#i was talking this au over with a friend and he mentioned how sanji would have 2 eyes and that's why he'd be ostracized which is so real

[mintypsii]

one piece x steven universe au where instead of being a crystal gem, luffy is sort of a rogue who flies around in a spaceship adventuring through space and making/recruiting friends on different planets and gem colonies, he was inspired by earthlings and now he wants to live freely without the constraints of gem roles and expectations (tagging this with #gem piece)

[astraariel]

lemon meringue pie

pairing: sanji x fem!reader

summary: Sanji makes a dumb decision to accept a dare of asking you out, but he ends up falling in love with you. Then you find out.

word count: 2.6K

warnings: cursing

tags: modern!au; college!au; bets; fluff; slight angst; lying; friends to lovers

author's note: this is a tad ooc for sanji bc I believe he would NEVER do this bc he's a sweetheart but I like angst and sanji so I decided to combine the two. just take this as if he's a dumb little college boy lol, excuse the grammar mistakes ♡

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

You had always noticed him. 

He sat in front of you in your statistics class that you had taken last semester, he always paid attention to the professor and always was attentive to the lecture. He kept to himself but would occasionally talk to who you presumed was his friend who sat beside him in class. 

He had caught your eye one week before promptly turning around and asking you if you had any idea what was going on in class that day. You had laughed and nodded. 

“Yeah, I kinda do, but I had to teach myself for 3 hours yesterday.”

“Ahh, you any good of a tutor?”

You had found out his name was Sanji and that he originally wanted to go to culinary school to become a chef, hence why he was terrible at statistics. His father didn’t agree with his dream but had made a compromise with him that if he got a business degree, he could then attend culinary school.

From then on your relationship began flourishing. You two had become really good friends and quickly started to get more involved with each other. He would always offer to cook for you over at your apartment, said he enjoyed making you happy with his food. 

You had fallen for him from the beginning. Sanji was a very flirty man, you had come to realize. You originally never knew if he was genuinely flirting with you or if that was just in his nature. You also had a difficult time allowing yourself to truly fall in love with him due to past insecurities that you later would tell him.

He was truly the man of your dreams, he had the kindest heart, and he loved to rile you up with all the compliments he showered you in. 

Before you knew it, you had fallen hard.

He had asked you out in the following weeks after meeting you for the first time. Your first date was a simple picnic he had put together. Various desserts and foods filled your mouth as you exchanged shy smiles with him that day.

Your first kiss had been when he had taken you ice skating during the winter break, you had leaned in to kiss him after an embarrassing fall he helped you up from. He gave you one of those signature smiles of his and kissed you back. 

Before you had said anything, he was the one that had actually said “I love you.” But as soon as he said it and you reciprocated it back, you mentioned how you had honestly fallen for him from the beginning when you first met, he tackled you on your bed and kissed you all over before settling down later and whispering sweet nothings to each other while you threaded your fingers through his hair. 

Any chance he got he would turn to you and lovingly tell you how you were his entire world. Sanji loved pet names, “darling” and “angel” were his favorites but when he was feeling extremely flirty than normal, he’d call you absurd names simply to see you blush. You’d half-heartedly slap his shoulder insisting that he should stop talking. 

In the past few months of your relationship with Sanji, you had been over the moon and would dreamily swoon over him at night whenever he wasn’t staying over.

But, you knew it was too good to be true.

You were in your World History class when you noticed that Sanji had texted you

Wanna meet up for coffee after your class? I made you a lemon meringue pie and I brought you a slice xoxo

You bit your lip to keep yourself from grinning like a fool. 

of course!! It’s a date <3

You heard your professor begin to wrap up and reminded everyone that the homework was due Sunday before you gathered your stuff quickly and walked out of the room. You stepped out of the building your class was in when you pulled out your phone to call Sanji as you continued to walk aimlessly. 

You were about to press the “call” button when you heard your name. You looked around before you made eye contact with a group of guys walking toward you. You recognized them as Sanji’s friends he occasionally would hang out with. You weren’t really acquainted with them well because Sanji never wanted to introduce them to you. You never said anything to him because frankly, they didn’t look the nicest, and you honestly didn’t know why your boyfriend was friends with them.

“Hi?” Your voice flowed through the air with a questioning tone.

“Your Sanji’s girl aren’t you?” you nodded cautiously, “Why haven’t we met you?” The taller one in the middle asked you.

You chuckled nervously, “I’m not sure, you should ask him. Look, uh-I gotta-” you began to walk away, hoping to get some space far away from them as fast as you could but the guy who had been in your and Sanji’s statistics class cuts you off. 

“How are you and Mr. Prince Charming doing? You forgive him?” He looks at his friends and they snicker at each other. 

You weren’t sure what he was going on about and you were honestly getting restless with the conversation. You tilted your head slightly and let out a slight scoff. “What do you mean?” 

“Ya know, ‘cause it was a dare.” he pauses, “Wait…has he not told you? Oops,” he sucked his teeth, “I don't think I was supposed to tell you.” 

You furrowed your eyebrows at them, about to ask what the fuck they meant when you heard Sanji’s voice calling your name. 

“Hey, what are you doing, I thought we were gonna go get coffee?” He looked at you briefly before his eyes darted toward his friends. He laughed nervously, “you really shouldn’t talk to them, they say all sorts of dumb shit.” He tried to guide you away when one of the other guys spoke up.

“Ah come on, Sanji, look you can give up the act, you won. You proved to us that you are truly the king of pussy, man, you win.” One of them slaps Sanji’s shoulder in mock congratulations. 

He just stood there looking at you, holding the slice of pie in his hand that he had intended to bring you.

You looked at Sanji. “Tell me it’s not true. Tell me they’re lying, Sanji.” Your eye’s were beginning to gloss over, tears threatening to fall at any second; no, you couldn’t give those assholes whom he called friends the satisfaction they desired. 

“Darling…” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. As if he was the one who had just received this new information. 

As if he was the one who was being humiliated.

You whispered, “For once, stop lying.” you were numb. You honestly didn’t care that you were in the middle of your school campus, the murmurs from spectators at your school were the last thing on your mind. 

“I…” he closed his eyes, “Yes, it’s true. It started off as some dumb joke, a stupid dare, that I had accepted. But,” he said your name, “I fell in love with you. That was real - it IS real. I love you.” He attempted to reach out and grab your hand. 

You stepped back, repulsed. 

By him or by yourself, you weren’t sure yet. 

Your eyes hardened, “I’m so glad I was able to entertain you.” 

You didn’t have to look at his friends to know that they were smiling at the scene that unfolded in front of them. You turned around quickly, walking to the parking lot as fast as you could before Sanji could try to say anything. There was only so much you could take. 

You began to run once you saw the cars start to appear in your view, you needed to get out here. 

Once you reached your car, you began digging in your bag hastily, attempting to locate your keys so you could drive away from this nightmare. 

The footsteps behind you were approaching you rapidly. “I’m sorry, please,” Sanji was slightly out of breath, as he said your name. “I love you, I don’t deserve you at all, especially after what I did, but please know I wasn’t lying to you about that.”

You were tired of pretending. You turned to him swiftly, the tears were falling freely now, on full display for him to see the pain he caused. The sun’s rays bounced against his disheveled blonde hair that had gotten slightly tussled by the wind from his run toward you. His eyes were filled with tears, they looked broken. The streaks of tear trails on his face glistened in the sunlight. 

He looked beautiful. 

You hated yourself for loving him, you hated yourself for truly believing that he would ever love you. You had fooled yourself entirely. 

“You lied to me. I opened myself up to you, I let you in. And what did I get in return? Lies.” you sounded hysterical. You probably looked it as well with you jabbing your fingers at him. “What was the dare?”

He looks down. The asshole couldn’t even look you in the eyes. “That I could get you to fall in love with me in a month.”

You just look at him. Were you that easy?

His lips were quivering, “I know-”

“You don’t, no, you don’t know. You broke my trust. I trusted you. I-” You gasped for air, “You know, about the boys in my school who would ask me out as a joke. I told you that growing up I was the punchline of every joke, how they would mock me; laugh in my face at the idea of ever being in love with me. I confided in you.” 

“I fucked up -”

“You went and spit in my face.” you weren’t crying anymore. There were no more tears left, you had used them all on him. “You know what’s funny, Sanji? It’s the fact that I’m not even entirely upset over the dare. I’m used to that.” you laugh deliriously, “I’m upset that you didn’t tell me personally and instead, I find out months after, from your douchebag group of friends. You didn’t even have the balls to tell me yourself.” you look at him, waiting for him to say something, but he doesn’t.

You scoff, “Were you ever going to tell me?” 

He just looks at you, “I’m sorry.”

You jeer at him, “I thought you were different.” 

“I am,” he strained out pathetically.

You shook your head, “You are exactly like those guys in my school.” 

And with that, you quickly get in your car and pull out of the parking lot as fast as you can. You don’t bother to look in the rearview mirror at Sanji. 

You didn’t see him crumble to his knees, sobbing in his hands with the lemon pie forgotten on the ground.

♡‧₊˚

Your apartment was silent other than the low conversations that could be heard from the television that you had turned on to fill for background noise. The center table was filled with takeaway boxes from the last couple of days. 

It had been a week since you had been humiliated and embarrassed by Sanji. After giving into your body’s plea for food 3 days into your sorrow-filled life, you indulged in the luxuries of online food delivery and gorged yourself on Chinese food. 

You hadn't had the heart to block Sanji, you would punish yourself by listening to the voicemails he would leave, but you would never answer or call back. You weren’t sure exactly why you even bothered. 

You hadn’t been attending your classes either, a quick email was sent to your professors stating that you had to go out of town for a funeral, and you hoped that they accepted that excuse seeing as you never checked for any of their responses, too upset to care. 

Your phone rang from your room, you didn’t need to check who it was you already knew. You simply let it continue ringing as you grabbed a bottle of water and turned your computer on to order your dinner for the night. You weren’t sure if you wanted pizza or Mexican today. 

Oh, how you missed his cooking. No, why were you thinking of him? Shaking your head, you walked over to the couch, wrapping yourself in your blanket while you waited for your food to arrive. 

You had been flipping through Netflix, trying to settle on a movie but every time you would choose one, you would change your mind as soon as something reminded you remotely of Sanji. 

Your attention was brought back when you heard a few knocks on at your door. Assuming that it was the delivery person, you grabbed your wallet from the counter and walked quickly so that you could get this human interaction over with and send the delivery guy off with a tight-lipped smile and a quiet thanks. 

You swing the door open and you were met with the sight of Sanji holding your food with a nervous smile. “I bumped into the delivery guy on the way up, I already paid for it.” He said while gesturing towards the food. 

You just looked at him with a blank stare on your face. He was wearing a loose-fitted white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up that showed his forearms. His wavy blonde hair was askew, he had probably been running his hands through it before knocking at your door. His eyes were rimmed red as if he had been crying just a couple of minutes ago. 

“Please, can I explain myself?” He said when you didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. Great, he was already begging. 

You nodded slightly and retreated back into your apartment, you could hear him let out a sigh of relief before shutting the door quietly. You stood in the living room, waiting for him to begin. 

He took a deep breath, “I am sorry. I will forever be sorry and I understand if you never forgive me, because I don’t deserve it. I am an asshole for going through with the dare.”

“Yes, you are.”

“But I just wanted you to know that I love you so much, angel,” you let the pet name pass, “Every time I would say that I loved you, I meant it. That was real. That was the truth. Those late-night calls, when I would cook you dinner because you didn’t feel like making anything, all those moments I got to enjoy because I was with you. I got to know you. I was able to find out how beautiful and how stunning you are. I was given the chance to correct my mistake when I fell in love with you.” Sanji confessed. 

He sounded genuine. His eyes were giving you a pleading look but still held that sparkle he always had when he looked at you like you had hung the moon. 

He had betrayed your trust. But god did you miss him. 

“I can’t say that I forgive you,” you watched his face fall slightly, “yet.” He looked at you with a hopeful expression.

You didn’t say anything else. Your eyes drifted to his side and noticed that he was still holding the food in his left hand. He noticed your attention had shifted to the food, and he quickly set it on the counter. “I’ll go now, enjoy your food.” 

“Wait, Sanji.” You looked away, “I…I-uh ordered too much, you can stay and have some,” you cleared your throat briefly, “If you want.” you added. You glanced back at him and noticed that he was smiling slightly. Oh, how you missed him. 

“Of course, I’d love to.” He offered a small smile to which you returned back.

[beanghostprincess]

Modern ZoLu AU where Zoro and Sanji are initially closer friends with Ace & Sabo cos they are closer in age and don’t have much to do with their younger sister Luffy except that Sanji one called her cute for which Zoro called him a creep bc of age difference (Luffy still a minor).

Now Zoro was gone for two years to train sword fighting with Mihawk and reconnects with old friends when he’s back. He goes to a party at Ace’s place and meets a cute boy with messy hair and an energetic personality. Zoro’s automatically flirting with him. At first Zoro had no idea who he was but he had known Zoro and dragged him into conversations and around the party.

Sanji comes in later. Within the last two years he had a lot of realisations about himself and isn’t as straight as he used to be. (How much he changed is up to you)

Anyway, now he greets Zoro by calling him a creep in return. Zoro doesn’t understand why and Sanji has to explain to him that the boy he’s chatting up is Ace & Sabo’s now little brother Luffy who went from girl to boy by cutting his hair short, getting top surgery and somehow gain a scar under his left eye.

Zoro instantly panics about what Ace and Sabo are gonna do to him. But can’t find the self control not to flirt with Luffy. He’s irresistible. At least Luffy isn’t a minor anymore.

Help 😭 What do you mean age difference? It's only two years- But yeah, Zoro would use any opportunity to call Sanji a creep so I believe that would happen somehow.

No matter the universe, Zoro is down bad for Luffy. But I honestly think Luffy would be the one to approach him first because he finds Zoro interesting and he remembers him from when he used to come over two years ago. So they start talking but Luffy doesn't mention that they know each other already, and Zoro is instantly captivated by this guy's stupidity because that's what happens in every AU with these two. They're just equally dumb and in love. Soulmate type of thing. They're flirting or, you know, doing their version of flirting. In which 'Do you want to see my swords?' isn't a sexual innuendo but like, genuinely, Zoro is talking about swords the whole time and Luffy loves it.

Zoro doesn't find out that's Sabo and Ace's brother until Sanji tells him. Sanji won't stop laughing and saying he's completely fucked because his older brothers go feral whenever somebody tries to touch Luffy, but Zoro doesn't pay much attention to it. I think he wouldn't care, tbh. Luffy is independent and he can make his own decisions.

I personally think it'd be hilarious if Luffy and Zoro started dating or having something romantic going on and the only reason why Ace and Sabo don't like it is not because they're overprotective (they are not, actually, those are just rumors and actually the only one who acts kind of protective is Sabo) but because Zoro? Really? Zoro? He's such a gym-bro in every universe and he won't shut up about swords. The only thing he's good at is maths and he won't stop falling asleep everywhere. The guys love their friend, but Zoro???? Besides, Sabo is just worried this relationship might distract Luffy from studying (<- Older brother who raised Luffy like he was his own really doesn't want Luffy to stop studying like Ace did. There's a whole drama about it because Luffy doesn't want to study either but it's different with Ace and-- Yeah. You can tell where this is going).

I think Zoro wouldn't be scared at first, and when he is a bit concerned for his safety is only because Sabo has that "Hello :) What were you two doing so late at night together? :)" type of mom creepy energy.

[an-au-blog]

We've all seen Sora take the kids and marry Zeff or leaving Zeff custody of Sanji but hear me out: Sora doesn't die and is the one to break Sanji out of the dungeon and escapes with him. They're in some no name town in the East Blue and Sanji sneaks on to Mihawk's little coffin boat to loot him and take it back to his mom and gets caught. Mihawk walks him back to Sora who apologizes profusely and Mihawk can see that shes ill and that they're clearly out of their depth and for whatever reason, his mind cannot fathom it honestly, he offers to take the Kuraigana with him. Sora and Sanji agree too, for whatever reason, maybe they're scared because they know who he is, or they're just that desperate. Either way they agree and leave with him.

They make a supply stop a couple islands away because Mihawk realizes they have nothing except a shared back pack of clothes and that's it. Sanji is trying not to hide behind his mom from Mihawk but he's a kid who's been through a lot and Mihawk reminds him of his brothers and Judge. Mihawk gets them a few outfits and picks up some more food because of how thin they both are. When they check into an inn and Sanji's asleep Sora finds Mihawk and thanks him and says she had to save her son.

Not even a month after they're all settled in his home Mihawk finds himself extremely endeared to this duo and hopes they never leave, it takes him another three to say it and Sora cries happily and Sanji nods. Sora has taken over most of the cleaning and Sanji cooks with Mihawk a lot and Sora has improved greatly. The dynamic isnt perfect by any means but it works for them. Sometimes Sanji's nightmares will wake Mihawk up before they wake him up so Mihawk will sit with him until they do or he calms down. Sora knows a lot about caring for weapons and instruments so she'll tune the piano or clean his antique swords.

Woops Mihawk is in love and suddenly has a wife and child he didn't think he would and Newgate is going to laugh at him. Doesn't even necessarily think of the implications or anything just tells them at dinner over their plates. They don't leave until Sanji decides to go work at Baratie when he's a teen and then joins the straw hat crew. Life goes on. Everyone thinks Sanji's an orphan still since he doesn't talk about his parents. His parents read the paper.

When Perona appears Sora confirms it's not her pink haired daughter but she'll take another. And then look! Zoro's here, Sanji's nakama and the kid Mihawk almost killed, how charming. Zoro's really confused because Mihawk in the castle is different from the master training him and he's a lot softer and kind towards Sora. Sora asks them both about their adventures in pirating and such.

