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lawslessons · 4 years ago

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Stamina Training (Zoro x Reader)

S in the NSFW alphabet! Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: slight NSFW, teasing

Synopsis: Zoro gets a little more than he bargained for when he trains with his crew member. Well, he trained and they watched… they really watched.

“What’s the longest you’ve exercised?” They asked Zoro as they took another sip of their coffee and watched the swordsman exercise with a small smile on their face. The swordsman didn’t look over at them, he was too focused on the set of weights he was doing. He let out a small grunt of exertion when he thrusted his arms down with the heavy weight in his hands. His face and chest were gleaning with sweat, he looked sinful in that moment, like a statue of a demon come to life. His skin was like smooth marble and the scars especially stood out on his smooth physique. The way he wiped the sweat off of his brow and the way he sighed sounded like a wanton prayer. They heard it all, they had to even confess that the sight of him alone was sinful. Their mind began to wander as their eyes glanced down the swordsman’s body and watched as his muscles tensed and rippled with every movement he made.

“The longest? Why do you want to know?” Zoro asked as he put the weights down and moved to go to the pull up bar and use one of his hands to pull his body up while he silently counted to himself. They stared even more, they watched as Zoro’s abdominal muscles flexed and rippled with tension when he pulled himself up and how they relaxed when he let himself finally go down. They watched as Zoro’s eye scrunched with concentration and how the vein on his arm jutted out as he effortlessly lifted himself up.

“I just want to know, do I really need a reason?” They asked, a small pout formed on their lips which Zoro did not miss. The swordsman scoffed and paused his exercise as he tried to think about it. Zoro watched as their small pout turned into a smirk and how they were slowly drinking the coffee Sanji made for them. Just knowing that the chef made that for them elicited a sense of rage inside him.

“Fifty hours straight was one of my longer sessions, I wanted to get stronger,” Zoro explained, but they already knew that. After all, that was all Zoro wanted to do, all he seemed to want to do was get stronger and stronger. But that also enticed something inside of them, a small smirk came onto their face and they moved closer to where Zoro was working out and chuckled. Zoro watched as they carefully approached him and how they looked him over, they weren’t even trying to hide the fact that they wanted Zoro and he found that very amusing.

“What about your stamina?” They asked as they watched him resume his work out, the swordsman looked over at them in confusion as he pulled himself up on the bar. He softly smiled at them and had to think about it, he wasn’t stupid, he knew what was happening.

“Good? I don’t know what you mean.” But oh, he did know, “If that’s all you came here to talk about, leave. I’m busy.” Zoro said with a small grunt as he exerted himself to go up further on the bar. They could see Zoro’s muscles shaking as he held himself up, the amount of raw strength the swordsman had fascinated them. The tension he held in his jaw as he clenched his teeth to hold back his sounds also caught their eye.

“Ouch, you know what I mean,” they said as they stepped a little closer. The swordsman rose a brow and watched their movements carefully, the way their hips moved, the look on their face… what were they plotting now? His eye was caught on the way they started to play with the mug in their hands, did they understand how angry it made him to see that damned mug?

“I don’t.”

“Think about it, Zoro. What other stamina could I be talking about?” They asked. The swordsman paused and thought about it. And when he finally realized what they were asking, he gasped and nearly fell off of the bar with red cheeks. Reality slapped him across the face and the poor swordsman didn’t know how to process that for a minute. While he had a basic idea of what they were talking about, the fact that they basically admitted it to him shocked him and made his heart race uncomfortably in his chest.

“That? Why do you want to know about that? What are you thinking about?” Zoro asked as he tried to get back to working out, but his mind was beginning to wander and his heart was beginning to thump hard against his chest. The sweat on his body wasn’t from just working out anymore, there was more behind it and just looking at them made his hands clammy.

“Thinking about you,” They innocently shrugged with a teasing smile, the look on Zoro’s face was priceless. The sweating, panting swordsman was at a loss for words in that moment. Zoro’s jaw relaxed and tensed as he tried to think of something to say to get them to stop teasing him like this.

“Shut up,” Zoro snapped as he dropped off the bar and sized the person in front of him up. He glared down at them and watched as their smirk seemed to only widen at Zoro’s reaction. That smirk made him nervous, he didn’t like how they seemed to have so much control over him.

“Make me,” They challenged. Zoro’s eye darkened and he grabbed them by the neck and pushed them against the wall while glaring down at them. The mug in their hand fell to the ground and shattered, perfect. He smirked when he saw them tense at the sight of the broken mug on the ground.

“I don’t think I want you to shut up then,” Zoro said as he lifted their leg up and hooked it around his waist so he could press closer to them while he continued to glare. “I want you to scream so loud that the entire ocean knows who’s doing you,” Zoro said as he roughly dug his nails into their thigh and smirked when he heard them hiss at the small sting of his nails. He watched as they started to breathe harder and knew that he was finally able to get control over them.

“What about your stamina?” They breathily asked as they looked up at him with hooded eyes, Zoro took that look in and smirked before he pulled back and left them against the wall. They watched him walk away in disbelief while also trying to process what all just happened.

“I don’t think you deserve to know that,” Zoro said as he went back to the bar and pulled himself up and watched as they sat down against the wall and tried to catch their breath with a shocked look on their face.

“Tease,” they pouted while the swordsman continued with his workout. He chuckled and glanced over at them and smirked.

“Don’t push it, if I wanted to I could keep you here all week,” Zoro said which made them raise a brow.

“What if that was what I wanted?” They asked.

“Maybe one day, I need to train right now,” Zoro said before he looked over at them again. They were standing up and began to walk over to him with that same sway in their hips, that seemed to catch his attention.

“Why don’t you train something else?” They suggested which made the swordsman a little flustered, but he did a good job in hiding it. He rolled his eyes and finally got off of the bar and looked down at them.

“You’re talking too much today, if you’re gonna talk I’m gonna need you to put your mouth to good use,” Zoro stated as he eyed them up and down.

“Bet you won’t even last a minute,” they teased as they went onto their knees for him, Zoro glared down at them and forced them to look up at him by yanking their head back by their hair.

“Didn’t I tell you to get to work or to beat it?” Zoro frowned as he pushed his hips closer to their mouth. Just as he was about to get what he wanted, there was a knock on the door.

“Oi, it’s time for dinner” Usopp said from behind the door. Zoro frowned at that and let go of their hair and listened to the footsteps go away from the training room.

“We’ll continue this later,” Zoro grumbled as he grabbed his shirt and slipped it back on with a small frown on his face.

“You seem to have a lot of stamina, but no patience,” they teased. Zoro glared at them and tossed his sweaty towel over at them.

“Shut up.”

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tooweirdforyou · 4 years ago

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Can I please request platonic straw hats x female teen reader, more specifically with nami & robin, like they would think that she doesn’t like them because she requested to have her own small room and doesn’t really talk to them & is always glued to her books . But she’s just Quiet & keeps to her self. Fluffy ending please & thank you 😊. ( sorry for the long request😅)

The Straw Hats With A Teen! Shipmate Who Keeps To Herself

a/n : hey! Sorry if this is a bit short but I hope you enjoy!! Thanks for requesting! :)

SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG 😭

Summary : the straw hats with a shipmate who’s a teenager and tends to keep to herself, causing them to believe she doesn’t like them.

“She’s eating alone again..”

Seeing you walk off into your room, with a tray of Sanji’s food in your hands, through the small window of the kitchen door made the crew sigh.

“We can’t force her to eat with us though, it’s her own decision.” Usopp points out, arms crossing as he ate a piece of meat.

Nami only frowns at Usopp and continues to stare over at the doorway, wondering if you had a problem.

She couldn’t even remember if there was ever a time where you actually sat down WITH the crew to eat, since the day you first joined.

Did you hate them? Then why join? Or were you just that introverted, that you even had asked to have your own room?

Since you were a girl and younger than most of them, the crew agreed to your request but they never thought it’d create a giant wall between you and the others.

In fact, you were so isolated from them since you never did anything with the crew, except maybe fight with them during battles.

For example, you would read, eat, draw, sleep and relax in your room, away from the others. The door was often locked so the others had to knock on the door to check up on you, but even then, they weren’t always let inside.

Robin closes her eyes and thinks back to herself. If she has to admit, you reminded her a bit of her past self. Before she joined the crew, she was always reserved and kept to herself, only occasionally speaking with others.

But was your reason the same as hers back then?

“Maybe she’s just being a normal girl teenager, doing teen things. They are often quiet and keep to themselves right?” Franky suggests, chomping down at his burger with his mini hand.

“Not all teenagers are like that.” Nami scoffs, rolling her eyes as she poked at her food with a fork. A pout could be seen on her lips.

“...but why does she always leave? Do you think she doesn’t like us?” Chopper frowns sadly, eyes just glossing over his plate without touching it.

The group only sat in silence. But everyone had mixed feelings about you.

Luffy was concerned and a bit confused by you. He didn’t understand why you stranded off from the group and often did try to talk to you, but he figured it was a girl thing. Maybe you didn’t like the boys?

Zoro was indifferent about it, because as long as you at least fought with the group and was loyal to Luffy, he didn’t mind that you often spend time alone. Hell, he can kinda understand the need to get away from the group for a bit.

Sanji was pretty saddened about it, he hates to not see your cute but rare smiles at times, but he at least has a sense that you enjoy his food since you come back with the tray empty, so he’s glad about that in the very least.

Usopp is also a bit confused and wishes you spend more time with the crew and bond with them, but he respects your decision if you want to be alone. He just wants to be able to get to know you.

Nami is pretty upset, because now that there’s another girl to gossip with, spend time with and bond with through all these chaotic boys, she’s sad that you don’t seem to want to be around any of them and just keep to yourself. Did you really dislike them that much? Did they do something?

Chopper finds it saddening because it seems like you don’t like them. You don’t want to spend time with the crew at all and it’s sad for him because you seem really kind and sweet and he wants to know you more! And if you’re ever sick, he might not be able to help you since you’re in your room a lot.

Franky doesn’t quite get it either. You joined the crew but you don’t even hang out with them, even if it’s to do stupid things? Not even to just do whatever you want on your own, but in the presence of the crew?

Robin is secretly disappointed. She had hoped she could be able to spend time with another female around and perhaps teach you some things since you seem to share her love of books. But she’s understanding in the very least.

Brook both understands and feels indifferent. He can’t force you to spend time with the crew but he does hope to see you warm up and spend some time with the group one day.

“It can’t be helped.”

Hearing Robin, the crew all watch as she stood up, finished with her sandwich and tea and make her way over to the door with the gentle smile on her face.

“I’ll go check on her. Maybe it’s time we asked if everything’s alright.” She suggests and the others widen their eyes a bit.

“You’re right. I’ll go with you.” Nami smiles determinely, standing up from her seat and went over to the door as well, standing beside Robin.

“Yohohoho~ good luck!” Brook calls out just before the girls closed the door and walked out.

Nami and Robin shared a glance before nodding in unison and Nami knocks against the wooden door.

You were so invested in your book while eating, you didn’t hear the knock at first, until Nami’s voice was followed after.

“[Name]? It’s Nami and Robin. Can we come in?”

Tilting your head at their request, you glance down at your tray of [ Favorite Food ] that Sanji prepared especially for you, and then moved it aside onto your desk.

Closing your book and setting it on the bed in front of you, you stood up and walk over to the door, peeking your head out when you opened it just a crack.

“..What is it?” Your voice was so soft and quiet, they almost didn’t hear you.

Robin simply smiles gently and hums. “Did you finish eating?” She questions and you shake your head. “No.”

Nami smiles awkwardly before clearing her throat. “Actually, we just wanted to talk. Is it okay if we come in?” She says, her hand slowly making it onto the door and you stare at her a bit.

It was just the two of them, but you were hoping to just relax and eat in peace.

Though, knowing Nami, she wasn’t one to give up and you weren’t going to try to argue with her.

So sighing lightly, you pull open the door wide and allowed them entrance, closing it behind them when they came and locked it, as usual.

Walking past them, you went over to the bed and sat down, picking up your book and grab the tray of food onto your lap to finish eating, ignoring their stares that lingered on your form.

“Whatcha reading?”

Glancing at Nami’s bright smile as she made herself comfortable on the edge of your bed, Robin sitting on the other side.

Shifting a bit and repositioning yourself against your headboard and in center to keep a distance from the two, you turn down to the book.

“It’s a novel.. called Heaven’s Official Blessings.”

You answer quietly, turning the page in your novel and then used your hand to pick up a piece of your food.

“That’s the one about the God and the Demon lord, right?” Robin hums and you nod in response. “I haven’t read it myself, but I heard good reviews of it. What’s your opinion on it?”

You shrug a bit. “I don’t know. I didn’t finish.” You answer, motioning to the page you were on which was a little less than halfway.

Robin chuckles and nods. “Fair point.”

“Well, what’s it about?” Nami speaks again, trying to continue the conversation but you just chew on your food and held out the book for her to look at.

Nami blinks a bit before seeing the summary of the novel in the front and shakes her head. “I want to hear you read it.”

Furrowing your brows, you only swallow your food and frown. “Why?” You didn’t prefer talking and you didn’t understand why when she could easily just read the synopsis.

Nami giggles sheepishly before shrugging. “I just wanna hear your voice some more.”

You gave her a weird, skeptical look as you move the now empty try back onto the desk and bookmark the page you were on before closing it in silence.

The room was quiet, Robin’s eyes observing you while Nami’s roamed the room.

“Say... do you hate us, [Name]?”

“..huh?”

Turning serious, Nami turns away and stares around the room a bit more, Robin’s smile slowly fading as her lips turn to a firm line.

“You asked to have your own room.. you never eat nor spend any time with us. Is there a reason for your separation from us? Have we done you a wrong? If so, please tell us so we can fix it.”

Lips parting in shock at their question, your eyes widening along, you just stare at them. You hadn’t even realized you were so.. away from them. You were just doing what you normally do even back in your island, it was just habit.

“[Name]?”

Blinking, you quickly shake your head before calming down a bit, taking a soft breath. “I-I don’t hate you.. You guys didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then why are you avoiding us?” Nami asks with a sigh, running a hand through her orange locks of hair and brushed it with her fingers.

“..I didn’t realize I was.. I was just enjoying time alone.” You admit honestly, eyes trained on the novel in your hands. “I figured I just read in peace until it was time for Luffy’s new adventure or something.”

“Uh.. besides, I.. I don’t really like hanging out in big groups or anything like that. I’m not very social so I’m not good in that stuff.” You add, rubbing your arm before rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly.

Nami and Robin stare at you, clearly surprised at your answer as they slowly exchanged glances, just seconds before a snort being heard.

Nami then busts out into light laughter, hands clutching her stomach while one went to wipe tears forming. Robin herself was expressing a few amused and relieved giggles, covering them with her hand a bit.

“Is that really all it is?”

“I guess we were worried for nothing.”

The two women smile brightly at you as Nami goes over and hugs you tightly.

“All of us were worried you hated us or something but now we understand! You’re just shy!” Nami grins, nearly asphyxiating you in her chest as you struggle to pull away from her.

“I must say, I am relieved to hear that isn’t the case though. If you’re just someone who prefers to keep to yourself, it’s amazing you somehow managed to continue to stay on this ship.” Robin lightly jokes as you finally pull away from the navigator and inhaled deeply.

“Come on, you. We’re going to spend time with the crew and each other, so you will open more and we can get to know you. Okay?”

Already pulling your hand, you felt yourself get forced up off the bed before you could even protest or reach for your book.

“W-wait, but-“

“No buts!” She turns back to give her signature grin to you. “Unless you wanna pay me to let you back to your room alone, you are now going to spend the rest of the day with us!”

Robin smiles, seeing you being dragged off by their navigator and despite you looking helpless and even a little lost,

She could see the faint ghost of a defeated smile forming on your lips.

Whether it was because you were just in disbelief and accepted your fate, or because you truly did want to spend some time with the crew at some point one day,

Robin was just glad to be able to see you smiling and getting to spend time with the group.

Maybe this will let you be more comfortable and spend time around then even more in the future.

Grabbing your tray from earlier, Robin began to leave the room and closed the door behind her, a soft smile present as she hears the loud commotion from the kitchen.

“Finally a family.”

A/N : ahh, I’m so sorry this isn’t as great as I hoped, it wasn’t the ending I originally planned but I wanted to get one post out quickly- and I’m so sorry this took so long ;-;

It’s so rusheddddd

#tooweirdforyou #one piece #one piece x reader #op x reader #x reader #op #straw hat #straw hats #straw hat x reader #straw hats x reader #nico robin #one piece nami #vinsmoke sanji #roronoa zoro #tony tony chopper #one piece usopp #soul king brook #monkey d. luffy #cyborg franky

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danwhobrowses · 4 years ago

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One Piece Chapter 995: Initial Thoughts

And the count drops to 5 After a long week break One Piece is back to continue the back and forth of the Onigashima Raid, looks like Chapter 1000 may still remain in Act 3 which is...concerning, since Act 4 is meant to be the tragedy parts But for now, we see what 995 has to offer Spoilers for Chapter 995 of course, Support the Official Release Too!

It was a bit strange seeing a chapter cover after the whole Bege story ended XD But Luffy with an owl teacher is fun, and the squirrels

We however start on the outskirts, Big Mom vs Marco, and he’s kinda holding his own. It is worth noting that his fire seems to hurt Prometheus and Zeus looks out of commission still

Marco stating that he ‘doesn’t know his role yet’ is a bit of a worrisome flag, bug I do have an idea

BM does pin Marco down the easy way though, just grab him. Seems that Perospero’s alliance was super short lived - alliances and betrayal going hand in hand

But he gloated too much and Wanda and Carrot jump in in their Su Long forms! Peros is lucky he isn’t blinded, I mean he kinda should be, he has enough scars

‘You crazy furry’ - I don’t care if Viz changes that this is the canon line and hilarious!

BM seems to recognize Carrot though, which continues to bode the question: why didn’t she get a bounty for rinsing a line of a Yonko’s fleet? Franky did less in Enies Lobby and got a bounty

Wanda’s Su Long is kinda expected, but it’s good to see that she wants to avenge Pedro too, despite Peros’ objections. Gotta worry a little though, very easy to lose one of them in a 2v1 situation

Big Mom bouncing is strange though, she’s basically ditching her eldest injured son. What she says is interesting too, she doesn’t have any souls to use against Marco, meaning at this current point she’s somewhat weakened in terms of damage output

Carrot and Wanda are letting Marco make chase though, however the Ice Demons is where I expect him to gravitate towards

The Apoo chase is for the most part turning everyone against him, but in that manner also turning Kaido’s lesser forces against him

Tonfa is a unique choice of weapon for Apoo, maybe the extra joints allow more movement with them, but he should not last long against Drake and Zoro both going at him

Zoro vocally noting that he wants to support Kin’emon is telling, Oda is intentionally keeping Zoro away from Kaido

Drake though having no filter ‘I’ve always hated you’ - like cold blooded

Queen though seems to have eyes on Zoro, but he’s gonna be very rudely awakened if he tries it thinking that he’s merely the ‘3rd best fighter’. His musing about Sanji is interesting though, he doesn’t say Germa or the Evil Army, he says ‘Judge’s Son’ - implied familiarity? Oh lord what if Sanji’s uncle is Queen!? Both are blonde scientific geniuses

Brook being immune to Ice Oni does make a lot of sense, it may also become a key factor in getting to Apoo or Queen but he’s basically now a walking infection that he may be able to use, but Chopper is mulling how the virus works

And doesn’t notice that he’s got it too! Strange he didn’t feel it though huh? There is of course now the worry of ‘Healer Down’ but Chopper can change his shape to limit the spread, this also gives him a chance to self-treat an antidote or just allow a Pineapple to heal him with his healing flames

I do have worry about that Number-shaped shadow on the panel where Brook is saying he’s invincible, it’s got its eyes on Chopper

We finally get over to Usopp and Nami vs Ulti and Pay-Pay...though it’s turned out to just be Usopp vs Ulti and Pay-Pay.

Interestingly, Usopp seems able to handle Ulti from range, but with both it is a struggle. Ulti’s heart though

Unfortunately he seems to be on the end of ‘another’ headbutt. An Alabasta-esque Fatality showing Usopp’s skull very much cracked...surprised he has any bones left in his nose

Ulti turns her eyes to a felled Nami, but we’re shown Beast Pirates fleeing from outside, which should’ve really given away that an ally was coming

Nami definitely doesn’t want to die so pulls the bargaining, but Ulti wants her to retract Luffy’s statement about being Pirate King

PANDAMAN SMILE! Just...wow

I’m a little let down by Usopp though, even if it’s lying to stay alive to be okay with Nami saying that Luffy won’t be Pirate King doesn’t sit well, it feels like it contrasts his Alabasta moment as well when he refused to allow Luffy to be insulted

But Nami won’t say it, she says that he will, so it’s nice that Nami gets that moment too

And here to save Nami is Komachiyo rode in by Tama!

Sweet Child it’s cool that you’re here but this battlefield is not safe for you!

So yeah, really good chapter regarding developments, the picture does continue to become clearer. Big Mom is back on the loose, but without Zeus and Prometheus she is weakened. Marco is becoming aware of the Ice Oni - which Brook and Chopper are infected with but only the latter subject to its damage. Queen looks to eliminate Zoro. Carrot and Wanda are to fight Perospero and Tama has come for support right where Usopp and Nami are facing Ulti and Pay-Pay.

