanks..."
Your grip tightens on his cape as your fists clench.
The grin on Shanks' face slowly fades, his expression softening as he gently moves his hands to unhook your fingers from his cape. He puts his hands over yours, interlocking your fingers together.
Shanks' palms have toughened over the years due to getting callouses from pulling ropes on the Red Force, it was just you two and Benn at the minute on the crew. Besides, it's not exactly like Shanks cared, you and the Red haired man had pulled the ropes for the sails on the Oro Jackson when you were apprentices.
"Hey, listen to me, you arent gonna lose me...The sea dont even know my name yet, I aint gonna give up to a few scars"
"Ive already lost captain Shanks... I dont know where Buggy is and I dont know where Rayleigh or Gaban are...You're the only one I have left Shanks, you can't leave me"
Shanks moves an arm around your lower back and he pulls you towards him, letting you settle against his broad chest. Shanks pulls the strawhat from his head and places it on yours, smiling down at you.
"As long as I wear this hat? Ive got captains luck with me. Ya really think hed let me die to something as small as a bastards blade?"
"...no."
"Exactly. You arent getting rid of me anytime soon"
Shanks grins, that smile that has been bright as the sun since you were on the Oro Jackson. He moves his hand up to your head and pulls the strawhat off, putting it back on his own head, covering those deep scarlet locks.
"Can't have you stealing my protection, now can we?"
He winks as he then gets up, looking at you.
"Now, how about we get that drink? Might help me forget that im wearing linen over my eyes. Hope i don't end up with some nickname like 'linen eyed Shanks'."
Shanks grimaces and you cant help but snort out a laugh.
"More like 'injury prone Shanks'"
"Hey!"
"What are you gonna do next? Lose your arm?"
"If I do, are you going to kiss it like you did with my eye?"
"Depends on if you lost your arm in a stupid way or not"
"What are we classing as stupid?"
"I dont know...Losing it to save some random kid?"
"Ha! Then id be called a village hero"
"We're pirates Shanks, they'd probably think that you set it up if you save a random kid"
"Well there is that, but you get to call me a hero~"
You just, look up at Shanks, grinning as you take his hand and help guide him to a local tavern, after all, hed need you to act as one of his eyes whilst the scarring healed.
"Hero? Hmph, maybe"
"Always so cynical, a maybe is better than a no"
"Shanks i swear, if you lose your arm or any other body part just so you can rub your ego in my face then im going to start ripping out your stitches and you can find another doctor"
"But you arent a doc-"
"Shanks, if I buy you a round will you stop talking?"
"Absolutley"
"And then you are resting"
"For what? Its an eye not-"
Shanks grins sheepishly as he realises the glacier melting glare that you are currently giving him.
"Alright, fine, ill rest....y/n?"
"What?"
Shanks moves his arm around your waist once again and keeps you close to his side.
"I love you, I dont know what id do without you"
"I...Love you too Shanks, just stop worrying me. Please"
art credit: huge thanks to @yintrusiva for the beautiful artwork made for this fanfic <3 she’s also open for commissions, so please check out her account!
zoro x gn!reader (fem!reader only in the illustration)
the crew make you two go on a date but you're both competitive af — what will happen?
law version + ace version
tags: first date, fluff, kinda enemies to lovers, soft, humor
word count: 5.6k
zoro m.list || anime m.list || ao3 || ko-fi
Game night was a mistake.
A HUGE mistake.
Especially when the moment Zoro cracked his knuckles across the table and gave you that look.
The one that says: I’m not losing.
You give him the exact same look back, because neither are you.
“Last round. With the three of you.” Nami announces smugly, shuffling the cards “Winner takes all.”
You and Zoro lean forward at the same time.
Competitive energy radiating like two angry thunderstorms about to collide.
Across from you, the rest of the crew watches with barely contained excitement.
This is not about the game anymore.
This is about pride.
Honor.
Ego.
And unfortunately… you remember you two aren't the only two playing. In fact, you both lose.
You stare at the table.
Zoro stares at the table.
Then slowly you both look up and scowl.
“Rigged.” you say flatly.
“Tch,” Zoro clicks his tongue “obviously.”
“Skill issue.” Sanji says immediately, lighting a cigarette.
“You’re just mad you didn’t even make it to the final round.” you snap.
He gasps like you stabbed him.
Zoro snorts.
You elbow him but he elbows back harder.
“Anyway,” Usopp claps loudly, eyes sparkling with chaos, “losers have to pay the price!”
