♡ Author's Note: I really want to continue this series — I have a couple of ideas lined up already. It’s just my way of expressing all the love and affection I have for Rayleigh. I also adore Roger’s crew so much. I honestly wish we had more screen time of their adventures and interactions… One Piece isn’t long enough, I swear.
♡ Summary: Reader is an overpowered mage in Gol D. Roger’s crew. Her one weakness? Bugs. This scene marks the very first time the crew discovers her fear — and it definitely won’t be the last time they bring it up.
Masterlist ⎪ Scene 1
Rayleigh x F. Reader | Slow-burn Romance | Funny Moments + Crew Banter
Scene 0
The Bug Reveal, Aboard Oro Jackson, Afternoon, Karai Bari Island
The sun was warm, the sea calm, and for once, everything was peaceful aboard the Oro Jackson.
You stood at the table on the main deck, carefully rearranging a small vase of wildflowers and organizing your spell ingredients—lavender sprigs, star shells, tiny pink stones—while humming softly to yourself.
The rest of the crew milled about nearby.
Roger was lounging in a deck chair with a drink, talking loudly to Scopper Gabban about whether seagulls had a secret language. Buggy and Shanks were chasing each other around the mast, shouting over something ridiculous.
Crocus was sitting with a cigar and a book, pretending not to listen.
Then it happened.
A huge, horrible, shiny beetle scuttled out from under a nearby crate.
Click. Click. Click.
You froze.
Everyone else froze too—though at first, they thought you were staring at it like you might study it.
Instead—
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!”
A full-body, soul-deep shriek ripped out of you.
You leapt back, upending the entire table, spell ingredients flying everywhere. A bolt of uncontrolled lightning cracked from your fingertips and blew the beetle in half, scorching a burn mark into the deck.
Buggy jumped into Shanks’ arms with a scream.
“WHAT WAS THAT?!”
Shanks dropped him.
“Was that a new spell? Are you cursed?!”
Roger sat up fast, eyes wide and slightly singed.
“Did something attack us?! Is it Marines?!”
“It was a bug!” you cried, now standing on the bench, trembling, arms wrapped tightly around yourself. “It was shiny and it had too many legs and it was LOOKING at me!”
There was a stunned silence.
Then Crocus closed his book slowly.
“…This is about a beetle?”
“It was the size of a baby skull!” you wailed.
Scopper Gabban scratched the back of his head.
“I mean, yeah, it was kind of a big one.”
Roger blinked a few times, then threw his head back in a booming laugh.
“HAHAHA! You nearly took out half the ship because of a bug?! That’s amazing! We’re definitely taking you to Bug Island now.”
“Don’t you DARE!!”
Buggy poked his head out from behind a barrel, cautiously.
“Is she gonna fry us next time we eat shrimp?”
Shanks, still wide-eyed, muttered,
“I thought she was the calm one…”
Just then, Rayleigh approached from the upper deck. His tone was even, but his eyes flicked over you quickly—scanning for injuries, emotional or otherwise.
“She alright?”
“She blasted a bug,” Crocus said flatly.
Rayleigh stepped closer, gently—like he might spook you.
You were still standing on the bench, visibly shaking, lip trembling, hands balled up in fists.
