#arlong x you

[kenslilove]

᯽៰ ͘ ࣭⸰ 𖥔 ͙ࣳ Pet, Pup, Mutt.

preview. arlong park is loud and rowdy this evening. Things get turned up a notch when Arlong decides to show of his pet to the whole crew.

ft. Arlong x fem!reader

wc. 3k

W. NSFW MINORS DNI, monster fucking technically, exhibitionism n vouyerism, bdsm elements (arlong has you shackled, collared and gagged), teasing, humiliation, dry humping, fingering, mentions of squirting, mentions of dp, foreshadow of fucking.

an. Blame the live action one piece of this. I have not stopped thinking about Arlong. He’s so— his voice is so— 🫠 I have no excuses. Y’all are in for a ride with this one fr. I’m still dizzy over it. Reblogs, comments, and feedback would be greatly appreciated 🫶

“Full house.”

There’s a chorus of cheers, as well as a few grumbles and grunts from fishmen who regret their choices when betting on anyone other than Arlong himself. Berries are flicked onto the table one by one, and Arlong has a shit eating grin on his face as Kuroobi gathers the coins for him after a quick and subtle click of his tongue.

He would have done it himself, if anything, Arlong loved the cold feeling of berries against his smooth flesh, but his hands were occupied with your flesh instead.

One large palm smoothed over your back. Talons circling the back of your neck, following the path of your spine, all the way down to the curve of your rear where his webbed hands decided to rest a few moments, savoring the squish of the plump skin before repeating the motions again in reverse. It always made you tense a little, chest pressing into his own and making the shackles around your wrists clank and click a little as your fingers subtly squeezed the fabric of his shirt.

But you didn’t make a peep.

Couldn’t even if you wanted to. Arlong always kept his pretty pet muzzled at times like this. The silicon bone was a bit shiny with your spit, your teeth held snug against it making the corners of your lips a bit rosy. Instead, your head lulled a little closer towards the crook of his neck, the smooth and subtly slippery skin always making your skin feel just a tad damp.

“That’s what, three rounds? Let’s call it quits before I bleed you all dry.” Arlong croaks his words along with a chuckle, one that you feel rumble all the way down his chest and right up against your own.

It leaves goosebumps on your naked flesh, making something of a blush rise on your already flushed cheeks. Flushed from being in his lap, flushed from being chained, collared and muzzled, flushed from being naked in front of the crew of fishmen.

And yet, no one dared to look in your direction. Their gills would be ripped through cleanly by Arlongs saw before they even had a chance of getting so much of a peek of your body that Arlong kept on blatant display.

He liked showing off his belongings, but Arlong never shared.

“One more!”

“The nights young!”

“A couple more drinks too!”

Arlong couldn’t help but shake his head at his own crew’s rowdiness. It was collection night after all, and all the fishmen’s pockets were full and ready to be played with. When his palm reached your ass this time, he decided to squeeze hard. Hard enough that sharpened nails left crescents in their wake, your back arched in the slightest, and your breath stuttered on the way out of your nose.

“Alright alright. Kuroobi’s dealing. I need a drink.” And one was placed before him just like that. Finally, Arlong spared you a glance. All intentions to reprimand you in some way for letting that silly muffled sound escape you.

“Tch, runnin from me? Get back here, little girl.”

But he found you looking right back up at him. Eyes a bit glassy, lower lip wobbling just the gentlest bit over white silicon.

Arlong’s smile turned devilish, big enough that sharpened teeth back to his molars were revealed to you. It made you shiver over his lap, the muscles in your thighs twitching ever so slightly.

“Hm?” His voice was low, the subtle growl in his tone vibrating all the way down his chest. “What is it, pet? Why do you look at me with such eyes? Are you sad?”

There’s already mock sympathy in his voice, his free hand finally joining in on holding you. Large palms cup your ass cheeks, adjusting you with ease, having you straddle his lap instead of a single thigh. The chains clank as you’re moved, but you still gripped onto his shirt. You shake your head, eyes getting a bit more glassy as you try to focus.

But it’s hard when his hands are massaging your ass, pulling you closer into his lap before allowing your body to slouch.

Forwards, back, forwards, back.

Arlong knew exactly what you needed. He could tell from the moment he felt the heat of your bare pussy against his crotch. You were almost dripping already, surely leaving a dampened spot on his pants. He could tell from the moment he looked in your eyes and saw your desire, your *need* basically swimming there.

But, Arlong liked playing with his sweet, little human pet. So he raised a brow, playing curious as he continued to grind you in his lap.

“Answer my question, mutt. What’s the matter with you?”

Your lips twitched around the gag. You knew better than to make another peep, but the friction that started to form between your legs had your eyes fluttering, lashes feeling heavy as you continued to look at him. Curling your fingertips into his shirt you decided to move your hips in the rhythm he set, finally feeling your clit catch against his crotch.

It makes your breath hitch slightly.

And it makes Arlong laugh out loud.

His hands bring your movements to a halt, and all you can do is huff from out your nose, the little bit of pleasure leaving your body almost as quickly as it came. Normally his fishmen would be the first to laugh along with him, but this time they’re eerily quiet. It makes your cheeks flush a little, embarrassment burning over your skin, pin pricking with tingles as you remember exactly where you are.

“Hm. So you’re desperate. Is that it, pup? Can’t wait until a game of poker is over to fulfill your needs? Humans are such spoiled little creatures.”

“Men.” Arlong barks, and all the men around the table finally look back to him. Your back straightens, heart picking up in pace from behind your rib cage.

“The mutts all worked up.” Arlong smacks your ass, hard and swift, the sting making you jolt, biting down hard on the gag to keep your squeal locked in your throat. It’s only when Arlong clicks his tongue that all the fishmen finally acknowledge your presence.

In that same moment, Arlong moves you with ease. Before you can even really process it he switches your body, your back now pressed against his chest. Your arms are pulled over your head, the chain keeping the cuff together looped around the back of Arlong’s neck.

Keeping your arms up, keeping your chest exposed. Your eyes widen a bit in shock, a muffled squeal slipping past silicon. On instinct, you attempt to close your thighs, only to have Arlong’s palms pull them apart, goosebumps rising along your flesh as the cold air hits the dampened skin of your cunt.

“Who wants a little show, hm? Did you know that humans whine and whimper like animals when they’re experiencing pleasure?” There’s a chorus of murmurs along the fishmen, along with a few snarls and laughs that makes you start to tremble. You turn your face, cheek pressing into the familiar expanse of Arlong’s chest and you try to shake your head, give him a sign, anything—

“Be a good girl.” His voice comes in low and hot, breathed up in a growl against your earlobe. It makes your whole body freeze up, goosebumps forming along the expanse of your skin. “And sit pretty. You’ll do that for me won’t you, pet?”

This was cruel of him. Crueler than usual. He subjected you to a lot, but never like this. So exposed and under the eyes of all the fishmen on his crew. And despite that, his voice satiated something in your head. Your lashes lowered, dusted along flushed cheeks, and catching a glimpse of his piercing gaze that only ever softened for you, you nodded.

His praise came in the form of a large hand cupping your chin. His forefinger and thumb momentarily stroked your jaw, a silent but clear sign of his happiness with your obedience. Almost as soon as it came the gentleness was replaced when he jerked your head back forward, his underlying gruffness always shining through in the way that he laughed, in the way that he held your face forward towards the eyes of many hungry fishmen.

You trembled.

Arlong grinned. Grinned so large that his sharp teeth glistened under the neon lights of Arlong Park.

“You see, pups like her are easy.” He speaks to his men, right over your head as if you weren’t even in there. But his hands knew exactly where to touch and where to go. One large hand hooked under your thigh, and even though he knew he wouldn’t have an issue with your legs clamping shut, he couldn’t help but haul your leg up, exposing you even further. His other hand, to your absolute delight and absolute horror, finally touched your pussy.

But he spread it apart with two thick fingers. Your only relief was that his webbing covered the most desperate part of you, your clenching little hole. Fluttering hopeless just from his simple touch. There was a chorus of cheers, hollers, whistles even from men who glued their hungry stares to your blossomed flower, now pink and shiny and throbbing a bit. You couldn’t help the embarrassed whimpers anymore, they seemed to slip freely now, muffled under the gag. Your hands balled up into fists on either side of Arlong’s shoulders and your chest stuttered with your quickened breathing.

Humiliation wracked over your body, at being looked at like a piece of meat, which is exactly what you were to these men. But something else coiled up in your tummy, something that tickled at your clit the moment Arlong pressed the smooth pad of his thumb against the longing bud. Something else that made you a little limp, made your nerves a little less tense as you allowed yourself to ease back into a familiar chest, a familiar lap.

Arlong was cruel. But he was your owner after all.

“They’re so reactive, these little humans…” Arlong's voice was almost in a sigh, something dreamy, like when someone speaks of their favorite toy. His thumb starts to circle your clit finally and you huff, lashes fluttering and back arching just the slightest. “Any little thing and they let out noises like that. Or sometimes…”

Gentle caresses turned into a smack as his fingers came together and down onto your pussy. The first slap was to get a reaction out of you. A jolt, a jostle of chains, a squeak that despite the gag, comes out loud and clear. The dribbling of drool down your chin. The second slap was to get another chorus of growls from the fish men, this time it was sharper, pressure directed on your clit so your puffy pussy would flutter and squeeze around the air like it was begging to be stuffed.

“They sound like squealing pigs.” He said through a dark snicker, two fingers sliding into your hole before the fluttering could stop. You could feel his groan through your back, how it vibrated through your body. He pumped his fingers at a steady pace, the squelch of your cunt raising brows, causing tongues to swipe over sharp teeth.

“And despite how small they look…” He spoke with intent, as if he were teaching, as if he knew more. And he had his men hooked, eyes trained on the sight of your sweet pussy which they always wanted to stare at, but never got the permission or pleasure to do so.

Not until this moment.

“They can take so much.” A talon traced along your sweet spot and you quivered, hips twitching as a form of permission to roll into his palm. Another trace was your non verbal cue from him and you rolled your hips forward, grinding down into the palm of his hand to find your own pleasure.

“Look at that! She’s fuckin his hand!”

“A desperate mutt!”

“Humans are so pathetic!”

“Hmmm.” Arlong mused, the words of his fishmen making his grin grow larger. That, and the fact that with each insult that got thrown your way, your pussy would hug his fingers in a tight embrace. “My pup can take *both* of my cocks— it’s a tight fit, but I’ve trained her well.”

“Whore!” The sharp cheer cut through the antics like a knife. Arlong’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked the fishman in the eye. It got eerily silent, just the sounds of your arousal smearing over Arlong’s fingers as he stretched your cunt open. Although you knew by now that you couldn’t hide, you slunk back into Arlong’s embrace, something like a whimper of distaste being muffled into your gag. Arlong took notice and pet along your sweet spot, almost as he was soothing away whatever bad feelings the word seemed to leave you with.

“My whore.” Arlong corrected, the growl in his tone nothing short of feral. You didn’t know this specific fishmen by name, but you had a feeling you never would. In fact, you had a feeling you’d never see him again after this moment.

The tense moment faded away as Arlong picked up the pace of his fingers, even slipped in a third. Your slick started up bubble around his digits, hole stretching and accommodating for a tight fit that made your head spin in the best of ways. Your head fell back against his shoulder, mewls of delight slipping through silicon as you rolled your hips to match his quickening tempo. “And when they come, they make quite a mess…” That really had the crew excited once more, eyes lit up and cheers sounding Arlong on. It stroked his ego in the best of ways, making him growl in delight, teeth grazing at your pulse point before he murmured right up against the skin of your earlobe.

“Make it pretty, pet.” His fingers speed up even faster, the slick sound mixed with his low, gruff tone making your tummy tighten. Give ‘em a good show like the good girl you are.”

Although it’s muffled, Arlong knows without a shadow of a doubt that a “yes sir” is being spoken by you. Your obedience made his cocks twitch in delight, it had always been a trait of yours that he found so very pleasing, so very maddening at the same time. With your eyes squeezed shut, and Arlong’s booming laugh you come undone.

Your back arches, tears fall from your clumped lashes. Your thighs tremble with the impact of your orgasm and your pussy clenches so tightly around Arlong he’s convinced your walls take on their exact shape. And you squirt, of course. Droplets of arousal that coat his palm, your small amount of trimmed pubic hair, and your quivering inner thighs. There’s smears of it along Arlong’s cargo shorts and you fall slumped in his lap after a few moments, once the storm of your high dies down and you're left a bit boneless, shaky and breathing deeply through your nose to even your heartbeat.

The fishmen are cheering. Like this is the greatest show they’ve ever witness. Some even clap, some howl like animals. Others shamelessly adjust themselves, darlingly, and Kuroobi keeps a mental note of each one for his boss.

He knows better than to fantasize about his boss’s favorite toy.

It’s Arlong’s fingers slipping between the tight leather band of your gag that brings you back to reality, reminding you of the fact that you just had one of the best orgasms in your life in front of the entire crew. The silicon bone pops out from between your lips with one good tug and drool follows it as it falls to rest between your collar bones. Strings of spit glisten on your chin and your lips pulse at finally being free, but all you focus on is sucking in shaky, large inhales into your chest.

“Good little girl.” Over the laughter and excitement of his men, his words are saved for your ears only. He tips your head back, has your lips close to his own, but he doesn’t kiss you. Not in front of his men.

That’s something he saves just for you, in the privacy of your bedroom.

It makes your heart, along with your pussy flutter. Before you can get out a word, Arlong slips his fingers from you with a slick pop. With ease he moves your small body once more. This time your back is met with piles of cold berries, corners of playing cards dug against your spine and ass. The shackles clink against the wood of the table and before you can really process it Arlong has your thighs hooked over his shoulders, his crotch pushed up against your still trembling cunt and grinding into it harshly.

“Might as well show you all how well she takes a load.” He says it so casually, and his men roar in agreement, hungry growls of excitement echoing. And all you can do is blink up at Arlong lazily, the familiar feeling of one of his cock heads nuzzling up between your soaked lips.

He looks right back down at you, and despite the hunger there, the feral drive they shine to claim you in front of the crew, you know that he’s watching you in another way too. He’s watching you as an owner would their precious, precious pet. He smoothes a hand over your tummy, smearing your arousal left over there, as well as tracing along the bulge that his cocks are soon going to make.

“And you’re going to be good, aren’t you, little girl?”

Everyone already knew the answer, even you. Especially Arlong. Which is why he fucked two loads into you in front of the crew instead of one. He had to show them just how good you really were, right up to being fucked absolutely brainless.

PROPERTY OF KENSLILOVE. DO NOT REPOST, COPY OR BRING ONTO ANY OTHER PLATFORM‼️

[romerona]

All Y/N ever wanted to do was sing her songs and be free. Yet somehow, after offering to pay for the meal of a certain boy in a straw hat she finds herself causing havoc through the East Blue.

Masterlist - Next.

Trigger warning: violence, death, abuse, trauma. Word count: 10K

A/N: The only thing I will be describing about Y/N is her hair colour. Everything else you can imagine her as you wish.

Disclaimer: The songs I will be using in this fic aren't mine bc I have 0 creativity. I'm sorry.

"Easy. Easy!"

Nami, Luffy, Usopp, and Y/N struggled to carry Zoro’s unconscious, bloodied body onto the Going Merry. The swordsman was dead weight—his usual strength now replaced by alarming stillness, and every step felt like a race against time.

"Easy!" Nami huffs.

Y/N pushed the galley door open with her shoulder and all but shoved everything off the kitchen island in one sweep, “Put him here! Try not to drop him, Usopp!”

"I didn’t,” Usopp grunted, his arms trembling under the weight as they carefully maneuvered Zoro onto the cleared surface. “He’s really heavy. I mean, he’s got a really big head. It’s, like, freakishly big.”

Y/N barely acknowledged the comment, but it is already working fast. She grabbed a paring knife and cut away Zoro’s blood-soaked shirt, revealing a gash that made her stomach turn. Her hands hovered above his chest for a moment—uncertain where to even begin—before she snapped herself into motion again.

Nami dashed off to grab a towel, muttering something under her breath."What does that have to do with anything?"

Y/N barely registered Luffy’s voice as he leaned in closer to Zoro, his usual bright tone now hushed and trembling. “Zoro? Hey, can you hear me?”

Nami, quick on her feet, folded a towel and slipped it under Zoro’s head to cushion it against the hard surface of the table. The gesture was careful, almost tender.

Cabinets slammed open and shut behind her as Usopp darted from one corner of the kitchen to the other. “Where’s the first aid kit?”

“These are all I could find!” Usopp returned a moment later, arms full of half-clean towels, a bottle of who-knew-what, and a cracked tin of bandages. He dumped it all onto the table in front of them. “Where’s he bleeding from?”

“Everywhere,” Y/N grabbed a towel and rushed to the basin. The faucet sputtered before water finally flowed, and she soaked the cloth as fast as she could, squeezing it once before darting back.

Usopp moved to her side and helped with the water, his eyes wide, his hands twitchy. “We need more towels.”

“No,” Nami said, shaking her head. “We need a doctor.”

“Well, last I checked, we don’t have one!” Usopp snapped, his voice a little too loud in the tight space.

“There’s got to be someone at the Baratie who can help,” Y/N said quickly, voice taut as a bowstring as she cleaned the blood away. Her hands were slightly shaking now. Zoro didn’t even flinch—he was just still. Too still.

“Luffy?” Nami called out, glancing over her shoulder toward the boy captain. Her voice was sharper now, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Luffy! Someone needs to go back to Baratie!”

He blinked, clearly struggling to pull himself from the sight of Zoro—so still, so bloodied. “Um… I’m really not hungry right now, Nami.”

Y/N’s jaw tensed as she pressed a towel harder against a wound, eyes flicking toward him. She got it—truly. Shock did strange things to people. The first time she saw someone bleed like this, she’d panicked too, but there came a point when fear had to give way to action, and they were well past that point.

She didn’t say anything, just pursed her lips and forced herself to stay calm, even as her hands trembled from the pressure she was applying.

Nami, however, had no patience left. She nearly growled in frustration. “Not for food! Maybe one of the customers is a ship’s doctor!”

“Right,” Luffy said, blinking again as if he was trying to reboot his brain. “A doctor.”

It wasn’t much, but something clicked behind his eyes—some return to clarity. And though he still moved like he was walking through water, he turned and began to head for the galley door. “We need a doctor.”

Y/N pressed a fresh towel to it, her hands slick with blood, jaw tight with focus. She could feel the pulsing heat of it, the way the bleeding refused to stop. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the cup of water Usopp had just filled, dipping another cloth in it, trying to clean around the wound without making things worse.

"Keep that one there," she said to Nami, nodding to the towel near Zoro’s collarbone. "Firm, steady pressure. Don't lift it."

Nami nodded wordlessly, her own hands red to the wrists, her forehead glistening with sweat. She had seen plenty of danger in her time, but this—watching someone she knew bleed out in front of her—this was different.

“I—I don’t know what to do,” Usopp stammered, backing away from the table like the blood might leap at him. “Is he gonna die? He’s gonna die, isn’t he?”

“He’s not going to die,” she said firmly, though her stomach twisted at the lie. “Not if we keep him breathing."

She leaned in, eyes scanning the torn flesh. It was deep—deeper than anything she’d ever tried to fix. And so clean, too, like it had been carved with surgical precision.

“He needs stitches,” Y/N murmured, more to herself than anyone else. The words hung there, cold and impossible. She wasn’t a doctor. She’d done a few messy patches in back alleys before, helped close up a wound or two with trembling hands and borrowed thread—but nothing like this.

Nami glanced over, her hands still pressed down on a towel rapidly turning scarlet. “Can you do it?”

“I... I don't know, I don’t think we have a needle that’s strong enough,” she said, eyes darting across the kitchen. “Or thread thick enough to hold skin.”

“There’s gotta be something,” Nami said, her voice clipped and panicked. “You said you’ve done this before—can’t you just—just improvise?”

“I am improvising,” Y/N snapped, voice sharper than she meant, her hands shaking ever so slightly as she gripped the make-do supplies. “Gods, where is Luf—”

The galley door slammed open.

Speak of the devil.

Luffy burst in—and behind him, to Y/N’s utter confusion, came the blond, sharply dressed waiter who’d flirted with anything that moved, and the rough, one-legged chef who had dragged Luffy to the kitchens the night before.

“What the—?” Y/N blinked, thrown completely.

“Are you kidding?” Nami snapped at Luffy, “He needs a doctor!”

“Do you wanna save your swordsman friend or not?” the wooden-legged chef snapped, already brushing past them without waiting for permission.

Y/N and Nami instinctively moved aside, letting the man work, though their hands hovered like they were ready to jump back in at any second. The chef—Zeff, if Y/N remembered right—tossed off the bloody towels and assessed the wound with a cool, calculating look, like he’d seen worse and fixed worse.

Sanji—yes, that was the waiter’s name—set down an armful of supplies beside him. Y/N caught the glint of steel—actual knives, proper scissors, a big curved needle, spools of dark thread.

And... a yellowtail fish.

Y/N blinked. She looked at the fish. Then at them. Then back at the fish.

Was that part of the plan?

Before she could ask, there was the distinct pop of a bottle opening.

“Is that to sterilize the wounds?” Usopp asked, hope flickering in his voice.

“Hell, no,” said Zeff, already lifting it to his mouth. “That’d be a waste of really good liquor.”

He took a long swig, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and gave Zoro a look like he was sizing up a slab of meat he was about to butcher—or save.

Y/N, hands still stained red and jaw clenched, stared at the scene unfolding in front of her. It wasn’t what she expected. Not even close.

“Beautiful,” Zeff murmured—not to Zoro, but to the fish—as he began slicing it with the kind of practiced ease only a lifetime in a kitchen could give. His knife moved like it was part of his hand, clean and precise. In moments, he was separating the skin from the flesh and setting it gently on a clean plate like it was a delicacy.

Y/N’s eyes widened—then narrowed with realization. Her doubts vanished in an instant. She knew exactly what he was about to do.

“Needle,” Zeff said, holding out his hand without looking.

Sanji passed it over without a word, the sharp arc of it gleaming under the light.

Y/N, Luffy, and Nami stood frozen, watching in stunned silence as the old chef leaned in and began stitching Zoro’s gash. His movements were swift but careful, efficient without cruelty. Each pass of the needle tugged skin back together, layer by layer, until the worst of the wound was closed.

Then, with the same steady hands, Zeff lifted the prepared fish skin and began laying it over the wound like a graft.

“Why are you putting that on him?” Usopp asked, his voice cracking slightly from the back of the room.

Before Zeff could open his mouth to explain, Y/N answered—without even realizing it at first.

Usopp leaned in, his voice tight and uncertain. “Why are you putting that… on him?”

Before Zeff could answer, Y/N spoke.

She didn’t mean to. It slipped out, too fast, too natural, like it was instinct.

“It helps the skin regenerate faster,” she said, eyes still fixed on the wound. “It’s one of the only things that can bond quickly to broken skin, it's quicker than cloth. Holds moisture. It—heals better.”

Usopp blinked. “...How do you know that?”

Y/N didn’t look at him. She forced a shrug, trying to keep her voice level. “Read it in a book.”

Zeff, for his part, didn’t question it. He just kept working, wrapping another piece of the fish skin gently across Zoro’s side.

“You’ve got good instincts, girl,” he muttered without looking at her.

Y/N didn’t respond. She just stared at Zoro, willing his chest to rise a little more steadily, for the color to return to his lips. Willing something in him to fight back. To stay.

“He’s gonna be okay,” she whispered, more a plea than a promise.

Zeff wiped his hands on a towel, the tension in the room thick as the blood drying on the floor.

“Look, I’m not gonna lie to you,” he said, glancing at the table and then back at them. “He’s lost a lot of blood. It might be too late for him.”

Y/N’s breath caught. Her stomach felt like it dropped through the wooden boards beneath her feet. She stared harder at Zoro, as if glaring at the Reaper himself, refusing to let go.

“But it might not be,” Luffy chimed in quietly from behind her, voice soft but the hope unwavering.

And damn it, Y/N was grateful for that hope. For Luffy’s impossible, stubborn faith—because right now, hers was cracking.

Zeff gave a short nod, his gruff voice cutting through the air again. “He’s got one foot in each world right now, caught between life and death. You have to find a way to keep him tethered to our world.”

Y/N furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

“Talk to him,” Zeff said simply. “Tell him stories. Remind him who he is. Sing him sea shanties for all I care. Anything to keep his mind from drifting too far. He may not reply, but at least he’ll know his crew are still with him."

Y/N looked back down at Zoro, her fingers brushing lightly against his wrist—barely a pulse. His face was pale, features drawn like stone. He looked like he was already gone.

But he wasn’t, not yet.

She bit her lip, hard, then slid a stool over, sitting beside the island. Her hand settled on his, gentle but firm.

“Tether him,” she whispered under her breath.

They could do that. So they did.

Once Zeff finished stitching w,rapping Zoro’s wounds and confirmed Zoro was stable for now, the crew moved him with painstaking care to Nami’s room—she insisted, saying it was the closest to the kitchen and had the softest bedding. No one argued. No one had the energy.

Hours passed. Then a full day. Time bent strangely around the ship, caught in a hush of half-whispers, shallow breathing, and the occasional creak of wood and waves. The Going Merry floated as if in mourning, the air thick with waiting.

They hardly left his side.

Luffy, least of all. He sat beside Zoro’s bed with his hat in his lap and a look in his eyes Y/N hadn’t seen before—not even during fights or storms.

Nami kept vigil at night, curling up in the corner with a blanket and glaring at anyone who tried to make her leave. Usopp tried to stay brave, but often hovered outside the door like he couldn’t bring himself to go in for too long.

And Y/N?

She moved around them all like clockwork. Quiet, constant, present. She made sure Zoro’s bandages stayed clean, that everyone ate something—even if it was just bread or tea. When Luffy refused to budge for nearly a day, she dragged him to the shower herself.

“Five minutes,” she told him sternly. “Or I’m coming in after you.”

He obeyed—reluctantly.

The ship felt like it was caught in a kind of time spell. No one trained. No one joked. The sun rose and set outside, but within the Merry, everything held its breath.

So Y/N did the one thing no one else had the energy for—she went to the Baratie to buy some food. Someone had to.

She tied her hair up and rolled her sleeves, smoothing her patched shawl over her shoulders as she stepped off the Merry and onto the Baratie. The floating restaurant gleamed in the late afternoon light, all polished wood and stained glass, like a ship that belonged more in dreams than on the sea.

She walked through the entrance with quiet purpose, heels tapping against fine tile as chandeliers sparkled above her. Tables lined the open floor, each one covered in crisp white cloth, polished silverware, and plates too delicate for the kind of storm churning in her chest.

Y/N was halfway through scanning the menu at a corner table (which she had to bribe the host for) when a familiar voice floated in with the same buttery smoothness he probably used for every woman who walked in.

“Now that’s a view I wouldn’t mind plating up.”

Sanji emerged from the kitchen a second later, sharp in black and white, sleeves rolled up, towel draped across his shoulder, and that ever-present flirt in his eyes.

“Back already, Mon chérie?” he asked, sliding up beside her table like he belonged there. “Let me guess—you missed me.”

Y/N didn’t look up right away. She calmly flipped the menu closed and rested her chin in her hand, casting him a sideways glance.

“Missed you?” she echoed, voice lilting, “What a bold assumption. I only came back because I heard the fish were fresher today.”

Sanji clutched at his chest dramatically. “You wound me.”

“That’s funny,” she said, smiling sweetly. “Most men don’t realize they’ve been wounded until it’s far too late, loverboy.”

His grin flickered, just for a second—like he couldn’t decide if he was being flirted with or threatened but he liked it either way.

“Well, if you’re here for food, allow me to make a personal recommendation—anything cooked by these hands is practically a love letter.”

“I prefer my love letters spelled correctly and not dripping in butter,” she replied, crossing one leg over the other, eyes gleaming. “Though the butter’s tempting.”

Sanji gave a low laugh, clearly enjoying the banter more than he probably should’ve. “Mon chérie, you're either trying to seduce me or destroy me.”

“Can’t it be both?” she asked, resting her chin in her hand again. “Anyway, I'm not here to banter—much as you seem to crave it. I’m here for the others. Thought I’d try and cheer everyone up before the brooding officially becomes contagious.”

Sanji hums, brushing his flour-dusted hands against his apron. “Your friend still hasn’t opened his eyes?”

Y/N’s smile faltered just a touch. “Not yet.”

There was a beat of silence before she added, "Luffy’s hardly eaten a bite, which I’m pretty sure breaks at least three laws of nature. Everyone else is just... stuck. You ever see a ship caught in still water?”

He nodded, the smile slipping just a little.

“I figured I’d bring something back,” she continued. “Something warm. Something familiar. Food’s the best medicine we’ve got right now.”

Sanji gave a low, appreciative whistle. “Charming and wise. A girl after my own heart."

She rolled her eyes with a soft chuckle. “Flatter me all you want, but I’m only buying what I can carry. Just a few things. Enough for comfort food. Warm rice, some fish and sauce, maybe fruit? I know Nami likes them—figured it might cheer her up a bit.”

Sanji didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he studied her for a beat—long enough that Y/N felt a flicker of discomfort under the weight of his gaze. It wasn’t the usual kind of look men gave her. There was no teasing grin, no swooning tilt of the head. Just... observation. Like he was trying to read something between her words, between her smile.

“You really care for them, don’t you?” he asked quietly.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard.

“I… well, I do,” she said, tone lighter than her pulse. “Been traveling with them for some time now. Would be weird if I didn’t.”

It was the truth, mostly. Or at least, the part she was allowed to say.

She’d grown used to Luffy’s chaos, to Nami’s sharp eyes and thong, to Usopp’s, tho only knowing him for a few days, tall tales and Zoro’s quiet strength. Somewhere along the way, it had stopped being just survival and started to feel like… something more. Something closer.

But admitting that? Saying it out loud? That was a different kind of exposure, it had been a long while since she had last felt this way... actually it was since she had roamed with Tallen and the other sirens.

Sanji’s expression softened, the flirtation dimming into something quieter. Then he nodded, like he’d come to some personal conclusion.

“Let me cook for you.”

Y/N blinked. “What?”

He gestured toward the kitchen with a dramatic little flourish, towel flicking like a stage curtain. “I'm sure in an hour or so we will have some ingredients we won't use, I can whip something up—real food, comfort food. For you. For your crew.”

She tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes—not suspicious, just trying to keep up. “That’s generous of you, but no, I couldn't you and Zeff have done enough already.”

“Please,” he scoffed, but the smirk was softer now. “You think I can just stand by knowing there’s a crew full of hungry, miserable people floating outside my restaurant? That your captain hasn’t eaten? I couldn't live with myself."

Y/N hesitated, arms crossed loosely. She wasn’t used to people offering to help without a price. Without a reason. Without her having to ask. But then she thought of Luffy, hunched over the bed like a statue. Nami’s clenched jaw. Usopp’s worried pacing. The way Zoro looked was far too still.

“Also,” Sanji added, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “I was hoping if I fed you all well enough, maybe you’d smile at me like that again.”

She scoffed—but she was already smiling. “You’re bloody relentless.”

“Determine,” he corrected with a wink. “And a damn good cook. Let me do what I’m best at.”

“Careful,” she said, lips curling into a wry smile. “You keep saying stuff like that, and I might actually start trusting you.”

Sanji gave a low, satisfied laugh. “Then I’ll make sure dinner lives up to it.”

She let out a breath, considering. Her instincts—usually guarded, protective—didn’t flare with danger. Not with him. He was a flirt, sure, but something about him told her he meant it. Not the compliments. Not the show. This. The cooking. The feeding. The giving.

“…Fine,” she said at last, exhaling as she stood. “If you insist—but nothing fancy.”

Sanji pressed a hand to his chest, mock-offended. “You wound me. My least fancy dish still brings tears to grown men’s eyes.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at her lips and said playfully. “If I see one pansy on the plate, I’m tossing you into the sea.”

“If it’s you doing the tossing, I might just let it happen.” said the blonde.

She rolled her eyes and walked toward the door. “Bring the food, cook. Then you can flirt.”

“Deal,” he called after her. “Just don’t fall for me before dessert!”

Y/N smirked to herself as she walks

Not likely, she thought but she had to admit—it was kind of nice having someone else carry the pot for once.

Hours later, the kitchen on the Going Merry was filled with steam, warmth, and for the first time in days, smell like some real food.

Y/N worked beside Sanji, shoulders brushing from time to time in the cramped space as they shaped rice balls together. The rice stuck to her fingers, no matter how many times she dipped her hands in water, but the act of pressing it together was strangely comforting. She didn’t even mind when Sanji gently corrected her technique—for the third time—with a little smirk and a too-charming, “Not bad, but watch your thumb.”

They’d kept it simple: warm rice, salted fish, a bit of seaweed.

Y/N placed the finished rice balls in a plate and dusted her hands off with a sigh. “I’ll take these to Nami. She’s been sitting with him all morning.”

Sanji didn’t look up from where he was slicing vegetables for the next dish. “Tell her there’s more coming. Some garlic fish.”

She smiled slightly. “Thanks, loverboy.”

He gave her a mock bow. “Always a pleasure to serve you, ma chérie.”

She slipped out of the kitchen and padded down the hall, knocking lightly on Usopp’s door.

“It’s food time,” she called gently. “Real food. Not crackers and bread.”

A muffled reply came through, something like, “Coming!”, followed by the sound of something clattering to the floor. She smiled to herself and kept moving.

As she turned the corner, she nearly bumped into Luffy.

He stood in the hallway, Zoro’s swords carefully tucked under one arm, a rag in his other hand. There was a smudge on his cheek and a familiar glint in his eyes—not quite as bright as usual, but still very much Luffy.

“Stud, here you are,” she said gently.

He looked up, blinking at the sight of her—and more importantly, the rice balls.

