⫸Disclaimer! Before I even get to posting my first fic, I'd like to let you know that I am barely past Skypiea so I haven't met Brook, Franky, or Jinbe yet! I can try to write them but alas I don't know them that well. Until I get there, I'll likely avoid writing them. However, my mental image of the Straw Hat crew is slightly older for the sake of my own comfort. Thank you!! (❁´◡`❁)⫷
This post has: Slow start, lots of backstory for reader (sorry about that), Luffy x reader
Being a fishman, you should be one with the land and sea, right?
How wrong that was.
Born into a family of fishmen that refused to go on land, you found your home inside of a coral reef, where your family would always reside in. Though, it wasn't always this exact coral reef; at least that's what you heard from your parents. Your family were nomads, you would move from reef to reef once resources depleted below a comfortable level to nourish all of your relatives. However, that all changed once you were born. Your parents wanted to focus their entire energy into raising you so you could grow up enough to handle the long travels your family would often go on.
The more you grew, the more the nutrients that the reef provided depleted. Your family was becoming restless. They were ready to leave.
Too young to fully understand why it made you so upset, you caught up on the change of energy from everyone around you. Your mood became quite sour whenever anyone mentioned how boring and dull the reef was. How your home was. You didn't get how they could just move on when you spent your entire life here.
Your parents saw the signs but they didn't know what to do about them. They knew that you weren't like them. You were different. Yet their hands were so tied, what could they do? They delayed the migration of the family so that they could find a way to somehow make everyone happy. While they wracked their minds about it, you exited the cavern that was your house. A shadow slid over your figure and your eyes narrowed as your head tossed back to see the caster of said shadow. A fishing boat. Your family weren't fond of fishers at all! They would take and take and take from their resources without even considering the life of the reef. Everyone was so busy with wanting to move, no one saw this dinghy little boat sneak up.
You swam up to the boat, eyebrows downturned with an angry resolve. Your reef was special. You'd show them. You'll protect it better than anyone else did for other reefs and then they'll finally get it. You broke the surface and took a deep inhale through your nostrils, reminding yourself of your lungs that you almost never used. Your eyes caught a boy's that was on the deck. They immediately lit up with wonder as he came closer to the edge of the small boat to take the sight of you in. “Hey!” The boy cheered out with a cheeky grin. “I never saw anyone that could swim like you before!” You grumbled angrily. “That's because I am a fishman, idiot!” His eyes widened in awe at this. “Woah! That's really cool!” You blinked twice, completely caught off-guard by his response. All anger and intentions left your mind after that.
He was a very quick friend. You started by sharing your experience of living underwater and how mean your family was about your home. “Moving around isn't so bad! Have you ever heard of a pirate?” You frowned intensely as you racked your mind. You then shook your head. “They're just like your family, actually! I guess they just don't mess with your food as much as we do. But they explore the surface and go around on all types of adventures!” You grumbled as you frowned more. “I don't care what type of adventures they go on! My home is where I'll stay!” Crossing your arms, you huffed out stubbornly. “Then why don't you just stay?” Your eyes widened as you uncrossed your arms. Of course, why haven't you thought of that?
A voice further on deck called the boy's name and he groaned playfully. “I think we caught enough fish! Bye!!” He concluded your very brief friendship. You waved him off as his boat sailed away, leaving you with your new plan.
You eagerly dove back underwater, immediately telling your parents of your new goal. They exchanged sad glances. The very thing that they were so afraid of acknowledging finally forced them to respond. Your mother sighed as she swam closer, gathering you into a hug. “Once we teach you how to survive, we will let you do this.” She spoke softly, fighting tears that were threatening to escape.
↬
Two years have passed since your mother's promise and now food has become too scarce to delay leaving any more than they already have. That didn't mean that saying goodbye was any easier. You waved off everyone as they filtered out from the coral reef and into the void of blue. The last one to leave was your mother. She held your face fondly as tears joined the salty water. “I am so proud of you. There is no doubt in my mind that this reef won't thrive with you as its guardian.” Your own eyes watered as you leaned into your mom's hold. “Thank you, mom. I will do my best.” She placed a kiss on your forehead before she swam off to join the rest of your family.
You turned to the reef that now lost the sparkle that was your family. This was it, the moment you have been training for. You knew that you would easily take care of any invasive creature but what if it was the reef itself that was dying? What would you do then? Your confidence wavered as you began to worry of this possible outcome. You shook your head as your expression hardened. Then you will stay and make sure it dies peacefully. You swam into your cavern, prepared to defend.
You couldn't remember how long it has been since you last had someone that you could talk to that wasn't just a fish. You sighed as you looked over the coral reef from your seat upon a rock. You rolled your eyes as your loneliness was interrupted by a fishhook being tossed into your field of view. You wanted company but you were nowhere near that desperate. You begrudgingly floated up from your seat and swam around in circles rapidly, picking up speed. Once you gained enough momentum, you shot out of water. Your feet landed on each side of a human with a weirdly long nose. You bent over to glare right into his eyes. “Beat it.” You growled.
His entire body trembled as he threw himself back and you could swear that you saw his ghost leave his body as he squealed. Your hands rested on your knees as you leaned over him more. You wanted to startle him, not scare the poor guy. “Did'ja catch somethin' good Usopp?” A voice came from inside of the boat as a man in a straw hat rushed out to see the sight with a bright grin. Once he saw you, he frowned deeply. His eyes then glanced down to the fainted Usopp. “Why did you kill my sharp shooter?” His voice didn't match the seriousness of the topic of hand AT ALL! He began picking his nose right after asking it, for crying out loud! You side-stepped the unconscious body as if it repulsed you, stammering. “I-I DIDN'T kill him! He just passed out!” The man in the straw hat made his way past you as if you weren't an intruder on the boat to stand over his sharp shooter. “Yup, that's Usopp for ya'.” He confirmed with a nod to himself as if he were proud for solving a mystery.
You narrowed your eyes at him as you grumbled. These people made no sense! “Luffy! You ate all of the damn meat again I am going to-” Out stormed a woman with orange hair and intentions to murder before her eyes caught on you. “Where did you get this one from?”
Luffy's eyes widened before he made a noise of surprise. Your expression deadpanned as he finally realized that you were, in fact, an intruder on his ship. “WOAH! Where did you come from?” You face-palmed, dragging your hand down your face before pointing into the ocean. “Were you stranded?” The straw hat asked as concern crept on his face. “No, nothing like that.” A hand lifted to wave off a question. “I'm just here protecting a reef so it can die peacefully without invasive species. Including humans.”
A voice chimed in from an olive skinned woman sat upon a chair reading a newspaper. “You are a fishman, right?” You nodded. “That's right. All of my family left the reef and I wanted to stay. It is my home and I refuse t-" “How long have you been alone?” That same pushy man said once again. Your eyes snapped to the floor as you tried to recall but no vague time period could even come to mind. His expression was serious, very different compared to when he first saw you. “By that look, you don't remember. It's settled then!” He tossed up his arms in a celebratory fashion. “You are joining my crew!” Your jaw dropped and you were unfortunately the odd man out.
The orange haired woman lifted a clenched fist before she slammed it into the back of his head, sending him bouncing into the ground like a ball of some sort. “You are SO STUPID!” She yelled out. He readjusted himself to sit criss-cross on the deck, fixing the hat on his head. “Nuh uh. The reef is clearly safe now that we have been the only people coming to disturb it for a long time. So now they can leave!” He then turned to you before standing up. He walked close. Invading your bubble of personal space. “You have no burden anymore. You can do what you want.” Your eyes widened as those words shook you. This tie to your home? Your responsibility? When has it become so heavy on your shoulders? Your lip quivered as your eyes watered. Stupid boy, stupid crew. You were supposed to tell them off but here they are pointing things out that you never even knew existed. “But I…I don't even know where to start.”
“Start by joining us!!” His arms shot up before capturing you into a hug of safety. “Okay…” You sniffled, a warm smile creeping upon your face.
Your first few days of being a pirate were relaxing and fun. You'd wake up, enjoy food that Sanji would make, and spend time getting to know your crewmates. Most importantly, you enjoyed wind. There was nothing quite like it. The ocean current was somewhat like it but it could never truly rival the feeling of the strong breeze caressing your face in the waking moments of dawn. This was the first part of your routine that was just entirely yours.
Not for long.
You were on the deck once again, eyes closed as you enjoyed the sunless breeze. Your time was peaceful until you heard the pitter patter of sandals of someone who was trying his best to mimic a quietness that is simply impossible for his entire being to even grasp. Your eyes opened slowly to glance at the figure in the dark. You rolled your eyes fondly. Luffy was at it again with trying to steal food from the galley. You scoffed playfully as you closed your eyes once more as you returned to enjoying the wind, tuning the world around you out.
What you didn't notice was the fact that the pitter patter of sandals never retreated to the room. Luffy got his "snack," if a five course meal could even be called that, and he was on his way back into his hammock to snooze. That idea changed once he caught sight of you. He stopped dead in his tracks as his pupils expanded, not to adjust to the dark, but something else entirely. "I could stare at you like that forever..." He muttered out. "Hm?" Your eyes reopened as you turned toward his figure but he was already gone. You looked around in confusion.
Once the sun arose, the rest of the crew woke up and went about their normal days. That was until a cannon nearly hit the mast. You were standing three feet from said cannon's shot, causing you to whip around with agitation. Another pirate crew hollered out some nonsense from their ship. You couldn't understand and quite frankly, you didn't care. The rest of the crew found their places on the deck as well as they joined you in glaring at the opposing crew. Luffy was the last to come out, he was taking a little cat nap while he waited for lunch.
Who you could only assume as the enemy captain proudly planted his leg on the railing of his ship, crossing his arms. "Monkey D. Luffy, I have heard a lot about you. Once you are dead, I will collect your bounty for myself and your new reputation!" You dove into the water before he even got to finish his sentence.
There was one thing that you didn't mention about your species to your crewmate. You weren't just any fishman, no. You were a mantis shrimp fishman.
You shot out of the water, landing onto the enemy crew's deck before punching it. The deck exploded, the force of the impact sending the captain flying. He was used as a tool to knock down some of his crewmates like bowling pins. At first they were confused, then they were scared. "RETREAT!!" The captain said frantically. You crossed your arms as you took a step onto their railing, watching them with an unamused expression. Once wind caught their sail, you simply side-stepped off of their ship and returned to your own.
You grabbed your shirt, wringing out the water as your crew watched your back in awe. Luffy broke the silent shock. "What...was that!?" He beamed as he invaded your personal space. You continued to wring water from your clothes. "I am a mantis shrimp. My punches are powerful." "How powerful!?" His excitement only increased. "So powerful that I can kill a guy." This earned a gasp from Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp. "THAT'S SO COOL!" The little reindeer cheered. You smiled softly at their excitement. "Sorry for not saying sooner, I didn't find it relevant." "Not only are you super cool but you're a great fighter too!" Luffy added. You shrugged as your smile grew.
“I’ll show you more tricks if you promise not to eat off of my plate.” You offered with a grin. His head nodded violently and you smiled more. “Alright! So I know what we’re doing for the rest of the day.
I ran out of space I think…OOPS!! There will most likely be a part two!
❝Hiding your devil fruit from everyone is the only rule. Unless it's your crush.❞
PAIRING: Monkey D. Luffy ╱ fem!reader
TAGS: fluff, angst, the timeline starts at Thriller Bark and contains spoilers up to Egghead
WORDS COUNT: 13k
LOU'S NOTES: Hi! English is not my first language, so let me know if you see any mistake, I would be very grateful <3
The sea obeyed your voice.
Its waters danced and whispered just for you, caressing your feet and soothing your pains, thrilling your soul with its gentle mirages that carried you back home. Pleased to embrace you in its waves once more. Pleased with your return.
The sea waited for you for centuries. Patient. Longing. Tearful.
No soul had been born who could tame its ferocity. The times were divine, rushing to shore without coinciding with him could be a catastrophe. So it forced itself to endure. To tolerate the pain. To tolerate the desire to see him again.
It remained hidden under the wing of a specific family, protected by them on a remote island in Grand Line, for centuries without being disturbed. They passed the word down from parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren. That devil fruit, kept in a locked chest, with its peculiar conch shell shape that glowed in shades of blue and light blue, was not to be consumed.
The fruit would choose its bearer. Like no other, it would sing to attract whoever it desired, until it made them carry an unknown destiny. Anyone who coveted it wrongly would be punished.
And everyone learned to respect it.
You had always been curious. Why was your family the only one who knew about its existence and could take care of it, when there were so many others on the island? Why couldn't anyone else even get close enough to appreciate it? What was known about that devil fruit was passed on by word of mouth. Your aunt had told you about its appearance during a festival in the village, while dancing with laughter, one jump after another, to the rhythm of "don, don, don, don", but she didn't know if it was real either. Someone else had told her about it.
Your grandmother wouldn't let anyone near the old temple on the highest hill on the island. The task of caring for it was relegated to a few women in the family, those who had the gift of hearing. Hearing what? You thought it was nonsense. How could anyone hear a fruit? As a child, you couldn't make sense of it.
But curiosity kept you awake.
And you understood everything at the age of seven.
A festival to an ancient god was being celebrated in the village. Sitting on a bench —a tree trunk cut down by your father—, you admired those present. There it was again. That rhythm. That dance. It was fun, it was playful, it was free. The huge smiles on their faces were something that only that dance could give.
The dance of Nika.
They did it once a month, as if trying to call him, intending him to join in the fun if he saw them, and something inside you told you that this god would do just that. He would join them with a huge laugh. And the party would never end.
But what was happening here was more than just a party. It was a plea. The people of your village and your family believed that he would return to save them. And someone important would come with him.
You shook your head from side to side, playing with the fabric of your white dress when you heard it.
A melancholic voice sang melodies that pressed on your heart. You were too young to understand the longing behind that song, the pain of loss. Its slowness differed from the joy in Nika's rhythm.