You narrow your eyes “…Price?”
Zoro cracks his neck “Whatever it is, make it quick.”
Huge mistake.
The crew immediately huddles together in a tight circle, whispering like cartoon villains.
You and Zoro are left outside like two rejected bodyguards.
You cross your arms “This is stupid. Technically I arrived second. This doesn't mean losing… who made this dumb rule."
The circle breaks. They’re smiling. All of them. Even Nico Robin, which makes it worse… That woman only smiles when something dangerous is about to happen, you know.
Your instincts scream. Run.
“So…” Nami says sweetly, hands behind her back.
You don’t trust that tone.
“You both,” she continues, pointing between you and Zoro, “have to go on a date.”
“With who?” You ask innocently but as an answer everyone looks bad at you. Here you understand what they mean.
“No.”
“No.”
You and Zoro speak in perfect sync. Then pause to look at each other.
Scowl deeper.
“Absolutely not.” you add.
“Tch. Over my dead body.” he says.
“Aww,” Usopp fake-pouts “Are you two scared?”
You stiffen.
Zoro stiffens.
“We’re not scared.” you snap immediately.
“Yeah,” Zoro growls, “just not interested.”
Sanji smirks, “Then prove it.”
You narrow your eyes “Prove what?”
“That you’re not intimidated by a simple date.”
You feel your pride physically rise.
Zoro’s aura darkens beside you.
You both know what they’re doing, you both see their trap… but you both walk straight into it anyway.
“Fine, I'll show you.” you say.
“Tch. Fine.” Zoro echoes.
The crew explodes with cheering and capping.
You immediately regret everything.
And now… now you’re here. Sitting outside a cute pastry shop on some random island.
On a date.
With Zoro.
You hate everything.
The table is small and round.
Romantic.
Disgusting.
Both of you sit there, slouching like you’re attending a funeral.
You stare at the street.
He stares at the sky.
Neither of you looks at the other.
The silence is thick enough to cut with one of his swords.
“This is stupid.” you mutter.
“Tch. Obviously.”
You both keep looking away.
A couple walks past holding hands.
You both look even further away.
A bird chirps.
Then he speaks out of nowhere “You’re doing it wrong.”
You freeze and slowly turn your head “…Excuse me?”
He finally looks at you and smirks.
That stupid, smug, infuriating smirk “You usually would at least pretend you’re good at this. Just for the sake of winning for your own ego.”
Your eye twitches.
“I’d be good at it,” you snap, “if I wasn’t stuck here with you.”
“Oh yeah?” he leans forward slightly “You think you could do better and not be this boring?”
Your competitive instincts ignite instantly “Easily.”
He scoffs “Prove it.”
“Oh, I will.”
And just like that it becomes a competition.
“Oh wow,” you say dramatically, looking around, “this place is soooo nice.”
“Your acting is terrible.” he says flatly.
“At least I’m trying.”
“You’re trying too hard now.”
“You’re not trying at all.”
“Because I don’t need to.”
You gasp “Your ego is insane.”
“You noticed?”
“I noticed you’re insufferable.”
“Takes one to know one.”
You’re both leaning forward now and actually looking at each other.
“You’d be the worst date ever.” he says.
“You literally get lost walking in straight lines…” you reply.
“At least I don’t talk in my sleep.”
You freeze “…How do you even know that?”
He smirks wider.
You hate him so much.
Before the argument can escalate into an actual brawl a shadow falls over the table.
You both look up.
A sweet old lady stands there, smiling warmly, holding a tray of pastries.
“Here you go, dears.” she says kindly, placing them down.
You both stare at the pastries, then at each other, then back at her.
“…We didn’t order these.” you say cautiously.
She chuckles and points behind you “Those nice friends of yours sent them.”
You and Zoro turn slowly and there they are… at a table across the street… the entire crew.
Grinning.
Watching like it’s a live theater performance.
Luffy and Chopper are the only two completely oblivious, already inhaling sweets like vacuum cleaners.
Usopp gives you two thumbs up as if he's encouraging you two to continue.
Nami smiles and nods mockingly.
Sanji is just staring, he looks mad.
Brook is taking notes.
Robin and Franky smile like proud parents.
You feel your soul leave your body.
You turn back and Zoro is already scowling. Vein popping. Eye twitching.
You mirror him perfectly.
“I'm going to kill them.” you whisper.
“Tch,” he mutters darkly “I'll help.”
You both look at the pastries again. Then at each other.