“You made food?” he asked, eyes lighting up but not like before.

“Sanji did most of it,” she said with a little shrug. “He’s got something going in there. Rice balls, fish. Smells like heaven. "she then nudge at the swrods. "Zoro's sword?"

He held up one of Zoro’s swords like it was made of glass. “I was gonna clean ‘em before he wakes up. So they’re shiny. You think he’ll like that?”

Y/N paused, then smiled. “Yeah. I think he’ll like that a lot, but go eat before Ussop ravished it all."

Luffy grinned and nodded once before heading off, humming softly under his breath as he went.

Y/N watched him for a moment, then turned and made her way toward Nami’s room, the plate of rice balls still warm in her hands and the scent of comfort trailing behind her like a quiet promise.

Y/N watched Luffy disappear down the corridor, humming with Zoro’s swords tucked protectively under his arm, before she turned and continued toward Nami’s room. The plate of rice balls was still warm in her hands, the scent of seaweed and vinegar rice rising gently with every step.

She paused at the door and knocked softly.

“Hey, pumpkin,” she called with a teasing lilt, “brought you some food.”

She pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.

Nami looked up from her seat by the bed, a worn book resting open in her lap. She was reading aloud—softly, steadily—to Zoro, whose chest rose and fell in shallow, sleeping breaths. His face looked a little less pale now. Less ghost-like.

Nami offered a tired smile, her eyes rimmed with exhaustion but softer than they’d been earlier. “You made rice balls?”

“Sanji did,” Y/N said, stepping in. “I supervised. Threatened him a little. Standard stuff.”

She set the plate down gently on the bedside table, close enough for Nami to reach but far enough not to disturb the quiet.

Nami gave a breathy laugh. “Sounds like you.”

Y/N shifted a little closer to the bed, and she reached out and brushed a few strands of hair off his forehead. His skin was still warm, slightly clammy, but the color was better than the day before.

“Any difference?” Y/N asked softly, her voice just above a whisper as her fingers brushed gently away a stray lock of green hair from Zoro’s forehead.

“Still out,” Nami murmured, her lips pursed, eyes locked on him like she could will him back with enough focus alone. She didn't say much—but she didn’t have to. Y/N knew that look, that stillness. She’d worn it herself too many times before. “But… I think his color’s better. I’ve been reading to him. Thought maybe hearing our voices might help.”

Y/N nodded slowly, glancing at the book resting open on Nami’s lap. The pages were worn, sea-softened at the corners.

“What is it?” she asked gently.

Nami gave a little shrug. “Just a storybook I found.”

Y/N let out a quiet breath and lowered herself into the empty chair beside her, taking a rice ball. “Well, go on then, pumpkin. Don’t stop on my account.”

Nami hesitated for a moment, then looked down at the page and picked up where she left off.

“In a certain country, in the northern seas, there was an explorer named Mont Blanc Noland.”

Her voice softened with rhythm, almost like a lullaby.

“His stories were always grand adventures that sounded like lies.”

“Noland told his king he found a city of gold, but when the king went to claim the treasure, the city was gone, and most of the king’s soldiers perished on the journey.”

Y/N leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand, watching both Nami and Zoro in turn. The story washed over the room, strange and sad and oddly fitting.

“Noland was sentenced to death,” Nami continued, more quietly now, “but he continued to lie to his king, insisting the city of gold sank into the sea.”

A pause.

“And… even though nobody believed him, he never stopped lying until he was dead.”

The room settled into a heavy silence. Nami stared down at the page, and Y/N opened her mouth—maybe to shift the mood, maybe to say something thoughtful—but someone beat her to it.

“Poor guy," came Luffy’s voice from the doorway. "Can you imagine that? Losing a whole city of gold? ”

Y/N tensed slightly. She hadn’t even realized he was there, leaning against the doorframe. His voice was light, casual.

Nami didn’t even look up. “I don’t think that was the point of the story.”

“Stories can have different points,” Luffy said as he stepped into the room. “I mean… why did the king have to kill him?”

“Sometimes,” Nami said, her tone tight, like she was holding something back and failing, "when you’re in charge, you have to make the tough decisions.”

There it was—that cold edge. Passive-aggressive, laced with hurt, and barely disguised under the thinnest veil of civility.

Y/N closed her eyes for a moment, then rubbed her temples.

Here it comes.

Luffy let out a quiet laugh, though Y/N heard no humor in it. Just that same, strange heaviness that had crept into him over the past few days. “Why does everybody keep saying that?”

“Because you could’ve saved Zoro.” Nami stood, finally turning to face him. Her voice wasn’t raised, but it struck like a whip.

Y/N sat up straighter, already feeling a headache blooming behind her eyes.

“Can we please not—” she started, trying to cut in, to soothe the sparks before they turned into something worse.

But Nami wasn’t finished.

“Zoro didn’t have to fight Mihawk. But he let it happen.” She looked at Luffy, eyes sharp and angry. “You let it happen. Why didn’t you stop him?”

Luffy looked at her and for once, he didn’t smile. "I didn’t think he was going to lose."

Nami stared at him, disbelief washing over her features like a rising tide. “You could’ve tried to change his mind.”

“I would never do that,” Luffy said simply.

“So you’d rather see him like this?” Her voice cracked, thick with anger and something sharper beneath it—fear. “He might die, Luffy.”

That word settled in the air like smoke.

Die.

Y/N shifted where she sat, her hands curling slightly on her lap. The thought alone made her stomach twist into a knot. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes flicked back to Zoro, still and pale beneath the blankets, and she swallowed hard.

“And I’d do anything to save him,” Luffy continued, softer now, but with no less conviction. “Anything. Except stands in the way of his dream.”

Nami let out a bitter, shaky breath. “We all have dreams, but we outgrow them.”

Luffy’s head tilted, and for a moment, he just looked at her. Like he was trying to understand something impossible.

“Is that really what you think?” he asked. “Don’t you have a dream?”

There was a pause, and this time—Nami was the one who seemed to be dismisive.

“Yeah,” she said flatly. “Right now, it’s for Zoro to not die in my bed.”

“But isn’t there something that you want?” Luffy asked with that wide-eyed honesty only he seemed to carry. “Something more. More than anything else in this world?”

Y/N’s eyes drifted toward Nami. She didn’t move. Didn’t speak right away. But Y/N saw it—the flicker. The way her jaw tensed, how her fingers curled just slightly at her sides. She was thinking of something, maybe about someone. That question had struck something deeper than either of them probably realized.

Nami kept her gaze on Luffy, but Y/N saw the moment her guard wavered.

The silence stretched between them and then—softly, bitterly—Nami said, “Not everyone gets to follow their dreams.”

And then, without another word, she turned and walked out the door. Y/N didn’t try to stop her.

Y/N stayed where she was, eyes flicking between the door and Luffy, who stood now in the middle of the room staring at where the orange-haired girl was. He looked like he’d been struck, not quite hurt, but confused. As if he couldn’t even imagine a world where dreams didn’t get to come true.

Y/N rose slowly, folding her arms loosely over her chest.

“She didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” she said gently.

Luffy didn’t reply at first.

His fingers twitched at his sides.

“She’s scared,” Y/N continued. “That’s all. And when people are scared, they start burying their dreams. Pretend they never had them.”

“She shouldn’t have to pretend,” Luffy said, staring down at the floor. “Nobody should.”

Y/N tilted her head slightly, watching him.

“You’re not wrong,” she said. “But… it’s easier to forget about your dreams when you’re afraid they’ll never come true.”

He looked at her then, and for the first time since this started, he looked tired. Not defeated. Not broken. Just... human.

Y/N offered a small smile, soft around the edges. “You didn’t let him down, stud.”

“Feels like I did,” Luffy said, his voice barely above a murmur.

“Well,” she replied gently, “when he wakes up, I’m sure he’ll be glad you let him choose—just like he was before.” She glanced toward the bed, her voice softening. “Besides, I hardly think we could’ve stopped him even if we tried.”

A small chuckle escaped Luffy—not his usual boisterous laugh, but a tired, real one. He stepped forward and sat at the foot of the bed without saying anything more.

Y/N moved slowly, settling into the chair beside Zoro again. She smoothed the edge of the blanket, brushing her fingers lightly against his hand. The tension in the room had dulled now, quieter. More fragile.

She let out a long, slow breath, then leaned forward just a little.

“You remember that lullaby I said I’d write for you, hotshot?” she murmured. “Well… I never got around to finishing it, so you’re gonna have to deal with a half-sung, half-hummed version.”

She exhaled softly, then let the melody rise, slow and low—more hum than words at first. The kind of tune that came from the sea.

She sat up a little straighter, voice still soft, but this time there was rhythm in it—a steady beat like the echo of boots on a ship’s deck, like the clash of steel. A heartbeat in song.

Three swords, one goal, and a promise made—

Eyes like fire, never once afraid. Steel sings loud where silence falls,

And even blood can’t drown your calls.

Luffy blinked beside her, listening now with a grin slowly returning to his face.

He trains at dawn, he sleeps on deck,

He drinks like six and still don’t wreck,

He never runs, he never begs,

He’d fight a god with broken legs.

She tossed Luffy a grin, and he grinned right back, "That one was good."

Y/N turned back to Zoro, the smile softening, though the tone stayed light.

You’re too damn tough for death to take,

Too stubborn for your soul to break,

So wake up now, or don’t complain,

When I write this song and steal your fame.

Luffy gave a dramatic little clap, clearly delighted.

Y/N gave Zoro’s arm a gentle pat. “There. I immortalized your stubborn ass in song. That means you have to wake up now. Can’t have people thinking I wrote it for someone else.”

They both turned back to Zoro. Still breathing and still fighting—somehow.

Usopp slipped into the room.

“How’s he doing?” he asked, voice low but laced with hope.

Luffy, who’d been quietly staring at Zoro—eyes wide open, not sad, not smiling, just waiting—answered without turning. “He hasn’t said a word. Not even when Y/N sang to him.”

Y/N arched a brow from her seat, a grin already tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Rather rude of him, right?”

Usopp chuckled, then nudged Luffy lightly. “Maybe you should talk to him, too.”

Luffy frowned. “What would I even say?”

Usopp shrugged. “Whatever pops in your head. Just… speak from the gut.”

“My gut hasn’t been so great lately,” Luffy replied, light in tone but heavy in truth.

Y/N smiled softly but didn’t speak. She was still sitting nearby, legs curled up beneath her, watching with that quiet kind of knowing she always carried when emotions ran too high for everyone else.

“At least he’ll know it’s you,” Usopp said, a little gentler now. “What do you got to lose?”

Luffy paused, staring at Zoro like he was trying to have a conversation without saying anything at all.

Then he slapped the wood of the bed, suddenly animated. “Hey, Zoro. What’s up?”

Y/N blinked, her grin returning instantly. Luffy’s sincerity was always… Luffy-shaped. Clumsy, honest, and somehow perfect.

“I just wanted to tell you that…” he paused, scratched the back of his head. “Okay, wait—let me start over. I’m just gonna… Hi, Zoro. Hi. You know, it’s—”

“Luffy!”

Nami’s voice rang sharp from the kitchen, slicing through the stillness of the ship like a whipcrack. It echoed off the wooden walls, sharp enough to snap them all to attention.

All three of them turned toward the door at once—Y/N, Luffy, and Usopp—frozen for half a heartbeat.

Then it came again, louder. More urgent.

“Luffy!”

There was no mistaking it now; something was wrong.

All at once, they moved—Luffy leading the charge, feet pounding against the floorboards. Usopp scrambled after him, dropping what was left of his rice ball. Y/N was right behind them, her pulse suddenly thudding in her ears, one hand lifting her skirt just enough to sprint.

They reached the galley just as Nami turned from the counter, her eyes wide, "The Arlong Pirates are at Baratie. We have to leave now."

Y/N froze in the doorway. The name hit her ears like a stone dropping into deep water.

The Arlong Pirates… They did sound familiar—but from where?

“What? Why?” Luffy frowned, stepping further into the room. “Why should we leave?”

“Because they’re looking for you,” Nami snapped, eyes locking onto him.

Luffy points at himself, “Me?”

“And the map,” she added, her voice tight. “Those fishmen will tear this place apart if Zeff doesn’t turn you over.”

Fishmen.

The word dropped into Y/N’s stomach like a weight.

Her breath hitched ever so slightly. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt before she could stop them.

Oh… fishmen.

“Where are you going?”

Usopp’s voice cut through the tension, snapping Y/N out of her thoughts. She turned just in time to see Sanji striding toward the door, jaw tight.

“If Baratie’s in danger,” Sanji said stopping, “I need to be there.”

“I’m coming with you,” Luffy added without hesitation, already stepping forward.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” Nami snapped, barely keeping her frustration from boiling over. “They are hunting you. We need to run.”

“I’m with Nami on this one,” Usopp said quickly, raising a hand like a white flag. “I’m really not trying to ruffle any feathers… or scales…”

Y/N shift on her feet, "Luffy, let's just think for a second--"

“I’m not running,” Luffy said firmly, his voice low and unwavering. “We’re going to protect this place.”

Sanji frowns “This isn’t your fight. Why would you do that?”

Luffy glanced at him, his expression so simple, so Luffy, that Y/N almost laughed.

“You fed us,” he said, like that explained everything.

Nami stepped forward, her voice a little too quick, too sharp—not just worried.

Frightened.

“Look, I know this crew,” she said, eyes locked on Luffy, more desperate now than angry. “Their captain—Arlong—he’s got the highest bounty in all of the East Blue. You do not want to mess with him.”

Luffy tilted his head, calm as ever. “Sounds like he messed with us first.”

“Luffy, please,” Nami said, and this time it cracked. She stepped closer, the plea trembling just beneath the surface. “Please.”

Y/N watched her—really watched her. This wasn’t about strategy. This wasn’t just about a fight, it was something deeper.

But Luffy didn’t hesitate. “I can’t let innocent people get hurt because of me.”

He turned then, facing them—Usopp, Sanji, and... Y/N. That look in his eyes… that quiet fire. That same unshakable conviction that had carried them through every storm.

“If those fishmen guys want a fight,” he said, voice low but fierce, “we’re gonna give them one.”

Y/N’s stomach twisted—equal parts pride and nerves—but she didn’t move. Didn’t question it. That tone in his voice made you feel like you could move mountains or at least stand in the way of something terrible.

Luffy walked over to Nami and rested a hand on her shoulder—gentle, reassuring, not a command, just trust.

“You stay with the ship,” he said softly. “Protect the map, hmm? It’s gonna be safe with you.”

He gave her shoulder a small clap, something brotherly, something solid. He didn’t wait for her reply. He didn’t have to and then he turned and started walking out.

Y/N stood still, her fingers curling again at her sides.

There was a part of her screaming to stay behind. To hide. To take the map, the wounded, and vanish beneath the sea like a shadow. That ancient, primal part of her that knew how dangerous the world could be—especially when it came with names like Arlong.

But louder than that—growing with every moment, every reckless heartbeat—was something else. A part of her that didn’t want to see the Baratie torn apart. That didn’t want innocent people dragged into whatever mess fate had dumped at their feet. That didn’t want to let Luffy—idiotic, idealistic, impossible Luffy—go headfirst into danger alone.

And gods, more than anything, there was a part of her that didn’t want to run. For the first time in so so long, she wanted to be brave.

Godsdammit, she thought bitterly. His stupidity is rubbing off on me.

She glanced toward the door where Luffy had disappeared, then turned her eyes to Nami.

The girl still stood frozen in place, unmoving, her expression unreadable—but her fists were clenched at her sides.

“Nami,” Y/N said, voice low. Steady. Just enough pressure to cut through the weight in the room. “Tell me why you’re desperate to go.”

She stepped closer, not with force, but with familiarity—like someone who’s shared too many sleepless nights and stormy decks to be lied to.

“Just tell me, Nami.”

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Nami didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Her jaw worked, like she was grinding something behind her teeth she didn’t want to say.

Y/N softened her voice even more. “I know what it feels like… when running isn’t fear—it’s survival. When it’s the only thing you can do.”

Still, Nami didn’t speak.

She stood there, arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes fixed on the floor like if she just stared hard enough, the weight of the world might finally lift. But it didn’t. It never did.

Y/N let out a slow, tired sigh and dragged a hand over her face. She felt the fatigue deep in her bones, the dread curled at the base of her spine—but her eyes still flicked toward the door.

She didn’t want to go.

She didn’t want to freaking go. Every bone in her body begged her to stay put. To shut the door. To stay safe.

'You’re not a fighter,' something whispered inside her. 'You’re a survivor.'

Her feet moved before her mind could catch up. One step. Then another. Toward the door. Toward the storm.

But just before crossing the threshold, she paused and turned her head, eyes catching Nami’s profile in the flickering light—still frozen, still silent.

“You’re not alone anymore, pumpkin,” Y/N said softly, her voice steady despite the fear still gnawing at her ribs. “You’re not.”

And then she was gone, the door swinging shut behind her with a soft click, leaving Nami in the quiet with nothing but the smell of rice, salt, and truth.

By the time Y/N made her way into the restaurant, the fight had already started.

The place was chaos.

Tables overturned, glass shattered across the floor, lanterns swinging wildly from the ceiling. The salty tang of blood and seawater filled the air.

Sanji lay slumped on the stairs, his shirt torn, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. Usopp was crouched beside him, one hand braced on the banister, the other gripping his slingshot like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

She barely registered them before her gaze snapped to the open space near the center of the floor.

Luffy was alone.

He stood across from a creature so massive, so unnaturally built, that the air seemed to shift around him. His skin was deep blue, stretched tight across muscle, his grin filled with rows of jagged teeth. His presence was suffocating. Even without an introduction, she knew.

Arlong.

She watched in horror as the Fish-man moved faster than she expected for someone of his size. With a roar, he drove a brutal punch straight into Luffy’s ribs, sending him flying across the room and into a support beam with a sickening crash. Dust shook loose from the ceiling, and Luffy’s body slumped at the base of the beam.

A sharp cry escaped Y/N’s throat before she could stop it. “Luffy!”

The word wasn’t loud, but it was enough. Every Fish-man in the room turned toward her like hounds catching a scent.

She felt the blood drain from her face.

Y/N’s feet froze in place. The bravado—the fierce, reckless fire she’d carried into this room—flickered like a candle in a hurricane and went out.

Just like that.

Her legs locked beneath her, breath caught in her throat. It was like the world had shifted focus—and now it was fixed on her.

Arlong’s eyes narrowed, and he didn’t speak at first. He took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving hers. Then, as if something dawned on him, his expression changed, sharpening, twisting into something cruel.

There was no confusion in his stare. No curiosity, just certainty.

“Well, now,” he said, voice low and rasping like a blade dragged through gravel. “Would you look at that?”

Y/N couldn’t speak. She didn’t need to. It was already too late.

Instinct took over before reason had the chance to catch up.

The moment Arlong’s eyes lit with recognition, Y/N turned on her heel and ran. Her boots hit the cracked tile hard, the sting of panic flaring up her spine. She didn’t care about pride, not now—she needed to disappear, to get out, to breathe.

But she hadn’t seen the other Fish-man—tall and slim, with scaled arms and gills that flared like wings.

He moved fast—unnaturally so—and in the space between heartbeats, he was on her.

A clawed hand gripped her wrist like a vice, wrenching her backward. The second hand clamped over her mouth before she could make a sound, muffling her startled cry. She thrashed against him, heels skidding across the floor, but it was no use. His strength dwarfed hers like a tidal wave swallowing a ripple.

The room seemed to pause.

Arlong watched with a kind of venomous delight as she was dragged forward. He stepped into the light, grinning with slow, deliberate malice.

“Thought you could run?” he said mockingly, tilting his head as he stepped closer. “Little fish thinks she’s clever.”

Sanji, bloodied and barely on his feet, tried to push himself off the stairs. “Get your hands off her—!”

Before he could take a single step, another Fish-man backhanded him hard enough to send him crashing back into the railing, groaning.

Usopp, who’d been halfway to reaching for a slingshot, was struck down with a single sweep, knocked to the floor with a strangled cry.

Y/N’s heart pounded as she watched them fall—Sanji, Usopp—and then Luffy, still hunched near the broken support beam, dragged himself upright, hands trembling, blood smeared across his chin. His hat hung askew, casting a shadow over his eyes—but not enough to hide the fire behind them.

“Let her go.”

His voice wasn’t loud, it didn’t need to be.

Arlong turned toward him slowly, savoring the moment, still standing far too close to Y/N, who remained frozen in the grip of the Fish-man behind her.

“You don’t give orders here, boy,” Arlong said, flashing rows of serrated teeth. “You don’t understand what you’re protecting.”

“She’s my crewmate and my friend,” Luffy said, louder this time, straighter despite the ache in his ribs. “I don’t care what she is.”

Arlong barked a cold laugh, the sound grating and humorless. “You should. She’s a siren. She’s lied to you from the beginning. They always do. It’s in their blood. Deceit, betrayal—it’s what they’re made for.”

Y/N tried to shake her head, to scream through the hand still clamped over her mouth, but the Fish-man holding her only tightened his grip.

Luffy’s eyes never left hers.

He took a shaky step forward. “She’s not lying now.”

“You think she’s your friend?” Arlong snarled, finally losing some of that smug calm. “Her kind never pick a side unless it benefits them, they’re monsters. Traitors. Think they’re better than the rest of us because they can slither onto land and smile like nothing ever happened.”

He stepped back and spat in her face.

Y/N’s throat burned beneath the Fish-man’s calloused hand, her lungs screaming for breath. Her body heaved in his grip as she fought for control, for air, for anything—but the harder she struggled, the tighter his hold became, like he wanted to crush the resistance out of her.

Arlong leaned in close, his breath hot and foul against her skin, his twisted grin carved deep into his shark-like face.

“You thought you could pretend, little siren?” he whispered, slow and cruel, dragging each word like a blade. “Thought you’d be safe among the humans? That you could run from what you are?”

His voice dipped lower, thick with disgust. “Your kind deserved to be slaughtered.”

Then, with a casual turn of his head, he addressed the room—Luffy, really. His voice rose, booming with theatrical cruelty. “And she’ll be sold to the highest bidder. Mark my words, there’s always someone willing to pay a kingdom for a siren."

That was it.

Something inside Y/N snapped.

A muffled sob tore from her throat, raw and broken. She began to thrash violently, all grace gone, nothing left but the naked desperation of a girl who knew exactly what was waiting for her if they took her.

Her eyes were wide, wild, brimming with tears as she kicked and struggled against the Fish-man’s hold. Her fists pounded uselessly against his chest, fingernails clawing at the arm pressed over her mouth, legs flailing as she bucked like something drowning.

Gods, no. No, no, no. Please, no. Not again. Not again.

The panic drowned everything else. The walls, the people, the voices—it all blurred.

She wasn’t in the Baratie anymore, she was there again.

With him.

The past surged up around her like a rising tide, inescapable and merciless. The pain. The blood. The cold cage that kept her like an animal. The sound of her own voice echoed in the dark, unanswered. Her wrists raw from the shackles. The silence between screams. And his face, the one that still haunted her even in the warmth of the sun.

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t think.

The present melted away, and all she saw was the then. Her body locked up, trembling, helpless. She tried to will herself back—to claw her way out of it—but she was already drowning. Already gone.

Not again.

Please, her mind whispered. Not again.

And still, no one could reach her. The hand over her mouth, the grip around her arms, the jeering voices of the Fish-men—it all swam together, rising into a deafening roar.

A sharp crack of impact.

A jolt of pain. Stars burst behind her eyes as her head snapped sideways from the blow.

And everything went black but just before the world fell away, just before her knees buckled and her body sagged in the arms that held her, she heard it—fierce, furious, and burning with everything she couldn’t hold onto:

“Let. Her. GO!”

And then there was nothing.

Y/N:

Heyyyy. Thank you all so much for reading. I already have the next part done, and it was supposed to be an entire chapter from ep6 to 8 but the length was too much for Tumblr apparently. So, I will be posting it soon.

Also once again thank you all for reading, like seriously, thank you fro the support. <3<3<3<3<3<3

Also, tell me if you want to get tagged.

Divider by @cafekitsune

Tags:

weirdowithaphone

kitsunetori

cantbecreative

silveritydreams

vrsin

thekatisspooky

pieces-by-me

rockyeatrock

sylum

shmd-nora

sailor-croft

[layla4567]

The Medical

Summary: An incident causes you to have to take care of an injured Sanji.

Warnings: Mention of blood and wounds of course, sword fights, not proofread

Pairing: Sanji!opla x Fem!reader

Wc: 3k

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You could say that it all started when Luffy was the first to get hurt. Days before he had been kidnapped by Arlong and gagged and tied. When they rescued him, Luffy was unconscious due to a blow to the head, and you noticed with horror that he was bleeding slightly on the back, staining his dark curls.

"My God Luffy!! What the hell happened?!"-You shouted as Nami, Zoro and Sanji held him by the legs and arms to take him to his room.

You ran to them so you could heal him. You were in charge of being the "nurse" of the crew. You were not an expert but your intensive care and your desire to help always worked miracles. Despite the few nursing things that were on the ship and your little knowledge, your kindness and maternal affection seemed to be enough when it came to treating wounds.

They gently placed the boy in his hammock, resting his head on a pillow. You approached, worried, rolling up your shirt sleeves, ready to cure him.

"You need something? Do you want us to help you?"-Sanji asked

"No, I want everyone to leave now."

Your authoritarian tone brooked no reply. They knew you were firm when it came to doing your job as a nurse and needed to work alone and quietly. The three nodded silently and left, Zoro being the last to close the door. You turned to see Luffy who was still unconscious and got to work. Gently lifting his head to see the wound better, you brushed away strands of hair until you found it. Luckily it wasn't that big, you carefully disinfected it and put a patch on it so the wound could close.

After a few long minutes the brown boy slowly opened his eyes and woke up. With a grimace of pain he looked at you confused and you gave him a comforting smile, resting your hand on his wrist and caressing the back of his hand.

"Ugh my head... what happened?"

"You received a blow to the head but don't worry, I've already bandaged you up. Now you have to rest for a few days, okay?"

Luffy tried to smile but he still felt like his head was throbbing. Nami, Zoro and Sanji entered the room to see how their captain was doing. They were happy to know that he had finally woken up. Days passed like that and you stayed close to Luffy the whole time so that he wouldn't get bored. For a boy as hyperactive as him, staying in bed resting was a nightmare. He wanted to go sailing and have adventures, but you were firm and convinced him to stay in his hammock.

You went to great lengths to entertain him and provide relief. You read to him, you told him stories from your childhood, you held his hand and drew small circles with your thumb on his arm to calm him down. And little by little all your efforts paid off because Luffy was recovering. Sanji was in charge of feeding Luffy with foods that have protein and fiber to give him energy.

Knock Knock

The cook opened the door entering with a tray of mixed salad with pieces of chicken. Seeing the food, Luffy jumped up in his hammock and licked his lips hungrily. You laughed, shaking your head, and stood up to grab the tray of food.

"Thank you Sanji, you are a charm"-you said smiling

Sanji felt his heart begin to pump more blood upon hearing your sweet words but he simply smiled at you again.

"My pleasure, darling"

You left the tray to Luffy who had already started stretching his arms and flexing his fingers repeatedly as if he were a baby trying to reach his favorite toy and you left the room along with the cook. Sanji had work to do so he returned to the kitchen to continue preparing the next dishes of the day. You sat on a stool sighing tired but satisfied with your work and relieved that Luffy is feeling better. Sanji was cutting carrots when with a small laugh he said

"I'm glad that our captain is better but I almost get jealous seeing that he received so much care"

You rested your elbow on the table and your chin on your hand, looking at him funny. Was he implying that he wanted you to take care of him? You hoped he wouldn't do anything stupid and get hurt on purpose so he could spend more time with you and your miraculous hands.

"I take care of people that's my job Sanji…"

He smiling focused on continuing cutting the vegetables, but you quickly added

"But I take care of each one differently.. if that's what you wanted to know"

You smiled tenderly and mockingly, leaving him speechless. Then he laughed again and smiled at you, biting his lip slightly as he watched you walk away from the kitchen to go to the deck.

WEEKS LATER

And this brings us to today. Days after Luffy's accident he had recovered wonderfully thanks to you. You, Zoro and Sanji had decided to go on a mission together to stop Arlong and his minions, a little revenge for Luffy. The straw hat captain along with Nami tried to stop the fishman and distract him away from where the three of you were. Unfortunately, Arlong's minions were too many and they had you surrounded.

You and Zoro were dedicated to slashing with sabers while Sanji was very good at delivering kicks like a karate fighter. Each dodge was followed by a thrust from you and Zoro also helped you by staying close to you, back to back. Although the cook knew how to defend himself, he did not have any weapon and every now and then you would cast worried glances at where he was to confirm that he was okay. Zoro noticed that your movements were becoming sloppy.

"Y/n focus!"-He said while with a quick movement he cut the torso of an enemy near you.

You growled softly and forced yourself to be more attentive to your surroundings, briefly neglecting your blonde companion. There were already several enemies fallen and there were not many left to take down when a scream froze your blood and made you turn to see where it came from. A fishman had wounded Sanji with his sword near his waist.

"SANJI!!"

You broke away from Zoro and ran towards the blonde boy who was holding his left side as he knelt on one leg with a contorted grimace. You crouched close to him feeling like your world was falling apart and looked closer at the wound. He had a cut on the left side of his waist and was bleeding, soaking his clothes. You swallowed your panic and grabbed Sanji's arm, putting it around your shoulders to lift him up and stabilize him.

"Zoro come help me please!!"-you begged in anguish

He sighed as he stabbed his sword into an enemy to let him fall into the sand. He ran towards you as Sanji growled under his breath. With your help Zoro put the cook's other arm over his shoulders and together they helped him walk. Unfortunately the three of them were on a kind of round rock in the water and had to follow a path of separate platforms to get out of there. So with a lot of effort they had to help him jump.

"Come on Sanji you can do it"

You encouraged him as you grabbed his wrist and held your other hand on his back. Each rock became more difficult and on one Sanji was about to fall to his knees but you caught him just in time.

"I got you"

When you reached dry land, you detached yourself slightly from him and took off his jacket so you could temporarily bandage the wound.

"Dear.. that's not necessary"-He said with a grimace as he held his wound.

"For god sakes Sanji you are bleeding, I think it is necessary"

You took off the scarf that you had on your hip as a belt and wrapped it around his waist, tightening a little so as not to cause hemorrhage and stop the bleeding. As Sanji squeezed the handkerchief he let out a grunt. They soon arrived back at the ship while Nami and Luffy followed them after noticing the cook's condition and having explained to them what happened. Sanji still had an arm on your shoulders so he could walk better.

"Where are you taking him?"-Zoro asked

"To my quarter, now"

You didn't want to waste time, you knew that in your room you would have everything you needed to cure him. This time the wound was more serious and you needed many things to disinfect it. When you got to your room with the others following you, you placed Sanji on your bed, taking care not to touch the wound. You did everything quickly and so nervously that you didn't even realize that the other crew members were with you.

"Let's go, let's leave them alone, c'mon"

Nami pushed Luffy and Zoro towards the door as you thanked her with a nod. When you were both alone, you went to look for a first aid kit and a bucket with water and a clean cloth, your hands were shaking slightly and you were so nervous that you looked like a hummingbird flying frantically from here to there. God you had to act quickly or the wound could get infected and you didn't want that, you couldn't even think about what would happen if you couldn't cure him, if he didn't survive you… you. You felt a hot sting in your eyes and a lump in your throat. Sanji just looked at you realizing your affliction so when you sat on the bed to heal him he took your hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'll be fine my missus, you are the best nurse I know"

You closed your eyes, lowering your head and laughing softly, no matter how mortally wounded Sanji was, he would always find a way to continue flirting with you. While he was lying down, you removed the scarf from his waist that had gotten stained and you noticed that his shirt was also red on that side. You raised it a little to see the cut and let out a gasp. It wasn't that deep but it was quite big. You grabbed a damp cloth and began to clean the wound and put pressure on it. Sanji grunted again in pain as he felt the pressure of the cloth.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't apologize darling, I know you're being as delicate as possible, as always."

Damn it. His words tickled your stomach as he looked at you with his blue puppy eyes. You avoided looking at him and continued cleaning the wound. The chef in love studied your face as if you were an indecipherable manuscript. He concentrated on your eyelashes, your cheekbones, your lips. Then he looked at your soft hands working his wound and how your fingers lovingly avoided touching the cut.

"You know, despite everything I feel satisfied to finally be able to be part of your magical care, sweetherart"

You laughed, feeling your cheeks turn pink. If he kept calling you cute nicknames in less than 5 seconds you would rush in to kiss him. But you held back and finished cleaning up the traces of blood. You were going to put disinfectant on him when you realized that you couldn't work with his shirt closed and rolled up.

"Sanji…uh"

"Yes? What do you need?"

"I n-need you to open your shirt"-you said in one breath, embarrassed.

He saw you nervous and just smiled "Oh, sure"

The blonde boy quickly unbuttoned from the bottom up, exposing his bare chest. You didn't want to look like a pervert but your eyes quickly strayed to his pecs and abs that were well defined. You blushed and quickly looked at his wound, trying not to see him, Sanji chuckled, amused by your embarrassment. You grabbed a cotton pad with disinfectant and placed a hand on his abdomen to better look at the cut and place the cotton pad properly. When you did that, Sanji gasped, feeling the heat of your fingers near his navel. You mumbled an apology but he let you continue, despite the heat coming from your hand he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Alright I'm almost done, now I have to bandage you. Could you sit down for a few seconds?"