You covered your ears, not wanting to hear any more. But it was calling you. It was making you get up from your seat against your will.
Under the watchful gaze of your grandmother, whom you could not see through the sea of people, you made your way towards the forest. The old woman heard the crying in that song, more intense than ever. It was different from what it always whispered to her. Now it was crying out for you.
You followed the path with a grimace. It was lit by small golden lanterns shaped like flowers. Despite your fear of being scolded for entering the forbidden area, you couldn't help but follow that voice. Its broken song gradually changed, becoming a little more cheerful. Enough so as not to break your heart. You wondered if this is what the song of the sirens sounded like, the ones you read about in your book, the ones who lived on gyojin island.
You stopped in front of the temple. How many minutes had it taken you to climb the hill? You had lost track of time while enveloped in those melodies.
Seeing it up close took your breath away. Tall marble pillars surrounded by ivy stood before you. A glass dome revealed the interior of the place, making your blood run cold.
A golden statue of a woman stood in the middle, surrounded by water. Would you sink if you approached it? Or would it be shallow, free to walk towards it? That woman looked up at the sky with her back to you, her arms outstretched, her fingers curved as if touching something.
Was she singing? Could a statue sing? Or was it...? You searched with your eyes until you found it. A chest rested at her feet, surrounded by vines. As if it had never been touched before.
But something in that voice asked you to. Something in that woman's position begged you for something.
You dipped your tiny feet into the water and a sigh of relief escaped from within you when the water only reached your hips. For an adult, it would reach their knees or lower.
You walked across the slimy ground covered in seaweed, pouting in disgust. Your grandmother protected this place, but it seemed she didn't clean it, given its condition.
The singing grew softer as you got closer. The moonlight made the statue look more beautiful, but its golden colour would shine brighter in the sun.
When you reached its feet, which were in front of your face, you raised your hands to the vines, pulling them off one by one. The chest, once freed, looked old. Conveniently, a key lay beside it. You shook your head in confusion. No one had stolen it in centuries, and you had made it there without anyone stopping you. What were they afraid of? It was silly to fear a fruit. Surely it had some foolish power, like the men on the reward posters that arrived every week. There were a few incredible powers, but there were also fruits that seemed bad to you.
You inserted the key into the lock, opening the chest carefully so as not to break it. You widened your eyes in amazement when you saw it. It shone in shades of blue and light blue, shaped like a seashell. So this was what the devil's fruit looked like. You took it in your hands, not knowing that you were being allowed to do so. Not knowing that your destiny was being forged.
Standing by the island's beach, with the celebration behind her, your grandmother smiled softly. The clock was ticking again.
He had already been born and consumed his fruit, and he had chosen you at the same time to accompany him.
With the sudden violence of the sea that night, the people dancing merrily and a little girl spitting in a temple alone, the old woman welcomed the goddess of the sea.
The "Hito Hito no Mi, model: Naia" had chosen its bearer.
Your growth since that night had been quite an adventure. Your grandmother had told you things, like the name of the fruit and where it came from. The reason why your family had protected it for generations and generations finally had an answer. You were direct descendants of Naia, but the goddess was jealous and refused to choose a woman before the time. You didn't know who she was waiting for, and the old woman didn't have a concrete answer. Only old beliefs that had been instilled in her, which she couldn't vouch for as being true.
But if you were there, in front of her, surrounded by fish that seemed to be talking to you, then there was a chance that he was also in another sea.
The longer you lived in the village, the more miracles happened. The famine ceased with the increasing abundance of fish. Your unconscious attracted large fish and beasts from the Grand Line, which were hunted to feed the villagers. They ate through tears, thanking the sun god for his help, without knowing who was really responsible.
Ships began to stop there. After four years, your voice began to attract sailors, bounty hunters, and pirates. With their visits, the families around you were able to support themselves. The imminent improvement in the standard of living among these villagers caught the attention of the world government. An island was rising and should not remain outside their hands, living according to their laws. Abiding by the rules was the best they could do.
However, no one could accept it. The hatred in their hearts consumed them alive. These people were not the kind who wanted to be protected by the marine or receive the light of the world government by paying tribute. No. These people had their beliefs, beliefs that those above despised. Beliefs for which they would seek to silence them.
Your grandmother knew that your devil fruit would bring trouble. If the legends were true, the search for your existence would be relentless.
A woman with the ability to control the sea was an aberration to everyone who admired her. A forbidden existence hidden like a myth.
But myths had an origin and, in turn, someone who tried to destroy them.
As a very young girl, you had no control over the sea. The strong emotions he was unaccustomed to sent him into a frenzy. Your cries stirred up hurricanes, impossible to stop until your heart was calm again. Your anger violently shook the waves, your sudden outbursts calling forth tsunamis.
Their frequency was not something that the world government —who kept their eyes on the island that was suddenly making a name for itself— could ignore. Marines disguised as sailors or ordinary tourists came and went, reporting what they saw. Was that island changing its magnetic field? After centuries of maintaining the same one? Or was something beyond their control happening?
It was after a huge earthquake and a subsequent tsunami, one that was out of the ordinary, with waves so big that they flooded the coast and left the island without a port, that your grandmother made the decision to expel you. CP0 began prowling the area when you were seventeen. They walked around looking at all the women, with instructions to pay special attention to the youngest ones.
Any who showed abnormalities. Any who seemed to interact unnaturally with the sea. Any who talked to fish.
The one who could be the woman the five elders wanted desperately.
Your grandmother, your aunt, and your mother did everything in their power. Sooner or later, those government agents would find the temple to the goddess Naia, confirming the suspicions of the celestial dragons. That temple, that golden statue facing the sun, was the only one in the world.
Those who knew her believed she had died, leaving no trace of her passage through life, a woman who would never set foot in such a rotten place again. But there she was, laughing in their faces, always hidden, always waiting for the right moment to return.
The three women in your family knew that news of such magnitude would not sit well. Everyone was in danger, not just you. And they were willing to face them as long as they could be reunited.
Your mother pulled you by the hand, all of them covering their mouths to stifle their tired gasps. The forest was the village's domain, illuminated in every corner, trees marked to indicate the paths back home. Your aunt carried a bag of clothes and your grandmother led the way.
They came upon a flooded coastline. Four villagers were holding onto tree trunks, pulling on ropes tied to the boat to keep it steady. They had placed two barrels of provisions inside. You looked at everyone in alarm, not knowing what to say, not wanting to leave.
This island was your home. Everyone had watched you grow up. Why did you have to leave everything behind? Just because of an ancient legend that no one knew was real?
The old woman placed her hands on your cheeks after your aunt had wrapped the bag around your body.
"You must flee, child." She whispered.
You shook your head, frightened. Yes, your devil fruit seemed to control the sea, but you had never sailed. You had never gone out into the world. And you would not be going out onto a calm sea. You lived in Grand Line, and out there were fearsome pirates, the yonko sailed those waters.
"It's for your own good. And for the good of the world." She tucked your hair behind your ear with trembling hands. "One day you'll understand."
"I don't want to go." You whispered, looking at your mother pleadingly.
"It is Naia's will." Your grandmother called your attention again. "You, Y/N, must continue living."
Naia, that mythical goddess again. What did it matter if you were her chosen one for something you couldn't understand?
"Lie. Don't talk about your devil fruit. Don't reveal it to anyone. That way you can survive." Your mother's words squeezed your heart.
"Don't worry about us, we'll be fine." Your aunt said with a smile.
"Destiny will bring the two of you together." Murmured the older woman.
Her kisses on your forehead, the calm sea as the villagers lifted you onto the boat, their hands waving in the distance, your uncontrollable crying.
You didn't know how long you had cried as the small boat sailed on its own course. The sea remained calm around you as it carried you as far away as possible from your native island. An island where government agents searched relentlessly for a young woman who fit the description, interrogating and silently murdering those who refused to cooperate.
At some point, your eyes closed after crying for so long, each tear altering the sea around your island, unknowingly embracing the lifeless bodies of many girls you called your friends, as well as those of adults and elderly women. Among them, your family.
All protecting a goddess who would help a new dawn arrive.
Usopp prepared his bait, ready to catch something. They hadn't put anything in the aquarium for days. Luffy had put another shark in, and it had eaten all the fish, leaving them without provisions, without meat. Their captain was more unbearable than ever, and he had only gone a day and a half without eating meat.
He cast his line, humming his song as he tapped his feet. The sun burned his skin, and the sea seemed particularly calm that day. Would he catch anything if no fish came near the worms he had stolen from Robin's garden?
Zoro left his weight on the ground, opening the window of the crow's nest.
"Oi, there's something shining in the water." He announced.
Usopp raised his fishing rod, looking for his binoculars. Nami and Robin put down their magazines and books and stood up.
"Something shiny? Treasure?" Nami asked, smiling.
"I want to see!" Luffy shouted, opening the kitchen door. His rubber arms stretched out to the deck railing, throwing himself towards it to get there faster.
Robin smiled as she watched him jump up and down excitedly. Soon the others arrived, crowding around the railing. Chopper was lifted up by Zoro, who sat him on his shoulder so he could see better. Sanji stood next to them, smoking.
"We have to catch it!" Said Luffy.
"Oi, Luffy, wait." Usopp murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "First we need to see what it is from a distance."
"We can always throw it back into the sea." Added Robin.
"You're so scary!" Shouted Usopp.
"Luffy, bring that shiny thing over here." Ordered Nami to the rubber boy, looking excitedly at the glint in the distance.
The captain's arms stretched out as far as they could, pulling the small boat towards the Sunny Go at a speed that the sea offered no resistance to. Refusing to protect her from him.
"I see barrels!" Chopper shouted.
"Super!" Franky celebrated.
"Will they have food? I hope it's in good condition." Said Sanji.
"I hope it's treasure..." Nami said dreamily, clasping her hands together with a huge smile.
"I hope it doesn't kill us." Usopp lamented, thinking it was a trap.
"We can always throw it back into the sea." Robin repeated.
Luffy blinked, tilting his head to one side. Inside the boat was a girl, sleeping as if she weren't in the Grand Line. He pressed his lips together when he noticed the trail of tears on her cheeks. Her eyelashes were still wet, as if she had never stopped crying, even in her dreams.
"Chopper, we have to help her."
The seriousness in his tone alerted the crew. They looked closely, the sun no longer dazzling their eyes, revealing the figure trembling as she hugged a bag.
"We have to get her on board!" The crew's doctor ran to Franky after Zoro brought him down.
They all worked together without asking any questions yet.
There was a girl in their infirmary. A girl who had suddenly appeared amid those treacherous waters, sleeping as if she didn't care about the danger of her actions. A girl who was burning with fever while the little reindeer placed damp cloths on her forehead.
Sanji made tea for everyone while they waited for news from the doctor, curious about her identity.
"I checked her belongings. There was nothing with her name on it. Just clothes and food." Robin commented.
Nami tucked a strand of her short hair behind her ear and sighed.
"All we can do is wait for her to wake up."
"How did she survive?" Murmured Zoro, leaning against the kitchen wall with his arms crossed.
"It's a mystery. Falling asleep in Grand Line with all the pirates around who could have killed her..." Robin shook her head.
"Lucky we found her." Nami acknowledged.
Sanji was holding back, but the soft smile on his face and the multiple turns he made while serving tea told everyone how happy he was with the presence of another woman in the crew. The swordsman insulted him under his breath, earning himself a kick, and then starting a fight.
Everyone ignored them, accustomed to their behaviour. As the hours passed, uncertainty grew among those present. They continued with their activities while you were being treated. All that remained was to wait for you to wake up and tell them about yourself.
You opened your eyes slightly, looking around in confusion. It wasn't your boat. There was no captivating sky above you. There were no waves rocking your body to calm your crying.
You sat up a little on the examination table, leaning on one elbow. The two lamps that illuminated the area provided good lighting. On your left were two small shelves with bottles, their labels showing you the names of their contents. Medicines. Looking to your right, a single desk stood with more medical instruments. Laboratory tubes with different coloured caps, a stone mortar, many books and posters with drawings, from lungs to bones.
But what caught your attention most was the creature sitting in the chair. It looked like a stuffed animal. You had never seen anything like it on your home island.
"Oh! You're awake!" A shrill voice startled you.
Did that stuffed animal talk?
"What are you?" You asked, raising your eyebrows. "Can you talk? Where am I?"
"I'm the doctor for this crew." He climbed onto a stool next to you to examine you.
You seemed to be feeling better. Sanji could prepare something to boost your strength.
"A pirate crew?" You whispered fearfully.
The worst-case scenario was being captured by pirates. You mentally berated yourself for not being more careful. For falling asleep. For not begging harder to stay at home.
"Wait here." Said the little one, adjusting his tiny doctor’s coat as he left what looked like the infirmary.
You found him cute, but you weren’t going to admit it. You had to escape, not succumb to this creature. You found your sandals next to the examination table and put them on. You climbed down, making as little noise as possible, and opened the door again. You found yourself on the deck, its grass making you gasp, but you covered your mouth so as not to be discovered.
You had to survive. You had to hide. That's what your grandmother would have wanted. Your mother. Your aunt. They had all given you the chance to live. You just hoped they were all right.
You ran towards the deck in search of your boat, but growled when you didn't see it.
"Wait! Don't jump!" A female voice shouted behind you.
You turned around fearfully. A beautiful woman with short orange hair was approaching you slowly, careful not to scare you any more.
"I'm Nami. The navigator of this crew." She introduced herself with a sweet smile.
"Am I on a pirate ship?"
"We're not like other pirates." The woman assured you.
"We're good!" Shouted the doctor behind her. "And you shouldn't be out of bed. You could get sick again."
"My angel, allow this cook to be your slave and treat you like the princess you are." Said a man crouching in front of you with a bowl of soup. It smelled good. Did he say slave?
