#zoro is small compared to everyone else in the island

[solarmantle]

Extremely self indulgent art of my oc being Zoro's mom

[grandline-fics]

Hi can i request a Luffy x fem!reader where the pair are just two dumb idiots together like the reader has a personality like his (overly enthusiastic and optimistic) and they do everything together but they both dont realize that the like eachither (bc again dumb idiots) and the crew works tgt to make them both realize and get them to confess to eachother?

DESCRIPTION: You’re just as clueless as Luffy and the crew have to intervene to make you both realise your feelings

WARNINGS: none

CHARACTERS: Luffy

WORDS: 1,734

A/N:  Thank you for this request. I honestly didn't know how to make this work in the beginning but I'm happy with how this fell into place. Hopefully you like what I came up with

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

MASTERLIST | PROMPT LIST

———————

Once upon a time the Strawhat crew believed that their Captain was one of a kind. They took his energetic nature, clear motivation to only do what he wanted as his current mood directed without any thought beyond that, stubbornness, and still unwavering joy in the face of most things as the concoction that could only be Luffy. However they were all collectively shocked when you crash landed into their lives and promptly made them realise that everything that made Luffy his loveable yet exhausting self was also very clearly what made you you too and when you and Luffy first interacted it was like two points finally connecting, never to separate. 

All their adventures before you came along seemed like such a breeze, how naive they had been in those days to consider it difficult to keep up with Luffy’s optimism and spontaneity. After you joined the crew if felt like double the work. It didn’t matter if they had eyes on one of the chaotic pair you two created because without the vigilant supervision over both of you, it only assured a disaster that could have been avoided. It never mattered to you or Luffy because at the end of the day you two would be laughing and telling the drained crew that it had worked out in the end and that there had been nothing to worry about. After a while it wasn’t the lack of thought to the crew and their wants of an easy time on an island to explore that frustrated them, it was the fact that you and Luffy still hadn’t realised you had feelings for each other and continued to act like oblivious morons every single day while also so clearly showing them and anyone else you interacted that you were two idiots in love. 

“They’re doing it on purpose.” Nami muttered one day, arms folded tightly across her chest as she glared at you and Luffy running about the deck of the Sunny, laughing and chasing Chopper without a care in the world. Suddenly Luffy grabbed one of the masts and propelled himself through the air. Chopped managed to dodge but you ended up being the one Luffy tackled loudly onto the ground. There was a beat of silence before the two of you burst out into loud laughter once more, doing nothing to move out of the position you were currently in. “They have to be doing it on purpose. They’re evil geniuses.”

“Don’t give them so much credit. They’re both just blind to how they really feel.” Zoro disagreed from his spot in the shade, opening his good eye to look you and Luffy’s way. “Don’t know how many times the stupid cook and I have brought it up. Luffy just believes he loves them the same way he loves us as his crew.”

“Oh no, that’s a very different kind of love compared to what he feels for us.” Usopp said with a small shake of his head. He supposed that the only reason this whole matter hadn’t been resolved yet was because of your personality. Anyone else would have been more aware of the difference and clear feelings and actually talked things out with their Captain. Everyone seemed to let out a collective sigh of exhaustion and resignation. All of them wishing-more for their own selfish peace of mind more than anything- there was something to be done and help you both realise your feelings.

It wasn’t until a week later that the crew stopped at a new island to relax and enjoy while they waited for the Log Pose to set. While some took to resupplying the ships, others took to exploring. You weren’t exactly annoyed that you hadn’t gone with Luffy, you were just confused at why Usopp and Nami insisted on you joining them on their shopping trip and no one else coming with them. Had they had a fight with some of the others on the crew that you weren’t aware of? You certainly hoped not, you didn’t like the crew fighting amongst themselves. 

“Are you sure this is going to work?” Nami whispered to Usopp as they remained a couple paces away from you. Operation: Divide and Conquer might have had a good name but the strategy didn’t seem all that good except try and get you to confess to Luffy by either making you jealous or straight up lying. If they couldn’t get through to you, they would try the same tactic with Luffy.

“It has to!” Usopp hissed back, quickly throwing you a nervous smile when you looked over your shoulder with a curious tilt of your shoulder. “Hey let’s go in here!” He called out in a panic, pointing to the closest store. You stopped and shrugged, going along with whatever the sniper wanted. You had nothing to buy on this trip so you were just here for company and fun. Still this wasn’t what you’d thought would be on his or Name’s shopping list.

“Is someone getting married?” You asked, looking around the store filled with elegant gowns, robes and suits. Suddenly your eyes lit up as you hurried to hug Nami and Usopp tightly, so this was why they had insisted on you coming with them. You couldn’t fully understand why they were being so secretive but it didn’t matter given how overcome with happiness for them. “You guys! I’m so happy for you both! Have you told the others?! Are you getting married on the island?” 

“WHAT?! NO! ” Nami blurted out in shock while Usopp could only shriek at the implication. “We’re not getting married!”

“Oh…that’s a shame.” Your smile fell slightly. “I always thought you two made a nice couple. Guess I was wrong. So who is getting married?” You asked, staring intently on your friends who stammered and struggled to think of something. Operation: Divide and Conquer was crashing and burning around them and their brains all but blanked as together they rambled together while you patiently listened. Neither of them really knew what they’d told you or knew if it made any sort of sense but you seemed to accept it and continued with your day with the frazzled pair.

When you returned to the Sunny later that day you went to your usual perch of the railing near Sunny’s head. Silently you thought over what Usopp and Nami told you and were beginning to work it out in your head when Luffy appeared beside you with a bright grin. “Hey, what’s got you so frustrated looking?” He asked, oblivious to the rest of the crew on the deck; all of them pretending to go about their business when they were only making sure they were close enough to hear. 

“I’m thinking about Usopp.” You explained in a dazed tone, absently running your fingers along your bottom lip, deep in thought. Luffy frowned slightly while different sets of eyes glanced Usopp’s way, all confused about what he and Nami did while they were alone with you. “I’m trying to work out this wedding.”

“Usopp’s getting married?” Luffy asked. On the one hand he was happy but on the other hand he thought Usopp would have told him personally. “To who?”

“That’s what I’m trying to work out.” You mumbled before taking a deep breath, deciding to start from the beginning. “Usopp’s enemy wants him to marry their princess to avoid a great battle but he doesn’t want a fight or to get married so he needs to make them think he’s already married so they don’t get angry right? He needs Sanji to cater the wedding, Brook to preform the music, and Zoro to be his bodyguard so they’re out. Nami said because she’s giving Usopp the money for the wedding that’s the only favour she’s doing and won’t marry him as well because that’s not fair. Usopp said he can’t marry Franky or Robin because they’re like his parents and Chopper’s a reindeer and that’s weird. Which leaves us.” 

The more you explained the situation the more Usopp and Nami shrank towards the floor out of despair and embarrassment. Why had you believed that nonsense enough to now relay it to the entire crew who were now looking at them in bafflement. Through it all Luffy hadn’t taken his eyes off of you. He didn’t want Usopp to be forced to be married to someone he didn’t like but it didn’t stop him from quickly turning on his heel and looking to his friend. “Usopp I’ll marry you!”

“You can’t marry me dumbass!” Usopp shouted back making Luffy glare, all but standing in front of you to block you from Usopp’s stare.

“Well you’re not allowed to marry them. So it’s me or the princess.” Luffy told him with defiance in his eyes.

“Why can’t he marry me?” You asked curiously while getting to your feet, watching Luffy blink as he only now considered his fierce sense of protectiveness and possessiveness towards you. 

“Because I don’t want him to?” He suggested with a shrug. “I don’t want you to marry him, I don’t like it.”

“Well I don’t like you being married to Usopp.” You added, voicing your own reluctance and unhappiness at the thought of Luffy marrying…well anyone. There was a silent exchange between you and Luffy as though you were communicating in your own way through a look alone. Together you both grinned with a faint blush creeping across your cheeks as you both whipped your head towards Usopp and declared in unison.  “Usopp you’re marrying the princess.”

While it hadn’t been the grand romantic epiphany the crew had been expecting to witness, they could tell that a shift between you both had occurred. There was something a little more intimate between you both while you both remained your happy, energetic selves. No one on the crew had the heart to tell either of you that Usopp had been completely lying about the arranged marriage so they never mentioned it again. They were however all in agreement that if it ever was brought up it was to be brushed aside and explained as a story Usopp had been thinking of writing and nothing more. But from the looks of things slowly developing between you and Luffy they could all see that it was shaping up to having a happily ever after.  

[moonydustx]

Lighting up

Sanji x F! Reader

Warnings: pure and explicit smut, kind of soft (and I mean super soft) Sanji dom, use of candles in sex. Sort of a pre-established relationship. Porn with no plot.

A/N: just a dirty idea that popped into my head, this is it.

Minors do not interact!

requests open | masterlist and rules

Voices echoed outside Sunny, some singing and others just talking. The archipelago where you had docked was going through a huge winter festival week. Crowded bars, markets until late at night, children playing in the street.

The thin heels you wore didn't hinder you from climbing back onto the ship. Your footsteps could be heard from outside, to the delight of a certain cook.

"What was your excuse this time?" his voice reached you as soon as you crossed the kitchen door.

The environment was almost completely dark, except for the lights coming from outside. That night, everyone had decided to go out, explore the island and Sanji would stay at the Sunny. Except once again, you had other plans in mind.

"I said I had a bad headache, I needed to sleep." you approached him, leaning against the counter and watching him strike a match. "I didn't want to be disturbed."

"That's a shame, mon couer."

Instead of lighting the cigarette stuck in his lips, Sanji brought the flame of the match to a small candle that caught your attention. It was different and much better smelling than anything else there. Only after that did he bend down and pick up the candle to light the cigarette.

"I believe I have other plans for both of us." your body was trapped between him and the counter, Sanji delicately left the smoke just above your face.

Already knowing your tastes, he took the cigarette from his lips and offered it to you. The smoke that invaded your lungs couldn't compare to the intoxicating feeling of having his body so close to yours after long days. As soon as the smoke left your lips, Sanji slipped his fingers covered by the black glove he was wearing under them. The same hand went down to your waist, turning your back towards him.

"You look so beautiful in that." He lifted the hem of your dress allowing him to feel the flesh of your ass that was showing. "That idiot mosshead couldn't take his eyes off." the grumble came out almost as a growl. "I hate that you keep paying attention to him."

"He is a friend." the sentence disappeared from your lips when you felt him press two fingers on top of the fabric of your panties.

Instead of answering you, he just leaned over and blew out the candle next to you, leaving a small puddle of wax accumulated. When you resumed your original posture, the cook took advantage and unzipped the dress you were wearing.

"He doesn't look at you as a friend." he grumbled, letting the fabric pool around your feet.

"And what's the problem? I don't see myself complaining about your flirting with Nami."

"You know they're different things." he saw you facing him. "Besides, she's not the one here now, my dear."

"I could say the same about Zoro." the provocative tone in your voice did not go unnoticed by him. "He's just a great friend."

"I should put that mouth of yours to good use." he grunted, placing you on the counter and fitting himself between your legs. "But like I said, I have other plans."

His lips fused with yours in a single movement. His tongue explored every corner of your mouth, just as the cook's agile hands pulled you closer to him. You couldn't describe exactly what you felt longing, horny, love.

The taste of the cigarette and the small dose of whiskey you had taken before tangled in the small space they occupied and you could feel your intimacy wet the counter below you.

"I missed you." Sanji murmured between kisses. "I want to feel you."

"Please." you asked and grumbled as soon as you saw him walk away.

His hands, still covered in gloves, slid down your torso and stopped at your breasts. They slid smoothly over the soft skin that was extremely contrary to his gloves. His fingers wrapped around both nipples, pinching them, making you gasp. He knew the right buttons to push. Sanji repeated the gesture a few times, leaving the skin sensitive and the nipples hardened.

"Do not be so mean." You asked, feeling his hands slide around your waist. He tied one of the gloves on his hand and threw it away, while the other hand he brought to your mouth, watching you bite and tag finger by finger.

"Today I want to try something new." he warned, taking the small pot with the candle.

First he dropped a few drops on your shoulders. The first drop that touched your skin made you twitch and only then did you realize that the wax wasn't that hot and that in fact it didn't even seem like any wax.

"It's just oil and some aphrodisiacs." As if reading your thoughts, he answered you.

As soon as his hands touched your shoulders you understood what he meant by an aphrodisiac. With each tighter squeeze he gave, the oil seemed to heat up under your body, making you grunt. He picked up the candle jar again and as soon as he did, you rested your arms behind your body, offering him your breasts.

"Good girl." He dropped a few drops near each nipple and watched them run down to the most hardened point of your breast.

Only the heat of the wax itself made you moan and seek some contact against the flat counter, earning a frustrated groan from you. You threatened to take your hand to where your body was begging, but Sanji immediately captured it and placed it back behind your body.

"Let me have my time with you, love." his fingers slid over one of your nipples, pressing and tracing circles and soon his lips found the other neglected part of attention.

Suddenly the weight of your body seemed too much for you. Your head fell back while your body seemed to offer your breasts even more to Sanji. He knew the value of a good dish and would never waste what was being offered to him. His lips tugged on your nipple while the other was trapped between two fingers, making you beg for some more action or you would cum just from that.

The sound his lips made as they released your skin was almost sinful. His lips were red and yours were almost purple from trying to contain the noises. His hands slid down your thigh and lifted one at a time, leaving you open on the counter in front of him.

"Sanji I know what you intend to do." you warned him, seeing him smile at the realization. "Babe, it's going to be a lot."

"Don't worry. If it's too much, just say our code" he started kissing the inside of your thighs, separating them even further and catching a glimpse of your wet pussy. A small damp line connecting you to the table. "Fuck love, so beautiful."

Ignoring the first idea that crossed his mind, Sanji just dived towards your pussy. Without hesitation, his tongue began to collect all the honey accumulated there while two of his fingers made a point of opening your lips, leaving you even more exposed to him.

"You're so delicious, I could taste it for hours." He walked away even if he didn't want to. He took the candle again and approached your intimacy. "Ready?"

"Please."

The first drops hit your mound, causing chills. As you felt the drops dripping down your body involuntarily sought more contact. Just like he had done when he sucked you, Sanji used two fingers to leave you even more exposed to him.

The first drop that hit your clit elicited a scream that had probably been heard from outside the ship. Placing the pot aside, Sanji's fingers soon found your pearl. Slowly he slid circles around your clit while he watched your every reaction carefully.

When your body started to roll, trying to intensify the turns even more, it was when Sanji found a limit. The fingers went down to the entrance, penetrating just one while the other hand, which was previously resting on your thigh, took its place on your spot, moving even faster.

"Love Please." you asked desperately for something you didn't even know how to put into words.

"You have to be specific, amour. What do you want?" the provocative tone in his voice was clear and at that moment Sanji could already feel his pants painfully tight against his dick. "Let me help you. Do you want one more?" He penetrated the second finger and began to thrust quickly as his fingers began to circle your clitoris, leaving you just enough room to moan even louder.

Heat was starting to pool in your belly when his hands moved away, leaving you contracting against nothing.

"Sanji!" a sob escaped your lips. "Why did you stop?"

"I have a better place for you to cum." he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. His dick pressed against the fabric of his underwear.

Still feeling your legs shaking, you got down from the counter and let your hands slide over Sanji, ripping off his jacket and throwing it somewhere in the corner of the kitchen. You finished unzipping his pants and removed the cloth from there along with his underwear, freeing his cock and reached for the candle and you dripped two small drops onto the length of it. Your hands ran down the entire length and went up, caressing the reddened tip.

"Is this your revenge my love?" before you even answered him, you felt Sanji take your hands away and turn your back to him.

His hands, which were usually delicate, roughly placed one of your legs and pushed your chest against the flat environment. The contrast between the hotness of your nipples and the ice-cold surface made you even wetter, as if that were possible.

"You look so hot like this. This beautiful pussy..." his fingers entered again in a much slower and faster way.

I need you inside Ji, please, I'll do whatever you want."

"No need sweetheart. You'll never have to beg for it." Without hesitation, he thrust into you at once, moaning in unison with you and placing his hands on your waist.

There was no slowness this time, nor patience either. The heat of your pussy next to the used candle made your intimacy burn even more. Sanji moved his hands away from your waist just so he could hold both of your hands behind your back while you asked for more.

Feeling that you could take even more, his hands let go of you and one of them separated your buttocks. Peripherally, you saw him dip two fingers into the candle jar and you only understood what was happening when a brutal moan escaped your lips. The wax - which had completely converted to oil - slid down your other hole. With his smeared fingers Sanji allowed himself to tease the entrance to your asshole.

"Oh God, Sanji please, just please."

"Do you really need this so much?" he only put one of his fingers halfway in. A back and forth movement that tried in vain to follow the thrusts into your pussy. "You're squeezing me so good. Just cum for me baby, I know you want it, let me feel you."

His words combined with the feeling of being filled and the heat caused by the oil on your body took you to a peak you had never reached, you could feel some liquid gushing out of you. Your vision blurred as you felt Sanji squeeze you even tighter and fill you with his cum.

His lips began to trace wet kisses on your back while his hand reached your intimacy again.

"Pepper." you said in a breathy voice, barely audible but Sanji managed to get the message. He immediately came out of you and moved away a little, just taking his hand to your hair and brushing it out of your eyes.

"Are you okay my love? Did I hurt you?" His worried voice almost broke your heart and the best response you found was to open a wide smile. "Was that a bit much?"

"Yes. And a little too hot." you mumbled.

With the delicacy you only knew from Sanji, he took your leg off the counter and placed you on your feet, turning towards him. Already suspicious that your strength was gone, he kept his arms around your body, supporting you.

"My goddess, my princess, you did so well." He placed a small kiss on your lips, almost imperceptible. "How about a shower and then I can prepare something for us?"

"Sounds perfect to me. I just don't know how far I can walk to the bathroom."

Without answering you with words, Sanji just picked you up and walked leisurely to the bathroom. Some bath salts, ice cold water and he knew you would be comfortable while he got you water to drink.

Taking advantage of the trip to the kitchen, he recognized the discarded clothes and the used candle, hiding them in his things. When he returned to the kitchen and finally got his water, he found the tuft of green hair that provoked him so much.

"Where's dagger?" He called you by your nickname, arousing some jealousy in Sanji. "I heard she wasn't feeling well."

"Don't worry mosshead, I took care of dear Dagger." Sanji took the water and turned away. The image of you waiting for him in the bathtub was more than he needed to avoid that possible argument.

Zoro's fingers slid across the wet patch on the counter and the smell in the air couldn't be denied. Maybe the cook had taken too much care of Dagger.

[fireflykaizoku]

Hellooo!!

I read all your soulmate AUs and they are SO well writen! I was wondering if I could request the same soulmate body swap AU with zoro instead?

Absolutely love your writing and thanks in advance😚😚

Hello! i'm sorry i took so long! but here it is and thank you so so much! ❤

That night, the Strawhats were at a bar celebrating Zoro’s 23th birthday. Sanji didn’t want to make cake for him, but Nami asked him very nicely. Brook and Franky sang him songs, and Usopp made him a present. The young man was having fun, surrounded by the people he loved, and even the cook wasn’t being annoying. He was feeling thankful.

— Maybe you’re going to meet your soulmate this year. — Robin smiled.

— Soulmate? — the green haired man raised an eyebrow, not knowing what she was talking about. He was very dense about things like that. — What do you mean?

— When the youngest soulmate turns 23, they switch bodies. And the only way to fix it and switch back is kissing. Not simply kissing, but kissing after falling in love. — she giggled. — Isn’t it fun?

— No! I would hate to be in someone else’s body for who knows how long. And if I don’t fall in love, I’ll never go back to my body.

— Well, mosshead, I don’t think you falling in love would be the problem. — Sanji interrupted the chat. — But someone falling in love with you is impossible.

Even though it was Zoro’s birthday, the two of them couldn’t stay without fighting for 24 hours anyway. Meanwhile, you were having a sleepover at your house with a couple of your best friends. You were drinking some wine, talking about your love life, and hearing your friend’s story about when she met her soulmate. The story about when they met, when they kissed and switched back. It sounded so magical, you couldn’t wait to meet yours.

The next morning, you woke up and stretched before opening your eyes. The house was noisy, more than the usual, and the place smelled so good, like someone was making food. Which was weird since your friends never really made breakfast after a sleepover.

Opening your eyes, you looked around and noticed this wasn’t your room, and the people sleeping there definitely weren’t your friends. For some reason, you felt like you couldn’t see well. Also, the chest with scars and the calloused hands weren’t yours. The portholes made you realize it was a ship. Looking at the people sleeping, they didn’t look like marines, nor had any uniforms in sight. So your soulmate was a pirate! Which was very exciting.

All you could feel was genuine happiness when you realized it your soulmate! You finally switched bodies with him. After years imagining how it’d be and how they looked like, it finally happened.