It all leads to interesting routes, of course Zoro vs Queen is a big one but I do see Drake jumping in on that, maybe even Hawkins, Apoo, Brook and/or Who’s Who, he isn’t the most popular of All Stars after all. I do still think Marco will save Chopper and the floor from Ice Oni, Chopper will be able to uncover the key part of it before fully turning, but through that Chopper can get that W over the Plague. I worry about Carrot and Wanda vs Perospero, I think Peros may get some help, he has a whole crew at the bottom of the Waterfall loaded as Chekov’s gun, but with the rest of the Minks falling back from the Dome as well it could be Minks vs Big Mom pirates. I worry most for Wanda because she is another one of Carrot’s close mink friends, she could easily lose a lot from this especially from the clock of Su Long. Seeking vengeance rarely goes the way people expect, I kinda hope that Carrot gets clarity and returns to support Luffy and co, mainly because I am Carrot4Nakama - I doubt she’s got her fill from adventure and she could easily get a bounty post-Wano (I even think her nickname of ‘Moon Rabbit’ would be suitable). While I thought that the title would relate to Shinobu, I did correctly predict Tama rolling up in my Mini-Theory Mashup Wano Edition (Link Here), she is far too much of a pivotal character to be kept away from this, she is a key factor as well. Not only will her arrival kick Usopp and Nami’s protective senses into gear to potentially get the W against Ulti and Pay-Pay (who while I enjoy their dynamic it’s a rough spot when they’re fighting people I like) but she also has influence factors with Luffy and Big Mom. She can be the later kick up the ass for Luffy to remember what he is fighting for but for Big Mom she can be the changing factor, Tama is who drove O-Lin to Udon, whether Big Mom has memories of Tama could in turn prove beneficial for the alliance in having BM turn on Kaido, if she runs in on Nami and Usopp too this could lead to Nami gaining an advantage by reclaiming Zeus.

But yeah, a lot of this was what others are doing aside from the Luffy, Yamato and Scabbards situation, we still are due to see Caribou, Team Law, Team Kid and Hiyori and who that shadowed person is (still think it’s Moria) but we still have 5 more chapters to go fill the big 1000

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pastel9girlbunny000die · 4 years ago

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{I was reading this other fic & I really like the idea of the reader getting pushed down to thinking their not good enough for the anime character then they run off later on get encourage words from their friends, I really loved it so I tried it with one of my long time OC character}

***

Zoro x OC (Zay)

Humans were disgusting in every way possible. It was a normal thought for Zay a demon and literally only himself.

Of course, there were some humans who could regain his mind to morals and right ways, but then again…

Luffy a silly childish Captain, and a overpowered rubber man the strongest on the crew, the childlike boy was able to make him join the straw hats

Most of the crew where normal well maybe, not counting the devil fruit users

Zay a demon.

Franky is half cyborg not normal, Sanji is basically human?

Nami I don't know that woman can rob you faster than you could say "Fuck!"

Usopp... I don't think a long nose like that can be counted as normal

And then there was Zoro. He is 100% pretty much human...

��Well maybe?

In other words, this man was unbelievably attractive. With his sexy body and the way he train none stop letting sweat drop from his well built chest and abs, it made Zay's heart beat out of his chest getting all Sanji-like.

Well maybe only in Zay's eyes.

Zay has the most attractive boyfriend in exsistins. But sometimes, not so much could be said the same for Zoro's personality.

When Zay asked Zoro to be with him, it came as a surprise, he didn't have any talent he has a shitty personality and well his looks... well?

Zay is a tall man about same as Sanji's height, His whole body is covered in bandages which are used to hide his burned skin. With his short black hair and his sharp yellow eyes.

In the end Zoro said yes.

It was a normal hot summer day, on a summer island the straw hat crew decided to dock at, the whole island just being a tavern where by passers can stop to restock booze or sit back and relax with thier own BBQ near the tavern.

The hot sun high in the sky the tavern was stopped out on a small hill near the ocean waters as there where many customers pirates civilians and some marines.

The island welcomed any costumers along as thier a paying costumer.

Many at the bar drinking till thier hearts satisfied, some cooking up thier own little feast. One rare sight that there where many people laughing and chatting along with each other,

The Tavern owner let the bar out side multiple tables and seats set out for all the customers, the bartender refilling drinks giving them too waitress who's handing out drinks to the others that where outside the tavern.

The Straw hat crew decided to grab thier own little table near the shoreline setting up lawn chairs under an umbrella, Nami and Robin relaxed drinking and chatting with each other.

Luffy, Usopp and Chopper ran off to explore the small island running around like silly children.

Franky and Brook was all up in thier own conversation at the table.

Sanji at thier little table with a grill, cooking up some delicious mouthwatering BBQ, dress in a apron without a shirt and some short pants.

He was sipping his wine glass eyeing all the girls who were walking pass the table in their bikinis while doing his work.

Zay and Zoro laid a blanket under the shade of a tree nearby drinking from thier mugs enjoying the taste of booze on thier tongues, sitting next to each other, Zoro in his swimming shorts, exposing his bare chest with a large scare bare into flesh it kinda gave into his attractiveness.

Zay was just looking at Zoro from time to time when he gaze away Zoro would also be taking a few glimpses next to him at Zay who was dress only in his swimming shorts his whole body covered in bandages not a peek of skin showing

The scent of his delusions cooking traveled through the air making Zay a little hungry.

The Straws, being the some famous pirates, drew some attention from the people there.

Zoro facked a loud yawn slowly placing an arm around Zay's waist, the faking made him chuckle, he and Zoro bordly took another sips of thier drinks. Just enjoying thier drinks and each others company

That’s when the whispers began to float from a table near them, all girls.

Being Zay also known as the thriller of death, and from the demon race Zay gained a big reputation before joining the straw hat crew, by terrorizing towns and being Heartless.

His sensible hearing was able to immediately pick up the whispering

“Is that Roronoa Zoro?”

“The pirate hunter?”

“Is that Zay? I tought that weirdo died in a crossfire back ages ago?”

“Why would the fuck would a demon like him be with Zoro?”

“You think his dating that Mummy?”

“He’s a beast and just eww. Of course his going to leash on the nearest person he could find.”

“In reality all the rumours about an Psychopath and bloodlust killing machine, all lies bet he only hide and pretend to play it big?”

Zay quietly placed his drink down, taking a glance at Zoro.

The look in his eye showed that he wasn't happy mostly pissed but he kept his cool, so there was no doubt that he heard them too.

His eye narrowed at thier table as more whispers about the Zay left thier mouths. The black haired Male let out a small breath, more of a sigh trying to calm himself down. They were just a bunch of jealous whores, Zoro wouldn’t think any less of me… would he?

A memory flashed past Zay as he moved away from Zoro taking off his hand from his. Kuina. Of course, Zay remember the name, Zoro childhood friend.

Not long after they fell in love..

Zoro trusted Zay very much he even opened up to him about his past, until a girl Zay doesn't know of came up the way Zoro spoke about her made him unsure about Zoro's feelings toward himself.

Zay would have understood if Zoro loved her. After all, not only was she described as pretty, but she kind and nice at the same time. Zay, on the other hand was the exact opposite rude and careless, would probably lose half himself in bloodlust nearly 10 seconds of a battle killing who ever gets in his way.

“Babe?” Zoro's voice brought Zay out of his thought. “Are you okay?”

“Fine. Whatever.” Zat growled before standing up walking off not hearing Zoro's questions. Leaving the swordsman.

Zay passed Robin and Nami both girls saw the look on Zay's face, he walked off to the Sunny it was a short walk as he went to the boys room slamming the door shut falling onto his and Zoro shared hammock.

The black haired Male felt his heart sink. Heavy breaths began to escape his mouth. Not only were he on the edge of riping off those girls heads and furious thinking so, but he couldn’t stand them.

Zay thought that maybe with Zoro there he would just drink the night away and stay at the swordsman hip being lovavble. He definitely helped, but the whispers that filled his ears were the last things he wanted to hear.

“Zay? Is everything okay?” Nami's voice traveled through the door as she knocking, Zay forced himself to look at the closer door, not a second later he flopped his face into Zoro's pillow with his hungry bloodlust grin.

“What? what do you want Nami?” Zay huffed an even more annoying thing to deal with.

“Is this about those annoying girls?” Robin questioned. “You don’t deserve that, Zay. No one does!”

“But their right,” Zay mumbled. “I’m rude, heartless, probably dengerous… Zoro deserves someone better, someone nice, cute, and more human girly someone who could be of actual love.”

“You’re actually very helpful, if it not for you Zoro would probably be training or sleeping himself to death.” Nami exclaimed, determined to prove Zay wrong. “You might not know the whole story. Zoro has never been happier ever since he met you! You take care of him, love him and you’re always there for him!”

“Zay you probably haven't heard what he says about you?” Robin asked, a gentle smile “He’s always telling everyone, Zay is mine and no one dares to take him from me I'll cut anyone down. Zay he loves you so don't push him away”

“Sush it you idoits-”

“They're only jealous, your the most basass bitch there is.” Nami and Robin said together and the two of them burst into giggles and Zay let out a loud hateful laugh.

He wanted to beat them up so badly, words ain't gonna cut it.

Zay let out a small sigh thankful for such good words. “Yeah. You useless girls are right for once.” and with that the blacked haired man slamded open the door waking pass them, Nothing left to say to the two.

***

Zoro found Zay in about an hour or so, after Zay left the boys room. He was a little worried but. He knew he should have told those girls off, after all, they were the reason Zay got angry.

“Hey, are you- oof!”

Zay clenched his eyes closed as he pressed his lips to Zoro's. His hands found Zay's waist as he pulled him closer to himself.

Feeling their tongues dancing with each other's the taste in thier mouths mixing and the biggest was the booze. The heat rising Zays fingers ran through the green hair of the swordsman, Zoro tightly wrapped his arms around Zays hips pulling him closed leaving no space between them they're skin would've been pressing together if it wasn't for Zay's bandages in the way.

Zay slowly pulled away not really wanting too, his cheeks a little blush and his eyes not leaving Zoro's.

“Well damn, ... your so fucking sexy”

Zay let out a low moan and buried his face in Zoro's neck. As the swordsman let out a low chuckle, kissing Zay's cheek softly.

“I love you.”

“You better cause you belong to me... and I love you too.”

***

(Almost to what Zay looks like {and Yes I know who this is}🖤❤🖤)

#roronoa zoro #Zoro x oc #one piece #anime #fanfic #oc character

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onepdumpsterfire · 5 years ago

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Disclaimer: These stories are based ‘loosely’ on the game Obey me shall we date. The major stuff will be the same, but here and there the story will be changed or embellished. It is just an AU and I do not own the game the characters, from both One Piece or Obey Me, nor do I own One Piece in general. It would be cool though…

Warning: The characters will mostly be ooc and for the most part will not have the same background as in the anime/manga. The reader’s age will be above consent; the exact number is up to you.

Seven Heavenly Virtues

Devildom!AU

(pt9/?)

Various Characters X Reader

The boys were homesick. Three days away and more than a hundred human lifetimes in the house of lamentation goes down the drain. They all moaned their loss as soon as they walked in through the door. Imploring the unknown future to let them rest in their safe haven.

Gathering in the kitchen, the first thing they did was prepare a nice lunch, having left before they could eat anything. Inviting you to join in with them, you all laughed and played in the newly finished kitchen that none of you have yet to test out. Reminiscing on your stay in the palace. Poking fun at the small fights and the constant visits to the underground labyrinth. Law sniveled over his lost pet while Sanji proudly pronounced the new pact he’d made.

All throughout the meal, the chatter continued. Even as it ended and the table was cleared, the conversation didn’t end. It just moved on to the living room, all sitting around each other to better listen. The stories didn’t stop at the retreat. Bringing up past stories, and mementos that they’ve all kept. Your shenanigans with the siblings being a popular topic of conversation. Sabo leading the cheerful atmosphere to a more subdued one.

“Y/n, you’ve already made pacts with four of my brothers, what’s your end goal?” He didn’t beat around the bush. He needed to know the truth and so did his brothers. All of them deserved to know.

“A-ah well you see…” There was a pressure in the room that was palpable, different from when the demon brothers showed their true forms. It wasn’t suffocating, so to say, but it was dizzying having to think of a lie. You were doing this for Zoro, so he could make up with Sabo. At first, when you first told him you’d do it, it was because you pitied him. He seemed so desolate. Then you got closer to the brothers. There was this undeniably human urge to help them. You wanted to make their family whole like it was before the war. Before the protest. Before the heartbreak of losing someone they loved. It was a human cliche to want to fix a broken person, but this was more than one single person. It was a whole family being held together by lies and deceit. They were grief-stricken. Grasping at whatever they could so that their last remaining strands of normalcy stayed. It wasn’t a lie you wanted to help them all. It wasn’t just for Zoro anymore. So you told the truth, for the first time. Albeit, leaving out a few details.

“I’ve seen how well you all seem to get along… but there’s this underlying… how should I put this…” You put a balled hand up to your chin, thinking of a way to say this without being rude. “I don’t mean to step out of line…. But you all seem sad. There are times where you all seclude yourselves and I don’t know.” You ran your hand through your hair. Looking anywhere but them, you distracted yourself from the embarrassing statement. “Maybe it’s because I’m human, but I want to see you all get along.” The brothers were confused, they thought they had been getting along. Sure they had their sad days, but who didn’t? “I know that you guys have your times when you do, but there are other times when you all can barely hang out together?” you knew how this was sounding. You didn’t mean it like that! Waving your hands in front of you, you tried to fix your mistake. “I-i mean there’s just a coldness in the room… I uh….” Blood rushed to your face, you were making a fool of yourself. You should just wrap it up. “I just wanna see you guys hang out comfortably all the time because even if you don’t I see you all as friends!” Your face was hot, and your hands shook. It was embarrassing to admit this, but you needed to say something. “Oh Y/n, I love how much you care for us!” Sanji swooned over to you, taking your hand in his, he leaned in close. Dropping his voice lower, he murmured in your ear, “and It’s so cute how flustered you got.”

Law and Luffy thanked you for looking out for their family while Kid fought with Sanji. He wanted him to let go of you, but the other didn’t relent. You all lost yourselves in your own little bubble; maybe if you had paid more attention you would have noticed the suspicious look Sabo sent you. He was skeptical of your intentions. He believed you wanted to help. He just didn’t think that what you said was the whole truth. Ace noticed it too. He might be tempestuous and distant, but he was also smart. He too knew you were hiding something. And he knew how much it irked Sabo to not know the full truth. Ace liked to irritate Sabo, and if you were hell-bent on getting them to grow closer. The answer was one in the same. Out of the spite he had, he’d make an offer. One you couldn’t refuse.

“Y/n.” You pulled away from Kid and Sanji who were still grumbling about not letting the other lay a hand on you. “Yeah?”

“You’ll need my pact too, right? I’m willing.” He seemed smug. He knew how mad Sabo would get if he offered himself without a thought. They argued back and forth, about how he wasn’t doing this because he wanted to make a pact. Ace was doing it because he liked to rile him up. Back and forth they went. It was close to physical at some point, but the others separated them. Telling them to go to their rooms to cool off.

There it was again. A constricting force in the room. Ace and Sabo fought all the time, usually it was yelling. If it leads to anything more physical one of the brothers would tell them to go to their corners. It made you wonder what could have happened to turn their relationship so sour. Right now wasn’t a good time, you’ll wait for later that night and ask one of the brothers you had a pact with. Kid or Law, they were the most likely to give out information.

After everyone left for their rooms for the night you felt it safe to poke at the conflict the two brothers seemed to share. You texted the group chat you had with Kid and Law, asking if they could provide some answers or if it would be best to speak to Ace in person. They both spammed you with messages saying that you shouldn’t bring it up to him, ESPECIALLY not in person. Law offered to fill you in on what happened at the cost that you come over. It was a small risk, but a risk nonetheless. Sabo didn’t like you wandering around late at night. Though you wanted to know the truth more than you feared the reprimand you would get if you were caught. So you went over with Kid tagging along. Obviously he would, for ‘help with the storytelling,’ as he put it.

Law’s room hadn’t changed since the last time you were here. Papers were still strewn around on his desk; comic books and books alike were still piled high on the coffee table, the floor, his bed, any surface really. His beloved series is still center stage in this whole mess. It was probably the only thing that looked like it wasn’t in disarray, Law included. He had dark bags under his eyes and seemed to only change between the same three outfits. Always adorning it with his beloved long coat.

“Can’t believe you live in this mess.” It looks like Sabo wasn’t the only one scolding Law for the state of his room. Kid pushed books off of Law’s bed to make way for himself, all the while continuing to grumble about the mess. “At least it’s not a scrap pile like yours.” Angrily, Law collected the books from the floor and stacked them in a pile by the bed. “I have them organized! And I use them, unlike you who reads the book once and never picks it up again.” Kid grabbed a book of the pile next to him, “I mean, come on. Med books? Who’d read these in the first place!” Kid tossed it back onto the floor. “I read them! And study them! If you’ve forgotten I’m a licensed surgeon.”

“Surgeon my ass. The only reason that you’re allowed to do any of your sadistic testings on people is that the people at the hospitals are too afraid to tell you to fuck off!” sparks were flying between the both of them, you needed to end this now. “Will you both stop! Two brothers fighting in one night is enough!” Law turns to you, still simmering in the heat of the moment, “Is that an order, master? Gonna keep telling us what to do?” How could he think that! You would never abuse your power over them. “No, it’s not. But the fighting is getting us nowhere.” The tension in the room is thick, both of them not wanting to let the other have the last word. It soon dissipated as Law decided it was time to get the point of this meeting. “Well… about why Ace hates Sabo. He doesn’t really hate him per se.” Law kept his eye on Kid, who continued to move his things around. “How should I put this… the more alike two people are the more they hate each other?” Kid scoffed, “why don’t you start from the beginning. You’re just gonna confuse her.”

Law crossed his arms, “if you’re so great at telling stories, why don’t you?” Still fighting, really? “Fine, I will. Sit down pee-squeak, I’ll try to make it short.” he patted the spot next to him. Making himself right at home, isn’t he. “You know what we are, right? The seven deadly sins,” He answers his own question, classy. “We only became that after we started to revolt against our father, god”

“Before we became that we were the seven heavenly virtues. Chastity, abstinence, liberality, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility.” Law noticed Kid settling down, deciding that he wasn’t gonna move anymore of his stuff, he sat at his desk. “Ace was the first of us to fully change,” Law continued the story from his new spot, “the civil war in Heaven fueled his anger. It was like a punishment from falling from Heaven. Straying from the path of righteousness,”

“Ace was all rage and frustration when we first got here.”Kid breathed out heavily from beside you. He remembered the bout of anger his brother had. It wasn’t easy to see one’s own family be consumed by such an emotion. There was the hate for the war and towards his brothers. Hate towards himself. Ace couldn’t help it, he was just so angry all the time now. They all had to go through that with him. “We had to keep reassuring him. Teaching him how to cope.” Law rubbed at his face, insomnia finally letting his shoulder droop in tiredness. “Sabo doted on him. He felt guilty for making us fall out of grace.”

“But it wasn’t his fault,” Kid interjected, “we CHOSE to follow. We saw how corrupted it was getting in Heaven too.” you’ve heard from Luffy that it was, but just what was it that made Heaven corrupted? “If you don’t mind me asking, how was it corrupted?”

“That’s a whole other story, sweetheart.” Law said, “short version, there was gonna be a war between Heaven and Hell. Demons were amassing an army, but it’s so hard to be good these days.” Law’s eyes widen as he raises his hands, feigning shock. “Heaven didn’t have many soldiers so they had to get some.”

“A war between Heaven and Hell?”

“Yes, that was with the old king, but rules around here are different. If you can defeat the king you get to rule.” That’s why Shanks is in office right now… erm palace. That also explains why after all this time and fighting, Hell wanted the three realms to get along.

“Ahem,” Kid clears his throat, “back to the story, Sabo doted on Ace. They got close for a while, but soon after we found out Sabo swore his loyalty to Shanks.” Law followed him up, “It wasn’t just that he swore his loyalty to brand new king. It was that he tried to hide it.” That must have made Ace feel betrayed. His loyalty to his father was terminated in such a disastrous way. He wouldn’t have wanted to pledge his loyalty so soon, nor would he have wanted his brothers too. After Ace and Sabo had gotten close, to have the newfound avatar of pride throw his dignity away and swear his loyalty. It must have been a hard blow. One that must have broken Ace’s trust even more. Cracking their bond as brothers. Sabo didn’t just put his pride away for this, he put doubt in the strength the brothers held. This thought must have festered until Ace just found himself hating Sabo.

*Author’s note: I changed how wrath got was birthed or whatever to this to go into more depth. (In truth I forgot about the circumstances of his birth so I decided to just roll with this.) (Later I did find out but decided to keep it this way.) Also, I changed the scene to only envy and avarice because too many characters in one scene make me stressed out.😓*

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santouryuuu · 6 years ago

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Amorist

pairing : sanji x reader

requested by : @alienmashup

prompt no. 2 “please don’t cry. I can’t stand to see you cry”

from this prompt list

×××

ASDFGHJKL FINALLY. i hope this was worth the wait ♥

×××

You weren't sure if you were mad at yourself or at a certain blonde cook.

Mad at him for having another one of his over the top flirting episodes or mad at yourself for liking him.

Though you'd hate to admit it, he was actually extremely charming, despite being extremely flirtatious. He always knew when something was on your mind or whenever you weren't feeling a hundred percent yourself. Somehow, he could feel your unease and would always try to do his best to comfort you.

You thought maybe, just maybe, he was attracted to you too. However, a little voice in the back of your mind kept nagging at you.

He treats everyone like that

He just sees you as a friend

You're nothing special

You hated losing to your inner demons, but they were right. What set you apart from the rest of the girls? What made you special?

"Y/n! Hey! Y/n!"

You blinked.

Your eyes refocused on said blonde. Speak of the devil.

His eyes seemed to be glazed in worry, "Are you okay? What's up?"

You opened your mouth to answer, but your petty self wouldn't let you reply. You were still mad at him... Or was the better term jealous?

Shaking your head, you sent him your best glare, which ultimately faltered cause damn he looks so cute right now, "Nothing."

You stood from your original position and pushed past him, heading towards the crow's nest. You hoped that maybe a little bit of ranting could help the tightness in your chest.

Sure enough, inside the crow's nest was the green haired swordsman in the middle of training.

"So, are you gonna gush about curly brow or are you gonna rant about your never ending jealousy?" he said without turning to you.

"Shut up," you sighed defeatedly and solemnly leaned your back onto the wall of the crow's nest and sank to the ground, "It's the latter..."

