atje voor de sfeer
tony tony chopper my g đŤĄ
Glimpse of Us
Pairing: Roronoa Zoro x Reader
Zoro canât stop seeing Kuina in youâher voice, her stance, her likes and dislikes. As the subtle comparisons mount, youâre left feeling like a shadow, never fully seen for who you are. Can he ever truly see even a glimpse of you, or is it always a glimpse of her?
Word Count: ~4,000
tags: angst, emotional distance
my masterlist here âĄ
You joined the Straw Hat crew just after Dressrosa, your sword at your hip and fire in your veins. Zoro was the first to spar with you, his eyebrow raising as your blade nearly nicked his sleeve.
âNot bad,â he muttered. âWhatâs your name again?â
You told him, and when you smiled, something in his eyes flickered. You didnât know it then, but he was remembering someone else.
Your face, the way your expression softened when you smiled, reminded him of her. The way your eyes sparkled with that fire, it was too familiar. It wasnât just your face; it was the way it was framed with your hair, the way your lips curved when you laughedâsomething in your features felt like the ghost of someone long lost.
âShe was strong,â he said under his breath, not to youâbut to the ghost behind your shoulder.
Still, he trained with you every morning. He watched you eat three bowls of rice like it was nothing. He called you annoying when you talked too much and interesting when you didnât back down. Youâd catch him staring sometimesâhis gaze unreadable.
You thought it was the beginning of something.
⸝
It was late, and you were both on watch. The Thousand Sunny rocked gently beneath your feet, stars swimming above you.
âYou always stay up this late?â you asked, sitting beside him on the lionâs head.
âYeah,â he said. âI like the silence.â
You looked at him, and he didnât look away.
âI never asked,â you said softly. âWhy did you become a swordsman?â
There was a pause. Then: âA promise.â
âTo who?â
He was quiet again, gaze drifting to the sea. âSomeone who meant a lot.â
You nodded. You didnât press. But his hand brushed yoursârough fingers curling slightlyâand when he didnât pull away, neither did you.
You thought that maybe this was how it began: gently, gradually.
⸝
It started with little things.
Zoro offered you her favorite drink from the fridge. He mentioned her name once by mistakeâKuinaâand froze like the air had been knocked out of him.
You pretended not to notice.
But then came the slip-ups.
âShe used to hold her sword like that,â he said mid-training, watching you adjust your grip on the blade.
You paused, sword in hand, before nodding lightly. âGuess it works for me too,â you replied, though it stung.
âShe hated fish too,â he noted over dinner one night, pointing at your plate when you hesitated to eat. âYou like it, but⌠she never could stomach it.â
You gave him a forced smile, trying to ignore the coldness creeping into your chest. âI guess Iâm different.â
At first, you smiled. You laughed it off, letting it go.
Until it kept happening.
âKuina always said that.â
âKuina used to hum that song.â
âKuinaââ
You slammed your fork down one night at the table, but you didnât say a word. He didnât notice your silence. Or maybe he chose not to.
⸝
Nami found you in the hallway after another awkward dinner, your arms folded tight across your chest.
âHe doesnât mean to hurt you,â she said gently. âItâs just⌠grief. Sometimes it sticks.â
You stared at the wall, trying to find something to focus on, but the words kept repeating in your head. Grief. Grief. Grief.
âIâm not her,â you said quietly, though you werenât entirely sure who you were trying to convinceâNami, or yourself.
âI know.â
âI donât want to be her.â
âYouâre not.â
You bit your lip, voice breaking. âThen why does he keep looking at me like I am?â
⸝
You found him in the crowâs nest, sharpening his sword.
âZoro,â you said quietly.
He looked up, pausing mid-stroke. âHm?â
You stepped closer, heart in your throat. âWhat did you see when I joined the crew?â
He blinked. âWhat?â
âWas it me?â Your voice trembled. âOr was it just someone who reminded you of her?â
Zoro sat up straighter, eyes narrowing like he couldnât believe you were saying this. âY/Nââ
âYou talk about her like she was everything,â you said, a soft ache rising in your voice. âAnd maybe she was. I understand that. But you canât keep looking at me like Iâm her. Iâm not a ghost. Iâm not your memory.â
He stood slowly, arms hanging at his sides. âI know youâre notââ
âDo you?â you snapped, stepping back like his presence burned. âBecause every time you mention her favorite food, her stance, her voiceâit feels like Iâm being folded into a mold I never agreed to fit.â
Zoroâs mouth parted, but no words came.
