#sanji originally was going to be filling

[badly-drawn-doflamingo]

[ slams doors open]

I MADE IT JUST IN TIME!

[heartsforseo]

Luffy x jealous reader

A/n: All of these are just fiction. You are pretty, lovely, and beautiful <?33 Word count: 600 Request are open Warning: insecure reader but Luffy is beige so he comforts u

ft: Luffy, Boa

Requested: <yes> <no>

You love Luffy, you really do. But God, he’s so dense it hurts. Right now, he’s being fed by none other than the Kuja Empress herself, Boa Hancock. She even learned how to cook meat, just for Luffy!

Yeah, you can stand your ground in terms of attractiveness. But with the most beautiful woman? Yeah no, you’d wither away like a speck of dust.

You’re glad that Boa finds Luffy attractive. But at the same time sad. Luffy is handsome and strong. It makes sense that he’ll need a partner that can be on his level. And well, you’re quite far from it.

It doesn’t help that Luffy is oblivious to all this! Yes, Luffy is way smarter than he looks. And yes, he can be serious sometimes. But what does he know about love? He’s like a newborn child when it comes to it. If it weren’t for Robin pushing him to confess, you would’ve imploded!

It also doesn’t help that when the pirate empress first saw you, she was…disgusted. And when she looked back at Luffy, her heart and eyes went back. Not to mention, you also had a lesser portion of food being given to you.

Finally having enough, you left the scene and went back to you and Luffy’s shared room. You contemplated whether to just sleep at the ship for the rest of the week or stay in the castle.

You lay down on the futon, looking at the blank ceiling. Light filled the corner of your eyes. Standing there was Luffy and meat in his mouth.

He entered the room and closed the door. The two of you were silent, and an uncomfortable aura filled the area. Luffy swallowed the meat whole and then spoke, “Are you ok, Y/n?” You shifted your body and positioned it to stare at Luffy. “Of course, why would you think that?”

He tilted his head to the side and crossed his arms, “Well you seemed down when we were eating…was it because I stole all your food?!” He laughed, “You gotta be quick next time, Y/n.”

“I guess so,” you said. Your voice was dry and had no feelings. You shifted your weight back to your original position, and once again, looked at the ceiling.

Luffy frowned at your reaction and used his gum-gum fruit to snatch you out of the bed.

You gave out a little squeak and gasped, “Luffy!”

“Are you mad at me, Y/n?” He asked, pouting, “I’ll try not to steal your food anymore, ok?”

You smiled a bit from his gestures, “I’m not mad at you, Luffy. Just tired.”

“Really? But we’re having fun downstairs.”

“Well, you can go back down, Luffy. I’m not gonna stop you.”

Luffy looked at you for a while and finally spoke, “Nah.” He held your bridal style and went to the futon. He put the two futons close together and dropped you on top.

“Luffy?”

“Sanji said that if a woman is sad then you should spend time with them. So, I’m gonna cuddle with you tonight, Y/n!” He gave you a flashy smile and wrapped his rubber arms around you three times.

Morning came and you woke up from the sun shining on your eyes. You looked beside you and noticed Luffy still asleep, his hair was a mess, his mouth was wide open, and his arms were tightly wrapped around you.

You blushed from what you remembered last night and opted to wake up Luffy. But, you never had a day as peaceful as this. And so, you went back from your sleep and embraced him, once again.

A/n: I just want to let you all know THIS is just a fictional story. You are of course perfect just the way you are <?33

[penkura]

last forever [10/13]

Summary: Zoro only offered to marry you to keep you out of an arranged marriage with a man much older than you. You agreed with the caveat of ending it via annulment once you received word from your parents regarding the original engagement, despite your growing feelings for your close friend.

Pairing: Zoro x Fem!reader, mentioned Sanami later (like epilogue later so chill)

Warnings: Marriage of Convenience, Fake Marriage, referenced sex (waaaaaay later on), mutual pining, Zoro is bad at feelings but what's new there, eventual romance I promise, mention of past attempted assault (I'll warn in that chapter), creepy older dude later on

Note: I kind of hate how Zoro dresses in Dressrosa. He doesn't look right. Oh well. This isn't how I thought this chapter would go, but, I hope it works. I'm more excited for the last couple chapters! (don't worry, we are not glossing over Dressrosa in where you belong, it's way too important for that)

Taglist:

@misfits1a | @alucardsdaddyissues | @louweasleymalfoy | @fluffybunnyu

[Ch. 1] ● [Ch. 2] ● [Ch. 3] ● [Ch. 4] ● [Ch. 5] ● [Ch. 6] ● [Ch. 7] ● [Ch. 8] ● [Ch. 9]

Trafalgar Law doesn’t get you and Zoro, he’s not sure he’s seen two crewmates as close as you two are without there being something romantic going on, whether hidden or not. While your crew was separated, you were lucky enough to miss being body swapped with another of your crewmates, choosing to stay with them and watch over the children they’d tried to rescue while Zoro went with Brook and Sanji (in Nami’s body at the time) to bring back the Samurai missing his torso. You’re sure you didn’t miss too much, and that Sanji or Zoro would fill you in later.

Once the alliance between your crew and the Heart Pirates is set in place, you start trying to speak to Law more, even with your personal issues, you’d like to make friends with him l though he seems like he doesn’t care for the most part. Sanji just tells you to ignore it and not take it personally if Law doesn’t really talk to you, he doesn’t appear to be the talkative type to him. You still try once all of you, including Kin’emon and Momonosuke, are back on Sunny, Law beginning to open up a little bit and talk to you, which makes you smile.

He still notices how you’ll hang onto or around Zoro more than anyone, how he doesn’t push you off, he almost looks like he leans into you, especially when you start to say something to him. You are very odd, both of you. If there’s anything going on, nobody shows that they know anything, so Law leaves it alone. It’s not his problem anyway.

When you hear that this alliance is going to lead you towards Wano, Law thinks he’s the only one who notices the slight flinch that comes from you, giving you a side eye that you try to ignore. You’ve had no problem being around Kin’emon and Momonosuke, but hearing Wano be mentioned is enough to make you act differently, just slightly. Zoro noticed this too, giving you a confused look while you just smile at him, you don’t want to explain anything yet. Not right now anyway, another time.

It's not like you’re going to run into your fiancé or anything.

“So, have you been to Dressrosa?”

Law shakes his head at you, you’d walked over and again struck up a conversation with him, leaning against the railing. Everyone else is doing their own thing, whatever Sanji is making for dinner is making you hungry while you wait.

“Have you? Seems like you know about Wano.”

You flinch a tiny bit again, but shake your head in return.

“No, never been to the New World until now. My parents have been out to Wano before…”

“They never brought you?”

“I…never wanted to go…”

Before Law can try and get more information out of you, information you may not be comfortable sharing, Zoro calls for you to follow him to crow’s nest, and you quickly tell Law you’ll talk to him later as you run off. He still can’t tell what it is with you and Zoro, but there’s something he’s missing, he's sure of it.

Well, whatever it is, if it doesn’t mess up the plan, it’s not Law’s problem right now. There’s more pressing matters to worry about, not your weird relationship with Zoro.

+!+

You end up on the Caesar drop off team once you all arrive in Dressrosa, being with Robin, Usopp, and Law. Zoro at first doesn’t like the idea, he feels like you’re getting too close to Law, even after you constantly telling your husband that you love him. He partly wonders if his only stating that his stating that he knows and thanking you is making you drift away, but even if it is, he can’t force you to stay with him, despite your relationship. It’s still new no matter how long you’ve technically been married, Zoro doesn’t want to hinder you from going where you want, you’d had enough of that living with your parents.

You deserve to do whatever you want, he’s not going to stop you from going with Law, especially since Robin and Usopp will be with you.

Zoro does surprise you before letting you go back to everyone by kissing your forehead and telling you to be safe. It’s still weird to you sometimes how soft he acts, but you don’t hate it at all. It’s a stark difference from how you two started off, how he acted after your impromptu marriage, and a very welcome change.

What’s not so welcome is all that happens while you’re in Dressrosa. The initial plan to drop off Caesar was going well, even with your encounters with giant sea beasts that threatened your safety crossing the bridge, up until you, Usopp, and Robin are basically kidnapped by the Tontatta people, who come to view Usopp like a savior despite your side-eye towards him that he fights to ignore.

When you eventually make it back into Dressrosa everything moves so fast, you aren’t sure what’s happening half the time. You knew where most of your crew still in Dressrosa were, you knew the Sunny had taken off towards Zou with the rest of them, and knew Luffy and Law were in the middle of fighting Doflamingo, while the birdcage the Warlord had set up was beginning to close in on the country, moving buildings and causing the citizens to run for their lives.

You do your best to help direct them, alongside the Marines that were around, not one of them bothering to try and take you in due to the situation. There’s so much going on and so many people screaming in fear that you don’t even stop moving towards the center yourself while you call for people to follow you. You aren’t even sure how it happens but a boy and his little sister end up attached to you, the girl having you carry her since she’d twisted her ankle as her brother holds onto your hand while you keep moving, telling him to keep running too.

You don’t stop until you see the strings are fading away, giving you the relief you need to finally breathe, the kids both gripping onto you like you’re their only hope for safety (not even a Marine could get them to let go of you).

The two are still holding onto you when Zoro finds you a bit later, he’s trying not to make the worry he felt for you the whole time visible. Of course he was focused wholly on his own battle against Pica then attempting to stop the birdcage, but every second he didn’t see you had him concerned underneath it all.

“Hey! There you are!”

You barely have a moment to realize it’s even him before Zoro has you pulled to him in a hug, nearly squishing the little girl you’re still holding, though she doesn’t seem to complain. Her brother is the one to say something, making you pull yourself away from Zoro, who looks confused as to why you’re carrying this toddler with her brother gripping your shirt still.

“I was helping them run from the birdcage, the girl twisted her ankle. I…should go help them find their parents, huh?”

While you laugh at the situation, Zoro doesn’t say anything else, instead just nodding while you crouch down to eye level with the boy, giving him a smile and asking him to help you find their parents. Zoro does go with you, not wanting you out of his sight again to ensure you get back to the rest of the group safely, keeping one of his hands on your back to make sure he doesn’t lose you, moving to your shoulders after you finally find the parents of the kids and hand them off, not without copious amounts of thank you’s from them, especially their mother.

“You almost seem disappointed.”

Looking up at Zoro, you raise an eyebrow as he continues to lead you back to Luffy and everyone else.

“Handing them back to their parents. Almost like you wish they were yours.”

“Oh,” Shaking your head, you smile a bit, “No, I’m glad they’re back with them…I’d like to have one or two someday, but not now, you know? We’ve got bigger things to do.”

Zoro nods and agrees with you, but he doesn’t tell you his own thoughts about that at the moment. Another time perhaps, he’ll let you know that he wants the same thing later on, once everything has been settled with your respective goals.

He’ll become the world’s greatest swordsman and you’ll become a world renowned swordswoman, one day.

Then after that, you can revisit that idea of having kids together.

If you stay together, that is.

+!+

Leaving Dressrosa, finally, you’re excited to get back to the rest of your crew and the Sunny, and, you suppose, head for Wano next. The thought still makes you feel nervous, but what are the chances you run into your parents chosen suitor for you while you’re there?

Very slim, this is the time of year he takes off to one of his current wives’ hometowns, likely showing off his wealth or their newest child, whatever the case you’re glad for Zoro rescuing you from such a life.

Still, it’s the only hang-up with the alliance and your coming arrival there, making you more nervous the closer you get. Robin knows your reason why, you’d told her and Nami recently about the situation, and both promised to keep the man away from you should they see him, or, well, hear of him, since they don’t know what he looks like. Law notices you acting strange, different from how he’s come to perceive you, though he doesn’t say anything, it’s not his place to do so, he thinks. Usopp, Franky, and even Luffy seem none the wiser, not noticing any changes from you.

Zoro however does, and keeps you close to him where he can just in case you need him. A few times while on Bartolomeo’s ship, you leave his side to talk to Robin or Law, maybe Luffy if he’s nearby, but Zoro keeps an eye on you, he can tell something is up but he isn’t sure what.

That doesn’t change when you all arrive and make it to the top of Zou, as you work your way through the remnants of what looked to be a city and then the forest, before you’re finally guided to the rest of your crew by the Minks. The absence of Sanji is obvious and when you hear the explanation as to why he isn’t there, you feel your heart drop at the words ‘arranged marriage’ from Brook. So you two had the same problem, parents trying to decide what’s best for you and how you should live your life, forcing you into loveless marriages. Somehow it makes more sense as to why you and Sanji are so drawn to each other, why your friendship is so strong. He’s gone through his own struggles too.

Your swordsman’s watchful eye stays on you after that, even as a party is thrown that evening to celebrate the Minks safety, Raizou reuniting with Kin’emon and Kanjuro, and possibly your arrival. Zoro doesn’t let you out of his sight, even while you’re across the way with Nami, Robin, and Ikkaku from the Heart Pirates. He watches you quietly talk with them, laughing every now and then as you down drink after drink and he’s wondering what’s gotten into you. You don’t normally drink or eat this much, but it’s almost like something has triggered you to do so.

He knows you’re going to have one hell of a hangover in the morning and you might get sick from everything you’ve eaten, making Zoro sigh when he does get up from his own spot, leaving his drink there, to cut you off.

There’s got to be something you aren’t telling him.

~~

“How much did you drink?”

Your slurred speech and incessant giggles make Zoro roll his eye while he takes you to a room the Minks set aside for you to stay in. You're over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, which you'd normally complain about, but the amount of alcohol in your system is keeping coherent sentences from leaving your mouth.

“Dumbass, you know you can't handle your liquor.”

“Hehehe, sorry…” you giggle again and try to lift your head, but it makes everything spin so you just let yourself hang while Zoro takes you to your room. “Drinks good.”

“I know.”

“Food good.”

“I know that too.”

“Nausea not good…”

“You throw up on me and I'm dropping your ass on the ground.”

Your giggles and hiccups make Zoro smile slightly. You were more than likely coping with Sanji not being there with everyone, seeing as how he'd become your closest friend and confidant, but that didn't mean you needed to try and match Zoro, of all people, in how much you could drink. Hell, you even tried to match Luffy with the amount of food you ate, it was no wonder you felt nauseous, though, Zoro does realize that the way he's carrying you isn't helping. So once he reaches the set of treehouses you'd been granted by the Minks to stay in, he adjusts you to where you've got your arms around his shoulders and legs around his waist to keep you from falling, telling you to hold on or you'd fall to your death which made you laugh and tighten your hold on him.

“You'd never let me fall…remember?”

He does, he remembers telling you that after you landed on Skypiea, when you were nervous about joining them on the cloud sea. How drunk you could bring that up, and sound so sentimental about it at the same time, he doesn't understand.

Once Zoro gets you to your room, he drops you on your bed and moves to leave, before you grab hold of him and almost start begging him not to go. It's several minutes of you telling him to stay, and Zoro denying, before he notices your demeanor, how you're about to cry.

He'd forgotten how emotional of a drunk you could be.

“Hey, what's wrong with you?”

“I…I just…I missed you.”

Your statement confuses Zoro immensely. You two had stayed in Dressrosa together, you'd been on Bartolomeo's ship on the way to Zou, how could you have possibly missed him?

Granted, yes, he understands you two had been separated for a good portion of your time in Dressrosa, and then again on your trip to Zou as you were helping Robin and Law with various things while Zoro was minding Luffy mostly, but you two still had time to talk and spend time with each other. Even a few nights sharing a bed because you couldn't stand to be away from him, despite your still not being sure where you two stand as friends or a couple or what you are.

“What do you mean you missed me?”

“I…I don't…” You sniffle a bit before covering your face with your hands, biting your lip and trying not to cry more. Zoro thinks you're so wasted you don't even know what you're saying, but he still tries to get an answer out of you.

“Hey, come on, talk to me. I know you're drunk but I wanna know what you mean.”

“I just…I missed you…while we were all apart. Did I…I ever tell you?”

You hadn't, not until now. Everything had moved so fast after you all came back together in Sabaody, that you'd not really gotten to talk to each other about your two years apart. Zoro figured you missed him, especially with how you attached yourself to him lately, but didn't think it was that bad. Something had seemed slightly off at times, but he never knew what it was.

“I had…nightmares about you…”

His brows furrow and Zoro finally relents to you, letting you pull him into your bed and hug him close, like you thought he was going to disappear. Zoro returns your hold and keeps you close as possible, before he quietly responds to you.

“What happened in the nightmares?”

Surely it couldn't be that bad, it wasn't something that made you afraid of him that was for certain. Even sober, you'd never be so close to him if you were afraid of him.

“You…Thriller Bark and Sabaody…I…I thought you were gonna die…”

Finally, Zoro has an answer as to why, after everything that happened at Thriller Bark, you were in his bed in tears nearly every night before your crew was separated. Why you had attached yourself to him even more than usual. It wasn't nightmares about your parents, about the man they wanted you to marry, no. It was nightmares about him not making it through those events that took place.

