There are four rules that come with falling for your best friend’s sister, on the contrary here’s four ways you can easily fail them.
𝓬haracters: Sanji, Koby, Law, Sabo.
༯ 2k+ wc each / bit suggestive / fem reader / confessions / first kiss / one shots.
AN: sanji isn’t rlly Zoro’s bsf but lie with me, thank you…!! Took me so long to finish this because all of my finals were this week, but it was nice to take my time with it.
rule number ONE, you can’t fall in love back. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
“Who the hell is Mosshead even supposed to talk to?” Sanji muttered, balancing a tray of food in one hand as he wandered through the crowded streets of the island. Honestly, he was more concerned about whether the swordsman could find his way back to the ship than hold a conversation with anyone.
Luffy perked up from where he was sitting, legs dangling as he happily chewed on meat. “Probably his sister.”
Sanji nearly stumbled over his own shoe. His head snapped toward the captain so fast his neck hurt. “His what?”
“His sister,” Luffy repeated around another bite.
He was still grinning happily until a shadow fell over him. Nami scolded him as she grabbed dragged Luffy by the sleeve toward a nearby row of shops.
The two disappeared into the crowd before Sanji could ask another question. He stood there for a moment, blinking as he set down the plate of food.
Zoro had a sister? How in the hell had nobody mentioned that before?
Not that Sanji could complain too much. Everyone on the crew had things they kept to themselves. Still, that felt like very important information.
The thought lingered in the back of his mind as he and Chopper spent the next few hours gathering supplies. The reindeer focused on medical necessities while Sanji hunted down ingredients for the kitchen.
Everything was casual until he passed a sword shop. The rhythmic sound of steel being sharpened echoed through the open doorway. Sanji would’ve ignored it entirely if a flash of movement inside hadn’t caught his attention.
Then he saw you, a pretty woman behind the counter. There was no way he could ignore it despite Chopper’s protest.
His posture immediately straightened once he stepped in. A practiced smile slipped onto his face as naturally as breathing, one hand finding its way into his pocket. “Looks like this island’s got something worth admiring after all, hello beautiful—”
The line died halfway through. Not because you interrupted him, intentionally at least, all you did was laugh after all. But it was his heart that automatically began to ache in a way it hasn’t before when he listened.
It was a genuine one, directed at an older customer before you turned your attention toward him. The smile lingered on your face as you walked over.
For a second, Sanji completely forgot what he’d been saying.
“Welcome to the shop,” you said with a grin, head tilting slightly. “Looking for anything in particular?”
Before he could answer, you’d already grabbed a blade from the display rack and offered it to him. Sanji blinked when it was in his hand.
“Oh.. Uh.” His eyes drifted to your face again, a heat raising to his face. There was something familiar about you, uncomfortably familiar. He tried not to think about it.
“I.. yes. Perfectly okay.” He nodded pathetically, trying to seem genuinely interested in the sharpness of the blade. “Your hands are talented, expected from a beautiful lady.”
You raised an eyebrow, it was obvious you didn’t believe him. “Right.” You murmured, the smile tugging at your lips made his chest do something deeply inconvenient. “But, thank you.”
For once, he wasn’t trying to think of another compliment. He was trying to think of literally anything to say at all.
Sanji swears he let out an agonizing groan. The familiar shout nearly made him jump out of his skin. Zoro was marching down the street, waving an arm overhead despite being impossible to miss in the first place.
Your entire expression brightened, while his frowned sharply.
You turned to face Sanji, he looked at you with an equal amount of shock. You managed to speak first, “You know my brother?”
Sanji didn’t have time to respond, but it didn’t take long to realize he did the second Zoro caught up, a mixture of friendly familiarity and also hatred. But the attention slowly went back to the new found sibling.
He watched the exchange you guys had in stunned silence. This wasn’t just some beautiful stranger he was genuinely drawn to, it was Zoro’s sister. And he didn’t feel as bad he should’ve about it.
The rest of the conversation became a blur. Sanji couldn’t focus on a single thing being said whenever you spoke. The only sentence that actually registered was the one that mattered. You were coming with them to Water 7.
And judging by the stupid grin he couldn’t get off his face, Sanji knew that was about to become the best voyage of his life.
The trip to Water 7 taught you a few things, one of them was that Sanji was confusing.
Zoro already sent you many warnings the second you came on board, a lot of it coming from spite. And like your brother, you began sharing a similar dislike for Sanji.
At first, you assumed he treated you the same way he treated every woman. You’d seen him around Nami and Robin often enough. The occasional collapse onto the deck whenever either woman acknowledged his existence.
It was ridiculous.. a little entertaining, but ridiculous.
So when he immediately volunteered to carry your bags, pulled out your chair at meals, and somehow appeared whenever you needed help with something, you brushed it off as part of the package.
That was just Sanji, it was annoyingly sweet.