You got up trying not to wake the others, and went to try to find a mirror as soon as possible, wanting to see every detail of this man. You already knew he had strong arms and a toned chest, but you wanted to see his face.

While heading to the bathroom, you saw a blonde man. Since he was apparently a crewmate, you smiled and greeted him.

— Good morning. — you said, walking trying to find a bathroom before the cook could even answer. Sanji was speechless by Zoro being suddenly polite and waking up earlier than everyone else, that he didn’t even have an answer on the tip of his tongue like he usually does.

You finally found a mirror in the large bathroom. The place was beautiful, not the way you expected a pirate ship to look like.

The reflection showed a green haired man, tanned skin, wearing three earrings on his left ear, the man also had a scar over his left eye, which was closed. He looked intimidating in a good way, if that makes any sense. Damn, that man was good looking.

You traced the scars on his chest slowly, wondering how he got it. You only imagined the stories he could tell you after switching back.

— Marimo, are you going to be there forever? — a knock on the door made you jump. — This bathroom isn’t only yours.

You opened the door and saw the same man from earlier. Giving him an apologetic smile, you made your way out of the room.

— I’m so sorry, I was already leaving.

A few minutes later, everyone started to wake up. During breakfast, you tried to keep as quiet as possible, sweating whenever the cook stared at you as if something suspicious was going on. Should you tell him about what was happening?

— Hey, Zoro, why aren’t you drinking your sake yet? — a boy with a long nose asked you, tilting his head to the side.

— Isn’t it too early to drink that? — you raised an eyebrow. Did your soulmate really drink that early in the morning?

When you asked that, everyone went silent, except the boy with the strawhat, who kept eating everything from his plate and from other plates too. Their eyes were wide, and mouth hanged open.

— Zoro, are you feeling sick? — a cute raccoon asked you. When you saw him talking for the first time, your heart stopped, but everyone on this ship acted as if it was natural. — You usually don’t refuse to drink.

— I’m okay, but thank you. — you smiled, patting the animal’s head.

While finishing your meal, you heard the crew whispering talking to each other while staring at you. It felt awkward, but you tried to act as normal as possible.

— I didn’t think Zoro would find his soulmate so soon. — Robin said. — That was fast. What’s your name? — she asked, looking at you.

— I’m… (Y/N). I’m from a small island, hopefully not far from here. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything… — you bit your lip. — I was afraid of how people would reacted when I told them the truth, so I tried to act… As if I was him, but I have no idea of how he acts.

— You refused beer and were polite with Sanji. You started wrong. — the orange haired girl giggled. — Don’t worry, let’s find your island.

When you told him about where you lived, you realized it’d take around two days to arrive. It was frustrating, but you spent a lifetime waiting, two days are nothing compared to that. You took this time to get to know the crew better, while everyone kept telling you stories about Zoro.

He was a strong swordsman, who always got lost and liked to drink sake. He took many naps and spent the rest of the time practicing. Everyone said nice things about the man, except Sanji. Apparently they fought a lot.

And then the day was finally there, and you could see your town from far. The crew decided to go with you trying to find Zoro, since he probably went out and got lost. You gave a few descriptions about your appearance so they’d know who they’d be looking for.

Walking in front of a forest, you spotted your figure walking. It was your soulmate, who was lost. He was cussing and walking in circles.

— Hey! — you said, smiling and waving, getting his attention. — Found you!

— Ah, I guess you’re my soulmate. — he walked towards you. — I was taking a walk but… This forest wasn’t here before, I don’t know what happened.

You couldn’t help laughing, he wasn’t joking though. He really believed the trees popped out of nowhere like magic, and that’s why he couldn’t find his way back. The two of you went silent, a comfortable silent, just looking at each other.

— My friend explained about soulmates and all… So we can… Try to switch back now, if you want. — he looked away, trying to hide the fact he was extremely flustered.

— Yes, we can. — you bit your lip, cheeks feeling warmer. — I guess we’re alone here, so it’s a good time now.

You closed your eyes and waited for him to make a move. Zoro didn’t have much experience with this, but he wanted to impress you anyway. So his hands gently held your face, while he pulled you into a kiss. A gentle peck that became a little sloppy kiss, you tried to make him follow your movements. He took the hint and finally it felt like your lips were perfectly for each other.

Opening your eyes, you saw your soulmate. His half lidded eyes, and a slight smile on his lips. He looked so good, and cute at the same time. Without any warning, you claimed his lips one more time. The man was caught off guard.

While walking around trying to find the others, you two started to actually talk to know each other.

— Hey, Zoro... — you said, getting his attention. — When did you fall for me?

— Well, I'm not the best with this kind of stuff, but when I saw the swords in your room, I knew the universe brought me the right soulmate.

[unknownwriting]

I love your blog, so if you don't mind can I request a one shot with monkey d luffy x female reader where the reader has a habit of giving luffy butterfly kisses. I'm dying for lots of fluff. Thank you!

Butterfly kisses

Summary- ^^ requested

Character(s)- Monkey D. Luffy

Warnings- none :)

Word count- 1.9k

Notes- butterfly kisses are literally the cutest thing in the whole world 🥺💕 I got a big carried away, this was honestly so cute to write, I hope you enjoy. Also happy Valentine’s Day

━━☆⌒*.

Butterfly kissed- soft kisses made from fluttering one's lashes against their lover's skin. An innocent act yet one filled with so much passion. The perfect kissed for (Y/n) and her captain, Luffy, to share. A soft and airy kiss making their relationship all the better. Ever since their relationship had started a while ago, (Y/n) continued to pamper Luffy with those kisses to this day. At first, the kisses were occasional, only happening when they split up to explore an island or after Luffy got into a fight. However, throughout their relationship, the kisses began to grow more frequent. Every night before they go to bed when they wake up, and whenever the 2 leave each other sides.

Although Luffy doesn’t think too much of the gentle kisses, they mean so much to (Y/n). Those simple kisses represent so much between the 2. The kisses show that the 2 of them have a very unique way of showing their love. And even though those kisses mean so much to her, and probably mean the same to Luffy, she couldn’t help that little voice that echoed in the back of her head.

What if Luffy’s getting tired of the kisses?

It was a pointless thing to worry about. It really was but that didn’t stop (Y/n). She continued to think about it, letting it consume her thoughts.

Letting out a small groan, (Y/n) learned over the railing and watched the dolphins swimming in the wake of Sunny. She didn’t mean to get the attention of the others seeing how her worrying is pointless, however, her groan seemed to grab the attention of the crew's archeologist. At least she was lucky to catch her attention and not someone else's, Robin seems like she would know a bit about the topic.

"Are you alright, (Y/n)? You seem a bit upset." Robin questioned taking a spot next to her side. Even if it was going to be easy to tell Robin, (Y/n) thought about it for a moment. With (Y/n) already knowing the answer, she decided to tell Robin anyways, just so she can have someone tell her that she was just overthinking things.

"I...I'm not sure Luffy likes my kisses anymore. I'm probably overthinking things, but it seems like he's bored of them." (Y/n) signed, leaning up from the rail and looking over at her older friend.

"What makes you say that?" Robin wondered.

"Because that's the only kiss I give him, and he never kisses back. So you can't blame me for thinking that." (Y/n) explained, unknowingly grabbing the attention of the crew's moss head too, "But I thought he always preferred those kisses."

"Jeez, you are overthinking it." Zoro blurted out joining (Y/n) at her other side. Jumping a bit, and earning a small giggle from Robin, (Y/n) looked over at him.

"Zoro?"

"Luffy's the easiest guy to even date. Always speaking his mind, doing what he wants when he wants it." Zoro pointed out, and (Y/n) knew every single one of those to be true. Luffy always tells (Y/n) what he likes and what he doesn't without a 2nd thought.

"Zoro is right. Overthinking things with Luffy is pointless. If he doesn't like them he would've told you. Luffy's simple-minded like that." Robin agreed. (Y/n) knew she was also right, she knows she could go right up to Luffy and ask whether or not he likes the kisses but she doesn't want to do that. She doesn't want it to be that simple.

"Ugh, I know but I don't want it to be that simple. Sometimes I want something to happen." (Y/n) exclaimed throwing her hands into the air, "Everything is so easy with him, which I don't mind but sometimes because things are so easy with him I can't help but overthink things. Like I'm doing something wrong or something."

Now Zoro and Robin could understand that too. Because Luffy is so easy he's just as complex. A curse disguised as a blessing.

"The 2 of you are on night watch tonight, right?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Then ask him then. It'll just be the 2 of you so you can have his full attention." Zoro has suggested before watching off again, probably to find someplace to sleep. As he walked away, his suggestion began to sink in. It was a pretty good idea, It just might help later tonight.

ミ☆

Later that night, while everyone else was sleeping or getting ready for bed, (Y/n) and Luffy both stood guard on the deck of Sunny watching out for any threats. Seeing how nothing ever happens, the 2 of them ended up goofing off, like any other night. They both told each other stories, jokes, and played games. It what the 2 of them would also do when it was their night to stand guard.

"No way. Rayleigh really made you fight those types of monsters?" (Y/n) laughed, listening to Luffy's crazy stories about training over the past 2 years. To (Y/n) the stories sounded so extreme but she knows well enough that it was true. Luffy is inhuman like that.

"Shishishi, yup. At one point I couldn't even eat until I dodged their attacks. It was hard." Luffy whined remembering that time. It was hard but it needed to be done. He needed to get strong for his crew's sake. For (Y/n)‘s sake. It would be a lie to say that Luffy didn't think or worry about (Y/n) during his training. That was one of the things that he missed the most, her warmth and her smile. And not the mention the amazing kisses she gave. He definitely missed those the most. Feeling (Y/n)'s soft lashes brush against his skin in a repeating fashion. When the 2 of them had reunited it was something that (Y/n) didn't hold back either, kissing him every chance they got to make up for all the time apart. However, recently (Y/n) hasn't been giving out the kisses anymore. The thing about Luffy is that he's dense, not clueless so he knows something was wrong with (Y/n) for a while now. As if he also overheard was Zoro said earlier, Luffy decided to bring it up.

"Sheesh. Only you could go through such intense training." (Y/n) giggled as she looked into Luffy's dark brown eyes. Now was going to be the perfect time to bring up the kisses. And she was, wanting to clear up the confusion as quickly as possible. But just as she gathered her thoughts and opened her mouth to say something there was a crash at the back of the ship. The crash echoed for a moment before it when silent again. Both (Y/n) and Luffy turned around to face the sound, waiting to see if anything else was going to happen. When it stayed silent and nothing else happened, (Y/n) was the first one the get up.

"Guess I'll go check out that sound," (Y/n) stated as she began to walk off. Luffy watched with a close eye as she walked. It didn't take Luffy long to realize something was missing. (Y/n) doesn't just walk off like that. She always kisses him before leaving. Before she could get far, Luffy stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her waist, yanking her back and into his lap. A soft yelp let her lips as she soon came into contact with Luffy's chest.

"Huh? Luffy what's wrong-" (Y/n) gasped as she felt his grip about her tighten. With his strong arms pushing her back, (Y/n) was almost able to feel every inch of Luffy's chest against her back. Something like this rarely happened. Luffy was never big on physical contact hence why they stuck to butterfly kisses.

"I'm not letting you go." Luffy cut (Y/n) off, resting his chin on her shoulder. With a blush covering her cheeks, she glanced over at him to try and reasons with him but when she looked she only got Luffy's intense stare back. Now (Y/n) knows he's being serious.

"W-what?" (Y/n) stared down at the grass on the main deck to embarrassed to meet his gaze. She began to play with her fingers as she waited for Luffy to say something. And the waiting was not helping at all, it only made her impatient. Luffy normally doesn't wait like his, he would just speak his mind. While she waited, (Y/n) could still feel his gaze on her at they sat in silence. Finally, with a squeeze from Luffy's arm, she spoke up.

"Because you haven't given me a kiss." Luffy blurted out.

"Huh?" His comment clearly caught (Y/n) off guard. She was not expecting those words to come from his lips. Luffy hummed into her shoulder and nodded.

"You haven't given me a kiss all day..." Luffy trailed off as his face sunk deeper into (Y/n) shoulder. In all honesty, (Y/n) didn't how to react. Luffy rarely acted like this, it came as a total shock. This side of him is completely new but it was cute. Clingy but cute. Glancing back down, this time she noticed that blush that covered the top of his ears. Seems like this side is new for Luffy too.

Staring down at Luffy a bit longer, a small smile crept onto (Y/n)'s lips as a burst of laughter erupted from her throat, "I didn't know you liked them so much."

"Of course I do!! Your kisses are super soft!!" Luffy exclaimed looking up from (Y/n) shoulder. Laughing once more, (Y/n) shimmed her way out of his grasp and turned aground, and faced her blushing captain. Locking eyes with him, (Y/n) placed a hand on her cheek and began to caress them with her thumb.

"Well that's good to know. I was afraid you didn't like them anymore." (Y/n) confessed.

"Why wouldn't I?" Luffy sounded offended at (Y/n)'s comment. Looks like he loved the kisses as much as (Y/n) loves giving them, "(Y/n) kisses are the best. As good as meat."

"...Luffy don't compare me to meat." (Y/n) let out a small scoff at his comparison. As weird as it sounded, it meant a lot to her. In Luffy's eyes, nothing beats meat.

"What? Meats amazing."

"I know, but that's not really the best thing to say to a girl." (Y/n) scoffed leaning into his flustered cheek, and began to flutter her eyelashes. He probably didn't mean to, but a small hummed left his lips in response. With that reps once in mind, (Y/n) went to his other cheek and give him another kiss, then his nose, then his forehead.

"Shishi, You're kissing me a lot."

"Of course. It only fair because I didn't kiss you at all today." (Y/n) smiled, placing one more kissing on his cheek. With all the kisses done, she leaned back and stared into Luffy's smile. It was relieving to know that Luffy enjoyed the kisses too. Now (y/n) won't have to overthink the kisses again. With his hands still around her waist, he hugged her again and sunk his face into the neck, as if to say thank you. And of course, (Y/n) hugged back. Luffy also knows that her hugs are just amazing as she kissed, so warm and full of love. It would be easy for them to of them to get stay like this forever but (Y/n) still has to go check out that sound.

Shifting around a bit in his grasp, (Y/n) spoke up, "hey, Luffy I still need to go check out that sou-"

"No, I want you to stay here." Luffy lurked out again, squeezing (Y/n) tightly again. She stared down at him again. His childish and clingy behavior is kicking in, there's no leaving him now.

With a quiet giggle, (Y/n) nodded and hugged him again. She'll just have to check out the sound later. Right now there doesn't seem to be any reasons or way to leave the comfort of Luffy's hug.

[itsthemoofacewriting]

Just for a while

So I actually used this to get through my writer’s block and take a break from my other WIPs. Before I knew it, it was complete, so I figured I’d share it. It’s a bit drabble-ish and incredibly self-indulgent.

I tried to watch the film to get some of the scenes right, but then I kept getting swept away in the film, so there’s going to be to be differences. Then again, they weren’t a couple in the film, and I’ve added some scenes, so does it really matter?

Summary: Zoro was weak with children, Chopper was a prime example of that, and Nami was no exception. Film Z. Rating: T. Some suggestiveness. 

This can also be found on AO3 and FFN. 

Enjoy!

Zoro’s ears were ringing, screeching in protest at the loud noise from the blast, and his back hurt from being hurled across the ship. It was dull but it was there. But it reminded him that they weren’t in the clear yet and his reflexes were kicking in, grabbing for his swords, or at least trying to. His body was bound in thick green ropes that didn’t given an inch no matter how much he protested.

Smoke filled his nose, and he gave up on escaping for the time being to take in the view. It was hard to believe he’d managed to ignore it for this long. The ship was on fire, black smoke billowing from what seemed like every surface. The galley was gone, completely blown open and surrounded by flames licking their way further across the ship.

The scene was horrific. Sunny was in trouble.

It was hard to decide what to focus on first in all the chaos, but he quickly found something that made his stomach drop.

Luffy being crushed in a Z’s hand.

He looked weak and defeated, it was an awful look on him. Something that had Zoro wanting to grab for his swords to rectify the scene immediately.

Goddamn it. He needed out.

Like a dirty tissue, Luffy was thrown to the floor, apparently not worthy of being killed in a fight. Something Zoro knew would grate him, but at least there wasn’t an immediate threat of a dead Captain.

His gaze flitted quickly around to check everyone else was accounted for and somewhat okay. It stopped on what he presumed was Nami only a few feet in front of him. It looked like her, the orange hair a dead giveaway… but smaller. Much, much smaller. What the hell had been happening out here before? Frowning, he stored that thought away for later.

Shit. He needed to move. Now. He had to do something, they were in trouble and there he was just sitting around. Movement caught his eye and he saw the Cook also bound, struggling to be freed.

Shit, shit, shit.

Now it was really bad, all three of them were down.

Nami caught his struggling and ran over to him before he could call over to her. Her small hands were trying to pry the green vines away from him.

“Do I want to know why you’re a child?” His eyebrows were furrowed as he got a proper look at her. It was Nami alright.

“Not the time. Later,” she huffed, small hands gripping the vines and yanking on them, but they wouldn’t budge. She wasn’t strong enough right now.

And it wasn’t the time it seemed. Because the ship exploded around them as cannon balls relentlessly fired at them and it didn’t help Nami who was still attempting to free him. She was almost knocked off her feet when the ship was hit again and if she went overboard, no one would be there the dive after her. He was getting more and more frustrated by the second.

When he looked to his left, Chopper wasn’t getting much further with the cook.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Usopp, Franky and Brook were just as trapped as him.

And Luffy was furious. It was rare to see his Captain like that. He was back on his feet, quickly recovering, and hanging off the side of the ship, snarling at them to come back. Robin was doing her best to talk him down, but he wasn’t listening and Zoro could feel his already thin temper about to snap. At everything. It had all gone so wrong so quickly.

Him and the cook were useless.

Luffy couldn’t see past his own anger.

Nami was a child.

They’d lost.

But not everything.

Just as he was about to bark at Luffy to get his head on straight, Robin finally got through to him after another cannonball hit their ship and almost capsized them.

Luffy was in action then, freeing Franky, as Robin worked on securing herself and the others.

“Hold on,” Zoro commanded, now looking back down at Nami, who in all the chaos still hadn’t given up. Franky was just about to fire up a coupe de burst and the last thing he needed was her falling off the ship. Especially when he couldn’t go after her.

It didn’t take long for her to understand before she was nodding back and clinging to him as they sailed through the air away from the attack. He was too tied up to properly hold onto her, no matter how much he wanted to.

.

.

.

The mood was off when they landed on the first island available. Luffy’s face solemn as he stood with Franky assessing the damage to the ship. The rest of the crew left them, gathering instead across the water from the ship to discuss what had happened and what their next move was going to be.

He hadn’t been incredibly involved in the discussion; he’d been too focused on Nami. It was unsettling. She was still exactly the same, bold and bossy, but instead it was all packaged into a miniature body.

There was no way around it, she was cute, and it left him in a strange position. Normally he’d snark her, draw her into an argument, especially when she was somewhat upset, to take her mind off of it, but now he didn’t feel like he could. It was almost as bad as picking on Chopper.

Nami said something about being returned to normal, standing up outraged and he should have known that the moment the cook opened his mouth he would be annoyed.

Gritting his teeth, Zoro could feel his patience dangerously thinning. He was used to the idiot cook spouting off nonsense to Nami and that hadn’t changed when they had got together. Normally he’d just ignore it, it was hardly like he was a threat, and she could handle herself. But today already hadn’t been a good day and when the pervert started talking about her body, he was ready to fight.

Unable to resist, he uttered out an irritated, “Creep,” and that seemed to do it. The focus was on him then and Nami started to look comfortable again. As soon as the shoving starting, she was breaking them apart, just before a full-on brawl could start.

Disgruntled, Zoro looked across the waters to see Luffy peeling away from Franky with the old man and when they saw each other, Luffy nodded at him. That was his cue. Zoro stood and motioned with his head for them to start walking.

He slowed for a second, waiting for Nami to catch up before continuing forward. He was only a few strides in when he noticed she was struggling to keep up, stuck in a weird running walk pace. He laughed to himself, she was tiny now, her previously long legs were now replaced with stumps and she was too proud to say anything.  

He had the urge to take her hand and the sudden thought surprised him. They’d never held hands before this, unless it was crowded or she was guiding him somewhere, they were fairly low key with their relationship unless alone. Yet the urge to do it was strong, and really, he knew why.  

When she stumbled, he was bending down without a second thought to pick her up and her legs sitting around his waist on the side of his body. She weighed almost nothing, and, to his surprise, she didn’t resist. Which was fine, great even, because then he didn’t have to think about scrapped knees, but the cooing that started from behind them made the back of his neck feel hot. Zoro wasn’t sure if it was directed at him or Nami… or both of them. But that didn’t stop the red from spreading to his ears.