Same thought.
You grab one.
He grabs one.
You both take a bite at the exact same time maintaining eye contact like it’s a declaration of war.
And somehow despite everything, the corner of his mouth twitches, like he’s trying not to laugh.
Which is unacceptable.
And just as you continue, the crew is whispering loudly. You hear snorts. You hear stifled laughter.
You hear Usopp failing miserably at whispering “I THINK THEY’RE MAKING EYE CONTACT—”
“SHUT UP!” someone hisses.
You close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out.
You lower the pastry.
“So.” you say flatly.
Zoro’s eye twitches “Yeah.”
“We should leave.”
“Yeah.”
You both stand at the same time, in perfect sync.
The old lady behind the counter smiles like she just witnessed a romance movie climax.
You feel a migraine forming.
You don’t even look at the crew as you walk away.
But you can feel them like a curse… a presence… a disturbance in the force.
You and Zoro walk side by side in silence, boots echoing against the cobblestone streets.
The city is lively.
You shove your hands into your pockets.
“This is still stupid.” you mutter.
“Tch. Obviously.”
At least he’s consistent.
You walk for a while.
You glance sideways.
Zoro is unusually calm. Hands in his pockets. Looking around lazily like this is just another day.
You narrow your eyes.
Why is he not mad while you’re furious? He should be furious too.
A loud crash echoes behind you, followed by a very familiar voice “OW—!”
You stop walking and you turn around, AND there they are… trying to hide behind a fruit stall but failing miserably.
Half the crew… not even subtle.
Usopp is crouched behind a basket that is clearly too small to hide him. Nami is pretending to inspect oranges while staring directly at you. Sanji is holding a newspaper upside down. And in the back Nico Robin waves calmly, like she’s not part of the crime.
You blink.
“…They’re still following us.” you say flatly.
“Tch. Idiots.” Zoro mutters, but he doesn’t sound mad.
That’s what gets you.
You slowly look at him.
He raises a brow “What?”
“…You’re not annoyed.”
“I am.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
He shrugs “Doesn’t matter.”
You narrow your eyes harder… suspicious.
And then a thought hits you. A terrible, brilliant, petty thought.
You slowly turn back toward the crew.
They immediately duck.
You smile.
Zoro notices instantly but instead of stopping you in whatever thing you're planning, he smirks.
You turn back forward and start walking again.
But now you have a mission.
They want a show? You’ll give them one.
You will make them regret this.
You suddenly grab Zoro’s sleeve “Come on.”
He blinks, surprised for half a second before letting himself be dragged along.
“Where are we going?” he asks lazily.
You don’t answer, you just march forward with purpose.
Behind you, the crew scrambles to follow.
You stop in front of the loudest, most chaotic street you can find. Music blasting. Performers shouting. Vendors yelling over each other.
You turn to Zoro with fake enthusiasm.
“Wow,” you say loudly “This is so romantic.”
He snorts.
You kick his foot lightly.
“Play along.” you whisper.
His grin widens. He’s enjoying this.
You spin dramatically and point at random things “Look! Matching bracelets!”
You grab the tackiest ones you can find and shove them toward him.
The vendor beams.
Zoro stares at them, then at you. Then, without breaking eye contact he puts one on.
Your brain short-circuits as you blink rapidly.
He raises a brow as to say, your move.
You feel your competitive spirit flare. You grab the other bracelet and slam it onto your wrist.
The vendor claps excitedly.
Somewhere behind you, you hear a choked noise that sounds like Usopp dying.
You keep going.
You drag Zoro to the loudest stalls. The weirdest shops. The most embarrassing spots.
You exaggerate everything. Fake gasp at ugly decorations. Overreact at cheesy couple items.
You even lean closer to him at one point just to make it worse for your not-so-invisible audience.
Your soul leaves your body a little, but the mission is bigger than your dignity.
Zoro is not helping at all.
He lets you pull him around like a ragdoll with hands in his pockets and that lazy smirk never leaving his face. Occasionally throwing in a comment just to make it worse.
“You’re really committed.” he mutters once.
You glare “Shut up.”
He chuckles.
You feel personally attacked.
You stop in front of a mirror at a random stall, pretending to inspect something shiny.
But really, you’re checking behind you and there they are.
Good. Let them watch.
Even if you have to destroy your own pride to make them regret this.
Beside you, Zoro watches you from the reflection, amused and quiet. And he has no intention of stopping.
As you keep on walking, as you’re mid-scheme, you see it.