You didn’t notice how he treated you differently, how he stayed longer because he wanted to listen, the gestures that weren’t coming from chivalry, but rather his need to be near you. He never made a big deal out of it either.
But it made you want to avoid him, desperately even. Sanji did not particularly care about your brother’s opinion, but you certainly did. And even a small part of you knew the cook could tell your actions were close to disdain.
Either he didn’t care about the fact you didn’t like him, or he couldn’t let you go.
The first time you noticed something was different happened entirely by accident. You’d wandered into the kitchen looking for a snack, Sanji was preparing lunch, sleeves rolled up and cigarette balanced between his lips.
For a moment, you almost considered walking out. It’s not like you assumed he wouldn’t be here, but you didn’t want to too cordial before you left. It would be hard leaving after making an attachment.
And maybe it was also because it was him.
“Need something?” he asked, glancing over with a soft smile.
You leaned against the doorway before deciding to just fully stepping inside. “Looking around.”
“Just be careful.” His hand immediately reached toward a shelf. “Wouldn’t want a lovely lady getting injured.”
You blinked, slowly letting out a humorless laugh. “Of what?”
“The knife rack.” He hummed, a little bit more silent than usual.
You followed his gaze, noticing the blade you’d given him at the shop rested neatly above his workstation. It was displayed within arm’s reach, the metal practically gleamed. It was your work in his kitchen.
Your stomach did a strange little flip, slowly walking closer with a hand on the edge of the counter. This was the longest you’ve been willingly near him already.
“You kept it.” You stated, you hoped you looked as calm as you imaged yourself to be right now.
Sanji looked confused at first, a bit baffled before breaking out into quiet laughter. “Of course I kept it.”
“As decoration?” You murmured, eyes narrowing.
“Absolutely not.” He sounded genuinely offended, sticking the cigarette onto a tray. Crossing the kitchen, he lifted the blade from its place. He was close to you, a finger almost touching yours. “It’s made by you.”
The knife spun effortlessly between his fingers before settling back into his palm. “And it’s reliable. I can’t possibly have something you’ve put hard work into as just a display.”
For a second, you couldn’t speak. Eyes flickering from his fingers to his face, almost reaching out before a noise outside brought you back.
“I’m glad you’re using it.” You said silently, a bit flustered from the declaration. “As well as taking care of it.”
Sanji glanced down at the blade before looking back at you. “You gave it to me.” He murmured, sharing a smile of warmth. “It deserves the same amount of love I have for you.”
The answer came so naturally that neither of you seemed prepared for it. Of course he’s said things similar, but this felt different. So different. For a moment the kitchen felt strangely quiet. Then Sanji cleared his throat and turned back toward the stove, offering to make you something.
For the first time, you accepted the offer.
You spent the rest of the day thinking about it, or rather him. You never expected to start growing a fondness for the cook.. which was an understatement with how much you’ve been staring at his hands.
He treasured a knife you’d handed him after knowing you for less than ten minutes, and it made you a sucker. It wasn’t a fast change, but definitely one that made him oddly breathtaking.
The look on his face whenever you smiled suggested he might’ve fallen first, and you fell second in that race.
Your own brother didn’t notice how quickly your opinion changed on Sanji until it was just you two on the boat. You guys made a clean stop at the island you desired, but stayed behind with Zoro as he kept watch.
Subtly hinting you weren’t as eager as you were before to leave.
Your fingers tapped against the wood next to his sleeping position. “The cook is cute.” You said suddenly, pushing yourself back with a knowing look. “I might’ve just fallen for him.”
Brown eyes stared back at you in pure disgust, a little bit of shock as well. “Seriously?”
He made a baffled noise, falling deeper into his sleeping position. “Just tell me if he does anything.” He grunted reluctantly, knowing nothing he could say would convince you.
rule number TWO, don’t get caught by the brother. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
Koby wants to say he was drawn to you a lot quicker than he would like to admit. You were already grabbing his hand, biggest glint in your eyes just from the things you’ve heard about him. At the time, you’d just been a person he’d heard about through stories or complaints.
There was a pause before you let go of his hand after a casual shake. It only lasted a second, maybe less. But it was enough for him to realize you were still holding his hand. The thought hit him so suddenly that he nearly let go on instinct, but instead he slowly pulled back with fingers tracing yours.
“It’s.. it’s nice to meet you too.” He murmured, straightened himself immediately.
Suddenly you pointed at him so quickly you nearly lost your balance, the sudden enthusiasm caught him off guard. “Sorry, I just can’t believe I’m seeing you.” You said a bit sheepishly, “You’re much cuter in person.”
But before he could respond you were already getting hugged by your teary eyed brother, also known as his closest friend, Helmeppo.
Koby mentally buried his face in his hands, there’s rules about liking his bestfriends younger sister, right? There should be, because he feels extremely guilty about it right now.
