#and it works because Zoro absolutely snaps out of it and gets to fucking work

[ungeese]

If you can say one thing about Zoro and Sanji, they know exactly which buttons to push to make the other lose their cool completely.

the new one piece chapter goes so unbelieveibly fucking hard. however. i genuinely think that was the meanest thing sanji could have ever called zoro ever

[satansdarlin]

can i request headcanons for the monster trio plus ace with a Fem!reader on her period?

Sure! Some of these are based off of personal experience of what my boyfriend does for me

Period headcanons (monster trio, plus ace)

Warnings: talk of blood (obv), slightly suggestive in ace's part.

Masterlist

Luffy

Man does not get it at first. Straight up thought you were dying.

But after some explanation from Robin, you, and Nami beating him, he finally gets it.

Still doesn't understand it in full but gets the most part

This man is now glued to you hip, even going as far as to deny playing games with usopp and chopper.

He kinda treats it like you are recovering from a injury

So obviously you need help with everything in his mind

Taking a bath? Now luffy has to sit in the bathroom and make sure you don't hurt yourself

Hungry? Omg so is he!

You wanna lay in bed all day? He's gonna cuddle you for most of it

Once he discovered the chocolate thing he made sure you had what kind you wanted.

In short luffy is the kind of boyfriend to constantly be beside you during your period if he can help it.

"Y/N can bleed for days and still be able to work! She's so cool right?!"

Sanji

Ngl man has been prepared for this day

He knows your cycle better than you do man

Like he is prepared with extra blankets

Red meats to help you recover the iron you loose

Mentally prepared for any mood swings you might have

And has stocked up on a stash of snacks just for you during this time

While he is the most attentive and loving during this he is also the absolute worst in the best way possible

He's just trying to be helpful and you know that

But he is also making you eat liver and kidneys because you need the protein and iron

Also the type to just straight up scream at anyone who bothers you during this

You are his baby. Gotta keep you safe and happy especially when you are aching

"Come on, sugar. Eat the kidneys it's good for you- LUFFY DONT YOU DARE EAT THAT"

"But she doesn't want it"

"Shut up stupid. Come on now honey eat the food I even have some chocolate chip cookies waiting after you finish this"

Zoro

Unbothered king

Straight up just doesn't care about bloody sheets or mood swings

He kinda thought you had a wound at first that you had hidden from him and freaked the fuck out

But after some explanation and him examining you just to be sure, he understood.

Makes you drink water the whole time

Does not care if you complain about being bloated. you are drinking those eight glasses a day

Naps with you during your sleepytimes

Will hold his hand on your stomach to apply pressure when you ask

But will also make jokes about you being his ketchup packet

Will go shopping for your tampons, pads, period cups. Doesn't know what any of them are so he asks Nami and robin for help

Comes back with something from every brand he could find and is now deeper in debt to Nami

Also straight up growled at someone when he could see they were annoying you???

He is now your social shield. Will tell someone where they can shove it if they don't fuck off and let you rest.

"607...608...609....610- oh. Nap time already? Alright alright I'm coming woman- did you just call me your cuddle bear? No I'm not blushing shut up"

Ace

Ahem. Ace? More like living heating pad.

More than happy to hold you the whole time

Nice and cozy against those warm man titties 🤌

Anyway. He is absolutely one of the best about things

Completely indifferent if you snap at him. Understands that you are just easily frustrated and also sympathizes with you cause he can't imagine feeling like he wasn't in control of his own emotions

Nap time? Great! He sleeps more than you.. actually he might have a iron deficiency now that I think about it

Warm hands on belly at all times

Will knead at your belly to help soothe out any cramps

None of these men care about blood. It's just the pirate way.

Has his red wings. You know what I mean ;)

"Here, lemme warm you up. Sh sh don't cry, you aren't bothering me at all baby"

[pinkcandyhearts04]

zoro and sanji teaching each other how to fuck you (pt 1, pt 2)

18+ ACCOUNT/CONTENT SO MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

warnings: even more exhibitionism, degradation, lots of praise, p in v, afab reader!, more men whimpering we love to see it, feminine pronouns

your back arches off of the bed with a quiet whine as sanji buries his tounge into your heat, his thumb still toying with your clit despite the way your hips spasmed every so often against his mouth. he pulls away, panting softly and glaring at zoro. "they've had enough, don't you think?" he grumbles at the swordsman who was now sitting in the lounge chair, watching the two of you with nothing except for his pants on, the zipper unzipped to give him easy access to his cock. "shut up. we're not finished yet, are we, sweetheart?" you vigorously shake your head over at zoro and then at sanji, the pleading look in your eyes sending a chill down the cook's spine. he swallows thickly before his mouth gets back to work, his thumb rubbing circles on your clit that make you tug on his hair. you loll your head over to look at zoro, moaning at the sight of him jerking himself off and not shy to make direct eye contact you as he watches your features twist with pleasure.

"put them on their knees. push their head down." sanji can barely look at you with the position he has you in, slightly bothered by it only because he's so used to being able to see your face. he loved seeing it in your eyes, the unwavering desire in them as he called you so many sweet things only the two of you knew; you honestly weren't sure just how you would react to having sanji trying to be a little more assertive. "it's alright, mon amour, you look absolutely astounding like this-" "you talk too much. if you're gonna talk, make sure it's to put them on the spot." zoro suddenly says, making sanji scowl at him. "he thinks you're so innocent, huh? but here you are, letting us fuck you in front of each other and watch. you're fucking spoiled." sanji tries to argue back with zoro, to tell him to let up with the degradation, but even he can feel the way you press your hips back against his in an attempt to entice him further towards you.

sanji looks down at you with a slight look of disbelief, looking over at zoro when he snickers. "well, don't leave them waiting." he says, leaning back in the chair and starting to stroke himself again. sanji's eyebrows furrow as he slowly pushes into you, moaning in unison with you at the sight of his cock slipping past your folds. "don't go too slow." as much as sanji doesn't want to, he doesn't give you much time to relish in the stretch of him inside of you. his hips snap against yours at a steady pace, his face already flushed red with desire and his lips parting with soft pants. "grab her ass. as much as you can." zoro groans softly, watching the way your eyes flutter shut. sanji's hands rub over your sides and down to your ass, squeezing it and eliciting the most beautiful sound sanji is sure he's ever heard. "faster. don't let them pick up their head." sanji is a little more willing now to do so, his hand pressing your face further into the sheets as he picks up the pace of his hips.

muffled whines leave you when you feel yourself getting close, shuddering when sanji leans forward so that his chest is flush against your back; not zoro's request but the swordsman was too focused on fucking his fist to worry about it. sanji whispers praise into your ear, his hand finding your clit and rubbing circles into it, making high pitched whines leave you as your hips stutter against sanji's. "i-i'll take care of you, beautiful, l-let go.." he pants softly, keeping his hips close so that he can feel you on every inch of himself. before you know it, the coil inside of you comes undone, making a loud cry leave you as you cum, shuddering against sanji as he continues to ride out his high. not too far behind you, he let out low groans as he presses his hips flush to yours, pumping you full of everything he has.

[beanghostprincess]

Weird self indulgent bullcrap but hear me out okay-

Seraphim Buggy.

The strawhats get to Egghead and there's so much going on, it's wild and crazy and things start calming down after a bit, but then one group manages to find a tube in the far back. Luffy is staring HARD at the little body, battered and bloodied, white hair floating like a curtain in the solution, but the round red nose is a huge give away. He recognizes that nose. He recognizes that face.

"Is that... Buggy?" Nami is confused, hesitant. Zoro frowns at the tube, at the injuries on the child's body, bruises and scrapes and filth.

Luffy is silent before he hauls back and punches the tube with a Haki coated fist. The others yelp, scold him, Chopper shrieks bc they don't know if that will hurt the kid, but-

It doesn't even crack.

They stare.

Franky and Chopper dive to the control panel to try releasing the child, while Luffy is still staring at the unconscious body. Usopp is equally quiet, both assessing and reaching out. They know Buggy in varying amounts, but absolutely nothing about this kid feels Right. There's a wickedly sharp undercurrent, even unconscious, that makes even Luffy wary.

They get him out, he's still unconscious, but he's safe. Chopper begins working on patching his wounds up, and midway through the kid's presence locks down to near nothing before white-gold eyes snap open. Luffy meets the gaze easily, inclines his head slightly, seeing the minute tension the ripples across the tiny clown's frame. S-Buggy blinks for a moment, then reaches out.

Luffy let's him touch the hat.

The kid is silent for a moment before he croaks a soft "bro...ther..."

They take him with them. Over the course of it all, they find out why the kid was locked away in stasis, learn just what they released from the tube, but the little seraphim is so taken with Luffy and is so happy to just cling and be clung to that they have issues believing that THIS is the demon the others were mentioning, the monster that had been locked away for everyone's safety. It doesn't help that this is BUGGY and any iteration of the clown being powerful just seems ridiculous.

Then something happens. And little S-Buggy causes a near apocalyptic level of damage.

None of the crew is killed in the rampage, none so much as injured by the little jester boy, but it begins painting things in a new light.

By the end of it all, as they're leaving, Luffy tells the crew to contact the Cross Guild. "A pirate ship isn't safe for kids," he says with finality. They nod. He keeps S-Bug distracted, they actually make efforts to AVOID fighting, miserable though it leaves some, and they soon meet up with the Guild.

"Uncle," Luffy calls out, shocking everyone in earshot, especially when Buggy greets him back.

Luffy knows a lot more about Buggy and Shanks' childhoods than most do, pieced together from times when he was small and begging Shanks to bring him with the crew, when he and Buggy had time spent together, especially on the way to Marineford. So when he saw this like Seraphim, felt the Haki, saw the damage, he knew this was out of his wheelhouse. He was going to be King of the Pirates, not because he idolized Gol D. Roger, but because he was going to be better than him.

By Davy Jones as his witness, he would be better.

Buggy is mildly annoyed, confused, exasperated, but then Luffy meets his eyes dead on, steady, and says "He hasn't learned control yet."

And suddenly, Buggy understands. He winces. Hisses through his teeth. "Fuck."

"Yeah."

"No Red, then?"

"No. But he saw my hat, called me brother."

"Fucking hell."

"A ship is no place for a kid," Luffy says, voice surprisingly mature to most who know him. "But an island..."

"Yeah," Buggy sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "Shit. Yeah, an island is safer. Has he imprinted?"

"I dunno, but he's pretty docile if there's no perceived threat."

Buggy groans, but opens his arms to take the child, giving the kid warning of touch, an open offer. The little seraphim hesitates for a moment before diving towards the older pirate.

Crocodile, Mihawk, and the strawhats all watch on in varying stages of confusion while the two captains talk.

There are many questions to be asked, curiosities to be quenched, but for now? Karai Bari offers docking overnight, and a new resident is welcomed to the island.

Right now I can only think about,, How cute a seraphim Buggy would be,, And also, Buggy and Luffy's relationship here?? My beloveds 😭 Everyone is so confused and doesn't understand why they know so much about each other and get along so well because Luffy is the master of never talking about his past unless he's asked,, Really happy this little Buggy can be with Buggy, though, always saying Cross Guild as dads with the Seraphims is an amazing concept.

[blacklegsanjiii]

Based off that ask about ASL+S but also golden, croc and warlord Sanji's growing up and being friends. I had a thought golden!Sanji and Single dad!Mihawk who keep visiting because it's good for Sanji. And after Sabo dies and Sanji is crying and Ace is telling Sanji that's not what he would want. Ace is telling him to toughen up and Luffy is nodding and Mihawk sits them down and explains grief and that there's no time limit for it and like he's talking to them like they're little adults. He also somehow goes back to Kuraigana as a father of three and not just one.

Mihawk suddenly has two absolutely feral children on his island who willingly rile up the humandrills, one of them is rubber, the other is the son of Roger and Rouge, he does not tell Shanks he has them, and his bed has four people sleeping in it regularly. It doesn't start that way every night but that's how he wakes up most mornings. He doesn't mind though, there's something about how the three of them are that makes his heart happy.

Mihawk lets Ace build his massive fires and lets Luffy rubber band around the island. He's not surprised when Garp shows up demanding to take Ace and Luffy back to Foosha but Mihawk simply says no, he won't let them go. He'll sink Garp's ship before letting him take them. Garp is looking at him and then Ace and Luffy march forward while Sanji is quietly trying to get them to stop and go back, but they tell Garp to go away because they're happy. Garp says he'll be checking in and gives both Luffy and Ace fists of love and looks at Sanji, who is shaking and looking at him in fear. Luffy says he can't hit Sanji hard because he cries a lot and Garp is going on about being his grandson and how he needs to learn but Mihawk and Ace are telling Garp if he touches Sanji he's going to get it. Garp says he'll be checking in and leaves and Luffy whines he's hungry so they go make lunch. Garp starts making multiple visits and stops hitting Ace and Luffy because the second time he visited Mihawk set the humandrills on him.

Mihawk brings home the mera mera no mi from a raid and is making calls to find where best to sell it when he feels the rubber fingers of his youngest son and then his body snap into him and tell him his eldest son is on fire so he hangs up quickly, holds onto Luffy tightly and runs. Sanji is staring at Ace who is indeed on fire. Ace is laughing though and he's not hurt, he is not burning. After checking the three of them over and deeming them all unharmed, surprisingly, he tells Ace he's not mad and just glad he's okay.

Luffy has a hard time adjusting when Sanji goes to work at Baratie full time and when Ace sets off not long after. But Mihawk takes him to visit Sanji a lot and when he has to go on jobs as a Warlord he calls Luffy every day to check on him because Mihawk knows Luffy hates being alone. So when he sets off and starts gathering his crew and they end up at Baratie and Zoro fights his and Sanji's dad basically at what is basically their uncle's restaurant and almost dies and then the ship gets stolen by Nami. Luffy finds Sanji at one point and says they are not telling Ace about any of this and Sanji fucking loses it.

When they see Ace in Alabasta and all catch up. They don't really mention Sanji is their brother but Ace and Luffy show up their brotherly habits. It's good being together again but it's over too soon as Ace continues on and they get Alabasta back for Vivi. Things are pretty normal until Marineford where when Luffy breaks out of Impel Down with his whole team he sees Mihawk waiting with the other Warlords and Ace and Garp on the execution platform.

It all comes to a head when Sengoku is pressuring Ace to claim Roger as his father and Ace claims he has two but Roger is not one of them. Mihawk steps forward and away from the other warlords and joins Luffy in the fight to save Ace which no one fucking expected. After the fight, Ace and Luffy are both severely injured so Law takes Luffy and Marco takes Ace. Shanks looks at Mihawk who simply ignores him and leaves.

When the crew reunites on Sabaody, Zoro is pissed because Mihawk is there with him and keeps guiding him by yanking his shirt. As the rest of the crew and Ace arrive they look at Mihawk in puzzlement because they all know Mihawk helped at Marineford without a reason, except for Ace, Luffy and Sanji. When everyone is on the ship Luffy can't help himself to rubber band himself to Mihawk while yelling 'Dad!' at the top of his fucking lungs which makes everyone but Ace and Sanji stare in shock.

"You can't just yell that, Luffy." Sanji sighs.

"I didn't even say it at my execution, which where you for that?" Ace asks Sanji.

"Running for my life." Sanji shrugs. Mihawk sighs as Luffy laughs. Once things are explained to the crew they set off. Things go as normal just Ace is there, and they run into Sabo in Dressrosa. Ace quickly tells him Mihawk somehow convinced them to go to Kuriagana and raised them there until they set off and he's basically the man Luffy and Ace consider 'dad' as Sabo is like 'yeah, this explains everything at the execution basically and Dragon is going to love hearing this' and Sanji just fired on Big Mom's ship and is on the way to Zou. Sabo gets a double whammy punch from both his brothers though.

When Cross Guild forms, Crocodile asks during a random meeting why Mihawk joined the fight to save Ace. Crocodile understands Buggy, it was his captain's kid but Mihawk? What the Hell was he doing? Mihawk simply gives a small smirk and reminds him Ace said he had two men he considered his fathers but he also knows Ace has three brothers which makes Buggy blink at him and Crocodile yell.