Zoro sighed and dropped his heavy weights, making the crow's nest shake, "I don't get why you won't just confess. It's not that hard."

"It's not that hard," you mocked. Zoro sent a glare your way and you paled a bit, "Sorry, I'm just not feeling—"

"—the best, yeah yeah yeah."

He rolled his eyes and sat next to you then gave you a reassuring pat on the back. His smile seemed somewhat pitiful and sympathetic.

"God... What if I do confess? What if I get rejected?" you buried your face in your hands, "I don't want to destroy what we have right now. I just can't fathom the thought of Sanji avoiding me just because I like him... But then again, sometimes I feel like it would be such a weight off my chest if I just muster up the courage and confess, but then again—ugh, why am I like this?"

"How about, you say what you wanna say right now... You know... practice, you can't be spineless forever," Zoro helped you to your feet and crossed his arms expectantly.

"Zoro, I appreciate the help but—"

"Come on, it'll help pump some confidence into you."

You weren't sure why the marimo was so insistent on you practicing your confession, sine you weren't even sure if you were going to confess, but if he thinks it'll help... what could go wrong?

You took a deep breath. You could feel the blood coursing through your veins and how fast your heart was beating, "S-Sanji... I-I like you... a lot and I d-don't mean it as a friend. I mean I-I like you..."

It was just practice but you already felt so flustered just by saying it out loud, but you also felt better and more confident. Maybe I can confess?

"Really?"

Your heart suddenly skipped a beat at the familiar voice. Sanji?! Oh god please no. Silently praying, you stifly turned around and came face-to-face with a blushing Sanji.

You face flushed and your body went on autopilot. Part of you wanted to stay and see his reaction, but a bigger part screamed at you to leave. So you pushed past the chef and climbed down.

As you descended, you could hear Sanji calling after you. You ignored him and quickened your pace.

Damn marimo, I bet he knew Sanji was there—I'm gonna kill him tonight. I'm gonna hide his swords and—

Tears began to cloud your vision. You were thankful that you had gotten to the bottom of the ladder before a waterfall of embarrassed tears decided to break free. All you wanted to do now was to scream and cry in a corner, maybe eat a pint of ice cream but that's only for when you're the only one awake in the middle of the night wallowing in self-loathing.

You noticed no one was out on the deck, probably because it was lunch time. Maybe that was why Sanji had gone up into the crow's nest.

Suddenly, you felt a hand grab your wrist, "Do you really... Like me? Y/n I—"

Oh god.

"Sanji, listen I know you probably don't feel the same way, but please just forget whatever you—"

He pulled you into a tight embrace and began to gently caress your hair, you could feel your heart beat increasing and the blood rushing to your face.

"S-Sanji?"

"I'm so relieved," he whispered, "I thought you were mad at me."

Your heart melted and guilt began to crawl its way into the pit of your stomach, "I could never hate you."

"Thank god, because I like you too."

Your heart stopped. You tilted your head to look up at him, shock carved into your face, "You better not be shitting me or else—I-I'll—"

Your tears began to flow out and you felt every pent up emotion come out. Sanji chuckled and wiped away your tears, "Please don't cry, I can't stand to see you cry."

"This is your fault."

"Sure it is," he flashed you a soft smile and you felt his hands cup your face. He leaned closer and you could smell the scent cigarettes mixed with different herbs and spices.

His soft lips met yours and your mind started to go blank and legs started to get weaker by the second. Thank god Sanji's holding me.

Your mind then began wandering to Zoro, thankful that he had brought you two together.

#one piece scenarios #one piece #sanji vinsmoke #one piece sanji #black leg sanji #sanji #sanji x reader #vinsmoke sanji x reader

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zonamievents · 5 years ago

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ZoNa Summer Festival Day #4

Theme: Skinny Dipping Rating: T / PG-13 Word Count: 2,175 words

‘I think everyone is finally asleep!’ Nami thought, brimming with excitement. Sitting in her plush pink robe in at the vanity in the Women’s Quarters, she eyed Robin’s slumbering form to make sure that she wouldn’t be caught sneaking out. Her plan was rather elaborate and she couldn’t risk even one person catching her in the act.

Maneuvering her body to get out of the chair, she tiptoed over to the door the moment she knew she was safe and slipped out like a thief in the night. She couldn't help but smile as she regarded the way that the full moon’s beams washed over the different decks of the Sunny.

They were docked.

The water was calm.

It was the best time for her to go for a swim.

Nami rushed down the stairs from the second floor, past the Men’s Quarters on the first, and threw open the latch to the Soldier Dock System with all of her might. She acted as if the grass on the lawn deck was hiding a spring system when she leapt down through the opening instead of making use of the ladder. Her landing was a bit heavy due to the height of her fall, but the ocean breeze that greeted her was kind enough to rid her of any lingering worries.

The view from the open channel was so gorgeous. Nami had orchestrated the entire day so that she would be responsible for closing the gate, only to leave it open in the event that she was brave enough to go for a swim in the sea. Nevermind the large bath tub the Sunny had, or the inflatable pool she could have blown up and attached to the ship. When the ocean was calm on such a calm night, she was eager to take advantage of the opportunity for a dip in the waters.

Naked.

Nami dropped her pink robe and immediately looked over her shoulder. “Relax,” she told herself, trying to sound confident in order to get ride of any lingering shyness. “After an entire day of planning this, it’d be a shame to turn back now.”

She knew she was right, so to silence her nervousness, she just had to throw herself in.

Nami stepped over the ropes that tied her waver to the walls of Channel 1. The leaping motion felt like a countdown: one, two, and then three! She threw her nude body off of the small dock and dove into the freezing cold waters of the ocean gleefully. The chilly temperature couldn’t diminish the thrill she was experiencing.

In fact, she braved the lazy tide and paddled her legs behind her. It was rather dark under the crest of the waves, yet the full moon made the surface glow with a welcoming light that encouraged her to swim wherever she liked, knowing that she could emerge for a breath whenever she needed it.

For someone who regularly wore as little as she did, it was still completely freeing to feel the underwater current run over her bare nipples. It grazed her inner thighs softly while she kicked through the still waters and she couldn’t help but notice that it tickled. It was a much more sensual experience than she had ever known - especially in comparison to the kiddie pool she enjoyed once with Brook - which made her feel a surge of gratitude towards herself, that she had taken the plunge to do something so crazy.

Nami rolled around weightless before she rose to the surface. Breathing heavily, her hands reflexively flew to her bangs and threw them back. The droplets traveling down her neck and over her breasts caught her attention and she suddenly found them fascinating. There was no colorful fabric concealing her body. It was just her bare skin glistening in the moonlight as she waded in the sea. She loved herself, that was no secret. Nevertheless, nothing could quite compare to sensation of floating bare naked in the ocean, with no one to ogle her or stare at her lewdly while she appreciated herself.

A rather loud splash startled her out of her pleasant daze and the once proudly nude woman hide her breasts with her arms. It didn’t take much for her to spot the residual spray of whatever had collided with the surface of the sea: someone had jumped off of the Sunny to join her! ‘Please don’t be Sanji-kun! Please not Sanji-kun!’

“Ah!” She screamed, startled when a pair of hands grabbed onto her waist from underwater. There were massive and somehow still rough despite being submerged-- ‘Is that…?’

“What,” bellowed an infuriated Roronoa Zoro as he revealed himself by shooting up out of the water like he was some territorial demon planning to kidnap her. “The hell are you doing!? Swimming out here at night?”

Her nakedness was still on her mind, but she also never backed down from taking on a disgruntled Zoro. “I’m fine, you idiot! Who jumps off of a ship like that!?”

“Well I had to make sure you weren’t drowning!” He asserted.

“I” - intentional or not, his grip tightened when he mentioned her drowning and her thighs pressed themselves together for some reason she couldn’t comprehend - “wasn’t drowning! I just went for a swim! Naked, by the way!”

That response stole the wind from his sails instantly. “N-Naked?”

“Yeah! I’m skinny dipping! And you’re ruining it by inserting your--”

“Hey! Who’s down there!?”

Another person had discovered her not-so-secret swim and Nami was furious. It sounded like it could have been Sanji, but she didn’t have the chance to determine whether or not she was correct.

Zoro placed a swift hand on her head and shoved her under the surface. Nami was startled by his rash action, compelling her to claw at him in protest. It didn’t matter if he as protecting her from the one person she didn’t want to know she was swimming in her birthday suit, she--

When her nails snagged the rim of Zoro’s pants, Nami realized that he wasn’t taking advantage of the skinny-dipping moment.

She felt like a fiend and it was oh so easy to embrace that side of her. Instead of clawing at him in contempt, her sneaky hands grabbed at the excess fabric of his pants and tugged without any remorse, similarly to how he pushed her underwater. He was so determined to keep her hidden that he couldn’t fight her off as she undressed him. In actuality, she could barely see what she was doing due to the time of night, but that would only make his reaction funnier.

The exact moment he relieved the pressure from her head, Nami surfaced with the speed of a bullet leaving a gun. “What the--” “What the hell is wrong with you!?” whispered-yelled Zoro.

Confused, Nami hissed, “Why are we whispering!?”

He didn’t answer her directly. Instead, he explained himself while scolding her. “I was trying to make sure that blond dumbass didn’t see you and you respond by trying to take my pants off!?”

“Because,” she hummed her response, smiling wide. “I’m out here skinny dipping and if you’re not going to join me, you can just return to the ship.”

“Tch, that’s stupid.” Was his bashful retort. His gritted teeth were on full display, and yet he didn’t move at all to fix the way he was dressed.

Nami was more than prepared to interfere with any attempt he made to become decent, however, they were interrupted by a particular chef once again. “Hey, marimo!” shouted a rather cranky-sounding Sanji.

She knew what to expect now: he was going to dunk her under the water again! All Nami saw was his shoulder rise and she knew she wasn’t about to go through that one more time. In a desperate attempt to stay above the water - to avoid drowning at the expense of the man who supposedly dove in the ocean to keep her safe - she did the only thing she could think of in then and there.

She threw herself at Zoro and wrapped her arms around his body so that she was both hidden from view and impossible to push underwater.

In doing so, she had unintentionally compressed their entirely naked bodies against one another, feeling absolutely everything on her submerged flesh.

So shocked by her impulsive decision, she was nearly frightened when Zoro barked back with a very emotionally-charged, “What!?”

Oblivious to the turmoil they were experiencing in the sea, Sanji blathered, “Make sure you clean up any water you track on the deck. I better not fall when I get up to make breakfast for the ladies!”

The mention of the chef making food for her urged her to look up at Zoro, who surprisingly was already leering down at her. His expression hooded, she couldn’t make out what might have been going on through his mind. Even his tone was empty when he responded, “Fine.” There was no way to get a read on what he was feeling about their awkward position.

‘Why does it need to be awkward though?’ That brave voice inside that had endorsed the reckless decision to jump into the ocean had returned, this time with a different initiative.

She was confident in her own skin.

He had an attractive body that he worked on religiously.

Why should either of them feel any kind of timidness about being pressed up against each other the way that they were?

‘Because there’s something stirring inside of you that isn’t as simple as that.’ Warned a secret voice inside of her that she couldn’t tell if it was nice of nefarious.

As fearless as she thought she was tonight, she didn’t dare touch upon whatever that sentiment could mean.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t still fascinated by what was happening, though. Nami didn’t feel him flinch or recoil when he could have easily pushed her away, which she thought was a positive sign. For the man who had never succumbed to her Happiness Punch, Zoro’s stillness was implying to her that he was rather enamored by her in the moment too.

‘Maybe there’s more behind his promise of staying with you for longer than you thought possible.’ This time, both the voices inside of her ganged up on the unsuspecting Nami as they presented her with a rather bold concept.

Zoro had promised that he’d stay by her side when they were out for her birthday, and she had never intended to look into the possibility of something more being behind his words.

However, maybe there was…?

“Grab my pants.” Was what he said to shatter the tension between them, blindsiding her with the most outrageous request. “H-Huh? Uh, sure.” Nami could only obey his demand when it seemed so out of the blue. She felt him fidget against her, which caused her cheeks to warm with a very thick blush. She didn’t need to do much for him as he wiggled free of the now watered own pair of pants he had been wearing before she decided to take them off. Her hand reached out for them when they floated slowly to the surface.

Once she had them in her grasp, he snatched her up with one arm around her waist and Nami genuinely thought he was embracing her. The moment she believed intimacy was involved in their connection, she found herself panicking. If he was going to suggest that they acknowledge what was between them while they were bare naked, while he held her tightly against his body on such a cool summer night, she didn’t know what she’d do…!

Forever going against her expectations, Zoro did not oblige her in the slightest. He spun himself around so that he was facing the Sunny and began to swim towards Channel 1’s open door with her fastened to his hip.

Nami, riled up beyond her imagination, pounded her fists into his shoulder. His arm was resting quite comfortably between her breasts and her legs were fastened along his side as she fought the pressure of the speed that he swam at. Whining with obvious deviance, she proclaimed, “You jerk! Let me go!”

“You can’t swim out in the middle of the ocean in the middle of the night on your own.” Zoro stated as if a navigator could possibly be oblivious to that fact.

What infuriated her more so, however, was his emotionless expression, tone, and overall demeanor. How could he be impervious to the… the… intimacy of what they just shared?

She knew he wasn’t emotionally intelligent, but his body had to have felt something… right?

“I hate you so much sometimes.” She grumbled closely to his ear. The water splashing around their bodies didn’t guarantee that he heard her insult, and honestly, she didn’t care either way.

If Zoro could ignore what just happened between them, then she was a fool.

She was the idiot, for thinking there might be something between them.

Nami intended to never make that mistake ever again.

#ZoNa #ZoNami #ZoroxNami #SwordGust #ZoNaSummerFestival

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laromurl · 6 years ago

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One Piece Fanfiction

Zoro Roronoa x Nila Faurgard (OC)

A/N: part three 😊

Two years and three days have passed since Nila was sent to the Monk Village by Kuma. Within three days she made up her mind to stay there and get stronger thinking she wasn't going to see the Straw Hats every again but of course their captain made the news again. He was involved in a big war between the Marines and Whitbeard's crew and allies over Poratagas D. Ace's life. He was dead now. Along with Whitebeard.

For months, shock had overtaken Nila. Ace had been a dear friend to her. He had saved her from herself and she couldn't imagine the unbearable pain Luffy had to go through watching his own brother die in front of him.

There was also a message for the Straw Hats in the newspaper. He wanted them to train for two years and three days, after, they were to meet up at Saboady again.

This became awkward for her as the days passed and she got stronger. Was she part of them? Was she suppose to go back?

Luffy had invited her to join but it was under duress.

At the end, she took a chance and sailed out for Saboady. Just her and the only merchant allowed to come to and from the Monk Village, Herito. He was the one who found her at the edge of the Monk Temple. She was passed out and severely injured. At first he thought she was a corpse that had washed to shore but as he was taking her to the cementary she moved and made a noise. He took her to the monks instead and they healed her. She trained with them during the day and worked with the Merchant during the evening.

In his opinion, the young woman was hardworking and strong. She was kind to the children and helped as much as she could but she had her own demons. She was scared of the dark, screaming out for someone named Milo when she was left alone. She also had a strange tendency to wait until everyone ate first before she did or if she wasn't sure, she would made her own food from scratch.

Everyone liked her. She talked about all kinds of islands she's traveled to and the adventures that took her all around. They seemed believable until she presented the idea of staying in the village.

Herito was confused because she always talked about how much being a pirate was fun but he also saw that she was scared of something. He didn't ask about it but accepted her decision until she came across a newspaper that left her destroyed.

There was a period of two months where she wouldn't eat anything. She helped and worked and trained but she was different. She had no energy. Her golems wouldn't grow bigger than three feet no matter how much she tried. She was sad and emotionally exhausted. Then she left for one day and when she returned she was back to her old ways. Noone knows where she went or what happened and she won't say.

Now she seemed so free. Her golems could grow up to be giants. She trained nonstop and became incredibly strong. She harnessed and strengthened her life force.

He was sad to see her go but excited where her adventures were going to take her.

"Ah! Herito look!" She bounced up and down pointing at the incoming Island of Saboady. It was a big island with the bubbles still floating around it. Her heart was pounding inside her chest, small golems were starting to form beneath her hands from the wood of the boat.

"Nila be careful you might tip over." Herito sheepishly reminded her.

"Oh!" She stepped back and pulled out gloves from her coat pocket as the golems returned to their place.

She saw where Sunny was and she saw heads of people running about. The boat seemed to be coated in some sort of bubble stuff. She didn't know much but she didn't question it specially when she saw a tuft of green hair jumping about on the boat. They rowed closer and she heard the gunshots and screaming, presumably from Navy soldiers. This was the moment of truth. Would They accept her?

She tried to call out for Sanji who was the closest but her mouth dried up. She was afraid of rejection. She was afraid...

"Oi! Nila!" It was Luffy. He was on the ledge standing over to look, holding his hat. "Come on! We have been waiting for you!"

This made her smile. Her whole being shook and she turned to Herito almost for permission. He laughed nodding for her to go on. "Be careful out there child and write to us every once in a while. We snuck a log in for you." He winked.

She didn't know what to say so she threw her arns around him as a last goodbye. "Thank you." She whispered. She parted with tears in her eyes rejoicing for everything she went through the last two years. She jumped into the boat with Luffy and her friends as it sailed out. With a last look she and Herito said their goodbyes.

They sailed out plunging into the sea until they couldn't hear the Navy coming after them. The whole ship was enveloped in a bubble giving them air to breath and finally some quiet.

They said their hellos. Everyone exchanging short hugs until she saw Zoro. He saw her first and immediately something clicked in his brain. She had changed so much. She looked at ease, happier, freer. She had cut her hair too, down to her chin and most of the white patches of hair had disappeared.

He wondered if she thought about him. About what she did for him the last time they saw eachother. He thought about her almost nonstop when he was training. He wanted to become stronger so that she would never have to feel like she had die for him.

Nila smiled at him so wide he swore his heart was about to jump out. It was so strange what was happening to him and so quickly. He didn't understand it but he didn't have to at the moment. They had time together now that she was part of them.

They went deeper and deeper underwater. Adventures of the past two years were exchanged briefly and chopper was the first to ask about her new wooden arm. She relayed the story about the monks carving her a new arm and showing her how to use her power do make it move.

Most of the men got together to play a cardgame while Robin was in the upper deck reading a history book.

Brook was telling Nila all about the fame he recieved and she was listening enthusiastically. She loved listening to their stories. Zoro would glance at her every so often from where ever he was to make sure she wasn't putting a front. She listened with genuine jubilee to everything everyone had to say. She hugged Chopper more often than not, and played roughly with Luffy and Usopp. It was like she was a child. The cold demeanor was nowhere. The untrusting looks had dissapeared. Her sneers to him were just gone.

She was beautiful.

After defeating the swamp guy and locking him in a barrel. The crew fell back on deck to make sure everyone was alright. They were until they lost Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy because of a Kraken! They were scared, specially when they were attacked by the Flying Dutchman and some giant man baby looking fish.

They were saved just in time and they got to the Fishman Island just before they became grilled meat by a volcano eruption. Unfortunately, they were seperating entering the second bubble to Fishman island.

Nila flew out of the boat into the sea of the island bubble. She couldn't swim and through all the commotion lost sight of the rest of the crew. She thrashed through the water but became weaker and weaker by the second. She tried summoning strength to grip something...anything! But became too dizzy to even form a proper thought. She passed out praying the others were alright.

Zoro swam towards the shore he could see but glanced back incase he saw one of the devil fruit eaters floating about. He did. Nila! She was already unconcious. He hurried to her grabbing her arm and pulling her up.

She put up alot of resistance. He didn't remember her being this heavy so it must be the water pulling her down. He fought against it knowing if he didn't she would die this time for sure.

With one extra push he brought her up to shore, pushing her body up and then himself beside her. He coughed up water before turning her to her side and easentially burping her to try and make her throw up.

It didn't work. She wasn't breathing and he was beginning to panic. He layed her on her back again and murmured an apology before giving her mouth to mouth followed by CPR. After a few seconds, Nila gasped and lunged forward throwing up all the salt water in her lungs.

"Nila. Nila." Zoro grabbed her for support as she coughed. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and waved her hand. It took her a a minute to get her voice back but she smiled and thanked him. "I thought I was dead." She laughed and grabbed hin. He laughed with her relieved that she was alive. "My hero." She chuckled. He laughed louder likeing that nickname.

Their enjoyment was cut short when fishmen in armor and swords surrounded them. Nila fell back. "Ah geez, can we at least take a five minute break?" She blew out. She dug her fingers into the sand creating four golems her size, surrounding them.

She stood up ready to order the golems but one of the guards stepped forwards. "Step down now or we will arrest you! You are trespassing in the royal castle!"

Nila looked up and found a great big castle with Dragon statues around it. She looked at Zoro who was ready to fight and shook her head, dropping the golems. "We are in their land." Then she leaned in towards Zoro. "By the way, don't tell them my last name."

Zoro was confused.

"We surrender. We are the Straw Hats pirates." She lifted her hands up. Her demeanor changing seemingly back to before the two years but only in her body. When she looked at him for cooperation, her eyes had the same carefree eyes.

He humphed not liking that he couldn't beat someone up but her sudden change had shaken him from any battle ready mind. He followed her suit.

#anime #one piece fanfiction #one piece #pirate hunter zoro #zoro #roronoa zoro #straw hat luffy #straw hat pirates

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creative-type · 7 years ago

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Chapter 218 is Amazing and Here’s Why (Continued)

So I had intended to finish my analysis of chapter 218 of One Piece in one post, but things were starting to run a little long and I split it in two. Here’s Part 1 for those who are interested. For the rest of you, let’s jump in where we left off

I know I say this a lot, but I really like that panel. For one thing, Usopp is using a desk lamp. Knowing him, he probably invented it himself just for the occasion.

On a more serious note, the entire feel of this scene is completely different than the last time the Straw Hats as a group interacted with Robin. I wrote extensively on chapter 114 here, but what I want to draw attention to now is how the tables have (supposedly) turned. Remember how Robin held all the power and was seated above the Straw Hats while tossing them around like a bunch of punks?

