The sea wind is warm. The sky is clear. And Monkey D. Luffy is hungry.
"Meat!! Where’s the meat?!"
You sit on a barrel at the edge of the dock, watching the strange pirate in a red vest shout at thin air. His voice is loud. His hat is straw. His stomach growls like a lion.
You say nothing. You can’t say much anyway.
"Hey!" he turns and spots you "You! Are you from this island?"
"...this island..." you echo.
Luffy blinks "Huh? That’s weird."
"...that’s weird..."
He walks over, fast and curious like a child.
"What’s your name?"
"...your name..."
"Eh?! Why are you copying me?!"
"...copying me..."
He squints "Are you a parrot?"
You shake your head quickly. Then point at your throat. Then shrug.
Luffy tilts his head "You can’t talk right?"
"...talk right..."
"Aah! So you're cursed or something!"
You nod.
"Cool!"
"...cool..."
"Wait, no. That’s not cool." he frowns, rubbing his chin "Curses are bad. But I’ve met a lotta cursed people. Like Brook! He's a skeleton."
You stare at him. What kind of life is this guy living?
"I’m Luffy," he says proudly, pointing at himself "King of the Pirates!"
"...Pirates..."
You nod again, quietly amused.
He grins wide "Wanna come on my ship?"
"...your ship..."
"Yeah!" he laughs "You’re funny. And you look lonely."
You look away "...lonely..."
"...Me too, sometimes." he adds, quieter now.
You look at him again. He doesn’t look sad. But there’s something in his eyes... a soft, faraway thing.
Suddenly, he grabs your hand.
"Let’s go! We’ve got lots of meat and a weird deer doctor and a robot and—oh! Nami might yell, but she’s nice!"
You try to speak, try to say thank you...
But all that comes out is "...nice..."
He smiles anyway, like he understands. Like he hears the real you through the echo.
“Yup! Franky built him! He’s our shipwright. He’s super strong and goes SUUUPER loud!”
You flinch when he yells the last word. He laughs.
“Sorry! I get excited.”
You smile a little and step aboard.
The ship creaks gently under your feet. Seagulls cry overhead. You look around, deck, masts, ropes, sails, a mini garden? A fridge bigger than your house?
Everything feels strange and loud. Not just sound. Loud in energy.
You point at the fridge.
“Oh! That’s where Sanji keeps the food.”
Your stomach growls.
Luffy’s does too. His eyes light up “Wanna eat?!”
"...eat..."
“Let’s go!”
He runs ahead. You follow, not sure why. You don’t even know these people.
But something about him makes your feet move.
Inside the kitchen, a blonde man in a suit is chopping vegetables with fire in his eyes.
“Luffy, don’t you dare—”
“SANJIIIII I BROUGHT A FRIEND!”
He dodges a flying spoon.
“You can’t just bring people on board like strays!”
"...strays..." you mutter, suddenly unsure.
Sanji notices you. His expression softens.
“Oh. You're actually cute. Sorry about him.”
You raise an eyebrow. Cute?
Luffy, already opening the fridge, shouts, “They talk weird!”
"...talk weird..."
“They only repeats stuff.” Luffy says, mouth already full.
Sanji blinks “Cursed?”
You nod. Slowly.
“Poor one,” he says gently “You want something to eat?”
"...to eat..."
He chuckles and makes you a plate. Warm rice, veggies, meat.
You blink. You almost forgot what kindness felt like.
Luffy sits next to you, eating loudly. Talking even louder.
“I once ate 50 meat skewers in 10 minutes.”
"...10 minutes..."
“Zoro tried to beat me, but he passed out.”
"...passed out..."
“He’s dumb.”
A sleepy voice from the hallway growls, “I heard that, idiot.”
Luffy laughs. You smile again, just a little.
Later, you're sitting on the deck. The sea sparkles. You lean over the railing and watch the waves.
You hear a thump behind you. Luffy flops down beside you, chewing on a bone.
“What’s it like? That curse?”
You don’t answer. You can’t.
"...curse..."
He doesn’t seem to mind “I think you’re cool anyway.”
You look at him. Really look.
He’s smiling at the sky like it’s the most normal thing to say.
You echo softly.
"...cool..."
Months Later
You don’t remember the last time you felt out of place on the Sunny.