[sanjisblackasswife]

GIRL IF YOU DONT WRITE A ZORO SMUT WITH THE READER RIDING THE SHIT OUTTA HIM-

the people need it…. it’s me, i’m people

A/N: HELP ME PLSSSS. Ok i gotchu.

Let’s Talk About: Riding Zoro (NSFW)

Black Fem Reader in Mind

CW: Pussy job, Cowgirl, Reverse Cowgirl, choking, hair pulling , overstimulation, name calling

“You—ah—bitch…” Zoro groaned gritting his teeth as each word was broken into syllables feeling you clamp down on him with each bounce.

-

Zoro HATED. Being under you.

Not because you were heavy (pls he believes the heavier the better)

Not because you didn’t know how to ride

But because you were too good to him.

The first time riding Zoro was a treat, but just like Juicy Fruit gum it didn’t last.

More like he didn’t last.

“S-slow down ‘m ganna!—FUCK—!”

Since that short time he haven’t let you ride him since but today you wanted to literally jump on his dick, but you knew you had to work for it SO—

You came up with a plan—-

Today he lost a bet that he could make you cum with his fingers and tongue in less than 45 seconds or else you have to get on top for 3 minutes and as CLOSE as he was to winning. He was the sore loser.

“Common Zo…” you purred pushing him on his back fiddling with his black pants. “I won fair and square…”

Zoro rolled his eyes, but his attitude didn’t fool you in the slightest seeing him side eye you with a blushed face. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead seeing his pants gone and your slutty little mouth kissing his clothed bulge.

“Just pull it out already.” He spat through his teeth watching you tease him. He knew once the 3 minutes were up he was going to absolutely ruin you.

And you were okay with that because that’s exactly what you wanted after this so win win.

“Let me enjoy this.” You pulled yourself up on him, hands over his wide chest and bent legs beside his waist. “Gatta prep you first.”

“Wha—AH SHIT—!” Zoro hissed throwing his head back feeling you lower your wet cunt against his soft shaft. You felt every bump and rig from the veins he had and started to grind up and down leaving him to bite back his lip. “Don’t—DONT do that Just fucking sit on it!”

“Don’t Tell me what to do.” You scoffed holding back your own moans. He snapped his eye back at you in irritation.

“Don’t get so fucking cocky.”

“Or what?” You tilted your head looking at him with such innocent eyes as of you wasn’t milking him without him even being inside you. “Don’t act all pissy I know you like this.”

“Y-you-ah!” You laid your body on top of his chest with his erect cock now resting in between your folds as you kissed him. Your fingers flew through his damp green hair from his sweat. He mumbled something of an insult in your mouth but you just used it as an opportunity to shove your tongue down his throat.

“Good boy…” you gripped his locks tightly earning a hiss through his nose while you licked his lips from the remaining spit lines in his mouth.

Zoro felt his cock twitch feeling your nails dig into his scalp and unfortunately it went unnoticed by you.

You sucked your bottom lip before squatting over his aching cock.

“Zo…Look at me Baby…Yeah..” The moment he looked at the sight on you guiding yourself on him he nearly came already. He felt so irritated with hisself not knowing why the fuck he gets so overwhelmed with you on top like this.

You both shared a moan feeling you adjust to his size. He fell on the head board with his hands gripping your thighs so tightly he’d probably break skin if his nails wasn’t so dull.

“Move.” He muttered looking away trying to focus on surviving these next 3 minutes but you wasn’t having none of that so you grab his chin and breath on his mouth.

“Use your words, Zoro….”

Zoro’s pupils went small, there’s no way that you could have this much boldness from being on top.

And more importantly there’s no way Zoro should be this turned on by it.

He was pretty much growling at this point to get you to move and in all honesty you both knew Zoro could easily Just thrust up into you, catch you off guard and pound you into the oblivion. But he is a man of his word and he knew you’d never forgive him if he did that. So he knew he had to painfully set his pride aside and let you have this moment.

“Tick tock, Zoro.” You pecked his nose and sat up to grind against him just enough to break another sweet moan out of him. “I can do this all night.”

“You only have three minutes.” Speaking through his teeth.

“Answer the got damn question.” You squeezed down on him making Zoro pull you closer.

“Move….please.” He huffed out his nose making the strands of your hair move. You smirk in satisfaction and readjust.

You started of slow, you needed to find the right pace. Zoro looked at your expressions grunting very low then back at how your pussy was sucking him in and out.

Eventually you picked up the pace and your bedroom was filled with the headboard banging on the wall of the Sunny, your pants, his groans, and wet skin slapping against each other.

“You—!”

“Feels so good I know, baby.” You let out an airy laugh. While bouncing you took his left hand to hold it and kissed the back of it with eye contact. Your body was hot and sweaty with some of your hair covering one eye, but Zoro thought you looked so sexy.

A bit too sexy after you started to suck on his fingers moaning looking up at the ceiling still bouncing on him.

“Y-Y/N Stop!” Zoro nearly whined but cleared his throat to redeem himself. “S-stop!”

You slowed down letting his hand drop out of your mouth. Your face was a bit disappointed considering you began to feel close to orgasm but maybe you went too far? You both never established a safe word so you didn’t want to take any chances NOT listening when he said stop.

You were wrong though. Zoro moved his body to lay flat on his back holding your waist with one hand so you don’t fall.

“I like this view better.” He chuckled biting his lower lip. He put his wet fingers to your clit just for a moment to rub small circles so you can grind yourself on him. “There you go…good girl.”

You moved your head back at him squinting your eyes. You couldn’t let him have control NOT went the 3 minutes were almost up. He put his fingers in his mouth to suck on and wink at you.

“Scared to move?”

Nope.

Now you Gatta humble him.

You huffed and turned yourself around with your ass facing him and you felt a hard slap on your wet cheek.

“Now this is a pretty view too.”

You held yourself up by your arms and moved up and down again clenching on him just to hear him a bit more.

“You sure…know how to…ah—ride a cock…little slut aren’t you?”

You’d be lying to say him calling your a slut didn’t make you mad and turned on so you sat up straight squatting with him still inside you and bounced. You felt almost every inch of him like this.

I guess those squats Zoro made you do finally paid off.

“F-Fuck I’m—!!”

“Cum with me, Zoro!”

He fought back so hard because he knew he would be losing the 3 minute mark but he didn’t care at this point, his face was red, he was sweating like crazy, he just needed to cum inside you.

“Y-yes!” You hummed loudly, you gave your knees a rest and bent over breathing harshly. Zoro’s head was buried in the pillow giving you shallow thrust to ride out the orgasm.

“Zoro…” you moaned in the sheets feeling his cock still slightly pumping into your sensitive walls. “Fuck me.”

“What?”

“I said…” you turned around and rested your head on his shoulder, you tried to stabilize your breathing but the feeling his cum deep out of you down your thighs to his abdomen felt too good so with a shaky voice you uttered, “Fuck me now…”

Zoro aired out a chuckle wiping the sweat off his face with his hand. He gave you a kiss on your forehead before whispering in a threatening tone,

“Lay on Your fucking back and spread those legs for me then.”

[imalemonthatrants]

Struggling with writer's block, but here's a Lawzo I wrote with a random prompt generator in an attempt to break my writer's block.

Prompt: The Professor (Write about a situation where person A is being taught something by person B in an interesting way)

I just want to note that this is no way a realistic or advisable way to help others sleep. Made purely because I'm a mess at the current moment.

Law was a doctor, so of course he knew that proper rest was important for optimal performance. He also knew the suggestions to achieve a better night's sleep. And from experience, not as a doctor, he knew that sometimes, there was not a single thing he could do to be able to rest for even a single second.

He had tried all the non-medicated ways there were. Don't read anything an hour before bed. Leave bed usage for sleeping only. Drink a glass of warm milk an hour before bed. If unable to sleep, get up and walk a bit before resting once more. Count sheep. Sleep in pure darkness. And as told by someone deeply important to him, sleep in pure silence.

None of it worked. Everything he did left him alone to his thoughts. Let the fear and the worries and the planning consume his mind, racing with the what-ifs and the counteractions to deal with potential, terrible ends. Because as a person who inherited the name of D, tragedy always seemed to follow him.

It doesn't help that the trip to Wano was longer than Law had wanted, along with several extra passengers that made the Polar Tang much more tighter than it needed to be. They needed to surface to replenish for air more often, meaning they were more likely to be spotted by marines and that they were traveling slower than Law would like. Much slower.

The lack of sleep was extremely evident to both his crewmates and his guests by the third day. If the horrifying sight of his dark, heavy circles under his eyes weren't enough to let them know, the way he snapped at anyone who so much as breathed in his presence would probably do the trick. By the fourth day, not a single person tried to stay within the same room as him. Law figured that would be the case for the entirety of the trip or until he could bring himself to rest for even just 20 minutes.

Until a certain, pesky guest that was much too similar to his captain came wandering into his private room. During night hours. Roronoa Zoro, potential vice captain and first mate of the Strawhat crew, had the fucking audacity to walk into his private quarters, slamming open the metal door and stomping in like he owned the fucking place.

"What the fuck?" Law hissed. It was rougher than he expected of himself, his voice heavy with obvious exhaustion between the anger.

"Hey Torao." Zoro said.

As Law had long adjusted to the darkness of his room, he watched the intruder fumble into his room, tripping over piles of books and stomping over sheets of plans he had written up and hadn't had the time to organize or hang up. The younger swordsman stopped what seemed like mere inches away from his bed.

"Do you know what fucking time it is?" Law snapped.

He watched Zoro shrug before the man reached out, hands searching and latching onto the edges of his small, but comfortable mattress.

"Dunno," Zoro answered, "But it's not like you'd be sleeping anyways."

The hands traced the edges of the bed, fingers skimming past him from where he rested on the other corner of the bed. Law opened his mouth to deny the man's accusations, to lie and say he indeed was sleeping until he so rudely entered. And then Zoro started climbing onto his bed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Law snarled, arms flying up to shove the man. Zoro, infuriatingly enough, doesn't even budge. Instead, the younger swordsman easily leaned into his hands, using them as a guide to crawl into his bed and smash him between him and the cold, metal wall.

Zoro snorted, "I'm going to sleep."

He was frozen for a moment, because the absolute certainty in the idiot's voice had him stunned. It was only when Zoro's hands moved from his wrists to slowly encasing around him did Law finally snap, drawing the powers of his devil fruit to shambles this arrogant bastard away. The bubble popped away from existence before it could even encase the man as a wave of dizziness hit him, twisting reality and forcing him to shut his eyes to prevent himself from suddenly throwing up.

Not that he would do anything but dry heave. He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning.

It took a moment for the spinning to stop, and when reality became grounded once more, he was panting heavily, fingers tightly clasped into the coat of his unwelcomed bedmate. At some point, Zoro had shifted himself to wrap his arms around him, their legs intertwined. His own arm, the one that had recovered from being cut off, was awkwardly pinned between their bodies.

"You back?" Zoro hummed.

"Get the fuck out." Law said, pushing at the unmoving boulder.

"Nah, it's pretty comfortable here." Zoro said. "Dark and quiet."

Law squeezed his eyes tightly, shoving with what little energy he had. His efforts were in vain, as Zoro cheekily pressed himself closer.

"Why are you doing this?" Law asked, frustration seeping into his voice.

"Helping you sleep."

Law wanted to laugh at the absurdity.

"Oh yeah?" Law sneered. "And how are you doing that?"

"Giving you a sleeping buddy." Zoro said. The patience in the man's voice infuriated him enough for him to get enough energy to shove at the man again.

"A sleeping buddy is not a practical solution for aiding someone's sleep." Law said.

"You've tried it?" Zoro asked.

"Yes." And then he snapped his jaw shut as the feeling of humiliation flooded his senses. Because knowing that this bastard knew of his stupid, inability to do something as simple as sleep and the fact that he had tried every method he had come across and still fail at something so simple was downright an embarrassment.

"Okay then." Zoro said, not budging at all. "What's keeping you up?"

"You." Law said outright.

Zoro snorted, "Okay. What else?"

Law frowned, silent for a moment. Zoro doesn't say anything else.

"Nothing. I just can't sleep." Law said eventually. He expected Zoro to had fallen asleep by then, as the man simply fell asleep whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted.

"Are you thinking?" Zoro asked, startling him.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Then don't." Zoro said, as if it were that simple.

"I can't just turn off my brain." Law growled.

"Yes, you can." Zoro said, assuredly.

"No, I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"That's not how the human body works!" Law snapped.

Zoro chuckled, irritating him even more, "Not like that."

"What the hell do you mean?" Law growled.

"Clear your thoughts. Meditate a bit." Zoro said.

"That doesn't work." Law snapped.

"Just do it."

Law was tempted to grumble, but let his eyes close, trying to focus on nothing.

"Not like that." Zoro said instantly. "Focus on your breathing. Three seconds in, six seconds out."

Breathe in.

1, 2, 3.

Breathe out.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Law does it again.

Breathe in, 1, 2, 3.

Breathe out, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

One more week until they arrive in Wano.

Breathe in. 1, 2, 3.

7 days.

Breathe out.

Might be longer because they'll need to surface for oxygen.

1, 2, 3.

The strawhats were going through their supplies as much as his crew of twenty was, so they'll have to find a safe and discreet island to stop at.

4, 5, 6.

Luffy wasn't even with them.

1, 2.

The idiot captain was going to provoke the other yonko into coming as well.

1, 2.

Or perhaps Luffy's miracle power was used up and he won't-

"You're not focusing." Zoro said, pulling him from his thoughts.

"I was." Law said, desperately. "I am."

He was focusing on what was important. On what everyone else wasn't bothering to think about. Because he was surrounded by a bunch of carefree idiots that are taking the luck a little too seriously simply because their captain had a couple of miracles happen.

"It'll be fine." Zoro said, calmly. As if he knew what was going through Law's head. It made him want to open up a room and slice this bastard apart.

"And how do you know that?" Law snapped. "Your captain fucked off to mess with another Yonko! We've already got one Yonko to deal with. He's going to die before we can deal with our first one!"

"He won't." Zoro said, assuredly.

"You don't know that!"

"I do." Zoro said, with such certainty that Law wanted to tear this man apart. "And you've seen it. His miracles. Luffy will come to Wano."

"Those miracles did him so well at Marineford." Law snapped. And then shut up because he wasn't supposed to go there and he was currently weakened with lack of sleep and recovering from his failed revenge against that bastard and Zoro had him in his arms and could so easily tear apart.

But Zoro doesn't do anything like that.

"That was different." Zoro said, his voice a whisper.

Law should drop the subject. Should let the place fall into silence and ignore the man. Let the man sleep here for the night and let himself fail to get any sort of rest as atonement for his shitty attitude at that moment. But he doesn't. Because even then, Zoro sounded so confident through the pain.

And so he asked, "How?"

"Because Luffy has our crew." Zoro said. "Even with half, Luffy will make it out."

Law was silent.

"And with all of us at Wano, we'll win." Zoro continued.

"How are you so sure?" Law asked quietly, when Zoro doesn't continue any further.

"What good would it be to not be?" Zoro asked in return. "If I can't trust my captain and my crewmates, how can I stand to stay?" When Zoro noticed that he didn't continue, he added, "Breathe."

Breathe in.

1, 2, 3.

"Right now, we're a week or two away from Wano." Zoro murmured.

Breathe out.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

"The only thing we can prepare is ourselves."

Breathe in.

1, 2, 3.

"And the only way we can prepare right now is to breathe."

Breathe in.

1, 2, 3.

Breathe out.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Breathe in.

As much as he hated admit it, Zoro was right.

1, 2, 3.

Breathe out.

All the plans for all the potential scenarios would go to waste if none of them happened.

…4, 5, 6.

A waste of his energy.

In. 1, 2, 3.

His time.

Out… 4, 5, 6.

A waste of his breath.

Breathe in. 1, 2, 3.

"Zoro-ya…" Law called out. Exhaustion was heavy, but the throes of sleep were beginning to drag him under.

A snore answered him.

Breathe out… 4, 5, 6.

"Good night."

And finally, finally, with the slow, steady heartbeat that pulsed underneath his fingertips, the rhythmic sounds of Zoro's breathing occasionally broken by a snore, and the mildly stifling, uncomfortable heat that radiated off the other man, Law fell asleep.