He had no idea what possessed him to do that, they weren’t very big on public displays of affection normally but Nami didn’t complain as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and determinedly looked everywhere but at his face.

Cute.

He was loath to admit it, lest he be compared to the pervert, but like this she was. He tried to shrug it off, ignoring the loud whispers from behind and act casual.

The next couple of days were going to be hard.

.

.

.

Zoro didn’t like it.

The older man that had been talking to Luffy and Franky had told them all about Z whilst giving them food and drinks. But that wasn’t the problem. They needed to gather more information about Z’s whereabouts, which again, wasn’t a problem but it had led to Nami announcing it would be down to her, Robin, Usopp and Chopper.

Apparently Zoro and the others were too obvious. Liabilities she’d called them. He wasn’t sure how that logic worked out, when they were going with a walking, talking reindeer that could changed forms at whim.

“I should go with you,” Zoro said, watching as Nami tied her sandal.

The group going out to get information already had their change of clothes and were getting changed in a secluded alleyway away from any nosey passers-by’s. She’d already changed into her dress and sandals, all that was left was her hair. They’d be going their separate ways after that.

Nami sighed, eyebrows furrowing as she looked up at him. “We’ve been over this, you’re too obvious.”

“And a talking reindeer and long nose isn’t?” It was a good point.

“Usopp’s great at sneaking and Chopper’s barely noticeable with how tiny he is now.”

“And if things go wrong?” He didn’t want to entertain that thought, but he still did. The island was swarming with marines.

“We have Robin and Usopp, it’s fine,” Nami assured. “Also, it won’t go wrong, I’m great at this.” She was trying to tie her hair into a ponytail but with how much hair she had and her little arms, she struggled.

He knew she was right; she was great at this. She did it long before he came around to back her up. Except she wasn’t herself right now, she was a miniature version of herself.

Zoro held his hand out, silently asking for the hair tie. “You’re not yourself right now.” He gathered her hair, his hands smoothed over her hair a few times to ensure no bumps, he didn’t need her nagging him, and looped the band around a few times.

She checked his work, hands roaming over her hair, searching for bumps that weren’t there before giving the ponytail a tug to tighten it. She didn’t praise him for his efforts, instead she dropped two golden bands in hands and turned to face him. That was his praise, he figured as he picked the bands to start working on the front.

Nami stood patiently in the gap between his legs as he worked. “And that’s exactly why we don’t need you and the others attracting attention.”

She had him there. Brook drew attention because, well, skeleton, that didn’t need to be explained. Zoro and Luffy were too well known, even without his swords and Luffy’s hat, but not so much Sanji…

“Take the cook then.” He was an idiot and had especially got on his nerves today, but he was strong and somewhat reliable.

“And at the first sight of a woman? We don’t have time to find him or reign him in.”

Screw that, he was good for nothing right now.

There was nothing more he could say. He didn’t mean to sound like he doubted his own crewmates, they were strong, and time and time again they’d proved that. But they weren’t their selves right now, they weren’t a whole. They had two much younger members than normal with an island full of marines.

Nami was a magnet for trouble at the best of times and the love cook was the least of his problems. It was common knowledge what could happen to children out in the new world. All it would take was one skilled person, or a moment of distraction and she’d be gone without a word.

The thought of that happening had a knot forming in his stomach and he was about to say that he was going whether they liked it or not, until Nami rested a small hand on his forearm and smiled up at him reassuringly. And like the sap that he was, he melted instantly, all the fight bleeding out of him.

He wasn’t sure if she knew of his weakness yet, but something told him she’d realise soon enough.

.

.

.

“Do you know how close we were to leaving you behind?” Nami berated, arms angrily crossed in front of her as she stood before him, not caring that the train was moving. Except her anger didn’t have the same effect as it usually did in her childlike form.

“You’ve said about five times already,” Zoro replied tiredly.  

Their day had not improved at all. From the information group coming back with a hoard of marines on their tail, to Z shooting Luffy and the four of them almost being engulfed by lava whilst Nami and the others waited anxiously at the train station. Despite her anger now, when she’d seen them running towards the train, lava steadily overtaking the island just behind them, she’d looked relived.

He suspected Luffy still being passed out was to blame for her particularly sour mood, all the crew were worried in the packed train.

“Because you still don’t look like you get it.”

Naturally an angry child telling off an adult attracted attention, although Zoro didn’t really care about that, he just shrugged off the looks and focused on Nami. But when a man opposite from them gave her an appraising look that lingered far longer than acceptable, it put his back up. Zoro sent the man a scathing look that had him shrinking away as he scooped Nami onto his lap.

“I do. We made you worry,” he said, matter-of-factly, not taking his eye off the man until he got up to find somewhere else to sit.

The anger dispersed then, her frame relaxing on his lap as she got comfortable. “I’m going to go grey early; I swear.” She shook her head, but her tone was fonder than anything else.

They lulled into silence, swaying with the movements of the train, and letting the murmur from other passengers fill the quiet. Nami’s gaze slowly took in everyone, from strangers to the crew, one by one until it landed back on Zoro.

“It’s a shame you don’t dress like this more often,” Nami sighed, small hands playing with the collar of his neckline.

“Tch, not worth it. Too many layers.” He was already itching to take off the shirt. “Besides, I had a jacket on this morning.”

“Which is ruined now, do you know how hard it is to find a nice jacket that you’ll wear?”

“Because you insist that I wear a top underneath, pick either a top or a jacket, I’ll only wear one,” he told her, but the likelihood was he’d end up removing that too.

Whilst she was fussing over his jacket, trying to wipe some dirt off the fabric, her arm caught his attention. There were faint marks starting to bloom on her upper arm. He gently caught her arm and turned it to get a better look.

It was finger marks, four clustered together and a single one opposite.

Someone had grabbed her.

He’d guessed something had gone wrong earlier, based on the hoard of marines that had chased them all the way back to the rest of the crew, but he’d just thought a marine had finally recognised one of them. Not that she’d been grabbed and almost hauled way. It was exactly what he’d been worried about.

He looked at her sharply and she looked back at him warily.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt?” He’d focus on her first, he couldn’t exactly do anything with his anger when the person that’d hurt her was long gone.

“Don’t worry about it, I made it worse by resisting.” And Nami must have sensed it was the wrong thing to say because she quickly added, “I’m here, aren’t I?”

That didn’t help his anger, but she was right. She told him Robin came after her as soon as she’d seen, and it soothed him at least. Another example of how dependable his crewmates were.

He rubbed gently along her arm, smoothing over the marks and he wasn’t sure if it was for her benefit or his.

“You’ve been very affectionate,” she said observationally.

And there it was. His hand stuttered on her arm for a second before he caught himself and continued, trying not to react to what she’d said. It’d taken far longer than he’d thought for someone to say something, but there was nothing he could say in his defence and the last thing he was going to do was agree, so he stayed silent instead. Not that that would help him.

Nami smirked up at him as he refused to make eye contact or speak, but that didn’t stop her from continuing, “Who’d have believed the fearsome pirate hunter was soft around all children. I thought it was just Chopper.”

“I’m not, we’re together, it makes sense.” That probably didn’t sound appropriate to anyone eavesdropping, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

“You don’t normally hold my hand or pick me up… And you’ve been much more obliging.”

“It was convenient. You’ve got stumpy legs and I’ve got places to be,” he easily lied.

She didn’t look convinced. “And now?”

He had nothing to say to that. He was the one that had dragged her onto his lap, his arms still firmly wrapped around her to ensure she didn’t fall if there was a sudden movement… and to let people know she wouldn’t be an easy grab. He tried not to think about what a sap he’d looked like since she’d been turned into a child, but his mind still unhelpfully played it on a reel. How he’d caved whenever she so much as looked at him, offered to do things for her without her having to nag him, didn’t argue with her.

How embarrassing. His ears burned.

“It’s cute that you tried to hide it.”

It was the glint in her eye that gave her away that made him realise.

“You knew?” He asked, but he already knew the answer.

“I had a hunch, I knew from the moment you first picked me up,” she smiled up at him evilly, all innocence gone from her face.

She was the devil. Mislabelled into an adorable, tiny package.

“It’s almost worth staying like this, you’re as easy as Sanji-kun,” she looked downright smug and there was no doubt in his mind that she was imagining having the both of them wrapped around her finger.

That had him gritting his teeth in disgust, to be compared to him. He was about to say something caustic, just to wipe that smug grin off her face, until her eyes turned large, and she looked up at him remorsefully, lip quivering.

She wasn’t sorry at all, he knew that, but those glossy eyes stopped the foul words in their tracks. He huffed, annoyed, and looked the other way as Nami laughed at him. But he didn’t remove her from his lap.

Robin gave him an amused look.

.

.

.

She found him in the crow’s nest late in the day, head popping up through the entrance and pulling herself up when she saw him.

“How’s Luffy?” He asked, as she walked towards him.

“Quiet, but he’ll be alright.”

The mood on board had been weird since they’d left Piriodo, everyone subdued, and it was mainly due to Luffy’s lack of cheerful energy. Everyone had pretty much kept to themselves since they set off. It’d be back to normal tomorrow, after everyone had slept it off.

She stood in front of him from where he was sat on the bench and he braced himself when he caught the look on her face. He didn’t like it.

“Am I still allowed to sit in your lap? Or was that offer only there when I was a child?” She teased, eyes dancing in amusement.

Yup. He knew it. He rolled his eye; he’d be putting up with those jabs for a while.

She took his silence and sour expression as affirmation to her first question, but instead of sitting on his lap like she had back on the train, she straddled his lap, a leg going either side.

It was a fitting example really, of the difference between her as a child and being back to her usual age. The occasional glimpses of innocence on her face as a child were long gone, along with the soft rounded features of youth that had turned him into a fool. In its place were sharper angles and cunning eyes that displayed a coquettish expression that had a very different effect on him- one that made his blood heat for her.

As adorable as she was as a child, he’d missed her. He’d missed this version. No matter how infuriating she could be.

“Happy to have me back?” She questioned, but her tone suggested she already knew the answer.

His arms settled dangerously low on her hips and his smirk was challenging as he replied, “Now I can argue with you and not feel bad.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she said and laid on her best doe-eyed look. Her eyes shifted in an instant, from seductive to innocent, all glossy and defenceless, something that didn’t fit the current position they were currently in.  

He’d never let her know that even as an adult, that look still had him. Perhaps in a different way now, but he’d keep it hidden through grimaces and sharp words, otherwise he’d never know peace again.  

“You’ll have to try harder than that,” he snorted, hands pulling her body tighter against his and the time for bickering had come to an end.

Their kiss was easy, almost leisurely, as they basked in the feeling of each other’s lips, of being back to normal. Although it wasn’t something that stayed that way for long. Gradual pecks started to linger, searching for something more as lips slid against the others and closed mouths parted as hands moved with intent, to places far from innocent.

There was no rush, they had all evening without disruptions, so that was why he pulled away to say:

“Besides, I prefer this angry, nagging version.”

What he hadn’t missed was how strong her punches were.

-------------------------------------

I mean, jokes on Zoro, he’s always been wrapped around her finger. He just put up less of a fight when she’s small.

In case I go quiet again, I’ll leave you with this- I’ve been writing something that I’m very excited about and can’t wait for you all to see, but until then, enjoy this ZoNami crumb.

As always, forgive any errors.

Thanks for reading.

[frobin]

Hi! Ok, I know it isn't very related to Frobin (except if you decide to mention them in the answer), but I am curious about your opionion on this thing. If the end of One Piece have someone of the Straw Hat crew that can die, who can be? OBVIOUSLY I hope nobody, that this thing doesn't happen, but never say never. There're people who say Luffy to recreate Roger's connection. Someone else Usop (but I miss the reason). Or Jinbe, who has also some problems and enemies from previous experiences?

Hey there anon!

No worries about asking questions. This is a FRobin blog but it's also a One Piece blog so it's fine to ask all kind of questions about One Piece. Even though I wouldn't consider myself much of an *expert* so everything I write is very much influenced by my own impressions.

But you're asking for my opinion anyway so that disclaimer is not necessary in this case. XD

---

Okay, first of all: I'm no fan of death flags. I never see them and when I read about them I feel like people pull them out of nowhere.

So I don't think any of the Strawhats will die before or even while the big end fight. Also it's not like they will reach their goal and then just drop dead (don't forget the dream are very different too but more about that later). Like what kind of life would that be?

Also we can't forget that Oda still believes he is writing this story for 14 year old boys. So, even though death is and will be a theme I don't think he will kill off the main crew.

That would not be very clever story wise and is not how to tell a story about adventure and fulfilling dreams for young boys.

Right now it's very "fashionable" to let characters die for shock value. But the more it's done the more annoying it becomes and less of a shock and Oda won't stoop so low to use this kind of element. Why do I think that?

So far we had three deaths in OP and they all shocked us a lot. But they were also used as motivator for other characters. Whitebeards death was a motivator for a whole new Generation of pirates, as well as his crew to try to save Ace and his little brother. Ace's death was a launch of character development for Luffy, Sabo, Garp and even Sengoku and probably more. Pedros death was a motivator for Carrot and other Minks. (Even the fake death of Pell was a huge motivator for Vivi. Interestingly compared to other deaths his sacrifice did not stop the war, which would have been an adequate impact. So him coming back alive actually makes sense.)

But look how few and far between they are. Of course there was more death but the important ones are kept as those.

Why am I talking about that? Who would benefit from a Strawhats death?

Literally no one. They are all already motivated to go until the end for each other. It's more likely that a death would cause Luffy to just give up, him becoming catatonic again.

Who would Luffy fight for if he even loses one of his crew mates? Or maybe two?

If I were a Marine I would try to make Luffy think that his friends are dead and then catch him but that is beside the point.

But for One Piece, a Strawhat death it would not move the story further. There is no additional motivator needed and that would be the only reason to kill one of the crew.

Killing a Strawhat makes no sense in my opinion.

A death would only make sense after they reached their goal.

So it is possible that we see the Strawhats die but long after the story came to an end, them reaching Laugh Tale (if that is the end). And yes, I think all of them will die of natural causes and/or sickness. Most of them at an old age. I think Luffy, Zoro or Usopp being the firsts because of the trauma their bodies had endured would make most sense.

I hope that answered your question anon... and anyone who does not want to read even more about my nonsense can stop here.

But let me break down why I think that all Strawhats have plot armor against death flags, behind the read-more.

-> It is very important that I think the huge clash with the Blackbeard Pirates, which will be the end fight, will happen right before Laugh Tale. And Laugh Tale is the end-goal and the end of the main story. (I MIGHT BE WRONG!!!)<-

Everyones own story can only end after they reached their goal so let's look why I think that these dreams give the Strawhats Plot Armor.

Luffy: Become the king of the pirates. That means he has to reach Laugh Tale. I often hear that Luffy will die early because of the parallel to Roger. That does not mean he won't reach his 40s or 50s. Even after reaching Laugh Tale Roger lived a bit longer and even had time to "make a child" so, killing off Luffy in the end fight makes no sense. So maybe dying after the fight, on Laugh Tale? That could happen and would be the earliest death of any Strawhat imo.

Zoro: Become the strongest sword fighter. That means he still has to kill Mihawk. I don't think Mihawk will go and look for Zoro. So, Zoro has to survive and then return to Mihawk and have his duel. No sense in killing off Zoro. I am 100% sure that he will survive until then.

Nami: Drawing a world map. For that Nami has to travel the world many times more. After they reached Laugh Tale, Nami has only finished part of her dream. She has to visit all of the Blues, travel the Grand Line and the New world multiple times. Drawing a Map of the world will take a lifetime. Her dream will take the longest to be fulfilled.

Usopp: Become the great warrior of the sea. Now here we have a dream that is not really tangible. Usopp will be a great warrior as soon as he realises that he is one. In my opinion he already managed to become a great warrior. Time and time again he has shown how amazing he is but this is all about his own self image and so hard to grasp. This actually makes Usopp the most likely to have a death flag BUT we can't forget that he still has to return home and tell his stories to Kaya and the Usopp pirates. It's part of a promise that is only secondary but for me it's enough to think Usopp too is safe until he did that.

Sanji: To find the All Blue. Sanji thinks that the All Blue is something physical. We can't know that and if it is physical we can consider that it's maybe a part of the New World near the Red Line where all seas somehow come together. So again, until Sanji found that place he hasn't fulfilled his dream. And since I think that would be BEHIND Laugh Tale, again I think Sanji is safe. Alternatively the All Blue is just a metaphor for something completely different but I can't hink about what.

Chopper: To cure all illness. Here too, this is something that takes time. Chopper is still only at the beginning of his career of being a doctor. Finding a magical cure for every illness that exists is not something that just happens. Logically he would need to talk with many other medical experts and together they might be able to find it. When and how and if that happens is impossible to say but again that would be something that would fit best in the time after reaching Laugh Tale.

Robin: To find the truth of the void century. Right now we figure that she will find that at the end of their travel, on Laugh Tale. Maybe it will happen earlier in case the Strawhats storm the World Government. Either way she will learn the truth. But that will not be the end to her. After learning the truth it's up to Robin to bring it to the world, to write it down, to teach, to make people understand that they can't erase history and that they have to learn from it. Again, that is something that takes time and so, truly fulfilling her dream.

Franky: To travel the world in the ship of his dreams. Again that is a vague dream. But it would mean to at least return to Water Seven, so that Sunny has traveled the world once. But even then it's only been a small part of the world and traveling the world would mean to visit at least every of the seas. So far, Sunny had been in two to four, depending on how much you take the movies into account. But to fulfill Franky's dream he needs to survive a bit longer and so does Sunny.

Brook: To meet Laboon again. This is simple. But for that Brook has to reach the end of the New World and then get over the Red Line again. What he will do after that is hard to tell. But again, the Red Line is behind Laugh Tale and so I'm sure Brook too, has to survive... even though he is already dead YOHOHO!

Jinbe: Equality between merfolk and humans. Again this is something that is no easy feat and will probably take more than one generation. Also it is not only up to him and more to Shirahoshi and the World Government. This dream is about teamwork too, but who could be a better ambassador for the merfolk than him? Losing Jinbe would be a huge backfire for the cause. Jinbe too is safe in my opinion. If you have reached the end of the post, let me tell you again my headcanon about FRobin: After the main adventure Franky and Robin return to Water Seven where Franky helps to turn W7 into a boat and after that is done, they travel to the island where Ohara used to be and there they rebuild the island. More people return and it again becomes a hub for scholars and history.

[luccislegs]

Hello! Could I please request 2 hcs with Law and Robin? The reader is the local cryptid of a town, and has a df that allows them to attract small animals. They're especially fond of black cats, and have slightly morbid humor. They join the respecitve crews, and it takes a while for them to adjust. One habit that's particularly chaotic is filling a room full of cats and just hanging out with them.

Law:

Law doesn’t believe it when the locals whisper of a cryptid that lurks about town, bringing in all sorts of weird animals in the night. He’s especially unconvinced that this cryptid is bad luck. There’s no scientific proof that black cats are bad luck, and he’s sure you just have a fondness for them.

He’s got no real interest beyond meeting the cryptid, expecting a bigfoot-esque creature or at least a weird old hermit living in the woods. What he finds is you instead, almost painfully normal compared to the stories he’s heard. He’s almost comically disappointed, and you laugh at him when he explains what he’s heard about you.

Sitting down with you for a while explains just why you freak the townsfolk out so much. Small creatures seem to flock to you in droves, and your sense of humor and manner of speaking is…off-putting. You remind him of himself in some ways, except covered in animals.

Toads can be heard croaking in the small tub of water outside your window and whenever Law peeks out to look, they’re looking up at him with an almost eerie intellect…right up until one tries to catch a fly that’s landed on his cheek and slaps him in the face with it’s wet tongue. Bats flutter in and out of the open window, made creepier by the hooting of the owls that have parked themselves in the trees and on the windowsill. By far, though, the freakiest thing to Law is all the cats. 

There are cats literally everywhere. Three are parked in your lap, with four more vying for a position. There are cats sitting on the table and on the counters, cats just covering the couch, and more can be seen lurking in the hallway, watching Law with luminous yellow eyes. 

Not to mention the 2 that have claimed his lap as a seat.

And they’re all black. It seems like you’re doing it on purpose, there’s no way this island has only black cats, but when he asks you just shrug. “Maybe they’ve gotten rid of all the others,” you say, and he can’t fucking tell if you’re joking or not.

Even though you lowkey freak him out, he keeps coming back to your little cottage outside of town. He’s got a few days to spare, and your knowledge of herbal medicine is something he can’t ignore. After only 2 days, he gives into the desire to have you join his crew. The others are unsettled but don’t complain, and for the first voyage everything is fine. 