Nami yells at Luffy every morning. Zoro naps everywhere. Chopper checks your heartbeat too often. Sanji feeds you like he’s your second mom. Brook keeps asking if he can see your... well, never mind.
And Luffy is still Luffy.
Jumping into the sea without thinking. Laughing at clouds. Screaming about meat like it’s treasure.
But now, you watch him longer than before.
You catch yourself smiling at things you didn’t use to smile at.
The way his hat bounces when he runs. The sparkle in his eyes when he sees a new island. How he always offers you the last bite, even though he’s clearly still hungry.
You’re starting having feelings.
And it’s obvious.
To everyone but him.
“Hey, Y/N,” Nami says one afternoon, stretching in a lounge chair “You’ve got that look again.”
"...that look again..."
She smirks “Y’know. The Luffy look.”
You pretend not to hear. You stare out at the sea, cheeks warm.
Robin’s nearby, reading a book. She glances over and smiles knowingly “It’s cute.”
"...cute..."
“Don’t worry,” Nami says “We won’t tell him.”
Brook appears beside you suddenly “Yohohoho! But if I did tell him, would you die of embarrassment?”
You sigh, flopping onto the deck "...die of embarrassment..."
Later, you’re in the kitchen. Sanji’s chopping onions.
“Ah, young love,” he says dramatically “I can taste it in the air.”
You blink.
“I mean, it’s obvious,” he grins “The way you look at him like he’s made of sunshine and meat.”
You groan quietly "...sunshine and meat..."
“Exactly!” Sanji laughs “You poor thing.”
You try to act normal.
You help Chopper sort herbs. You dodge one of Franky’s explosions. You play cards with Usopp and Zoro.
But when Luffy walks in the room, it’s like gravity tilts.
“Hey, Y/N!” he grins, face covered in sauce “Wanna race me to the crow’s nest?!”
You blink "...race..."
He grabs your hand before you can answer, just like that first day.
And your heart does something stupid. Again.
You reach the top, both of you breathless and laughing. Wind in your hair. Sky above you like a painted ocean.
Luffy flops down and stretches out his arms.
“Man, I’m glad you came with us.” he says suddenly.
You freeze.
“You’re fun. I don’t get what your curse is, but you’re cool.”
Your chest aches.
You want to say so much more than you can.
So you echo.
Soft, honest.
"...cool..."
Luffy grins at you, eyes shining like always. He doesn't notice your flushed face.
You stare at him, hopelessly smitten.
Below, Nami, Robin, and Sanji peek from the lower deck.
“She’s so obvious.” Nami whispers.
“He’s so dense.” Sanji groans.
Robin just laughs softly “It’s only a matter of time.”
More months pass.
By now, you’ve stopped pretending.
You’re in love with Monkey D. Luffy.
Not a crush. Not a maybe. Not a question.
You know it now, deep and sure, the way you know the sea is wide and the stars are high.
You still can’t say it.
But you feel it.
Every time he grins at you with food in his mouth.
Every time he jumps in front of danger like he’s made of rubber and courage.
Every time he reaches out to grab your hand without thinking.
And so, you start to show it.
In small ways.
You write notes.
“That was stupid.”
“You’re going to fall off the mast.”
“You’re amazing.”
Sometimes you doodle him with his silly wide smile and giant hat. Sometimes you leave a little meat draw at the bottom of the page. He loves that.
He just… doesn’t read into it.
He always laughs and pats your head.
"You're funny!"
Or "This looks cool!"
Or the worst one "Thanks! But I like it better when you use your hands."
That makes your heart stop the first time he says it.
"...hands..."
“Yeah!” he grins, mouth full “Like when you push me, or pull me, or poke me when I fall asleep during Nami’s maps!”
You stare at him.
He doesn’t notice. He just keeps eating.
You want to scream. Or hug him. Or both.
Now, you touch more.
You ruffle his hair when he’s sitting still (rare).
You fix his hat when it slips sideways.
You flick his forehead when he’s chewing too loud.
You lean against him during long sails. At first, you thought he’d pull away.
But he never does.
He leans right back. Like it’s normal. Like you’re a pillow he was always meant to have.
One quiet night, you both sit on the deck under the stars.
Everyone’s asleep. The wind is soft. Luffy’s eating the last of the fish Sanji grilled.
