#nami would be a cat and luffy would be a monkey and robin would be an owl and jinbe would be a shark and and (trails off)

[m0thcl0wn]

Luffy week day four: i still have my friends

[koobiie]

sequel to this post, this time with the rest of the titans!

[scvrgrl]

is this love? | monkey d. luffy x fem!reader

you had caught his attention from the moment he met you, and now he knew exactly why. these feelings were both enticing and petrifying, suddenly filled with guilt for being so unprofessional. although, monkey d. luffy has never been a man of tradition...

word count: 6.4k

tags: fem!reader, a lil angsty (brief mentions of insecurity), best friend!usopp and best friend!nami, shifting perspectives between reader and luffy (most of it in luffy’s pov), some suggestive content but no smut, hardly proofread oops, lots of fluff tho! inspired by ‘is this love?’ - bob marley & the wailers :)

the sun hung high in the sky, it's warm rays spreading across your skin, transforming it into a glistening bronze. it was a leisurely time on the thousand sunny, the chaos of battle behind the crew and a ways away in the new world. you finally had time to yourself, taking advantage of the tranquility that lingered in the air. all morning, you participated in self-care activities — from enjoying a long, steamy bath without disruptions from your male crew mates, to dedicating quiet time on the deck to finish the rest of the book Robin lent you while you tanned in your admittedly-skimpy bikini. however, the peaceful silence become suddenly unsettling, your heart beginning to race as you became increasingly anxious. your senses had been already been deprived, the sun blazing just behind the thin layer of your eyelids, the wind’s pace picking up and swarming into your ears. where is everybody?

as if you had summoned them, the door to the sunny’s common area swung open, slamming so hard against the wooden panels you thought it created a dent. three figures emerged carrying vibrant weapons that sprayed a mysterious liquid. before you could react, the salty liquid covered your entire body, small icy squirts piercing through your skin accompanied by shouts and belly laughter.

“get her, Usopp!!” a high-pitched voice rang, giggling uncontrollably as they swarm around you. Luffy and Usopp surround you, boxing you in while you sat there stunned and helpless in your seat. it turns out that Usopp had manufactured a new weapon — although, it’s sole purpose was to terrorize you and the rest of the crew rather than the foes you’d soon face in the new world. Chopper had made himself comfortable while he rested on the shoulders of the surprisingly sculpted man before you, Usopp’s brown skin glistening with sweat and seawater. Luffy stood beside you, his pronounced abs directly in your eye sight as he gazed his pearly grin upon you. the proximity of his heaving, sweaty body beside you made your cheeks flush, hoping the rubber man wouldn’t notice as you stare a little too longingly into his eyes.

the fondness you’d grown for your captain slowly bloomed into an unrequited crush over time — constantly reminding yourself that he has bigger things to worry about than working his way into your heart. the weight of his effect on you was suffocating at times, almost like “an exhausting burden that sucked the life out of me,” you had described to Nami once. it was unnecessarily distracting the way you couldn’t keep your eyes off of him — sneaking glances at dinnertime as he ravaged his meal, always looking for him during a battle to ensure his safety over your own, fumbling over your words and avoiding eye contact whenever he would approach you. his blissful ignorance to your coy advances didn’t make it any better, he always assumed you were just teasing him.

“hey! what’s the big idea, huh?” you griped, shouting at the group for splashing the crisp pages of the book on your lap. Robin is gonna kill me. “i’m gonna wring your neck for soaking Robin’s book! you know she's gonna my head, dumbasses!”

“awww c’mon [y/n]! it’s just a little water! what are you, scared or something?” Luffy teased, quirking his thin eyebrows.

“just a little water, huh? we’ll see about that,” you retorted, shifting your shocked expression to something more sinister and calculated. The sudden change of your demeanor stunned the young men before you, each of them exchanging quick glances before turning tail to flee. before they could do so, you lean over, clutching onto Luffy’s strong arms to steal the water-gun from his hands. the swiftness in which you moved didn’t give him enough time to react, a surprising feat considering how agile he can be. the slick from the sweat-seawater mixture that coated his body caused your hands to slip, gliding across his firm biceps and feeling every vein and scar that marks his skin. you were able to find dry patch on his wrist, clasping it in your hands and ridding him of the weapon.

“hey what the-!” Luffy exclaimed, arms thrown up into the air, leaving him perfectly vulnerable to your attack. you aimed the gun straight at the area between his eyes, the espresso-colored irises following its barrel. ocean water squirts right where you want it, waves of obsidian becoming soaked and falling over his eyes. Luffy shakes his head to rid his eyes and hair of the salty water, directing its droplets to you when he hears your squeals of shock. a large splash hits your spine as Usopp and Chopper team up against you, firing their “ammo” whilst you were distracted. you turned your attention to them, your initial anger subsiding into an invigorating rush of adrenaline as you charged toward them, laughing and screaming.

“Luffy, grab her!” Usopp commands over his shoulder, shielding himself from your relentless attack. before you could comprehend the command, you’re suddenly swept off your feet, kicking your long silky legs as a pair of strong arm wraps around your waist and hoist you up.

“Luffy! put me down!” you pleaded, giggles being pushed out of you as Luffy presses firmly on your stomach. he shifts your entire weight into his arms, hooking one of his arms under your legs as he carries you bridal-style. Instinctively, you wrap your arms around his neck, pressing your bare chest against his, breathing in tandem as he carries you toward the commotion. your breasts graze against the large “x” scarred into his chest, the textured skin creating a sense of friction that causes your stomach to flutter. you hadn’t noticed, but you had been breathing dangerously close to the crook of his neck as you held yourself close to him. selfishly, you wished this silly quarrel never ended, just so you could hold onto Luffy’s touch for a little while longer…

…

Luffy and Usopp had been scheming all morning — huddled and hushed in the corner of the boy’s quarters as Usopp made the finishing touches to his new contraptions. their sudden bursts of rambunctious laughter had earned its fair share of glares from Zoro, who had been resting peacefully in his hammock. they had been compiling a list of unsuspecting victims to test their weapons on — automatically ruling Zoro out as he had seen the finished product. as Usopp went down the list, Luffy gave his opinion on how he think each person would react, giving amused “oooo”’s and “ahhh”’s with each name. when Usopp made his way to your name, Luffy rolled over on his back, holding his stomach as a sweet melody of belly laughter erupted from his lips. 

“oh man, she’s gonna be so mad!” he exclaimed, riding through his fit of giggles. 

“she's gonna kill you two, you know that right?” Zoro grumbled, peeking at the pair through his dark eyelashes. his arms crossed behind his head, hands cupped in the valley of green tufts to support his neck while he rested. 

“that’s why we have to do it! [y/n] has yet to experience a taste of our pranks. c'mon Usopp, back me up here!” 

Luffy’s gaze fell upon his best friend, who had still been tinkering with the gun’s trigger mechanism. Usopp’s tongue rested between his lips in concentration, briefly returning it back to it’s place as he looked over to Zoro, “he’s right, Zoro. everyone on the crew needs to experience it. it’s like a rite of passage.” 

“whatever. i’m not savin’ anyone’s ass if she bugs out,” Zoro conceded, shutting his eyes for the last time as he finally drifts off to sleep. 

so that’s exactly what they did — stealthily monitoring your every move throughout the morning, lurking within dark corners of the ship to catch you in a vulnerable position. and, unbeknownst to yourself, you set the perfect trap when you decided to bask in the midday sun with your funny little book.

now, Luffy carried you in his firm grasp — cradling you close as he dodged the fire from Usopp and Chopper’s offense. the seawater sprayed upon your exposed body caused you to slip from his grasp, Luffy’s fingers sliding from the slick pooling between the creases in your thighs and waist. with every passing moment, his grasp on you became looser and looser. eventually, you were able to break free — using your freedom to take control and tackle Luffy, fighting him for his weapon. 

the two of you tussled on the warm patch of grass that coated the deck, arms and legs beginning to itch from the constant scratching. Luffy had fought many dangerous foes before, but they were no match for your strength and determination. he felt himself losing, your thighs pinning his waist to the ground as you firmly parked yourself on his lap. you used one of your free hands to pin his wrists against the pillowy grass beneath the two of you, the other hand spinning the toy gun with incredible ease. 

you rested the gun between the small space where his dark eyebrows met, a sly smirk dancing across your lips, “gotcha.”

the air surrounding the two of you abruptly became thick, Luffy’s breath hitching in his throat despite the quickened rise and fall of his chest. why is she so heavy all of a sudden?

the height of the sun once again casted its beaming rays onto you — only this time, you had an unexpected audience. your soaked hair had draped over one of your exposed shoulders, the saltwater accentuating natural waves that ran through it. the suns rays allowed the seawater that coated your skin to glisten, droplets shimmering over the curve of your thighs and boobs and ass and—

wait. 

Luffy found his heart racing against his thoughts, thumping violently in his chest. an unfamiliar warmth pooled at the base of his abdomen, sparking into a living flame that kindled and fluttered throughout his body. the warmth suddenly became overwhelming, his cheeks and neck flushing with every passing moment. the blissful fluttering in his belly transformed into an unbearable wave of nausea, anxiety rising in his chest. what the hell is going on???

without much thought, Luffy abruptly twists his hips from beneath you, causing you to lose your balance. you rolled onto the grass, propping yourself up on your elbows as you watched Luffy briskly walk away, the muscles in his back working as he hurriedly swung his arms back and forth.

“hey, are you okay?” you called out, concern filling your chest.

even the sound of your voice put Luffy on edge, worried that you would catch on to his sudden change in demeanor. he flashed you a quick smile over his shoulder, his pearly teeth shining in the sun as they gritted against each other, “yeah, i’m fine! i think i just ate too fast is all. i’m gonna go lie down for a bit.”

the moment he returned to face the rest of the sunny, his smile fell. Luffy made his way down to the boys quarters, finding his bed and flopping face down into the mattress. he released a sigh that could’ve pushed all the air from his lungs had he tried just a little harder. the weight on his chest made him wish that he could do just that, hoping that such a simple remedy would cure his sudden ailment. becoming so overwhelmed by an unfamiliar feeling unsettled Luffy. he had always been so used to being sure of himself — never thinking twice about challenging emperors and soldiers with bounties that dulled his own in comparison.

the thoughts that raced through his mind caused him to toss and turn, ruffling the already-disturbed sheets from beneath him. falling asleep was always second nature to Luffy — the act of simply resting his head was enough to make him drift off to sleep. but now, he couldn’t stop thinking. images of your soaked body flashed behind his closed eyelids, the droplets of water traveling down your navel burned into his memory. Luffy released a loud groan of frustration, palms digging into his eyes as he pulled at the jet-black hair that draped across his forehead. dramatically, he kicked the sheets that became tangled between his legs, limbs flailing and begging to be set free.