He wants to tell you that those are stupid nightmares and that he wasn't dying anytime soon, he wanted to tell you that.

But for some reason, he doesn't. He's not even sure why, the words just won't come out. He knows it would soothe you to hear him say that, even if for that night, but if more nightmares come?

He's not sure simple reassurance is enough.

“Do you…still have those nightmares?”

You shake your head, snuggling yourself closer to Zoro, hoping he'll stay with you.

“No…I'm okay now. Cause I know you'll come back to me.”

Zoro still doesn't say anything, just watching you finally fall asleep. He's not even sure if he believes you, but the fact that you hadn't gone to his bed in tears every night since you all reunited, he views as a good thing, you probably are telling the truth. It is annoying, that he feels responsible for your distress when he didn't really do anything to cause it. The life you live is a dangerous one, you know that and Zoro knows that, better than anyone most likely.

So, that's why, while he quietly, gently kisses your forehead, Zoro brings you closer to him and makes a promise you don't hear and even if you did, you wouldn't remember in the morning.

“I promise, as long as I'm married to you, I'm not gonna die. You're my wife…and I'm gonna keep you safe too.”

+!+

With everyone getting ready to leave the next morning, Nami stops just long enough to give you a raised eyebrow when she comes to get you. You’ve got a blanket around your shoulders and the grumpiest look she’s ever seen from you, but that’s not what has her attention.

It's the fact that Zoro is still in your room, mainly the fact he’s in your bed, and she starts to get ideas that make her give you a sly look. You’re about to slam the door in her face when she throws an arm around your shoulders and brings you close to whisper.

“Give me all the details and I won’t charge you to keep this a secret~”

“Nothing happened, Nami. I was drunk and fell asleep, now please, get me some medicine and water, my head is killing me.”

Rolling her eyes, Nami doesn’t fully believe you, but she shrugs it off.

“Whatever. So,” pulling you closer, your navigator gets even quieter, just in case Zoro or someone else is listening, “Are you going to be okay…? Going to Wano, I mean…”

“Nami—”

“I don’t think Luffy will care if you come with us to get Sanji back, but Zoro might.”

You sigh and nod, your head still aching but you glance over your shoulder to Zoro still asleep in your bed, thinking. She’s right in that Luffy would likely let you go to retrieve Sanji, but Zoro may fight against that if you did so. Not because he thinks you’re weak or anything, but because it’s for Sanji, you and Nami know very well how those men are with each other.

After another moment or two, you finally nod again.

“I’m going to go to Wano. Zoro will be there…I’ll be okay, Nami.”

She’s not sure she believes you, but Nami gives you a hug anyway, that you return without saying anything else.

“I’ll get Chopper to bring you some medicine. See if you can wake your boyfriend or husband, whatever you guys are calling each other. Breakfast is about ready.”

“Sounds good, thanks for everything.”

You wave each other before you’re caught off guard by Zoro wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on the top of your head.

“Feel okay, wife? Not gonna get sick on Traffy’s ship when we leave, right?”

Giggling a little, you shake your head.

“No, I’ll be fine, Zoro, thanks.”

Nodding, Zoro hugs you a little tighter, making you look up at him.

“You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”

“Yeah,” you smile a bit, which causes Zoro to do the same in return, “I know.”

Everything will be okay, nothing bad is going to happen, not with Zoro around.

[thursdayisfriday]

ᴀ Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ʀɪᴅᴇ

⤑ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: Dom! GN! Reader x Sub! Character, breeding kink, fluff/smut, sexual activity, d in p and riding

His hand rested on your waist, sinking his fingers into your skin. Red marks appear with every scratch he makes. Sweat covered his body as some tears covered his face. His head was thrown back on the top of the chair. His legs went numb, but he didn't care. He moaned once again as you pounded yourself on to his shaft, eyes rolling back into his head. This had been going on for hours now, but you couldn't help yourself as you kept going even after he had cummed a few times. He just looked so cute staring at you like that with that fucked expression.

You moved a little more harshly not caring about how loud you guys were being. All you could think about was him filling you up with his babies. The thought made you happy but mostly horny. You held on to his shoulders, looking into his lustful eyes. His eyes traveled to your pink puffy lip, watching it hungry. He was almost ashamed that he wanted to kiss you softly at a time like this. At the time you were riding him. You bite your lip getting close to his face, still making eye contact. You watched as his breath hitch while moans escaped his mouth, almost like he was trying to hide how good you were fucking him.

You pressed your lips against his, kissing him sloppily. Drool escaped his mouth as he tasted your sweet saliva, hungrily. Your hands met his, prying it from your waist and onto your stomach. Eyes widening, he looked at your stomach then you, shivering as you slowed down your pace. The outline of his cock inside you was not something anybody would miss. "T-that's- m~...me!?" He said out of breath making you chuckle. You cupped his face. "All you baby~". He melted like puddy in your hands. You pecked him on his lips one more time before going back to your original position. Pushing him into the chair riding him once again.

It wasn't even minutes before you felt him twitch inside you. "M-m'...cum- cuming- cuming-!~". He arched his back, shaking a little as the warm, sticky, liquid filled you up. You pulled your body Into his, wrapping your arms around his neck, tightly. Your body went limp as his weak arm held on to your waist. "You did so good for me, hun" you said as you peppered his face with kisses.

"A-anything for you, baby~"

Insert any character of your choice: DEKU, Shoto, DENKI, krishima, HAWKS, MONKEY D. LUFFY, SANJI, Zoro, ITADORI, Gojo, Megumi, Geto, ARMIN, Eren, DENJI, ANGEL DEVIL, Aki, TANJIRO, ZENITSU, rengoku, Giyuu, SHOYO, Kenma, GOROU, Xiao, KAEYA, Diluc, CHILDE, Gepard, Sampo, Luocha

I hope you enjoyed (⁠人⁠⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠ﾟ⁠+

[sanjisluvbot]

Isekai Yandere Strawhats x Reader

Masterlist

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Life began to feel so boring. The days blended into one another and suddenly we’re in march. Staying up late catching up on your favorite show because there is nothing better to do right now. One piece was such a breathe of fresh air, full of adventure and characters that seem amazing to be around and explore the world with. You wished to be in the world where u can freely be who you wanted, the world where you weren’t shackled by the burdens of reality.

You’ve been around all the corners of the internet so you know of shifting and astral projection which is exactly what seems to be going on right now. Rewatching episodes leading up to the time skip around 4 in the morning till your eyes flutter shut. Suddenly the wafting scent of the ocean filled your nose. “ Is she a stowaway?” “ How have we just found her we haven’t been on land for over a week now”. You opened your eyes to the snout of a reindeer and other very familiar faces.

You sat up so fast knocking into the poor doctor. Panic set through you because the first assumption anyone would have is that they’re in a dream or— congrats you’ve finally lost your damn mind. “ Who are you people”.

“ We’ve got the same question for you”

“ well I asked first”

The blunt part of a sword was thrust into your face by a very angry green swordsman. Fear etched across your face you give him a once over. Zoro. To your left was Robin and chopper holding his snout on her lap. There should be absolutely no reason that you’re in this world with these wacky 15th century pirates from your goofy anime show. Your voice shakes as you try to convince the green haired man to stop threatening your life.

“ Listen this is surely a misunderstanding, I really don’t understand how I have gotten here and I’m not really too sure who you people are.”

Maybe if they think that I don’t know who they are I can figure out a way to get out of this mess without ruining the story.

“ What is your last memory before you woke up on our ship” a voice from behind spoke. Turning to the left at the top of the stairs was Nami with Sanji following behind her.

“ I was laying in my bed falling asleep and then I woke up here”

After that you were bombarded with questions, what’s your name, your age, if an 8ft skeleton can see your underwear and it nearly drained the life out of you. The sun was now beginning to set after such a long day of being interrogated by the crew you used to watch through a screen. The captain was sitting on the head of the Sunny watching the day fade away when he stretched his arm to you pulling you to sit with him.

It was quiet for a while and nerves began to set in. Does he see through me? I know a lot of people don’t give luffy the credit but he’s way more intelligent than you’d think. “ What is it like where you’re from y/n” he spoke as he turned to face you.

“ Very different.”

“ Tell me about it please”

The sun completely faded into night and the stars littered the sky while you told luffy about “ where you’re from” and he was absolutely entranced by the world he’s never been. You ended up telling Luffy the truth about your origins, somewhat about himself, there was just something so compelling and trusting about him you didn’t think nothing of it. You slept in the girls room next to Nami that night, thinking about the next step and getting home.

Was this really a dream or did your desire to escape mundane life make you shift into this world of unknown.

The next day you went to eat breakfast with the crew and luffy starts spouting all the things you told him the night before. With seemingly no thought behind his words as he swallowed everything on his plate, though his crew members all stopped to stare at you in confusion.

“ I thought you said you weren’t from here?”

“ You said you didn’t know how you got here”

“ Well I wasn’t exactly lying, I really don’t know how or why I’ve been transported into your world. I just didn’t want to scare you or make you think I’m crazy with all of this.”

Over the next few days you were beginning to settle with the crew, you spent hours getting to know everyone and having the most fun you’ve had in years. Nami and Robin were curious about your world and you were more than elated to tell them all the things you enjoyed. The boys liked when you played their silly games, Sanji was obsessed with everything about you and loved having you perched on the counter when he was cooking so you can serve as his taste tester.

Zoro only just began to acknowledge you after finding out you also had a love for drinking, it became really easy to bond with the man. You knew you had to go back but what’s the harm in spending time with such a loving group of people, it’s not everyday someone is given your experience don’t waste it being worried.

You were able to convince Nami to give you a blank sheet of paper where you wrote all the things you knew about shifting and astral projection. You’ve been with the crew over a week now spending every night trying to shift back to your world. Sometimes you feel close others are strangely disturbed by Robin and Nami whether they are sparking up a conversation with you or knocking things over which disturbs your concentration.

The next few days you began to see birds meaning you were finally reaching land, the sabody archipelago. You know the way this arch ends and you need to go home now before you spend two years on an unknown island doing who knows what because YOU aren’t a straw hat and you have no place where you can learn to polish your skills.

The bubbly island became visible and you’d be reaching it by midday, while you were sitting on the head of the Sunny with Luffy again he asked you his million dollar question.

“ Y/n join my crew” he smiled. Your cheeks burned and you had to turn away from the boy whose smile brightened all your days.

“ Luffy I would love to but—”

“ Great- EVERYONE Y/N” you clasped your hand over his mouth.

“ Luffy l can’t join your crew. I have to go home I don’t even belong in this world”

“ Why do you want to leave” sadness dripped from his voice.

“ Yeah, we’ve been having so much fun” the small doctor announced from the deck.

“ It has been very fun I’ll admit but I don’t belong here with you guys. I’ve got a whole life in my world— and a family and just so much to do.” You reasoned.

The rest of the day the crew seemed angry and distant, you simply couldn’t understand why. When they all found out where you really came from they said they would help you get home. During dinner that night you were seated between luffy and Zoro who barley uttered a word while hushed conversations were surrounding the rest of the table. It was insufferable and reminded you of elementary school when someone didn’t want to be your friend anymore and told everyone about it.

“ Luffy are you upset with me? I haven’t done anything wrong”

“ Why do you want to leave? You just joined the crew and were on a new island”

“ I never said I was joining your crew luffy”

“ you know the captain doesn’t take no for an answer y/n” Zoro chuckled.

With a huff you stood up everyone’s eyes landing on you. “ Are you all acting this way because you don’t want me to leave?”

“ Why would we want a crew member to leave us?” Nami’s voice wobbled as tears formed in her eyes. Are they serious? When did u ever agree or tell these people that you were a part of their crew.

“ Listen closely all of you. You have to understand I am not from here, I never joined the straw hats, and I don’t even have any powers I can’t protect myself.”

“ That’s why you have me Y/n-chwaaan”

“ ignore that idiot cook but you have Luffy and I, we wouldn’t let anything happen to you”

“ Who is an idiot you damn moss ball !”

A fight between the cook and the swordsman broke out and you would usually find everything hilarious but…

These people have convinced themselves you are one of them and they don’t want you to leave. You decided tonight will be the night where you will go home with or without their help especially because you already know what’s in store the next day. Laying next to Nami that night waiting for her breathing to even out so you can concentrate with no interruptions you hear soft sobbing.

“ Are you alright Nami..”

“ Y/n I know you want to go back but can you stay a little longer we all care about you and enjoy having you around. We really feel like you’re one of our crew mates”

“ Sure, I’m not missing anything important right now” lying is better than letting this girl cry all night. When her breathing finally evened out you were able to try again.

Eyes fluttering open you were finally in your own bedroom. It was just as you left it, your iPad paused on the intro to one piece and the sun was showing through your curtains.

I really did it.

Life began as usual but you had a newfound appreciation for all the little things that made life worth it. Friends and family found your new outlook pleasant and you finally felt like you turned on a new leaf. While you were getting ready for bed applying all of your creams and oils the Tv in the living room turned on.

Wealth, Fame, Power.

A chill ran through your spine, you haven’t watched the show in over a month in fear of being brought back into that world by some odd chance. Getting up to turn off the tv something in the hallway made a noise. The fear of someone or something being in your house had you clenching on the door knob for dear life.

Just open the door nothing is there you’re only scaring yourself.

Opening the door and walking down the dark hallway into the softly illuminated living room the episode of the strawhats finally meeting up after two years was playing.

“ My favorite arch I should rewatch soon”

“ Why don’t you live it instead?” A voice from behind hissed.

You felt your heart thumping in your ears as you slowly turned to be met with a very angry Captain.

——

Not proofread ! 🫶🏽

I was inspired by a similar stories I’ve seen down the tl hope you enjoyed. Pt 2 coming soon maybe

[astraariel]

lemon meringue pie

pairing: sanji x fem!reader

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

word count: 2.6K

warnings: cursing

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

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

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

You had always noticed him. 

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

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

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

“Ahh, you any good of a tutor?”

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

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

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

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

Before you knew it, you had fallen hard.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

of course!! It’s a date <3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As if he was the one who was being humiliated.

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

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

You stepped back, repulsed. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He looked beautiful. 

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

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

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

You just look at him. Were you that easy?

His lips were quivering, “I know-”

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

“I fucked up -”

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

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

He just looks at you, “I’m sorry.”

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

“I am,” he strained out pathetically.

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

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

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

♡‧₊˚

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes, you are.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[missmugiwara]

Got It Bad ♡ Part 2

Summary: fem!reader x Luffy // please read part 1 first // You need a snack. Luffy needs a snack. You should help each other out, but be careful because you really spoil Luffy too much. Warning: 18+, slightly NSFW, very suggestive, slight dom Luffy, we getting a little freaky with food but nothing crazy Note: Back by popular demand! I don't usually do this, but the amount of love I received from part 1 (which was meant to be a one-shot originally) has really touched my heart. So I am honored to give you more Luffy love. Thank you all so much!

♡ Please read Part 1 first! Here is Part 3! ♡

♡ This chapter is a gift for the lovely @kingofthe-egirls ♡

Oh, Luffy that wonderful tease.

Get him back? Get him back?

How could you possibly get him back for that dirty little stunt? That carefree, dirty, yummy, delicious little stunt that made your heart skip a beat. Let's face it - Luffy was too fast and too silly. An expert at shenanigans. Maybe you needed to think a bit harder, somehow be one step ahead of that goofy man.

Maybe… you needed to think this over while having a snack.

So you merrily walked into the kitchen, and Sanji greeted you with an adoring smile. You smiled back politely and glanced over to the table to see Luffy seated and stuffing his face.

Speaking of snacks, Sanji always prepared a succulent snack every day - one for each of the Straw Hats - but of course, Luffy's insatiable apetite always left said rubber man wanting more. And when he asked the cook for more, he was denied.

This was where you, Luffy's sweet savior, came in to be the answer to his food-related problems.

Sanji obviously had a soft spot for you. So if you asked Sanji for more food, then he gave you more. This was really easy. All you needed to do was whisper hotly in his ear, and he was swayed. Really, you could do anything and Sanji would be spewing his eternal love for you. Yes, it made you feel bad to use him, but you kept doing it over and over.

Why?

Because you were in love.

This was all solely for your captain. That gluttonous, silly, cute-as-a-button captain. The events of a earlier in the day kept replaying in your head. How Luffy grabbed you, how Luffy spoke, how comfortable he was and how…

How much of a hot mess he made of you!

It was truly no fair how provocative Luffy was and how natural it came. He made it effortless whilst you were over here struggling to tell him your feelings. You let out a sigh when you sauntered further into the kitchen at your dilemma, with Luffy so deep in consuming his snack he did not notice you.

Your attention flickered back over to the cook, who let you know he just finished baking a cake. Going back to the point about being Luffy's sweet savior, if you got extra food from Sanji then you gave it to Luffy. If Luffy ate the food, he was happy. If he was happy, then you were overjoyed. You would do anything for Luffy. Plus, Luffy knew you would do anything for him - especially if he asked you to work your magic on Sanji. Goodness, you really were spoiling him.