And judging by the suspicious look Helmeppo was now giving him, Koby knew he was turning red. Fast. Very, very fast.
The following weeks were easier, at least in his definition. His responsibilities as a marine hadn't changed. His days were packed from sunrise to long after dark. By all accounts, he should have been far too busy to spend time thinking about a single person.
Of course, he wasn’t. That realization became even worse when he found out you would be joining the same ship for a few months.
You joined training exercises with his unit. Ate lunch with them. Somehow became part of the routine so naturally that Koby couldn’t remember when it started. If anything, he didn’t mind it. The problem was that every single time you talked or smiled at him, it felt catastrophically unfair.
Still, he plays it cool to his best ability. Koby doesn’t treat you any different, keeping up with the harmless things. Like inside jokes, lingering conversations, the stuff he could handle.
One evening after training, the two of you remained on deck long after everyone else had gone below. You sat beside the railing with your legs dangling over the edge while Koby leaned nearby. He warned you it was dangerous, but you were stubborn.
The conversation drifted from stories, then to embarrassing memories then, to absolutely nothing important at all. At one point you laughed so hard you nearly lost your balance.
Instinctively, Koby reached forward for you, his hand caught yours with a sense of urgency. His face frowned subtly, holding his breath while you stared back at him.
The movement happened so naturally neither of you reacted immediately. His fingers wrapped around yours, something he was too scared to do the first time. Yours tightened back. For a second, neither of you moved from the spot.
Koby could feel the warmth of your hand, could feel your pulse. Could feel his own heartbeat becoming dangerously loud.
Any sort of laughter faded, silence taking up audible noise. Restraint felt far more difficult than it ever had before. You both pulled away at exactly the same time.
The rest of the conversation was significantly more awkward, Neither of you mentioned it, or could even forget it
The memory followed him for days afterward, replaying itself at the worst possible moments.
It only pushed him farther from you. He thought it was too complicated, that it was fair to put a good making of distance. You heavily thought otherwise.
Just months of feelings sitting quietly, two people who had finally run out of reasons to ignore them, built up to this moment.
His throat felt dry, a little strained at the current moment. “Yeah?”
The tension got worse during training, and unfortunately for Koby, you loved close combat exercises during private practice. Meaning you were constantly within arm’s reach, always.. touching.
This afternoon you had him pinned against the ground, your legs straddled around his waist. He could feel his breath hitch at every movement, unnecessary heat building up. Everything felt way too tedious.
Your forearm pressed lightly against his shoulder as you held him down. “You gave up way too easily.”
Koby’s brain stopped functioning, thoughts tripping over each other as he tried to find something, anything, that sounded normal. The worst part wasn’t even the position, it was you, close enough that he could barely think straight.
“Y-You’ve gotten better…?” He stuttered, tried and failed to get up from your hold. And in an extremely quiet voice, mistaken for the shuffling. “You’re too close.”
You sadly didn’t hear that one.
“You’re a liar.” You leaned down, a cheeky grin forming before it slowly faltered. His expression softened at the shift, it took a few second for panic to settle.
You didn’t do well knowing a guy you thought had interest in you to start to distance himself. “Koby, have you been avoiding me?” You murmured, hesitant. “—Sorry, just.. I don’t want to assume.”
That hit very close to him.
Koby opened his mouth, then shut it again, words falling apart before they could form anything useful. What came out instead was a mess of half excuses and strained syllables, his gaze flickering away like he couldn’t quite hold yours anymore.
Your expression dropped into something a little like disappointed, and you eased off him, standing up. You were already turning toward the door, accepting it.
But before you could reach it, his hand shot out and caught yours again— firm this time, finally forcing himself to stay in the moment. When you turned back, he looked overwhelmed, flushed, but more certain than before. “Don’t go.” he said, voice cracking slightly before he forced it down.
He had an expression that showed multiple ways of saying please, something you didn’t know was possible. Koby swallowed hard before he began to confess everything, the truth, a real feeling he hasn’t been able to ignore.
For a second, everything went still. It wasn’t until he saw your subtle smile did he realize how easy this should’ve been. He closed the gap, pulling you into a tight almost clumsy hug. It was cute, really cute. His arms held on a little longer than necessary, tension finally breaking as he exhaled.
You laughed softly into his neck, your own arms crossing over his shoulder. His grip loosened just enough for him to tilt his head down, brushing a few shy, lingering kisses along your cheek and temple, still flustered.
You both froze instantly.
Standing there was Helmeppo, mid step, clearly looking for you— his sister, and now staring at the exact scene of you and Koby caught in a too intimate pause that neither of you had properly recovered from yet. Koby’s face went fully red, arms still half raised like he wasn’t sure whether to let go of you.
“Uh.. ahm.” he started, voice immediately betraying him, he could hear you let out a suppressed gasp.