Luffy’s thoughts nearly suffocated him, anxiety rising in his throat as he came to the realization that something was seriously wrong. he hopped out of bed, immediately swinging open the door and making his way over to Chopper’s medical ward. his loud footsteps echoed through the narrowed hallway, large feet slapping against the floor as he charged straight to the familiar door. Luffy lingered a while before knocking, fidgeting with his calloused hands as he worked up the courage to admit that he was sick. he was always used to taking care of his crew that he often felt bad for worrying them about his own problems. 

“hey Chopper, you in there?” he asked gently, lips pressed against the crack of the door. 

a small “hm?” was heard before the sound of hooves scuffling against the wooden floor made their way closer to Luffy. Chopper opened the door, curiously inspecting his captain as he stepped inside. Luffy jumped onto the examination table, the weight of his butt slamming against its surface caused some nearby vials to rattle. 

“what’s wrong, Luffy? did you get into Sanji’s knives again? he told you not to do ‘three-knife style’ anymore!!” Chopper scolded, worried that his friend ticked off the ship’s cook. “if you make him mad again he’ll give the rest of your dinner away to Nami and Robin.”

in normal circumstances, Luffy would have entertained the idea, arguing that mastering such an artistic fighting style would only help in improve his chances of becoming king of the pirates. however, this day had been far from normal — nerves once again bubbling up to the surface, making his mouth go sour as his thin brows furrowed together. “i think something’s wrong with me Chopper. like, seriously wrong.” 

Chopper’s blue nose twitched as the expression on his face shifted from amusement to concern. panicked, he shuffled his way over to Luffy, grabbing his blue medical bag to assess his condition. he noticed the way Luffy clutched at his stomach, fingers lingering over the small tissue that covered his belly button. Chopper tenderly pressed on his abdomen, testing whether or not his friend is suffering from something internal, “does this hurt?”

Luffy shook his head, sighing heavily as he laid down on his back. “it’s not a stomachache i don’t think, it’s something…different. i can’t put my finger on it.” 

“well, what do you mean? maybe if you tell my your symptoms, i can make a treatment plan to help you feeling good as new!”  

Luffy smiled at his generosity, mentally patting himself on the back for choosing such a caring doctor to manage his crew. he chewed on the soft tissue inside his mouth, contemplating different ways to list out his symptoms. when that didn’t work, he just let his mouth run, word vomit pouring out of him seemed to be the way to go. 

“it all started when we were on the deck playing with the water guns. my heart started to race and my cheeks got super hot, like my face was on fire! my palms got super sweaty too — like way more than usual so that made me even more nervous cause i almost never sweat. and then my stomach — oh my god my stomach — it felt like all of my organs did a flip! i haven’t felt that way since Katakuri spun me around in the mirror world, and even then it didn’t feel nearly as bad as it did just now! i seriously thought i was about to yack all over [y/n] if i didn’t get off the floor.” 

Chopper stared at him wide-eyed, his breathing becoming rapid as he worked to piece the puzzle of Luffy’s sudden illness together. as Luffy continued, Chopper became increasingly more nervous, each of his symptoms sounding a little too close to a virus he had done some reading on earlier that week. he had read that the mystery disease came from ingesting a rare bacteria that thrived off of hot, humid climates and the salt from ocean water — which had coincidently been the exact conditions the straw hats had been sailing through for the past few days. Chopper’s “brave doctor” act slowly begins to deteriorate as Luffy continues to list his symtoms, “-and my chest got super tight, like someone was squeezing my heart and wringing out my soul” 

tears welled up in Chopper’s eyes, a small trail of snot running out of his blue nose. the sound of his sniffling pulled Luffy out of his thoughts, returning his attention to his furry friend. “Chopper? what’s wrong buddy? was it something i said!?”

losing the battle of fighting back his tears, Chopper began to wail and turned around to flee the room. Luffy charged after him, puzzled as to why he would suddenly burst into tears. it turned out that Chopper was making his way to the kitchen, seeking comfort from Nami and Sanji, who had been preparing the crew’s next meal. the aroma of chicken and vegetables filled the room, the delicious scent traveling to the rest of the ship as the door swung wide open.

“hey! if the two of you are gonna horse around, then do it outside! i’m cooking here-“ Sanji shouted, cautiously swinging his knife to point in the direction of the deck.

“LUFFY’S GONNA DIE!” Chopper cried, ending Sanji’s sentence short and gaining the attention from the chef and his unexpected partner. bewildered, the pair turned to face the intruders, fear becoming apparent on both of their faces. 

loud, thunderous footsteps had suddenly come to a halt upon entering the room, Luffy caught the swinging door with his large palm before shouting, “I’M WHAT?!”

“i’m sure that’s not true, Chopper. now what’s actually going on?!” Nami asked, her tone soft with reassurance. she had been chopping carrots and celery to accompany Sanji’s dish, the blade coming dangerously close to her long fingers upon the interruption. Chopper had run up to Nami, seeking comfort in her lap as he nuzzled his face into her thighs, wiping his tears on the pair of denim jeans she wore. 

“all of his symptoms line up with a specific virus i was doing some reading on the other week! i don’t have the proper herbs to cure it in my collection! i’m so sorry,” Chopper said, the last part muffled as he hid his face behind his small hooves. 

“well what were the symptoms? maybe you’re just jumping to conclusions buddy,” Sanji soothed, his raspy voice always softer when speaking to Chopper. with that, Chopper turned to Luffy with glossy eyes and snot dribbling down his chin, nodding his head for him to share his symptoms. so much for doctor-patient confidentiality.  

Luffy huffed a deep breath, preparing for his crew to decide his fate, “fine. i dunno…when we were messing around on the deck, my chest just got real tight all of a sudden — and not from all the running around. it was…different, like an aching almost.” Luffy balled his hand into a fist, mimicking the tightness in his chest. “and my stomach started fluttering and burning, like way deep down. i’d never felt anything like that before in my life. and the weirdest part was that it didn’t hurt, but it actually felt kinda good for a moment…” 

the words from Luffy’s rosy lips trailed off as he returned his gaze back to his crew, their faces shockingly calm and…happy? “why are you guys looking at me like that? what’s wrong with me??” 

the door to the kitchen swung open once more, Zoro walking in and holding from a half-empty bottle of sake. “sounds like you’re in love,” he joked, chuckling as he brought the rim to his mouth and taking a long swig. Sanji began to berate him for being so selfish, claiming that the bottle he was so carelessly drinking from was meant for “special occasions only, dumbass!” 

Luffy blew a raspberry through his lips, “yeah right! i’ve never even had a crush on anyone! that’s just gross, plus that’s Sanji’s job!” 

“i don’t know Luffy, what you just described sounds exactly what i feel when i look at my sweet Nami and Robin!” Sanji cooed, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and smooching kisses in Nami’s direction. 

Nami, not even flinching at Sanji’s advances, asked more questions to investigate Luffy’s condition, “well, did it happen when you were looking at anyone in particular..?” despite being known for her independence, Nami was very in tune with romance — always picking up on queues and indulging in romance fiction that Robin would entertain her with. the moment she asked the question, Luffy’s demeanor shifted. 

“well...kinda. it happened when i was holding onto [y/n]” Luffy said, voice unfamiliarly low and shy. the entire room erupted in laughter, teasing Luffy for sweating something so normal. Chopper sighed with relief, glad to know that his friend wasn’t dying. Nami giggled and punched Luffy’s arm playfully, “you do have a crush, ya dope!” 

Zoro slapped his back with an extra-heavy hand, his slight drunkenness causing him to lose control of his strength. something inside Luffy finally clicked, a brief moment of relief soothed his soul before the gravity of the situation came down on his shoulders like a fright train. the cacophonous laughter began to blend into a ringing in Luffy’s ears, overwhelmed with the information. he huffed a quick laugh and turned to make his way back to the boy’s quarters. what the hell?

…

Luffy couldn’t sleep that night, his eyes straining to carve out the grooves inside the wood that lay above him in the dark. everytime he closed his eyes, all he could see was you — the way your hips curved, your pillowy thighs plush across his lap, the small constellation of moles and freckles that sprinkled across your smooth skin. his cheeks flushed just at the thought, thanking every power up above that the room was dark and everyone was fast asleep. the racing of his heart was no match for the speed at which his mind ran, however, disgustingly sweet thoughts flooding his senses. 

the brief moments of sleep he did get were interrupted by dreams about you. he pictured the way your warmth would feel beside him, entangled in his sheets and his arms after a long night of peaceful sleep. the rising sun’s glow landed on you just right, illuminating the soft skin on your bare back. your cheeks were colored with a soft, sleepy blush, the rise and fall of your back as you breathed soothed all his anxieties. your eyes had a softness to them that tugged at his heart as they stared into his own with contentment, your dark lashes still heavy with sleep. your plush lips fixed themselves into a smile, mumbling something that was inaudible to Luffy’s rosy ears. whatever you said didn’t matter, as your lips met his and morphed together into a soft kiss. morning breath be damned, he found himself drinking you in, touching every part of you, attempting to commit it to memory. however, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember exactly how you felt, the fuzziness of the dream clouding his senses. the dream felt like a warm embrace, a tight grasp that he wouldn’t mind staying in for just a little while longer… 

when he woke up, Luffy opened his eyes to the empty spot in his bed — you nowhere to be found. your absence led Luffy’s heart to ache, feeling like he was missing a piece of him. this newfound discovery about himself tied loose ends in his life that he couldn’t quite pinpoint — he wasn’t sure why he always made sure you were okay during a battle, why you were the reason behind his motivations for improvement, why he always caught himself sneaking glances at you during meal and leisurely time. you had caught his attention from the moment he met you, and now he knew exactly why. these feelings were both enticing and petrifying, Luffy suddenly filled with guilt for being so unprofessional. although, Monkey D. Luffy has never been a man of tradition. 