He nodded and slowly sat on the bed next to you, taking care of his movements so as not to awaken a wave of pain on his side, you helped him by keeping a hand on his back. You also told him to take off his shirt so you could bandage him better. Why would you have told him? When he took off his striped shirt you got a better look at his defined torso and broad back. If before your cheeks were rosy, now your whole face was the color of rubies when they shine in the sun. Good heavens, you couldn't take your eyes off his body, his muscles were always hidden, capriciously imprisoned in that striped shirt he always wore and now you could finally see them in all their splendor, free. You were tempted to run your fingers over his skin and caress it but that would have been too much for you and him. Sanji knew you were looking at him and smiled flirtatiously.

"So? Will you finish bandaging me now, miss Y/n?"

You looked into his eyes with enormous surprise, feeling caught red-handed and you shook your head to get rid of the dirty thoughts that had invaded you a while ago. With trembling fingers and your face still red you hurried to wrap the gauze around his narrow waist. You pretended to be calm even though inside you were dying of nerves and certainly having Sanji's eyes boring into you didn't help. Despite the speed you tried to be gentle and considerate with him. When you finished, you jumped up, moving away from him as if he were a hot arm and you sighed in relief, the worst had already happened.

"Thank you very much lovely nurse"

You smiled shyly. Sanji was about to put his shirt back on when you stopped him.

"Wait, your shirt is stained!"-you exclaimed

He seemed to realize it at that moment and looked at the stain. He was going to reply that it wasn't a big deal when you quickly exclaimed again.

"Stay here, I'll bring you a new one."

You trotted towards his room and felt strange when you entered it. It was the first time you were in his room and it was something…so intimate. You felt a chill remembering that he was also in your room now. You quickly grabbed a random white shirt and went back to where he was. He was waiting for you sitting smiling, you gave him the shirt and he stood up to put it on. This time you looked away and covered your eyes to give him privacy. Sanji looked at you and laughed happily, you were standing in front of him and you covered your eyes with your hands as if you were going to play hide and seek, he thought it was cute.

"Ok you can look now"

You slowly uncovered one eye and then the other, how could it be possible that he always looked good in shirts? Sanji threatened to head towards the door but you stopped him by putting your hands on his chest, he looked at you surprised.

"Ah, ah, ah, nothing like that. You will stay here until you recover, like I did with Luffy."

"B-but the food…"

"Don't worry about that, we'll take care of it."

You laid Sanji back on the bed and gave him a kiss on the forehead, brushing away his blonde bangs as you left your room.

"How is he?"-Nami asked you that same afternoon while they were in the kitchen.

"Better, but his wound will take a while to heal."

"And who will make the food?"

"We will, who else but?"

A muffled, mocking laugh was heard near you. Zoro was sitting on a stool drinking.

"What a good joke Y/n, you should be a comedian."

"I'm serious Zoro"

"But how do you expect us to cook something? We don't even know how to boil water"-Nami said

"Well, we'll learn how, we'll have to do it, I have to bring Sanji lunch…and the rest of us have to eat too, of course."

Zoro rolled his eyes.

"Fine, why don't we prepare something simple like pasta?"

"Good luck trying to boil water"

Nami hit Zoro in the back of the head.

"Well instead of complaining why don't you help come up with ideas?"

"Don't pay attention to him, pasta is fine"-Nami said smiling at you and placing her hand on your shoulder.

You looked all over the cupboard for packets of noodles but oh surprise! There was nothing left…

"Great, I better go before we starve to death"

Zoro snorted and turned away from there. You sighed in frustration as Nami stayed with you for whatever. Suddenly you remembered that your mother used to prepare a very good risotto for you when you were a child, you used to watch her cook your favorite dish and because you insisted so much she taught you how to cook it. You weren't as good as your mother at cooking but you did it carelessly. You grabbed a package of rice and the other ingredients and with Nami's help you managed to finish a quite edible risotto.

After serving the straw hats' dishes you went with a plate to your room where Sanji was. You found him lying down flipping through a book of yours. When he saw you come in with the food he smiled widely.

"I hope you didn't have any problems cooking."

"Let's say we manage not to burn down the kitchen…and the entire ship"

Sanji laughed warmly and then looked at the risotto you had prepared. He closed his eyes breathing in the delicious aroma and could feel his mouth watering.

"Is that.. what I think it is?"

"Yes sir, an old recipe from my mother. She used to prepare it for me every time I asked her"

Without thinking it twice, Sanji grabbed the plate and put a slice of rice in his mouth. You anxiously hoped that he would like it and that it wouldn't taste horrible. When he swallowed the bite, the blonde boy opened his eyes and looked at you in surprise. Oh no, he didn't like it you thought.

"Sanji I..-"

“Y/n this is really good!”

Wait, what?

"I didn't know you also had cooking skills."

"Do you really think it's delicious?"

"Of course I do! Why would I lie to you?"

You sighed in relief and smiled until your eyes narrowed. After eating you stayed with him chatting, you caressed his hair and cheek and he melted with your touch, sighing with happiness. Sometimes you would sing to him to entertain him or put him to sleep and then kiss him on the cheek or forehead. The days passed and he recovered more and more, he could even stand up and walk around the ship, but secretly sometimes he continued sleeping in your room just so he could be close to your presence.

"That story was beautiful, sweetie."

"I'm glad you liked it, good night Sanji"

You smiled as he closed his eyes and settled into the sheets. You were sitting near him, you liked to watch him sleep, not in a creepy way but he looked so peaceful like an angel. You got up and walked over to see him closer. Her eyelashes caressed the top of her cheeks, her soft skin shone with the moonlight, her thin lips seemed more rosy and velvety. Without being able to help it, you kissed her lips softly as if they were going to break, it seemed like you wanted to wake up the sleeping beauty. You moved a few centimeters away from his face and noticed his corners curl into a smile. Horrified, you covered your mouth and Sanji opened his eyes slightly, laughing softly.

"Sorry, I thought you were sleeping!!"

Sanji pulled you back to him laughing.

"There's no need to worry sweetheart, I know I'm irresistible"

You were about to protest but he gently pushed you towards your bed so that you lay next to him causing you to gasp slightly. You decided not to resist, a part of you wanted this anyway. The cook caressed your cheek with his thumb, his face close to yours.

"I never thanked you for saving my life. Thank you really Y/n"

"Oh don't exaggerate, it's the least I could do for you. I like to take care of you"

You could swear that despite the darkness, Sanji's face turned slightly reddish. You kissed his nose and laid on his chest. Now he was the one who felt butterflies in his stomach. Stroking your back and with his chin on your head you both fell asleep deeply.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

oh man i just love writing one character bandaging/healing the other's wounds. chef's kiss

[creamsickle-writes]

Swimming with Sharks: Arlong x F!Reader

Tags: nsfw, unhealthy relationships (Reader is delusional), Reader is kept as a "pet", masturbation, size difference, double penetration, oral sex, Arlong-typical degradation

There had to have been something wrong with you.

You were enamored with a pirate, which was bad enough on its own, but the situation was even more twisted than that, as the pirate you lusted after was the man who had been holding your village captive for the past eight years. 

Arlong was a horrible, terrible man.

You felt disgusted with yourself. This wasn’t normal, and it certainly wasn’t healthy. This man had killed villagers, recruited a child to join his slimy crew, and was very open about his views on the “inferior” human race. To him, you were nothing more than a piggy bank, offering your tribute as often as he requested.

But whatever god exists is cruel and loves to play jokes.

You couldn’t help but be enchanted by him. Maybe it was his power, tall stature, or something else entirely, but you wanted him more than anything.

To be his was all you ever desired since Arlong arrived years ago, awakening something inside your teenage heart. You had hoped it was just the hormones acting up or some sort of weird phase, but no, you were in your twenties now, and the fish man still made you hot and bothered.

And as much as you wanted to hate him, to loathe and despise him, you couldn’t.  

So when collection day came, you were jittery in anticipation instead of shaking and cowering in fear like an average person would. It was the rare occasion where you got to see him up close, and while he wouldn’t speak with you directly, you would hear his gruff voice ordering his underlings around. 

And today, you were very fortunate as Arlong would grace you with his presence once more. 

When the fishmen enter the village, the place becomes a ghost town, everyone making themselves scarce as they wait for the pirates to bang on their door. 

You peek out the window, your heart racing and your head spinning as you watch them approach your neighbor’s house. You observe in interest, your eyes raking over each man before your eyes finally catch on Arlong, who seems to be conversing with one of his men.

When they head for your door, you’re on the porch before they even get the chance to knock. On the porch are several fishmen, but Arlong seems to be missing. Your face falls in disappointment.

“Well, you’re eager for us to drain your pockets,” one of his crewmates laughs, leaning in to sneer down at you, “Just make sure you hand it all over, or else we’ll have to sic our Captain on you.”

Your ears twitch at that.

You knew what you were thinking was dumb, reckless, and really dangerous, but this was an opportunity to get his attention, and it couldn’t be thrown away.

“Ah, I don’t have any money this month-“you smile nervously, “But maybe I could talk things over with your Captain and-“

As you try to talk your way into meeting with Arlong personally, the fishman you’re speaking to glances over your shoulder, seeing your purse lying on your kitchen table.

“You have nothing, you say?” He asks, clearly not believing a word, “Then what’s this over here?”

He shoves you aside roughly, and you hiss in pain, rubbing the area where he pushed you. 

The man starts digging around in your handbag, retrieving enough berries for his month’s payment and then some. 

You grow hot in embarrassment as he waves the cash in the air before walking towards the door, “Looks like humans are just as dumb as I thought! They can’t even count properly.”

Shit. There goes the money for food.

As the fishman passes the threshold, you hear him call out, “Hey, Arlong! This human was trying to get out of handing over our money!”

And when he emerges from the rabble of men, your heart races in your chest.

“What’s this now?” His low voice inquires, talking more to you than to his subordinate. 

You try to muster the courage to speak, but nothing comes out. Arlong steps forward, crowding your space, and your heartbeat grows louder.

“And why would you ever think of doing that, little human?” The question is definitely more of a threat, and because you are clearly some sort of masochist, your insides throb excitedly. 

You answer honestly, “I-I wanted to get your attention-“

His crew bursts out laughing.

“His attention?”

“It’s like a child!”

“What a strange wish!”

Arlong lets his men laugh for a while, but eventually, he raises a hand, making them quiet down. 

“And why do you want my attention, pitiful little creature?” He smirks, “Maybe you plan to distract me while your fellow humans attempt to attack my men, is that it?”

“N-No sir, I would never!” You exclaim, “I-I just- well-“

Your stammering wears Arlong’s patience thin, “Out with it already.”

“I-I am entranced by you-“you confess, “A-And I- um-“ 

Your sentence trails off as he begins pacing around you in circles, his eyes never leaving you for a moment as if he were appraising you, which, in all fairness, he probably was. 

“So,” he takes some of your hair, allowing it to fall between his fingers as he assesses you closely, “You’re entranced by me, are you? A human that desires a fishman- now that is something I have never seen before…”

Arlong hums, and you squeal as he hooks a finger under your camisole straps, sliding it past your shoulder as if examining the skin underneath. But clearly, he wasn’t; he was just hoping to get into your head.

And it was working, but in a different way than he anticipated.

“For a human,” he starts, “you’re not terrible looking… I’d even say that you are somewhat attractive.”

“T-Thank you,” your voice quivers, “It’s such great praise to hear you say that, sir.”

“Tell me,” he’s behind you now, leaning down to whisper in your ear, “Do you fear me?”

“Y-Yes sir,” you choke out, “Very much-“

“And yet you are aroused by me. Your logical mind tells you to stay away from me, but you listen to your body instead. Humans are such foolish, primitive creatures.” He chuckles darkly before pulling away from your ear and pacing again so he’s in front of you, his dark eyes glued to your face.

Without taking his eyes off you, he speaks to his crew, “We’ll take this one back with us. I’ve always wanted a pet.”

He wickedly smiles at his words and motions for you to follow when he turns on his heels. You hear several fellow villagers sob when they see you leaving your house with the pirates. They must believe that you are about to be killed, and for all you know, their beliefs could be correct, but in your heart, you don’t believe Arlong will slaughter you.

You hope and pray that your instincts are correct.

The walk to Arlong Park isn’t long, and soon you’re in front of the towering structure. You’ve never seen it up close before, and the building’s intense aura washes over you; the once faraway symbol of your oppression was now directly suffocating you.

“Come,” Arlong orders, and you scurry to his side, “This will be your new place of residence. You will eat when I say so and sleep only where I allow.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

He laughs, “Finally, a human that knows their place.”

He enters the pagoda, and you try to keep up, walking briskly to keep time with his long strides. Arlong leads you upstairs to a rather large bedroom, a bed built for a man of his stature sitting in the middle. 

He sits at the edge of the bed and beckons you to come close. You obey without question, standing before him, your hands placed timidly in front of you. 

“Remove your clothing,” he commands suddenly, “Make it quick.”

You scramble to remove your top and slide your shorts off your thighs, kicking them to the side. You’re left only in your underwear, your bra never touching your chest today. You hesitate momentarily when your fingers brush over your underwear’s waistband. 

“S-Sorry, I’m a bit nervous-“you confess, “No one’s ever seen me naked before-“

“I don’t care about your sentimentality. Although,” Arlong smirks, his eyes raking over your body, “the knowledge that I am the first to lay eyes on you is quite amusing...”

His tone’s clear hunger flusters you, and you slip your panties off, stepping out of them and tossing them aside with your other clothes.

He stands up, towering before you as he looks you over. Without warning, he roughly grabs one of your breasts, causing you to gasp.

“Your breasts barely fill my hand,” he scoffs, squeezing the flesh almost painfully tight, “but what else did I expect? Your body is so pitifully small.”

He huffs and releases you, kneeling before you to examine your exposed pussy. You’re about to cover it up, but Arlong beats you to the punch, using his webbed fingers to spread your lips instead. 

“But because you’re so small, I imagine you’ll feel much better around me.”

Your face burns with embarrassment yet anticipation as he slides a finger over your slit. You let out a soft gasp, jolting upright at the touch. He lets out a booming laugh.

“How sensitive!” He mocks you, “I barely graze you, and you jump like a scared cat!”

He removes his hand from your body and stands up, humming to himself, “Yes, I think I’ll make quite good use of you.”

That’s all he says before he walks past you, approaching the door. 

You stutter out, “I-Is that all?”

“For now, yes.” Looking over his shoulder, he simply states, “I have more important things that need my attention at the moment.”

And with that, he leaves, slamming the door shut behind him. 

You were now left alone in what you assumed were his personal quarters. 

And the reality of the situation finally sets in: you were taken as Arlong’s plaything. You would probably never get to go back to your regular life ever again. You had signed yourself, body and soul, over to him. 

The thought both terrified and excited you.

___

Days pass, and you slowly adjust to your situation, if only slightly. You don’t see Arlong often, and when you do, he barely acknowledges your presence. You figured the unspoken rule was that only Arlong could treat you poorly if desired and that anyone else injuring or degrading you would end in disaster. 

And while you enjoyed their kind treatment, you were still chasing after Arlong’s approval and attention.

You wanted him to want you, desire you, maybe even love you. You felt stupid for even falling for a man like him in the first place, and yet here you were, throwing yourself at his feet like a dog.

You sighed as you thought this over in your bed; life wasn’t terrible here, but you wished things could be different. You had your own room but wished you could sleep in his. He wasn’t abusing you, but you wished you had his praise.

The night drags on, and you lay awake in bed, the sounds of the fishmen drinking and laughing rising from outside to your window. You didn’t attend the party tonight, the smell of alcohol and loud conversations not sounding appealing to you today. 

You tried closing your eyes to get some rest, but you weren’t tired.

And your mind suddenly remembers that day.

You remember how he touched you the day he took you in, how he grabbed your breast. Your hand slides up to your chest, squeezing harshly to recreate the feeling. It’s not the same, but the sensation reminds you of that moment.

Your body grows excited at the memory.

You bite your lip as your other hand slips between your legs, teasingly sliding over your clothed slit. A moan bubbles up in your throat, and you don’t bother quieting yourself; everyone is outside at the party, so certainly, they wouldn’t hear you. 

You rub slow circles into your clit, your back arching slightly as pleasure runs through your body. 

Tired of the teasing, you pull your pajama shorts off your body, your underwear following soon behind, and spread your legs eagerly. As your fingers slide over your slit, you imagine Arlong above you, his fingers teasing your most intimate area. 

You slide a finger inside but quickly opt for two, trying to replicate how full his fingers would make you feel.

You finger yourself, curling your fingers upwards to stimulate your g-spot. Your mind goes crazy imagining the dirty things he would say to you, and you move your fingers even faster, mashing your sensitive spot the way you imagined he would. 

It doesn’t take long to cum, and you’re embarrassed when you realize the thought of him made you orgasm so quickly. 

You pull out your fingers, your cum coating them completely. You go to your personal bathroom and prepare to wash your hands and clean your slit.

But for some reason, you feel as though you’re being watched. 

You timidly walk back into your bedroom to check things out and jump as you see Arlong sliding open your bedroom door, inviting himself into your space. 

You scramble to cover your exposed lower half with still dirty hands, your cum smearing over your pubic mound as you shield yourself, “A-Arlong- sir! I didn’t know you were back-” 

“I heard you made yourself scarce,” Arlong hums in an uncharacteristically soft tone, “Everyone was asking about you.”

“About me?” You point to yourself in disbelief.

“Yes, but…” his eyes rake over you, “now I can see you were occupied…” 

You shake your head, “W-What? No-“

“Don’t deny it; I could smell the filthy scent of your arousal before I even entered the room.”

His words send a jolt down your spine. You look away in embarrassment, refusing to look him in the eyes.

Arlong smirks, approaching you slowly, his fingers finding their way around your chin and jerking your head upwards so you would look at him.

His voice lowers, his eyes boring into your soul, “And just what were you imagining that aroused you?”

You stutter, unable to answer him, but Arlong expected that you wouldn’t respond in the first place.

He takes your hand, lifting it up to see the mess you had made moments prior. You want to hide it, but fighting him would only test his patience.

His finger swipes over the cum that covers your digits, the webbed appendage collecting the fluid.

He lifts it up to your lips, demanding, “Open.”

You obey immediately, taking his fingers into your mouth. Your tongue slides against his skin, cleaning his digits as thoroughly as possible. 

“Disgusting human,” he smirks, “You’ll even lick your own cum off my fingers- absolutely revolting.”

Your face heats up at his insult, and despite his degrading words, you keep licking, sucking them clean. Hell, you keep sucking even when you know nothing is left on his fingers. And when he growls lowly, you can tell the sight affects him. 

“Disgusting human indeed,” he hums, looking down at you in disdain, “Look how you react to the mere taste of my fingers… Do you desire more of me now?” 

You nod eagerly, pulling his fingers from your mouth, “I-I want you more than anything. I’ve wanted you for so long-“

He growls at your words yet again and presses his body against yours; however, with his height, his crotch is pressed against your chest. 

“Desperate thing. You spend all night with your hands in your panties, yet you still crave more.” Arlong tsks, “But it’s no wonder; you were left with only those small fingers of yours. There’s no way something so small can satisfy anyone, not even a human.”

You whine as his words rile you up, your pussy aching for more stimulation, “N-No, I need something more… m-maybe something that only a man your size could provide...”

“Is that right…?” He chuckles a bit at your words.

Your tongue darts over your lips quickly as you reach for the waistband of his pants. He looks down at you with a glint in his eye and a smug grin. He isn’t stopping you; you take that as a good sign. 

And if that wasn’t convincing enough, he even says, “Go ahead, pitiful thing…”

You nod and pull his pants down along with his undergarments and gasp in shock. 

You weren’t exactly familiar with the differences between fishmen and human anatomy. Of course, you knew they had gills or lungs that were different from yours; they might have tentacles or webbed fingers or things of that nature, but.. you never thought that something like this would be different.

Your mouth gapes in surprise as you see not one but two appendages between his legs. They’re shaped differently than you anticipated, the shafts slender with a slight curve. After he steps out from the discarded garments, you curiously reach a hand out and grab it, testing how the lengthy appendage feels in your hands.

It’s warm, and you gasp when you see the precum dripping onto your hands; its consistency is watery, and it seems to come out like a faucet. You blush at how it effortlessly lubricates your hands, allowing you to stroke even faster. 

As you stroke the cock that is on top, you nearly forget the other shaft until it twitches excitedly, hitting your hand and smearing the cum over your wrist. You hurriedly grab the other cock, trying to stroke both simultaneously. 

“Ah, I can barely get my hands around them…” You laugh nervously, “They’re huge-”

Arlong gives a cocky, lop-sided smirk, looking down at you as you struggle to wrap your hands around his two shafts. 

“The sight of you struggling is pathetic, but…” You gasp as, in an instant, he grabs you, lifting you in the air, “I can’t deny some part of me finds it rather endearing as well.”

Your face lights up in a bright blush at the surprising praise. Your legs wrap around his waist as he sits on the bed, leaning back until his head hits the pillows. Your body is pressed against his, and you gasp as the slick appendages slide against your thigh.

“Go on and finish what you started,” He growls lowly in a seductive tone, “Prove to me just how badly you need me, and if you do well, I’ll reward you.”

You whimper as he takes your chin in hand, tilting your head so you look directly into his eyes, “Does that sound exciting, little one?”

Your heart stops at what sounds like a term of endearment. 

“Y-Yes-” You breathe out, almost in a trance, “Yes, I’ll earn that reward, sir. I’ll do my best.”

“Good,” He hums, “Remove your shirt. I wish to see all of you before we begin…”

You nod and grab the bottom of your shirt, lifting it over your head and off your body.

You leave little kisses in your wake as you crawl down his body. Each kiss shows reverence as you worship his body, your lips trailing from his chest to his stomach and finally to the base of his first cock. When you reach it, you gulp as you ponder how to approach this. You’ve never pleased a man before, and definitely not a man with not one large shaft but two. 

But you had to try.

You bite your lip as your hands attempt to wrap around both dicks at the same time. Now that your face is level with them, you realize they’re both larger than your head; you begin to wonder just how they’ll fit if Arlong decides to claim you. Will he be merciful and only fuck you with one?

You abandon the thought as quickly as it came; clearly, he wasn’t the merciful type.

You would have to be able to take both at once.

The idea terrifies and excites you.

Your grip is firm as you begin stroking them, glancing up at him with nervous eyes before your gaze flickers back to the task at hand. You moan softly as you watch his cocks jolt and throb under your touch, your pussy growing wet again as you imagine how they would feel stuffed inside you.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” He growls, but you’re surprised at how soft and affectionate it sounds. It almost sounds like a gentle suggestion instead of a command.

You nod and lean forward, taking one of the cocks into your mouth slowly. You take it a bit farther than you anticipated, but probably because of how tapered the tip is. You bob your head slowly, stroking the rest of the shaft with one hand while your hand continues coaxing precum out of the other.

Arlong hums in appreciation, and you melt when his hand pushes back your hair, encouraging you to keep going.

You switch to the other shaft, attempting to take as much down your throat as possible. 

In your overzealous attempt, you gag around his cock, and you grow embarrassed. You pull off instantly and begin profusely apologizing: “I-I’m sorry, sir! I-I really am just as disgusting as you say I-”

He cuts you off, “That’s bound to happen. Keep going until I order you to stop.”

Your eyes widen in surprise; was gagging like that normal? He didn’t seem put off by it at all…

You bite your lip before trying again, this time sucking on the cock that rests above the other. You try pacing yourself for your second deepthroating attempt; even though he wasn’t angry about the gagging sounds, you didn’t want to actually throw up around him.

You slowly bob your head, ensuring both hands are full of him, and begin hollowing your cheeks, attempting to make a tighter hole for his pleasure. You inevitably gag again as his cock hits the back of your throat, but soon enough, it gets easier, and you’re able to take him down even further. You hit the halfway point before deciding not to push your luck, determining this was your limit. Soon enough, you find a rhythm, bobbing your head for some time before pulling off his shaft, your tongue swirling around the tapered head to coax out more precum. Eventually, you switch back and forth between the two dicks, trying your best to give both an equal amount of attention.

As you please him, you can’t help but sneak glances at his face, ensuring he’s enjoying himself.

Each time you look at him, his brows are furrowed as his eyes are shut tight, quiet grunts escaping his throat. Your pussy throbs as he gets more vocal, and you can’t help but to whine around his shaft, voicing your frustrations as your holes feel terribly empty.

Your needy sounds don’t go unnoticed.

“Oh,” he coos, clearly belittling you, “It sounds like you’re growing antsy… Was there something you wanted, little human?”

You pull off his cock with your tongue lolling out of your mouth. You breathe heavily, your eyes pleading as you beg, “Please, sir. I need you in me-”

He gives a cocky smirk, “I’m already in your mouth, and yet you want more? You’re a greedy little thing…”

“Please, I’m begging,” You whine, “I need you inside me- Please, sir, fuck me-!”

He hums, his interest clearly piqued by your desperate begging, “And why do you deserve it, hm? What have you done to deserve such an honor?”

You part your lips to answer, but your mind goes blank.

“Go on,” He puts on the pressure, “Speak.”

You finally stutter, “I don’t deserve them, but I’ll do anything to earn them. I-I’ll swallow all your cum, I-I’ll let you use my body any way you like, just please- please fill me up and fuck me until I can’t think-”

Your face radiates warmth as you realize what you just said; you hadn’t meant to sound so desperate, but god, as your slick drips onto the bed under you, you can’t lie: you really will do anything for him to take you. 

Arlong makes an amused little sound; it seems your babbling has caught his interest.

You give one final push, “Please give me a purpose; please let me be useful to you, sir. I’m begging you to use my body- I want to please you- please, let me be a good girl for you-“

“Mm, what a good little human you are,” he hums, his tone patronizing as he looks down at you, “So eager to please… It would be a waste to not take advantage of your devotion and desperation…”

Your eyes light up, and your heart races, excited that he’s finally accepted you.

“Now…” He hums, “How should I take you…”

You shudder as his eyes rake over your body before he motions for you to sit on him. You straddle him and gasp when he holds your hips, his large hands encapsulating your waist. Your heart pounds as he lines one of his cocks up with your pussy, your juices dripping onto him. He laughs a bit when he feels the slick oozing onto him but doesn’t say anything, not about your arousal anyway.

“While I may be a demanding master, I am not heartless…” He says, rubbing the tip of one of his cocks against your entrance, “You’ll take just one first before I add the second…”

Your throat goes dry, but you nod, steadying yourself by planting your hands on his broad chest. 

You wince and hiss in pain when he begins to lower you onto his shaft. Even though it’s barely inside you, it already feels like it’s too much to bear. But you attempt to endure it and keep your pained sounds to a minimum, not wanting Arlong to get annoyed by your discomfort. 

Your thighs shake, and eventually, you feel his pelvis pressed against your mound. You whimper as you feel completely stuffed, your stomach bulging slightly as he finally sheathes himself within you. A shaky sigh leaves your lips as, for the first time, you’re filled by someone else.

You’re surprised when he doesn’t order you to move immediately, giving you a few moments to adjust.

It’s almost like he actually cares about you.

As you’re seated on top of him, his hands reach out to knead your breasts, his thumbs sliding over your hardened nipples. You whine shamelessly, rocking your hips back and forth as you grind your clit into his pelvis. 

“Look at you,” He chuckles, “Rubbing your needy clit against anything you can… I’m starting to think it’s not humans as a whole that are this desperate, but just you in particular.”

Your face burns in shame as he calls out your slutty behavior, but that doesn’t stop you. In fact, it only encourages you to begin riding him, sliding maybe an inch or so upwards before slowly sinking back down. You try to move slowly and carefully as you’re stretched beyond your limits, the pain still stinging as you begin fucking yourself.

And after some time, you release that it actually feels really good-

Your mouth hangs open as you take him with deeper strokes, your hips lifting up to the halfway point before slamming down. Your loud moans and whines fill the room as you fuck him, his cock hitting all the right spots. You begin to drool as his cock slams against your cervix, making your legs feel weak. You start to melt atop him, your thrusts growing sporadic and sloppy.

Arlong tsks as he watches you fall apart, your face nuzzled in his chest as you pathetically grind and frantically slam your hips against his.

“Is this really your best effort?” He teases, “I thought you said you would please me… and yet here you are, only using me for your pleasure. How selfish, little human…”

“I-I’m sorry, sir. I promise I can be useful-” You begin to babble, “I can be a good girl- I can take whatever you give me- fuck me- please- use me-”

Arlong clicks his tongue before gripping your waist and slamming into you on his own. You gasp sharply as he hits your furthest walls and begins his relentless assault.

“You are so pathetic,” He growls, “I’ll just have to fuck into you myself as if you were an object.”

And he does precisely that, his thrusts from below causing your body to jolt and jostle above him. You feel your brain go numb, every thought you could possibly have leaving your head. Your body works purely on instinct, grabbing his shoulders as your face rests on his chest, your drool beginning to leak onto his skin. The sounds of skin smacking against itself fills the room, along with wet squelches. 

“I’m so close-” You say dumbly, “Please, let me cum! Please-!”

“Good girl, asking for permission,” He grunts, “Go ahead.”

Your legs shake violently, and your back aches as your cunt squeezes him tight, attempting to milk him. But he doesn’t climax, not yet; You’re the only one reaching that beautiful high, your voice growing raspy as you cry out for him. Your nails dig into his chest and shoulders as you try to grip onto something, anything, to keep you grounded. You feel as though your soul is floating out of your body.

It’s the most intense orgasm you’ve ever had in your life, without a doubt.

As you’re left panting, attempting to recover from the intense experience, Arlong laughs at you; but to your surprise, it’s not malicious. He seems genuinely amused, even proud, at how he caused such a reaction from you.

“Look at you…” He hums, his hands raking over your body, his palms running over your hips and chest before reaching your cheeks, “You’re exhausted, and I’ve hardly begun using you…”

Your body feels limp as he lifts you up, attempting to place you on your hands and knees before him. But you can’t do it; your knees wobble, and your thighs shake as a warning before you fall forward, falling flat on your face. You try to lift yourself up, but even your arms feel boneless.

Arlong lets out an amused sound, “It seems you can no longer hold yourself up… It looks like I will have to support you myself…”

You let out a drawn-out groan as Arlong picks you up like a doll, flipping you around and holding you close to him as he stands beside the bed. Your legs dangle as your thighs are pressed to his sides, one of his shafts poking against your sopping wet entrance.

“I let you off easy earlier,” He whispers, “But you’ve proven that you can handle one, so now you will take both…. I expect that you won’t complain.”

You nodded your head; while you were exhausted, you were also more than eager to cum again. Though, as you feel them both press against your hole, a feeling of uncertainty pokes and prods at you.

But you ignore it.

Arlong is able to lift your body with one hand, balancing you in his palm as if you are weightless. With his other hand, he takes both shafts, lining them up before pressing them both inside. 

At first, it isn’t difficult to accept them both; his dicks are tapered at the top, meaning the initial stretch isn’t too bad. But then he keeps pulling you down, inch by inch, penetrating you. You grit your teeth as the feeling nearly feels unbearable, your hole clinging to his shafts as you are stretched more than ever. 

You throw your arms around his neck and bury your face into his shoulder, biting your lip as you whine. 

Your sounds grow louder as he lifts your hips, guiding you up and down on his cocks. He thrusts into you fast, not giving you time to adjust the way you did before. You feel as though you could split in two, but there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.

You moan desperately into his shoulder, babbling and whining as you’re tossed around like an object. The whole ordeal is so humiliating, but you can’t deny that you are enjoying it all the same.

“I knew you were greedy,” He grunts, “But this is ridiculous; You’re stuffed full, and all you can do is whine and beg for more. You are the most shameless human I’ve ever known.”

Your lip quivers as you try to form words, but your vocal cords fail you; all you can do is whine and moan, clinging tight to his body. 

He laughs at your desperation, “Though, it’ll be nice to have a toy so eager to be used. I’ll keep you for quite a while, I imagine..”

He continues his fast and harsh pace, bringing you closer and closer to the edge once more. Your legs quiver, and your body grows terribly hot, sweat building on your skin. You hold your breath as you ready yourself for your climax, the lack of oxygen making your head dizzy. And, in your dazed state, you lift your head and smash your lips against his. 

And, to your surprise, he actually kisses you back.

With your lips pressed against his and your fingers tangled in his thick, dark hair, you finally release.

He grunts loudly into your lips, and with one final forceful thrust, you feel your insides flood with warmth. His hips slow, and with your cavern too stuffed for anything else to fit, his cum begins to dribble out of you. 

Your lips part, and you stutter, “I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to kiss you without your permission!”

He only rolls his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips, “And yet I feel as though you’re only apologizing because you did so without permission, not because you’re actually sorry.”

You avert your eyes, and you feel yourself slowly lowered onto the bed, your back caressed by the soft sheets. 

“I will say,” He begins, “I enjoyed your sudden display of boldness; it just shows how excited you were in the moment… I will allow it for now.”

Your eyes widen at his pardon, and you nod slowly, “Thank you, sir.”

“Now, rest easy, little human.” He says quietly, stepping back once you rest entirely on the bed.

“Wait,” You interject, propping yourself on your elbows, “You’re leaving?”

He laughs as if dismissing you, “Were you expecting me to stay with you?”

Your heart feels a pang of pain, and you visibly deflate, clearly disappointed. Of course, this entire thing meant nothing to him, and while you should’ve expected this, it didn’t make it hurt any less. Your eyes trail off, looking down at the edge of the bed as you fill with this indescribable loneliness. 

His eyes linger on you for a moment and you can’t help but look up at him, trying to discern why he hasn’t abandoned you yet.

“Most masters don’t sleep in the same beds as their pets. But…” he hums, “I suppose for humans, it is a fairly common occurrence…”

You perk up at his words. 

Is he saying what you think he is…?

“I will allow it just this once,” He insists, “But never again, do you understand?”

And that’s good enough for you because you knew owners who insisted on such things never kept their word.

[hunybee03]

A Lazy Day

Warnings: SFW

Just something cute and funny with a couple of my favorite fishmen!

