chibinasuu2

[chibinasuu2]

the color pink

synopsis. there's something about girls with pink hair.

pairing. vinsmoke reiju x nami

word count. 2.1k | masterlist

content warning. post-egghead (pre-wano, very light spoilers), pre-relationship

reblogs & interactions appreciated.

a late submission for rarepair week that was initially supposed to be about lola and nami but somehow reiju entered the mix and i really don't know how. soooooo take bothish i guess??? there's some lonami sprinkles in here

"Bellemere-san, do angels have pink hair?"

Dark gray eyes sparkle playfully, tugging at the fuchsia locks framing her face. "The demons do too!"

There must be something about girls with pink hair.

Nami's heart beats a familiar melody under her ribcage; a song she thought she left behind in Thriller Bark.

There's something about girls in pink.

Something that makes them look softer than they actually are when the ones she's met are anything but. No, Nami purses her lips. That isn't entirely true. Lola was soft and as sweet as her bubblegum pink haired all but implied. Bright, strong and chalk full of everything sugary sweet.

Meeting Chiffon had that familiar song thrumming in Nami's chest again, burning warm.

Vinsmoke Reiju, on the other hand, may be a category all her own.

Magnolia Stone isn't the most interesting island Nami and her band of maniacs have come across, but it certainly is a lovely change of pace after the disaster on Egghead. They needed the small pitstop, Nami could concede.

An opportunity to patch up the Sunny,

an opportunity to restock,

an opportunity to let everyone breathe, Lilith and Bonney most of all.

With Broggy and Dory's eternal pose a comforting lifeline to their homeland, it isn't as if there was anything holding them back from docking nearby the small island either. The most trouble Nami could anticipate from this detour was Zoro, predictably, getting lost trying to find a local pub.

As such, the last thing Nami could have foreseen was running into a Vinsmoke in a children's clothing store.

Apparently it was too soon to assume the Straw Hats would be without trouble here.

Despite her nerves, Nami's eyes narrow at the princess.

"My, my," her full lips curl into a small smile that barely reach her eyes the same color as her younger brother's. "I must be losing my touch if I was spotted so easily by one of you Straw Hats."

"I thought Germa promised they'd never show their face to Sanji-kun ever again," Nami places her hands on her hip, the fabric of a shirt she thought Bonney would like brushing against it.

A mixture of regret and melancholy stir in that blue eye of hers and while she closes it, Reiju's smile doesn't fade. "I haven't exactly broken that promise, haven't I?" Eye open once more, she gestures at their surroundings in the store Nami has found herself in. "I don't see Sanji anywhere in here, do you?"

Nami's tongue clicks and she crosses her arms, "and you just happen to be shopping for children on a random island our crew happens to be?"

It's only a moment, "it's only natural for an elder sister to worry for her brother after an international disaster claims he was holding the world's greatest scientist hostage with his pirate crew," her pink company's voice is low but Nami still flinches, glancing around worriedly around the shop. Thankfully, no one finds their little interaction interesting. "But I promise you, Germa won't be involving itself in this matter. A promise is a promise."

Despite wanting to keep her wits about her, it's almost comical how easily Nami feels herself at ease.

She knows her liars both amicable and malevolent.

Vinsmoke Reiju is no liar, that much Nami can ascertain. With as much relief as she can spare, Nami lowers her hackles. "That doesn't explain why you're here."

"Yes, it is pretty strange for me," Reiju chuckles softly. Nami blinks with a start as she suddenly bows her head with all the regality she'd expect from royalty. "I wanted to express my gratitude for your actions on Whole Cake. I won't ever be able to properly convey how much it means to me knowing Sanji has people like this in his life."

That gets the attention of the patrons and staff.

"You- you don't have to bow!" Nami's waves her hands frantically, pulling the woman up by the shoulders. "It's fine, it's fine! You helped us too!"

There's a spark of mischief behind those sea blue eyes. It should be more annoying than it is in practice. "I'll be looking for my brother now," she turns, her cloak ー a muted gray, a stark contrast to the violet butterfly cake Nami had grown accustomed to seeing in all their previous encounters ー fluttering behind her. "I won't be approaching him directly, don't worry. I just want to see him."

"Wait just a moment, elder sister," Nami clasps a hand atop Reiju's shoulder. "I need to finish shopping first. Someone has to make sure no shenanigans ensue."

"Am I under watch, Miss Navigator?" There's something about girls with pink hair. Something that makes them look softer than they actually are. The song in her chest is familiar but it isn't quite the same. Pretty is an understatement, Nami is loathed to admit.

The grin that spreads across Nami's face is wide, "of course! Trouble follows this crew like our shipwright avoids wearing clothes."

Reiju warns her something about avoiding the easy routes a non-combatant like Nami will be accustomed to. The navigator waves her concerns off with ease; regret comes later when she is nestled in the arms of a princess jumping from rooftop to rooftop, clutching at her shoulders and shopping bags flying everywhere.

"I did warn you," Nami shoots Sanji's sister with a dirty glare as she shakily finds her footing on the rooftop she finds herself on. It's no use, she sighs as she plops her rear down as if it's a bench. You'd think I'd be used to this after all this time thanks to Luffy. Apparently she'd never acclimate to the sudden feeling of soaring through the air.

I hope the next time she eats poison, it's one with a taste she can't stand, Nami huffs as she recalls the woman's affinity for it. "Do you see Sanji-kun from up here?"

When there isn't an immediate answer to her query, Nami glances at the woman curiously. "Reiju?"

"I see him," she replies quietly.

Following her line of sight, Nami finds the blond in question.

Unsurprisingly, he's bustling about the marketplace. Wherever they dock, the marketplace is always his first line of business. They can never have too much food when their home is the sea and it comes with as much beauty as it does uncertainty.

Luffy accompanying him could almost be a surprise, all things considered. Their newly-minted relationship and the honeymoon phase that came along with it had yet to end, however. It's almost uncanny how well-behaved Luffy's behaving.

Well, almost.

Luffy is still Luffy, dragging Sanji about from stall to stall with Sanji barely able to pay them for their services. Nami snorts, watching the two of them eat some sort of cubed-shaped fruits at the most recent.

Whole Cake Island was a painful affair, the palm of Nami's right hand burns from the memory of slapping Sanji's cheek. Buried deep as it may, there's a part of her that knows she won't be able to forgive him or Luffy for what unfolded in Big Mom's domain.

Her throat ragged from pleas unheeded as Sanji's flaming foot came barreling down on their captain's head.

The horrid snapping of skin, muscles and sinew as Luffy attempted to tear his arms off. There's no doubt in her mind that if it weren't for Jinbei, he would have succeeded. Nami digs her nails into her skin as she hides away the thoughts of the alternate reality she could've found herself in.

It was painful, but something beautiful came from it too. And most importantly, Sanji-kun is back. That triumphs over any lingering feelings leftover from their entanglement with the Charlotte family.

"Love always finds a way," bubblegum pink and lips dyed red from lipstick flashes in Nami's mind and she's back in Thriller Bark watching Lola heartily drink in celebration of their victory over the Warlord.

Love hadn't been at the forefront of Nami's mind during most of the events she found herself in as a Straw Hat, but looking back love was somehow at the center of everything they did.

Love for their friends,

love for their crew,

love for one another.

A special love.

Lola talked about love as if it were the strongest thing in the planet. Something as saccharine, cotton-candy sweet as it could be gut-wrenching and desperate no matter the kind of love at hand.

Captain Kuro.

Arlong.

Drum Island.

Alabasta.

CP9.

Thriller Bark.

Whole Cake.

Even Bonney and her father found each other after everything, what little of the 'everything' Nami knew.

Sanji uses a kerchief to wipe Luffy's fruit-stained cheeks looking equal parts exasperated and smitten, Luffy looks back at him like he placed the ocean on the earth and all of its inhabitants with it.

Nami's lips quirk up softly. "It's nice seeing the two of them so happy after everything."

"Yes, it is," Reiju speaks for the first time since her long pause. She shuffles a bit before taking a seat beside the orange-haired navigator beside her. "This is the sort of softness someone like Sanji deserves."

Nami can't find herself disagreeing as silence falls between them again. Sanji is someone who loves love just as much as Lola herself, maybe even more so. She wonders if she'll be able to determine an answer proper whenever she encounters the jovial pirate once again.

Nami glances at the woman beside her, noting the part in her hair. "You look a lot like your brother."

Reiju finally spares her a glance, "he takes after our mother."

"It must be the same for you then," Nami replies petulantly, not entertaining any arguments.

Another pause.

Nami fidgets, the skin of her legs brushing against her shopping bags. "For what it's worth, maybe one day Sanji-kun'll reach out to talk to you. He's kind like that."

"No," Reiju murmurs, resting her chin on her knees. The motion makes her look younger than her years as she watches the scene unfolding below. "This is more than enough for me. It's a little too late for us to play at proper siblings. He has a proper family now and someone he loves, that makes me happy."

"It's just a tattoo," Nojiko grinned, gloved hand showing off the orchard's first harvest of the season as younger sister gawked at the blue display across her skin. "It's not a big deal! Besides, now we match, don't you think?"

Older sisters are silly no matter the family, she supposes. Even in a family like the Vinsmokes and the evil army the reign. It's the stuff of dreams, the evil army thought to have been an old wives tale to scare kids being real. Then again, Nami never expected to talk any number of royalty in her life.

Nami opens her mouth but halts when she sees the unflappable woman move with a start.

Brown meets brown as Nami notes Luffy's eyes suddenly on them, Sanji unaware as he seemingly negotiates a price with the vendor. His expression is unreadable for only a moment before the captain beams widely.

Nami's lips curl instinctively as Luffy ducks away, pulling Sanji behind him to wherever they'll find themselves next. "I think there's more of a chance for you than you might think if our captain can smile at you like that. He's a great judge of character."

The princess hums thoughtfully but says nothing else.