… 

the past few days had been a blur for Luffy, constantly lost in his own thoughts. he started becoming hyperaware of every little thing, making sure that every time he saw you he was presentable. Luffy started grooming himself — showering more than once week, spending more time in front of the mirror to tweak his wild hair so it sat just right. with the bouts of self-confidence came insecurity as well, overanalyzing his posture and facial features. the scars on his face and chest suddenly the only thing he could think about — wondering if you thought them to be impressive or gross, seeing them as a mark of failure and weakness rather than a symbol of survival and determination. he traced the rough edges of the scar on his chest with his calloused fingertips, analyzing the fusion of pinks and reds that color his chest. this particular day he decided to cover it up, buttoning his shirt just above his scar to conceal it from the rest of the crew, embarrassment and shame pang in his chest. 

conflicting feelings wrestling in his mind and chest began to take physical tolls on Luffy — deep purple bags weighing his eyes down from the lack of sleep. he decided that he finally had enough of this senseless torture, deciding that today was the day he would tell you exactly how he felt. Luffy’s impatience led him to believe that jumping to confessions would finally allow him to marvel in all the good things love had to offer. he couldn’t wait for you to be in his arms, to carry you around on his back, to kiss you anywhere and anytime that he wanted. he couldn't wait for you to be his. 

Luffy figured he would pay the only person he thought would be the most well-versed in this thing called “love” — his ship’s cook, Sanji. despite having a questionable past when it comes to romance, Sanji could actually be captivating, making suave advances at all kinds of women over their years of travel and succeeding. Luffy wandered into the kitchen, finding Sanji sharpening his knives in preparation for dinner. 

“hey Sanji. can i ask you somethin’? Luffy asked, resting his elbows on the pristine table cloth as he took a seat. Sanji put his knives away and returned his attention to the young man, cautiously approaching him as he wore a solemn expression. 

“sure, what’s up?”

“how can i tell [y/n] i like her? i mean, i don’t wanna scare her away but at the same time, i just can’t stop thinking about her! she’s so pretty I’m worried she wouldn’t wanna be with someone like me...” Luffy trailed off, getting lost in his sorrows once again. 

Luffy’s uncertainty threw Sanji for a loop, scrunching his curly eyebrows in confusion, “since when do you care about what people think? just be yourself, Luffy, you have nothing to worry about. i’m sure if [y/n] didn’t like you she wouldn’t have joined the crew”

“well yeah but what if she doesn’t like like me? what if me telling her i like her scares her away and she’ll never be a part of the crew again?” Luffy threw his face into his hands, pulling at the stretchy skin around his cheeks in exasperation. 

“if that’s the case, then treat her to a huge bouquet of flowers! women love that flashy shit,” Sanji claimed, taking a long drag from his cigarette. “i’ll even help you bake her a cake or something. sound good?” 

“hell no, you’ve got it all wrong!” Nami exclaims, wandering her way into the kitchen for an apple to snack on. “women don’t just want ‘flashy shit’ Luffy, especially not [y/n].” 

“wow Nami, that top looks darling on you!!” Sanji exclaims, scurrying over to her to get a closer look. brushing off the compliment with a simple “thank you,” Nami continues her string of advice. 

“look, since i’m the closest to her i think that you should just be yourself. all [y/n] truly wants is honesty, and if you tell her exactly how you feel, she’ll be understanding no matter what.” 

and it was true. Nami had easily become your best friend the moment you stepped foot on the thousand sunny — the both of you confiding in each other free of judgement. it was Nami and Usopp who had listened to you pour your heart out about how you truly felt about your captain. there were nights where you cried into her lap about how lonely you felt because you thought he would never reciprocate these feelings, believing that he couldn’t afford to make the room in his heart to love you more than just platonically. you believed that you’d be stuck in the friendzone forever, your bottled feelings gnawing at the walls of your heart bit by bit until it was entirely consumed by loneliness. Nami kept these moments in mind, internally screaming as she couldn’t wait to watch this relationship unfold. you idiots have no idea.

“once you’ve gathered your thoughts, then you can tell her how you feel. but until then, i’d lay low for a while — that way you don’t jump her the next time you see her. but don’t completely ignore her!” 

Luffy hadn’t expected to take Nami’s advice, but it made sense as she was the closest to you. he brought her into a tight embrace, squeezing the petite woman’s frame as he chuckled a giddy laugh into her ear, “thanks Nami! who knew you were so good at this stuff?” 

“yeah well, this therapy is gonna cost you about fifteen hundred berr—“

“SEE YA!!” Luffy shouted over his shoulder, cutting Nami off before she could set her price in stone. 

… 

you hadn’t seen or heard from Luffy in a few days, which wouldn’t worry you under normal circumstances if he wasn’t acting so…strange. your captain has always been cooky and silly, but this behavior was different. the times you had seen Luffy, you flashed him a soft smile, a peaceful, friendly greeting. however, his eyes would just go wide and avert your gaze, something akin to fear flashing in his dark eyes. when you tried to confront him about it, he would brush you off and say it was just leftover stress — but the way his lips pursed and how he avoided direct eye contact let you know that he was lying. after that conversation, you resulted to avoiding him as well, embarrassed to seek him out when it was very clear that he did not want to see you. 

the loneliness and shame was eating away at you, every day a piece of you withered away as you mulled over what you could’ve possibly done to receive such treatment. all roads led back to that moment on the deck, where you got too comfortable, too carried away and let yourself do something you knew you shouldn’t have. it was too much, why would you ever think that was a good idea? 

you made your way to Nami’s room, trails of dark grey running down your cheeks from the mascara you had cried off. upon opening the door, you caught a glimpse of Nami and Usopp laughing about something before they directed their attention to you. Nami’s warm smile quickly faded, patting the cushy space next to her as she invited you over. the moment you shut the door behind you, the tears returned tenfold. all the pent up frustration and anger came pouring out of you, strong streams of salty tears surging from your eyes. 

“i think Luffy hates me,” you said, voice strained from choking back a sob. you filled them in on all the gruesome details, spilling the guilt and honest frustrations you felt and how you blamed yourself for his behavior. Nami immediately regretted the advice she gave to Luffy when she saw the state you were in, never imagining that you would’ve been this devastated. her and Usopp exchanged quick glances, warning each other not to reveal too much so they wouldn’t spoil Luffy’s confession plan. 

“oh [y/n], i promise he doesn’t hate you. boys are just dumb sometimes, especially the ones on our crew,” Nami joked, chuckling lightly to ease the tension that lingered in the air. you huffed a breathy laugh as you wiped your nose, tucking your hair behind your ears to avoid getting the trails of snot into it. 

“i think he’s just going through some personal stuff right now,” Usopp reassured, twisting the tiny frills of your shirt between his fingers as he lay sprawled out on Nami’s mattress. “trust me, i know what it’s like to have Luffy hate you for a while, and this just isn’t it. just give him some time and he’ll come back around.” 

their kind words put you at ease, the stream of tears drying out slowly as you collected yourself again. “thank you guys, i needed that.” 

the pair gave you soft smiles, continuing to keep the mood alive by cheering you up with filling you in on the predicament Usopp got himself into earlier that day. 

…

the sunset marked one week since this whole predicament began, Luffy finally ready to confide in you about how he truly felt. he had prepared a whole speech — each line carefully crafted with Nami’s help to describe exactly how he felt, not wanting to miss a beat. he couldn’t afford to forget anything, as one tiny mistake could result in catastrophe. Luffy had never prepared this much for anything, not even when fighting warlords and emperors. you had superseded all of them, your attention and feelings more important than his own. 

Luffy recited his speech over and over again in his head, making his way to your favorite spot on the sunny in hopes of finding you. the second he laid his eyes on you, however, his mouth went dry and the words suddenly scrambled together in his head. his attention was fixated on the way your face glowed against the orange horizon, the breeze blowing your hair behind you and putting every feature on display. you leaned over the railing, resting your elbows on the wooden edge as you drank in the smell of the seawater. your glowing eyes turned to meet Luffy’s, your face stoic and glum as you turned back to face the setting sun. 

“fancy seeing you here,” you stated sarcastically, your words lacking any form of amusement as your frustration returned. 

“can i talk to you about something?” Luffy said, his voice suddenly small and nervous. the tension in his voice had been unexpected, causing you to turn around and meet him face-to-face. you crossed your arms over your chest, nodding your head in his direction as a sign of permission for him to continue. Luffy took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts properly to restrain the word vomit that built up in his throat. although, his nerves made him feel like he was about to actually vomit. 

“first, i want to apologize for the way i’ve been acting these past few days. it was never my intention to make you upset or mad at me or anything. i did it because…” Luffy paused, fidgeting with the hem of his shorts. god, this is so weird. 

“because…?” you asked, the anticipation eating away at you. your heart thumped violently in your chest, throat beginning to sting as your nerves returned.

“because i like you, okay? like more than i should — and if i’m being completely honest, i didn’t even know i could like someone like that. but when I’m with you, i feel like i have a purpose. and of course I feel that way with everyone else, but you’re different!” 

Luffy took a small step forward, gently grabbing your hands and holding them in his. “the moment i realized that i actually liked you, something inside me clicked. it felt like everything suddenly made sense and a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. i felt like i could breathe again and i was free. hell, i’ve been having dreams about you ever since — but nothing weird though i promise!” 

the way he threw his arms up in defense at that last sentence made you laugh, all of the dizzying stress releasing through your nose. you hadn’t realized it, but tears began to flow from your eyes. but these were tears of joy, tears of relief that everything you had beat yourself up over for the past week was all in your head. all you could do was stare at the man before you with a beaming smile and teary eyes, your brain short-circuiting as you took in every syllable that left his mouth. 

“i’m so sorry, [y/n]. i never meant to make you feel like i was avoiding you on purpose, i was just finding the right things to say. i really don’t wanna screw this up, so — if you’ll have me — i want to be there for you. i want to be the person you wake up next to every morning, the person you can come to and share everything with. i want to be yours and i want you to be mine.” 

Luffy’s thumb grazed your cheek, wiping away the tears that ran down your face. you leaned into his touch, gently pressing your lips into the palm of his hand. the intimate gesture caused Luffy’s cheeks to burn a bright red, a hopeful smile forming across his lips. 