You stop so suddenly Zoro almost walks into you.
Your eyes widen, your jaw drops and you gasp audibly and way too dramatically.
Zoro immediately narrows his eyes “What.”
You don’t answer because you’re already moving “No way—”
You bolt straight ahead.
Zoro watches you run like you’ve lost your mind. Then follows at a normal pace, hands still in his pockets, completely unbothered.
When he finally reaches you, you’re already standing in front of a game stall, practically vibrating.
It’s one of those festival booths with cheap prizes hanging everywhere.
Throw the rings and hit the targets to win something stupid.
You look like you just found heaven.
Zoro looks at the stall, then at you and then back at the stall.
“…Are you a kid?” he asks flatly.
You slowly turn your head toward him. Offended.
“You just don’t want to admit you’re a loser.”
And there it is the moment and the fatal blow.
Zoro’s eye twitches. His lazy smirk gone.
The swordsman who didn’t care five seconds ago? Dead.
You have awakened something.
“Tch,” he clicks his tongue, stepping forward “move.”
You grin.
Oh, it’s on.
Coins slam onto the counter.
The stall owner startles slightly but smiles nervously “W-welcome! Just throw the rings and—”
You’re already grabbing them.
Zoro grabs his own set.
Neither of you listens to the rules.
You don’t need rules.
You need victory.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Clink.
Bounce.
Miss again.
You narrow your eyes.
Zoro frowns.
This is unacceptable.
Again.
And again.
And again.
You lean closer to the counter.
Zoro rolls his shoulders like he’s about to fight a war.
The stall owner laughs nervously “Ahaha… it’s just for fun—”
“I will win…” you mutter.
“Tch. Not before me.” Zoro snaps.
Time stops meaning anything.
People pass behind you watching with fear.
Somewhere, a performer shouts.
You hear none of it. You only hear the clink of rings, your own breathing and Zoro.
“You’re throwing wrong.” he says.
“You’re aiming wrong.” you fire back.
“At least I hit the table.”
“That’s not the goal!”
“Tch.”
You lose again.
You slam another coin down “Again.”
Zoro does the same.
The owner starts sweating.
“Y-you can try the shooting game instead—”
“No.”
“No.”
You and Zoro speak in sync.
Never looking away from the targets.
More throws. More misses.
Your frustration rises.
Zoro’s aura darkens.
You both lean so far over the counter you’re practically invading the stall.
The owner laughs weakly “Maybe… maybe take a break—”
You don’t hear him.
Neither does Zoro.
Because at this point it’s just you and him. And war.
You throw again.
Miss.
You snap “Is it rigged?? Damn!”
You slam your hands on the counter dramatically.
Zoro doesn’t even react, he just grabs another ring.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Terrifying.
The stall owner begins to panic. His smile drops completely.
You’re both still muttering under your breath, arguing between throws and competing like your lives depend on it.
Behind you, a small crowd has formed.
You don’t notice.
You don’t care.
“Stand back.” Zoro mutters, rolling his neck like he’s about to unleash a forbidden technique.
“It’s a ring toss.” you snap.
“Tch. Watch and learn.”
He throws.
Misses.
You gasp loudly “Pathetic.”
“SHUT UP.”
The stall owner looks like he’s about to cry. His hands tremble as he leans forward slightly, voice small “P-please leave…”
You grab another ring.
Zoro grabs another.
Neither of you acknowledges him.
Not even a glance.
You throw again.
Miss.
You slam the counter.
Zoro growls.
The owner looks like he’s reconsidering his entire career.
“Please,” he whispers again, voice shaking, “I beg you…”
But you and Zoro only hear each other, only see each other. Locked in the dumbest, fiercest battle imaginable.
And somewhere deep down, neither of you realizes you stopped caring about the crew watching a long time ago.
After many other tries you throw again but this time it wobbles.
You both lean forward at the exact same time.
The ring tilts. Balances.
And then it drops perfectly onto the bottle.
Silence.
You blink.
Zoro blinks.
The stall owner blinks.
“I GOT IT?!” You explode.
You jump up and down, hands in the air, laughing in pure disbelief “I GOT ONE IN!”
You spin around and, without thinking, grab Zoro by the shoulders “Did you see that?!”
He doesn’t jump, of course he doesn’t, but he’s looking at you and there’s a soft smirk on his face.
“Yeah,” he says quietly “I saw.”
Continue after illustration:
You’re still holding onto him when it hits you. You let go immediately, but you’re still grinning bright.
