I Want to Live ~ Part 24
Pairings: Zoro x Fem!Reader, Sanji x Fem!Reader, Robin x Fem!Reader, Sanji X Robin
This is part 24 of the poly series 'We've All Got Needs,' linked below:
Word Count: 4386
We've All Got Needs Masterlist
Ao3 Link (Ch. 14 of We've All Got Needs cont.)
!!SPOILER WARNING!! Spoilers for the anime for the Water 7/Enies Lobby arc (through episode 278).
Summary: The assault on Enies Lobby begins, and you fight alongside your crew to find rescue your archaeologist. You'll do anything to get her back.
Rating/Warnings: AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Polyamory, Canon Typical Violence, Blood, Pet Names, Swearing, Angst.
A/N: Sorry for the wait on this one! This is a big moment, so I wanted to do it justice. I hope you enjoy it!
Your eyes were shut as you screamed, waiting for your inevitable death as the screech of metal ripped through your ears.
The train hopped and started to skid, but it didn’t seem that bad. Although, you were thrown around, clinging to the nearest bar. Then you felt the long slide against the stone start to slow, knowing that you’d have more bruises on your body than you could count.
If I survive.
Shaking that thought from your mind, you fought to stay steady. A moment of gratitude passed as you saw your crew safe on their feet, until you heard the shouts of too many angry voices outside the train.
“Wait here, we’ve got this.”
Zoro nodded at Sanji’s words, the two of them stepping out as calmly as if they were going for a stroll, not facing down an army of government officers and marines.
Nami started toward the door, her Clima-Tact gripped in her hands.
“Nami, wait.”
“It’s okay,” she cut you off with a smile. “I'll stay back. But there’s something I’ve been wanting to try. Can you go check on Kokoro?”
Your mouth was dry as she walked out the door, but Usopp and Chopper followed behind her.
Climbing through the wrecked cart, you found the old woman in the front, cradling a bottle of liquor like a baby.
You huffed a laugh, shaking your head at the drunk.
“I’m glad you and your booze are okay.”
“Me too, darlin.' Here, take this,” she said as she wobbled to her feet, handing you a small transponder snail. “I’ll keep hidden, just call me when you need to leave.”
“But-”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll just tell them you kidnapped a sweet ol’ lady if I get caught.”
“Are you-”
This time you were cut off by loud rumbles of thunder, way too close. The thunder was soon joined by an orchestra of screams.
What the fuck?
The sky was clear when you stepped outside, but the ground was littered with still and writhing bodies. Wide eyed, you found Nami, Usopp, and Chopper huddling by the train, Nami’s hands shaking as she stared at her Clima-Tact.
“Nami, did you do that?”
She nodded, before punching Usopp’s shoulder.
“You didn’t tell me it could do that, we all could have died!”
“Well, maybe if you learned how… Um, I mean Usopp ensured me that the many features of the-”
Usopp had switched back into his Sniper King voice, only to earn another smack from the navigator.
Chopper scrambled over to you to gush about how cool it was to see all the marines lit up by lightning.
“Did you hear what they called you, moss head? One of Luffy’s henchmen.”
Sanji’s laughing voice moved closer, and you turned to see your boys, safe and whole.
And bickering already.
“At least they recognized me, waiter. You’re just ‘pirate A.’ Or probably ‘B.”
You ran toward them, interrupting their growls with your hands on their arms. Small smiles almost made you forget where you were.
“What the fuck are those?”
Your mouth hung open after your question as what looked like two giant fucking seahorses charged toward you.
Usopp let his voice boom out, announcing the creatures to be King Bulls that belonged to the Franky Family that must have been brought along with their ship.
Even knowing that they were friends and not foes didn’t stop you from backing up against a wall, the sheer size of the animals hurting your brain.
“Hurry, climb up!”
You recognized the voice and blonde hair of Paulie as he and others from Galley La and the Franky Family lowered ropes for you.
There were benches atop the massive creatures, and you all clambered up, still stunned as it started to move through the streets. From the yells of your allies, you gathered that the beast you climbed on was named Sodom, and the other, Gomorrah.
“Here, take this,” Paulie offered, handing the reins to Sanji. “We’ll watch your tail.”
Paulie left your crew to join his people on Gomorrah, already shouting orders. You couldn’t sit for long, as marines started climbing up the sides, all the crew leaping into action to knock them off as the animal moved forward.
There was no time to be impressed with yourself as you slammed a marine in the chest with both of your tonfa, his grunt of pain drifting away from you as he fell.