So when Luffy tugged at the hem of your shirt oh-so innocently, breaking you from your thoughts, you knew it was time for seconds. Sanji started to catch on to this, and when he inquired if you were handing off food to Luffy, you lied. In the end, he'd see you and Luffy cackle away, and he'd curse himself for falling for you once again.

Despite this, there was no problem from Sanji as you walked back from the fridge with an extra slice of cake in tow - chocolate with strawberry filling and frosting. Upon seeing you carry a slice, Sanji quickly excuded himself to go give one to Nami and Robin outside. You hummed as you sat down next to Luffy who had the biggest smile. You forked up a piece and held it up to his mouth.

Sweetly, you called, "Here, Luffy!"

With a big ahhh Luffy stretched open his mouth and chomped down, leaving you to giggle in content. He was too cute for his own good. Feeding him was the best because he was always so appreciative. As of lately, he was reciprocating. Luffy would feed you as well. At first, you both thought nothing of it since it was so innocent, but it was becoming one of these special things that only you two shared in.

For a split second, you two locked gazes. A small blush appeared on the captain's face, and in turn your face was becoming really hot. What was that look in his eyes? Moments like these kept happening more frequently. They were beginning to occur out of pure innocence, but they kept you hopeful that maybe, just maybe this was a sign of affection from Luffy somehow.

Luffy broke your gaze first, looking back at the table to grab a cookie. Trying to shake off this rising heat and a tingle now forming in the pit of your stomach, you quickly glanced back at the table to gain a sense of normalcy back. That's when you got a great idea.

"Hey, Luffy?"

With a mouth full of food, he spluttered out, "What?"

"Boop!"

You leaned in to gently tap him on the nose, wiping a bit of frosting on it. You pulled back to smile at the confused captain. Luffy went cross-eyed trying to stare at what was on his nose until he registered it as cake frosting.

"Hey! Why'd you do that?" he beamed at the spontaneity, trying to sound mad but really was only amused.

"Just thought it would be fun!" you cooed, swiping your finger across the cake to re-frost your captain. Could this really get him back? Probably not, but it was still fun nonetheless. You turned to him, laughing, ready to strike again - but Luffy caught your wrist.

"Nope!"

There was a hint of playfulness in Luffy's tone, and he somewhat roughly pulled you toward him - though he would never hurt you in a million years. Locking eyes with him, you parted your lips slowly in confusion. You stared at Luffy, and he at you for what seemed like forever. He grinned before pulling your hand up to his lips. He stuck his tongue out, and you twitched nervously.

Was he about to…?

And he took a long lick of your finger.

A long, slow lick. Luffy, who did not break his gaze from yours for even a second, watched your expression change instantly. An intense heat fluttered over your cheeks. So many thoughts flooded your brain. The biggest one being - oh gosh, what was that lidded gaze he was giving you? Your heart thundered in your chest and the room was becoming unbelievably hot, and this was unbelievably hot, and-

"Mmm, so sooo good!"

It didn't help as Luffy completely sucked your finger into his mouth, and you could feel his warm, wet tongue move against it. A squeak escaped past your lips, and Luffy only swirled his tongue around your finger before he released you with a pop of his lips, smiling widely at his work. In your stunned state, it was too bad you didn't notice his other rubber arm snaking around you quietly to grab at the piece of cake on the table.

Oh, my god - he really just did that!

What a tease.

What a freaking tease, but you only wanted more. Why stop there? You needed him, desired him. Gladly, you would let the captain put his mouth anywhere he'd like. Any part of your body! Just so long as his lips would -

WHAM!

Luffy was so good at invading your thoughts as well as taking you out of them. He smashed the cake right onto the side of your face. You had just the smallest fraction of time to think, so you raised your arm to block yourself. It wasn't quick enough. Luffy rendered you a mess. Cake in your hair, on your face, neck - all the way down into your shirt.

"Oh, Luffy!" You looked down at the mess that was yourself, "You got me real good, huh?"

You looked back at him with a sheepish smile. Normally, you should have been mad, but it was Luffy. Because of that reason alone, you let him do whatever he pleased much to the dismay of your crewmates. You laughed, and he joined you. It was no surprise that he would do this, however, what was a surprise was the way he seemed to look at you.

It was a different kind of look - a look of hunger, a look of pure starvation yet not aimed at food. Something a bit more hard to define. Perhaps it was a look of being bothered. The captain was staring at you with a sort of devious smirk, brows furrowed together in focus, and tongue sticking out of mouth.

"Uh… Luffy?"

Whatever that hungry look in his eyes meant, the butterflies were returning to your stomach.

"Luffy?" you meekly whispered, face turning hotter and hotter in that second.

Luffy smirked as his eyes snapped to meet yours.

"Still such a dirty girl!"

Lips parted as you released a gasp, face set on fire because - well, you weren't expecting him to say that again! The captain only let out a loud laugh at your flustered expression, and it only made your face heat up further.

"Oh, captain, please!"

Before you could even blink, Luffy's grip on your wrist tightened. He moved so quickly, leaning forward to grab you. Luffy lifted you, swiping his arm across the table to move any dishes out of the way. Immediately, your back was slammed against the table roughly, and your eyes clamped shut at the impact. When they opened, Luffy was on top of you. His hands on either side of your face, holding your wrists down. His knee parting your legs. He let out a small grunt and the corners of his lips curved upward into that loveable smile you adored so much.

"Sanji doesn't like wasting food, ya know!"

If Luffy hadn't spoken, you might have passed out right then and there from this compromising position.

"Well, I know that, but I need to… to…"

To fuck the captain's rubber ass.

Wait! Get it together!

You moved your face off to the side, biting your lower lip in frustration. Need to what? Go take a shower? You could never waste Sanji's food. Ignore the heat on your face? Too late for that. Ignore the heat in your lower stomach as Luffy shifted to press his lower body closer to yours? Ignore how damn hot he was? "I'm not done with my snack."

You froze, snapping your gaze back to him.

"So hold still, would ya?"

You breathed in sharply, and that was it. Your breath hitched in your throat at Luffy's tone. The low, seductive tone. It made your mind reel. He locked you in, and this is the moment where you regretted spoiling him so much. He knew! He knew you spoiled him immensely and you'd always be there for him. He knew you would never disobey, knew you'd practically do anything for him.

"Captain's orders." he smirked again, as if to make sure you heard.

Looking at your captain's lips, you breathed out huskily, "Yes, captain. Whatever you want, I'll do it."

There was that hungry look again. He grinned in response, "Good!"

Luffy moved like lightning. Another squeak came from your parted lips when his face went down to your collar bone, taking one lick from it (agonizing - yet tantalizingly slow) all the way up your neck right to behind your ear. Making sure not to miss a single inch of skin covered in frosting, the captain let go of your wrists to brush a stand of your hair out of the way. The man needed food, and damn it all if anything were to get in his way.

You mewled against his touch, instantly reaching to grab fistfuls of his opened shirt, doing everything in your power to not squirm because Luffy was being quite ticklish. Another squeak once Luffy's tongue stopped, and he decided it would be better to start sucking any cake left on your skin. It all felt so tingly under his touch, and though this was not really a true kiss - every spot his mouth landed on was like fire.

"Mm… Luffy-"

"I'm not done!"

Oh, thank goodness.

He smirked against your neck before moving down further, pressing his lips lightly to a enticingly low spot on your chest. He moved his mouth open, sucking off a small glob of frosting with a pop of his lips. He pulled away to prop himself up by the arms.

"Tastes even better like this!" he smiled widely, a slight blush at his face.

He was waiting for you to say something, yet you laid there with wide eyes. Did that just happen? Because… that totally just happened! Amidst the captain's laughter, somehow in this stunned stated you managed to move your hands to hold his face. His wonderful, wonderful face. Immediately, he froze to stare down at you. With your thumb, you gently brushed the side of his cheek with it, noticing how messy of an eater he was. Crumbs and frosting dusted his cheeks, his lips, almost anywhere on his face. It caused you to snicker, and Luffy blinked at this.

"Hold on, captain. You really are so messy!" you stroked his cheek again, "Come here."

This time, Luffy watched you with intense eyes. Softly, you pulled his face close with a lidded gaze. He was oddly silent and intenly focused on your movements. In this state, you realized your hands were trembling out of nervousness - but you wanted to try. Try getting a taste of him. You opened your mouth as you pressed your lips to Luffy's cheek, sucking off a small fraction of frosting in one fell swoop - and also, maybe just letting it linger in a tiny kiss as well. Once you were done, Luffy pulled back and cocked his head to the side as he seemed to be studying you. He broke out in a warm smile, and you returned it.

There was a pause.

"I like seeing you smile. I like being the reason it happens."

In one swift movement, Luffy was back at your chest to cause a gasp from your mouth and your fingers to clutch his raven locks when his hat fell forward from his head. Luffy really didn't skip a beat, especially when you heard him snicker against your skin again. You wished he would go lower on your breasts with his tongue - oh, please - but there wasn't as much of a mess there. Luffy promply worked his way back up, along your collar bone again and up your jawline, along your cheek until -

His mouth was very close to yours. A small amount of cake just barely touched the corner of your lips. Luffy leaned in to eat this one last bit, and you felt like you were doing backflips. It was just the smallest touch, ever so small, and if he had moved to his left anymore… it could have been a kiss.

But Luffy pulled away.

In the blink of an eye, the sultry look he had was gone. He bore a huge smile and laughed while placing a hand on the back of his head. It seemed he was almost a little bashful, but it was hard to tell with someone as confident and straightforward as he.

"I really like being around you!"

His face was flushed, and yours matched.

"Let's do more of this!"

More? More of what!? The eating or the kissing? Your heart was racing. Before you could attempt to agree (as your mind was broken at the moment, and your heart leaped out of your chest and landed somewhere), he was out of his seat and placed a hand on the kitchen door.

Luffy turned to smirk at you, "Oh, and I'll remember that you said you'd do whatever I want!"

Spoiled.

Again, a rising heat took over your face. You wanted to speak, to ask him what he was takling about - but he was out the door. Luffy left you to wallow in your sexual frustration yet again.

What a tease.

Luffy had to have known what he was doing to you.

[naomihatake]

Solitude

you can find other zoro fics here: Naomi's archive

pairing: zoro x fem reader

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff, consumption of alcohol

summary: One would expect the swordsman to unwind after a battle, but there are times when he can't help but think. Alcohol doesn't always come in handy when a specific crewmate he grew fond of cuddled a tad bit too close to his heart.

word count: 3.3k

theme song: 'Daylight' by David Kushner

A/N: It can be imagined with both anime and opla Zoro. I don't know if he's slightly ooc or not, but I genuinely wanted to dig into this side of a relationship with the swordsman. The awkward times when he's getting used to it and simply accepting everything as a new part of his life.

I didn't forget about my multi chapter fiction, I just didn't find the inspiration for the 8th chapter. I couldn't help but write this for my own comfort and I want to mention that this original art of @tea917339 inspired me (check it out, it's absolutely amazing!!!)

I'm always open for your opinions and comments, so don't be shy about sharing your thoughts with me! <3

Usually, nights with the Straw Hats were lively, even after battles that left the crew members injured and bleeding. They would pick each other up and cheer up by simply bickering — that's what Zoro thought. 

The same way Luffy's hand extended to help him back on his feet after he plopped down on the ground to rest. The same way Zoro reassured Chopper after the kid tried his best not to get emotional afterwards. The same way Sanji threw some remarks and the swordsman spat back in annoyance. And, for fuck’s sake, Nami reminded him for the tenth time that day he owes her berry for something he completely forgot about. Usopp was sighing in relief every time he remembered they escaped with life again while Robin agreed with a soft smile on her face. Truly, it was almost insane — Zoro wouldn't exactly call that a miracle because he's doubtful of its existence. 

However, he couldn't bring himself to cheer up once the celebration of their victory was over and everyone went into their rooms. He was on the night watch and all he found himself capable of doing was burying in memories of all kinds, be it happy or not. With not enough alcohol in his system yet, it was rather hard to push those thoughts into the back of his head. 

The swordsman sat on the deck, his back resting against the wooden cabin. Hidden from prying eyes, he found peace in the temporary silence. Rare were the times when the crew was so peaceful and it was usually during the night, when they were asleep, because otherwise they would've caused a mayhem. 

The side of his mouth curled upwards at that thought. It was equally annoying and endearing, since in the months spent with them he found a lot of things about himself. Like the fact that he found his crew to be a family, like the way he sometimes found peace even in the chaos caused by them. 

Or like the presence he grew way too fond of along the way. That witch — she truly was one, judging by the effect she had on him. Only a spell could've made his mind get so clouded, only some unknown force could've managed to soften his edges so well. She joined the crew from the first day and he believed that a spell had been casted upon him since the first time they gazed at each other. 

Right. Zoro gulped down. The effect she had on him was equally annoying and pleasant. 

Annoying because he should've focused on his promise to Kuina, not get lost in between fairytales. He wasn't by any means the charming prince riding a white horse and he didn't intend on becoming one anytime soon. It filled him up with feelings unknown to him. Zoro might be a fan of adventures and he had rather insane ideas — as one might say —, but such sentiments were an entirely new path to walk on. 

First and foremost, it bothered him the fact that he wasn't sure he could fulfill both his promises and whatever the fuck was going on between him and the witch. He couldn't pinpoint what was happening, it was all in a blur, even if everything was clearing up whenever he saw her. 

That's when he's reminded why he likes their relationship — what kind of, he didn't know. When he saw her, there were always sparkles in her eyes and the smile on her face would grow wider, lines of happiness appearing on her cheeks. The curl of her lips would make his heart skip a few beats and he would relax his shoulders unconsciously. Eyes filled with joy looked at him as if he was the very reason behind her purest sensations. 

Also, not to mention how warm the depths of his chest felt when she was near. The heat would rise to his cheeks, which he sometimes found uncomfortable, but Zoro never ran away. A side of him wished so badly to go the other way and never look back, ignore her and those stupid damned feelings, but he never gathered enough courage to do so. Every single time, he would remain stuck, with his eyes stuck on her frame and fingers aching to touch and lips tingling to kiss. 

God fucking dammit. 

With a curse rolling off his tongue casually as he closed his eyes, the back of his head collided with the wooden wall he rested his back against. Zoro sat with his knees bent and feet planted onto the floor, only his Wado Ichimoji in his proximity. With its hilt glued to his shoulder, the sheathed sword was in between his fingers. By that time, he held it for comfort.

If that's what he could call it. The swordsman wasn't sure what else to associate it with. Or was it familiarity? The white sword was the only memory he had of a long lost friend and his first home at the dojo, by the side of his sensei. It was the only object tying him to his past, to his beginning, to times when he was much weaker, but determined nonetheless. 

To care about his promise was familiar. Zoro wouldn't give it up — proof was the simple fact that he still achieved to become the strongest swordsman in the world. One day, he will meet Mihawk again and when he does, he will be stronger than the first time he encountered him at Baratie. 

Looking back, it's been so long since. So long since a new life appeared before his eyes and he accepted it with no hesitation. He was a pirate, a Straw Hat, Luffy's first mate. The swordsman swore to help his captain achieve his own dream. 

Those promises were familiar. The erratic heartbeats caused by the witch weren't. The sensation settling in the pits of his stomach when her gentle fingers would brush over his arm weren't. It was foreign and it didn't sit well with him. 

Kuina. 

He still saw her face in his dreams sometimes and it was usually her ghost haunting him. Other times, in her place would be one of his friends and each time it was harder to fall asleep. 

When awake, memories of her replayed so vividly in his mind. Swords clashing together and whistling as they cut the air in half. A grin brightening up Kuina's face when he would fall on his butt and cuss her out again. They promised that one of them would become the greatest, but he was the only one capable of that, because her bones lay in a grave somewhere far away. 

Zoro opened his eyes and stared at the night sky with scars scattered all over it. A calming view, even if there was tumult inside of him, hidden in between ribs that broke with each new pump of his heart. His brown eyes fell to the floor and he crossed his arms on top of his knees, gripping the sword tighter. His chest puffed up with air when he inhaled and he let out a heavy sigh. 

“Zoro?” a soft whisper made him jump out of his thoughts. 

The swordsman snapped his head and he was greeted by the sight of someone he didn't even know he was searching for. A side of him wished to say something along the lines of “fuck off” while the other side desperately wanted to soak into her presence. 

A witch, indeed. 

His eyes ran up and down her figure. She didn't seem surprised to find him there, in a rather hidden spot, which meant she didn't search for too long. Did she even search for him or did she also wish to be alone for a while? The first place to search for someone during night shifts was the crows nest. 

She held two bottles of what he guessed to be alcohol and she swung them carefully before stepping closer. His chest tightened and he found it harder to breathe, even if it was inevitably easier than before at the same time. For some reason, she had that effect on him. 

Maybe he knew that reason all too well, but he just avoided thinking of it. 