You don’t even realize that a minute ago you were trying to beat him and now you’re celebrating like you both won.
You turn back to the stall, scanning the prizes like you just unlocked a treasure vault.
And then you point dramatically where hanging slightly to the side there’s a plushie,
Green. Grumpy. Round little body. Perpetual scowl stitched onto its face.
You don’t even notice the resemblance, but Zoro and the stall owner do.
And somewhere behind you, someone snorts.
“I want that one.” you declare proudly.
The stall owner freezes.
He swallows “Y-you need three rings in for that…”
You turn slowly and your expression shifts from happy to calculating to dangerously competitive.
Everyone feels the aura change immediately.
You roll your shoulders slightly.
“Three?” you repeat.
The stall owner pales.
“B-But—!” he stammers quickly, hands flying up defensively “You tried so much! I-I’ll give it to you anyway! And— and I’ll give one of his choice to your boyfriend as well!”
Silence.
The word hangs there.
Boyfriend.
Your brain stops.
Your heart does something incredibly stupid.
You blink.
Heat creeps up your neck.
Beside you, Zoro stiffens just barely.
You glance at him.
He’s not correcting it. Not snapping. Not denying.
He’s just standing there, arms crossed, looking mildly annoyed at the implication but not offended. Not rejecting it.
Your chest tightens in a way that has absolutely nothing to do with competition, and you realize something terrifying… you don’t mind, not even a little.
“Oh…” you say weakly.
The stall owner nods rapidly, desperate to survive this interaction “Yes! Yes! Take anything! Please!”
You look back at the plushie then at Zoro.
He looks at the plushie then at you.
There’s a flicker in his eye.
He reaches up and grabs one from the side.
A different one.
The stall owner practically shoves the plushies into your hands like he’s paying a ransom “Thank you! Please enjoy the rest of the festival… far away from here!”
You don’t hear him.
You’re staring at the plushie in your arms. It’s soft, round and angry-looking.
You hug it instinctively.
Zoro watches you do it and that soft smirk of his returns.
You start walking away, quiet now.
The chaos of earlier is replaced with something… different.
Your heart is still beating a little too fast.
Your fingers brush against the plush as you hold it.
After a few steps, you notice Zoro is walking slightly closer than before.
Then without a word he holds out his plushie.
You blink “What?”
“Take it.”
“…Why?”
“Tch. I don’t need it.”
He doesn’t look at you when he says it, he just keeps walking, arm extended slightly in your direction.
You stare at the plush, then at him, then back at the plush.
Your heart does that stupid thing again.
You accept it quietly.
Your fingers brush his for half a second.
He exhales softly and you just pretend not to notice.
Now you’re holding both plushies.
You look at them, then up at him.
And for once you don’t hide your smile.
He catches it from the corner of his eye and doesn’t say anything, but the tips of his ears turn slightly red.
Behind you, somewhere in the distance, you hear faint whispering and dramatic gasps.
You don’t look back, you don’t care anymore, because as you walk beside him, plushies in your arms and something unfamiliar but not unwelcome blooming in your chest, you realize, quietly, that this stopped being about proving anything a while ago.
You walk back to the ship side by side.
Zoro walks with his usual lazy stride, hands in his pockets, expression neutral, like nothing life-altering just happened.
You reach the ship and go aboard.
Still no words about anything, just silence, but comfortable.
You stop near the stairs that lead below deck.
“…Night.” you say casually.
“...Night.”
That’s it. No dramatic pause. No lingering touch.
You turn and head to your room.
Behind you, hidden very badly behind barrels and ropes, half the crew deflates in disappointment.
“THAT’S IT?!” someone whispers aggressively.
“No kiss?!” another hisses.
You don’t hear or see them, because you’re too busy trying to understand why your chest feels warm.
Why you’re smiling, why replaying the night makes your stomach flip in a way that’s not annoyance.
You flop onto your bed, staring at the ceiling.
“…Why am I feeling like this…” you mutter.
The plushies sit beside you.
You bury your face into them to hide your smile and that’s when it hits you that you didn’t hate tonight.
You just… liked being there… with him.
The next morning is a disaster.
You step into the dining area and immediately freeze.
Everyone is there.
Brook leans forward eagerly, teacup in hand.
“Good morning!” he sings “May I ask how your romantic evening was? Yohohoho!”
You contemplate throwing him overboard.
“SUPER curious!” Franky flexes dramatically “Was it SUPER romantic?!”