“took you long enough,” you teased, redirecting his hands to your waist as you draped yours around his neck. “i’ve loved you for a long time, ya know? i was just waiting to see if you’d ever come around, dumbass.”

Luffy could no longer contain his excitement, hoisting you up by your waist and spinning you around in the air. your playful squeals were quickly silenced as he brought your lips to yours, drinking you in with every touch and taste.  

many people made the assumption that Luffy was born under a lucky star, attributing his success to destiny and fate rather than the determination and strength he put forth. that claim had always pissed him off as it made him feel like he was cheating the system entirely. however, it wasn’t until he held you in this moment that he finally understood what they had meant. 

i could get used to this.

teehee i’ve been wanting to write for luffy for sooooo long but never knew what to write about. then this idea came to me like an epiphany and im so glad it did!

[the-music-maniac]

Not that I read mpreg all that often (not really my thing generally speaking) but I came across some "Sanji is pregnant" fics in the sanzo/zosan tag, and not nearly the same amount for Zoro. It got me thinking about the trope. I think the lack of Zoro fics here is a tragic oversight. I think we as a fandom are absolutely and tragically ignoring the potential comedy gold of Zoro being the one to be pregnant instead.

Because when people write Sanji, the general trend I'm seeing (upon scanning through some of the fics quickly) is that he's cautious about it. Conscientious, careful to make sure things are okay. Which - arguably I could see, Sanji is probably the more practical of the two (not by a whole lot but still)and he didn't have a good childhood. Sanji being pregnant is usually a fic about his heaps of parental issues, childhood trauma and angst - which is fun to read. It's good. It's amazing, even.

Zoro being pregnant is ONE HUNDRED PERCENT gonna be a COMEDY. We're talking about a man who once tried to fight Kuina holding like 20 bokkens. We're talking about a man who got stuck in wax and thought the reasonable solution was to cut off his legs.

The entire crew spends the next 9 months tearing their hair out, preventing Zoro from doing stupid shit (exhibit A: cutting off his own limbs). They spend the same amount of time trying to stop Luffy from gum-gum-grabbing Zoro and yeeting him anytime he needs to get them out of a sticky situation.

The crew (mostly Sanji) is on 24/7 prevent-zoro-from-drinking-alcohol duty (impossible). Chopper is constantly stressed in the later months cause no one puts it past Zoro to get lost somewhere, give birth out in the woods and come strolling back with a baby tucked under his arm. They have to start hiding Zoro's dumbbells.

Franky and Usopp design and build a nursery and spends the entire time suspiciously teary eyed. Sanji tries to pretend he's unaffected but spends an entire night creating a 9 month meal plan of all the nutrients Zoro and the baby are gonna need. Not even a day later, one of the crew finds him up at 2 am making a mountain of food because Zoro made the mistake of offhandedly mentioning he had particular pregnancy craving within earshot of Sanji. In the end Zoro has to sit on him to stop Sanji from running himself ragged.

Robin keeps spouting morbid childbirth facts and quotes from parental advice books in equal measure. Nami keeps going on shopping sprees for cute baby clothes and adding the cost of them to Zoro's debt. Brook keeps writing lullabies and trying to sing them to Zoro's stomach. Zoro 100% uses his pregnancy belly as an excuse to walk around without a shirt 24/7 without getting nagged.

Somehow word gets out that the famous pirate hunter Zoro is pregnant, and at the next big fight with the Marines, half the soldiers refuse to fight him and instead start telling him to sit down, take it easy, shouting advice at him etc. Etc. Zoro loses his shit a little bit and cuts their boat in half.

Mihawk, upon finding out, tells Zoro in no uncertain terms that that is his grandchild and he's expecting them to visit so he can meet the baby when they're born. Zoro vehemently denies that Mihawk is his father (he is). Zeff upon finding out, is almost as bad as Sanji when it comes to being a mother hen. Perona buys even more baby clothes for the baby. She buys one singular shirt for Zoro as a joke, and it coincidentally happens to be the exact same brand of "mama" crop top he was forced to wear in that one filler episode. Zoro tries to chuck it into the ocean (he fails).

I'm essentially saying it would be absolute chaos, and it would be the funniest thing I've ever read. 9 months of Marimo wrangling. Can you imagine the look on Zoro's face if one of the opponents he was fighting were to tell him that he's "glowing"?

PLEASE, I would actually wheeze myself to death. The best part is you can still have plenty of Sanji angst. He still has parental issues except now they're flavoured with "I'm not ready to be a father" and "I'm terrified I'm gonna become my biological sperm donor" and "please don't die because of childbirth complications, that happened to my mother(sort of, I know she died after but it kinda counts), and I can't handle that happening again to you". Lots of cute/tender moments of Zoro comforting and reassuring Sanji. We can even have Zoro angst. He probably views protecting his crew as the one and only job he's good for (not true but that's probably what he thinks). Not being able to fulfill that is probably not helping his self esteem, and that sense of uselessness warring with his need to protect the baby - but the contradictory thing here is that to protect the baby he HAS to sit back and let other people do that FOR him. That plus all the other restrictions, people treating him differently, but him at the same time refusing to view his own child as a weakness. Imagine the havoc that would wreak. Oh my god.

Y'all don't understand, I don't even read mpreg that often and yet this is literally my ideal fic HAHAAAAA

[cryingpariah]

I know that we (Usopp Nation) love to discuss the multiple different ways the eventual meeting between Usopp and Yassop could go but today I wanted to discuss how I think the Strawhats would react to Usopp having/wanting/feeling like he needs to meet his father but hesitating for [Insert reason here].

Luffy: Likes Yassop obviously and would be excited to see him again! But our emotionally intelligent king would pick up on Usopp's vibes and just outright ask him what’s wrong. Would respect his decision to go or not go. If it’s a no though, he'd go and break the news but do it much too bluntly (“Yeah, Usopp didn’t want to come!”). Honestly the whole time there he’s unintentionally making Yassop feel like the biggest piece of shit.

Zoro: Pretends to not care/not have an opinion when he in fact has plenty of both. Zoro's just not the kind of person to care about blood connections, not his own anyway, so he'd probably veer on the side of not going but acts neutral. Regardless of Usopp's decision though Zoro is there to make sure he sticks to it, no wussing out! If he says he’s going he’s going, even if he’s got to hide behind Zoro the whole walk there.

Nami: Usopp's BFFL. She’s there to hype him up! No shitty absent father is allowed to make him feel like shit! She’s helping him get ready, picking a killer outfit and hairstyle for him, everyone knows looking good is the best social armour! If he decides not to go she’s still dressing up him but this time to go and paint the town red! If he does want to go she’s heading there right alongside him! Even if it looks like she’s engaged with something else best believe she’s keeping a hawk eye on Usopp.

Sanji: Guy who is so anti biological father. Is staunchly against Usopp going but tries to hide it behind neutrality and fails miserably. Ultimately though having had some emotional catharsis with facing his own father he’ll accept Usopp's decision no matter what. Absolutely tags along and brings a dish because he was raised a proper chef. (“Oh this? It’s Usopp’s favourite. Not that you had any way of knowing.” *faux polite customer service smile*)

Chopper: Little fella is CONFLICTED. On one hand he’s literally only heard good things about Yassop from both Usopp and Luffy so obviously this guy must be great! But if that was true why did Ussop look so..scared? He decides to approach this from a doctor perspective first by sitting Ussop for a checkup and letting him ramble all his thoughts out. If Usopp decides not to go Chopper's making an official announcement that Usopp's got ‘can’t-leave-the-boat-disease and has to stay for his own good.

Robin: Notices Usopp's discomfort immediately and whisks him away. Sits him down with a cup of her secret stash of soothing tea and lays down all the facts for him. Yes, he has no obligation to go see his father just cause he’s here. No it doesn’t make him a bad person if he doesn’t want to. Despite how wildly different they are, she’s the best at understanding his feelings right now and all that come with it. If he decides to not go, she’ll go in his stead to explain (and also to make sure Yassop doesn’t try to go himself).

Franky: He’s about as emotional as you’d expect. He’d probably be encouraging Usopp to go, not for his dad but for himself. His dreams of being a ‘proper man’ and ‘brave warrior of the sea’ means he shouldn’t live or die with regrets or what ifs. Regardless of Usopp's decision, Franky just wants to make he won’t regret for one reason or another. Will tag along and hype up Ussop to anyone and everyone.

Brook: Like Robin he’s taking Usopp somewhere else to calm down and think. He’s also playing him some soft violin to relax to. They don’t talk much, just let the music guide them for a bit. In a moment of violin driven vulnerability, Brook would tell Usopp that regardless of what does or does not happen, he has a place and a family right here, and that won’t ever change. Places neutral but would prefer if Usopp stayed and didn’t risk getting hurt.

Jinbei: Probably knows Yassop on a semi-causal level and therefore knew of Usopp long before FMI. Was really stunned upon hearing this would be Usopp's first proper meeting with his father. Jinbei's got plenty of sage of advice and can wash away Usopp's parental insecurities by reminding him of who he is and how any man worth a damn would be proud to call him his son. Stays behind if Usopp goes but only because he’s worried of overstepping if he does.

BONUS! (Argue with your mama, your daddy and your congressman Vivi will be the final Strawhat!!)

Vivi ft Karoo: They’re absolutely gobsmacked. Vivi's the one that brings out some latent anger Usopp doesn’t even realize he’s been holding in. I can definitely see Vivi wanting to go even if Usopp's not, she’s very confrontational after all but she defect to what Usopp wants ultimately. If he does want to go she’s right there with him and is totally throwing some shade Yassop's way. Karoo is there as a supportive friend and a quick exit strategy if Usopp needs it.

[majestick-posts-op]

The Strawhats are all very smart once you think about it that its almost scary.

You got the obvious ones like Robin being a schoolar with tons of knowledge covering many topics as well as being a critical thinker, as well as Nami not only being a god tier navigator since the age of 8, but also having elevated street smarts.

Then you have Usopp, who is a jack of all traits who mastered multiple mediums such as art, snipery, botanics, engeniring and mechanics and was SELF TAUGHT until the timeskip. And Franky, who was tutored by a (fish)man who was given the title of best shipwrught in the world and managed to rebuild hinself after an usually fatala incident.