"You know," Nami leans back, staring at the blue of the sky for a few heartbeats. It's playing a familiar song, despite herself. There's something about the color pink that makes her lose her brain as it floats far above the clouds of common sense and reality. "My mother said once that angels have pink hair."

"The demons must have them too," Reiju replies, fluid as honey as she brushes the backside of her hand against her hair.

Nami isn't able to stop her laughter from spilling over like a babbling brook, "she said that too."

Giggles slip from Reiju's person as well, "color me surprised then. Your mother sounds like a smart woman."

She was.

Nami doesn't wish to damper the spirits of her temporary company after she's just raised them. "I'll be sure to pass on the message."

Reiju smiles with a nod of satisfaction, "I'll be heading back to Germa now." She stands up with ease, reaching out a hand. Nami accepts it gratefully. "Thank you again. I leave my brother in your hands."

"We'll take good care of him," Nami vows as sure as Luffy will be King of the Pirates.

Pink lips brush against her knuckles and Nami's face flushes pink.

[chibinasuu2]

sitting here in silence with my hand covering my gaping mouth cause what the helllllll nylaaaaaaa 😭😭😭

i love love love this!! the way you write zoro’s affection/love/devotion towards luffy feels so real and raw, ooooohhhh my heart HURTS for zoro 💔 but at the same time i’m also a lusan girlie so all of the sweet lusan moments here made me really happy 🥺 (you should totally write about their ‘grocery shopping’ trips sometimes cough cough)

alsoooo the dream sequences are so poetic and beautiful and somewhat a bit haunting, they’re perfect 😭😭

thank you so much for writing this nyla, what an amazing read!!! 💙💙

i set free my men at the borders of the sun

synopsis. the night zoro met luffy, he dreamt of oranges.

pairing. monkey d. luffy x sanji (onesided monkey d. luffy x roronoa zoro)

word count. 5.2k | masterlist

content warning. feel free to read on ao3, post-wano (pre-egghead), unrequited love, angst, character study (zoro-centric), vague religious allusions (zoro's devotion to luffy), title comes from a nizar qabbani poem

reblogs & interactions appreciated.

i mentioned before that i'm going through a severe case of writer's block where i have a bunch of ideas but actually sitting down to write it? null; my brain suddenly can't compute. so i started writing this this morning to force myself threw and i actually like what i word vomited. so now it is everyone else's problem. shoutout to my amateur photography skills, i took that photo at the beach a couple years ago... although it's cropped for fic cover purposes

The night Zoro met Luffy, he dreamt of oranges.

It was a messy affair, the way Luffy ate them. It must have been from the residual shock of seeing his new captain eat for the first time in Shells Town. He ate like an animal, driven mad from starvation eating more than his weight in gold, bronze and silver. Half the time, he hadn't even peeled them before eating them and the juices dripped down his hands and his wrists and his arms.

The scent of oranges wafted through the air and Zoro swallowed the saliva that built up in his mouth without his knowing.

"What normal person eats this much?" Dream Zoro had asked, morbidly fascinated. Social convention told him he should be at least vaguely disgusted yet he couldn't bring himself to mind it.

Dream Luffy was unperturbed, laughing all the while as his mouth was full. "It's normal to eat this much if you're going to be the King of the Pirates," he snickered as if it was obvious, biting voraciously into his next orange.

It was an answer that made the corner of Zoro's lips curl. "This is the appetite of a king, huh?"

Luffy nodded, grinning as brightly as the sun beaming down on him. The juices on his arm became hard and sticky but the future Pirate King paid it to mind. "Here," the slice he held in his rubbery fingers were mangled, pulled apart from the main fruit haphazardly. "Zoro, you have some too."

"I'm not in the mood for oranges," Zoro yawned, waving his captain's words off with a sweep of his hand.

Luffy stared, unblinking. "Zoro," his tone held a weight unknowing, dark brown eyes as unknowable. "Eat."

Zoro's jaw went slack before he could think twice and Luffy fed him, the carpel sliding across his tongue. The Zoro of that dream didn't remember even chewing. "Chew this time," Luffy said as he rose another slice to Zoro's lips.

That slice had seeds, he noted vaguely. Yet Zoro chewed dutifully, over and over again as Luffy fed him again and again.

He hadn't waste a single piece, eating whatever Luffy gave him.

The seeds, the pith, the peel and the flesh.

When he finished, the lower half of Zoro's face had been a mess and Luffy smiled again. "Tastes good, right?"

Zoro didn't get a chance to answer before he woke up, the vague taste of oranges on his tongue and his ears hot. How ironic they met a a red-haired thief obsessed oranges not long after ー but if you asked her, oranges and tangerines were not the same fruit.

The night Luffy leaves Zou, grinning ear to ear and arms filled with their crew and Pedro, Zoro dreams something similar.

Only this time, Luffy eats all the fruit himself.

Before waking up after their successful raid on Onigashima and the defeat of Kaido, Zoro has the same dream.

.

"Oi, oi, what the hell happened on Whole Cake Island?"

They gossip when they think Zoro is sleeping.

Even with his eye closed, Zoro can perfectly picture the sniper's face as he asks Nami this question incredulously. He's leaning forward, brow furrowed and eyes squinting in disbelief as he recounts his most recent encounter with Luffy that set him over the edge. "And he says," Usopp clears his throat before raising the pitch of his voice. "'Sanji likes when I smell like soap!' What?!"

Nami chuckles, something equal parts soft, exasperated and amused. "What didn't happen on Whole Cake Island, that's the real question." The navigator's voice is distant, recalling memories none of them are privy too. "I guess you can say it's love."

"Love?"

"Love," Nami sighs, voice distant, before taking a light sip of her drink. There's a pause, like she is nowhere to be found on this veranda the three of them are resting. Wherever she is, it is far away from the soft confines of the Flower Capital nestled deeply in the heart of Big Mom's territory. "Try to act like you haven't noticed, will you? The two of them think they're being subtle. Sanji-kun probably asked Luffy to tone it down for a while but…" she trails off, sounding expectant and exasperated.

"Luffy and Sanji are a thing now; wow," Usopp practically whispers, in awe. "I did not see that coming at all."

There's a snort that comes from Nami's person. "Trust me, I was just as surprised as you were. But," another pause, the longest Nami's has yet and Zoro knows. Whatever the hell happened on Whole Cake Island, Luffy and Sanji's relationship couldn't return to what it had been. "Everything just made sense. This was probably a long time coming and we all missed some very obvious signs. You really had to have been there."

Zoro hadn't been there, however. Yet somehow he knows he didn't need to be.

Zoro hadn't missed a single thing.

.

Cooks were a dime a dozen; it didn't matter who they got as long as the food was edible. As far as Zoro was concerned, any cook on the Baratie's line would have sufficed.

When they met the man who would become their cook, Zoro wasn't impressed.

Luffy was enraptured.

"It's him, he's our cook," Luffy told Zoro their first night into his indentured servitude after taking ownership of the incident with the fancy marine. He really is an idiot, but the green-haired swordsman couldn't fight back the fondness as he looked above at a back clothed in red resting in a netted hammock. But he's an honest idiot.

Idiot he might have been, Luffy would always have his respect. "The geezer whose leg you mangled?"

Luffy turned around adamantly, "his leg was already like that before the canon hit the place!"

Zoro laughed boisterously, Usopp chiming in from his own place of rest.

"And I wasn't talk about the old man, I'm talking about Sanji. Sanji!" Even with the emphasis, the name didn't bring a face to Zoro's memory. "The cook with the swirly eyebrows!"

Zoro and Usopp shared a look of mutual, deadpanned disbelief. "Nice," the repeated in unison.

In spite of their response, Luffy's shoulders shook with his laughter. "He's super nice," Luffy rested his chin on his hands. He was facing Zoro but his brown eyes were staring off elsewhere, wherever he went, Zoro had no idea. It's nighttime, the room barely visible due to his acclimating to the night yet Zoro can see Luffy clearly.

When he's like this, he's like the calm of the setting sun.

"I'm not sure I'd call a guy who beats up a marine over soup nice," Usopp coughed.

Zoro closed his eyes, making himself comfortable once more. "He's certainly nice to Nami at least."

A flirt in a suit, Zoro didn't see the appeal.

Usopp makes a disgruntled sound of agreement, suddenly recalling how Nami was gifted a fruit macedonia and a cocktail with the promise of a fully comped meal. "And he made me eat those stupid mushrooms too."

"I want him," Luffy blinked, eyes peering endlessly at the two of them.

"Well does he cook good?" Usopp asked what was truly likely the most important question.

"I dunno."

"You don't know!?"

"WILL YOU MORONS GO TO SLEEP!?"

"I don't want anyone but her as our navigator," Luffy pouted a few days later, cheeks puffed out childishly and brow narrowed.

It's the same as that situation then, Zoro had told himself, nursing himself with a drink despite the town doctor's advice. The vibrant energy of Cocoyashi was contagious as Usopp led the townspeople in a chorus he barely knew the words of. Nami was somewhere, probably taking a good look at her orange field. ("Tangerine field!" Zoro swore the money-hungry witch was snapping from a distance.)

Once Luffy made up his mind, that was that.

Zoro tells himself part of the fuzziness he feels is because of the alcohol. That's the decisiveness a captain should have, Zoro nodded to himself in satisfaction. The decisiveness of a king.

Zoro only saw it falter once.

At Water 7 when the Merry couldn't sail anymore and Usopp left the crew. All that was left between them was hurt, anger and regret and Luffy faltered. "It hurts," Luffy grounded out, hiccupping between his teeth.

"That's what it means to be a captain," Zoro whispered solemnly.

Zoro found the cook that night in cooking in the middle of the kitchen of their rented abode on his way to the bathroom. They had more rooms than they'd grown accustomed to, all of the boys fitted with their own room. Zoro didn't let it slip that it was strange to sleep without the sound of everyone else breathing around him.

All of that chaos and there the cook was… cooking.

"Must be your natural habitat," Zoro said, not unkindly.