Zoro asks point blank if she's Sanji's mom and she laughs and mentions how that's so Sanji to not talk about them and Mihawk mentions how smart that is because otherwise oops, they're either down a son or Mihawk's bounty is unfrozen. Sora jokes that need two more to make up for the other two she has and Mihawk tells her that they cannot keep collecting kids.

Zoro is absolutely gonna kick Sanji's ass.

That's a whole-ass fix right there, damn! I actually love any au where Sora doesn't die, I don't wanna see her go ngl hahaha ':)

And I genuinely think she can melt almost anyone's heart. But have you thought about the Sanji repressions??? He's already canonically bitchy but now he'll have all the sass from Mihawk as well????? I think that'd be absolutely hilarious!

Plus that would mean that Mihawk was going to the Baratie to check in on his son, that's so cute omg :') And that could also be an excuse for why he didn't kill Sanji's "new friend" during his fight with Zoro.

Also why do I feel like Mihawk would try his damned best to make Sanji call him father instead of dad and Sanji would do it just to spite him.

Sanji: thanks for uh... you know... not killing my new crewmates

Mihawk: I guess it couldn't be helped

Sanji: Whatever, bye dad

Mihawk absolutely not having the heart to correct him at this point:... yeah.

Also Sora adopting Perona during ts makes me so happy. She would brush and braid her hair thinking if she'll ever have the chance to do it with her biological daughter. So that only makes her want to savour every moment with Perona while she can. And I think Perona would love Sora as well, she loves cute and pretty things so they'd make a great dynamic just absolutely driving Mihawk up the wall by redecorating... or as he calls it "ruining the aesthetic" or his castle.

Also... for the haha's: Sanji knowing way yoo much about swords would confused the hell out of Zoro. Not to mention that once Zoro finds out about his connection to Mihawk, I feel like he'd want to fight him even more than he already does. Bonus if Sanji is actually a really skilled swordman.

[tinukis]

Random but... Sabosan modern au thoughts?? (if you like it, of course) 👀

modern au my beloved (also sabosan in my asks i cheered)

anyway !!! i love modern au So Much and like there will be many different versions because im indecisive <3 but my favorite one is college au (thank you one piece academy for being my inspiration for some things. like thank u for giving me cafe worker sabo???) + im a college student as well... not that i have a social life but it'd be nice to have your favorites in your situations. i wont lie, it's hard to imagine ace and luffy in college. maybe ace has a better chance but luffy? hard to imagine unless hes into gymnastics or something but anyway this is about sabosan

sabo and sanji meeting is inevitable thanks to luffy. but it was more like passing by and just meeting luffy's friends at their house. however, sanji cannot keep his eyes off sabo and he hoped that no one would notice (they did. except sabo) out of respect though, no one brings it up or forces it out of him. they do tease him here and there but it all falls on sanji's shoulders and he gotta deal with it himself. but luffy is always willing to help if sanji asked. luffy tells him where to meet him and where he works, he doesnt have every little detail as these two were just the biggest ones.

again, sabo works at a cafe so sanji decides to go there and check it out in his free time. sanji just chills there and straightforwardly asks to talk to sabo (doesnt specify what) and bc he was luffy's friend, sabo was willing to listen. he does ask to go on a small break for this as he thought it was something urgent but a small talk was fine. i think sanji was a little awkward on how to approach this cause he honestly had no idea how exactly he felt about sabo (still questioned his sexuality poor guy) like did he have a crush on him or simply felt like being his friend? who knows! anyway sabo carried most of the conversation til sanji felt more comfortable to open up a little bit. they do have a great time talking and bond about luffy before sabo had to work again, but he invited sanji out once his shift ends.

after hours they end up strolling around the neighborhood before it got too dark and sanji really liked to be around his presence. he seemed very gentleman like, too. and sabo's relationship with his coworker/friend reminded sanji of luffy and another certain redhead. sanji noticed that sabo was able to cook and offered recipes which sabo was eternally grateful for. as the day ends, sanji thought he hit it off with sabo well. and even before heading home, sabo handed sanji his phone number so that they could make plans to hang out more or even just talk over the phone. (though it kinda complicates things more for sanji bc first off he had a "love at first sight" moment when he laid eyes on sabo, and every time he saw him whenever he'd visit luffy, it was hard to Not Look at sabo every time his presence is felt. and now sanji finally mustered up the courage to talk and officially befriend sabo just to get his number at the end? not only that they technically went on a mini date after his shift? even if it was a little stroll, sanji would be lying if he said his heart wasnt going to jump out at any moment)

on sabo's end, he admired sanji and was grateful to have someone like him look after his little brother in his stead sometimes. as mentioned before, sabo did Not notice sanji's glances at all so he was a bit surprised that sanji would talk to him.

theyre dynamic in modern au is friends to lovers but also mutual pining bc theyre silly like that

[cyborg-franky]

Uhm I don't mind what au you choose but can I do "childhood friends" trope with Sanji and the quote "you had no idea, did you?" Bc childhood friends is one of my fav tropes...💙

Sanji x GN Reader SFW Word Count: 953

Sanji looked at the list in his hand and scanned the marketplace, he’d been dying to try out a new recipe but some of the key ingredients weren’t something they just kept on the Going Merry. It had to be a certain fruit from a Fall Island. He’d jumped at the chance to go shopping when Nami announced the next island.

He loved the markets on the smaller islands, everything was so fresh and harvested with care, not to mention decently prices compared to the big city bazaars he found himself arguing with, luckily he was persuasive with his words.

The chef causally strolled from stall to stall trying to find what he needed as well as a few basics. He soon stumbled on the fruit he was after, grinning ear to ear he quickly purchased a sizeable amount, the crew was getting bigger and bigger.

You’d decided to go into town, you had such a craving for the local bakeries signature bun, you had a tea back at home that you knew would pair with It wonderfully. You’d not been paying attention as you swerved left and right in the through the crowds. What had stopped you in your tracks was a tall man at the fruit stand, hair bright blond, tall, slender.

He looked a hell of a lot like “Sanji?” You asked once you crossed the distance between you both. “Huh..” Sanji finished paying the merchant and turned towards you. His eyes narrowed as he tried to register the stranger’s somehow familiar voice.

“Sanji it is you!” You’d recognize those eyebrows anywhere.

Past memories came tumbling forth all at once when he looked you over, eyes making contact before it clicked, when it did, he wrapped his arms around you tightly, lifting you off the ground “It’s been years! How the hell did you end up here on this island?” He had so many questions.

“I think we need a catch up! There’s a lot to talk about, do you have time?” You asked, the pleading hopeful tone was more than obvious.

“I can make time for my old friend, sure” If anyone didn’t like how long he was taking, he didn’t care, they needed five minutes to breath.

He offered you his arm which you happily took, leading him to the small café you enjoyed reading at on your days off. Sitting in the corner together with drink of choice, he told you everything since he left the restaurant and you told him your own adventures.

“Pirate huh? Wow, I guess I’m not thatsurprised” You mused taking a sip of your drink.

“Yeah, I don’t think anyone was” He shrugged his shoulders, he stared at the cup in his hands, a soft smile on his face, he’d missed you so much, the day you left had hurt him, he still thought back to that day and felt a ping of pain.

“Hey” Sanji started, you looked up from your drink, seeing the distant expression on his face “Why did you leave us?” You took a deep breath, sighing, you had a feeling you weren’t going to escape this question, you’d run away from it for so long, you’d never expected to see him ever again.

“Sanji… I- I was tired of watching you flirt with every girl that came in, I felt you didn’t even care about how it made me feel” You gripped the cup harder, staring down at it as you let your words reach him. “What do you mean?” Sanji set down his cup and leaned forward, closer to you.

“I loved you Sanji!” You hadn’t meant to blurt it out, the blond sat there wide eyed and stunned, mouth slightly agape as you refused to maintain eye contact. It hurt too much.

“You, loved me?” You couldn’t help narrowing your eyes and facing him at his comment. "You had no idea, did you?" Your voice betrayed you, barely coming out as a whisper.

“If I had known, I would have been so happy, I’d always liked you too, I just messed around with other woman because I- I honestly though you were just being nice to me and I wasn’t used to it…” He admitted, he sat back in his hair, hand running through his hair as he sighed at the situation.

“You loved me back?” “Yeah, and I think there’s a part of me that.. still does?” He hated talking about feelings, but you’d been the only one he’d ever allowed inside his heart. He simply thought your friendship was a deep one.

“Oh Sanji…” You felt tears welling up in your eyes, your heart still belonged to him even as the years stretched on. And to hear those words, all the feelings you’d pushed down, stored away in your heart, locked and the key thrown away couldn’t be held back.

“Please, don’t cry, I’m sorry” He reached his hand out, finding yours, you tried to tug away but his gentle touch had you pliant. How he took it in both his own, bringing it to his face to kiss along your knuckles. “I’m sorry, please”

“It’s too late for that” You rubbed your eyes with he back of your free hand, little sad hiccups escaping you. “Why is it too late? We found each other somehow in this big ass fucking sea, didn’t you want to travel the world? Join us!”

You let your tears subside enough to listen to what he was saying, it was true, you’d always told him your dream to travel the world and you’d expressed interested in his passion of finding All Blue. You took a breath, trying to give him a weak smile. “Count me in!”

[zorosq]

not goodbye ; vinsmoke sanji

↻ angst, modern au, mention of death, no canon material, slight fluff cuz im cruel, not medically accurate so dont come at me

↻ pairing ↬ sanji x fem!reader!

@yesonlyme asked: hi love! how are you? hope it's all right! can i request something? delete this if you're not comfortable with it or if you don't wanna write it! id like to request and AU with sanji and a fem (gn its okay too) where the last words your soulmate will say to ya appear on your skin when you turn 18, but after a while sanji discover he has an incurable disease? idk why but i love angst ahahah. Btw, if you prefer you can write only the first part. stay safe bb!

a/n thank you for the request! i dont do angst that much bcs i suck at it so i rlly hope that this do you justice 😭

The quiet beeping of the clock woke him up from his deep slumber. Reluctantly, he gets out of bed, turning the alarm off before going to the bathroom for his morning routine. 

Sanji took his time to make himself breakfast, seeing that he was still way too early to leave for his work. He doesn't necessarily need to go to work with how he is the owner of the restaurant.

But he wanted to anyway. He wanted to see if he could somehow meet his soulmate. His friends had told him that once you meet your soulmate, you would just know it.

He doesn't want to be too late since your last word that was imprinted to his skin says 'don't go!'

Maybe you two got into an argument and things got bad that they broke up and never see each other again? He doesn't know. But of course, it didn't leave a good feeling on him.

.

Two years later, you finally met him. Your soulmate. It felt as if the two of you just clicked. As if he filled the void in your heart despite not knowing each other yet. "I-I'm Y/n, nice to meet you,"

He offered a smile, which you think its a little bit weird and... creepy? "I'm Sanji! And I can't believe a beautiful lady like you is my soulmate," He swooned. 'Oh... a simp,' You chuckled at that thought. "You have a nice smile Y/n-chan!" Sanji complimented.

Finally, you see his non-creepy smile and without the swoon effect. "You're pretty..." You breathed out unconsiously. Before you even realize what you had said, Sanji's face turned a deep shade of red.

Before he even get to say something, his phone rings, stopping his words in his throat all together. "Hello?"

"Hello, am I talking to Mr. Sanji?" The person asked. "Yes, that's me," Sanji replied. "Who am I talking to?" He continued. "You came to hospital B earlier," The male said. "Oh, right. Excuse me, I'll be right back," He excused himself before going out of the cafe and into one of the alley.

"Yes. Is the result out yet?" Sanji asked, his voice quivering, terrified to hear his result. "The result is out. I'm sorry to tell you this but... your treatment isn't working. I'm really sorry to tell you this but you have a very little time left to live," His heart stopped.

"How long?"

.

You looked at your wrist, tracing your fingers over the last word that Sanji would say to you that appeared around two years ago. Your heart beats fast everytime you read it. The word 'I love you' was written around your wrist.

Before you could get lost in your thoughts any further, Sanji's voice brought you back to the real world. "Hey, Y/n. Sorry for making you wait for me. Do you want to come by my restaurant? Look around and maybe stay for dinner?"

His face looked a little pale, making you worried. "Sanji, is everything okay? Your face looks pale. I don't want to butt into your business or anything but, what was that call earlier?" You asked in concern. "Nothing you need to stress yourself over. It's just business stuff,"

You looked at him suspiciously. "My offer still stands you know,"

Sighing, you decided to let go of whatever that is weighing him. He must have a good reason for not telling you. "Yeah, sure. I'll take on that offer," You smiled. You knew for a fact that Sanji is an A class chef and you for one, can't wait to taste his cooking.

.

Just a week after meeting Sanji, your soulmate, you were already happily thinking about what would your life be like in the future. He really made you happy. He made you feel loved, feel at home.

Even right now when you're at work, he never leave your thoughts. He literally already plagued your mind. Only when he did leave your thoughts was because of a phone call from him.

"Sanji! Hi-"

"Are you Miss Y/n?" The person asked. You slightly frowned at the unfamiliar voice. "Uh... yes, that's me. Why do you have his phone? What's going on?" You asked, feeling uneasy by the second. "I need you to calm down, and maybe find a seat somewhere for you to sit down,"

You do as the person said, calming down and sitting down. Not particulary calm. You heard the person on the line lets out a deep sigh, indicating that what she's going tell you was a big news. And it wasn't something anyone would be ready for.

"I'm very sorry to deliver this news to you, but we need you at the hospital. He doesn't have much time left..." And that was it. The phone slipped from your hand and fell to the ground. Tears starts welling in your eyes. 'He didn't have much time left? What does she mean? We- we just met. There's no way...'

"Miss? Hello?"

.

"Hey, mademoiselle," Sanji greeted with a weak smile. He was laying in bed, looking thin and more pale than that first date you had. "Sanji- Why- why didn't you tell me?" You gasped out, tears blurring your visions once again. "Please don't cry. Tears don't suit you,"

"How can I not?! I just met you and now you're already going to leave me!" You said in between tears. "I already come to love you,"

He looks at you in pain. He really wants to comfort you but he knows that there were no words that would make you feel any better. "Please... please don't leave me," You begged. Sanji motioned for you to come over and sit on his bed. And you did. He took your hand in his and leaves butterfly kisses all over your hand.

"This is not goodbye. If there is another life - no- there is another life. And we'll have the life that we deserve," He said weakly. You moved to lay your head on his chest, trying to find comfort by listening to his heart beat.

His hand went through your hair, leaving kisses on the crown of your head from now and then. That night, the two of you exchange no words except for only being there for each other.

When morning comes, your eyes slowly creep open, his heart still beating by your ear. You looked up at his face, still sleeping with soft snores out of his mouth. Unconsiously, your hand lifted and gently graze at his cheek, trying to remember every bits of his face when he's... gone.

You bite your lower lip, trying to hold back your tears. But it was useless. A few stray tears slipped down your cheeks. You close your eyes, imagining all the memories that you've made with him. It wasn't enough. But you had to let him go.

For now, you're just going to enjoy his warmth. "Good morning," You said as you kissed the corner of his lips. He groaned before opening his eyes to meet with yours. He didn't reply your morning greeting. Instead, his hand went up to your cheek, stroking it lightly. You could tell that his time is coming to an end way too close for your liking.

"Please stay... I want you to be here until I close my eyes," He whispered softly. You nodded at his request, going back to resting your head on his chest where you can hear his heart beats. But when you did, you noticed how his heart started to beat slower.

"Hey... it's still too early. Don't leave..." You choked on your tears. Bringing your head back up, you looked at his face, trying to print his very image inside your head. But it was no use by the way your eyes was blurring your visions even more.

You grasped onto his shirt for dear life. His hand fell on top of yours, rubbing it comfortingly. You knew that he was in pain, but it hurts. You can't help yourself. "It's going to be fine..."

"I love you..."

"No! Please! Don't go! Don't leave me!" His ears started to lose it's function. His eyes getting blurried as if to force him to go back to sleep. His mouth wasn't moving even though he was trying to tell you more. He could only lay there to watch you crying. Somehow, it doesn't hurt to die.

It felt good... to have you by his side.

a/n zamn that was long- and this was so badly written bye-

[yukipri]

One Piece Mermaid AU!

Featuring Luffy as a rubber mermaid who can’t swim, and Ace who carries her on his back as they pirate together.

＊Genderbend warning, fem!Luffy

Sliding in last minute for MerMay, bc idk about you, but I need something to mark that May has passed this year...

~~

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, EDIT, TRANSLATE, OR OTHERWISE USE MY ART. To share, please reblog! Reblogs and comments greatly appreciated!!!

~~

Base headcanons for this AU beneath the cut! ↓ ↓ ↓

Luffy's a mermaid who was raised in Fuusha village, just like in canon. And, just like in canon, despite being a mermaid, she SUCKS at swimming, a fact that Shanks finds absolutely hilarious. She still wants to become a pirate, she still eats her devil fruit and becomes a rubber mer(?), she still gets kidnapped by Higuma (who sees her as an excellent way to rake in cash, given how valuable mermaids are on the slave market), and Shanks still gives her his hat.

As a devil fruit user, Luffy's already atrocious swimming skills are now at zero. She can still breathe under water, but will sink like a stone, her strength sapped by the sea, and if she loses consciousness she'll stop breathing too. Needless to say, she stays out of the water, and the villagers come to accept that sometimes, mermaids just live on land.

Garp still comes back, and is still furious at her wanting to become a pirate (and inwardly, extremely concerned that a bandit tried to catch and sell her), and still takes her to live at Dadan's where she meets Ace.