Sanji is sonething of a critical thinker too when he isn't h#rny, remember: he saved everybody back at Alabasta and Water 7 through wits alone. Jimbei is a mature and natural leader with an above average skillset too, both in general knowledge and helmanship.

Chopper is only 17 yet he is already at the level of fully trained doctors like Marco and Law, he can foud a cure for a terminal virus made by a former MADS member in less than a hour! And Brook isn't only a great musician (which takes both skill and smarts) but he also found ways to use his devil fruit in innovative new ways.

Even Luffy, despite everything, has great emotional intelligence as well as being a genius when it comes to his fight IQ, he developed all of his gears and trasformations by himself with minimal help with gear 4 only. And the "help" was only giving him more resources. He truly deserves more credit than he gets for his accomplisments and intelligence.

And even if you include Vivi in the mix she has great skills as a diplomat and politician and sports an unbelievable level or maturity for her age.

So yeah, everybody really is seriously smart on the Sunny.

Except Zoro he's a dumbass.

[igotthatgirlfailureinme]

hey oda, you were joking, right?

[pcktknife]

i might have dreamed this but have you ever drawn zoro one piece as a ferret

probably a dream. ive drawn zoro maybe 3x and of those times the only animal one was a parrot. ive drawn maya/pearl/dahlia of ace attorney fame as ferrets tho. anyways not a ferret but heres a mongoose zoro and cobra sanji

[lozenga-arts]

Haven’t posted art in a bit I’ve realised

[justrandomfanficideas]

1-One Piece

An Au where almost everyone thinks the strawhats are in a poly relationship(not counting Brook, Jimbei and Chopper) and it is all because of an habit Usopp started by accident.

So, Zoro get lost in a straight line, right? Everyone in the band knew that but it was hard to always keep an eye on him until Usopp got annoyed and simply grabbed Zoro's hand before he could get lost.

Surprisingly that was very effective as Zoro didn't get lost despite trying to go the wrong way many times but Usopp only grabbed him stronger and directed him in the right way.

The others seeing this, started to do the same when Zoro had to go on the same direction as them or they were the ones nearest to him before he decided to get lost.

Marines, their allies, etc saw this happen so many times that they made assumptions especially as even despite the time they were separated they still did this.

Of course that those assumed to be in a relationship had no idea that everyone was thinking that but it reached their families who were shocked(let's say this is the reason why Judge choose to force Sanji to marry Pudding instead of his other kids) at this but most of them supported it even if it was hard to believe.

I just imagine people seeing how strong the strawhats are and how their relationship never broke despite everything that happened and start to believe they were relationship goals while said people were not in a relationship and had no idea everyone thought they were.

If they ever find out about this, their reactions and if they end up together or not is up to the writer.

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Pfft why can imagine the reader singing peaches to her crush 🤣😂🤣

Lucky: 🎶🎹🍑

The crush:🧍😳🧍‍♀️

Stawhats: 😳😱😭😡🤭

I don't know if you meant for this to be a request, but I was inspired. Absolutely none of this is canon to Lucky Break, this is straight up crack.

Can't Take You Anywhere

Yandere Straw Hats x reader x Smoker

1.9k words

warning for alcohol consumption

"This is all your fault, you stupid love cook," Zoro seethed from across the table. 

"My fault? How is this my fault? Do you think I put her up to this???"”

“You did!” Nami butted into the argument, “Why the hell did you tell her to ‘follow her heart’ when she admitted to crushing on someone?!”

“I didn’t think she was referring to him!” Sanji gestured helplessly to what was disappointingly, the man of your affection. 

“She looks like you with all the dopey faces she makes every time she sees him! Who else did you think it was?!” Zoro slammed his fist onto the table, not having any of Sanji’s attempts to shrug off the blame here.

Sanji’s face dropped and he sniffled loudly, “... Me.” With that he dissolved into a puddle of tears on the table they were all seated around. Well, all but one of them. 

You were seated at the piano in the center of the restaurant, which you had commandeered by shoving the actual pianist off the bench and threatening to kick his ass if he interrupted you. To say that you had possibly had a little too much to drink tonight would be an understatement, but none of them thought to cut you off, and now they’re all going to suffer for it. 

Not one of them could have guessed Captain Smoker was going to make an appearance, and absolutely not a soul in this restaurant would have been able to guess what you were going to do about it. 

“I think we all share some blame here for not stopping her the second she stood up,” Robin’s face was in her hands, too ashamed to even look at what was happening. “Especially after she said ‘this one’s for my one and only true love: Captain Smoker’.”

Now it was too late. Now you were drunkenly belting out a love ballad to a fucking marine in the middle of a crowded restaurant and none of them were willing to go up there and stop you. Everyone was too embarrassed to go and associate with you when you were acting like this. Except Luffy who was happily taking advantage of your now unattended plate.

Their discomfort was nothing though, not in comparison to the absolute mortification on Smoker’s face right now. All he could do was stand there in abject horror as one of the pirates he’s been chasing for months loudly, and publicly, professed her love for him. His cigars had fallen to the floor after he had bitten clean through them. You were slamming away on the piano, not particularly well, and chanting Smoker’s name like it was a damn prayer. 

“If it weren’t for the fact that all of you are still seated, I would think this is the most genius idea for a distraction ever conceived. I’ve never seen Smoker stopped dead in his tracks like this,” Tashigi was standing next to their table, a mix of second-hand embarrassment and pity on her face.

Zoro glanced at her, not even caring that she snuck up on them, “You’re not gonna help your captain?”

Tashigi looked on at the drunken confession wearily. She doesn’t get paid enough to run interference on whatever the hell was going on over there. She cleared her throat and shook her head, “No, Smoker prefers to fight his own battles.” It was a lame excuse, but no one called her on it. None of them had any room to talk right now.

Just as she said that, they could hear you take a deep breath and scream out more of this weird song you came up with, “Captain Smoker, at the end of the line, I’ll make you mine!”

Finally, mercifully, Smoker snapped out of his stupor and launched himself forward. One arm wrapped around your middle and the other hand clamped over your mouth, thankfully silencing you. As he pulled you off the bench, his head darted around, desperately searching for the rest of your crew.

Tashigi waved him down, appearing to take mercy on her horrified captain. He marched his way over there, doing his damnedest to ignore the stares and whispers directed towards him. It didn’t help that you were wiggling around like a fish, not a care in the world for the scene you just created.

Smoker got to the table and unceremoniously dropped you into your empty chair. The second his hands were off you, yours were on him. You spun around and threw your arms around him, nuzzling your face into his exposed chest. Despite all the alcohol in your system, you were somehow strong enough to resist being immediately pushed off of him.

“Smokey~! Did you like my song? I sang it just for you!” You looked up at him, a love struck smile plastered over your face.

Gags resounded around the table at the cheesy nickname, and Smoker couldn’t help but grimace, “Do not ever call me that again.”

All that got him was some giggles, “Oh my god, you’re so funny! C’mon Smokey, we both know you love it! I mean look at you, your face is all red!” Not only was his face flushed, even his neck and ears were turning red. Smoker cursed over how pale he was.

Nami, who was seated next to you, was trying to pull you off of the marine, ”Lucky I am begging you to stop talking.” And singing. She would forget about your debt to her if you promised to never sing again.

You swatted at her while your other arm still clung onto Smoker, “Nuh-uh, you can’t tell me what to do! You’re just jealous that I found my one true love before you did!” Obviously the only reason anyone would disapprove of your current behavior was because they wanted what you had. What you and Smoker have, you should say.

Smoker took advantage of your loosened grip to rip you off of him, taking several steps back for good measure. The look you gave him was devastating, tears immediately welling in your eyes, “Smoker? Where are you going? Did you not like it?” Oh god, you were even starting to choke up.

As much as no one wanted you to be with this marine, they didn’t want you sobbing in the middle of the restaurant because of him either. Smoker was now getting dirty looks from not only the Straw Hats, but also the patrons in this establishment who no doubt thought they were witnessing some sort of lovers quarrel. He ran a gloved hand down his face, hating every second of this.

“Lucky, you’re very drunk. You need to eat something and sober up,” he tried to gently turn you around, but this didn’t work as you managed to weasel your way past his arms and clung onto his waist like it was a lifeline.

Sniffling pitifully, you asked again if he didn’t like your song, “Did you hate it? D-Do you hate me?”

Smoker looked at Tashigi for help, but she was refusing to make eye contact. He risked looking back at you, only to see actual tears starting to drip down your face. His heart panged at the sight and he internally cursed himself for what he was about to say.

“It was… fine. I don’t hate you, please stop crying,” he awkwardly patted your shoulder, hoping that would be enough to calm you down. 

“Really?” You immediately brightened up, much to his relief, “I knew it, I knew you would! I have more songs I can sing!” Relief promptly turned to horror as you attempted to get up and return to the piano.

Smoker forced you back down, swiped a bread basket off a tray from a passing by waiter, and shoved the whole thing into your hands. “No, Lucky, no more singing. Please just eat something,” he was practically begging at this point, wanting literally anything to help and absorb the alcohol.

You openly pouted, but did start ripping off and eating pieces of bread. There was a collective sigh of relief from the entire table.

“Tashigi, we’re leaving.”

“But Captain, the Straw Hats are right here! We should apprehend them,” she protested. 

“I am not dealing with the rumors that would be started by dragging this woman out of here after what she did,” his reputation would never recover. That, and he didn’t particularly want to deal with listening to your drunk ass all night.

Just as he was walking away, grateful that you hadn’t piped up again, he caught a look of panic flash across everyone else’s faces. He saw at least three of them spring out of their seats to grab you, and he took that as his cue to leave faster with Tashigi in tow. He put two cigars in his mouth, and debated on a third after the night he’s had.

“Lucky no! Don’t you dare!” Nami was holding onto your arms for dear life, having just barely stopped you from slapping Smoker’s ass as he walked away. 

Zoro hefted you up into his arms and deposited you into Luffy’s lap, “Hold onto her and do not let go for the rest of the night.” 

Luffy immediately coiled his arms around you, not wanting you to get up and do anything else. He propped his head onto your shoulder and huffed at the whole ordeal, “Lucky, why do you have to like a marine of all people?”

“The heart wants what the heart wants, you wouldn’t get it,” you sigh dreamily, eying up Smoker’s retreating form until he was out of sight.