“You told me we'd drink something together,” she reminded him in that warm voice of hers. 

The sweet melody that calmed his nerves. 

He didn't know what kind of energy radiated off him, but her behavior was far more gentle than usual. She wasn't hesitant, the witch never hesitated around him, she was just mindful of her actions and words. 

He didn't know why for a second he saw understanding in the curl of her lips when she crouched down. Unconsciously, Zoro knitted his eyebrows together in confusion at her gestures. 

The bottles hit the floor and she let go of them. Her eyes sparkled like they always did, but there was something different that time — a warmth they held only when she comforted Chopper or encouraged Usopp. Warmth similar to the shy rays of the sun of the morning, when the cold is still lingering and there's a specific scent in the air. Gentleness he only ever saw in her, because Luffy's kindness was different. 

A warmth so humane that was visible for the crew alone or those in need of it. 

The witch recognized something in his demeanor and Zoro had no clue what that was about. He could only see it in her gaze. 

“I suppose it isn't really the perfect time for me to butt in, hm?” she whispered. 

Like a promise only for him to hear. A secret. 

“How'd you find me here?” he found himself speaking before he thought it through. 

The question made her shrug. 

“I pick up easily on your energy. It's quite unmistakable, y'know?” 

There it was — one of the main reasons why she had the nickname of Witch both on the ship and outside of it. She's spoken about that for a few times and he had to admit he understood what she meant. However, the swordsman only felt those “energies” (as she liked to call them) in specific moments. He remembers that time in Lougetown when everything felt like energy instead of palpable objects, the reason why he won that fight. 

Sometimes he seriously wondered if she hadn't met his sensei at some point in her life. 

“What is it like?” once again, he asked before thinking. 

The witch pulled her lips in a tight line and hummed, gathering the right words to describe it. Her gaze bounced around and she grimaced once, when she probably found her choice of words to be unpleasant or inappropriate — she always scrunched her nose when it was difficult to find the proper terms. 

“It's sharp, but warm. Kind of steady, constantly flickering. For example, Luffy's energy is always all around the place and Chopper's gets out of control easily. Robin has the steadiest energy of all of us, even if it was kind of… strange lately.” 

Zoro arched his eyebrow at the last piece of information and only received a hand waving through the air. 

“Ignore the last part, I'm still figuring it out myself. No need to worry.” 

The swordsman knew the energy she was talking about was different than what he felt when she was in presence, but he wondered if whatever laid in her heart interfered with her ability to distinguish his being from the others. 

He watched as the witch looked at the bottles next to him and then clicked her tongue, deep in thought. 

“I don't know if they'd help you tonight, but I'll let you be.” 

None of those words were accusatory. They were all coming from a place of kindness and patience. 

Suddenly, her fingers curled around his bicep, below the bandana wrapped around his arm. Skin on skin, her touch was hot and pleasant, even if very confusing. 

What was she thinking? 

His puzzled feelings were written on his face. Uncertainty laid in his dark brown eyes and his fingers held onto the sword tighter. He didn't even notice when the grip on his Wado Ichimoji loosened up. 

Her gaze was reassuring as ever and she gently rubbed her thumb into his tensed muscles. 

Zoro had to at least admit to himself that vulnerability was uncomfortable. Without spoken words, she picked up on it. 

“I don't know for sure if I'll get to sleep tonight, so you could cut your night shift in half.” She's having issues with nightmares again? he silently wondered. “I'll be in my room, reading. Do what you see fit.” 

Instantly, she was back on her feet with her back straight and walked away. The swordsman didn't know what happened or what he should understand. 

He was utterly and completely confused. What just happened? 

Oh. The witch gave him space and time to think. She also told him where she was in case he decided to grip at the promise of comfort and hold tightly onto it. The opportunity laid right in front of him and he was the only one to decide whether he used it to his advantage or not. 

Zoro didn't notice when his shoulders relaxed. His body wasn't as tense as a few minutes ago, his back didn't feel as stiff. The exhale he left wasn't heavy anymore. 

The swordsman knew what this was about. Maybe it was the time to just accept his feelings and get on with it. He had to suck it up and deal with it, even if dealing with her wasn't the right way to word it out. It always felt more like she was dealing with him. 

With closed eyes, he remembered the last time her lips brushed by his. Gosh, it was so hot and his blood was bubbling like lava in his veins. It wasn't an accident, he intended on kissing her back with fever, but he had a hard time accepting everything. It was… weird. Facing that reality was troublesome. 

She has yet to lose her patience. The witch remained firm and each one of her questions were answered by gestures instead of words — something familiar for him. She was far more skilled with expressing herself even when sensitive topics came up. 

That was a miracle. Her presence alone could be compared to a miracle because it was completely unexpected and somehow always caressing him the right way. It was scary how accurately she could read him and the same applied to him. 

The sky before his eyes continued to sparkle with stars and he remained still in his place. His fingers caressed the scabbard of his sword as he blinked in the darkness, the chill air of the night invading his lungs. 

It was complicated and so simple at the same time. Zoro knew the answer — he just had to come to terms with it. 

Just as age promised, the witch sat on the bed in her room with a blanket warming her up. The lamp on the nightstand by her side casted a golden light over the pages of a book sitting in her lap. It was hard to focus on the story — a captivating part of pirate's history, sometime before the appearance of Gold D. Roger.

Her thoughts were followed by the swordsman. Zoro's mood was… sad at best. She didn't expect to find him in that state, but she quickly came to the conclusion that leaving him alone might do him good. 

She tapped her finger over the pages of the old book and clicked her tongue. Was it right to leave him? The witch never saw him in a similar mood and she also realized she didn't know how to help him. There could be a lot of ways to bring him back to earth or at least keep him afloat. Those ways were only known by him. All she could do was guess and hope for the best outcome. 

Heavy footsteps echoed on the other side of the door. When it opened wide, there was Zoro's tall silhouette, his white sword in his hand and one bottle of alcohol in his other. He came closer, his face hard as a stone. The pink hue painting his cheeks was the only detail giving away the fact that he drank one of the bottles she brought hours ago. 

“Why aren't you sleeping yet?” he said with a gruff voice as he plopped down on the mattress. 

There were only a few hours left before the sun would rise up from the sea. 

“You've probably guessed already,” she averted her eyes from his figure. 

“Nightmares again?” 

The witch only nodded, eyes focused on the book. Zoro let the sword against the couch. 

“I won't fall asleep, so you could as well take a night off,” only then she looked at him again. 

His darkened eyes have been locked on her since he entered the valley. The witch wanted to move, to eventually get away from his knowing gaze, but she knew there was no possible way to do it. 

“Are you alright?” she blurted out. 

She had to fill that silence with some kind of conversation. Maybe that wasn't exactly the wisest decision, considering his shoulders visibly tensed and he straightened his back. A frown appeared on her face. She regretted talking. 

The witch figured out he needed more time to sort his thoughts. 

“Why don't you go to sleep?” she tilted her head to the side. “The fight has worn us all out. You could rest for a while.” 

“And you?” 

“We'll be sailing for a few days. I can sleep ‘till afternoon.” 

“Nothing will happen for as long as you're on this ship with us,” the reassurance slipped so easily. “Do you trust us?” 

“More than anything,” the witch responded with a faint smile. 

Several weeks ago, her answer and reaction would've been so different. She made so much progress since she first met them, her trust now fully laying in their palms. Long ago, she would've backed away at such a question and, if they were lucky enough, the witch would admit she “needs time to adjust”. 

At first, all he did was lean close enough for his shoulder to touch hers. The swordsman only intended to enjoy some peace while he shared his booze with the witch. From time to time, she'd gulp from the bottle and then give it back to him before continuing her lecture. After each two minutes, the room would be filled by the rustling of pages. 

It didn't last long until he fell into her trap and tiredness dragged him glued to her. With his head in her lap, Zoro bumped his nose in her thigh. The witch's fingers ran through his hair and he let out an audible exhale, eyes closing instantly. Greeted by darkness, he felt warm not only on the inside. The blanket she curled around herself earlier was now covering his upper body as he sunk into the soft mattress and her. 

One of his hands curled around her knee and he dug his fingers into her flesh. Her leg jerked slightly at the unexpected touch, but when he tried to move away, she muttered a sweet “It's okay”, stopping his movements. 

The oxygen in his lungs was exchanged with her perfume and he bit back a groan. Her voice was like a lullaby, even if there weren't many words rolling off her tongue. Zoro wasn't bothered by the light of the lamp, completely forgetting about the world around him once her fingers continued running through his hair. 

His hand traveled up, until it fully rested on her thigh, the warmth of her body seeping through the thin material of her pants. Truth be told, he's never felt better. 

She was a remedy. His remedy. 

“Good night.”

Zoro heard her whisper solely because he was near her; otherwise he would've confounded it with the night breeze. 

Maybe giving in to her affection isn't that bad. 

[alexa-fika]

Could I ask for robin and franky kinda adopting a little girl? Like she sits and cuddles Robin whenever Robin is reading. Just loves how silly Franky can be? Just imagine a little kid running up to then when their scared

Relaxation and entertainment( Robin x f!child!reader x Franky)

A/N okay anon im gonna confess, I ‘ve had this ready for a week… maybe more. I just was so ashamed cause I thought it was really bad so I just kind buried under other works but you deserve something even if it’s not the best.

Reader here is replaced by Dokucha as a placeholder which means reader in japanese

Dividers by @/saradika

Robin sat in her usual spot, on the deck of the Thousand Sunny. Sitting at one of the tables and enjoyed one of the rare peaceful moments they were able to have as she read one of her books.

In her lap sat the youngest of the crew, a darling little girl who was taken in by the crew; she had grown particularly fond of two of the members; however, the one she was currently cuddling with and a certain Cola-loving Cyborg

“Here you go, Robin-chan,” Sanji said, dropping down a drink in front of the archeologist, his usual love-sick look adorning his features

“Thank you, Sanji,” Robin replied, smiling at the blond and putting her book down

“Anything for you, Robin-chan,” he exclaimed, heart filling his eyes until he glanced down at the child in her lap

“Here you go, Dokucha,” he said, placing a similar looking drink in front of her

She beams quickly, grabbing the drink

“Thank you, Sanji-nii!”

“You’re welcome,” Sanji replies, ruffling their hair and waving the pair goodbye as he entered the kitchen once again

“It’s yummy, Robin-nee!”

“I’m glad it’s to your liking,” she says, smiling, her face softening as she looks down at the young child

“I love you, Robin-nee!”

Robin laughs and ruffles her hair gently

“Love you too,” she replies hugging her softly

“Franky-nii!”

Yeahhhhhh?

“Im boreeed”

“Uh oh, sounds like a big job for the SUPERRR Franky!“ he said, turning with them with his usual grin

“So whatcha bored about?”

She giggles at that and shrugs

“Everyone’s busy.”

“Well, if no one is around to entertain you, then it looks like it's up to me! You want to hang out and have some fun?”

“Yeaaah”

“Awesome! I've got a good idea... I know a new cola shop that has the good stuff; we could start there?”

“Wah, really?!”

“Yeah! It just opened, and they have all kinds of cola! They say they have one that's so good it makes your skin feel tingly; wanna try it?”

“Yeah!!”

“SUPERRRR” he exclaimed, throwing the small girl onto his shoulders and making his way out of the ship

“Superrrr,” she parrots, strings of laughs escaping her as she tightened her hold on his neck exited for the bubbly drink.

My first time trying this Format… what do you think? Nay or yay? I could also just write a transition between the two rather than dividing them, I just din’t have any idea how to join them so I wrote two different scenes, originally I had them separated by a divider/timelapse but I thought ‘Might as well try this’

Taglist:

@imaginarydreams

@amethystviolin

@h0n3y-l3m0n05

[swordsmans]

do you have any zolu fic recs? 🤔

oh boy do i.

my deepest apologies to others who have asked and only gotten "i promise i'll make a post!!" in response. now... here is my list! 36+ fics, including a few series i'm counting as "single" recs, (+3 not counted).

Spin a Yarn by SrirachaBunny

technically a series, this is a time travel fix-it that has expanded outward from its original premise over the years but is still very much THE zolu fix-it of all time.

Of First Mates and Duty by Whatev3rs

“First mates… we devote our lives to our captains. Our entire beings. We live for them, breathe for them. And they expect us not to fall in love?”

Devotion by BasicallyACat

two part canon compliant series that lives rent-free in my mind. this is my go-to "must read for new zolu fans" fic

without guilt by Augment

Luffy hungers, Zoro thirsts. (+ bonus honorable mention to "But Patience Boasts", which is the sanji-pov portion of this fic and is one of my faves of all time)

got all my attention fixed on you (and you're just where you said you'd be) by nevermordor

Luffy looks again at the bitemarks that he left on Zoro’s wrist. Zoro’s usually hurt, one way or another. Sometimes it’s definitely been Luffy’s fault too, but the bitemarks feel different. (honestly, just read all of nevermordor's fics; they are a fave of all time)

to cut your teeth on love by freckledshoulderblades

Zoro meets Luffy and gives himself over wholeheartedly the instant Wadō is placed between his teeth again. Luffy meets Zoro and decides in a heartbeat that Zoro is his.

tidings of war, tidings of joy by queerweather

Zoro is drenched in sweat already, but at least with his haki holding Luffy’s at bay he isn’t suffocating. And Luffy, damn him, looks completely unruffled.

Don't Go Where I Can't Follow by Leoporidae_Lagomorpha

Because before the Pirate King and the World's Greatest Swordsman there were two lost boys in East Blue. How people grow and promises change. (Zoro finds the color of his devotion.)

Fate and death are made in pairs by demonsLOver

"It's not because of his power or skill. He makes enemies and allies fight for his side. Among all the men of the sea, he has the most frightening ability." Mihawk stated to his pupil. (+ honorable mention to "Forged By Fire" as well)

our shores of starlight (come sailing in) by kurgaya

At Shells Town, Luffy does not meet Roronoa Zoro. Instead, he acquires a sword.

let me carry your scars by arkhamsjason

What Zoro didn't expect, as he made himself comfortable, as so many night before, to keep watch along with Luffy, was that he'd finally have the chance to know what his captain's ruined chest would feel like beneath his calloused hand and guilt filled heart.

and i will learn for you by blueacorn

Zoro will begin to realise that there are other ways to protect.

ship to wreck. by thychesters

Nami is the first one to notice something is amiss, but then given her current competition is Luffy and Zoro, it isn’t surprising. (+ honorable mention to "the salt & the sea.", a reincarnation AU!)

unspeakable love by gadgetronic

A character study with a focus on Zoro that explores promises, sacrifices, beginnings, and devotion.

Precipice of a Change by xpiester333x

Zoro stood there. He was on the precipice of something. One wrong move would send him over the edge into an unknown. He needed to step back, but his feet were locked and frozen on spot. (one of the few AUs to make this list! the characterization here is SPOT ON!)

First Mate, Soulmate by kkuroshii

Fighting with Luffy comes as easy as breathing to Zoro, and he can’t help but wonder what accomplishing his dream with this boy would be like

Robin Knows by leopardgeckoz

In which Nico Robin has always known how her captain and first mate feel for one another, and the scenario's in which the rest of the crew discover it.

with this heart of mine that's guilty; (not remorseful) by phosphenical

It had been two weeks, four days, and twenty-something odd hours since Zoro died. (WARNING FOR PERMA-MCD/HEAVY ANGST)

thank you. / goodbye. by Kenshi

WARNING FOR PERMA-MCD; short and... not "sweet", exactly; the style of this one does nice things to my brain

Blood Song by blue_wonderer

There's nothing to scream about because nothing happened.

blood-spitting loyalty by guiltylights

One day, you’re going to find something worth more to you than your own pride.

axiomatic by grainjew

Reflections on Zoro's devotion.

Providence by taizi

"You know, Zoro," he says, "I broke my end of that deal." 'If you ever come between me and my dream—' Ah, but then, "So did I."

Mutiny by VIKAN

Zoro disobeys a Captain's Order and it's all Sanji's fault. (not strictly ZoLu in the romantic sense, but this fic is a masterclass in both tension-building and how to write an in-character ZoLu argument)

something happened by torkz

Things are changing fast, and Zoro doesn't want to walk into the future with any secrets from his Captain.

Recognition by VickyVicarious

Zoro on titles, dreams, and Luffy. (old-school)

In the Blink of an Eye by InsaneMelon/Acewithapaintbrush

honorable mention to another old-school oneshot from FFnet UPDATE!! this has been re-written and the link has been updated.

Coming Home by thricepiercedpirate

What begins as a happy reunion, because everyone is accounted for and more-or-less in one piece, unexpectedly turns awkward as hell… (the only explicit entry on this list, but i'd be remiss if i did not include the fic that introduced/converted me to ZoLu for life back at the dawn of time... thanks from past-gyro, we wouldn't be here without you, dude.)

Stakes by CaptainJojo

Zoro has a good grasp of what fights are- and are not- worth his time. Or: Zoro gets lost and gets in one (1) fight about it.