You bit out the words, sharp and shaking. âIâm not Kuina.â
His voice came low and rough. âYes. You are not.â
There was a pause, sharp as a blade between you.
âSo then,â you whispered, âwhat about the people who are here? Who want to love you now? Do they even stand a chance?â
He closed his eyes like your words had split him open. âI never meant to make you feel that way.â
âBut you did,â you said, voice cracking. âYou made me feel like I was someone you were trying to rememberânot someone standing right in front of you.â
Zoro opened his eyes again, pain flickering behind them. âThatâs not fair.â
âNo, whatâs not fair is that you keep carrying her into every room weâre in and then wonder why I feel invisible.â You stared at him, your heart pounding. âDo you even see me for who I am? Or is all you see the parts of her that I happen to resemble?â
He looked stunned.
âDo you even know what I like? What I hate? What Iâm afraid of? Or have you only been memorizing Kuina all over again through me?â
Zoroâs voice dropped. âI see you.â
âThen tell me something about me,â you challenged, stepping closer. âNot something I remind you of. Something real. Something only I would say or do or think. Tell me you see me.â
He opened his mouthâbut nothing came out.
His lips parted, his brow furrowed, eyes darting like he was searching for the right words in the fog of his guilt.
But there was only silence.
Just that.
Your breath hitched.
âSee?â you said, and your voice cracked like glass. Disappointment twisted your expression as you stepped back, something fragile and unspoken crumbling inside you.
⸝
You stopped training with him.
You laughed a little less. You avoided late watches.
He noticed. But he didnât chase.
Sanji filled the silence in the kitchen. Luffy never asked why you stopped joining Zoro on the deck. The crew carried on. And maybe you did too. Maybe thatâs what survival looked like.
But some nights, you stood at the rail of the ship, wind cold on your cheeks, and wondered if youâd ever been seen for youânot her echo.
⸝
One morning, he stood beside you. Quiet. Not saying a word.
You didnât turn.
âI remember her,â he said finally. âEvery day. But that doesnât mean I didnât see you.â
You stayed still, unsure if it was comfort or cruelty to hear that.
Zoroâs voice was rough. âI saw how you always double-check the anchor chain before we dock. How you clean your blade like itâs a ritual. You hate lychee, love thunderstorms, and you always look out for Chopper when heâs scared. You stand with your weight slightly to the left when youâre lying. And when youâre angry, you chew your words like youâre afraid theyâll hurt.â
You swallowed hard.
âYou were never a shadow,â he said. âYou were vivid. And IâI was just too lost to hold you properly.â
A long silence stretched.
You breathed, voice soft. âI wish Iâd been someone else.â
Zoroâs eyes lowered. âI wish Iâd been someone better.â
You turned to face him for the first time in days. The space between you pulsed with the weight of everything you both had carried.
You turned to him, eyes rimmed with quiet hurt. âYou said you see me now. But when I needed you to, you didnât. And now⌠I donât know whatâs left to see.â
Zoro reached for a word, a gestureâanythingâbut nothing came.
You stepped back. âMaybe all we ever were was a glimpse of something that never had time to become.â
And then you walked away.
He didnât stop youânot because he didnât care, but because he finally understood.
Sometimes, love comes too late.
Sanji x !Fem!Reader, fluff, crack, swearing, bubbly clumsy reader, cuteness aggression, one-shot
You check out what Sanjiâs making and get a little too curiousâŚ
Like stuff like this? Check out my masterlist, thereâs one much similar but a little spicier. Also please check out this amazing artist! She does awesome commissions: @salibadati
â˘-â˘-â˘ââ˘-â˘-â˘-â˘â˘-â˘-â˘-â˘-â˘ââ˘
You glided down the hall, hopping down the stairs as you excitedly made your way to the kitchen. You were eager to tell the cook youâd caught a fish. Orâwell, somewhat, it was a flounder of the sorts, a mixed half-seabeast that left the scaredy cat trio utterly petrified.
Regardless, itâd been a fight to reel in, but thanks to the boys it hadnât been too much of an issueâto you at-least. Your pole had been the lucky one, and youâd gladly handed it over to Luffy whoâd been happy to eat it.
The sea-beast was large, large enough to keep a steady food supply for a weekâthat is if the captain didnât eat it.