Yeah, that’s no longer the case. Robin is surrounded by Usopp, Zoro, and Nami, the three Straw Hats who distrust her most. And while Usopp’s too much of a chicken to be intimidating, there’s no mistaking Zoro and Nami’s body language. They’re closed off, guarded, and Zoro at least has his weapons close at hand.

At the same time, the way the speech bubbles are placed draw attention to Chopper and Luffy. You can barely make out a hand, and one might assume it’s Sanji’s, as he’s the only Straw Hat not visible.

Which, of course, it’s not

This set up is the impetuous for three hilarious pages where Robin one by one wins over the Straw Hats (except Zoro, because he’s a killjoy). I recommend reading the entire sequence to get the full effect. It’s classic Oda humor from start to finish that makes me smile every time I read it

(especially this)

Now going back a bit, Robin tells Usopp that she’s an archaeologist from a long line of archaeologists and has been on the run for twenty years. Never once in this entire “interview” does she lie. In fact, I can’t recall Robin ever lying in the entire series, except for when she didn’t give Crocodile Pluton’s location.

There are a couple of different reasons for this. For one, it’s convenient for the narrative if the audience doesn’t have to second-guess everything the main characters say. On the whole the Straw Hats are pretty honest people - Usopp being the obvious exception. (Nami is also a bit of a wheeler and a dealer, but since Arlong Park is more prone to using her good looks and force of will to get her way over straight-up lying. That, or stealing what she wants outright.)

Secondly, Robin has had a bounty on her head for a long time. The Ohara incident was publicized around the world. There’s no reason to hide certain aspects of her backstory when it’s essentially public knowledge.

Still, it’s interesting to note that the one Straw Hat who is known world-wide as a demon who has betrayed every group she’s joined tells the truth here. It’s obvious that in addition to winning the Straw Hats over, Robin is using her ability to direct the attention away from herself. One might even suggest that Robin tells Usopp she’s an assassin to rattle him enough to avoid more personal questions. She does a masterful job of using each of the Straw Hat’s weaknesses against them.

It becomes more apparent later on that Robin is an incredibly private person. When Chopper and Sanji are looking for her on Water 7 they don’t know where to even to start, because there are no ancient ruins about, and that’s the only place they can think of where she would go.

Now, this falls more into the realm of theories and head canons, but since Robin’s whole dream focuses around finding The Truth and since her whole life has been ruined by vicious slander and falsehoods, I would imagine that Robin hates lying more than the average person. She will misdirect, avoid questions, or tell bits and pieces of well-known information without giving context, but she won’t lie.

Moving on, Robin uses the same intelligence and playful nature that was established in chapter 114 to avoid any more of Usopp’s questions (consistent characterization, gotta love it) before having a private word with Zoro. I like how Robin doesn’t even try the same tricks she used with the rest, because I think she knows it won’t work. Instead she addresses him more or less as an equal.

Assuming this is a nuanced and accurate translation, when Robin says “This isn’t that bad” we can make the assumption that she thought it would be bad. It’s understandable that she would think this way - the Straw Hats were her enemies not too long ago - but it brings up the point that Robin willingly stowed away on a ship she knew she wouldn’t be welcome because she had no place else to go. When Zoro affirms that the Straw Hats are basically a bunch of dorks, Robin smiles.

Now Robin smiles an awful lot for someone who wants to die. It’s basically her default expression, and it’s nothing but a front to hide her real feelings. She even smiles when she’s just been stabbed and is about to be buried alive after living a miserable, meaningless life without accomplishing anything she’s ever set out to do. That’s one deeply-rooted defense mechanism.

This is the first time we see Robin really be happy, and her surprise at learning that the Straw Hat Pirates are fun-loving and cheerful even when traveling with a former enemy is the kick-start to Robin’s character arc.

Because make no mistake, the Robin who joined the Straw Hat Pirates was the same Robin who joined Crocodile. All the stuff at the beginning of the chapter helps flesh her out into a fully-realized character instead of a cardboard Vivi replacement, but at this moment Robin’s beliefs about the Straw Hat Pirates are challenged, and a character can’t change if they aren’t challenged.

There’s a cute Zoro-pouty face to that ends this scene, and our focus swings back to the Straw Hats as a whole. An undetermined amount of time has passed because now they’re talking about the weather and Zoro is back to lifting weights

I don’t know if you can have foreshadowing that’s paid off in one panel, but Oda doesn’t waste a beat with the little clacks of wood against wood. For the second chapter in a row there��s an amazing twist at the end that no one could have seen coming. I already shown this spread in my last post, but it’s so epic it deserves a second viewing

I can’t remember if this is the only time Oda has used a real life quote in One Piece, but if not, it’s one of very few. And honestly, what could be more appropriate for a series like One Piece? The whole composition of this page is beautiful, and all the little details take my breath away. I really don’t get it when people say Oda’s art is ugly, because they’re wrong.

Anyway, things get crazy for a couple of pages while the Straw Hats try not to capsize. Oda has this thing he does when he uses square or rectangular panels for his dialogue and uneven shapes like trapezoids for action scenes. I think that’s pretty standard procedure for comics (I’m by no means an expert) but here Oda helps sell the chaos by composing his pages so it feels like the panels are tilting with the ship

There’s also a nice gag with Usopp that doubles as a character moment. Instead of grabbing hold for dear life Usopp sits and closes his eyes to pray, completely ignoring the problem in hopes that it goes away. It’s funny here when he gets a skeleton to the face, but it highlights a huge flaw that finally comes to a head during the Water 7/Enies Lobby arcs.

After that we get this sequence of panels

Please forgive my horrendous edit, but I wanted to show how the speech bubble fits into curve of the wave in the second panel and leads the eye through the rest of the sequence even though the individual images don’t really relate to one another. Oda constructs this scene in such a way that we feel the chaos, but he does so in an orderly fashion. Each panel gets smaller and smaller - similar to the “fade to black” technique I talked about previously, and it leads directly the last splash panel on the page

The chaos ends just as abruptly as it began. The Straw Hats are mystified, and, honestly, Oda could have ended the chapter here. It’s such a high note, a good dose of Grand Line craziness after so much focus on the crew. But Oda isn’t satisfied with stopping here. He ends the chapter with what I believe to be one of the best story hooks in the series, tied only with Zou for sheer “WTF, the Straw Hats are going where?” moments in all of One Piece.

Skypea isn’t my favorite arc in the series. A lot of people say the same. But if you can pretend that you’d never read/seen what was coming next and take the end of 218 for what it is - and that’s pure hype - then you’ve got to admit that Oda has done his job.

So that concludes our look into chapter 218 “The Log Pose and Why It Is Round”. To summarize my thoughts on the chapter and why it’s amazing

Ships fall from the sky

Oda never forgets

But he does lure us into thinking he does

Ships fall from the sky

Robin is established as a “protagonist” without necessarily being a “good guy”

Symbolism

Excellent page composition

Gags that reveal character

Consistent characterization with hints of further development to come

and last but not least

10. Ships falling from the sky

(Thanks to everyone who has the patience to read this far. Next I’ll continue my Nico Robin study with chapter 253, specifically looking at Robin’s place in the Skypea arc and how Oda prefers stealth development over big character moments. See you next time!)

#One Piece #Eiichiro Oda #Analysis #Nico Robin #Straw Hat Pirates #Writing #Manga #Character Study #creative-type analyzes

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kyutoryu · 7 years ago

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Swan Song’s Heist [zolu week]

Fandom: One PIece

Pairing: Zoro/Luffy

Rating: T

Summary: The masquerade is the site of both robbery and a murder mystery, but Zoro finds the real crime is Nami meddling in his love life.

extra: ME AND @asexualzoro wrote this for free space day for zolu week! we tried to fit like. every prompt in this so YEAH

[FF.NET LINK] [AO3 LINK]

or just click that read more

"Listen up, everyone. I want to go over the plan one more time. Everyone at this party is rich, so there's a lot to gain. I don't want to mess this up," Nami says. She looks in the rear view mirror at her friends in the back of the car to make sure they're paying attention. A sharp glare towards Usopp and Luffy, who are busy shoving at each other's faces, makes them both freeze up and direct their gazes toward her. Satisfied, she looks back at the road in front, "I'll be doing all the robbing. I've been posing as a maid here over the past week, so no one will suspect me moving around. Even so, these are nobles, they’ve always been paranoid, so all of you need to be my distraction so no one notices what I'm doing. I want this to work, okay?" Nami glances in the rear view mirror again, then taps the fox-themed mask on her face, "Remember not to remove your masks once we enter. This is a masquerade, and the police have been plastering our faces on every news channel for weeks. Stick to your characters, too, and try not to call each other by name. You all remember your characters?"

"Nami, I wanna wear the hero mask," Luffy complains loudly, ignoring her, "why does Usopp get it? Let me!"

"Your mask is fine, Luffy. I picked it out, special." Nami says, "Usopp's mask has a big hole in it for his nose, anyway. You don't want it."

"And a dragon is cool!" Usopp grabs Luffy's draconic mask by the corners, then snaps it against his face. The little red scales decorating the mask shine in the light of streetlamps that pass by their cars as he does, the design of it poking into his cheeks a bit. Its angular shape to match the shape of a dragon’s face doesn’t necessarily feel nice against his skin, especially not when snapped back on. Luffy shoves at Usopp’s hands, ready to start something in defiance.

"Okay, roles," Nami repeats loudly, stopping that before it started. Snapping her fingers, She continues, "This is a huge job for us! I don't want to fuck it up and I've already got Vivi covering for us back at home. So, I'm a maid, and Robin is..."

"A detective," Robin finishes smoothly, sitting in the back of the large van. It's the only thing that can somewhat fit their group, "A private one; to be specific. That's just if anyone asks."

"I'm a construction worker," Franky says, though it's unlikely anyone will ask him, as he won't be in the ballroom. In the seat next to him, Chopper speaks up.

"I'm a doctor! Or at least, learning to be one," Chopper says, “Which...isn’t that far off from the truth.”

"I'm a... what am I again?" Usopp blinks, confused, "besides a totally badass hero?"

"I'm a cook," Sanji interjects, "But that's not any different. Tonight I shall woo all the ladies of the party as a distraction for my lovely Nami!"

He grins, squished in the seat with Usopp and Luffy. Zoro in the front passenger seat spares Nami a glance, to which she just shrugs.

"Brook's working as a musician, so he's already at the party," Nami explains. The mansion, large and impressive even in the dark, comes into view. Nami pulls up a long driveway, and after she parks she turns to face Zoro and Luffy, "Luffy and Zoro, you two need to be ready to cover our retreat in case things go south so we can get out alright. Don't break character."

"What's our character again?" Luffy says, messing with his mask. He and Nami are the only ones already wearing theirs, as most everyone else had left theirs off in their laps for the ride over.

"Newlyweds," Zoro answers, staring at the fake ring on his finger, "Me and you are newlyweds, Luffy."

"Oh, right," Luffy says, looking at his own ring. The diamonds are plastic, Nami didn't want to spend much on their disguises. Hopefully no one will look to hard at them.

"Zoro, Luffy, don't leave each other's sides. You need to stick together in case something happens," Nami says, "Zoro, you also need to make sure Luffy doesn't cause any trouble that would jeopardize the plan. And be convincing! You're supposed to be soulmates, act like you love each other!"

Zoro frowns. Goddamn Nami, setting them to this role as to 'push things along.' How could this push anything along? Sure, he's got something bad for Luffy, but he doesn't need help and he doesn't need it like this!

"I'm gonna stick to the food bar," Luffy grins, unaware of Zoro's thoughts, "That'll be easy, right?"

"We're just there to mill around while Nami steals shit," Zoro shrugs, twisting the ring absently. How the hell is he supposed to make this convincing?

"Yeah, so don't mess it up. If Luffy sticks to the food bar, you'd better stick to him. Just enjoy the party, you two," Nami says, "The rest of you know the distraction plan already, so if there aren't any more questions, we can head inside. If this works out, we're going to be rich!"

They pile out of the car, filtering inside. Zoro puts on his mask, waiting for Luffy to come to him. Since he has to be married to Luffy for the night, he may as well walk in with Luffy.

Everyone at the party is dressed to the nines, and the crew is no exception. The party is a fantasy-themed masquerade, hosted by and for elites. The wealthy and the noble fill the ballroom, as do their security guards. This makes it an operation of high risk and, if successful, high reward.

"So me and Zoro are married," Luffy says as they approach the front door, "That's kinda weird!"

"I don't know where she comes up with this stuff," Zoro says as he holds out his arm for Luffy to take, "If we're going to be married, you should hold onto me. Couples hold hands and shit, right?"

"Sure!" Luffy grabs onto Zoro's arm, "I dunno, I've never been in a relationship!"

"Of course you have, we're married. You must've dated me at some point," Zoro says, grinning. He leads Luffy into the mansion by the arm.

The ballroom is lit up brightly, decorated heavily. People in fantastical masks mill around, barely paying any attention to those entering. Luffy smiles at the party aspect of it all, but the whole... stuck-up rich person, not-really-a-banquet vibe doesn't really get with him.

Zoro watches Luffy, letting his smiling faux-husband lead him to the food table. Luffy immediately releases Zoro's arm, instead grabbing a plate to start piling it high with food. Zoro continues to watch Luffy as he grabs food upon food to eat. Zoro turns away briefly, awkward. Is this where they starts acting like they're married?

"Slow down, uh... honey. Don't want to grab more than you can eat," Zoro says.

"...Honey?" Luffy snickers, barely holding back full blown laughter.

"We're in love. I'm acting like it," Zoro mutters, grabbing his own plate, "You know, pet names."

"Okay Zoro, Whatever you say," Luffy continues to huff a bit of laughter under his breath as he grabs more food.

"If you dislike the pet names, I'll drop them," Zoro says.

"Hmm..." Luffy hums, shoving an appetizer into his mouth, "Nah, we're married. So it's ok," He grins.

"Alright, but if you're going to laugh every time, I’m stopping," Zoro says. It isn't much of a threat, though, as Luffy seems indifferent to them and they just embarrass Zoro.

"I won't!" Luffy takes his plate and stands against the wall, Zoro following, "How long is Nami gonna take?"

"I don't know. Probably a while," Zoro says, "We'll probably be here a few hours, so just relax."

"Boring," Luffy pokes at his food, looking at Zoro now. "Zoro's got a cool mask, but I'm cooler. I'm a dragon."

"What, demons aren't cool?" Zoro asks, "Demons are way cooler. If a demon and a dragon fought, I bet the demon would win."

"Nah, dragons are cooler and much stronger, so there’s no way they’d lose," Luffy taps on his mask, feeling the fake scales, "I'm a dragon."

"You sure are," Zoro says, reaching up a bit to rest an arm on top of Luffy’s head, "Smallest dragon I've ever seen. Aren’t they supposed to tower over their enemies?”

"Dragons bite," Luffy warns, "Zoro's demon mask is pretty nice, though. He's got horns."

Zoro grins, turning his head to show off. The horns are long and black, and though they're heavy, they're impressive enough that it's worth it.

"Pretty damn cool, right?" Zoro asks. Luffy reaches up, tugging on the horn.

"Nami said I couldn't have anything like these, I'd break 'em," Luffy says.

"You do break a lot of stuff," Zoro says.

"It's fine." Luffy dumps the food into his mouth, going back for more. Zoro watches Luffy go from the wall, awaiting his return. He’s not sure if Luffy feels this, but conversation with him feels so much more awkward now that they’re pretending to be a couple. Conversations used to move so smoothly with Luffy, but now everything he’s saying feels… forced. Zoro picks at his suit jacket, wondering if pretending to date will hurt their relationship more than it helps.

The lapse of silence that follows as Luffy eats and Zoro struggles to find a topic to talk about is interrupted by a very triumphant tone cutting into all other conversations, stopping nobles dancing and people mingling alike.

"I'm a world-renowned sharpshooter! So famous, they call me the King of Snipers!" Usopp says to the pink-haired man listening to him, loud enough to draw the attention of a few other attendants than just the one he's speaking to, "I could shoot a mouse's eye a hundred yards away! I could do it with my eyes closed, even! You'll never meet a sniper half as skilled as me!"

Usopp makes grand gestures as he speaks, keeping the attention of the small crowd he'd gathered with his words, spinning fantastical stories to impress his listeners. Whether or not they believe him, though, is a different matter entirely.

"Really?! A mouse's eye?!" Chopper exclaims, easily amused and happy to listen to Usopp's tales.

"Of course!" Usopp slams a fist on his chest with confidence, "Hell, I could kill it with a knife, fired straight from my slingshot!"

"That's amazing!" Chopper cries, believing every word. Usopp seems to soak up the attention he gets for his story, though it's hard to tell given that his mask covers his whole face. He continues entertaining those who are close enough to hear in stories of his past feats, all heavily exaggerated.

Luffy stands next to Zoro, eating absently as they watch the crowds mingle and move. His attention is drawn back to the present as Zoro notices a girl eying him from across the room. She wears a heavily decorated mask and a very large blue dress which shimmers in the light. Soon she’s striding forth, coming across the way to talk.

"Hello," She curtsies upon walking up to him, smiling. "Are you enjoying the party?"

It's clear she's only talking to Zoro.

"I'm having fun," Zoro says, nodding. She's probably around his age, and by her jewelry, definitely rich. With her obvious money and elaborate dress, she may as well be royalty. Zoro stares at her a moment, recognizing her to be Shalulia. She's the daughter of Roswald, an incredibly rich nobleman and the host of the party.

"It's quite the night, isn't it?” Shalulia says, looking around, "Your mask is very... intricate."

Luffy pauses from his motions of shoving food into his face next to Zoro, staring at Shalulia.

"One hell of a mask for one hell of a party," Zoro says, "But yours is just as intricate as mine."

"Mine, too," Luffy butts in, getting closer to Zoro. He gets a bad feeling from this girl. Shalulia barely regards Luffy, a passing glance before focusing on Zoro again.

"Can you guess what I am?" She asks, spinning around, "I had this custom made, you see. The mask, too!"

"You're a princess, right?" Zoro asks. He's pretty sure she's flirting with him, and he's not all that interested. He looks to Luffy, quickly taking Luffy's hand as he looks at Luffy's face, "What do you think, love?"

The pet names still feel alien in Zoro's mouth, but he wants to get his point across.

"I think she looks dumb," Luffy mutters, stepping closer to Zoro.

"I... sorry, what?" She looks at their linked hands. "Love?"

"Love," Zoro says. He brings their linked hands up, "This is my... husband."

"I'm the husband," Luffy says quickly, staring at her.

"Oh... you're..." Shalulia seems to flounder, pulling at her dress a bit, "You're married?"

"Yes, happily married," Zoro says, still watching Luffy. He lets go of Luffy's hand and hesitantly pulls Luffy close to himself, "Very happy, very married. Right, dear?"

The stiffness and awkwardness that Zoro had felt before is back again, but this time amplified everytime he drops a pet name.

"M...married. Yeah," Luffy nods, lips pursing in that way they do when he's lying.

"Oh." Shalulia looks disappointed, "That's, uh... how long?"

"Not long. We're on our honeymoon. Right, honey?" Zoro says.

"Yeah," Luffy responds, squeezing Zoro's hand. Zoro looks a bit surprised, looking at their hands.

"Uh... you’re sure?" Shalulia asks, a little suspicious, catching onto the way Zoro’s looked at their hands then to his ‘husband’s’ face, as if he wasn’t expecting that.

"We're... still getting used to it. The wedding was so... amazing, it's hard to believe it was real," Zoro explains, poorly. Stirring up this story was harder than once thought...

"Was really big," Luffy says quickly, "Uh, we...had...a lot of food there! And--and...a big party!"

She doesn't seem convinced.

"May I see your ring?" She asks, looking at Zoro.

"Sure," Zoro nods, holding his hand out. Zoro has a wedding band, while Luffy got the engagement ring and wedding band combo.

"This seems fake," she says, "Is it... plastic?"

"Uh, well... we kinda had to go cheap," Zoro says, "blew a shit ton on setup."

"Right..." Shalulia says, "How long have you two been together?"

"Two years," Zoro says. It's how long he's known Luffy for. He looks down at his pretend partner and tells Shalulia the first true thing he's said all night, "I've loved him since the day we met."

"Two years?" She questions, "And you just got married? Pretty fast, if you ask me."

"Neither of us asked you." Luffy turns his head toward her, the blank stare he gives her almost threatening. She falters, moving back a bit out of instinct.

"I didn't-- I've just never heard of anyone marrying after only two years," she says.

"I love him a lot, so we got married," Luffy says.

"I..." Shalulia plays with her hair more, floundering, "You're very lucky, then."

Luffy looks up at Zoro.

"With him by my side, I'm the luckiest on earth," Luffy says. Zoro's surprised by the sincerity. When did Luffy learn to lie? He sounds like he means it, and Zoro would like to think he does... Zoro gets the gut wrenching urge to push the mask up off Luffy's face and kiss him, just to see how he'd react. His hair pushed back from the mask being moved, his lips slightly open from surprise... Zoro cuts off the thoughts. As if he'd be able to do that. He focuses back on the matter, Luffy can lie and get away with it.

"I'm the luckiest," Zoro says quietly, "...Anyway, yeah. This is my husband."

"Right. Your husband," Shalulia says. She looks Luffy up and down, then looks back to Zoro, "Guess you would say no if I asked you to dance?"

"I'd say no," Zoro agrees, "A honeymoon is celebrated with the one you married, after all."

"Right. Of course," She says, "Well, this was... fun, but I think we're done here."

Shalulia walks off, deciding to find someone else to talk to.

Sanji peruses the party calmly, searching the ground. He's got a huge grin on his face, waiting to see a beautiful lady to talk to. He sees a girl walking away from Zoro and Luffy, in a huff.

"Mademoiselle!" Sanji calls, practically twirling toward her, "I was frozen by your beauty, o beautiful princess. May we dance?"

"Dance?" Shalulia asks. She looks Sanji over. He's not the same kind of handsome as that last man, but he hasn't got a ring and his princely mask is certainly more appealing... She offers her hand, "Lead the way."