There are no small animals, besides the few cats you’ve brought with you and a bat you’re particularly fond of, but in lieu of small animals you seem to be drawing every single spider in existence out of the walls of the ship. At any given time you can be found with at least a dozen scuttling around your space, and Law can’t help but blanch whenever you pick one up and gently move it off of your book so you can flip the page.

He realizes there might be a small problem when the Tang stops at the next island. He’s only gone for a few hours when Penguin rushes up to him in a panic, pointing back at the ship and pleading with him for help. When Law asks him what’s going on, all he says is “Cats.”

He rushes back to the ship, fearing the worst, with Penguin hot on his heels.

“Oh my god,” Law says when he reaches the sub again, and smacks himself in the face. “I’m going to kill them.”

There are actually cats everywhere, and he can see you and Bepo sitting in the middle of the deck, playing with feather toys and laser pointers. It’s hard to navigate around them, and everything below his knees would have been littered with scratch marks if he wasn’t wearing pants by the time he reaches you. 

“Hello, Captain,” Bepo says, hardly looking up from his prone position on the ground. There are 4 cats perched on his back, all purring and blinking slowly up at Law, and he finds that all the annoyance he had initially is gone at the adorable sight. Grumbling about what a sucker he is, he seats himself next to, begrudgingly taking the feather toy you’ve offered him. A cat immediately latches onto it and snatches it away, and Law quickly Rooms it back into his hands, glaring at you as you laugh.

“These cats will have to go, ___-ya. It’s fine for now though. It’ll be too much of a pain to do it right now,” he says, swishing the toy back and forth and watching the adorable bundles of fluff chase it back and forth across the deck.

Robin:

Robin is instantly interested when she hears the legends of a cryptid. What they describe sounds almost like a vampire, and when she tells the others about it, Luffy almost automatically wants it to join the crew. The others naturally voice their disagreement, but Luffy’s mind is made up. He sends Robin off to locate you, telling the archaeologist that he has more pressing matters to attend to, like finding lots of meat.

It isn’t hard to find you. The villagers gave a very specific description of your cottage and strict instructions to avoid it at all costs. Naturally, she didn’t listen and was knocking on your door after a 20 minute walk from the ship. After a moment of silence, she realized you must not be home. Just as she turned around, ready to give it up for the time being, something wound around her ankles and she looked down to find a cat. It stared up at her for a moment before taking off a little ways. Then it sat and stared at her. When she approached, it got up and trotted off again, and she quickly got the hint.

She followed it into the woods, noticing the lack of any animal noises for the most part, until all of a sudden it seemed the woods came alive. As she stepped out into a clearing, it fell silent, everything turning to scrutinize her. There was a murmured command from the center of the clearing, drawing her attention as the animals relaxed and started up their noises again. A path opened up , finally revealing you sitting on a stump in the center of the clearing.

“Well, hello,” Robin said, coming to stand in front of you. Perched on your shoulders were a squirrel and a starling, each staring at her as if unafraid. “How cute. I heard you were able to attract animals, but I had no idea you were able to control them too.”

You smiled a little, cupping your hands at your feet and allowing a chipmunk to hop into them. “I don’t really control them, per se. Something about my powers just calms them, like they understand that I’m not going to hurt them or allow anyone else to hurt them.”

Holding your hands out to her, Robin cupped hers and the little chipmunk scuttled into them, staring up at her with its beady little black eyes. It sat quietly for a moment before it scampered up her arm to her shoulder, burrowing into her hair and curling up there.

“He likes you,” you said, standing up. She got her first good look at you then, and was surprised that the rest of you was just as normal as your face. She still couldn’t quite figure out why you might be considered a “cryptid”, let alone unlucky. But then, with the myriad of black cats– probably every single one on the island, if she had to guess– swarming at your ankles, she supposed she could understand. Not that she believed in the old superstition, but small towns weren’t known for being intelligent.

Over the next few days, while they waited for the log pose to reset, you got to meet the rest of the crew. They were an eclectic bunch, and you fit in with them better than you ever had with anyone on the island. By the last day, Luffy insisted on you joining his crew, but you were hesitant to leave your animals behind. Before anyone else could say anything, Luffy had already opened his mouth and promised you could bring them.

You laughed and agreed, much to everyone’s horror, and promised to be at the ship in a few hours. They were all very much relieved when you showed up with only a few cats and your personal belongings. However, Nami took a look behind you and her eyes grew wide. She yelped and pointed, drawing the others attention to the large black mass moving across the ground at a rapid pace. 

Before you could process what was going on, the ship was covered in meowing, purring furballs. You saw Usopp go down as he tripped over one, followed by Zoro. Franky was covered in them, and Luffy had three trapped in his arms, but they didn’t seem to mind. He was staring at you with a wide grin as he leaned over the railing of the ship and yelled, “Can we keep them, ___?”

You opened your mouth to reply, but Nami was already punching him in the head, and multiple yells could be heard underneath the mass of cats, all of them sounding suspiciously like, “No!”

[misc-headcanons]

C-can I request some angst please? 🥺🙏🏻 Sanji, Law, and Zoro finding a severely injured girl drifting out at sea and they save them and eventually become their s/o scenario or headcanons please? 🤩✨ I love your angst!!!

(These got kind of specific as I tried to come up with something angsty, haha. The content warnings on this one are a really weird combo, just a heads-up)

CW: References to slavery (Sanji and Zoro’s), cannibalism (Zoro), and medical experimentation (Law). Nothing explicit, but I’m adding this just in case!

Sanji

The Thousand Sunny had come across the wreckage of a ship and from the smell of cannon smoke in the air, it had likely only happened a few hours or so at most. The ship that had attacked was nowhere to be found, and there were several bodies floating in the water.

Sanji had noticed that among the corpses floating in the water, there was one that seemed to be alive. A young woman was clinging to a piece of driftwood, and the top of her head was covered with blood; as she bobbed in the ocean, her head barely lifted up to look up at the ship in front of her. Immediately, Sanji dove into the water after her and yelled up to Chopper. “Chopper, one of them is alive! Here, once we’re up on deck, take her to the clinic!”

Sanji carried her to the clinic, not minding the blood and seawater that was staining his clothes. The woman’s eyes were glassy and unfocused, but she was still alive. Chopper examined her and cleaned her head wound. By some miracle, the only injury she had received during her ship’s destruction was a concussion.

Chopper set up a small cot for her in the clinic so he could watch her overnight. Sanji immediately volunteered to watch over her as well, and he and Chopper worked in shifts (Sanji would leave to cook meals for the crew, and Chopper would sleep whenever Sanji got back).

At one point during the night, the woman stirred and realized that she was in a strange place. Sanji reassured her that she was safe, and tried to ask her who she was (Chopper had mentioned that testing her memory and cognitive skills would be a good idea when she woke up). She struggled to recall her memories, saying that she could only see fuzzy bits and pieces. What she did remember made a pit of unease form in Sanji’s chest: Cold chains on her wrists and feet that were too tight, seeing a glowing piece of metal and watching in horror as it burned into her friend’s skin, screaming and pleading not to be branded, the pain of having her head slammed against a pillar, and the deafening sound of splintering wood as some monster in the water bit into the ship before she fell into the icy water.

Strangely enough, she didn’t have a brand on her body; the ship had been attacked just as she was about to be burned. Sanji felt an urge to wrap his arms around her and comfort her, but he worried that it might make her uncomfortable and scared given what she’d been through. He offered to make her something to eat instead, and she nodded. When he started to get up, the young woman grabbed his hand. “Could…Could you stay with me for a little bit longer?” Her voice broke as she squeezed his hand. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Sanji’s eyes temporarily turned into hearts at the sudden physical contact, but he quickly controlled himself. He smiled and sat on the foot of her bed, still holding her hand. “Of course, my lady; as long as I’m able to draw breath, you won’t ever be alone again.”

Sanji took every opportunity to treat ____ like a princess, serving her gourmet meals, escorting her around the ship and on different islands the ship arrived at, buying all sorts of gifts, decorating her bed with all sorts of flowers, etc. Every time he did something, he noticed how taken aback she was by the kind gesture and she would protest. “There’s no need to fuss over me,” she said with wide eyes, “This is just…so much!”

Sanji would always reply that someone like her deserved everything good in this world, and that he was actually disappointed that he could only give her a fraction of that with his meager abilities. She’d always be flustered by his kindness and chivalry, but she started to warm up to being treated so well. He’d always comfort her when she would start to recover another memory of her prior life; some of them were happy, some of them…weren’t. They were always overwhelming, and ____ would find herself feeling a sudden rush of strong emotions that made her heart and head feel like they were about to burst. But no matter what, Sanji was always there to hold her and bring her back to reality.

One night, he had brought her a piece of cake and a cup of her favorite type of tea to her room. The two of them chatted together, and when she finished she gently brushed her fingers on his cheek. “You know,” she remarked quietly, “Whatever my past was, sometimes I think it doesn’t matter.” Sanji raised an eyebrow; ____ had spent so much time contemplating what her life was life before, trying to put together the “missing pieces” as she called it. What changed? She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Because whatever it was, I’m glad that in the here-and-now…I’m with you.”

Zoro

Of all the things for a shipwrecked cargo vessel to be carrying, it had to be meat. Crates and crates of meat, refrigerated in specially-made crates, bobbing up and down in the water. As he watched the wreckage float on the water, Zoro thought that if the ship’s builder had spent more time reinforcing the actual ship instead of making some special meat-preserving crates, then maybe the entire crew wouldn’t have died like idiots. The logos on the crates were hand-painted: Miss Terry’s Butchery. “Our meat is to DIE for!”

His thoughts were interrupted when Luffy cannonballed over the side of the Sunny with stars in his eyes. “FREE MEEEEEEEEAT!” He landed in the water, and Zoro dove after him. “Oi, you can’t swim, idiot!”

Zoro managed to grab Luffy by the collar before he sank like a stone, and he noticed another person in the water with them clinging to one of the crates that was half-flooded and starting to sink. He grabbed them as well and hauled them both up onto the deck of the Sunny.

It was a young woman, and even though she had been submerged there were visible tearstains on her cheeks. As Chopper attended to her and Luffy, Zoro noticed a small brand burned onto her right arm: Prop. of MTB. Chopper gave her mouth-to-mouth, and she coughed up a bit of seawater as her eyes fluttered open. Immediately, she saw Zoro’s swords and screamed in terror as she tried to scramble away from him. “D-Don’t harvest me, please,” she sobbed, burying her face in her knees. “I’ll do anything, I’ll…” She looked up and saw that she wasn’t on the cargo ship anymore. “Where…where am I?”

Zoro cocked his head at what she had first said. “What do you mean, ‘harvest’?” The young woman looked at him suspiciously. “Look, your ship wrecked. Looks like you’re the only one who made it.” He pointed out to the ruins of the cargo ship, and she slowly rose up to look out over the side of the Sunny.

She stared at the boxes of meat, her eyes filling with tears. Her knuckles tightened as she gripped the railing, and she tried to take deep breaths. “So…I’m safe,” she breathed. “I’m not gonna be…” Her eyes drifted to the floating boxes of meat, and she trembled. Zoro stepped forward, worried that she might pass out and fall over the side of the ship.

Luffy pouted and crossed his arms. “Man, all that meat’s gonna go to waste if it sinks,” he whined. “Hmmm, maybe Sanji can get the seawater off the ones that are wet.” He cupped his hands and called out to Sanji. “Oi, Sanji, come out here! Can you cook–”

“NO!” The young woman cut him off sharply. “You…don’t, don’t eat that meat! It’s…” She absentmindedly touched the brand on her arm, and Zoro realized why she was so terrified.

Zoro awkwardly put a hand on her shoulder. “We won’t,” he promised. “You’re safe now, alright?” Luffy protested, asking why they couldn’t eat so much meat ripe for the taking, but Zoro cut him off with a glare.

The young woman spent the next few weeks with the crew, getting to know everyone but revealing little about what had happened to her on the ship. Zoro was the only one who didn’t ask questions about her (or, well…any questions really. He wasn’t much of a conversationalist), and so she preferred spending time with him. One night they were sharing a bottle of sake in the dining room, and Zoro asked why she always preferred being around him compared to everyone else in the crew.

“Honestly? I dunno,” she replied, her voice slurring a bit. “I mean, Nami and Usopp and the others are really kind, all of you have been…really kind.” She took another swig. “But you were the one who saved me that day. I’d been born and raised in the pens, and I wasn’t even treated like a person by the butchers.” She stared off. “I only learned to talk because the other livestock–um, people–taught me. Even though it was pointless, haha.” She sniffled a bit. “Even if you say ‘no, please,’ when it’s your time, the butchers ignore every word you say. It’s just easier to pretend you’re a cow mooing, or a chicken clucking. Not a person.” She looked over at Zoro. “You were the first person outside of the pens to treat me like a human being. You talked to me. You listened to me.” She leaned her head against him. “You saved me.”

Zoro stiffened at the sudden contact, and he awkwardly wondered if he should put his arm around her; from how she was leaning, his arm would be touching her brand. Still, he didn’t want her to think he was being intentionally callous by not doing anything to return her gesture of affection. He decided to just rest his hand on top of hers, and she leaned closer onto his shoulder. They both fell asleep together in the dining hall, and it was the first time in years that ____ slept without a single nightmare. Seemed like Zoro was her guardian even in her dreams.

Law

The Heart Pirates were out on open waters, headed towards the island of Punk Hazard when they came across the splintered ruins of another ship floating in the water. Oddly enough, it wasn’t a large ship at all; from how little wood there was in the water, it almost seemed like a one-person raft instead of a proper ship.

From how the wooden planks were charred at specific points, it seemed as though a flurry of lightning strikes had hit the ship during a particularly strong storm. The Heart Pirates had seen a few lightning strikes in the area a few minutes earlier, so they had gone underwater to avoid any potential hits to the ship. A young woman was slumped over on the largest piece of wood, shaking and trembling. The smell of nitrogen was sharp in the air, and it seemed like she could sink under the waves at any moment.

“Bepo, bring her up,” Law ordered. She was a stranger, but as a doctor he felt some obligation to treat her wounds. Besides, she might have information on this area of the New World and Punk Hazard specifically.

Bepo quickly swam out to grab her, and he and Law took her to the medical bay. The rest of the crew was surprised to see Law with a new patient, considering they were in the middle of nowhere. They knew better than to ask questions when someone needed treatment, so they did what they could to assist their captain.

She appeared to be in cardiac arrest from the lightning strike, and thankfully the crew had arrived when they did. After a few minutes of resuscitation, her heartbeat returned (though it was strangely erratic– quickening, slowing down, and occasionally appearing to stop again despite her ability to breathe) She wasn’t able to talk coherently, occasionally mumbling and moaning out random phrases: “Had to leave,” “Kodō-Kodō no Mi,” “No more experiments, please,” “I’ll kill you, Caesar Clown…”

The crew examined her while she was sleeping, and they got a clearer picture as to where this woman came from. She was wearing a jumpsuit with three logos on the back: A Marine logo on the left, the World Government insignia on the right, and the personal symbol of Caesar Clown in the middle below the other two. There were various syringe marks and scars from surgical cuts and other signs that she’d been experimented on for a while. Most of the surgeries seemed to be near her heart, and when Law removed it with his Devil Fruit to examine it, it glowed with bright, swirling colors inside its cube. It seemed like this woman was a test subject of Caesar Clown’s, and that somehow she’d managed to escape.

Over the next few days, Law would record some of her mumbled phrases. When she came to, she recoiled in fear at the sight of so much medical equipment and a stranger looking down at her. She flinched and she formed a heart symbol with her hands; her chest began to glow a deep red. “St-Stenosis Beam–”

Law quickly stopped her from attacking him, and he explained that he had rescued her from the wreckage of the ship. He knew she was from Punk Hazard, and he assured her that he wasn’t allied with Caesar. She relaxed a little bit, and asked why he had saved her. Surely he wanted to use her and her ability, just like Caesar…

Law simply replied that as a doctor, he had an obligation to treat her injuries. If he had ignored her, it would be violating his own moral principle. ____ was shocked; the only doctor she’d ever known since birth was Caesar Clown, and the idea of one with a moral code seemed unbelievable.

She spent the next few weeks recovering in bed, and Law spent every day with her. They started to grow close, and she explained that her Devil Fruit could manipulate her heartbeat and the heartbeats of others. She’d been fed the fruit at a very young age, and that Caesar had been experimenting on her since she had eaten it. It had been a long period of torture, but she finally found the courage to escape during Akainu and Aokiji’s fight on the island. A lightning storm had left her stranded… ”Until you came along,” she said with a small smile.

She was exhausted, but she managed to find the strength to reach out and touch Law’s hand as she sank into the pillows propping her up. She gently squeezed him and stared up at him, tears brimming her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely. Her eyes fluttered, and she fell asleep with her fingers still intertwined with his. Law felt his heart flutter a bit, and he was confused at the sensation. ____ was just a patient, after all–Surely, ____was using her Devil Fruit to tamper with his heartbeat…right?

[waterchestnut123]

Excerpt / WIP | “The Peculiar Perils of Straw Hat Parties”

I’ve written a lot of fanfiction for other fandoms, but I’ve just started working on my first One Piece fic and I’m very excited! It’s a light-hearted multi-chapter fic centering around Law and Nami, post-Dressorsa, pre-Zou. It’s a Law x Nami friends to lovers story, and while I know that’s not a super popular ship I read a couple fics that totally sold me on it, and I’m hooked! And generally speaking I love Law and Nami as characters so I wanted my first One Piece fic to center around one or both of them.

So, without further ado: an excerpt from chapter 1! Thoughts and comments welcome!

—:—:—:—:—:—:—:—:—

Chapter 1: More Than Meets the Eye  [excerpt]

Thinking back on her first impressions of him atop that bleak, snowy hillside on Punk Hazard, she would have laughed at anyone suggesting the captain of the heart pirates was anything more than a cunning sadist with hidden malicious intent; after all, one manipulator knows another. She had him pegged the moment she met him: sharp eyes belying a calculating brilliance beneath his cool exterior, who knew the power of few words and subtle suggestion. He was a shichibukai—and she never had met one she liked, with a sizable bounty to match her estimation of his dangerousness. Yes, she had him pegged; or at least, she thought she did.

Had anyone dared to inform her then of how she herself would come to view him in but a few months time—as not merely a valued ally and friend, but a lover, she would have choked on her own spit.

But a lot can happen in a few months time; this, Nami would come to learn with startling clarity. And perhaps she shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, during Straw Hat parties, anything was possible.

—:—:—

“I think I see it! I think I see it!” Luffy hollered eagerly from the crow’s nest, arms already stretching to swing from the mast before he’d even finished speaking. Nami smiled, glancing down at the jittering vivre card in her palm before murmuring to Franky who stood beside her at the helm.

“Seven degrees starboard should bring us alongside them.”

“Aye aye!” he responded with a grin, turning the wheel with slight, precise movements.

Glancing out at calm water, she could see in the distance the telltale swell amidst the usual ocean waves as the Polar Tang began to near the surface. Glancing briefly up at the sun—it looked to be around 4:30 in the afternoon, she estimated it would be about ten minutes before they reached their ally’s ship. Though he tried to hide it, she could tell he was eager to be reunited with his crew—especially after the unanticipated events on Dressrosa.

With clear skies and smooth waters, their allies located and no enemies in sight, it seemed they would finally have a bit of a respite—and about damn time.

She walked to the railing, quickly scanning the deck for her crew mates. Usopp sat fishing off the starboard side, animatedly telling one of his tall tales to an enraptured Chopper, and Zoro hollered insults at Sanji from beneath one of the deck trees—just the men she needed.

“Oi, Usopp! Zoro!” As both men turned to her, she gestured above her. “Start raising the sails!”

Before they could voice protestations she turned her attention to Law who sat quietly against the fore-mast, his Nodachi resting against his shoulder—a comparatively calm presence in an otherwise chaotic array of personalities staggered about the deck.

“Ten minutes ‘till we reach your crew, Law.”

He tilted his head back to look up at her, golden eyes bright beneath the shadowed brim of his hat as he smiled—or, well, his version of a smile.

“Thank you, Nami-ya.”

She had to admit, It was nice to have someone with some semblance of manners on board. She nodded with a small smile, returning her attention to the vivre card and the rolling ocean waves.

—:—:—

“Incoming!”

Franky’s shouted warning was followed by a loud thunk as the gangplank fell onto the deck of the Polar Tang, connecting the two ships.

“Oi, oi, easy on the paint Robo-ya!”

However Law’s protestation was quickly drowned out by the stampeding footsteps of his crew, Bepo well in the lead as he ran full-pelt across the gang plank towards him.

“Captaaaaain! I’m going to hug you!”

With little ceremony the bear launched himself at a wide-eyed Law, who staggered back at the unexpected force. Wrapping around his captain’s upper half, the heart pirates navigator gleefully indulged in what couldn’t be more appropriately termed a bear hug.

