Wanted more luffy angst, an idea
Maybe when luffy is in a relationship with the reader or can be queerplatonic, when they have an intimate moment where Luffy kinda freezes up, (it’s kinda hard to word it out) it’s not like he wants to be intimate with the reader, but is unsure, an what if he’s hurt her. While for the reader, they don’t mind but are unsure, unintentional self pressures themselves because aren’t couples suppose to be intimate or have sex, is afraid of not giving luffy wants he wants (this is thier first relationship). But luckily they set up boundaries and try to understand each other’s needs.
(Something I found: Asexuality refers to a lack of sexual attraction, not a lack of libido, physical capability, or desire for emotional closeness. Asexual people may have sex for varied reasons, including pleasure, emotional bonding, or to satisfy a partner's needs)
Hello hello anon!! Originally I was gonna reply to this with a fic but the more I wrote, the more I realized how atrocious it was (but it’s down below if you still want to give it a read)
Anyways! Kinda unsureee what you mean by this ask but I’ll interpret (?) it as aroace/ just asexual reader x Luffy.
Most of this is more fluff than angst tbh…🥹 sry anon
I can definitely see Luffy as being scared of hurting the reader in that case, mostly because he’s still a bit unsure about things. He has desires and knows the only release is you but he also doesn’t want you uncomfortable or overwhelmed by him, especially knowing you’re asexual.
Sexuality aspect aside, I can’t see Luffy worrying about hurting you if you’re strong and capable in battle unless you were recently injured or have low combat abilities. Since in general, he trusts his friends and loved ones to be capable enough unless actually in danger.
Back to the sexuality aspect, if Luffy’s also aroace, he’s less likely to worry about hurting you since he knows how it works and more sure of himself.
But if the concept is new to him (ie, he feels sexual attraction, finding out you don’t), he’s definitely going to be more hesitant during intimacy. Luffy knows you don’t feel what he feels and he’s fine with that even if he doesn’t understand it. He doesn’t see you a less capable ofc, he’s just worried of overstepping.
Reader freaking out about how ‘this is how relationships are supposed to go right?’ Is so real tho.. you worry about Luffy’s needs while he’s worrying about your own needs. In a way.. it sorta balances out.
Talking it out of course works. He talks about not wanting to hurt you and how he’s worried he might do something wrong. The two of you make sure to communicate and plan ideas on how to lessen Luffy’s worries (ie, letting him check up on you every once in awhile, you letting him know it’s okay a few times, etc etc)
If you specifically reassure him you’re okay with it because you just want to satisfy him and make him feel good, he’ll get all happy and overly excited and emotional. Which.. yeah goodluck with dealing with the giant puppy.
(also gonna yap about something loosely related but I love that you pointed out asexuality doesn’t equal lack of libido or just “not having/wanting to have sex” because a lot of the time, people try to say being asexual and/or aromantic isn’t valid because it’s just “not wanting to be in a relationship” or just “not wanting to have sex” which I find just stupid. It’s not the fact people misunderstand the sexuality that ticks me off, it’s the fact they don’t even try to understand.
Like an aromantic person can be in a relationship and be intimate with their partner just fine while still being aromantic, while others just don’t bother with relationships at all. It’s not one or the other. Sexuality is fluid and aroace is an umbrella term.)
Below is the fic I lowk kinda gave up half way on based on this ask😭
reader and Luffy are both implied to be aroace but differs in the sense that reader prefers the traditional aspect of relationships (kissing, being intimate, etc) while Luffy is open to whatever.
Kinda idiot x idiot core.. this has more fluff than I intended but like.. oh well..! Very.. slight angst. Like it gets resolved kinda quickly way too quickly.
My angst writing juices ran out with the last yapping session..
“S’ nice” Luffy cheekily grins, nuzzling himself in the crook of your neck, soaking up every second he has spent curled up into you.
Cuddling has almost became a mandatory thing when you’ve gotten into a relationship with this rubber idiot of a captain. He’s hopeless when it comes to not getting to at least squeeze you to death every once in awhile for his own sanity.
Today’s a bit different though.
You’ve given the man hints throughout the day, making sure to make them really oblivious.. which was really difficult considering your captain is a bit of an airhead when it comes to clues. But it’s alright because you made sure to study up on all the weird flirting stuff people typically do, even taking notes from Sanji and Nami.
It started during breakfast. You brushed your hand against Luffy while eating and passing food around, making sure to subtly hold contact (for exactly 2 to 3 seconds- just like your notes said!). You also made sure to lead to the main event by slowly leaning closer to him throughout breakfast- though it was kinda hard to be graceful about it which food splashing everywhere from him gobbling ten plates of food per second.
Then, you perk up as you see your opportunity as Luffy starts to finish up eating. You see the specks of food on his cheeks and slowly bring your hand under his chin, lifting his face, and wiping the meat off his face gently with your thumb…
in response, Luffy immediately grabs your hand and licks the finger you wiped the meat off his face from.
You blinked. Once. And then twice. Before bursting out laughing straight at his face. Luffy, now annoyed at you laughing at him, starts grumbling and whining about how he just didn’t want to waste food.
The crew watches the scene is exasperation. “Seriously.. do those two even get romance” Nami sighs.
You conclude the first event a success.