Corazon was wrong about one thing. Silence didn't always help with sleep. Sometimes, the sound of a reliable person by your side was much more helpful.

End

So what's the writer's block fix for when you do have tons of ideas you wanna bring to life, but the moment you do, it comes out as shit and not the way you envision it, so you're left scrapping and redesigning your work over and over again, but nothing is right and you wanna cry because you just wanna write what you see, but you can't?

I'm in utter agony right now.

And by the way, yes I know that's not how reality works with anxiety and sleep. I too am an anxious, sleepless mess most days than not.

And yes, this drabble came out completely different from what I wanted (making it a subpar write for me). There were so many things I wanted to add that made the thing not flow right and it ended like this. My structured fics cannot survive because I can't get the things I want to happen without proper structural flow. Help. Ugh. End rant.

[sharkboygirlish]

Nightmares.

ONE-SHOT(Maybe)

Word Count: 1414

Disclaimer: One Piece and all it’s characters belong to Eiichiro Oda, I just like to write about them.

Warnings: None.

Rating: T

Author’s Notes: I was thinking about how luffy absolutely for sure has ptsd from his insane childhood & how he probably deals with nightmares from time to time bc of it. i like to hc that he goes to cuddle with various crew mates when he’s having a really hard night; and that he started doing it bc of the very first night he and zoro spent in the boat together so I wrote about it, lol. 

this is mostly from zoro’s pov & honestly now that I’m writing this post I might make this a series alternating between luffy’s pov and the rest of the straw hats when he comes to them for comfort bc I love writing cuddle fics. we’ll seeeeee.

Summary: Zoro’s not used to comforting people, but for his captain? He could learn to be. 

—————————————————————

Lost somewhere in a foggy dream land, Zoro woke when he was startled by what sounded like soft cries drifting into his left ear. ‘What the hell?’ 

Cracking one groggy eye open, the swordsman turned his head in Luffy’s direction to find him thrashing side to side with his arms thrown over his face like he was defending himself. 

Were they under attack? He sat up to get a better look but he didn’t see anyone else in their boat. ‘So Luffy… Was still asleep? Should he try to wake him up?’

“Oi, Luffy! Wake up, you’re just dreaming.” 

He must not have spoken loud enough because Luffy didn’t react. Instead, he started twisting even more violently to the point that the boat rocked with him. It sounded like he was mumbling the phrase, “I won’t tell you,” over and over again but Zoro hadn’t the faintest clue why.

“Luffy! Wake UP!” Zoro tried again, this time louder, and when that didn’t work he swore. ‘The hell else was he supposed to do?!’ He had to put a stop to this before Luffy capsized the both of them.

Without many other ideas, or options really, he decided to plant one of his knees on either side of Luffy’s thighs, trapping them. Then he reached down and grabbed one of the rubber boy’s wrists in each of his hands, pinning them to his chest and pressing his whole torso against the bottom of the boat.

“Snap out of it Luffy, you’re havin’ a nightmare!”  To his great relief, Luffy’s eyes finally fluttered open but his pupils were like pinpricks, his breathing erratic, head whipping around like he wasn’t sure where he was. 

When his eyes landed back on his first mate, Zoro noticed how his pupils dilated back to their normal size. “Zoro..?” He managed to slow his breathing as he looked up at him, slightly confused but considerably less scared. It was almost like recognizing Zoro’s face had been what calmed him down.

The pirate hunter heaved a quiet sigh, releasing Luffy’s wrists and sitting back on his heels a little, regarding the boy lying beneath him with something in his expression akin to sympathy. “Does that happen a lot?”

Luffy was quiet for a while, gaze sweeping off to the side like he was remembering something he didn’t want to. Stuck to his eyes were a layer of tears that made them sparkle like the stars above their heads. His voice was quiet when he finally did answer. “Sorta.”

That was troubling for more than one reason. Zoro furrowed his brows, concerned, arms moving to cross over his chest before he realized that he was still straddling the captain’s thighs. ‘Shit, fuck, whoops.’ 

Blood threatened to burn his cheeks as he quickly moved off to kneel next to him instead. This time he knotted his arms together because he was self-conscious.

Luffy didn’t seem to think anything of it as he sat up and hugged his shins to his chest, resting his chin on his knees. He looked so… Tired, and small. 

A stark contrast from the fearless captain that had leapt in front of a flurry of bullets to save him from execution without thinking once. It hurt his heart to see Luffy like this. ‘But what could he possibly do to help?’

“Is there… Anything that’ll make them stop?”

“Well…” Luffy knit his brows together as he thought for a moment, looking in Zoro’s direction. “It never happens when I sleep with someone.”

Zoro stared back at him with slightly narrowed eyes for several seconds.

‘He couldn’t possibly be talking about sex, right? There was no way. Did -- Luffy even know what sex was? Never mind - he must have meant literally sleeping next to somebody else.’

“What, so like… Cuddling?”

“I guess, yeah.”

He was blinking so innocently over at Zoro that the swordsman felt his heart wrench like he’d been stabbed. “…Why cuddling?”

“Dunno. Just makes me feel more safe.”

There was no reason that he couldn’t do that for his captain. None that weren’t rooted in machismo ideals about when/how it was appropriate to comfort or be affectionate with other men, at least. 

“I…” He began and then hesitated, glancing anywhere but directly at Luffy. ‘Why was his pulse spiking like this? What the hell was he so nervous about? Knock it off, idiot.’

Zoro bit the inside of his cheek to punish himself for being so out of control of his own body. Hard as he tried he just couldn’t keep his face from turning red as he spoke. “I’ll sleep with you, Luffy. If it’ll make you feel better.”

If he noticed him blushing his captain didn’t comment, but he did lift his head into a slight tilt. “Are you sure? You don’t have to, you know.”

“Of course I know that, dumbass,” Zoro dragged a hand through his hair, his face burning even hotter than he thought it could. He started to chastise himself for being so stupid and embarrassing but then Luffy smiled at him. 

Not the wide grin he tended to give out during the day, though. This one was smaller, less in his mouth and more in his eyes. Zoro calmed almost instantly, the tension leaving his shoulders and untying his knotted stomach. ‘Why did Luffy’s smile make him feel so light and sunny every single time?’

“Okay,” he seemed relieved, like the offer had been exactly what he needed, “Thanks Zoro.”

Zoro heaved a heavy sigh when he was sure that most of the blood had drained from his cheeks, looking back at his captain with feigned irritation. “Shut your mouth.”

Luffy giggled, beaming with both eyes scrunched up as Zoro stretched out beside him, placing both hands behind his head. Then he moved to join his first mate, draping an arm across his torso and tangling one of his legs with his. His head settled onto Zoro’s chest, cheek pressed right over the space where his heart pounded quicker than its owner would like to admit.

“Night Zoro.” Luffy mumbled fondly, eyelids slipping closed as he nuzzled his forehead against one of Zoro’s collarbones.

‘Damnit. He was too goddamn cute for his own good.’ Zoro bit the inside of his cheek again, gazing silently up at the dark clouds shifting above his head and wondering why on earth he’d just referred to Luffy as cute. That wasn’t a word men were supposed to use to describe each other...

But for fuck’s sake, he was cute. He was fucking adorable. He was like a little kid that needed Zoro to protect him -- and he could do that. He would do that. He would do anything if it meant keeping Luffy safe. 

“Yeah,” Zoro murmured after a while, folding one of his arms securely around Luffy’s waist and pulling him in till the top of his head was nestled under his chin, “Night, captain.”

Luffy hummed back softly. A few minutes later he was snoring peacefully while the swordsman’s eyes remained trained on the rapidly thinning clouds. 

Somehow in the span of just a day this.. kid had become the most important person in his life and Zoro refused to let death take him like it had taken Kuina. He hadn’t been there to catch her when she fell -- but he would be there for his captain. He vowed to himself and the stars winking down at him that he would always protect Luffy. 

If he fell Zoro would catch him. If he was thrown into the sea, Zoro would dive after him without even thinking once. If he was captured Zoro would break him free or he would die trying.

He felt Luffy shifting against his side and at first Zoro thought he might be having another nightmare -- but then he just snuggled closer and buried his face in his neck. ‘So fucking precious.’  A small smile pulled at his mouth that he didn’t fight off.

Holding Luffy felt nice. No, it felt really nice. It gave him a sense of purpose and made him feel needed, wanted. The only other time he felt something remotely similar to this was when he got his hands on expensive sake -- but this feeling was so much better. Maybe... It was okay to relish in it for a while.

If only under the cover of night where it was just him, his captain, and the nearly endless sea.

[kaizokuou-ni-naru]

The Voyage So Far: Alabasta (Part One)

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

(this is a repost, i deleted the first version of it by accident cause im Idiot)

the entry into the grand line is such a great sequence. it feels like such an ending- a triumph after they’ve spent pretty much all of east blue struggling to make it here, and at the same time the beginning of a new adventure, the biggest yet, one that has yet to end a solid two decades later. they all look so happy to have made it here- it makes me smile.

whiskey peak is one of my very favorite short arcs, and i think of the whole first half of the baroque works saga its the one that hits and maintains a tone best (almost certainly because its so short, admittedly, but still). i love the repeated shots of the moon, the reveal that the cactuses are actually covered in graves, the way everything seems far too good to be true at the start and the sense of suspense that creates.

zoro’s extended fight scene in whiskey peak is so great- it’s so creative and so dynamic and the odds are stacked so high against him and yet he’s clearly having so much fun. i do miss this sort of scrappy, improvised fight, cause its largely absent from later one piece but its SO much fun to read- zoro cutting holes in rooftops for people to fall through or shoving ladders to the ground as bounty hunters try to climb them.

i’m a huge fan of fight scenes that use the environment to their fullest, and this is such a perfect example of it. it makes the fight feel a lot more real and exciting, in my opinion.

i’ve never liked zoro and luffy fighting at whiskey peak, its always struck me as frustrating and contrived and kind of out of character for both of them, but i will say that i do like how on the same page they are even when they’re trying to kill each other.

the entire first half of the baroque works saga basically serves to introduce and endear us to vivi so we’ll be invested in the alabasta conflict, and that starts here in whiskey peak, when we get our first glimpse of her actual personality rather than the act she was putting on as miss wednesday, when she bites her lip hard enough to bleed in order not to break down at igaram’s apparent death.

watching robin’s actions with the added context of later one piece is one of the great joys of rereading alabasta. she does a fantastic job of appearing to be crocodile’s most dedicated and capable and dangerous employee while quietly but consistently sabotaging his efforts; saving luffy, sparing pell, sparing igaram, not telling crocodile anything about the strawhats despite meeting them here at the very start of the saga.

little garden has some really cool and striking panels that really put the scale of things on the island, the dinosaurs and giants alike, into perspective, and i love it.

i’m a huge fan of the depth of in-universe lore one piece has. just having little details like this, quotes from books written in-universe, go so far towards making the world feel like a real and wondrous place with mysteries to be solved and details to be uncovered.

i still think sanji is firmly at his best when he’s being a sneaky bastard, and i will never cease to be delighted by how thoroughly he manages to fuck crocodile over with nothing but a phone and some quick thinking not once but twice.

i really like dorry and brogy! for minor characters who’ve only appeared in one relatively minor and inconsequential arc so far, they’re not only very fun and memorable but also leave a hell of an impact on the story, not only in usopp’s new dream of eventually visiting elbaf but also in how they and their crew just keep coming up, first in enies lobby and then even further down the line in dressrosa and whole cake island.

i’m really excited for when we eventually get to reach elbaf, because this plot thread has been so thoroughly and subtly built up over such a long time that i can’t wait to see how it ends.

this is one of my favorite little moments to really drive home how much the strawhats care about each other. they all fell asleep on the floor rather than leave nami alone.

the whole introductory scene to drum is a really good summary of who vivi is as a person and how she contrasts with luffy, and it’s something i’ve written extensively about in a past meta. here ill just settle for saying, vivi is chronically selfless, and always the sort of person to sacrifice herself for others, and these traits which save the strawhats here are the exact same ones that bring her and luffy to blows later on in alabasta.

a good thing to remember when writing characters is that traits aren’t really inherently good or bad, they’re just traits and can have positive or negative consequences depending on the situation, and i think oda is really good at this. vivi’s selflessness, usually a positive thing, becomes reckless self-sacrifice when she’s pushed to her breaking point.

‘kindness begets kindness’ is a pretty consistent theme throughout one piece, though luffy is most often on the other side of it. someone (rebecca, law, tama, etc.) does something for him without really expecting anything in return, and gets paid back a hundred times over. this is a case of the opposite- luffy helps someone offhandedly, and is later saved by their gratitude.

i think luffy wearing his fingers bloody as he climbs the drum rockies is the only time one piece has ever made me cringe back from the page. this sequence is absolutely brutal, and it’s so well-done.

the way luffy decides chopper should be his crewmate is precious, and also reminds me a little of his recruitment of sanji (ironically, given he’s talking to sanji about chopper here). in both cases he sees someone do something good without even really knowing the full extent of their abilities and makes a snap decision that they are awesome and are gonna be part of his crew, no matter what they have to say about it.

i really, really enjoy the way the drum island flashback is set up, with the cutaway right as luffy is about to punch wapol’s lights out. the cut back to that punch finally hitting when the flashback ends is by that point infinitely more satisfying, since you’ve just read chopper’s backstory and therefore have a deep and abiding desire to see wapol eat shit.

hiriluk’s final speech is definitely one of the best and most memorable quotes from one piece, and effectively the crux of one of its biggest themes. one piece is all about inherited will. all of our main cast and a solid percentage of the supporting cast bear the legacy of at least one forebear on their shoulders, from kuina to corazon to otohime. the entire setting of the story is defined by roger’s legacy.

all those people are dead, but they’re sure as hell not forgotten- how can they be, when their legacies are actively shaping the world as a direct result of their lives and influences?

i really, really like the use of flags in one piece. flags are how you declare loyalty or war in equal measure, and flying a pirate flag is a declaration that you’re choosing freedom, come what may, over the laws of the world government. it’s just a really excellent running motif, and a great symbol of what one piece’s definition of piracy means.

this scene is also one of the ones that gets even more extra weight behind it when you know luffy’s full backstory with sabo, which i love.

chopper’s recruitment scene sums up one of the reasons luffy is really great. he just doesn’t care about a lot of things other people would normally take notice of. occasionally that gets him in trouble, but other times it leads to him responding to a situation exactly right, like here. chopper is listing off all his insecurities and reasons he can’t go with the strawhats, and luffy just flat doesn’t care. he wants chopper on his crew and he knows chopper wants to be on his crew, so as far as he’s concerned, there’s no issue at all.

it really is wild that the will of D is named this far back in the story, and has consistently been referenced and built up ever since in very slight ways, through comments by characters like robin and corazon, and yet we still know basically nothing about it.

and a toast to a new crewmate!!

continued in the next post, which covers alabasta arc proper.

[gildedmuse]

Sora: Warrior Of The Sea

(A RedHawk Production)

Cavendish's constantly flirting with Law, because hey if it gets him a bigger role....

Zoro isn't sure why exactly, but he wants to punch Cavendish in the face. He's suggested (to Luffy, in private) that his character gets to do so multiple times. Luffy thinks it's hilarious. Of course Zoro wants to punch Cavendish.

Zoro: No, I mean our characters...

Luffy: Shishishi that doesn't make sense, Zoro. Why would Daichi punch Cavendish when Torao isn't even in the show.

Zoro: *grumbles* It had nothing to do with Torao.

Luffy: Unless---!!! Did Torao put himself in the next show? Who does he play? Does he have a costume? Is it awesome?

Zoro: What? No, of course he didn't -- You know you can read the scripts, right?

Luffy: That's boring. I'd rather see what happens. Although I'll bet I know what part Torao would give himself if he did!

Zoro: Someone with puppet string powers so he could force Ace and I to act more like the manga?

Luffy: Shishi, Zoro's always so funny. Noooooo, stupid. *Beaming up at him, like he knows a secret* I know what Torao would do. Torao would play a character that got to kiss Daichi! Shishishi.