Swiftly passing the kitchen doors, a heavenly smell drafted through. Something similar to curry, maybe with peppers, left a comforting sense to your nose along with the herbs. You smiled, swinging yourself around the service hatch.
âSanji! Guess what I caught,â you pipped, hanging on the corner.
âHm? Whatâd you catch love?â his tone was gentle, using something he only used for you.
Sanjiâs back was turned, and you couldnât help but notice how nice his tux carved to his shoulders. His sleeves were rolled, accentuating his fore-arms that left your mouth watering.
Gosh, he could be so clueless. Or he couldnât. You could never tell with him, from teasing to showing off to acting oblivious and naive he was a mix of the three.
âI have no idea,â you muttered, coming up behind him. Along the counter, your attention drifted to the organized ingredients heâd aligned in black and white bowls.
âItâs big and scaly though,â you shifted a bowl to check its contents, curious to what it was. âIâve never seen anything like it, itâs weird. It has whiskers like a catâbut it looks like a pufferfish mixed with a halibut.â
He hummed softly in response.
âOh, and it was really snappy too. You shouldaâ seen Usopp, he was terrified,â you laughed, leaning over to smell some of them. Your nose was immediately assaulted with spice and warmth, and you careened back.
Sanji nodded, listening with a smile. Your laughter was music to his ears, and heâd wished he could replay it over and over.
âBig and scaly? Did you catch a sea king?â
âNo, I donât think so, Robin said itâs high in protein though. She even pulled out a fancy fish-log to make sure.â
âHm, well that sounds promising, good job Love we needed that,â he praised, stirring a pot heâd only break out for stews and curries.
The acknowledgment flew over your head as you sniffed a bowlâs contents, grown oblivious to the use of his affectionate tones. He threw love and praises like a child blowing dandelion seeds, leaving fluttering white fuzzlies of positivity youâd sprout from.
âThank you,â you chirped, popping carelessly beside him.
âZoroâs cutting it down for us now actually, so you donât have to. I figured you were busy making something,â you jumped, leaning into his side, creeping slowly to check the food you so craved. You always knew itâd look good, but that didnât change the fact you still wanted to see it.
The steam hit you like a burning fog, making your eyes water.
âFinally, moss-headâs actually pulling his weight,â he snarked, hovering his hand to quickly shield your face.
âCareful itâs hot sweetheart.â
âYeah I know, it just smells good.â you shrugged, wandering back over to the small dishes.
The mindless compliment sent his heart racing, and his eyes turned to hearts. âWhy thank you my Angel, youâre too kind.â He swirled, mixing the turmeric colored dish.
âOf course,â you muttered, sniffing a spoon of something you expected to be sweet, but it stung, yet again leaving your eyes to water.
You dropped the spoon, leaning back, coughing slightly.
âPhew, the fuck is that?â
âOh? Those are the chillies,â he laughed, adding some cloves to the pot, keeping casual in your presence. You joined often in the kitchen, appearing time and time again and itâd just become a norm between you too. He watched as you inspected, he told, and you helped. It was a sweet balance, teetering on the edge of chaos with your clumsiness. Rather blunt recklessness in his opinion. But heâd loved you the same.
He found it endearing.
Though, this time youâd inspected a bowl of something sweet. Stark contrast to chilies and cayenne peppers from before, you simply wanted to taste. And the thought had been to quick to stop.
Your eyes wandered, purely drawn to Sanjiâs fluent skills. Chopping vegetables and chicken so perfectly, it put his knives to shame.
Youâd ironically been mesmerized, due to the fact he was so slim and tall, manly, and the literally epitome of a gentleman. Yet he worked with knives and food like a ballerina to her shoes.
Lost in the maze of your admiration, youâd mindlessly put a bit too much on the spoon to try, and the bitterness hit hard. You hadnât paid attention, and now you payed the price.
A muffled cough sounded throughout the kitchen, and a hand flew to cover it, but it was too late. Your eyes watered and you immedialty regretted the impulsive decision.
Poofft . . .
Sanji paused. His cutting slowed, and heâd gently placed the knife down to wipe his hands. Maybe youâd sniffed the wrong bowl again? He thought, slowly turning around. But gods was he wrong.
Oh. Oh. Okay.
There was cinnamon everywhere. A clouded dust of brown had covered the counter, and he couldnât even see your face. Had youâ?
He urgently called your name, keeping ease.