“Did you hold hands?” Usopp demands.
“Did you confess?” Nami adds sweetly.
“Did you fight?” Sanji asks suspiciously.
You inhale slowly and exhale slowly.
You sit down and say nothing, you just start eating very calmly as they continue relentless.
“You brought back matching plushies!” Usopp points accusingly.
Your eye twitches but you keep eating.
Across the table Zoro sits like nothing is happening, drinking tea or whatever’s in the cup, calm and unbothered, not even reacting to the chaos.
The only difference from other mornings is that he isn't teasing you.
He just looks… anywhere but at you.
That’s new.
Days pass and something changes.
Zoro still trains, naps, gets lost somehow on the ship, and argues with Sanji…
But with you he’s… different. Less sharp and less provoking. If you reach for something, he doesn’t snatch it first as he used to. If you say something competitive, he just hums instead of biting back as he used to.
If you challenge him, he lets you win.
You stare at him suspiciously but he avoids your gaze.
You preferred the fighting and its sparks.
Now it feels like he’s stepping back, like he’s giving you space you didn’t ask for.
And you hate that.
One afternoon, you find him alone on deck, sitting against the railing with sunlight hitting his face, sleeping or pretending.
You approach. Arms crossed.
“Are you sick?” you ask bluntly.
One eye opens.
“…What.”
“You’ve been weird.”
“Tch.”
“That’s not a denial.”
He sits up slightly “You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m not.”
Silence.
You step closer “What’s going on?”
He looks away and scratches the back of his neck “Nothing.”
You narrow your eyes “Zoro.”
He inhales, about to speak, and then—
“NEW ISLAND!” Luffy screams from the crow’s nest.
Everyone rushes, excited yelling, footsteps thundering past you.
But you don’t move and neither does Zoro.
You’re still looking at each other with something unsaid hanging heavy between you.
He stands.
Still silent.
Soon, the ship docks.
Everyone spills out eagerly.
You start walking toward the town when—“Y/N.”
You freeze.
He rarely calls your name like that.
Quiet.
Almost hesitant.
You turn.
He’s standing a few steps behind, not looking at you but looking somewhere to the side, like the sky is extremely interesting all of a sudden.
“…You… wanna go eat something?” he mutters.
You blink.
You don’t answer.
Your brain refuses to function.
At the silence, he finally looks at you and sees your shocked expression.
His jaw tightens slightly.
“It’s fine,” he mutters quickly “I’ll go alone.”
He turns but you grab his sleeve “Wait.”
He stops and looks at your hand, then at you.
“…I’ll go.” you say.
His shoulders relax just slightly “Tch. Good.”
You both start walking side by side.
The town is lively but it feels quieter to you.
After a moment, you glance at him “So…”
He grunts.
“…Is it a date?”
He stops walking instantly.
You stop as soon as you notice.
His head snaps toward you, eyes wide for a fraction of a second “What?”
You laugh lightly “Relax. I’m joking.”
You quickly continue to walk so he doesn’t see your expression as you say “...but I wouldn’t mind if it was.”
You say it casually but your heart is trying to escape your body.
You hear his footsteps rush behind you.
Suddenly a firm hand grabs your wrist.
You turn, surprised and see him close.
His grip isn’t rough but steady and certain.
He looks at you directly.
No more avoidance.
“Then it is.” he says quietly.
You blink.
He exhales “…A date.”
Silence.
Your brain melts but somehow you relax and a soft smile spreads across your face “Perfect.”
He lets go slowly.
You both turn and start walking again like nothing monumental just happened.
Like your hearts aren’t lighter.
Like your steps aren’t a little closer.
Like this isn’t exactly what you both wanted all along.
The restaurant is loud and perfectly pirate-coded. No fancy decorations. No romantic lighting. Just noise, food, and the smell of grilled meat.
Exactly the kind of place neither of you has to pretend in.
You sit across from each other, but unlike last time, none of you is scowling.
Zoro rests one arm on the table. You sit with your hands loosely folded, pretending the menu is the most fascinating thing you’ve ever read.
Silence. Not hostile. Just shy.
You glance up and he’s already looking at you but he immediately looks back at the menu.
You blink.
A few seconds later, he looks up again and your eyes meet. Neither of you smirks or challenges, it’s softer than that.
Then the waiter arrives and breaks the tension.
You both order quickly.
When the waiter leaves, you sit there in silence again.
“So…” you start.
“So.” he echoes.
You both pause.