You blinked in confusion.
"Why don't you become my slave and, as your first order, jump off the ship?" Said a man with green hair and two katanas at his waist.
The blond's eyebrow twitched and he turned towards the swordsman, kicking him.
"You're going to scare her." Said a melodious voice. A woman with black hair and bangs looked at you with a sweet gaze.
"You're not going to kill us, are you?" Asked a man with a long nose hiding behind the black-haired girl.
"I thought you were going to kill me."
"Usopp is afraid of cockroaches. You could kill him with that before he tries anything." Teased the orange-haired girl.
"Oi, Nami, why are you telling her that!?"
You watched them interact for a few minutes. They were... funny. Like a little family. They didn't look like the pirates you read about in your books or in the newspaper. The dreaded Rocks D. Xebec, the mighty Whitebeard, the youngest yonko Shanks. They were all intimidating, with powerful crews, but these pirates were strange.
You smiled softly, unaware of the gaze of a certain rubber boy sitting on the lion's head.
His eyes, curious about the girl in front of him, tried to find something he had seen before. Some trace of those tears that soaked your cheeks, as if the pain you carried was greater than you wanted to show. What you hid inside you would one day explode, but until then, until you let him see it, he only wanted one thing from you.
"Join my crew!" He shouted from above. "That way you won't have to go on that little boat."
You looked up, and the air around you seemed unreachable, forbidding you to have it as you lost yourself in that smile, so bright as it melted into the setting sun.
It wasn't like you to trust so quickly. It wasn't like you to wander around with your eyes closed, without trying to figure out other people's intentions. But nothing in his gaze, in their gazes, showed you any hostility or malice. That young man who stood above everyone else as their captain had a calming aura. As if everyone would be fine by his side. As if even the greatest dangers could not disturb them with him by their side.
You knew you could have refused that day. Sailed alone until you found another island. But wherever you went, you would carry the danger with you.
And along with them, you discovered that the danger was represented by their captain.
On your first day after agreeing to join, everyone introduced themselves to you. The doctor was called Chopper, a cute blue-nosed reindeer who loved telling you medical facts, eating cotton candy, and hated the heat. He knew a lot about medicinal herbs and had an incredible dream.
The beautiful black-haired woman was Nico Robin, wanted by the World Government for being the only survivor of Ohara. She was an archaeologist and her knowledge of everything dazzled you. They told you that they had defied the World Government to save her life, and your heart beat faster.
If they knew that CP0 was after you, would they fight for you? Could you be that important to them?
The navigator, Nami, had been part of the crew from the beginning. She liked to buy pretty clothes and treasures. But what fascinated you most was her knowledge of the weather, her ability to anticipate the sea. You didn't need to announce the whispers of those waters if she could interpret them.
The long-nosed guy, Usopp, served as a sniper. His weapon confused you, forcing you to shut your mouth when you saw him use it. He never missed a single shot, always hitting the target. Nami and Robin would bet, and the short-haired girl always won because she trusted him.
The green-haired man was Roronoa Zoro, who had earned a reputation as a pirate hunter. He was serious and slept a lot, but when he laughed, he laughed heartily. He also had a strange obsession with annoying the blond man. The cook with the weird phrases and compliments, Sanji. His meals were a delicacy, and he had taken the time to ask you what your favourite was so he could make it and make you smile.
The man who only wore swimming trunks was the ship's carpenter, Franky. He had built the Sunny Go, and you considered it a work of art. You complimented the aquarium, and the area would possibly become your favourite.
And the captain, Monkey D. Luffy. That boy with his silly rubber devil fruit that made you smile. He was cheerful, playful, and funny. If everyone was here, he must be someone trustworthy.
Everything about him caught your attention.
As the days passed, you allowed yourself to feel comfortable around them. Perhaps this wasn't what your grandmother would have preferred, but if these people were enemies of the world government, then there was no safer place for you and your true identity.
No one could find a faceless girl with forbidden abilities, let alone imagine that she was now a pirate.
You told them what you could about yourself. Saying your name or talking about where you were born was not a challenge. These people did not judge you or pry into your past, not if it did not directly affect them. You discovered that they tolerated being mocked, but they did not tolerate anyone talking to or touching their friends. It was a silent respect for one another, a fondness that went beyond understanding. They were friends, they were where they needed to be. Where they belonged.
And just as everyone had their role in the crew, you couldn't really find yours.
They didn't force you to learn how to fight like an expert, but they wanted to teach you the basics so you could defend yourself.
You couldn't reveal the truth about your devil fruit. You had only mentioned that you had one, but you didn't know its powers. You had never used it to attack, as you had never been forced or needed to do so. You had never seen what it limited you to and what it promised you. With the "Hito Hito no Mi, model: Naia", you could only hear fish and sea creatures. And there was something else. Something you had discovered that embraced you in your darkest moments.
The addition of Brook —a skeleton who played various instruments and sang, which almost gave you a heart attack when you saw him— helped a lot to maintain a façade. His devil fruit had worked after he died. Everyone assumed that yours would awaken when the time was right.
Living day to day, joke after joke, disaster after disaster, was relaxing you.
You played with water pistols with everyone, shared clothes with Nami and Robin (and at night you spoiled each other with face masks and massages), you laughed at Sanji and Zoro's fights, rejected the cook's attempts to take you on a date, played guessing games about what was inside Chopper's laboratory tubes to make him smile, gave Brook ideas for songs while you drank tea together, joined in Franky and Usopp's shooting competitions, betting on who would hit the target. Always trusting the sniper, winning berries that you shared with Nami.
Luffy taught you your little training sessions to learn how to defend yourself. More than once he found you staring at him blankly, thinking you didn't understand how to throw a good punch, when in reality you were just mesmerised. Enchanted by his joy. By his smile. By his disposition. By his beauty.
"You have to bring one arm back and then push with the other! Like this!" He said, frowning in concentration.
Nami and Robin watched them, both leaning against the railing on the upper floor, outside the room the three of you shared.
"Luffy always gets like this when he decides to take on a pupil..." Sighed the navigator. "Luffy, Y/N isn't a kung fu dugong!"
The rubber boy looked at you.
"You're not going to make it?" He lamented, lowering his arms. "Zoro! Lend her one of your katanas!"
"No way." Muttered the swordsman without opening his eyes, trying to sleep.
Preparing your mind and body to improve your defence, those weak blows you used to deliver, was something you never imagined you would have to do when you lived in your village. Keeping up with your captain and the crew's cook was torture. Kicks to the head, hips, legs. Punches to the chin, stomach, nose. They were trying to teach you something you could use in a complex situation, if you didn't have time to hide. Which seemed silly to you.
Luffy's dream was to become the pirate king.
A noble dream. A dream for the brave.
He talked to you about freedom, about how the freest man in the world would be the one who became the pirate king, and you listened to him. He would sit next to you after training, when Sanji left them alone to prepare a snack at sunset. The rubber boy talked about everything and nothing. The words flowed from him as if from an inexhaustible source.
In a short time, you got to know his older brother, Ace, who, impressively, was the commander of Whitebeard's second division. A certain Dadan who raised them both alongside some mountain bandits. A young woman named Makino who always brought them clothes and taught them manners. His grandfather Garp, who served as a vice admiral in the marine and always wanted to force him to join. The yonko Shanks, who was the original owner of his straw hat, with whom he had a mission to return it when he surpassed him. And his brother Sabo, who died as a child and whom he missed madly.
Luffy talked and talked, filling your silences, smiling at you when you said something. Patiently waiting for you to talk about yourself. Eagerly waiting for you to open up. For your freedom by his side. Because that was what he wanted most for his friends. For them to be free.
But what chance of freedom could he give them if he was suffering so much?
His reality hit him like cold water. He was there, and yet he wasn't.
His world was falling apart.
He had lost them all in Sabaody. He believed he was strong, he believed he could overcome anything with enough courage, with enough confidence. If he had them by his side, he could overcome anything that came his way. He would fight for his dream, for the dreams of his friends, for the dreams of the people he met along the way.
He would do everything possible to put a smile on their faces.
So why were they determined to take his smile away? Why did they make them disappear before his eyes? Why did they let him smile broadly when he saved his brother, only to force him to hold him in his arms as he whispered his last words? Why did they have to kill Ace? Why?
Luffy was devastated. Those who were present when he awoke heard his cries of agony in the jungle. His pleas for Ace. His questions about his whereabouts.
He banged his body against the trees. His head against the rocks. He cried uncontrollably, asking, begging, pleading. A soft "thank you for loving me" repeated over and over in his mind, breaking him as he hugged himself.
It was Jinbe who pulled him out of the constant spiral his thoughts were caught up in. The doubts that gnawed at him were stagnating. Luffy wanted to be strong. He wanted to be strong enough not to lose anyone else. He wanted to be strong enough to carry his brother's will with him so that one day he could look up at the sky and smile at him, showing him that he had succeeded. He had become the king of pirates.
The news of Whitebeard's and his commander's deaths spread around the world. It received positive reactions from those who feared them and had been harmed by them. Fear spread throughout the territories that had been protected by this powerful crew. But those who suffered the most were the small family who had raised and watched these brothers grow up in Foosha.
Holding the newspaper in your hands, you read and reread the news. Just like everyone else in the crew, you wanted to be by his side. You could feel where he was. The sea whispered it to you, and you were impulsive. You never measured your actions. You never said enough to yourself. So you stole a small boat on that desolate island where you had ended up after their separation in Sabaody.
You let the sea guide you without a log pose, leading you to your captain. After a few days, you ignored the new newspaper announcing that Luffy had returned to the scene of the tragedy. Two years. You would all be reunited in two years. But you couldn't not go to his side.
You wanted to give him something to hold on to. Something that would give him calm and strength while everyone waited for their reunion.
The sea beasts cleared your path and escorted you somewhere. It took you three days to reach a jungle island. You got off your boat, nervously smoothing your white shirt. You trusted the sea. It wouldn't be wrong. But if Luffy was in this place, how would you get to him without being killed by one of those beasts growling in the distance? Sanji had taught you a few kicks, and your captain a few punches, but you were still weak.
This island was covered in vegetation. The trees stood proudly, as tall as if they were competing with each other to be the first to reach the sunlight. The plants with strange leaves were striking, to the point that something in your mind told you not to touch them. And in the distance, threatening to erupt, you could see three volcanoes.
You entered the jungle, startled by the sound of quick, heavy footsteps running towards you. You looked to your side and your scream echoed through the trees.
A larger-than-normal tiger was approaching you, baring fangs as long as your arm. You froze in fear, falling to the grass as you closed your eyes when it lunged to bite.
"Young lady? I don't know how you got here, but this is no place for beautiful girls."
You opened your eyes when death did not come, and instead there was an elderly man adjusting his glasses in front of you, smiling sideways. The tiger lay between you both, unconscious.
"Old man Rayleigh! Where are you?"
The speed with which you stood up impressed the man in front of you, whose name was Rayleigh. Rayleigh? You looked at him again. He closed his eyes, a gentle smile on his face, crossing his arms. You had read about him. You had read everything about the pirate king and his crew.
"Huh? Y/N?" You looked behind the dark king and there he was. Your captain, completely bandaged, looking at you in surprise. "Y/N!"
His movements were, all in all, normal. He didn't use his powers as he ran towards you and wrapped you in his arms. He seemed to be careful with his body, and he certainly needed to be.
"What are you doing here? How did you get here? How are the others? We were supposed to meet in two years!" His excited voice as he pulled your body close to his using what little strength he had devastated you.
You hugged him back, careful not to disturb any areas where the injury was more severe. You felt a slight tremor in his body as he asked a thousand questions, not giving you time to answer.
Rayleigh watched the two of you thoughtfully, Jinbe joining him at his side, having felt a sudden calling.
"I came by boat." You whispered.
"The little boat? That's dangerous." Said Luffy.
"Young lady, you crossed the Calm Belt and overcame all those sea beasts in a simple boat? You must be very strong." Rayleigh inquired.
"It's not that." Jinbe wanted to say, but the words reached no one but you in your mind.
Your eyes quickly found him, and he smiled at you.
"Oi, Y/N, Y/N, are you going to stay?" Luffy asked with a huge smile, capturing your full attention.
"No. I'd be interrupting whatever is going on here."
"You need to train, you're still weak." He teased.
"I'm not!" You complained.
But you were. The right-hand man of the Pirate King and the first son of the sea smiled amusedly. One, knowing the whole story. And the other, having grown up with a legend.
The sun and the sea belonged to each other. And the sun and the sea were unknowingly facing each other.
"If you don't mind, I have a proposal for you, miss Y/N." Said the gyojin.
Luffy and you stopped arguing and looked at him.
"I would like to train you in gyojin karate."
"Gyojin karate? I'm bad with my fists." You muttered, embarrassed.
"That would be great, Jinbe!" Said Luffy, picking his nose. "But doesn't it only work with gyojin? Will she turn into a mermaid?"
"She'll make it work better than anyone else." Said Rayleigh, walking towards a campfire. "I'll give you a month to talk and for Luffy to recover. Then you'll leave with Jinbe. Is that alright with both of you?"
Luffy nodded, dragging you by the hand towards the campfire.
In a month, he and you grew closer. You discovered all kinds of beetles, a hobby of his that you loved. You made them fight, betting on which one would win, groaning in frustration when you lost. You could never beat him when he had the advantage of knowledge over you.
You fought over the food Rayleigh hunted, receiving teasing from the adult who quickly grew fond of you. In his eyes, you were a sweet girl who needed to bring out that hidden strength. Jinbe only scolded Luffy when he bit your hand before you could take some meat.
It caught your attention how in the mornings your captain was a cheerful boy, giving a huge smile to anyone, but at night he would break down. You slept separately. Rayleigh used to cover him with his cape, and Jinbe covered you with his. But when no one was looking, when they went to the island's shore to talk in private, Luffy would move.