âMon Amour? Are youâis that the cinnamon?!â
He rushed to your side, eyes filled with concern as he finally met your teary ones. You turned to him in a coughing fit, splashing cinnamon painfully after. You owlishly blinked up at him, and his heart exploded at the sight.
His instincts told him to not make fun, but a light-hearted laugh escaped him before heâd grabbed a dampened towel for you.
His arms tenderly outstretched, wiping your face, chuckling, âSweetheart whatâd you even do?â he chided, sweeping his thumb over your chin.
âI didnât meanâthu, I thought itâpffââ another rasp of cinnamon launched between you, and you coughed. And he only laughed more.
Which turned to contagious giggles.
Sanji gingerly held your face, bringing your hand which held a clothâclose to your face.
He was truly your savior. Because you urgently spit it out, wincing.
â____, hun, here, there you go.â he said, pushing your brown tinged hair out of your face.
âSorry,â you finally mumbled, surrendering in complete defeat and humiliation.
âI thought it was, I donât know, like, edibleââ
âItâs okay, you were just curiousâŚthough why you thought eating a spoonful of cinnamon was a good idea? I will never know,â he mused, looking quietly down to you. His thumb caressed your cheek and he fawned again. He squeezed your cheeks, and he was gone.
You looked absolutely adorable like this, and your perfume? Now infused with the spice? Did wonders.
This had to be what cuteness aggression was. Otherwise he wouldnât be squeezing you so tight.
âSanji let me go,â you muttered, struggling in the tight clasp of his hug. He only mumbled something whiny and incoherent in your ear, and your face felt like the burner of the stove.
âJust let me hold you, youâre too cute.â
You blushed, grumbling. What got slipped in his breakfast this morning? You rested your head on his shoulder and he tightened his grip, twirling you around.
You relaxed, giving into his affection. But smoke caught your glimpse.
âUh, babyââ
âNo. Let me hug you.â
âNo youâSanji!â You groaned, âThe foods burning!â
oh my goddd I just read the Monster trio & pregnant reader fic and i loved it.
Could you write about them as baby dads?
after the pregnancy and labor let's see their reaction to you going into labor?
a/n: tried to not be repetitive but it was hard lmao
also a special thanks and credits to @katsukis-foxie6 for giving me some ideas, espcially for sanji's â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
characters: luffy, zoro, sanji
words count: around 0.9k - 1.3k each
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
The Straw Hat crew was anchored at a small island, taking a rare break after a long stretch of adventures. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the ship as you cradled your baby girl, Dawn, in your arms. She was only a few months old, but her presence already seemed to brighten every corner of the Thousand Sunny. Her tiny hands wrapped around your finger, and the sound of her soft giggles filled the air.
Luffy, his usual exuberance toned down just a bit, sat across from you, his eyes locked on Dawn with a mixture of pride and awe.
âSheâs so cute, y/n,â Luffy said with his signature grin, his voice filled with warmth âLook at her! Sheâs already so strong! I bet sheâs gonna be a great pirate!â
You couldnât help but laugh softly at Luffyâs enthusiasm âSheâs barely even walking yet, Luffy. Maybe letâs wait a few years before we start recruiting her into the crew.â
Luffyâs face lit up âOh, at her age I already wanted to be the king of pirates!" He turns to look at you and your serious face kinda scares him "...Y-yeah, we should let her grow a little first! But sheâs gonna be the best, I just know it! Iâll teach her everything I know!â
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed from the shore, and you looked up to see none other than your grandfather-in-law, Garp, strolling toward the ship with a big grin plastered on his face.
âOi, Luffy!â Garp shouted, his signature Marine coat fluttering behind him âI heard you had a kid! About time you stopped being such a carefree idiot and started taking responsibility!â
Luffy jumped to his feet immediately, his eyes widening with excitement âGrandpa! Youâre here!â He grabbed Dawn from your arms before you could even protest, holding her in front of Garp with the same proud grin he always wore âLook! This is my daughter!â
You stood up and approached them with a smile, watching Garpâs reaction carefully. Garp stared down at the tiny bundle in Luffyâs arms, his usual gruff expression softening as he regarded her.