Zoro: W-what?! *Under his breath, as if anyone cares about their conversation enough to listen in or would be surprised by this* Stop messing around, Luffy! Idiot! Why would you say something like that?

Luffy: Cause then he'd get to kiss ZORO. And in front of everyone, too, just like he wanted to- mmfff!

Zoro: Luffy! *jolts forward to cover Luffy's mouth* H-he does not want to--! No one wants to--! *Sighs, letting go before Luffy gets bored and starts licking his palm. He totally knows him too well* What a stupid thing to say.

Luffy: *Pouting beacuse it was NOT a stupid thing to say and he doesn't understand why Zoro is being so mean and weird when Luffy is being so helpful!* No it's not! Torao watched all - *Makes a longing sort of face, but tries to glare as well, the way Law does* - when Ace and Zoro kissed at the party last year. *Frowns at the memory, pointing an accusing finger in Zoro's face* Zoro is the stupid one for making Torao spend the rest of the party pouting in the back. He wouldn't even come watch me and Carrot have an eating contest and that was super fun!

Zoro: *Eye twitching* You moron, that's not the reason Law didn't want to watch you two eat. Anyway, he's always like that. He probably didn't even want to go to that stupid party in the first place.

Luffy: Everyone loves parties. Torao was probably having tons of fun until Ace and Zoro kissed, and it's worse because everybody saw!

Zoro: *Starts to ask why that’s so important but stops because Luffy logic* What does it matter? It was just some stupid party game. And Torao didn’t seem to mind when Cavendish kissed him earlier! 

Luffy: But Torao didn’t go all red after and tell everyone how good at kissing Cavendish is. 

Zoro: *Flushes all over again just at the memory. He might have been slightly tipsy. and as luck would have it Ace IS a really, really good kisser. In a way Zoro had not been expecting,*

Luffy: *Eyes go wide* That's why Torao wants to kiss Daichi! Then maybe Zoro will think Torao is an even better kisser than Ace AND everyone would see it so then they’d all know that Zoro belonged to Torao and likes Torao more! 

Zoro: *Knew that he’d regret learning Luffy’s logic behind the importance of everyone seeing him kiss someone* That’s not how tha-- Wait, no. *Shakes head, not believing he’s been dragged into this* I told you, Todorao didn’t write himself in the show. And if he did, he wouldn’t make a character who kissed Daichi. It wouldn’t be “like the original”. I, uh, flipped through the manga just to see if there were some better fights coming up. *Will die before he admits he read the whole series because Law seemed so upset he’d heard of it before* Daichi already has a love interest. It’s....*Shudders* Poison Pink. They even kiss this episode. *Looks like a man condemned at the thought that he’s going to have to kiss Perona of all people.* See it's right.... *Skimming the script, frowning when he can't find the page.*

Luffy: Shishishi. Only Zoro could lose his way inside a script!

Zoro: I didn’t get lost! It was here in the last draft I swear. *Flushing less out of embarrassment more of anger* Perona made me practice. Apparently my kissing isn’t “cute” enough for the princess. 

Luffy: Hmm.... *Thinks about Perona threatening Zoro to practice so he doesn’t gross her out while everyone is watching* 

Luffy: *Thinks about Perona being all gleeful cause she gets to boss Zoro around, even if it’s just telling him how he should kiss her. She’d probably make him do it again and again just so she got to keep bossing him around.* 

Luffy: *Pictures a mini Law peaking into the dressing room and seeing Perona get kissed by Zoro* 

Luffy: You should practice the kissing scene with Torao! *said loud enough that any crew member that hadn't picked up on the tension definitely knew now*

Luffy: *Pictures Law at a typewriter angrily slamming down  on the keys, furiously rewriting the scene*

Zoro: *an interesting shade of red* Wh-what are you talking about! And keep your voice down!

Luffy: Well, usually I help you remember your lines, because you're terrible at it.

Zoro: I am not! They just change too much that's all!

Luffy: But what if I couldn't help with the kissing scene because.... Hmm.... Because I was busy helping Ace!

Zoro: *Sweatdrop* I'm not sure that sounds right.... You should probably just say you don’t want to.

Luffy: So you'd have to ask Torao!

Zoro: Why would I--!! And besides *Shakes script in Luffy’s face* the kissing scene is gone. *So fucking relieved* 

Luffy: Oh, right.... Oh,  I know! I’ll bet Shanks would put it back in if we asked!

Zoro: No!

Luffy: But then you'd have a reason to kiss Torao! Though I guess you’d have to practice where everyone could watch, but we practice out on set all the time so just so that. And you wouldn't have to punch anybody!

Zoro: ...... I'd still want to punch Cavendish.

Luffy: Hmm… Well, maybe you could kiss Torao then punch Cavendish.

Zoro: *Doesn't reply, because this seems like a pretty good deal*

There's one time Luffy convinced Law to give in and try on the Sora costume. Bon Clay adores Luffy so it's not at all difficult to talk him into letting the two of them borrow it. Admittedly, Law feels a little ridiculous about how excited Luffy gets over playing dress up, but also.... He /does/ kinda want to try it on. Just to see. Still, he's determined to be seen as professional and not like a total fanboy at work so he makes Luffy swear not to tell a soul and promises himself he'll only try it on for a minute.

So naturally the second he's done up, Luffy runs off to get Zoro so he can see how cool Torao looks as Sora. Zoro gets pulled out of his trailer half dressed in his own costume - he's used to Luffy grabbing him and dragging him places with no explanation - only to be shoved into a small dressing room with a very flushed, embarrassed looking Law all dressed up like his childhood hero.

Luffy has to prompt him to tell Torao how badass he looks, seeing as Zoro is just /staring/ at Law. Not even at the costume, just at Law. That's wrong and boring as far as Luffy's concerned so he finally jumps in telling Zoro what to say. Which Zoro still managed to screw up by replying to, "Doesn't Torao look totally cool as Sora?" With, "Mmm, so cute." Before realizing, shit, said that outloud

Fellow writer Robin just happens to peek into the room while looking for Law in that moment and catches Zoro stuttering a correction while Law goes from embarrassed to full on smug, leaning closer to Zoro and flirtatiously asking "But what do you think of the costume?" enjoying the way Zoro's skin goes all flushed.

Robin decides she doesn't need Law that much at the moment, but she does secretly snap a photo on her phone. She's a total Daichi/Sora shipper. She has a secret account online where she writes fanfic of the two. She somehow managed to get a picture of Ace and Zoro in full costumes making out that no one can explain.

She watches the two of them for a moment before quietly backing out, smiling the whole time. She has so many plans for these two now.

I feel like Zoro would not care about awards at all, but notices that Law gets a bit more bitchy when award season comes around. Which means it does matter to him (even though he hasn't cared about them with past projects, the Sora show is very important to him. He just wants to see it get the recognition it deserves). So when there is a surprise upset and Zoro ends up winning Best Supporting Actor In A Drama Series, he doesn't even give a real speech but whatever. But when they end up landing Best Drama Series and all his co-workers erupt in excitement, Zoro can't help getting caught up in Law's barely hidden gleefulness and without thinking grabs him, pulling him in for a kiss.

Not even like a /good/ kiss. Less "I'm going to absolutely devour you", more "I'm so happy for you" mixed with a touch of, "God you're so cute when you get all over excited you dork". He has to lean down two rows, over Luffy's head, to grab Law by the back of his jacket just to pull him in for a quick, sloppy kiss. But it still managed to shock the fuck out of Law. He's so used to being the one to flirt with/tease an embarrassed Zoro that the kiss is more surprising than the win.

Luffy totally gives him a thumbs up of approval and well done high five that Law does not remember at all. Luckily for him, he accepts the award alongside Mihawk, Shanks, Hiyori, Jinbe and Benn so he isn't actually expected to speak at all. Which is a good thing, because even by the time backstage interviews start he's still a little lost. Not helped by reports straight up asking him about the kiss.

Thank God Shanks can talk about anything for forever. Benn mercifully removes Law from in front of cameras and let's Shanks dazzle/annoy them with another "When RedHawk Productions was just starting out....." story that he has an endless supply of

Corazon - the show runner from the first show Law ever worked on, who took Law under his wing - finds Law almost immediately and pulls him into a hug. Law finally starts to shake out if it and thanks Corazon for his support and believing him, congratulating him on the success of his miniseries Dressrosa, etc.

Corazon is immediately in there with, "Why didn't you tell me? Who is that boy? I mean I know who the boy is. Why didn't you tell me you were dating Roronoa Zoro!? Oh my God, is what they said about him and those two actresses true!? Is he going to do that to you? How could you not tell me!"

@randommouseclick

Law: Boa's trying to get into Mugiwara-ya's shorts, Perona's along for kicks and Zoro's a fucking himbo who's interested in neither.

Law: Do you REALLY think I'd let him get away with that shit, if it WAS true?

@gildedmuse

Corazon just WORRIES. Law is so innocent in certain ways. Cora doesn't want him to be taken advantage of.

Anyone Who Has Ever Met Law: Umm......

Corazon, Prior To Meeting Zoro: Anyway, *lights a cigarette while calm and collected* I'll speak with him first to make certain. No point getting attached to a bad element.

Corazon, Upon Meeting Zoro: Oh my God! *Pulls Zoro into a hug, tears streaming down eyes* Thank you so much for loving Law! I'm sure you two will be happy together for the rest of your lives.

Corazon making some poor camera man take pictures of the two of them like it's fucking prom.

Nami is Zoro's agent. Switching from representing a Stunt Coordinator/Performer to an actor with a starring role in what eventually turns out to be a hugely popular series had not been in her plans. On the one hand, her cut just went from 6 to 10 percent, and on top of his general pay raise that makes for a rather good take away. On the other hand, her job just got way more complicated. Stunt guys rarely have whole sections of the internet dedicated to them. They certainly don't end up with their picture in the trades alongside names like Boa Hancock. She's definitely had to earn that additional 4%.

Her main goal is to convince Zoro to keep taking similar (paying) roles while keeping him as far from the press as possible. Because every time you put this boy in front of a camera without a script it's a goddamn disaster. If he somehow managed not to piss off the media establishment due to him not giving a fuck then his fans - when the hell did Zoro get fans? She took this kid on as a favor! It was supposed to be easy - are probably throwing an absolute fit.

When this phenomena first starts happening with Hancock she calls up in a panic. WHY is Zoro always being photographed around her? Please don't say he's trying to hit on Boa Fucking Hancock. Do you know how fast that woman could sink his career? Possibly even Nami's!? That's how powerful this woman is and for god's sake won't Zoro just stay away. The press is having a goddamn field day wondering what their relationship is and Nami is shocked Hancock's personal security hasn't escorted him off the set of his own TV show.

By the time he kisses Law, Nami has learned to just roll with the punches. She's watching the ceremony live. Less than thirty seconds after it happens her phone blows up. This time it's the fans who are wondering who this mysterious sexy stranger is (a question that is answered literally less than a minute later when the show introduce who will be accepting the award, but that doesn't stop the topic from somehow trending), freaking out about Zoro maybe being gay, and theorizing about Hancock and Perona helping him stay in the closet by manufacturing all that drama. This is almost three years since he was hired for the show so by now Nami just shoots him a text like, "You're probably going to be asked about kissing that man since you did it on camera in the middle of the award show".

She is a little afraid when she gets the reply "laws realt cute when hes all happy huhh??" But only because it means Zoro's drunk. She's never actually seen Zoro drunk. She's not sure how much alcohol it would have taken. But she just texts her friend Robin to let her know if Zoro dies of alcohol poisoning and then heads into bed. That's how chill she's gotten over the last three years (also it's 12% now that he's won an award).

[victorie552onepiecespeedrun]

Reading One Piece pt 221: “My Body… Won’t Move…”

Chapter 468

Thoughts:

- Chapter title says we’ll see Chopper vs Hogback. Destroy him, Chopper

- Fpos/cs: What. “Energy surges into an ancient town” Why do I see a bunch of chibi soldiers presumably waking up? What does it mean??? What are they doing on the moon??? Was Old Professor from the moon then? What a f*cking coincidence that would be. Does that mean Enel will have army of chibis now? I was just about done caring about that ministory and they suck me right in! But in all honesty, what

- “How does it feel to be captured by the powers of your own nakama!?” ooh, Hogback got Penguin and Samurai to do the dirty job and capture Robin and Chopper. That’s just plain rude

- Huh, Penguin could hit Robin now, when he refused to attack Nami earlier. It could be used for Shipping Manifesto but personally I think there’s a time limit on how long shadow’s personality holds reigns on zombie’s body, I mean Moria is waiting for Oars to lose Luffy’s… Luffyness still. And let’s remember Absalom blasted Penguin hard enough I though him gone for good

- Hogback just repeated what I said :/ Was he not listening

- So will we be watching them fighting zombies or zombie masters here?

- Cindry can be a little scary

- Chopper is speaking

- He talks about death, rebirth and heresy. I know he’s a genius reindeer doctor but… I think… this is the first time I feel this all is very unfair to him. Kid is mentally 15 here. Give him a break, not a “don’t meet your heroes” moment

- He got small now :(

- “don’t meet your heroes” intensifies

- “I was a prodigy!” “I performed operations for money!” “More and more patients kept coming from all over the world!” “It only causes trouble!” “I could save the lives of those that other moronic doctors couldn’t save!” “Don’t you understand the agony of a prodigy!?” Can I punch him now. Like what the hell

- But I have no problem buying he was a good doctor and surgeon before that zombie business. He really feels like real doctors who only do their stuff for money. I suppose if you don’t believe in that inherent “saving lives” stuff, being a medic does leave you being like… this

- What an asshole, that’s what I’m saying

- Chopper says **** YOUR ZOMBIES, they’re just puppets and you’re not that smart

- “Don’t make a fool out of life!” yeah!

- What the **** Hogback, what are you doing to Cindry

- “Lick the floor, Cindry” “Yes, Hogback-sama”

Me:

- *flails around uselessly* how… how about No

[ETA: I’m writing that day after posting and I must say, I kinda went off with this chapter. All this Cindry Situation makes me really uncomfortable and that shows. Evil gotta evil and everything here is good writing but... I read in posts about “Coraline” that there are texts and concepts that kids love to read about but adults find terrifying and I think that’s exactly what happened here. I went Full Adult trying to explain and justify my discomfort.

With Chopper taunting Cindry, it’s all obviously intended and working as an “snap out of that mindcontrol already!” talk/moment BUT I really can’t imagine it being worded worse than it already was. I Do think it’s pretty much victim-blaming here but it’s more “very poor choice of words” here than something sinister. So, we’re good here. Enjoy me getting off the rails over this :)]

- Hogback tells his backstory! He had a celebrity crush on Cindry when she was alive! But she refused him! But then she died! And then! Wait, what

- He met Gecko Moria. And offered his services if Moria bring Cindry “back to life”

- “I easily obtained an obedient actress Cindry! I didn’t care for the character of the girl who rejected me! If only I had that beauty!” O_O

- “This is the zombie Cindry-chan! I’m happy, and I’m sure she must be, too… since she can once again live as a human in this world!” …

- I…

- First of all, this is disgusting and unethical, no question here. Hogback needs to die, let’s kill him

- Second of all, should that be in a shounen manga? Should we show that to the kids? Is that allowed? I mean, I think I wouldn’t be phased that much by that as a child, it would just be a little weird for me. But now it makes me feel all horrible inside, so. I wonder if they censored that part in some countries, because WTF

- Lastly, I kinda keep that blog strictly PG-13 and it wasn’t any kind of hardship or even really conscious up to this point, but now… Now I have questions I really don’t want answers to. Like ever

- CHOPPER SNAPPED, AS HE SHOULD

- “YOU ARE JUST CREATING MONSTERS!” yes!

- (side effect of this is that I’m even more uneasy about zombies being all around than I was before. I knew it was evil before but damn, I did NOT think about all the implications. It’s evil x10 now)

- Now Cindry and Chopper are fighting. At least she’s not on the floor anymore

- …excuse me?

- “I pity you! How would your family feel if they knew about this? Your wounds were horribly patched up! And you were turned into a soldier! Your relatives won’t be able to bear it!” Is Chopper victim-blaming Cindry here…?

- Cindry, who is a zombie AND was dead when they decided they’ll “resurrect” her? AND who had absolutely no say in the matter?