“Can’t we just leave now? Please,” Usopp pleaded, slumped down in his seat to the point that only his nose remained visible. 

“No, we need to give Smoker a head start, we can’t risk Lucky spotting him again,” Nami immediately shot that idea down. It’s not like she didn’t want to leave, she absolutely did, but she couldn’t risk everything that just happened repeating.

—

This had to have been the worst hangover of your life, you don’t think it could get worse than this. The events of last night were blurry, but not enough to save you from the crushing humiliation of everything you did. Currently you were seated at the table on the main deck upon Chopper’s insistence that the fresh air would make you feel better.

Due to your head being buried in your arms, you don’t see who’s approaching. Suddenly, something is dropped on your head, making you groan from the contact. You lift your head enough to glare at the perpetrator, “Nami why?”

The smug look on her face was enough to make anyone’s blood run cold, “Oh no reason, I just thought you might want to look at the newspaper this morning.”

Oh god. The look on her face promised that you would NOT want to see it, but it was too late to ignore it now. You sat up faster than you thought you could in your given state and snatched up the paper, only to almost scream when you saw the cover story.

“Scandalous! Pirate and Marine have lovers quarrel in restaurant!”

Immediately beneath the title was a picture of you clinging onto Smoker with tears and snot running down your face. Truly they couldn’t have gotten a worse picture of you if they tried. Not that Smoker looked much better with the genuine panic flitting across his face.

“He’s going to kill me,” you say barely above a whisper.

[kb-maillet]

…She claims him as her’s because of course- 🍊⚡️

[wesleysniperking]

If I was young, I'd flee this town

I'd bury my dreams underground

As did I, we drink to die, we drink tonight

Far from home, elephant gun

Let's take them down one by one

We'll lay it down, it's not been found, it's not around

Let the seasons begin, it rolls right on

Let the seasons begin, take the big king down

[oksurethisismyname]

What dumb shirt I’d gift each Strawhat for the holidays featuring a variety of shirts on my Etsy wishlist

[inseobts]

1st Anniversary

what would they do for your first anniversary together?

characters: luffy, zoro, sanji, law, ace

words count: around 0.5k - 0.7k each

masterlist || ko-fi

── .✦ Monkey D. Luffy:

The sun rises over the Thousand Sunny, casting golden light across the deck. You stretch and yawn, rubbing the sleep from your eyes when a sudden weight crashes into you.

"Y/N!" Luffy yells, tackling you with his usual enthusiasm.

You groan but laugh as he wraps his arms around you "Luffy, it's too early for this—"

"IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY!" he shouts, grinning ear to ear.

You blink. Oh. Right. Your first anniversary together.

Luffy’s never been the best at remembering dates, so you didn’t expect him to bring it up at all. But here he is, vibrating with excitement like a kid who just found a pile of meat.

"You remembered?" you ask, surprised.

Luffy nods eagerly "Of course! I mean… Sanji wrote it down for me… and Nami yelled at me to not forget… and Robin told me what an anniversary even is—but still!"

You chuckle, shaking your head "So, do you have something planned?"

Luffy puffs out his chest proudly "Yup! Captain’s orders: today is Luffy and y/n Day! No crewmates allowed!"

From across the deck, you hear Usopp yell "THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!"

Luffy ignores him.

"But," he continues, "I, uh, don’t actually know what people do on anniversaries, so I just made some rules!"

Your curiosity piques "Rules?"

Luffy grins, grabbing a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolding it dramatically "Yup! First rule: We gotta eat as much meat as possible!"

You snort "Of course."

"Second rule: No pirate stuff today. Just fun stuff!"

"That’s… actually kind of sweet" you admit.

"And the last rule…" He suddenly scratches his head, cheeks turning a little pink "Well… um…"

You tilt your head "What is it?"

Luffy huffs, clearly frustrated "It's a secret rule! I’ll tell you later!"

You laugh but decide not to push it "Alright, Captain. What’s first on the itinerary?"

It starts with a massive breakfast, courtesy of Sanji (who glares at Luffy the whole time for stealing food off your plate). After stuffing yourselves, Luffy drags you across the Sunny for various "Luffy-approved" activities.

First, there’s an intense game of tag—where Luffy cheats by using his rubber powers. Then, he insists on fishing, though he gets distracted halfway through and jumps in after the fish himself. After drying off (and avoiding Nami’s wrath for getting seawater everywhere), he decides you both need a nap—because "eating and playing is tiring!"

You wake up with Luffy curled around you like a koala, snoring into your hair.

"You really are like a cat" you mumble, gently brushing his bangs aside.

Luffy stirs, blinking up at you sleepily "Hmmm?"

"Nothing" you whisper, smiling.

As the sun starts setting, you and Luffy sit on the deck, watching the waves. The usual chaos of the crew is still happening in the background, but for once, it’s peaceful.

Luffy suddenly perks up "Oh! The secret rule!"

You sit up straighter "Finally. What is it?"

He fidgets, uncharacteristically nervous "Well… I heard anniversaries are for saying important stuff, right?"

You nod "I guess, yeah."

Luffy rubs the back of his neck, looking out at the sea "So… my last rule is… that I gotta tell you something important today. Something really important."

Your heart skips a beat. Luffy isn't usually serious—when he is, it means something big "Okay," you say softly "I'm listening."

He takes a deep breath, then grins, his usual carefree self again "I love you!"

You freeze.

He’s said he likes you before, in his own way—"You're my favorite!" or "I like having you around!"—but he’s never actually said that.

He tilts his head "Was that good? I was practicing in my head all day."

Your eyes soften "You practiced?"

"Yeah!" He laughs "I mean, I already knew I love you, but I wanted to say it today ‘cause, y’know, it’s our thing. Our anniversary thing!"

You shake your head fondly, grabbing his hat and plopping it onto your own head "You’re such an idiot."

Luffy pouts "Hey—"

Before he can complain, you cup his face and kiss him. He makes a surprised noise but quickly melts into it, smiling against your lips.

"Best anniversary ever" he mumbles.

You laugh "You say that now, but wait ‘til next year. You’ll have to top it."

Luffy grins "Easy! Next year, I’ll make a million rules!"

You sigh, shaking your head "What have I gotten myself into?"

Luffy just laughs, pulling you closer as the sun dips below the horizon. The crew groans in the background, but you don’t care. Because as chaotic and ridiculous as he is, Luffy’s way of loving you is perfect.

And that’s all you could ever ask for.

── .✦ Roronoa Zoro:

The sun hangs low over the Thousand Sunny, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink. The crew is scattered across the deck, each lost in their own evening routine, but your attention is on one person alone—Zoro.

The swordsman leans against the railing, arms crossed, eyes closed. To anyone else, it looks like he’s resting, but you know better. He’s thinking.

You step closer, hands behind your back “Oi, Zoro.”

His eye cracks open slightly before he turns his head toward you “Hm?”

You smile, rocking on your heels “Happy anniversary.”

For a second, he looks at you blankly, and your heart sinks a little. Did he forget?

Then, with a small smirk, he straightens up “Tch. You really think I’d forget?”

You cross your arms “Honestly? Yes.”

He scoffs “Give me some credit.”

Your curiosity piques “So… you actually planned something?”

Zoro rolls his shoulders, looking away for a brief moment before nodding “Something like that.”

You raise an eyebrow “Wait. Seriously?”

Before you can press further, he jerks his head toward the deck “C’mon.”

He leads you to a quieter part of the ship, where the sounds of the crew fade into the background. A small blanket is laid out on the deck, two cups and a bottle of sake sitting neatly in the center. The sea stretches endlessly before you, the breeze carrying the scent of salt and adventure.

You blink in surprise “Did… you do this?”

Zoro sits down, grabbing the bottle “Sanji might’ve helped. But don’t tell him I said that.”

You chuckle, sitting beside him “Didn’t take you for the romantic type.”

“I’m not.” He pours a bit of sake into your cup, then his own “But I figured… a year with you is worth drinking to.”

Your chest warms at his words. Zoro isn’t one for big, flashy gestures—but when he cares, he shows it in ways that truly matter.

You clink your cup against his “I’ll drink to that.”

As the two of you sip in comfortable silence, you glance at him “So, what was the first thing you thought when we got together?”

Zoro exhales, setting his cup down “That you’re stubborn.”

You laugh “Me?”

“Yeah.” He leans back on his elbows, looking at you “You wouldn’t back down, even when I tried pushing you away.”

You tilt your head “Did you want to push me away?”

Zoro’s gaze softens “…I didn’t want you to be a distraction, you know”

You stare at him, heart squeezing “And now?”

He lets out a slow breath “Now, I know you’re not.”

You smile “Good answer.”

After a few more drinks, the night fully settles in and Zoro turns to you, expression unreadable.

“…I have something for you.”

Your eyes widen, surprised “You got me a gift?”

He reaches into his haramaki and pulls out a small object. He places it in your hand—it’s a charm. It's like a small version of his earrings turned into a pendant and attached to a thin string.

Your breath catches “Zoro…?”

He rubs the back of his neck, looking away “It’s stupid, but… I had it made a while ago. For you.”

You run your fingers over the smooth surface, heart pounding sooooo hard “It’s not stupid. It’s perfect.”

Zoro smirks “You’re stuck with me.”

You laugh, tightening your grip on the pendant and leaving a kiss on his cheek.

── .✦ Vinsmoke Sanji:

The kitchen of the Thousand Sunny is filled with the warm, mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food. The scent of caramelized spices and grilled seafood lingers in the air, a sure sign that Sanji is in his element.

You lean against the doorway, watching him work his magic. He moves with effortless grace, flipping a pan, the flames from the stove reflecting in his blue eyes. He hums softly to himself, a tune you recognize as the one he whistles when he’s happy.

You smirk “Cooking me a feast, Chef?”

Sanji turns at the sound of your voice, and immediately, his expression melts “Ah, ma chérie, you’re early.”

You cross your arms, pouting “So I’m not supposed to be here?”

Sanji chuckles, wiping his hands on a towel before stepping closer “I wanted to surprise you...” He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear “But I suppose I don’t mind if you ruin the surprise—after all, you’re the guest of honor!”

Your heart flutters at his words. Sanji has always been charming, but there’s something different about the way he speaks to you, softer, more genuine, as if you’re the only person in the world.