Ace has no idea what to think of the weird fish-brat who he's now told is gonna be his sibling, and resolutely ignores Luffy. He's inwardly slightly impressed as Luffy continues to follow him through the mountain every day, not even particularly hindered by lack of legs and using a mixture of crawling, squirming, hand-walking, and ricocheting forward with rubber arms to move.

Luffy still meets Sabo the same way as canon, and is still caught by Porchemy, who at first is thrilled because a mer brat! That'll bring in WAY more money than the spare change Ace stole! But in the end, he loses his temper at Luffy's stubbornness and still beats her to a pulp.

Ace and Sabo still rescue Luffy, and they still exchange sake cups and become brothers.

Yes, brothers.

Because at this point, neither Ace nor Sabo nor any of the bandits, nor anyone really on Dawn island save Makino and Garp actually know that Luffy's a girl. Not even Luffy.

The three brothers promise to each other that they'll all leave the island when they turn seventeen, setting out to sea to become pirates (Ace and Sabo are honestly a little concerned, given how often people try to sell Luffy, and how despite aquatic appearances Luffy's vulnerable af in water, but decide to wait and see. They have seven years together, Luffy ten until seventeen, who knows how much stronger their baby brother will get in that time).

Sabo "dies."

Ace and Luffy continue to train, and things don't change until Ace is seventeen, shortly before he sets out to sea.

He's let Luffy crawl into his blanket to sleep with him (partially cold-blooded, Lu gets cold easily when inactive), and Ace realizes that his lil brother's chest feels a bit lumpy.

Concerned, he makes Luffy have it checked out by the bandits, who are shocked to find developing...breasts?

That can't be right...right?

Dadan makes a call to Garp, who snorts and says of COURSE Luffy's a girl, didn't he say granddaughter?

No, he had not, he had only mentioned "grand child."

Everyone is shocked, but none more so than Ace, who really doesn't know what to do with this new information.

(Luffy's not quite sure what a "girl" is, and when she asks Ace, Ace honestly doesn't know how to define "girl" either, so she doesn't get what the big deal is)

Ace realizes he's troubled because he can't remember the number of times he's rescued Luffy from potential traffickers, and the number of times he's heard the lament, "Pity it's not female, it'd be worth quadruple," from the kidnappers before he beats them to a pulp.

He already had doubts about letting Luffy go out to sea alone, three years after he's left. But now knowing that Luffy's a girl, and one of the most sought-after species that traffickers target...he knows the world out there is much bigger than a teeny peaceful East Blue island, and Luffy may not get lucky every time, and may not be strong enough in just three years.

But at the same time, it's not like he can order her to stay here. There's no way Luffy'd listen; the sea calls to her, freedom calls to her, and Ace understands that more than anyone.

Sabo, Ace thinks, what would you do?

The night before he leaves, Ace tells Luffy that there's been a change of plans.

He's still leaving for sea. He's going to get stronger, and work his way towards becoming Pirate King.

BUT, three years later, Luffy will NOT leave Dawn Island alone.

Ace promises that he'll come back, a stronger pirate capable of looking out for his baby brother (because girl or not, they exchanged vows of brotherhood, and that's something that can't be changed).

He refuses to let Luffy be his captain, he's still got his pride, but maybe, maybe if Luffy becomes strong enough, he'll let her be co-Captain.

Luffy is thrilled, because she wanted to be pirates WITH Ace, and grudgingly accepts the compromise, and promises to train and wait for Ace's return.

Ace leaves Dawn island, and makes a name for himself on the Grand Line (he's PISSED when he finds out he's eaten a devil fruit, because now how's he supposed to rescue Lu from drowning when he can't swim himself???).

He even eventually makes it to Whitebeard, and eventually comes to admire the man. Whitebeard invites him to his crew, and Ace honestly replies that a large part of him wants to accept...but he can't. He promised his baby brother that they'll be pirates and co-captains together, and he can't join another pirate crew without Luffy agreeing too. Even so, and he knows it's selfish of him, he wants to call Whitebeard his father.

Whitebeard tells him that Ace is already his son, regardless of where his allegiances lie, and gives him his blessing to return to East Blue to fetch Luffy. Whitebeard laughs that he can't wait to meet the lil brat that Ace speaks so highly of, and for Ace to hurry up and come back to the New World so they can meet.

Ace plans on traveling light, his former crew all choosing to join the Whitebeard pirates except for his first mate, Deuce. Ace loves his crew, but they're also his crew, and knows that he wants to make their crew with Luffy. So he thinks he and Deuce will be a good starting point (You're just bringing me along bc you want someone who can swim on the crew, Deuce accuses).

As they're planning on leaving, Marco lets slip to fellow commander Thatch that he heard that Ace's "little brother" is actually a super cute girl.

The next morning, Thatch shows up too, insisting that he come along, because hey! He's been with the Whitebeards for ages and hasn't been to Paradise in a while, he wants some change! And won't it be nice to have someone as reliable as him along, just until they get back to the New World and reunite with the Whitebeards? Really he has no ulterior motives like wanting to check out Ace's supposedly hyper hot baby brother-sister!

Ace is suspicious, but Thatch is already on board and the other Whitebeards are already waving so he lets it go.

(Shortly after they leave, Thatch discovers a devil fruit. Deuce tells him to sell the damn thing, it'll taste like shit, but Thatch thinks boy wouldn't it be great to be able to woo Ace's hot brother with a really cool devil fruit power. So he eats it, and yeah it tastes like shit, but now he can control Darkness which is sorta badass?)

(Somewhere on the Whitebeard ships, Blackbeard is still waiting for someone to find the darkness devil fruit, and well, it doesn't happen)

Before Ace returns to Dawn Island, part of him still hopes that Luffy looks passably like a guy. Having been to Fishman island, having befriended Jinbe, he knows that while mermen can still be targeted, mermaids are exponentially more vulnerable. He's learned the kinds of clothing that can help conceal tails, and is hoping that there's a slim chance they might be able to be pirates without the world knowing that Lu's a mermaid.

His hopes are shot when Luffy rockets into his arms at the dock, and his face is immediately buried in enormous tits that definitely weren't there three years ago.

Despite Ace's growing concerns (and red face; why does he feel so hot??? It's not his devil fruit...), Ace lets Luffy give Deuce a beating (why me?!) to claim her position as Ace's Co-Captain of the newly established ASL pirates (because if we're pirates together, Sabo has to be with us too!).

Luffy's gotten a lot stronger, but is still utterly ignorant of the outside world and the dangers it holds (such as the drooling Thatch who immediately wins Luffy over with his cooking despite Ace's burning glares). She's reckless and falls into the ocean every damn day, and while Deuce dives in after her and they've discovered her useful ability to talk to fish to ask for help, it still gives Ace heart attacks.

They still pick up more crew members while in East Blue, including Roronoa Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji, a pervy cook who competes daily with Thatch for Luffy's affections through food (Luffy appreciates the food).

At Arlong Park, Luffy encounters fishmen for the first time in her life. Arlong mocks Luffy's choice of friends and family, and invites her to join his crew made of her own kind. Fishmen and mer are the superior race, and Luffy will make a fine wife, Arlong says.

Luffy breaks his nose off, and Nami joins their crew.

Luffy's chosen mode of transportation is on the back of one of her sturdier crew mates, usually Ace, but often Zoro too. She unfortunately hates all the long skirts/robes Ace suggested for her to hide her tail, and so Ace has decided that being as intimidating as possible while carrying his brother glued to his back is the only way to go.

Needless to say, news of the former Spade Pirates Captain + Whitebeard Commander Thatch (are they an extension of the Whitebeards??) establishing the new ASL pirates spreads fast. That, and rumors that there's a beautiful young mermaid on board who can't swim. And despite the strength of the crew and their attempts at vigilance, Luffy's still dumb and gullible, and is kidnapped (and rescued) a dozen times before they're even on the Grand Line.

(after a few times, Luffy's uncharacteristically quiet, and privately asks Ace if they can break up the crew. She's holding Ace back; she not only made him come back to her, but half their adventures just seem to be her crew rescuing her. She's strong enough to defeat enemies, but not save herself. Ace tells her to shut up, and never bring this up again; they're BROTHERS, and he's not going to leave her behind or make her abandon her dreams when she can't accomplish them alone, and that's his choice. Luffy doesn't bring it up again, but works harder than ever to become stronger and earn recognition as co-Captain when the world seems intent on thinking of her as Ace's pet.)

During one of these kidnappings, Luffy's successfully brought all the way to an auction house before her crew can rescue her. An auction house that unbeknownst to them, was under investigation by the Revolutionary Army.

Liberating slaves is an unfortunately common mission for them, and Sabo's doing final sweeps as Koala frees the last of them when he notices a tank stowed away in a corner. He's familiar with these tanks, used to showcase mermaids in the rare occasions one can be caught, and it looks empty but he's still drawn to it for some reason.

It's only when he gets closer that he notices a mermaid crumpled at the bottom of the enclosure. She's completely slumped over, and he's afraid she's already gone, even as something about her screams with familiarity.

He's cracked the tank and has reached in to pull her out, when the wall behind him explodes in flames, revealing a furious Ace who snarls at the strange man with his hands on his baby brother...

...and then Sabo's memories come back.

~~

Something like that???? For an initial HCs dump????

This AU has continued! A LOT! Check out the comics, illustrations, and text stories for this AU under the Mermaid AU section of my One Piece Masterpost!

As always, REBLOGS, tags, asks, and comments greatly appreciated!

Advance posts for this AU and more are on my Patreon! (Patreon(.)com/YukiPri)

[myonepiece]

EEEK I'm in love with your yandere post!!!! Would love love LOVE to see your other ideas!! And if you have time and want to, would you be willing to write on other characters as yandere (not necessarily "natural" yanderes), like Luffy if he was? Thanks! Take care!

Natural Yanderes in One Piece

part 1

description: characters who are yandere without an au! + characters bordering yandere because of a certain trait(s) (ex. extreme possessiveness)

warnings: yandere, mentions of mental/emotional & physical abuse, mention of death and suicide

a/n: I’m so glad you liked that! I was worried I would get a some mean anon comments because of it 😅 I was actually planning to do Luffy for this anyway, I thought about him a lot 💕

-when I say darling I am referring to crush or S/O

p.s I have more for both but I kind of summarized it and the important parts

Luffy

yandere rating: 3/10

harmless, mild obsession/possession (“where were you? what were you doing?”), dependence (”please don’t leave me”)

I only put a yandere rating for the sake of this topic, but Luffy is not a yandere. he just can’t register as one in my head. he does however, have one or two yandere characteristics/behaviors, the only reason I’m saying they’re yandere is because he the ones he exhibits- like possession and dependence - are escalated to the point of bordering yandere-ism.

Luffy isn’t aware of these slightly more intense actions, he has no experience with relationships so he doesn’t really know how people are supposed to act- what’s normal and healthy. now I also have to stress, Luffy would never hurt his S/O (same as Sanji).

Luffy is typically clingy with his crew so neither him nor the crew see a problem with his extreme clinginess with his S/O, and truthfully I don’t either. what does catch my attention is that the clinginess can become dependent and possessive all in one. for example he gets so used to sleeping with his S/O in his arms that he becomes dependent on it, he has trouble sleeping or can’t sleep with out them in his arms. he becomes accustomed to knowing where his S/O is and what they’re doing as well as what they have been doing, so when he doesn’t know where his darling is he freaks out and gets out of control, he gets angry and scared.

he wants someone to love him, he might not know that’s exactly what he wants, but he craves it and when he does have it he’s willing to chase it and do everything to keep it with him.

he keeps his S/O with him at all times he can, touching them in someway. because no ones really told him his clinginess is bad or his S/O might find it annoying and suffocating, he doesn’t think that his S/O has a problem with it and he thinks they’re joking when they tell him to stop. if he has his arm around his S/O and they try to move, his hold tightens- and if they try to leave his embrace at all then his arms wrap around them multiple times. then when they try to tell him to stop he thinks they’re playing and he starts laughing and teasing them. 

his mild obsession stems from his fear of his S/O being in danger or leaving his crew. when his S/O disappears and he doesn’t know where they are then once they get back he attacks them with questions of where they were and doing, but he keeps a casual tone except for a hint of concern, no one sees an issue with this because it’s normal for Luffy.

the biggest factor of his yandere-like characteristics is that he’s very clueless- as in he doesn’t know how to do relationships and he doesn’t know what he’s feeling. the only things he knows about relationships are what he’s heard from people and he only gets a few of their words so he oly has the scribbled outline of what a relationship is. that being said, he’s heard people asking where their S/Os are or were, keeping them very close for a long period of time, and he thinks that no matter how extreme he takes these actions to with his S/O, it’s healthy and normal. he has a sense of what love feels like and he knows he loves his darling, but when he feels a stronger type of love (obsession if you will) he thinks he just really really loves you. he thinks his actions make you feel loved, that you see them in the same light as he does: normal. 

he’s lost a lot of important people which makes him subconsciously worry obsess over his darling’s whereabouts and them in general- it makes him more lcingy and protective of his S/O

Boa Hancock

yandere rating: 6/10

harmless, delusion (more extreme wrong idea type), monopoly (”who were you talking too?”), restraints (”let’s stay together forever! you’ll never leave my side!”), final (”I don’t need a world where they aren’t!”), worship (”I’ll do anything for you! I’ll kill for you!”), removal (”you don’t need them, you have me”), dependence

you all expected her to be here right? it’s completely obvious she’s yandere by the way she interacted with Luffy. I’m going to start this off with a sample of the relationship- it has the same/very similar dynamic of Joker and Harley Quinn, Hancock being Harley and S/O being Joker. of course subtracting the specific things Joker has Harley do, though Boa would still do those if her darling asked. but Harley’s unwavering loyalty and delusion of Joker’s true feelings and intentions are similar to Boa’s regarding her darling. so you can use Joker and Harley as a light outline of Hancock and her S/O’s relationship.

her darling and her are already in a relationship when they meet- as in Boa thinks they are and sees them as hers. one thing, that I admire about this relationship I might add, is that Boa sees herself as her darling’s just as much as her darling is hers- she is theirs and they are hers. now same as Luffy and Sanji, she would never hurt her S/O, it makes her cry just thinking about it. 

restraints, she isn’t as extreme about this as other yanderes would be, she won’t force anything or kill her darling’s friends/acquaintances but she’ll try to keep her darling away from them as well as keep them away from her darling, she’ll try to tell her darling that their friends are aren’t good for them- another thing Hancock does is guilt tripping, ex. telling her darling that they aren’t spending much time with her because they’re hanging out with friends too much. she’ll try to make her S/O think that they don’t need friends. and they have her (removal). she’ll find reasons and excuses for her S/O to be with her and she pulls them along when she has somewhere to go (to keep an eye on them and because she craves their attention and presence). 

now in the rare scenario that her darling isn’t with her, she’ll go to find them herself and once she does she’s not letting them go for the rest of the day. she always asks what they were doing or what they are planning to do, it comes off as a normal conversation, her only intention being to listen to her S/O and ask about their day/wellbeing- but unknown, to even her sometimes, she’s seeing if there’s anything she needs to be worried about.

she would literally do anything for her S/O, even if they don’t ask or even hint, they just mention it or Hancock “reads between the lines”, she’ll do something- it’s quite sweet to think about though. she always does it with only the intention of pleasing her S/O and making them happy. 

for a darker trait, she’s a mild “final” type, the idea of her darling not wanting her or being with her is physically painful and it makes her agonizingly upset. if her S/O were to die she would not handle it well and I genuinely wouldn’t put it past her to take her life. her darling becomes such a big part of Hancock’s life, she shares every moment and secret and feeling with them and the idea of not being able to do that is excruciatingly painful and sad. 

[sashi-ya]

{+18} – Cherry Blossom & Tangerines – Trafalgar Law x Y/n – Part 5

Modern AU. Trip to Jeju Island, SK. No spoilers.

Female reader. No physical descriptions. Everybody is +18, canon ages. Chopper is human.

Tw: NSFW, blindfolding, soft sub/dom, unprotected sex (this is just fiction, pls wear protection). Fluff. A little bit of ZoSan

A/N: I haven’t had the chance to visit South Korea due to Covid, so everything included is pure research. Excuse me in advance if there is something that’s not 100% accurate! Keep in mind is purely inspired ♥

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31059467

Word Count: 4.5 K

» List of parts: {P1} {P2} {P3} {P4} {P5} {P6}«

Chapter 5

“Y/n it's our turn, let’s sing!!” Vivi told me, while pulling me from my arm. “Vivi, wait”, I said. I kept watching how Law was still hugging the girl. “What is it?... Oi!”, Nami said, also witnessing the scene.

“Don’t go, just… wait”, I begged my redhead friend who was ready to kill him. I saw how the mysterious woman and Law laughed together. Zoro didn’t even care, he was more drunk than anything else.

The girl was ruffling his hair, pinching his cheeks. Law didn’t even look at me. I didn’t know if he was just simply so amused about the girl that he simply forgot about me, or, he was doing this on purpose, knowing that I’ll be watching, maybe to let me know he wasn’t going to commit to me in any way.

“That’s it. I’m leaving”, I stated. Vivi, Robin and Nami insisted on me shouting at Torao, but I couldn’t. I was so hurt, and, besides that, I wasn’t even his girlfriend, so I had no right to reproach anything to him.

The girls came with me, and we drove home. The boys didn’t realize we had left until long after we weren’t at the karaoke bar, when Sanji texted Nami asking what the hell had just happened. “Sanji, you should ask your stupid ass friend Torao, what the hell is he doing with a bitch?, plus, go get your boyfriend too, she is right next to him”, Nami said via audio.