Just a lazy day on the Snapper Head after a full blown drag out fight with the marines the day before, after the morning chores and clean up were done you lay on the deck of the ship with your feet up against the side railing watching the clouds next to an unhappy looking Arlong.

You: "Arlong did you know the dot that sits above the lowercase letter “i” and the letter “j” has a name? it is called a “tittle.”"

Arlong: "What the hell are you on about now?"

You: "Unlike some mammals you cannot swallow and breathe at the same time, trust me I've been trying for 20 minutes now, can you?"

Arlong: "I swear you are going to annoy me to death, Jinbei come get your human!!"

You: "OH! Speaking of deaths, coconuts and cows kill more people than sharks do! Its wild out there, you wouldn't let a cow kill me or worse a coconut would you?"

Arlong: "Im going to kill you with my bare hands if you don't shut the fuck up"

Jinbei: "Sweetheart when was the last time you ate"

You: "Nooooo clue darling do you have food?"

Pulled away from your spot your dear sweet Jinbei set you down in the galley feeding you till you couldn't take another bite.

You: "Thank you sweety! I must have gotten so busy i forgot breakfast this morning" After this Jinbei never let you miss a meal and kept extra snacks in his pockets just for you although you still bugged Arlong any chance you got with the useless knowledge he never asked for

[the-real-treasure]

Treasure Treasure!

An OPLA Sanji x Reader

Master List Here

Previous Chapter: Returning Tides of Home

Chapter Eight: Mon Cœur Est Un Petit Âne

Summary: In the aftermath of a violent duel, a head chef is forced into reusing long forgotten practices for healing with fish skin, and fish-men come claiming ownership of a ginger girl and a stolen map.

Trigger Warnings: Blood, knives, stab wounds, self-harm, self mutilation, scars, violence Word Count: 7,736 **Edited: 17/09/24**

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You sat at the small table in the kitchen with a blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Normally you were the last one up, having stayed up the latest to finish dishes and lay out plates for the next day. You had slept like garbage despite the comfort of being home, Zoro's words ringing in your ears and, when Sanji had woken up to prep for service that day, you had followed him down the stairs, bedraggled but desperate for the company. It was the only thing that had halted you from watching the duel, the rhythmic 'shwick' of the knife as he peeled vegetables.

You had already spent most of that morning in silence other then Sanji's movements, and you hadn't believed it would change any time soon until his voice piped up.

"Was he telling the truth, mon Cœur?" You look at him, "That Luffy boy. Are you, are you really going to go?" He doesn't move his eyes from the pile of carrot peelings he was creating. You stand and join him at the counter, taking a knife in shaking hands and begin to peel as well, albeit much slower and rougher then his nice smooth cuts.

"I thought I could help them. Him? I don't-" you blink sleep from your eyes again, "-I don't know if I can anymore, if he's even going to try." Your fingers are so stiff from holding his last night that you have to drop the knife and move the carrot around with your other hand, the rolling motion not happening for you. "Zoro is fighting that Warlord, Mihawk, this morning, and I made him so angry, and he might die and I just don't-"

Your words get caught in your throat and around your tongue, and you slur slightly as they all crash to a stop. Swallowing around them stings your throat and reminds you of sneaking sips of Zeff's good wine with Sanji at birthday parties when you were younger. You never did like the taste.

"I thought," you take slower this time, more deliberately, "that this could be our chance to go and look, just to try, but I've just messed everything up again," you dare to look up at Sanji and find he's already watching you, eyes gentle with sympathy. "I want to go." You state firmly, "But if you don't come, then I won't. I didn't mean to start an adventure without you, and I definitely won't be finishing it without you at my side."

The corner of his lips turn up and he leans down, leaving a sweet and gentle kiss to your forehead. You lean into his warmth mindlessly, like you always did. He pulls back and you open your eyes again.

"I know you wouldn't want to." He returns to his chopping, a smile back on his face, "But if you really want to go, I won't stop you. I'll miss you sure but I want you happy."

"I'm happiest with you." you answer, belief steadfast. He snorts a chuckle.

"I don't know about that, you and that Luffy boy seemed to get along great!" You miss the slight bitterness in his tone as you roll your eyes.

"First Zeff, now you, you're both ridiculous. He's my captain. Was. I dunno anymore, he's funny and silly. Smarter then he seems, but I'm sure you noticed that." You swallowed, humour dropping from your voice. "His dream was so solid, it felt like getting punched in the stomach or something. I-I wanted to keep that, that surety and I thought, maybe he could help us too." You look up at him shyly as he laughs.

"What a pair we make,” he plops the knife down on the cutting board, "the most ridiculous excuse for a pair, I have ever see."

"Oi."

"It's just us. You know, I can look after myself, I was gonna wait, we don't have to find the All Blue straight away. I was worried about you being comfortable. Happy." He shrugged as you gazed up at him "I was gonna save up, wasn't gonna let you be a dishwasher your whole life, and we were gonna go together, make sure Zeff was alright and then, I just- didn't really know when." His smile grew. "Trust us acting like this. Me thinking of you and you thinking of me."

"What other way to think is there for us?"

"What'd you think you're doing?" You both jump at the interruption, Zeff's voice ringing though the kitchen as he joins the pair of you.

"Chopping carrots, chef."

"Yeah, I can see that. But why are you doing it in my kitchen?" He limps up behind the pair of you, peering over your shoulders at your work. "I demoted you, remember?"

"That you did. But Patty's sleeping off a brutal hangover, so unless you wanna do brunch prep all by yourself..."

"Fine." Zeff begins his own prep, "You two made up then, I don't wanna see either of you moping about 'round here if yous haven't." Sanji throws him a glare, but he doesn't notice as he eyes the mauled lump of carrot in your hand. "And I'd appreciate it if you stopped mutilating my produce while you're at it."

You toss your head back with a laugh and abandon the lacerated vegetables. Zeff takes over your spot, sweeping the hunk of orange veg into the peel pile and began slicing mushrooms.

"Them carrots are cut too thick." You throw your hands in the air from your spot on the counter.

"You know I'm no help in the kitchen unless you want something burnt, chef."

"Not you, his." He snarks and Sanji gives him a dirty look in response. "And those eggs are too runny." Your best friend's eyes nearly rolled into his head.

"Give it a rest old man." Zeff ignores him, turning to you as he moves the tray of veggies, now oiled and seasoned, to sit above the oven.

"Where're the rest of your 'crew' this morning then? They haven't left you here, have they?" Sanji turns to watch the conversation, eyes curious as well. Yours shift to the ground.

"No, no they haven't left." The two blonde men are still watching you, "I, um. The swordsman, Zoro, he challenged a Warlord to a duel to become the greatest swordsman and I didn't think it would end well and told him as much..." You squeeze your lips together and your eyes burn. "I don't know if he'll survive, or if they'll want me on the crew even if he does."

"They'll be idiots not to." The gentle moment lasted for another second before, "And I can tell just by looking at that, that rémoulade needs a lot more oregano." You giggle as Sanji mouths along him mindlessly, throwing a smirk over his shoulder at you as he replies,

"Oregano is for savages." The growing argument fizzles out immediately as cries sounded from outside the kitchen as your captain comes barrelling in.

"HELP! HELP! Zoro- Zoro needs a doctor. He got into a fight with this warlord guy, but he lost." You shoot to your feet immediately, pulse pounding in your ears. "And now he's bleeding from everywhere-"

"Whoa, whoa. Slow down, chore boy. I can't understand a word you're saying."

"My friend is dying." Zeff eyes flick over to you, chest shaking as you force in deep breaths.

"Nearest doctor's on the Conomi Islands, it's a two-day sail from here."

"That's too long."

"Zeff," your voice is a whisper, "There has to be something, I can grab the first aid kit-"

"I can't help him." He rests a hand on your shoulder as your eyes go wide at him, "Hope your friend makes it." You grunt angrily as you shoot off to his office, grabbing the first aid kit and Sanji follows, pulling open the spice cabinet to hoke. "Where'd you think you're going?"

"To help their friend."

"Brunch is not gonna prep itself."

"You always told me to feed anyone who's hungry, I don't see how this is any different." Your hands are shaking so much that the kit spills open, tipping its contents over the floor as you gargle an angry yell at your useless extremities. Sanji crouches to help gather them back up as Zeff sighs behind you.

"Fine. Sanji, bring me my kitchen knives, Y/n, a bottle of our best whiskey. And a fresh yellowtail from the cooler. Bigger the better." You don't hesitate to follow his instructions, dashing off to the cooler as Sanji calls in confusion.

"A yellowtail?"

"Just do it already."

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Nami is holding a blood soaked cloth to the gaping slash across his chest when you all arrive, carting the basket of knives, alcohol and fish with you.

"Are you kidding? He needs a doctor." Zeff pulls the cloths of Zoro's chest and looks over the wound.

"Do you wanna save your swordsman friend or not?" They all watch as you place the basket on the counter to the side, Sanji pulling out the fish and rolling out the knives as Zeff uncorks the whiskey.

"Is that to sterilize the wounds?" Usopp asks shakily.

"Hell no. That'd be a waste of really good liquor." He takes a swig and his mind falls to the last time he did something like this.

Zeff stares down at you, the littler one of two little kids he had found himself responsible for after that last disastrous raid of the Cook Pirates. You sat now, two years off that bloody rock, hand flat on the counter top as you score at it -for once unbandaged- with blood pouring down the wrist of the hand that was clenched around the handle of his good knives.  Its the God damn boning knife too, the blade red streaked and bloody as it quivers in your grip.

He didn't know it now, but it wasn't from fear, that shaking. Long after the skin had healed as best it could, the shaking remained, your cuts so deep and so plentiful that they had done a number on the nerves in the fingers and palms.

For now though, for now he shouts and you drop the knife, which hits the counter with a vibrating 'twang' before skittering across the floor. You stand, dead still and eyes squeezed shut as he rushes you, ready for yelling, or perhaps a strike.

You weren't expecting him to take your elevated wrist, turning the hand over and inspecting the gouges for himself.

"Beautiful." Zeff strokes along the side of the fish before getting to work. First he removes the head in a swift chop, before filleting it, peeling meat and skin away from the bone. With precision, he scores out small cuts of the skin, laying them flat across a metal pan.

"Needle."

He swears under his breath as he pulls the thread tight, pulling your skin together before tying it off and snipping it close to the knot. You didn't move, didn't make a peep. He squints up at your blank face and mutters an apology for any pain.

"It's fine." You reply, your voice a whisper, "I can't feel anything."

Your reassurance does nothing but worry him more, a lack of feeling not being good sign if you were recover movement in your hands.

"What were you thinking." His question doesn't feel like one. "You can barely get your head round stirring a pot, what made you think grabbing a knife wouldn't end this badly." He stands, grabbing a tray of fish skin he had for some reason been meticulous when cutting.

He's making it sound like-

"-it wasn't an acciden-"

"I don't want to hear that." He slams the tray down on his desk beside you, metal and wood rattling against the force. "You," he points right into your face, "are never gonna do something like this again. Not in here, not under my roof." Gently lifting the thin stripes of fish off the tray, he lays it flat on your skin, crossing over the sutures he had just finished. "You feel like doing something like this again, or worse, you don't. You come and you find me, or Patty or Sanji. You do not sneak into the kitchen and steal my knives. You never do something like this to yourself again. You understand?" You refuse to meet his eyes, staring at the '66' and the scored out '3' that had mocked you for years. "Oi!" he snapped in front of your face, "You hear me?" Your eyes still avoid his.

"What's the fish for."

"It's an old seaman's trick. The fish skin helps staunch the wounds and heals the flesh a lot faster." Usopp peers over his crewmates' shoulders.

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"Look, I'm not gonna lie to you. He's lost a lot of blood. It might be too late for him."

"But it might not be." Luffy's eyes don't lift from Zoro's face.

"He's got one foot in each world right now, caught between life and death. You have to find a way to keep him tethered to our world. Talk to him, tell him stories. Sing him sea shanties for all I care." The crew move him carefully to one of the hanging bunks, gently laying him down on the swaying wood. "He may not reply, but at least he'll know his crew are still with him."

As you move to head back into the galley, Nami rounds on you.

"Where were you?" Her voice was tight and accusatory. "We were all there this morning, except for you." You swallowed thickly.

"He told me not to come."

"What? When?"

"Last night, I-" you ducked your head down between your shoulders. "-I had gone to speak to him, to try and convince him to stop again. It didn't go well," Your eyes dance across Zoro's still body. "He told me to got back to Baratie and to not come to the duel." Your fingers wring together, "I don't blame him, we were, very harsh to one another." Nami scoffed.

"You shouldn't have listened, you should've been there. With us."

"I know."

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"Mmm, something smells delicious." Usopp follows the scent wafting from the galley to find Luffy cleaning the Wado Ichimonji on the bench and you watching Sanji as he steamed rice and prepared fillings for more onigiri, some already sitting freshly prepared on the side.

"I just thought everyone'd be hungry, man. I know they" he gestures to you, "didn't eat last night, and there's plenty we didn't use. Never waste food."

"Cool." Usopp pinches one of the prepared ones that had been left for Luffy and bites off a small mouthful. Sanji looks over at the straw hat.

"What's the matter? Don't like fish?" He finally looks up from the sword.

"I love fish. I just need to get Zoro's sword ready for him. You know, for when he wakes up." Sanji and Usopp eye each other as he speaks.

"He's uh," Usopp wipes his face, "pretty badly hurt, man. There's an itty-bitty chance he might not wake up." Luffy continues wiping down the sword with a grin.

"Zoro's the strongest fighter I know. No way he's gonna let some warlord guy beat him."

"Well," Sanji speaks up as he moulds the rice in his hands, "you've gotta eat. Come on, if you don't want the fish, I got two-inch T-bones in the kitchen. Or, uh, maybe you're in the mood for saffron risotto?"

"His risotto's real good Luff, you should give it a try." You call from your spot beside your Sanji.

"I normally would get both, but I really gotta get the Waddy Itchy Monkey ready for him." You blink, long and slow, as Luffy's words swirl around in your brain.

"The what?"

"His sword. It's got a name." You face falls to your hands and you sigh.

"Oh."

"Luffy, it's Wado Ichimonji. Wah-do, Ichi-mon-ji." You sound out the words from behind your hands. Sanji eyes flick to you, before going back to the boy with the straw hat.

"Why?"

"I don't know. He said it was kind of special. Hey, Sanji, can you cook Zoro's favourite food?"

"Sure. What does he like?"

"Alcohol." Your voice is muffled beside him and he chuckles, eyes still focused on Luffy.

"He really likes rice balls." Sanji mumbles an 'm-hm' gesturing what was already in his hands but nodding along. "And beer, yeah. What about rice balls soaked in beer? Can you make that?" Sanji laughs and answers.

"I can make anything. Just tell me what you want."

"I want him to eat so that he gets back his strength. But I also want him to sleep so that his wounds can heal. Or maybe...maybe he just needs some water. Right? After all of that fighting, he must be awfully thirsty." He chuckles breathily, not really paying attention to their reaction to his suggestions. "But, you know, he's probably also tired, so...so yeah, we should just let him rest."

Sanji leans heavily on the counter, looking at Luffy seriously.

"Being a captain, it's the toughest job in the world, okay? Zeff once told me that making decisions is what separates a captain from the rest of his crew. And he was one of the best pirate captains that ever sailed the seas."

"Zeff was a pirate?" Luffy asked excitedly.

"Yeah. Captain of the dreaded Cook Pirates. They used to call him 'Red Leg Zeff,' 'cause his boots were always stained with the blood of his enemies."

"How'd you all meet? Were you on his crew or something?"

"Not exactly."

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By the time Sanji had finished recounting your shipwreck and stranding on that barren, inhospitable rock. You had perched yourself on the window ledge beside Zoro's almost completely unmoving body, eyes focused on the slow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. It brought little comfort as both of your words from last night echoed through your head.

"I'm sorry Zoro." Your voice was a whisper in the still room, "I know I'm not much use if my whole power is based around guiding people to achieve their dreams and I'm telling you to stop, but I was just...scared."

Your eyes trail across his bandaged chest and your lip wobbles "Don't tell anyone but I'm a huge coward. I'm indecisive and have no idea what I want to do. I hate being like this, being afraid of consequences of actions I never take because I'm terrified of failing, but I just," you swallow back the tears desperately, "so much of the world is filled with such desperate hope. Such yearning want for something, for anything, and its all pointing in all sorts of different directions its hard not to feel empty in comparison when the people around me have something to strive for. You scared me Zoro. When we were in the galley, I thought it was because you were so so sure this was the next step to achieving your dream, but the more I felt it, and then last night again, I knew that it wasn't right. It wasn't pointing at Mihawk, not yet."

You stand, leaning over the silent man and whisper, "You need to wake up Zoro. That dream of yours is still screaming inside you I can feel it! Please don't give up on it, hang on."

With that, you leave, passing Luffy as he walks in to take his turn watching over and speaking to Zoro.

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"LUFFY! LUFFY!" Nami dashes into the galley, voice ringing through the entire ship. You and Sanji turn to her as the other boys return from Zoro's room. "The Arlong Pirates are at Baratie. We have to leave now."

"The who?" You query, sitting on the island perched beside Sanji's leaning figure, coat left abandoned in your room and tattoos exposed.

"What? Why? Why should we leave?"

"Because they're looking for you."

"Me?" Luffy asks incredulously pointing to himself.

"And the map." She turns to appeal to you and Sanji, "Those fishmen will tear this place apart if Zeff doesn't turn him over." You and Sanji spring into action, moving past the boys and sweeping out the door.

"Where are you going?"

"If Baratie's in danger, we need to be there."

"I'm coming with you."

Nami calls after him desperately. "Did you not hear what I just said? They are hunting you, we need to run."

"I'm with Nami on this one," Usopp joins in, "I'm really not trying to ruffle any feathers or scales-"

"I'm not running. We're going to protect this place."

"This isn't your fight, why would you that?"

"You fed us." Luffy and Sanji smirk at each other as Nami turns to you imploringly.

"Y/n, please, talk some sense into them, I know this crew, their captain, Arlong, has the highest bounty in all of the East Blue!"

(An orange haired woman and an orange haired girl are surrounded by trees in an orange grove)

"This is my home, Nami, they're my," Your gaze flashes to Sanji, "our people, our family. We have to protect them, we have to do something." You make eye contact with her and hold it.

(A windmill made from an orange peel.)

"You understand that?"

(A grave stone.)

"Don't you?"

(A dark room, filled only with maps and chain shackled to the floor. A little girl sits alone.)

Her eyes are wide as her eyes follow your arm, raised and pointing to the horizon out the window as your eyes swirl their colours together.

(The little girl stands, now a woman, with a blue-haired woman at her side, and a town free from a tyrant in scales.)

Her lips quiver as she answers shakily.

"You do not want to mess with him."

"It sounds like he messed with us first."

"Luffy please." She moves closer, but still is separated from the rest of you by the galley's counters. "Please."

"I can't let innocent people get hurt because of me. If those fishmen guys want a fight, we're gonna give them one." You and Sanji nod to him. He turns back to Nami and walks over to where she stands, silently fuming. "You stay with the ship and protect the map. Hmm? It's gonna be safe with you." He slaps her gently on the shoulder before you all make your exit.

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Following your captain as he slams open the doors, he moves to the railing overlooking the dining room. Lunch service is in full swing, the large room chock full of people. He leans over and calls,

"Which one of you is Arlong?" A deep voice belonging to a purple fishman with a long, spiked nose answers.

"Who is asking?"

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy. I hear you're looking for me." Arlong releases his hold of the customer and looks up at you all as you begin walking down the stairs. Sanji brings up the rear as you and Usopp followed behind Luffy, with you closer to the banister as Usopp kited the wall.

"Why, yes I am. So this is the pirate I've heard so much about? You know I was expecting someone... bigger." Luffy smiles.

"So was I." Arlong snarls up at him.

"Do you know who I am boy? I'm Arlong the Saw. Even the Marines flee before my flag." Luffy shook his head as you moved closer to Sanji, subconsciously acting as a barrier between him and the threat before you.

"Not ringing a bell. How'd you find me anyway?" Arlong smirks.

"An old friend helped me track you down." He clicks him tongue and one of the three other fishmen sat at one of the tables flips open a bag pulling free the decapitated head of Buggy.

Of course its the goddamn clown.

"Heya, Straw Hat! Did you miss me?"

"No." Your voice couldn't have been more monotone if you'd tried.

"Burpy?! What are you doing here?" Now is not the time to laugh, but you struggled not to.

"Believe me, it wasn't my first choice either. But these fine fishy folk persuaded me to point them in the right direction, which ain't easy when you don't have any hands." He chuckle to himself as you roll your eyes.

"How'd you even know how to find me?"

"I told you. I've got eyes and ears everywhere." There's a squishy squirming noise as a disembodied ear wiggles its way out of the band of Luffy's hat. The sight makes you gag as it flies back over to the clown's head as he cackles to himself. "AHA! Stereo!"

"You were listening all along? You heard everything?" Buggy nods as best he can while only a head.

"Everything. And that god old quick, 'cause you shidiots have no idea what you're doing. Hey Lips!" He hollers at the fishman sitting behind him, "How 'bout a scratch behind the old ear, huh?"

"Sorry honey"

"Oh, come on! Give a clown a break. I--" He places down the bottle he was holding and grabs atop of Buggy's head. "Oh wait! No, not back in the bag, it's so dark and wet and sandy!"

"Listen here." Arlong's voice is smooth in the silence, "I want my map, along with half of whatever you plunder as tribute. And if you bow down to me, I might even let you serve in my kingdom." Luffy's face was set in a glare hard as stone.

"I don't bow down to any man."

"I'm no man."

"Or fish." Arlong growls. "And you're no king."

"I will be when I get my Grand Line map." Luffy's serious face cracked into a smile.

"Then," he replaces his hat on his head. "You're gonna have to fight me for it."

"Then let the fighting begin." As he moves to step forward, a shot rings out and a bullet clinks to the floor between his feet.

Holding the smoking gun, Zeff glares down the barrel as Arlong turns on him. With a growl, the other seated fishman stands and smashes through Zeff's peg leg, before standing to full height and punching Zeff back through one of the tables.

As plates and glasses crash to the floor, Sanji and your voices ring out in unison.

"ZEFF!" Sanji sprints down the stairs while you bolt over the railing, running at the fishmen's table. With a swift kick, Sanji sends the one with Buggy's head flying, and he lands on the table, glaring at the one who attacked Zeff.

You instead square up to the fourth fishman, standing between him and Sanji as he stands to full height, towering over you in a combination of spackled brown and orange scales and a yellow shirt, with a long barbed tail and a wide and flat face.

While Sanji advances on the paler grey fishman, kicking and whirling around him, your chains drop from your arms, the shucking weight catching in your upturned hands as you begin your attacks, swinging the thick heavy metal at his head in an X shape before making a series of quick whipping attacks to his chest, pushing him away from the table and from Zeff, who stares at you in bewilderment. 

With a leaping kick, Sanji aims for the head of his opponent, just as yours catches hold of the spinning chains. Sanji's fishman reels back, punching him in the stomach and sending him soaring through the air only to crash into and overturn one of the tables, revealing Usopp hiding underneath. Your opponent, on the other hand, kept hold of your chains and began to spin. Pulling you off your feet with no effort, he spins and spins and spins, forcing you around and around in tighter and tighter before releasing you like a hammer in a hammer throw, sending you careening into the wall above the stairs, knocking a hole into it as you crash to the steps, rolling down them as debris cascades down around you. Usopp crawls up along side you, pushing you right side up as Sanji joins the pair of you. With a roar, Luffy swings at Arlong.

"GUM GUM PISTOL!" Though he had wound it up, Arlong catches his wrist with little trouble, ripping him off his feet and pulling him into the fishman's torso. Holding the boy by the shoulders, Arlong hurls him into one of the pillars holding up the upper floor, and he falls to the ground limp and groaning.

"Get up!" Arlong snarls. Luffy hops up, growling as he swings at Arlong, once, twice, three times, juddering him back a step each time. Arlong only chuckles. "Not bad for a human." You and Usopp haul Sanji's half-limp form up another stair. Luffy yells and strikes out again at Arlong, but he catches both of Luffy's fists and squeezes, pulling back towards himself as the length of his rubber arms diminish and force him face to face with the fishman.

"Uh...?"

"Oooh, big mistake." Arlong muses happily. "Now I'm gonna have to make an example out of you."

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You and Usopp scrabble down the dock to help Sanji haul Luffy out of the water, your arms weighing down as the sea water laps at them. You push past the wave of fatigue as you heave your captain's body up on to the wood, limp and heavy like it was weighed down with concrete.

As the boy gags and coughs up salt water, your eyes skitter across to Sanji, his strong pale chest now dripping wet. His eyes were focused on Luffy, so he missed the way your eyes glazed and your cheeks warmed as you followed the trickling path of a water droplet as it flows down the smooth contours of his sculpted chest.

Usopp does though, watching you watch him, before your aqua and gold eyes dart away to meet dark smirking ones. Luffy interrupts, lifting his head weakly with another hack and asks,

"Where's Nami?" The smirk on Usopp's face falls and you bite your lip between your teeth, sharp canines digging into the skin.

"She's gone Luffy." Your voice is quiet even to your own ears. Usopp continues.

"She's a member of Arlong's crew." His head drops back to the wood. You all look at each other as he remains quivering on the dock.

"No. She can't be."

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You and Sanji return to the wrecked dining hall as Zeff drops into a chair, all of you surveying the damage done. Sanji moves past Zeff without a word, lifting a broom and starting to sweep as you begin to right fallen tables and chairs, moving unsalvageable ones to a pile in the centre. Zeff's eyes close with a sigh.

"I don't need you to do that."

"We've got a full house tomorrow. Two dinner seatings, plus brunch." Sanji props the broom against the centre piece of the dining room, moving to clear some larger debris from the floor.

"Enough! I don't wanna hear this."

"What is your problem?"

"Me?" Zeff scowls incredulously at Sanji's question. "I'm fine, you're the one with the problem." He begins to rise from his chair.

"Zeff just stay there." Your voice is quiet behind him, but as always, both blondes ignore your tired tone and continue the argument instead.

"I'm just helping you clean up."

"Yeah, but no one asked you to, did they? So get out of my restaurant now." Sanji whirled on him.

"I told you I'm not gonna be a waiter."

"You're not gonna be anything, not if you stay here."

"Zeff..." Your tone turns from tired to warning, volume rising slightly but still they turn a blind eye. 

 "I did not save your lives so you could waste them at Baratie."

"It's not like we can just leave."

"Why the hell not? The little donkey is, to follow your dream, for you." Sanji's face curls as Zeff waves the hand not propping him up on a crutch at you.

"Because you couldn't run this place without me."

"Oh, please, little eggplant, your cooking is for shit."

"At least I don't drown everything in oregano."

"Yeah, at least I'm no the one who goes on moaning about the All Blue, only for the perfect opportunity to be hand-delivered to your ungrateful lap, to just turn your nose up at it." Sanji stills from stacking the mess of plates, glaring down at the stained table cloth. You slide up beside him and run your knuckles down his forearm.

"Sanji?" Your voice is low and soft, and his glare drops, large damp eyes turning to you. "We've been talking about going after it for forever and a day. We both want to find it, so let's. Zeff can manage things here, he has Patty and Akito and all the rest." You curl your fingers into his sleeve, tugging it towards you as you look up at him. "We can go with Luffy and Zoro and Usopp in the Merry, go rescue Nami and head for the Grand Line. It has to be there, we can finally find it for ourselves."

Your whispering only grows more and more excited as you go, eyes lighting up and swirling together as you beam up at him. Sanji turns a reluctant gaze on the man who had looked after and protected you both for the last nine years, only to find a stubborn glare in place on his face.

"If it means that much to you, go find it." He snarks bitterly. Sanji lifts the tray of crockery and spins away from you.

"Do you want us to quit? Is that what you want?"

"Quitting is staying here, it's giving up before you've even started looking!" His voice ricocheted off the tall walls and high ceilings as he blared at the younger man. "It's letting down the one person," his eyes flick to your figure, once again hiding in the shadow of your Sanji, "who has stood by and supported you every single moment. Don't you get it? It's one thing to have a dream. It's another to go after it."

Sanji steps back, falling in line with you as he stares Zeff down.

"Chore boy offered me a spot on his crew alongside Y/n." Your ears prick up and your figure straightens, "Maybe I'll take him up on that offer." He takes a grip of your arm, dropping the tray onto the table behind you both as he turns from Zeff.

"You want my permission, you've got it." With an angry kick to one of the knocked down chairs, Sanji pulls you into the back of house, screaming over his shoulder.

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

With quick steps and angry breaths raging through his chest, Sanji pulls you with him as you take the stairs up to the staff quarters two-at-a-time.

He throws open the door to your room, grabbing a duffle bag before starting to throw things from the small shared closet in, extra shirts and suit trousers, socks and underwear and his chef knife set, huffing and puffing the whole time.

You move much slower, lifting your coat from the hook, and gently tossing a few spare undershirts and overshirts, tank tops and small clothes, and a few pairs of your long, baggy, big-pocketed trousers going in as well. From under your bed you pull the dusty and decrepit wooden box that housed your sewing and embroidery kit.

A gift from Zeff to try and help work on the unwavering shake in your hands, it became a hobby you had invested huge amounts of your time to, most of your clothing bearing colourful thread designs or whirling swirling patterns. Your trouser pockets are emblazoned with scattered fish amongst rippling waves. You have a waistcoat -one you throw into your bag after a moment of consideration- that is spackled with vibrant flowers across the still waters of the turquoise fabric. Sanji and Zeff and Patty and Akito and Carne and all the other chefs have pocket squares and hankies and towels and shirts and skirts littered with designs of all shapes and sizes.

A small smile grows across your face and you tuck it away in the folds of your cloths, and tuck a few extra miscellaneous bits and pieces into the bag around it. You turn to watch Sanji for a moment.

"I'm going to go down." Your voice shakes him from his muttering reverie, and he looks at you. "I want to check on Luffy and Zoro, and make sure Usopp hasn't set the ship ablaze." He snorts.

"Mon cœur, of all the people in that little crew of yours, it isn't Usopp I'm worried about starting a fire." You scrunch your nose up at his quiet chuckles.

"That's because you don't know him yet." His chuckling dies down and he gazes up at you, eyes soft and gentle for you. "I'm going to say goodbye to Zeff as well." His eyes drop to the carpet and glaze over slightly. "If you want to join me...?"

"Not yet, mon cœur." His voice is hushed and tight. You don't push him. "Maybe later."

"Course, Sanji. I'll see you soon, okay? Don't take to long."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

You find Zeff exactly where you expect, hunched over his desk in the office at the back of the empty kitchen. He's pouring over papers, shoulders and moustache braids sagging. He looks over his shoulder with the sound of creaking hinges, watching as you let it hang open, the unusually silent and cold kitchen casting a gloomy atmosphere throw the little dark room.

"What'd you want? I'm busy." He turns away again, lifting and shuffling papers as you let the bag drop in the doorway. You take your seat beside him, stool still so low you have to bend your legs up to your chest to sit comfortably.

"Thought you deserved a proper goodbye, given I know I won't be back for a while this time." His body stills it's shuffling, fingers creasing the paper as his grip tightens. "I want to thank you Zeff. For looking after us, and taking us with you. Making sure we were looked after, even if you were a bit of a brute about it at times." He snorts at you, but doesn't look over. "You have no idea how good it was, to have somewhere where we were safe, where Sanji was safe, and we didn't have to fight just to-" your voice caught, "-just to live, ya know? We owe you a whole lot and I don't know when, or if, we'll be able to repay you." You trail off into silence, joining the head chef in quietude for a moment.

"Repay me," his voice breaks the still moment between you, "by staying safe. And staying good. Even if you become the fiercest pirates the sea has ever seen," his gaze drifts to you, "you keep good. Don't go starting trouble, especially if it's already looking for you." A small smile graces your face.

"I'll try. Can't promise, with this new captain of ours, but I'll try." His large hand, big enough to almost ingulf your face, drops on to your head and scratches at your scalp a moment.

"That's all I ask."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

You've just arrived on the deck of the Going Merry when you hear your captain screaming his first mate's name. You join Usopp, who had greeted you upon arriving, in dashing down through the tight passages to make it to the newly conscious man.

"Zoro!" You both cry out with relief when you seem him, eyes open and fist to Luffy's chest. Usopp pulls back, trying to hide his over excited reaction and finishes cooly, "I wasn't worried for a second."

"Shut up, Zoro-" you point at the man's face and he raises an eyebrow at your finger, "- you are never allowed to nearly die in a duel again. Not ever, especially not if we're so far from any medical help!"

"Noted." His voice is monotone, but a small smirk curves along his lips. Luffy thrusts his hand into the air, yanking the man into a painful position as he screams in joy.

"HE'S ALIVE!!" Luffy drops his arm gingerly as he groans in pain before Usopp starts up again.

"And I told 'em. I said 'You'd better not mess with the Straw Hats!'"

"Ya!" You all watch as Usopp mimes and mimics the noises of an intense fight.

"Sent 'em swimming for their lives."

"You scared 'em off, huh?" Usopp agrees instantly. "The Great Captain Usopp."

"So, what do we do now? Plot a course for the Grand Line?" You purse your lips.

"How?" All three look at you. "We don't have our navigator." Usopp blinks at you.

"But I thought we were going after the One Piece?"

"We are," Luffy assures, "but we can't do it without our whole crew. First..." He pulls the hat from around his neck and plops it on his head, adjusting the straps at his chin, "we're going after Nami."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

You are checking off the list of inventory as Usopp carried yet another barrel up on to the deck.

"Lot of dried meat in these barrells." It thumps down beside three others laden with jerky, and several crates of the juices of lemons and limes, "you think we brought too much?" Zoro peers up at your captain as he clambers ungracefully about the rigging.