Helmeppo blinked. Slowly, his gaze shifted from Koby to you, then back again, “Are you.. and my sister—?”
Koby took a sharp step back from you like he’d been burned. “It’s not what it looks like—”
Helmeppo cut him off immediately. “It looks like my sister is in your arms!”
Helmeppo exhaled through his nose, expression flattening into something dangerously calm. And judging by the way you couldn’t even look at him, you havn’t told him anything.
Then instantly, that weird silence turned into his subtle whines. “Koby, how dare you not tell me first!”
rule number THREE, don’t give special treatment ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
Law’s first impression of you had been simple, a stray cat.
Not because you were troublesome, or particularly difficult to deal with. It was mostly because you appeared out of the north blue.
You were Penguin’s younger sibling, which wasn’t as surprising as it should’ve been. That was because he already met you once or twice as kids, it was inevitable. Now though, you were nineteen and standing directly in front of him, no longer that same twelve year old.
A few years passed quickly after that, you quickly eased into the group in that time. And somewhere during those years, Law became painfully aware of something that everyone else had figured out long before him.
You genuinely liked him, and it was embarrassing enough for you already.
He hoped it would fade. Especially crushes on people like him, you deserved that much. A chance to move on and find someone easier to love than him. The unfortunate part was that you seemed determined to do neither, or at least let him believe that you would.
Truthfully, he understood it more than he cared to admit. Penguin, by your own repeated admission, had been an absolute ass growing up. Law had lost count of the stories you had the chance to tell. To a younger version of you, seeing someone actually knock sense into your brother had probably seemed heroic.
It was funny to see, but still heroic.
Meanwhile, you had accepted your fate of love with surprising grace.
Law didn’t like you back. With how concrete he is with his emotions, it wasn’t hard to catch on. He didn’t say anything, so you assumed he was avoiding that uncomfortable conversation. It was hard sometimes, tedious. But it didn’t get in the way of being apart of the crew.
It’s not like you wanted something so unrequited, you just had to live with it, or better yet move on.
At least, that was what both of you believed until a month ago. Or rather what Law believed about himself on his feelings for you.
Law still hated thinking about it, mostly because it made absolutely no sense.
The crew had docked at a port town after two weeks under and on sea, the crew needed some land. Everyone scattered almost immediately, eager to enjoy solid ground for a change despite being used to the environment.
You had disappeared for less than an hour before returning soaked from head to toe, your hair still extremely damp.
Apparently the outfits became unbelievably stuffy for you. You had decided that after weeks inside a submarine, swimming sounded like the greatest idea imaginable, a little bit of freedom to change out of it.
Law hadn’t cared what you did as long as someone kept an eye on you, and thankfully Bepo had volunteered.
What Law hadn’t anticipated was you marching directly toward him afterward. You were shivering hard enough that your teeth nearly clicked together, a little bit embarrassed yourself going up to your captain in a bathing suit and still wet.
Despite that, you still managed to smile. “Where are the towels at again?” You murmured, gaze avoiding his. “Bepo took mine.”
It was a simple question, completely harmless for you guys.
Yet somehow his mind went blank. For one horribly long second, all he could think about was how different you looked outside the usual white jumpsuit.
He felt like a total creep with how long it took him to grab you one.
After that day, things became inconvenient. Because suddenly he noticed everything, your laugh, the way your eyes lit up whenever someone praised you, when you absentmindedly leaned against nearby surfaces whenever you were tired.
But he could ignore that, he was good at letting it go.
The current situation still felt like torture though.
Medical training days were supposed to be straightforward, it was a good educational practice every month or so to maintain good nursing skills in case anything goes bad.
Unfortunately for him, it did not do as intended when you were currently leaning over him with a stethoscope.
“Move the diaphragm higher.” Law kept his voice level fairly firm, forcing his attention onto the lesson instead of your proximity. “It was better than the first attempt.”
You nodded immediately, following his advice, ompletely unaware of the effect you were having on him. The stethoscope shifted slightly against his thin shirt
Your brow furrowed as you concentrated, slowly relaxing when you heard the thumps better.
“It’s a lot louder.” You laughed softly, clearly fascinated by the sound.
Law nearly closed his eyes.
Because yes, it was loud, far louder than normal. Every beat seemed to echo inside his chest. He could practically feel the traitorous thing trying to expose him.
Still, you remained oblivious. If anything you made it worse by leaning closer. Trying to do exactly what he had taught you.
Your eyes widened. You instinctively pulled away far enough to look at him. “It’s getting a lot faster. Is that normal for you—?”
Before you could finish, Law caught your wrist and pushed the equipment slightly back. The contact startled both of you.
“Completely normal,” he answered immediately. It was a lie, a terrible lie. His pulse had never been less normal in his life.