“These bulls are making this easy,” Sanji called over his shoulder. “Let’s catch up with our captain.”
As the bullets stopped reaching close, and the screams of marines grew distant, you caught your breath, turning to your crew with a smile.
“He says that the Franky Family saved him and his brother from a sea king, and that they’ll follow Franky anywhere.”
“What are you talking about, Chopper?”
Chopper jumped up and down pointing up at the beast’s head above you, answering your question with an excited laugh.
“I can understand animals, remember!”
Chopper looked around proudly, meeting everyone’s eyes before his mouth fell open in fear.
“Sniper King is gone! I don’t think he made it up here!”
His frantic voice had your blood running cold. There was no turning back now.
Usopp… Stay safe, friend.
Guilt tore at you as you met eyes with Nami, your desire to turn back reflected on her face. Zoro and Sanji were silent, still as stone.
Then none of you were still. Hands covering your ears, you cringed at the sound of the King Bull you were riding on roaring in pain, blood bursting up from its neck and chest.
The other group pulled up, screaming at you all to leap onto their bull before yours went down.
A moment of hatred went through you for the marines that had aimed for this beautiful creature.
Sanji’s arm was around your waist, and you saw Chopper screaming under his other arm before he told you to jump. You trusted Zoro to help Nami across, and soon you were cramped on the other bull with your allies.
Silence held for a moment, until the massive creature let out another roar, tumbling to the ground amidst scattering marines.
The Franky Family wept around you, crying for their lost companion as you barreled toward the courthouse. You gripped Chopper’s shoulder as his little body was wracked with quiet sobs.
Wiping his tears enough to speak, Zambai, the black haired man in now broken goggles pushed toward you. He was leading the Franky Family in this battle, and he leaned in to confirm their plan. They would split into groups to climb the courthouse towers, and pull the levers to let the drawbridge down. Otherwise, there would be no way to cross to the Tower of Justice. No way to get to Robin over the massive waterfall.
The loud yells of more marines didn’t register until too late.
“Hang on,” Zambai screamed, reaching for his comrades as cannons blasted into Gomorrah's chest, the roars of the creature almost deafening. Gomorrah's long neck started to waver, and you braced for it to go down.
Marines lined the street and rooftops, hundreds of weapons aimed at you and your allies.
None of this felt real, just an adrenaline filled dream. The only thing that felt steady was the sound of Robin’s name in the back of your mind, chanting softly like a spell that would guide you to her.
The ground quaked, and the cheers of the marines made your mouth go dry.
“What now,” Nami muttered, as you joined her in turning back toward the front gate.
Two fucking giants were on their way now. You heard the groans of the Franky Family, bemoaning how difficult it had been to get past them at the gate.
“Surround the intruders! Straw Hat Luffy has been spotted on the roof of the courthouse. Do not let his allies catch up with him!”
Luffy!
The marine’s orders blasting through the speaker snails emboldened you, and you watched your crew ready themselves for another fight.
The giants were roaring now, smashing their fists and feet onto any marine in their path, causing panic and confusion amongst your enemies.
“Guess they’re on our side now,” you questioned, before gripping onto Sanji’s arm as Gomorrah started to pull forward again.
You could smell the waves of blood cascading from its massive neck, and felt heat in your throat as you watched Chopper sob, speaking to the beast as it pushed itself to protect you all.
So much death already. And it hasn’t really started yet.
More cries echoed from the Franky Family at the sound of the King Bull keening, struggling to finish its mission.
The courthouse loomed above, and the scramble off of the dying creature had you dizzy, avoiding the hot blood pooling on the stone.
Zoro stepped up beside you, his warm hand sending shivers over you from its brief touch on your lower back.
“It’s hard to believe that Robin, Franky, all of them are right behind those doors.”
Sanji’s voice drew your eyes to the looming stone doors of the courthouse. You felt Chopper moving up beside you, his steps getting louder as he shifted into his larger human form, his hopeful voice like a soothing balm.
“We need to find Luffy, then we can save Robin together!”
Sanji was running back toward Gomorrah, calling over his shoulder before you heard the noise of the marines’ reinforcements.
“I can handle this lot. How about you get that door open, Marimo?”
With a scoff, Zoro drew all three blades, and sliced into the stone, creating his own door amidst the settling dust.
Your jaw fell open at the sight, and you had to cover your face to keep from breathing in the dust, your eyes still wide.
With so much time spent together in relaxation, in intimacy, it could be easy to forget the insane things that your crewmates, and your lovers could do.