From the heavy smell of smoke in the room, Zoro could guess the cook was on more than his first or second cigarette of the night. "I figured he'd want something to eat, considering all," the cook trails off, frowning.

"After everything he already ate?"

"He didn't eat it all the same," the cook snaps but it lacks his usual sting. He's cutting the onions in a peculiar way and the amount of rice frying in his pan was too much for the average person. Frankly, it was too much for even the amount of people on their crew. "He wasn't eating the same way he normally did so I'm making him a midnight snack. Make something for yourself if you want something."

The chainsmoker was likely cooking for himself just as much as he felt the need to cook for their captain.

"I don't want any," Zoro grumbled, finally heading to his intended destination. There was a pause. "Luffy's strong, you know."

"I know."

When Zoro came back from making his deposit, the cook is gone but a plate of octopus fried rice is waiting for him on the table wrapped in saran wrap.

He was still upset, but Luffy was in a considerably better mood the following morning. The cook looked relieved, blue eyes trailing after him while fretting about the kitchen.

Luffy's portions are bigger than usual, Zoro failed to point out at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Sanji's mine," Luffy said out of nowhere a few days after Franky's joined the crew and Robin and Usopp have made a home among them once again. Even though he was talking to his swordsman, Luffy's eyes were following the cook in everywhere like he was the most fascinating creature in all of the Blues.

The Sunny wasn't the Merry but she a was a sturdy ship, well-designed. It was nice to finally have a room to train in so Nami no longer complaints about him throwing his weights around. When Luffy yoinked himself into the little nest of sorts, the last thing Zoro had been expecting was Sanji talk.

"We're all yours," irritation spiked through Zoro's body. A cook is a dime a dozen, he thought not for the first time. They could've grabbed anyone, even a random cook from that pub in Shells Town. Zoro watched as smoke hearts seemingly flowed from the cook's cigarette, fawning over every little thing Nami did as she dutifully picked her oranges ー "tangerines" ー from her orchard.

Luffy could have any cook but this was the person he chose.

Black eyes looked at brown sharply, further annoyed. "We're all yours," he said once again. "We're your crew."

Shishishi. Luffy's laugh was light and airy but the captain denied nothing. "That's true," Luffy's shoulders were relaxed and the wind tussled his hair like a familiar companion. "You're all mine."

But.

Zoro's throat clenches. Even if Luffy doesn't say it, he knows there's a 'but'.

.

It had been a few days since the crew bid farewell to Nami's hometown, Arlong and his band of goons defeated. "What made you change your mind?"

"Huh?"

"What made you change your mind about joining the crew?" Zoro repeated himself, staring out at the star-freckled sky. "Last time I'd seen you, you were telling Luffy to stop adding you to the count. So you can't blame me for being surprised that you're suddenly here being all buddy. You're the one," Zoro's chest aches with the phantom pain of being struck by Mihawk's blade. His eyes remember the hot flow of tears falling from them. "Who said it's easier to give up on your ambition, aren't you?"

The cook makes a noise a cross between sheepish and embarrassed, "that…" He trails off.

Zoro listens to how the cook fidgets and shifts from where he sat, "I don't care if you changed your mind but I don't want anyone with flimsy commitment skills on the crew. Luffy's the man who will become King of the Pirates." He said it resolutely, slowly like honey was stuck on his tongue.

Luffy's an idiot who will put the discarded teeth of a fishman in his mouth as a weapon,

an idiot who will demand a navigator and a cook who have spurned him return to his side.

He's an idiot but he will become King. Zoro chest burned something fierce that didn't come from his healing wound. He's an idiot but he's my…

The cook's voice pulled Zoro out of his thoughts and back into reality. "I was inspired by a dumbass who blew a hole into my old man's restaurant," he gruffed. "Nothing more, nothing less. If he was going to do all that, I might as well look for the All Blue now. I guess."

"That's dumb," the cook's hackles rose almost immediately, whipping his head around the mast to bark back. Seeing the amused smirk on Zoro's face, he halted. "Guys like you die before anyone else, making short-sighted plans like that."

Déjà vu crosses the blond's face and he scowls, but it's considerably light-hearted compared to moments before. "Since it was my decision, the only one who can call me stupid is me. Stupid, Marimo."

"Get an original line, love cook."

"Look who's talking!"

.

"They certainly have a cute excuse," Robin chuckles fondly into her tea.

"'Cute' is a funny way of saying 'convenient'," Nami shakes her head but her lips are curled upwards and her brown eyes are mirthful. "They're terrible at hiding it."

Chopper covers his mouth with his hooves in his realization, "they're going on a date?!"

Nami winks, holding a finger to her lips. "It's been their go to excuse for a while," she says in a loud whisper, a useless secret when the whole crew is aware of it. "They've been using it since before we got to Wano." Now that they've left it, it hasn't gone out of style.

"Sanji and I are going grocery shopping!" Luffy announced only ten minutes prior, crossing his arms firmly when Chopper tried to invite himself. "No! Only me and Sanji!"

The back of the cook's neck burned red but he didn't try to sway their captain otherwise. "Next time, Chopper," he said while patting Chopper's head.

If a skeleton could smile, Zoro's certain Brook would be grinning from ear to ear. "It certainly makes my heart skip with excitement to see all of this young love on the ship!" Without missing a beat, Brook places his hands on his chest. "Not that I have a heart!"

"Damn it," Franky sniffs and Robin giggles, giving his metallic arm a few gentle pats. "I just wished I could've been there to see it happen! Those two deserve to be happy!" Blowing into a tissue a third hand that sprouted from his wrist reached to give him, Franky looks at the crew who were present in Big Mom's territory. "Was it romantic? Tell me it was romantic!"

Nami shakes her head at the display but she's amused, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It was pretty romantic, I'll give Luffy that."

Jinbei's belly laugh is familiar. "In the East Blue you all say love is a hurricane, yes? That's certainly an accurate description!"

"I don't see how Luffy can be so romantic but then they both expect it to be a secret," Usopp murmurs thoughtfully. Still Luffy and the cook operate ー or at the very least, they try to operate ー as discreetly as possible.

They're not great at it.

("Here, Luffy," the cook all but whispered right before lunch was ready to serve. His blue eyes were soft and his voice even softer as he held his mamezara over his shoulder.

Luffy yelped in anticipation, making his way to the cook faster than one could blink. Even so, he wrapped his arms around the cook's waist once, twice, thrice, like he was holding glass. Whatever he sampled, Luffy wasted no time in his praises. "It's good, it's good!"

Luffy's portion was bigger than it usually was. Not that that was worth noting; the cook had been increasing Luffy's portions since before they left Wano. Not that anyone else had noticed.)

Suddenly, Nami's arms are stretched above her like she can't contain the energy in her body anymore. "Now I wish I was there at the Baratie, that's where it totally all started! Now look at them, them and their 'grocery shopping'," she says with exaggerated air quotes.

"Maybe we should start using that excuse," the raven-haired woman suggests playfully.

Franky's chest puffs like a proud parrot. "Yow!" The cyborg practically purrs, smitten. "A woman after my own heart!"

Robin has an expression to match, placing her book on the table neatly. Contrast to the woman they met years ago in Whiskey Peaks, she carries herself much lighter. More saccharine. All of her elegance has never changed, a stark contrast to the vibrant mania Franky offers. Somehow they meld together perfectly. "Then if you all don't mind, my partner and I are also going 'grocery shopping'. We'll be sure to avoid wherever those two may be."

The only other couple of the Straw Hat Crew promptly made their exodus from the Sunny.

Brook guffaws, feeling inspired. "I have just the song to compose for such a fluttery feeling!" The musician excuses him, humming a tune he's just made for himself.

Jinbei rises to his feet, geta clacking rhythmically against the wooden floor of the galley. "I'll join you, believe it or not my time as part of Big Mom's fleet nursed a newfound appreciation of music."

Usopp plops himself at the table, sketchbook in hand while Chopper indulges himself in watching the sniper draw. "I'm letting you know now," he squints at their navigator. "I'll upgrade the Clima Takt again but you're definitely paying me next time."

Nami lets out a whimsical hum that means nothing good. Finally she looks at Zoro, "you're awfully quiet today," there's a playful but inquisitive itch in her voice.

Zoro shrugs, "I like to think from time to time."

"You, think? Careful now. Usopp, we're in trouble!" Nami gasps.

Usopp shudders, "we're all about to come down with colds!"

Chopper's earnest reaction is somehow the most annoying, "don't worry, Zoro, I'll make a medicine that cures helplessness soon!"

"Oh piss off," Zoro's eye twitches as the three of them erupt into laughter. He relaxes into the wall he's sitting closest to.

"What made you change your mind?"

Luffy.

Zoro always knew the answer was Luffy.

It's the same answer for all of them.

Like the sun lit up the sky and compelled the microorganisms to life with its warmth, so to did Luffy invoke feelings of certainty into those he'd chosen.

What sort of face did you make back then. Face obscured by the direction he faced, finely dressed, prim and proper.

Nami's words echo in his mind and he loosely imagines the fish-shaped restaurant he'd encountered two years prior. What was the Luffy the cook saw that compelled him forward? What had Luffy seen in the cook?

"Pass me an orange," Zoro holds up a hand expectantly.

"It's a tangerine!" Nami tosses the fruit aggressively, Zoro catching it with ease. "I've said it over and over, haven't I!? It's a tangerine! Say it with me now, tan-ger-ine!"

Zoro takes a bite ー peel, pith, fruit and all ー with a sharp brow raised, "it's the same difference, isn't it?"

Nami looks at the motion, aghast before shaking her head murmuring something along the lines of 'I shouldn't even be surprised anymore'. Taking a page out of Zoro's book, Nami begins to peel a tangerine of her own. "They're in the same family but no, they're not the same," she holds up a slice as if it holds the secrets to the universe. "Tangerines are smaller, they're usually sweeter too," she takes a bite with a pleasant sigh, relishing the taste. "Think of it that way. Similar but not the same."