You clear your throat “Training’s been… good?”
“Tch. Obviously.”
You nod “Right.”
Silence.
He shifts slightly in his seat “You’ve been winning more lately.”
You narrow your eyes “You’ve been letting me.”
He huffs faintly “You noticed.”
“Of course I noticed.”
A small pause.
“…Why?” you ask.
He looks at you then away “Didn’t feel like fighting.”
Your chest does something strange at that “Oh.”
Food arrives.
You both focus on eating for a moment and it helps. Talking with food around feels less intense.
You exchange small comments about the seasoning. About the island. About how Luffy is probably already banned from three establishments.
You’re still shy but it’s not heavy, just new.
Then the drinks arrive and you stare at yours, then at him.
Then you sigh dramatically “Okay, that’s enough.”
He pauses mid-sip “What.”
“We’re being weird.”
“Tch.”
“We just have to relax,” you insist “So let’s drink a bit, okay?”
A slow smirk appears on his face.
There it is, the Zoro you know.
He lifts his glass “Fine.”
Clink.
You drink, not a lot but enough to take the edge off.
He sets his glass down and you follow.
Something shifts, your shoulders loosen, his posture eases.
You start talking again. You tease him about getting lost on the way here and he denies it.
You call him out and he calls you stubborn.
You call him worse and he smirks.
You both laugh.
At some point you’re leaning forward slightly and he is too.
Later, you step outside.
The air hits cooler after the warmth of the restaurant.
You walk side by side, not touching but close.
Your hands brush once and neither of you comments.
You reach the quieter part of the dock.
The ship is visible in the distance.
You both slow down as neither of you seems eager to climb back aboard yet.
You lean lightly, looking out at the water.
He stands beside you close enough that you can feel his warmth through the fabric of your sleeve.
You glance at him and he’s already looking at you this time.
Your heart beats faster.
“…This was nice.” you admit softly.
“Yeah.”
You smile faintly.
Another pause. Longer this time.
Neither of you moves. Neither of you steps closer. But you don’t step away either.
Your hand shifts slightly on the railing and his fingers brush yours again.
Your pinky hooks lightly against his.
He still doesn’t move but his hand turns just enough that your fingers slide into his palm.
You lace them together.
He exhales slowly.
Your heart is loud in your ears.
You’re so close now that you can see the faint scar over his eye clearly.
You don’t plan it, you don’t announce it. You just lean in slightly.
He notices but he doesn’t pull back. Doesn’t rush forward either.
You’re both terrible at initiating.
So you don’t… not fully. Instead, you lift your free hand and rest it against his chest, right over his heart.
It’s steady. Strong.
He inhales sharply at the contact and his hand tightens around yours.
You look at each other.
So close.
“If you don’t want to…” you start quietly but he cuts you off by leaning down enough that his forehead rests against yours. His nose brushes yours slightly. Breath mingling.
“You talk too much.” he murmurs.
Your lips twitch “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Neither of you moves for a second longer, like you’re both silently asking the same question.
Then you both close the distance at the exact same time.
It’s almost clumsy and hesitant, but warm.
His hand slides to your waist.
Yours tightens against his chest.
The kiss is firm but careful.
When you pull back, you’re both breathing a little heavier, foreheads still touching.
You smile first. He pretends he didn’t notice but he doesn’t let go and neither do you.
EPILOGUE
The walk back to the ship is quiet.
Not awkward, just… calm.
You and Zoro walk side by side along the dock. Your shoulders brush once in a while, but neither of you comments on it… neither of you needs to.
When the Thousand Sunny finally comes into view, you both slow down a little.
The ship is mostly quiet, a few lights are on.
You stop at the foot of the ramp.
Zoro looks at the ship, then at you.
“Well…” he says.
“Well…” you echo.
A beat of silence.
Neither of you says “so we’re together now” or “what are we going to tell them?”.
You just… look at each other and then you shrug “Goodnight.”
He almost laughs and then he nods once “Night.”
You both walk up onto the Sunny and that’s it. No announcement. No dramatic reveal.
You just go to your rooms.
The next morning, nobody asks anything because they don’t know… and neither of you brings it up. Not because you’re hiding it. It just… never comes up.
You still argue with Zoro. You still compete with him. You still sit across from him at meals.
Sometimes your knees bump under the table. Sometimes your hands brush when you both reach for something. Sometimes you catch him watching you. Sometimes he catches you watching him. Sometimes you kiss when no one is around.
The crew is completely oblivious.