Zambai ran up, coughing as he shouted.
“We’ll split up into three groups, two for the towers, and one to stay here, and guard your rear. You guys head to the roof. We’ll watch your back so keep moving, and don’t worry about the small fries.”
“You got it.”
You wished the confidence in Zoro’s voice would spread to you as the group formed up behind him and Sanji.
You readied your weapons, but there was no need as the chef and the swordsman practically flew in through the crumbled doors, sending the marines in the entryway screaming through the air.
Chopper shot out beside you, catching a straggler before they got too close. Keeping your eyes moving, you scanned for danger, ready to shoot a dart at any suspicious movement, but your boys did quick work.
Nami grinned at you when you scanned her way, her Clima-Tact ready, but just as unnecessary as your tonfa at the moment.
Still, your grip on the steel was a comfort compared to how many fights you’d simply had to hide from before.
Zoro cornered another small group, then let out what looked like a whirlwind from his three blades.
Sanji passed you, leaving a hint of a kiss on your cheek before heading to the stairs, yelling down at Zoro.
“Quit showing off, moss head. Robin’s waiting for me- for us!”
Following his lead with a small laugh at his slip, you, Chopper, and Nami climbed the large, stone staircase, until Chopper yelled Zoro’s name.
You turned to see your amazing swordsman somehow running in the opposite direction.
“I'll try to make you some medicine later. To fix your brain problem!”
“Brain problem,” Zoro complained, and you had to stifle your laughter. His complete lack of a sense of direction was hard to comprehend.
Your skin managed to flush even during this chaos as the image of putting a leash on Zoro to keep him by your side flashed into your mind.
But you had to focus now, shaking your head to clear it. Her name was still humming in you like a heartbeat.
Hallways and stairs, and hallways and stairs. Occasional groups of marines that funneled out of doorways, surrounding you before being mowed down. You were able to take down the few that came near you in such close quarters, and you had yet to need your poison attacks, making do with blocking and hitting with the cool steel.
Sweat beaded on your brow, and you saw it on your crewmates’ skin as well. More flights of stairs filled you with grateful memories of running with Nami, and training with Zoro.
This is why I got stronger. So I can protect my crew. So I won’t hold them back.
So I can save her.
A more populated hallway had you all fighting foes at once, stopping your run to bring them to the ground. The sounds of battle echoed off the stone walls, and two marines faced off with you.
There was so much chaos, and as your body reacted to deflect their blows, you realized that your limbs were moving on instinct now. Zoro’s lessons were living in your bones.
But you hadn’t faced two foes at once before, so you called on your defense.
“Blackout Thorns!”
The first marine lunged for you, her leg soaring toward you in a kick. Her shin scraped along the small metal blades laced with your poison as you held the bar across your body, forcing a grunt from you as you blocked her weight.
The second marine came at you from behind, moving too fast to notice his comrade passing out before you thrust your arm back, scraping your purple tonfa along his forearm as he reached for your hair.
He crumpled at your feet and you grinned, noticing Sanji and Zoro both halting in their movements toward you.
The mix of worry and pride on their faces sent a shiver over you, but the moment ended with the sharp sting of a slap on your ass, and a groan from Nami as she scolded you all.
“Eye fuck each other later, guys. We’ve got places to be.”
“Robin! I’m here to save you!”
Luffy’s voice boomed through the windows, sounding so close.
“Hold on,” Zoro commanded, giving the group no time to argue as he used his three sword style to break through the fucking ceiling. Everyone screamed at him, but as the sunlight poured through the hole he’d made, you all scrambled up.
Sanji helped you through the debris, and lifted you to climb up to the roof, helping Nami do the same before jumping up along with Zoro and Chopper.
Before you had a chance to scan your surroundings, you felt the ground shake again as the two giants from earlier moved toward the courthouse. One of them lifted a hand up over the roof, and your heart stopped as you waited for the building to be smashed beneath your feet.
“Thank you, friend of Dorry and Brogy!”
The deep rumble of the giant’s voice rolled over you, and you watched, open mouthed, as that massive fist opened to drop the masked and groaning figure of your friend onto the stone.
“Sniper King,” Chopper yelled as he rushed forward, looking over Usopp’s still bandaged body for injuries.”
“Hey Sniper King, can you stand,” Zoro questioned.
“Uh, yeah. Of course. A fall like that won’t stop me.”
“How,” you started, before a small smile teased your lips at the thought of Usopp regaling you with the story later. If we all survive.