Zoro grimaces.

Without the peel, it's too sweet.

.

Zoro's sure he noticed before the cook did.

He fawned over women left and right but Luffy had the cook's heart on a silver platter long before he realized it.

He's a cook, a dime a dozen but he's the cook Luffy chose.

An overly emotional love maniac Luffy said was kind even if Zoro believed that kindness to be superficial at worst and conditional at best.

Then the cook tries to die for him, proclaiming he'd become a much more concerning threat for the marines.

Proclaiming Zoro's ambitions were more important.

It pissed Zoro off to know it, as much as it pissed Zoro off he wanted to rush ahead on the sea train to rescue Robin. As much as it pissed Zoro off that Luffy's trust in the cook was resolute.

The trust that it would be alright, that the cook wouldn't need anybody because nothing would go wrong.

Human beings are fragile creatures, especially the cook Luffy cherished so much.

The cook Luffy was especially happy to see even though two years had passed since he'd seen him in person last. When the dust had settled in Fishman Island and they had their celebrations, the dinner the cook made their captain had to be the biggest portion he'd received yet.

.

The night the Polar Tang disembarked for Wano, Zoro dreamt about a King.

He was a King, Zoro was sure of it.

A King that was a whitened silhouette, His form to sacred to be seen by anyone but He had all the power of the sun and eyes that burned red. Zoro prostrated himself before Him immediately. There they waited in silence on a beach with sandy grain as black as the night.

Not a word passed between them until Zoro heard movement and when he looked up, his King was heading towards the depths as murky as the sand that surrounds them.

Zoro made to move but he couldn't, his kneels held firmly in place in one spot. "You can't," the swordsman cried out, panicked. The sea is no place for the Sun! "You'll die!"

Eyes unblinking, the red-eyed King ー God? ー looked at him. "wonk i," He said. He was smiling, even with no face Zoro could tell He was smiling from how His part of His eyes were covered like cheeks pulled towards them. Red eyes were reverent in the joy of Their own demise. "mih ni nword ot tnaw i. srwolf ni mih etacoffus ot nrob saw i." Then He walked and walked until He was completely submerged, the red of His blood coloring the surface for only a moment.

Then the sea turned blue and Zoro woke up.

Sanji's really strong, he'll be great help! He's worth a thousand people!

I'm worth two thousand!

Zoro closed his eye, disgruntled as he waved away the memory and the the irritated sting that accompanied it. It was irrational, he knew. Big Mom's lackey had explained everything in full but the vexation remained.

The cook left and Luffy ran right after him, any alliance predating the desertion forfeit until he brought him back.

I stayed, didn't I? I'm here.

Luffy would do the same for you, another, more rational part of Zoro whispered.

But.

There was always a 'but'.

Sleep didn't find him again easily but when it did, Zoro was thankful it was dreamless.

.

Zoro isn't sure what makes him say it. He doesn't normally stall by the galley, originally intending to steal a bottle of the Sunny's finest before seeing the cook taking inventory of their stock. "Everyone knows." The cook looks over his shoulder, curled eyebrow raised curiously. "About you and Luffy. You're doing a terrible job at hiding it."

Blue eyes widen and the cook's face is rose red as he drops his skillet in his pencil and notepad.

With the cook frozen in shock, Zoro walks right over to where the alcohol is kept nonchalantly. "Don't know why you're bothering to keep it a secret in the first place," it sounds rougher than he intended. No, part of Zoro knows it's not as rough as he wants it to be. "Are you ashamed you're dating him?"

Ashamed of being in love with Luffy?

Who in their right mind would want to hide being the one Luffy treasures most?

Those words bring the cook back to where they stand in his galley. "I'm not ashamed of anything!" Blue and black glare at each other fiercely, the cook's gaze unrelenting. Zoro refuses to yield first. "I just," the blond trails off again, face warm. "wanted it to myself a while."

"You're doing a bad job hiding it," Zoro tells him again and the cook's gaze finds something else to look at, face as red as the fabric around Luffy's hat.

"I heard you the first time," he scowls, covering his face. "Quit reminding me. I can't help it," he mumbles into his hands; the hands Luffy treasures so much. The hands that Luffy holds in a way that's precious because to him, the cook is so precious. "He's perfect. He's an idiot but he's perfect," the love cook babbles like a train with no conductor. "He's an idiot but he's my idiot. I can't believe it took so long to notice."

The green in Zoro's stomach churns miserably and hot. "Gross," He was my idiot first. "tell Luffy your sweet nothings not me." He ignores the flustered swearing of the cook in favor for drinking his favorite sake right from the bottle, which only served to vex the cook more. "Just hurry up and tell everyone you're dating so we can act surprised already. I'm tired of Franky crying every time you go grocery shopping."

Zoro hadn't been there at Whole Cake Island.

Yet somehow he knows he didn't need to be.

.

The next time Zoro sees Luffy, it is in the amalgamation they call a training room and crows nest. His eyes are wide and so is his smile, all of his teeth glinting in the rays of sunlight peering through the room. "Sanji and I got married!"

"Married?" The cook and Luffy having completely different labels slapped onto their newly acquired relationship shouldn't surprise him. Luffy is as unstoppable as that out of control sea train they rode a couple years back. "When did that happen?"

"Before we crashed the wedding," Luffy grins as he slaps the soles of his sandals together. "We're gonna tell everyone today but Sanji said I could tell one person first."

The thorn in Zoro's chest aches painfully sweet. "So you picked me?"

Luffy nods, enthusiastically.

"Everyone knows already, y'know."

"They do!?"

Zoro swats Luffy's head lightly, in pure disbelief. They're so stupid! Apparently, their different brands of stupid melded together perfectly. "You actually thought you were doing a good job?! You've been all over each other since before we left Wano!"

Luffy sulks, shoulders up to his ears. "I thought we were doing a good job," he halts his gleeful sole slapping. His pouting doesn't last for long, however. Within seconds, the newly crowned Emperor of the Sea is smiling peacefully as he inhales the brine of the sea breeze. "Sanji's really into romantic stuff," he tells Zoro unnecessarily, eyes radiant and his voice has an uncharacteristic serenity to it that Zoro's never heard before. "So we'll have a proper one soon. We'll get rings too, Sanji wants those too. Oh but don't tell him I said that, it's gonna be a surprise."

Gently, he tells Zoro all of the little plans and fantasies he's cooked up.

Dadan will love Sanji! Oh that's right you don't know her, Dadan's the lady who raised me. She's a mountain bandit but I like her a lot anyways. I have to introduce Sanji to her!

The old man is gonna be so surprised when we tell him!

I'll take Sanji to meet Ace again. I want to tell Ace and Sabo too.

Sanji,

Sanji,

Sanji.

"Oi, Luffy," Zoro's right and left hands hold up an index finger each. "King of the Pirates or the cook?"

"Sanji," Luffy says as quickly, unperturbed and without a millisecond of hesitation.

Despite himself, Zoro's lips curl into an exasperated smirk as he shakes his head bemused. "So the Pirate King found his Queen, huh?"

"Sanji'll be mad if he hears you say that," but despite those words, Luffy is nodding and fidgeting barely able to contain his excitement. The pink of his cheeks is akin to the dawn painting the sky hues of pink and indigo. The decisiveness of a king; as long as Luffy has it, Zoro will follow him anywhere. Brown eyes sparkle warmly, "but don't worry, Zoro, I'm gonna have both. I have to have Sanji if I'm going to be King of the Pirates, otherwise it's no good."

It was an answer that made the corner of Zoro's lips curl. "This is the appetite of a king, huh? Pretty selfish of you."

Luffy nodded, grinning as brightly as the sun beaming down on him. "We're pirates, we're supposed to be selfish," he laughs before his face suddenly goes alert with alarm. "Sanji's mine, you know! I get to be selfish with him!"

That's what you got from what I said? Zoro rolls his eyes, letting Wado's hilt tap the side of his captain's head. "Trust me, he's all yours."

With those words, Luffy is grinning again spouting off his agreements between chuckles. "That's right, he's all mine." A beat passes and Luffy's eyebrows knit in concern. "Zoro, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Zoro cocks his head to the side, looking at Luffy as if he's grown a second head.

Luffy hums thoughtfully before quickly shoving his hat atop Zoro's head, Zoro squawking in surprise. "You can wear that until you're feeling better." Even without seeing his face, Zoro knows the expression is warm and kind. With that, Luffy leaves as promptly as he'd appeared, feet heading in the direction of the galley.

.

.

.

"Asshole," only a maelstrom like Luffy would up and do something like this, disturbing what little peace Zoro had in his person. "Just when I resolved to let it all go without any regrets or resentments."

There's no point in getting sad now, Zoro tells himself.

You knew this was bound to happen forever ago.

They make each other happy, that's all that matters.

Zoro curses silently, the corners of his eyes hot and he sinks tilts Luffy's hat further down his face.

.

When Zoro dreams that night, Luffy and Sanji are eating tangerines.

reversed text:

1) I want to drown in him 2) I was born to suffocate him in flowers

taglist: @chibinasuu @hash-slinging-slasher-trash @sheerxfiction @triangularz

[chibinasuu2]

beat loudly, heartbeat!

[chibinasuu2]

it took me a minute but riiiiin! please tell the people your op 1147 thoughts! the public needs to know!

this took me a minute to answer too but ooooh that last chapter was a blast to read!