"You know who you're sailing with?"

"Yeah."

"Mmm."

"Heard you guys need a cook." All heads spin towards the dock below, where a grinning Sanji stands, looking up at you all with his duffel bag over his shoulder. You let out a squeal so high that both Zoro and Usopp wince as you run to greet him, and Luffy cheers from his spot dangling above you.

"YEAH! Yes we do!" Luffy's cheer roars out as he begins to clamber down and you throw your arms around Sanji, squeezing him tightly as he laughs.

"I'm so glad you came." You're whispering, but he can hear you just fine as he squeezes back, only releasing his grip as Luffy appears by you both. The captain's hand claps his shoulder as he beams.

"Welcome aboard." As you follow Sanji further on to the deck, Zoro peers at the pair of you.

"Why are we bringing the waiter?"

Usopp answers easily. "Because we can't boil water."

"Not without starting a fire anyway!" You chime in merrily, clinging loyaly to Sanji's side once more.

You watch as Luffy and Usopp work to drop the sail, flicking at the ropes and tying them in messy knots. You shake your head, leaving them too it as Luffy releases the jib sail and takes ahold of the rudder, and you join your Sanji atop the sterncastle facing Baratie as the men on dock cast you away. The Merry begins to part from Baratie and you spot Zeff, Patty and the rest of the cooks watching as you start to sail away. You lean just to the left of the still broken rail and Sanji stands a step behind you. He begind to walk back to the main deck as Zeff yells up to him, your goodbyes already complete even as your eyes begin to water.

"HEY SANJI!" He turns immediately, joining you against the rail. "You keep your feet dry."

"Goodbye Zeff." His throat catches in his throat and he doesn't even manage to pull away completely before turning back again. "You know, all these years, living under your shitty roof, cooking at your shitty restaurant..." His eyes turn redder and redder as tears gather in his waterline and you take his hand, nails digging into your skin as he speaks. "I owe you my life! Thank you for putting up with my shit all these years, old man." A tear runs down his face and you wipe at it as gently as you can, your own eyes stinging as his lip quivers. "I'll never forget you, Zeff!"

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

"Sooo..." Sanji is running his hand over the varnished grain on the railings as you lean with your cheek smashed against his arm. You blink an eye up at him, but don't move. "When did you work out that whole," he runs a fingertip along the tattoos etched into your skin, "chain situation then?" You breath deeply, repositioning your head to lean your chin on him instead.

"You saw my bounty poster, yea?"

"Yea love."

"Round about then. I..." you pull at your fingers and turn your eyes away. "...Might be from an island called Gaka. In the Grand Line." His eyes don't waver from your face. "There was a man in Syrup Village who had the same tattoos. I'm assuming he was from the island himself." You run your nails along the grooves in your skin. "He was able to drop the chains out of his arms and even control how they coiled and moved from a distance. It was, mostly, instinct." Your voice, already low, dropped even lower as you continued. "He was going to kill me and I didn't want to, so I struck back."

"He dead?" You blink and look up at him. His eyebrows are creased down and he's frowning at a small indent in the wood.

"What?"

"Is he dead? He hurt you, tried to kill you, is he dead?" Your teeth worry at your bottom lip as you look up at him.

"Yes." The crease on his brow eased slightly and he took your hand in his.

"Good."

A moment later, Usopp moves past Zoro to the main deck, calling to Luffy past the pair of you.

"So, we're... we're going after Nami, but how're we gonna find her?"

"Yeah, we don't even know where she is."

"Somewhere... with orange trees..." The words are mumbled, your face now buried back into Sanji's shoulder one deck below Luffy.

"I know someone who does."

You all join him below deck as he pushes a bag down around the disembodied head of a blue-haired clown. Luffy stands next to the table looking proud of himself as Sanji and Usopp watch on in horror and morbid curiosity. You and Zoro look at each, already done with the situation.

"Hello boys!" You duck your head closer to the green haired swordsman and he moves his own in closer.

"I vote we get the location and then throw him overboard." You don't see Sanji glaring at the other man's proximity to you.

"Agreed."

Next Chapter: Treasure Troves in Orange Groves

[wood-white-writer]

“Didn’t mean to make your heart Blue” || [4.5/...]

- OPLA! Buggy x F!Reader

Pairing: Buggy the Clown (Live action) x F!Reader

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Summary: In which Buggy discovers that he’s in over his head while making a deal with Arlong the Saw.

Warnings: LA! One Piece, Canon typical violence, slight canon divergence, Arlong is his own warning

A/N: Unfortunately, part 6 of "DMTMYHB" is a little delayed and won't be out until at least next week. However, I began working on this initially out of boredom, so at least you can read about Buggy's POV after the events of chapter 4 and before the events of chapter 5.

Life sure is a shitshow sometimes, Buggy thinks to himself while spitting out a few grains of sand. For fish people, there’s a certain irony with pulling over a bag propped with sand over his head.

Then again, it could’ve been considerably worse.

They could have decided to water board him, or maybe take a decent chunk off his nose. It’s not too outlandish to assume that these kinds of people prefer the taste of human flesh, and although he considers himself fairly experimental man on occasion, that one is not on his kink list.

He might be big-headed sometimes, he’s man enough to admit as much, but even Buggy knows better than to underestimate the fish people. He’s had his fair share of encounters with them before, and needless to say, mixing a Devil Fruit eater with people who primarily live and breathe in the sea is a bad combination.

A very, very bad combination, especially if you throw Arlong the Saw into the mixture. Buggy’s not a recluse; he’s heard of his reputation as the self-proclaimed ruler of the East Blue. Ask just about anyone who he is, and they’ll whisper his name while pissing their pants like school children.

A misanthrope with a less than discreet disdain for all things human, and a face only a mother could hope to love, the guy does not fuck around with what he considers his, which approximately covers all of the East Blue. And the people in it are merely collateral.

If anything’s a testament, it’s his bounty. Twenty million berries for his head, doesn’t matter if it’s attached to his body or not. The highest bounty on this piece of the ocean.

Well, second highest. The top spot belongs to you, but that’s a thought Buggy has tried desperately to bury in the sand for the past few days. He doesn’t need to think about you, least of all now.

He has bigger fish to deal with, and it blows.

It’s his fucking luck that this is happening specifically to him.

No, it wasn’t enough that he got his ass handed to him by a bunch of scrawny nobodies.

It didn’t suffice that he had to watch you turn your back to him twice in a lifetime.

He’s managed to evade the saw-nosed fucker’s eye up until this point, and so, of course Fate would deal him this final one.

Just as the cherry on top of the shitty sundae that is his life.

So, to conceal or own terrified state when faced with the darkened stage room, Buggy decides to do what Buggy does best:

Fake it ‘til he makes it.

And he sure as fuck hope he does.

“Is this the best way to ask for an autograph?” His echo bounces like a ball through the darkened room. “I mean sheesh! Fans have gotten so toxic!”

The eerie silence is his only companion now, and he finds that he can’t stand it. Not even the two fishy folks standing guard at his side offers him more than rolled eyes. Rude.

This place — his stage — which once served as his sanctuary, might soon become his tomb. If Arlong lives up to his rep, he’ll ask the clown to dig his own hole before chomping on his jugular.

Curtains for him and all fucking that.

“Alright, what do you want?! Tickets to the show? I can get you house seats, they’re pricey!”

A loud thud emerges from the shadows behind him, and a cold breeze brushes against the the exposed skin on his face.

“Oh, I am no fan of yours.”

He knows a beast when he hears one, even better when he sees them. He spent the good portion of his youth alongside one, and witnessed first-hand just how they could be. Beasts are strong, and brutal, and precise. They can tear you apart if they deem it necessary because it’s in their nature, but that’s all it is. Nature.

However, Buggy’s also come to discover that beasts have also the capacity for kindness and love. A beast is someone he can fall in love with.

This thing that emerges from the dark at his side, on the other hand, is no mere beast.

Hell, he can’t even qualify it as such. This creature at his side, one he doesn’t dare to face at first until he notices it’s gradual approach, is a monster.

Ain’t no way in the blue hell he’ll ever consider tapping that the way he would with a beast.

“I run things here in the East Blue,” the fish-man speaks, voice grating Buggy ears as he circles the clown. “I’m here to remind of you of your place in the food chain. You pull a job in my seas, you gotta pay tribute.”

Despite the fact that he’s nervous as shit, there’s a certain taunt crystallising in Buggy’s brain that he’s subconsciously urged to free against his better judgement.

Arlong’s place is second in this so-called food chain. Yours is the first, and if it wasn’t for the fact that voicing this would guarantee his premature death, Buggy would’ve reminded the fishy shithead of this.

Despite whatever grievances you two share, Buggy knows that he won’t mind not being at the top as long as it means it’s not under Shark-boy’s hierarchy.

The East Blue is, per Arlong’s definition, yours, whether you know it or not, and he’d much rather comply with that.

But Buggy keeps his act going. “But Arlong, baby, you don’t gotta worry about me. I’m small potatoes. Pirating’s more of a side gig.”

As much as he tries, and he does try, Buggy knows his words can’t keep the shark’s teeth at bay for much longer. Arlong is not a patient type, and it just about snaps when he reaches for his throat and prepares to chomp.

Buggy doesn’t intend to die now. He can’t. He’s got unfinished business to attend to.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”

Maybe fate is actually on his side for fucking once, because the fish man actually does wait.

He has a shot.

“You know who’s out there really disrespecting you? It’s that little Rubber-Prick in the straw hat, goes by the name of Luffy.”

It doesn’t work, because it seems Arlong is more of a recluse than him. Has never heard the boys name. So, he tries a different approach before the teeth settle in again.

“He— He’s not alone.” Fuck, he’s losing air, and he kinda needs that to get the primary point into Arlong's thick, scaly head. A point that he’ll be sure to catch the asshole’s attention. “Cross-Hairs is with him!”

Arlong halts, and his lips don a sneer.

Another thing Buggy has discovered in all of this is that Arlong is an inherently proud guy, and believes himself superior to others not only because of his fishy nature, but due to the fact that he has among the largest bounties on this piece of the map.

Yours is the only obstacle keeping him from completely claiming that title.

“The Captain of the Cross-Haired Pirates has been absent for the past decade.” Arlong lets up on the pressure around his neck, enough to let Buggy grasp a few fistfuls of air, but his feet still dangle above the ground.

“Y-Yeah—,” Buggy heaves. “But her— b-bounty hasn’t changed, has it? And the kid, he just knocked over a marine’s base in Shells Town, then he stole a map of the Grand Line and now he’s talking shit about finding the One Piece.”

This seems to be enough reason for Arlong to finally drop him, and Buggy struggles to retrieve all the air he’s lost.

“The One Piece, an excuse for humans to spread their filth across the seas.” Arlong is less than impressed, but what he says next opens a door. “Why should I concern myself with the ambitions of a mere human boy?”

“Because that map is useful,” Buggy regains some semblance of balance on his knees. “The kid is not, but I have unfinished business with him. What’s more, if Cross-Hairs is with him, then that’s your chance to get the highest bounty in all of the East Blue. Think about it! You’ll be at the top of the list if she’s out of the way.”

Arlong doesn’t like the implication laced in Buggy’s words, the possibility that he’s in any way lesser than a human. “I am already at the top of the list, clown. The Cross-Haired Pirates are disbanded, and humans tend to age so quickly compared to fish men. I’m sure she’s grown old and weary in the last couple of years, hardly worth my time.”

Buggy wants to smile. Smile as he thinks about just how fucking wrong this guy can be. The years have not drained you, nor weakened you, nor made you any less hot if he does say so himself.

Oh, if anyone can wipe the floor with Arlong, it’s you. That’s why he’s not afraid of revealing your current whereabouts, because he already knows fishy over there will get his ass whopped big time.

“How about this: you let me live, and I’ll help you find Luffy and Cross-Hairs. Two birds with one stone, so to speak.”

Two birds, one stone, and one fish filet, to be more specific.

Arlong grabs him by the neck. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“I've got eyes and ears everywhere.”

The fish takes the bait, and Buggy can't help but laugh.

Laugh, not because Arlong agrees to his plan, but because the guy is going to be struck by lightning so fucking hard that in the end, there'll be nothing left of him save for that ugly-ass tool he calls a nose.

The moron has deliberately put himself up for slaughter, and personally, Buggy can’t wait to watch the show unfold.

The stage is yours.

He’ll watch from the front rows and give you an upstanding applause once the curtains falls.

---

Taglist: @kurinhimenezu, @carpinchootaku, @ay0nha, @teh-vampire-bunny, @lokiscure, @internationalsuper-spy, @detectivesparrow , @yuriwk , @notyuralycat , @angeli-fucking-cat, @machinema7k, @shuujin, @avatar-lover, @gingernut1314, @autumn-slaves. @marvelouskatie, @floristoflillys, @dizzyenby, @redpool, @deliri-yum22, @aemondsb1tch, @ackroxia, @gayandfairycore (If you want to be tagged for this story, just send me a message or leave a comment :))

[zorosleftmantit101]

I CANT STOP FUCKING LAUGHING HOLY SHIT LIKE IM ACTUALY ABOUT TO PISS MYSELF

[ofallthingsnasty]

you mentioned arlong being a piss guy op? 👁️👁️❤️

In the context of him having a human as a little pet cattle? Oh, yeah 🤭

tw noncon, piss, vomiting, violence, dehumanization, minors dni, dead dove: do not eat, one dick arlong lol

I think it's something he learns about himself - like I've mentioned in other posts, it's all about slowly lowered inhibitions. He's not going to drag you out of your precious little hiding place in the first night and piss all over your soft, pathetic body, no. It's something that simply occurs to him one day, when he has already forced himself all the way down your throat, drunk as he so often is. You're laboring for him, try to keep him hard even though it's a losing battle against the gallon of beer that's making him distracted, almost desensitized. Still, you're doing your best, well aware of the beating that awaits if you can't get him to finish. But you're taking too long. He can feel that telltale stretch of his bladder against his skin, that fullness that slowly morphs into a twinge. He should have taken a piss beforehand - but alcohol is a powerful diuretic, one that is easily underestimated. And he's tipsy enough to think himself funny when he realizes that the perfect little toilet, warm and wet and too feeble to fight against him, is kneeling right in front of him. Eh, fucking hell, he's soft again anyway. And so he simply lets go, pisses right down your throat. Not only does it feel heavenly to finally, finally relieve himself - the look of sheer terror on your face is the cherry on top. He can't help but laugh at the way your dumb mug goes from faux-concentration to confusion to unbridled disgust - at least until you spit him out and sputter while he's still pissing, this time right on your clothes. (He should have held you in place, he thinks, but the damn booze is making him a little slow.) You heave and retch and hyperventilate until your esophagus finally gives and you spew all over his sandals - and over his toes. It's fucking disgusting. The warm, soft, textured contents of your stomach touching his skin, the smell of your gastric juices mixed with the slop someone fed you an hour ago, all that sobers him up instantly. You should thank the gods that he's done urinating when he grabs your skull with one hand, presses his fingers into your scalp until it feels like he'll pop your head like a grape and throws you down to the floor. He is beyond mad, seething all the way above you, spitting at you, one the other hand raised to strike, because how dare you defile him- You'll end the night with a broken nose and a belly full of your own vomit.

[mmkin]

get you some arlong

Snippet from the Arlong x Reader fic I am working on rn. (Still working on the title... or maybe I should just call it 'get you some arlong' lol) Enjoy this little treat, fellow Arlong and OP fans. You gulp down the rest of your drink, feeling the burn as it slides down your throat and tasting the notes of coconut and tangerine. For a moment, you look down at the glass, seeing the light reflected through its various facets, a touch of light brown at the bottom from the last drops of rum. Such a mundane thing to notice when there are far more pertinent matters that come to mind.

“More?” Arlong asked, lifting the bottle. You look up at him, at that row of shark teeth ensconced firmly behind the impressive sawnose that is but one of the many things that add to this pirate’s fearsome reputation. You remember the first time you laid eyes upon him in person. He was not the tallest fishman you’d ever seen, but by god, he was the most impressive. All muscles and angles and points in what seems like a perfect combination, seated in a bulk that most anyone would have good reason to be cautious around.

Despite being conscious of all that, you had also become keenly aware of your attraction to him. What might his body feel like, pressed against your own? These big, strong arms wrapped around you? Would he let you run your finger lightly along the serrated edge of his nose?

“Y/n, do you want more?” he asks in a slightly louder tone, thinking you did not hear him above the music. Your gaze fixes upon his.

“What I want is you,” you say quietly, the words sliding past your tongue. The hand holding the bottle goes still, as does the rest of him, for a moment. You fear that you have made a gross miscalculation, that his stillness is one of horror or disgust. Already, your mind is formulating apologies, finding a way to try to backpedal and try to salvage whatever respect this sawnose shark fishman had for you. One did not earn his respect so easily, and it honestly grieves you to think you might have lost that.

His lips pull back to reveal the rows of teeth that bring terror to many. There is a glint in his pale blue eyes as he leans forward, his face drawing close to yours, though the tip of his nose is still a few inches away. Your gaze darts down its length before looking back in his eyes. The chatter of fishmen talking or splashing around, the music, the waves all seem to fade away in the background.

His tongue slides past the serrated teeth, running slowly along his upper lip as the corners of his mouth curl up into what is unmistakably a hungry grin. (Edit - the rest of the story is now available for your reading pleasure on my AO3 here...)

[meloarto-me]

i'm just going to put this here as a reminder for the pt.2 of my request hehe...

(don't mind me :)) )

I remember just having to think about how to write it.

Part. 2 Fishmen live action x Human Reader

(Sorry for any mistakes, I'm still accepting orders, the inbox is open.)

𓆝 𓆛 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟  ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆛 𓆟

Arlong🦈💜

He didn't count how long it's been since you disappeared, a month? a year? he didn't know (two months had passed). He had even forgotten a little about you.

He went with Kuroobi and Chuu to one of the ships near Cocoyasi Island to take money from them.

That was Arlong's main plan, but once he boarded the ship. He froze in place. There you were, on board! Shocked, he stood on the deck of the sailor ship and looked at you.

He saw you but wasn't sure if it was really you, you had the same skin tone, your hair the same although longer than he remembered. And those eyes that he would recognise anywhere.

Kuroobi and Chuu took care of the rest of the sailors and left you to Arlong alone. The mighty purple fisherman walked towards you confidently. you were not afraid, it impressed him now.

He came up and stood in front of you, grabbed your neck and growled.

-You stupid man! Where have you been!-he shouted in your face.

He continued to aggressively squeeze your neck, the wet hand squeezing your neck gave a strange contrast to the choking. You had to admit that this was new and even enjoyable.

-I'll show you an escape!!!- he shouts and squeezes your neck harder.

You are overcome by darkness and lose consciousness.

You wake up after some time, in a strange dark room. You sit down on the bed, strange you were on a ship and now in some room on a bed.

You quickly look under the covers and are glad to see that you are fully dressed. A gentle smile adorns your face.

-What are you smiling about,‖ a sharp voice asks you from across the room.

You lift your gaze and see the door open and in it a powerful figure. you retreat further back into the wall on the bed.

-Now are you afraid of me (Reader)?- asks the voice and the figure enters closing the door behind him.

You look more closely at the figure who walks towards the bed you are on.

-Arlong?- you ask shocked, you didn't think he wanted to kidnap you.

-Yes silly man it is me- He replies sitting down on the bed.

His heaviness causes the bed to collapse into him.

You look at him in shock, tilting your head to the side. Not knowing why he kidnapped you.

-Come here stupid man.- he orders you aggressively.

You see that he is holding something in his hand, you swallow your saliva nervously, slowly on your knees you approach him. You notice that the bed is very comfortable.

Arlong grabs you by the hair and pulls you closer to him.

-You are so stupid… Did you run away from me? You are just like the rest. But…-

He stops and moves his scaly thumb across your lips.

-I have a little weakness for you, and I'll take advantage of the fact that I've always wanted a pet-

He says and squeezes your face in his free hand.

-You are fit to be my pet. - He laughs letting go of your face.

Not knowing what he means you look at him with curious eyes. He opens the hand in which he was holding something earlier and you see the collar. He laughs at you.

-It's temporary, you'll have with my name later,- he says and puts the collar aggressively around your neck.

He smiles at this.

-Lays nicely- he says pulling on the collar.

He forces you to sit on his lap, with the other hand that was not holding your collar, he places on your buttocks. You squeal and he laughs louder.

-So I will tell you the extent of your duties. Surely you don't run away, because if you do I will find you I will break your lousy human legs and fuck you. So that your stupid mind that it will not be able to think of anything else, Than my powerful fish cock.-.

He strokes your head.

-Returning to your duties, you will do everything at my beck and call. Eating, sleeping, reading, bathing and above all pleasing me,- he adds, licking your neck.

You tremble at this in shock and fear. You were supposed to help Nami, not be a pet.

-As for pleasing me… we will start now.- He says biting your neck.

You scream and Arlong pulls you tighter by your collar.

(You make up the rest)

Kuroobi🐟🤍

He counted every day since you were gone, a month and a half had passed according to him.

The saddest month of his life, a month of mourning in his heart. He even thought he didn't deserve love.

Evening came and another party in Arlong Park, he sat and drank alcohol from a bottle. Shouting praises to the crew every now and then.

He didn't know if he was so drunk or already daydreaming. But he saw you, walking to Arlong holding some kind of bag, he blinked at it thinking if it was true.

He got up and walked over to where you were talking to Arlong, he saw you hand him the bag and his captain looking at it and smiling.

He says something to you and you nod and enter the main building. He follows you and sees you looking around the middle of the place. Like you're thinking where to go.

-you there what are you doing!- he shouts at you, still not sure if it was you.

You turned to him and your gazes crossed, his heart beat again, harder this time.

-O hello Kuroobi- You say cheerfully to him.

He gasps a little, and walks towards you.

-What are you doing here- he shouts drunkenly.

You smile at him.

-I'm back, to Nami- you reply honestly.

His facial expression turns a little dreamy, maybe he feels jealousy too. That you didn't come back for him.

-Fine.- he replies and walks past you going to his quarters.

You follow him, wondering if he is angry with you. He ignores you and walks into his quarters, you slide in behind him.

-Are you angry,- you ask approaching him.

-I'm not,-he says sarcastically. - I'm not, am I supposed to be angry that you left me overnight? Maybe that you didn't even shower me?"- he babbles drunkenly

-I'm back, it matters… and I'll admit it may be for you. - You say look into the ground.

looks at you in shock. He didn't expect that answer.

-You really do.- he asks coming up to you.

You nod your head like yes, Kuroobi's drunken state forces him to kiss you. He does it, and you're stunned, staring at him with your eyes wide open, and after a while you kiss him, you have to stand on your toes to kiss him.

He pulls you back into the bed, he sits on it, he pulls you on it. She's lying on it with you on the bed.

-I fucking love you- confesses in your mouth, kisses you again with passion.

The only reason he's brave is because of the alcohol in his mouth. He's massaging your hips, and you're breathing into his mouth.

-Kuroobi stop, I'm going the wrong way. - You whisper into his mouth.

You're afraid of a little bit of Arlong's anger for seducing his lieutenant.

-Fuck me now. - I admit it more passionately by kissing you.

(Imagine the rest)

Chuu/Chew🐟💙

He was sitting at the gate, still waiting for you. Come on, he thought you were dead, he'd rather make sure by waiting every night for 15 minutes outside the gate.

He stood and looked at the big villages, westerly. You had been gone for a month.

And you were gone, no one knows anything. He was annoyed by the fact.

He stomped his leg upset, he was angry today. He kicked the rock and turned around to go back to Arlong Park.

-Au- He hears a voice from the woods and turns that way ready to be exterminated.

-Come on the whore!- he screams putting his hands in his pocket

Shocked to see you coming out of the woods massaging your head.

-Is this how you greet me?- you ask, blowing your hand away from a sore head.

Chew looks at you in shock.

-Are you alive?!- he keeps looking at you with his mouth wide open, but keeps his hands in his pockets.

- as you can see, you admit when you get close to him.

You're standing in front of him, smiling. And he's still staring in shock with his mouth open. You put your index finger under his chin, closing his mouth.

He blushes a little on it and grabs your hand, looks at you with a serious look.

-Where the fuck have you been this month! - he screams to your face.

You get a little shocked by it and you move away from him a little bit. But you don't take your hand out of his embrace. You're smiling at him a little bit, and he's biting his lip.

He lets go of your hand and hugs you all of a sudden, he didn't even know why he just felt he had to do it.

-Don't leave me like this anymore. - I order you to bury your head between your scabbard and your shoulder

You blush a little, and you hug him.

-I promise I won't do it again- You promise to squeeze him a little harder.

He pushes you a little into the woods, nodding a little backwards, doing his bidding.

-I'll see to it myself. - He growls a little at your neck.

You're shaking at it, not knowing what he's up to. He's leaning your body against a tree in the middle of the woods.

-Hey Chew what are you doing?- you ask shocked and surprised by his behavior, you thought he hates you but I guess he doesn't.

-Something I should have done a long time ago. - I'm kissing your cheek aggressively pushing your body into a tree.

kisses you so aggressively for moments, shoves his tongue into your mouth. You moan at it in amazement, I grab your thighs and lift it, and you wrap your legs around his body.

He pushes you to the tree and moves away from the kiss. There's a shard of saliva between your lips that's bursting.

-Now stay calm- I'll kiss you again.

𓆝 𓆛 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟  ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆛 𓆟

(The rest is for your imagination.)

⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖

[justauthoring]

This is the Beginning [4/?]

Summary: You never thought you'd be able to escape Buggy, and yet, a boy with a straw hat, a man with three swords and a girl with orange hair somehow manage to free you. The journey that follows afterwards is your chance at freedom and maybe something more.

A One Piece Live Action Rewrite

Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four

Pairing: Live Action!Zoro Roronoa x F!Reader

TW for this chapter: canon typical violence, bits of jealous!zoro, that's really all!

Word Count: 9,323

A/N: Well, we made it! We caught up to seaon one of OPLA! Unfortunately, that means this series will be taking a hiatus until the new season comes out since it is a rewrite. But! I might do little bonus chapters and bonding moments!!

I have started watching the anime, so I know the general direction the live action will probably follow. If you guys would like bonus chapters, let me know!

Tag List: @emmaiscool22 - @bethleeham - @veryunoriginal - @sun-rae04 - @medievalfangirl - @sylum - @academiq

Chapter Four - This is It

“Y/N! My old friend!”

Before you can even register the fact that Buggy is talking to you, a body steps in front of you, fully blocking you from view. The expanse of Zoro’s broad shoulders is the only thing you can see as he glares down at Buggy; “don’t talk to her.”

Buggy just laughs, loud and mocking. “Yeah?” He taunts, “and what are you going to do about it? Bleed on me?”

You can see the tension build in Zoro, muscles tensing and his shoulders raising with every word Buggy throws at him.

You don’t blame him. You still remember when Luffy had all but dropped the fact that during their fight with Arlong and Nami’s betrayal, they’d reunited with Buggy, or rather the head of Buggy. It was made ten times worse when Luffy also elected to inform you that Buggy was coming with you all and helping you to Arlong’s island, as part of a deal he’d made with the pirate. He told you the two of them had made it in return for his navigation to the island, he’d get his body back.

And even though Luffy had assured you he wouldn’t let Buggy try and pull anything on you, you still felt uneasy about him being onboard.

You had no doubt that Buggy’s intentions were not as pure as he was making them out to be. He had something up his sleeve, or at the very least, he would betray you all. At one point or another.

Still, it didn’t matter because you were stuck for him for now. It wasn’t up to just you and you did need him, at least to find where Arlong and Nami had gone. And after spending the first day refusing to go up onto deck in fear of having to face Buggy, your once captain and long-time tormentor, you were sick of hiding away. You’d decided to go up on deck, especially after Zoro had shown concern with you hiding away. Buggy only had his head, after all, so despite saying whatever he wanted, he couldn’t do much.

You try to remind yourself of that.

Your attempt at not being seen, however, had failed the second you’d made your way up to the deck as Buggy had clocked your arrival instantly.

Ignoring the racing of your heart, you reach forward, setting your hand on Zoro’s arm. He pauses at the touch, looking as if he was ready to just kill Buggy and be done with it. He turns his head around to glance down at you, and you send him a reassuring smile.

You remind yourself that you were with a crew of people who cared about you deeply and no one was going to let Buggy hurt you in any way. Not to mention, you’d grown yourself. You weren’t the same girl Buggy had spent years tormenting; you could stand up for yourself now, especially if you had your friends by your side.

He looks like he wants to argue, but still, Zoro doesn’t fight you when you step out from behind him, turning your eye on Buggy.

“I’m not your friend, Buggy. And I never was,” you say, voice firm in your defiance. “And don’t think that I don’t know all your tricks. If you even try to betray us, I’ll—”

“You’ll do nothing!” Buggy laughs, loud and piercing. “Just like you never did back on my crew! You always were too helpless for your own good. All it took was that cage and—”

It doesn’t take you much to figure out what he was implying with his words and it leaves an unpleasant taste in your mouth, thinking back to that horrible cage. However, he doesn’t get the chance to finish.

Zoro is crossing the distance over to Buggy in seconds. Usopp, who’d been standing at the helm, steering with Buggy’s degrading instructions, looks all too pleased as Zoro grabs Buggy by the top of his head, lifting him off the barrel he’d been set on. You, however, look concerned, wanting nothing more than Zoro to actually just get rid of Buggy but you knew you needed him to get to Nami.

“Woah! Woah! Woah! Wait!” Buggy pleads almost instantly, words coming out in a rushed panic. “I was just joking!” He tries to excuse himself, and your eyes widen as Zoro moves him so he’s hanging over the edge of the ship. Buggy’s voice rises in terror. “I was joking! Y/N knows I was joking! Don’t you, Y/N—”

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Zoro cuts in, voice sharp. “You don’t talk to Y/N.”

Biting your lip, you stare at Zoro’s back. You knew, obviously after the conversation the two of you had had, that Zoro cared about you but seeing him so openly defend you made your heart flutter in ways you didn’t know it could.

“You don’t look at her. Or bother her in any way. Is that clear?”

“Yes, yes,” Buggy rushes, voice a blur of desperation. “I won’t bother Y/N!”

“And if this is just another one of your tricks… or you leading us into a trap. Then…”

“Zoro, buddy!” Buggy laughs, “honour amongst pirates. Right? Come on. How about I sing a nice sea shanty to pass the time.”

Sighing, you press your hand to your forehead.

“Oh, there once was a girl with tangerine hair…”

Buggy continues, but a shared look back at you and Usopp makes Zoro’s decision for him easy. Turning around, he makes his way back up to the helm, where Usopp waits with the lid of a barrel topped off.

Zoro doesn’t hesitate to drop Buggy right inside.

“Ow! God, right on my nose!” 

Whatever else he’d been about to say is muffled as Usopp quickly places the top of the barrel back on.

Usopp turns back to you. “I hate clowns.”

Huffing a laugh, you nod your head, instantly eased at his silence. “Me too.”

Making his way back over to you, Zoro dusts off his hands, as if disgusted that Buggy had even been anywhere near him. You glance past him, making sure Usopp wasn’t paying attention anymore, before you reach for Zoro, smiling up at him.

“Thank you for defending me,” you mumble, wrapping your arms around his waist.

Zoro smirks, confident by your praise, but you see the soft flush to his cheeks. “It was a long time coming,” he shrugs, “I hate that clown.” He pauses, briefly, as if unsure of his own words. “Especially for how he treated you.”

The words, despite what they mean, pull a smile to your lips. Your grip on him tightens, and you lean into his embrace. Slowly, Zoro’s arm comes to rest around your shoulders, and you’re reminded of how new all of this still is. The two of you had only confessed your feelings a little bit ago and the two of you were still trying to maneuver those changes; especially since everything else was also still new. 

It was hard to believe it had only been a few short weeks since Luffy, Zoro and Nami saved you from Buggy and you joined them on their adventure. Finding Usopp, fighting Kuro and the Black Cat crew, then arriving at the Baratie, Nami’s betrayal and Sanji joining you… so much had happened in such a short amount of time. A part of you wondered if Zoro and you had moved too quickly into something beyond just a friendship, but then you feel the bandages across his chest on the skin of your cheek and you remember how close he’d been to dying.

Even if most would consider it quick, you didn’t want to waste a moment when you could lose him or he could lose you at any time.

Besides, he and the rest of the crew were stuck with you now. There would be plenty of time to work out the kinks.

“It’s okay,” you reassure Zoro. “I won’t lie and say what Buggy had done to me still doesn’t… haunt me. But, I’m not as scared as I thought I’d be when Luffy said he made a deal with him. Especially because now I have you guys. Because I have you.”

Zoro shifts and you pull back, giving him the room to lean back so he can meet your eye properly. A man of action as always, he raises his left hand, brushing back your hair to cup your cheek and presses a gentle kiss against your lips. It’s quick, the touch of his lips hovering for what feels like far too short, before he’s pulling back, smiling at you.

“I should talk to Luffy.” He says a moment later, “figure out our plan for when we find Nami and Arlong.”

You nod, finally letting your hands fall to your sides as you watch him walk away, sending one last warm look back at you. Your heart is still fluttering, even as he gets further and further away, feeling hot and weak at the same time.

“Someone’s down bad.”

Blinking, you turn around, finding Usopp staring down at you with the widest shit-eating grin on his lips.

Cheeks warming, you shake yourself out of your stupor, making your way up the stairs over to him. “Ha-ha,” you huff, but the smile on your lips is fond. 

Usopp just giggles. “Seriously,” he teases, “the two of you barely notice the people around you when you’re together.”

Coming to a stop next to him, you lightly nudge him with your shoulder. “Haven’t you teased me enough?” You whine, pouting, as your eyes glimmer with mischief at him. “The second Luffy told you what he saw, you haven’t let me off the hook.”