He sought refuge in your arms. He didn't ask for permission. He didn't ask questions. He didn't speak. All you felt were his bandaged arms wrapped around your waist and his face against your chest. If tears wet your shirt and silent sobs shook his body, you said nothing. You stroked his hair silently until he fell asleep, and only after making sure he was, did you sleep yourself.
It was the morning after a nightmare woke him up that you made your decision.
You had done this three or four times in your life. You weren't sure you could do it, but that was the only reason you had visited Rusukaina.
On the shore, you took off your sandals and put your feet in the water. The weakness of seawater, which must bother all users of the devil's fruit, never bothered you. When they said it was an anomaly, this was why.
You stretched your hand out over the water and it rose just ten centimetres. You clenched it into a fist and opened it again. Fifteen centimetres. You closed it again and the water fell, splashing as it formed a puddle. A puddle in the sea. The water was mirrored, confirming your success.
"How can you be there if you ate a devil fruit?"
You looked up, frightened.
Luffy looked at you confused, his head tilted to one side and his lips pursed.
"You didn't eat one then?"
"Luffy..."
"I saw you lift the water."
"It must have been your imagination." You said, smiling nervously.
"No. Earlier on the Sunny Go, I saw you attract the fish. I thought it was Camie, but Camie doesn't eat her friends."
You remained silent.
"It must be great to be able to swim with a devil fruit!" He laughed as he approached you. "What were you doing with the water? Something like fium and splash!"
You scratched the back of your neck while the bandaged boy moved his hands in exaggerated movements. That was just how he was. And you were becoming more attached to him than usual. The way he explained things with the sounds they made made you smile.
"If I tell you, it will be a secret between us."
"Are you going to show me your treasure?" He asked, his eyes sparkling.
"Something like that."
You took his hand, pulling him close to you. You both looked out at the puddle in the sea, so much like a mirror.
With the end of the month and the promise to meet again in two years, you parted ways. The truth about your devil fruit was kept by your captain, who smiled happily at learning more about you. Happy at how little by little you were opening up to them. To him.
He begged you for different tricks with water, bursting into laughter when the sea water weakened him. He understood why Jinbe had to be the one to train you, eager to know how strong you would be in two years. He was saddened when, at night, he no longer had your warmth by his side and your caresses on his hair to soothe his pain and trauma.
But he took refuge in your gift.
That puddle you had created in the sea was trapped in a seashell. You had taught him how to take the enchanted water out and put it back in, with no limit on its use.
He believed it was the best thing in the world after his hat, his brothers, and his crew.
His lonely nights were filled with laughter by the sea. Laughter that had previously only existed in his memories, but which he could now hear and see. The puddle formed mirages, reflecting his memories.
He saw Ace. He saw Sabo. He saw the three of them running through Mount Colubo. Hunting, playing, fighting. He cried at everything he witnessed. Just hearing his brothers being happy, Sabo counting the points in their training sessions, Ace teasing him for being weak, his taunts at seeing his older brother embarrassed when receiving compliments from Makino. It all made his heart ache.
The two years passed more quickly than the crew had expected. The strength they had all gained, their new skills and their new appearances were something to be appreciated.
Your training with Jinbe on a remote island in order to hide your identity had been laborious. You were good at gyojin karate. Your devil fruit responded to you with ease now. You could defend yourself and attack without relying on others, but the adult had told you that you still had a long way to go. The Hito Hito no Mi would not stop there. You still had to awaken it. You still had to learn more with it, without limiting yourself. You could do anything you could imagine with enough determination.
You smiled amusedly when you saw Nami sitting at the bar, drinking alone. You approached her from behind, hugging her and whispering in her ear.
"Are you free tonight?"
The woman, now with long hair, shuddered when she recognised the voice and turned around with a smile.
"Y/N!" Her arms wrapped around you in a big hug. "It's been so long! You look amazing!"
"You look beautiful, Nami." You said, sitting down next to her with a smile.
"Ladies, would you like me to buy you a drink?"
You both turned towards the voice with disinterest, your expressions instantly changing when you recognised it. Usopp was smiling, looking more confident than ever. Nami and you rushed to hug him, starting to talk about everything the three of you had done in those two years. You talked a little about your training, saying that you were now good at karate, proud of your attacks.
As the minutes passed, you met up with the others again.
The Sunny Go was still in the same place you left it, without a single scratch. Seeing most of the crew filled your heart with joy. Those people who had welcomed you with open arms two years ago were finally in front of you again.
Franky whistled and complimented the beautiful women in front of him. His appearance had changed a lot since the past, but he was approached by Usopp, who looked at him excitedly and asked all sorts of questions. Chopper, wearing a new hat and looking cuter than ever, jumped around and hugged Robin excitedly. He had missed everyone dearly. Robin, more beautiful than ever with her long hair, talked about her days with the Revolutionary Army.
Everyone looked healthy, but above all, they looked happy. Happy to be back where they belonged.
But someone was missing.
And just thinking about seeing him again made your heart race wildly inside your chest, wanting to escape.
"I can't wait to see how much Luffy has changed since last time!" Usopp exclaimed with a smile from ear to ear. "I'm so excited to see him!"
"Me too." Said Robin.
You nodded silently, smiling fondly. When the assumption was made that he might have gotten himself into trouble, Chopper offered to go find the three remaining members. The moment the little one left, an irreplaceable presence fell from above.
Brook had left behind his life as a world-renowned musician to return to his beloved friends. They all welcomed him with smiles.
"And I thought you couldn't get any more beautiful…" Commented the skeleton, looking at the three women. "Well… Two years have passed."
He sat down on a barrel and a few strings of his guitar resonated in the air.
"Would you all be so kind and show me your panties?"
"No way!"
Nami kicked him away, while Robin and you laughed.
"Oi! Guys!"
You looked up just as his voice reached your ears. Your big smile matched those of the others, but the sparkle in your eyes hid the longing in your heart, those feelings that had blossomed when you spent a month together, completely alone, sleeping in each other's arms every night. Those feelings you tried to fight, repeating in your mind like a mantra that they would pass if you didn't see him, breaking down when you dreamed of his smile or when you thought of his reaction to seeing you again.
You stayed behind the others with a sudden blush on your cheeks.
You had never seen him without his multiple bandages. And now there he was, stepping onto the deck of the Sunny Go while greeting everyone, wearing an open red shirt that revealed that huge scar.
Luffy had gained muscle. He looked stronger. More confident. And yet, you could see that he was the same as always, that his strength and confidence were centred on the people around him.
The rubber boy looked for you, smiling when he saw you.
Neither of you spoke, at least not out loud, pretending that nothing had happened between you.
The journey to Fishman Island had been quite an adventure. Seeing the underwater world left you speechless. Holding onto the railing, you admired the different schools of fish that surrounded the ship from time to time, circling twice before swimming away. You wanted to reach out and feel them against your skin, but that would have exposed you. The sea water did not weaken you, and the crew knew you had an “unused” devil fruit.
"I think they're greeting you." You looked to your side, to that warm presence.
Luffy was looking at a school of pink fish that had come up to your face to look at you from the other side of the bubble.
"Yes?" You said, amused.
"We could eat them."
"Don't even think about it." You scolded him.
"But you're not a mermaid!"
"But they talk to me. They're friends."
"Friends aren't for eating." He muttered, pressing his lips together.
You giggled admiringly at the little pout he made as his stomach growled. That soft sound from you disturbed the sea animals around the Sunny Go, who were happily swirling around.
"Are there always so many fish? How cool!" Said Usopp, standing next to you.
You snuggled up to Luffy a little, pretending not to know anything. Luffy moved his mouth into a pout to one side, also pretending not to know.
"You're bad at lying." You whispered.
"I'm not." He whispered back.
You laughed, leaving him with Usopp.
Fishman Island was a dreamlike place. Your devil fruit seemed comfortable there, and the mermaids and gyojin looked at you excitedly.
The powerful goddess of the sea, Naia, stood before them.
The legend told for generations spoke of how she was always accompanied by a man. A clingy man who never left her side. A playful man who always made her laugh. A selfish man who never refrained from looking at her with love and wanting her for himself.
That man was the sun god.
They said that when they separated, the goddess cried so much that her tears disturbed the sea. The catastrophe caused by the forced breakup of their love made her sleep for centuries. And at some point, when the sun rose again, she would wake up.
Mothers and children never stopped talking about how they, the inhabitants of Fishman Island, would be the first to recognise her. After all, Naia was a kind of mother to that race.
Everyone wondered who the man accompanying you would be.
Nami and Robin watched amused as the little mermen, mermaids, and gyojin children clung to you shamelessly, asking you to play with them. You had no idea how to refuse. Throughout the banquet, you were here and there, performing water tricks hidden from your crew, entertaining the little ones who were excited by the slightest thing you did.
Jinbe, happy to see your progress and how you were doing in the water, smiled as he drank his sake.
Everyone was having a good time. Everyone except for a rubber boy who occasionally remembered that you weren't by his side and, capriciously, pouted. He calmed down again when they gave him meat, enjoying the party.
You sat down next to him, exhausted. You didn't know what other tricks to do for those children. You took a sip of sake, on the verge of spitting it out when another gyojin child came up in front of you.
"Oi, kids, she's mine for now." Said Luffy, frowning and taking a bite of meat.
You blushed, trying to drink the sake faster. Robin raised an eyebrow at his words, giving the orange-haired woman beside her an inquiring look. They both knew how possessive the rubber boy could be. His hat and his friends were equally important to him. But that phrase… That tone was different.
The impact his words could have on one's life or day was foreign to Luffy. Noticing that what he unconsciously said brought a revolution was not something he cared about.
He continued as if nothing had happened.
And so, his normal behaviour over the following days came as no surprise to anyone. The navigator and the archaeologist watched you both closely, knowing that there was something else going on between you.
Even though your captain sat next to you at breakfast, fighting with you over the portions you hadn't eaten yet (something he would do with anyone), there was something strange about it. The natural way you would slap his hand and growl at him. The way he would bite your hand hard, making you cry out. They did not remember the two of you being so close before Sabaody, two years ago.
You had not had time to develop such a friendship.
And it did not seem like a simple friendship.
One night, when you hadn't yet come to your room to sleep with them, they talked.
"Seriously, if those two are a couple and they didn't tell us..." Whispered Nami.
"I don't think they are. In fact, I think that's where they're headed." Robin refuted.
"If Luffy feels something for her, he won't notice." Growled the navigator, burying her face in her pillow.
The black-haired woman smiled as she sat on her own bed.
"We just have to give them time." She murmured.
"We have to keep an eye on them."
"Without interfering." Robin concluded.
Island after island you visited in the future, day after day that passed, both women decided to give you privacy, paying attention only during dinners. As if reviewing the day, looking for some sign of progress.
It was amid the heat of the flames and the volcanoes about to erupt in Punk Hazard that Robin noticed the first detail: Luffy talked to you like he didn't talk to anyone else.
The heat was unbearable, you could barely stand that kind of hell, ignoring that your captain now looked like a centaur and shouted excitedly that he liked having four legs. If you looked closer, you noticed that the ones at the back, which had just been attached, were barely working. They flew through the air because Luffy's legs did all the work.
You wiped the sweat from your forehead for the fourth time when the smiling boy approached you. He leaned over to you, whispering in your ear.
"Why don't you make something like a sphere of water and hydrate yourself?"
"I can't. There's no source of water nearby." You whispered.
"Your sweat."
You parted your lips, not believing what he had said. Use your sweat? And why was he looking at you like that? With his brow slightly furrowed, as if he had said the most serious, intelligent and obvious thing in the world. You smiled amusedly, patting his shoulder.
Robin noticed it again when all of you arrived on the other side of the lake, where the island became wintry. The small group was shivering from the cold, freezing after falling into the water. The archaeologist sighed as she felt her body warm up, turning to check that everyone was okay, raising her eyebrows briefly in surprise.
Her captain was wrapping a coat around your body, as if it were a practised movement. Neither of you knew that Luffy had actually watched others do this and wanted to try it himself.
Because that's what people who loved someone else did, right? Give them a coat so they would never be cold. Rayleigh had done it for him when they trained together. Hancock had lent him hers to get to Sabaody.
In his mind, if you cared about someone, you should give them a coat.
Although he knew very well why he only wanted to give it to you.
During the banquet, when you walked away to comfort Chopper, who was frightened by Trafalgar Law, the two women sat down to exchange information. Nami hadn't seen anything unusual, so she was surprised to hear about her captain's actions towards you.
The navigator became frustrated when she couldn't stay in Dressrosa, feeling like she was missing out on everything. Robin promised to keep her informed when they met again.
And so she did.
You had signed up with him for the coliseum tournament, wearing one of the many gladiator outfits. Luckily, you had been placed in a different block from Luffy, saving you from a difficult fate. It wasn't time for your competition yet when Zoro came looking for the two of you.
The urgency with which you began searching for the exit made you anxious. Outside, it would soon be chaos, but the thought of Luffy abandoning one of the few physical reminders he had of his brother made your heart ache. You wished you could get it for him, but he had forbidden you to do so. If he left, you would go with him.
You stopped in your tracks for a few seconds when you realised there was nowhere to escape. Encountering Bartolomeo and Bellamy only confirmed your suspicions. It was all a trap and you were trapped in the coliseum, only he knew the way out.
"Luffy senpai, what will happen to the Mera Mera no Mi?" Asked the green-haired man, staring at the wall.
"The lives of my comrades are more important."
You bit your lower lip. A physical reminder of Ace that he couldn't have. A physical reminder that would give him a glimpse of his time in the world, something that would show him that he was there. You could stay in the coliseum without any problems. Win it, take it away in its chest, keep it safe, and run away with it until you could give it to Luffy...
Luffy tugged on your little finger without looking at you to pull you out of your thoughts. Bartolomeo talked non-stop, still facing the wall, about how he had always planned to win it for him. Because he admired him. He admired the whole crew and would do anything for any of you, but especially for the young man next to you.