Like a Dawning by WhirlyBird70

I am the man who will be King of the Pirates, Luffy said, says, and it’s not a promise but a will, and Zoro knows – knows that of anyone Zoro has ever seen, Luffy is the one to have the Haki of the Conquering King.

invisible threads that bind us by Pure_Night_Fury

Yin and Yang some people would say. Soulmates, others would mention. Or: Nami meets two idiots.

greed by species_baby

Something about his self-assuredness, his conviction makes Zoro dizzy. Although, that could also be the starvation.

Smile, Darn Ya, Smile by sciencemyfiction

Wouldn’t it be fucked up if Zoro was made to eat a smile fruit? And what would Luffy and the other Straw Hats do to help him?

Also, I'm including a shameless and horribly self-indulgent plug for my own stuff, because this is a ZoLu rec list and hey! I write that! lol

poly philtatos (the most loved by far) by swordsmans

25k; Zoro protects the crew and his Captain, and does not realize they will go to the ends of the earth to protect him, too.

ocean theology by swordsmans

40k; canon-compliant enma-asura/nika reincarnation. kinda.

the sea makes bones of bodies by swordsmans

88k; Only one is a monster, but both are a little monstrous. mafia hitman/underground fight club champion/reincarnated moon god x merman/legendary sea monster/reincarnated sun god AU. my magnum opus, probably.

[ay0nha]

PLEASE hear me out sanji x witch!reader like sort of the doctor on board with salves and potions to help everyone but she's on the run from those who tried to kill her (sorry lol it's giving salem witch trials...but maybe...hint hint...that's the vibe)

it doesn't need to be fluff maybe reader is super tight with her life before and maybe only fluffy knows it because he's the one who saved her but sanji is determined to have reader open up????

lemme know your thoughts plzzz

PAIRING: OPLA!Sanji x f!reader (doctor on board of sorts)

WORD COUNT: ~500

WARNINGS: canon-typical things, smoking, drinking, attitude lol, Sanji being whipped already, slow burn, reader in her feels, etc.

A/N: These are THE vibes especially in time for SpoOky month?!! I loved the originality of this request!! I have SO many ideas in which ways I can go with this. Who would be interested in this being a series?? Would you read it?? Lemme know!! Comments are ALWAYS encouraged!!! Enjoy.

 

You were found running.

There was no weight in your rhythmic steps as your belongings had been set ablaze with your home, but your muscles burned with ache and detachment. Sudden lightness filled your chest, just shy of euphoria. Yet, the feeling was dissipated into pained anxiety as you collided with someone.

That night Luffy became your advocate, no questions asked. He offered you promises without false bottoms and gave you a place in a world you once refused to enter. This was different, he was different.

No matter the time you spent with him or the others, you struggled to find footing. And yet Sanji thought you fit in so absolutely. 

The rim of your glass was still lined with enough sugar to enjoy dwindling sips. Sanji knew it was gin. Your lipstick left a mark on everything you kissed, the pattern was found on your glass, and the cigarette holder balanced between your fingers. You made everything look so serene. 

Simple.

Your confidence was always envious. It worked silently, exuding from your presence alone. Your magnetism couldn’t be credited to magic but to how you evolved, becoming pointed and moving without fault. Even as you read from a torn book, you were enchanting. 

“A refill, perhaps?” Sanji interrupted you purposefully, a habit quickly morphing into a vice.

“Hmmm?” Lost in your own world, you barely registered you were being spoken to.With pointed eyes, you took his presence in. Even late into the night, he was always so poised.“Oh, Sanji…” 

“I couldn’t help myself…” Sanji exchanged your attention for confidence to step closer. “Gin, right?” He oozed charm, proud of the idea to supply you with something so sweet. “...I took some liberties, but—uh, hopefully it’s up to your standards.” 

The glass before you was chilled and the ice sturdy, swimming in the middle of a delicious concoction. With just a glance you knew it was far better made than what you’d sloppily put together. 

“Didn’t realize your duties extended to nightcaps.” You sucked in a crackling breath, confused by the sudden attention. You offered neither acceptance nor gratitude. 

Sanji prepared for your reluctance, knowing you almost always preferred your own company. However, it never discouraged him from pushing past the facade. “Always.” 

You hummed indifferently, using a free hand for your beginning sips, but you felt. You felt so very much by the action. Loneliness touched with hints of regret, or hope colored by impatience. It was never just one pure emotion. It was always one thing plus another. It was always simpler to conceal than to be perceived.

However, Sanji held a practiced eye. It took patience to not wait for your praise as you returned, entirely engrossed in your book. He took pride in being able to notice you—a flagrant attempt to understand you. It neither felt time-consuming nor inconvenient; it felt natural and worth every quiet moment shared.

[mukumukunomi]

Not Alone. Never Alone (part 2)

Luffy x Fem!Reader

cw: fluff, no smut, first love, implied semi-relationship, no manga spoilers, takes place just after East Blue's arc in live action, idiots in love, kisses

wc: 1,964

a/n: This is part two! I may open a few requests in the future, but we'll see if I'm able to with work loads. :D.

Part One (You)

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

He tosses and turns but sleep evades him. 

Something isn’t right, he thinks. 

Insomnia is a foreign feeling. He almost never has trouble with it. Sleep is normally a welcome respite from their adventure, because even in his dreams the adventure continues in some way. It usually consists of more meat than real life, but he’ll never complain about that.

But the feeling in his chest is different from the pains of hunger or lack of sleep. It drills into his being with every beat of his heart. It feels like something is missing. Like there’s an absence that-

That’s it!

The covers are thrown off himself as he approaches the small emergency exit inside the men’s quarters. It connects directly to your and Nami’s room, but is almost never used unless under attack. Otherwise, the girl’s space is completely forbidden. But for him, these escapades aren’t an unusual occurrence. He’s not exactly welcome, but Nami has never told him to leave if it’s in search of you.

He’s not quite sure when it started. Was it when Sanji began using a lock on the fridge? Or perhaps when he awoke you to see the first meteor shower on the Grand Line? He can’t exactly remember. Your presence is like the taste of a good steak. He craves it. Finds himself in search of it in odd hours of the night. 

He creaks open the little door and slips inside. Nami sleeps on the pullout cot next to the entrance, while your makeshift bed is the hammock that hangs from the ceiling. It’s mainly a collection of cushions and blankets, having been originally used for storage until you came along. Luffy likes to think of it like a bird's nest with the way you sleep in it.

Nami’s soft breathing fills the space as he pads across. Even though it’s totally dark, he knows the room well enough to avoid the small table in the center and catch himself from tripping on the rug. He can barely see the outline of the hammock as he approaches. Grasping the side of the net, he leans forward.

“Oi. Y/N.” 

Silence is his answer. He frowns, shaking the hammock roughly. “Y/N. Wake uuuuup.”

No reply.

“Are you mad at me?” He pouts, “I’ll share my snack if you help me open the fridge.”

His hand pulls back the covers. He expects your fist to come flying at him from the confines of the blanket as you always do when he exposes you to the chilly ocean air. Your form is probably curled around the pillow like a koala trying desperately to keep warm. The same pillow you often try to use to smother him when he’s being too loud. 

But the hammock is empty.

Items go flying as he pulls everything out and drops the bedding to the floor. Checking under and around proves fruitless as he’s left standing in the mess. He blinks and scratches his head.

“Luffy?” Nami’s sleepy voice asks, “What’s wrong?”

He’s already climbing the stairs that lead to the storage room and bathroom above them. Not bothering to knock, he peers into both spaces to find them also unoccupied. He rushes to the deck, peering out into the overcast night. The moon is hidden behind the clouds.

“Y/N!” He yells loudly. Loud enough that you should be able to hear it no matter where you are on the ship. 

The wind is his only reply. 

His confusion turns to concern as his gaze draws upwards towards the crow’s nest. Rearing back his arm, he stretches it to reach the railing and uses the leverage to slingshot himself into the sky. He lands on the nest’s railing with a thud, ignoring the cold whip of air on his cheeks. A palm holds the top of his hat to his head since the wind threatens to blow it away. Dark orbs scan what can be seen of the island. 

“Y/N!!” 

The timbre of his voice reverberates in the air. A few birds startle from their slumbering place perched on the ropes of the Going Merry’s main mast. 

“Why are you being so noisy!?” Usopp’s voice carries to him. 

He chances a glance downwards, noting the ship’s sniper shiver even with a blanket draped over his shoulders. There’s a noticeable tiredness and irritability in Usopp’s eyes. “Y/N is missin’!”

The crew member nods slowly and begins to look around as he returns his sights to the island in front of him. There’s a line of smoke that trails towards the sky coming from the fortress beyond the hill. It indicates to him that the place has an active fire even in the dead of night.

“Luffy!” Usopp calls again, “Look! The ladder’s down!”

Jumping off, he lands back onto the deck next to Usopp. Poking his head over the side, he can see the rope ladder swing in the breeze. The blocks of wooden footholds lightly bang against the hull. It suddenly clicks for him. 

You had gone by yourself.

The frown deepens on his face. Why had you gone alone? He said he’d go with you! 

His sandals hit landfall before he can even process that he’s moving. Usopp’s voice calls out to him as he quickly leaves the inlet and moves swiftly through the underbrush of the forest. He doesn’t even register the thin branches that slice his skin.

The hill looms ahead. He charges straight for it, mind set on climbing the imposing land mass. It’s the quickest path to the fortress on the other side. Either that or he can skirt around and enter that way. Perhaps he could even stretch his way to the top of the hill.

But all options are circumvented as the ground beneath his feet suddenly disappears.

He barely registers the secret metal trap door that’s swung wide open at the foot of the hill. Luckily, the fall into the passageway is relatively shallow. The tumble nearly has him face-planting into the stone. However, he twists at just the last second, bracing his hands for the impact before rolling off his shoulder into a crouched position. The movement successfully breaks his fall, but the sound reverberates through the long hallway. It’s not a quiet entrance, but he doesn’t hesitate. He’s bolting down the corridor the moment his feet make contact back with the ground. 

“Y/N!!” He doesn’t really care who hears him. As long as you hear him. “Where are you?!”

At some point he registers that he’s no longer underground but now in some lower portion of the fortress on the other side of the hill. The sounds of shocked voices and loud footsteps are everywhere. Movements are manic as he opens doors only to close them the moment he observes you’re not behind any. In turn, the enraged inhabitants begin to give him chase. It doesn’t matter who else may be inside. They aren’t you. And he wasn’t stopping until he found you.

A flying arrow whizzes by him. He veers, inhaling to let out another yell when a hand suddenly slaps across his mouth and pulls him sharply around the corner and into a wall. His fist clenches to deliver a punch but is stopped by a pair of familiar glaring orbs.

“Luffy!” You whisper through clenched teeth, “Why are you here? No, scratch that, what are you doing?”

He breathes a sigh of relief. Something about your presence has that kind of effect. “Imf waf woomfing fr yo!”

You roll your eyes at him, releasing your hand from over his mouth. “What?”

“I said I was looking-” His speech falters as his gaze travels across your face. 

There’s a shallow slice that cuts vertically across the expanse of your left cheek. Tracks of blood are dried to the side. You startle when his fingers brush against the bruise at your temple. “Did ya’ get hurt?”

You scoff and avoid his gaze. “A-a little, but it’s nothing. I got the thing we were looking for.”

He can tell in the way your voice shakes and your fingers absentmindedly wring themselves together. “It’s not nothing.”

Your lower lip juts out. “Just got into a scuffle. Ran into a familiar face and I…you should see how he looks now after I beat the snot outta him…”

But he sees through the excuse. “You’re scared of this place.”

Your sentence trails off to an almost childish-whisper. “Am not.”

It had been a steady but noticeable shift in your demeanor leading up to the arrival to this island. The mention of this locale made you act differently. Every time it was brought up you’d shy into him like the words burned. Your reply would be to simply smile as though everything was okay. And that was not okay. Not to him.

He can respect the privacy of your past. But your present and future is his priority. It's his responsibility. There’s nothing you can ever do to change his perspective of you.

There’s a waver in his voice as he feels anger well up. “Are too. Why didn’t you listen when I said we’d come together?”

“I…” You take a step back. “I just thought I could prove to you and the crew that I was strong enough to do it alone. That I was useful.”

“But you’re not alone,” His brows furrowed as he interrupts, “And ya’ never have to be alone. We are your crew. There’s nothing for you to prove.”

You take several long blinks, as though you’re seeing him for the first time. Stepping back into your bubble, he presses his forehead against yours. The voices and chaos around them seems to dissipate when it's just the two of you together. He finds you strangely gravitating in moments like this where you’re both a bit scuffed up and frazzled. He can’t help but lean forward and kiss you.

You’ve got a split lip, and his are chapped from the cold, but they mesh into something warm and soft that satisfies something aching in his soul. You both erupt into a fit of giggles. 

You taste like adventure.

“You still are terrible at being stealthy.”

“Are not.”

“Are too.”

The next retort is cut off as an unfamiliar face rounds the bend. An axe threatens to slice your head in two, but is cut off the moment his punch connects. The axe’s trajectory misses you by just an inch. 

“Let’s get out of here, yeah?”

You two are blurs of laughter and joy as you both weave your way back out the fortress and towards the Going Merry. The entire crew is already screaming at you both as the sounds of cannon fire fill the air. The ship has long left the harbor by the time you both finally tumble into your room from exhaustion. You're a mess of limbs squished into the small hammock against him. 

You both wrestle for a comfortable position, once again almost smothering him with that pillow before finally settling. Your head now rests comfortably on his chest. For several long moments, it's just the two of you in the room.

“Luffy?”

“Hm?” He hums with eyes closed, both hands behind his back and the straw hat over his face. Your finger draws lazy circles on his arm and he feels more at peace than ever.

He notes the head gear being lifted from his face. “Thank you for coming after me.”

He smiles and peeks an eye at you, moving said hat to sit on your head instead. He roves over the bandage on your cheek and adds, “Of course! We’re better when we’re together!”

With you, he knows he’ll be a better King of the Pirates. Simply because you’re there beside him.

[nina-ya]

You and Sanji had been cooking away for hours in the kitchen, preparing a meal for the Halloween banquet that Luffy was hosting that evening. Originally, Sanji didn't need your help, but when he spotted you in that alluring vampire costume, he knew he couldn't resist having you close. You were in charge of making the desserts while he handled the main courses.

Everything was going smoothly until you had made an unfortunate misstep while transferring a bowl of red frosting, causing you to trip and spill the crimson confection. Some of it had ended up on your face and varying parts of your body, and Sanji couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he made his way over to you.

He delicately dipped a finger into some red frosting that had landed on your cheek and then brought it to his lips, savoring the sweet taste. "You know," he mused with a playful grin, "a little bit of 'blood' might just be what you needed to truly become a vampire."

You rolled your eyes at his comment. "Yeah, yeah. Help me clean this up, please? Do we even have enough ingredients for more fro-?" Your words were abruptly cut off as he leaned in. Sanji's lips met yours in a passionate, open-mouthed kiss. As he deepened the kiss, his tongue gently brushed against your lips, exploring and cleaning the sweet, sticky frosting from every nook and cranny. The gentle, yet deliberate, sweep of his tongue sent shivers down your spine, making your heart race.

With each languid stroke of his tongue, the frosting slowly disappeared, leaving your lips free from the sticky temptation. Sanji's kiss was filled with desire, and as he pulled away, you yearned for more.

Moving down to your face, his lips continued their journey, leaving a trail of kisses along your skin, cleaning up the frosting. He planted them with a mix of tenderness and ardor. His warm breath against your skin heightened the sensation, making your cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and exhilaration.

Finally, his lips found your neck, and he descended with an almost teasing slowness. His mouth left a wet trail of lingering kisses along your delicate neck, sucking and licking and biting as he made his way down. It was as if he intended to savor every moment, every taste, as he cleaned away the remnants of the frosting, making you gasp and shiver in response to his touch. The red from the frosting would soon be replaced by the red love marks that he left behind with every kiss. The sensations sent waves of desire coursing through your veins, and you couldn't help but lose yourself in the sensual exploration, all thoughts of spilled frosting forgotten in the heat of the moment.