“It’s too fun,” Usopp shrugs, turning his gaze ahead to continue steering the ship. “You always get so embarrassed.”

Crossing your arms over your chest, you raise a brow. “I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you, Usopp.”

“Oh?” He challenges, “and why’s that?”

“Because you forget I saw you and Kaya,” you smirk, watching as the smile on his lips falls and is replaced by a bright red across his cheeks. “If you want to talk about two people smitten…—”

“Okay, okay! I won’t tease you anymore!”

You turn to Usopp, his face turning bright red as he wildly shakes his hands in front of him. It pulls a laugh from your lips, loud and warm, enough to pull Usopp from his own reverie as he blinks back at you.

Turning your gaze back ahead, you soften your smile; “I’m happy for you, Usopp. And I know you’ll see her one day again.”

Shoulders easing, Usopp grabs hold of the helm again and grins to himself. “Thanks,” he says earnestly, “and I’m happy for you too. You and Zoro.”

You squeeze his arm in return, smile infectious, and the two of you fall into a comfortable silence with one another for a few minutes.

Then, you catch sight of something ahead. 

“Usopp,” you call, shaking his own arm before pointing ahead of yourself. “Look!”

He leans forward, eyes squinting. “I don’t see anything,” he mumbles, confused.

You frown; “you don’t see the island up ahead?”

“How do you…” Usopp frowns, but his voice trails, squinting even more before he pulls back in realization. “Wait. I see it!” 

Instantly, he cups his hands around his mouth, breathing in sharply so yell out to the three at the front of the ship; “land ho!”

-

Walking behind Zoro, you frown at the sight of the village in front of you. In a lot of ways, it uncomfortably reminds you of the village Buggy had destroyed; the one Luffy had saved.

It’s desolate. Any sign of happiness that probably flooded these homes is gone, without a trace of it ever exiting. It makes your chest tight and your heart sinks.

You slow to a stop when you notice the rest of your crew doing the same, turning to the left and your lips part when you see what’s caught their attention.

“This is terrible,” you breathe, pressing a hand to your lips as you stare back at the flipped upside down house.

Zoro eyes you, before turning to the house; “never seen that before.”

“What could have done this?” Sanji asks, brows furrowed in bafflement.

Usopp hovers next to you, shuffling on his feet. “Maybe I should head back… make sure the Merry’s secure.”

Without hesitation, you reach for Usopp, squeezing his arm. He turns to you, the fear in his gaze apparent.

But before you can say anything to reassure him, Luffy speaks up;

“Arlong did this.”

His voice is unusually low, tinged with rage. You stare back at him with surprise.

“Hey, shit-hat!” Buggy calls, voice muffled through the bag Sanji is currently carrying him in. “I think we can all agree that Arlong’s a bad fish. But why don’t we quit lollygagging and get my body back?”

You scoff, “as if we should hurry for your sake.” Letting your gaze drag across the village once more, you frown. “This is no different than anything you’ve done before. Same innocent people being hurt, just different pirates.”

Sanji’s eyes fall on you, and you figure it’s because he’s the only one on the crew that doesn’t know how Luffy had found you. Sure, Usopp hadn’t been there, but he’d heard bits and pieces of it and probably was able to piece it all together. Sanji, who’d just joined, wouldn’t know. All he knew was you’d once been on Buggy’s crew.

You avoid his gaze. 

“Come on, Y/N! I certainly wasn’t as bad as—”

“Pipe down in there!” Sanji cuts him off, for your sake more than anyone else's. 

“Or what?” Buggy huffs. “You gonna whip me up a souffle?”

Dropping the bag, Sanji sighs, gesturing to Usopp. “How about you take him for a while?”

“Ooh,” Usopp breathes, shaking his head. “New guy carries the clown head.”

Feeling bad for the guy, you step forward, reaching for the bag. “Here, Sanji, I can—”

“Absolutely not—”

“It’s okay, Y/N, I’ve got it—”

Both Zoro and Sanji speak at the same time, and almost instantly, the two turn to each other with glares.

“Y/N is not carrying that clown head,” Zoro growls, shifting beside you.

“I agree,” Sanji bites out, shouldering the bag again before turning to you with a smile. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I got it under control.”

You hesitate, frowning, but seeing the smile on his lips and the way Zoro continues to glare at the cook, you decide to let it go. “Okay,” you shrug, “if you’re sure.”

The five of you continue to make your way, picking up the pace in your step when you see a group of people up ahead.

“Everyone! Please!”

The man speaking stands at the front of the crowd, holding a box. His expression is grim.

“We don’t have much time,” he continues. “And we’re short again this month.”

You frown when you watch a man step up, dumping a handful of Berry into the box.

That sinking feeling floods your stomach again.

“Is it enough?”

With a frown, the man at the front shakes his head slowly.

“Do we have time to get some more?”

“No.”

Your back straightens, recognizing that voice.

Sure enough, the crowd splits instantly, and you see Nami step through.

“You don’t,” she says, slowly making her way through the crowd.

Luffy steps forward, as if to go to her. Zoro stops him.

A woman with blue hairs steps right up to Nami, face twisted with rage. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here.” Nami doesn’t say anything in return, even when the woman spits right at her feet.

She walks off a second later, your eyes follow her. 

A moment of silence passes, then, Nami turns her attention back to the man with the donation box. “Got something for me?”

Slowly, he hands over the box.

It takes Nami one look; “you’re short.”

“Nami, please,” the man begs. “This is all we have. Arlong has bled us dry.”

“Then find more blood.”

Swallowing thickly, the sight breaks your heart. There was no way Nami could actually be this… heartless, right?

The man walks off as does the rest of the crowd. Nami, with the donation box still in hand, lets her gaze wander, freezing the second she catches sight of the five of you.

She makes her way over in seconds flat.

“Luffy?” She calls, voice sharp. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask the same thing.”

“This is where I belong.”

Luffy shakes his head, “I don’t believe that. This is not you.”

“No,” she argues. “This isn’t the me you want me to be.”

“Nami…” Luffy calls, voice soft. He steps towards her. “If you need our help—”

“No, I don’t need any of you.”

You flinch at that, watching as her eyes dance across the five of you. When her eyes meet yours, she’s quick to look away.

“Arlong wanted the map,” she explains, “and I conned you into getting it for me. And you bought it. I was never part of your stupid crew.”

“You don’t mean that.”

For the splittest of seconds, Nami’s face wavers. You see it, watch it happen, but it’s gone before you can do anything about it. It feels like you’re the only one who does see it.

“Take the rest of these clowns and sail away from here,” she spits. “I never want to see you again.”

She spins around, moving to walk off. You instinctively move to walk after her, knowing what you saw and not ready to give up, but Zoro grabs your hand, tightening his grip. Turning to him, his expression is sympathetic for you but firm; she won’t listen.

Usopp huffs behind you; “okay, that went about as bad as it could. So back to the boat before the fishmen find us? Sail the hell out of here? Okay.” 

Sanji shakes his head; “there’s something else going on here.”

“I think she was very clear she wants us to leave,” Zoro argues.

“You don’t know women,” Sanji instantly rebuts, “they never say what they mean.”

You blink, “well, I—”

“Tell me again why the cook gets a say.” Zoro huffs, turning to face Sanji.

“Don’t you guys get it,” Usopp cuts in, and you watch as the three of them circle around each other, bickering. All while Luffy remains standing where Nami left him. “She’s one of them. She’s a bad guy. The villagers are terrified of her.”

Raising your voice, you step forward and interrupt them before any of them can speak. “The look on her face was off,” you explain, remembering exactly what you’d seen. Turning to Zoro, you look back at him determined. “I know what she said, Zoro, but she looked like she was this close to breaking down. Sanji is right, there is something more going on here. I’m sure of it.”

Zoro, who looks put out that you’re siding with Sanji, steps towards you. “Y/N, I know that you don’t want it to be true but Nami…” He hesitates, seeing the look on your face. “Usopp is right. The villagers were scared. Of her.”

Face falling, you can’t deny that.

“Not all of them,” Luffy says, speaking up for the first time. You turn around to face him, but he steps forward before you can ask what he meant. “Hey! Scar guy.”

Only chancing one more glance back at Zoro, you quickly follow after Luffy.

“Who was that girl?” Luffy asks the man who’d been collecting the donations. “You know, the one with the cool hair?”

The man eyes you five. “Who wants to know?”

“I’m Monkey D. Luffy,” Luffy introduces, voice serious. “I’m a pirate—”

“—Hunter,” Zoro cuts in quickly. Hands shoved into his pockets, he steps up beside Luffy. “Pirate hunter. We’re here to collect Arlong’s bounty.”

Sensing the apprehension on the man’s face, you think that was definitely a smart save on Zoro’s part.

The man just raises a brow. “You? I’ve seen men twice your size and with twice your number go into Arlong Park. None of them ever came back.”

Luffy smiles. “We just want to talk to her.”

“Trust me,” the man argues, “you don’t. But if it’ll get you out of my town, try the house down that road, on the edge of the tangerine grove.”

-

“I don’t know how you do it.”

Jumping at the voice, you turn around, easing when you see it’s just Nojiko.

Turns out that girl with the cool hair, as Luffy had dubbed her, was Nami’s sister. After managing to convince her into talking to you with the promise of a home-cooked meal, Sanji had whipped her and the rest of you up a meal. It was only then Nojiko had agreed to tell you the story of how her and Nami’s mother had died because of Arlong, who’d taken control of this island eight years ago. And how Nami was now working for him.

The story had left the five of you all upset in your own ways. When Usopp had solidified the fact that Nami really was working for her mother’s killer, the air in the house had thickened with tension.

You’d stay for a while, but after Buggy had insisted on being let out of the bag to the point Sanji had been forced to do so, you’d taken your leave. Luffy, and then Zoro who had gone after him, had left the second Nojiko finished telling you everything and you hadn’t heard from them since. You figured it was best to give them space, so you’d chosen to wander through the tangerine grove right by Nojiko’s house.

When Nojiko had found you.

Meeting Nojiko’s eyes, you glance at her inquisitively.

“Deal with being stuck with four men,” she laughs lightly. “Especially on a ship. I’d go crazy.”

You smile back at her, snorting. “You get used to it.” Then, smile wavering just faintly, you can’t help but add; “it was easier, too. With… you know, Nami.” Hugging yourself, you glance at your feet. “It was nice having her onboard with us. Nice being her friend, if she ever thought of me as one.”

Nojiko doesn’t respond, probably not sure how to. Still, she offers a gentle and sympathetic smile in return. It’s clear she understands in her own way.

“Are you okay?” You ask, gesturing back to the house. “Sanji didn’t say anything, right? He’s a flirt and never means anything by it, but I’ll kick him for you if he makes you uncomfortable.”

Letting out a sharp laugh, Nojiko shakes her head. “He didn’t say anything,” she reassures with a wave of her hand. “I just needed some air. I was… I was actually planning on visiting her grave.”

Your lips part; “your mother’s?”

She nods.

You hesitate, glancing back at the far stretch of the tangerine grove and then back at Nojiko. You decide to just ask what’s on your mind. “Could I come with you?”

She seems shocked by our question, eyes widening and brows furrowing. 

“Only if you don’t mind,” you assure, shaking your hands at her. “I just… Just thought maybe you’d like a friend. And, well… I know what it’s like to lose a mother.”

Face easing, Nojiko frowns; “I’m sorry.”

You shake your head. “It was a long time ago.”

Nodding slowly, Nojiko shrugs; “you can come then. And we can send a prayer to both of our mothers.”

Your smile brightens at that, worrying easing from your body as you nod at her. She returns the smile with ease and the two of you begin walking, Nojiko leading the way. The grave isn't that far away, so it doesn’t take you long before Nojiko is informing you you’re close.

“Just around this…—”

But her voice trails as you both hear… grunting? She glances back at you, worried, and you mimic her expression, rushing forward. You worry it’s someone from Arlong’s crew, heart sinking at what they could possibly be doing.

Only, it’s Nami you find.

You hesitate, feet freezing, but blind with anger at the realization of what Nami was doing, Nojiko rushes forward. “How dare you,” she hisses out, barely able to contain the anger in her voice. “It’s not enough that you’re working for our mother’s killer, but now you’re desecrating her grave too?”

You notice at the same time Nami does, her calling out for Nojiko, as the latter grabs the shovel next to the digged hole, swinging it back behind her to hit Nami.

Racing forward, you grab the handle of the shovel before Nojiko can swing it down just as Nami flinches back with a scream.

Nami’s eyes zone in on you; “Y/N? What the hell are you doing here?”

Meeting her gaze, your lips part; “I…—”

“Never mind that,” Nojiko spits, and she lowers her hands when you step back, but doesn’t let go of the shovel, looking ready to try and hit Nami again. “I can’t believe you would do this!”

Nami only glances at you once more, hesitating, before turning back to Nojiko; “it’s not what you think.”

Nojiko goes to swing the shovel again, and you move to grab her, but don’t reach in time. 

“You have no idea what I think!”

Nami’s name leaves your lips in a shrill cry and she just narrowly misses the edge of the shovel smacking her across the face, falling back. Instead of Nami, Nojiko hits the chest right next to the hole.

Bills and coins of Berry come pouring out of it.

Panting, Nojiko shakes her head; “what’s this?” She slowly turns to Nami. “Is this the money that you stole? And you’re hiding it next to our mother’s body?”

Confused and bewildered and definitely feeling like you’re encroaching on a moment between sisters you shouldn’t be, you remain silent, taking a step back.

“Nami,” Nojiko whispers, “what kind of monster are you?”

“You don’t understand,” Nami cries.

“Then make me understand.”

Her eyes flicker between you and Nojiko, unsure, before she focuses all of her attention on Nojiko. 

“I’ve been stealing this money because of a deal with Arlong I made,” she starts, moving to crawl out of the hole and grab her bag. “I told Arlong I’d work for him on one condition. That he let me buy back Coco Village. And he said he would for a hundred million Berry.”

“A hundred million?” You echo, unable to stop yourself. “That would take a lifetime.”

Nami shakes her head, reaching for Nojiko. “I have the money,” she explains. “All of it. And now I can buy the freedom of the village and everyone in it.”

Seeing the look on Nojiko’s face, you inhale sharply, turning. It occurs to you should give them a moment alone. This news was shocking enough to you, you couldn’t imagine how Nojiko, who’s obviously hated Nami for the past eight years, would feel. Sending the two of them a gentle smile, you walk off, moving to the edge of the woods.

Crossing your arms over your chest, you think about what Nami had said.

That look you’d seen her eyes, the one only you had seemed to be able to notice, made so much more sense now. None of this had been of Nami’s own volition or choice. And for the past eight years she’d been forced to work for and do the bidding of a man who’d killed her mother and threatened her family and friends.

The thought made you sick. You couldn’t imagine what Nami’s been forced to endure.

Minutes pass of you stuck in your thoughts, until you catch something through the foliage of the forest. It gives you pause, head turning in the direction as you squint, trying to figure out what you’d seen.

When you catch sight of a familiar white and blue uniform, your heart drops.

“Nami, Nojiko!” You call, rushing over to them as you reach for Nami’s chest of Berry. Nami stands at the sight, the conversation between her and Nojiko cut short as she assumes the worst of what you’re doing.

“What are you—”

“We don’t have time,” you cut her off, staring at her with panic in your eye. “The Marines, they’re—”

“Already here.”

Lips left parted, you, Nami and Nojiko’s heads snap round, back in the direction you’d come from, bodies freezing at the sight of a line up of Marines stopping in front of you.

“A shame to interrupt such a touching moment,” the lieutenant Marine offers, voice not at all sympathetic. “I’ve heard that pirates are stashing their plunder in this area. You three wouldn’t happen to know anything about that?”

Feet frozen in place, you eye the back of Nami and Nojiko, before shifting your attention back to the lieutenant. This was bad. Very bad. There was no way to hide Nami’s stash, especially not when it was clear it was exactly what the Marines were already looking for.

“That’s obviously been stolen,” the Marine lieutenant comments, eyeing Nami’s money. “By the authority of the Marines and the World Government, I'm going to have to confiscate it.”

“No,” Nami gasps. “No, you can’t do that. It’s mine!”

“A hundred million Berry?” The lieutenant raises a brow, “and where would you get that much money?”

“Nami got that money fair and square,” you hiss, stepping forward as you glare at the man. “You have no right to take it from her.”

“No right?” The lieutenant laughs, loud and mocking. “I have the right as a Marine lieutenant, silly girl.”

“Wait,” Nami cuts in, breathless, before you can speak, as if having realized something. “How did you know it was a hundred…” But her voice trails, and a glance back at her tells you she’s figured it out.

“Arlong put you up to this, didn’t he?”

Your lips part, gasping. 

“I… I don’t know what you mean,” the lieutenant shrugs. Then, he shifts, nodding at the men behind him. They listen instantly. 

Nami and you both start. She reaches for her bag, trying to grab her weapon, but the Marines are too quick. Two of them flank her, grabbing her by the arm. You growl at the sight, stepping forward to help, but then the men that had been standing to the left of the lieutenant step towards you. 

“Watch yourself. Or we will take you into custody as well.”

Past their shoulders you can see the Marine officers holding Nami shove her to the ground. Rage floods you, and you move towards her, but you’re blocked by more officers. Instantly, they go to grab you, but you dodge their grasps, trying to slither past them. You make it past one, reaching for Nami and then a sharp sting radiates across your cheek.

You trip over your feet at the impact, stunned, falling to your knees as your hand hovers across your cheek in shock, staring up at the officer who’d punched you. He stares down at you, unbothered. His hand rests on his baton, as if baiting you to try again.

Nami, who’d watched the whole display, continues to thrash and fight the hands that hold her down.

“No!” She screams when she sees them grabbing her Berry. “You can’t do this. You can’t do this!”

Cheek stinging and eyes watering in despair, you watch the Marines grab her money all while Nami screams, helpless to do anything. They take it all, not leaving a single Berry behind, and not offering even a glance at Nami who cries out for them to stop.

When the officers let her go and walk off, Nami instantly moves to get back up. Nojiko, who’d seemed frozen in the spot until then, grabs her. “Wait, Nami,” she pleads. “Stop! Wait. Wait!”

“Let me go!” Nami cries, fighting her sister's grip. “Let me go! They can’t do this!”

“Nami,” you breathe, staring at her in shock.

“There’s nothing you can do!” Nojiko tries.

But Nami doesn’t listen to her.

“Arlong will kill the entire village!” She bellows, voice pitching in distress, finally breaking free from Nojiko’s grip and running off in the opposite direction of the Marine’s and instead towards the village.

“Nami, wait!” Nojiko begs, screaming after her.

Pushing yourself to your feet, you wipe your tears, grabbing Nojiko’s hand and pulling her eyes on you.

There’s only one thing that can help her now. Or rather, people.

“Nojiko. Nojiko, listen to me,” you pant, tugging on her hand. Her eyes fall on you, wild and terrified. “We need to get Luffy and the rest. They can help! I promise!”

Chest rising and falling and breathless, Nojiko inhales sharply, trying to calm herself.

“Okay.”

Never letting go of her hand, you pull her along, the two of you take off in the direction you’d first come from. Nojiko’s house is closer than the rest of the village, separated off, so it doesn’t take either of you very long to get back to their house and your friends. The two of you break through the tangerine grove, breathless and panicked, and Zoro and Luffy who had been up on the roof see you instantly.

“Y/N?” Zoro calls, concerned. Him and Luffy glance at each other briefly before quickly climbing down the roof. “Y/N, what’s wrong?”

Zoro’s voice must’ve caught the attention of Usopp and Sanji because they come running out of the house too,

“What’s going on?” Usopp asks.

“Y/N?” Sanji’s gaze instantly zones in on you, taking in your distressed state. “And Nojiko? Are you—”

Luffy and Zoro come to a stop in front of the both of you.

Nojiko, unable to catch her voice, shakes her head. “Nami, she’s…” But a cough wracks through her body, exhausted after everything from the Marine’s, trying to stop Nami and then running.

Zoro zones in on you then, catching sight of your face. “Y/N, your cheek,” he breathes, voice low as he reaches for you, cupping your jaw to pull your gaze up on him. His eyes flood with anger when he gets a better look at your red and stinging cheek. “Who did—”

Resting your hand over his, you shake your head. “It doesn’t matter,” you dismiss, and cut him off quickly before he can argue. “We have to help Nami. Arlong… Arlong is going to destroy the village!”

“What?” Usopp squeaks, “he’s coming here?”

“Is it because the village was short on money?” Sanji frowns.

Meeting Nojiko’s eyes, you both frown. “Nami had a deal with Arlong,” you explain, shifting from Zoro to Luffy. His face is serious, and he listens to you carefully. “He betrayed her. The Marine’s stole her money and now Arlong is going to destroy the village. We have to help them. We have to help Nami!”

“Please,” Nojiko pleads beside you. “Please.”

Zoro steps towards you, and you turn to him, barely noticing the way your eyes are watering. He frowns down at you, before turning to Luffy.

“Nojiko, stay here. Y/N.” You turn back to him, breathing in. “Lead the way,” Luffy says, voice sharp. 

Meeting his eyes, you nod.

-

Walking past Luffy, you fall to your knees next to Nami.

She starts at the sight of you, teary-eyed and gasping, but you just smile gently at her. Shifting your bag, you pull out the bandages in there. You’d originally grabbed them for Zoro, but staring at her bleeding arm, you figure it was best her wounds were cleaned and wrapped.

“Here,” you say softly, slowly grabbing her arm. You hesitate, not wanting to startle her, but she doesn’t flinch away when you reach for her. Comforted at the action, you grab the cloth you’d also pulled out, wiping at the blood.

“I can clean it better later,” you explain, “but for now.”

She doesn’t respond, and you let her remain silent, incapable of understanding what she could possibly be going through in that moment.

The two of you sit in silence, away from the boys as they figure out how they’re going to go up against Arlong. Nami watches as you bandage her, and you do so without saying anything. Truthfully, you don’t know what you could say. Your heart broke for her and the villagers and every sting of betrayal you’d felt before is gone. 

Now, you only feel guilt for having ever doubted her.

“There,” you whisper, doing the last loop of the bandage. 

Nami glances down at her arm and she ponders it for a while, before;

“Thank you.”

Lips parting, your head snaps up, blinking. 

“Back there, with the Marines,” she points at your cheek. “You tried to stop them.”

“Oh,” you frown, “you don’t have to thank me. I’m… I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them then.”

Blinking back her tears, Nami’s face falls.

“Luffy will be able to stop Arlong, Nami,” you smile at her, taking a leap and squeezing her arm. She straightens at the touch, but her gaze is warm as she looks back at you. “We’ll help you. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

Her eyes fall shut, a single tear escaping her defences as she leans towards you.

“Thank you.”

-

“I can fight.”

“We’ve hardly done any training—”

“Zoro,” you huff, balling your hands into fists at your side. “I want to help.”

He eyes you, frowning. “I know you do, but Arlong’s men are strong.”

Mildly insulted, despite knowing he was right, and frustrated, you glare up at him. “I’m helping. You can’t stop me.”

Clearly frustrated himself, Zoro presses a hand to his face. “You don’t even have a weapon.”

“Nojiko gave me a gun,” you counter, grabbing the rifle from the wall you’d set it against, and holding it up to him to see. “She taught me the basics of how to use it. I probably won’t be as good of a shot as Usopp, but I can still try.”

Breathing in sharply, Zoro glances back at the crew, noticing the way they’re getting ready to go. Turning back to you, he steps towards you, cupping your cheeks. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Wrapping your hands around him in return, you smile, “I know. Because I don’t want you to get hurt too.” Squeezing his hands, you look up at him reassuringly. “I’ll stay back and not put myself in danger. But I want to help Nami. Don’t ask me to stay behind when she’s my friend too. That’s not what we promised each other.”

Sighing, Zoro knows you’re right. “You stay away from the thick of it,” he orders, voice serious. “And if you need my help, call for me. I’ll come to you right away.”

Biting your lip, you smile. “I promise,” you assure, nodding. “The second I’m in danger, I’ll call for you. Only you.”

Cheeks flushing, Zoro rolls his eyes. “As long as you promise.”

-

Despite losing sight of Usopp in the mess, you think you’re doing a fairly good job.

Obviously, Sanji and Zoro were taking down most of the men, but you can proudly say you’ve at least gotten a few really good shots. There was even the time you’d shot down a guy that had been gunning straight for Zoro, to which he’d smirked back at you in response.

The pride you’d felt was imminent. 

Just like how you’d been able to see the island before anyone else back on the boat, or how you’d seen the Marines coming through the thick forest foliage, your left eye was able to catch sight of Arlong’s man easily. And even though you were still rocky with the gun itself, your eye  helped you see things you’d never been able to before.

You’ve never seen things so clearly.

Taking one last shot at one of Arlong’s men and watching him crash to the ground, you straighten up from behind the rock you’d perched yourself behind. You couldn’t see Zoro and Sanji from where you were and a quick glance across the park told you you’d all (mainly them) managed to take out most of Arlong’s men.

Standing to your feet, you climb down the rocks and head in the direction you thought you’d last seen Sanji and Zoro go in. Despite being further back, you’d watched them argue the entire time they’d been fighting, so you figured checking on them was probably the best idea.

Sure enough, eventually you can hear their muffled voices arguing. You follow the sound, coming around a broken down stand, only to come crashing into someone.

You stumble back, blinking, until your eye lands on the familiar sight of Buggy. With his body.

Your grip instantly tightens on your gun, while his lips stretch into a wide grin.

“Sorry, my Angel Eye,” he laughs and you hiss at the sound of that nickname, stepping towards him. He holds his hands up as he wiggles his fingers at you in a mocking goodbye. “I’d love to catch up but I gotta go!”

He runs past you in the next second before you even have a second to blink, and your hand twitches, wanting to stop him. But honestly, the thought occurs to you it might just be best to let him go; if he was gone, then at least you didn’t have to see him and listen to his grating voice any longer.

You also don’t know at that moment if you were strong enough to kill him. Not in the physical sense, but… mental.

Shaking your head, you let the thought leave you, focusing back on finding Zoro and Sanji.

Figures he’d betray you guys anyways.

Scoffing, you continue making your way forward, face easing when you see Zoro and Sanji.

“I see Buggy betrayed us,” you comment, gesturing behind you.

Sanji and Zoro turn to you.

“He didn’t do anything did—”

“What did that fucking clown say—”

Blinking at the both of them, you watch as they turn to each other, before promptly turning the other way.

You bite your lip, laughing. “You guys are—”

Whatever you’d been about to say gets cut off the second you let out a scream. A sharp, aching pain radiates from your left eye, making you fall to your knees as you clutch at your face, curling in on yourself.

Your name leaves Zoro’s lips as he and Sanji run towards you, Zoro kneeling in front of you.

“Y/N,” he calls, voice pitched in panic. “Y/N, what happened? What’s going on?”

“I—” Hissing, you cry out as the sting continues to radiate across your face.

Hands fall on you, careful and slow, pulling your own away from your face.

Leaning forward, Zoro pauses at the sight and Sanji behind him gasps;

“Y/N, your eye…”

You stare up at them, hand hovering by your face, trying to bear through the pain.

“What… What’s happening?”

“Your eye is glowing, Y/N,” Zoro mumbles, shaking his head. “It’s like… shining.”

Frowning at him, you ease when the pain lessens somewhat. Still, your heart is racing with terror of what’s happening.

“Does it still—”

Footsteps cut Zoro off, all three of your guys’ attention snapping to the right where you see one of Arlong’s main lackeys coming over. He grins wide at the sight of you three, and instantly, Sanji is shifting into a fighting stance as Zoro stands, stepping in front of you.

“Stay back, Y/N,” Zoro calls, stretching his arm in front of you.

You nod up at him, pushing yourself back as you try and bite back another cry of pain.

It doesn’t take them long to fight him. Even though Sanji gets kicked around a bit, the second the bad guy says something about Nami, Sanji is zoned in on him. With a series of powerful kicks, you watch as Sanji takes down the guy in seconds.

Zoro turns to you, sure that it was safe to, crouching. His touch is gentle as he tries to get a closer look at your eye.

As their fight had progressed, the pain had lessened. And now, it’s nearly gone, just a faint, residual itchy feeling.

“Does it still hurt?” Zoro frowns.

You shake your head, “it’s just… uncomfortable. Is it still glowing?”

“Not anymore,” he shakes his head, shifting his hands to your hips as he helps you back to your feet.

“Has that ever happened before, love?” Sanji asks, staring back at you in concern.

You ignore Zoro’s huff at the nickname, shaking your head at Sanji. “No,” you frown. “I have no idea what that was.”

Turning back to Zoro, it’s hard to hide your fear.

Brushing his fingers across your cheek, Zoro shakes his head. “It’s okay, just tell me if it happens again, alright? We’ll figure it out.”

Eased at his reassurance, you lean into his touch.

“Also,” Zoro smiles down at you, “you did great.”

His words bring an instant beam to your lips, appreciating his ability to shift your mind away from your worries and praise you at the same time. You grin, clapping your hands in front of you in joy. “Really?” Then, turning to Sanji, your eyes sparkle. “You think so too, Sanji?”

Any discomfort he’d shown at Zoro’s words to you eases as he grins at you. “Of course, love, you did amazing.”

Your face is practically sparkling.

“Would you stop calling her that?” Zoro huffs, “and what was with those stupid names with your kicks?”

“All great heroes have names for their attacks,” Sanji shrugs, unbothered.

Zoro hesitates before sighing. “Yeah, you’ll fit in great.”

You grin, happy they were (sorta) getting along.

Just then, a familiar screaming catches your attention. Turning your gaze to the entrance of Arlong park, you watch as Usopp comes running in, slingshot at the ready.

“Never fear, the Great Captain Usopp is…” But his words trail when he realizes everyone is already down. “Is… oh. You guys did pretty good in here.” Sighing, he grins at you all, sending you a thumbs up. You send him one back. “Good job guys!”

He nods to himself, and the four of you shift, falling silent.

Putting a hand to your right eye, so you see nothing, you frown to yourself, unable to ignore the unsettled feeling still in your stomach.

“Nami!”

Blinking at Sanji’s call, you look up, face brightening when you see Nami running over to the four of you.

Sanji’s arms stretch wide for a hug, but she runs past him, gunning straight for you, Usopp and Zoro. You stumble as you’re brought into an embrace, squished between Zoro and Usopp as Nami’s face falls into the crook of your neck.

“You’re all okay!”

Smiling at her, you nod as she pulls back, taking one last long look at the three of you before turning back to Arlong’s base.

“Where’s Luffy?” Zoro asks.

Glancing at Sanji, who’d been rejected seconds before, you offer a small wink when he meets your gaze.

“Still inside,” Nami answers, “fighting Arlong.”

Turning back to Arlong Park, you frown, however, at the sight of the building crumbling apart.

-

“That was crazy, huh?”

Smiling down at Zoro, you take a seat next to him, letting your arm brush against his before turning to meet his gaze.

Zoro snorts next to you, returning your smile with a softer one of his own. He leans back as you sit next to him, and you don’t fail to notice the way he leans back, his right hand falling to a spot behind you, silently giving you the room to lean into him.

Biting back your smile, you don’t hesitate to do just that.

“Thought we were going to be fighting off the entirety of that Marine force,” Zoro comments dryly, letting his gaze drift in front of the both of you. You think back to what had just happened moments prior and the realization that the Vice Admiral, Luffy’s grandfather, had been chasing after all of you as some sort of test for his grandson.

Letting out a laugh, you glance up at Zoro, an adoring look in your eye. “I bet you would’ve too,” you comment. With a teasing grin, you poke at his side, careful of his wound. “After all, you like being Luffy’s first mate more than you’ll admit.”

Rolling his eyes, he smirks down at you; “maybe.”

You giggle, letting your head fall onto his shoulder and drift your gaze across the crowd of bustling and happy villagers. It’s a stark contrast from when you’d all first arrived on Cocoyashi Village, but it was one that made your heart swell with pride and warmth. Arlong and his goons were gone and now Nami’s village could live in peace like they always should’ve been able to.

Speaking of, you pause in your thoughts when you notice Nami and Nojiko walking past you. Both of their eyes are on you and Zoro and while Nojiko offers a simple wave and a warm smile, the look in Nami’s eyes is telling as she wiggles her brows at you, gesturing loosely to Zoro. You flush, but the grin on your lips is undeniable.

You watch them walk off, happy the two sisters could have these final moments together.

“How’s your eye?”

Looking up at the sound of Zoro’s question, you find him staring down at you, chin dipped towards you and eyes dancing with concern.

“Better,” you say honestly, letting your hand fall over your left eye, covering your vision completely for a brief second before turning back to Zoro. “I don’t know what that was but I… have been noticing things recently.”

Zoro’s brows furrow; “what things?”

“I just… see things,” you shrug, unsure how to explain it. “See things before others can. Like when I saw the island… Usopp didn’t see it for a minute and we all know that the one thing he does have is good vision. Or when the Marine’s stole Nami’s money, I could see them far before I should’ve been able to.”

Zoro takes in your words, slowly nodding. “You think it could have to do with Mihawk?”

“Maybe,” you nod, the thought having already crossed your mind. “I’ve never understood why my eye looks like this or why my right one is blind… My mother had normal eyes. Maybe something went wrong when I was born?”

Still leant against him, Zoro shifts, moving to slip your hand in his own as he squeezes. “Well, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out, yeah? There’s gotta be an answer somewhere out there.’

His voice is sincere, serious with the promise of helping you. Warmth floods you, heart fluttering, and you think back to the first time you ever met Zoro. When he’d stumbled in that tent that day, you never would’ve thought this is where you’d be now.

Nodding up at him, you say; “it’s a promise.”

He smiles, and with that, you let your head fall against his shoulder again, hand still in his.

The two of you spend the rest of the celebration like that.

-

“So…”

Glancing over at Nami, you huff; “so?”