You turned to look back when approaching footsteps interrupted you. You frowned at the man. He was dressed like a noble would be. And he wore a custom hat.
"I won't let you keep the Mera Mera no Mi, Straw Hat Luffy."
"What are you talking about, idiot?" Bartolomeo growled, walking towards him. "I don't know who you think you are, but to you he is Luffy senpai. Respect him!"
The green-haired man continued talking, trying to intimidate him, but that man was not fazed. He was calm, not taking his eyes off the boy you loved. You began to frown.
"I've known all that for a long time." Said the man, pushing Bartolomeo away.
You stood in front of Luffy, trying to protect him when he started to approach. Your right hand took a familiar gyojin karate stance, and something in the blond's gaze seemed to sparkle in recognition. The rubber boy stood in front of you again, hating that you were protecting him.
But what happened next was something neither of you were prepared for. You stepped aside, your lower lip trembling, unable to interrupt them.
You could only watch your rubber boy crying as he hugged him. His sobs were loud, letting out more than he had allowed himself to do at your side. He apologised. He repeated to the blond that everything was fine and that he shouldn't apologise. The older one thanked him for staying alive.
And you were broken, thanking whoever for this joy in his life.
Living two years of his life believing that he had lost his two older brothers must have been the greatest torture.
In Zou, despite the situation they had to face in Big Mom's territory, Nami and Robin made a space for themselves.
"So, his brother is the second in command of the Revolutionary Army?" The navigator whispered.
Robin nodded. She had kept that secret for two years.
"Sabo noticed something too."
"What?"
"I don't know what happened between the three of them, but when Luffy and Y/N were sleeping after the battle..."
"Separately?" Whispered Nami.
"Yes and no. Luffy was in bed and Y/N was holding his hand, sitting on the floor."
The navigator nodded thoughtfully, waiting for her to continue.
"Sabo said he liked his little brother's girlfriend."
Nami's eyes widened in surprise.
As if Zoro and Franky hadn't heard the revolutionary's conversation too. Now you had two more pairs of eyes watching you from afar.
As night fell, you yawned relaxed in bed. You couldn't be at peace for long. Your stomach churned at the thought of Luffy going to the territory of a yonko without you. It calmed you to think that the friends he was going with were good and trustworthy. Bringing Sanji back was essential.
You couldn't imagine your days without him in the kitchen, occupying every corner and filling the room with his twists and compliments.
The blanket was lifted carefully and arms wrapped around your waist.
"Luffy?" You whispered.
"Mhm."
Your heart skipped a beat. Should you put one hand on his hair and the other on his back like you used to? Should you tell him to go back to his room? To his bed? And not feel his warmth. Not feel his heartbeat. Not comfort him in silence. Since you saw each other again, you hadn't slept together.
"Y/N?" He whispered, resting his chin on your chest. "You must stroke my hair."
His demanding tone, trapped in a pout, made you giggle. He relaxed under your touch. He hadn’t wanted to bother you when you saw each other again, but he had missed this. Your fingers in his hair, the gentle circles traced on his back, waking up without you leaving him.
You had stolen his heart in a month, and he wasn't doing anything about it.
"Sorry." He murmured, his cheek resting on your chest. His tone didn't seem to regret whatever he was regretting in the slightest.
"Why are you apologising?"
"I gave Sabo your gift. The seashell." He whispered without looking at you. "I thought he would need it more than I did."
You smiled, resisting the urge to kiss his forehead.
"It’s okay. I can make you another one if you want."
Luffy didn't say what he was thinking. He knew you would make those magical pools for him if he asked, without needing a seashell. Next time, he wanted to show you everything he had to show.
But that would have to wait.
Wano was unlike anything you had ever seen before.
The suffering of the people in this village made your blood boil. Poor people had nothing to eat, and their water was contaminated. Seeing them live dehydrated, with sick children and rumbling stomachs, pushed you to your limit.
Hiding your identity would be difficult in this country. They needed you, so you allowed yourself to do something in secret. The gentle touch of your hands began to purify the water of the river of Ebisu, the pollution seeping into your bones. You didn't mention it to anyone, it was an experiment. You wanted to know your limits.
The flowing water was clean, perfect for the children, elderly and adults in the area. It was the little you could do while enduring the pollution. You had to find a way to expel it from within you without causing havoc. Throwing it away and contaminating plants, the land for future crops or the sea itself disgusted you.
But maybe, enduring it was your mistake.
Perhaps if you had gone against your principles and stopped trusting Luffy's words, those that promised to save this country, you would not be suffering now. But it was impossible for you not to do so. It was impossible for you not to trust him. You knew he would succeed, because he never lied. He worked hard for what he set out to do.
He was like sunshine in the lives of those who knew him.
You tolerated the contamination in your bones during the battles in Onigashima, but weeks had passed since you received it and your body began to take its toll at the worst possible moment.
You could only hear Nami and Usopp's screams when you stood in front of them. The three of you had a little girl with you. Otama was Luffy's adoration, and putting her in danger was something you would never forgive yourself for. The powers of your devil fruit did not respond in time to counter the threatening attack of the yonko Big Mom, an attack that was aimed at your friends.
The "heavenly fire" struck your body, its impact propelling it and slamming it against the walls. That homie, Prometheus, pushed your body wall to wall, breaking them one by one as if he were on a mission. As if he wanted to kill someone from the straw hat crew.
You spat out a little blood when the fire became more intense. It was burning your torso and arms. If you moved your fingers slightly, you didn't have the strength to call on the sea water, nor to send Prometheus backwards.
A song reached your ears. You opened your eyes slightly, meeting the gaze of the homie, so threatening and sinister. You smiled slightly, knowing you would be safe.
That soft intonation, almost as if a mother were tucking her beloved child into bed, could not be heard by anyone else present on Onigashima. Naia's song was exclusively for you, only heard on special occasions. The first time you heard it, you consumed her fruit. And this time, everything was a mystery.
"Y/N!"
Was that cry from Usopp or Nami? You couldn't see them. You could only watch Prometheus rage at your smile.
A gasp escaped from within you as the force of his attack tripled. The other homies joined him, Hera and Napoleon, carrying you through the hard rock wall.
A beep stunned your ears.
Your body fell from a height impossible to calculate. The abyss drew you into its darkness, and you could do nothing but embrace it.
The severity of your injuries left you with no strength to scream. To call for help. To call out to anyone.
Luffy, your friends, the people of Wano who trusted you. Was this your end? Was this Naia's will, for which you had been expelled from your native island? Did you really have to die like this?
The water engulfed you as you hit hard, sinking you to the depths.
"Announcement to all of Onigashima!"
Bao Huang's shout echoed in every corner. The fighting didn't stop, but everyone was paying attention. Something had changed.
"A member of the straw hat crew has been defeated!"
Usopp growled, wiping away his tears in despair. He felt useless. He should have taken the attack, not let you cover him. He couldn't do anything because of the fear. He couldn't do anything to stop you from falling. Nami hugged Otama, sobbing hard, apologising to Luffy over and over again even though her captain wasn't in front of them. How could she explain to him that she let the woman he loved be killed right in front of his eyes? Everyone's friend? Another straw hat.
"Y/N has been killed by Big Mom-sama!"
At different points on Onigashima, the crew was moved. Different reactions crossed their faces. Anger, sadness, regret. Some, like Chopper and Brook, shouted through their tears that you couldn't have died. That Bao Huang was lying. Others, like Zoro and Sanji, silently continued to fight. You were just as stubborn as Luffy, whatever had happened to you, you wouldn't stop there. Jinbe stopped dead in his tracks as Robin hugged Chopper, looking for something to hold on to before her thoughts consumed her mind.
Luffy's heart scratched at his chest as he was forced to hold back.
He wanted to run to the edge of the terrace. He wanted to look down. He felt the need for his longing to become one with the sea despite his inability to swim. And he felt you. The soft beating of your heart, how weak your pulse was, and how calm the waves were. Could you drown if you were the sea itself? Could your wounds condemn your soul to an irreversible fate?
He clenched his fists, unflinching. One mistake, one moment of weakness, would end everyone's life.
For some strange reason, the news from Bao Huang did not affect him like it did the others, who were crying incessantly.
Luffy trusted you, even when his observation haki could no longer sense your heartbeat.
You had spent a month together. You had slept together. You had shared and fought over food. You had cared for his mind and his nightmares without him asking. You had listened to his whole story and his dreams, while opening up about yours only to him. You had been one of the reasons he was standing there today, fighting.
He trusted you. He trusted that you would be okay.
If your origin was the sea, then you would return to it. And the sea would do its thing to bring you back.
Because you belonged by his side, in a silent agreement that neither of you would break.
In the depths, hundreds of fish and sea creatures surrounded your lifeless body, giving you space, shy to be near their goddess. Your outstretched arms allowed them to see you. The burns on your torso and neck continued to bleed, despite the water's attempts to soothe them. The pollution tolerated for weeks drained away little by little, oozing from your body until it gathered into a sphere.
"Nika, you've got yours!"
"Oi, Luffy! That's my food!"
The voices, clearly reproachful, echoed among those present under the sea.
"Naia! Come jump!"
"Y/N, let's play something!"
A heartbeat.
"Nika, stop moving, you're annoying."
"Luffy, I can't sleep if you move around so much. Go to your bed."
Another heartbeat.
"Naia is mean."
"Y/N is mean, she wouldn't let me eat her food."
Fire ravaged Onigashima. Everyone began to gather in one place, desperately searching for a solution. The captain of the straw hat pirates continued to fight Kaido, filling the atmosphere with anxiety. No member of the alliance wanted to hear any more bad news.
"Even if Straw Hat-ya wins, we'll all die in the fire." Said the captain of the heart pirates. "We have to find a way to put it out."
Nami took a few steps towards the centre, standing next to Marco as some surfaces began to give way.
The sudden tremor in the floor frightened everyone. Several fell to the floor, breathing heavily amid the flames and two powerful presences fighting on the terrace. The navigator held Otama tightly in front of her.
"An earthquake? How is that possible up here?" She said, confused.
"This isn't normal. Something's happening." Robin drew some minks towards the centre with her powers.
"Is Straw Hat provoking it?" Kid growled.
"No..." Law said. "He's still fighting Kaido."
"I sense another presence-yoi."
"It’s not Luffy or Kaido? What’s going on? Robin!" Chopper hugged the archaeologist, crying.
"There’s something in the sea!"
The scream of one of the beast pirates alarmed their opponents, with Law being the first to look into the hole you had made in the wall before dying. His crew had been on the Polar Tang at the moment you fell, but according to their reports, it was impossible to reach your body. A blue sphere surrounded you and the sea beasts threatened to attack them. They could have killed his friends, but something was holding them back. The waves battered his submarine, sending it away every time it approached where you were supposed to be.
One by one, they took clumsy steps to look through the hole, at a considerable distance, afraid of falling. Most of the straw hats did not want to see what was left after your death. The pain in their hearts could not be revealed, and their tears could not be shed. Not until it was all over.
The waves crashed into each other with fury, their directions unnatural. Not even the weather in the New World could explain something like that. Nami left Otama next to a sleeping Zoro, holding onto the wall to get a closer look.
"The water is receding." She whispered. "Everyone, stay in the centre!"
"Oi, oi, Nami, the waves can't reach up here, why are you worried?" Asked Usopp.
"Because of that thing that's taking shape."
The metres receded by the sea rose up in a wave. A wave almost two thousand metres high, immovable. And in its centre, there was a figure. A woman created from water, rivalling a giant in size.
"We won't get out of here alive." Cried Usopp.
"Robin-chan, Nami-swan, I'll protect you."
"Sanji! Me too!" Chopper whimpered.
"She looks like..." Law whispered.
"That's Y/N!" Jinbe shouted.
The entire crew's eyes widened before they began screaming and crying.
"Monster!" Usopp exclaimed upon seeing the figure.
"What is that thing, it's scary!" Nami cried.
"Y/N-chan had that kind of power all along?" Sanji shouted, leaning further out of the hole.
"I'm glad she's alive, yohoho!"
"It's a super miracle!" Franky sobbed.
"What a peculiar shape..." Robin murmured thoughtfully. "Do you know anything about it, Jinbe-san?"
The gyojin smiled broadly.
Naia had returned.
"I would recommend everyone stand in the centre and hold each other. Y/N is going to do something."
You cupped the water in your hands. Just as you had practised for two years, you had no reason to be nervous. Your body felt healthy and light as you became the sea itself. The burns would still be there once you broke this form, but now it was enough. Jinbe had trained you relentlessly so that you could achieve his hikishio ipponzeoi.
You prepared your attack and, without hesitation, half the sea was thrown towards Onigashima.
The flood was unprecedented.
The fire was completely extinguished. The devil fruit users weakened. The few gyojin who were there saved everyone from being swept away by the waves. Nami carried Otama, Usopp saved Robin, Sanji held Zoro, Franky grabbed Brook, and Jinbe put Chopper on his shoulder. Everyone in the crew smiled as they looked out to sea, where your figure stood in all its grandeur and splendour. To say they were surprised would be an understatement. They had so much to ask you. Two wanted to apologise for everything you had been through. A certain swordsman would seek you out to train when he woke up and heard the news. The archaeologist wanted to know everything about your devil fruit and its rarity.
You were something that transcended the unnatural.
"Shishishi!"
You looked up at the island's roof. Luffy, in a strange white form, floated in the air, reclining with his arms behind his head. His beautiful pink eyes looked at you fondly. And amid all that radiant happiness, you could see tears threatening to escape.
"Thank you for coming back, Y/N."
The land of Wano made headlines worldwide. The bounty posters were updated. The crew now belonged to a yonko, straw hat Luffy.
It made you happy to see how he was getting closer and closer to fulfilling his dream. And, in turn, how you were now one of the members with the highest bounty.