You hand him a folded note.
He opens it.
Inside is a simple drawing of the Sunny, the crew, and you and him at the front, standing side by side, a little closer than the rest.
He tilts his head.
He looks at you, grinning “You’re getting better at drawing!”
You nudge his shoulder.
He laughs, leaning against you “But I still like using your hands.”
You blink.
"...hands..."
“I like that,” he says casually “It’s like you’re talking anyway. With your pokes and tugs and stuff.”
You stare at him, heart loud in your chest.
He doesn't get it.
Not yet.
But he feels something. You know he does. Somewhere in that loud, brave heart of his.
Maybe he’s not ready.
Maybe you’re not ready.
But tonight, sitting beside him under stars, your shoulder against his…
It’s enough.
For now.
It's been more than one year since you're with the crew now.
The sea has changed. The crew has changed. You’ve changed.
And maybe… he has too.
Luffy is still Luffy... loud, fearless, hungry... but you’ve noticed new things.
Sometimes, when you touch his arm, he pauses a little too long.
Sometimes, when you laugh at his jokes, he stares for a second longer than needed.
And sometimes, like now, when you’re both alone under the stars, he gets quiet.
Not sleepy. Not bored.
Just… thinking.
He lays beside you on the deck, hands behind his head, hat tilted back. You lie on your stomach next to him, swinging your legs lazily.
He sighs.
"Aaah, I love the stars."
Your eyes widen.
Something sparks in your chest.
You sit up, turn quickly to him, and gesture.
A circle in the air. Then point to your ear.
Repeat that.
“Huh?” Luffy blinks “The stars?”
You shake your head, then motion again, slower, more direct.
Say the sentence again.
He squints, confused. Then shrugs "I love—"
You shoot your hand out and press a finger to his lips.
He freezes.
You lean in just slightly and echo softly, for once fully in control.
"...I love..."
He blinks up at you “…the stars?”
You shake your head.
He blinks again “Meat?”
You shake again.
“Cake?”
No.
“The sea?”
No.
He groans, flopping backward like a kid “Ughhh, this is hard!”
You giggle silently, then touch his arm gently. He turns his head toward you again.
"You’re really cute when you—"
You stop him again, finger to lips, slower this time.
"...You..."
He tilts his head, brain clearly spinning now.
“…You?”
You nod.
He hesitates, points at himself “Me?”
You nod again.
He frowns, trying to rewind the moment in his head “…I love… you?”
Your eyes shine.
You nod.
Your lips part.
You whisper, finally, with every piece of courage you have left "...I love you..."
His mouth opens slightly. But no sound comes out.
His eyes go wide. Shocked. Silent.
You watch him. Waiting.
And then…
You panic.
Did he not mean it? Did you just...
But before fear can fully wrap around you, his arms do.
He pulls you in, tight and sudden. His chin rests on your shoulder. He’s warm. Real. His chest is pounding just like yours.
You freeze.
Then slowly… melt into the hug.
“…You really do?” he asks quietly, still stunned.
You nod into him.
“…Wow...” he says.
You feel him smiling now “I didn’t know what it was. But I think I feel the same thing.”
You pull back just enough to look at him. His hat’s tipped forward again.
He lifts it and looks at you with his usual grin but this time, it’s soft.
“I like you a lot, Y/N... I love you too.”
Your breath catches.
You can’t say much.
But you don’t need to.
Your just touch his face gently, your fingers telling him everything your voice can’t.
And he smiles wider than the sea.
He hugs you again now but the hug lasts longer.
Longer than you thought Luffy would know how to hug.
He’s not saying much. You don’t need him to.
His arms around you already said it all.
“I love you too.” he repeats, a little softer now.
Like he’s still trying to believe it himself.
You pull back slowly, just enough to see his face.
His smile is small now. Real. No yelling. No food in his mouth. Just him. Just you.
“Hey…” he murmurs, touching your hand “I don’t really know what to do next.”
You blink.
He scratches his cheek, suddenly bashful “I mean, I feel it. But… do we do something? Like, a handshake? Or…”
He pauses.
“Is this when people kiss?”
You hold your breath.
He looks dead serious.
“Do I have to do something with my mouth?”
You let out a soft, choked laugh.
He’s ridiculous.
You love him.
You really, really love him.