Soon enough, Law realized his fingers were still wrapped around your wrist. He pulled his hand away back to his side, feeling an unfamiliar heat on his ears. And the cause still was too baffled to even realize it.
You blinked. “Alright, just don’t die.” You noticed the way his eyes narrowed at your tease. In that silence you tried cracking a smile, “My bad.”
He only made a grunting noise as a response.
You took the time to pull out the earpiece, placing the equipment on the medical tray.
“You did good.” The words slipped out before he could stop them, trying to fill the silence. “You get things down fast.”
Your entire face lit up, and suddenly the awkwardness was gone. “Really?”
The grin you gave him afterward nearly killed him. “So then I passed.” You cocked your head to the side.
“You want me to say it?” Law scoffed, but still amused by your determination. You didn’t falter, only nodding your head eagerly. “Alright then, you passed.”
You were pleased with the praise, but didn’t let that fact get to you. You appreciated his lessons and left without anything more than professionalism.
The door clicked shut, silence settled over the infirmary. And Law finally dropped his head into one hand. A month ago, he could have dismissed it.
Now all it took was a routine training exercise for his heart to betray him. All it took was you. And judging by the way his thoughts immediately followed you out the door, he was beginning to suspect this problem wasn’t going away anytime soon.
Law was still determined to stay in denial.
A year ago, he had made it clear that he didn’t return your feelings. At least that was what he told himself. Changing that now felt unfair to you. So whatever he was doing lately couldn’t possibly mean anything.
At least, that was how he chose to see it. The problem was that his actions rarely agreed with his fair reasoning.
He started to notice things about you. Every scrape, every bruise, every cut you came back with after a job. Half the time you weren’t even aware he’d spotted them before you did. The moment he saw an injury, you somehow found yourself dragged into the infirmary.
He always claimed it was because someone had to make sure it healed properly. The first treatment was reasonable, second was precautionary.. third was usually just an excuse.
You never questioned it, because Law was a doctor. Doctors fussed over injuries.
Unfortunately for him, that was only the beginning to his run of don’t make it obvious.
At some point, the crew started noticing how often he ended up paired with you. Somehow Law was always already going in the same direction of any place you guys walked.
If there was a task that required two people, he was there.
If you wandered too close to a ledge, missed your footing, or nearly walked into trouble, his hand was already on the back of your collar before anyone else could react.
Then came the familiar deadpan question. “Watch where you’re going.” Or sometimes just an irritated stare while he made sure you were steady again.
By normal standards, it wasn’t exactly sweet. By Law’s standards, it was kinda cute to see. The crew certainly thought so.
The crew somehow possessed restraint besides the few comments they’d throw. Had it not become unbearably awkward every single time the topic came up, they probably would have announced it over dinner every night just for entertainment.
But for you two, it was easy to act like it was nothing. If anything you just thought he was getting used to your presence since the awkward tension that came from you liking him
At least until you got sick.
You sat at the table with your elbow propped against the metal, fingers tangled in your hair. The room seemed warmer than usual. Every movement felt heavier than it should have, you were heaving like you’ve been doing something.
Law entered the dining room carrying a stack of papers, making a note to check every room before night came.
He barely glanced up at first, at least until he realize it was you that was out here. He stopped in his tracks, eyeing you with subtle surprise.
You managed a weak greeting. “Hello.”
Law didn’t answer, instead he took notes of every unusual behavior. A second later he was standing beside your chair. You barely had time to process it before his palm settled against your forehead. An action neither of you guys expected.
The contact lasted only a moment, still, it felt long enough. Your breath caught, heat already burning in your face became much worse.
Law seemed equally aware of what he’d just done. His hand disappeared almost immediately back to his sides, propping the papers on the table.
He cleared his throat before talking. “You’re sick.” The diagnosis was annoyingly simple, but made the point clear. He tilted his head toward the doorway, telling you to follow. “Should’ve told me sooner.”
Normally you would’ve argued, right now you didn’t have the energy. When you pushed yourself to your feet, however, your legs disagreed with the decision. The room swayed, you caught yourself against the table before you fell completely.
Law made a huff that could’ve been mistaken a laugh, only making you more embarrassed. With a quiet sigh, he stepped back toward you and offered an arm.
He was kind about it, didn’t even make a comment about your lack of ability to even walk. But it was still awkward. You accepted his help anyway.
The moment you did, you caught sight of Shachi. The man looked like he’d just witnessed a miracle, his jaw was hanging open. He had so much enthusiasm it shocked you. You didn’t even get a chance to comment on it but the time he was already walking away.
You ignored him. Mostly because a part of didn’t want to acknowledge what this looked like.
The following days weren’t much better, you sinked into the bed with no other option. Penguin handled most of your meals, still teasing you but made sure you ate. The crew hovered around you like you were on the verge of death instead of suffering through a miserable fever.