"Wonderful!" Sanji cries, whisking her off to the dance floor, "a beautiful lady such as yourself shouldn't be alone on a night like this. You may call me... Prince."

He would say his real name, but that's the thing with being a wanted criminal, you really shouldn't give that out.

"Prince? Then you may call me Princess," she says. They dance for a little before she speaks again, "You can dance well. Is there any other skills you might want to show me?"

"Ah, I would love to, but I can't here," Sanji smiles, twirling her, "I'm a skilled chef, you see. One of the best, if I may."

"You are? What kind of dish are you best with, then?" she asks. She has to speak up a little, for as they dance they get closer to the band. Brook sits up at front, though he doesn't seem to notice Sanji dancing just in front of him.

"I'm best with seafoods, you see," Sanji explains, "My father trained me when I was young on the best ways to cook. How to cut things, where to do it... it's important to me that my hands are always ready to cook."

"That's very impressive," She says, "If only you could cook for me, I would love to watch those hands at work."

"I-I would love to cook for you!" Sanji looks shocked and excited, the fact that a woman actually is interested in his advances is new and exciting, "I shall impress you with my knife skills and fine cuisine!"

"I look forward to it," She says, grinning.

Zoro watches Shalulia dancing with Sanji a moment, then looks down to Luffy again. Zoro would like to dance with Luffy, and if they're married, they probably should, right? Just imagining holding Luffy close to dance... If Zoro's ever going to dance with Luffy, it'll have to be now.

"Speaking of dancing..." Zoro starts, "We've been standing by this wall for a while. Do you want to dance with me?"

"I can dance!" Luffy says, and it’s in such a burst it’s almost as if he was waiting impatiently the whole entire time for Zoro to ask, pulling Zoro to the floor without any hesitation, "Don't step on my feet, though."

"I'm not going to step on your feet," Zoro says, letting Luffy lead their dancing.

The song is fairly fast, but before Zoro can be thankful they don't have to slow dance, the song fades out. As if Zoro's thoughts summoned it, a far more romantic song begins to play. Zoro looks to the musicians nearby, where he sees Brook grinning at him from under his skeletal mask. Is everyone determined to try to help him and Luffy along?

"I'm going to kill you for this..." Zoro mutters, gaining a look from a few nearby dancers, Luffy included.

"Why's Zoro gonna kill him?" Luffy asks, "We're just dancing."

Luffy doesn't really hide the fact he wants to keep dancing.

"...Right," Zoro says. He continues letting Luffy lead him in silence for a few moments, but the close contact and romantic music have his mind wandering. Luffy was incredibly convincing before with Shalulia, and Zoro wants to know where the ability to do so came from. Zoro soon speaks up, "Hey, Luffy, when did you learn to lie? You even had me fooled for a moment back there with some of the stuff you said, like being the luckiest to have me..."

"I am the luckiest, so it wasn't a lie," Luffy says, squeezing Zoro's hand. "I'm really bad at lying, so I decide to be truthful."

"Oh," Zoro says. His voice is quiet, as the music is soft. Zoro can barely hear the song anymore, though, his focus is on Luffy only, "You know, I wasn't lying about everything, either. I was telling the truth when I said I was the luckiest, too, and... some other stuff."

"I can't tell when Zoro lies," Luffy replies quietly, stopping their swaying for a moment, "What else did Zoro say that was truthful?"

"What else?" Zoro asks. He said he's loved Luffy since they met and he meant it, but should he tell Luffy that?

"Zoro forgot?" Luffy takes his response as confusion, "Then... maybe I can try and show Zoro what I felt when we were talking. Maybe he’ll remember.”

Zoro doesn't know what Luffy means by that, but he nods.

"Show me what you felt," Zoro says.

In the dark of the mansion's basement, Franky opens the door to the fuse box. He uses a light attached to his robotic mask to see, something those upstairs in the ballroom are soon sure to wish they had. The power only needs to be off for a few moments, and hopefully Nami will be able to steal without interference.

Luffy tightens his hold on Zoro, then moves his hands up to Zoro’s cheeks, thumbs under the mask. He slowly pushes it back, onto Zoro’s head, and presses up against Zoro, his hands moving to Zoro’s shoulders. He glances at Zoro’s lips, leaning in, hoping Zoro will get the memo.

Zoro takes a second to realize what's happening, then leans down to reciprocate. Before he can get close enough, the lights suddenly cut. There's a few shouts of shock as those in attendance try to figure out what's happening, and Zoro pulls away from the near-kiss. Suddenly there's a scream, and the music sours with the sudden loss of a violin. It clatters loudly to the ground and Zoro grabs Luffy's waist, pulling him closer, Luffy tightens his hold on Zoro’s shoulder out of shock, twisting the fabric of his suit in his hands. The darkness stretches a moment longer, and when the lights flicker back on, Brook is on the floor. A woman screams, someone in the crowd faints, and the host, Roswald, looks horrified.

“Is he dead!?” He says, “The party is ruined! Get to the bottom of this, someone, right now!”

"Brook!" Luffy yells, shocked, wrenching away from Zoro.

There's blood on his chest, a stab wound in his heart. He was old, sure, so maybe this was bound to happen soon, but nobody wanted it like that!

"S-Stay back!" A pink haired man yells as Luffy rushes toward the body, "Don't touch the body!"

Luffy tries to rush forward anyway but is stopped by Zoro, who grabs him. The pink haired man--the same who Usopp had been talking to earlier--approaches Brook. He's cut off by Chopper, who runs forward.

"I'm a doctor!" Chopper says, "Let me try and help him!"

Chopper kneels down next to the body, checking him over. If it weren't for how serious the situation was, it would almost be laughable to see someone in a reindeer mask kneeling over a bloody body. However, no one finds any comedy in it as he sits up, solemn-faced.

"He's... he's dead." Chopper says, "His pulse is already gone, the wound hit his heart..."

"Let me go!" Luffy is practically wrestling Zoro, "What's wrong with you, Zoro?! Let me go! Who the hell did this?!"

"What're you going to do? You can't help him," Zoro says. He can't let Luffy near Brook and he knows it.

"Who would have done something like this?" Chopper asks.

"Yes, who?" Robin seems to emerge from shadows, smiling, "Clearly this wasn't done alone. The lights went off, and a body appears. Who among us?" She clasps her hands behind her back, and Luffy stares at her, shocked. She looks to the pink haired man, "Well, Mr. Policeman?"

"It's Coby," The pink haired man says, introducing himself, "The weapon was a knife... who could use one? It would have to be someone close..."

"Or someone able to throw one," Chopper offers.

"Let's look at the people nearby, then." Robin says, "Would anyone here have been able to do it?"

"There's the other musicians," Coby says, "They're all close to him."

"Their hands are all full with instruments," Robin says, "They'd have to make an extra hand appear out of thin air to kill him, which isn't something anyone can do."

"Then those on the dance floor," Coby says. "They're close enough to run forward and stab him."

"So up front, our suspects are a hero, a prince, and a princess," Robin says. She doesn't want to accuse Luffy or Zoro, since Zoro is supposed to keep Luffy from getting upset. Luffy could ruin everything, after all, "Would any of them--"

"Wait, there's that demon and dragon couple, too," Coby says, cutting Robin off, "They're just as close as the other three. We can't overlook them."

"Of course, my mistake," Robin says. Fine, then she needs to clear their names before Luffy gets worked up, "As I was saying, would any of them have been able to kill him?"

"The hero could have. He told me earlier, he could throw a knife in the dark accurately. He has the skill to be able to do it," Coby says.

"I didn't mean like this!" Usopp says.

"Could the prince or princess have done it?" Robin asks.

"The prince could have!" Shalulia says, "He broke away from me when it got dark, and he said he was good with a knife!"

"In the kitchen, my dear, not in a murder!" Sanji says, but Shalulia steps further away from him. Luffy finally breaks away from Zoro to run forward, trying to get to Brook again, but is caught around the waist by Robin.

"Let me go!" Luffy scratches at her arm as she pushes him back to Zoro.

"What about the couple?" Coby asks, "Charging at the body is suspicious, are you trying to hide evidence?"

"No! He was my friend!" Luffy says, upset he's even being accused.

"It isn't him. He's not good with knives, anyway," Robin says, "Or with lying."

"But it could be his partner," Shalulia says, "I overheard him when we passed! He threatened the musician when the song changed!"

"And he's good with a sword!" Chopper says, caught up in the excitement of the investigation. Luffy looks back at Zoro, shocked.

"I didn't do it! I was dancing with him the whole time!" Zoro said, pointing to Luffy. "He was holding me. I couldn't have killed anyone without him knowing."

"Zoro didn't." Luffy says slowly, irritated that nobody would let him go back to Brook. "But you two?!" He whirls on Usopp and Sanji, both looking surprised, "What the hell is this?! Who did it?!"

"Come on, Luffy. Let the detectives figure it out." Zoro says, pulling him back a few steps.

Unnoticed by those arguing, a maid in a fox mask makes her way through the crowd, a sheet draped over one arm. She bumps into a few people as she goes, making her way to the front of the ballroom to pass the sheet off to Chopper. He tosses the sheet over Brook, and the maid leaves. With their focuses on the murder, no one in the crowd notices if their pockets are suddenly lighter as she goes by.

"What the hell is your problem?" Luffy whispers harshly, "Brook is dead! Someone killed him--one of our friends! Let me go!"

"Trouble in paradise?" Shalulia sneers, "I still think he killed him!"

"I didn't. You know that," Zoro says, looking at Luffy, "Luffy, do you trust me?"

"Should I?" Luffy seems unsure, holding away from Zoro.

"Please," Zoro says, "Luffy, if you trust me, just sit this one out. Things will be alright, I swear."

"How can I sit this out?!" Luffy demands, shaking his head.

"Luffy, there's nothing you can do. Let those two handle this," Zoro says. He stops holding Luffy so tight and instead cups Luffy's face in his hands. He's become used to casual affection over the course of the night, so it's far more natural. He meets Luffy's eyes, "I'm asking you to trust me. Calm down and wait, things will work out."

Luffy visibly relaxes a fraction of an inch, looking at Brook. Luffy sucks in a breath and tightens his hold on Zoro's shirt, clearly upset. "I'm gonna kill whoever did it."

"I know," Zoro says, nodding. He wraps his arms around Luffy, hoping to ease Luffy's pain. Luffy seems to take comfort in it, turning his face away and into Zoro's chest.

"So the couple didn't do it," Robin says, watching them, "What about you, hero?"

"No, of course not!" Usopp says, "He was my friend! He was both of our friend! Why would we?"

"He's right," Sanji says, "We all know that musician. None of us would kill him!"

"But one of you did." Coby worries at the edge of his jacket, "I'm sorry, but it's true, and this shouldn't just be solved by us."

"What do you mean?" Robin asks, "Who else is supposed to help?"

"The police!" Coby cries, "We shouldn't just be standing here! We should call them right away!"

"That's not necessary," Robin says, "I'm a detective and you're a police officer, we should be able to solve this without help."

"You're not a detective I've ever seen before," Coby says, though her witchy mask does cover most of her face.

"I'm quite private," She explains, "That's why. Come now, let's just solve this." Robin tucks some hair behind her ear, "The couple has an alibi, correct?"

"Like I said," Zoro is keeping Luffy close, "we were holding onto each other the whole time. And with how upset he is? Why the hell would I do it? He was my friend too."

"He was friends with all of you, and still he's dead," Coby says, "That excuse doesn't mean anything, unfortunately."

"He was still holding me," Luffy turns his head, "So it wasn't me or Zoro."

"Zoro? That name's familiar..." Coby says.

"Probably that movie about the swordsman," Zoro says. He really doesn't need to be arrested because Luffy forgot not to say his name in front of a cop, "You have bigger mysteries to solve than where you've heard my name before."

"Right," Coby says slowly, turning to look at the body, "If I can't find something soon, I'm taking you all in for questions. I'm sorry."

Coby starts walking towards Brook, but Robin grabs his arm.

"Aren't we supposed to question them? You don't need to look at the body," She says.

"I need to see if anything on his body will hint at who did it!" Coby insists, "You're the detective!"

"It's faster with a partner," Robin lies easily.

"Inspecting the body will only take a moment and it will make questioning easier," Coby says. Robin lets him go, not wanting to raise suspicion. She watches him lean over Brook, stepping back. Nami better be done, or this was about to be busted if Brook couldn't keep acting dead.

Coby's thankful he wore gloves with his suit, it'll allow him to inspect the murder weapon without leaving finger prints. He pulls back the sheet, then reaches down to pull the knife from the musician's chest when a hand stops him. It's the musician. Coby doesn't have time to scream before the back-from-the-dead man starts laughing at him.

"Brook..." Sanji sighs, frowning. There goes the plan.

"I'm sorry!" Brook laughs, clutching his stomach, "it--it was just so WORTH it!"

"What's going on!?" Coby cries, wrenching his hand away from Brook. He steps back as Brook sits up. Off to the side, Luffy beams. Brook's alright, but why was he playing dead?

"Shit," Zoro groans, leaning his forehead on Luffy's head as he processed the pure stupidity of his crew, "Brook, you idiot! You better hope Nami is done!"

Brook stands, dusting himself off.

"No one answered me, what just happened!?" Coby says.

"I think we're done here," Robin says, ignoring Coby entirely.

"Brook's alive!" Luffy says, trying to look up at Zoro, which is hard considering Zoro still has his head on top of Luffy's.

"He's ruined the plan, that's what he did," Sanji sighs, pushing the mask up his face.

"The 'plan'? You planned this? Was everyone in on this?" Coby says.

"Unfortunately," Sanji says, and Usopp tosses his mask off, "We all are. It's the distraction."

"Wait a minute..." Coby looks to Zoro, "Z-Zoro? Roronoa Zoro?"

"Yes, Roronoa Zoro," Zoro says, "Hope Franky's ready, because we have to go."

"It's that group of thieves!" Roswald yells, pointing, "Somebody get them! Don't let them escape this party!”

"Hey!" Nami yells from an upper balcony in the ballroom, waving her hands, "We're outside! Get going!"

"That's our cue," Zoro says, and without further prompting, the group makes a break for the door. Most of the guests, the nobles and the rich, are too busy checking to see if they still have their valuables in the presence of thieves to stop their escape. The mass of wealthy people in the room stops security from being able to reach the group, and no one wants to be plowed over by Luffy or his friends.

Franky has the car open, valuables piled in the various spaces on the floor. Luffy dives in first with Zoro after him, pulling him in close for protecting. Luffy thinks it's for protection, anyway.

The rest of the group squeezes in as well, though it's more cramped with the ninth member. Nami sits in the driver seat and Robin takes the passenger seat to avoid being squished.

Zoro sits in a seat and holds Luffy in his lap. He tells himself he's making room for Brook, and in the scramble no one seems to notice. Luffy wraps his arms around Zoro, pulling his knees in to accommodate for Brook's longer limbs.

"Brook, why'd you die?" Luffy asks as he snags Zoro's forgotten mask and starts messing with it.

"They were making a scene so I could rob the place without interruption," Nami says as she starts driving.

"I didn't actually die," Brook says, "I faked it."

"Clearly," Zoro says, "or else we'd be talking to a... I don't know, a fucking skeleton."

Brook laughs.

"Wouldn't that be frightening?" He says. Luffy shakes his head.

"I think it'd be cool!" Luffy says, "I want to be friends with a skeleton!"

"And we didn't tell you this plan because you'd be awful at keeping to it." Usopp says, patting Luffy's head.

"I'll tell you what was frightening, Luffy ready to kill one of us when Brook collapsed." Sanji scoffs.

"I thought it was flattering," Brook says.

"I wasn't scared! I'm sure I could take him if we fought!" Usopp says, "But I wouldn't want to."

"Hurting each other isn't what friends do," Luffy says, "I don't want you guys to die or anything."

"You don't have to worry. None of us are dying anytime soon," Sanji says.

"Brook IS pretty old, though..." Zoro comments.

"I still have plenty of life left in me," Brook says, "It'll take a lot to kill this old man."

"Nami, did we get lots of money?" Luffy asks, putting on Zoro's demon mask.

"Yeah, lots of wallets and jewelry. I'm not sure how much it's all worth, but it's easily thousands," Nami says.

"That's good." Luffy leans back. He didn't really care too much about money, but it was nice to have. He absently pats at Zoro’s wrist, bored.

The car ride passes with idle talk, since they were out fast enough that they weren't chased. They reach their hideout in a few more minutes, an abandoned boat tied to an used dock which they'd taken over. Everyone disperses when they arrive, heading off to get changed out of their fancy getups. It's late, so most of them head to bed shortly after. Despite the calm and quiet in the bedroom neither Luffy nor Zoro can sleep, too much on both their minds. Zoro gets Luffy's attention by waving his hand.

"You wanna go to the front?" Zoro whispers to Luffy, referring to the tip of the boat, where Luffy likes to sit. Luffy nods. He heads up to the front of the ship, letting Zoro follow. When he gets there he stops, waiting for Zoro rather than sitting in his spot on the mast.

In the ballroom, during the dance, Luffy almost kissed Zoro. He'd been so caught up in the moment, he hadn't even got a chance to ask if Zoro was alright with that before everything happened. Zoro stops in front of Luffy, lapsing into an awkward silence. They both search for something to say, but Zoro finds something first.

"You... haven't taken the ring off."

"No, I guess I forgot," Luffy says. He looks down at his hand. In the dark, the ring almost looks real, "I like it."

"You never struck me as a jewelry type," Zoro says, stepping a bit closer so he could grab Luffy's hand.

"This is different," Luffy says. He keeps his eyes on his hand in Zoro's.

"The ring, or...?" Zoro looks at Luffy instead of his hand, "or what I'm doing?"

"The ring, but what Zoro is doing is different, too," Luffy says, "I had fun tonight, pretending to be Zoro's husband."

"Did you?" Zoro grins a bit, "you know, you were trying to show me something, but we got interrupted."

"I was going for a kiss," Luffy admits.

"So, you still want to?" Zoro asks, "Kiss, I mean. We don't have to."

"I want to," Luffy says. He reaches up to hold Zoro's face in his hands, "I really, really want to."

"Then we can." Zoro says quietly, putting a hand on Luffy's lower back and splaying it. He leans down and kisses the corner of Luffy's mouth. Zoro pulls back after, but Luffy hugs his neck to stop him from going far.

"Back when that lady was talking to us, Zoro said something that sounded really sincere. He said he'd loved me since the day we met," Luffy says, "Did he mean that?"

"...I meant it," Zoro says, "I have. Ever since I saw you."

"I feel the same. I've always felt the same," Luffy says, "Maybe we really are soulmates."

"Maybe." Zoro says, lifting Luffy up. "Maybe we are."

Luffy grins, wrapping his legs around Zoro's waist to hold himself up.

"I would like that," Luffy says. He holds out his hand, looking at his ring over Zoro's shoulder, "I think I'm going to keep wearing this."

"What, a fake plastic ring?" Zoro snorts, "you just kind of jumped right into marriage again."

"I'm not thinking of it like marriage! It's like a souvenir," Luffy says, "Instead of marriage, it's from the night Zoro first said he loved me."

"An anniversary ring," Zoro says, comfortable holding Luffy, "Maybe I'll keep mine, too."

Luffy leans his head on Zoro's shoulder.

"We'd be matching," Luffy says.

"Do you want to match?" Zoro asks, turning his head and kissing Luffy's nose. Luffy laughs.

"I wouldn't mind matching," Luffy says.

"Then I'll keep it," Zoro says, "I need to thank Nami."

“What for?” Luffy asks.

"She told me she made us the couple so this shit could happen," Zoro sighs.

"Guess I should thank her, too," Luffy says.

"Why didn't we act on this sooner?" Zoro asks, humming.

"Well, I know Zoro's pretty dumb," Luffy says.

"I know you're dumber," Zoro says

"Rude," Luffy says, "Zoro's rude and dumb and I'm in love with him."

"Luffy's rude and dumb and I'm in love with him more," Zoro responds, grinning. Luffy pulls his head off Zoro's shoulder so he can look at Zoro's face.

"If Zoro loves me so much, then why not he kiss me again?" Luffy asks. Zoro leans in and kisses Luffy again, repeating his actions over and over to get the point across. Luffy eventually breaks away, and he leans back in Zoro's arms to look up at the sky. The air's clear, and he can see thousands of stars.

"They're bright," Luffy says. He looks down at Zoro, then grins. To Zoro, that's brighter than anything in the sky, day or night. There's no need for sunshine, not with Luffy so close. Zoro has the sea below him, the stars around him, and Luffy in his arms. He doesn't ever need anything else.

#zolu #zolu week #sammy writes fic #(with a friend)#one piece

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thisisarealtagwhy · 7 years ago

Text

Day 9: Openings/Endings

Or, alternately known as Share The World!

i fucking love the Share the World opening so this is pretty much from that, it’s also extremely long; 6,345 words.

“Nami!” Luffy shouts from the front of Sunny. “I see an island!”

Aforementioned navigator glanced up and checked her log pose, yup, an island was definitely scheduled.

“Alright!” Luffy yelled, pumping his hands in the air and flipping back onto the deck of the Thousand Sunny. “Everyone prepare for docking!”

Slowly, one by one the straw hats emerged from their dens to their captain’s cry.

They all congregated on the grassy deck. “I need fresh food.” Sanji immediately said once everyone had arrived.

Nami nodded. “I want some more swimwear.”

“I need some stuff for my arsenal.” Usopp said.

“I also need some stuff.” Franky added, looking at Usopp and folding his arms.

Zoro yawned. “Fufufu, I would like to go look at their books, if they have any.” Robin said.

“Um, I need some herbs and medicines.”

“Yohoho, I would care to explore the island.”

Nami sighed. “So, we all want to leave Sunny?”

At eight nods, she sighed again. “Alright, Sanji, Luffy, Chopper and Robin will go today, everyone else, we’re guarding the ship for now.”

“Alright, hear that guys? We’re gonna go explore!” Luffy grinned widely. “Nami~! Can I have some money?”