[vulturelined]

|| i just got the most painful amount of shampoo in my eyes so take a sanji drabble based on that ||

"don't worry, my love! you're in good hands," sanji coos, gently ushering you into the ladies' washroom with a red face and a cheesy smile. his words make you cringe a little, but your eyes burn too bad from shampoo for you to even care.

under any other circumstance, you would have taken care of this yourself, but the burn was too awful for you to open your eyes and try to mess with the bath. sanji definitely wasn't your first choice either.

you had originally tried to go to nami, eyes barely open and filled with tears. however, when sanji got a look of your flushed face and teary, red eyes, he was on you in an instant. when you had explained your situation, he was dragging you to the ladies' wash room before you could even say his name.

he gently pushes the door open, his hand resting on your lower back to guide you. he stared at the bath for a second, before his eyes turned to hearts and all of a sudden his nose was bleeding. he could not believe he was looking at the place where his beloved female crewmates bathed, but before he could bask in it any longer, you heaved a shaky sigh and stumbled over to the edge of the bath.

sanji follows you hurriedly, glancing around, "just sit, my dear! i'll take care of you, as soon as i find a wash cup..." he trails off, reaching a hand up to stroke his chin for a moment before seeing what he was looking for.

once grabbing the small blue cup, he joins you in sitting on the edge of the bath, scooping water up into the cup before gesturing for you to come closer. through squinted, blurry, and burning eyes, you scoot over just a bit.

he chuckles and shakes his head, "you're going to have to come closer for me to help you, dear," before you can even open your mouth to speak, his arm is around you and pulling your back to his chest. his legs are on the other side of you, and his free hand reaches up to gently cup your chin.

"lay your head back," his voice is soft and quiet, probably now that he was closer, and he kept his hand on your chin even as you tilted your head back to rest it against his shoulder.

sanji has seen very many beautiful women, but the way you look up at him from his shoulder with such a flushed, teary expression has him on the verge of fainting. his cheeks are beet red and you can see hearts swimming in his eyes, but his hand is perfectly steady when he raises the cup. "keep looking at me, gorgeous. just keep your eyes open," he swallows harshly, voice shaky.

you struggle to keep your eyes open, trying to flutter closed, when he lets a bit of water trickle over your face. your lips purse and when he stops pouring it, you blink rapidly and reach a hand up to rub your eyes. he catches your wrist before you can reach your face, breathing unsteadily, "just, trust me," he whispers, letting his hand fall back to cup your chin, borderline resting on your neck. he gives you a moment to blink some water out of your eyes before letting more water fall out of the cup.

after a while of silent repetition, you speak up while blinking water out of your eyes. your whole body is slumped against sanji's, still resting your head on his shoulder, "they're not burning anymore," you mumble, and sanji drops the cup into the tub. if you hadn't been so focused on your eyes, you would've heard him sigh in relief, or seen how flustered he was.

he lets his fingers linger a little longer on your neck when he pulls his hand back, wiping at the blood that was trickling down his nose. "thank you, sanji," you sit up from against him, finally rubbing your eyes. sanji's heart nearly beats out of his chest and he clasps his hands together, "anything for you-!"

"WHAT THE HELL??" you whip your head to face the door, eyes still blurry from the water. Nami stands there with a slack jaw and angry eyes, holding her toiletries and a change of clothes. you can only imagine what this looks like from her point of view; the both of you flushed (for very different reasons), sanji's nose bleeding, and your eyes glistening with tears.

Nami quite literally kicks sanji out of the room, fuming, but the blonde clearly does not mind. In fact, he calls her name in joy. When she turns to you, her face softens and she walks over, patting your cheek gently.

"Did he do anything to you?"

you shake your head in response, pointing at the water cup in the tub with your thumb, "he was just helping me get shampoo out of my eyes."

"Oh."

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Why The Caged Bird Sings | Chapter 2

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: One Piece (Liveaction) Rating: Explicit Relationships Vinsmoke Sanji x F!Reader Characters: Vinsmoke Sanji, Patty, Red Leg Zeff, Original Characters, Strawhat crew. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, minor POV switching. Summary: One night, you were brought to the luxurious Baratie Restaurant Ship, renowned for its exceptional cuisine that your family had been intrigued to sample. A particular blond and comely waiter captured your attention with his charming smile and gentle eyes, but while your beauty and sophistication intrigued him, Sanji also observed the profound nervousness that caused your jaw and body muscles to tense whenever your fiancé made contact with your hand or your parents delivered a humiliating criticism towards you. One dinner at the Baratie soon turned into a recurring event, and then more. As your friendship with Sanji slowly evolved into something that burned from within, you strove to make your longstanding dream come true; freeing yourself from a constricting existence. ------------------------- As Sanji looked at you curiously, the gentle smile never leaving his face, you asked him, "Do you know why the caged bird sings?" He thought about it for a moment before answering, "Because it has a song to give?" You chuckled at his response and shook your head. "You're not entirely wrong, but no."

Divider by firefly-graphics

Trigger Warning: Minor physical abuse and threats included.

Feel free to read this on AO3 if it is more comfortable for you due to its length. I only ask to support me with a like and reblog if you enjoy my work. ☺️

As you made your way back to the island, an oppressive atmosphere of tension enveloped the ship. Your father, unable to look you in the eye, clearly carried a burden of shame due to your actions at the Baratie. Your mother's disappointment and disgust towards your lack of respect for your fiancé were unmistakable and she struggled to conceal them. Moreover, Christopher consistently displayed his disdain for Sanji, derogatorily labeling him as "the nasty waiter".

Your head pounded, the throbbing intensifying with every incessant complaint. Just when you felt like you couldn’t tolerate that situation anymore, Admiral Wheeler stepped in, declaring that it was late and everyone needed rest. Seizing the opportunity, you swiftly escaped to your cabin, firmly shutting the door before Christopher could follow you inside.

Despite your exhaustion, sleep eluded you as thoughts of the Baratie, particularly Sanji's captivating and genuine gaze, consumed your mind. Never before had someone been able to understand your true self with just a single glance like he did. The way he shielded you from Chris' fury at the bar, protecting you, filled your heart with an unfamiliar sense of happiness.

The next day, you formulated a plan to secretly meet up with your friends, using the excuse of going grocery shopping as a cover. As you recounted your experience and encounter with the charming chef from the restaurant, your best friend Mari instantly offered her enthusiastic support, suggesting that she join you to meet him again in the future. While you didn't necessarily object to the idea, you had to decline Mari's offer. You explained that he seemed quite flirtatious, leading you to doubt your chances with someone who likely wasn't interested in committing to a serious relationship. However, Mari quickly dismissed your concerns, stating that if Sanji had an interest in you, it didn't truly matter. Rubio, Marlo, and Rory also encouraged you to end things with Christopher and pursue a job at the Baratie instead.

By that point, your friends had become your chosen family, wholeheartedly embracing you for who you truly were. With them, you experienced a newfound sense of liberation, able to express your unique style through your clothing and jewelry, without the worry of judgment or ridicule. Despite Marlo and Rory being an enstablished couple, you never felt uncomfortable or out of place when you were around them. Instead, they served as an inspiration for the kind of relationship you desired - one marked by the freedom to authentically and unconditionally fall in love, without any sense of obligation.

As the days went by, your life became increasingly suffocating. Countless dinners and business meetings stretched out endlessly, and all you longed for was to release a scream of frustration and vanish, never to return. Gradually, Christopher stopped questioning you and started acting as if nothing had happened. It became clear that as long as he could showcase you like a prized possession, the man was satisfied enough.

Two weeks later, you were taken aback and completely perplexed when your fiancé expressed his desire to have a private date at the Baratie, just the two of you. Considering his dislike for Sanji and your obvious attraction to the chef, this was the last thing you anticipated from Chris.

When you confronted him about his shift in demeanor, he nonchalantly shrugged and explained that the cuisine at the Baratie was unmatched in his opinion. He believed that nothing else could compare now that he had tasted it and simply desired more. In his eyes, Sanji was just an average man with no significant status, and Christopher saw no reason to be bothered by his presence any longer.

What truly unsettled you was Christopher's uncharacteristic restlessness, coupled with his insistence on having a serious conversation with you over dinner. Deep down, a sinking feeling hinted that you already had an inkling of what it might be about, but you fought to suppress those thoughts, reassuring yourself that you could be completely mistaken.

Your friends made a sincere effort to persuade you otherwise, understanding the unease that consumed you at the thought of going to the Baratie alone with a man who might potentially make unwanted advances. Unfortunately, you felt trapped and unable to decline, as your parents had you cornered with their scrutinizing stares.

On the other hand, Mari attempted to find a glimmer of hope amidst your turmoil, suggesting that this unpleasant occurance could present an opportunity to cross paths with Sanji once again. All you had to do was pretend to be exhausted and make sure to keep your distance from Christopher's reach.

Fortunately, Christopher remained silent and somewhat distant throughout the entire journey to the floating establishment, though you could still sense a certain uneasiness emanating from him. His silence allowed you to finally lose yourself in a book you had been struggling to finish for weeks, savoring the invigorating, salty breeze on the ship's deck. As the sun began to set and dinnertime approached, the chilly atmosphere sent a shiver down your spine. Your dress provided little coverage and offered no warmth, but it wasn't a choice you had made personally. Your mother had selected the attire for you, and as she perused your closet, she appeared unusually radiant, humming to herself. It was not a promising sign.

The moment you spotted the restaurant ship in the distance, your heart leapt into your throat. You clung to the hope that Sanji could help you escape your predicament once again, but you knew that such a possibility was unlikely with Christopher by your side and no other means of diversion.

Yet, internally, you scolded yourself for allowing a complete stranger to have such a profound impact on you. You didn't want to develop an attachment to the first attractive man who showed a level of care and kindness that surpassed anything your own father had ever demonstrated. So why were you unable to erase the memory of the cook's smile even after more than 15 days?

You had no desire for a paternal figure in your life, not even in the slightest. Instead, what you truly yearned for was a man who could be your perfect counterpart, someone who could complete you as you completed him. You longed for an equal and a confidant, a lover whom you could trust with every part of yourself and who would willingly open his heart to you in return.

No matter how long you had known Christopher and his father, he was not the person you were seeking.

As you stepped onto the wooden docks, you couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of numerous ships docked in front of the restaurant. Eavesdropping on conversations, you discovered that many people were so enchanted by the exquisite cuisine at the Baratie that they had chosen to extend their stay.

According to Christopher, he had to wait at least 10 days to secure a reservation for the two of you, and even your family encountered difficulties in finding an available table.Sanji had shared with you that the head chef at the Baratie didn't value his culinary creativity, relegating him to serving tables as a form of punishment. If the restaurant's quality was already remarkable even without Sanji in the kitchen, you could only envision how extraordinary it could become if he were given the chance to be a regular chef.

To be honest, the rice that Sanji cooked for you was unbelievably delicious, surpassing everything else on your plate that you had ever tasted.

As you encountered the same fishman at the entrance, he greeted you with utmost courtesy and a friendly smile. Following him down the stairs to a small, circular table at the center, you couldn't help but scan the room in anticipation of catching a glimpse of Sanji. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found, leaving you with a bitter feeling of letdown.

As soon as you both sat down, Christopher promptly felt the need to unbutton the collar of his formal jacket, commenting on how warm the restaurant was with a nervous chuckle. You raised an eyebrow at him, finding the temperature perfectly comfortable and to your liking.

In that moment, it was impossible for you to ignore the fact that something was undeniably amiss. Compared to your previous "dates," Christopher seemed noticeably more preoccupied, his mind seemingly burdened by a specific concern that caused him to sweat profusely.

In a strange way, his peculiar behavior brought a sense of relief, as it kept him from becoming overly affectionate or intrusive. However, a nagging voice in your mind persisted, urging you to escape at once, even if it meant taking control of your parents' ship and leaving him stranded at the Baratie.

Lost in your thoughts, you remained silent as Christopher continued to mutter to himself. However, when you caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of your eye, you had to verify that your mind wasn't deceiving you.

And there he was, Sanji the cook, placing a tantalizing steak in front of a customer. His face wore a serious and irritated expression, but as he turned, his hands casually tucked into his pants pockets, your eyes met in a deep stare. A knot formed in your stomach as his lips curved into a captivating, flirtatious, and pleasantly surprised smile.

He stood there, motionless, his eyes fixed on you from a distance, and you couldn't help but reciprocate with a smile of your own.

"So, what would you like to eat?" Chris asked, holding the menu in front of you.

With a sense of déjà vu, you reluctantly tore your gaze away from Sanji and shifted your attention to the menu, but a wave of nausea washed over you as Christopher's hand brushed against yours.

Evidently, you had claimed victory far too soon.

"I'm in the mood for some meat tonight.”

You clenched your fists, causing your knuckles to whiten as you tightened your grip on the tablecloth.

"Meat? I thought you didn't want to eat that," he remarked.

You often pondered how oblivious he was to your actions, eventually concluding that even if he did notice, he likely wouldn't care.

"Let me guess. My mother told you it's bad for my health," you responded sardonically.

He scratched the back of his neck and replied, "Heh, well. Yes.”

“What a surprise.”

You glanced around cautiously, hoping to catch another glimpse of Sanji, but he had already disappeared. Meanwhile, Christopher grew increasingly agitated as he checked his pockets, only to release a sigh of relief when he found whatever he had been frantically searching for.

"Is everything alright?" you asked him.

"Hmm? Oh yes, everything is fine," he replied absentmindedly.

Your heart sank as a different waiter approached the table to take your order. This pale, young man wore a shy smile, suggesting that he was a new addition to the staff. However, he exuded a natural confidence and competence that immediately filled you with a comforting sense of warmth.

Just... he wasn't the one you were hoping to see.

Furthermore, Christopher's growing restlessness was beginning to try your patience. He couldn't seem to stay still, constantly fidgeting in his chair and looking around as if he were disoriented. He frequently adjusted the collar of his shirt, which was becoming drenched with his nervous perspiration.

Ignoring him, you drank the refreshing, ice-cold water that the waiter had poured into your glass, feeling your throat parched from your increasing frustration. Suddenly, you wished you had ordered something stronger.

When your food arrived, the enticing aroma of the steak enveloped your senses, causing your mouth to water the moment it was delicately placed in front of you. The rich, creamy sauce that coated it left you longing for more, as if you hadn't eaten in days.

With anticipation, you picked up the polished silverware, prepared to take your first bite. However, your excitement quickly waned when Christopher let out a long, deep sigh and nearly pushed his own plate aside, leaving it untouched.

"That's it. I need to do it now."

Your actions came to a halt, and you looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What are you talking about?”

Christopher cleared his throat once again, reaching into his inner pocket. He retrieved a small black velvet box and placed it on the table, sliding it towards you with care. In that moment, it felt as if all color had drained from your face.

"I had planned to do this after dessert, but I can't wait any longer. Can you please open it?" he asked, his voice filled with apprehension.

Your fingers trembled, causing the fork and knife to slip from your grip and clang against the plate. A surge of dread washed over you as you cautiously took the box and opened it, revealing a sparkling ring that seemed overly large and ostentatious, far from your own personal style.

"What your mother mentioned to us two weeks ago got me thinking. We've known each other for quite a while now, haven't we? We shouldn't waste any more time. Let’s get married," he said bluntly.

You squeezed your eyes shut, feeling your heart pounding in your chest, as if it were about to burst and make you collapse. Deep down, you had a premonition that this was what he had planned all along, which is precisely why you had felt such a strong urge to flee, regretting ever accepting his invitation in the first place.

You didn't need to ponder it because you already knew the answer, and it was one that nobody was going to find satisfying.

"Chris, let me ask you something. Are you genuinely convinced that this would even work out?" you questioned.

"I don't see any reason why it wouldn't," he replied with a shrug.

"We might have known each other for a few years, but you don't even love me," you stated.

"So what? I like you enough to consider you worthy of being a good wife."

You swallowed hard, summoning your courage. "But we have nothing in common. We are complete opposites. How can you even believe that we are meant to be together?”

His expression hardened in a way you had never witnessed before. "Look, I don't see why this is even relevant. All I expect from you is to become the wife I deserve and the mother of my children.”

Hearing that, the pressing need to stand up and storm out of the restaurant overcame you, never wanting to see his face again. "How did we even go from talking about marriage to discussing having children?"

"That's what married couples do, right?"

"So this is all I am to you? A mere trophy to be won? Just an object to put on display and bear your children without any say or consent?" you inquired, seething with resentment and utter disgust.

Christopher's jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened to a degree that sent a shiver down your spine. "This is what you are meant to do. It's the reason why you were promised to me," he stated coldly.

You knew that you were expected to comply, and maybe, if this had happened just a little while ago, you might have accepted his proposal even if it tore you apart inside. But this time, everything felt different.

You felt different.

You closed the box, carefully placing it on the table, and slid it back to him. "I'm sorry. The answer is no.”

In retrospect, you should have anticipated that he wouldn't take it lightly.

"No? NO???" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and anger. "It's what your parents want too, so you MUST do as they say!" he insisted.

His increasing frustration and sense of entitlement only served to further distance you. As his voice grew louder, you became more self-conscious, aware of the stares from other customers as they turned to look in your direction.

Nervously, you implored Chris to lower his voice. "You won't achieve anything screaming at me, Chris. Please, let's talk about this later," you said, hoping to soothe his frayed nerves.

"Oh, no. Everyone needs to know what a damn bitch you are."

The whispers around you grew more audible, heightening your feelings of embarrassment and mortification.

"Give me a valid reason for not marrying me," he demanded. "Enough with the bullshit!”

Despite feeling intimidated by his unexpected outburst, you refused to allow your determination to crumble.

You knew it was audacious, but you managed to astonish even yourself as all the venom within you poured out without restraint. "I would rather die than marry someone like you."