You glance past him at the beautifully arranged table, complete with candles, fine plates, and a bouquet of flowers “You really went all out, huh?”

He grins, taking your hand and spinning you playfully “Only the best for my love.”

Sanji pulls out a chair for you, as the great gentleman he is “Sit and relax. Let me take care of everything.”

You obey, watching as he presents dish after dish, each one plated to perfection “Alright, Chef, walk me through the menu.”

Sanji gestures dramatically “For the appetizer, we have a delicate seafood bisque, infused with saffron and a touch of white wine. For the main course..." He lifts a silver lid, revealing your favorite dish "...a meal crafted specifically for my one and only.”

You gasp, touched “You remembered my favorite?”

Sanji scoffs as if offended “Do you take me for an amateur? Of course I remember.”

You laugh and take a bite, instantly melting at the burst of flavors “Oh my god. I think I just fell in love all over again.”

Sanji chuckles, resting his chin in his palm as he watches you “Then I must be doing it right.”

After finishing the meal and complimenting him so much that he nearly combusts with joy, Sanji disappears into the kitchen. When he returns, he’s holding a small plate with a single dessert on it, a beautifully crafted heart-shaped pastry.

“Happy anniversary, my love” he murmurs, setting it in front of you.

Your eyes soften “You made this just for me?”

Sanji kneels beside you, taking your hand in his “Everything I make is for you, mon amour. But this… this one is special.”

You pick up the dessert, admiring the delicate details. As you take a bite, your taste buds explode with sweetness and spice, just like him.

“It’s perfect” you whisper.

Sanji smiles, but there’s something more in his expression tonight—something deeper “I’m glad,” he murmurs “Because you are, too.”

Your breath catches as he lifts your hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles.

“Sanji…”

He exhales, resting his forehead against yours “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done”

Your heart swells, and for once, he’s the one left breathless when you lean in and kiss him.

The chef who’s always served everyone finally gets a taste of something just for himself... a love that’s his to keep.

── .✦ Portgas D. Ace:

The Moby Dick is quiet tonight, the usual noise replaced by something softer (Ace had made sure of it).

You step onto the deck, your brows furrowing as you notice the absence of drunken laughter and boisterous yelling. Instead, a familiar warmth spreads through the air, not just from the ship’s lanterns, but from the flickering flames dancing lazily around a certain freckled man's fingertips.

He’s waiting for you.

“Hey, you’re finally here” Ace calls, grinning as he waves you over “Took you long enough.”

You raise an eyebrow, crossing your arms “You were the one who told me to wait in my room. What exactly are you up to?”

Ace scratches the back of his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips “Well… it’s our anniversary, right? So I wanted to do something special.”

Your heart skips a beat. He remembered.

You step closer, noticing that he’s set up a "date night" on the deck. There’s a blanket spread out beneath the stars, a small box of food beside it (probably stolen from the kitchen), and a few lanterns hanging. But the real highlight is Ace himself, his flames glow softly around him, casting warm hues against his skin.

“Ace…” You blink, touched “Did you do all this?”

He grins, patting the spot next to him “Well, I had some help from Thatch—mostly because I kept burning the food.”

You laugh as you sit beside him “That sounds about right”

Ace chuckles, handing you a small bowl of your favorite food “I figured I should at least try to do this properly.”

You take a bite, humming in approval “It’s actually pretty good.”

“Damn right it is! I didn’t burn this”

You shake your head, smiling “You’re impossible.”

Ace leans back on his hands, watching you with a lazy grin “Yeah, but you love me anyway.”

Your cheeks warm. He’s not wrong.

After finishing your meal, the two of you lay side by side on the blanket, staring up at the endless sky. The sea is calm, the ship gently rocking beneath you, and Ace's warmth seeps into your skin where his arm brushes yours.

He turns his head, watching you “Y’know… I never really thought I’d make it this far.”

You glance at him “What do you mean?”

Ace hesitates, then exhales “I used to think I wasn’t meant to have stuff like this. Someone who sticks around, someone who actually...” He pauses, then looks at you with a rare softness “...someone who loves me just for being me.”

Your heart aches at his words. You reach for his hand, intertwining your fingers with his “You deserve this, Ace. You deserve love, and happiness, and everything good in the world.”

Ace stares at you for a moment as he swallows hard.

Then, without a word, he pulls you into a tight embrace, burying his face in your shoulder. His body is warmer than usual but you don’t mind. You hold him just as tightly.

“…Thanks,” he mumbles “for staying.”

You pull back slightly, cupping his face “I’ll always stay.”

Ace lets out a shaky breath, then suddenly grins “Good. ‘Cause I don’t plan on letting you go either.”

Before you can respond, he kisses you, slow and deep.

As he stops you narrow your eyes at him “Alright, spill it. How did you get everyone to be this quiet?”

Ace blinks, then smirks “What, you think I can’t get them to behave when I want to?”

You cross your arms “No, I know you can’t.”

Ace laughs, rubbing his nose “Fine, fine. I might’ve… bribed them.”

You raise an eyebrow “With what?”

He looks away, mumbling under his breath.

“What was that?” You lean in.

“…I promised to do chore duty for a whole week.”

You gasp, eyes wide “You WHAT?”

Ace groans, throwing his head back “I know! But it was the only way! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get this crew to shut up for more than five minutes?”

You burst into laughter, clutching your sides “Oh, this is priceless. You, of all people, voluntarily doing chores?”

Ace grumbles “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I made for this romantic evening.”

You wipe a tear from your eye, still giggling “Oh, I definitely do. I'll make it worth for you, don't worry” you wink at him.

Ace huffs but smiles, pulling you back into his arms “It's already worth it”

You hum, resting your head against his chest.

── .✦ Trafalgar D. Law:

The Polar Tang hums quietly beneath your feet as you make your way toward Law’s quarters, your heart pounding just a little faster than usual. Today marks your first anniversary with him, and while you know Law isn’t the type for grand, sweeping gestures, a small part of you wonders if he even remembers.

You wouldn’t be upset if he forgot, he’s busy, after all. But still… a year together means something.

You take a deep breath and knock.

“Come in.”

Pushing open the door, you step inside and immediately stop in your tracks.

The usually cluttered room is different. His desk is cleared, save for a single candle flickering softly beside a small plate of food, your favorite. A delicate piece of folded paper rests next to it, and on the bed, a neatly wrapped package.

Law stands nearby, arms crossed, watching your reaction with an unreadable expression “Took you long enough” he mutters.

You blink at him, then at the setup “You… did this?”

“Tch. Who else?” He glances away, scratching the back of his neck “It’s not a big deal.”

Your heart swells at the effort. It is a big deal, because Law doesn’t do things like this unless they truly matter to him.

Smiling, you walk over to the table and pick up the folded paper “What’s this?”

He doesn’t answer, just watches as you carefully unfold it.

Your breath catches the moment you realize what it is.

It’s a hand-drawn sketch. Of you.

Your fingers tremble as you take in the intricate details, the way your hair falls around your face, the softness in your eyes, the careful shading that brings it to life. He’s captured you perfectly, every detail very precise. But what gets you the most is the expression he’s given you, serene, happy, loved.

“Law…” Your voice is barely above a whisper “You drew this?”

He shifts uncomfortably “Yeah.” His gaze flickers to the side “I… started it a while ago. Just never had a reason to finish it until now.”

Tears sting the back of your eyes, and you clutch the drawing to your chest, overwhelmed. You knew Law was skilled in many things, but this? This is beyond anything you could have expected.

He clears his throat “There’s more.”

You glance toward the package on the bed, wiping your eyes before carefully unwrapping it. Inside is a book... an old, well-kept copy of one you once mentioned loving but never found again.

You stare at it, stunned “How did you—?”

“You talk in your sleep sometimes.” He smirks, finally meeting your eyes “You kept mumbling about it a few months ago, so I figured I’d find it.”

You let out a small, watery laugh “You found this for me?”

Law shrugs, but there’s a flicker of pride in his expression “It’s not a big deal.”

You set the book and drawing aside before closing the distance between you, your hands resting on his chest “It is a big deal,” you murmur, looking up at him “Thank you, Law. Really.”

He exhales softly, his fingers ghosting over your waist before settling there, pulling you a little closer “Didn’t want you thinking I forgot” he mutters.

You smile, reaching up to cup his face “I wouldn’t have minded, you know. Just being with you is enough.”

His golden eyes search yours, something unspoken passing between you before he finally gives in. His lips find yours in a slow, deliberate kiss, one that speaks of everything he doesn’t say out loud.

He tastes like mint and tea, his hands firm yet gentle as they slide up your back, pressing you against him. The kiss deepens, his fingers threading through your hair as he tilts your head to deepen the connection. Your breath hitches when he nips at your bottom lip before soothing it with another lingering kiss.

When you finally part, your foreheads rest together, both of you breathing a little heavier.

“Happy anniversary” you whisper.

His smirk returns, softer this time “Yeah. Happy anniversary.”

You grin “Think we’ll make it another year?”

Law scoffs, tilting your chin up so he can steal another kiss “I know we will.”

And in that moment, with his arms around you and the warmth of his lips lingering on yours, you have no doubt he’s right.

[zorosangell]

⛥ﾟ・。 kunoichi

synopsis: the story of how you met the strawhat crew (and your swordsman)

cw: lots of fluff, comfort, angst if you squint, slightest hint of simp zoro, you're a bad-ass, luffy saves you.

a/n: reposted from another account

'I can't believe I let this happen... I'm such an idiot...'

You knew the creak of a disembarking ship all too well, which only told you that the Strawhats were back way before the estimated time.

'S'what I get for trusting Kovu with gathering intel...'

With a sigh, you placed the rolled up poneglyph prints in their respective tubes and tied them to your back, silently ducking into the shadows when you heard footsteps outside the door.

You were currently aboard the Thousand Sunny, the flagship of the Strawhats, trying to steal their poneglyph prints for your boss.

It was a simple job, too. They were docked at some random island for supplies, and the reindeer who was left behind to watch the ship had fallen asleep.

No one would suspect a thing.

You should've been back on land by now, handing over the prints and finally breaking free from his abusive reign.

This job was your ticket to freedom.

Yet Kovu just had to fuck shit up.

'I can't stay holed up in this room forever. They'll get too far from land.'

With a huff, you slowly opened the door, happy to sense that no one was around.