Luffy asked, looking at the treasurer pleadingly who sighed before doling out her precious beri to the two idiots before handing Sanji-kun, Chopper and Robin their share.

“Wait! Sanji! We need pirate bento’s!” He demanded.

Sanji sighed but complied nonetheless and within ten minutes – in which Luffy had bounded around in excitement – he had four neat bento’s in his grasp.

Luffy threw on an orange singlet, waiting for Sanji, Chopper and Robin to emerge from their respective rooms.

Sanji threw on a stripy and spotty shirt, accompanied by a waist coat, it was, in fact, hot outside. Chopper changed into a black and white t-shirt and dark shorts. Robin wore a green jacket that was more of a vest, strings covering her chest in a valiant attempt to keep it shut and a pair of orange shorts (Sanji had squealed delightedly at the sight).

“Let’s go Sanji, Chopper!” Luffy said, looping his arms around the pair.

“Wait! The shores not even in s- aAhhhh!” Sanji and Chopper screamed in unison as they were rocketed to the shore.

“Shishishi!” Luffy cried as they hurtled towards the concrete shore.

“Luffy! If I survive this I’m going to kill you!” Sanji yelled.

“Wah! I’m too young to die!” Chopper sobbed.

The trio smashed into the ground and it was only because of Luffy’s rubber body and Chopper’s ‘guard point’ that none of them ended up as tiny little smears of colour on the dock.

“Shishi, that was fun!” Luffy cried laughing and simultaneously checking that boshi was still firmly on his head.

He, unfortunately, did not see the demon behind him that was dusting off imaginary lint off of his shoulders and glaring a hole in the back of his head.

“No it wasn’t!” Both Chopper and Sanji punched and kicked the rubber boy in the head, hard.

So hard that the idiot was sent flying into the water. “Luffy! I’ll save you!” Chopper cried and leapt after the captain, forgetting that he himself could not swim.

Sanji stared dumbfounded for a moment before leaping in after both devil fruit users. He swiftly kicked both up the head for being stupid.

“We’re sowy.” Both said, spitting out copious amounts of sea water.

“My word! You treat your son like that?” A passing woman stopped to scold the chef.

Said chef immediately turned into putty into the young woman’s hands. “Ah! Sorry mademoiselle, they are both idiots that needed to be taught a lesson.”

He said, bowing down on one knee, the woman was beautiful, long blonde hair brushed into a bun, piercing blue eyes looking into his very soul.

Oh, and the guns strapped to her thighs and ankles was a bonus, Sanji thought.

Chopper and Luffy just shrugged at his antics.

“Sanji~!” Luffy whined. “I’m hungry.”

“You better tend to your son and pet.” The lady said and turned around. “I happen to be a retired marine and I will not stand for abuse.”

Sanji looked properly admonished and bowed before turning to Luffy and Chopper, with the appropriate amount of self-restraint he said. “Come on you idiots.”

“I’m not a pet.” Chopper muttered angrily, trudging away.

“What about Robin-chan?” Sanji muttered to himself, glancing to Chopper and Luffy then to the Thousand Sunny.

Sanji watched closely as the mini-Merry drew closer, the woman in question at the wheel. “Hello Sanji-kun, would you mind keeping an eye on Luffy?” She asked as she gracefully climbed up to join their trio.

“Anything for you Robin-chwan!” Sanji exclaimed.

“Come on Sanji! I smell meat!” Luffy cried, grabbing a hold of both crew mates and running off to where his nose took him.

“Fufufu, enjoy cook-san.”

“Luffy! Let me go!” Sanji growls, disentangling himself from the rubber-brained idiot.

“Sanji, could we eat first please?” Chopper asks, his own little stomach growling in hunger.

The cook glanced down at the tiny doctor and shrugged, “I was planning on heading to the market place anyway, you two don’t have to stay with me.”

“Eh, food!” Luffy laughed as he raced towards the smell.

He skidded to a stop in front of a small stall that seemed to have a barbeque sizzling away with skewers of vegetable and meat being cooked.

“Why hello there young man, may I interest you with some of this Island’s spe-” A woman with an aging face began.

“I don’t care! Just give me meat!” Luffy interrupted, too hungry to care.

“Such an attitude…” The lady muttered dejectedly, regardless she handed him a skewer which Luffy swallowed in one second.

“More!”

The lady complied. “These are 100 beris each mister, you better have the right money…”

Luffy groaned, it wasn’t like he was going to be able to buy a lot of these… there was the possibility of just leaving without paying but…

He didn’t want to cause trouble yet, especially when half of the crew hadn’t even entered the island to do their business.

So, he payed the woman the correct money and drifted away to the depths of the crowd, testing as much food as he could.

Whilst wandering through the streets his eye caught a surfing shop, grinning to himself he entered the summer shop.

“Excuse me sir, is there anything I can help you with?” The woman was quite young, probably just in her twenties and was trying to blink seductively at the straw-hat captain.

“Yeah, how much is the surfboard in the window?” He asked, pointing at the white with blue trimming surfboard propped up on the window.

“Why, my dear, for you I can pay you a price of 5000 beris.” She said again, trying to bring his eyes to her.

Luffy dragged his eyes from the display, pulling the little sack of beris he usually carried around, and counted out the correct amount of notes. “I still have 1000 beris left over… hey lady, is there anything I can buy for 1000 beris.” His eyes never even strayed to where she was trying to make him look.

Huffing a little the woman sighed and said, “You can by a doughnut inflatable and a pair of trunks if you want.”

Grinning he chose a pair of red trunks and handed over the rest of the money, clutching his possessions tightly he thanked the lady and left the store.

Given that he was now officially broke Luffy was at a loss of what to do, he couldn’t very well just leave the surfboard and trunks by themselves.

Eventually he sighed and moved to a bench by a waterfall where a bunch of kids were messing around.

Luffy plonked down onto the wooden structure and stretched out, yawning and arching his back, not unlike a cat.

Grinning when he realised he still had the pirate bento, he unwrapped it and scoffed it down within seconds.

Slowly he found himself drifting off into sleep and decided that with the perfect weather he might as well catch some z’s – he hadn’t felt right for a while after Thriller Bark and the discovery that Ace was in some kind of trouble.

So, he welcomed the warm feeling and slept, arms tucked behind his head and stomach heavy with the food he had consumed.

Chopper was wondering around in brain point, hoping that he would be able to at least buy something before being asked if he was somebody’s pet and escorted to the local vet clinic.

He was a doctor dammit, not a pet.

“Well hello there, mister, may I entice you with some locally cooked venison?” A beared man asked, clad in flannel and leather.

Chopper shrieked and ran away from the cooked smell of venison, and potentially, reindeer.

After he was certain that he had left the hunter alone with his store of furs and meat he breathed out a sigh and moved along to one of the stores on the main street of the little town.

“Sweets are fine in small amounts…” He repeated to himself as he entered the shop.

The little bell tinkled, alerting the teenager behind the counter to jump up and offer him a small chocolate which Chopper happily accepted – food was always best if it was free, a voice (sounding a helluva lot like Nami) reminded him.

“Can I get a cone of cotton candy?” Chopper asked the acne riddled teenager who just shrugged and brought him to the machine.

“How much?” He asked, gesturing to the machine.

“A small please.”

Soon, a small cone and a pink ball of fluff about the size of a balloon. “Thank you!”

Chopper placed the correct amount of beris into the outstretched hand and left the shop, promising himself to get proper sustenance later on, after he had purchased his correct medical herbs.

He wandered through the street, taking note of a musky looking book-shop and a miscellaneous ‘Pawn Shop’ for Robin and Usopp, respectively.

Finally he caught sight of a stall set up next to a clean looking house that declared itself a pharmacy. “Um, excuse me, but do you happen to have eucalyptus tree leaves or manuka honey?” He asked the aged man behind the front desk.

“We do have eucalyptus tree leaves but not manuka honey, in fact, I’ve never heard of it in my life.” The man said, chuckling a little.

“Oh, how about any antiseptics?” The Manuka honey was only native to some islands.

“I have iodine, hydrogen peroxide, polyhexanide, ethanol, you name it.” He said, laughing again, spreading his arms in a sweeping gesture.

“Hmm, can I get 300mL of iodine, polyhexanide and ethanol? Oh, and I need some bandages.” Chopper listed.

“Of course my good sir, that will come to 20 000 beris.” The man said, placing the desired items in a brown paper bag, the bottles clinking against each other.

“There you go!” He said, placing the correct amount in the mans wrinkled, leathery hands.

“I wish you a good day my fellow physician.” The man stated, waving him off.

“Wow, what a nice guy.” Chopper murmured, glancing down at the brown paper bag.

He walked through the streets, avoiding any and all of the children that attempted to ‘bring him home’.

“I wonder where Sanji, Luffy and Robin are…” He muttered, looking up at the slowly sinking sun, he should probably head back to the Thousand Sunny.

He shrugged and started to retrace his steps, avoiding the hunter at the stall and making his way back to where the ex-marine lady had told Sanji off.

There, in all of her glory, the Thousand Sunny sat, anchored down, she was the most colourful and largest of all the local ships – and clearly the only pirate ship.

“Hey Chopper!” Usopp shouted from the decks, looking up from his fishing. “You won’t believe how big of a fish I caught!”

Chopper grinned and switched into his walk point, dashing up the rope that tied Sunny to the dock.

He couldn’t wait to put away his medicines into all of his shiny new compartments.

Robin smiled lightly at the bookworm behind the counter, she was clearly invested in the books that Robin sought but the woman would not be denied the history books she so desired.

“Now, I must be on my way, I have other shops to attend to,” Robin began, good, she caught the woman’s attention. “I will be taking those books I’m afraid, I would prefer to do it without violence but if you refuse to comply…”

She allowed the words to trail dangerously off, the woman gulped, pressing her round glasses further into her skin before taking the offered beri. “Thank you, have a wonderful evening.” Robin murmured as she glided through the shop, taking the bag with her.

“Now, I will be needing a nursery, I think.” She wanted to cultivate flowers in the new garden near the back of Sunny where the dormitories lay.

It would be a pity if she could not find any of the local flowers, according to the very books she was carrying, there was a Marine base nearby, and on that Marine base, flowers of vivid purple, gold and silver reigned there.

But also, the promenade, a hibiscus-like flower was native to the island.

She was determined to discover whether that was true or not for the last person to look for the flowers coincidentally ended up joining the aforementioned Marines.

After a while of searching Robin finally found herself in front of a flower store that boasted the best flowers on the island, she wondered if it was true.

The flowers out the front were of most beautiful blues, all different shades – she couldn’t identify them but that was quite alright, they most likely were not poisonous, and if they were then Usopp would have something to add to his ever-increasing arsenal.

“Excuse me,” She asked the woman arranging a bouquet of cerulean… flowers. “But may I inquire as to whether you are familiar with the legend of the gold and silver flowers of the Marine base?”

The woman jumped a bit, splattering dirt against her denim overalls.

“Ah! Sorry ma’am, you caught me off-guard.” The woman insisted, name-tag reading Audrey.

“That is quite all right Audrey-san.” Robin chuckled a little.

“Um, everyone on this island is familiar with that legend, we even called the guy Serpentine for his silver-tongue.”

“Serpentine?”

“Yes, there has never been any report of the silver or gold flowers from the Marine base on the island of Fleurs.”

“It is called ‘Fleurs’?” Robin asked, wondering if she heard correctly.

“Yup! After the legend.” Audrey said. “See, for a while this island was flourishing because we sold the most magnificent gold and silver flowers, at least, that’s what we’re told.”

“You do not believe it?”

“No! There is simply no evidence to support that theory, although… I did move here from the Sabaody Archipelego a few years back so it might be…”

“I see. Now, could you make some recommendations of what flowers I could plant together?” Robin asked, putting aside her curiosity for the moment.

“Of course! I can throw in a gardening book in for free if you buy five seedlings.” Audrey said, jumping up and brushing the excess dirt off her gloves.

“I suppose we have a deal, Audrey-san.”

Robin idly wondered what time Sanji would arrive back at the ship and begin preparations for dinner…

“Mellorine.” He murmured, eyeing the black-haired beauty womaning her store of fresh vegetables.

“Ah, excuse me mademoiselle, would you mind if I take a look at your fresh produce?” Sanji asked with a flourish.

“Of course.” She said, her smile revealing creases and dimples. “Considering what time of the day it is, I could even offer you sales off them.”

“Thank you my dear.” He said, lifting up one of the potatoes, curiously he turned to a similarly sized fruit-looking thing. “And what might this be?”

“Those are our island’s specialty, the flower fruit, you can have one if you’d like.”

“Thank you very much.” Sanji took a bite out of the innocuous looking fruit, immediately an explosion of sweet flavours burst on his tongue with an undercurrent of bitterness. “Mm, how much for a dozen?” He asked, already planning on a pie he could bake with it and perhaps even a parfait oh and there was-

“3000 beris.”

“That’s a lot.” He murmured, glancing down at the fruit again, its’ pale flesh and juice reflecting the evening sun. “Okay.”

“Thank you for buying these.” She smiled again, placing the desired fruit in a brown bag. “Is there anything else I can interest you in?”

“No thanks, I think I’ll go now.”

Sanji wandered through the still-large crowd, avoiding any of the shoddy looking stores trying to sell your fortune away.

He hopes Chopper didn’t get stuck at a store like that.

Sighing, he checks that he has purchased everything needed – plus those spices he thought would very much suit some oni giri.

And a delightful dried promenade that was simply delicious as a tea, he had to have it.

“5000 beris…” He counts in one hand. “It’s getting pretty late…”

He retreats back to the dock where Sunny is docked, hoping to a God he didn’t believe in that the rest of them were already back there.

When he did arrive, and discovered that everybody except for Luffy had arrived, he took a deep drag of the cigarette perpetually clasped between his lips.

“Zoro, go find him, I’ll come with you too.” Nami instructed, kicking the sleeping swordsman awake.

He grumbled but nonetheless stretched out and yawned like a cat. “Let’s go.”

Lithely leaping to the ground, Zoro began to wander, and Nami, she only followed him, because, while the swordsman was unnaturally directionally challenged, he seemed to have an in-built Luffy-radar.

And she knew exactly how to use it to her advantage.

With the sun sinking deep into the horizon, dipping its’ golden body into the glittering ocean, they needed to make haste if they were to find Luffy before dinner.

Knowing him, he probably fell asleep and since neither of them felt like he was in trouble, they trusted that he was still safe.

It had always been this, well, as soon as they had joined the beaming, straw-hatted boy, they had essentially devoted their life to this.

And that was okay, because they loved him like a brother.

Eventually they ended up at an inconspicuous bench in front of a water fountain and there he lay, arms crossed behind his head, snot bubble blowing out of his nose.

They both took a moment to take in the serenity of the moment before Zoro nudged him and told him to wake up.

“Just a minute… Ace.”

Taking that into stride, they both sighed and decided that he might as well sleep. “He hasn’t been sleeping… has he?” Nami murmured softly to Zoro who just shook his head lightly.

Without a word, Zoro hoisted the rubberman over his shoulder where he flopped, boneless.

Nami grabbed the abandoned surfboard and little bag containing more swimwear.

They made it back just in time for Sanji to shout out, “Dinner!” at which Luffy wriggled like an eel and jumped off Zoro’s shoulder, running into Sunny’s dining room.

“Thanks Zoro, Nami!” He cried over his shoulder.

Dinner was a relatively relaxed affair regardless of the beating up of one rubberman for daring steal off both Nami-swan and Robin-chan’s plates.

The following morning dawned bright and early, as beautiful as the first and Nami smiled, telling them all that the good weather would continue.

Robin had returned the previous day with an estimation of four days for the log-pose to set.

So, today, Zoro, Brook, Nami, Usopp and Franky were going to depart Sunny for the goods they sought.

“Zoro, you’re with Brook. Usopp, with me and Franky, you can go by yourself if you want.” Nami instructed to the crew.

“Yohoho, today will be fantastic, I can feel it… in my bones.” Brook laughed, twirling around them all.

“Zoro, go get changed, you smell like a rotting fish.” Nami said.

Zoro grumbled but complied and within less than a minute he was changed into a pair of camo pants and a purple ‘GSM’ shirt (he didn’t know the brand but apparently it was good – according to the witch.).

Brook hadn’t changed his outfit because he does not excrete as much bodily fluid as the rest of them do.

Franky had decided to shake it up a little by changing into a blue Hawaiian shirt.

Usopp decked out in leather, looks more like a butler, but today, he’ll be more like a slave to Nami who simply wants him as a donkey to carry all of her shopping.

Nami herself has a cute little pink camisole with a black lace outline.

“Meet back here before sunset!” She called out to the group, jumping down from Sunny’s soft grass.

The deck is silent for a few moments before Luffy whines “I’m bored.”

“Might I suggest fishing, Luffy?” Robin says, hand flourishing out of the grass like flowers and bring a few items for her to properly enjoy the time presented to her to read the new book she had acquired.

“Sure!”

“Why are you making me carry everything?” Usopp whines around the head tall boxes he’s carrying.

“Because I know that you won’t lose them or get lost, so stop complaining.” She replies sweetly, a few of the bags hanging off her arms. “Now where did you want to go?”

“I wanted to get some more chemicals…” He muttered dejectedly.

“Well, after lunch we can drop my shopping on Sunny then you can go shop.” She says, smiling at the way his face lights up.

That was an hour ago.

Nami sipped on her tea contentedly, the locals here had some wonderful hibiscus-like flower tea that was simply divine. She had to tell Sanji-kun to receive it.

Usopp stumbles to her table, the boxes almost obscuring his vision.

Depositing them on the table he sits down himself, already sipping on an iced version of the hibiscus-like flower tea.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead Usopp flops back onto the edge of his chair, teetering precariously.

Nami flips a page of the newspaper, smiling contentedly.

“I’m having a plate of their rainbow fish,” he murmurs, looking through the menu, “And chips.”

With that he looks at the waiter and cries, “Excuse me!”

The waiter makes his way over, looking quite flustered and put-off by his forward demeanour.

“Excusez-moi, monsieur, but what shall I entertain your appetite with this fine lunch hour?” He says charmingly, flourishing a pad and pen.

“I’ll have the chef special of rainbow fish with a side of chips, thank you.” He says, glancing to Nami who sighs before specifying.

“I’ll have a parfait with the promenade.” She says, still sipping their tea.

“Why of course madame, monsieur. Your food shall be ready soon.”

“Thank you.” She smiles sweetly, leaning, just a little over the table, the man rushes off, face steadily turning red.

“You’re diabolical.” Usopp deadpans.

“Hey, if I have the means to get us a discount then so be it.” She defends, still smirking mischievously.

Usopp just shakes his head and turns, sipping on his iced tea and observing the people around them.

Silently he counts the amount of civilians vs the amount of trained killers coming to snap his neck and take his bounty.

Okay, that was hyperbole but whatever.

It was a legitimate fear.

He was interrupted from a mock battle that he was terribly losing by the sound of his ceramic plate being deposited on top of the table amidst the boxes.

“Thank you.” He murmurs, stomach grumbling, pirate bento’s consumed hours ago.

Nami carefully tastes hers before brightening at the mixture of flavours hitting her tastebuds. “Oh my! This is certainly divine!” She swoons dramatically, the waiter, having no idea what was in store for him smiled delightedly.

“I am glad ma Cherie, would you like me to pass my compliments onto the chef?”

“Oh, please do!”

Usopp just slurps at the juice of the rainbow fish loudly, eyeing their interaction with half-amusement, half-sympathy.

When they’re finished and the waiter comes towards them Nami begins to ‘search’ for her purse.

“Oh no!” She cries in mock dismay, the waiter immediately coming to her side at the cry of her anguish.

“What ever is the matter dear?” He asks anxiously flitting around her like an unrestful bird.

“My purse! It’s gone!” She says, tears filling her eyes.

“Oh la la!” He says in tandem with her tears, looking at the cheque in his hand and the near hysterical woman he makes the wisest decision of his entire life and says. “Allow me to pay for you and your friend, my dear.” He says, signing it.

“You will?” At his nod and the signing of the cheque the hysteria slides right off her face and Usopp grabs the boxes before the man does something irrational. “Thanks for that!”

She calls over her shoulder, smiling at the still gobsmacked and confused waiter.

Usopp just laughs with her when they’re out of sight. “Y’know, I didn’t think it would work but holy cow it did.”

Nami just sticks her tongue out at him, “Now who’s diabolical?”

Brook is wandering aimlessly through the main street, Zoro-san in tow.

The man is looking tired already despite the fact that he was napping in the morning.

Brook doesn’t understand how he does it, he could never waste a day away like that.

But he also knows that Zoro-san is a hell of a better swordsman than he likely will ever be, and due to that, he has his undying respect.

Humming a little he looks at one of the antique stores, ignoring the initial shrieks of “It’s a skeleton!” he proceeds to ogle at the simply magnificent violin they have on display.

It is of ebony, he deducts from the smoothness of the finish and the richness of the dark brown colour.

“Um, excuse me.” He asks politely to the young man who is still cowering behind the counter. “How much are you asking for that violin?”

“You can have it as long as you don’t hurt me.” He basically thrusts the key into his bony hands.

Brook glances at it, and back at the man for a while. “While I might be frightening, I am still a gentleman and I cannot simply accept nothing for such a masterpiece.”

The man seems to have gained a little of his confidence and takes a deep breath, “500 000 beris.”

“That is quite an agreeable price.” He admits and tips the correct beris onto the counter.

“I’ll get it for you.” The man says, pushing his glasses up from the bridge of his nose and fumbles with the key, before finally unlocking the glass casing.

“Yohoho! Thank you kind sir!” He says, bowing deeply, plucking the strings experimentally.

When he finds that they are in suitable condition he accepts the casing and twirls out of the store.

“Oh dear.” He mutters when he realised just why Zoro-san had been quite so complacent during that confrontation.

Scanning the crowd with his eyes, but he doesn’t have eyes, yohohoho! He could not sight his friend anywhere.

Sighing he politely asked the lady to his immediate right if she had seen a green haired man.