âSheâs tiny,â Garp muttered, squinting at Dawn, but his voice held a strange tenderness âI didnât think Luffy could make something this cute.â
Luffy puffed out his chest with pride âSheâs gonna grow strong, just like me! And sheâs gonna be a great pirate!â
Garp grunted, crossing his arms âA pirate, huh? Youâve got a long way to go if youâre gonna make her one of your little nakama, brat.â
Luffy beamed, clearly not bothered by the teasing âIâll make sure sheâs ready! Right, Dawn?â He shook her gently, making silly noises that caused her to giggle. Dawnâs tiny fingers grasped at Luffyâs hand, and it seemed like the whole world stopped for a second.
Garp let out a low chuckle, his usual gruff demeanor melting a bit as he saw the deep love in Luffyâs eyes âWell, kid, looks like youâre serious about being a dad. I canât believe it, but I guess youâve really grown up. Sheâs got your stupid grin, thatâs for sure.â
Luffy looked over at you with wide eyes, his face flushed with excitement âGrandpa likes her! He said she looks like me!â
You smiled softly, your heart swelling with affection for both your husband and daughter âShe has your smile, alrightâ you said gently, brushing a strand of hair from Dawnâs face.
Luffy beamed, clearly feeling validated by Garpâs approval âIâm gonna teach her all kinds of stuff! How to eat a ton, how to never give up on your dreams, and how to make sure the meatâs always cooked perfectly! Sheâs gonna be awesome!â
Garp raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching upward into a smirk âWell, sheâs not gonna be a pirate, thatâs for sure.â
Luffy blinked in confusion âHuh? What do you mean? Sheâs gonna be the greatest pirate ever!â
Garp crossed his arms, grinning mischievously âNo way. Iâve seen what happens when you let brats like you run wild. Sheâs gonna be a Marine, just like her old grandpa.â
Luffyâs eyes widened, and he took a step back, shaking his head in disbelief âWhat?! No way! Sheâs gonna be a pirate! You canât stop that!â
Garp laughed, thoroughly amused by Luffyâs reaction âOh, I can see it now: âLittle Dawn, future Marine Admiral!â No pirates for her! Sheâll be the one taking you down one day.â
Luffyâs face scrunched up in determination âNo! Youâll see! Sheâll be a pirate! And sheâs gonna be the best one there is!â
You chuckled softly at their bickering, watching as Garp playfully ruffled Luffyâs hair and then glanced down at Dawn.
âSheâs got a strong spirit, though,â Garp admitted with a sigh, softening just a little âI can tell sheâll be a handful, just like her old man. But Iâll make sure she knows the proper way to punch things if she ever tries to follow in your footsteps.â
Luffy grinned, not giving up on his dream âIâll make sure sheâs ready to punch things tooâpirate things!â
Garp snorted and let out a deep laugh âWell, kid, youâve got a good one here. Just donât be surprised when she ends up in a Marine uniform one day.â
Luffy huffed but looked down at Dawn lovingly âWeâll see about that.â
As the sunset painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, you felt the promise of a new journey unfolding, one with your family at the heart of it all. With Luffy by your side and Garp giving his usual advice, there was no doubt that little Dawn would grow up surrounded by love, adventure, and laughter, her own future as bright as the sun setting before you.
Your daughter, barely a few months old, has her tiny fingers wrapped around his index finger, her grip firm, almost unrelenting. Zoro raises an eyebrow as he tries to gently pull away, but she refuses to let go, her tiny face scrunching up in determination.
âDamn,â he mutters, glancing at you as you sit beside him, amused âSheâs strong.â
You laugh softly, leaning against his arm âLike her dad.â
Zoro doesnât answer right away. Instead, he watches your daughter with an unreadable expression, his free hand absentmindedly running over her soft, wispy hair. The moment lingers, quiet, thoughtful, before he finally speaks again.
âNo,â he says, voice low âLike her mom.â
You blink, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. When you look up at him, you see the way his jaw tightens, the way his fingers twitch slightly against your daughterâs back. Heâs thinking about something serious. Something deep.
Zoroâs gaze flickers to you, intense in that way only he can be âThat dayâŚâ He exhales sharply through his nose. âAnd not just that day. The whole damn time. Pregnancy, labor... all of it. I thought I knew what strength was, but I didnât. Not really.â
Your chest tightens. Zoro isnât one to put things into words often, but when he does, he means every syllable.
âI couldnât do anything at all,â he admits, still staring at your daughterâs tiny hand around his finger âI just had to sit there and watch while you went through all of it. No fight Iâve ever been in, no injury Iâve ever had... itâs nothing compared to that.â He finally looks back at you, eyes dark with something raw âYouâre stronger than me, y/n, believe me.â
You feel your breath catch.