The second event was a bit more complicated. You hold up your notes, scrunching your face a bit in thought. ‘Build tension’ you hum at the words. ‘Something that shows you’re strong and capable.. something… like carrying Luffy?’ Your brows furrow in thought, groaning as you toss your notes into your bunk and shaking your head in frustration.
Carrying Luffy seems too low stakes and not romantic at all! Well.. maybe in those fairy tells of princes people would tell to their kids when they’re little but you’re a pirate. You needed to figure out a more.. pirate way to do this.
Just then, a loud explosion sounds throughout the ship as the Sunny shakes a bit, immediately grabbing your attention. Loud yelling is heard from the deck. You halt your plans to go see what’s going on and find your crew fighting off a marine ship.
You get to work, helping fend off the marines that made it on the ship while Franky and some of the others work on keeping The Sunny going.
This would be the perfect time to initiate your second plan
You grin while in the middle of beating up a marine and giddily goes over to where Luffy is fighting, deciding to fight alongside him and somehow build tension that way.
Taking care of the marines was easy, besides the few that had devil fruit powers, but most of them were picking a fight bigger than they were able to chew. So you let your mind wander a bit, glancing at Luffy ever so often to see if he’s watching you.
It would be better if he was, it would help with the next step, you move and maneuver yourself closer to him while fighting.
Luffy blinks, yelping a bit as he accidentally punches you unconscious straight in the face.
You ended up only slightly injured. Luffy made sure to apologize to you a hundred times over as you’re sat on a chair in med bay with a bandaged nose. “Awahhh I’m so sorry! Ack you’re not hurt are you? Please tell me yer okay” he bawls, shaking you roughly. “don’t die yet y/n!!” He says dramatically which earns him a hit on the head from Sanji.
“Dont overwhelm them, idiot” Sanji scolds which just leaves Luffy all grumbly while hugging you tightly.
You sigh, feeling a tug in the corners of your lips despite yourself..
Second event was a failure then.
It’s okay though because you getting injured caused Luffy to be all clingy and hovering over you the whole day. You of course took advantage of that and made a few more moves.
At one point, you even just pulled Luffy aside and straight up told him “hey. I’m making hints I wanna be intimate with you okay? More specifically at exactly a minutes after dinner” Luffy just dumbly nods with a grin “oh okay!” He had said.
Now cuddled with Luffy in your bunk. Sure there were a few… mishaps. But in general, you feel a bit satisfied with how everything went. Your plans went perfectly according to the notes even tho it wasn’t exactly the expected reciprocation but that’s just how it is with Luffy and with how the two of you’s relationship works.
You tap on his arm a bit.
Luffy seems to notice the cue, slowly itching his hand on lower stomach and gently trailing up your neck with kisses. “This is nice..” he murmurs. “Shishishi you were really clumsy today” he kisses your bandaged up nose before pausing a bit and slowly itching his hand up under your shirt.
Then he pauses, biting his lower lip a bit. His expression a bit hesitant.
You, laying there expecting Luffy to continue, blinks confusedly when he still doesn’t move an inch after a whole minute or two. “Luffy?” You say,silently asking if he’s alright.
He lets out a hesitant breath and adjusts himself, moving away from you and sitting up “ah. Sorry. I just-“ he starts but closes his mouth when he realizes he’s unsure what to say. He scratches his neck.
You stare at Luffy, confused and a bit hurt. Did you do something wrong? Does he not like this? But aren’t relationships supposed to involve this type of intimacy? Maybe he’s just not ready. You push the thoughts down. You aren’t going to force the man, it’s fine if he doesn’t want to try this type of intimacy. It’s not like it’s something you need either, you just wanted to try it with him like you and him do with other things.
“Hey what’s wrong?” You ask “it’s okay- if you don’t want to” you say, sitting up and touching his shoulder. There’s a prickly feeling at the back of your mind telling you it’s because you’re not enough, that all the set up you did was a stupid idea you shouldn’t have even tried.
How could you be so stupid and cross the line? You never meant to possibly make him uncomfortable. Does he hate you now? Maybe he wants to end things because of this. Maybe-
“Of course I want to” Luffy huffs at you like you just said the stupidest thing in the world. “It’s just..” he mumbles, looking away, vaguely gesturing to your bandaged nose. “What if.. I hurt you again?” He hesitantly says.
“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me” he says earnestly, sighing and leaning his head on your shoulder. “I.. what happened today. It was an accident but still”
You connect the pieces easily. Luffy feels guilty and hesitant because he doesn’t want to accidentally hurt you again. You want to laugh and admit it wasn’t his fault and it was more your fault for being so caught up in your plans but.. you just let out a soft giggle.
“Idiot. I’m not that weak. Gonna take more than that to break me” you stretch Luffy’s cheek. “But if you want, we can talk about it first. Also don’t worry about hurting me. I’ll make sure to tell you if you go too far and you can ask me whenever to see if I’m okay.” you hum
“And we can try this again another time when my nose heals so you don’t have to be so on edge okay?”
Luffy smiles “okay” he nuzzles deeper into your shoulder, his arms wrapping around your waist. “Really love ya a lot”
He pouts, furrowing his brows at you
You chuckle “yeah yeah. Love you too”
Luffy smiles, pulling you down back into your bunk and holding you close. The two of you drift off comfortably in that small bunk, content and warm.