Law, however, was somehow worse than any of that. He checked on you constantly. Not enough to seem obvious, just enough that you noticed.
Every few hours he’d appear in the infirmary or your room under the excuse of retrieving something, filing paperwork, organizing medicine, or checking equipment.
Then he’d casually take your temperature, ask how you felt with a weird calmness. Inspect whatever symptoms remained, and leave.
..Only to come back again later.
With nothing else to do, you spent most of your recovery watching him work. That flutter in your heart thumping again.
On a rare occasion, small conversations happened.
“Thank you, Law.” You suddenly murmured, bringing the tea in your hand closer to your face.
That made his pen stop moving, glancing at you before uncomfortably shuffling in his seat. “Where this coming from?” He asked suspiciously, leaning back. “You’re still taking your medication.”
You suddenly let out a hearty laugh, despite your sore throat. “Can’t I be grateful?” You pulled the covers closer to your lap. “You’ve done so much for me, I feel guilty.”
“Don’t be.” He said instantly, his hand getting dangerously close to your face. You don’t know what you braced for, heart pounding, but it wasn’t a flick to the forehead.
You yelped at first, glaring at him with confusion. Though what you saw made all your anger go away, simply from how he was naturally able to laugh so nicely.
A smile still lingered on his face, finally turning back towards the papers. “I don’t.. can’t have you dying on me, so just rest instead of thinking too hard about it.”
You know exact why you fell for him, times like this made it so easy. Though you don’t know why it’s been recently starting to feel mutual.
You began to notice those same signs as well. It wasn’t enough to accuse him of anything. But it was enough to make you wonder, especially because Law treated everyone fairly.
That was one of the things you respected most about him.
So why were things different now?
Your crewmates constantly teased you about it, even your own brother. They would notice you watch him in awe or stay oblivious, and at the time you were certain they were just trying to make you feel better.
The realization settled slowly, or just the idea of it. Tiny moments collecting together until they became impossible to ignore. The extra attention, longer conversations, and then the way his eyes occasionally lingered before he looked away.
You tried not to think too hard about it, mostly because the alternative felt ridiculous. Law didn’t like you, you had accepted that whether you liked him.
Yet every day made that certainty a little harder to hold onto.
He didn’t even react to the sound.
Slowly, he looked to his side, noticing Penguin standing there with a grin on his face. The expression immediately filled him with dread. “What.”
Penguin nodded toward you, talking with Bepo, first day without the dreaded feeling of sickness. You were still smiling, head tilting back at something the bear said.
Law’s stomach dropped, eyes narrowing before looking back at the paper with a grunt. “What about her?”
Law already hated where this was heading.
“You know,” he started, using a hand for emphasis. “You’ve been giving her special treatment, we’re kinda jealous.”
Law immediately returned his attention to the person next to him. Unfortunately that only made Penguin grin wider.
“I have not.” He hissed, closing his eyes like it would help with the situation.
A laugh escaped Penguin before he shook his head. “For years I thought she was the obvious one, but you’re the one sticking by her side for a week straight.”
“You’re making this way easier than she ever did.”
Law slowly lowered his paperwork. The warning look he sent would have stopped most people, it didn’t have the same effect with someone that’s known him since kids. Then, because fate apparently enjoyed his suffering, your laugh echoed through the room again.
Without thinking, Law glanced toward you.
The second he did, Penguin started laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
And for perhaps the first time in his life, Trafalgar Law genuinely considered throwing one of his first friends overboard. He knew he liked you, but didn’t need someone to rub it in.
“Just don’t hurt her feelings, yeah?” His voice softened, and that caught Law off guard. It was kind of him to care for his sibling. “I really need to earn some money from the bet I made.”
Never mind, he’s still the same ass.
rule number FOUR, don’t leave marks ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
At first, you didn’t like him.
You couldn’t stand him, actually.
The first time you met Sabo, you were sixteen years old. Six years of wondering if Koala was alive, six years of hearing stories and rumors, six years of just wondering. Then one day she appeared again, older, stronger, smiling so brightly it hurt to think about the time you lost with your sister.
..And beside her stood Sabo.
At first glance, he looked respectable enough. Polite. Well spoken. It was the first thing you noticed when it came to his blonde hair and fancy top hat.
The illusion lasted less than ten minutes once he spoke.
From that point on, every interaction somehow turned into an argument. You hated how stubborn he was. Hated how he always seemed convinced he was right. There was not a single part of him that couldn’t push your buttons.
You were convinced Sabo was the most irritating man on the Grand Line.
Sabo, on the other hand, seemed equally convinced that you existed solely to shorten his lifespan.
Every time he saw you climbing somewhere dangerous, sneaking into conversations you weren’t supposed to hear, or volunteering for missions above your experience level, his expression would tighten.
The argument repeated so often it practically became tradition. A bruise on your hip, blood running from his nose after you elbowed him.