Itâs not just the words, itâs also the way he says them, with complete sincerity. Zoro, who has trained his entire life to be the strongest swordsman, means it. He believes it.
You squeeze his arm gently, your voice soft âZoroâŚâ
He huffs, shaking his head as if the thought still overwhelms him. Then, his expression softens just a little as he looks down at your daughter again. Sheâs still gripping his finger tightly, completely oblivious to the weight of the moment.
Zoro smirks faintly âSheâs lucky to have you as her momâ he mutters.
You smile, warmth blooming in your chest âSheâs lucky to have you as her dad.â
He doesnât answer right away, but you catch the way his grip on your daughter shifts slightly, gentler, but still firm. Protective. Always.
She might have his strength, but Zoro knows exactly where it comes from.
And heâll never forget it.
Zoro started to be protective towards her since you first announced your pregnancy.
Heâs that type of super stressed dads who keeps running around following every single thing she does so that he can catch her if needed. All this with always a big blush on his face.
But itâs not that bad that he controls her bec, in fact, right now, your one-year-old daughter is standing in the middle of the deck, holding onto Luffyâs index fingers as he swings her back and forth like a human jump rope. Every time he lifts her up, she squeals in delight, kicking her little legs mid-air before landing on the deck.
âAgain! Again!â she demands, her tiny fists gripping Luffyâs fingers with ridiculous strength.
Zoro, standing nearby with his arms crossed, scowls âOi. Donât drop her.â
Luffy grins, stretching his lips wide âDonât worry! I wonât!â
You, sitting on a crate just a few feet away, shake your head with a sigh âSheâs fine, Zoro. Look at her, sheâs having fun.â
Zoro doesnât budge, arms still crossed âSheâs one wrong step away from flying into the ocean.â
Luffy gasps, looking at Kazuki with sparkling eyes âYou wanna fly?!â
âLuffy, NO.â you and Zoro shout at the same time.
Kazuki claps her hands âFly!â
âNO,â Zoro repeats firmly, glaring at Luffy âYou are not throwing my kid.â
Luffy pouts âBut sheâs got a strong grip! She wouldnât even let goââ
âLuffy,â you say, rubbing your temples âletâs not test her durability today, please.â
Luffy sighs dramatically but doesnât argue. Instead, he lifts Kazuki up and plops her on his shoulders, holding onto her tiny hands so she doesnât wobble off.
Zoro mutters under his breath but doesnât stop it. At least Luffyâs holding onto her.
Sanji chooses this moment to stroll onto the deck, cigarette between his lips but dropping it as he walks towards Kazuki âThereâs my little princess,â he coos, hands in his pockets âYou hungry, sweetheart?â
Kazuki, who has long since associated Sanji with food, beams âYummy?â
Sanji grins âThe yummiest. I made you something special.â
Zoro immediately frowns âWhat did you make her?â
Sanji raises an eyebrow âRelax, moss-head. Just some soft fruit and rice balls.â
Zoro doesnât move âYou sure thereâs nothing weird in it?â
Sanji bristles, instantly getting in his face âWeird? Sheâs a baby, you muscle-brained swordsman! What the hell do you think Iâd put in her food?â
You sigh, standing up to intervene before they actually start fighting âOkay, okay, both of you calm down. Sanji, thanks for making her food. Zoro, you really do look stressed, why donât you go take a nap? Iâll stay with her.â
âIâm good, Iâll go later⌠donât worryâ he says softly but still watches like a hawk as Sanji hands Kazuki a tiny rice ball. She immediately grabs it with both hands and shoves it into her mouth, cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk.
âGood?â Sanji asks, kneeling to her level.
Kazuki chews, sways on her little feet, then beams âGood!â
You smile and ruffle her hair âSay âthank you,â Kazu.â
Kazuki tilts her head, then garbles around the mouthful of rice âFanku.â
Sanji clutches his chest like heâs been shot âOhh, my sweet little angel, youâre so politeââ
Zoro scoffs âDonât act like you raised her.â
Kazuki points a chubby little finger at Zoro and proudly declares âDadaâs idiot.â
Silence.
Then the crew loses it.
Luffy collapses onto the floor, clutching his stomach. Nami has to lean against a barrel, wiping tears from her eyes. Sanji turns away, shoulders shaking with laughter. Even Robin chuckles from where sheâs reading in her chair.