[spoilers below]

we finally got some brook-gunko interactions! i expected her to be excited or go into fangirl mode when meeting her idol, but she wanted him as a slave instead askdljalkjalk (i guess that was on brand with her being a celestial dragon)

i love the way brook reiterated his loyalty to luffy, in front of a holy knight too! that was very bold and cool of him 😭

and the giants fighting those nightmare "moms" got a chuckle out of me! guess even those tough warrior giants can't win against their wives asadkljk

it's also great to finally get a map of where everyone is, i always love it whenever oda draws these diagrams. plus the chibi drawings of the characters are just too cute!!

i enjoyed gaban's proud dad moment! he was praising the heck out of collun even though the poor kid has been kidnapped. but we know he's gonna pull through for his kid! we're counting on you gaban pls

which leads us to.. the last scene!!!! i am so hypeeddd to see gaban and robin in action! we only saw a little of what gaban could do, and i am so excited to see more of his fighting style. the dual axe is just... *chef's kiss*

and of course, our girl robin is due for a major fight! it's always a treat to see her in action, and i can't wait to see what oda has in store for her. personally, i'm hoping for a demonio fleur comeback, or even a new technique that's just as powerful! i just need to see her pummel some holy knights' asses and absolutely destroy them

unfortunately it's break week now, and next week couldn't come sooner 😭 i'm missing the monster trio, they need to get back up there and get in on the action asap! one more week without seeing luffy, zoro, and sanji is not gonna be good for my heart 🤣

[chibinasuu2]

Found: Hat

surely, the hat would blow away if you left it here. there was no way it was abandoned, either. every little piece of it appeared to be lovingly cared for: shiny red beads and a pair of opposing faces atop the brim, which was neatly stitched and, aside from a loose thread or two, unfrayed. the leather strap might have seen better days, but it only went to show how often the owner wore it. in short, this hat’s wearer must be sorely missing it now. you nodded to yourself with determination. you’ll just have to do a little sleuthing. it can’t be that hard, right? or, a love story told through ace's lost hat.

tags: portgas d. ace x civilian!f!reader, wingman!marco, alcohol use, lots of steamy kissing at the end, portgas d. ace is so smooth, suggestive undertones. please respect this content warning!

wc: 5.8k

read on AO3, if you prefer

seated in the sand, ace basked in the sunshine alongside his closest friends and crewmates. he didn’t often get the chance to take in the sights and just relax on an island, and he knew he would have to leave soon, so every moment counted. he was grateful for these rare moments where there wasn’t a “next”; there was just now.

“i haven’t seen the sea from this side of the land in ages,” thatch said. “forgot how hot it can get, too.” 

ace soaked up the heat that the sun shared with him as if it were his energy source. he laid back, slipping his hat off to sense its rays on his eyelids, the warmth seeping through his skin. “how many other people out there do you think are doing this same thing?” 

“no idea.”

ace pondered the thought a bit longer. how many were enjoying the same beautiful day as he? were they also smiling at the sun? something about it made him feel connected to the world in a way he hadn’t noticed before. 

“we should go grab a bite to eat before too long,” marco said as he stood up. “i’ll bet the rest of the crew is almost done stocking up the ship.”

ace drank in the beach view once more before joining his friends on the walk into town. he had been walking for what had only felt like a moment when he noticed his head and shoulders felt particularly exposed. ace’s heart nearly stopped in his chest as he grasped at the air above his hair. 

“ace?” thatch called out to him, noting ace’s quizzical expression.

“my hat’s gone.”

***

the sand was a warm welcome beneath your feet. it was a joy to be beside the sea today, and something in the air beyond the salty aroma felt especially radiant. 

you had been out running errands today when you suddenly found a break in your schedule, which brought you to the beach. it wasn’t all too often you were on this side of town, so you were making the best of this chance. the sun kissed and nipped at your cheeks, and you regretted not having prepared for this little detour. you needed to find some shade soon.

towards the end of your walk, you stumbled upon a peculiar orange hat. there was no owner to be seen, at least not in the immediate vicinity. you scanned a bit further away, shielding your eyes from the sun with one hand. you spotted a group that had been sitting here moments ago and made to approach them, but a gust of wind blurred your vision. by the time you could focus back on the spot you’d seen them, they were gone.

you stared down at the hat, considering. surely, it would blow away if you left it here. there was no way this hat was abandoned, either. every little piece of it appeared to be lovingly cared for: shiny red beads atop the brim, which was neatly stitched and, aside from a loose thread or two, was unfrayed. the leather strap might have seen better days, but it only went to show how often the owner wore it. in short, this hat’s wearer must be sorely missing it now.

you nod to yourself with determination. you’ll just have to do a little sleuthing. it can’t be that hard, right?

how wrong you were. you’d just spent the last hour walking up and down the streets, scanning for anything that would remind you of the group of people you’d seen or for any poor souls who looked like they might be looking for this hat. it was so bright it stood out as a beacon, so you had initially hoped it would do all the work for you. 

eventually, you resigned yourself to checking with nearby local businesses that might have seen the owner of the orange hat. after a few statements of “sorry, i haven’t seen that hat before,” you finally caught a clue, although it wasn’t necessarily what you were expecting. 

at the local diner that you frequented, you approached the owner with the hat in your hands. the owner appeared slightly disheveled, but you supposed it could have been a busy day. 

“i’m looking for the owner of this hat. have you seen someone wearing it before?”

his jaw clenched as he eyed it. “i hope i never see the guy again, kid.” 

your eyes widened. “why’s that?”

the restaurant owner let out a long, exasperated breath as he lifted the bat he kept behind the counter for safety. “let’s just say he owes me. you find him; you let him know he has a tab to close, alright?”

you nodded, although you weren’t so sure you would be any help. the way it's looking right now, you might be stuck with this hat for a while. 

***

“you just have to retrace your steps. chances are, someone found it, and you’ll cross paths somehow.”

ace bit back a cringe as he reflected on his day and his unfortunate first stop. sure, thatch was probably right about retracing his steps and all that, but did that mean he’d have to do this? 

he squared his shoulders as he stood outside the entrance to the diner; he’d been a… well, “patron” would only be the right word if he’d actually paid for his meal. hopefully, he had the right amount of cash to get some information and avoid a confrontation.

ace stepped through the doors, a bell ringing to signal his entrance. within seconds, the shop owner was climbing over the counter, baseball bat in hand. 

“i never thought you’d have the nerve to show your lousy face here again.”

ace raised his hands, a meager effort at peace. “i have money!”

“you should have said that first, kid.” the man lowered the bat.

ace made his way over to the counter, reaching for his wallet. “you wouldn’t have happened to see a bright orange hat lying around, would you?”

“matter of fact, i have. one of my regulars stopped in with it, looking for you.” the shop owner dug through a pile of receipts in search of ace’s bill. 

“do you know where they might be right now?” ace took a slinky, unassuming step backward, one eye on the door.

“haven’t the faintest. but you’ll know her when you see her. about yay-high,” he motioned with a hand, “awful sweet, cute as a button.” the shop owner smoothed out the ticket and read the price, relieved to have this over with. 

by the time he looked up, the bell on the front door had rung, and ace was nowhere to be found.

***

your wandering continued fruitlessly. you may as well have been a door-to-door salesperson with how methodical your approach had become - and with the number of times you’ve heard the word “no.”

as you snaked through town, you decided it must be time to take a break. along the outskirts of the market street, you elected to sit on a nearby bench and collect your thoughts. 

you carefully strung the hat around your neck, its soft material resting on your back. it wasn’t necessarily on display in its new position, but it was better than holding it in your hands like you had all this time. 

it occurred to you while you sat that the mysterious hat owner was possibly a traveler. you sighed, hoping that he hadn’t left his hat behind for you to tend to forever. you began to regret taking on such a responsibility. this was like finding a needle in a haystack. 

“hey!” a tiny voice shouted from behind you. “i know that hat!”

your heart nearly leapt out of your chest as you spun around. a little girl, possibly no older than 8, holding a plushie, was running up to you, pointing at the hat on your back.

“you do?” you asked. “can you tell me about who it belongs to?”

the girl ran around, standing before you. she nodded eagerly, smiling with all her teeth. “of course i can! he’s my hero!”

grinning back at her, you leaned in, full of curiosity. “he is?”

“uhhuh! just this morning my evil neighbor stole my fishie plushie and pushed me on the ground.” she motioned her neighbor’s action with extra special dramatic effect, plushie flopping around. “but a big, strong guy came over and saved my fishie! and he helped fix my knee, too!” she pointed at her knee, adorned with a carefully placed bandage, likely covering a scrape.

you can’t help but feel a little warm and fuzzy inside at the thought of this faceless man as the savior to this girl. a diner and dasher, and a hero to children? you had more questions than answers at this point, and craved the answers with renewed passion.

“how nice of him to help you and your fishie. i’m glad you’re both ok!” the girl held her fishie closer with a warm embrace. “can you tell me anything else about the man who helped you? he seems to have misplaced his hat, and i’ve been trying to find him so i can give it back.”

“his name’s ace!” 

“ace, huh?” you tested it on your lips. you barely knew anything about him, yet it seemed to fit him well. 

“mmhmm! and he has a tattoo on his arm, too. i’ll draw it for you!” the girl knelt on the dirt road and drew a series of letters on the ground, with one crossed out - ASCE. “i didn’t spell it wrong. that’s exactly what it says.”

“i wonder what it means!”

“didn’t ask,” the girl said. “how are you gonna find ace?”

it was certainly helpful to know ace’s name and some sort of defining characteristic about him, but that didn’t quite fix the issue at hand. “i’m not sure. if you were me, what would you do?”

the child furrowed her brow as she considered. “there’s always lots of people at the market! i can help you look, since i know him and all.”

“that sounds like a plan!” as you stood, you introduced yourself to the girl. “what’s your name?”

“it’s mimi!”

“it’s nice to meet you, mimi. let’s go find ace!”

you and mimi take a stroll through the market, scanning for any sign of ace. after about 30 minutes mimi began to slow down, her little legs clearly tired from all the events of her day. you decide to adjust your plan, buying a couple of snacks from a food stand and taking a seat toward the center of the market, right in the middle of the throngs of people.

“if we stay in one place, he might find us,” you told mimi as she gratefully chowed on the food you had given her. 

you placed ace’s hat in clear view in hopes that if he did pass by, he would notice it. before long, someone did approach you, asking about the hat.