Sanji sent an audio back, “Nami-swan! Zoro is not my boyfriend… wait, you were talking about him, right?, whatever, Torao is still with her, I’m gonna see who the hell is she and kick the hell out of stupid Law for hurting Y/n-chwan”.

I drove as fast as I could, at that point I only wanted to bury myself in bed and cry my eyes out. I was silent all the way. My friends knew there was no point in saying anything else, so they just strung along with me.

We got home, and Robin offered me some tea, yet, I politely turned the offering down and headed almost running to my bed. I covered myself up to my face, and pitiful tears sprouted from my eyes.

I heard my cell phone ring several times, I knew it was probably my friends asking if I was all right. But I didn’t have the strength to even see the screen.

“Why did you choose to hurt me like this, Law?” ... I whispered to myself, unable to understand why I was in that position, why after all the romantic stuff he has done for me he didn’t even care I was there…

I reached my phone and simply turned it off, I was fed up with it ringing. Some minutes, perhaps half an hour passed until I fell asleep, crying.

Suddenly, Nami’s loud screams woke me up. “TORAO, WHAT THE FUCK? WHY ARE YOU BRINGING THIS SLUT HOME?”.

I didn’t hear Law’s voice, but I did hear someone climbing the stairs, quickly, almost running.

The door opened suddenly with a loud sound, like someone kicking on it. I was still in bed, and the bang of the door made me take an upright position instantly.

There he was, the villain of my story with tears on his eyes, hopeless, shaking. “Y/n-ya!!! it’s not what you think, let me explain…” “STOP, what type of lie are you going to spit out from your stupid mouth?, plus, what the hell? I heard Nami saying you brought that girl home. Have you been drinking? Are you drunk? what the fuck?” I shouted at him, also crying.

Suddenly, before Law could say anything else, I saw a brunette, tanned, tall girl, with big eyes that resemble Law’s ones. She looked at me, smiling and peacefully said, “Hello Y/n, my name is Lami. Trafalgar, Lami”.

I opened my eyes, and mouth… “Trafalgar?”.

“That’s right! I’m Law 's sister! Nice to meet you! I’m sorry if you got things wrong!” she said to my stunned me. “Oi, brother, she is so pretty!! Even more than in the pictures!”.

“Oh God…”. I was somehow relieved that Law wasn’t flirting with a girl, yet mortified because not only me, but all my friends had called Law’s sister a slut… a bitch.

“I am… I am really sorry… And, uhm, N-nice to meet you…”, I said, wiping the tears on my eyes. “It’s ok, darling! I’m leaving you alone so you can talk in peace, I’ll be downstairs!”. “O-ok”, I said sniffing.

Law slowly approached to the left side of my bed and sat there, next to me, in silence. I wasn’t capable of saying anything to him, either. I had put up a show, he probably thought I was a toxic girl, jealous or even worse things. I had mistrusted him. It was probably the end of something that hadn’t even started.

Suddenly, Law hurled himself on me, hugged me and nuzzled on my lap. “I thought you wouldn’t believe me, I’m sorry, I really do. Lami lives in Jeju and I wanted her to meet you because she is not traveling to Seoul any sooner, we just decided that we will be meeting at the bar so… so you could get to know her”. He said, still with his head buried onto my legs.

“Law…”, I began to cry again. I petted his hair and told him “I am the one who should be sorry. I- I thought you were a bad guy, a typical man that doesn’t care about the girls. I am sorry…”. I felt horrible.

I could hear downstairs my friends laughing, Sanji and Zoro fighting, Luffy shouting. Luckily everybody would make Lami feel comfortable, after all. Law was still sobbing over my lap.

After several minutes I decided to speak up. “Law, stop, you are not the one who should be crying asking me for forgiveness. You did nothing wrong. I was completely mistaken. I hope you will be able to forgive me someday”, I said, gaining composure in order to make things clear.

He sat back, looked at me with teary eyes and asked, “someday? There is nothing to forgive. I want to be with you, I … L…”

“Oi, you two, stop crying, Lami is leaving”, said Nami leaning on the door frame, smiling at us. As she left, and Law wiped the tears off my cheeks, we stood up from bed. I was still dressed so we headed downstairs right away.

“Sis, let’s go, I don’t quite remember how to get your home from here, so you tell me”, said Law. Lami looked at him with loving eyes, and said, “My big brother is always taking care of me, I missed you doc”. Law’s cheeks became red, and he hid under the white with black spots cap he was wearing.

Lami said goodbye to everybody, except me, “she probably hates me”, I thought.

I was going to wish her a good night, when Lami held my hand and pulled from me. “Let’s go sister-in-law, come with us!”. I followed them into the car unsure if Law wanted me there, because he was still embarrassed as hell.

I let Law’s sister sit on the passenger seat, and I sat on the back seat behind Lami. A few seconds after Law started the car Lami said, “Oi, Y/n! did you know that Law has never ever introduced a girlfriend to the family before?”. I choked a little when I heard her say “girlfriend”, and simply chuckled. Law told her to stop, but Lami continued telling me how “emo” he was when he was an adolescent, making fun of his sibling.

We finally arrived at Lami's house. It was a traditional Jeju stone house, with big windows and a typical korean roof construction. On the entrance was a tall guy wearing a cap with “PENGUIN” written on it, waving at us. Law parked the car next to a black Hyundai Ioniq.

“Oi!! brother-in-law!!! How are you? It’s been a year my dear friend!” the guy at the door told Law. We descended the car, and the guy hugged Law in a way “man” do. Lami introduced me to the man, he was his boyfriend, and they had been living together for a few years, and apparently before dating Lami, Penguin knew Law since they were little.

We went inside, and had coffee while chatting about everything. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at any moment, Lami and Penguin were really warm people.

Law’s sister and I headed to the kitchen. It was a perfect opportunity to ask her about their parents so I thought of the best way to bring up the subject. I didn’t need to, because it was the first thing that Lami mentioned.

“Y/n, I’m sure my cold brother didn’t tell you anything about our parents… right?”, she said. I was helping her putting some mochi onto a plate, so I looked at her and said “Not really… At first I thought Rosinante was his father, but then I realized that his surname was Trafalgar, not Donquixote”.

“That’s right, Rosinante is something like Law’s dad. When my brother was 10 years old, my parents passed away in a car accident. They were both doctors, the best ones of this city. Law looks exactly like my dad when he was younger…”, she stopped for a little, and continued, “We stayed with our grandparents at the moment. After two years, Law became really ill and had to be taken to Seoul for some doctors to cure him. Luckily, Rosinante was a volunteer at the children’s hospital where Law was being treated. After six months of intense treatment, he recovered and forged a friendship with “Corasan” who took care of him… Oh sorry, I meant, Rosinante. Corasan it’s just a nickname Law gave him during… the chemotherapy...”, she concluded.

“Oh… poor baby…I’m sorry for your loss too, Lami” I said, feeling a lump in my throat. “Don’t worry, we are all right now, time has passed”, she said, grabbing my hand softly and smiling. She continued, “but let me tell you something, I’ve never seen Law with that type of twinkle in his eyes in the 24 years I’ve known him. He loves you; I can sense that. Plus, when you left the bar earlier, he became so desperate, he was truly worried about losing you”.

I blushed instantly, yet, I was so happy of hearing how he probably loves me that I giggled. And Lami, too.

From the living room we heard Law calling me, “Bab… Y/n-ya, let’s go home it is pretty late”. “Ah… my sweet loving brother and his ways…”, Lami said with a sarcastic tone, rolling back eyes. We both laughed and headed where the boys were.

“Oi Penguin, do you have a bottle of cold water? I tend to get thirsty when I drive”, Law asked Penguin and looked at me with some sort of look I can only label as… horny?. “Right, bro, let me get you one”, said the cool cap guy and headed to the kitchen. “He gets thirsty?” I said to myself a little confused, but dismissed the thought as my attention went to Lami who was showing me a photo of his brother when he was a little baby.

The happy couple invited us to the lantern festival that was taking place the next night at the historical center of the city. They told us to bring all of our friends too. We were excited about it, so we accepted the invitation and left the house.

During the ride along a road by the sea, Law asked me, “Babe, can you please turn the GPS on?, I don’t really know where I am going…”. I searched for my phone in my pockets, but realized I’ve left it at home. “I didn’t bring my phone… give me yours”, I told him. He grabbed his from the black jeans pocket and gave it to me. “Law, your phone is dead…”, I said, trying to turn it on.

“Yeah, my battery died after calling you twenty times when you left the bar…”, he said, kinda joking. “Oh…”, I gasped, and continued, “Well, let me enter the address on the car sat nav”.

I approached my hand to the little screen when Law stopped my hand and smirked. “It would be a shame if the computer wouldn’t work and we ended up lost…”.

“You clearly had this planned, right?” I said arching a brow. “Me, planning things? that’s not something I usually do…”, he said in a sarcastic way, but with a sexy tone that made me somehow fidget on my seat.

I came closer to his face and almost talking next to his ear I said, “Let’s get lost”. Law licked his lips, placed his right hand over my lap and said “Heh, sure… I can’t resist myself anymore”.

He suddenly turned the wheel and took a little road that took us to the beach. Finally, my lover parked the car, luckily it was a deserted zone, a cliff area, and there weren’t any houses or places nearer.

The beach ahead of us was lightened by an intense moonshine, the sea was choppy so the waves hit hard on the cliffs.

Law threw his seat back and patted his lap, “Strip for me, and come here, baby”. “Ah, so we are fucking on the car, nice…” I thought and began to take my clothes off.

“Don’t take that off, yet. You know that little bandanna you have on your head could help us…”, he said to me after I jumped over his lap. I felt a rock hard bulge under my core, he was already so ablaze for me.

He then untied the cloth that was holding my hair, smirked at me, and said “may I?” while covering my eyes with it.

“Lay you back on the steering wheel, baby girl”, he ordered me. I remember instantly how he likes to dominate me, so I followed his order to a “Yes, sir”.

His fingers ran from my mouth to my neck. He kept lowering them softly caressing my flesh. I could barely feel the touch of his fingers over my skin. He wasn’t talking, and I was unaware of what was coming next, I was blindfolded, but surrendered completely to this man.

All of a sudden I felt a cold sensation over one of my nipples, “Uhg…” I moaned, throwing my head back. Then the chilly stinging feeling moved to my other nipple. God, what is that?... and suddenly remember Law asking Penguin the cold water bottle. “Damn you, Law”, I said to myself but only being able to verbalize moans and grunts.

He began to trail an icy path from my breasts to my lower stomach. My heated skin mixed with the cold water that began to melt over my flesh, felt like a sweet torture.

“Your hot body is making the icy water melt and wet my jeans… or is it perhaps your own arousal for your Master, baby girl?”, he said to me, while running a thumb over my clit.

He then penetrated me with two fingers as he only knew how to, took them off and asked me to open my mouth. “Taste yourself, baby girl”, he commanded me, and I opened my mouth and sucked.

I heard - and felt- how he unzipped his jeans, and slowly took his member out. I could feel how he began to softly hit his manhood over my sex. He was playing with it, but my body couldn’t wait for it to be inside of me.

“Is it getting hot in here, huh?” he said and unbuttoned his black shirt. I knew it because he then grabbed my hands making me caress his skin. My hands wandered along his chest, but my mind was only focusing on how much I wanted to be penetrated by this man.

I was drowning in lust, I needed him to do something, but he didn’t. “Law… Sir… What are you doing?... fuck me, I want you to fuck me…”. He laughed, and violently but gently enough he pinched and twisted one of my erect nipples. A strike of intense pleasure hit my center, and it was so unexpected that I only purred at it.

He then ran his inked fingers through my hair and pulled me closer to his face, this time he wasn’t being gentle, he was being rough… and I loved it. “What do you think you are doing? I am the one who gives you orders in here, are we clear?” he said, whispering with a grunt in my ear.

“Y-yes sir, I- am sorry…”, I said, stuttering. “Good”, he said and kissed me. We made out, hard, feverishly. I could feel over my entrance how his sex became even harder.

He suddenly put his hands on each side of my waist and lifted me up a little bit, so I could place my knees on each side of the seat. He used his right hand to guide his pennis inside of me. It was just the tip of it, he was enjoying how I was probably miming the words “fuck me” repeatedly. After a few seconds of torture, he grabbing me again from my waist, pushed me down against his lap. “Ugh..” I said, opening my mouth, throwing my back to the steering wheel, so hard that I made the car horn sound.

I wanted to be penetrated, and he did it so roughly, yet so pleasantly.

I began to ride him, back, forward, up, down, tracing circles with my pelvis. My left knee hit the emergency brake handle, it hurt but I didn’t care. I placed my hands over his strong abs, letting all of my senses focus on the pleasure, imagining the expression he had on his face when I heard him groan.

Law pulled my hair and threw my neck back, again making me hit my back on the wheel, and used his hips to bang me, hard, burying himself into me. Every thrust made my body react with little spams; I was being sent to heaven.

Law untied the bandanna that was covering my eyes, and said in between the thrusts and an agitated voice, “I want to see your precious face when I make you cum”. My eyes slowly returned to its functions, admiring the sweaty thorax of Law, the way his stomach would go up and down picturing his rapid breathing. His face showed a red glowing, he was more than aroused. I was too, and as I reached for climax, placing my right hand over the steamy glass of the car window, Law did too with a hard “Huh”.

He bathed my insides once again. I remained still enjoying the warming sensation inside of me, trying to erase any worry at the time.

Law placed a hand on my back and pulled me closer to his chest, while lying his neck over the headrest of the yellow Sonata.

I rested my whole tired body over his, enjoying the touch of our warm skins, the scent of his body, with my lips wandering along his neck, leaving soft kisses over its skin.

“We should go back home; they might get a little bit concerned…” I told Law, still over him. “Yeah, you are right, let’s go back…”.

It was 4 am so once we got home and opened the door, we entered stealthily. I walked behind Law when he suddenly stopped, and I fell over him. “What is it, Law?!” I whispered, “I don’t know, this is kind of a slumber party…”, he whispered back at me.

Suddenly all the lights turned on. Everybody was sleeping on bare mattresses on the floor of the living room.

Little by little our friends but Zoro and Sanji woke up.

“Oh my god, finally…” said Nami and everyone began to laugh. They weren’t laughing at us, but at Sanji and Zoro who were sleeping cuddled.

Law looked at them and looked at everybody else and said, “Excuse me, is this something new to you? Oi Mugiwara-ya, tell them every time you three get to sleep at home they do the same”. Luffy nodded, still laughing.

No matter how much noise they made, nor Zoro or Sanji woke up, they seemed to be happily enjoying sleeping like this, so we didn’t want to bother them anymore.

“Let’s go back to sleep, guys. Y/n and Law you can sleep upstairs, we left Law’s bed intact”, said Franky winking at us. “Thank you!!” I said, and we went upstairs jumping through the multiple legs of our friends.

We climbed up the stairs, and went into the boy’s room. I was undressing when suddenly Law offered me a big loose t-shirt. “Don’t get me wrong I love your naked body, but what if the boys enter the room and see you naked?”, he said. “Oh, Law, are you jealous? hahaha”, I mocked him. “Well, let's not discuss jealousy…”, he said frowning.

I grabbed his white loose t-shirt with some kind of black power ranger called “Stealth Black” printed on it and put it on, giggling. I could have sworn he was a geeky nerd, and that was the proof.

Law and I jumped into his bed and muffled up with the bedding. He hugged me, kissing my head. “Thank you for making this the best holiday of my whole life…”, he said. “Thank you for paying the bus ticket that time…”, I whispered with my face pressed up against his chest. We both laughed and soon after fell asleep.

I woke up with the sounds of some birds chirping on the window. Law was still asleep beside me, with his ruffled hair, his cheek pressed against the pillow with his mouth open, snoring softly. I couldn’t help but drool over that image, so handsome even like that, the intimacy, the person I wanted to wake up to each morning.

I placed my head over the tattoos of his chest, following with my index finger the lines of ink on his skin. I remained there for a few minutes hearing his heartbeat, drunk of his skin scent.

Softly he began caressing my cheek, still without opening his eyes. He was probably half asleep yet.

I felt a million butterflies trapped on my stomach, I was so in love, I had fallen for this guy, hard. I felt a little guilty, I mean, how was I supposed to fall in love so quickly with a man?... I guess it was just love at first sight…

Law’s hand stopped moving, and suddenly I heard him mumble something like, “Mmmm- hum - I-I- love you Y/n-ya”. I widened my eyes, “did he just say he loves me? “I was completely surprised and even unsure if that was what he said or if it was just my imagination.

Some minutes later, he opened his eyes, slowly. “Good morning, baby girl”, he said, kissing my forehead. I was immobile, watching his face still trying to process what he had just said. “What is it?, are you sleeping with your eyes open? you are gorgeous but that would be a little creepy”, he said, surprised.

“N-No, uhm, I am awake, yes. Good morning”, I uttered. “Are you ok, Y/n-ya?”, he asked with a confused expression. “Yeah, uhm… Law… Do you sleep talk?”, I inquired him. “Oh… did I? I’m sorry... I do, yes. Sometimes. What did I say?”, he said this time with a worried expression. “Oh, no, nothing, I thought I heard something but I don’t know. It’s nothing”, I said, trying to settle the matter.

We remained cuddling up a little bit more, until we heard movements downstairs. They were probably waking up, so I decided to go to my room and get ready for the day.

“New pajamas”, I thought while taking off Law’s shirt. I folded and put it on my suitcase, I wasn’t willing to give it back to him.

I went ahead and showered. I let the warm water bathe my skin while thinking about Law saying “I love you” while he was asleep. Was he really? Did he really feel that or was it just a dream?... I guess I should wait…

After the bath, which clearly made me more anxious than relaxed, I went downstairs to the kitchen where Sanji was already preparing breakfast. I decided to help him with setting the table while chatting about the lantern festival of that night. Nami, Vivi and Robin joined us and were pleased that Lami and Penguin invited us to such a pretty event.