- …

- FUCK YOU ODA

- AND FUCK YOU FOR MAKING CHOPPER OF ALL CHARACTERS SAY THINGS LIKE THAT

- “Humans have more freedom! You are the one who isn’t treating them as humans!” Now that’s more like that. I will now erase past 6 panels out of existence AND my memory, thank you very much

- Robin springs into action!

- …?

- Zoro’s and Sanji’s shadows are fighting each other

- …god bless these idiots and their rivalry

- Bless :)

- Hogback tried to make them cooperate so Robin muted him :D

- “What happens when there is no more commands?” what indeed

- Now Robin tricked Hogback fair and square into throwing his zombies outta the window. So much for prodigy, huh

- Chopper is all business :D

- …Cindry is crying

What a rollercoaster. I thought that chapter would just be Chopper yelling and punching Hogback into next Sunday. Instead… this…

rOP 220  rOP 222

[chenziee]

Snacks before Cake

[Read on AO3 or below the cut]

Ship: Law/Luffy

Words: 1406

Summary: Trafalgar Law wasn’t ready for what was waiting for him in his apartment on a certain November afternoon.

He had expected to find his boyfriend waiting for him so they could relax a bit before getting ready to leave for their friend’s birthday party. He wrapping paper everywhere, maybe even clothes on the floor from where Luffy tried to pick out their outfits. What he hadn’t expected was the mountain of colourful boxes on the coffee table.

AKA your regularly scheduled last minute Pocky Day fic.

-------------

Trafalgar Law wasn’t ready for what was waiting for him in his apartment on a certain November afternoon.

He had expected to find his boyfriend waiting for him so they could relax a bit before getting ready to leave for their friend’s birthday party. He had expected to find wrapping paper everywhere, maybe even clothes on the floor from where Luffy had tried to pick out their outfits. What he hadn’t expected was the mountain of colourful boxes on the coffee table.

“Luffy-ya, what the hell?” Law asked, voice flat as he dropped his bag on the floor next to the couch his boyfriend was sitting on.

“Oh! Hi, Torao!” Luffy paused his game and let his head fall back to look at Law behind him, a wide grin on his face, a stick covered in green chocolate held safely in between his teeth.

Law huffed at the sight of him craning his neck back at an angle that shouldn’t be humanly possible, before he caved in and leaned down to press a quick, upside-down kiss to the corner of Luffy’s mouth. Only the corner because fuck if he was sharing half-eaten food with anyone, even if the other person was his boyfriend. “So what’s with all the Pocky?” he asked once they pulled away.

“It’s Pocky Day,” Luffy stated, looking at Law as if he was stupid for asking the obvious.

Blinking, Law looked pointedly at the coffee table, doing a quick count. “Twelve boxes. Because of Pocky Day.”

Luffy’s cheeks puffed up. “I know. It’s so little—” he paused to gulp down the rest of the sweet stick in his mouth— “but with the birthday party, I forgot to stock up.”

Law took a deep breath, wondering why he was even surprised; it wasn’t like Luffy didn’t eat constantly even without any food related holiday. But twelve boxes? “You’re going to get sick,” Law noted off-handedly, finally walking around the couch to join Luffy.

“I don’t get sick,” Luffy announced proudly, as if having a stomach of steel and terrible eating habits was something to gloat about.

This idiot was seriously ridiculous. Law was glad he wasn’t his doctor. Hoped he wouldn’t be his doctor—although, at the rate he was going, Luffy was asking for heart problems a few years down the road. But no matter how many times Law would try to scold him or try to get him to eat better, Luffy was stubborn and absolutely refused.

He wasn’t above throwing Law’s caffeine addiction in his face either, so Law eventually gave up.

“Are you planning to finish all that before we have to leave for Zoro-ya’s party or…?” Law asked conversationally when Luffy reached for a new box.

Law automatically put his arm around his boyfriend’s shoulders when he scooted over, pink box in one hand, video game controller in the other. “Torao, are you underestimating me?” Luffy shot back in return, a snicker accompanying his words.

Shaking his head, Law wondered why he even asked. Of course Luffy was planning on eating it all in under the hour they had left, and probably also eating everything Sanji was going to bring to the party. He made a mental note to try to save enough of the cake so that the birthday boy would get at least a slice. Nami really knew what she was doing when she forbade them from helping with the preparations and Law had to wonder how many parties his boyfriend had managed to ruin before he and his friends even started high school.

Suddenly, something nudged at his mouth and Law looked down, coming face to face with Luffy’s bright eyes, his mouth stretched in a grin around a new Pocky stick, which he was sucking on like a complete savage. Law would never understand what was so fun about licking the chocolate off until the biscuit was all soggy and then gulping the entire thing down because what was the point if you weren’t going to snap it? Why was this man like this, and why did Law tolerate it? It was honestly probably because the barbarian was so cute while doing inhumane things like biting into whole KitKats and sucking on Pocky—and because Law was weak.

Always weak to those eyes.

“Why are you poking me with a Pocky?” Law asked finally, pulling away a little bit in an effort to stop the incessant prodding.

Luffy cocked his head to the side, his eyebrows furrowing together slightly in confusion when he replied, “Don’t you want one?”

Law’s eyes slid down to eye the pink stick that was still hovering uncomfortably close and made a face. Fucking strawberry. “No, but thanks,” he refused simply, stopping himself from saying anything more. God knew he ranted about artificial strawberry anything more than enough on the regular.

“Oh right!” Luffy cried a split second later, slapping his forehead. “Sorry, I always forget you’re weird.”

Law scowled. The person who couldn’t even eat chocolate on a stick properly had no right to tell him he was weird for disliking a flavour, no matter how widely popular said flavour might be. But before he could so much a click his tongue at his so-called boyfriend, Luffy moved away from him and towards his Pocky pile, putting the strawberry flavour aside in favour of taking one of the other boxes out and returning to Law’s side.

“Sorry, I ate all the matcha—” Luffy apologized when he settled under Law’s arm again, ripping the box open— “but I still have blueberry!” There was a wide, triumphant grin on his face when he pulled out the thicker, light purple stick and shoved it in front of Law’s face.

Law chuckled at Luffy’s enthusiasm before he looked him straight in the eyes and leaned forward, slowly licking his lips; he took great pleasure in the way Luffy’s eyes stared transfixed at his mouth, and he had to stop himself from smirking and ruining the show too early. He waited until he saw Luffy gulp in response to the way his teeth closed around the Pocky stick gently, and then… he quickly broke the stick, the beautiful, satisfying snap of it breaking Luffy from his reverie.

Law would never get tired of how quickly Luffy could go from happy to flustred, or how amazingly bright his blush was. It was incredibly rare to see Luffy either flail or blush, which made the experience all the more gratifying, and Law didn’t bother to try to stifle the laugh that forced its way out of his chest.

He was just so adorable, especially the way he pouted over Law’s amusement while folding his arms over his chest. Luffy was probably trying to look upset and reprimanding but he only managed to look like a puppy who was upset over not getting a treat. Law’s smirk only widened at the thought, and he couldn’t resist ruffling Luffy’s hair.

The way the younger man leaned into his touch was pretty puppy like, too.

He wondered what would happen if he voiced his thoughts, whether Luffy would growl at him or if he would whine, but he resisted the temptation. He could tease Luffy more later when they didn’t have a birthday party to attend. And so, he only pulled Luffy a little bit closer, pressing a quick, little kiss to his temple.

“Don’t tease me,” Luffy grumbled but seemed to melt at the brief touch, relaxing into Law’s side as he put the rest of the half-eaten blueberry Pocky into his mouth. “You know you’re the only person I share food with.”

Law felt a genuine, soft smile pull at his lips. That was probably as close to a declaration of love as Luffy would ever get and Law would be lying if he said it didn’t make him happy, didn’t make butterflies go crazy in his stomach, as cheesy as it sounded.

“And you’re the only person I let hand feed me their food,” Law mumbled back, and goddamn it, now he was the one blushing.

These indirect confessions were seriously more embarrassing then simply saying ‘I love you’ but… the smile he got in return was worth it. Was worth any cheesy and embarrassing sentence; this man really had him wrapped around his little finger but Law couldn’t say he cared.

He truly loved this idiot, bright smiles and a mountain of Pocky and all.

[sanjisock]

blue

ao3. aoharu/hungry days-verse. warning for referenced child abuse

Zoro doesn’t see it, until he does.

Sometimes it’s just as simple as that. Like flipping on a light switch — one moment you didn’t see it, and then you do, all happening in the blink of an eye.

One moment everything seems normal — Sanji meeting him at the back of the gym building, passing Zoro his bento before the Kendo club starts like usual — and then Zoro sees it, the way Sanji stands with a weird slouch on his shoulder, his back leaning to the side, like he’s favoring his left. Zoro always thought the slouching was just an act, a way for the stupid Love Cook to look “cool” and impress the girls in their school, but a different thought crosses his mind for a second.

A different, terrible thought.

“Wait,” Zoro blurts out as Sanji is about to turn and make his way out of the school grounds. “Did you get into a fight?”

Sanji scowls. “Yeah. With you , two days ago.”

Well. They did get into a fight over some mundane shit Zoro can’t even remember anymore, but they both know their fights are more playful than anything. Neither of them intended to hurt . Sanji is still wearing their standard uniform, the long sleeves of their school blazer covering his arms, but Zoro would swear Sanji is —

“You know what I meant, Shit Cook.”

“Actually, I don’t ,” Sanji dismisses, clearly refusing to meet Zoro’s eyes, and the gesture makes something in Zoro’s chest feel heavy and uneasy. “So if you don’t have anymore bullshit to spout, my shift at the Baratie is starting in an hour —“

“I said wait ,” Zoro grabs Sanji by the arm, and Sanji winces. There’s a flash of pain in his eyes, and Zoro’s stomach churns at the sight.

“Let me go,” Sanji says, trying to tug his arm away from Zoro’s grasp, but it’s weak, weaker than Zoro would expect from the Cook.

“Your arm,” Zoro says, slowly putting two and two together. “I know you got hurt — I know you . You’ve barely moved your right here this whole day. What I don’t get is how, because you wouldn’t — you don’t fight with your hands —“

“I said let me go ,” Sanji hisses, clearly desperate, “Marimo —“

“And I didn’t have club yesterday,” Zoro ignores him, his heart pounding in his ears, this can’t be how he thinks it is, it can’t be — “We walked home together, and we didn’t walk past anyone, didn’t get into a fight with anyone. I saw you got into your front door —“

“ Zoro —“

“Then who could’ve done this to you —“

“I SAID LET ME FUCKING GO,” Sanji yells, snapping Zoro out of his train of thoughts.

That finally gets Zoro to release his grip, and Sanji quickly pulls his hand away, shrinking into himself like a wounded animal. Everything about it is so unlike the Sanji Zoro knows — foul-mouthed, confident Sanji, who could stare Zoro down without a hint of fear in his eyes.

The person standing in front of him is an entirely different person — Sanji is breathing erratically, his other hand absentmindedly rubbing his injured arm, and his voice shakes as he says, “I didn’t get into a fight, okay? This isn’t one of your Kendo matches.” He grits his teeth. “This isn’t something I can just fight .”

Like a flip of a light switch. In that moment, Zoro understands.

The Vinsmokes .

Zoro could feel his heart sink into anger, so visceral that he suddenly can’t see straight. He looks down to see his hands trembling with inarticulate rage, a thousand questions running through his mind — how could he have not seen this before? The way Sanji rarely, if ever, talked about his family; the way Sanji works in the Baratie even on the weekends, like he would rather be anywhere than back at his house. How did Zoro not notice that something was wrong?

How could he let this go on for so long?

Zoro fucking walked him home almost everyday. Like leading a lamb to slaughter.

All those trainings and after-school practices, all that talk about becoming the strongest, and yet he cannot protect those important to him still. He thinks of Kuina — remembers the feeling of hopelessness that gripped him like a vice the day she died — and feels like he has not taken a single step forward ever since. Nothing more than a mere child throwing a temper tantrum.

Zoro looks away in shame. “Have you told anyone?” He asks. Even if it wasn’t me, please, let there be someone who has reached out, who has helped —

Sanji shakes his head. “They’re the richest family in the whole city — hell , probably the whole prefecture,” Sanji points out, and Zoro doesn’t miss the word they , in third person; Sanji has never considered himself to be part of the Vinsmokes, how did Zoro not notice this before, how could he be so blind — “even if I had spoken up, they would’ve easily swept it under the rug. Can’t risk having the black sheep of the family ruin their reputation.”

There’s something in Sanji’s voice that reminds Zoro too much of desperation that he can’t help reaching out again towards him; softer, this time, mindful of Sanji’s wound under the sleeves, a light touch against Sanji’s upper arm. Sanji can pull away if he wants to. He doesn’t.

Zoro takes a step closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sanji makes a face he usually does when Zoro says something particularly stupid. “Because you would think I’m weak , obviously,” he scoffs at that, bitter, and the sound rattles against Zoro’s ribcage unpleasantly. “I bet you’re thinking that now, right? Finally realizes that I’m just a weakling who can’t even stand up against my own brothers —”

Before he can stop himself, Zoro steps into Sanji’s personal space and wraps his arms around the Cook.

Sanji’s sentence dies in his lips.

“Cook,” he says, pressing his lips against the side of Sanji’s temple, willing the words to sink in, “ Sanji . Listen to me. You’re one of the strongest and bravest men I’ve ever known, and the fact that you’re still standing tall in front of me right now is proof of that.” He tightens his embrace, his hand instinctively burying itself in Sanji’s golden locks. “These wounds do not define you.”

He can hear Sanji’s breath hitch at that.”I know this isn’t my fight,” he continues, mostly because Sanji needs to hear this, but also because it’s true: “but you’ll always have me, in any way you want to have me. This is your fight, but I will always have your back.”

He can feel Sanji finally — let go. Sanji slumps against his body, the taut muscles of his shoulders visibly relaxing. They stay like that for a while, Sanji’s face nestled in the crook of Zoro’s shoulder, Zoro’s hand buried in Sanji’s hair, and Zoro can’t help thinking how it feels so right , being with Sanji like this. They’ve never been tactile with each other — open displays of affection like hugging are more of Luffy and Usopp’s department — but this is… not bad. Not entirely terrible. Zoro could even say he likes it.

Zoro pretends he doesn’t see Sanji wiping his eyes as they break apart, and it’s another moment before Sanji says, “I — I haven’t told anyone this, but I’m planning to move out.”

Oh. Finally, a piece of good news. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Sanji nods. “I mean, we’re not adults yet, so I can’t do that immediately, but as soon as I turn eighteen…” he frowns, suddenly embarrassed. “I haven’t worked out the details yet, like where to live and all that. I’ll probably ask Zeff for a raise? I will have to pay for rent, and —”

“Live with me.”

“ — that is on top of daily needs, and,” Sanji pauses. Blinks. “Wait. What?”

It takes a few seconds for Zoro to realize the words that have come out of his mouth, and when the gravity of his request finally sinks in, he can feel his face heat up. “I mean — I was —” he clears his throat. Fuck it. Roronoa Zoro does not back down from a challenge, especially one he started himself. “It means what it means, Shit Cook. Live with me. That way you don’t have to worry about rent.”

He watches Sanji’s face turn deep red in record time, and he would burst out laughing if he wasn’t sure that his own face was equally as red. “Are you — what the hell —” Sanji sputters, “are you proposing , Marimo?”

Zoro suddenly feels like swallowing his kendo sword. “No, shut up!” Shit, how did it come out so wrong? “I was just thinking — there’s a spare room in my apartment, and Koshiro’s the one paying, I just — I thought you wouldn’t have to pay for rent, and we can make a home for you.” Holy fuck, that sounds even worse , and Sanji looks like he just washed his face with a tomato sauce now —  “We as in — I’m talking about everyone, shut up. Me, Luffy, Nami, Chopper, everyone. They can come over and do stuff.” He looks up and meets Sanji’s eyes. “We can make a home for you.”

Zoro thought Sanji would kick him in the head for spouting all these nonsense, but Sanji laughs instead, the kind that’s bubbling all the way from his chest. “You just — do you even hear yourself?” Sanji teases. “You should at least take me for a date first, Mosshead.”