“You and Zoro?” She grins, wide and from ear to ear. “Can’t believe I missed that.”

Letting out a chuckle, you shake your head. “Don’t tease me,” you whine faintly, pressing a hand to your forehead as the two of you make your way to the kitchen. “I already got enough of it from Usopp.”

Nami barks out a laugh just as the two of you slip inside.

“Get enough of what from me?” Usopp asks, looking up for one of his new ammo experiments he’d been working on.

Meeting Nami’s eyes, the both of you giggle.

“Nothing!”

“Ah,” Sanji comments from the counter, “it’s so nice to be rewarded with such lovely laughter from two lovely ladies.”

You let out a chuckle, moving to sit next to Zoro as Nami grins over at Sanji.

“Oi,” Zoro calls, looking up for his swords. “What have I said about flirting with Y/N, you damned cook?”

Sanji just shrugs, not at all bothered; “I can’t help it. Y/N’s elegance merely demands it.”

Nami and Usopp cackle but you notice the way Zoro moves to get up, quickly grabbing ahold of his arm to stop him.

“You—!”

“Guys!”

Thankful for the distraction, your face lights up as Luffy comes bounding into the kitchen, a slip of paper in his hands. Moving towards the table, he slams it down.

“Look.” 

“Oh, shit,” you breathe, staring down at the wanted poster.

“Hey, look,” Usopp cheers, “I’m famous!”

Sanji shakes his head; “what are you on about? That’s Luffy’s wanted poster.”

“Not just Luffy,” Usopp smirks, reaching forward and pointing at the paper. You follow his gesture, huffing a laugh when you realize, sure enough, there Usopp is in the left corner of the poster.

Or, at least, the back of him.

“Sorry, guy,” Usopp chuckles, glancing at you all. “Maybe if you work a little harder, you’ll get a bounty too.”

“That doesn’t count.” Sanji rolls his eyes.

“It’s okay to be jealous. Feel what you need to feel.”

“I… mm…” Cutting himself off, Sanji submits; “this is stupid.”

“This is gonna make things much harder,” Zoro comments from next to you. “With that price on your head, every bounty hunter in the East Blue will be gunning for you.”

“Not just Luffy,” Nami adds. “They’re gonna be gunning for all of us.”

Everyone falters, faced with reality, but you just smile over at Luffy.

“Still,” you speak up, pulling Luffy’s attention on you. “Good for you, Luffy! That’s the first step to being the King of the Pirates!”

He sends you a thumbs up, as the rest groan.

“What have we talked about,” Nami frowns at you. “You don’t need to encourage him anymore than he already encourages himself.”

You just shrug, grinning.

“Besides,” Luffy shrugs, “it doesn't matter. Because we are not staying in the East Blue.”

Staring up at all of you, he grins; 

“We’re going to the Grand Line.”

-

“Straw Hats! All hands on deck for a cast-off ceremony.”

Listening to Luffy’s order, you step out onto deck behind Zoro, raising a brow when you see Luffy, Nami and Sanji already gathered around a barrel.

Usopp’s the last to arrive, and the second he comes to a stop, Sanji raises his leg, placing it on the edge of the barrel.

“I’m gonna find the All Blue,” he promises, and your heart starts with realization of what’s happening.

Luffy follows his lead with ease, slamming his leg on the barrel with a bit more force. “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”

Zoro shifts next to you, smiling wide, and then, he does the same. “I’m gonna be the world’s greatest swordsman.”

“I’m gonna draw a map of the world,” Nami promises, raising her leg as she smiles at you all.

“I…” Usopp hesitates, shifting, before raising his leg. “Am gonna be a brave warrior of the sea!”

Laughter echoes, and then, everyone’s eyes shift to you. Hesitating similarly to Usopp, you glance at the barrel and then each of your friends.

Feeling your heart flutter with excitement, you raise your leg, taking up the last bit of space left on the barrel.

“I’m gonna discover the truth about my eye!” You promise, biting your lip.

You glance at everyone, grinning, until your eyes fall on Zoro who smiles back at you with pride.

“This is it, crew,” Luffy calls, “The Grand Line.”

He pauses, meeting each and every one of your eyes, before, his raises his hand to the sky and screams;

“Nothing’s gonna stand in our way! Yeah!”

Without hesitation, you lean back, inhaling sharply before letting out a bellow of; “Woohoo!”

[sanjisblackasswife]

Thinking about how OPLASanji is a more closeted pervert than an open one. (Part 1)

IHadTo.

Blk Fem Reader x OPLA Sanji

CW: Sanji has tattoos(🌚), Suggestive, Kissing, Touchy Touchy Sanji, ….please read his dialouge in his voice. No smut BUT next time will be filthy smut<_< just setting up the plot here okaayyy i havent wrote in a while.

“So fucking pretty..”

“You say ‘sum Sanji?”

“Nothing, madam.”

Sanji was relentless. Him so new to the crew you and him managed to get pretty close quite quickly. It’s been a few weeks now and Zoro has pointed out about 15 times already how touchy and —in his words “Freaky” he is towards you.

“Either you’re that dense or just as perverted as him because how can you not feel his dick against your ass when you both are—“

“Zoro.” Nami cut him off with a stern tone, you blink at them both on the deck. “Enough, okay.”

“Somebody had to say it,” Zoro took a sip of his drink, settling back down on the chair, “It’s been constant dry foreplay from you both and it’s annoying—“

“…Sorry.” You murmur, not really sure how to answer to him, he looks at you, scoffing. “I don’t think sanji is intentionally being like that he just—“

“Well he is. A blind man can see how he fucks you with his eyes.”

Slightly confused as to why Zoro would even think Sanji is a pervert. He isn’t. He can’t be??

He’s so sweet, and charming, you can’t deny he was one of the few men you met that have caught your attention; his dimples exposing themselves when you make him smile, his pretty delicate hands that grabs ahold of yours when he kisses your knuckles, his pretty jewlery, and when he speaks in your ear, that fucking accent of his—-

…maybe him being a pervert wasn’t too bad.

I mean, he wasn’t hurting you nor ever made you uncomfortable? You both are adults.

And adults have needs.

And if two adults have attraction for one another then…well…it shouldn’t matter much?

You shook off what Zoro said and headed back to the kitchen, maybe he was just teasing you again.

But if he wasn’t…you could possibly make use of this new information.

——-

“Y/n, my love, how are you babe? Thirsty?” Sanji smiles at you, already preppping for dinner you grin warmly back at him and take a seat at the table, his eyes follow your figure, trailing down to your waist, and glued to your ass until you sat down.

For a moment you were quiet, not responding yet to his question, but admiring Sanji’s hands, how quickly he can chop food, how pretty his fingers are, you nearly nip at your lip when you notice him roll up his sleeves and see—-

“Oh!” Your eyes widen mindlessly, you walk towards the large kitchen island and lean over, “You have tattoos?”

How could have you not notice? it’s been almost a month being together and you never peeped? He had a half sleeve done and honestly it looked so..

“You like?” Sanji’s chuckle makes you break out of your daze. “I got my first one when i was 16. And then well, it became a slight addiction.”

You stare back at his forearm again, the pretty art marked on his skin, noticing the veins complimenting it made you nip at your lip again. He smiles, your pretty round eyes watching him as he cooked, but again.

Sanji’s eyes wondered.

You were in a trance at his tattoos, trying to count and see every detail of them you didn’t even notice your breast spilling out of your low cutted tank top onto the counter.

Your pretty brown chest, literally shining from a mixture of a bit of sweat and lotion you put on earlier with your small gold necklace dangling in between your clevage, Sanji tries to tear his eyes away, but he can’t help it.

You’re so fucking gorgeous. He seen you and Nami and he was already infactuated with you both, but you seemed to be more open to entertaining his flirtatious advances than Nami so he started to fall for you a bit more.

Hugging him at Arlong Park really got him going, your breast pressed against his, the way you kissed his cheek, and you were just so happy to see him he almost felt his pants get tight from that alone.

He wanted you bad it was almost admirable and pathetic.

“I have more tattoos. Y’know if you ever wanna see ‘em.” He teased, knowing damn well he was serious.

“Hmmmm.” You walk around the counter to face his side, finger tracing the rim of the counter top. “Well maybe….where are the others?”

“I have one on side, one on my shoulder, on my back—“

“Your back?” Your eyes lit up. “Can I see?”

Sanji started to stammer, “I— um… Really? You sure?…..okay just…give me a moment.”

You giggle at his urgency to clean up his mess, putting the roast in the oven he walks towards the kitchen door and locks it, his mind running a mile a minute he turns to face you to see you happliy sitting on the counter smiling, “C’mon lemme see! I love back tattoos!”

Sanji exhales, unbuttoning his shirt he feels your gaze, once his shirt is fallen to the ground he turns, you nearly gasped seeing the huge tattoo on his spine.

His very pretty spine.

“woah.” Sanji hears your footsteps approach him, he hisses slightly at your touch, you did always have a habit of touching when not asked. “It’s so pretty.”

Your hands start to move around the outline of the art, also noticing the small scars and bruises he has gotten in past fights. You lightly touch one, and he immediately turns around, causing you to jump, “Oh. Sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. You like them?”

“Mmhm…” you land your hand on his shoulder tattoo, not even taking note to how closer sanji approached you.

You both stare at each other for a moment, it was only 2 seconds but it felt like an eternity until Sanji decided to close the gap between you both.

His lips were so soft against yours you couldn’t hold in any moan you had released, you felt his hand cup your cheek, moving you backwards onto the counter, the kisses started to get more intense the more access you allowed him into your mouth.

Nothing but the sounds of water crashing, usopp and Luffy outside playing and heavy breathing filled the kitchen. Sanji just couldnt help himself—-

His mind was fuzzy, he knew in the back of his mind he shouldn’t have been so bold with his actions but to feel your body weight against his,

a slap or two was worth it, but it never came.

Sliding his tongue inside your mouth he pushes his leg in between yours, you really don’t know why you haven’t stopped him yet, maybe it’s the way he so easily picked you up by your ass and sat you on the counter, or maybe it’s how his hands are squeezing your breast, but you knew eventually you had to—-

“Okay!” You pulled off, both of you trying to catch your breath, “Wait…I….Sanji…”

He stared at you like a lost dog, damn near ready to get scolded with his pink puffy lips, you giggled. Holding his cheek, “I’m..sorry.”

You knew he shouldn’t have been sorry, he only did what you allowed him, and luckily he was a great kisser so it wasn’t anything you technically regret doing.

“Sorry for what?…I liked it.” You took his hand and teased, “Unexpected, but…I like it.”

You brush his hair back, going in for a slower and deeper kiss, your felt his cold palms rub the sides your your bare thighs, pulling you closer so you can throw your arms over his shoulder.

You nor him haven’t had this kind of touch from another person in a long time, and you both were clearly attracted to each other …so…why not bite the bullet?

“Let’s go to my room, Sanji…”

[crazyk-imagine]

Napping and Cooking

Pairing: Vinsmoke Sanji x Straw hat!reader

Characters: Vinsmoke Sanji, Straw hat!reader, Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Arlong

Warnings: Fluff, fighting, the asshole Arlong, Sanji being subtlety flustered, you take lots of naps, Sanji being adorable as hell, everyone worrying over you, protect Nami plan is a go, Sanji being like a boyfriend but nothing's official

Word Count: 1,849

A/N: Reader sleeps a lot because her abilities take up a lot of her energy.

Reader also had a lot of hair and it sometimes gets in their face so she has to flip their head upside down and then back up or run their hand through their hair to see.

Reader has a jacket like Mihawk but it goes down to her knees otherwise she'll trip

This man... is something else

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

You enter the restaurant and slip past the host in search of your crew. You can hear Luffy and know exactly where they are. You stand in front of the table, "you guys ditched me."

"You were still sleeping," says Luffy.

"You didn't wake me up," you tell them with a pout.

"We tried to," Nami tells you.

"You’re the one that wouldn’t wake up," Zoro adds, glancing at you; wondering if you’ll even make it through the meal.

-

Sanji glances your way and notices your figure standing in front of an unattended table.

He admires your jacket as he heads over.

-

"Fine, you tried. Now move over, stretchy." You try to move him only to fail, which your captain laughs at. You roll your eyes and walk over him, Usopp being kind enough to scooch over, so you have room.

You sit at the top of the booth. You didn't realize it, but you zoned out until Nami smacked your leg. Your jaw drops as you rub the spot. "Ow. Was that necessary?"

She gestures to the blond standing in front of the table.

"And for the madam?"

"What are we doing?"

Nami and Zoro roll their eyes.

"We're ordering our drinks," Usopp tells you.

"Ah, right. Water."

"And would the madam like stilled, sparkling, mineral? With ice or without? Cubed or crushed?"

The corner of your lip twitches. "Well, aren’t we sweet? You want to please all the ladies you, see?"

His head drops, he glances at the ground before looking back up, staring at you through his lashes and hair. "Only the ones who entice me with their beauty."

"I'll let you surprise me."

"Excellent choice, madam. You will not be let down."

"I know I won't."

"What was that?" Zoro asks.

"What?" You turn to him.

He starts rattling off everything Sanji said.

"He was being polite."

"To you," the orange haired girl mutters.

"Huh?"

"He only called me madam once and then you stole his attention. Clearly there was something about you that caught his eye."

"I don’t think so."

Every single kind of water he offered was brought to the table.

-

After Zoro loses the battle and the head chef along with the blond come in to help him, you two start talking each time he's here.

"I smell food," you lean against the doorway.

He chuckles, "I would certainly hope so. You're the only one who hasn't eaten. Are you worried that worried about your friend?"

"Of course, I'm worried about the idiot but not enough to lose too much sleep over him. My abilities take up a lot of my energy and sleeping helps me. I was napping."

He nods, "ah, now that makes sense." He glances up from the ingredients he grabbed. "Would you like to eat something?"

You nod, "I would, kind of why I came down here."

"I know. How do you feel about exposing your palate to an array of flavors?"

"I think I made a mistake."

He shakes his head, smiling. "Nonsense. I'm going to make you an unforgettable meal."

-

You were up on the roof when Argon and his crew entered.

You secure the rope around your waist before jumping down. "Why are you picking on people less than half your size?"

"Who are you?"

"Someone who's already kicked your bony nosed ass."

He growls, realizing who you are.

"You want to fight someone? Fight me," you smirk. "I'm a better opponent than stretchy." You tug at the rope, rolling it up. "Come on, then. Try to hit me."

He comes at you, and you dodge him.

Again.

And again.

And again.

He growls before his hand clamps down on your jacket (something you made sure happened on purpose).

"Don't touch my jacket."

"Why? You gonna cry if I do."

"No," you grab his hand and twist his wrist, "you might. Clone shift."

He's baffled at the sight of him, standing before him. "Stop it. Turn back."

"Nope."

He and Luffy are outside before you can stop him.

"Hey, you two idiots."

His crew turns to you, eyes widening at the sight of their captain even though he just walked out the door.

You punch the two of them hard enough for them to roll on the dock outside the restaurant.

-

You walk over to check on Sanji and Usopp, the former taking a big hit on his back.

"Are you two-" you groan and hold onto the railing as you shift back to yourself.

Blood catches the story teller's eye. "Did you take some of Zoro's cut?"

All the pain in his body left him as the blond urges forward to catch you.

"So, what? It's nothing. I can take it."

"You overexerted yourself enough already. Come on," Sanji says, helping you up.

"Are we going to help Luffy?"

"We are, you're not."

You let out a small disagreeing noise.

"Don't argue with me."

-

You all catch the sight of the energetic captain falling into the water and rush over.

Sanji's quicker than you and takes action. He throws off his shirt and jacket before diving in.

You force yourself to stay awake and not pass out.

His head pops up back in the surface.

Usopp helps haul the rubber man onto the dock.

You hold a handout for the chef, but he doesn't take it. "Where's Nami?"

"She's gone. She's apart of Arlong's crew," Usopp tells Luffy.

Sanji's body slumps down, his butt resting on the heels of his feet.

Dots cloud your vision and your feet sway, you knew the second you cloned, you were done.

Sanji and Usopp catch you before you could fall.

The blond man leaning down to listen to your heartbeat and make sure you're- "She's still breathing."

"She," Luffy takes a deep breath, his voice coming out scratchy. "She did too much."

"We need to get you two back on your ship."

-

You wake up and find yourself in your room.

You sit up, finding no one else here.

You grab your jacket and make your way to the kitchen.

-

"He convinced you?"

Sanji jumps, not expecting you to be awake. "Are you hungry?"

You nod and slowly make your way over to the couch. "No objections. I'll take whatever the chef makes."

"That can get dangerous if you say that to the wrong person."

"Good thing I'm just talking to you."

The corner of his lips twitch as gets back to work.

"Hey, I just-" Usopp smiles when he sees you here. "You're up. How're feeling?"

"Hungry and tired."

"The usual, cool. I wasn't worried, at all." He stops in front of the chef. "What's new on today's menu?"

"Not for you."

He gasps, "rude. I fought in that battle too, you know."

"You crawled away like a bug being found under a log."

He whines when you out him.

The other two enter the kitchen.

Zoro glances at you, "you're an idiot."

"Way to make a girl feel special asshole."

"You're going to have a scar."

"You're welcome for making sure you don't die because of your own mistake, moron."

He leans against the wall, watching over everyone.

Luffy stretches his arms out to hug you, letting his body slam into you. "You're awake. Are you okay? You passed out. Is that always normal?"

Usopp smacks the captain, "get off her. She just woke up, you're not helping."

"Food is ready."

"Time to eat!"

"No," Sanji smacks Luffy with the dish towel. "The lady gets hers first."

You stick your tongue out at your friend. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

"Other than my good looks."

The green haired man rolls his eyes, "would you stop flirting and feed the idiot before he steals the food."

"Not until the lady gets hers."

"The lady will be fine."

"You call yourself a man. A true man would make sure-"

You flick the two of them on their foreheads. "Shut up."

You give Luffy and Usopp their bowls, "eat you animals."

-

"Oh, we told the town of your sacrifice," you explain to Nami.

"We didn't know. Could you ever forgive us?" The guard asks.

"This is going to be a massacre," the orange haired girl says.

"For them," you crack your knuckles. "I got this."

Usopp thins his lips, "I don't think so. You're just gonna lose consciousness again."

"Why don't I knock you unconscious?"

Sanji steps forward and pulls you off the side. "Excuse her, she was woken up from a nap." He covers your ears. "She's cranky."

You smack his hands off you.

-

You sit on the wall, watching as everyone fights. It was the smart move, save more of your energy.

It was only when they started bad mouthing Nami that you really started getting fired up. "Woah! Hey! Hey!" You grab a rock and throw it at the fishman's head. "Don't bad mouth my friend!"

Sanji removes his jacket without removing his gaze.

"Now you've done it," Zoro mumbles.

You jump down and walk towards the green haired man.

Sanji doesn't stop until the fishman has been taken care of.

Zoro judges the chef, with him calling out his finishing move.

"Ignore him. You did good, Sanji."

He lowers his head, unable to respond to your comment.

Zoro shakes his head, not in the mood to deal with his pining.

Usopp makes his way back to you.

"Nice of you to join us."

The storyteller smiles. "Yeah, just- uh- wish I didn't miss so much of this."

You glance at Zoro and raise a brow, both of you knowing that he doesn't mean it.

The green haired man just gives him a look of disappointment.

Nami runs away from the deteriorating building and glances back over her shoulder. She turns back and runs towards you guys.

Sanji opens his arms with a smile, "Nami!"

She ignores him and throws her arms around the second in command and storyteller.

You offer him a sorry look before turning around at the sound of her calling your name. "Are you okay?" You ask.

Instead of replying she throws her arms around you, holding you tightly. "Thank you."

"Why?"

"You and Luffy gave me something I never thought I could have."

You smile. "Alright kid, get off me." You wipe her under eyes, making sure no one knew how much she was crying. You pat Sanji's shoulder, "she just doesn't know you yet."

"That would make sense."

"Where's Luffy?"

"He's still in there, fighting Arlong."

You huff, "why can't he wait for help?" You groan and start to take a step forward when they stop you.

The chef grabs your wrist and pulls you back. "Nope."

"Are you nuts?" Usopp asks. "I mean seriously. You want to fight that fishman?!"

"I'm not going to let Luffy-" The building collapses. "Great! My oldest friend is-"

"Nami! We are you're friends! We are your crew!"

"Still alive! Yay!" You jump up and down before throwing yourself into the blond's arms.

"Look who finally got their hug."

"Shut up, Nami."

Continue to: Part II

[not-noelle]

strawhats x sick!reader

The door burst open, Luffy rushing to your side. "Y/n!! Are ya feeling any better?" he asked with a pout. "A little.." you replied with a weak smile, trying to cheer him up. "Will this make ya feel better?" he asked before making funny faces. You smiled at his efforts but he could tell it wasn't working. "Hm.. I hate seeing you sick, Y/n.." he said rather quietly. "Wait here, Y/n, I know what'll cheer ya up!!" he said before running out the door.

You closed your eyes, hoping to get some rest before Luffy returned. To your surprise, he brought Usopp with him. "Y/n, did I ever tell you about the time I fought 100 marines by myself?" he asked pridefully. "Well, it al-"

"OI! What did I tell you about bothering Y/n-swan? She's sick she needs rest!!" Sanji yelled, placing a bowl of soup on your bedside table. "Yeah yeah, whatever!! Back to my story. So there I was, surrounded on all sides by fierce marines. They thought they had me, but they didn't know who they were dealing with!" Usopp began, his voice full of dramatic flair. "With a single flick of my wrist, I fired off a smoke bomb, blinding them all!"

Y/n giggles, happy to be surrounded by her crew. As Usopp was ending his story, Chopper peeked his head through the door. "Is Y/n feeling any better?" Luffy waved him in with a big grin. "Not yet, but Usopp's telling a super cool story, so I think it's helping!" Chopper slowly walked towards your bed. Chopper hesitated for a moment before hopping up beside you. He looked at the soup and then at you. "I brought some medicine, too," he said softly, pulling out a small vial from his bag. "I hope it helps."

"Eh, Chopper, did I ever tell you about the time I beat a fishman at Arlong Park?!" he said with a smug smile causing the rest of you to laugh. As you enjoyed the lively atmosphere, Sanji huffed and walked over to your side. "Eat this soup, Y/n-Swan. It’s got all the nutrients you need to get better," he said gently, adjusting the bowl so it was easier for you to reach. "And no more storytelling until you’re feeling better," he added with a scowl.

Just then, Nami and Zoro entered the room. Nami had a concerned look on her face. "How are you feeling, Y/n?" she asked, walking over to your bed. "I’m okay, just a bit tired," you replied.

Nami smiled warmly and set down a small basket of tangerines she had grown. "I thought you might like these. They’re packed with vitamins, and they’ll help you feel better faster." Chopper nodded, handing one over to you.

Zoro followed her in, looking a bit gruff but with the slightest hint of concern in his eyes. "Heard you were sick," he said, nodding at you. "Hope ya feel better soon.." he mumbled.

As the crew settled in around you, sharing stories, offering comfort, and making sure you had everything you needed, you felt a deep sense of warmth and belonging. Surrounded by your friends, you knew you’d be back to your usual self in no time.

[the-real-treasure]

Treasure Treasure!

An OPLA Sanji x Reader

Master List Here

Previous Chapter: Treasure Troves in Orange Groves

Chapter Ten: Poisson d'Arlong

Summary: The Strawhat Crew fight to protect their navigator and to avenge her dream against a scaled tyrant. After that evil is defeated, another emerges to teach them the true dangers of what they've set out to do.

Trigger Warnings: Tattoos, needles, childhood trauma, overstimulation, blood, sort of cannabilism? Reader imagines torturing and eating Arlong so take that as you will, fire, violence, threats and descriptions of violence, murder, Reader's Devil Fruit power is overwhelming and overstimulating, being dowsed in sea water is akin to being drugged Word Count: 9,330 **Edited: 20/09/24**

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The way Nami describes getting her tattoo makes your skin crawl and you curl your hands with the desire to peel the flesh away from your bones to ease the discomfort. She was only little, the baby-faced tangerine head you saw from her memories, bound up in that dark dank room day after day to draw maps for a man who held nothing but vitriol in his heart for any human in the world. You don’t remember gaining your tattoos, their origins now even shakier in your mind then they had been growing up with the involvement of Roku.

Nami talked quietly, very unlike the snarky snappishness you were used to from your only female crewmate and the affect Arlong had on her when he wasn’t even present made your stomach roll and the energy in your chest quiver and roil as the rage built in you. You want to descale and broil him in butter, cream some potatoes and serve him on a bed of steam veggies. Or ask Sanji to do it so you don’t burn everything to a crispy husk. She was still wearing Luffy’s hat as you all made it to the remnants of the village, her shoulder wrapped to protect the torn skin of where she had driven the blade into it.

The buildings were wholly gutted by the flames the fishman pirates had set, shells of the foundations and support beams left empty and barren. The ground was black with ash and soot and the air stank of wet cinders from the villagers’ desperate attempts to douse the flames. Despite their best effort, the village was still reduced to nothing but ashen ruins.

“Arlong did this?” Sanji is staring around aghast as the rest of you at the destruction. “Why?” Nami’s throat bobs as she looks around her.

“To punish the villagers. And to punish me.” You run your knuckles gently up and down the length of her injured arm. You don’t know if it does anything, but you hope the small comfort offers her some relief as the villagers, led by Nojiko and Genzo, come to meet you all. “What’s going on?” Her hand grabs a hold of your wrists and squeezes it tightly, nails digging in more desperately than they did in Buggy’s big top.

“Nojiko told us about your sacrifice. We didn’t know. Can you ever forgive us?” Her hand grips tighter.

“There’s nothing to forgive. Coco Village is my home.”

“Then it’s our turn to sacrifice. We’re done living in fear. We’re gonna march on Arlong Park. If those fishmen want a fight-” Nami interrupts, voice desperate.

“That’s not a fight, that’s a massacre. You will all be killed.”

“And I’m sure that’s exactly what Arlong wants.” Your voice is a low mutter, but Nami gestures at you in agreement.

“If there’s no hope for us to buy our freedom, then I say we die trying to fight for it!” The villagers cheer and raise their weapons as Nami watches them all hopelessly.

“No, everyone please! No, I-I won’t let you do that.” The cheering cuts of abruptly as they all look at her, “This is my fight.”

“No.” Luffy’s voice is sharp and serious from beside Nami. “This is our fight. Right guys?”

“Finally I get to cut something.” Zoro’s voice is monotone as always while Usopp worries beside him.

“But how are we gonna beat Arlong? We saw what he did at Baratie.”

“Grilling would probably work. Or boiling.” You answer simply and Sanji looks down at you with a confused smile, “What? It’s, like, the easiest way to prepare fish?”

“Every creature has a weakness.” Zoro sort of agrees with you, “Maybe Nakayoshi has a point.”

“You can just call me Y/n.”

“No. It’s a matter of principal now.” Usopp cuts through your glare.

“Even bulletproof ones?”

“I’ll know it when I see it.” Luffy’s voice has lost the harshness, but he is no less confident as he speaks, “And when I do… I won’t hesitate.”

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The fishmen are busy carting about crates and boxes before the explosions go off. Large puffs of thick white smoke begin to pour through the air of Arlong Park. Luffy kicks open the barred gate with no issue, leading the other six of you in to the fray as the smoke begins to clear.

“Fishmen!” One you remember from Baratie yells out to the rest of the park, “Stand by to repel boarders!”

You all ready yourselves for the fight. Luffy cracks his knuckles as Zoro unsheathes the Wado Ichimonji, Sanji pulls back one leg and Usopp draws his slingshot. You drop your chains from their homes in your arms, the weight clunking at your feet.

“Where’s Arlong?”

“He’s probably in the map room.” Nami is the only one not to pull a weapon and Luffy looks back at her.

“Then that’s where we’re going.” They take off for the map room and Usopp darts for the rocks to your left for a higher vantage point, leaving you in between Sanji and Zoro in front of the wooden gates as the fishmen charge.

Sanji and Zoro leap into action, swinging and kicking at the fishmen as they advance. You wind back, long lengths of chain clinking against each other as you crack them across scaley backs, heads and shoulders, leaving stinging red burns on their skin.

You crack your chain whips through the rock bridge Luffy and Nami had crossed, barely missing Zoro as he ducks away continuing to fight, and the collision knocks substantial chunks from the yellow stone, leaving them to tumble messily into the water.

Your chains wind around the legs of one fishman as he leaps across to the stone platform Zoro is standing on. You land on his shoulders and dig your nails in, tearing out chunks of scaley skin and fishy flesh as he screams and topples. You hop off at the very last moment, the saltiness in the air enough of a warning for you to avoid the water, and you land beside the boys again as the liquid turns a murky red, your hands now dripping in blood. Zoro is already turning on Sanji, who had apparently stolen a kill from him.

“I had that one.”

“If you had him, I wouldn’t have got him.”

“Boys, you’re both very pretty, can we stay focused on the matter at hand please?” Sanji smirks cheekily at you.

“Oh you think I’m pretty.”

“They only said that to save you dignity, don’t get a big head.” Zoro snarks and then points the tip of his katana to your nose, “You, don’t give him a big head.”

“Stop calling me Nakayoshi.”

“No.”

“Then no. Sanji you look beautiful in this lighting!”

The blonde man cackles as more fishmen begin to spill out from deeper in the park, roaring and yelling as they come. Several dive into the water around you, and each of the three of you take off in a different direction, Sanji to your left, Zoro to your right and you move back across the inlaid boulders towards the main gates.

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You can hear the boys across the pond bantering as two fishmen leap out of the water at you, darting in and out so much you have to spin to keep up. They bob in and out, swiping and clawing at your skin, the salt water seeping into the wounds making you groggy and filling your head with sawdust and cotton.

“You look tired!” Sanji spins and knocks two fishmen down with his outstretched leg, and you have to refocus your brain as he flips his hair dramatically. “Maybe you should take a break.” Zoro stands from his kneeling position and easily incapacitates a fishman sneaking behind. One of your two manages to land a full faceful of salt water right at you, leaving you dripping and even more dazed than before.

“Maybe you oughta get back in the kitchen.”

“Quit screwing around! Luffy needs us!” Sanji and Zoro slice down the fishmen around them as the two you were fighting duck back below the water, your form swaying and off-balance.

“You just got here, you don’t know what Luffy needs.”

“I know he needs my cooking.”

“You mean putting two slices of bread together?” A cackle resounds from the bag as they both turn to glare at it.

“Uh-oh someone’s feeling threatened!”

“Shut up!” The roar is instantaneous from both of them, hatred for the clown swelling.

“Then get me back to my body! We’re close. I can feel my toes! Trust me. I can help you guys win this thing!”

Their attention diverts, though, as you scream angrily, both fishmen once again popping up and away again, now even further into the small lagoon pool. With a roar, you swing both your chains up and over your head, before slamming down full force across the surface of the water. The force sends waves lapping to the tiles sides, but neither chain sinks.

Instead, the water around them begins to bubble and froth ferociously, your own anger overheating as the fishmen still in the pool watch the surface as it foams and rages. With a roar you, lift them again, slamming the chains into the water again and again, steam beginning to rise from it and fishmen begin to pinken and let out gurgling screams as the surface, in a moment of sheer lack of ability, ignites in a roaring azure inferno, sending several of the fishmen who weren’t as deep, shooting out of the scalding water, sides dripping with molten liquid as their skin bubbles and peels with blisters.

Both men from your crew back away from the inferno, and watch, slightly terrified as your figure emerges from the flames, eyes boiling and chains ablaze, the metal white-hot. Heat washes over them from the fire as it splutters boiling hot water across the tile around them.

The bag around Sanji’s neck continues to shake and plea to be reunited with his body and you join the other two in glaring at it.

“I swear, clown, if you screw us over…”

“We have a currently on-fire pool of saltwater I don’t think any of us will mind using to give you a dip.” As Sanji upends the bag on to the ground at his feet, Buggy’s head spends no time in zipping right back to himself and making himself whole again in the shooting gallery.

“Yes!” He unattaches his hands and hops down from the prize board giddily. “YES! Oh, it’s so much better than I even remembered.” As he spots the three of you glaring at him, he stops clutching at himself and, after a moment of staring in shock at the burning pool, instead chooses to shoot you all the double bird. “Hey, so um, I’m gonna get outta here.”

“Into the pool, I think.”

“Hey!” Your suggestion was ignored as Zoro barks after him.

“Sorry kiddos! I’d love to make things right, but it’s time to exit stage left.” AS he prances up the stairs away from you all you call out behind him.

“JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS FUNNY DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE NOT RIGHTFULLY PISSED!” You screamed after his retreating figure who shoots you a thumbs up at the compliment. “NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I WILL KILL YOU! THAT’S A PROMISE!”

“Fucking clown.” Zoro swears behind you.

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“How dare you strike down my brothers?” You all peer through the flame as another two fishmen you recognise from Baratie storm in through the wide open gates. “You won’t be so lucky against the might of my fishman karate." The bluer one raises his hand, curling it into a fist as he levels it at the three of you.

"And my fishman judo." The orange and brown one spoke as well, long barbed tail whipping behind him as he dropped into a half squat. Sanji snarls at them, and with a yell they leap into the still flaming pool, scalding hot water pinkening their skin as they torpedo towards you three, and as the blue one leaps from the scalding water, its spouts out with him, showering you all in boiling water as he lunges at Sanji, who he lands on with a wet slam, sending them back several feet, the scalding water already cooling.

The brown-orange one lands upright by you, and you can make out fully now he resembles some kind of ray or skate, face flat and mouth snarling at you. With a yell, you swing your chains at his head. He catches them, and using your momentum and a raised leg, sends you plummeting face first in the still salty wet tiles around you. The other one straddles the blonde man in a choke, Zoro attacks his back, though he easily catches the katana and pushes him away, sending Zoro careening backwards.