'I need to find a way to get to the back of the ship. I can jump from there, and probably swim back.'

Quietly, you ran toward the stairs, happy you went barefoot for this mission instead of using your getas.

There was no possible way to get back there without being seen, so the least you could do was be fast about it.

You were up the stairs in the blink of an eye, and now sprinting straight for the gigantic, cannon-looking thing attached to the back of the boat.

'Almost home free...'

For the first time in years, you smiled, freedom just in reach.

Until it wasn't.

"YOHOHOHO! Um, guys! There's a lovely lady trying to sneak off the ship!" a skeleton man shrieked, landing in front of you and blocking your easy exit, drawing a sword from his cane. "AHHHH! SHE HAS THE PONEGYLPHS!"

Soul King Brook

'Dammit! Time to try the front!'

You back flipped, twisting yourself in the air so you landed the oposite way, allowing you to book it in the other direction.

"You can't be serious!" a redheaded woman exclaimed, running up the steps and to the back deck with a small orange and white staff in hand.

Cat Burgler Nami.

She ran at you, the staff extending into something much larger.

She swung, aiming for your head, but you dropped into a split just in time, using your extended leg to sweep her feet and knock her on her ass.

You grabbed her staff as he was distracted, squeezing it by accident. Out of nowhere, it extended impossibly long, shooting you into the air.

'Luck may be on my side today.'

You smirked as you flew up the side of the mast, getting about halfway up before planting your feet on it, running up the rest.

You managed to get to the yard, perching yourself so you could look for another form of escape, when you sensed something.

Nico Robin.

You jumped off the yard, grabbing onto it like a monkey bar just as four pale arms sprouted from the wood, attempting to grab you.

"Whoa! That's so cool!" a giddy voice exclaimed from below.

Your gaze quickly shifted to the deck below, only to see that trademark hat, and the notorious man that it rested on.

'Strawhat!'

You could sense another attack coming your way so you swung yourself as if you were on uneven bars and let go, flying into the air.

"Is she nuts?! She's gonna kill herself from that height!" a large man with weirdly shaped blue hair exclaimed from below.

Cyborg Franky.

The swing was too short.

You wouldn't go overboard.

'Curse these heavy cuffs!'

One silver cuff was attached to each of your ankles, their being there out of your control.

Noticing you were getting dangerously close to the ground, you imbued your legs with some haki and landed safely, creating a small crater on the grassy deck.

As the dust settled, you realized you were surrounded by Strawhat, the Pirate Hunter, and Blackfoot.

'Shit.'

"GAHHHH! SHE'S SO GORGEOUS! LOOK AT HER SHORT KIMONO!" Sanji squealed as his eyes turned into hearts, blood shooting from his nose.

Despite the blonde man's... awkward display, you sensed another pair of eyes on you, so much so that it practically burned.

The Pirate Hunter?

The second you turned to him, your heart caught in your throat.

You had seen his face on his wanted poster a few times before, and you'd be stupid to deny that he wasn't a handsome man, but looking at him in the flesh...

The pictures didn't even begin to do him justice.

And before you realized, the two of you locked eyes, and in an instant, it felt as if your legs turned to jelly.

A warm, fluttery feeling spread throughout your stomach, and it felt as if everything else in the world had stopped.

'What is feeling? Have I been poisoned?'

Just going off his glare, you could already tell that most cowered under his gaze.

So why were you reacting this way?

Shaking your head, you snapped yourself out of it, focusing on the task at hand.

'No time to gawk... back to work.'

"You... what are you doing on my ship? And why are you stealing Robin's ponegylphs?" Strawhat asked seriously, his face quite the contrast from his giddy expression before.

You sighed.

There was no way you could lie out of this mess.

"I am a kunoichi of the Iguro clan. And I have been ordered to steal your ponegylph prints," you stated, tone firm.

"Any idea why?" Nami asked, her and the rest of the crew walking over.

"None. I am left completely in the dark," you shook your head.

Your expression quickly turned determined.

"But I do know that this final job is my one way ticket out of hell, so peacefully or not, I'm leaving."

You lowered yourself into an offensive stance, glaring at Strawhat as his lips grew a smirk.

He cracked his knuckles, "Alright, then."

"Luffy, you better not hurt her!" Sanji fumed from the sidelines.

Using your haki, you peered into the near future to see him punch you with an extended arm.

'Can't have that.'

"Gum Gum Pistol!"

You tilted to the side, avoiding his hit with ease.

The entire group gasped, save for Zoro.

Strawhat's grin grew even larger, if that was possible, and he wound up both arms.

'A barrage of fists.'

"Gum Gum Gatling!"

The attack came quickly, but you dodged just like the first, flipping, lunging, and performing splits to dodge.

Imbuing your arms with haki, you grabbed one of his arms, harshly pulling him toward you.

And like a bungee cord, he came, and you slammed a flattened hand into the pressure point on his neck, knocking him out.

"Luffy!" the crew exclaimed.

Without hesitation, Zoro drew two of his swords and broke into a sprint, so you dropped his captain and drew your own katana, meeting his two with a sharp clash.

He smirked, which made that fluttery feeling return to your stomach.

"I see you use Ittoryu," he remarked with a slight rumble.

You smirked right back.

"I'm knowledgeable in the style, yes."

The both of you pushed off, returning to your stances before running at each other again.

Swords flew through the air as the both of you met the other's attack perfectly.

You lunged into an attack, but he blocked it yet again, so you hooked your outstretched foot on his ankle, deepening your lunge to pull him down.

He grunted, doing everything he could to keep his stance planted and balanced; so, you imbued your foot with haki, and he did the same for his.

He seemed almost surprised by the fact that you were still pushing your sword against his—despite your compromising position—openly demonstrating your strength, and proving it was comparable to his.

No even Tashigi could do that.

And not only was he impressed by the woman in front of him, but in silent awe.

Sure, your beauty was what caught his attention first—he was a man, after all.

Smooth, chestnut skin...

Plump lips...

Beautiful hip dips and curves...

Sparkling, (e/c) eyes, which looked as if they held stars in your gaze...

But now that he saw your fighting prowess, and raw strength along with it...

Well, you could say you had him hook, line, and sinker.

Still, you kept strong, holding your sword firm in its place as the Pirate Hunter continued to push down.

That is... until the pain equivalent to a thousand lightning bolts stemmed from your ankles.

'No! Not now!'

As you let out a cry of pain, Zoro quickly pulled away his swords, moving before the electricity could be conducted to him.

You dropped your katana, falling over as you held yourself in agony, muffling your shouts of pain on your forearm.

"What's wrong? What did you do to her, moss for brains?!" Sanji asked, yelling at the green-hared swordsman.

"I didn't do anything to her!" Zoro fired back, glaring at the cook.

He didn't know why, but seeing you in so much pain made him hurt.

It was a sharp, pulling feeling, as if his heart was on a string connected to you.

"The shocks seem to be coming from her ankles," Robin pointed out, everyone's attention turning to the cuffs that adorned your feet.

"How do we git it off her? 'Cause that looks super painful," Franky asked, grimacing at the sight of you writhing in pain.

It was then that Strawhat got back up from the ground, looking at you with a blank face.

"Oi, (y/n)? Can you hear me?" your bossed asked, his voice coming from the cuffs.

"Shit," you cursed, weakly trying to get up.

"I'll take that as a yes," you could practically hear his smirk from the other side. "Lemme cut to the chase... you failed your mission, plain and simple. So, you know the consequences."

"No!" you let out a choking gasp, trying to speak through the pain. "I've... I've worked with you for ten years! My debt is paid! We had an agreement!"

"You stupid girl!" he cackled. "I was never going to honor our agreement! You're too good of an asset to pass up! You will work under me for the rest of your pathetic, little life!"

The ship went dead silent, the Strawhat crew looking at you sorrily as tears poured down your cheeks.

Ten years of your life... gone.

All because you believed in the word of a pirate.

He was right... you really were stupid.

Painfully, you turned to Strawhat, who looked over the situation intently.

That's when you got an idea, and settled on it instantly.

Down on your hands and knees, you bowed your head to the captain, the rest of the crew letting out quiet gasps.

"Strawhat, I... hnnggh... I apologize for knocking you out earlier and... un-understand that I am in no place to ask you for such a favor but..."

You lowered your head to the ground, accepting that you would have to die in a state of embarrassment and weakness.

"Please kill me."

If you thought the crew was shocked before, they were flabbergasted now.

Even Zoro.

"I've wasted the last ten years of my life with that monster. And now that there's no end in sight, I do not wish to live."

Strawhat kept the same neutral face as he slowly approached.

You took a deep breath, smiling as you realized your suffering would soon be over, and the bliss of nothingness would welcome you.

But it never came.

Strawhat instead walked past you, silently, and you understood.

'I should've known...'

Such a favor couldn't be done for someone who just stole from him.

Suddenly, you felt the weight release form your ankles, and the shocks stop.

Your eyes shot wide as you lifted your head, snapping around to see that Strawhat had broken the cuffs off for you.

"Hey, guy!" he shouted, leaning down to the broken pieces. "I don't know if you can hear me anymore, but know that (y/n) is under my protection! And she won't be paying back your stupid debt anymore!"

You breath was trapped in your chest, unable to comprehend the words coming out of his mouth.

In one motion, a man you had just met—a man that you tried to steal from—had set you free.

After ten years of hellish torture, you were finally free.

But you still tried to compose yourself, sniffling as he turned back around to face you.

"Why didn't you kill me?" you quietly asked, looking away from the man.

His smile grew into a full on grin, "All you needed was a little help. There was no reason to kill you."

Your eyes went wide.

There was no way.

This had to be a trick.

"Next time just ask."

Your ears perked at that part.

"Next time?" you asked.

"Oh, yeah! I meant to ask," he cheesed. "Do ya wanna join my crew? It'd be so cool if we had a kunoichi!"

You were shocked to say the least, looking over the rest of the crew's faces to see that they were smiling as well.

Never before had you been met with such kindness.

They weren't even getting anything in return.

You sniffled, clearing your throat.

"I would like that," you smiled, looking down at the ground.

As he cheered, and ordered Black Leg to cook a banquet in celebration, you wiped a stray tear from your cheek, looking up at the clear, blue sky.

Strawhat Luffy would never know the bounds of your thanks.

You could never repay him.