“Shut up!” He yells, and absolutely does not pout.

Sanji smiles at that, a small and quiet thing, and it is his first smile of the day. It is as heart-stopping as it’s always been, Zoro thinks, and feels something bloom in his chest at the sight.

Zoro doesn’t know what this feeling means yet, but —

He huffs and turns to walk towards the gym building. He has a club to go to. “Whatever. We’ll figure it out,” he says, unsure if he’s talking to Sanji or himself. “Together.”

Sanji catches up to walk beside him. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Together.”

The smile stays on Sanji's face for a long time. Zoro counts it as a win.

[4-046]

Note - This is my first time writing anything, so please go easy on me :)

Soulmate AU! Where your soulmate’s first sentence you hear them say is tattooed on your arm

Idea by @akermanch on Tumblr

Art by @mushroomgrenade

Ace x Marco

“Welcome to Starbucks may I take your order?”

Those were the very words that were tattooed on Ace’s bare arms.

Ace has seen some people with the same tattoos on their arms just like him, and it’s not a rare sight nowadays. Being currently nineteen years old and almost twenty in a few months, Ace has been looking for his stupid soulmate for years. All his friends have found their soulmates, and even his stupid younger brother has Zoro!

They met when Luffy was a junior in high school, and the boy couldn’t be happier when he found out his soulmate had to redo his last year in the place. Not the same could be said with Zoro, but after meeting his hyperactive brother and falling for him after a few months, the boy wasn’t about to complain.

His other brother, Sabo, on the other hand, had met his soulmate Koala when he was twelve, and she has been like family to him since then.

All in all, Ace is happy for his brothers and is grateful for their other halves too.

But what about him? Where is his soulmate? And which fucking Starbucks do they work in?!

And now that question is something he’s been asking himself ever since he’s turned thirteen because he’s pretty sure that by then, he’s been over at least a hundred Starbucks in his state alone.

Ace is sick of getting “Nos” or sometimes a “Nah, my dude, I’m waiting for someone to order a grande skinny latte extra cream” whenever he asks a barista if they’re the one. And to make matters worse, most of the times he’d get a few snickers from people who are CLEARLY ON A DATE WITH THEIR SOULMATES.

And those days are the worst. Which are....most weekends.

Ace has been thinking of almost all the possibilities of why he hasn't met his soulmate yet. And you know what? Overthinking is seriously a bitch.

What if his soulmate doesn't even work in the United States? What if his soulmate found someone that isn’t Ace but ordered the same caramel snickerdoodle macchiato like him? Or what if his soulmate is sick of getting asked the same question and snaps at him?

Oh. Hell. No. is his soulmate snapping at him for asking that question.

Overall, you get the point, and as Ace said before, overthinking is a bitch.

Though honestly? Ace is ready to just give up right about now. As he just got another few snickers and laughs from a nearby couple grabbing their Frappuccinos after hearing Ace’s conversation with the new barista. New news, he got another no from the cutie with purple hair tied up in a chignon, she was nice enough to introduce herself as Carina, so she wasn’t that bad. The couple on the other hand?

“Y’know, I sincerely hope ya’ll get diabetes”

Did he just say that out loud?

“What the fuck did you just say you wretched fuck!”

Of course, he did.

Ace ran out of the door, not after grabbing his caramel snickerdoodle macchiato from another blonde barista and waving them off. He was taught to be polite, after all.

------------------------------------

Marco wasn’t even supposed to be in the store today, but apparently his colleague Drake had to call a day off since his soulmate came over to visit.

And would you know that,

“Y’know, I sincerely hope ya’ll get diabetes”

Was tattooed on Marco’s arm.

Marco was never a fan of his own soulmate tattoo since he thought of how distasteful it sounded.

So he normally would wear wrist bands to cover it up.

But for fuck's sake that was him!

Marco was the one to handed him his stupid secret menu caramel snickerdoodle macchiato too!

It all happened so fast, he just finished break and went out with his apron in hand, handing it to the freckled bastard. No. His soulmate now. He was handing his soulmate his caramel snickerdoodle macchiato and heard him say that fucking sentence.

His soulmate ran after saying it too, while Marco couldn’t think, his body moved on its own. And that was the best thing his body has done for him in a long while.

He thought.

Marco lost his soulmate. And he felt it too.

The bastard was lying on the ground in the middle of a street, a truck right beside him, and blood. Oh, blood. So much blood was pouring out of him, and the fucking couple was just standing there, not knowing what to do.

Marco didn’t know what to do, he can only feel a horrible stomach drop in his gut, and he couldn’t do anything but stand there and watch. Watch as the life of his soulmate drains from him, in an alarmingly fast pace.

Marco was dazed, and what brought him back was the loud sound of an ambulance coming through.

Marco couldn’t do anything but watch from afar while his soulmate got taken away.

He was terrified.

For the first time in his life, he was so scared he started to sob in the middle of the streets, with everyone watching.

He just stayed there, bawling his eyes out, until his colleague came out for him.

After getting into the staff room, Marco didn’t hear anything his colleague said until she asked him that question.

“Is Ace your soulmate?”

Looking up, Marco saw his ginger-haired colleague, her hair was tied in a messy ponytail, and her gentle brown eyes looked at him with worry.

“Pardon?” he asked

“Ace, is Ace your soulmate?” Nami asked again.

“Is that his name?” Marco’s face could be seen with confusion by now.

“The idiot that got hit by a truck outside? Yep, that’s him.” She explained.

Ace.

A-c-e.

“Ace”

His name rolled off Marco’s tongue without Marco even noticing.

That’s his soulmate’s name.

His name is Ace.

“Ace is your soulmate?” another voice chimed in.

Marco looked up. Red hair.

Why does everyone but him know his soulmate?

This is absurd.

But Marco replied to his manager regardless.

“Yes, uh, I mean, I guess? No. I’m pretty sure it’s him, but why-”

“Then why haven't you said so?” Shanks loudly exclaimed.

A tic mark formed on Marco’s forehead.

“It seems like he didn’t know until now boss.” Nami explained for him.

“Well, if that’s the case, come with me! I'm driving Luffy to the hospital now since he’s worried.” his manager loudly shouted right beside his BLOODY EAR.

But before Marco could utter out another word, he found himself standing up and leaving the store with Shanks.

------------------------------------

The ride itself was absolutely horrible.

Red Hair’s son was basically bawling for his apparent “big brother”, Marco would have to remember that later. While the other, who introduced himself as Sabo, he was quite polite, tried to calm the kid.

Apparently his name is Luffy.

And with Luffy’s bawling, he could make out that this sort of accident, in fact, isn’t the first time that happened to this...Ace. To his soulmate.

Marco is beginning to worry more now.

And according to Shanks, the reason why literally everyone in the store knows Ace but him is because he’s a regular on Sundays.

And Marco just so happens to take Sundays off.

When they got to the hospital, Marco wasn’t allowed in the patient’s room since he wasn’t “family member” according to the nurse.

Marco was his bloody soulmate!

But oh no, since he couldn’t exactly prove it, he wasn’t allowed in.

After about half an hour, Shanks came out and told him that Ace was stable, and suggested him to go back home and take the day off.

He promised Marco that he would talk to Ace and inform Marco when Ace wakes.

------------------------------------

The pain ringing inside Ace’s head was horrible, and when he woke up somewhere unfamiliar to him, you couldn’t exactly blame him for panicking.

The room was big and white, and there was a table beside him, a cup of water and two orange pills on it, a television right in front of him, and he could feel the wind to his left.

Ace looked around, but before he could move his neck further, a shot of pain ran through him.

He yelped, and not even seconds, someone barged into the room.

“WHAT THE OUCH!”

Another shot of pain ran through him, but way bigger this time, and Ace couldn’t help it anymore, as tears start spilling through his eyes.

“Don’t move so much Ace-ya, your wounds are still fresh, and you’ve been out cold a day and a half, let your body rest”

“I've been WHAT?!”

The guy that barged in just sighed in response, pushed Ace down softly to his bed, and started to write on his clipboard. He had a plastic name tag on him.

“Tr-tra-traflger-traflgar-”

Another pain shot through Ace, but this time, his arms. He could see the blue liquid being injected into his systems and roughly pulled his hand back with anger.

“What the fuck Traffy?!” Ace exclaimed.

“This is sedative Ace-ya, don’t worry, it’ll help you. You’re also just like Strawhat-ya I see, I suppose it makes sense since your siblings…” “Traffy” replied with a nonchalant tone

And Ace finally looked at “Traffy” properly, he had sideburns, a goatee, black messy hair, silver eyes, and a bunch of badass tattoos on him. He was also wearing a lab coat? Spotted jeans and a white fur hat with black spotted patterns on it.

He’s kinda hot.

But he’s not Ace’s soulmate.

“Traffy where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital, room 311. Also, don’t call me Traffy. You can call me Law.”

Ace looked out the window a bit, as it was a sunny day, birds are chirping, and he could see kids outside playing.

Law looked at him and cleared his throat a bit.

Ace turned over slowly to look at Law.

“We had to cut your hair a bit to patch you up, I hope you don’t mind. You were in a car crash, and your head was unfortunately hit, but you’ll be fine, and you can leave in about a week. I will inform your family members soon, and you would be able to see them.”

Ace nodded but stayed silent.

“Would you like anything for now?” Law asked.

Ace looked up and shooked his head.

Ace didn’t want anything now.

He’s just tired.

Ace closed his eyes, he might as well have a nap right now.

Until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

It was Law, his cold silver eyes looked at him with no emotion.

“You’re uncle Shanks wanted me to give you this piece of paper. Remember to eat your pills, and stay hydrated, call me if you need anything else with the button beside your bed.”

Handing Ace the white piece of paper, Law left without a word.

------------------------------------

Marco couldn’t sleep for the whole week without the help of sleeping pills.

Shanks didn’t call back, and he didn’t come to the store since last week, Marco was worried sick but no one could help him in any way.

This was Marco’s own problem, and this was HIS soulmate.

He’ll be fine, Marco assured himself multiple times during the day, and his tired droopy eyes were droopier than ever.

Dark circles formed beneath his eyes, and his colleagues have started to worry about him.

Marco was fine though, he must be fine.

He will be fine when Ace wakes up.

The bell ringed and without looking up, Marco automatically replied with

“Welcome to Starbucks may I take your order?”

After fumbling with his apron, Marco looked up with his pen in hand and his eyes widened.

“...Ah”

Right in front of him, stood a freckled face, half his messy black hair cut off with bandages wrapped around his head and face.

“Are you my soulmate?”

Marco’s froze.

He didn’t know what to say.

Ace looked back at him, disappointment could be seen from his face.

“Or, not. I-uh, Shanks just gave me a description that a guy named Marco with blond hair said he’s my soulmate, but maybe I got the wrong person-”

“I-I don’t understand.” Marco managed to mutter out.

“I’m sorry?” Ace asked.

“Red Hair didn’t contact me, I-I thought you were still in the hospital!” Marco stuttered out in a frenzy.

“Oh! Well, Shanks is on a business trip without any services, he would probably be back in a few days.” Ace replied, cheerfully now.

Marco looked at the freckled teen, and finally, relief washed over him, and the stress from the past week came crashing down. He reached over the counter and grabbed the teen and hugged him in an awkward position, but Marco didn’t care.

Because Ace is safe.

Ace hugged back with emotion, strong as Marco’s.

Pulling away, Marco gave Ace a tired grin.

Which Ace gave back with, but a lot brighter than Marco’s.

“My name is Ace.”

“I uh, already know that. Name’s Marco.”

“I already know that too.”

Marco would have to remind himself to kick Red Hair’s ass when he gets back.

[neverwatchedonepiece]

531-533: "The Ryugu Palace! Taken by the Shark that they Saved!", "A Coward and a Crybaby! The Princess in the Hard Shell Tower!" and��"It's an Emergency! The Ryugu Palace is Occupied!"

Pappagu’s gonna stroke out with stress. Yup. Any minute now.

Loved these episodes! The humour that took an exit stage left during Marineford (for obvious reasons) is back. Most of the humor was comedy of errors type stuff. We had Luffy accidentally bouncing on some giant mermaid tiddies. Luffy being unwittingly rude and poor Pappagu nearly having a stress embolism (look at those veins!) There was Zoro getting drunk and waking up in a jail cell. Brook, Usopp, Nami and Zoro accidentally occupying the entire palace and taking a bunch of important hostages... xD

There were some short updates on other characters too. Some have already had an impact on the plot. Caribou has kidnapped some Mermaids with intent to sell them at the Sabaody slave market. Without knowing it, he has exacted perfect revenge on the Strawhats! But how will you leave Fishman Island, Caribou. You don’t have a ship, you absolute roaster. 

Others I’m guessing Oda is keeping up his sleeve for later. Robin, Franky, Sanji and Chopper are still at large. Robin is wandering the island in search of important evidence of missing history. Franky, bless his mechanical heart, is off looking for Tom-san’s family. Chopper is done treating Sanji. He has a new point: Kung Fu Point. Nice to see that Chopper has some more offensive abilities that don’t completely strip him of his intelligence. :)

That’s Some Nice Real Estate, Neptune. Would Be A Shame If Someone Occupied It.

You know what? I like Neptune. His advisors might browbeat him, but at least he’s the type of ruler who will listen to advice, even if he doesn’t take it. He has his own mind and will follow his inner sense of justice, though it might conflict with what his advisors tell him.

Luffy on the Fish Boat back to Ryugu Palace was hilarious, though. Neptune kept doing a Jason Derulo: saying his own damned name all the time in the little songs he sang to himself and Luffy was like, “Mate, your chant is dumb.”  (I mean, Luffy, you’re not wrong but maybe not to the king’s face next time?) Either Neptune is chilled enough to ignore it, or he didn’t hear, Pappagu did, though, and was on hand to give Luffy a five-armed starfish spanking.

Neptune cares about his family too. The princess’ happiness is important and as she can’t get out the house much (more on that later) rescuing Megalo was a Big Deal. “Didn’t mean to save you, but I’m glad you’re okay!”

Too honest, Luffy! xD

Then Neptune told the Strawhats that one of their crewmates was already there. I knew instantly it was Zoro. Only Zoro could be that hopelessly lost that he’d accidentally infiltrate a palace with only one heavily guarded entrance and a buzzer system.

There was also a handy bit of world-building. Neptune handed Luffy a device that looked suspiciously like a pink dildo with multipurpose attachments. It was called Bubbly Coral and enables the user to form their own oxygen bubbles whenever, wherever. Useful.

They zoomed through the entrance flume and emerged into a beautiful place full of light, grand buildings, colour and dragon statues. Dat real estate.

As soon as Neptune stepped through the door, his Minister of the Right advisor (seahorse guy) got laid into him. “WTF, my lord?? You went out again on your own? You know the situation in this country??” Neptune is like Princess Jasmine All he needs is a cute Sea Tiger pet and he’s sorted. Either that, or Neptune is confident enough in his strength to face whatever’s out there. 

The Minister of the Left (catfish guy) took one look at the company Neptune had brought back and was like, “Um.... my lord, there’s something you should know about those Strawhat Pirates.” They spilled the current intel: Memaids had been kidnapped, which is something human pirates are known to do, and Madame Sharley had predicted Luffy would destroy Fishman Island. Unconscious Zoro had already been taken into custody. The rest of the Strawhats were under arrest!

(I’m having doubts about this Madame Sharley, by the way. I wonder if she’s working with Hordy Jones, or is being forced to work with him? Zero basis for this prediction. Only that the timing of the prediction is pretty damned convenient...)

Then Everyone Fell Out

Suddenly, the Strawhats were surrounded by guards. I say the Strawhats. I mean Usopp, Nami and Brook because Luffy had gone AWOL (more on that later). The Mermen made a sensible, tactical decision to burst the Strawhats’ bubbles and force them to fight in the water. But they made the mistake of showing Nami how to operate the Bubbly Coral. She used a giant one to drain the room of water. (Good job, Nami. Quick thinking as usual!) Brook had a badass moment. That’s why I like him. He can go from his goofy, kind, fun-loving self to scary swordsman with a snap of his bony fingers.