It was, if she had to put a word to it, cute to see the way Law reacted to the show of affection. It was subtle—likely by intention if she knew him at all, which she liked to think she’d come to at least a little; but Nami was well-versed in subtlety even if most of the rest of the crew seemed incapable of comprehending the meaning of the word. His head tilted down just a bit to hide the glimmer in his eyes, and a small smile tugged insistently at the corners of his lips, his posture relaxing easily into the bear’s fuzzy embrace. She leaned forward on the railing, smiling.

“Shishishi!” Luffy’s laughter echoed from the forecastle deck as he launched himself towards Law and his congregating crew.

“We should celebrate! Oi! Sanji! Make everyone some meat!”

Luffy’s sudden declaration startled her out of her amusement over Law’s covert huggle session with Bepo. She straightened, her eyes darting to Sanji—usually a voice of reason, who was instead walking towards the kitchen. Anxiously, she returned her attention to her own captain.

“Wait, Luffy! Don’t you think we should maybe dock at an island or something first?! We’re out in the middle of the sea and this is the new world—the conditions could turn on us at any moment!”

He turned to smile up at her without a trace of concern, draping his arms easily over a smiling Bepo and a frowning Law who stared at the offending hand but made no move to remove it.

“It’ll be fine, Nami! Who knows how long it would take to find an island; and besides, you’ll know if the weather changes before we need to do anything about it—you always do!”

She felt her ire flare at his statement. He was absolutely right, of course—but his shameless flattery did little to minimize the fact that he had openly admitted he was relying on her to keep an eye out for danger while the rest of the two crews partied. She couldn’t kick Zoro’s ass at a drinking contest (and fleece him for all he was worth while she was at it) if she had to be the responsible one! Responsible people were sober!

“Baka!” she shouted from the railing, leaning over it further in her anger, “You don’t get to have fun while I’m stuck keeping your sorry asses safe!”

Luffy simply laughed, releasing both Bepo and Law. “It’ll be fine, Nami! This is a celebration so you should have fun, too!” He then turned towards the kitchen, stretching his arms for the railing as he shouted again. “Oi! Sanji! Meat!”

“I’m already on it, you rubber idiot! Be patient!”

“Yohohoho!” Brook laughed from the swing, standing and pulling out his guitar. “Shall I play something for the occasion?”

“Suuuuperrr!”

Nami sighed, leaning against the railing with a hand to her temple. As she glanced out at the deck with a resigned huff—she well knew when she was beaten with her crew, she felt eyes on her. Following the sensation, she found Law gazing up at her display of exasperation with a hint of amusement. He readjusted his nodachi on his shoulder, one golden eye twinkling beneath the brim of his hat as he smirked and gave the smallest of shrugs, before turning to follow an excited Bepo into the kitchen. She couldn’t help but feel a little heartened. At least someone else recognized the inconvenience, even if it wasn’t anyone on her nutty crew.

[zonamievents]

ZoNami Summer Festival #5-6

Themes: Sleeping Under the Stars and Summer Rain Rating: K / G Word Count: 2,825 words Note: Due to a scheduling conflict, I wasn’t able to post a story for day five. Therefore, themes 5 and 6 have been combined for this chapter. Enjoy!

Hiking was something Zoro enjoyed because it broke the up his repetitive training regiment. He thought about going off on his own the moment he saw the mountainous range of the island they were going to be stopping at next. The New World was large but Luffy’s gut was larger, and restocking so soon after their last stop over made the swordsman realize that he hadn’t taken full advantage to stretch his legs last time they were docked.

Apparently, neither had their navigator.

“It’s this way,” her judgemental tone of voice caught up to him faster than her scrawny legs could carry her. “Idiot.”

Growling after enduring her lobbing insults at him all afternoon, Zoro spun around to bite back at her. “I’m not even going anywhere specifically! How can I be going the wrong way!?”

“Because if you take ten more steps through these trees, you’ll reach the edge of the island and fall into the ocean. Can’t you feel the sea breeze?” Nami wondered, sounding honestly suspicious of his capabilities if he was really about to plummet into the sea.

He could feel a vein in his forehead throbbing due to the frustration boiling up inside of him. His so-called hike through the lush jungle was more of a stroll than a hike due to his nagging guide. The entire crew voted that he bring her with him and he was forced to do so. Now, while climbing over roots and trying to find the ground through the overwhelming amount of foliage around him, all Zoro wanted to do was return to the Sunny and head straight to his gym.

Away from her.

Intentionally, hopefully unnoticeably, he had been avoiding Nami ever since their...naked swim. He didn’t know why - he wasn’t afraid of her or anything - but it was easier for him to pretend that he was paying her as little attention as possible when she...had nearly made him stand to attention the other night. 

“If you have no destination, what’s the point of wandering around here? We’re lucky we haven’t been eaten alive by bugs by this point.” Said the woman in short shorts that were laced up along the sides and a stretched out band around her breasts.

Compared to her, his simple faded t-shirt and cargo shorts must have seemed much too modest. If any bugs were going to target either of them, she must have looked like a damn buffet. 

“Not everyone has to walk with a destination in mind, you know. Shouldn’t a navigator like exploring?” Zoro snidely asked. Just as he surely pushed her buttons, there was a large tree branch blocking their path. It irritated him to no end that the polite thing to do was to hold the massive branch above both of their heads so they could pass through easily, and he wore his frustration plainly on his face.

As Nami walked by him, she retorted, “I do, but we’ve been ‘exploring’ for a while now and the sun is going to go down soon.” “So?” Was his answer to her concerns.

Nami eyed him, clearly miffed. “Following you placed us on the other side of the island from the Sunny and it’s--!” What he thought was going to be a lecture suddenly ended with a sharp gasp. “What?” Zoro inquired, scanning the encroaching trees and bushes to the best of his ability. 

“It’s about to pour.” Nami whispered.

“Huh?”

“There’s a huge amount of rain coming. I can feel it - we only have a few minutes before it touches down. We need to find some shelter!” She shouted with a hint of worry in her tone.

Zoro shrugged off her concern easily enough. “It’s just some rain. Just because your hair’s going to get wet doesn’t mean we have to duck and cover.”

Suddenly, two fists had grabbed hold of his collar and dragged him downward a few inches until his body was hunched over. Brown eyes sat directly in front of his face, burning while she explained. “When I say it’s going to pour, I mean there’s going to be a torrential downpour. We have to find shelter right now!”

“All right!” Zoro yelled in her face. The proximity to her set him on edge more so than it ever had before, which angered him thoroughly. In the past, if she had cautioned him so strongly, he would have picked her up in his arms and ran until they found a place to wait out the storm. However, it now felt like he was encroaching on her personal space and, in doing so, forcing himself to confront something he wasn’t prepared to handle. 

“C’mon!” Nami demanded when he didn’t say or do anything else. She let go of his shirt as she took the lead. Racing off, Nami chose to stop entertaining him and she took over the role of navigator once again. He was expected to follow after her until they found a shelter of some kind. It wasn’t until he heard the warning of a booming rumble of thunder overhead that Zoro realized how credible her warning was. Swiping away leaves and kicking up dirt as they ran, the two of them darted through the jungle in the hopes of finding anything remotely resembling a type of shelter.

Right when the path began to clear out somewhat, Zoro watched from behind as Nami steered herself to the right and bolted. Her sharp change in direction caused him to skid but he could only assume that the direction they were traveling in was unsafe, and she somehow knew that. The silence of their search somehow made the impending storm feel more ominous. They’d never been so awkward around each other before. Perhaps if he had simply ignored his nerves, if he had picked her up despite the urge not to, they’d at least be able to move faster on foot--

“There!” Zoro declared when he spotted something: a single layer of branches laying across a long piece of lumber, fastened to two trees that had been previously chopped down. It looked makeshift and dingy, but it was the best thing that they’d most likely find on such short notice.

“Are you crazy!?” Of course, Nami found something to complain about. “If that thing gets hit by lightning, we’ll be dead!”

“What if we don’t find anything better!?” Zoro pointed out.

“What if the person who made that comes back to find out we’re borrowing it, and they kick us out into the rain!?” Nami bellowed.

She wasn’t wrong. That was a possibility. Nevertheless, a storm was coming that put her on edge, meaning there wasn’t time for a petty squabble and calculating possibilities. “Then that’s their problem! If this thing is as bad as you think it’ll be, we can’t run around this entire jungle looking for a better option, Nami.”

She knew he was right. He saw the recognition in those incredibly expressive eyes of hers. Though it alarmed him to think that he was suddenly paying attention to her in such a vigilant way, Nami decided to accept his reasonings and dove under the plank of strapped branches. Once she was seated, Zoro felt a rather heavy splash of water smack down on the back of his neck. He ended up imitating her by diving into the shelter too. 

Then, that torrential downpour she mentioned crashed down upon the jungle like it had a bone to pick with it.

Pelting the shelter with a barrage of rain drops, the constantly drumming against the wooden surface drowned out the sounds of the rest of the world.

Again, silence between them made Roronoa Zoro feel more awkward than he ever had in his entire life.

The air between their crouched bodies was thick, sizzling as if it was an attempt to convert itself into steam. The smell of the Earth being washed by the storm was usually so soothing to him that it made him wish he had entered the jungle alone, if only so he could drown at the thoughts and feelings he’d be tempering down for the past few days. Drops of rain water splashed onto his exposed toes through his sandals but he barely noticed them in comparison to the discomfort that consumed him when he was alone with Nami in the middle of nowhere for an undetermined amount of time.

Even though he wasn’t socially apt at creating small talk, he was shocked that Nami released a fake yawn, putting on a facade to manufacture a situation where talking would be impossible. “I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up when the rain has stopped.”

All Zoro had to do was glance at the ground they were sitting on to realize, “There’s no way that’ll be comfortable.” She was a prissy woman, she needed a pillow beneath her head if she was going to sleep soundly.

The look she shot him said something to the contrary though. Her inner thoughts reached him in that moment, where he heard her think to herself, ‘Nothing is more uncomfortable than this.’

By this, she meant...them.

Him. 

Bashful over his inability to conquer whatever he was feeling, Zoro looked away from her as she prepared herself for her nap. It was so unnerving that a woman he’d known for so long was suddenly some sort of pariah to him. He went from placing his Wadou Ichimonji in her capable hands to resting his swords on his lap as he waited for the rain to stop. He went from being uninterested in her Happiness Punch to acting like he was frightened over her body more than he ever was scared of the monstrous Pica!

He scoffed before he realized that she might not be asleep yet. It would have been easy to be spiteful and choose not to care, however, Zoro was aware that she only came with him because she cared about his safety. For some reason, acknowledging that made his heart constrict in his chest. Even though she had badgered him the entire way, screaming at him about how inept his directional sense was, knowing that she wanted to waste her day tailing him triggered a response in him.

One that he doubt it would have triggered before.

Reacting to her naked body like this made no sense to him! He had never reacted to anyone like that before, not ever! Being apart of the Mugiwara crew had put him in some precarious situations and yet nothing lingered in his system the way that one intimate moment with Nami had. Maybe the key to it was the intimacy - a concept that was entirely foreign to him. 

Would he define their promise to travel together even after his dream was achieved as intimate too? On the night of her birthday, he had promised to let her hire him when she continued to make her completed map of the entire world. She would definitely need the protection, based on the terrifying places they’d visited already in the New World. Committing however many more years to her was just a natural response. It wasn’t meant to be a marriage proposal or anything! They were all chasing their dreams, so Zoro had committed to sticking with her until she completed hers. They’d have their own separate lives after that, wouldn’t they? 

A looming sensation of prophetic dread found its way into his gut and warned him that it might spend some time there. 

It baffled Zoro wholeheartedly that he was reacting so strongly to the possibility that the two of them might drift apart someday. For a man who had no interest in the future that night at the Wedge, he was suddenly engrossed by the odd sensation that there could come a time when they were no longer together. Maybe it was because he always assumed that if he wasn’t with the Mugiwara crew anymore, it was because he died in battle. However, if that happened, then Nami would have no one to travel the world with.

Nami would have no one to protect her. 

Now, the dread in his stomach was slowly crawling up into his chest, looking to squeeze that troubled heart of his.

Zoro couldn’t understand what on Earth was happening to him. With an unfounded amount of courage summoned, he turned to look at the woman who had been vexing him since the day he met her. Her shoulders rising and falling the way they were proved to him that she was indeed asleep, which almost impressed him. Still, when he regarded her the way he did in that moment, all he could think about was whether or not he could get a handle on what she had done to him. Would he be able to find his equilibrium and straighten it out, returning it to its former glory?

...Was there any way to do that aside from accepting that he couldn’t look at her the same way as he did before the night in the ocean?

When she wasn’t putting him down or screeching like a bat out of hell, Nami was a remarkable woman. That was something he had understood even when he only saw her as a friend. Now that the tectonic plates of his stone cold heart had shifted, Zoro couldn’t help but think of her as something greater than a crew member or a partner in crime. It was scary to recognize that. If he had been standing, he might have wobbled the same way that his self-control was. 

But instead, he was sitting underneath some random shelter in the middle of a jungle, watching over Nami like it was a task he would happily take on forever. 

“Hmph.” He grunted instead of laughing at himself, worried he could wake her. Maybe his crush was hyperbole that he invented because he was nearly at his breaking point of self-control when he felt her curvaceous form pressed so close to his. Perhaps he was delusional in hoping that she’d feel the same way, that she would want to explore what intimacy would be like between them. Zoro had no clue what the future meant for him now and, ironically, he suddenly couldn’t see beyond the very instant in time that he was in. 

So, he watched over her with appreciation rather than the disdain he first sat down with. He waited out the storm like it was nothing more than a drizzle that passed them by. In reality, the sun went down behind the storm clouds by the time the downpour ended. Carefully, he reached through the darkness of the night and ended up patting the back of Nami’s thigh. “Hey.” “Hm?” She grumbled in her huddled form on the ground.

“Come here.” Was all he intended to say to her.

But the sleep-ridden Nami was confused by his order. Her shadowy form sat up in order to rest on her elbows just so she could vaguely see him as she whimpered a distraught, “What?” 

“I said, come here. We’ won’t be heading back tonight.”

“B-But I was sleeping--”

“Just come here, dammit.” That fear he thought he vanquished reemerged when he had to face her once again. Sighing, Zoro knew he had a long way to go before he could tell her anything remotely related to how he truly felt.

As a compromise - for the sake of his pride and for her evident confusion - Zoro moved his hand over her leg until her found her hand near it on the jungle floor. He took it softly and guided her over to him. Slowly, cautiously on both of their ends, he led Nami into his lap. The clutter of their limbs made things rather awkward at first, but what else was new for them as of late? Eventually, she folded herself up in between her legs and found a comfortable place to rest her head on his chest. Right over his thundering heart.

“Mm, thank you.” Nami murmured genuinely to him. Zoro would have responded, but he could tell by the way her voice faded out that she had fallen back asleep rather quickly in his presence. Gratefully, almost too eagerly, he wrapped his arms around her body to provide her with some warmth throughout the night. Then, with nothing else to do, he leaned back against the trunk of the dismantled tree. 

“Huh.” He said to no one in particular when he caught sight of some stars blinking at him through the trees that littered the jungle. With their leaves so full, it was shocking that he could spot anything beyond the branches overhead. 

If they were on the Thousand Sunny, they could have had a better view.

If they were on the Thousand Sunny, he wouldn’t have had this moment.

That realization alone was enough to put a smile on his face as he finally drifted off to sleep too.

[creative-type]

Why Tony Tony Chopper is my Least Favorite Straw Hat

I feel conflicted when I see people list characters from greatest to least favorite. Cut and dry lists in general - whether featuring power levels, most attractive, saddest backstory, etc - tend to elicit this reaction, because they’re so subjective and I think if an author has done a good job then the audience shouldn’t be able to make the list at all.

Which wouldn’t stop people from trying, but still. 

Using One Piece as an example, there are certain characters that resonate with me personally, the chief of whom is Nico Robin. I’m a total sucker for the misunderstood badass bookworm - Raven from the original Teen Titans cartoon, Tris Chandler from Tamora Pierce’s works, Roald Dahl’s Matilda, and Thistle from Daughter of the Lilies are just a few examples of this in other media.

But apart from Best Girl Robin, my feelings about the cast of One Piece tends to vary depending on how you define “favorite”. I love Luffy as a main character, but would hate to meet him in real life. I appreciate Zoro’s place in the crew, but find him boring and long wistfully for the days when he was allowed to be a goofball. Nami, Usopp, and Vivi grew on me over time, and if I could graph my feelings on Sanji over the course of the series it would look like I have ventricular tachycardia 

And then there’s Chopper. 

Just as I’ve liked Robin since her first appearance, I have never liked Chopper. I know typing it is akin to blasphemy amongst the One Piece fandom, but I was left unmoved by his backstory, and he’s never grown on me in the hundreds of chapters since then. The first thing I thought when I first saw his unused concept art was “what a wasted opportunity”. 

 A lot of this is subjective. I work in health care, so the quack doctor Hiliruk rubs me the wrong way on a purely professional level, which in turn makes it really hard for me to care when he dies. I dislike Chopper’s “mascot” status and how it’s affected his character design. I wish he would do more onscreen doctoring. I find his naivete annoying. I think his post-timeskip transformations look dumb. And so on and so forth, ad nauseum.

At the same time, Nami is never shown drawing maps and I regularly have her in my top 3-4 Straw Hats. Usopp and Luffy are just as stupid, but their antics don’t bother me half as much as Chopper’s do. When I decided to sit down and write about Chopper, I had to figure out what made me less tolerant about him specifically when there are plenty of others who share his same flaws. This is what I came up with.

Want vs Need and Forgotten Development

In his book The Anatomy of Story, John Truby describes the difference between a character’s want versus their need. While written with writing screenplays in mind, many of Truby’s techniques can be used regardless of medium. It’s an excellent tool for would-be writers, and I highly recommend it.

When looking at Chopper through the lens of want and need, it’s pretty easy to see what Oda had in mind.

Chopper wants to become a doctor who can heal any illness, but he needs to reconcile his human and reindeer natures and see himself as a complete person. Ironically, in doing so he willingly becomes the “monster” he was so afraid of.

 Since this transformation is for the sake of and with the support of his friends, it’s coded as positive when before it was negative. Chopper is no longer isolated and lonely, but an accepted and important member of an infamous pirate crew. Compare the above to his fight on Fishman Island

So Chopper does have a complete character arc through the first half of the series, and it’s a good one - simultaneously unique to him while bolstering the themes of One Pieces as a whole. Good job, Oda.

At the same time, I think there’s a secondary need that’s overlooked by the narrative, and by this point I doubt will be relevant to the story, and that’s the fact that Chopper needs to grow the fuck up.

To be fair, Chopper is only 15 at the start of the series, had spent the first years of his life as a reindeer and the rest isolated from the world for his own safety. It is understandable that he’d be naive. Dr. Kureha points this out for herself when he first joins the Straw Hat Pirates

What sets Chopper’s immaturity apart from, say, Luffy’s is that it is presented as something that he needs to overcome. This is especially true during the Skyepiea arc.

Remember that early on in the arc Chopper is left alone to guard the Going Merry. Chopper fails, losing quite badly to the Priest with all the strings whose name I can’t remember. Even with Gan Fall’s intervention it was plot armor sheer luck that kept the both of them from being killed. 

This loss nicely sets up Chopper’s battle with Gedatsu, which ended with Chopper’s first solo victory of the series. 

Chopper screams to the heavens that he’s a “real” pirate, which in context refers to reliable, brave, and strong. Note that this ties into his main need of self-actualization as the chapter before Chopper calls himself a monster just before hitting Gedatsu with his finisher. 

In doing so, Oda is effectively saying that Chopper needs to mature before he can become a complete character. In this way Chopper is like Usopp, whose desire to become a brave warrior the sea necessitates that he face his problems head on instead of run from them.

Later during the Davy Fight Back, Chopper is temporarily lost to the Foxy Pirates. He is understandably upset, but he goes overboard with his hysterics, causing Zoro to call him out.

Zoro in essence tells Chopper to man up. Now, masculinity as defined by One Piece is a pretty broad topic, and this isn’t the only time Chopper is told how to act “manly” by other members of the Straw Hat crew, one of the best examples I can think of being Sanji telling Chopper that “a man doesn’t believe a woman’s lies” when Robin tries to leave the crew. In this instance, however, I think “being a man” is interchangeable with “acting like an adult”, specifically in the area of taking responsibility for one’s actions. 

So we have the problem of Chopper’s naivete brought up by Kureha, the first steps of maturity seen during Skypiea, and the exposure that Chopper still has a long way to go during the Davy Fight Back. There’s even a moment during Thriller Bark when he has to deal with the realization that one of his idols is an evil dirtbag of Spandam-like proportion - a loss of idealism that most go through as a normal part of growing up.