You held the poster in front of your face, grimacing from time to time as you felt Chopper's hooves on your burns, applying an ointment that he claimed was excellent. You would be left with scars on your neck and chest, but you couldn't dream of leaving that country without a scratch. You didn't regret defending your friends.
Although Nami and Usopp never left your side, the sniper crying and hugging you every time you passed by him, and the navigator offering you berries (something she wouldn't normally do with anyone) and multiple strokes on your hair.
You paid attention to your photo on the poster. It was you, from head to toe, every little detail, every tiny imperfection, but all loved by the sea. The sea goddess you had awakened had been captured and everyone admired her. For some she was terrifying, for others magical.
You smiled dumbly. You couldn't always use such a powerful attack, but being immortalised like this was nice. You traced the numbers with your index finger, curious about the insane sum.
Why was your head suddenly worth 1,000,000,000 berries? You had only died, come back to life, and extinguished the fire on Onigashima. Perhaps you had also purified all the water in Wano, and Trafalgar Law had used his devil fruit to remove the pollution from inside you. But that was not something others could know.
You never got a straight answer to that.
Egghead was about to be a disaster. CP0 was on the island with clear instructions. Your boots echoed on the floor as you stepped aside to wait for Luffy. You were supposed to take him back to Labophase, but he was more interested in facing an old enemy he had encountered again.
You looked up, entranced. His Gear 5 was mind-blowing. Everything he could do with his devil fruit, the ease with which his brain came up with new ideas, it all made you laugh. Not to mention the floor, which now made you bounce.
Vegapunk hurried over to the monitors.
"Have the white and blue warriors appeared yet?" He asked, his eyes shining as he caught sight of Luffy laughing. "Tell me about those transformations. The white one from Straw Hat and the young girl on her wanted poster."
"We don't know, to be honest." Said Nami. "Luffy's is the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but Y/N's is unknown to us."
The scientist pressed his lips together, holding back a smile.
"There is no fruit with that name in the devil fruit encyclopaedia!"
The crew gasped, unable to comprehend.
"What? That's impossible!" Exclaimed the navigator.
"Luffy always says gomu gomu when he attacks." Added Usopp.
"Look how beautiful he is! I'm sure she is too!" Rambled Vegapunk, raising his hands. "It's fate! I didn't expect to meet them like this."
"If you know anything, tell us. Y/N-chan doesn't talk much about herself." Sanji requested.
"What happened to those two?" Franky asked, approaching the screen to look at the two of you.
Luffy was still floating there laughing, and you looked at him with a sparkle in your eyes.
"They look like gods."
The cook choked on his own words, unable to believe it.
"Luffy a god? He's an idiot!" He shouted. "Y/N-chan is a goddess, that's true."
Robin looked at Vegapunk in surprise.
"Are you saying that those appearances we saw are those of gods?"
"Yes." Said the scientist, his expression turning serious. "The warrior of liberation. He who plays the fool and brings smiles to all. The sun god, Nika!"
The few crew members present were surprised. The answers that no one else could give them were in the brain of this man who stared at the screen excitedly. Eager to talk. Eager to educate the world.
"And the goddess he loves, the one capable of punishing everyone for him. The goddess of the sea, Naia."
Nami shook her head, approaching Vegapunk.
"Nika and Naia? I've never heard those names."
"Of course not. Their names were erased from history." The scientist said abruptly. "Nika and Naia were inseparable."
The revealed legend left them speechless. In the end, the archaeologist was right.
It was best not to interfere.
The sun god felt a deep longing for the sea. Seeing it every day made him feel free, and he wanted to reach it more than anything else. Then, one day, he met its goddess. He thought she would help him help. If he could make people laugh, then she could give them freedom.
Naia was closed off, only willing to care for those she loved: the gyojin, the mermaids, the mermen. Opening the doors of her heart to let Nika in went against her principles. He knew how to make her laugh effortlessly with a joke or a silly expression. He fought with her over food, hitting him every time he wanted to eat a fish. He invited her to have fun jumping with his friends. He asked her to do water tricks for him.
Falling in love with each other was natural. Nika always admired her foolishly, his gaze never leaving her. He loved her loudly with his actions. He loved her silently with his words.
Naia always looked up, because he loved to float. He shone in a way that only he could. Her love was protective, ensuring that he never lost his smile. That he never shed a single tear.
For him, she was freedom. And for her, he was.
Someone feared their powers together, the ease with which people became attached to and trusted them, asking them for things they could give them. So, under false pretences, he murdered the sun god.
The two lovers agreed to meet again when destiny required it. When the time came. First, Nika would return, accompanied by a man who shared his ideals of freedom. Then, Naia would notice him. Her living love.
That devil fruit that had eluded the world government for centuries, and that devil fruit that was believed to be non-existent, would wait to be reincarnated.
Nika would choose who would bring a new dawn to the world, and Naia would take into her sweet arms the one who would support him on his journey. A mystical love, a destined love. Unconsciously, their successors would love each other just as they had.
Because their souls resonated. Their souls yearned for each other. Their souls waited.
And that statue that had been looking —alone, hidden from everyone with its arms outstretched— at the sun for centuries, would finally be able to feel his skin under her fingers once again.
request from anon: hiii, i really love all of your luffy fics, they’re so amazing!! i was listening to “thinking of you” by katy pery recently, and i was wondering if you could write a fic for luffy and his childhood best friend, or lover i guess, based off of that song. except i would really love a happy ending. you can make it sfw or nsfw, i wouldn’t mind either way.
thank you so much!🤍🤍
RULES AND MASTERLIST
Hello (❁´◡`❁)!!!!!! Thank you for requesting and for saying such nice words! I never actually listened to this song before, so I kept the lyrics pulled up to guide me. This will be sfw since I need more sfw fics!
It won't be a complete song fic (i.e. i won't put the lyrics in the fic), but it will be loosely inspired by the lyrics!
also, another fic so soon?! I'm on a roll!!!!!! ☆*: .｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
word count: 4.7k
cw: slight angst to fluff, good ending, yearning, fem!reader, childhood friends/lovers, breaking up (x2), swearing, non-canon compliant (though some canon mentions), kissing, pre-timeskip -> post-timeskip, no usage of Y/N, not proofread
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Two sets of feet kicked up the dirt as they sprinted down the path in Foosha village, their laughter and petulant complaints following behind them — but it was all in good fun.
"L-Luffy!" You cried out from behind him, struggling to keep up with his fast pace and eager strides. Luffy only giggled, abruptly turning around to grab your wrist and drag you alongside him. You have been friends with him for a couple years now, before he ever met Shanks. You were the only friend he had currently that was his age, and he was the same for you.
The people in the village gave the two seven year olds a wide berth, as Luffy's excitement never knew the difference between friend or foe.
"No way!" He shouts, brimming with excitement, "Shanks is here! Gotta see him!"
You yelped as he tugged you along to the Partys Bar, bursting through the doors. He didn't let go of you yet, both of your chests heaving — though for different reasons; He was excited, and you were out of breath.
The Red Hair Pirates paused at the loud entrance, their chatter stopping briefly as they looked over. It was silent for a few good seconds before they exploded in noise — laughing and greeting the two of you.
Shanks leaned against the counter with his head lazily in his hand, straw hat atop his head, as he regarded you two fondly. "Ah. Was wondering when the brat would show up," He snickered teasingly, referring to Luffy. His eyes trailed over to you, his eyes softer but no less fond, "Good to see you too."
You waved while Luffy grinned widely, tugging you forward closer to Shanks with his steps becoming more bouncy and excited the closer he got. "Shanks! Shanks!" He cheered, finally letting go of you to hop up on the stool beside him, his eyes gleaming with joy, "Let me join your crew! Come on, come on! I'm strong!"
"Oh-ho? Are you now?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Mmmm…" Shanks paused, twirling the drink in his hand a few times before smirking at the eager kid. Makino giggled into her hand from behind the counter.
"I don't need another anchor on my ship. Maybe when you are older."
"Why did you have to get older?" You grumbled at the dock on Foosha Village, staring at Luffy as he set up an old fishing boat for his departure. Now seventeen, it felt like time went too quickly.
It was quiet, the village giving you two a wide berth… But this time it wasn't because you were excited kids running down the street.
Luffy paused from his clueless fumbling around, looking up at you. His face was protected partially from the sun by the brim of Shanks's straw hat. Even with the shade, even beyond his excitement — you could tell he was sad too.
He hops out of the boat and back onto the dock, moving to stand in front of you. He looked down at you, though you refused to look up at him. He frowned, his hands resting on your arms — gently rubbing up and down them.
The action made your eyes sting.
"You can always come with, y'know," He tells you softly, a voice he had only ever reserved for you — trying to coax you to look up without forcing you to. You shook your head, your hand coming up to wipe at your eyes with the heel of your palm.
Your relationship with him was only two years old, starting a year after Ace had left for sea when the two of you were fifteen. You love him more than you had anyone else, but you hated that you were too scared to become a pirate with him; You tried and tried to get yourself ready because you had wanted to go with him, you really did, but when his seventeenth birthday came and the reality finally crashed over you — you panicked. You couldn't do it, and you didn't want to try to convince him not to chase his dream.
You didn't have a single regret with your relationship.
It was a week after his birthday, because he wanted to spend as much time with you as possible before he left. He didn't show it as much as you did, but he was also struggling; You are his first love, he can't imagine himself with anyone else that isn't you — but he also couldn't imagine himself not being a pirate. He had already said his farewells to everyone. You were last.
For a moment, he couldn't do it.
"Please," He cracks, his breath hitching as his hands stopped touching you, only for his arms to wrap tightly around your waist as he pulls you into his chest — hugging you as tightly as he could without hurting you, "Please just— come with me. Please."
He wasn't the type of person to beg. If he wanted something, he would take it and no one could tell him no — but he couldn't do that with you; Even if it hurt him to come to terms with that.
He wants the freedom the sea provides, but he also wanted you.
Your tears had finally spilled over as you tremble in his hold. Your arms shakily wrap around his body and tightly grip the red vest on his back — your face burying into his shoulder. Luffy whimpered at that, leaning down to hide his face into your shoulder as well — his hat getting knocked off of his head and resting on his back from the string.
"I-I can't, Luffy. I'm sorry, I can't."
"Please, please… I-I can keep you safe! I—"
"Luffy.."
"I trained, swear! I-I won't let ya get hurt, not a little bit, I—"
"Luffy—"
"PLEASE!" He sobbed, his voice cracking with his emotions — everything he was holding back finally spilling over, "PLEASE! I can't! I can't do it either! I-I can't! Not without you!"
His grip tightened as he sobbed into your shoulder, only small broken noises leaving your throat. You didn't know what to say because how can you tell him it would be alright when you couldn't believe it yourself.
"I don't want to!" Luffy continued, desperation and fear lacing every word, "It isn't right! I don't want to be pirate king without you with me!"
As much as it hurt you, maybe you could use that. You love him, but he shouldn't have to give up his dream because you are too much of a coward. You pulled back, making him whimper and desperately try to pull you closer again — because separating meant he had to face losing you.
You still managed to pull back, reaching up to cup his face in your hands. He sniffled, his eyes red and leaking tears as he looked down at you — his lip wobbling as he held back his cries.
"Then come back, Luffy," You finally were able to say without your voice betraying you, "Become pirate king and come back to me."
He make a small, broken sound at that as he leaned into your touch. He only listened for now, his body tense as he weighs the suggestion. You continued, your hands moving up to card through his messy black hair, "Don't give up on your dream for me. I don't want you to be miserable."
He looked away for a moment, "So… So are we—"
You didn't say anything, letting him make the decision on his own — because maybe it would hurt less if he understood it first.
"Are we.." He choked back another sob, "Are we breaking up..?"
Your hesitation ate away at him, but you nod, "I'm sorry," You started, but the pure devastation from him cut you off as another wounded noise left his throat in a whimper. You quickly continued in an attempt to soothe him, "Only until you come back to me, if you still want to be with me then. If you or I haven't moved on."
He swallowed thickly, nodding. "Okay. Okay… I'll become pirate king, and'll come back. I promise."
He kissed you then, tugging you close. It was a bittersweet kiss, full of all the love he could give because he didn't know when he would ever do this again. He spoke while pressed against you, all devotion and promise, "I love you. And I will love you then, too."
You didn't know what to respond with, too stunned by the declaration as it was the first time either of you had spoken those words even if it had been two years. You, unwisely, did not respond. He got back on his boat after a few more moments with you, and that was the last you saw of him.
Maybe you did have one regret.
It had been two years since then. You had two years of loving him, and now you had two years of missing him. You'd often sit at the dock, thinking of how your relationship ended with Luffy as you stared out at the water. You wished you could go back, you wished you could at least have told him you loved him back.
You wondered if he knew you did.
It hurt. It really did. The only times you saw his face were in the newspaper, whenever he got a new bounty and Makino celebrated it in her bar. You'd occasionally visit Dadan, too, as she had always welcomed you in her own gruff way. You saw his bounty grow, you saw him grow with it, you saw his crew expand through the bounties they also obtained — and it hurt. Was there a world where you had gone with him, where you also had a bounty and a place on his crew? Not just a spectator hoping that he would remember his promise?
You had also seen the downs of it, and you kicked yourself for not being there with him. You saw the reports of his crew going missing along with him, you saw the reports about Marineford, you saw the reports of Ace dying. You were inconsolable for a week when that news broke, as you were also close to Ace (and Sabo, but he had died way earlier) before he left for sea. Then there was radio silence. No new news about the Straw Hats beyond one photo of Luffy back at Marineford. Not for two years.
You stressed in that time, unconvinced that Luffy was dead but also having no real proof he was alive. Once again, you made a decision you regretted.
Only a year ago did you find a new partner. You wanted to move on, you wanted to get over Luffy and actually start your life. You felt bad — not only because of the promise of Luffy returning in the future, but because you felt like you were playing this new boyfriend. You weren't, but sometimes it felt like you were.