Usopp was ready to throw down, which was a nice surprise. I was so hyped to see what his new weapon can do, but was blue-balled. Ah, well. Next time! :D

Oh, and Zoro let himself out of jail. xD

Or Zori, as Neptune kept calling him. Another trait to add to Neptune being a stand up guy was that he volunteered to fight Zori because he didn’t want anyone else getting hurt. A good king!

The next thing, Zoro had plowed through everyone and Usopp was freaking out about overkill! “FFS, Zoro! We were just going to intimidate them and run!”

Zoro thought, “Yes. Run. Let’s bail.”

Usopp said, “A great plan, but we don’t know where Sunny is. Plus, the coating came off when we crashed through the bubble.”

Nami also added that the Log Pose had been unstable ever since they arrived (what does that mean?)

Then a nearby DDM rang.

Accidental Criminals

This whole scene was hilarious. Honestly, I came into this arc expecting lots of heavy stuff about Fishman vs humans racism and I’m getting accidental criminal activity and comedy hostage-takings. It’s awesome.

Zoro picked up the DDM and Usopp freaked out. “Don’t pick it you, you dumbass!” It was Fukaboshi, the eldest Merprince. He asked Zoro to open the gate.

“Yeah, no can do. But I’ll tell you what you can do...”

For Zoro had spied an Opportunity. (For all everyone calls Zoro a dumbass, he can be really clever sometimes).

“We have your father and the palace hostage. We need a new coating for the Sunny. And we need the rest of our crew: a gloomy woman, a robot, a raccoon, and a dirty water imp.”

“HAHAHAH, a dirty water imp. Classic!” Brook chortled.

“Oh, and a million Berry in cash, please, Zoro,” Nami added.

The Strawhats really have taken a level in grey morality, it’s hilarious. Their reactions to Zoro’s Big Idea were even more than I’d have expected from them two years ago (except Nami. She’s always had half an eye on treasure).  And they are clearly confident they can escape from Fishman Island in one piece.

Fukaboshi agreed because he had no choice. It seems he’s a stand up kinda guy too, because he delivered a message from Jimbei to Luffy (this caused a stir in the palace. Jimbei is even more godly down there than on the surface).

The message was: “Do not fight against Hordy. I will meet you at the Sea Forest.”

Do not fight against Hordy? Really? There’s history between them, right? Jimbei and Hordy, I mean. They were both Sun Pirates. Or is that Arlong and Jimbei? Yeah, I think it’s Arlong and Jimbei. But maybe Hordy was also on that crew? 

Something is up here...

But I never found out what because some Big Booms happened off-panel in the direction of the Princess’ room.

Which happened to be where Luffy was, of course.

Princess Peach

So Luffy, who only came to the palace for food, got fed up within 0.5 seconds of arriving and wandered off. He came across a pair of massive, solid-looking doors. A pair of axes were embedded in them. Must admit my first thought was, “Oh cool, the princess is an angry, fighting type!”

Nope. Completely wrong.

Luffy sneaked inside because he could smell food. One thing led to another and he ended up bouncing on the giant Mermaid Princess’ giant tiddies. (If Sanji ever finds out, he will never speak to Luffy again.) 

Of course, she woke up and was like, “Why is there a tiny human bouncing on my tiddies? I did not consent to this.” And she shrieked and cried, as you would if some hungry, little random was bouncing on you. I love how Luffy could not deal with her giant tears. It’s one of his rare weaknesses. Like, what, why are you crying, stop, plz, I did nothing to you.

Turns out the Princess is not a fighting type. She is actually a terrified, sweet girl who has been locked in a Hard Shell Tower for ten years because Captain Bloody Vander Decken is an annoying fucking sex-pest who will not take no for an answer!

The action briefly cut to him ranting away about how he was convinced Neptune wanted to force her into a political marriage because she was really in love with Decken. That he could not allow her to be with anyone else and he would rather see her dead than with anyone else. “Your life is either death or marriage. I will present her this lovely boomerang axe with a rose on it.” You know, because if you’re going to be decapitated, I guess it’s nice to know it’s done with love and good intentions, right? Absolutely insane. This guy is Major Incel Material.

Of course, Decken’s latest “gift” whirled into the room and Luffy stopped it. He was like, “WTF, where did this come from?”

The Guards burst in and the Princess saved Luffy’s ass by hiding him. Of course, Luffy overheard what had happened to the others. He wasn’t bothered. “Meh, that’s fine. Your lot won’t be able to control them, anyway.” Just goes to show how much faith Luffy has in his crew’s strength after those two years. 

To repay Luffy, the Princess said he could eat her giant food. While he ate, she asked him questions. The most interesting was this one:

“You’re a pirate,” she said. “Does that mean you’re a bad person?”

Luffy thought about this, then answered, “Hmm... I dunno. You decide.”

(Just another incident to add to my growing: Luffy’s Grey Morality Evidence Pile.)

The Princess told Luffy Decken has a DF power called Mark Mark. It sounds pretty useful, actually, (which is bad for her). If he designates someone as his mark, he can throw a weapon and hit them every time, unless an obstacle is in the way. That’s why she’d been locked in the Tower for ten years.

Luffy was confused, as you would be if someone told you that. “He wants to marry you but wants to kill you? WTF?” and said, “Ten years? You must be bored. I’d get sick if someone locked me up for ten years.”

Then he yelled at her because she poked his cheeks while he was eating (tbh, that would make me mad too. Just because he’s little does not mean Luffy is a pet!) But she’s just a lonely girl with minimal social skills because she’s been locked up for so long and she could not handle Luffy yelling at her.

Luffy being Luffy, was honest to the point of being Super Harsh. “You might be big, but you’re a coward and a crybaby. I don’t like you! You’ve stayed hear for ten years, eh? That could make you sick. Isn’t there anywhere you wanna go? Come on, let’s go for a walk!”

Luffy gave her the Unblinking Luffy Stare.

There is no returning from that.

Once he puts an idea in someone’s head and gives them That Look, they are done for.

The whole meeting the Princess scenes reminded me of the Big Baby from Spirited Away. The one who wouldn’t go outside because Yubaba had told him all about germs and he was afraid but was still fascinated by Chihiro because he was lonely and wanted her to play. Except this situation is more complicated because Neptune is a Good Dad and only wants to protect his daughter from a pest who he is trying to arrest but cannot find. It’s for her safety. Just as well Luffy is there with a cunning plan to get her out for a walk, eh?

Nah, Luffy. Absolutely no one will realise there’s something up here... xD

Sex-Pest Shakes Hands With Roid Peddler

Meanwhile, the shady villains have teamed up! I don’t think that’s happened in One Piece yet. It’s an alliance of convenience based on a common enemy. They both hate Neptune for different reasons. Hordy’s is political. Decken’s? Because he’s a sex-pest.

Prediction? I bet Hordy will betray Decken. Evidence? None. Just wishful thinking. I want to see Decken get his pathetic ass kicked. 

“And I would like to add a side order of salt and chili fries to our ransom demands.”

[kenbunshokus]

it’s a long way forward

zoro/sanji | 5k words

Because the universe hates him, out of all the weird Devil Fruits out here, Sanji gets hit by one that’s absolutely laughable. Of course. A Devil Fruit powers that doesn’t allow you to smile? What kind of ridiculous power is that?

It’s funny, until it isn’t.

(ao3)

This work is commissioned by FenrirBass on twitter.

+

In Sanji’s experience, nothing good ever happened following the phrase, there’s good news and bad news.

It isn’t exactly the worst phrase in the world, but it’s definitely somewhere up there on the list. Right above, there’s a marine ship outside, and below the much dreaded, Luffy, no, get back here right no—oh shit, he just left. Most of the time it’s not even Good News and Bad News—it’s Bad News and Even Worse, Absolutely Terrible News, Fuck You.

Which is why when he wakes up in the infirmary bed and hears Chopper say, there’s good news and bad news, he dramatically announces, “I’m going to die, aren’t I.”

Chopper looks more amused than horrified by the theatrics, which is a good sign. “You’re not going to die, Sanji,” Chopper says with a smile on his face, though it quickly slips into a frown. “Unless you feel like dying. Oh my god, do you feel like dying, somebody call a doctor—”

“You’re the doctor,” he reminds the little doctor, giving him a calming pat in the head. “And don’t worry. I’ll be fine, Chopper.”

He tries to give Chopper a reassuring smile at that, but somehow finds himself unable to. It’s an odd feeling, like trying to flip a light switch at the back of his head, only to see it flip back off by itself. He brings a hand to his face, almost instinctively, and prods at it, but there’s nothing there except his skin; no bandage or weird wounds, or worse, an iron mask— 

That’s one dangerous train of thoughts, so Sanji changes the subject. “Is Ace still around?”

Chopper shakes his head. “We parted ways right after the fight.”

It’s a little bit disappointing, but not surprising—the skirmish mostly involved the Whitebeard Pirates and a pirate crew who held a grudge towards them; the Straw Hats were just tagging along, having run into Ace again after they left the Sky Islands.

Sanji feels a certain kind of wistfulness at the thought of Ace. He likes Ace—the confident way the man carries himself, yes, but mostly the way he assumes the role of a doting, loving older brother so naturally, like a second skin. Luffy clearly looks up to him, and Sanji feels a tug at his chest when he remembers Ace affectionately ruffling Luffy’s hair. 

Not that Sanji knows what a good older brother is truly like, though. Not when— 

He balks at his own thought. Get yourself together, dumbass, he mentally scolds himself—it’s rare that he thinks of them these days, and rarer still that he’d do it twice in such a short time. The attack from the other pirate crew must’ve knocked him more than he thought.

Speaking of. “So, what’s the good news?”

Chopper nervously flips through his charts, avoiding Sanji’s gaze. “You only broke your left leg.”

Sanji groans. “That’s the good news?” 

“There’s no apparent long-lasting damage,” Chopper quickly adds. “It’s a clean break, so everything will heal perfectly. It usually takes around six to eight weeks to heal a broken bone, but considering your constitution, I would put it at three weeks at worst.” 

Sanji tries to shift his left leg. There’s a small jolt of pain at the movement, but it feels dulled, and doesn’t seem so bad. It’s still going to be a pain in the ass to cook with, though. “And the bad news is…?”

Chopper sighs, and seems to steel himself for Sanji’s reaction, before finally saying with a whisper. “It’s your face…” 

Sanji feels his stomach sink. His face? What happened to his face? He looks at the way Chopper’s shoulders sag downwards, and expects the worst—a terrible gash on his face, maybe? What would the ladies think? Oh, shit, he would match with Zoro. Disgusting.

He scrambles towards the mirror, making sure he doesn’t put too much weight on his broken leg, and sees a haggard version of himself staring back from the mirror. It shouldn’t be a surprise—he just came out of a fight, after all—but he is, because there’s a tired edge on his expression that feels bone-deep, his mouth turning downwards. His eyebrows are knitted in a scowl, and he tries to smooth it away.

Except—he can’t. 

He tries to smile, this time. His lips tilt up, in a way, but the smile still looks pained. He tries to laugh, and his face just forms a nasty grimace.

“Chopper—what exactly happened to me?”

 +

 “One more time! One more time!” Luffy cheers, launching himself towards Sanji, only to be met with a kick to the face.

Sanji kicks him towards Usopp, who’s already lying face down on the ground, and they fall on top of each other with a loud, oof. He stares threateningly towards the pile. “Anyone who pulls any other stupid shit will get kicked overboard.”

Luffy and Usopp give a reluctant, oooookay, and Zoro snickers at that, but thankfully nobody dares to say anything else. 

When Chopper broke the news to the crew, they’ve mostly taken it in stride. Expression-altering fruit isn’t even in the top ten of the list of Weird Things the Straw Hats Have Come Across in the Grand Line, and Sanji doesn’t feel like telling them that it may have affected him more than just his face.

Usopp immediately tried to tell a joke, and when then failed, dove with Luffy towards Sanji to tickle him. They both earned zero laughs and two kicks to the face.

“This isn’t funny!” He scolds them.

“It’s a little funny,” Robin chimes in with a cruel, little smile on her beautiful face.

“Robin-chwan,” Sanji whines, and falls down dramatically in front of her.

“Oh!” Zoro says in mock surprise, “the face fits now.”

Sanji tries to glare, but only ends up looking sad. He feels sad too, and doesn’t know if the constant scowling makes him unhappy, or if the unhappiness forces him to permanently scowl. It’s like some kind of a fucked up vicious cycle that’s starting to wear him down.

Sanji pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to calm himself down. “Where’s the guy who did this?” he asks. 

The crew shares looks among themselves, before Luffy speaking up, “Ace took him with the rest of the other pirates for punishment.”

Forget calm. Sanji is this close to throwing himself overboard. “What!? How can we fix whatever’s wrong with me then!?” 

“Calm down, Cook,” Zoro cuts in. “We’ve interrogated him.”

“His power freezes the person’s expression in line with the memory and emotion felt when the power hits,” Chopper explains. “The devil fruit user doesn’t have control of the expression afterwards; the owner of the expression must resolve the feeling he had to release themselves from the control of the fruit. Sort of like finding a closure.” 

Usopp slowly sits up from the floor and tilts his head. “Why did you look so sad?”

“Because my leg was fucking broken?” He grits out, and Usopp yelps and scrambles away. “I don’t know, it happened pretty quickly, and it’s not like I was conscious afterwards.”

That isn’t exactly true. Sanji remembers the moment the power hit—the familiar feeling of pain mixing with the unfamiliar sensation that must’ve been unique to the devil fruit’s power, like someone shoved their hands into his chest and squeezed, ribs and bones and heart altogether. Sanji prides himself on his high constitution and pain tolerance, but he remembers the flash of fear in that moment, the few seconds when he thought, this is it. I’m going to die. 

And just like the starving kid on the rock years ago, the only thing on his mind when he was dying was—

“That’s easy, then!” Chopper says cheerfully, snapping Sanji out of his train of thoughts. “The expression stemmed from the pain from your broken leg, so as soon as your leg heals, the power will be gone, too!”

Everyone seems to agree with Chopper and considers the case closed. Sanji doesn’t want to concern them, so he plays along with it, even though he doesn’t buy that explanation even one bit. 

Judging from the way Zoro’s eyes follow him throughout the exchange, neither does the swordsman.

 +

 When Zoro walks into the galley, Sanji has been expecting him.

“Hey,” he says by way of greeting. He’s balancing himself against the kitchen counter, his broken leg bent and away from the floorboard. His other hand is stirring the soup he’s boiling for dinner. “Dinner’s not ready.”

“I’m not here for dinner,” Zoro says, direct as always. That, too, Sanji has expected. They may’ve been together for only a couple of weeks, but Sanji has known Zoro—as a nakama, as a rival, as a person—longer than that, has learned and understood him better than he understands himself in the months they sailed together.

The arms around his middle is unexpected, though.

“In case you didn’t notice, I have a meal to cook,” he teases, trying to keep the tone light. He leans into Zoro’s embrace, back pressing against the swordsman’s chest.

Zoro is clearly buying none of his false cheer, because he just grunts and buries his face into the crook of Sanji’s neck.

Sanji sighs. He puts the lid on top of the pot. “All right, I’ll bite. What is it?”

“You look like shit,” Zoro says into his shoulder. 

Sanji scoffs at his boyfriend’s bluntness. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“No. I mean it. You—” He pauses, seemingly in deep thought. Sanji tilts his head back to catch Zoro’s expression; he rarely sees Zoro so distressed, and it’s starting to worry him. “I’ve seen you fight countless of times; I know how good you are at handling pain. This… look you have on your face—this isn’t just from the hit, is it?”

Sanji can hear his own heart thumping. Count on Zoro to notice all these little things, even in the midst of a fight. Sanji racks his brain to avoid the conversation he isn’t ready to have yet, and immediately thinks of a new distraction technique he recently learned to pull off. Quite well, if he may say so himself.

He turns his body and pulls Zoro into a kiss.

It’s sloppy and messy, all lips and tongues, but it’s a good enough distraction because Zoro returns the kiss with a delighted hum. Sanji bites Zoro’s lower lip playfully, hard enough to make Zoro’s hands tighten their grip on Sanji’s sides.