You right yourself and dodge around Zoro and the fishman as they trade blows, scampering over to Sanji, who is still laid out prone on the ground. Helping him off the ground, you turn as Zoro is kicked away from the fight and whip your chains out to strike the advancing ray fishman. He catches them on his forearm and the wind around and around it, leaving raised, scorching burns on his already pinkish skin, leaving blisters all in their wake. He roars at you, tugging on the chains to send you flying across the burning pool and into the rock formations past it. Sanji jumps into the fight after shouting your name, kicking and spinning to try and knock the brute off his feet, as his eyes searched the thick steam to catch sight of you, just barely doing so before being sent flying himself.

All three of you grunt as you try to stand, Zoro and Sanji much closer to your joint opponent as you had been thrown on a harsher curve, leaving your chains to trail in the water.

"You're no match for me. My kicks can break a ship's keel." You scoff at the fishman as you hear Sanji reply as he attempts to stand.

"That's nothing." His voice is incredibly strained. "You should have seen Zeff's kicks when he found an eggshell in the crème brûlée."

"Or when I got the wrong wine delivered that shithead in Shells Town when he first let me do the stock orders by myself." Zoro groaned at the pair of you.

"I get it. Zeff was mean to you. Boo-hoo." With a grunt, the blue fishman runs at the now standing Sanji, kicking him square in the chest and sending him flipping head over heels on to the ground again. 

Zoro is sent spinning into the wall beside you two, you propped up against it as the salt water steam clatters about in your lungs, making you woozy once again. The fishmen stand side-by-side, glaring down at you all.

"Nami is a fool to have her faith in such weak compatriots." Your mind feels like its floating in soup but a grimace still curls on your lips as you stand straight.

"Don't you ever," you snarl, "bad mouth my friends." Sanji joins you, shucking off his jacket and standing beside you.

"And don't think I'm gonna let you get away with hurting my fut-" the words catch in his throat and he awkwardly reshapes them as they fall from his mouth "-favourite person." Zoro stares at him dolefully at the pathetic save, but you hardly notice the mocking glare he throws the blonde as you square up to the fishmen before you.

"Now you've done it." You both leap forward, striking your respective fishmen.

"Côtelette!" Sanji yells as he kicks the blue fishman's side harshly, and you match him with a schring-ing swipe of your chains and a shout of "Cófra!" The shouts and hits continue to match in tandem with each other, the pair of you moving in sync as you had for years.

"Collier!" A strike to the collar bone as you hit with a spinning whack across the stomach "Boilg!"

"Épaule!" A spinning kick from the ground connects with his shoulder as you scream out "Cosa!" and sweep the legs and tail from underneath your foe.

"Poitrine!" Pushing himself up and into the fishman, Sanji sends him back with a full kick to the chest as you roll out your chains and lash your chains across his face and neck "Ceann !"

Both fishman get pushed back with a snarl, but you weren't about to let them start the fight again after getting their breaths back. Looking to Sanji, he gives you a nod and you both launch forward in your finishing moves.

"Mouton Shot!"

"Slabhra Stór!"

With a well placed kick, Sanji launches the fishman back over the bar counter, knocking him into and through the wood. You join him, slamming your chains down in an X shape onto the other, sending him flying through the now cascading debris. Zoro comes up behind you as you both right yourselves, and you find yourself still wobbly from the sea water steam still lingering in the air around you.

"Mouton Shot? Slabhra Stór?"

"I told you before," You reply drearily, and Sanji finishes for you, hand resting on your back and pulling your lolling head to his shoulder.

"All great fighters call out their finishing moves."

"Yeah, you're gonna fit in just fine." A manic screaming echoes through the front gates as Usopp rounds them, slingshot armed and at the ready.

"NEVER FEAR, THE GREAT CAPtain Usopp is..." he looks around at the dozens of fishmen bodies scattered across the ground by your trio, completely missing the fire pool still burning away. "...is... Oh. You guys did pretty good in here. Good job guys."

"Thanks Usopp." You shoot him a drowsy thumbs up and he points to you.

"What's with them?"

"Must be the salt water." Sanji replies, still holding you close to him as he fans the air around you to rid it of excess steam. Zoro and Usopp exchange smirks at the position, "It's sort of like getting drunk, except you just go weak and sleepy everytime." 

You blink back to full consciousness as the tinkling sounds echo out from the tall main building behind the park. Sanji lets you stand yourself as he spreads his arms out happily at the sight of the running red head approaching. You barely catch his cheer of "NAMI!" as she barrels past him, looping you, Usopp and Zoro into a tight hug.

"You're all okay!" You snigger slightly as Sanji's face sours and his arms drop back to his sides. "What happened, why-" she stops and registers the mass of flames surrounding you all. Usopp finally registers it too and peers at you confused.

“Why is the water on fire?” the pair are now staring worriedly at the flickering flames, the water level having diminished with the rising steam, but the flames no less brilliant. You don't look behind you, so you don't see as Sanji pulls his hand across his neck to signal for them to stop asking.

“Look, we all know I can’t cook, but that doesn’t mean I can’t boil a few fish when needed.” You chirp smugly. You look back just as he stops, smiling innocently down at you. Nami and Usopp give you shaky smiles when you turn back to them with a large proud smile. "We have already established, I possess an extreme lack of skill in the kitchen, so I will graciously allow Sanji to continue in the role of head chef of the Straw Hats." You wave graciously to the blonde as he swipes at you with his foot, catching the back of your ankle and nearly knocking you off balance. "Hey!"

"Where's Luffy?" You all look to the slowly crumbling building.

"Still inside, fighting Arlong."

"He's gonna be alright." As Usopp opens his mouth, the entire building begins to shudder and groan, the bells on each corner ringing with each wobble. "Right?"

You all watch with horror as the building begins to implode and collapse, dust sweeping over you as rubble crumbles down the sides. Nami lets out a terrified scream of "LUFFY!" as each level collapses down on to the one below, the building completely destroyed in seconds.

There are several moments of silence as the dust settles and debris falls further, scattering across the ground as it falls down the uneven ledges left from the collapse.

Your crew holds their breath as one for a moment.

And then two.

In the third, a rumble shakes the main mound of dirt and dust, and Luffy's fist shoots from the rubble, pushing pieces clear before the boy leaps out, hair, clothes and skin beige with plaster dust but looking unharmed.

"NAMI!" He yells down to your frame stills and tears burn your eyes, "You are our friend!" Again, you push your knuckles into the skin of her arm and there's no hesitation as she snatches hold of it, clinging for dear life. "We are your crew!" You all begin to laugh around her as she stares up at your captain in a daze.

You wiggle your joined hands and she looks at your beaming face, tears rolling down hers. Her smile matches yours.

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You stand by Sanji behind the large serving bowl, handing him fresh clean bowls as people come up for their meals. You smile as children run past with sparklers, giggling clear through the chatter of the festival atmosphere. "Bon appétit." You both smiled as the young lady as she walked away with her portion, next bowl at the ready as you scooped in some of the waiting diced and sliced fruits and vegetables in front of you. You snigger as you go to tap the large pan, only for Sanji to swat your hand away. "Oi, I'm not looking to serve burnt food to these people," He ignored your grumbling as Nojiko returns to the line again. "Oh hey!" You grin at her as she stands looking at your chef sassily.

"I'm gonna need this recipes too." Sanji chuckles as he scoops more into the bowl for her, "You should really write a cookbook, you know?"

"Weeeell, you know, a true artist never reveals his secrets."

"Especially when he's the best cook in the entire world." You praise easily, poking through the veggies to top her dish, as Nojiko smirks at the red crawling up Sanji's neck and cheeks.

"Kitchen running too hot for you chef?" You look up at her a moment, before spinning on Sanji, eyeing his red face and leaning up to investigate as he leans away.

"You better not be getting sick-"

"-I'm fine, you cheeky, get off, I have people to serve-"

"-we don't have a doctor yet Sanji, you can't be sick!" Nojiko and then next woman you serve, still fussing at Sanji, giggle to each other at your well meaning care that is only flustering the chef more as Zoro approaches again.

"Oooh! Back for seconds, must have liked it!"

"Yeah, it was okay," he replies with a shrug.

"That plate says different."

"Yeah, d'ya lick it clean Roronoa?" His eyes turn to you as you smirk up at him.

"What."

"If you're only gonna call me Nakayoshi then I'm only gonna call you Roronoa." You nod with a finality that makes Sanji chuckle as he ladles more into Zoro's dish, the deadpan man staring down at you.

"Fine. I won't call you Nakayoshi-"

"-thank you!"

"Log Pose." You still completely, hands frozen as they reach for the tongs in the veggie bowl. A 'snrrk' leaves Sanji before he can stop it and you whirl on him with fury in your eyes.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't laugh! I don't wanna be called Log Pose! I already had to deal with Magic Compass from the clown! Zoro no come on!" He ignores you, snatching the plate from Sanji's hand as he tries to hide a grin.

"Hm, good portion. It's the least you can do, considering I saved your ass from those fishmen."

"What? I saved your arse." You roll your eyes as your own complaints over the nickname are quickly forgotten in place of bitching at each other again. It's not banter anymore, you decide, it's catty bitching.

"You didn't even get your hands dirty."

"At least I don't need three swords to prove I'm a man." Zoro doesn't react or respond, instead turning and walking off as Sanji smirks at his 'win'.

You mutter to yourself as he walks away and Sanji chuckles gently at you.

"Cannot believe him." You mumble, scooping out the last of the veggies available into the last few bowls and hand them up to Sanji. "Calling me Log Pose. Of all the things." He scraps the last out of his own large pan, the ever present rule of not wasting food running through your action as you perform them mindlessly. "Why couldn't he just use my name, like I asked? Stupid annoying, mossball of a man." Trays in front of you clear and stacked for washing, you turn to Sanji only to find him already looking at you. His gaze is painfully soft, a familiar warmth you just want to melt into as his blue eyes capture your swirling aqua and gold. His hand rests on your shoulder, warmth spreading through your body like he was made of molten chocolate. "What's up, hm?" He blinks, slow and lazy, eyes full of his heart, "Where are you then? Where's my Sanji got to?"

You don't know it, but hearing those words make his inside vibrate with warmth, he loves you he loves you he loves you. As you stare up at him, face and hair lit with the golden warmth of the fire light as it flickers over the groves and features he has long since memorised, he sees again, as if for the first time, how enthralling you are. All pure happy beauty, not marred by the dark past that follows you both, but moulded with it, carved and reshaped into the divine sight before him. His hand slides down your arm, following the groves set by the chains of tattoos, or tattoos of chains. He can wrap his whole hand around your upper arm, and for a moment a well-known shot of worry laces through him. You were always a bit too small for comfort, something he had confided in to Zeff. The older chef had assured him that weight and health would come with time, as it was the ultimate healer. But here you were, almost a decade off that rock, and you still hadn't quite made up for the weight you had lost, a small tummy perhaps, but not quite the gusto for eating he had hoped to inspire even with your ravings about his skill to others, still always waiting to eat after he does, making sure he got some bites in before trying any for yourself. It was not a battle to fight today, or a war he would win without you working with him, so he said nothing and allowed his hand to slide further until it landed at your wrist, red and inflamed from the chains hanging from them. His eyes never wavered and a small smile quirked your lips even as your brows furrowed in confusion.

"Thank you." That was not what you had expected from him. You weren't sure what you were expecting, but not that.

"What for?" Your eyebrows furrowed lower and a smile grew on his face at your confusion. "I didn't do anything. Was just cleaning up some plates and stuff."

"No!" He starts with a laugh, the sound enveloping you and you squeeze the sound into your heart, which was already crammed full of him, but you could always make room. "I meant for, you know," he gestured over to where the rest of the crew had gathered as Usopp wowed the locals with the fictitious events of today. "Them. Bringing them. Meeting Luffy and him having such an impact and still wanting me to come." His eyes don't leave the others, but yours never stray from his face. "I probably could have spent my life at Baratie and wouldn't even have noticed if not for you throwing me head first into the thick of this. And I know they don't know me yet, or anything and I'm sure I have to play catchup with" his eyes roll slightly, "most of them." You snigger at his exasperation, but it smoothes out at the sound and his eyes find yours again, as always. "But you didn't have to bring me, you could have left me to my dissolving dream and gone out and sailed across the whole world and you didn't. You came back for me, and you took my hand and pulled me along too." Your smile crinkles your eyes.

"As always." He breaths a laugh out of his nose.

"Yeah." His face mellows out once more and he takes a deep breath, "Mon Cœur, I just wanted to say-"

"MARINES!" The shout rings out above the cheering that had started behind you and you both swivel around to watch as tens of Marines marched into the yard. "Form lines." Sanji's hand tightens and you pull him with you as you move towards the crowd where the rest of your crew stood. You push through the throng of people, ending up behind Luffy, with Sanji by your side. It was complete silence except for rhythmic marching of feet on dirt as they fell into formation, the leaders, the ones from the ship, Luffy's grandpa and his subordinates, stare at your group of six. Zoro puts his hand on the Wado Ichimonji, but the second in command in the fedora warned him off.

"I'd rethink that if I were you."

"So these are the Straw Hat Pirates. Huh. Marines, arrest them."

"Sir," a small voice, belonging to Koby, spoke beside him, "the Straw Hats didn't destroy Coco Village. It was Arlong." Garp peered at him a moment before turning back to you all.

"You have your orders, cadet." The pinkette, normally shy and retreating, stood firm and stepped out in front of his commander.

"No."

"What did you say?"

"I said no, sir."

"You do realise there are severe punishments for disobeying direct orders?"

"I disagree with those orders, sir." A smile grows on your face and peering over at Luffy he has an expression to match. What you weren't expecting was for Haircut Helmeppo, notorious nepo-baby of the 153rd Branch, to step forward and join him.

"Me too." Garp lets out a heaved sigh and chuckles.

"Anyone else like to follow their lead? Or do you all wanna follow orders instead?" A group of Marine cadets, armed with their standard rifles, move around Garp, Bogard, Koby and Helmeppo and aim for your crew. "Any of them move, make sure it's their last." Garp steps up and begins to approach your captain. "Come 'ere boy." You watch them as they step away from the group, and your body moves without your say so, that power in your chest now frantic and writhing, as you step along behind Luffy but still at a small distance. You miss the click of the rifles aimed at you, and Sanji's hand slipping from your grasp, but you also miss the way Bogard waves the cadets attention back to the others, instead matching your unconscious movement as your captain and the Vice-Admiral square off to each other. "I gave you every opportunity to follow my path, to become a respected Marine. But instead, you chose to become a pirate." A small smile tugs on Luffy's face.

"No, Grandpa. I've always been a pirate."

"No more running boy. Last chance. Give it up."

"That's not really my thing." Garp grips the shoulder of his overcoat and sends it flying over his shoulder, where it, with the heavy regalia and medals, pummels a poor cadet in the face, nearly knocking him over.

"Then show me what you've got."

With a yell, Luffy launches at him, but Garp with surprising speed ducks out of the way and throws a heavy punch into Luffy's stomach, sending him backwards.

As Luffy is thrown headlong in your direction, the world around you freezes and you think for a moment.

On one hand, you could move out of the way. Luffy's not that big or tall, so dodging him wouldn't be too difficult, you're used to getting away from people much bigger.

On the other however, you know this would lead to your captain landing away from the huge crowd of Marines and civilians, alone. This boy, who had stood by you all, who had encouraged you all to follow your dreams and join him in his, being left to fight by himself, even if he happily would, it didn't sit right with you.

You don't move.

As your captain bowls into you, you're hit with immediate regret. He isn't big, but he is dense, the feeling of him striking you in the chest is like being struck with half of Kaya's mansion worth of bricks, and you are both sent smashing through the remnants of someone's home or business, the seared wood crumbling under your combined weight. It reminds you, momentarily, of your first meeting in that pub. The same ache in your chest is present now as it was then.

Where Luffy stands with more ease, you're hit with a wave of mangled thoughts and feelings and dreams and wishes that haven't quite sorted themselves after being solidly simple for so long. A tidal wave of all the people around you slams down into your head and leaves you completely breathless for a moment.

Reprieve comes, however, in the form of a warm hand grabbing yours that was listlessly hanging in the air. An aura of certainty surrounds you as you gaze up at your captain. It's like staring straight at the sun after a lifetime of darkness.

As a child you were told eating the Treasure Treasure fruit was the stupidest decision you could have ever made. It was pointless, offering no additional skills to assist or support the Supreme Commander's family or scientific endeavours. As useless as the overly emotional boy you were assigned to follow and serve, branded with the number 3 with a line scored through it, and the marking of your country, a clear '66' etched into your skin forever.

But, as you lie in this courtyard, surrounded by marines vying for your capture and execution, and stare up at the grinning boy in a scruffy straw hat, you realise that no.

There were much much stupider decisions to be made.

You face cracks, a grin of equal excitement breaking out on you as he pulls you upright and you stare at him with a manic glee you're sure would be frightening to anyone else.

"You can go back to the others, ya know?" He mumbles, face stretched over that grin of his. "This isn't your fight." His eyes weave over to Garp for a moment before settling back on you, hand still clasped in his.

"You're my captain." Your grin matching his in ferocity, "Of course it is."

To this boy, this boy who resembles flashes of a memory from a blue-haired clown, of a face moustached and grinning in every worn and ragged wanted poster you had seen with the highest bounty known to man, to this boy, you're an equal. And as you turn as a pair, eyes blazing into the pair of Marines staring down at you, Garp and his grandson locking eyes and yours snap to the second in command, Bogard, who has his katana drawn and ready.

Neither manic smile leaves your faces, even as his brows furrow and his teeth disappear behind his lips.

"This is what you wanted right?" Garp calls, the Marine pair advancing towards you, "To be a pirate. Well, I'll show you what Marines do to pirates." As he walks along behind his vice-Admiral, Bogard unsheathes his katana, eyes laser focused on you.

"I don't want to fight you, Grandpa." You drop one of your chains from its snug spot in your arm to your side.

"You've been fighting me your entire life." As Garp swings down at him with all his might, Luffy pushes you to the side and dives out the way. Garp easily crumbles another section of flame-rotted wood, and you have to lurch your head back to avoid being beheaded as Bogard swings at you. Luffy swings out at Garp, who dodges, leaving the punch to hit random debris behind him. "When are you gonna learn that you can't win?!" With another punch, Luffy is sent flying through another ruined building, and though you go to follow like Garp does, the 'shing'-ing of a blade behind you halts that plan.

Grabbing hold of the other end of your chain, shorter than you would normally have it, you lift it above your head just as Bogard slashes at you. You continue to parry and push off the attacks of the second, but he's fast and doesn't seem to be tiring.

"God, they must work you lot to the bone." You grunt, catching on your chain as his katana strikes at you, and wrapping it up, blade caught up in the links. "If the 153rd had been trained half as well, I don't think we would've even made it out of Shells Town."

"We're seeing to that, don't you worry." He rips his blade free, and he swings at you over and over, catching the metal of the chain and sending sparks of hot white liquid metal cascading to the ground with every strike.

"I thought I'd trained you better than this!" You can hear Garp taunting Luffy, but you don't look away from your own adversary, as he removes his own coat from his shoulders, dropping it to the ground to be stained with soot and ash. As he did, you snap your chain out at his face, barely missing as he darts back, instead smacking the grey fedora off his head, and his attention follows you slap the metal on to his extended wrist, coiling it around before pulling taut. He holds out, keeping a firm stance and feet solidly placed as you hear your captains voice ring out.

"You did!" You watch as Bogard's eyes flicker to Garp and feel the resistance in his arms give as, instead of yanking back on the chain, he lets you pull him to you. A grin cracked your face. You can almost hear Roku's snarling laugh as you pull the same move he did, yanking Bogard off his feet and letting him fly towards you. As the metal of the katana blade zooms at your face, you dodge your head to the side, lift and twist your body, leg out to catch the man's momentum. Luffy's voice echoes through the air as Bogard lifts off the ground, his eyes wide with rage as you send him sailing past you.

"GUM GUM ROCKET!" With a yell, Luffy crashes into his grandpa's arm, clothes-lining himself as Bogard slams into the dirt, sent skipping across the ground like a stone on a pond, only sliding to a stop at Garp's feet. His katana lies at your feet, and you grab it quickly as he rolls painfully on to his front, the wind thumped out of him as he wheezes a cough. Garp ignores you both as he turns to Luffy's prone form.

"You don't know how dangerous the world is-DON'T YOU MOVE AGAIN!" His finger shoots out in your direction as you go to rush to your captain, and you freeze, staring down his arm to meet his smouldering eyes. "STAY." It's like being barked at by a dog, a dog that just smashed your (very strong) captain through two buildings. You listen, and he turns back to Luffy. "The Grand Line isn't some child's game." Marching to Luffy's spot, he lifts him by the lapels, dangling him in the air with a grunt. "I told you, you aren't ready."

"You can hit me all day long..." Luffy's voice is husky, "but I'm never giving up on my dream."

"Is that so?"

"I'm going to the Grand Line. And I will find the One Piece." A smile grows across his face and he laughs shakily, "And I will be King of the Pirates." His laughter grows stronger as he looks down at Garp, who just.

Drops him.

Before turning back, only to start laughing himself. You all stare at him, very confused as he chortles away, leaning on his knees. Bogard staggers to his feet and your eyes meet in a flash of glares as Garp rights himself.

"Have it your way. Lower your weapons. Bogard." He gestures his head to draw Bogard back to his side, and the man does so after lifting his coat. Spotting his katana in your hands, he scowls slightly but makes no effort to claim it back. "What are you all standing around for? Arlong's pirates are still on the loose. Hunt them down and arrest them." As the rows of cadets march away with Bogard at their tail, you pull Luffy to standing again and walk behind Garp, still eyeing him warily as the mouse captain approaches.

"What about these Straw Hats?" Garp shrugs.

"What about them?"

"Arrest them too! They are the real criminals." His sentence is barely finished before Nami knocks him out with a swift whack from her bo staff. Garp raises his eyebrows but says nothing before turning back to where Luffy is standing. You stay back a few steps, eyes not leaving the Vice Admiral.

"I knew I'd never change your mind. You're stubborn. Just like me. But I know who you are, boy. I just needed to make sure you knew it too." You sigh, rolling your head back at the stupidity of this family.

"You were testing me? Couldn't you have gone a little bit easier?" Garp shrugs with a grin.

"Where's the fun in that?" He places his hands on Luffy's shoulders with a surprising gentleness. "You're on your own now." He turns and walks away as Luffy watches him.

"No. I'm not. I have my friends." Garp's eyes flash to you, still standing behind Luffy, and then to the rest of your crew, and with a slightly baffled nod, leaves the village square.

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You and Luffy are lounging on the stoop of Nojiko's home, you were doing your job of 'distracting' the captain for the others, as you tossed segments of tangerine to each other in the citrus perfumed heat of the afternoon. You barely raise your head from your position draped across the floor boards as you hear footsteps approaching, only peering up when Luffy exclaims a happy

"Koby! Come to see us off?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." You push yourself into sitting as the pink haired boy walks up to the house, two rolls of paper grasped in his hand. You grin smugly at him.

"You aren't trying to arrest us again, are you? It won't go as well as last time." He chuckled gently at your teasing as he comes to a stop.

"I'm not here as a Marine. I'm here as your friend. I wanted to show you guys something." You stand and join your captain as Koby hands him one of the rolls, handing the other one off to you. You watch over Luffy's shoulder as he unfurls it, peering at the printed image and large clear writing. "You did it. Finally got your face on a wanted poster. Nezumi's last act of revenge." You quickly unroll your own, realising what it must be. "He also upped your bounty, Y/n. I'm sorry I couldn't stop him." You stare at the poster, the image of yourself clean and crisp.

It was taken a few days ago, probably around when you were all in Arlong Park, the rocky formation behind you similar to what the place was surrounded with. Your eyes are vividly clear, aqua irises and gold pupils swirly and bright, snarling mouth showing your sharp canines and your arm pulled back, chain hanging in the air, frozen by the image. Your bounty, once twelve million, had been more than doubled, still lower than Luffy's thirty million, now sitting at twenty-seven million and five hundred thousand Berry.

"YEAH! YES!" You don't quite match Luffy's enthusiasm, sniggering in a mix of shock and horror at the fact people now view you so dangerously. "WHo-whoa! That's a lot of Berry! Let me-" he snatches your wanted poster out of your hands studying it quickly, "you've a high bounty too! Good job!" The punch he hits your shoulder with nearly topples you over, but he grabs and rights you without missing a beat. Koby stares at you both bemused.

"They're the two highest bounties in the East Blue." Luffy's grins up at him cheesily, "You're a wanted man now." Luffy's grin shrinks to gentle smile.

"That's exactly what I wanted." Without a second thought, he tugs the pair of you into a tight hug, squeezing you both excitedly. As he pulls back, he looks back at the pair of wanted posters happily.

"I guess this is goodbye then." Koby's eyes flicker across you both as you smile at him.

"How're you thinking Koby?" He ducks his head away from your gaze for a second. It doesn't last long as he shakes himself back, standing straighter and smiling at you.

"For myself." He speaks with confidence and you're happy for him, "They're doing a good job teaching us, but I know what I want, so I'm not letting them change my mind." Luffy watches you both, eyes warm and happy.

"Good!" You beam at him and red flushes his face, smile not wavering. "I will miss seeing you about..." your smile pulls into a pout, hiding the shakiness of your lips. You were so sick of crying.

"Goodbye Koby." Luffy steps in close, leaning in to his space and says, "Be a good Marine." Koby nods easily and answers

"Be a good pirate." Nodding once more before turning back and heading down the trail.

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Luffy cackles to himself as he hops up over the gunnel, tugging you up behind him and still clutching the wanted posters. He marches into the galley happily, and you follow close behind into the well lit room.

"Guys! Check it out." As he unrolls the two posters side-by-side on the counter, you move back into Sanji's side, sneaking a chunk of carrot into your mouth before he can smack your hand away. The others get up and join you, staring down at your faces looking up at them from the pictures, bounties plastered clearly beneath.

"Hey, look! I'm famous!" You and Luffy peer at Usopp confused.

"What are you on about? That's Luffy's wanted poster." Sanji speaks from beside you, wiping down his knife as he does.

"Not just Luffy." He taps the paper, pointing out a small part of the image depicting the back of his head. You roll your eyes and smack your head into Sanji's shoulder, who chuckles at you. Usopp laughs as well, "Sorry guys, maybe if you work a little harder, you'll get a bounty too." Nami is eyeballing the Berry amounts under both your names as the argument around you strikes up.

"That doesn't count."

"It's okay to be jealous. Feel what you need to feel."

"I- mmm..." Sanji sighs out of his nose and Usopp and Nami look at each other, grinning.

"Maybe next time, you'll be in your partner's wanted poster, have you considered that?" Sanji's face flushes instantly at Usopp's words and your head pops upright as well.

"My who-?!" "His what-?!"

The others, aside from Luffy snigger away at the pair of you as Sanji awkwardly bats away questions from you, "You have a-"

"-No!"

"-what are they talking abo-"

"There's nothing to know, don't worry about it." He glares at Usopp who sniggers and raises his hands,

"Sorry, sorry, I must have misunderstood, you know, that whole dynamic." You squint at the sharpshooter as he continues to snigger, Zoro and Nami joining in as Sanji glares at them all.

"This is stupid."

"These," Zoro taps the paper with two fingers, "are gonna makes things much harder. With that amount for your heads, every bounty hunter in the East Blue will be gunning for you."

"Not just Y/n and Luffy, they'll be gunning for all of us." Nami agreed.

"Then it's a good thing we're not staying in the East Blue. We're going to the Grand Line." A smirk grows on your face as your captain smiles triumphantly, ignoring everyone else's concerned expressions.

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Back at the docks in Dye Town, Yano leans over his desk, shuffling through transfer requests and patrol reports. Kyoko pushes through the door, hands laden with documents that she dumps on the corner of his desk. As he glares at the new mass of work, the Den Den Mushi Transferer on his desk starts to rumble and print off a new set of papers.

Kyoko plucks them from the printer delicately and eyes them, mouth pulling into a grimace as she looks them over.

"New bounty posters from Nezumi in Coco Village, sir." She hands them over, already moving to the door to avoid the fall out. He snarls at Luffy's, balling it up and chucking it into the waste paper bin as hard as he can as he stands from his desk.

Moving over to the chest at his wall, he crouches in front of it, eyes never leaving your own, the fierce image of your eyes glaring back at him from the new bounty poster. He flips open the chest mindlessly, the bulk of it full of a mess of papers, stolen reports from across islands in the East Blue regarding these new Straw Hat Pirates, especially the ones focusing on the weird one with glowing eyes. His attention, however, focuses on to the papers pasted to the lid. Your older bounty poster, outdated in a matter of days, and several older newspaper clippings that he had scavenged regarding the Baratie, especially the owner and the kids of the floating restaurant. 

Gently, almost reverently, he smoothes out the new poster on to the lid with all the other images of you, and leans wistfully on the edge, staring longingly at your depiction across them. The centre of his iridescent yellow eyes, his blue-black pupil, wobbles into a heart shape.

"Don't worry Nakayoshi," he sighs dreamily, "I'll see you again soon."

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Across the ocean, Zeff walks through the kitchen holding the two wanted posters. He pins Luffy's on to the employee of the month board. As the other chefs crowd around to look, he flattens the other on the wall below a cut out news clipping depicting the opening of the restaurant. A cheer sounds from the entire staff at your face plastered on the paper, hoots and hollers sounding as Zeff pins it to the wall, making sure it's straight before stepping back.

Patty stands beside him as the other chefs cheering reduces to chuckles and calmer laughs as they return to dinner prep, and the blue-haired chef leans more into his boss.

"Not bad for a second bounty, eh?"

"No," Zeff agrees, face stern but eyes proud, "Not bad at all."

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"So what do you think?" Having departed from Coco Village, the Going Merry was now on course to the Grand Line. You and your crew stand behind Luffy, all watching as Nami looks over the trio of tangerine trees that had been brought on board and placed at the stern. "It's a little piece of home to take with you on our journey."

"And I can whip up tangerine tarts anytime you want." Nami smiles gently as she caresses the familiar fruit before she turns to look at you all.

"It's perfect." You all grin at each other. "We actually have something for you too." Luffy continues grinning at her, confused. As you all turn to overlook the main deck, she calls, "Usopp, set the main!"

"Setting the main!" He shouts back jubilantly. The large main sail drops, the white canvas unfurling to display a redone skull and crossbones, resplendent in a straw hat with a red band. Luffy's hands reach out to grab Nami and Zoro's arms, his eyes gleaming at the sight in front of him. You were all smiling at him as he stared open mouthed before running across to the fore castle to gaze up at the sail.

"WHOO-HOO! WHOA!"

He continues cheering for ages, having clambered up on to the Going Merry's figurehead, still laughing and yelling and waving his hat and arms around.

You stand with Nami as she looks over the map to the Grand Line with a magnifying glass, ready to use your power to correct course if needed.

"The entrance to the Grand Line isn't too far off, but I think there's a mistake on the map."

"What do you mean?" Luffy calls down and begins to clamber off the sheep head as you join her at the barrel, looking over her shoulder at where she focused the magnifying glass.

"Well, it looks like a river or a canal or something, but it doesn't make any sense." You grin at Luffy as he stumbles down beside you, "These elevations show a mountain. I mean, how can a river go up a mountain?" Luffy shrugs.

"You're our navigator. We have a magic compass." He elbows you and you snort and roll your eyes. "You'll figure it out." He lands a slap to her shoulder with the back of his hand as Sanji calls up.

"Hey Luffy!" You all look round as he reaches the top of the stairs, grinning at you. "Come here, I've got an idea." You all watch him as he pulls a barrel to the middle of the deck. Luffy grins back at you and Nami before yelling to the others.

"Straw Hats! All hands on deck for a cast-off ceremony!" You all join Sanji as he props his leg up on the barrel lid.

"I'm gonna find the All Blue." Your eyes flash, an image of Sanji and Zeff in the kitchen of the Orbit swirling through your mind.

"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" A young Luffy grins, scar fresh on his cheek and t-shirt stained with blood.

"I'm gonna be the world's greatest swordsman." Zoro stands in the forest of his youth, face assured.

"I'm gonna draw a map of the world." Nami beams, flipping to the next page of the stolen atlas of her childhood.

"I..." Usopp sits on the edge of his mother's bed, watching her still face, "am gonna become a brave warrior of the sea!"

All eyes turn to you and you slowly raise your foot, placing it on the barrel and looking into the eyes of each of your crew mates.

"I'm gonna prove that my powers, and I, have worth! I will help you all achieve your dreams, or I'll die trying!!" Luffy and Usopp snigger at your dramatic words, the others keep watching you. "I will stand by your sides as your loyal crewmate!" Nami and Zoro look away, smiles growing on their faces as they begin to laugh to, Sanji's eyes the only ones still on you. "And as your friend." His face melts in a pure and happy smile and you both join in the laughter. Luffy grins at all of you.

"This is it, crew. The Grand Line. Nothing's gonna stand in our way!! YEAHHHH!!" You all roar and cheer and laugh along with him as you set off.

In pursuit of your true treasures!

Final Author's Notes: Reader as Irish/based on Irish nationality ala Oda's suggestions for what nationality the strawhats would be. So Readers attacks were all the areas they attacked (chest, stomach, legs and head) and their finishing move "Slabhra Stór" (Treasured Chain, I couldn't think of anything more original that didn't end up being like, six words long lol) in Irish I hope you all enjoy the final chapter of Treasure Treasure! (For now at least) and thank you so much for reading! I will hopefully be back soon with some original content of Sanji and Reader when they were younger in Baratie while I plan out the anime/manga adaptation a bit more. Please feel free to check out the poll and the rest of my Tumblr! Thank you again for reading and have a great day :)