Luffy’s voice brought you back, your heart slamming in your chest as you looked across the waterfall to the Tower of Justice.
Robin.
Her cold face looked down on Luffy, the wind sending that hypnotic black hair around in gentle waves.
“We’re gonna go ahead and save you. If you still want to die after we’re all back together, well that’s your choice.”
Making your way across the roof, you noticed all the members of CP9 with Robin on the balcony, as well as Franky, and a man in a mask that covered his nose and half of his mouth.
“Come on, Robin, work with me here. You can say what you want. If you want to die or whatever, that’s fine. But when you say it, you say it as part of our crew.”
Luffy’s words were sending chills through you.
What did she say before we got here? Did she tell him she wants to die?
Sanji touched your shoulder as he passed you, pulling out a cigarette as everyone lined up along the wall. You stood there, your crew at your side, wishing you could fly across the expanse to her. To Robin. Your crewmate. Your friend. The woman you love.
You couldn’t help it. You yelled for her, your voice mingling with Sanji’s and Chopper’s as they joined you.
She scanned all of you before focusing back on Luffy. It was hard to tell with your own eyes misting up, but with the way the sunlight kissed her face, you swore you saw tears sparkling in her beautiful eyes.
Luffy stared her down, as if she were the only one on that balcony.
“From now on, leave everything to us.”
“You stupid pirates, you don’t think you can beat all of CP9, do you?”
The masked man's arms flailed wildly as his nasally voice carried over the air.
“Besides, even if you do make it over here, I still have this! I have the authority to summon a Buster Call, and take you all out.”
In his outstretched hand, all you could see was the sun glinting off of something golden in his palm.
Your eyes flew back to Robin as she wavered on her feet, her voice too low to make out.
He leaned toward her, and his taunting voice made your blood boil. You itched to shoot a dart at him, but even if you hit him, Robin was still surrounded, still in danger.
“That’s right, I’m sure you remember its power well. Given that it destroyed your homeland 20 years ago.”
You’d learned that horrible truth on the train from Blueno, but seeing the terror of it on Robin’s face now, just for the threat of it, sent ice right through your heart.
And this piece of shit was laughing at her, as if the loss of everything she’d ever known was a joke.
We need to get over there.
“What was it, Ohara? It’s hard to recall the name since it was wiped off the map.”
“Robin’s homeland,” Chopper asked, his voice soft with fear.
“He’s pissing me off,” Sanji growled echoing your rage.
“Anything but that, I’m begging you!”
Robin was struggling against handcuffs, her arms trapped behind her as she pleaded with him, panic lacing her words.
He leaned over her face, and you wanted to scream at him to get away from her. The distance and wind stole his next words from you, but you knew he had to be taunting her again as you watched her body shake, in anger or fear.
“Have you lost sight of your humanity?”
Robin’s voice finally reached you again as she yelled in his face, the masked man’s fingers dangerously close to pressing that golden button.
You cried out as Robin’s knees hit the stone, her head bowed to this monster as she continued to beg.
“There’s a limit to how much you can sacrifice in the name of justice. A Buster Call is going too far. You can’t use it. Anything but that!”
His shoulders slumped a bit, his head tilting as he looked down on her. But his stupid mouth stayed shut as she continued.
“If you trigger a Buster Call, everything will be destroyed. That includes all of Enies Lobby, and most likely you as well.”
“Nonsense, they wouldn’t kill me. I’m Spandam, the Chief of CP9! I’m not falling for your bluff.”
You could have been sick off the side of the building from how disgusting this was.
These are the kinds of people in power? This man child could decide if an entire island is wiped off the map, on a fucking whim.
You couldn’t make out Robin’s next words, her head still bowed to that piece of shit. Until she stood, voice carrying now as she faced you all, but her eyes stayed low.
“Now this demon is rearing its ugly head again, and it’s aiming its sights on the friends I searched so hard to find. The more that I wish for us to be together, the more my ugly fate bears its fangs at you. Even now, now matter how far we sail, there’s an enemy that haunts me at every turn. Because I’m facing the world, and all of its darkness. First it was Aokiji, and now CP9. I’ve dragged you into my troubles twice already.”
Her voice rang out in pain, and you ached to scream, to argue, to plead with her, but your throat was too full of tears.
Robin kept going, her voice louder, and cracking, breaking your heart more and more with every word.
“If it goes on and on like this, no matter how kind you may be, someday you’ll see me as a burden. Someday you’ll be forced to betray me, and throw me away. That’s what I’m most afraid of, understand? That’s why I didn't want you to rescue me! If that’s the only future I have, I would rather die to save me the pain!”