You did like him, he wasn't a bad guy — but he wasn't Luffy. It wasn't fair to compare the two, but you felt horrible whenever you looked at him and imagined it were Luffy in his place.
You wondered if Luffy was still thinking of you, too.
Little did you know, he was. He talked about you, reminisced about you, gushed over you so much that his crew likely knew every fact about you before they ever met you. At first, they were shocked to learn that Luffy had romantic interest beyond meat, and Sanji was pissed Luffy dated someone before he ever did — but they saw how much he still seemed to love you. How he always talked about the day he sees you again.
"Still sitting here?" A voice called from behind you, and you didn't have to turn to know who it was. A blanket settled on your shoulders, and the person sat beside you. You were looking down at a newspaper that a News Coo had just dropped off, staring at the newest bounty posters of the Straw Hats — and the newest title of the boy you loved.
One point five billion beli. Fifth Emperor of the Sea.
You finally looked over at the person, your boyfriend. Your eyes were apologetic, your heart dropping when his eyes moved down to the newspaper you were holding — to the specific person you were looking at. He sighed, though he wasn't mad at you. He knew of your previous relationship, he knew you were still trying to cope. He knew you liked him, but he also knew that it sometimes wasn't enough.
"You still want him, don't you?" He asked calmly, his voice measured as he looked back up at you.
"I'm sorry—"
He shook his head with a small smile. A way to reassure you despite his own hurt, "I get it," He said, his leg bouncing, "I don't want to keep you from him, if that is what you want."
Your breath hitched. He was so… kind about it. It made you feel like such a dick. But he wasn't wrong. Your relationship with him was good, it was, but was it going to stay that way if you kept reaching for something you didn't have? Would you end the relationship if Luffy came back all those years later, still wanting you? That would be worse, you supposed.
What is worse is that you want to go to sea, you want to find him. You were ready now. You weren't weak, you have been training because it helped ease your mind. So would he take you in again?
"I'm sorry, I really am," You told him, your mouth wobbling, "I just— I don't think it's going to work out."
He listened, and he nodded. He was upset, more than you were, but he understood. Keeping you in a relationship you were falling out of would only hurt you and him worse. "Alright," He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "Sucks, but it's alright."
You gave him one last kiss before he walked off. That, too, reminded you of Luffy.
You couldn't believe your luck. When you set out to sea yourself, you ran into the Red Hair Pirates of all people. The Red Force was all too familiar to you, and when you called out to him you could see Shanks nearly trip before rushing to the railing.
He was stunned to see you, clearly remembering you even if it was a child version of you. He quickly barked out to get a ladder down to pull you up and off the dingy little boat you had.
When you boarded, he quickly pulled you into a hug with his arm. He looked different now — it had been twelve years since you last saw him after all. He was more mature looking now, more rugged, but still had the same fondness in his eyes with he looked at you.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" He shouted, though it was laced with worry and panick. He always had such a big heart, "Goin' towards the Grand Line in that shitty thing?!"
You laughed softly, hugging him back, "Sorry, Shanks. I just couldn't wait longer."
Shanks pulled back, releasing you from his grip. His hand reached up, scratching at his chin. "Aw, ya could've sent a note. I would'a picked ya up, kid," He grinned, but the look you gave him showed you did not believe him. Not because you didn't trust him, or held any sort of grudge against him, but because it would mean he would of had to go back to Foosha Village, which he said he wasn't going to do when he left for the first time.
"Rude," He scoffed in jest, sitting down on a stool at one of the tables on the main deck where likely was seated previously before your arrival, judging by the half full mug on the surface. You followed, sitting across from him like it were an interview, "So, what brings you out to sea suddenly?"
Damn. Really is like an interview, you had thought to yourself, smirking before you realized you did, in fact, have to answer him. "Wanted to see Luffy again," You answered honestly, hope in your eyes.
Shanks blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Is it that important? M'sure ya could've waited for his return, no? Better than riskin' your life," He hummed, his brows furrowing.
He… wasn't wrong. You could have waited. You just didn't want to anymore. "Yeah. But it just didn't feel right without him, you know? I love him."
Shanks froze, the mug that he had lifted halfway to his mouth stopped with him before lowering back down, "Love..?"
"Yeah."
"Does he know you do?"
"I was hoping he did, since I forgot to tell him two years ago."
"…Huh?"
It clicked for you that Shanks didn't know anything. Last he saw you, you and Luffy were dumb seven year olds with big dreams and bigger mouths. You smiled teasingly, knowing that the information was going to be a huge shock to him.
"Oooooh right," You sang, leaning on your arms on the table. Shanks squints suspiciously, and you continued with a playful lilt to your tone, "Luffy and I dated for two years, Captain Shanks."
Shanks said nothing, just staring at you like you had grown a second head, "…You serious?"
"Mhm."
"Dated? Dated Luffy? You?"
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Shanks stammered, realizing how that sounded, "You're great! It isn't that! It's just… It's Luffy."
"I'd be worried if it wasn't."
"The same Luffy that got mad at me for not immediately attacking mouthy bandits? The same one who then, in his anger, ate a devil fruit that I stole? That one? Same rubber idiot?"
"Yes."
Shanks stared down at his mug warily, eyeing the liquid like someone on his crew put hallucinogenics in his alcohol for some weird prank. You laughed, the teasing dying down enough for Shanks to look back up at you.
"I… I miss him, you know?" You mutter, choking up a bit at the thought of everything you gave up because you couldn't get over a fear, "I was scared then, but I'm more scared now. What if I left the village for nothing, Shanks? What if he doesn't even remember me? What if he doesn't love me anymore?"
Shanks frowned, "Hey—"
"I-I couldn't even tell him I loved him then! What if he is pissed at that!? He bared his heart to me and I just—" You paused briefly, a frustrated sound leaving your throat as tears roll down your face, "I just stared at him like a damn idiot!"
"Hold on—"
"He begged, Shanks! He— He was so afraid! He sobbed, and I just told him to meet me again when he is King of the Pirates and maybe we can get back together? What the fuck is wrong with me!? That could be in twenty odd years for all I know!"
"Shut up!" Shanks yelled, the suddenness of it causing you to stop in fear that you were annoying him, "Sorry. Didn't mean it like that. Just— Just listen."
You swallowed thickly, wiping the tears away as you nod slowly. Shanks continued, his arm reaching across the table to take your hand in his, "You know Luffy probably better than anyone. He doesn't forget people he cares about. Especially not one he grew to love."
You whimpered, looking down at his hand in yours. "I made him promise to come back when he became King of the Pirates," You repeated miserably, "Then, after making him promise, I went and got another boyfriend because I was too insecure to think he would still love me when that happens."
Shanks winced, but shook his head, "Y'still with that guy?" He asked curiously. You shook your head, and Shanks squinted in confusion, "Then why does it matter?"
You couldn't answer.
Days had passed since that conversation. You had just sat down in the same spot where it had happened with a newspaper in your hand. New bounty posters for the Straw Hats came out, along with a new title with the defeat of Kaido and Big mom.
Monkey D. Luffy. Three billion beli bounty. New Emperor of the Sea. The image on the poster no longer looked like him, yet at the same time… it never looked more like him. You didn't know what was going on, but you knew Luffy wasn't the same silly boy you once knew. He was becoming everything he said he would.
"We're a couple hours out from Wano," Beckman informed you from somewhere behind you, "Captain doesn't wanna meet Luffy yet, so we'll drop you off."
You nodded, looking away from the paper and back at Beckman, "Thank you, really. For everything."
Beckman didn't respond, but you still saw the smirk before he walked away.
True to his word, when you arrived at the shoreline of the Flower Capital later that night they just dropped you off there. Shanks was kind enough to give you directions, and also a yukata to wear so you didn't seem out of place, but also said it would be obvious where to go. Whatever that meant.
They sailed off after saying their goodbyes, and you started walking. Turns out, Shanks was right. You yelped as fireworks went off, not really expecting the loud sound to suddenly happen. You inhaled, calming your racing heart as you continued — this time towards the noise.
It was… chaotic when you got there. It was a scene that would really explain the fireworks. A massive celebration for the defeat of Kaido and the freedom of Wano. If Luffy were anywhere, it was definitely here.
You wandered around a bit, slightly uncomfortable with being lost in a land you didn't really know. You just hoped that Luffy was, in fact, still here as your only way back had already left.
Your wandering had paid off and you breathed out a sigh of relief. While it wasn't Luffy, you did manage to find some of his crewmates. Robin, Nami, and Usopp, if you remembered them correctly from their wanted posters.
You inhaled, shaking off some nerves before approaching them. "Are you— uh— Are you the straw hats..?" You asked, still nervous. So much for the prep. The nerves worsened tenfold when they actually looked over, whatever conversation they were having halted.
The two women didn't even get a chance to nod before the long-nosed man stepped up, his chest puffed out in mock bravado. "Why, yes! It is I, the great Captain Usopp! I'm sure you heard all about me, like how I commanded eight thousand men into battle, which is why you came up. I will gladly give my autograph to an adoring fan."
You blinked, flinching when the orange haired woman punched him in the back of the head, leaving him groaning. "Ignore that fool. Is there something you want?" She asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
You took a moment to process what happened. Was that normal? And why did he call himself captain? Did… he actually command eight thousand men?
You quickly shook your head, having more important matters to discuss before any of that. "Yes! I was— Uhm— Looking for Luffy," You explained, wringing your hands together.
You tensed when the trio became suspicious, realizing that maybe asking for their captain when they don't even know you is likely a bad idea. The tall black-haired woman spoke next, "Why are you looking for our captain?" She asked, her tone smooth and cold — laced with a scathing suspicion.
You sweat, not really knowing what you could say that would ease the situation. You just had to bank on the fact that Luffy happened to talk about you once. Maybe when mentioning his childhood in passing? So you try.
You told them your name, taking a cautious step back just in case, "… I'm his childhood— ah— friend."
It was silent for a good minute as they stared at you with wide eyes. Slowly, Nami turned to face Robin, "Robin. It's her."
"It seems it is."
"NO WAY!" Usopp shouted in shock, the sound startling a few patrons that were near him. The celebration also went silent for a moment before continuing back up. You winced at the volume, but your heart thuds loudly at what came next.
"Usopp? Why're you shoutin'?" An all too familiar voice spoke from the crowd as he weaved through, pushing through a clump of people with a skewer in hand to investigate why his friend had shouted without him.
Usopp, still stunned, said nothing as he shakily pointed at you. Luffy's gaze followed his finger, and stopped on you. The gears in his head visibly turn as he thinks. It wasn't because he forgot you, not at all, but… you've grown in two years — and you were wearing something he never saw you in before.
It clicks, his eyes slowly widening as he finally recognized who he was looking at. Slowly, cautiously, he says your name to confirm it was really you and not just someone who happened to look like you.
Butterflies filled your belly hearing your name on his lips again. You nod, smiling brightly, "It's me, Lu."
His breathing stuttered for a moment, just staring at you and taking it in before his jaw dropped— literally— to the ground. "EEEEEEHHHH?!!?!?"
You didn't get another chance to respond before he launched himself at you, all rubber and love he never forgot, and pulling you into a hug; His arms wrapping around you tightly like hungry snakes as he lifts you off the ground, spinning and giggling happily.
You hadn't even noticed his crew left the two of you alone.
"It's you! It's you!" He chanted, spinning a few more times before setting you down. His hands rest on your shoulders, looking you up and down — not in a lecherous way, but a subconscious way that he always did with you to make sure you were not hurt, "But— But why's it you? Glad it is, but m'not Pirate King yet."
"I couldn't wait, Luffy," You tell him, your eyes shining with joy and years of hope, "I realized after you left how— how stupid I was. I couldn't stay away any longer."
He just listened, frowning when you insulted yourself but still letting you speak.
You inhale, two years of preparation leading to this moment, "I love you, Luffy. And— And I'm sorry I didn't tell you then, and I understand if you don't feel the same anymore—"
You were cut off by a joyous little noise from Luffy before you were tugged into a kiss from him. Years of wanting and craving poured into it as his lips lock with yours. You sighed into it, so, so glad that things felt normal again. Your eyes close, your head tilting for a better angle.
It felt like you were back in Foosha with him for a moment.
When he finally pulled back, he didn't go far. His hands cradle your jawline, his forehead resting against yours. "Stay. Please. Stay this time," He begged quietly, the words only meant for you.
This time, you were ready.
"I'm not leaving again, Luffy."
The same noise left his throat, and you only got a moment to prepare before his hands on your jaw tightened and your face was getting attacked by wet, quick kisses from him all over.
"Lu— Luffy! Stop it!" You laughed, gently trying to swat at him and push him back.
He did stop, his hands leaving your face and grabbing your hand instead. "You're a Straw Hat now! My girlfriend, that's your role!" He giggled, but he rethought it after you gave him an unimpressed look, "Ah— Temporary role! Swear! Need'ta find ya one."
You rolled your eyes playfully, but you were glad to be called his girlfriend once more.
He tugged you along, rushing through the crowd, "Gotta introduce ya to the crew!" He grinned, walking ahead of you while pulling you. You stared at him, eyes shining as you were reminded of Foosha once more, all the way when you were seven — rushing to pull you along so you can meet someone he adores. It was the same, but this time… it was to meet the family he found.
"Didn't know ya had a good boat," He said suddenly while pulling you, slowing down a bit to walk right beside you, hand-in-hand.
"Huh? I don't."
"How'd ya get here then? No way ya swam through the Grand Line and into the New World."
You blinked before grinning widely. He looked at you curiously.
How i think the monster trio would propose to you-
TW: fluff, cussing, SFW! mention of relationship problems (?)in Zoro’s and a rough proposal. Exchanges of “i love you”, y/n used, not proofread
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
-.✧ Sanji…
Sanji, your knight in shining armour, your boyfriend who has supported you through everything, swears to always be by your side, treat you well, make you laugh, and make sure you’re fed.