“i know someone who is missing that hat terribly,” the stranger said. he was a slightly older fellow, with fine blonde hair and glasses.

the man wasn’t threatening by any means, as a matter of fact he seemed a kind person; but you found yourself feeling a bit protective of ace’s property. you held it just a little more closely before glancing at mimi, who you noticed had fallen asleep with her head resting on your arm, clutching her dearest fishie.

“you know who owns this hat?” you asked with every ounce of practiced kindness, doing your best to smooth out any apprehension from your voice. 

“ace is a close friend,” the man said, “and crewmate.” 

“do you know where i can find him?” you asked. “or perhaps you can return it to him?” it stung a little to think you might never meet ace, but it was more important that his hat was returned. your curiosity, and, you admitted to yourself in the back of your mind, your enchantment, would have to take the back seat.

the man watched you carefully. you couldn’t explain why, but it felt a lot like he could hear your thoughts. he smiled softly as he spoke. “i can’t say where he is at the current moment, but i’ve got a feeling ace wouldn’t be able to accept his hat without the chance to thank the person who took care of it.” 

you couldn’t help the sense of relief that overtook you. it was growing more and more difficult to ignore the rhythm in your chest at the prospect of meeting ace. in some strange way, you already knew him. 

“i should probably walk mimi home,” you started, “but i can meet ace here at the market later.”

the man stuck one hand in his pocket, his smile growing bigger. “i can do you one better,” he said as he pulled out a piece of paper. “i’ve got his vivre card right here.” he ripped off a piece and held it out to you. “you know how these work?”

you beamed at the small scrap, watching it shift in the palm of your hand. “i do.”

“good,” the man said, turning away as he spoke. “tell him marco gave it to you-yoi.”

“thank you, marco!”

“don’t mention it.” marco waved a hand before disappearing into the crowd as swiftly as he had appeared.

***

ace wiped a hand down his face as he stood at the port, conflicted. the sun was beginning to set, and he’d had bad luck finding his hat. beyond the incredibly vague description he’d gotten of you at the restaurant, nobody he’d spoken to seemed to have seen you or the hat around.

in a last ditch effort, he decided to ask a few people at the port if they’d seen it. one person, a man pushing a cart full of food, had a scrap of insight for him. ace hoped it would be what he needed.

“that hat rings a bell,” the man said. “i saw a woman wearing it on her back at the market earlier today. she was with a little girl. they asked me about you. said i never saw you before.”

“can you tell me anything else about them? what did they look like? do you know where they are now?” ace could barely contain his excitement. he had limited time before he was supposed to report back, and time was of the essence. ace wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be on the island - they could leave tonight, even.

the man gave a few details about your and mimi’s appearances, and said the little girl must live in town. other than that, he had no idea. but it was more than enough for ace. the little girl sounded a lot like the one he’d met earlier, which gave him a rough idea of where to look. he quickly thanked the man and headed towards the center of the town. you had to be there somewhere.

moments later, ace passed by marco, who was headed back toward the port. he wore his most unassuming grin as ace approached.

“still haven’t found her, yoi?” marco asked. “she’s been looking for you.”

ace sputtered to a stop, his eyes wide. “you found my hat?”

marco leaned toward ace, patting a hand on his shoulder. “make sure to thank her real nicely, alright?” 

marco walked away before ace could decipher his words. “what’s that supposed to mean?” he shouted at marco’s back.

“i think we’re gonna stick around here a bit longer,” marco called out. “the people here are one-of-a-kind.”

ace stood there, bewildered. what a load of help that was. obviously, marco was unwilling to divulge any spare details, so ace continued on his way, looking for his hat. for you.

***

the sun was drawing close to that broken line where the sky met the city, accented by the freshly lit torches of the main road. a warm glow painted the features of the streets, and you and your search partner cast tall shadows along the colorfully painted buildings.

mimi was, to put it lightly, disappointed that she wouldn’t get to see ace again. she had quite little energy left to protest with; however, as she was all but leaning on you to keep walking home. 

once she successfully directed the two of you to her house – less talking, more vague hand motions – mimi grasped your hand firmly, a confident look in her eyes behind tired lids.

“you have to make sure you tell ace that i helped,” mimi said. “that i did it because he was so nice to me.”

you pat mimi’s head. she was an excellent companion to have at your side today. if not for her, you may have given up hope long before marco crossed your path. 

“i promise. i’ll tell him all about everything you did to make sure he gets his hat back.” you smiled warmly. “i’m sure ace will be grateful.”

with that, mimi went home. once her front door had closed, and you were sure she was safe, you turned away, pulling ace’s vivre card out of your pocket. it would lead you the rest of the way. your pulse quickened with anticipation as you carefully watched the small scrap’s pull, following it with your steps.

***

ace stood where the once-lively market was. now, it was nothing but empty stands, and a few merchants loading their stock onto carts. the day had quickly met its end. how could he be sure you were still here? 

he recalled that you were with the girl he met earlier, mimi. that clue could lead to some answers. it was far too late for mimi to still be up and about, but he could at least check out the place he met her. just in case.

the street corner where he’d found mimi was closer to the market than he remembered. of course, nobody was there. ace cursed marco for his vagueness. couldn’t he have at least told him where he should look? a general vicinity would have made this so much easier. 

at this point, ace had to bet there wasn’t a single road in this entire town that he hadn’t scoured. he’d gone in circles countless times, and he had no more ideas to move forward. his feet started moving regardless. he had to keep trying, but couldn’t help but feel like this was a fruitless effort. ace didn’t even look up as he walked. 

but that was only until he heard a conversation in the distance - no, that wasn’t a conversation. he could only isolate one voice. 

“he has to be close by now. i better not have gone all this way for nothing,” the voice said.

ace turned around, his gaze lifting to search for its source. there you were, an oasis in a desert, and he’d been walking for miles, having nearly forgotten how long he’d gone without water. you were walking, yes, but your eyes were fixed on the palm of your hand, an admirable focus creasing your brow; his most prized possession resting safely around your neck. he’d found you.

the greeting ace had been rehearsing escaped him. he nearly choked on his breath when he tried to get your attention. “excuse me,” he called out, a hoarseness to his voice. he cleared his throat, fighting his heartbeat for composure. “i believe that hat belongs to me.”

your eyes widened as you turned towards him. your lips parted, but you couldn’t make out words. so you stood there, frozen, for only a second, but an hour’s worth of thoughts rushed through your head. you found it hard to believe this could be ace standing before you. he had begun to seem a fictional being since you found the hat on your shoulders.

as your body caught up to your mind, your hand jumped to your collar, tracing the strap of the hat you’d grown fond of by this point. you weren’t quite ready to relinquish it, you had to admit.

“are you ace?” you asked with a hint of hesitation.

ace often felt he had a conflicted relationship with his name. but to hear it from your lips was as if he had found out he had been saying it wrong this whole time; like it was different from the title he’d grown accustomed to. it was new, somehow, and he was drawn into that sensation. 

he hated how much he understood what marco had told him now. he’d have to thank him later.

“that’s me.” he’d never been so sure of it.

you took in the presence of the man standing before you, at last. he was sunshine and a warm summer breeze with a broad, strong stance. you saw the tattoo on his arm, as mimi described. he looked every part the person you were told he was, but there was so much more there. you wanted to gaze at him until his sunshine blinded you. perhaps then you would know him as deeply as you wished in this moment.

“i hope you understand,” you started, “i’ve worked rather hard to find you, and i have some questions i’d like to ask, if that's alright.”

ace laughed. it sent a tickle up your spine. “i understand. can i buy you a drink?”

“i’d love a drink.” before you could think, you carefully removed ace’s hat. 

you wondered if ace could read the hesitation in your features as he spoke. “please, hold onto it a bit longer. you’re certainly better at looking after it than i am, after all.”

truthfully, ace wanted to commit to memory the sight of you with his hat. he couldn’t think of a better sight. 

you smiled shyly at him as you let the hat back down. “let’s get that drink, then.”

***

the saloon was about as lively as you’d expected for a random summer night - plenty noisy, but not necessarily jam-packed, either. the energy was lively, joyous, and there were countless smiles warming up the space. 

you and ace were about halfway through your first drink, the awkwardness of introductions past, and you had calmed down enough to carry on a conversation without an underlying sense of giddiness. you wanted to believe your excitement had been from the day's exhaustion, but ace was a handsome man with a smile that left you breathless. it wasn’t easy to ignore. 

“i believe you had some questions for me,” ace said, leaning toward you across the table you shared.

“i should hope you have answers,” you said, sipping your drink as you pondered what to ask about first. you smiled broadly, a knowing look on your face. “the owner of my favorite diner was quite disgruntled when i asked him about you.”

ace shrunk back into his seat, pursing his lips in feigned embarrassment. “i’m not hearing a question.”

you huffed a laugh. “what happened?”

“i have this sort of… tradition,” ace said, picking up his glass. “it’s silly, really. wherever i travel, i have to eat somewhere without paying.” he took a sip from his drink before continuing. “it’s something my brothers and i did when we were kids. i haven’t seen them since we were little, so it's a small way of keeping them here.”

you shook your head, your grin plastered to your face. “of course, you have a really good reason for it!”

“what do you mean?” 

“it wasn’t adding up,” you explained. “of all the little things i learned about you today, that was the one that didn’t fit. so it can only make sense that you had a sentimental reason for it.”

ace’s face bloomed a faint pink as you spoke. he sat back up, resting his chin on one hand, full of curiosity. “what else did you learn about me?”

“you’re full of surprises. a hero to young children, insisting on directly thanking a stranger who found your hat.” you removed his hat, then placed it on ace’s head, leaning close to reach him. it completed the picture of him you had built up: a wonderful mystery with a bright orange hat. 

ace’s cheeks flushed to a deeper shade of crimson as you took him in. he hadn’t expected you. he thought he was used to being seen and often identified, being a known whitebeard pirate. but nobody had looked at him like you did right now. he didn’t think he would be seen.