Our last day in Jeju passed with us visiting the Samseonghyeol Shrine, which is the oldest historic site in Korea. That place is considered as the birthplace of three demigods of the island, founders of the Tanma Kingdom that governed Jeju Island before the Joseon dynasty took over.

At noon we came back from the city and began to get ready for the festival that night. I received a message from Lami, “@TraffLami.06 > hello Sis! How is the day going? Is my brother treating you right?. Listen, we usually wear “hanbok” to the festival. If you want to too, you can rent them from a friend's shop. I send the location. See you tonight! ♥”. I got super excited for it, I loved cultural clothing and I wanted to see Law wearing those clothes too. I told my friends and we all agreed on renting one. Law, being the warm boy he was, wasn't so sure about it, but with a little kiss and a little begging I could convince him.

The night came and we all drove to the historical centre of Jeju. The place was all garnished with paper lanterns, string lights hanging from some bridges, lit inflatable displays, food courts, typical music being played that mixed with the buzz of hundreds of attendants that were enjoying the night.

I was wearing a hanbok in yellow and orange tones, while Law used a green and black one. He looked like a typical groom; I couldn’t help but fantasize a little about us getting married someday.

Luffy of course ran to the food stalls followed by everybody else, Zoro went ahead and attacked the stall where they were offering some kind of soju and Law and I waited for his sister and Penguin to arrive at where we were.

Law was more silent than usual and his face showed concerned. I thought at first about him missing his parents or family, maybe the festival triggered some memories, so I held his hand without saying anything. He squeezed my hand, and began to sweat.

“Are you ok, doc?”, I asked. He looked at me, I could sense he got really nervous and finally mumbled, “Y/n-ya we need to talk…” …

Part 6, FINAL

[softrozene]

“Me… Me?!”

@bug-ahboo​ requested: Thank you so much! For even taking the time to respond. If it’s not too much trouble would it be alright if I requested a Shachi x reader Au where the boys are In a night club, And the readers a super pretty girl who makes all the boys take a second glance. But instead of heading over to law or Luffy’s friends she Decides she’s going to flirt with the redhead and it catches him off guard. It can end fluffy or really how ever you want it too. :) (again thank you so much! This means a lot!)

I had so much fun with this! This was my first time actually writing just for Shachi, so it was a bit odd but very welcoming! I do hope you enjoy it love and sorry for the long wait, Lovely!

Shachi x Female Reader

Warnings: Fluff, mentions of alcohol and flirty suggestions- They are at a night club, a bit on the comedy side (Can we please give Shachi some confidence here?)

Words: 1377

-

Shachi has never been to a club like this before. It was the hottest ones by far with so many people and insanely loud music- It would have been impossible to count all the bodies dancing. It felt exhilarating. That is what he and Penguin at least think. Their friend Law dragged them since he has been here before with their other companions who are here tonight as well: Luffy and quite a few of his own friends.

It is packed and Shachi loves it. So far- It is already the number one place he should visit in the future. With the smell of alcohol ad fun in the air while gorgeous human beings dance together. It nearly lit him on fire. Penguin felt the same way but their friend Law- He is upset since he knows he is going to be babysitting whoever gets shit faced first ad from the looks of it, Zoro is getting Usopp and Nami on that path.

Shachi thinks for a moment he wants to be on the path of drunken fun as well until they get further into the nightclub. Snagging a wonderful circle bench where they can all sit, chat, and take turns going out on the dance floor or getting drinks. He and Penguin feel like they are in heaven at all the beautiful ladies dancing.

It will not hurt to mingle right?

The thought was great until Penguin already points at their friend Law with Zoro (trying to stop Zoro from getting too many drinks already) and all the females in the area just stare them down. Welp… It was a nice idea to think he had a chance. Penguin is still going to try but Shachi knows when to not try.

He needs a second to feel glommed out before he returns to his partying self. Law and Zoro return with drinks while Usopp and Nami take a shot and head straight to the dance floor. Penguin follows so he can try and flirt with someone out on the dance floor.

“Where did Luffy go?” Shachi asks the two who are observing the night club.

Zoro answers, “Don’t know. He is around here somewhere.”

“Last time Luffy-ya made a new friend. I did not see her, but everyone made a big deal out of it. So, he is probably trying to find her if he invited her,” Law answers.

Shachi hums getting a glass of a fruity alcoholic beverage that the duo brought over. It is his guilty pleasure- Fruity drinks compared to the hard shit his friends down. Not that he would say it, but it is obvious from how much he drinks it. They usually would tease him slightly but this time Law and Zoro both seem to be wondering where Luffy went as well- In search of what stranger he could have possibly made friends with this time.

“Who are we waiting for to party?” Luffy asks right beside Shachi scaring the living life out of all three males.

Zoro huffs. “Weren’t we waiting for your friend?”

“Oh! (Name)?! I already saw her- She said something about scouting you guys. I don’t know what she meant but she should introduce herself soon! I’m going to dance!” Luffy announces.

His words leave the three males confused- Why would his friend scout them?

Shachi voices just that. “Why is she scouting us?”

“Well- last time we were here everyone made a big deal about her so maybe she is trying to see what kind of friends her new friend has? I am unsure but she sounds interesting,” Law murmurs.

Zoro says nothing his eyes already trying to find a female watching them. Of course- an impossible feat in a nightclub filled with too many people. Shachi sighs as he feels the fruity drink starting to get to him- Maybe he will have the courage to ask someone to dance? Or maybe he will end up pouting with Penguin as their better looking, in his opinion, friends get all the girls.

Either way- His hopes are going down but that makes the path to a drunken fun seem all the much better. The downer thoughts nearly make him miss the nightclub growing louder- In their area in the form of very loud, trying to be hushed and failing, whispers.

A hand lands on Shachi’s shoulders making him jump but quickly notice how all the heads in this area are staring in a certain direction. It is Penguin who is holding his shoulder as he points meekly in that direction.

Law and Zoro straighten up and their own eyes widen at who they see. Shachi nearly misses her- He sees no one at first until he does a second glance and becomes frozen. His heart stops. He is certain everyone is just like him now, feeling love at first sight (or with his certain friends like Sanji then lust at first sight).

“YO- YO, you need to look! Except for you marimo, no way is she looking at you. That absolute queen is staring at one of you guys! Well, now I guess me since I am over here as well,” Sanji murmurs beside Shachi and Penguin.

Law and Zoro remain silent- Their hopes also getting up because as everyone is fully aware of. This woman is beyond beautiful.

Shachi can’t take his eyes off of her until he realizes that she is… No way- Is she staring at him? That can’t be. He quickly tries to crush his own heart before life ultimately does for him. He looks away and scowls.

Penguin is shaking and that indicates that she is slowly making her way over here. Eventually, she is in front of their table and leans against it. Shachi refuses to look at her until she coughs.

“My name is (Name) and I am wondering if ‘that’ handsome guy would like to dance with me?” (Name) states.

Law, Zoro, and Sanji practically start to choke on air. When one of them calms down it is Law that asks, “You are (Name)? Luffy’s new friend?”

“Hm? Luffy- Oh you must be his friends then. I did not even notice. I was too busy staring at him,” She admits.

Finally- Shachi gives in and stares at her. His eyes widen as he makes eye contact with her… There is no possible way she can mean him… Not when his much better-looking friends, Law, Zoro, and even Sanji, are here beside him!

One of them finally asks- It is Penguin who is making sure- “Wait, wait a moment, who are you talking about?”

“The red-head,” She replies without a hitch.

Penguin and Sanji are staring at Shachi with full-on confusion while Law and Zoro merely huff- It was a nice thought that she could be one of theirs for the night.

Shachi finally asks in a surprised tone, “Me… Me?!”

-

You laugh at his cute and rather flustered expression.

“Yes, you, handsome. Won’t you tell me your name and dance with me? Or am I getting my hopes up?” You ask suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Though- You could have sworn that he was staring at you with those cute curious eyes. Maybe you had it wrong. Either way, it was worth a shot. You get ready to turn around when you see him jump up immediately.

“The name is Shachi! I would love to dance!” He says happily.

You reach for his hand and you can feel him shaking with nervousness. Cute.

“By the end of this night- I would love to give you my number. You seem like the type who enjoys going on actual day dates- Am I wrong?” You ask.

Despite the fast beat music playing on the dance floor- Both of you sway in a gentle manner. Shachi is so thankful for the low lighting on the dance floor- He would die of embarrassment if you saw how red his face was turning.

“No, you aren’t wrong at all! I would love to go on a date with you!” And now he wishes he could shut up.

Shachi just really can’t believe that you- A super pretty woman, actually saw him standing out instead of his friends. Yeah- This nightclub is definitely his favorite now.

[purplehairedwonder]

Hearts With(out) Chains Chapter 6

Fandom: One Piece Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Gen (eventual Lawlu) Words: 4125 Characters: Trafalgar Law, Vergo, Donquixote Doflamingo, Bepo, Penguin, Shachi, Monet, Caesar Clown, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Franky, Smoker, Tashigi, Monkey D. Luffy Note: I’m taking my turn at the Corazon!Law AU because my brain won’t leave me alone until this is written down. Tags will be updated as the chapters come out.

The story title is based on the Ellie Goulding song “Hearts Without Chains.”

Summary: Law is reclaimed by the Family when he’s 17 and, with Doflamingo holding the lives of his crew as collateral for his good behavior, eventually becomes the third Corazon. Years later, trapped by his impossible situation, Law can’t help but resent Monkey D. Luffy for offering a glimpse of something he’s repeatedly had ripped away from him: hope.

Previous chapters: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Read also at AO3 / FF.N

“And where am I going?”

“Punk Hazard. We’ve had reports of some unwanted pests on the island. I need you to take care of them.”

Law frowned. Punk Hazard was meant to be off-limits to pirates and Marines alike since Caesar Clown’s poison gas bomb had turned the island into a wasteland. The fight between Aokiji and Akainu had only further cemented Punk Hazard as a place to avoid, as their abilities had completely altered the landscape. It shouldn’t even be accessible by log pose. Which, of course, made it the perfect location for Doflamingo’s purposes. Who would be there now?

“What kind of pests?” he asked.

Doflamingo waved a hand. “Vice Admiral Smoker is sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong again.”

Law’s lips curled upward once more, and he inclined his head as he looked at Vergo. “Shouldn’t you be keeping your men under better control, Vergo?” He tsked. “No wonder you can’t handle this yourself.”

Vergo’s expression tightened. “You insolent—” He cut himself off as Doflamingo cleared his throat. “Smoker has been a concern since he transferred to G-5,” Vergo admitted as he turned back to Doffy. “I’ve been waiting for the best time for him to have an accident.” He glanced at Law. “And that’s Vergo­-san, to you, boy.”

“It’s Corazon to you, Vice Admiral,” Law retorted, still smirking, “not ‘boy.’”

“As I am unfortunately reminded,” Vergo sneered. “Truly, my successors have left much to be desired.”

Law’s grip around Kikoku tightened at the reference to Cora-san. He knew Vergo was trying to get a rise out of him and that Doflamingo was watching his reaction, so he forced his fingers to relax and left the smirk playing at his lips.

“And yet,” he drawled, “only one of us can go on this mission.”

Vergo opened his mouth to retort, but Doffy interrupted. “Enough bickering.” He turned to Law. “Smoker and his men aren’t the only pests Monet has reported.” He gave Law a long, searching look, which set Law’s teeth on edge, before elaborating. “The Straw Hat Pirates are also on the island.”

Law’s breath left him in a rush, the name so unexpected on Doffy’s lips that it struck him like a blow. There had been no news of the Straw Hats in two years; what were the odds they would reappear in Doflamingo’s territory?

He thought again of the pull in his chest he’d done his best to bury over the last two years and the urgings of the Sisters back in Flevance to always look and listen for signs of something bigger than ourselves in the world. Even Bepo, when they were younger, had talked about Minks’ connection to the Earth and how they looked to her for signs.

Law swallowed.

“That won’t be a problem, will it, Corazon?”

Law, with no little effort, schooled his features into something he hoped was apathetic. “No problem. I will take care of it.”

Doffy nodded. “I know you will.” Though Law couldn’t see his eyes behind those glasses, he could still feel the intensity in the Warlord’s gaze. “You know how important it is that the SAD production not be interrupted.”

“Of course,” he said, bowing slightly. “I’ll make arrangements to leave immediately.”

“There’s an SAD tanker heading for Punk Hazard in an hour. You can take that.”

Law nodded his understanding and turned to exit the office.

“Corazon.”

Law paused and looked back at Doflamingo, wary.

“I’m counting on you.”

Law stiffened at the implication in the tone, and memories of Doflamingo’s fingers around his throat sprang unbidden to mind. Over the last two years, Doffy had taken an… interest in Law’s neck, as though seeing the marks he’d left behind that day in the Suit Room had awoken some primal urge. Sometimes he touched gently, almost reverently, while others he squeezed hard enough to leave bruises blooming across the abused skin. Once, Law had been forced to sign to communicate for several days as his throat had healed from Doffy’s attentions.

And sometimes it wasn’t bruises left behind but bites. Law regularly sported some type of mark from Doffy’s affections, but the neck markings in particular were nearly impossible to hide the next day, making them Doffy’s favorite way of reminding Law who he belonged to.

As though Law needed any further reminder.

He nodded at Doflamingo. “Young Master,” he said in acknowledgment then left the room.

-----

“You allow him too much,” Vergo said once the door had closed behind Law.

Doflamingo raised an eyebrow at Vergo. “Oh?”

Vergo’s lips curled in disdain. Those two just could not play nicely. “He’s insolent.”

Doflamingo snorted. “That he is. He has been since he was a child.” Once a boy with bombs strapped to his chest looking to destroy the world, Law had risen to second in command of a Warlord and king. Doffy had to admit that he was rather fond of Law’s insolence.

In moderation.

It had taken time and numerous lessons since his return to the Family to break down the boy’s more rebellious instincts, but the Corazon he had become was exactly the second he’d always thought Law could become.

It was too bad that one day his reign as second would have to end in sacrifice to Doflamingo’s immortality, but Law wasn’t ready yet. Doflamingo was patient and more than happy to make use of his Corazon until Law learned it was his fate to die for Doflamingo.

Vergo eyed him for a moment, clearly weighing what he wanted to say to his liege.

“Speak freely, Vergo,” Doflamingo said, leaning back in his chair. Vergo was one of the few people he truly allowed such liberties, as he had been with him since they were children.

“He will betray you. Just like my successor did.”

Doflamingo scowled at the mention of his brother, but Vergo had earned that familiarity. It was an old argument they’d had since Law had returned to the Family nearly a decade earlier. Vergo remembered the boy in the snow helping Rosinante in trying to bring down the Family. And Vergo’s loyalty lay entirely with Doflamingo, so he did not forgive treason.

“I’m well aware of the influence Rosinante had on him,” Doflamingo replied, thinking back to a teenage Law’s snarled defense of Rosinante the day they’d reunited in the North Blue: Cora-san saved me. I am alive today because of him. Little did he know, his precious Cora-san had condemned him by feeding him that Fruit; Doflamingo had never intended for Law to eat the Ope Ope no Mi because Law was more valuable to him as his future second than as a sacrificial pawn. But now there was no choice.

“That’s why I’ve taken precautions to ensure his continued loyalty.”

“He betrayed you at Marineford,” Vergo pointed out, “even with those precautions.” They had argued for days after Law had saved Straw Hat and Jimbei. Despite Vergo’s protestations, Doflamingo hadn’t been willing to rid himself of the potential he saw in Law.

And he’d been right, of course.

“I made sure he learned his lesson,” Doflamingo replied. “His loyalty has been impeccable since.”

Doflamingo could not have planned a better lesson in loyalty than one of Law’s closest friends losing an arm in the Colosseum. Something, it seemed, had broken in Law then, all ideas of rebellion washed away in his friend’s blood on the Colosseum’s stone ring. He’d been the ideal subordinate since. He’d withdrawn from his crew, devoting himself entirely to the Family—to Doflamingo—and Doflamingo took every opportunity to assert his complete ownership of his Corazon, his Heart.

Perhaps Doflamingo liked Law’s insolence because it was a reminder that, even as Law submitted to Doflamingo, he was still in there, the boy who wanted to destroy the world after it had destroyed his.

Still, Doflamingo saw the presence of the Straw Hats on Punk Hazard as the perfect test to make sure the loyalty he now displayed was real.

Vergo was clearly not persuaded by Doflamingo’s assertions, so the Warlord shrugged.

“You know I’d like you to stay,” he said. They never had enough time together with Vergo’s duties to the Marines keeping him away. “But if you’re so concerned about Corazon’s loyalty, go to Punk Hazard to keep an eye on him.” Vergo straightened, surprised but pleased. He’d wanted to be the one to take care of the mess in the first place. “But don’t blow your cover. You are too valuable to me.”

Vergo nodded and rose to his feet. “By your leave, Young Master.”

-----

When Law returned to his room, he found a folder on his desk with a copy of Monet’s reports about Smoker, G-5, and the Straw Hats. He flipped through the pages then closed the folder; he’d look at them more thoroughly during the ship ride. Caesar’s lab was on the snowy side of the island, so he changed into warmer clothing and grabbed his heavy coat from his wardrobe.

Punk Hazard was only a few hours from Dressrosa by ship, and Law did not expect this errand to take long so he didn’t pack anything else. After putting his Den Den Mushi in his pocket, he hefted Kikoku to his shoulder and took the folder and his coat. He thought about stopping by his crew’s wing to tell them where he was going but decided against it. He didn’t have much time before the tanker left.