The development isn’t fast nor especially profound. It’s never the main focus of Chopper’s arc because it’s not his primary need, and in a gag-happy series like One Piece I think Chopper’s childishness would always be the brunt of some sort of joke. But there is a sense of steadily marching forward toward a goal, and if things had kept trending in that direction I think it would have been enough to elevate Chopper from his dubious position as my least favorite Straw Hat.

But immediately after the timeskip we have this abomination of a scene

Words cannot express how much I hate this scene. Every other Straw Hat gets an awesome reintroduction. Nami and Usopp, who along with Chopper make up the so-called “weak trio”, even get to beat the crap out of some of the Fake Hat Pirates. 

Chopper mistakes creepy cucumber lady for Robin and runs away crying, undoing hundreds of chapters of development in one fell swoop. It’s stupid on so many levels I can’t even articulate enough to type them all out. The gag falls flat and makes it impossible for me to take him seriously going forward. I will admit that I’ve not done a lot of rereading of recent chapters to double check, but where Usopp and Luffy get plenty of moments post-timeskip to display a new-found maturity while maintaining their fun-loving nature, Chopper does not. He’s the same old Chopper.

I don’t have any way to confirm this, but I think part of this stagnation of character is due to Chopper’s status of cute mascot. To disrupt this status quo is to lessen his marketability. There is a reason why Chopper’s so damn cute when Oda originally wanted him to be kind of ugly. I mean, say what you want about Oda’s use of realistic body proportions, but there was a time when Chopper’s head wasn’t bigger than his torso.

Whether I’m right or not, I don’t think that it can be disputed that Chopper has gone through what I call “forgotten character development”. He’s just as immature (and in some places more so) as he was early in the series, and personally I can’t stand that kind of character. 

And again this is a highly subjective thing, but I don’t even think he’s that cute anymore. It’s a serious problem when your mascot ceases to be adorable and has no development to fall back on.

In the larger picture of One Piece, the loss of Chopper’s secondary development is a small thing, but it’s enough for me to not care about him at all. Sanji, for all his polarizing actions, at least makes me feel something. These days Chopper is just...there. 

I will admit that I might have let my initial distaste cloud my objectivity, so let me know what you think about Chopper’s development, or if there’s any other character that everyone else seems to like but you can’t stand. I’ll commiserate with the burden of having an unpopular opinion.

[gomugomunosword]

this is everything

if there is no boy in a straw hat there is no pirate Zoro (or any Zoro at all)

zoroxluffy - one shot

Tied against a pole, stomach growling, sweat pouring, and the sun glaring down on the hot compound, no one could have predicted Roronoa Zoro, pirate hunter with a notorious demon temperament, would be staring down a self-confessed young pirate with a straw hat, red vest and sunny grin, the prospect of a famous future and a family in his suddenly capable hands that continues into a promise made between the clash of a sword and axe and the stretching of rubber skin.

This is the beginning.

*

Led in a small boat barely able to fit two under a dark, night sky crammed full of blinking stars, a warm, rubber body presses sharply in Zoro’s side that emits a warmth he has never felt before, his stomach full after a large meal of fish and sake, and a new feeling swirling in his chest at the sound of ‘Bink’s Sake’ being hummed under his new captain’s breath, the feeling heavy and tight but not terribly uncomfortable; the new beating of his heart is welcome after the years of emptiness he’s had to endure alone before, but clearly the reason for him being unable to sleep.

This is the start.

*

A new ship, new nakama, and an incredibly smiley captain leads to a therefore happy swordsman, distractions of a woman with big breasts and a loud mouth and a sharpshooter with interesting stories and a long nose is nothing compared to the allure of another laugh from the boy in the straw hat whose wide, dark eyes somehow show both an innocent youth and a wise maturity that capture Zoro’s attention at unexpected times in the day, the mysteries of the rubber man’s past and his unyielding will enough to keep him up at night and force him to nap during the day to hide from the still growing heavy feeling in his chest hearing the shishishi laugh gives him.

This is confusion.

*

His back aches against the wooden floor of another small boat, but with a burning, painful flesh wound ripped open in his chest, Zoro is just conscious of his captain jumping into danger with angry accusations falling out of his mouth so he lifts his sword and feels tears fall down his cheeks in an overwhelming need to impress his sworn enemy and to persuade his captain he will never fail again with a promise that resonates through his bones and makes his captain laugh (shishishi) that gives him the warm, heavy feeling in his chest, and the words “pirate king” give him a strange kind of thrill because now there is no doubt in him that the boy with a straw hat and a giant dream will accomplish all that he set out to do and more, and now there is no doubt in him that he will be there to stand next to him in the end with the title of the greatest swordsman as he “will never lose again”.

This is determination.

*

Now there is one more nakama and one who re-joins and the ship feels full but the atmosphere is pleasant and exciting as they make their way to the Grand Line, and it’s quiet now the liar and the witch have gone to bed, and Zoro feels comfortable now the cook and his suspicious glances at him whenever he’s near their captain have both disappeared into the kitchen, and though he is strong and a great cook and he hasn’t said anything about what he so clearly suspects – and what Zoro doesn’t understand nor care to understand – his swirly brows are annoying and he knows exactly how to piss Zoro off, but all that seems to drift away now it’s just swordsman and captain with their backs against the deck of the ship and their faces directed towards the dark, night sky which is crammed full of blinking stars, and it feels like it did before yet something has changed as now their fingers by their sides are slightly touching in a way that looks normal but feels so intimate Zoro can barely think, can barely breathe, and his chest is fit to burst and when he looks to his side his captain is smiling at him and the air feels charged and hot but before anything else changes the cook is back and their captain runs away begging for more food and the moment is gone but Zoro’s heart is pounding in his neck and his face is flushed as he pretends to be asleep and now he can’t help but feel that since the first night in the tiny boat everything has changed.

This is realisation.

*

This is the first time Zoro and his captain have fought, it’s the first time he has even thought about fighting the usually grinning boy since the time he first laid eyes on him, and his captain is bloated and tired but his anger is real and actually using his swords against his closest friend brings him great pain but he has pride so he fights for it, and when his captain finds out the truth and they cease fighting the rest of the day is awkward between them which is strange since they have never felt awkward before, and it isn’t until the night after a new ally and the promise of a strong enemy has been established that he and his captain are alone and it’s raining a little (more like drizzle) and the swordsman feels a yearning in his chest, stomach, hands, eyes, but he can’t look at the boy, doesn’t dare, and then he hears him laugh (shishishi) and then a “I can’t believe I doubted Zoro” and the world comes crashing down and now he can look at him and a smile lifts the corners of his mouth because his captain, his strong, uncaring and unyielding captain, looks bashful and the only word running through his mind is ‘cute’ and his hand can’t stop moving and it reaches and lands on top of his captain’s head, the straw hat pushing down over his eyes, but his grin is still there and his giggle continues and his heart is pounding and his blood is starting to roar but he snatches his hand back and puts it behind his own head to meet with the other one and he says “you’ll catch a cold if you don’t go inside” and he ignores his own warning as his captain runs to the kitchen shouting for food as he stays in the rain (drizzle) and lifts his face to the sky and closes his eyes and lets the rain wash away the rest of the heat that touching his captain gives him, and he feels his chest get heavier and now he knows he’ll never be able to see his captain the same again, but all he does is smile and go to the kitchen to drink sake and watch his nakama laugh and talk about meaningless things (yet all he can see is his captain talking and laughing and eating and sometimes stealing a bit of Zoro’s sake).

This is relief.

*

It is cold and snowing and Zoro has never liked the cold or the snow but the witch is seriously ill and this is the closest island and his captain is worried (which makes Zoro worried) so he stays and he trains and he doesn’t get lost but he feels much better when the witch is better and they have a doctor join their crew and they’re sailing again, but there’s tension in the air as they come ever closer to a terrifying new enemy and Zoro can feel it rolling off his captain in waves as they are celebrating new nakama but no one else can feel it, they don’t even suspect a thing, and Zoro finds himself watching his captain more than he usually does (which is more than he admits) though as soon as he turns his head and catches his eyes he turns away, but suddenly his captain is by his side and he’s got more sake and he leans into him and his shoulder fucking burns and his face is fucking blushing (he never blushes) and his chest is so fucking heavy and then he laughs (shishishi) and now Zoro can smell the alcohol on his captain’s breath and everything makes sense, even though it shouldn’t, and of course he doesn’t feel disappointed (though he does, so badly it gives him an ache in his body and heart and now his head hurts and – fuck) but Zoro indulges in the warm contact for a little while longer, his eyes closing and he can pretend that it’s a conscious thing, what they are doing (he pretends so hard that for a second, one blissful second, he actually believes it’s real) but it’s when his captain lays his head on his shoulder and sighs that Zoro draws the line and he pushes the boy away and stands up and finishes the sake so he has an excuse to walk away and he doesn’t look back and he goes to bed early but he can’t sleep, and after everyone else has gone to bed and fallen asleep he finds himself hating himself for feeling bitter about useless things but before long his captain enters his bed and lies on top of him and says “I’m cold, Zoro” and there’s a part of Zoro that doesn’t believe him because he’s so hot he’s burning up the entirety of Zoro’s body, and his blood is roaring through his veins and his heart it pounding in his ears and then the boy on top of him tightens his hold around Zoro’s chest (he’s on fire, fuck, it’s so fucking hot he can’t breathe) and he snores and when he realises his captain is asleep he can breathe again, thank god, and once the burning goes down (cools down but still leaves a thin trail of heat radiating between the two bodies) Zoro’s asleep and his arms are around his captain’s back.

This is something.

*

Zoro can’t concentrate, can’t think of anything but of his injured captain, bandaged and asleep in a palace room, and though he knows the fucking bastard Crocodile has already had the shit beat out of him, he still wants to find him and cut him up some more because of the price beating him paid since his captain had a hook go straight through his stomach and his rubber body is strong but Zoro can’t help but think it’s not that strong, clearly, so that is why he is sat next to his captain’s bed with his body unnaturally still and his heartbeat slow and his eyes can’t leave – won’t leave – his captain’s sleeping body because he couldn’t protect him before but he can now (that’s what first mates do, or, at least, that’s what he tells himself) and he waits and when his captain finally opens his eyes Zoro is the first person he sees and at the sight of his captain’s large grin and his laugh (shishishi) his heart stops, for a second, and the world goes back to normal and now Zoro can smile back, softly, and in a movement made almost entirely unconsciously, his hand reaches out for his captain’s and there is no shock or surprise in his captain’s face (though there is in Zoro’s) and instead he squeezes his fingers and laughs again (shishishi) and brings the held hands to his chest where Zoro can feel his heart beating hard, and Zoro’s is beating hard too, and now all he can feel is the pounding of two hearts in sync and it’s fantastic and new and Zoro finds himself being unable to breathe, and suddenly he’s really close to his captain and suddenly his head is resting on the bandaged chest which rises and falls quickly as he giggles, saying “Zoro, that tickles” but he doesn’t tell him to go away, so he doesn’t, and he stays and he listens to the heart (poundpoundpoundpound) and he closes his eyes and this time he doesn’t have to pretend or imagine because this time it’s conscious, this time it’s real, and Zoro falls asleep for the first time in days to the sound of ‘Bink’s Sake’ being hummed into his ear and the feeling of a warm hand resting on his head.

This is better.

*

The witch can’t understand why Zoro and their captain isn’t fighting back as they are getting the shit beat out of them by bastards in a bar who lower the pirate name, and it infuriates Zoro, not because he cares what the pirate name does to his reputation, but for what it does to his (his captain’s) because he used to think of pirates as thieving and boisterous and drunk, bitter men who are lower than scum but ever since meeting the boy with the straw hat his idea of pirates has changed and now when he thinks pirate he thinks of freedom, sake, one piece, nakama and dreams, and somewhere along the line his ideal image of a pirate transitioned into his captain and he can’t help but think that he is the only pirate, the only true pirate, left since the Pirate King and letting those bastards beat him up is the last thing he wants to do, he wants to fucking kill them for destroying the word pirate and he wants to hurt them so badly for humiliating his captain (and therefore humiliating Zoro) but he can’t because he understands, he understands and it hurts that he understands, because he knows they are winning by not fighting back, they’re being the better person, but sometimes being the better person isn’t worth it and he can’t help but think that now but he won’t fight back, he won’t, because he does whatever his captain wants, and this is what he wishes, so he’ll lay low and he’ll show them how strong dreams are because that’s the point and he refuses to look at what they’re doing to his captain because he knows that if he does he won’t be able to hold back, captain’s orders or no, so he holds his tongue and keeps his gaze straight and waits for it all to be over and there’s something niggling in the back of his mind about his unwavering loyalty to his captain, but he can’t reach it and he refuses to because right now he doesn’t want to know, he just wants to go through with his orders, and when the fighting ends and he leaves there’s a sense of accomplishment in his chest that he holds onto even while feeling seething anger at the state his captain is in (but at least they haven’t touched the straw hat).

This is trust.

*

Skypeia is over, their captain beat a god, and now spirits are high as they fall down from the sky back to the Grand Line with a giant octopus slowing the descent, and Zoro wonders if all that has happened to him since meeting the boy with a straw hat, red vest and sunny grin at a marine compound where he was tied to a pole has all been a dream, but looking at the faces of all his nakama (even the dark, archaeologist lady is slowly gaining respect in his eyes) he sees all that he thinks on their faces and he realises that this is not a dream, no, this is surreal but it is reality and it’s reality to them all because of one boy who promised them all the same thing and he can’t help but feel pride swell up in his chest (both at the fact that their captain brought them all together and at the fact he has seen first-hand as they all joined the crew) and he is thinking of all of this when the dark, archaeologist lady sways up to him and smiles that slightly creepy smile and Zoro feels a deep oh no thunder through his body because he may trust her more than when they first met, but he still doesn’t really trust her but that doesn’t matter because she’s suddenly speaking and she’s saying something that freezes him right down to the core (“I can’t help but realise, Sword-kun, that you seem to be very much in love with our captain-san over there”) and the word echoes in his mind but doesn’t register and she just smiles at him with an expectant look on her face and, fuck, Zoro has nothing to say to her because all he can think of right now is the word love (he doesn’t love his captain, he can’t love him, he really can’t) and his mind runs through all his interactions with the boy and he feels denial rear its head and he shakes his own head, brings a rueful smile to his face, but inside he’s full of turmoil and she just says “Oh, then I am very sorry for the misinterpretation, Sword-kun” and saunters off to her next victim, but Zoro is leaning against the side of the ship, his chest heaving and the niggling thought he had felt not long before comes back and a little of it slips into his mind and it whispers ‘love’ at him but he shuts it down, grabs some sake and tries to nap because there is no way he is in love with a boy who inhales meat like it’s air.

This is denial.

*

The night Usopp leaves the crew and Robin doesn’t come back is the worst it’s ever been and though Zoro doesn’t regret his actions (or words, as his captain had had to do the deed as captains were expected to do) he still feels a little pain at seeing his captain’s crying face and it hurts him, as it should do, because he was the one to cause this, to push this responsibility onto him, and the ship is quiet and he can feel it dying (it’s not long now) but most of all he can feel his captain’s despair as he presses his face into his chest, and Zoro’s shirt is soaked with tears but he can’t find it in himself to care because the closest person in the world to him is upset so instead he pulls his captain closer and rests his chin on his hair (the straw hat is temporarily discarded with his captain unwilling to show his despair in front of a hat filled with dreams and memories and promises) and tells him “You’re captain, you’re captain” but it sounds more like he’s reassuring himself, and his heart is hurting and he hasn’t had sake all day, and he craves it, but then his captain clutches him tighter and his face presses harder and for once Zoro’s body is not on fire, so he takes the chance and runs his fingers through the dark hair and lets his captain let it all out if that’s what it takes to bring him back to normal, although it isn’t long before the crying stops and then it’s not long after that when the sniffles stop and now it’s just Zoro running fingers through hair, and it feels reminiscent to a time when Zoro was very young and a ghost of a woman he can’t even remember the face of runs her fingers through his hair and tells him a story, and now his head hurts more than the ache in his chest but his captain is sighing and rubbing his face against his shirt and he lifts his head and says “Zoro is very snuggly” and he smiles (but not the grin, it’s not what Zoro wants) and Zoro replies by closing his eyes and pulling his captain up so they’re now face to face, and all he can smell is his captain’s scent (freedom and salt and sea and dreams, but, most of all, freedom) and it’s in his nose, head, chest, stomach, blood; it’s everywhere and Zoro soaks it in and whispers “Go to sleep, captain” and they do.

This is comfort.

*

All around Zoro are people with swords and he’s just lost one of them to rust and though he feels a sadness that falls like a heavy stone into his stomach, he doesn’t think about any of that except the need to have his sniper’s back because their captain is down (really down, he can’t move, why can’t he move he’s the strongest person they know) and right now Zoro wants to run to his aid, his body is already aching with the force of trying to jump to his captain’s side, but he isn’t the person that will help him right now so he stays put and does what he can do, which is fight those running towards him so that their sniper has the time to get their captain moving, and in one half a second he has of complete peace, he remembers one word (love) but he ignores it and then everything happens at once; the dark, archaeologist lady (Zoro likes her infinitely more now) is pushing their captain over the edge and they’re all jumping down to the sea to a nakama they love dearly, but Zoro isn’t looking at the ship, he’s watching their captain, watching as he laughs and grins and his face flushes with a little colour, and Zoro gets the feeling that everything will be alright once they land on the ship and they’ll get away (they always do) and they’ll laugh over this over dinner and have a big party (oh, how much Zoro craves sake) and their captain will be fine and this is all a one off, their captain getting so beaten up, and he will never lose again, just as Zoro vowed to never lose again, because they are first mate and captain and they have a duty to always win and stick together, and if there is no boy in a straw hat there is no pirate Zoro (or any Zoro at all) and the complete blissful second where they fall Zoro lets the cold air ruffle his hair and his captain’s hair and he smiles at the complete sense of it will be okay he feels.

This is carelessness.

*

Regaining two nakama and losing one is harder than Zoro thought, and as he stands and watches the ship burn he finds he is tired and that a ship burns surprisingly easy, and he feels a deep sadness as the ship slowly disintegrates away (“I’m sorry, I wanted to bring everyone a little farther” and  “I’m sorry, I want to always go on adventures together, but I was happy” then “you always treated me well, thank you” and finally “I was always so happy because of you”) and their captain is wailing and apologising for all of them (Zoro doesn’t dare apologise for himself, lest his emotions get the better of him) though the ship has gone now and Zoro can feel it in the air even as the ash rains down on them like snow except hotter, and he can feel it in his hair and clothes and he can feel it trapped in his throat but he refuses to wipe the ash away or to cough it out because this is their nakama, this is Merry, and he never wants to forget the first Strawhat ship which he trained and napped and flew on and he never wants to forget because he remembers the happy grin his captain had when they first got the ship and it was mesmerising and made Zoro feel funny for the first time, and now that grin has been swapped to tears and Zoro feels like this is the end of a chapter, end of an era, and things are going to change now, they have to, because they’ve lost one nakama but life goes on and he knows that all too well, he knows it so well, and he doesn’t want to think about Kuina but suddenly she’s there, in his mind (“You’re so weak, Zoro”) and now it’s double the pain but still he stands motionless and gazes onwards because his captain is crying enough for all of them and definitely enough for Zoro, and so he has to stay emotionless so that he can be the rock for his captain to go to, so he stands and he waits and when the time comes he comforts his captain and he tries to say, once again, this is what first mates do but then that word (love) comes back to haunt him and now he can’t do anything with his captain without thinking that word, and some part of him blames the dark, archaeologist lady, but he mostly blames himself, and he’s never been scared of much but he’s scared right now of what lies inside of him.

This is dread.