“Oi mister!” A child tugged on his pant legs.

Kneeling down to the child’s height he was perplexed to see an entire gaggle surround him.

“Yes?”

“I know where your green-haired nakama is!” He says proudly.

“You do?”

“Yup! Tell him it’s true Ben!”

“It’s true! We all saw him.”

“Well then, could you perhaps lead me to him?” Brook asks politely.

“Only if you promise to play us a song!” They say delightedly in tandem.

“Yohoho! It would be my delight to play for you!” He says, grinning, oh, but he has no lips to smile with, yohoho!

The children laugh with him and run around in circles around his gangly legs, tugging on his pants they trudge through the crows and eventually, after several curving streets and paths they come to a stop at a beautiful water fountain and lo and behold.

There, Zoro-san sits, in all of his glory.

“Zoro-san!” He cries out, relieved to have found his fellow swordsman.

“Oh, Brook, you got lost.” Zoro deadpans.

Brook just laughs, he’s heard and seen how directionally challenged he is.

“Mister! You promised to play a song!” The children cajole together.

“And so I shall, Zoro-san? Might I ask that you remain here while I play for the young gentlemen and ladies.”

Zoro just shrugs and yawns widely, and, much to Brook’s amusement and Zoro’s chagrin, a dog next to him copies his movements.

“Yohoho! It seems you have acquired a new friend, Zoro-san.” He comments, bending down and scratching the dog’s head.

“Yow!” The dog is biting him! How rude!

Zoro laughs, and Brook realises that he’s never heard Zoro-san laugh before.

It’s deep and hearty, rumbling through his chest like distant thunder.

Finally managing to detach the dog he returns to the fountain and begins to play. “What kind of a song would you care to hear?”

“A marine song!”

“Marine song?” He repeats dumbfounded, and at a loss for words.

“Yeah, y’know, the one that goes, hm budu bump!”

“I’m afraid I do not. I do know quite a variety of songs though,”

Plucking the strings rapidly, forgoing the bow Brook allows the words to tumble out of him “Ano oozora ni todoku made, I believe, hitotsu no ashita he!”

Zoro glances over at the skeleton through slanted eyes, the pull of sleep too much to handle. It’s a nice song, though a little out of place on a violin.

But Brook makes it work.

He closes his eyes and drifts off into sleep.

Franky has had a super~ day searching through this island’s shops.

He’s already purchased a new pair of speedos and Hawaiian shirt.

Even daring to buy a – dare he say it? – pair of board shorts.

God, what a heathen.

Wandering around and searching through the clothes he wonders what chemicals he truly needs for his next experiment.

While his equipment runs solely on cola, it also has other elements incorporated depending on what it is.

Finding himself a seat within a nice looking café store that hadn’t batted an eyelash at his state of attire he opened the pirate bento, as the captain had dubbed them.

“When should I start heading back?” He wondered aloud.

There was an old man sipping his milkshake and reading the paper when the bandits came in.

Decked in leather and spikes, bikes parked outside, they made quite the sight, walking into such a small café.

The staff didn’t even look bothered, just kept on bopping to that jazzy tone.

Then a pretty lady walked in and ripped off one of the man’s patch for some reason or another.

One of the staff knocked the player to the ground and the music cut out, it was silent for a few seconds before the biker grabbed her wrist, and right when Franky was about to leave before things became messy, they started…

Dancing of all things.

The staff seemed like they had been expecting it though, judging by the emergency player stashed away behind a glass case.

He watched in awe as what seemed to be a mob gathered within the café and began to bust their best moves.

“Ow! Super Franky is here!”

When he made it back hours later he was still grinning at the hilarity of it all.

At dinner time he told everyone his ‘new experience’ “And they all started to dance like it was normal so I joined in.”

“Naw, that sounds way more fun than fishing all day.” Luffy says, well, it comes out much more garbled but it’s the thought that counts.

“I found the most gorgeous violin yoho!” Brook grins toothily.

“Fufufu, the history of this island is quite unique, I must say.” Robin said, sipping some coffee. “Although, I have deduced that the tale of the silver and gold flowers is nothing more than a myth.”

“Hmm, Robin-sis, are you using the gardens?”

“Yes, I have reserved a small patch for myself.”

“Super!”

The following day they simply relaxed on Sunny’s super deck.

But before long Luffy ran back into the men’s quarters and returned decked out in swimming gear and holding the surfboard he had been found with the day before.

“Nuh uh!” Nami said, crossing her arms.

But, instead of saying anything, Luffy turned the puppy-dog eyes on her. “But Nami-”

“No buts! Do you even know how to surf?” She asked.

“Yeah! Ace and S-, Ace taught me how to.” Despite the small flinch and reduction of his words, Luffy seemed earnest.

“Might as well, we’re all here if he does fall.” Zoro mutters, already decked in board-shorts, with a surfboard under his arm.

“Yay!”

Tugging the donut over himself, Luffy leaps right into the water, kicking at the water. And despite how draining it was, he made it all the way out to where the waves were just beginning to crest.

Twisting his body so he could keep an eye on the waves, he chose one of the larger ones.

Standing up at the last moment he crouched down and guided his surfboard the way Ace and Sabo had taught him too.

“Shishishi!” He soared high into the sky. “Woo-OAAH!”

The board slipped right from under him and he fell into the water.

Immediately, all of his previous energy dissipated as he sunk further and further.

And then, a flash of green and he was back on Sunny’s deck with several eggs on his head, as did Chopper and Brook.

“You said you knew how to surf.” Nami said, arching an eyebrow.

“I do! It’s just-” he swallowed down but then Sabo died and Ace never did again. “Those ones are hard!”

See, not a lie.

“Okay, I’m done!” he said, flopping onto Sunny’s deck.

Wordlessly they dropped too, having their own things to do.

Clank! Clank! Zoro doing reps in his sleep was always amusing to watch.

But Chopper didn’t have time, he was busy reviewing some of his medical knowledge, especially for Zoro who wasn’t fully healed yet and had yet again, removed his bandages.

He was partially under Robin’s umbrella who was reading, a cup of coffee forgotten beside her as she became invested within the mystery of her book.

Usopp was currently making disguises, who knew when they would have to hide in plain sight.

He silently passed them over Nami who indulgently put them over Luffy’s sleeping face and smiled widely at the sight.

Sanji was twirling another cup of coffee, trying to create a pattern out of only straight milk.

Franky was on his third banana of the day, watching the proceedings lazily, half an ear open to Brook’s delightful playing as per usual.

Brook was playing the tune he had made on the spot to play for the children with his new violin.

It was when they were leaving on the fourth day that they ran into trouble.

“Oi! You damned pirates!” It was the lady from the first day, brandishing twin pistols.

She fired a warning shot into the air.

“May I help you?” Robin asked, she had been on second watch last night so she was first to the lady.

“Yeah! Mind turning yourselves in?” She asked with a snarl marring her beautiful features.

“Oh dear.” Robin murmured.

“I’ve already summoned the marines, they’re going to shoot you to hell, but I want to know, why would you do it? Why would you become a filthy pirate? Why would you destroy people’s dreams?” The lady asks.

Robin’s features turn as ice as the storm gathering around them. She doesn’t need to say anything because she knows they answer, the fact that she is asking her does not require an answer.

But it’s on the tip of her tongue so she says it anyway, “Because I wasn’t able to live freely without being a ‘filthy pirate’. And there is only one man I will sail for anyway.”

The lady’s contorted features contort into pure rage and it’s only because of years of practice that Robin dodges the bullet and before the woman can fire again there are arms sprouting from the lady’s shoulders, gripping the guns and tossing them into the water.

“You won’t be needing those anymore.”

“What is this?”

“You should have done your research… seis fleur: twist!” The woman’s body twists like a pretzel, clicking out of place.

The soft padding of her captain’s sandals on the deck of Sunny are what alert her to his presence. “Robin?”

“Everything is fine, sencho-san, but might I recommend we leave immediately, there are marines after us.”

Snapping into wakefulness Luffy cries, “Everyone up! We gotta go!” One by one they’re all up, the sun only just beginning to grace the night sky with its’ bright features.

Nami is rubbing sleep out of her eyes and one glance at both of their serious faces has her snapping at the rest of them to get up.

As it is, the log pose has already set and they can see ships on the horizon.

When canon fire begins to hit 100 meters out of them, the sail right into the middle of their formation, allowing themselves to be surrounded.

“Surrender and your death will be painless!” One of the captain’s cry from their ship, the fact that he’s heard over the rain is astounding.

“Never!” Luffy grins and the sky lights up with a tremendous shot of wind from the mouth of the Lion.

“The Straw Hats! They’re heading to the Sabaody Archipelago!”

#20 years at sea #one piece #day 9: openings/endings #share the world #straw hat pirates #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #vinsmoke sanji #nami #usopp #tony tony chopper #nico robin #franky #brook #pre-sabaody #pre-time skip #fanfiction

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authenticaussie · 8 years ago

Note

if you're still taking prompts from earlier, how about headcanons for a NaVi AU where one or both can use magic? (witches, wizards, whatever term you like)

i loveeeee magic aussssssss. Or even just not AUs, just UAs, (sometimes UAs are even BETTER bc u get to see how it fits with canon hehe ;u;). JUST. MAGIC.

This is actually part of show me skies on fire !! Bc I don’t get a chance to talk abt the magic system and that thing is so indepth it’s. Yep. So complicated. And I don’t get to rant and I love it.

ANYWAY Witches in the skies world have magic that they imbue in objects!! They can get it to do different things, and layer magic to make the object more powerful, so like, Nami’s weather staff has been imbued with weather magic for years, basically ever since she was a kid. And witches have less instinctive/explosive power than fae but? If their imbued objects have been given enough time to collect power they can beat a fae? So it depends.

Regardless, in Skies most witches form into covens! Bc then they are with people who are like them and they have more power together than alone and can share spells - because witches can create new spells but it’s Harry Potter style spells with specific words and gestures rather than just BAM! power like the fae - and Nami gooottttt. Inducted into one early? Like you’re meant to be able to choose but Nami got…shoved into it so she could get more power from the witches, and the witches she was pushed into joining weren’t the Best (most witches…aren’t?? They are very. “our opinions are right and yours are wrong and to prove it we shall kill people!” Which is. Shitty.)

ANYWAY Luf ended up breaking up the coven and beating people up bc he and Zoro got hired by the townspeople to get rid of the coven and Nami said she was going to tag along with them and Luffy was like oh. Uh. Okay then!! What can you do???

“Steer better than you, probably,” she says, but doesn’t reveal about all the magic she’s shoved into her weather staff for years and years until after Luffy refuses to let her go into a bar on her own to get what they need bc it’s Dangerous and she Obviously doesn’t want to do it.

Vivi’s actually a princess from another land!!! They’re neighbours and so Vivi’s land kiiiind of have fae?? But they’re not like, exactly fae, they’re more like elves? Vivi’s an elf!!! She was meant to meet with the Council to go over trade agreements but they were Dicks and confined her ship to harbour when she got message that her father was in danger and so Luffy + crew agree to help her get over the mountains and the smaller sea to the other side of their land to get to Vivi’s and it’s SUPER dangerous but Vivi is Desperate ™

Luffy is like. Hm. U could help Ace. Cools. and agrees to help her and they travel to the mountains from the sea and Nami is Standoffish bc like….she’s not a fan of nobility??? A lot of nobility drive out peaceful covens and turn them cruel and she’s still…heard lots of shitty tales from her coven and even tho she knows they weren’t trustworthy they were still her family for years??????

So anyway they end up getting all seperated while crossing part of the mountains and there’s this forest that. Literally throws you together with someone/something you hate/fear and vivi and nami end up together and vivi’s like seriously?! after they escape the forest bc she hears about how zoro and sanji had to work together and luffy was all alone and. yeah stuff like that but DURING the forest they’re arguing with each other but also stabbing things and Nami’s trying to fight things back and then like growls in frustration and grabs Vivi and pulls her really close and then. Lets loose a lightning bolt.

And vivi is like WHAT WHY DID YOU DO THAT WHY ARE WE SO CLOSE (why do you look so fucking beautiful with lightning in your hands????????/) and nami just huffs and tosses her hair back and daintly steps over a tree root or w/e they were fighting and is like do you want to die????? bc u would have if you hadn’t been close to me.

And Vivi doesn’t really know what to say to that bc like...she’s still Distracted by. How powerful & gorgeous Nami looked it Wasn’t good for her heart

so we start having like....pinning vivi??? a bit??? who knows she has an Aesthetic crush but nami is an asSSSSS omfg

But like......There’s Robin, Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy and Luffy and Zoro are always talking in shit that no-one understands and Sanji’s....ugh. And Robin is Cool but also not very talkative. So Vivi and Nami end up talking a little bit and slowly realising stuff abt each other and vivi ends up apologising one time to nami and nami’s like?????? what????

“for the nobility. for how you were treated. fo whatever I did to hurt you.”

“You haven’t- hurt me.” Nami goes cautiously, and doesn’t add but you might and knows Vivi can probably hear it anyway when Vivi’s expression softens with pain.

Anyway they reach the sea that separates their land from Vivi’s and!!! Robin ends up being a spy and double crosses them ((but then later ends up double crossing crocodile?? uhhh, lots of double crossing, man))

SHE MAKES OFF W/ VIVI. Nami is Not Alright with this shit, for fuck’s sake, goddamn, sTOP, they were just starting to get along damn!!! it!!!

aND LIKE. STAFF TIME. NAMI USES LIKE. HURRICANE-ESQUE WINDS TO PART THE FUCKING SEA AND STORMS ACROSS THE OCEAN FLOOR BED (in defence of this show of magic like. It’s not a big sea lol)

Nami almost electrocutes Robin but the wind stunt took a lot out of her and Robin dodges until Nami runs out of power and faints and Luffy looks at Robin and looks about ready to fight her but then robin’s just like “sorry, captain.” and he kind of goes ohhh,,, and stays by Nami’s side instead

When nami wakes up it kinda like alabasta except it’s like. five ppl overthrowing the entire revolution/Crocodile in a very blatant. Rescuing Vivi and Nami like. Punches someone out

ummmmm Vivi ends up socking crocodile in the fucking face

Vivi gets her kingdom back and,,,,like Luffy and crew aren’t technically bad guys lol so they stay in alabasta and Vivi ends up showing Nami (well, technically everyone but’s 95% for nami’s sake) the city and her favourite places and exploring libraries filled with how their magic works (bc it’s slightly different to fae/witch/demon magic) and they end up becoming,,,pretty friendly?? bc nami can see Vivi really,,,isnt as shitty as most of the nobles and they hold their nobles accountable instead of like what the Council does but

Luffy ends up getting antsy again and they have to move on, and Vivi offers to travel with them and show them more of alabasta but she’s needed to help repair the city and stuff and so nami promises to send her letters and that’s what happens for about a yeaar ish??? With na/vi slowly,,,getting closer to each other in letters,,,,missing each other bitterly, unhappily-

But then Luf always celebrate’s ace’s birthday at the tower so they pass back through alaburna to say goodbye and Nami feels so happy to see Vivi again and Vivi feels the same way and when Nami half-picks Vivi up in a hug when they see each other she doesn’t end up letting go and so they’re pressed super close and nami’s heart is beating super fast and she’s like oh.

“So I know this would be a bit late, but heroes can usually score kisses from damsels in distress.”

“I’m not in distress, and you’re no hero.” Vivi says, and when nami’s face falls quickly adds, “You are good at stealing what you like, however. And I wouldn’t put up much of a fight.”

and she grins and Nami looks at her and then grins back and quickly kisses her and viVI LIKE,,,, TOTALLY ENDS UP FLUSHING A LITTLE BIT BC AH. WOW. THAT WAS. NICE. RLLY QUICK AND SOFT BUT JUST SHE CAN’T STOP SMILING

They still send letters back all the time and Nami goes to visit her whenever Luf passes by the mountains, and travels back that way occasionally by herself to see,,,vivi. Vivi sends ships to pick her up bc it’s Faster ;u; and safer lol.

#navi #namivivi #nari is writing #opfanfic #aussie's anons #ask aussie #anyway i have one femslash ship left and i'll finish that first and then do the others!!#bc this set of reqs was meant to be femslash ship reqs haha #but im a Sucker for ships soO HEY #shrugs #mmm idk if this is like 100% finalised bc i havent finished skies lol but it's pretty!!! close ;u;#look hcs time; vivi's totally bi af and ended up dating kohza at one point #before they were both like ugh our parents may want us together but We Don't #and Nami's gAY. AS. FUCK. SO MANY GIRLFRIENDS. DATES BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AND LOVES THEM AND HAS A GIRLFRIEND/FRIEND W/ BENEFIT IN LIKE #EVERY FUCKING TOWN #NAMI HAS THAT GAY NETWORK GOIN' DOWN #anyway like tho nami Totally brings that up w/ vivi and vivi's like no no that's cool #im the only one who stole the thief's heart ;3c #and she copies nami's lil cheesy thief pose and nami Dies #her girlfriend........is to cute #she's fucking Dead

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forcedapotheosis-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Promise

So, I somehow had the urge to write another oneshot. At least I think it’s one, as it has a rather soft ending that would enable me to continue this story. First things first, it’s AU taking place in some fantasy middle ages, I’ve deliberately not been very precise when it came to that. Second, I can’t deny that the main inspirations were drawn from (besides One Piece, obviously) A Song of Ice and Fire, a little Berserk (though not nearly as dark and crapsacky, thank you very much), Demon’s Souls and probably something I forgot mentioning. Beware that Sanji is probably more than a little OOC since he uses weapons in battle (small nod to a tad of realism, sorry about that), but I tried to stay in character when it came to the others, only adjusting them a bit to fit the setting. Also, I have some literature concerning the design of coats of arms, but I didn’t really look into it because it would have disturbed my flow. If you’re a connaisseur of the middle ages, please don’t be offended. I swear I could’ve done that part a little better, but I just didn’t feel that it would add depth to the story as a whole. Well, I don’t think there’s a whole lot more to say for me, as always: Try to enjoy the story and, if you would, please let me know whether or not you think I should continue writing it since I’m pretty indecisive right now.

Promise (AU; Possible Oneshot)

If someone was to put his mind into it, I'm sure he'd be able to actually grab the tension in this shitty tent., the Prince thought, straightening his back and stretching his arms to the sides, so his two squires could continue their work. Personally, he hated wearing heavy plate armor. Usually, in sparring sessions and even mêlées, he preferred light leather armor, relying more on his agility and sharpened reflexes. But a battlefield was just so very different from sparring or fighting duels. On a battlefield, a stray arrow or spear that he'd never see coming would be enough to either knock him out cold or kill him. Can't have that now, can we?, his trail of thoughts was interrupted when Sir Usopp spoke out to voice his concerns once again.

"Even if we could somehow manage to join forces with the defending troops, the Sawshark and the traitors will still outnumber us two to one. And not only that, but their soldiers are most likely well rested and, as our vanguard found out, their main camp is well enough entrenched to repel even a force of knights for hours! There has to be another option for us, my dear friends!", he waved his arms around to support his statement.

"Don't be so timid, Usopp!", a deep voice interrupted his gestures. "Each of our men is worth five of theirs, and if that doesn't suffice, I'm worth a thousand of them!", the Prince sighed silently. If every other man would've said that, he would damn well have laughed. But, even though he'd never admit it aloud, Count Zoro was right. He was a warrior of unmatched prowess, boldly leading his troops from the front and wearing the heaviest armor the Prince had ever seen. Granted, he wasn't much of a tactician, but he was one of the finest fighters to ever walk the earth. It was annoying though that he never grew tired of mentioning it. "I'd say we strike directly into the heart of his host and get the Sawshark's head. That would kill the morale of his troops and put an end to this play right away.", again, he wasn't wrong about one thing. Many a soldier would instantly lose his lust for battle if they managed to kill the Sawshark, but the price would be too high.

"I'm not going to sacrifice the lives of my men to satiate your lust for glory, Count Marimo.", the squires were nearly finished with cladding his body into the armor. Shit, it's heavier than I remember. Been a while since I was in the field, huh?, the Prince stood up, trying to once again get used to the additional weight. At least he would be on horseback when the fighting began, but there was always the possibility to lose the horse and be forced to fight on foot. "What's your grandiose plan then, Prince Eyebrow?!", Zoro did nothing to conceal his aggravation and if one was a stranger to the court of the Kingdom of Baratie, it would have possibly been quite shocking to see a count talking like that to a son of his king. But things were different here, the royal family had well established connections to their vassals and all of them, even the somewhat timid Sir Usopp and the wayward Count Zoro, were fiercely loyal to them.

"First of, the situation is not as bleak as Sir Usopp describes it. Two days ago, word reached us that the Ape has pledged his allegiance to the Kingdom of Cocoyashi and took to the field right away. Since then we've received many reports of him reinforcing their left flank, which has been unwavering since. Chances are that the Sawshark will attack him with most of his available forces to save the morale of his troops. That could be the opportunity you're looking for. On the other hand, since this is a coinflip, if the Shark was to attack the weaker right flank, he could very well force his way into the capital. And I probably don't need to remind anyone of you that we're not sufficiently equipped for a siege, especially not against greater numbers than ours.", he started to walk around in the tent while his body was trying to get used to the weight of his armor. "Sword and shield, boys.", he ordered his squires and both were quick on their feet, fastening the kite shield to his left arm and his sword-belt to his hips. He unsheathed the sword and and threw a few strikes into thin air. At least my arm remembers how to use this., he contemplated, somewhat satisfied, before sheathing the weapon again.