As he approached the front gate of the palace, he slowed at the sight of three figures. He grimaced as Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin came into focus. They looked up when they heard him approach.

“Captain,” Bepo greeted hesitantly.

“What are you three doing here?” Law asked, looking between them. He had his suspicions about who might have ratted him out.

“Going somewhere?” Penguin asked, nodding at the folder and coat in Law’s arms.

“Mission.”

“By yourself?” Shachi asked, frowning.

“This shouldn’t take long. Just a quick clean up,” Law evaded.

“We could help make it go even faster,” Penguin said.

Bepo nodded. “We want to help.”

Law frowned. “It’s not necessary. I should be back by tomorrow.”

“But—” Bepo started.

“Captain’s orders,” Law interrupted, voice harsher than he intended.

Bepo shrank in on himself and murmured an apology. Law knew Bepo didn’t deserve that—none of them did—but it was the only way he could keep them safe.

“You want to pull that,” Penguin said, crossing his arms defiantly, “maybe you should start acting like a captain again.”

Law recoiled as if Penguin had struck him.

“We haven’t seen you in weeks. And when you do stop by, you barely speak. You don’t take us on missions, even though we’re way more useful than that idiot Buffalo,” Penguin went on.

“I know you spooked when I lost my arm,” Shachi added, voice more neutral than Penguin’s. “But it’s not your fault.”

“Of course it is,” Law snapped, feeling suddenly fragile as his best friends confronted him. Two years’ worth of guilt and frustration had left his emotions jagged and broken, and it was inevitable those sharp edges would hurt them—and here they were. “I made the choice to go to Marineford and save Straw Hat-ya. I made the choice to stay on Amazon Lily for weeks, knowing you all would pay the price. I was selfish and look what happened.”

“No, Law,” Bepo said quietly. Law startled. “That wasn’t being selfish. You saved Straw Hat Luffy and Jimbei when no one else could have.” Bepo swallowed. “And I’m sorry, but you’re being selfish now.”

Law sucked in a breath.

“Locking yourself up in your guilt and pain—”

“And not letting us help!” Penguin interjected.

“—that’s self-centered,” Bepo finished. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re not this person you’ve let yourself become,” Shachi added fiercely. “They might think of you as Corazon,” he said, nodding toward the palace, “but to us, you’re Captain.”

Law’s chest tightened as his friends spoke, his face heating. “I…” He swallowed, unsure of what to do with the twisting in his chest. “I have to go.”

And like the coward that he was, Law fled.

-----

It was mid-afternoon when the SAD tanker anchored at Punk Hazard. Law eyed the island curiously. While he knew about the production going on in the lab, he’d never been to the island. He didn’t bother waiting for the gangplank, switching places with a pile of rope on the dock. According to the map of the lab in his folder, there should be a back entrance Law could use to gain entry. From there, he would need to find Monet and Caesar Clown for any updates before completing his task.

There was gas on the air, so Law opened a small Room around himself to keep the poison out as he walked toward the back door. He Shambled himself inside and made his way down the hallway. The sound of approaching footsteps alerted him to Monet’s presence before he saw her.

“Corazon, you’re here,” she greeted.

Law nodded and she turned to lead him back to the lab. Law fell in step with her.

“Well?” he asked. “What’s happening?”

She gave him a level look, one that belied the apparent chaos happening elsewhere on the island. “Half the Straw Hats are inside the building, trying to remove the children. We have soldiers confronting them, but G-5 is also in the building.”

Law didn’t think she sounded particularly bothered by this, but that could also just be Monet’s overall flat affect. He’d always had a hard time getting a good read on her.

“And the others?” he prompted.

“They’re somewhere on the island. Caesar sent the Yeti Cool Brothers after them.”

Law didn’t know much about them, other than that Caesar employed them as assassins. He rarely needed their services, considering the isolated nature of the island.

“But you don’t think they’ll be successful.” Otherwise, why was Law here?

Monet shrugged. “Hard to know, considering the Straw Hats have been inactive for two years. We have no way of knowing how strong they might have become.”

And as far as Law knew, Straw Hat had been training with Silvers Rayleigh—though he’d done his best not to think about that—for the last two years. There was no telling what he might have learned from the Dark King in that time.

They stopped in front of a large door, which slid open to admit them into the control room. Inside, Caesar stood watching monitors. The clown turned as Monet and Law entered. He brightened when he saw Law.

“Corazon!” he greeted. “You’re here! Finally.”

“Joker sent me to clean up your mess, Caesar-ya,” Law replied, disinterested.

Caesar prickled at that but knew better than to argue with an executive. He nodded at the monitors. “Half the Straw Hats and G-5 have overwhelmed my men in the Biscuit Room.” On the screen, numerous figures in gas suits were scattered across the floor. “They just went running toward the front entrance.”

“Together?” Law asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied the monitors, getting a sense of the scene.

“It seems they both want to retrieve the children,” Monet said, also looking at the monitors. “They must be working together temporarily.”

Caesar waved a dismissive hand. “No matter. The children will be begging to return in no time. But the pirates and Marines are a problem.”

“And the others?” Law asked. He didn’t see Straw Hat on any of the monitors. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed.

“In the mountains somewhere, probably dead,” Caesar said. “We don’t have a feed out there.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Shurororo. The Yeti Cool Brothers have never been defeated.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” Law murmured as he studied the monitors. Caesar made an irritated noise, but Law ignored him, having made his decision. “I’ll cut the Straw Hats and Marines off at the front gate and take care of them there. I’ll find the rest after.”

If Caesar or Monet had any objections, Law didn’t stick around to hear them; he opened a Room all the way out of the building and switched places with a snowflake. Without dropping his Room, he stood outside then, waiting for his targets to come through the open front gate.

He didn’t have to wait long.

“There’s the door!” a female voice echoed through the hall.

“Hurry!” another yelled. “We’ll get on the ship and take you home!”

Law shoved any concern for the children’s wellbeing down with all his other inconvenient emotions, locking it down in the box he’d created after Marineford. He had a job to do. And it wasn’t like his childhood had been spared either. His had ended the moment Lami had collapsed at the festival. The world was a cold, unforgiving place.

The mixed group of pirates, Marines, and children poured out of the gate moments later but slowed to a halt on the steps when they saw Law blocking their path. At the front of the group, Smoker and several Straw Hats were eyeing him. He briefly noted the presence of the samurai, Kin’emon, who had been mentioned in Monet’s reports as well; unlike the others, he was meant to be kept alive, though Law didn’t know why.

“What the—” Black Leg growled.

“I recognize him from Sabaody!” the cat burglar said, eyes wide.

“Corazon,” Smoker said. “That explains a lot.”

“What does it explain?” the tanuki asked.

“Corazon is the second in command of the Donquixote Pirates,” the swordswoman said. “If he’s here, that means this place must be one of Donquixote Doflamingo’s operations.”

“So, you’re behind this?” the cat burglar sneered. “You can’t have the children back, you monster!”

“When did you get here?” Smoker demanded.

“Just now,” Law replied. “Word was there were some pests on the island that needed exterminating.” He unsheathed Kikoku, the blade humming in anticipation. “And I’m afraid you know too much, White Chase-ya, so I can’t let you leave.”

Smoker drew his jitte, and the swordswoman unsheathed her blade. The soldiers of G-5 drew their rifles. Black Leg and the cyborg stepped forward. Law might have laughed at the futility of their actions; they were in his Room and at his mercy. Despite the reputation he’d earned for himself, though, he wasn’t interested in pointless violence. He’d take care of this quickly.

The soldiers fired a hail of bullets first, but with a twitch of his fingers, he switched the bullets with snowflakes; they fell harmlessly to the ground.

“What the hell happened?” the soldiers yelped.

“How about some bigger ammo?” the cyborg declared, firing a large blast.

Law Shambled out of the way, allowing the blast to destroy a boulder in the distance.

The swordswoman jumped into action, charging at him. “Corazon!”

Smoker yelled a warning at his second, but she ignored him.

Law let her get close before swinging Kikoku. She gasped as her upper and lower halves split in two, falling to the snowy ground. The top of her sliced sword clattered away, useless.

“Captain-chan!”

“Tashigi-chan! Are you alive?”

Black Leg growled and jumped into action. “How dare you do that to a beautiful lady?!”

Law rolled his eyes and threw up Kikoku to block Black Leg’s kick. Black Leg jumped back, and Law sliced his blade. Black Leg and Smoker jumped out of the path of the cut, but the remaining G-5 soldiers suddenly found themselves in pieces. They yelled in surprise at still being alive. Law ignored them, turning back to his remaining opponents.

���What kind of power is that?” the cat burglar asked from where she and the tanuki stood protectively in front of the children.

“The Ope Ope no Mi,” Smoker said. “It gives the user the ability to create an operating room and operate on the world around them. As long as we’re in his circle, we’re at his mercy.”

“Where’s the edge of the circle?” the cyborg asked, looking around for the edge of the blue dome.

Law’s lips twitched. He’d pushed himself over the last two years to drastically increase the size of the Room he could create and the length of time he could hold it. His Room now extended into the water.

“If we take him out, it won’t matter!” Black Leg declared, racing at Law once more.

Law dodged his kicks, deflecting them with Kikoku. He realized too late that he was being driven, though; his haki flared, and he barely dodged Smoker’s strike, the jitte grazing his cheek.

“That nasty energy,” Law hissed. “There’s Seastone on the end of your jitte.” Dangerous. Law had gotten cocky, and it had almost cost him. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Smoker swung his jitte again, and Law deflected it. His haki flared again, and he jumped to avoid another blast from the cyborg then Shambled away to put some distance between himself and his opponents.

“Corazon,” a growl came from his side.

Law looked down, surprised to see he’d Shambled himself near the halved swordswoman. There was fire in her eyes, despite her defeat.

“At least kill me if you’re going to cut me down,” she snapped. “You’ve shamed me.”

Law gave her an unimpressed look. He couldn’t look at a Marine without seeing the carnage of Flevance in his mind’s eye. “Your shame isn’t my problem,” he retorted coldly. “Remember this well: the weak don’t get to choose how they die.”

Doflamingo had beaten that lesson into him more times than Law could count; Law himself wasn’t given that choice. He knew Doflamingo had plans for his death, though the Warlord didn’t know Law had overheard his words on Minion Island.

She snarled her rage and tried to jump at him with just her upper body and her broken sword. Law raised Kikoku, ready to cut her down further, but his blade was kicked aside by Black Leg. Kikoku flew from his grip, and Law cursed under his breath.

“Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” Black Leg barked.

Law threw up his hands, feeling the charge grow in his hands. As Black Leg’s momentum brought him close to Law, Law pushed his thumbs into Black Leg’s chest and let the burst go. Counter shock.

“She’s no lady,” Law hissed as Black Leg flew backward and hit the ground, rolling. “She’s a Marine.”

“Sanji!” the Straw Hats yelled in alarm.

Black Leg tried to push himself up but dropped back down to the ground. Law turned away and walked over to his sword. He picked up Kikoku and surveyed the scene. The swordswoman, Black Leg, and the G-5 soldiers were out of commission for the time being. That left Smoker, the cyborg, Kin’emon, the cat burglar, the tanuki, and the children. The children simply needed to be returned to the lab. Smoker, the cyborg, and the samurai were the most dangerous men left standing.

“Corazon!” Smoker roared and charged Law once more.

Law braced himself for Smoker’s frontal attack then started when Smoker turned partially to smoke. The jitte came at him from behind; Law dodged but the end of the jitte still slammed into his shoulder. Law immediately felt his strength disappear and his Room drop from the effects of the Seastone tip.

Law hit the ground and rolled away, his strength returning. He pushed back to his feet and immediately threw a Room back up. He cursed himself; he’d shown a weakness his enemies could exploit.

Smoker followed Law, stabbing his jitte again and again. Law dodged as Smoker chased him. Law Shambled a bit farther ahead then whirled around, throwing up a hand. He lifted a finger and a rock pillar erupted from the ground. Smoker’s eyes widened but he dodged. Law lifted one pillar after another until Smoker was right in front of him. Smoker raised his jitte to strike, but Law lifted one more pillar, pulling Smoker up short. With Smoker off-balance, Law used Mes to cut straight through the rock and into Smoker’s chest.

Smoker wheezed as his heart was ejected from his body and collapsed against the pillar.

“Smoker-san!” the swordswoman cried.

Law straightened and Shambled the heart into his hand. The heart of a vice admiral could be a good bargaining chip. He pocketed it.

“Is that…” the cat burglar gasped.

“His heart!” the tanuki confirmed, eyes wide.

Law turned back toward the steps, where the remaining figures stood. The samurai put a hand to his sword while the cyborg stepped in front of the group. Law hefted Kikoku but froze at the sound of a familiar voice, that pull in his chest jerking hard enough to steal his breath.

“Oi!” Straw Hat called. “What’s going on?”

Next chapter

[beanghostprincess]

Oh my god man just read your childhood sanuso au and I gotta say, it's such a nice read. One of my favorite tropes are childhood best friends who lost each other then reunite it's so beautiful.

And when you wrote how Nami said Usopp talks about him, ugh literal heart eyes

I have this hc where before Sanji, Usopp and Nami would be the one taking care of the kitchen and food so I can just imagine Usopp yapping about his old best friend to Nami while they're preparing dinner together and she's just nodding along not believing him in the slightest but still happy to listen

Like they'd be chopping vegetables for some simple stew and Usopp would open his mouth, "you know Nami, I actually met one of the best cooks in all of east blue when I was little, dare I say he was the best in all the seas" and he starts to ramble as Nami just goes "oh yeah? Mhmm" to him 😭😭

Love your little fic thing man it's such a treat

It's one of my favorite tropes too!!! I think they totally have the energy to be childhood BFFs. It fits them so damn much!

Nami would not believe a word Usopp says. Not her. Not anybody. Because, okay, saying "I used to have a cook best friend" isn't really that unbelievable. But the way Usopp talks about Sanji is so dramatic and poetic that they genuinely don't believe a word he's saying because it sounds too fantastic and too good to be true. Luffy won't stop mentioning they need a cook, and Usopp acts the same way every time and starts telling all the stories and little adventures they had (by 'little adventures' meaning 'we once sneaked into Kaya's home and baked cookies with her in the middle of the night and one of her caretakers was really angry but instantly gave up when he tasted the cookies because Sanji's food was just too good'. Which sounds like a real thing that happened. Because it happened. But they don't believe a word he's saying anyway because of the way he talks about him it's... Too romantic and imaginary to be true). Zoro and Nami don't believe that he had a friend like that (because he genuinely speaks about Sanji like a fucking God of food) and Luffy won't stop saying things like "If you know a cook you should've said it sooner!! Where is he now???!! Perhaps he joins us!!" but it's a very sensitive topic for Usopp and he refuses to tell them the truth, so he just smiles bitterly and says "We had to go separate ways I- I don't know where he is but!! But he wouldn't join us, anyway! He'd stay loyal to his captain! (referring to himself)". This is kind of why Nami and Zoro don't believe him either, y'know? The way he talks about being someone else's captain like it's a real thing.

Usopp wants to find Sanji again, he really does. But he also doesn't want to because it's embarrassing for him to find Sanji again and tell him he's the sniper of another pirate crew instead of having one of his own. The thought of Sanji joining them is great and he's dying to meet him again, but just thinking about Sanji being somebody else's cook makes his blood boil with envy. Even if it's Luffy. He loves Luffy. He knows he'll be the king of the pirates, and there's no doubt about that. But damn... He can't help but wish, just a little bit inside, behind all the jokes he makes about being a captain, that he was still Sanji's captain.

Then they meet again and none of them can believe that Sanji is actually real. And he actually calls Usopp captain??? And it's- It's just too much, man. Luffy gets a bit defensive over his title and says that no, HE is the captain and not Usopp. And Sanji is a bit confused at first and shame takes over Usopp because: "So- So you are not the captain, then?"

Usopp: Well, It's- It's a vague thing, right, Luffy? It's a shared- Luffy: It's not a shared thing, I am the captain. Zoro's the first mate. Nami is our navigator- Nami: I am not your anything. We're just working together! Luffy: And you are our sniper!!! Sanji: You're the sniper, then? Not the captain? Usopp: .... I really tried to- Sanji: It's fine. Don't worry. I'm sure your gorgeous navigator right here is starving. What do you all want to eat?

It's a bit uncomfortable. Really. Everything's the same as in the original story except that now you need to add a scene of Usopp explaining what really happened to the crew when Sanji goes away, and Luffy going "You might not be the captain but he could still be your cook!! I want him with us!!" and Usopp keeps saying that he doesn't need to do anything for him. Luffy actually says he's not. He just likes Sanji's food. Sanji refuses to go with them, yadda yadda yadda. And Usopp goes to talk to him because, despite being ashamed, he really, really wants Sanji back in his life. It kind of goes like this (I don't do narration today guys I just woke up and I maybe write a fic so y'all will have to wait):

Usopp: So... You're not coming with us? Sanji: .... I have stuff to do here. I can't just leave. Usopp: But you're not happy here- Sanji: How do you know that? Usopp: Because I know you! Sanji: We've been what?! Nine years without seeing each other?? You don't- Usopp: So you're going to find the All Blue trapped in here? That's what you're saying? Sanji: It's not- Usopp: Sanji, you can't just throw away your dream- Sanji: Throw away my dream like you did?! What happened to Captain Usopp, huh?! What's the point of finding the All Blue if you're not my captain?! What's the point of only one of us achieving our dreams?! Usopp: ... I'm sorry. I really tried to, I just- Maybe dreams change? Maybe I'm just meant to be a sniper! An adventurer. Like my father is. That's enough for me. If you accept Luffy's offer then we will be together and- Sanji: And you won't be my captain. I don't think I can- Shit, Usopp, I waited for you. For so long. Usopp: I might not be your captain anymore, but you're still my cook! You will forever be my cook and- If I go away and I don't bring you here with me I will forever regret it. Not going with you was the biggest mistake of my life, please. Sanji: ... I'm kind of glad you didn't. I nearly died the week after I left Syrup Village. Usopp: ??? What???! Sanji: Long story short, bad weather, Zeff's crew attacked us, ship sunk, got stuck in a huge-ass rock without food, Zeff saved me, uh- Yeah. Long story. At least you were safe, so- Usopp: I could've been with you. Sanji: Or you could've died. Hey, just- Let me do my own thing, okay? It was nice seeing you again... Captain.