*

Zoro doesn’t remember the last time he was drunk, but he knows he’s drunk now, and there are a lot of people around and there are a lot of women around and there’s music and fire and dancing and food and sake (so much sake he feels as if his blood is sake now) and this is what he’s been waiting for so impatiently but none of it feels right and he’s stumbling now as he gets up (to get more sake since sake always makes everything better) and the ero-cook gives him a glare and tells him “Oi, marimo, anymore and your blood will turn into sake” so Zoro glares and clutches at his swords and replies with “That’s impossible, you stupid ero-cook” (even though he thought of that first) and the cook snarls “What’s that, marimo?” but his attention is suddenly taken by the witch stretching and Zoro’s not disappointed, he’s really not (he’s so disappointed, he was starting to feel normal again, and now he has nothing) so he staggers even more to find sake and then the doctor is tugging at his trousers and suddenly he’s sat on a bench and the doctor is forcing water down his throat but it’s not water he wants and he tries to say that (“No, give me sake”) but the doctor is forceful and the water is down his throat and now he’s less drunk which makes him feel less right and his head is pounding, but before he can do anything else he hears a laugh (shishishi) and the scent descends on him (freedom, salt, sea and dreams) and his captain is there, waving meat in one hand and a bottle of sake in another and his grin is wide and for him (Zoro, all for Zoro) and his chest starts to fill with an unknown heaviness (he feels like he knows the feeling from somewhere else, but right now he hardly cares to find out what) and there’s no people and no music, there’s just swordsman and captain once again, so Zoro grins back and takes the sake and he hears the sound that brings his filling chest to burst (shishishi) and his captain is no longer just in front of him, he’s in his lap, and their faces are closer than they have ever been before and his breath smells like meat (he imagines it always does) but Zoro has always liked meat and his hands are on his captain’s arms and he’s the one pulling the boy towards him (he can’t remember moving, he can’t even feel himself moving now, but he’s getting ever closer) and his body is on fire, his neck and hands and arms and face are burning, but what’s more on fire is his lips as they’re pressed against rubber ones, and he can feel the surprise in his captain’s body but he can feel the surprise in his own more, and it isn’t long before they’re pulling back and Zoro’s turns his head to gulp down sake (sake always makes everything better) and now his face is burning hotter than before and he can’t bring himself to look at his captain but his captain laughs (shishishi) and whispers “’bout time, Zoro” before he’s gone and Zoro is left with the aftermath of heat and salt and meat and (more importantly) sake, and his mouth can’t stop smiling and he feels better than he has ever felt before (even more than after having sake).

This is hope.

*

Nothing but pain is left for Zoro now, however there is not one bit of him that regrets offering his life for his captain’s, and when he opens his eyes for the first time in a while (the light blinds him for a second or so) he’s met with a serious-face captain who sits cross-legged next to his bed and his stomach sinks because his captain is never serious (what has he done) and the rubber boy’s mouth opens and the words “Tell me what you did, Zoro” fall out, but Zoro finds himself tongue-tied; he can’t bring the words to his mind to say, and he’s finding it difficult to breathe and his captain makes it worse by saying “Sanji lied to me, too; you’re not supposed to lie to your captain” and now Zoro can see the hurt that is hiding in his eyes (they’re not happy and glinting now; they’re dark and they’re pained) and his face is clearly showing the hurt and his hands are in his lap (Zoro wants them to be touching him but he doesn’t deserve it, he doesn’t) but even so no words are able to be formed in his mouth, it’s impossible, he just can’t speak, and that’s when his captain purses his lips (those lips that are soft, Zoro knows that now) and leans forward and now his arms are crossed over Zoro’s chest and his legs are straddling Zoro’s hips and his captain’s face is resting on his own arms so their faces are close, so close, and he says in a voice quieter than even a whisper “At least Zoro’s alive” and that’s when Zoro realises that the hurt isn’t from information being withheld from him (though he can see that that’s probably a part of it) the hurt is mainly from the uncertainty of Zoro’s life and, fuck, if that doesn’t just create an explosion of hot feelings in his chest that makes his heart race and his captain’s face is startled (he can feel his heartbeat going poundpoundpoundpound) and that doesn’t surprise Zoro, since he can feel his heartbeat himself throughout his entire body, but what does surprise him is the fact it brings a large smile to his captain’s face and now Zoro is feeling all kinds of heat in all kinds of places on his body as his captain laughs under his breath and runs his hand over Zoro’s bandaged chest which makes a trail of fire erupt, and even though it’s pleasurable, and even though Zoro wants more, his wounds are fresh and the touch, despite the incredible softness of it (incredible because when is his captain ever soft?), brings him great pain and his face betrays as such and his captain gasps (Zoro can’t remember his captain ever gasping before and it brings a different feeling to his stomach, something more heavier and much hotter) and his eyebrows furrow and goddamnit it’s cute, but his captain just leans forward slightly and whispers, straight into his ear, “When Zoro’s not injured” and he slowly, and very clearly gently, settles himself down to Zoro’s side and his hands and arms are by his own side (why is he injured, why does it have to be now he can’t handle touching, why, why, why) but his forehead is softly leaning against Zoro’s shoulder and it brings him to a sense of wanting to sleep, and with ‘Bink’s Sake’ being played in the near distance, he really does.

This is loyalty.

*

It would be a lie to say Zoro hasn’t been on edge since his captain’s whispered promise back at Thriller Bark and it would be a lie to say he hasn’t been looking forward to it, and just when the first month passes and just when he thinks that maybe his captain’s forgotten, they land at an island with a Halloween festival going on and his captain announces loudly (so loudly Zoro fears the whole island hears the damn words) that he wants to partner up with Zoro this time and though Zoro’s heart is beating so fast and though his hands sweat at the prospect of being found out (because this is what he’s been waiting for, he realises now, and he’s getting too fucking excited for it) but the rest of the crew thinks nothing of it (how can they not realise when their captain and even Zoro are being so obvious that something is going on) and they’re waved onto the island with the witch passing them Berries, and it’s not long until it’s just swordsman and captain lost in a sea of masked people, so Zoro watches his captain’s face light up at every single stand and he watches as he buys an almost impossible amount of meat to consume (but he will eat and savour every piece, Zoro knows only too well) and his captain even thinks to buy him some sake (though Zoro’s stomach is so full of knots he can barely drink it – his usual motto of sake making everything better completely forgotten about in his nerves and anticipation) though it isn’t long until the both of them are completely alone and in an isolated, abandoned house and when his captain gives him a mighty grin that speeds the blood pumping round his body and brings a slight flush to Zoro’s cheeks, Zoro finds himself grinning back and the front door is easy to open but once he’s stepped inside he’s attacked by a body that brings him heat and fire and made completely of rubber and Zoro’s being pressed against a shaky wall with the rubber body emitting a loud laugh (no, not the shishishi one, but one that’s a mix between barking and breathless, unrelenting chortling and it’s tantalising in an entirely different way than his usual laugh is) and Zoro can barely breathe as his captain presses closer and says “Zoro is all mine now” right into his ear, sending warm shivers down his spine, and then there’s lips on his lips and hands on his chest and he doesn’t know where his shirt has gone but he can’t find it in himself to care when his brain is feeling a multitude of different emotions at once and his body is burning and his face is so red, he can feel it, and his heart is beating so fast he wonders if it’s going to jump straight out of his chest (his chest where rubber hands are roaming free) and that’s when he discovers the feeling of having his captain completely free to touch, of actually touching his skin and running his hands down his stomach and back and neck and even his face, where he can feel his captain grinning widely (this makes him grin back and it feels fucking weird while they’re kissing, though Zoro finds he really likes it) but when his fingers gently press against hip bones his captain laughs into his mouth and it tastes so much like meat it takes Zoro a moment to realise he isn’t actually eating, it’s just his captain, and that makes him laugh back and then it’s just two boys laughing at each other until “I’m hungry, Zoro” and Zoro watches his captain tug at his straw hat slightly (Zoro vaguely questions that; if it’s a good thing they did something so dirty in front of a hat that signifies dreams and promises) and he pulls the boy to his chest and huffs out another laugh (it’s the most he’s laughed in ages) and he can feel the boy’s surprise against his bare chest and his skin is still feeling the burning effects but he replies back with “Me too, captain” and that’s when his captain smiles against his chest and his hand reaches round for Zoro’s and he’s pulling him along recommending him this “barbeque chicken that’s so amazing, Zoro’s gotta try it” and he throws his shirt back for him to put on but all the while Zoro can’t stop staring at their held hands and wondering where the hell his captain gets the confidence do something so daring.

This is heart-racing.

*

Right now Zoro feels nothing but regret and anger at himself, at his body, because he can barely run or fight or do anything and his body may be able to handle touching now (even from the rough hands of his captain) but it can’t handle anything else, which is degrading considering their sniper is the one helping him along now while they run from a robot with fucking lethal paw prints for hands and though he doesn’t want to, all Zoro can think about is the last time he met the pawed bastard (the real one) and he knows (he shouldn’t know) that they’re all dead, but he doesn’t want them all to be dead, of course he doesn’t, so he tries to push the sniper away because he’s done for - his body’s done for – but at least he wants his captain to have his sniper, but the sniper refuses and suddenly there’s an explosion and Zoro’s on the floor and the sniper’s apologising but he can’t help but think then of their captain and he wonders if he’s okay, if he’s alive, because he knows he’s certainly not going to survive this, then he hears the skeleton and sniper scream and now Zoro can get up because he knows, he just knows, that this is the real deal stood in front of him and it is and the pawed bastard says “So you survived, Roronoa” and Zoro replies poisonously (“Only thanks to your mercy”) because it’s only thanks to that bastard and his ‘mercy’ that he’s in this mess right now with his body unable to work properly and then the bastard asks something unexpected (“Where do you want to go on vacation?”) and Zoro instantly thinks of somewhere isolated where it’s just him and his captain, despite himself and his situation, but then darkness hits him and he can no longer think of his captain (or of anything else).

This is weakness.

*

Zoro had woken up in an isolated castle surrounded by rubble and ruins and forests and mimicking gorillas and an annoying ghost girl, but none of that is even a problem to him right now, not even a little thought in the back of his head, as he holds the paper in his shaking hands and sees the face of his captain’s fire-first brother followed by the word ‘execution’ and now Zoro is panicking, now he is rushing, as he knows he has to get to his captain’s side since he couldn’t handle one nakama leaving and another being burnt to its watery grave so he has no idea how he’s going to handle this but he knows it’ll be bad and fuckfuckfuck his captain needs him, he knows he does, he needs to be by his side because his captain is hurting right now and he’s in a bad place, Zoro just knows it, so he has to comfort him because he doesn’t want to believe that word (love) is true but if there is one word to describe the aching in Zoro’s chest and bones and head and, oh fuck, his heart, Zoro can only explain it as that (love) and it’s running through his head (lovelovelovelove) as he tries to build a boat and beat the mimicking gorillas and escape and he doesn’t really know what he’s doing or where he’s going, but all he does know, all that he’s sure of, is that he needs his captain just as much as the captain needs him (love) but the gorillas are strong (how is that even possible) almost too strong, and Zoro’s beaten again and again and again and now only one word is running through his head (love) but it’s not enough, not anymore, and soon he can’t get up again and the ghost girl is grumbling about fixing his wounds and he’s already found out that the island belongs to his sworn enemy  but he doesn’t care, not really, because he will find his captain again and comfort him, until the paper rolls in again and Zoro’s eyes are blessed with the sight of his captain and he looks okay, he really does, but Zoro is confused because his captain wouldn’t be in the paper to announce he’s alive for no reason and he struggles to think of the hidden message, but when it becomes clear he knows he has to swallow his pride (and his overwhelming sadness, because they are no longer meeting in two days, but two years, and he doesn’t know if he can stay away from his captain for that long; the struggle to get to him already took his toll on him, not to mention the thought of spending a whole two years with no shishishi laugh fills him with a sharp pain in his chest and heart) since he wants to get stronger for his dream, but mainly for his captain, so he kneels in front of his sworn enemy and begs for training and when he says yes Zoro has only his captain and love to think about and he promises, once more, that this time, for real, he’ll never lose again.

This is acceptance.

*

It’s been a year since Zoro has separated from his nakama and, even more regrettably, his captain, so he’s taking the night off to drink sake at the beach where he can lie on the banks of the island with the sounds of the sea surrounding him (he doesn’t want to think about the fact that the ghost girl had to show him the way, because he never gets lost, he doesn’t) and even though it sounds just like when he was on the Sunny with the ocean lapping softly against the bank, Zoro can’t help but think that it just doesn’t feel right: there’s no singing skeleton, no moaning witch or chuckling dark, archaeologist lady, no crying reindeer or lying sniper or super! shipwright, and, perhaps the most important reason, no laughing captain wearing a straw hat and a sunny grin (even thinking about the boy brings Zoro great pain) but he ignores all that and swallows down his sake so he can stare up at the stars and think about all the times he used to lie under a dark, night sky crammed full of blinking stars with a certain rubber boy when they never spoke a word, but hardly needed to, only slight contact and the sound of the ocean around them enough to satisfy them, and Zoro craves that now, even more than he has ever craved sake, to be able to touch his captain, to smell him (freedom, salt, sea, and dreams… no, home) and his fingers brush over his lips that are slightly wet from the sake while he remembers a time in an abandoned house with heat and lips and skin, but thinking about it is nothing compared to the real deal and, since realising that he does really love his captain, Zoro knows now that being away from that laugh (shishishi) is torturous and that’s why he doesn’t stop training, won’t stop training, because if he gets strong enough then he will never have to be away from his captain again, and, maybe this time, he’ll be able to help save his captain if need be (Zoro never wants to feel the pain of being separated from his nakama ever again, never wants to feel the pain that his incompetent body and clear lack of skill gave him) but today is special, so he rises the sake bottle into the air to celebrate one year down and one year to go until their reunion, in which case a strange ripple of anticipation goes through Zoro’s body and he closes his eyes to relish in it, enjoy it, because it’s not long now, not long at all.

This is apprehension.

*

It’s over, the two years have ended, and Zoro may have lost an eye and he may be stronger and he may have grown, but nothing has changed with his thoughts of his captain (actually, it seems to have only gotten stronger) but he’s the first there and the anticipation is killing him (those worthless idiots) however he’s already waited two years, so he’s sure he can wait a few more days, but (unfortunately for Zoro, he’s sure) the first person he meets is the ero-cook  and of course they catch up on what they’ve missed (they fight) and time seems to pass quickly (it always does when Zoro’s with his nakama) when they notice a commotion and Zoro knows, he can feel it in his bones, that it’s their captain and they hurry to the scene, all the while Zoro unable to stop excited shakes from racking his body and a smile from spreading across his face because he’s finally able to see his captain’s face and smell him and touch him and, fuck, Zoro’s practically sprinting now (it’s been too long; far, far too long, and his body is literally aching for his captain) and when his eye finally falls onto the rubber boy his heart slams into his chest once, hard, because he’s there, he’s there, and he looks fantastic (Zoro wonders if he can even call him boy anymore) and his eyes flicker to the large, star-shaped scar on his chest but he ignores it (and the anger that pools like molten into his chest as a result of it) because all he can feel right now is happiness as his captain waves and laughs (not the shishishi one, regrettably) and Zoro can’t help but marvel at how he’s literally just arrived and already gotten himself in trouble, though that is normal for their crew, he knows (and has missed) that, so instead he beats down a robot with the fucking lethal paws with clear ease and meets up with his captain and all he wants to do is touch him but they have to run away and despite their rushed reunion and the fact they’re getting chased to their ship by a large crowd of marines, Zoro feels nothing but a warm feeling of home that spreads through his veins and powers his body.

This is happiness.

*

It isn’t until Fishman Island that Zoro finds himself alone with his captain, the party finally over and Zoro is slightly (very) drunk and led on top of the bed in the room he was given in the palace in the dark, but he knows it’s his captain that curls up beside him despite all that (he still smells of freedom, salt, sea, and dreams – home) and somehow he finds himself hovering above the rubber man with a giggle (shishishi) creating an explosion of warmth in his chest, rubber hands already under his shirt to his chest, but all Zoro feels like doing is inhaling his captain’s addictive scent, so he leans his forehead against his captain’s and closes his eye, letting him trace trails of fire on his skin, meat and sake mingling in the short air between their faces and his captain says “I’ve missed Zoro” which makes Zoro’s breath hitch, his body stilling and his captain’s stilling underneath him as a result, until Zoro sighs so heavily it resonates through his entire body and into his captain’s, the words “I’ve waited so long for this, Captain” falling out of his mouth before he knows it, which makes his captain giggle once more and their lips meet for a second, then two seconds, leading to it lasting for nearly a minute before they’re separating to take shirts off and fingers are wandering over skin (it’s so hot, Zoro feels on fire) and then his fingers reach the star-burst scar and both of them freeze once more, until Zoro feels brave enough to ask “Does it hurt?” with his fingers still softly hovering over the plastic surface, his captain’s response of “Not much, anymore” enough for Zoro to move his fingers away and press his lips to the scar, his captain gasping (he’s only ever heard him gasp once before, and Zoro’s nearly forgotten how exciting it is to hear) and underneath his hands that are pressing softly into his chest he can feel his captain’s heart pace quickening (poundpoundpoundpound) and that makes his heart race and his captain is pulling his face up to his once again and Zoro can feel a leg between his legs and he finally moans “Luffy” and Luffy smiles against his lips and Zoro’s hands are running over the rubber body once more, and the sheer amount of vitality and strength that courses through his captain's body will never cease to amaze Zoro; he will neither forget nor remember the feel of Luffy's skin: never forget, as his fingers will always touch the rubber skin as long as the captain stays by his first mate's side, and never remember, because each touch is extraordinarily more different and more vibrant than the last, Zoro feeling simultaneously sobered from all the sake he drank, and drunk from the feel of Luffy’s skin and his smell that is surrounding them, and Zoro smiles back against his captain’s lips, until Luffy whispers, unexpectedly, “I love Zoro” and Zoro whispers back “I love you, too, Captain” with no hesitation and the rest of the night is spent laughing and kissing and learning the maps of each other’s bodies in an explosion of heat and fire.

This is Luffy.

This is everything.

[frobin]

astolfobia

hat auf deinen Eintrag geantwortet

“I can totally understand the Jinbe/Robin ship, it does make sense. But...”

>> What... do you mean about not being sure if Zoro reacted correctly or not about Usopp?

Hey hey, 

okay this has nothing to do with FRobin and is more about Zoro, Usopp and the crew dynamics but since you asked I decided to answer. And I try to make myself clear because it’s probably VERY, VERY, VERY subjective and also comes from my female and very European point of view. 

I read the scene again (in german bc I don’t have the official translation at hand) but I also looked if kaizoku-ni-naru has it translated and here it is: https://kaizokuou-ni-naru.tumblr.com/post/190464807603/thank-you-so-much-for-your-wonderful-blog-im

Also many of it is from memory because of course I’m missing the volumes with the beginning of Water7 More behind the read more: 

Let’s do a little recap: 

Usopp left the crew. Why? Because to him it seemed like they were leaving Merry behind because the ship wasn’t strong enough anymore. 

That might seem weird since Merry is just a ship right? But we know that Merry had a soul, that manifested in the Klabauter. Merry was part of the crew but as soon as she was too weak (Usopp did not know that Merry was beyond repair), as soon as there was something better, Merry was replaced. 

That hit Usopp hard because Merry had not only been a present from his friend Kaya but this ship had been with them through so much and who knows how strong the bond between Usopp and the ship had really grown (he had been the one to see the Klabauter and the first to hear Merrys voice) so of course for him it felt like they were abandoning not only a ship, a thing, but a friend and even a crew mate.  Now, Usopp has a lot of problems. He feels weak, especially compared to Luffy, Sanji (who is also the cook) and Zoro who are The Monster Trio for a reason. Nami is a Navigator and so essential to the crew. Chopper is a doctor (also essential) and a literal monster! 

But all Usopp can do is shoot. He is probably going to be the best sharp-shooter in the world but he is not aware of that. Not back then and not now. Even after all the amazing things Usopp did in the recent arcs, he still considers himself weak. 

His self-worth is low and he loathes himself, probably feels like he is worth nothing. The only thing that he is good for is keeping Merry afloat, a memento to his island where he was important. Maybe the only thing that keeps him afloat too. 

So, the crew is willing to abandon Merry. Who tells that they won’t abandon him? Right after he lost a part of the money that was supposed to be used for Merry, right after he had to be saved by his crew, because he is weak!  

And you can bet that Usopp has abandonment issues too. After all, his father left to have adventures. Usopp lost his mother to sickness when he was still a small child. The village was annoyed by the child that ran every morning along the road to shout “Pirates are coming!”. Not as a threat but because he hoped that it would be true, that his dad would come back for him one day. Instead he grew up alone until he found some kids that thought he was cool enough to be their leader. He somehow managed to befriend the sick girl, and told her lies, like he did for his mother. And then Kaya was willing to renounce, to abandon him for Kuro.  

Merry is important and they want to leave Merry - him - behind.   

Usopp was afraid, got angry and he attacked Luffy. 

Was it smart? No. Was is it understandable? Yes. Could they have handled all that better? Fuck yes! 

But they are both teens who are stubborn and hot headed and in a tough and loaded situation. So I understand why it happened. 

And Usopp again is beaten, even with his smarts and his knowledge of Luffy’s weaknesses. He could not win. Because he is too weak. He lacks. He is not good enough. Luffy not only destroyed Usopp’s (already beaten) body, but also another part of his self worth. 

(I’m not crying you’re crying!) 

Then, we all know that Robin was caught,  while Usopp fixed himself up and then later met Franky. It was only then that Usopp learned that the ship was beyond repair but also learned that Merry had a Klabauter. And then more shit happened. What we also know is that Usopp had a very, very large role in the rescue of Robin and that he was one of the people who talked sense into her. Without him they wouldn’t have saved Robin and Luffy might have given up. He pep-talked him to continue fighting. 

(It’s still you who is crying! Shut up!) 