It took a moment for the events that followed your confession to sink in. Suddenly, your head was forcefully turned to the side, accompanied by a throbbing pain that spread across your cheek and to the corner of your mouth. The room filled with gasps, and as the harsh reality of the situation settled in, you forced yourself to look back at Christopher, gently brushing your already swollen face with your fingertips.

Christopher was panting, trembling with anger. His eyes were filled with nothing but a toxic and malevolent disdain. "Your parents were right. You are such a disappointment.”

You had to concentrate on controlling your own breathing now, but the shock from the slap had rendered you motionless, trapped in the chair, immobilized by fear.

And yet, you allowed yourself to let out another stinging sentence. "I might be a disappointment, but you sure as hell are far from a real man.”

Christopher stood up and seized the edge of the table, flipping it over with a sudden, powerful force. You watched in dismay as the food tumbled down, landing in a chaotic mess of broken glass and ceramic shards.

It was a distressing and painful sight to witness, such a terrible waste.

Christopher was far from finished, especially when it came to you. Before you could even react, he forcefully pulled your hair back, his teeth gritted dangerously close to your face.

"Maybe I should ruin this pretty face of yours. See then if any other man will ever want your pathetic existence in his life.”

Your mouth opened, but no sound emerged. You remained seated, steeling yourself for whatever was about to transpire.

And then, like a beacon of light amidst the darkness, you heard a familiar voice.

"I thought the rules were clear sir: no wasting food, and no fights in the Baratie."

Sanji appeared by your side, his blue eyes emanating a menacing glare, assuming his customary pose with his hands tucked into the pockets of his pants. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Ah, here comes the fancy jerk," Christopher said with an amused grin, letting go of your hair and straightening himself up.

Sanji stood his ground, showing no signs of being affected by the threatening tone of your ex-fiancé. In a firm voice, he cautioned, "I would strongly advise you to step away from her."

Chris let out a boisterous laugh. "What are you, her lapdog?" he sneered. "Perhaps I should teach you some manners. Let's see if you still want to meddle in other people's fucking business.”

In a split second, Christopher retrieved a gun from his holster, but even before he had a chance to point it at Sanji, the cook reacted with lightning speed, moving in a blur. With a quick and fluid motion, Sanji lifted his left leg and expertly kicked the gun out of Christopher's hand, causing it to clatter loudly as it hit the floor. Filled with a mixture of shock and escalating rage, Christopher let out a ferocious growl, launching himself at Sanji with the intention of landing a powerful punch. However, effortlessly evading Christopher's attack, Sanji countered with another forceful kick aimed at his face. The impact was so powerful that it immediately caused the man's nose to start bleeding.

As you looked up, you saw Sanji standing before you once again, his gaze resting on Christopher's pitiful figure. His blond hair partially obscured the left side of his face, while his leg remained slightly elevated as he readjusted his hands in his pants pockets.

In that moment, your breath caught in your throat, leaving you momentarily speechless at the unexpected display of Sanji's strength and agility.

Regaining his composure, Chris charged forward a second time, moving with surprising speed despite his disheveled and worn-out appearance. ”That is no way to deal with a customer!”

"And that is not how you treat a respectable lady, you shithead," Sanji shot back, his irritation evident in his scowl and rising anger in his voice. Any semblance of professional courtesy had long vanished.

As your heart raced with excitement, the sound of Christopher's approaching footsteps sent alarm bells ringing in your mind, erasing any trace of a smile that was about to appear on your face.

"How did you put it? No fights? Well, now you've made it personal.”

After wiping the blood from his nose with the sleeve of his jacket, Christopher took on a fighting stance and cracked his knuckles. He continued to taunt Sanji, just as he always did when confronting the pirates he despised so vehemently.

Once again, the cook seemed unimpressed. "You're only going to end up hurting yourself," he said nonchalantly.

If there was one thing you had learned about Chris the hard way, it was that he didn't take kindly to being challenged or disrespected. Sanji's dismissive and mocking manners only served to further ignite his fury, prompting him to charge at your savior with a fierce battle cry.

Despite Christopher's attempts to land blows on Sanji, each one was easily blocked, deflected, or completely avoided by the blond's incredible skills. Sanji's movements focused solely on his legs as he relentlessly unleashed a barrage of kicks to Christopher's head, chest, and abdomen.

You watched the scene in awe, completely captivated by the way Sanji's hair swayed in front of his eyes, only to be brushed back with a quick head movement. He pivoted gracefully, delivering a final, forceful kick that sent Christopher sprawling onto his back. Your ex-fiancé, unwilling to give up, relied on his Marine training, summoning enough resilience to rise to his feet again. However, before he could take another step forward, the sound of a gun being cocked echoed from behind him.

A tall man with a towering chef's hat, dressed in a white cook uniform and sporting an incredibly long braided blond mustache, brought him to an abrupt halt. He pressed the cold barrel of the weapon against the back of Christopher's head.

"That's enough," he commanded. "Get out of my restaurant. Now.”

Christopher's demeanor underwent a sudden and dramatic transformation, shifting from the confidence of a fierce lion to the innocence of a timid mouse. With his hands raised in the air, his current posture stood in stark contrast to his previous aggression.

The man in charge, unmistakably asserting his authority, positioned himself between Christopher and Sanji without lowering his weapon. Upon closer observation, you noticed that his right leg was actually a wooden peg.

"My father won't be pleased with this. This place is nothing but a damn hellhole, and you're no better than those filthy pirates," Christopher proclaimed, his voice dripping with hatred and contempt.

“I said, out!”

The owner's commanding voice resonated with such force that it echoed throughout the entire dining room. The authoritative command seemed to make even Christopher flinch, and just as he was about to turn and leave, his gaze unexpectedly locked onto you one last time.

"You'll pay for this, Y/N," he warned, his words carrying the weight of a vengeful promise.

Without hesitation, Sanji moved towards Christopher, but his path was intercepted by the head chef, who firmly pressed his hand against Sanji's chest, effectively restraining him.

As Christopher picked up his pistol from the floor and hurriedly left, you watched his figure fade away, his fingers clutching a bloodied nose. A profound sense of relief washed over you the moment he disappeared, but the emotional toll left you too drained to even move or rise. Your gaze drifted downward to the ruined food scattered about, and a wave of guilt engulfed you as you acknowledged the wasted efforts.

“Are you all right?”

You were greeted by a calm and soothing voice, tinged with a hint of roughness. As you turned your head, you found the chef leaning slightly over you, attentively examining your face. You could feel your cheek growing warmer and irritatingly swollen.

You managed to muster only a nod and allowed a smile to finally grace your lips. "I apologize for this mess, sir.”

The man placed his hands on his hips, letting out a frustrated sigh as he surveyed the chaos caused by Christopher's rampage. Your attention was drawn to more workers emerging from the kitchen, each carrying brooms, cleaning rugs, and trays to collect the scattered debris.

"Come on, Little Eggplant, take her to the kitchen," the chef instructed Sanji before shifting his attention to the others present. "Get back to your meals, folks. There's nothing to see here.”

The tension in the room was palpable as the customers made an effort to mind their own business but struggled to do so. Some sat in silence, their attention back to their now cold food, while others discreetly stole glances in your direction, seeking reassurance that your condition was not too severe.

As Sanji drew near, he came unexpectedly close to your face. One hand extended towards you, while the other delicately reached out to touch your upper back, conveying a gentle gesture of care. "Can you stand?" he asked softly.

"I think so," you confirmed, lightly brushing his palm with your fingertips as you pushed yourself upright. Your legs felt slightly unsteady, but you had no reason to worry about them giving way because Sanji was there, supporting your waist and guiding you towards the kitchen.

Everything happened so quickly that you were still trying to grasp the full extent of the situation. Rumors had been circulating about the Baratie not being an ordinary restaurant, but rather an establishment managed by a former pirate who had found solace in the Sambas Region. If anything, witnessing the owner's imposing presence and being privy to Sanji's astounding combat prowess only served to deepen your admiration.

As you entered the kitchen through the swinging wooden doors, all the workers inside turned their gaze towards you, their faces showing a mix of surprise and perplexity. They were taken aback by the commotion outside and the presence of a stranger being brought into their workspace.

Sanji guided you to an unoccupied table tucked away in a secluded corner of the room. He invited you to take a seat and made sure to stay by your side until you were comfortably settled. You quietly watched as he removed his black jacket and casually placed it over the back of a nearby chair, revealing his well-defined physique accentuated by the long-sleeved button-up shirt he wore underneath.

He then approached a refrigerator, inspecting its contents and rolling up his sleeves.

You noticed the same pale young man who had taken your orders earlier, repeatedly looking back and forth between you and Sanji. However, he chose not to voice the question that was likely on everyone's mind and quickly returned to stirring the pot in front of him when he briefly made eye contact with you.

That is, until a man with brown skin, short blue hair, and a distinctive stubble decided to step forward. He wiped his hands on the front of his apron and furrowed his eyebrows as he noticed the redness on your cheek. "What happened?" he asked inquisitively.

"It's nothing, Patty. Get back to your work. I'll take care of this," Sanji replied, closing the fridge with something wrapped carefully in tinfoil in his hand.

Patty seemed unsure, but like the others, he chose not to inquire further and let the matter go. You watched as he skillfully diced the carrots and tossed them into the sizzling pan.

When Sanji returned and handed you the frozen leftovers to use as a makeshift ice pack for your cheek, you couldn't help but suppress a mental chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. He apologized for the inconvenience, explaining that their kitchen was not equipped to provide proper medical assistance.

Despite all the chaos and mess, you found Sanji's tenderness to be heartwarming. His gentle touch as he carefully wiped a cloth across the other side of your face, removing a droplet of meat sauce just below your cheekbone, evoked a feeling of care and comfort, surrounding you with a warm embrace.

Neither of you spoke, completely absorbed in a peaceful, tender moment as Sanji meticulously cleansed your skin and gently brushed a strand of hair away from your eye. Feeling your right cheek lightly graze against the cool tinfoil, a slight throb pulsed through, but the refreshing sensation provided immediate relief, easing the pain until it gradually faded into a barely noticeable ache.

The workers diligently carried out their tasks, bustling around the kitchen, cooking, and cleaning surfaces to remove any traces of flour and various ingredients. Patty occasionally took a quick peek in your direction, but he remained focused on his station behind the stove, choosing not to intervene.

After a while, you found it impossible to contain the soft giggle that escaped your lips, quickly blossoming into genuine laughter. Sanji looked at you with a mixture of confusion and amusement, but a smile slowly spread across his face.

“What is it?” He asked curiously.

"It's not exactly romantic for me to be sitting here with a frozen salmon pressed against my face, is it?”

Upon hearing your words, Sanji joined in laughter, not to mock you, but to create a lighthearted atmosphere and demonstrate that he didn't mind at all, as long as you were safe and out of Christopher's reach.

But then, a thought crossed his mind. "How did you know there's fish in there?”

You shrugged lightly in response. "I can smell it through the tinfoil."

"Your sense of smell is quite impressive, madam."

"Y/N, please," you reiterated. "What you did back there was absolutely incredible, by the way.”

And then, like a vessel propelled by a gust of wind, your lips continued to move on their own.

“How is it possible for you to be such an amazing cook, handsome, and even a formidable fighter? It’s way too much at once, it should be illegal.”

Although you were still overwhelmed by the combination of his talents, you inwardly chided yourself for the blunt nature of the comment you made. Your compliments caught Sanji off guard, and you were astonished by your uncharacteristically straightforward words. He glanced down with a bashful smile, chuckling to himself, clearly reveling in the boost to his ego.

"Shit. What am I saying? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blurt that out loud."

"No need to apologize… Y/N. I like your honesty. Please, feel free to keep it coming."

Sanji's warm smile and gentle blue eyes were the most captivating sights you had ever seen. In his presence, it felt natural for you to express genuine compliments, even though you would normally hesitate to speak so openly without the help of a drink. Perhaps it was the fear and adrenaline coursing through your veins that temporarily allowed you to let go of your usual inhibitions.

As everything flooded back to you, your expression faltered. "Thank you for saving me out there. And I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

"It wasn't your fault," Sanji reassured you kindly.

But you, being compassionate by nature, shook your head. "That idiot was with me, so I should take responsibility for what he did. I was the one who provoked him, anyway," you acknowledged, shouldering a blame that didn't truly belong to you.

"Nah. Anyone with enough common sense would recognize what a bloody knobhead he is."

"He's the absolute worst, truly," you affirmed.

Sanji seemed to became expectant, and a trace of concern flashed in his eyes, as if he was apprehensive about what Christopher might have subjected you to beyond the confines of the Baratie.

In the end, you concluded that it wouldn't be so terrible or inappropriate to reveal the truth of what had taken place. "You see, he actually decided to propose to me tonight," you explained.

He adjusted his posture, straightening his back against the chair. "And you turned him down?"

“I did.”

"You don't love him, do you?"

“As if I ever could.”

It did feel strange to have such a conversation in the bustling kitchen of his restaurant, but with the constant noise of boiling water, sizzling meat, and knives chopping, you doubted that anyone would pay attention to the two of you discussing the unpleasantness of your former fiancé.

Sanji smiled once more, looking at you with fascination and pride. "I must say, you were wrong about one thing.”

Your eyebrows knitted in confusion. "About what?"

"Last time you told me that some birds are not meant to fly.”

Your eyes flickered. “Ah, yes. I remember that.”

“And yet, I see a beautiful one spreading its wings right in front of me.”

You blushed slightly, lowering the frozen salmon and running your thumb over the tinfoil covering it. "I suppose. Although I can anticipate a significant backlash coming my way, so I can’t get too comfortable now.”

"You should to stay away from that git."

“It's not just him that I'm worried about."

Sanji waited, expecting further explanation, but this time you simply looked into his eyes without offering any additional information.

He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and absentmindedly tapped his fingertips against the table. "It's more complicated than that, isn't it?" he asked, sensing that there was more to the story.

You smiled back at him with a hint of sadness. "You have no idea.”

Sanji leaned forward, lightly brushing your left arm with the cloth he was still holding. "My offer still stands, sweetheart. If you ever need any help, you know where to find me," he said, his voice filled with sincerity and a genuine willingness to support you.

Your heart fluttered, and the butterflies in your stomach intensified, swirling in an endless spiral. Although he had gained the reputation of a womanizer, you now realized that Mari had spoken the truth. There was a hidden depth to Sanji beyond his flirtatious demeanor, and you couldn't help but wonder if his charm served as a shield to conceal something tormenting him from within.

You felt an unexplainable pull towards Sanji and the mysterious depths that you could detect in him. However, you were hesitant to fully open up to this kind man, determined to keep your personal struggles separate from others. Despite the tempting offer and the looming dread of what awaited you, you remained resolute in your dedication to handling things in the proper manner, even though deep down, you yearned for the comfort and affection of someone else.

"Thank you, but don't worry about it. I can handle it on my own,” you assured. “Besides, you've already done more than enough for me.”

Unbeknownst to you, you found yourself instinctively leaning towards him, delicately touching his bare wrist. Your cool fingers glided over his warm skin, grazing the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt. Sanji glanced down at your hand, and just as you were about to pull away, he flashed another irresistible, captivating smile that was difficult for you to ignore.

"There is one more thing I can do for you.”

"What do you mean?" you asked, sliding your fingers down to rest on the table.

"You couldn’t eat your food, could you?”

You bit your lower lip. "No. The jerk ruined it before I could take a bite."

"Well, I can't have you here at the Baratie with an empty stomach, what kind of man would I be?" he winked. "What would you like to eat? Shall I bring you the same order as before?"

You were surprised by his eagerness as he stood up from the chair and retrieved the white chef uniform that had been casually discarded on an empty counter.

A part of you still craved the tantalizing steak you had missed out on, but you came to the realization that anything prepared by Sanji would be equally exquisite. With a broad grin on your face, you presented the wrapped salmon to him, anticipating the culinary masterpiece he would create.

"It would be a shame not to make the most of this lifesaver fish. I have complete faith in your skills."

Filled with a newfound confidence, he carefully buttoned up his white jacket, unwrapped the leftovers, and selected a freshly cleaned pan from the kitchenware.

“Right away!”

Saying that Zeff was irritated was an understatement. Every now and then, there was that one customer ready to jeopardize everything he had worked so hard for, forcing him and his workers to clean and repair the damages caused. Now, two plates and glasses needed to be replaced with fresh new ones, the food had practically been trampled on the floor and couldn't be salvaged, and the tablecloth required an immediate thorough wash.

He could finally return to the kitchen, only to find Sanji happily cooking something without his specific permission. Their habit of arguing out loud due to Sanji's tendency to improvise dishes and deviate from the menu was a constant source of frustration for Zeff. It led him to repeatedly banish Sanji from any cooking responsibilities and demote him to the role of a waiter, which the young cook despised. And yet, as the stubborn Little Eggplant that he was, Sanji never seemed to learn.