You know the drill, Sanji has his talk about the All Blue with Luffy. Everything is kind of the same? The soup thing. Zeff fights with Sanji. Zeff tells Luffy to take him with him. Etc, etc, etc. You just need to have in mind the 'Usopp factor' and that Sanji needs to learn to see Luffy as his captain (not hard, because it's Luffy) and learn to see that Usopp's dream wasn't being a captain, but to be more than what people thought he was. And with this crew and Luffy he'll be able to do so. So Sanji happily joins them and he sees Usopp as the best adventurer and bravest pirate already. Like, in his eyes, getting to know Usopp again is the most exciting thing in the world + having a new captain he trusts with his life + getting to achieve his dream.

I don't want to use this post for more because I think I'm getting too carried away, but... You know. Everything is extremely sweet. They have the same canon dynamic but Usopp really, really tries to act braver and show off more in front of Sanji. He wants to live up to his expectations. But then he gets scared easily and Sanji doesn't mind at all because he knows how his best friend is, it's alright. He'll protect him. He'll do what he can't. On the other hand, Sanji is- He's the happiest he's ever been. He's sometimes so done with Usopp's shenanigans, but I think he's extremely clingy with him. They're not dating but they're... It's so obvious. The closet is glass and Sanji's hatred for men and internalized homophobia does not exist when it comes to Usopp. I mean, a bit of internalized homophobia is always there, but at least he doesn't try to be the straightest man alive when he's with Usopp. They feel like kids again when they're together and they have,,, So much fun. They sleep cuddling together because Sanji has missed him so much and likes having Usopp close. Usopp stays with him every time Sanji cooks. Nobody gets the inside jokes they make in front of everybody. Sanji is way more vocal about his feelings for him and keeps referring to Usopp as his best friend to anybody who asks. Usopp tells stories that are definitely not true to Sanji but Sanji nods and accepts them happily anyway. Usopp tells him about how Kaya had a crush on him, and Sanji is extremely confused because he's like "No?? She told me she had a crush on you?" and Nami is behind them like "You two are fucking idiots. She wants both of you. Now deal with it without fighting on deck, please." And they- They don't really know what to do with that information, so they send her a letter asking (and panicking about it) and she responds with another one, saying that Nami is right and if it's not too impertinent and selfish she'd like to wait and see both of them to tell them how she feels face to face. Until then, she'll wait for them. Usopp and Sanji don't really, uh, talk about it. Basically, they're the clingiest thing ever and everyone knows what's going on between them except them.

I have thoughts about how Water 7 would play out with these two, but I don't know if you're enjoying it enough for me to write the biggest post about it??? Idk. Let me know. I feel like I'm making this post too long. I am sorry-

[an-au-blog]

One more ask about the East Blue Asylum AU! I saw you mentioned Germa 66 and that was something I thought about a lot as well! Whole Cake Island is my favorite arc, so please do talk about those Vinsmokes we all love and hate ^u^

Okay, well in my mind the Sora Warrior Of The Sea are fiction. They're like Batman or Superman but ig maybe more of a magical girl version of the power rangers???

I wanna say that WCI has to be one of my fav arcs as well I live it to bits! And that's one of the reasons I honestly don't know how to do it lol

I have a little post in my drafts about Zou but WCI I haven't really made up my mind. The two posts are kinda intertwined so I'll tey to post it right after this answer.

I did try to shower-think it and I came up with a few ideas but idk if I like them enough':)

At some point, Judge had started getting bad press for having a son he abandoned and is now in a mental hospital. He didn't know how the word got out, but it did and he decided that he'd get him out and treat him in some private place but it was very obvious that he didn't want to go and since he was a legal adult, he could decide for himself. (Even if he wanted to leave, the doctors were the only ones who could dismiss him after he signed himself in.)

About his brothers - They look a lot like the heroes from the Germa comics and act just as uptight and heartless as them. Subconsciously, Luffy must have mistaken them for "The Warriors Of The Sea". But in reality they're just brats who used to bully their brother - mean little kids who grew up to be even worse adults. Sanji's sister, however, I imagine has visited before, only this time she wasn't dressed like she was in hiding. The Vinsmoke family (in my head) is a bit like the Rockefellers - everyone knows who they are and it's hard to drop their name in a casual conversation and not get some kind of reaction.

In regards to his past - Sanji still got abused and beaten up by both his father and brothers. But instead of being a failed experiment, he was just a nice little boy who didn't like sports and competing in things, he just liked stereotypically girly things like butterflies flowers, cooking, and pretty things. His father didn't like that, as he believed that all his dons should be manly men who won chess tournaments, so soccer games, basketball matches or martial arts competitions. If they weren't the strongest, smartest, most handsome men in their circle, then they were no sons of his. And Sanji didn't meet that criteria. He didn't care for sports or competing, he just wanted to have fun and to have friends. Don't get me wrong, he was still smart. But wanting to be a cook is not exactly a good look if all of your family is just CEOs and multimillionaire company holders. Or at least in Judge's eyes. So when Sanji ran away at 12 (I'm making him older to make it more realistic), Judge just closed his eyes and reported him missing in the wrong region so he couldn't be found and so the investigation could declare him dead after the appropriate amount of years.

The golden bracelets were real, but they weren't exploding, Judge just used them to yank Sanji when he got mad at him and threaten him. "I'll cut them off till wherever they reach!" he'd say, so Sanji would wish to be skinnier so if they slip off, then maybe he wouldn't cut his hands off? That was his child logic at least. That's how his questionable relationship with food started, but later on he'd just starve himself to feel like he still has control over something in his life. Anything. That or as a punishment to himself, more than often he wouldn't believe he deserved food or he'd think that there are people with bigger needs than him. So he'd lose appetite and maybe feel sick enough to throw up. (Him having bulimia is one of the many reasons why hates himself and thinks he doesn't deserve food, because why eat if he'd just throw it up?(Zoro hates that he thinks that way btw and he tries feeding him every once in a while because he'd notice that Sanji could scarcely say no to him. Plus he likes taking care of him))

[deathlikesdeep-dish]

The Razr (Zoro AU Scenario)

Hi guys!

I’m so flattered that I’ve had some people join me here on this fun writing journey!! I truly truly do a little happy dance every time I get a follow. :D 

I keep meaning to just sit down and write a quick lil somethin somethin, but it always ends up longer than I intend 😅

This is a headcanon I came up with about Zoro having a crazy outdated flip phone that he refused to get rid of and his friends finally forced him to get a smartphone so he could use GPS. 

It turned out a little more serious and emotional than I originally intended, but I’m pretty pleased with it!! Would love to get y’alls feedback. 

xx

Warnings: obscene amounts of fluff, language 

Word Count: 1862

“Zoro, where the fuck are you??” Nami yelled on the other end of the phone. He could hear the irritation in her voice.

He groaned and rubbed his hand over his face in frustration. “I really don’t know, Nami. I think I made a wrong turn,” He paused and sighed. “Or two? Shit, I don’t know.”

Zoro could hear Nami yelling on the other end of the line, and he placed his phone in the cup holder, knowing that this might be a while. He hit his head a few times on the steering wheel of his car, closing his eyes as he waited for her to finish screeching. He was used to this. He knew that he wasn’t the most directionally adept member of his friend group, but he got by….when others were around.

What made matters worse is that Zoro absolutely refused to get rid of his ancient, bulky flip phone, a fact that Nami never failed to bring up in situations just like this. He didn’t see a point in getting a new phone when his old one worked just fine. He thought back to a conversation he’d had about it just the other day with his friends.

-

“Bro, you’ve gotta be kidding me,” Their newest friend Franky said upon seeing Zoro pull his phone out of his pocket. “A fucking Motorola Razr? That thing has gotta be 10 years old!”

“It’s actually 12 years old,” Luffy chimed in with a laugh. “It was Kuina’s before it was Zoro’s.”

“Kuina? Who’s Kuina?” Franky asked. Zoro tensed up at the mention of her name, and the room went silent. Even Luffy noticed that he’d made a mistake in bringing her up. Zoro squeezed the phone tightly in his pocket.

Kuina was Zoro’s older sister. Five years his senior, Kuina had used the phone as her own for several years before she upgraded and passed it to Zoro. At first, he resented that she always got the newest stuff, and that he got the hand-me-downs. Now, he wouldn’t dream of letting it go. Kuina had died in a tragic accident just a couple years back. She was only 25. This phone was one of the only things that she had ever given him that was hers, along with the family katana that had been passed down for generations.

“Sorry, Zoro,” Luffy murmured, stuffing a bite of food into his mouth uncomfortably. Zoro simply grumbled in response with a shrug.

“Still,” Nami ventured tentatively. “Maybe it would be helpful for you to get a smartphone sometime soon. They all come with GPS systems built in.”

“And what’s wrong with a map?” Zoro snapped back.

“Well, nothing…” Nami said.

“Unless you can’t actually read it!” Luffy shouted out, not able to help himself. He cackled. Zoro shot him a glare, and he laughed even more. He crossed his arms over his broad chest.

“Yeah, well whatever. Next time I get lost, I’ll get a fucking smartphone. Deal?” Zoro said, to get them off his back more than anything.

Nami’s eyes lit up conspiratorially. “Don’t say stuff like that unless you mean it, Zoro.”

Zoro waved her off. They all knew that he certainly wasn’t going to purchase his own phone, so it was a moot point. It worked perfectly fine. Plus, it was hers. He’d keep it as long as it worked.

-

He was pulled from his reverie by Nami yelling his name.

“ZORO,” She yelled. He picked his phone back up and placed it at his ear.

“Goddamn it, Nami. I fucking know I suck at directions, please stop bitching at me,” He growled.

She started to say something, but stopped herself with a sigh. “Ugh. You exhaust me.” She replied.

“What else is new?” He snapped back.

“Whatever, Zoro. I just can’t believe you got lost on the way to your own birthday party.”

“Like I even care about this shit anyway,” He said. “It’s you and Luffy that always insist on throwing a party in the first place.”

“Hey man, don’t pretend like you don’t like eating food and getting shit-faced.”

He rolled his eyes, but didn’t say anything. He knew he didn’t have an argument there.

“Can you see a street sign anywhere?” Nami finally asked after a few moments when there was no reply.

Zoro looked up towards the streetlight and squinted at a sign in the distance. “Yeah, it looks like I’m at the corner of Alabasta and Logue Town drive.”

“Thank Christ,” Nami sighed. “You’re not that far. I’ll send Franky and Sanji to go get you.”

Zoro groaned. “Why does Sanji have to come? Doesn’t he have a fucking cake to bake or something?”

“They need to go out and get a few things from the store,” Nami said. “Listen, you’re the one that’s lost. Suck it up.”

“Ugh. Fine. See you soon.” He hung up, not wanting to hear anything else.

It took Franky and Sanji about 10 minutes to get to him.Thankfully, they just decided to have Zoro follow behind them in his car rather than ride together. Zoro wasn’t sure he could stop himself from punching that jackass directly in the face if he said anything to him.

They finally got back to Robin’s house where they were having the party. Robin was for sure the most adult out of any of them. She’d already bought this crazy historic home and had a job at an archeology firm while everybody else was living in shitty, thrown-together apartment complexes, eating pizza rolls and beer for every meal.

Sanji had looked like he was going to start some shit when they got out of the car, but decided against it when Zoro gave him a look. Plus, Sanji thought, it’s the guy’s birthday. Probably should lay off for one night.

Everyone was pleased to see him, and only gave him a moderately hard time about getting lost on the way to his own party. And despite himself, Zoro gave in to the jovial atmosphere. A few beers certainly helped. By the time he and Luffy had teamed up to play beer pong against Law and Usopp (“Sniper-king, my ass,” Zoro had thought to himself on Usopp’s third consecutive loss), Zoro was feeling pretty damn good. These were his people. They’d been the ones that were there for him. Even when new friends were added to the group, they’d always fit in. Luffy was the usual recruiter, and he somehow managed to find some cool-ass people.

The best time to give Zoro any gifts, Nami had discovered, was when he was sufficiently plastered enough to not object to them. Zoro was always more affectionate and willing to be the recipient of attention when he was drunk.

“Alright!” Nami announced over the blare of the music. “It’s present time, you degenerates! Sit your asses down!”

Franky turned the music down from his smartwatch, lowering it to a dull roar. Zoro was feeling warm and smiley, so he didn’t object when Robin lead him to the couch in the middle of the living room to receive his gift.

“What did y’all fuckers get me this time?” Zoro laughed, slurring a bit as he talked.

Nami rolled her eyes and Luffy just bounced excitedly from the armchair across the room. No matter how much he had to drink, it would seem, Luffy was always one big ball of energy.

“Remember,” Nami said, handing him a small, delicately wrapped box. “You promised.”

Zoro furrowed his brow, confusedly. “I promised?” He started to open the box, a bit nervous all of a sudden about what he would find under the shiny paper.

When he finally finished unwrapping the box, he froze. In his hand, he found a brand new iPhone. He looked up at his friends, knowing how much something like this cost.

“Guys, this is ridiculous,” He said, not knowing exactly how he felt.

“Stop,” Nami said, holding a hand up.

“Yeah, we all pitched in! Even Sanji!” Luffy grinned from his chair. “So no take backsies!”

He looked up at the room full of expectant faces, flushed from the alcohol and the good company. There was a pit in his stomach. On the one hand, he was angry. They knew how he felt about his phone. They knew what it meant to him. It wasn’t just a stupid phone. On the other hand, he was touched. Touched that his friends had come together to help him out. He found himself putting his hand in his pocket, thumbing over the ancient flip-phone that had once been hers.

“Guys, my phone works perfectly well,” He managed after swallowing. “This is completely unnecessary.”

“C’mon man,” Usopp clapped his hand on his shoulder. “You know it isn’t unnecessary. Do you need a reminder that you got lost on the way to your own party tonight?” He laughed.

Zoro remained silent, one hand gripping the new phone, and the other deep in the pocket of his pants.

“So, of course, we figured that you’d feel this way,” Robin chimed in. “So, that’s only one part of the gift.”

Zoro snapped his head towards Robin, the crease in his brow deepening. She pulled out another box from behind her back and handed it to him. This one was slightly larger, and a bit heavier. He peeled back the wrapping paper.

“It’s a shadow box,” Franky said. “So you can still keep your old phone, too.”

“Just on display on the shelf,” Nami said. “Instead of in your pocket.”

“We know how much it means to you, mosshead,” Sanji grumbled from the doorway. “You don’t have to get rid of the old phone. So, just accept the gift already.”

Zoro felt himself get teary-eyed. He told himself it was the alcohol as he wiped his hand over his eyes before tears could fall down his cheeks. “Thanks guys,” Was all he could manage.

Knowing that he needed the attention off of him, his friends just laughed and cheered, turning the music up to get back to the party. Franky spent the rest of the evening helping set up Zoro’s phone and showing him all of the functions that he would have access to. Zoro was still so overwhelmed, but he tried to make himself pay attention. Finally, and most importantly, Franky downloaded Google Maps and showed him how to use it. Zoro pocketed the phone with a slight smile and a ‘thank you.’ It felt heavy and big in the back pocket of his jeans. His heart felt heavy too. He couldn’t help but feel like this was the end of something. But somewhere, he knew that Kuina would be looking down on him, so happy that he had found such thoughtful friends.

Luffy raised his glass for a toast. “To Zoro! And never getting lost again!”

The rest of them raised their glasses, looking over to Zoro expectantly as they waited for him to raise his glass too. He reached for his beer and raised it slightly with a smirk.

“You motherfuckers are gonna regret this,” He grinned finally. “Getting lost was my only character defect. Now I’ll be unstoppable.”

[pingo1387]

Monochrome

Written for @rudimentaryflair for @opvalentines 2020!  Canonverse, Soulmate AU  ZoSan, side Frobin, mention of aroace Luffy 

The left eye held your eye color, and the right eye held your soulmate’s. When you first made eye contact with your soulmate, your right eye would change to its own color. That was what Kuina had told Zoro long ago. He never questioned it at the time, didn’t ask what that word “color” meant, but he did check his eyes in a mirror after that. They were identical as always. 

Kuina died with heterochromia. Somewhere in the world, her soulmate would live on with two brown eyes, one lighter than the other. 

“Sensei,” Zoro said one day after a frustrating training exercise. “What’s color?” 

Koshiro was taken aback by the question, and struggled to answer, eventually standing, leaving, and then returning with two large leaves. “Do you see the difference between these?” 

“Sure.” Zoro pointed to one. “This one’s darker.” 

“Yes. This one is red, and this one is green. Red and green are two colors.” 

Zoro was stumped. “Then, is everything just different shades of red and green?” 

Koshiro let the leaves flutter away in the wind and placed his hands in his lap. “Zoro, you may be color blind.” 

“What’s that?” 

Zoro only sort-of understood after Koshiro did his best to explain it to him. Afterwards, he looked at his eyes in the mirror again. According to Koshiro, colors would almost always have different shades of lightness and darkness, even in his “monochrome” vision (Zoro struggled to pronounce the word, even in his head), but his eyes were both the same shade as always. 