So you nod.
Then you touch his face. Gently. Carefully.
Your fingers brush his jaw. His cheek. His hat.
He goes still. His eyes stay locked on yours now, like he’s waiting for instructions.
“…You wanna show me?” he asks, voice quiet.
You nod again.
Your hand moves from his cheek to the back of his neck, and you lean in slowly.
He doesn’t move.
But he watches your lips.
And then, finally…
You kiss him.
Soft. Careful. Just a few seconds.
You don’t press too hard. You don’t try to make it more than what it is.
Just a quiet I love you against his mouth.
When you pull back, his eyes are wide.
Then…
A huge grin.
“...That was weird.” he says.
Your heart drops a little.
“But really nice.”
Your heart jumps back into place.
He tilts his head “So… we can do that again whenever we want, right?”
You nod. Blushing hard.
He pokes your forehead lightly “You’re all red.”
"...red..."
He chuckles “You’re really cute when you do that.”
You press your hand over your mouth, trying to hide the biggest smile you’ve ever had.
He takes your hand and laces his fingers with yours.
The stars are still above you. The sea still sings below.
But your whole world is sitting right in front of you now, smiling like he just discovered a new kind of treasure.
The next morning is normal.
Sort of.
Nami’s yelling at Luffy for stealing tangerines.
Zoro’s asleep in a hallway.
Sanji’s making enough food for three armies.
Chopper is bouncing around, asking if your face is still red.
You’re trying to act natural.
Not easy, after kissing your captain under the stars like a dramatic romance novel.
You walk into the dining room. Luffy’s already halfway through breakfast.
“Hey,” he says, chewing “Did you guys know Y/N told me they love me?”
Silence.
Utter silence.
Usopp chokes on his juice.
Sanji drops a pan.
Nami freezes mid-coffee sip.
Robin slowly lowers her book.
“…What?” they all say, almost in unison.
Luffy nods proudly “Yeah! Last night. It was cool.”
“Waitwaitwaitwait—” Usopp waves his hands “You’re saying Y/N said I love you?”
You blink, holding back laughter.
You can feel all eyes on you.
“…They can’t say that.” Nami says, raising a brow “Not first. That’s literally their curse. This means YOU said it first.”
Luffy grins “Yeah, but they did. Kinda.”
He sets his cup down and explain all the scene of you trying to let him say "I love..." and then "...you".
Zoro’s eye opens from across the room “…That’s actually smart.”
“Aaah! So romantic!!” Chopper squeals.
Nami smacks the table “THAT’S ADORABLE.”
“Gyaaaaaaah!!” Usopp holds his head like it’s about to explode “That’s, like, pirate legend level cute!!”
Robin chuckles softly “It’s very you two.”
Sanji is on the floor, sobbing into a towel “My heart—! I raised them so well—!”
Luffy’s just smiling like it’s no big deal “I said it back, obviously.”
Everyone turns to you.
You just stare back, completely red "...obviously..."
You want to vanish into the sea.
But then Luffy reaches over and grabs your hand again, totally casual.
And just like that, the noise fades. The teasing becomes background.
You squeeze his hand. He squeezes back smiling at you with his best and biggest smile.
not to be rude but some of y'all need to look on the bright side sometimes. like, yeah sure the world is fucked and people suck and we all die whatever, sure, but like. go outside.
i'm not saying the cure for depression is touching grass. however, if you surround yourself with sad things and talk about how terrible life is and how much you're suffering and never take a breath and remember it's not all bad, you'll end up making yourself worse.
like, i've been diagnosed with clinical depression, and anxiety, and insomnia, and chronic pain, and a million other things that get in the way of me having a simple fucking good day, but you know what?
i watch videos that make me happy and wear pretty clothes and cut my hair in fun styles and do my makeup and drink strawberry tea and take two showers a day and i look on the bright side because goddamnit if god is trying to break me down, he'll have to try harder.
i see so many people talk about how sad they are, who make their depression their first priority, and i get it, i really do, but you know that is actively harming your mental state, right? please, just do something nice for yourself, think positively for one day. i promise things get better when you step back and breathe.
happiness is not an achievable permanent state of being like "one day I'll be happy" it's a temporary, fluctuating feeling just like anger and sadness. the more water you give it the more it can bloom, even if only sometimes.
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