“I wasn’t done,” Zoro complains once Sanji releases his lips, but it’s a weak argument, if the way Zoro’s hands have slipped towards Sanji’s ass is any indication. 

“Right,” Sanji says, and wishes he could give Zoro a cheeky smile right now. He makes it up with another kiss against the hollow of Zoro’s collarbone. “Can we just drop this for now?”

Zoro tips Sanji’s chin up with a touch of his hand, gentle, gentler than most would expect him to. The gesture makes Sanji’s heart stutter against his ribcage, and Sanji is glad when Zoro dives into another kiss, because he might have said something stupid. Like a cheesy confession or something.

“I’ll drop it,” Zoro says against his lips after a moment, but quickly adds, “for now. Only because you’re good with your mouth.”

Sanji really wishes he could make a cheeky smile. “Did Marimo just admit I was a good kisser?”

“Shut up,” Zoro says, but doesn’t disagree. Sanji counts it as a win. 

As Zoro trails kisses along the nape of Sanji’s neck, Sanji thinks the brute is just being his overreacting, overprotective self. Sanji can handle himself—always does—and he can absolutely handle something as simple as this.

 +

 He can’t handle this.

He bites down on his cigarette and spits it on the sidewalk in frustration.

It’s been three weeks since the disaster with the shitty devil fruit, and while his leg is healing at a rate most people could only dream of, whatever mumbo-jumbo affecting his face doesn’t seem to show any signs of healing.

The pitying looks have been annoying enough—he has had strangers at the market tell him to go home and rest, as if a sad face had magically transformed him into a crippling old man. He usually tries to brush them off, but it’s not easy, considering he can’t even smile back at them. Supply runs take twice longer than usual, and by the time he gets back to the ship, he usually doesn’t have enough time to do anything else.

The random bar fights add to the nuisance—there are people who think that he’s weak just because he looks like he’s going to burst into tears at any given moment, which is, fine. That’s a fair assumption. He isn’t letting anyone alive after assuming that Black Leg Sanji, out of all people, is weak, and he’s been kicked out of bars more times in the past three weeks than he’d been in a lifetime.

But then, there are the ladies.

The ladies on the islands they dock at, of course. The ones who deserve his smiles and his utmost attention, who now only get creeped out by his presence. Flowery words and grand romantic gestures don’t exactly look welcoming when your face looks like you just killed your neighbor’s dog, after all.

But the worst of it all, is the reaction from the ladies on the ship.

“Surely you didn’t mean that, Nami-san?” he says, voice almost a squeak. He tries to smile, mentally begging his facial muscles to pull the ends of his lips upwards, but all he manages is a weak grimace. 

“No, really, Sanji-kun,” she says, and at least looks a little bit guilty. “All the…” she gestures vaguely at Sanji, “swooning gets really weird with the face, so either you tone down on it or you just stay away from me and Robin for the time being.”

Preposterous. Impossible. That’s like telling him to choose between jumping into a sea of lava or sleeping on a bed of needles. He turns to Robin for support. “Robin-chan...”

”I’m sorry, Cook-san,” she says, clasping her hands together apologetically. “Maybe once your leg heals.”

”If that’s what you wish,” he concedes, and feels as miserable as he looks.

 +

 His leg heals, over time.

His face doesn’t.

Everyone starts throwing worried glances at him. Sanji tells them he’s fine, and ignores the way the grief against his heart seems to sharpen every time he fails to smile.

 +

 Sanji wakes up with a scream lodged on his throat.

He jerks upwards, the movement so sudden his hammock sways and almost tips him towards the ground. Zoro is immediately alert, thankfully, sitting up and putting his weight on the other side of the hammock, steadying it.

They’ve been sleeping in the same hammock more often than not these days. It’s a tight fit—Merry’s hammock wasn’t exactly built for two male young adults—but it’s the good kind of tight fit, the kind that allows Sanji to feel the warm press of Zoro’s body lulling him to sleep every night.

But now, with Zoro’s eyes boring into him with unnerving intensity, Sanji wishes he had slept alone just so he could hide this. 

“Another dream?” Zoro asks, almost in a whisper, so as not to wake the others up.

Sanji doesn’t see a point in lying, so he nods. “Yeah,” he admits.

“That’s the third time this week,” Zoro points out. It’s getting worse, he doesn’t say, but Sanji can hear the words anyways, hanging heavy in the space between them. 

Sanji presses a hand to his chest, feeling his heart pound loudly. He can barely remember his nightmare now, the memory quickly fading into blurred colors, but he can guess what it was about, and he hates it. Hates the way those bastards still have a hold on him even after all these years, hates the way his hands still shake at the thought of seeing his siblings again, hates the way he can still feel the phantom bruises along his torso—

“I’m fine,” he chokes out. It doesn’t sound convincing even to himself, but it’s the best Sanji can muster right now. 

He jolts in surprise when he feels Zoro’s hand on his cheek.

“’Fine,’ huh,” Zoro says. The tips of his fingers are cold and wet, and Sanji suddenly realizes that he’s been crying.

“Shit,” he says, trying to wipe the tears away, but it’s like opening the floodgate of emotions. “Shit, shit, shit,” he curses. feeling all the dense, suffocating pain he has tried to tamp down around his chest burst open and spilling all over and he can’t stop crying, what the fuck. 

He barely notices Zoro pulling him into a hug, and he sobs into Zoro’s chest as the other man rubs soothing circles at the small of his back.

He falls into a heavy, half-slumber while a part of him remains awake. The back of his eyelids burns and his ribs hurt like knives, and he thinks of Zoro, who’s never been anything but honest with him, and maybe sharing this part of his past with someone else doesn’t seem so bad.

 +

 “’I want to cook for my mother,’” Sanji says.

He waits for the words to sink in; watches Zoro slowly look up from his meal and blink. “What?” 

They have just docked at another island. It’s just the two of them on the Merry, so it’s not like there’s anyone who can overhear their conversation, but Sanji still can’t bring himself to say the words out loud in more than a whisper. “When the power hit, I thought—I thought I was going to die. And that’s the only thing I always think of whenever things go to shit,” he explains. “You’re right, it was never about the broken leg. It was, ‘I want to cook for my mother.’”

Zoro stares at him, and Sanji squirms under his scrutiny. There’s a moment of silence before Zoro asks, “you remember your mother?”

“Not much, but I remember—enough,” he says. Zoro has told him everything about Kuina, about his past, and Sanji reminds himself that the man deserves at least this much from Sanji. “I was eight when she passed away. She used to try my cooking, back when I was still learning, and I—wonder, sometimes, what she’d think if she could eat my cooking this time.” 

Zoro nods at that. Sanji is grateful that Zoro isn’t offering him some half-assed condolences, and realizes that Zoro probably knows, better than most, what it feels like to deal with the kind of grief that’s been dulled by time.

“You think this is what keeping the powers?” Zoro guesses. 

“Couldn’t think of anything else,” Sanji shrugs. “And—look, I know this is stupid, but the fantasy kind of, uh, morphed over the time, so it kind of involves cooking for my mother with my lover,” he mumbles the last part.

It takes a moment for the words to register in Zoro’s brain, and Sanji can see the exact moment it does as Zoro face breaks into a stupid smirk.

“What was that? Couldn’t really hear the last part there, Cook,” Zoro says.

Sanji feels his face heat up. “Shut up.”

“You want me to meet your mother, huh?” 

“Shut the fuck up,” Sanji half-yells. Zoro laughs, loud and free, and Sanji is secretly grateful that the swordsman didn’t freak out and break up with him or something. “Anyway,” he says loudly over the peals of laughter, “I was thinking of making her something simple, like a bento.”

The laughter finally dies down at the mention of food. Predictable, that brute. “Oh? Thought you would make one of your stupid fancy food.”

“My ‘fancy’ menus are not stupid, asshole,” Sanji retorts as he starts to gather the ingredients. “And I used to make her a lot of bento, so I thought it would be fitting if I make her one too, this time. So she has something to compare it with, you know.” 

Zoro hums in agreement, and stands up to lend a hand. He usually only helps out with the dishes, but Sanji has seen him handle his swords—he can make use of that in many ways in the kitchen. “Cut this,” he hands Zoro a knife and a cutting board with a bunch of onions on them. “Just dice them into small pieces, and don’t cut through the cutting board.”

“Hn,” for once, Zoro doesn’t argue with him.

They fall into comfortable silence, Sanji speaking out only to give the occasional instructions. There was some incident involving a burnt plate, and Zoro did accidentally cut through the first (and second) cutting board, but all things considered, everything went by smoothly.

They both stare at the finished bento almost disbelievingly.

It’s Zoro who first speaks up. “Hey, uh, Sanji’s mom,” he says. “Your son is a pain in the ass, and he’s a shit cook.”

Sanji almost kicks him for joking about this before looking up and finding Zoro stare at the bento, completely serious. “But, uh, he makes good food sometimes, and he makes the crew happy. He makes me happy.” Zoro says, rubbing at the back of his neck in a rare sign of insecurity. “So I hope you are too, wherever you are.”

For the first time in what feels like the longest time, Sanji feels a brush of warmth beneath his ribcage. It takes a few seconds for him to realize that it’s happiness, and for a moment he is content, in the middle of his kitchen with Zoro’s shoulder pressed against his. He's free, far from the floating kingdom of his childhood, and thinks he can see his mother smile, somehow.

 +

 This is the part in the fairy tales where the book ends. The characters find their closure. The princess gets a kiss from the prince. Everyone lives happily ever after.

Sanji’s life is not a fairy tale.

He is content for that moment, and then he tries to smile. He can no longer ignore the sharp ache that almost chokes him when he realizes he still can’t.

 +

 Sanji trudges towards the ship with heavy steps.

It’s been almost a week since he cooked with Zoro, and he’s far from recovering—the suffocating feeling in his chest still drags him down, and the night attacks are becoming even more common, rearing its ugly head almost every night now.

It reminds him too much of the early days after his escape, when he was still a little kid with a too-empty stomach and phantom bruises along his limbs, and Sanji is suddenly hit with a visceral feeling of disgust towards his own weakness. Disgust towards himself. 

He’s too preoccupied with his own thoughts that he doesn’t realize the eerie silence that’s blanketing around Merry, much to quiet for a crew like them, and the shadows behind the galley windows, as he swings the door open.

He’s greeted with a confetti to the face.

Literally.

It hit him right in the nose, and he’s rubbing his face as he hears Nami’s exasperated, “You’re supposed to aim it over his head, stupid!”

”Ow, sorry, Nami!” Luffy says in a tone that’s clearly a failed attempt of a whisper. “Stop yelling, I thought we were gonna surprise him!”

“I believe it’s too late for that,” Robin’s voice comes out, and at that, someone flips the ligth switch on.

There’s food on every available surface. A huge bowl of rice on the counter, surrounded by plates of vegetables and meat, and on the kitchen table is a towering, multi-layered cake that even Sanji admits looks pretty impressive. He's seen everyone's cooking at least once; knows that the meals are mostly Usopp and Robin's doing, and the cake has Nami written all over it.

There’s a large banner hanging over the ceiling with the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SANJI, lovingly hand-painted and decorated by Luffy’s familiar scrawls.

He realizes, with a start, that in the middle of all the mess with the stupid devil fruit, Sanji has forgotten his own birthday.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” The crew cheers. It’s barely in unison, Luffy’s drawl from having his mouth pulled by Nami clashing with Chopper’s over-excited applause, and it’s still the most perfect thing Sanji has ever heard.

”How did you—“ he sputters, flustered. He can't believe that the crew remembers. Hell, he can't believe they even knew—he never told them about his birthday, has long forgotten what it felt like to be grateful about the birthday he shares with those bastards. “I never...”

 "Swordsman-san was generous enough to share the information with us," Robin says, ignoring Zoro's protest in the background that no, there's no way he bothered to memorize the Shit Cook's birthday, shut up.

And in that moment, with his crew bickering lightly around him, celebrating him, everything suddenly clicks into place.

He broke his leg, but he’d felt worse pain. He’d assumed he was thinking about his mother, but he was wrong—the dreams have clued him in on what this really was about.

As if sensing Sanji’s shift in mood, Luffy cranes his neck from the counter he’s perched on. The strawhat appears in Sanji’s vision before the owner does, but they both do, eventually, one side of the brim tipped low over Luffy’s right eye.

”Do you like it?” Luffy asks.

Sanji is chewing on Nami’s cake, but he thinks Luffy isn’t asking about that. Not exactly.

He doesn’t take more than a second to answer, “yes.”

”Are you still sad?”

Sanji takes a moment to consider that. There’s a steady ache around his heart, and maybe it’s always been there, now that he thinks about it. The devil fruit power may have intensified the feelings, but it couldn’t work on something that wasn’t there. “I think I always am,” he admits, voice low, remembering the lonely little kid with the iron mask and the prison bars. But then he thinks of the party set up just for him, of the Straw Hats, and adds, “but not right now, no.”

“Not right now,” Luffy repeats.

“I think you’ve made it better. All of you made it better.”

Luffy grins at that, sunny and wide. “You’re happy.” It’s a statement, not a question.

Sanji watches the cacophony around him. “I’m happy,” he agrees.

”You know what people do when they’re happy?” Luffy says, and he pulls his hat off his head and places it, steady, on Sanji’s head. “They smile. You should smile, Sanji.”

Sanji feels the way the strawhat fits around him, its warmth snug against his heart; and he does, finally, smile. 

 +

 Sanji remembers being a little kid.

He remembers the dark prison cell, the pungent smell of the iron mask, the way the bruises on his skin left ugly marks like a brand on his heart even after they disappear. He remembers that sometimes they would dock at an island, and he would sneak away, watch the island’s locals from afar. He remembers seeing another little kid, playing with his siblings, and thinks, I want a family like this.

He also remembers the day the devil fruit power hit. That day there were two attacks—one directed at him, and another at Luffy. He remembers seeing Ace, stepping in front of Luffy, pulling him away. He remembers the way Ace protectively wrapped his arms around Luffy.

Sanji remembers being a little kid; he also remembers being an adult, years away from being a little kid, but still feeling like one—seeing Ace and Luffy and the way they don’t hurt each other, and thinking, I want a family like this.

 +

 “I have a bed time story.” He says as soon as he climbs into the crow’s nest.

Zoro continues to lift his weight. “I’m not sleeping anytime soon.” 

“Once upon a time,” Sanji continues, ignoring him. “There was a little kid. He was young and small and lonely. His father was made of gold and his mother was a ghost; he had siblings, but they only learned how to hurt others.”

Zoro pauses at that. He slowly lowers his weight to the ground.

Sanji doesn’t meet his eyes. “When he was eight, his family had enough of him and threw him into a dark cell, hoping he would die and rot with the rats. He didn’t,” he says, and pauses, feeling his voice waver and pushes through, “but sometimes he thinks a little part of him did.”

He looks up to meet Zoro’s eyes. “The kid’s name was Vinsmoke Sanji.”

Zoro takes large strides across the crow’s nest and pulls him into a hug, steady hands wrapped around his shoulders. Sanji breathes into the nape of his neck.

“You know what’s the most messed up thing?” He laughs, but it’s the kind of that grates at the back of his throat. He swallows. “The kid thought he deserved it, for the longest time. He thought they were the family he deserved.”

He feels Zoro’s grip around him tighten. “They’re not—that doesn’t sound a lot like family.”

Sanji closes his eyes. “That doesn’t, yeah.”

He watches the rise and fall of Zoro’s chest—a steady, calming beat. And then Zoro says, “The kid found his family, though, in the end.” He pauses, before adding. "A real one." 

Sanji thinks of Usopp’s nervous chuckle whenever someone calls out on his lies and Chopper’s little giggles whenever someone makes a stupid joke; of Robin’s barely-there smiles that mean a lot more than an insincere laughter ever would, of Nami’s grin whenever he makes her favorite drinks. He thinks of Luffy’s rubbery smile, stretched across his face, and Zoro, his partner, his rival, his equal—who holds him like he means something.

The ache around his heart remains. It’s been there, for a long time, and maybe it’ll always be there. But when he looks up now he can see the grinning faces of his crew, and when he tries to tilt his lips into a smile, it does.

“The kid found his family,” Sanji agrees, and leans into the embrace. It's not a happily ever after, but it's enough.