To Zeff, there was nobody as talented as Sanji in his restaurant, but he knew that the sole reason for the young man to stay at the Baratie was the strong sense of obligation he nurtured for the head chef. Zeff wanted Sanji to realize the enormous amount of opportunities he was wasting, and if he had to push him the hard way every day to get it through his head, he was willing to do it for Sanji's own sake.

Zeff was on the verge of unleashing another loud complaint, but the words remained stifled in his mouth as soon as he caught sight of you sitting at the table, tucked away in a remote corner of the kitchen. A shy smile graced your lips as you hugged yourself, appearing delicate and out of place. In your presence, he couldn't bring himself to create a scene, realizing that the only reason Sanji had donned his cook uniform again was to feed you.

Whenever their eyes met, Sanji shot Zeff a threatening look, fully aware of the chef's constant scrutiny on his food preparation. It was evident that he was once again modifying one of his original dishes, but Zeff chose to hold back his reprimand for a later time.

As Sanji returned to the table and placed the plate of salmon in front of you, your face lit up and your smile became much more genuine and carefree. Zeff felt a subtle warmth in his chest the moment he witnessed your satisfaction in finally being able to indulge in the meal that had been denied to you. Zeff remained unwavering in his code of honor, both in the past and in the present, even though he used to find enjoyment in battles and feeling a sense of satisfaction from the blood of his enemies on his boots. He couldn't comprehend any valid justification for the scumbag you had come with to inflict harm upon an innocent person like yourself.

Sanji was expected to return to his duties after tending to your injury, but he instead chose to sit down in front of you and showed no intention of getting up. Zeff couldn't help but roll his eyes at his behavior as he collected the prepared meals and left to serve them to the customers himself.

Sanji had done it again. You hadn't even wanted fish when you arrived at the Baratie, but the meal he prepared was so scrumptious that it completely overshadowed the steak you missed out on. The Salmon Meunière, as he called it, was exquisitely delicate on the palate and unquestionably the most tender and flavorful salmon you had ever experienced. Lightly fried in oil, it was served with a buttery sauce, lemon juice, and parsley. The crispy coating melted on your tongue the moment it touched your taste buds. Sanji explained that while it was originally part of Zeff's restaurant menu, he took the liberty to enhance the recipe with his own personal touch.

The way Sanji could elevate a simple dish into an authentic masterpiece was truly beyond belief.

"I'm telling you, your talents are wasted on waiting tables," you exclaimed, gazing in awe at your now empty plate.

Sanji clicked his tongue and pursed his lips. "The old man wouldn't see it that way," he replied.

"But why? Just because you enjoy being creative with your cooking? If the outcome is this good, he would only gain from it.”

Sanji stared at you in silence, but then he flashed another sweet, captivating smile that instantly made your knees weak. "Do you truly mean that?" he asked, his voice filled with hope and a glimmer of vulnerability.

Hopefully, the blush coloring your cheeks wasn't too noticeable in the dim light of the kitchen. "Of course. And I could tell him as well.”

He chuckled softly. "I appreciate it, but you definitely don't want to see Zeff when he's angry.”

You playfully tapped his hand. "Oh, come on. He can't be worse than my ex.”

Upon hearing that, Sanji was reminded of how your former fiancé had treated you. His gaze shifted back to the right side of your face, which, although no longer as swollen as before, still caused intermittent tingling and twinges of pain.

"Zeff is a man of honor," he replied. "From my personal experience, I can vouch for that.”

You raised an eyebrow as you scrutinized his expression. While his left eye was partially obscured by his hair, the other one shimmered in the gentle glow, captivating your attention.

"Ah, I see now. He's not just your boss, is he? There's something more going on between the two of you.”

Sanji removed the white cloth from his shoulder and delicately placed it on the table. He appeared lost in thought, his jaw tightly clenched with tension. "Well, it's..." he began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words.

You didn’t need to let him finish. “Complicated?”

He nodded, a subtle grin playing on his lips. "Very much so," he replied.

Another comfortable silence settled between the two of you once more, and you welcomed it with open arms. The sudden sense of camaraderie and understanding that had developed between Sanji and you was beyond your comprehension, surpassing anything you experienced in your life.

This time, Patty took a step closer, his frustration becoming apparent even in your presence. "Are you returning to work or not?" he demanded.

Sanji took a deep breath, his right hand clenched into a tight fist. "Be quiet, Patty. I'm busy at the moment.”

"Oh, right. Busy. I see that."

Suddenly, a sense of guilt enveloped you for diverting Sanji from his duties. Although none of his colleagues had voiced their concerns, it was clear that Patty's patience had inevitably reached its limit.

And so, you gently brushed your fingertips against his clenched fist, feeling it gradually loosen and relax under your touch. "Hey, it's okay," you whispered. "Don't worry about me. They need you.”

Sanji hesitated, stealing a quick glance at Patty, who stood there with his arms crossed and waited impatiently.

"Go. I'll be fine here," you reassured him.

It took him a moment, but Sanji finally came to terms with what needed to be done, although he seemed much less resistant to the idea than he was with Patty.

"Call me if you need anything," he said, standing up from the chair and unbuttoning his uniform.

As you watched him discard his chef clothes, a twinge of sadness tugged at your heart, seeing him set aside his culinary skills to work as a waiter in the dining hall. Of course, you didn't dare to say anything, maintaining your smile and crossing your hands on the table, the black jacket fluttering behind him as he put it back on and walked away.

When Patty turned to you, all the annoyance he had previously displayed seemed to have completely vanished. "How did you manage that?"

You shrugged your shoulders. "I… simply told him to get back to work.”

Patty let out a small snort. "He would only listen to me if I were an attractive lady," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm, acknowledging Sanji's flirtatious nature.

You laughed wholeheartedly. "I'll take that as a compliment.”

For the first time since you entered the kitchen, you witnessed Patty flash a warm, toothy smile. You remained silent as you watched him skillfully work the pan on the stove, effortlessly cutting more fish, meat, and vegetables as he went. Everyone moved with impressive speed and confidence, yet the atmosphere managed to remain calm and devoid of stress.

For the next hour and a half, you remained there without interfering, meticulously studying your surroundings and observing every action unfolding before your eyes. Contrary to expectations, sitting at the table with nothing to do was surprisingly productive. Patty and the pale young waiter would occasionally check in to see if you needed anything else to eat or drink, but you were still perfectly satisfied and content from the dinner Sanji had prepared for you. The mentioned cook continuously darted back and forth, unwilling to leave you unattended, always ready to crack a joke just to bring a smile to your face.

Somehow, the attention that these perfect strangers were giving you sparked a strong desire to become a part of their world.

As Sanji returned to the kitchen after completing his last task for the day, he was taken aback by what he saw. Instead of finding you waiting for him at the table as he had anticipated, he discovered you standing in front of the sink, diligently washing dishes and polishing glasses. To his astonishment, you were adorned in an apron that somehow complemented your lovely dress and high heels.

Sanji stood frozen, a mix of bewilderment and amusement washing over him as he witnessed you engrossed in a lively conversation with Patty. With neatly stacked plates beside you, it appeared that everyone else had either retired for a well-deserved rest or gathered at the bar for a refreshing drink. Frowning slightly, he couldn't help but smile at how seamlessly you had assimilated into the environment. The stark contrast between the person he had brought to the kitchen and the woman diligently working before him was striking.

As Patty caught sight of Sanji standing at the entrance, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Don't blame me. She was the one who insisted.”

You turned your head towards him, greeted Sanji with a beaming smile, and wiped your hands on the apron. "Welcome back," you said cheerfully, your voice filled with warmth and genuine happiness.

"What are you doing, beautiful? " he asked, a playful hint in his voice.

"Sitting over there was starting to give me a cramp in my butt. I thought I could be of use and lend you a hand. It's the least I can do after the trouble Shithead caused.”

Sanji couldn't resist the temptation and brushed a stray strand of hair away from your face with a feather-like touch, just as he had done before. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of your eyes. In that moment, as he observed you completely at ease and exuding confidence, Sanji found himself even more engrossed in your presence. The constraints of a snug-fitting dress and uncomfortable shoes were not enough to deter you, as you appeared completely undeterred by your less-than-ideal attire for such tasks.

"I apologize for leaving you here alone. It was never my intention to impose our job on you," he said apologetically.

"You didn't impose anything on me, and technically, I'm not even supposed to be here," you replied. "Truth be told, I was actually having a good time.”

"A good time washing dishes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Most people consider it a boring thing to do, but it’s not that bad to me.”

As usual, the dining hall was filled with a multitude of incredibly beautiful clients, and yet, Sanji couldn't shake off the enchantment of your delightful smile. While women held a special place in Sanji's heart, regardless of their story or background, there was something about you that radiated a unique aura. It compelled him to seek a deeper understanding of your personality and uncover more about your hardships.

As Patty grumbled a few steps away, annoyingly suggesting that the two of you should have a room to yourselves, he folded his stained apron and quietly left, leaving you and Sanji alone in the tranquil ambiance of the empty room.

Sanji felt an overwhelming urge to move closer to where you were standing, finding you the most adorable thing he had ever laid eyes on, especially with the noticeable red tint coloring your cheeks. However, he resisted the temptation, understanding the significance of maintaining a respectful distance.

Finally, it was you who broke the awkward silence by untangling the apron from behind your neck.

"Hey, um...do you mind if I make a quick call?”

Even though a part of him felt let down by your sudden change of topic, clearly an attempt to avoid any potentially embarrassing situation, Sanji didn't mind indulging in a game of playing hard-to-get.

"Of course," he replied. "Zeff keeps a Snail Phone in his office. I could take you there for some privacy, if you'd like.”

“I hate to take advantage of your kindness again, but… yes, please.”

He deeply respected your selflessness and compassion towards others, two qualities that he held in high regard. He couldn’t wait to discover the other hidden facets of your personality.

“Anything for you, Y/N.”

Sanji gently brushed his hand against your back, guiding you out of the kitchen and towards the head chef's private quarters. The contact was pleasant, and he couldn't help but savor the smooth and silky texture of your skin once again.

Deep inside, and yet not buried too far, it was driving him utterly insane.

When you sat at the head chef's desk, the Snail Phone resting on top of it, you struggled to stifle your laughter as you gazed at its appearance. The uncanny resemblance to Zeff, with the braided mustache and tiny chef hat, was truly remarkable to you. The ability for everyone to customize their Snails according to their preferences always filled you with delight and exhilaration.

Once you managed to compose yourself, you dialed the number and calmly waited for your friend to pick up. Outside the closed door, Sanji patiently leaned against the wall, waiting for you to finish.

When Mari's voice came through the other side of the line, her name almost escaped your lips as a shout.

"Y/N? Where are you calling from? I thought you went to the Baratie restaurant with Nutty.”

“Nutty…?”

“Yes, you know. He’s a Nutter. Duh.”

YYou shook your head, exhaling a breath that you hadn't realized you were holding.

“Wait, what’s going on?”

Despite your friends' warnings about the man's unpredictable nature, you had obstinately proceeded without heeding their advice. Now, faced with the undeniable truth of their words, you found yourself unable to express the full extent of their accuracy.

"We came to the Baratie, but let's just say that things didn't go as planned," you replied, attempting to downplay the gravity of the situation.

"I don’t like the sound of that," she muttered, expressing a sense of concern or worry.

And thus, without beating around the bush or wasting time, you revealed, "He proposed to me. With the most flashy, biggest ring I have ever seen. I had to decline.”

"He did what...?" Mari's voice echoed through the room, reaching a volume that made it highly likely that even Sanji could hear it. "And you...you actually did that?”

"What other choice did I have? I can't marry someone like him.”

"Of course you can't, sweetie! The thing is, I never expected you to have the courage to do it. No offense," Mari replied, her tone filled with surprise and admiration.

"None taken.”

"So, what's the plan now? Are you still with him?"

"No, he's gone. Or rather, they made him leave after he-"

"Did he do something to you?”

You paused momentarily, your hand instinctively rising to touch your right cheek, before providing her with a brief yet comprehensive explanation.

Being your best friend, Mari had taken it upon herself to look after you during times when you struggled to take care of yourself. While you never quite mastered the art of physical combat, Mari possessed the ability to defeat any opponent she came across, regardless of their size.

"I'm going to kill him," she declared with determination. “I'll find him and give him a beating that will make him weep and beg for weeks.”

Having a good understanding of her character, you knew that she genuinely meant every word she spoke.

"That's really kind of you, but please don't. It's not worth it," you pleaded.

"Y/N, this is unacceptable. No man should ever treat a woman like that," she expressed, brimming with righteous indignation.

"Believe me, I learned my lesson the hard way," you said, conveying the painful experience you had endured.

Mari let out a deep groan. "So, if he's gone, that means you're still at the Baratie on your own, right?”

"Yes, about that. Is there any chance you guys could come and pick me up?”

"We can definitely get you, no doubt about it. But just keep in mind that even if we leave now, we won't be able to reach the restaurant until tomorrow morning.”

A wave of realization washed over you, causing your grip on the speaker to tighten. It felt like a chilling shower drenching you from head to toe as you suddenly grasped the most crucial detail of all: you were left stranded at the Baratie for the entire night.

While the idea wasn't particularly scary, knowing that you were safer at the Baratie than in your own home, you pondered whether the staff had a spare room on the ship to offer. However, your mind soon drifted back to Sanji, resulting in a stream of inappropriate mental images that you had to forcefully push away.

You were so consumed by your post-traumatic emotions and the flirtatious back-and-forth with Sanji that it hadn't even occurred to you until that precise moment.

"...Right, obviously.”

And then, panic engulfed you.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 3 ->

[chenziee]

AKA Obligatory everybody is alive and nothing hurts, attempt #254666

This piece is a "Pick one" commission from the_rin on AO3! Thank you so much again for commissioning me and for your endless patience while I struggled with this creature that decided to run away from me 🤍🙏

One day, I might be able to actually write this story in Luffy's POV (which is what it was originally supposed to be both four years ago when I first had the idea and now.. but I still don't have enough skill and confidence to successfully make it ☠️

So for now, please enjoy Nami's slowly losing it while chaos rules over Sabaody 🍊

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3D2Y

As Nami climbed up onto the Sunny’s deck for the first time in two years, with a wide smile on her lips and arms full of shopping bags, she could barely contain her excitement. After all, it now finally felt like time was moving again after the crew’s separation.

When she had gotten the news of the war while on Weatheria, it was like a punch in the gut. She had seen the photos of the state both Luffy and Ace were in before their escape—both with terrible burn scars on their chests with blood all over their faces, looking on the brink of death. The following days were nothing short of a high-speed nightmare filled with nothing but worry, fear, and the need to be by Luffy’s side with no way to get to him.

She trusted that Luffy would make it… but there was no real guarantee he would. Or that Ace would.

Nami didn’t dare imagine how Luffy would feel if he had lost his brother. While completely alone, with no one from the crew by his side… Her heart nearly broke at the mere thought of it.

So, when the news of Luffy’s escapade at Marineford reached her a few weeks later, seeing the message he had for his crew, it was like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. She knew what Luffy was trying to say. She understood. And she knew that she, too, could get stronger.

With Weatheria’s science, she was sure she could become a navigator capable of getting Luffy wherever he damn well wanted.

And she was confident that now, two years later, she was more than able to do that.

Even though she imagined that Luffy was going to come up with the stupidest, most dangerous places to sail to…

But, that was a battle she would fight when they got there; for now, she was just beyond excited to see everyone!

By the time she had arrived on Sabaody a few days ago, only Franky and Zoro were already there—one of which was definitely hopelessly lost and possibly half-way to Fishman Island by that point—but now… Now it all felt so much more real.

Usopp and Chopper were with her—or had been before they ran off to rave over Franky—, Shakky said that Brook and Sanji were somewhere on the archipelago, and now, even Robin was on the ship already, waiting for Nami to climb up the ladder.

They were only missing Luffy now, but that was just a matter of time.

Honestly, their biggest problem at this point was finding Zoro and dragging his directionally challenged ass back here.

“Nami! I’m so happy to see you!” Robin said, pulling Nami into a hug as soon as she found her balance on the jelly-like coating under her feet.

Nami laughed easily, returning the gesture. “Same to you! You look amazing!” she complimented the archeologist, sighing in content at the familiar warmth of her friend’s presence.

That is, at least, until a high-pitched scream resounded around the deck, startling Nami and making her jump.

“Hair comes out?!”

“Awesome!!”

“Can you make any hairstyle you want?!”

Heaving a deep sigh, Nami shook her head. “I can’t believe Franky’s body got even more ridiculous. What even is going on over there?”

“Who knows?” Robin chuckled “Looks like the boys like it though.”

“Such a bulky body seems so inconvenient. I don’t get it,” another woman piped up.

“Right?” Nami agreed with a huff. “I mean, what’s with those shoulders—”

Suddenly, Nami stopped talking. Blinking a few times, she tried to figure out what it was that suddenly felt so off… but then, she whipped around in the direction of the last voice—a distinctly unfamiliar voice.

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