Her name that was still pounding in your mind echoed softly through your lips, and you heard it shared among your crewmates.
The knowledge that this was why, this was why she kept herself closed off, why she was throwing her life away for all of you, the weight of this knowledge washed over you with the force of the waterfall beneath your feet.
“I never knew,” you heard whispered through Sanji’s lips, hearing your own shame reflected there for not seeing the depths of her pain before.
“I see. So that’s it.”
Zoro’s voice steadied you, because you knew that tone. There was no going back.
You stared at her, hoping that she could feel not only your love, but the love of every Straw Hat beside you.
I’ll never abandon you, Robin.
The moment was shattered by cruel laughter, Spandam grinning wildly behind his half mask as he jeered at her again.
“How pathetic, even if you make friends, all you can do is drag them through the mud with you.”
Nails digging into your palms with rage, you almost flinched when Spandam turned toward you. He pointed up to the top of the tower, and the huge flag billowing in the wind.
“You can’t win, pirates! Look at this flag. This symbol represents the unity of over 170 nations, a power that spans the four seas, and the Grand Line. This is the world itself! You can’t stand up to an enemy like that, just face it already.”
Self satisfied laughter bubbled through him, but the next sound you heard calmed your breathing.
“If that’s Robin's enemy, then I know what to do,” Luffy said quietly, before his voice echoed out in command.
“Sniper King. Shoot down that flag.”
“Roger.”
The resolve in Usopp's voice continued as he pulled out his new weapon, a massive slingshot named Kabuto.
“Behold its awesome power. Special attack, Firebird Star!”
A spear of flame shot through the air like a massive bird, magnificent and powerful.
All eyes spun toward that flag. You had already had reasons not to view it with respect given everything you’d seen in your life, and especially during your time with your crew.
Now, after all of this, after seeing the twisted and pathetic underbelly of the beast, the sight of it made you sick. You wanted to watch it burn.
You stood strong, a Straw Hat Pirate, watching the symbol of the World Government burn to ashes, lighting the sky like a beacon of war.
Your eyes found her again, Robin’s mouth agape as she watched the flames.
I’ll burn it all down for her.
“You’re all going to die,” Spandam screeched, shaking as he watched the ashes fall around him. “You morons can’t challenge the entire world and expect to win-”
“Yeah? Bring it on,” Luffy challenged, and the pure confidence and rage blasting off of him steeled your bones.
You trusted your captain. This was a side of Luffy that only came out when it needed to, when someone was hurting his friends. Even if those friends were just people that gave him a meal.
Luffy always fought for his friends.
And so will I.
“Robin, there’s still something I wanna hear you say.”
Luffy’s voice was like a bell, ringing so clear that no one else even thought to speak. Not until he was done.
“Tell me you wanna live!”
So loud that it seemed to echo off the stone, Luffy’s demand, his offer, sent chills coursing through you. Again, you heard Robin’s name whispered down the line of Straw Hats.
Robin’s head was bowed, a sight you never wanted to see again. Especially as you watched the sunlight shine on the tears freely flowing down her cheeks.
You ached to scream and beg for her, but you knew this was something she had to decide.
Please, Robin, please.
She lifted her eyes, and your heart stopped as she cried out.
“I want to live! Take me with you! Take me away from here!”
The cracks in her voice broke and mended your heart all at once. The soft sound of Luffy’s chuckle filled you with joy, even as hot tears streamed down your face.
You felt the movements of your crew, heard the shuffling around you, and you loosed a breath. The Straw Hats readied their weapons for the battle ahead, the cool metal in your palms grounding you into this moment.
This warmth, this hope, this feeling pouring between you all, was everything. It was family.
We’re coming for you Robin. No matter what it takes.
Your captain let out another low laugh, and you watched Robin’s face finally shift from pain to hope as he gave the order.
“Let’s go!”
Thank You for Reading! 💜
TurtleTaub Fanfic Masterlist
We've All Got Needs Masterlist
Part 25
Tag List: @astheni-a | @ferns-fics | @heilee | @iamn1ya | @ghostfacefricker6969 | @onlybassoon01 | @apothicgloom | @slyhersophia | @cyberaestheticals | @nothing-but-brass
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this! It's one of my favorite moments in the show, and I loved writing it from the reader's perspective. Thanks for joining me!
Buy me a coffee ☕🙏🏼
64 notes
·
View notes