Anyway, let’s get to Zoro telling the rest of the crew that they can only accept Usopp back when he apologizes. Which, let’s be honest, makes sense.

Usopp should apologize. Because he was in the wrong. But his decisions came from a very specific place. 

So yeah, Zoro is right. But I get a bad feeling at the whole display of aggression and that Zoro expects Usopp to live up to his (Zoro’s) also very specific views and values of a warrior and the honor associated with it, without caring for Usopp’s. Again, a boy who grew up alone without any role model except that vague idea of an amazing pirate that was sailing the sea.

And the whole “Either it is like I say or I go!” stroke me as especially harsh.

Because I’ve been confronted with that sentiment so often, that I felt that deep in my bones. When I read it first, I didn’t even realise why that scene shook me. But it was that exact sentiment that poisoned my club and ultimately made me leave it, because I gave the ultimatum right back “You will go if things don’t go your way? Then go or I leave!” I’ve been part of that club since I had been seven years old. I left it with 25 because I had more balls than that fucking asshole and I’m still pissed about it, ten years later. And I’m very forgiving.

What Zoro said was that everyone has to know their place or they are no material to be a pirate (which is kind of weird since some people become pirates to be free, if you want to follow and know your place, maybe you should become a Marine). Ultimately you have to know whom to follow and that is - in this case - Luffy and no one else. You have to trust his judgement because he is the captain or else he is not much of a captain. 

And again this can make sense because if you don’t trust your captain or know your place on a ship it can be a death sentence at sea. 

Then there is this thing that this is ‘no playing pirate’. 

We still don’t know all of Luffy’s reasons why he wants to be pirate king but he often hints that he just wants to be free and have fun with his friends. That sounds a lot like ‘playing games’. At that point he only slowly learns that being a pirate is often way more serious and dangerous and filled with tough decisions than he thought. Playing games and have fun, that is why he was so delighted when he heard that Usopp wanted to come back. But playtime is over that is why he agreed with Zoro. Time to grow up they are at war after all.  

We know why Usopp left the crew, went against his captain and friend, because Usopp felt like they were abandoning ANOTHER FRIEND. 

But whatever reason there MIGHT BE does not matter for Zoro. He even says he does not know why all of it happened, does not care who was wrong or right.

I think that is a dangerous sentiment! Because personally, I feel like it’s important to try to see outside of your own perspective and I think you should never judge before you know all the facts. If you then still come to the same conclusion that is fine and if you come to another that is good too.That is what it means to make an informed decision, because the world is not black and white. Many things have reasons that are so layered that you can’t just expect everyone to come to the same conclusion when they don’t have the same information. That is why communication is important. 

Usopp waited for the very last moment to reach out to his friends. The longer he waited the longer he could imagine that everything would be fine in the end. He gave himself to that illusion. Zoro would have never done that and so no one else should do it. He is not exactly empathic. I feel like Zoro can’t look farther than his own ideas.

But I can agree with Zoro to some amount. I understand where he comes from.

Do I like it? Absolutely not. 

So, to slowly come to an end, we all know how this went. And I have to give it to Zoro, he also did say “I hear nothing” whenever Usopp tried to handle the situation like nothing had happened. He wanted him back too, after all.

And shit, it worked. Usopp cried out to his friends, he apologized and Luffy reached out to him to reel him in. 

But I can’t help but think that it absolutely destroyed Usopp after all. He saw his friends leaving him behind in a foreign city without any support. He just got a bounty and so would get in the focus of the marines, especially them thinking he is still part of the Strawhat crew. 

The crew, his friends, would leave him because he is weak and not worth anything and he would have no friends and be alone forever. 

I don’t even want to start to imagine the pure despair he felt that moment. And it stayed with him, as we learn in Thriller Bark. And again and again. 

So yeah. 

It worked in the end but I think it could have been handled better. 

Well, that is easy to say as a grown up with some more years under my belt and from an outside perspective. But even back when I first read it, it gave me a strange feeling. 

I think at least one of the crew should have talked to Usopp and given him some clues. And I’m sure Franky would have if he knew what was up but he hadn’t been part of the crew. Robin didn’t for whatever reason talk to Usopp, but she also never agreed with Zoro, looked almost angry about it. Nami also didn’t want to go against her captain, I guess. Sanji agreed with Zoro, maybe also with a bad feeling and Chopper is even less experienced than any other of them.

Oda is an amazing storyteller with a lot of characters that have an incredible amount of layers but that does not mean I agree with him all the time and so I don’t agree with his characters all the time.   

And that is what I meant. XD Sorry for the long text.

[waterchestnut123]

CHAPTER 1 / The Peculiar Perils of Straw Hat Parties

Common commentary throughout the 5 seas held that Straw Hat parties were notoriously wild. This is something that Trafalgar Law, as well as the rest of his crew, are also learning first hand. Not that Law particularly feels like partying; after Dressrosa, the Heart Pirates Captain has a little soul-searching he’d like to attend to. But one tends to become… drawn in, to certain things around Luffy—regardless of one’s plans or intentions. This is how Law finds himself developing an unlikely and unexpected friendship with his ally’s navigator—and how that friendship, much like Luffy’s parties, grows far beyond his intentions.

More About This Fic / Read on AO3 Chapter Index | Next >

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Chapter 1: More Than Meets The Eye

Chapter Rating: T Warnings: Mentions of canonical character death, sexually suggestive content

Thinking back on her first impressions of him atop that bleak, snowy hillside on Punk Hazard, she would have laughed at anyone suggesting the captain of the heart pirates was anything more than a cunning sadist with hidden malicious intent; after all, one manipulator knows another. She had him pegged the moment she met him: sharp eyes belying a calculating brilliance beneath his cool exterior, who knew the power of few words and subtle suggestion. He was a shichibukai—and she never had met one she liked, with a sizable bounty to match her estimation of his dangerousness. Yes, she had him pegged; or at least, she thought she did.

Had anyone dared to inform her then of how she herself would come to view him in but a few months time—as not merely a valued ally and friend, but a lover, she would have choked on her own spit.

But a lot can happen in a few months time; this, Nami would come to learn with startling clarity. And perhaps she shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, during Straw Hat parties, anything was possible.

—:—:—:—

“I think I see it! I think I see it!” Luffy hollered eagerly from the crow’s nest, arms already stretching to swing from the mast before he’d even finished speaking. Nami smiled, glancing down at the jittering vivre card in her palm before murmuring to Franky who stood beside her at the helm.

“Seven degrees starboard should bring us alongside them.”

“Aye aye!” he responded with a grin, turning the wheel with slight, precise movements.

Glancing out at calm water, she could see in the distance the telltale swell amidst the usual ocean waves as the Polar Tang began to near the surface. Glancing briefly up at the sun—it looked to be around 4:30 in the afternoon, she estimated it would be about ten minutes before they reached their ally’s ship. Though he tried to hide it, she could tell he was eager to be reunited with his crew—especially after the unanticipated events on Dressrosa.

With clear skies and smooth waters, their allies located and no enemies in sight, it seemed they would finally have a bit of a respite—and about damn time.

She walked to the railing, quickly scanning the deck for her crew mates. Usopp sat fishing off the starboard side, animatedly telling one of his tall tales to an enraptured Chopper, and Zoro hollered insults at Sanji from beneath one of the deck trees—just the men she needed.

“Oi, Usopp! Zoro!” As both men turned to her, she gestured above her. “Start raising the sails!”

Before they could voice protestations she turned her attention to Law who sat quietly against the fore-mast, his Nodachi resting against his shoulder—a comparatively calm presence in an otherwise chaotic array of personalities staggered about the deck.

“Ten minutes ‘till we reach your crew, Torao.”

He tilted his head back to look up at her, golden eyes bright beneath the shadowed brim of his hat as he smiled—or, well, his version of a smile.

“Thank you, Nami-ya.”

She had to admit, It was nice to have someone with some semblance of manners on board. She nodded with a small smile, returning her attention to the vivre card and the rolling ocean waves.

—:—:—:—

“Incoming!”

Franky’s shouted warning was followed by a loud thunk as the gangplank fell onto the deck of the Polar Tang, connecting the two ships.

“Oi, oi, easy on the paint Robo-ya!”

However Law’s protestation was quickly drowned out by the stampeding footsteps of his crew, Bepo well in the lead as he ran full-pelt across the gang plank towards him.

“Captaaaaain! I’m going to hug you!”

With little ceremony the bear launched himself at a wide-eyed Law, who staggered back at the unexpected force. Wrapping around his captain’s upper half, the heart pirates navigator gleefully indulged in what couldn’t be more appropriately termed a bear hug.

It was, if she had to put a word to it, cute to see the way Law reacted to the show of affection. It was subtle—likely by intention if she knew him at all, which she liked to think she’d come to at least a little; but Nami was well-versed in subtlety even if most of the rest of the crew seemed incapable of comprehending the meaning of the word. His head tilted down just a bit to hide the glimmer in his eyes, and a small smile tugged insistently at the corners of his lips, his posture relaxing easily into the bear’s fuzzy embrace. She leaned forward on the railing, smiling.

“Shishishi!” Luffy’s laughter echoed from the forecastle deck as he launched himself towards Law and his congregating crew.

“We should celebrate! Oi! Sanji! Make everyone some meat!”

Luffy’s sudden declaration startled her out of her amusement over Law’s covert huggle session with Bepo. She straightened, her eyes darting to Sanji—usually a voice of reason, who was instead walking towards the kitchen. Anxiously, she returned her attention to her own captain.

“Wait, Luffy! Don’t you think we should maybe dock at an island or something first?! We’re out in the middle of the sea and this is the new world—the conditions could turn on us at any moment.”

He turned to smile up at her without a trace of concern, draping his arms easily over a smiling Bepo and a frowning Law who stared at the offending hand but made no move to remove it.

“It’ll be fine, Nami! Who knows how long it would take to find an island; and besides, you’ll know if the weather changes before we need to do anything about it—you always do!”

She felt her ire flare at his statement. He was absolutely right, of course—but his shameless flattery did little to minimize the fact that he had openly admitted he was relying on her to keep an eye out for danger while the rest of the two crews partied. She couldn’t kick Zoro’s ass at a drinking contest (and fleece him for all he was worth while she was at it) if she had to be the responsible one! Responsible people were sober!

“Baka!” she shouted from the railing, leaning over it further in her anger, “You don’t get to have fun while I’m stuck keeping your sorry asses safe!”

Luffy simply laughed, releasing both Bepo and Law. “It’ll be fine, Nami! This is a celebration so you should have fun, too!” He then turned towards the kitchen, stretching his arms for the railing as he shouted again. “Oi! Sanji! Meat!”

“I’m already on it, you rubber idiot! Be patient!”

“Yohohoho!” Brook laughed from the swing, standing and pulling out his violin. “Shall I play something for the occasion?”

“Suuuuperrr!”

Nami sighed, leaning against the railing with a hand to her temple. As she glanced out at the deck with a resigned huff—she well knew when she was beaten with her crew, she felt eyes on her. Following the sensation, she found Law gazing up at her display of exasperation with a hint of amusement. He readjusted his nodachi on his shoulder, one golden eye twinkling beneath the brim of his hat as he smirked and gave the smallest of shrugs, before turning to follow an excited Bepo into the kitchen. She couldn’t help but feel a little heartened. At least someone else recognized the inconvenience, even if it wasn’t anyone on her nutty crew.

—:—:—:—

The sun was just beginning to set, amber light turning the blue water seafoam green as it hovered above the horizon. The party had just begun to get underway, and Law was on his third mug of ale. Limbs loose and a rare smile on his face, he gazed out at the water from the solitude of the upper aft deck. The sweet smell of citrus blossoms danced in the air with the mouthwatering tang of Sanji’s shish-kabobs, piped up to the deck from the kitchen chimney not far from where he leaned against the mast.

He felt… peaceful; free. It wasn’t a feeling he was familiar with, nor one that he yet trusted, but it was nonetheless welcome. So much of his life had been dedicated to seeking vengeance against Doflamingo—building his crew, honing his skills, training and preparing and planning; until that vengeance had been achieved, he hadn’t realized how much he had pushed aside, the simple pleasures he had ignored or left unnoticed—the desires and whims he refused to allow himself.

Like watching the sunset and enjoying the smell of citrus blossoms.

Though there was a small, instinctually protective part of himself that refused to believe Doflamingo was really, truly dealt with, with the Shichibukai’s imprisonment a tremendous weight the likes of which he hadn’t fully comprehended had lifted from his shoulders—and for the first time in over a decade he felt able breathe deeply. His world, once black and white and grey—life and death and suffering, had been suffused with color. Everything was just a little bit brighter; sounds were sharper, smells were stronger…

From the lawn deck, he heard the lilting laugh of the Straw hat navigator rise above the chatter of their two crews. Frowning down at the tightness forming in his pants, he shifted uncomfortably.

Other things seemed to be… stronger, as well.

He’d never given his sex drive much consideration over the course of his life. Sure he’d had the occasional liaison, but his physical desires had never been much of a preoccupation. It was yet another thing he’d come to notice these past few weeks—something that his fixation on vengeance had repressed over the course of years; now that his decades-long plan had finally come to fruition, his mind suddenly found itself wholly unoccupied, and quite open to new stimulus.

It was in the wake of this realization that he, for the first time really, noticed how little the Straw hats’ navigator actually wore.

While the archeologist also tended to prefer less fabric to more, she was nowhere near as daring as Nami. Sure, he had been aware of this fact for quite some time—in concept. On Punk Hazard she’d been wearing nothing more than a bikini top and jeans, and in Dressrosa she’d reduced those jeans to very short shorts. But it hadn’t quite… registered, in some higher part of his brain, all he skin left exposed.

And good God what she left exposed…

Objectively he recognized that she was attractive; she was all long legs and full breasts, with a narrow waist and bright eyes… Her wanted poster was a favorite among pirates and marines alike, something he’d noted with some amusement when he’d crossed the Navy’s path as a Shichibukai. But like with her attire (or lack thereof), he hadn’t quite… registered, how striking she really was, until a few weeks ago.

It had made life aboard the Sunny a bit more trying in a way he hadn’t been expecting. He’d grown accustomed to Luffy’s… exuberance, grown familiar with Sanji and Zoro’s constant bickering, the small explosions originating from Usopp’s factory. All things considered, he rather felt he’d adjusted quite well to the overall lunacy of Mugiwara’s crew. His gratitude for their (albeit unexpected) loyalty on Dressrosa certainly aided his patience.

But he had not anticipated, nor had he been prepared for the wholehearted return of his sex drive after recovering from his injuries aboard Bartolomeo’s ship.

He quietly sighed, leaning against the main mast as he watched the sun slowly sink towards the water. In the larger scheme of things, it was a relatively small price to pay. He had some catching up to do, perhaps, once they reached a habited island; find some woman to charm into his bed for the night (or several) and relieve the tension his own efforts failed to. Until then he’d just have to suffer through Nami’s undersized wardrobe. Subconciously he rubbed his right arm; he’d been through far worse, after all.

The sun was beginning to ripple and waver as Law breathed in the crisp ocean air, savoring the silence of the deck. The party would get into full swing soon enough, he was sure, and he aimed to get a little peace before the ruckus was inescapable. He lifted his mug to his lips, swallowing back the remaining ale in his mug. As he closed his eyes, basking in the warm amber light, the squeak of the observation room door caused him to creak an eye open and glance towards the source of the noise.

“Oh! Hey Torao, I didn’t think anyone was up here,” Nami said with a smile, shutting the door behind her with one foot. She had a basket on one arm and shears in the other and, he couldn’t help but gratefully notice, wore a thigh-length sweater—far more than she’d been wearing earlier in the afternoon.

“Nami-ya,” he acknowledged before returning his gaze to the sea, debating the pro’s and cons of descending into the commotion of the lower decks to refill his mug.

She walked towards him—or rather, towards her trees which occupied the space against the other side of the mast.

“Here.”

Without preamble she thrust her basket at him, beckoning him to her trees as she knelt before them. “Since you’re just standing there, help me with this real quick—I want to finish before the sun goes down and I’ll work faster with two hands.”

Perhaps it was the foreign feeling of calm aboard the Sunny making him unusually compliant—refusal only briefly crossed his mind, but he did as instructed. Standing next to her with the basket in hand, he watched as she thoughtfully pruned the first tree, inspecting each mikan carefully and gently placing the ripe ones in the basket.

“You know there are easier ways to fend off scurvy. You don’t have to keep live citrus trees on your ship.”

“That’s not why I keep them,” she answered smoothly without turning from her task, gently squeezing a mikan between her fingers before deeming it ready and giving it a gentle tug. She then turned thoughtful, pausing in her task before adding, “Well, not the primary reason anyway.”

He eyed her a moment as she moved to the next tree, placing her clippings in a bin beside the small grove.

“Then why do you keep them?”

She smiled softly as she reached for the next fruit, rubbing a smudge of dirt from it tenderly before answering.

“Because they’re from my mother’s grove. A little souvenir of home.”

“You’re from east blue, right?” he asked, though he felt he already knew the answer. Mikans were a common export from that ocean.

She hummed in response. “Bellemére—my mother, ran an orchard, where she raised my sister and I until I was ten. Best Mikans in all of the Conomi islands,” she boasted proudly.

Law eyed her as she carefully parted the tree’s branches to reach a more hidden fruit.

“Why did you leave then?”

He didn’t know why he was asking, but curiosity and boredom encouraged his curiosity.

She stilled, fingertips gently brushing a particularly broad leaf as she gazed at it, eyes faraway. It was several moments before she answered.

“She was killed; and I was kidnapped and forced into a pirate crew.” She was quiet a moment before adding with a small laugh, “It’s kind of how I met Luffy, actually.”

Law’s brow furrowed and he eyed her closely as she resumed her task, but did not respond. As he was learning from his time aboard the Sunny, all of the Straw Hats had more to them than met the eye—Nami was no exception. A pirate at ten years old… he could certainly relate.

She finished her pruning in silence, though it was a peaceful silence. Law’s eyes once more navigated out to the sunset, where the bright orange orb was meeting with the water, mind briefly returning to his earlier thoughts—tumbling and drifting much like the waves.

Doflamingo was gone…

When finally she stood, he extended the basket wordlessly and she took it with a smile, her eyes on him uncomfortably analytical. She placed her shears carefully beside the ripe fruit before returning her gaze to him, then following his eyes out to sea.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Like there’s a little part of you that refuses to believe you’re really free.”

Her voice was soft, her eyes kind, yet despite that Law felt himself bristle at how easily she had seen through him.

“And what makes you say that, Nami-ya?” he inquired guardedly.

She hummed quietly, tilting her head at him with a small knowing smile as she answered.

“Because I felt the same way when Luffy saved me.”

She didn’t wait for a response, merely turned and walked towards the door with her hand raised behind her.

“Thanks for the help.”

Then, she disappeared into the library.

Law stared at the door for several minutes, not quite sure what to make of her words—or her, for that matter. She was the one member of the crew he’d had little time to get to know personally, and had perhaps dismissed the most readily. But there was quite a bit more to Nami than met the eye. She was far more perceptive than he gave her credit, for one; and he was seeing more and more how foolish that dismissal was.

He returned his gaze to the sea. The sun was now half hidden by the horizon, and he watched the rest slowly sink beneath the waves as he let his thoughts turn. She wasn’t wrong; Doflamingo had haunted him his entire adult life. Now he was gone, wrapped in twice his weight in seastone chains at the bottom of Impel Down. It was hard to believe that someone who had been such an omnipresent and looming specter could truly be gone, though It was a change he was happy to try and adjust to.

It did, however, make him wonder about her own life, and what her careful words had only hinted at. He’d had no idea she’d been a pirate before joining Luffy—for it had been on his crew that she’d gained notoriety, and it made him wonder: who was Cat Thief Nami before she was the navigator on a Supernova’s crew?

He heard her reappear on the lower decks a few minutes later, the assaulting shouts of Luffy pulling him from his thoughts.

“Oi, Nami! Have you seen Torao?!”

Law frowned. He had sought refuge on the furthest deck from the festivities specifically because he wanted some distance before the party became inescapable, hoping that the rest of his crew would be enough of a distraction for the other captain. Apparently not. He let out a sigh, pulling away from the mast as he made for the door—and another hiding spot—but stopped when he heard her response.

“Haven’t seen him,” she responded casually. “Have you checked the sub?”

He stilled, a smile growing before he let himself relax against the mast again. He uttered a silent ‘thank you’ before turning his gaze up to the darkening sky. Yes, Cat Thief Nami was full of surprises.

Stars were just starting to emerge, and he decided he’d enjoy what extra time she had bought him. Straw hat would find him soon enough, and besides, he would need to head down there eventually if he wanted to refill his mug. By the sounds of the growing laughter and the noodling of a guitar—Brook, no doubt—the party was just getting started; and he knew, soon enough, he’d be swept up into the pace of the straw hats—whether he wanted to or not.

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