You couldn't believe how fast time had passed, how quick you fell in love with the stupidly witty cook who made your heart flutter.
For Sanji he knew the moment he laid eyes on you, that you were the one he wanted to wake up next too in the mornings to come, to watch you do your hair, the way the brush would slide smoothly down and to listen to late night rambles after a hard day-because who wouldn’t wanna see that mouth move and hear your soothing voice?
Four years today, four years you have been together, together through alot, and Sanji’s been sweating this moment for all of them.
‘Does she want a public proposal? Or maybe at a nice restaurant? What kind of ring? Birthstone or favorite stone?
Should I cook? Buy a gift?’ A million things had run through his head, wiping the sticky sweat off of his forehead with a cloth to make this the most perfect day for you.
So he decided, a secluded area in a wildflower meadow, vines hung from trees that looked gorgeously ancient with moss growing up the sides of them, an area had been cleared from people in the past, light grey cracked stones carved the path
Both your heels and his dress shoes clacked against them, the air was perfect, warm and clear with the bright blue ocean in the distance.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Here you sat, on an island together, the scent of Sanjis freshly baked food wafted through the air, fruits glistened from the sun coming through what the trees could not cover.
The view was breathtaking, the ocean laid beneath you two on a hill, the grass so green it looks fake, and the little flowers freshly bloomed around the plaid blanket laid down.
You sat with your legs crossed, sipping on the strawberry lemonade Sanji prepared for you.
“Dear?~”
Sanji's soothing voice captured your attention
Giving a head tilt in question he smiles, eyes shimmering with your reflection, you swear you could see his pupils dilate when you looked up at him.
“You got… something on your dress..” he chuckles standing up, he wore a suit like usual, a gorgeous white one with a floral pattern that you could only see when you were right next to him.
“Oh?” You furrow your eyebrows upwards, looking around yourself and the dress that sprawled out you wore white to match his, instead of a flower pattern you wore jewelry that complimented his design
“Nono… this dress is so nice!” A whine escaped your frowned lips
Sanji the loverboy was quite obvious, he’d been pampering you even more (as if that was even possible)
Taking you on twice as many shopping trips, getting your nails done, making sure you had everything done up
So you started to suspect he was going to propose to you, but at this moment the idea had been forgotten as you looked for the spot on your dress.
You're standing up
“Sanji please help me!” You mumble
He chuckles
“Y/n…” he clears his throat, trying to get the attention onto him, licking his lips trying not to frown along with you as he drops onto one knee in front of you, hand reaching for his side
“Y/n l/n” he mumbles, pulling out a ring not opening it yet he grabs your hand
You start to sweat, now the stress from the dirtied dress had been switched to the sight in front of you.
“You are… my light, you are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, i want too one day build a family with you and grow old together…”
“Sanji?” You interrupt him
“Shh..” he smiles
“Im asking you this here and now, because this is what i want most in life”
“You”
He adjusts his front foot
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you chérie, I-I want to face all of my problems with you supporting me, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me…” his voice grows increasingly quiet
“I- okay…” he hums and opens the velvet box, revealing the long awaited ring cutting his speech, shorter than intended.
“Y/n”
“Will you marry me?”
The words leave his mouth in a flash
Your eyes well up with tears
“W-what?”
He chuckles and repeats you “whatt?~” his confidence through the roof,
“Stop it…” you say wetly
“So?”
“Y-yeah… yeah ill marry you!” You fall into his arms before he can put the ring on,
“Heyy!” He huffs capturing you into a rough hug
“Mmh… good good” he whispers too you
“Right here… im… well always gonna be right here..”
‧-₊ Zoro…
This was going to be stressful,
No your relationship wasn’t easy, you've had your bumps, plenty of fights, plenty of long talks about zoro being non-romatic (cough cough shade at Zoro)
But Zoro knew he wanted to marry you, not like he had much in his life other than to serve his crew and be the best swordsman
And then you came along, you were everything he wasn’t, charming and outgoing, you were loose and carefree.
He didn't want to rush anything, he was almost content with where you stood in the relationship, yes, that's his girlfriend, his amazing, funny, sweet, kind and caring girlfriend that he’d fight whatever god there is to make her lips hint at a smile and never wants to leave her side.
So he’s scrolling through what magazines are on the ship that Nami gave to him
“Please give y/n a memorable time… a nice ring… a good setup, maybe with something personal?” Nami swooned at the thought
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
“Tskk…”
He flipped through pages, huffing
“That's ugly…”
He muttered to himself, he didn't understand the idea of a ring, besides for the possessive, what else was there too it? But if it made you happy then thats all that matters.
‘Why couldn’t he just ask? Was it REALLY that big of a deal if he just slid the question over?’
He furrowed his eyebrows
‘this is about her…’
Putting away his pride was hard, the idea of pouring his heart out all at once, letting the whole world see everything he feels inside was not his forte.
Your voice interrupted his quiet mumbles of frustration
“Zorooo!” You call out to him, opening the door slightly
He flips the magazine shut, sliding them behind the plush couch he was sitting on, sweat starting to form on his forehead
“Hmph?” He hummed
He looked disheveled, like his hands had been through his hair, and his posture was upright and ridged for once
“Hmm youu okayy?” You drawl out a couple of sylables
“Yeah…” he responds raising an eyebrow “why wouldn’t I be”
He says roughly
Your eternal sirens go off, but when is Zoro not doing something weird?
You decide to just drop it.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
He eventually picked a ring out, the stones glittered in the sun as he walked it back to the ship,
He’d spent almost two hours looking for the perfect ring, you’d mentioned the like for a certain metal on your jewelry, so that’s what he chose, and then the stone that rested inside the prongs was the one on everything you wore, it matched your regular clothes colour palettes, on the inside of the band were your initials, he found the ring very suitable.
Zoro told you he was only going to be gone for a short while, and you were on the ship, well, that’s what he thought anyways.
You parade through the island looking for him, he’d spent so long after you started to worry, you know how much he struggles with direction -dont even know why you let him roam alone in the first place.
You spot him, you can see him admiring something in his hand
“Zoroooo!!!” You call out
Panic sets into him, he quickly stuffs the velvet box into his pants
“H-hey!” He shouts back, watching you trot over to him he swallows
“What are you doing here… thought you were on the ship..” he tried to play it off
Your suspicion only grew as he wrapped an arm around your waist, Zoro was never one for pda… honestly he hated it.
“Just, went to find you… missed you” you say
“Mhm…” he hums walking along with you until you reach the ship
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
He’d have the ring for quite some time now, but, what to say when the time comes? Or when is the appropriate time?
Its no secret Zoro isn't a hopeless romantic but in this moment hes a damsel in distress.
Neither does he write, but tonight he is, he scribbles words against a journal he’d never written in before
Crossing out lines, thinking back on what the cook has said to women before, thinking about what you’ve liked before.
“That’s corny..” he says, erasing a sentence.
“Zoroo!” You interrupt him for what feels like the 100th time,
You can see him chuck the book cover closed,
He never reads… or writes… didnt know he could even read
You scoff at yourself
“What are you doing?” you ask inconspicuously, hoping to edge the answer out of him.
“Nothing… just… doing stuff for Luffy…”
He clears his throat
“What’cha need darling?” He huffed wishing you’d just leave already.
“Uhm…” you mumble trying to assess the situation,
“Dinners done…” you speak
“Oh… okay yeah..”
He lets a sigh of relief out loudly once the door behind you shuts close flipping back to his first draft of what he thinks you’d want in a speech
“Jeeze…”
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Zoro’s been acting weird… sneaking behind your back, going out to stores randomly alone, wanting “alone time” more often than not, hiding things when you walk in the room, not to mention, he could barely sleep because sweat pooled around him all night. Everytime you’d enter a room he’d leave, turn the other way in bed and not eat with you- of course you didnt know it was because he was too nervous to be around you, because well, he was going to propose to you soon!
Yes, those things aren’t inherently wrong, but something was definitely wrong.
So when you walked outside your room late at night for some fresh air to see him shoving something into his pockets you’d decided it was time for answers
“Zoro what was that?” You say half sternly coming down the ships stairs
“What was what…?” He counteracts you, leaning against the railing, the breeze rustling his mint hair.
“That thing… why have you been so weird lately? Ive been meaning to ask…”
The silence of the night felt out of place
“I-I havent been weird lately?”
“Dont lie Zoro…” you frown
“You keep hiding and ignoring me, and I don't like it”
That made the knot in his stomach worse, he felt like you were twisting the knife in after stabbing him in the heart.
“You really know how to make a man run for his money”
He said with a teasing tone, trying to push the conversation away.
You grumble and step forward making an attempt to reach into his pockets,
Zoro stopped your hand
“Scuse me?”
It was useless, your face heats out of embarrassment,
“Sorry… i shouldnt do that..” you clear your throat
“Please just tell me what’s wrong! I dont want to be in a loop of us not being able to talk about things…”
Your mouth starts to tremble, Zoro quickly puts his hands on your shoulders
“Dont get ahead of yourself… this is… complicated…” he admits, his confidence turning into a distant memory
You speak up again
“How is it *complicated?!*” you yelp
“Y/n…” he furrows his eyebrows together
“Cmon..!” Your eyes start to prickle with tears
Zoros heart drops more then it already was
“Shhh…” he tries to console you
When you dont stop, and the tears become even worse he sighs and interrupts you
“Y/n, you have been through me-“
He cuts himself off
“I-i mean you have helped me through thick and thin…”
He quiets for a moment, the random words of affection catching you off guard
“I think you’re amazing… i-i really.. jeeze..” his hands start to tremble, he’s supposed to be the big strong Roronoa Zoro, strongest swordsman, right hand man of captain monkey D. Luffy, so why is he getting nervous at this?
“I-i want to… uhm..”
“Yes..?” You look up at him, cheeks wet but no longer crying, hoping for something more
“I think that…”
He huffs and groans at himself, abandoning the idea of a big speech.
“Nevermind..!” He crashes onto the floor, one knee planted onto the wood of the ship
“I love you…” he says fishing out the velvet box in his pocket
Your eyes light up at the sight, caught out of breath
“Will you marry me?”
You stood stunned for a couple of seconds, zoro bit his lip in anticipation
“Marry you? Like…” you point at the ring
“Like…?” He takes it and slips it onto your finger before you give him a solid answer.
“Okay…!” You say louder then you intended,
How could what you thought was Zoro being sneaky behind your back for bad purposes turn into this?!
“Okay…” he murmurs to you as he hugs you, taking a deep inhale of your hair
“Okay.”
-˚₊ Luffy…
(Sorry this one is lowkey ass)
Marriage wasn’t really on Luffy’s mind, hell even being in a relationship wasn't on his mind, he still loves you to the grand line and back, so what does he think when you mention the want of hopefully getting married to him one day?
Well he has no idea how to go upon it, yes most people are stressed about it, what ring? What place? But the idea of a proposal is completely taboo to Luffy.
That doesn’t mean Luffy isint willing to get married, most think its not in his nature to feel romantic attraction- but thats besides rhe point
Because today is about finding out how to propose!
He walks through the shops of the island
“Hey! You know how to propose?”
He usually gets the same answers
“What?” A woman says backing away slowly
“No…”
“Go ask someone else…” another man says brushing past him.
Until he stumbles upon just what hes looking for, a jewelry shop, this he knows, buy a ring for you! He steps in, admiring all the shiny jems
“Heyhey!” He speaks to the casheir
“I need help” his horse voice says
“Hmm?” The man responds, hes on the older side, with a bald head but a long mustache.
“How do I propose..?” He huffs in all seriousness
“How to propose?” The man laughs
“wow sonny, coming on strong!”
“Why got a girl you like?” He teases
“Yes my girlfriend.” He says with a straight face.
“Bold..” he grins
“Buy her a ring…” he says opening his arms up to accentuate the many prebuilt rings in the glass containers that made up the cashiers desk
“Whats your budget kiddo?” He hums turning towards the less expensive stuff
“Budget?” Luffy responds “i dont… got one.”
The mans eyes practically light up with dollar signs
“Ahh… I see… now then you’ll need more then a ring” he chuckles
“Looksie..! These are our very nice rings… girls adore them…” he says pushing the price tag away
“Okay…” Luffy responds “then… ill take that.”
“Mhm…” The man smiles
“What other stuff am I gonna need, old man?”
“More jewlry… take her out to the most extreme dinner, tell her how much you love her, pamper her with nice things!” He swades Luffy like he could taste the money
“See everyone wants that!”
He slides a card over to luffy that suspiciously says the same name as the one on his name tag that was clipped onto his apron.
“Go visit this restaurant… they serve incredible food…”
The seething cashier says
“Alright awesome!” Luffy hands over a mysterious amount of berries to the man and walks off
“Ring…” he murmurs to himself “food… and words..!”
He laughs “this is easy!? Why does everyone stress about it?!”
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
You sit at the table with a feasting Luffy across from you,
“Food good baby?” You tease
“Yup!” he says, tearing a piece of meat off of his food
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
“that was sooo good..” Luffy says patting his stomach
“Oh! I almost forgot!”
Up until now, you were completely clueless, you thought that Luffy was just treating you to a nice dinner for once that wasn’t made by Sanji.
Luffy says standing up
“Y/n will you marry me?” He says it almost nonchalantly
“Oh-“ he huffs going down on his one knee
“What..?!” You almost shout, your boyfriend has always been full of suprises but this is a life changing one
“Sooo…?” He raise an eyebrow
“Oh! I mean..! O-okay yeah!” Your words stumble out as the restaurant explodes into congratulations and claps
“Sick!” Luffy smiles, handing you the ring
“Oh… wait sorry…” he murmurs sliding it onto your hand “forgot bout that part…” he giggles to himself.
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