Koala standing between you both with the exhausted look, a hand pinching the bridge of her nose.
Seconds before she got her own hit on you guys too.
Thankfully, it wasn’t as common as outsiders would’ve assumed. At some point you became mature enough to realize you will be stuck with him till death. Dislike is still on the table.
As the years passed, Sabo became busier. That was natural considering his dedication to the revolutionary army.
Soon he was spending more time overseas than at headquarters. Missions lasted weeks, sometimes months. Entire seasons would pass without seeing him.
You didn’t mind at first, it’s not like you guys had the sweetest conversations.
Sometimes when you see him at the port, you send out a congratulations for finishing the mission. A small courtesy that lasted thirty seconds. You almost wondered if he was as awkward as you realizing how much has change.
Even as years have passed, you did not have a great relationship with him.
But not a bad one either.
You didn’t want to think about how every year made it a little harder to convince yourself he was as awful as you’d once believed. Those few good moments you had with him changed your entire perspective, he was addicting.
You hated how easily he could make your heart race right before saying something that made you want to shove him overboard.
Most of all, you hated the doubt that lingered behind every interaction.
No matter what he did, no matter how much he seemed to care, there was always a constant presence at his side. Someone he trusted without question. Someone who belonged in his life long before you did.
Koala. You weren’t particularly jealous of the relationship, you loved her too much for that, but rather how you were involved.
Every time he showed concern for you, every time he remembered something important, every time he went out of his way to help, that ugly little thought returned. Maybe it wasn’t you.
The possibility made your chest ache in a way you couldn’t explain. It was unreasonable.
Yet the more you found yourself caring about him, the harder it became to ignore. Because if you were being honest, that fear was no longer coming from annoyance.
It was coming from the terrifying realization that his answer actually mattered to you.
You were halfway down the corridor before you heard footsteps behind you. Of course he followed you after you left the conversation. Part of you had hoped he would let the argument die for a few hours. Apparently that had been too much to ask.
“Are you seriously still angry?” He hissed, it was sharp with disbelief.
You stopped so abruptly your boots scraped against the floor, spinning around, you finally faced him.
The frustration that had been simmering in your chest all evening started with him, ended with him. You do not know what changed in the two month duration he was gone. He stood several feet away, one hand clenched tightly around the black glove he’d removed earlier, his expression twisted into something between annoyance and confusion.
As if he genuinely could not understand why you were upset.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” You shot back.
Usually fights like these went physical, but that was the kid in you that wanted that. You guys were older now, so it meant having this uncomfortable conversation.
Despite it being the first switch in your guys relationship, you do not vividly remember it. It went on with the usual stubborn back and forth, but this time you did not hold back.
You said something that caught him off guard. He forgot everything he had to say. Sabo’s expression changed so quickly you almost missed it, for a brief second, he looked genuinely blindsided.
“You really think that’s it?” he asked quietly, he somehow lost all that bite he had. “That you’re only Koala’s sister to me?”
“What else am I supposed to think?”
His laugh was short and humorless. “Right.”
The word fell flat between you. You immediately wished you hadn’t said it. “Sabo—”
“It’s just funny.” He looked away briefly before meeting your eyes again. “I was sitting here wondering how much more obvious I could’ve been.”
Your stomach twisted, a feeling you weren’t prepared for when you started this. “What?” You murmured, the response sounded weak even to your own ears.
“I thought you just didn’t want to notice.” For the first time since the conversation began, Sabo took a step closer. He wasn’t entirely sure what would happen if he did. “So, do you really think I follow you around because of that?” he asked.
He didn’t even give you a chance to respond.
“You think I stay up waiting for you to get back because you’re Koala’s sister?”
The confidence behind your first answer faltered. When he actually said it out loud, the explanation you made sounded ridiculous.
“Every mission,” he continued, taking another step. “Every report. Every time someone mentions your name, I’m the first one asking questions.”
You wanted him to stop, you needed him to before it became real. But that was the logical part of you. The emotional one never felt so reassured before, and would have him never stop.
“And do you know how ridiculous that is?” His frustration finally cracked through “You are the stubborn girl who could never leave my mind. That’s who you are to me.”
The unfinished sentence lingered in the space between you. He didn’t say it, but you knew what the following was.
Looking at him now, standing only a few feet away, it became impossible to keep pretending otherwise. The denial you’d been clinging to felt thinner by the second. Very few people got to see this version of him. The one standing in front of you now, so vulnerable and honest.
His eyes drifted briefly toward your hands, then back to your face. He was silently asking permission. When he reached forward, his movements were slow enough for you to pull back.
His fingers wrapped carefully around yours, it was oddly intimate. You’ve held his hand before, but not like this. The contact alone nearly undid you.
Sabo let out a quiet breath, following with a chuckle of disbelief. “I’m shocked it took so long.”