Somehow even Robin, who probably knows but chooses chaos.
Weeks pass.
The Sunny sails through calm blue seas and life goes on.
Then one day… “GAME NIGHT!!!”
Luffy’s voice explodes across the deck.
The crew cheers and somehow you all end up around the big table.
Cards, dice, snacks, chaos.
And of course you and Zoro would never skip a competition.
Hours pass.
Rounds are played.
People get eliminated.
Luffy gets distracted halfway through by meat.
Chopper loses because he keeps trusting Usopp.
Franky dramatically blames the rules.
Sanji gets eliminated early and spends the rest of the time glaring.
Eventually it’s down to two players.
You and Zoro.
The crew leans in.
The atmosphere is intense.
Usopp is commentating dramatically.
Chopper and Luffy are vibrating with excitement.
“FINAL ROUND!!!” Usopp announces.
You lean forward, eyes sharp.
Zoro leans back in his chair, smirking “Tch. Ready to lose?”
You scoff “In your dreams.”
“Been winning a lot lately.”
“Because I’m better.”
He raises an eyebrow “Or because I’ve been going easy on you.”
You gasp in mock offense “Oh please.”
The crew oooohs.
Luffy is yelling something dumb.
Usopp shouts, “THE TENSION IS REAL!”
You point at Zoro.
“Don’t worry,” you say confidently “I’m gonna kiss you anyway even if you’re a loser.”
Silence.
Total.
Absolute.
Silence.
Every Strawhat freezes.
Usopp and Nami’s mouths hang open.
Chopper blinks.
Sanji drops the plate he was holding.
Brook stops mid-laugh.
Robin smiles.
Franky’s sunglasses slide slightly down his nose.
Luffy tilts his head “…Huh?”
Your brain catches up with your mouth… way too late.
You slowly look around and see nine pairs of eyes staring at you. Wide. Horrified. Curious. Exploding.
And then—BOOM.
“WAIT WHAT—”
“YOU WHAT?!”
“WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
“YOU KISS?!”
“ARE YOU DATING?!”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?!”
“WAS IT ROMANTIC?!”
“WHO CONFESSED FIRST?!”
“DID YOU HOLD HANDS?!”
“DID YOU—”
You slowly slam your face onto the table.
Thud.
“…I hate all of you…”
The yelling continues. Questions fly over your head like cannon fire.
You stay face-down on the table, accepting your fate.
Then a warm hand lands gently on your head.
You look up and look at Zoro who is completely unfazed.
He smirks down at you.
The crew is still shouting too loudly to hear anything else.
He leans down slightly, close enough that only you can hear him.
His voice is low and amused “Told you you talk too much.”
You glare weakly and he smirks wider.
Then he adds quietly “But you’re keeping that promise… the kiss?”
Your brain short-circuits and before you can make your brain function you casually lean in and kiss him.
Right there… in front of everyone.
The crew explode.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—”
Sanji collapses dramatically.
Chopper screams.
Usopp falls out of his chair.
Franky shouts “SUUUUUPERRRRR!!!”
Luffy claps like this is the best game night ever.
You bury your face in your hands as soon as you understand what you just did.
Zoro just sits back down like nothing happened but he's obviously dying inside and somehow you're both still fully ready to win the game.
Ace is the type of person to show everyone pictures and wanted posters of you to every single person he mets
"Look this is my girlfriend. Isn't she pretty? I'm so lucky!"
He sleeps mid talking about you than wakes up and continues talking about you.
Basically everyone he ever met. Even once. They know about you. Ace never shuts up nothing shuts him up and he doesn't want to shut up.
Ace starts a conversation unrelated to you into you!
"We need more supplies for the ship. Wait speaking of supplies, she needs a better coat for winter! Look at this picture of her in her current coat. Isn't she so cute? Right?"
Ace stops for a moment before laughing as he slips your picture back in his pocket "what am I saying. She doesn't need a coat I will be her coat"
The only thing that goes in his mind is all about you.
“ah! I think she will like this necklace! This is her favourite colour”
he then spots a flower shop nearby. “Hmm she said she liked that flower, or was it this flower?” He asks the shop owner for advice but ends up yapping to him about you. “she’s so amazing right!..I just miss her. I haven’t seen her in ages..” ace looks down like a defeated puppy. The last time he saw you was two hours ago.
— tbh an Ace or Sanji hug would probably heal me but if I’m being really honest, Luffy probably gives the absolute best hugs and I could use one right now.