“mimi really wanted to find you as a way of thanking you for your help,” you said. “she made sure i didn’t give up.”

ace smiled, grateful for the renewed conversation. “i heard you were with a kid. i hoped it was her.”

“i only met her today. i’ll have to let her know i found you.” 

“we can tell her together tomorrow,” ace said thoughtlessly. you smiled as you watched him squirm a little, realizing his words. “if you want to, that is.”

“i’d love to.”

the drinks began to flow as effortlessly as your conversation with ace. you could feel the heat of your buzz beneath your skin, the warmth drawing you closer to him.

a group of men entered the saloon, filling the space with their laughter and chatter. you identified one of them as marco, the one who gave you a piece of ace’s vivre card.

“there they are!” marco called out as he saw you and ace. he approached the table, crossing his arms as he took you in. “the woman of the hour, yoi. i can’t tell you how happy i am that you found ace’s hat.”

“hello, marco,” you greeted. “thank you again, for your help.”

ace’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he watched your exchange. he knew marco had been up to no good when he saw him earlier. “what did you do?” 

“relax, ace. i just pointed her in the right direction,” marco explained coyly. “isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

you nodded your confirmation, a bit bashful at marco’s flirtatiousness. ace was speechless.

“i’ll let you two get back to chatting. it was great to see you again.” marco flashed a wink at you as he walked away, rejoining his friends.

ace’s mouth hung open as marco left. he turned back to you, his expression inscrutable.

“the two of you must be quite close,” you said, observing ace as you held the paper from earlier between two fingers, “for him to have your vivre card.”

ace continued to say nothing, his eyes darting between you and marco across the room. there appeared to be a lot of math he was doing to understand what happened.

although watching ace turn into a blushing mess was indeed entertaining, you continued, in effort to regain the peace from before. you held out the piece of ace’s vivre card. “i don’t imagine you intended for marco to hand this out to strangers.”

ace smiled at you softly. “you should keep it.” he wrapped his hand around your open one, closing your fingers over the paper.

your pulse quickened from the sudden contact. he was tantalizingly warm. 

“why, are you planning on losing your hat again? or maybe it’ll be something else next time?” you toyed with him, hoping to catch him on the tail end of his fluster.

ace leaned in close, bracing himself with his other arm. “if that’s what it takes to see you again.”

it was your turn to squirm under ace’s gaze. it was both a relief and a torment to know you weren’t imagining the chemistry you were feeling. it still could have been the booze, but you wouldn’t brush it off so easily. 

with a sudden rush of confidence, you closed the space between the two of you, nearly standing out of your seat. ace could feel your breath on his skin as you spoke.

“i think,” you said, “it should take less than that.” your nose brushed against his before you sat back in your seat, only a whisper of touch as you let go of his hand. your heart was pounding now, but you had made your statement. 

there was a flicker of something in the shine of his gaze. something a bit more starved than you’d anticipated. it was gone with a blink, but the hint of it sent a wave of need through you. 

“it’s a bit loud in here, wouldn’t you agree?” ace straightened, watching you carefully as he posed the question.

you could have floated out of your chair, but thankfully, you remained earthbound. “it is,” you crooned, “hardly the noise level one might crave for good conversation.”

ace chuckled as he stood, holding one hand out to you. “let’s get some air.”

you took ace’s hand, ignoring the hollers from marco and the others as you followed him outside. 

the air outside had cooled, not so much that it was cold, but in the way that summer nights fade from hot to, well, less hot, and the soft breeze wrapped around you, a welcome embrace. your steps were unhurried as you followed ace’s lead through the streets.

before you could register what was happening, ace suddenly pulled you to one side, guiding you to a dimly lit alley. you let out a small “eep!” at the movement as ace spun you around towards him.

“i never thought something as silly as losing my hat would lead me to someone like you,” ace said, his voice soft. 

you swallowed your nerves as you straightened. “you’re lucky i was here, you know,” you said, tilting your head at him. “not many people would have walked in circles for hours to return a lost hat to a random stranger.”

“you’re so right,” ace chuckled. “i could tell when i saw you. your determination is something to be feared.”

you smiled up at him, staring into his eyes. “is it?”

“absolutely. i was so taken aback when i met you that i forgot what i wanted to say,” he held your gaze. “you surprised me.”

your expression flooded with mischief as you listened. you reached for ace’s hat, taking it off his head and placing it on your own. you’d avoided putting it on your head all day, not wanting to cross that boundary when you didn’t know who it belonged to. now, you took that small leap with a challenge in your eye.

“then let’s try again, shall we? i want to know what you were going to say.”

ace froze briefly, fighting the heat rushing to his face, and perhaps other places. seeing you in his hat turned him upside down. you were a beautiful thing to behold. but he wouldn’t back down from the challenge you presented him with. he swiftly closed the space between you, causing you to step back in surprise, but the surprise ran deeper when your back met a cold wall. ace braced one arm over your head as he leaned down, completely enclosing you with his frame. 

“you’ve got a lotta nerve, taking someone’s hat, you know,” he said, his voice turning gravelly.

and you truly could have been floating when ace pressed his lips to yours in question, just a soft brush. you tried so hard not to smile into him, but then he pulled back, uncertain.

you grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him back to you. his eyes widened when you said, “then come take it from me.” 

you crashed your lips into him, an answer to his question. the two of you moved in perfect harmony, you sliding your hands behind his neck, ace’s meeting your waist. whatever tension the two of you had been skirting around all night snapped. 

ace’s grip tightened on your waist, causing you to gasp, the faintest of moans escaping your throat. ace took that chance to deepen the kiss, his tongue tracing your lips, which you greedily accepted, giving him full access. your hands began to roam his body, and you traced cords of muscle tightly woven beneath soft skin, appreciative of what your touch found.

after a fleeting eternity of shared kisses, ace broke his lips from yours, but they didn’t go far as he lowered his head, diligently dragging his lips downward. he nipped and sucked on the delicate surface of your neck until he felt your hands twitch during their exploration. he paused when he read your smallest of tells, and then sucked that sensitive place with more force, biting down ever so slightly to deepen the sensation. you couldn’t hold back the moan that followed when he released your skin, relieving the slight tinge of pain with a soft brush of his tongue.

“ace,” you whispered breathlessly as you pulled him away, returning his gaze to you. you kissed him again, softly and intentionally, no more question; no more challenge. 

you both paused, chests heaving, noses nuzzling each other. the intimacy of sharing breath sharpened the high of your exchange, and you basked in it. 

“can i-,” ace said between breaths, “can i walk you home?”

you grinned as ace backed away slightly, just enough to see your face. what a sight it was, to see your swollen lips and dilated pupils. to know that you were the one making those sweet, desperate little sounds just moments ago. 

“you can walk me home,” you said.

ace grabbed both of your hands, pulling you off the wall and back to the street. he spun you around again before releasing you, but he held firm to one hand as you guided him to your home.

the two of you exchanged excited chatter as you walked through the streets you had both walked alone in search of the other. it was difficult to believe the night would end. hours had passed by as you had looked for ace, and they drew on, but now that you’d found him, the passage of time was a harsh whirlwind. 

as ace walked you to your front door, you faced him again. there would be no more need to hold onto his hat any longer, so you picked it up once again. 

ace’s hands shot up to yours, ceasing your movement. “tomorrow. i’ll come get it from you, and we’ll see mimi.”

“i’d like that,” you said. ace guided your hands back down to your sides, but he didn’t let go. 

“i’ll be the one to find you this time. you’ve done enough searching.” he leaned in once again, kissing you, far more chastely than earlier, but with every ounce of passion. 

you pulled away first, releasing him. you brushed one hand down his cheek. “i’ll see you tomorrow, ace.”

he nuzzled into your hand, entranced by your touch. “tomorrow.”

you made your way inside, parting ways for the day. as you settled down inside, your heartbeats returning to a resting pace, you couldn’t help but agree with what ace had said earlier. 

you never thought something as silly as a lost hat could bring you to him.

thank you for reading!!! i worked on this over the course of several months as the idea came to me and i'm so happy to be sharing this now.

in case you are a playlist person, here is the spotify playlist that kept me inspired while i wrote. no need to listen, it isn't intended to read, i just wanted to share the vibes :-)

-tor

[chibinasuu2]

women's wrongs

synopsis. sanji is a supporter of many things, women's wrongs being one of them. he just wasn't expecting women's wrong opinions to be among them; the cook supposes there is a first time for everything.

pairing. roronoa zoro x f!reader

word count. 1k | masterlist

content warning. written with a plus-sized reader in mind (but read as you prefer), pre-timeskip (post-little garden/pre-drum island), presently unrequited feelings (zoro has feelings for luffy as of this moment in time), usonami and lusan undertones if you squint

reblogs & interactions appreciated.

a fic that was hilarious inspired by my conversations with @hash-slinging-slasher-trash about her selfship verse with zoro and i couldn't resist writing it. i find it hilarious that depending on the verse, sanji and/or zoro judge for who you have feelings for but try to be supportive in their own way and thus this story was birthed

Conflicted doesn't begin to cover the expression on Sanji's face.

Conflicted, disturbed, confused and utterly full of disbelief. Those words combined probably summarize his expression best and even then you feel as if a new word should be invented entirely to describe it. You bury your face into your hands, ears hot. "The mosshead," Sanji asks, incredulous.

You nod, face even warmer.

"Mosshead." He says again, voice weak from your confirmation he unfortunately heard you correctly.

You nod once again.

This is all a mess. Here in his kitchen while he preps for tomorrow's breakfast, Vivi stands watch, Luffy and Zoro sleep and Usopp cares for an ailing Nami you know you have found yourself in a hot mess. You're sure when Sanji asked you "a berry for your thoughts?" that this was the least likely confession he expected to receive. Yet it all came flowing from your lips like a dam bursting through a crack.

"I have feelings for Zoro," you squeaked in a fluid motion, fingers clutching the tea cup Sanji gave you for dear life.

"My condolences," Sanji grumbles, equal parts empathy and pity sketched into his face.