You let out an agonizing sigh. “Sorry.”
His thumb brushed lightly against your knuckles, bringing it closer to his face. “I don’t care because I have to.” His voice was barely above a murmur. “I care because it’s you.”
That realization terrified you almost as much as it terrified him, years of this irritation only continued for comfort, not because it was real. It was just easier acting like it.
That was the first day you left a mark. You vividly rememberer throwing the cravat, tugging down at the top of his shirt. Sabo whispered in your ear, a mixture of concern and tease, but shut his mouth when you sucked a spot of his skin. It was rough and mean, a bit of your old irritation in it.
Sabo hissed at first, slipping his hands into your hair as you continued. Once you let off with a pop, you both realized how much better that was than rustling on the floor when you guys ticked each other off.
A hickey on his neck for the first day of confessing, how romantic you guess. Expected from two people with no romantic experience.
You guys did not make it official yet for that reason. But slowly, other people began to notice how your guys relationships has changed.
They began to see you both alone a lot more, during lunch or any break. Sometimes training sessions were spent together as well. But neither of you showed romantic display until it was private. He would nip at your shoulders sometimes, only sharing a sneaky glance before walking away.
It was all the marking that became slightly public. He was a tease, and you were too stubborn to back out. Over time, it became impossible to not see despite how covered his outfit is.
Throughout all of this, Koala did not bat at eye in any romantic relation. You would assume she was actually good at picking up hints, and usually she is! But this was more out of ignorance.
For years she’s known as you guys to never get along properly. She’s now seen a couple of casual conversations, merely thinking you guys were finally becoming friends.
The infirmary was quiet, a rare thing for them. Koala sat on one of the stools, sorting through bandages while half listening to Sabo explain how he’d managed to get yet another bruise on his arm during training.
He was sitting on one of the examination beds while Koala checked over a mark near his shoulder. As she reached for another roll of gauze, she paused.
There were a few faint marks over his chest and neck, something he never mentioned before. He didn’t even seem to mind them, rubbing a thumb against it before pulling his shirt up again.
Koala was still curios though, inching closer. “How’d you get those?”
Sabo looked at her, then glanced down at the spot, then back at her. A terrible sign already. He shrugged, “..Kinda just happened.”
She knew he was lying. And it would’ve been left like that if she didn’t get a flashing thought the longer she looked at them. It was hard to play dumb.
“Is the second in command getting hickeys?”
Sabo made the mistake of smiling.
“Oh my god, you’re sneaky! Who is it? Since when? Why didn’t you tell me?”
His smile vanished instantly. “You’re getting nothing out of me.”
“No fun.” She snickered, but far from done. “Is it someone from the Army?”
Sabo stayed silent, which gave her a good enough answer.
“You’re lying.” She gasped, a little bit too excited prying into his life.
He laughed despite himself, that only made her more suspicious. Usually he wasn’t this stubborn about these type of topics.
Plus, she’d know if he was spending time with someone a lot.
Then something clicked. Her eyes narrowed, a small bit of her connecting the secrecy. The way he disappeared during breaks, the way you’d disappeared during breaks.
The fact that whenever she went looking for one of you lately, the other was nowhere to be found either.
Koala slowly turned, a finger falling against her chin. “..no way.”
Sabo immediately recognized that look, it was someone who began connecting way too many dots about her sister and her partner in crime.
“Koala.” Sabo stood up. Unfortunately, panic made him careless. “You can’t tell her I accidentally told you, she’ll kill me.”
The room went silent, maybe for a second or two.
Sabo closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. The entire infirmary echoed with her voice, hell, probably the hallway outside too.
Koala pointed at him in complete disbelief. “Sabo, what the hell? I couldn’t have known anytime sooner before it got to hickeys!”
“We aren’t good at this stuff, ok? Ignore that.”Sabo looked everywhere except at her, feeling a heavy gaze uncomfortably on his neck. Instinctively, he put a hand there. “You were supposed to figure it out slower.”
“Slower?!” She looked genuinely offended, pacing the room. “I thought you two barely tolerated each other!”
Koala threw her hands into the air. “This makes absolutely no sense!”
Sabo couldn’t help it, he laughed at her reaction. Probably wasn’t the way he had it in mind when he began liking you, but pretty close.
That made her even more exasperated. “Oh, this is funny to you?”
“I’m gonna beat you.” For a moment, she actually considered it, and Sabo even waited for it. But instead she took a deep breath. The initial reaction calming down, giving her a chance to sit.
“Don’t think this is over.” Koala hummed, hands in her lap.
Sabo winced, almost shocked there wasn’t a bruise on his face yet. “Thought so.”
Koala buried her face in her hands. “I’m happy for you guys.. I guess. It makes things easier.”
At least now she finally knew why the two people she cared about most had been disappearing together for months.
“But you guys are nasty.”