"I'm fairly sure that Arlong will be trying to crush the Ape as soon as the fighting resumes. Father told me that he's reckless on the field, not giving a damn about his men or strategy. It mostly worked out for him in the past, I have to admit, but he never faced a foe such as us. As you know, he's relying on heavily armored infantry to slowly crush and overwhelm his opposition, so it should be rather easy to follow the movements of his banner on the field. That is were you come in, Marimo. As soon as he attacks the Ape, I want you to attack his rear. If in any way possible, take him out of the equation. Maybe you shouldn't go all out as you're used to, since the success of it heavily depends on how the Ape will react to your attack. If he starts advancing his troops, commit to the fight. If not, just make sure the flank doesn't break. And don't give me that look! I know that you're itching to face the Sawshark, but I value the lives of your men higher than your lust for glory.", he shook his head, turned to the long-nosed Sir Usopp and pondered for a moment. He had to make a decision. On one hand, there was the matter of honour. Defeating the Sawshark and saving the city were the most prestigious tasks to be fulfilled, no questions asked. But someone had to reinforce the capital's right flank against the attackers. Sure, there also was fighting to be had, there were names to be taken. But the Sawshark's vassals were rather small fish in the pond, maybe two or three of them were worth mentioning.

"Usopp, you will be leading the main part of our host. When the battle begins, you'll be riding with me and I'll be sure to clear a path for your force to get into the city, after that I'll be reinforcing their right flank. Your task is to secure the city as quickly as possible, throw out all eventual invaders or traitorous troops and when that's done, secure all of their gates. There's four of them, the main gate, that's the eastern one, will be were most of the fighting will take place, you might want to keep a special eye on that. After that, send out troops to where they're needed. I'm afraid that we won't be able to carry supplies into the city, so we have to achieve a quick and decisive victory to keep the townsfolk and our troops fed. You might be able to secure one of the gates quickly enough for our troops to get additional supplies in, the northern gate might be predestined to be the best place for a maneuver such as this. And before any of you asks, I was fostered here for a few years, that's the reason I know. And .. if any of your men, the same goes to you, Marimo, try as much as to lay a hand on a civilian or steal food from them, I expect them to be gelded. No matter their rank.", both of them simply nodded at the remark. Of course, they trusted their troops. But soldiers could turn into beasts at any time. Their objective was to relieve the city, not to harm the inhabitants or steal what little they had left. "Usopp, one last thing. When you've secured the city and you somehow get the opportunity, try to capture the male members of the families of the traitorous lords. The chance is slim, but maybe some of them are still in the city. The women, you will protect and escort to their families. Maybe we can enforce submission if we hold the men as hostages. It's not the most honourable thing to do, but there is no honour in war, anyway."

"Two hours until the break of dawn, my Prince.", a soft, female voice resounded within the tent and the three of them turned their heads towards the owner of it. The Prince wasn't surprised to see her at all. His father was adamant about Nico Robin travelling with the host since she was his most trusted adviser, and even though the peasants and some nobles were wary of the air of mystery surrounding her and the knowledge she possessed, she was sure to give sound advice regarding almost any problems. The first time that the word of her being a witch, a dark sorceress, a seductress and whatnot reached the ear of King Zeff, he let out a booming laugh and challenged the respective noble to a duel on behalf of protecting her honour. Needless to say, the noble renounced his words and after that, no one dared to publicly denounce her again. Sanji, that being the name of the Prince, was mildly amused to see Count Zoros reaction to her appearance. Whenever he strode over the field of battle, no man could stand against him, but when she was in his vicinity, he seemed to shrink, sometimes even remembering how to behave in a courteous fashion. Not that I wouldn't understand his behaviour, she's as fair as a woman can get., he thought with a slight smile on his lips, walking towards the entrance. "Count Marimo, Sir Usopp, wake your men. I want them to be ready in one hour, we will engage the enemy before the break of dawn. Oh, don't forget to fly the king's banner next to your own. We don't know if word reached the Queen and her daughters that we finally arrived. Sending a messenger would be too dangerous, since I don't want to give away our current position and the blockade might prove to solid to get him through. And then we'll see if my plan gets all of us killed. Squires, head out and arm yourselves.", arriving outside of the tent, he waited for a few seconds to catch a breath and enjoy the peacefulness of the night. It would be gone in less than two hours now. Usopp was quick to follow him to rouse his men. The man was cautious, sure, never reckless, but steadfast in his loyalty. And whenever the task arose, he was there to help, usually very well prepared.

Just as the Prince started moving to wake his honour guard, he heard the faint voice of his father's advisor from within the tent, obviously talking to the Count.

"Don't look so troubled, dear Count. No harm will come to me.", he couldn't make out what Zoro replied and didn't have any interest in eavesdropping, only when he heard her last words, he stopped again. Those were the words of a very old blessing, not only in the Kingdom of Baratie, but all around the known world.

"Let strength be granted, so the world might be mended."

- - -

15 years ago, Kingdom of Cocoyashi

"It's an honour to me to finally make your acquaintance, King Zeff. And that of the charming young man hiding behind your leg.", the fair woman – no, the Queen of this country – rose from her throne, smiling gently when she took the hands of the two girls who kept her company. "These are my daughters, Lady Nojiko, my firstborn, and my dear Nami.", the three of them approached Sanji and his father. The Queen herself was striding in the most graceful way possible, her daughters trying to imitate her every step. When they were finally close enough, both of the girls curtseyed rather clumsily and Sanji felt the strong hand of his father grabbing his neck, forcing him to give up the hiding spot behind his leg. "Don't dishonour me, eggplant!", he hissed and Sanji was compelled to kneel in front of the three women. Surprisingly enough, he didn't do bad at all, at least for such a young age. He was able to hold his balance quite well. Whilst he was kneeling, he recited the words his father figuratively (and sometimes literally) beat into him during their long travel. They came out in a rather shy, silent voice, but the Queen with the fuchsia-coloured hair did understand them nonetheless. "Queen Belle-mère, on behalf of my dear father and myself, I thank you for the honour of offering your home as a foster home to me. And if you would, please hear my .. my solemn oath.

In .. no, no, no!

Before the eyes and ears of all the Gods who might listen and those who don't, my dear father, King Zeff, you, most honoured Queen Belle-mère and your most venerable daughters, the ladies Nojiko and Nami, and before the eyes of every honourable man and woman in this venerated hall, I, Sanji, Prince of the Kingdom of Baratie, solemnly swear that I will always pay the utmost respect towards your family, your house, your country and your laws, heed your wise guidance and will never, neither in foul thought nor deed, raise sword or voice against you. And if the hour of need ever arises for you or your family, now or in the future, I will be your most stalwart defender, forever revering the gracious deeds you're bestowing on me by offering your hearth and home.", he paused, trying not to look at his father's reaction. Did he do it correctly? At least there was no slap, maybe he actually did alright?

Sanji was still staring at the ground when he heard her steps drawing near. The next moment, he felt gentle hands on his shoulders, helping him to stand up. The Queen herself looked at him with a warm smile on her lips.

"May the Gods heed your words, Prince Sanji of the Kingdom of Baratie, for I, my daughters and every honourable man and woman in this hall have. I hereby accept your oath and promise to treat you as if you'd be mine own child, offering you the warmth and shelter of my hearth and home and the counsel you're so eager to hear. If the hour of need ever arises for you, I shall be your shield, if sickness ever befells your body, I shall nurture it back to good health and if you ever grow hungry, it shall never go unheard.", with those words, she cupped his chin and raised his face. Gracefully kneeling herself now, she breathed the customary, soft kiss of friendship on his cheek.

In the very next moment, he was blushing in a most radiant red colour, forcing even his father to smile.

- - -

10 years ago, Kingdom of Cocoyashi

"I'm sorry, Zeff, but there is no other way. The fate of my kingdom is at stake.", Sanji was in a sorrowful mood, sitting down next to a heavy wooden door, trying to make out what his father and the Queen were talking about, giving his best to understand the muffled voices from inside the conference room. Had he done anything wrong? It seemed like it, his father wasn't paying any attention to him when he arrived, heading straight for Belle-mère. Would he be forced to go away now? Silent tears were running down his cheeks as he pulled his knees closer to his body. He didn't want to disappoint his father, the queen or her family. And somehow, it seemed, he had done it anyway.

"My vassals have grown distrustful of you and your son, Zeff. Many of them think that you gave him to me to secure marriage with one of my daughters. And the more I try to deny it, the more distrustful they grow. And you know as well as I that a kingdom is dependent on it's vassals, no way around it. Don't be mistaken, Zeff, I beg you. I and my daughters, especially my younger one, have grown very fond of the boy, but that only nourishes the flames. I can't guarantee his safety anymore, you have to take him with you. And, even if it pains me to say, we have to cut ties until the storm has calmed down. It's not only my vassals, but the whole of this situation. Year after year, the crops yield less and less, marauders and reavers from the neighbouring kingdoms are terrorising my people and without the full support of my vassals, there is no way to stop them. Zeff, take him with you and .. don't let him return. At least not until both my daughters are in wedlock. I wouldn't know what to do if my subjects would rise in rebellion."

In this very moment, his heart was breaking. Sure, he was just a boy of twelve and anyone would have told him that he didn't yet know what love really meant, but the prospect of never seeing Nami again, who had become his best friend over the course of the last five years, did nearly physically hurt him. How would she react to these bleak news? What would her mother tell her? The truth? No, probably not. The truth was hard and Nami needed to be able to trust her vassals, and if he knew her any good, these facts would put a very dangerous strain on this relationship.

Only years later would he learn that Belle-mère had told her daughter that Sanji left not only because he was homesick, but because Zeff had arranged a marriage for him. She felt terrible for lying to her beloved daughter, but the truth was too complicated to explain to her back then. The young boy had grown too close to her young heart and she couldn't risk straining the affiliation to her lords any more just because her daughter was stubborn and hurt. Someday, if the Gods were kind, she would understand.

There was nothing else to do for Sanji but cry and when his father finally left the room, he surprised him by taking his hand. Both of them respectfully bowed to Belle-mère, the young Prince didn't even try to conceal his tears. For years now, even the thought of being forcefully seperated from Nami, maybe forever, would break his heart a little more.

"We must take our leave, then."

- - -

3 months ago, Kingdom of Baratie

Everyone of importance was here. All of them seemed to grasp the gravity of this situation.

About a minute ago, the ambassador sank to his knees, but he didn't stop at that. This heavily scarred man with a majestic black moustache went further, putting his face against the ground, stretching out his arms to the sides as if he was nailed to a wooden cross. Talking in a position like this was incredibly difficult, but that didn't stop him either. He raised his voice as for every man in the hall to hear him. Because their decisions mattered too.

"Wise King Zeff, war has swept over the lands of Cocoyashi. The dreaded Sawshark, Arlong, has gathered a massive force and is by now threatening our capital. Several former, traitorous vassals of my beloved queen have been drawn to his banner and unsheathed their swords for his horrible cause. Our allies are of no help either, as they do not dare to wake the wrath of the Sawshark and the situation is dire, if there will be no help, the capital will fall and he will take my Queen's crown. Therefor I took this long and perilous journey, to beg for your help, since I am one of those who always aspired good relations with your proud realm. Please, wise King Zeff, heed my words. I would rather die here of starvation, outstretched on the cold floor, than to leave kingdom without your support. The Queen and her daughters need you, the people of Cocoyashi need you. The land would lie down on agony when the Shark would take the crown. Please, wise King, I beg of you."

There was silent talking in the room. Sanji knew what the nobles were thinking about. If this was some kind of a rescue and relieve-task, there was no loot to be gained. Plundering was forbidden and King Zeff was strict about how to handle civilians, no matter if they were subject to friend or foe. For the nobles, it would be the same as sacrificing their time and men, even putting their own lifes on the stake. What Sanji didn't know was what his father was thinking. After he was expelled from Cocoyashi, they rarely talked about the incident and even his time there. There was no way of reading the old man.

"Even if I was willing to lend you my support, ambassador, what would it matter? I'm too old to play these war games, and, as you might have seen, I'm lacking one leg. And my nobles have a mind of their own. They know that there will be no plunder, no looting. How many, do you think, would be happy to sacrifice their men, their lives and their ressources for nothing but honour to be gained?", the situation was even more dire than that. Usually, when an ambassador arrived with a plea of such gravity, secret negotiations would have taken place. But time was of the essence and as soon as the ambassador arrived, he took his pledge right to the king and his court. Nobody was really prepared for it and it showed.

"Then .. I have failed. My Queen, my country .. please, let me die here or end my life with thine own hands, for I cannot return to see Cocoyashi go to ruin. For the kind Queen and her daughters to be dishonoured. I have failed thee and am not worthy to live another day.", his words, even though Sanji thought they were touching, did not move the majority of the nobles. Most averted their gaze from him, he observed. When he himself looked to his left, he saw his father staring at him, as if he wanted to say 'Don't you have anything to say about that matter, eggplant? The nobles know that out of all the people in this court, sans the ambassador himself, your ties to Cocoyashi have been the strongest.'.

But he has been banished. Were past ties of any importance anymore? He was forced to leave his best friend behind, just because people thought that his mere presence was part of a ploy to find a suitable match for one of the princesses. They destroyed the happiest time of his life, and now they begged his father to save them? Even though, what did it matter?

He rose from his chair next to his father's throne and silence fell upon everyone in this hall. "I can't stand to see you starving to death, ambassador, it would be an unworthy end for a brave man such as yourself. Thus it shall be me who will grant you your wish. Sword.", he gracefully and slowly strode towards the lying man and one of his squires rushed to his side, kneeling down and offering his longsword to the Prince. While he was still walking towards the ambassador, his right hand took hold of the hilt of his weapon and unsheathed the delicate blade.

"I have been banished from the Kingdom of Cocoyashi, for people feared that I was part of a ruse. I have been banished from the Kingdom of Cocoyashi, for the very nobles who are now begging for help, wished my father and myself ill. I was banished from the Kingdom of Cocoyashi and had to leave my best friend behind, living with a lie, forced to never talk to her again, for your nobles trembled in fear of a boy of twelve.", his voice was as cold as ice, tediously containing the wrath that was underneath. The Prince had finally reached the ambassador, sword in hand and ready to grant this old man his last request.

Raising his sword a little, he finally stabbed. The point of his blade hit the cold floor, but nothing else. All throughout the hall, hearts skipped a beat. And then Sanji finally knelt down besides the lying man, leaning on his sword's crossguard with his left arm, gently touching the ambassador's shoulder with his right hand. His voice was but a whisper, but the hall had grown silent enough for every man to hear.

"Rise, Genzo. You were there, fiveteen years ago.

'And if the hour of need ever arises for you or your family, now or in the future, I will be your most stalwart defender, forever revering the gracious deeds you're bestowing on me by offering your hearth and home.'.

I swore a vow and have not yet released myself from it. Have you forgotten the veritable words of a seven year old boy?"

Sanji helped to man to raise himself into a kneeling position, leading the right hand of the ambassador towards the hilt of his sword.

"You have my sword, and others will follow. Rise now, my friend, kneeling does not befit a staunch and true servant of the good Queen Belle-mère."

The old man's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude, and finally he was smiling.

"I have not forgotten one word, young Prince, but .. I thought that you had."

- - -

The present, Kingdom of Cocoyashi

He hated the minutes before a battle began with all of his heart. But they were ready, finally, and the sun had not yet risen. Even though Sir Usopp and his men had taken every possible precaution to conceal their position, by now word must have reached the Sawshark that another force would enter the field. They could only hunt down so many scouts.

Sanji put on his adorned helmet and fastened it, leaving the visor open for the time being.

"Take that hill, we will start our assault from the high ground. It's still dark, so order your bowmen to loose only when they know for sure that the arrows are going to hit the Sawshark's troops. As soon as the hill is taken and our troops are gathered, we will push through the center for you to be able to secure the city.", Sir Usopp nodded in agreement and closed the visor of his helmet that looked like it was having a the bill of some sort of bird, owed to the rather unconventional form of his nose.

"Marimo, lead your troops towards the left flank of the capital now, when our assault has started, you'll only have a few minutes until the fighting will resume. Make it quick and decisive. If you manage to crush the Sawshark's forces, join the Ape and sweep over the battlefield. Be wary of his heavy infantry and don't sacrifice too many of your knights against his spear wall.", finally, Count Zoro put on his own helmet. A beast made of steel, fashioned to look like a demon from the deepest pits of Hell. He never cared about the horns being impractical on the fields, the terrified look his foes usually gave him was enough to go with it. That man is a force of nature on two legs., Sanji thought and closed his eyes.

"Don't you dare get yourself killed, Eyebrows. Your father would be upset with me.", he grumbled, unsheathing one of his swords to raise his men, setting them in motion.

"Queen Belle-mère, Lady Nojiko .. Nami .. Nami .. Nami .. I, Sanji, Prince of the Kingdom of Baratie, have come to uphold my vow. May the rays of the sun kiss thine realm for the sake of a new morrow."

With those silent words on his lips, he closed his visor and attached the heavy war lance one of his squires was holding to his right arm.

And finally, all the fighting began. The force Sir Usopp lead was quick, brutal and efficient with taking the hill, only taking minor casualties. Even though by now Arlong should have known of their presence, the time was too short to move enought troops onto the hill to defend it. Plus the surprise attack, even though it wasn't entirely unknown, did what it was supposed to be. The cover of the night worked perfectly to their advantage. Soon after, Zoro and his troops had taken position, ready to sweep down the hill and encircle the forces of the Sawshark. Sanji and Usopp had taken to the top of the hill when the new dawn finally arrived to take a first glance at the field.

"Looks like everything is happening just as you expected. Arlong knows that we're here and he's trying to take the city with all the forces he has left. See, his banner and at least three of his vassals are marching on to crush the Ape. God speed, Count. He needs you.", he handed over the nifty little tool he was looking through to his Prince. The telescope had time and time again brought advantage to them and it would be more than useful now, too.

"I earnestly hope that the Mosshead remembers my advice and doesn't commit until the Ape started his counter offensive. The Sawshark is wary of our presence and positioned some troops in his back to repel our cavalry. God, those spears look ugly..", after that, he fixed the sight of the telescope to the already wavering right flank of the capital. "We're not too late, there's something good to be found in here .. but we need to make haste, the Ray has started to reinforce his attack. I fear that their lines might be breaking sooner rather than later. And who do we have here ..?", he stared at the new banner he laid his eyes on for a few more seconds until he spoke again.

"I can see the Queen's banner, the Crowned Tangerine Tree, but there's one I can't recall. Squires! Three storm clouds on a background of orange and blue?", both of them looked at each other and simultaneously shrugged. "Might be a new vassal, my Prince. Maybe a landed knight or some other upstart, I don't remember that banner.", the one who was holding his personal ancient, consisting his coat of arms, replied dryly.

But why would an upstart be allowed to ride next to the Queen's banner? No, there's something more to it .. weather .. storm .. could it be?! No, she would never be allowed to take the field .. and if I'm wrong? What if .. just for the off chance ..?

"Usopp, we ride. Now."

The knight seemed to be taken aback. "Didn't you want to wait for an opening?! What about sacrificing your men?! Sanji, we need to wait for a better opportunity!"

The Prince shut his visor and spurred his horse. "Sorry Usopp, can't wait. I need to crush the Ray now or it might be too late! Men! Rally now and prove to me that your oaths are made of steel and stone! Follow Sir Usopp through the center and secure the town! Honour Guard, I want you at my side all the time! We're going to annihilate the Ray! Spear point formation! Advance!", with a last prayer on his lips, Usopp also shut his visor and took the lead of his division and only a minute later, they were riding down hill in full force. The Prince had taken his place to the left of him to support the capital's right flank and with his silver-white armor that was glowing in the rising sun, he looked like some hero from the old tales.

But this was war and not some old tale and every vision of heroism faded the second as the mighty war lance of the Prince pierced right through the armor of the first foe he reached. His force crashed into the rear of the ever advancing troops of the Ray and took a heavy toll on their lives, having such a powerful impact on the soldiers that some of them just let their weapons fall to the ground to flee this screaming madman. Somewhere along the line, he had lost his lance, buried too deep into the chest of a dying foe. But there was no more time to think about that, now he was riding sword in hand, flanked by his two squires. One of them held the banner of the Kingdom of Baratie, a wooden leg crossed with a sword on a red background, while the other was outfitted with his personal coat of arms, a crystal blue sea with a bright orange sun above it. Close behind followed the knights of his honour guard, all of them young men very well versed in the arts of war, second sons of noble families from all the realm.

"Take them right on, don't let these thugs scare you! Follow me to the Queen's banner!", he shouted again, felling another foe with a vicious blow from the back of his horse. And soon enough, surprisingly, they reached what they were looking for. The knights stuck to the plan and formed a protective circle around the defenders to offer them a little respite from the battle. The Prince though rode straight ahead towards the unknown banner. As was expected, the defenders greeted them with cheers and prayers, but that was not what he was here for. When he laid his eyes on the person holding the banner, he felt his heart beating heavily against his chest, and not from the exhaustion of battle. An elegant figure on horseback, holding the banner in the left hand and a short spear in the right. The person looked at him from beyond a closed visor and the voice he was greeted with seemed strangely familiar and female, if muffled because of the helmet.

"And whom do I have to thank for the honour of this heroic rescue?", there was gratefulness in her voice, mixed with sarcasm. Maybe because she thought that they could have come earlier?

The Prince sheathed his sword for the time being and answered without opening his visor.

"I, Sanji, Prince of the ..", but before he was able to finish the sentence, he witnessed her throwing her spear into the ground, letting go of her banner and unhorsing, rather ungracefully and frantic. And she nearly ran to where he was standing, roughly loosening the buckles of her helmet and, after finishing, throwing it to the ground.

His heart might have skipped more than a couple of beats, then.

Gods ..

A stranger to his own body, he didn't have any control over his actions. Or at least that was what he would say in the aftermath of the battle. Grace and elegance were forgotten when he dismounted from his horse, throwing his own helmet to the ground while he was approaching her.

And after ten years, they were finally together again, sharing a rather clumsy embrace (though that was owed to the fact that both of them were still wearing armor), but an embrace nonetheless.

"I knew you'd come ..", she whispered softly.

"I feared for your life ..", his voice was sore from all the shouting.

"Will you leave me again?", she asked, sounding all the more afraid.

"Never.", he made his stand.

And then, to shock and awe of every surrounding person, be he peasant, knight or even lord, the fiery woman grabbed Sanji's hair at the back of his head and pulled his face down to hers. And the two of them shared a kiss so passionate that every other kiss paled in comparison, no matter if they had been taken from the real life or a fairy tale.

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