You can't hold back a snort despite yourself. "Sanji."

As if remembering his chivalry, the cook stands straight at attention. "Forgive me, my lady, I only meant," the blond pauses, gathering his thoughts at speeds unknown to man. "Respectfully, the man who has caught your attention-"

"Is in love with Luffy, I know," you groan as you remember this oh-so-important fact. "Trust me, I am very aware of that fact." It's hard not to notice. When you initially joined the Straw Hats, you thought Zoro a stoic yet battle-hungry bounty hunter turned pirate who seldom showed how he felt. As it turns out, the swordsman is rather expressive save for how his face solemn and irritated when at rest. Zoro emotes quite often, in truth.

Zoro laughs when he's amused.

Zoro grins when he teases.

Zoro even pouts when you point out he should have noticed he was lost three tree loops ago.

You can feel your lips twisting into a smile in spite of your dilemma and do your best to fight it. Then you remember a flash of yellow and red, bright like sunshine and your smile falls as quickly as it started. Yes, Pirate Hunter Zoro is very expressive, you realized quickly.

For a ー former ー noble, such as yourself, you're not used to seeing love in its truest and most pure form. Your parents' marriage had been arranged by your grandparents, your parents merely had you to maintain the status quo and any match you'd find would be a man they approved of and would help you produce quality stock to continue the bloodline.

Vivi's lucky, you think of your fellow princess who is happily tucked away in a blanket on the crows nest doing her part. Her parents loved each other and they love her. Even her servants adored her so. Your heart aches as its strings are tugged. Luffy's lucky too.

He receives love as easily as he gifts it, even to those he doesn't know very well. He makes you feel like he's been your best friend for your entire life, despite having only met nearly a month prior. You'll always appreciate him for that and you know you are not the only member of the crew who feels this way. You all love and appreciate Luffy, some of you more than others.

Zoro more than others. His gaze lingers when he sees Luffy barreled over into himself as he laughs at whatever tall tale Usopp has weaved.

He smiles when Luffy makes his silly faces.

If you hadn't known better, you would think Zoro believes in Luffy more than he does himself.

Monkey D. Luffy is the sun; you're not even the moon.

"No," Sanji sets down his knife on his cutting board and presses his hands firmly on the dinner table. "That bum wants a man who picks his nose. In public! You can't have feelings for someone like that; I won't allow it. Besides, any clown who is in love with Luffy over a literal princess isn't worth anyone's time, let alone yours."

You're giggling again as you shake your head, "I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but you don't have to do it at Luffy's expense. He's a great guy to fall in love with. He's sweet." Loud and selfish but he's somehow sweet and selfless for it.

"He's fine," Sanji makes a face, shrugging. "He'd be better if he stopped breaking into the fridge every other night." Blue eyes look pointedly at the five giant mouse traps set around it, prepared once more for their war with the captain. You shake your head in amusement.

He complains but I think he secretly likes it. At least, if how Sanji smiles at Luffy in exasperation every meal time is anything to go off of. Sanji brow furrows when you tell him as much. "You can make that face all you want but you like how much likes your food."

Had you been one of your crew's male counterparts, you're sure Sanji would have scoffed at your words. Since you are not, he can't find it in himself to protest. "It's the least he can do if he is going to eat us out of house and home," he murmurs, mostly to himself, with a quiet huff. "You'd think he'd never eaten all his life with how he scarfs it all down, the shitty rubberman." He rests his hands on his hips with a sigh, finally relenting.

You grin at your small victory.

"I guess there are technically worse choices for the barbarian swordsman could have gone with," Sanji shakes his head, one eye closed in reluctant acceptance. "If he wants Luffy, he can have him. That doesn't change the fact that no mellorine should sell herself short."

"Sanji," you start to no avail.

Sanji shakes his head, not wanting to hear any further protests. "Trust me, my lady, you can do much, MUCH better than that guy. I'll make sure of it," he swears solemnly. "For all we know, your prince charming is right around the corner waiting to join the crew so he can throw himself at your feet. As a servant of love, I can't sit back now that I know this information."

It's your time to sigh as Sanji rambles on, cutting his carrots quickly.

[chibinasuu2]

@softlypaintedseafoam

Lusanlu Week Day 1: First Kiss/First Meal

Post-Whole Cake Island, everything’s a mess, everything is wonderful

Hello lusan nation, I did perhaps go a little insane making this. No one let me do a comic again.

I’ve had the thought percolating in my mind of Sanji coming back to the Sunny and seeing their decimated kitchen. I know Nami probably cleaned, but Luffy’s destructive force is unrivalled. Sanji is overwhelmed, but more so enamoured than enraged. I dunno, coming home to a place you thought you’d never see again, and seeing it ruined, but its really not about the place. Its about the people. His beloved crew and captain.

I’m not even finished wci myself but Luffys desperation and determination and love for Sanji just really gets to me. Also, laugh-crying. Yeah.

From a technical standpoint this was a lot of work and a lot of fun. I did cry when trying to deal with procreates abysmal add text function, and when trying to find the right brush for shading. And then I went back in and wrote the text myself. Alas, art is pain, etc, etc. I’m actually very happy with this though, even just for getting it done. Lusan moves me to great lengths.

[chibinasuu2]

this is so precious oh my goshhhh

smoker and yuu-chaannn 😭😭🫶🏻🫶🏻

she finally got her 5-scoop ice cream 🥺

[chibinasuu2]

#369 for the @namiartcollab | Kofi

notes: everybody thank @pandora-writes-one-piece for existing, because they're the only reason i plowed forward with this piece because everything else in me said adding a whole second character to a piece when i was trying to finish deadline stuff wasn't a good idea, but then i remembered SaNami is their OTP and that all went out the window real fast.

tags: @pandora-writes-one-piece @jintaka-hane @armiliadawn @fanaticsnail @chibinasuu @daydreamer-in-training @misaneeragoni

[chibinasuu2]

i was a ichiji for shots, but a niji for splinters THE DRAMATICS i threw~ this is so messy but i love it that way to indicate chaos... yes that's the reason

ps the tag "vinsmoke get along au" isn't just for the kid strip here! i'm using it as a tag to indicate the quadruplets depicted are ones that love each other and aren't emotionless so feel free to use it yourself ^^

previous/first / next

[chibinasuu2]

wanted to explore sora a bit, and conclude that she is a silly mommy <3

first / prev

[chibinasuu2]

Heart Crew Den Dens

Obviously, the best part about this is Penguin's Pen Pen Mushi

[chibinasuu2]

Character Remix SJR: Portgas D. Ace Life Timeline

It took a minute to set aside some time for it, but I've finally finished translating the official timeline of Ace's life provided in the SJR novel! I'm definitely not JLPT N1 levels of proficient in Japanese, so I definitely apologize for any inaccuracies in advance. Still it's nice being able to share One Piece information with my fellow fans! If you've been following this account then you know I've been looking forward to translating and sharing any info I could scrounge from it so let's goooo!

All info provided comes from the SJR Ace compilation manga, specifically the timeline. And while reblogs are definitely appreciated, please don't repost on or outside of tumblr!

Age 0

Ace is born in Baterilla, South Blue on January 1st

Is named after Roger's cherished sword the "Ace"

Ace is left in the custody of Mount Corvo's Dadan

Age ? (Anywhere between ages 1-4)

Ace meets Sabo

Age 5

Ace and Sabo begin their pirate savings together

Age 10

Ace meets Luffy

Ace and Sabo take down Porchemy to save Luffy

ASL exchange sake cups and become sworn brothers

Ace fights Bluejam with Dadan

Dogra tells Ace and Luffy he witnessed Sabo's death

Ace reads Sabo's letter

Age ? (Likely 11)

Makino helps Ace learn proper greeting ettiquette

Age 17

Ace departs from Mt. Corvo's coast

Ace eats the Flame Flame Fruit

The Spade Pirates are formed

Either 17 or 18

Ace rejects the World Government's offer to join the Seven Warlords

Ages 18-19

Ace washes on to Wano's shore and is taught by Otama how to weave kasa hats

(It was revealed in vol. 11's SBS that Ace defeated Hanafuda at 18 so I'm tacking that here too)

Ace battles Yamato on Onigashima and afterwards they hit it off and have a party

Ace meets Shanks

Ace fights Jinbei for 5 days but there is no winner

To protect his crew, Ace fights Whitebeard, losing

Ace tries to take Whitebeard close to 100 times, failing

The Spade Pirate crew officially become part of the Whitebeard Crew

Ace defeats the Doma Pirates

Becomes the 2nd division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates

Age ?

Ace makes Oars Jr a giant kasa hat as a present

Ace wants to go to Wano but is stopped by Whitebeard

Age 20

Blackbeard kills Fourth Division Commander Thatch and Ace leaves to find him

Ace leaves a message for Luffy in the former Drum Kingdom

Ace reunites with Luffy in Alabasta and gives him his vivre card

Ace blends into the Buggy Pirates' party

Ace meets Moda in Lulusia

Ace infiltrates the G-2 subdivision base and successfully obtains classified information on Blackbeard

Ace loses his fight with Blackbeard on Banaro Island and is handed over to the marines

Ace is placed in Level 6 of Impel Down

Ace is transferred from Impel Down to Marine Headquarters Marineford

Sengoku reveals Ace Eoger's biological child to the public

Luffy rescues Ace during the Summit War

To protect Luffy from Akainu's onslaught, Ace sacrifices his life

Ace is buried in the New World next to Whitebeard

[chibinasuu2]

I love you Hearts Pirates I love you Polar Tang!

(Ink on paper)

[chibinasuu2]

Outfit #46 for the @corazonartcollab | Kofi

notes: 💕

one piece tags: @pandora-writes-one-piece @jintaka-hane @armiliadawn @fanaticsnail @chibinasuu @daydreamer-in-training

[chibinasuu2]

How could I forget my boy? Posting him too.

[chibinasuu2]

one piece fan letter marco you will always be famous