And that was fine. Zoro knew some people didn’t have soulmates, something else Kuina had whispered to him, and that was fine. He put down the mirror and folded his arms. No soulmate meant no one getting in the way of his dream. 

~ 

When Zoro locked eyes with the dark-eyed boy wearing the straw hat, he narrowed his eyes. Those eyes, full of youth and optimism, had changed to a lighter shade, the same one Zoro always saw in the mirror. 

“Hey,” he said while they were sailing away. “I’ve got a question.” 

“Shoot,” the boy, Luffy, said. 

“Your eyes, they changed color, didn’t they? But mine are . . .” 

“Oh, that! Don’t worry about that.” Luffy grinned. “Someone told me it means I don’t have a romantic soulmate, but I have a bunch of platonic ones. My eyes change color all the time if I make eye contact, and they change back after a while.” He stretched, flopping around in the boat. “It doesn’t make anyone else’s eyes change. Yours didn’t.” 

“Okay,” Zoro said, staring up at the sky. 

~ 

They picked up two more, a navigator with an eye for money and a sniper with a mouth for lies. After bumping into some old friends, they reached a seafaring restaurant called the Baratie, and Zoro was itching for a fight. When a waiter with hair covering one side of his face started to serve them, he made eye contact with Zoro, and his eyes widened. Usopp and Nami looked between them, mouths open. 

“What?” Zoro said, scratching his head. 

“Oh, fuck this,” the waiter said, glowering at Zoro. He seized Luffy around the neck. “Come on, chore boy, back to the kitchen.” 

As soon as they left, Nami and Usopp rounded on Zoro. 

“What was that about?” Usopp demanded. 

“What was what?” 

“Why didn’t you say anything to him?” 

“Huh?” 

“Didn’t you see . . . ?” Nami shook her head. “You’ll figure it out. You poor soul.” 

“Figure what out?” 

“You are a tragic, tragic man, Zoro,” Usopp cried. 

“You looking for a fight?” 

~ 

The cook Sanji ended up joining their crew, somehow, and he seemed to love picking on Zoro. Every time Zoro so much as tried to speak to him, Sanji would snap and badger until they were sparring, scowling, and seething. During one of their strange matches, Sanji’s hair flew up, and Zoro caught a brief glimpse of a matching set of eyes. 

“Do you not have a soulmate?” he asked. Sanji stumbled, caught off guard, and Zoro pinned him to the ground with a sword next to his head. 

“I wish I didn’t,” Sanji spat. 

Zoro frowned. “So . . . you do. You met them, and you didn’t get along? Isn’t that strange?” 

Sanji narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you talking about? Don’t you know?” 

“I don’t know. I know I don’t have a soulmate.” 

Sanji brought his legs up to his torso and kicked hard, sending Zoro flying. As Zoro sat up from the railing, rubbing his head, Sanji yanked his sword out from the deck and tossed it to him. “Yeah,” Sanji said, turning away as Zoro caught the sword. “I guess I don’t, either.” 

~ 

It had been a perfectly reasonable thing to do. His legs had been stuck in wax. The wax was unbreakable. His legs were breakable. Therefore--- 

“You’re an idiot.” 

Zoro winced as Sanji stuck the needle into his flesh again. “That’s my business,” he said through gritted teeth. 

“It becomes my---our business when it affects the crew.” Sanji jabbed the needle in again, perhaps a bit harder than he needed to. “I hate you.” 

Zoro folded his arms, staring at Sanji. Sanji looked up again, meeting his eyes, and looked back down. 

“I hate you,” Sanji repeated. 

“Yeah.” Zoro wiggled his toes, regaining feeling in his feet. “I know. I don’t know why you do, but I know.” 

Sanji flinched and snapped off the string, standing. “Rest, and don’t fucking try anything stupid,” he said. “Scratch that. Don’t stand up for at least an hour. I’ll bring you soup.” 

Zoro stared after him, and for once, he listened. 

~ 

“What’d you do to get hurt this bad?” Zoro said, tapping Sanji’s back and making him wince in pain. 

“None of your goddamn business,” Sanji said through gritted teeth. “The mountain climb was tougher than it looked.” 

Elsewhere on the deck, Luffy and Usopp were throwing their new crewmate, Chopper, into the air. Zoro and Sanji watched them in silence. 

“Hey,” Sanji said. “Did you . . . growing up, did you want to meet your soulmate?” 

“I told you, I don’t have one,” Zoro grumbled. “But I never wanted one, either.” 

“You don’t make any sense, moss-hair,” Sanji said, folding his arms. 

“Moss . . . ?” Zoro rubbed the top of his head, his hair smooth and silky and not at all like the rough moss he’d felt on trees. “What are you talking about?” 

“Boy, you really are dumb. What were you saying?” 

Zoro glowered at him. “I never wanted a soulmate. I didn’t want destiny getting in the way of my dream.” 

“That’s---” 

“Falling in love is a different story, though. That’s my choice. And I won’t let the person I choose to love, if anyone, get in the way of my dream.” 

“Hm.” Sanji shifted, wincing again. Nami and Vivi chatted with Chopper, pulling him away from Luffy’s hyperactivity. 

“What about you?” 

Sanji sighed “I wanted to meet my soulmate more than anything,” he said, scowling. “I wanted to meet that beautiful lady who I was destined to be with. But then everything went wrong.” 

“Wrong how?” 

“You’re just winning the prize for biggest moron today, aren’t you?” Sanji snapped, standing. He fell down and tried to cover up his pain when Chopper looked over in concern. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” 

“I don’t.” 

Sanji scowled, but his face softened as he met Zoro’s eyes again. “I hate you,” he said, yet again. 

Zoro’s chest hurt. “I know.” 

Sanji was silent. He soon stood again, using the ship railing for support this time. “Want something to eat?” 

“Booze.” 

~ 

Zoro didn’t hate Sanji, but he hated the way Sanji spun hearts around women, and acted so stupid with them. He hated how Sanji spoke to him, and refused to make eye contact, and did his best to put contempt behind every word. Even now, Sanji was crooning over Robin, the suspicious woman who was their newest crewmate. 

“Oh, Cook-san,” she said as he melted before her. “Have you met your soulmate?” 

For an instant, Zoro thought he saw Sanji look at him. 

“Yes, unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out,” Sanji said sweetly. “And you haven’t, Robin-chan, my dear?” 

“Correct. But that’s my business.” 

“Of course, of course, forgive me,” Sanji crooned. He turned, Robin watching him go with one dark eye and one light, and he bumped into Zoro. 

“The fuck do you want?” he muttered, avoiding looking directly at him, as always. 

“Nothing,” Zoro said, rolling his eyes. Sanji pushed past him and went into the kitchen, slamming the door shut. Zoro spotted Robin staring at him and raised an eyebrow. “What?” 

“Nothing,” she said, looking away. 

Zoro didn’t hate Sanji, but he hated that Sanji didn’t love hated him. 

~ 

There Zoro was, waking up from Enel’s lightning blast, and there Sanji was close to him, still unconscious. He stared at him for what must have been too long, because suddenly Usopp was saying, “He got hit twice. He saved me and Nami.” 

“Oh,” Zoro said. He scooted towards Sanji and pressed his ear to his chest, sighing when he heard the arrhythmic heartbeat. Looking up, he saw Usopp staring at him, and said, “What?” 

Usopp rolled his eyes and looked away. Zoro looked back at Sanji’s face, and brushed some ash out of his hair, his fingers lingering on his cheek. 

~ 

Something happened during the Davy Back Fight. Something happened to Sanji. The way he looked at Zoro when he asked for his help during the Groggy Ring battle, with that stupid ball strapped to his head. The way he slapped Zoro’s shoulders and back during the following celebration party. The way he gave Zoro tentative smiles, as if testing the waters, and the silly way he grinned when Zoro smiled back. 

“I hate you,” Sanji said that evening, joining Zoro in the crow’s nest that evening with a bottle of wine. 

“Yeah,” Zoro said, looking away. He and Sanji were still covered in bruises from their battle, dark and light patches across their limbs and torsos. 

“But I also don’t hate you.” 

“Oh?” Zoro’s heart lifted as he looked at Sanji, his chest hurting again but in a completely different way. 

“Yeah. Do you hate me?” 

“No.” Zoro took the offered bottle, taking a drink straight from the mouth. “I never did.” 

“Huh.” Sanji looked down, blinking hard, and brought a hand up to his suddenly bright eyes. “Huh. Is that so?” 

“What’s up with you?” 

Sanji looked up, swallowing back tears. “You’re just a grade-A moron, aren’t you?” 

“I’m not psychic. What are you talking about?” 

“Keep the bottle.” Sanji stood. “I’ll come to relieve you in time. See you.” 

He vanished down the ropes, and Zoro lifted his head, staring up at the dark, dark sky covered in pale, pale dots. 

~ 

With their journey through Enies Lobby and Water 7 complete, the Strawhats had lost three treasured crewmates, one for good, and gained three, one brand-new. It wasn’t long before Franky and Robin were performing public displays of affection, nothing more daring than pecks on the cheek and yet things that once would have surely driven Sanji to tears with jealousy. As it was, though, he merely gave them thoughtful glances at most. 

“Aren’t you soulmates?” Usopp asked them one day as Zoro lingered nearby and Sanji served them cold drinks, setting Robin’s down lovingly upon a coaster and slamming Franky’s into his hand. 

“We’re not sure,” Robin admitted. Her eyes hadn’t changed from the moment she had threatened them in the glow of the remains of Igaram’s ship: One was light, and one was dark. 

“I had to rebuild my eyes while modifying my body,” Franky explained. “It’s a shame, but I don’t remember the exact colors they were. In any case, since they’re super-artificial and the same color, they wouldn’t change with eye contact.” 

“So, we’re not sure,” Robin repeated. “But we love each other, and if he’s not my soulmate and I meet them one day, they’ll have to put up with him as well.” 

“What do you mean, put up with?” Franky demanded. 

Zoro stared at Sanji from across the deck, looking away as soon as he noticed. 

~ 

Thriller Bark brought them a zany new member of the family, a talking skeleton who was older than dirt and far too cheery. Thriller Bark brought them a dangerous new enemy, a Warlord with the ability to repel just about anything. Thriller Bark brought them a Zoro who claimed to have lost his memory of his fight with Kuma, but who remembered the sleeping face of his captain, the cold eyes of his enemy, and the desperate, pained face of his . . . 

Zoro thought he had finally escaped. Between Chopper trying to mummify him in bandages and the others badgering him to take it easy, he thought he had found refuge in the library, where no one would think to look for him. He lay on his back, pedalling his feet in the air to stretch his legs, as he’d been unable to sneak his weights into the room without drawing attention to himself. 

“There you are.” 

He groaned and dropped his legs as Sanji entered. “Can’t I have peace for one minute?” he said, sitting up. He frowned, seeing Sanji’s face. “What is it?” 

“I don’t hate you,” Sanji said. 

“Oh,” Zoro said, his chest hurting in that good way just hearing the words. “Right. And?” 

“I tried to hate you, Zoro. I really did.” Sanji sat next to him, staring at the floor. “I didn’t want to feel this way about you. I wanted to feel this way about a pretty girl. But I can’t help it. Zoro, I love you. You’re a fucking callous moron, and I don’t know if you love me, too, but---fuck, you have every right not to after the way I’ve treated---” 

“I do love you.” 

Sanji looked up at him, lips parted and breath shallow. “But you---” 

“I love you,” Zoro repeated. “You’ve always been a bitch, but that was the only thing---I can’t help it.” He looked down, wiggling his toes on the floor and staring at the scars on his shins. “I think I’ve loved you for a while. Maybe since I realized the only thing I really hated about you was that you didn’t love me.” 

“But I do love you. I really tried not to,” Sanji repeated, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I can’t help it, either. Especially with you spouting off those nasty words about not having a soulmate---” 

“I don’t have a soulmate.” 

“Fine. Whatever you say. But you love me, right?” 

Zoro nodded. 

“Then that works for me.” Sanji touched Zoro’s shoulder. “When you were . . . just lying there, unconscious . . . I realized I had to tell you as soon as you woke up. We live dangerous lives. I had to tell you as soon as possible.” 

Zoro smiled, placing his hand over Sanji’s on his shoulder, his heart soaring through the sky. “No regrets, right?” 

Sanji held Zoro’s cheek in one hand, looking him in the eyes. “No regrets.” 

~ 

Sabaody brought them turmoil, and a crew torn apart. The war brought them pain, and news of a bloodline with an early demise. 

The next two years brought them patience, and forced it upon them, day by day. 

~ 

Zoro spotted a familiar head of pale hair in the distance, and grinned, jumping off of the broken ship to stride towards him. 

“I liked you better without the goatee,” he said, stopping in front of Sanji. 

Sanji looked him up and down. “I liked you better with both your eyes.” 

They seized each other and hugged, hoping to never let go. 

~ 

It happened on what should have been an ordinary morning during their trip to Dressrosa. Kin’emon and Mononosuke were having what they called a “Private Father-Son Meeting” in the aquarium room, so everyone else was banned from it for the time being. Zoro and Sanji were sparring on the deck, testing their skills and banter honed after two years, and Luffy was hanging out next to Law on a railing. Nami was drawing maps in her room, Usopp was in his workshop, and Robin and Franky were at the bow, keeping an eye on the ship’s course. Chopper and Brook were cheering on Zoro and Sanji, alternating the names every so often, to their annoyance. 

Luffy leaned over to Law and whispered something, holding up something in his hand. Law took it, nodded, and raised his hand. In an instant, Zoro and Sanji fell over, caught off-balance. 

“What did you do?” Chopper exclaimed as they sat up, shaking their heads. 

“Oh me, oh my, we’re stuck in this situation again,” Brook remarked. “Why did you do that, Law-san?” 

“I got paid,” Law said, flashing the coin at him. 

Two yells echoed across the deck. Used to this, no one was drawn out from inside the ship, and Robin and Franky stayed at the bow with barely a glance behind them. 

“Why is it so bright?!” Zoro in Sanji’s body yelled, covering his eyes. “Do you guys see this all the time?!” 

“Law, swap us back right now,” Sanji in Zoro’s body snapped. “I think I gave this idiot a concussion. I can’t see any color.” 

“Of course you can’t, I’m color blind,” Zoro said. He rubbed his eyes, staring at Sanji in his body. “Is that what I look like?” 

“Wait, what?” Luffy said, coming over with Chopper and Brook. Law hung back, folding his arms and leaning against the railing

“Is that what I look like?” Zoro repeated. “What color is my hair?” 

“Green,” Sanji said. 

“Wait, that’s besides the point!” Chopper exclaimed. “You’re color blind?!” 

“Yeah,” Zoro said. “Did it never come up?” 

“No!” Sanji exclaimed. “No, it didn’t!” 

“What’s the big deal? I’ve never needed to see color to get by.” Zoro stared at his hands and stood, looking around and taking in the colors of his crewmates. “Someone get me a mirror. I wanna see the cook.” 

Brook dug around in his pockets while Luffy laughed. “No wonder you never got why Sanji calls you moss-hair!” 

“Why?” Zoro said. 

“Your hair’s the same color as moss!” 

Zoro gave Sanji a look as Brook passed him a small handheld mirror. As he studied himself (or rather, Sanji) in the mirror, Sanji stood and stared at him, blinking. 

“Zoro,” he said. “Pass me that mirror when you’re done.” 

“Sure. What color are your eyes?” 

“I’m going to talk to you about this later,” Chopper threatened. Luffy wandered away again to bother Law, Zoro too absorbed in the new spectrum available to him to pay much attention. 

“They’re blue,” Sanji said. “Light blue. And my hair’s yellow. Blonde.” 

“Huh.” Zoro twisted the mirror this way and that. “It’s pretty.” 

“Give it!” 

Zoro handed him the mirror, and Sanji stood next to him, staring at his (Zoro’s) one eye and his (Sanji’s) one visible one. 

“Oh,” he said. “Oh, Zoro.” 

He passed the mirror back to Brook and pulled Zoro by the hand up to the stern to have more privacy. As soon as they were alone, he looked at Zoro, opened his mouth, and started laughing. 

“What?” Zoro said, annoyed. 

“Zoro,” Sanji said, his eye starting to tear up. “I thought this whole time you were just obtuse, or plain rude. But you literally didn’t see it.” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“Your eyes---rather, eye, is silver. Grey,” Sanji said, pointing. 

“Huh,” Zoro said, staring his body in the eye. “Looks the same as before.” 

“Exactly.” Sanji wiped at the tears threatening to spill down his cheek. “Zoro, I used to have one blue eye and one silver eye. Before we met, you had one silver eye, and one blue eye.” 

“Before we met?” 

“Zoro.” Sanji took his hands, grinning. “We’re soulmates. You didn’t notice because my eye color looks the same as yours in monochrome.” 

“I . . . what?” 

“I was so angry. Not just because I wanted my soulmate to be a girl---I thought you were pretending to not notice, or you were really that stupid. But you just didn’t see.” 

“Oh.” Reeling, Zoro stared at Sanji, staring at that one grey eye. “Oh. That. Does that matter?” 

“You had no idea we were soulmates. You didn’t see it, and also, you’re an idiot.” Sanji leaned into Zoro’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around him. “I knew, and I tried to hate you, but I couldn’t. I think I would’ve fallen for you even if I was color blind, or just blind. It doesn’t matter.” 

“Right.” Zoro hugged Sanji back, and they stood in silence for a minute. Then--- 

“Let’s get that dick to change us back,” Sanji said, pulling away. He grinned, the wide smile odd on Zoro’s face. “It’s weird hugging myself. Are you going to miss colors?”

“Nah. It’s too bright.” Zoro held his hand. “And I’ve never needed color anyway.”