Zoro stares at Kazuki, completely betrayed.
You, barely containing your laughter, kneel beside her âSweetheart, donât call your daddy an idiot.â
Kazuki tilts her head, as if deep in thought. Then, just as serious, she looks back at Zoro and saysâ
âDadaâs big idiot.â
Zoro groans so loud it nearly rattles the ship.
Luffy wheezes. Nami nearly falls over. Usopp actually falls over.
You bite your lip, but itâs no use, youâre laughing too.
Zoro glares at all of you âI blame all of you for this... y/n, stop itâ
Kazuki, sensing sheâs won, lifts her arms up to Zoro. He sighs, scooping her up, resting her against his chest. She immediately nuzzles into his shoulder, letting out a happy little hum.
âDadaâ she murmurs.
Zoro exhales, the corner of his lips twitching despite himself. He presses a kiss to her hair, murmuring, âYeah, yeah. Youâre lucky I like you, brat.â
You step closer, resting a hand on his arm âYou love herâ you tease.
Zoro scoffs âObviously⌠unlike you, she doesnât know what sheâs sayingâ
You go and leave a quick peck on his lips âYouâre my lovely big big idiotâ.
He blushes like crazy.
Kazuki looks up, sleepy âDada?â
âHm?â
She grins âDadaâs big big idiot.â
The crew howls with laughter.
Zoro sighs so deeply, but even as the teasing continues, he holds Kazuki a little closer.
Sheâs happy, safe, and in his arms. Thatâs all that matters.
That afternoon, you find them sleeping adorably together, in the same napping position. Smiling, you take a blanket and gently cover them both. Zoro stirs awake, thinking the baby has moved, something that makes you smile even more, knowing how hard it usually is to wake him. When he sees itâs you, he reaches for your hand and quietly invites you to join them, pulling you in for a cuddle.
Sanji is soft with her.
Softer than you ever thought possible.
You watch from the doorway as he sits on the edge of your shared bed, cradling your daughter so delicately, like sheâs made of glass. His thumb gently strokes over her tiny fingers, his breath slow, steady, controlled. But his eyes hold something else.
Something hesitant.
Something uncertain.
Your heart tightens.
âSheâs sleeping,â you whisper, stepping closer âYou donât have to be so tense.â
Sanji barely glances up âI know.â
But he doesnât relax. Not even a little.
Instead, he just keeps staring at her, as if waiting for something. As if at any moment, sheâll change into something unfamiliar, something he wonât know how to handle.
You sit beside him, curling close, resting your head against his shoulder. One arm wraps around his waist, the other reaching out to trace the soft fabric of the onesie your daughter is bundled in. She shifts slightly, making a tiny sound, and Sanji freezes.
You feel the sharp inhale he takes. The way his fingers twitch, just barely, as if bracing himself.
And suddenly, you understand.
âSanji.â You keep your voice gentle âWhatâs wrong?â
He exhales slowly through his nose âNothing.â
You donât let that slide. Not with him. Not when heâs never been able to lie to you.
You shift, pulling back just enough to see his face âYouâre scared.â
His jaw tenses, his grip on your daughter tightening the smallest bit âOf course I am,â he murmurs âIâve never done this before.â
You shake your head âNo, I know it's not just that.â
He doesnât answer, but he doesnât have to. You can see it all over him, the weight of his past, the fears he wonât say out loud.
So you say them for him... âYouâre scared of being like him.â
Sanji flinches.
Itâs barely noticeable. A fraction of movement, a flicker in his expression. But you know him too well.
âIâm not,â he starts, but his voice falters âI meanâI would neverââ
âI know,â you cut in softly âAnd sheâll know too.â
His breath shudders âBut what ifââ
âShe wonât be like them, Sanji.â You rest your hand over his, where heâs still holding her so, so carefully âAnd even if she was, sheâd still be ours.â
Sanji swallows hard âI donât want her to be cold,â he whispers âI donât want her to feel like she has to earn love. I donât want her to thinkââ He stops, jaw clenching âLike I did.â
Your chest tightens.
You knew. Of course you knew. You knew how deep his scars ran, how much he still carried, no matter how much love he poured into everyone else.
You squeeze his hand âShe wonât.â
Sanji shakes his head âYou donât know that.â
âYes, I do,â you insist, voice steady âBecause you are her father.â
That makes him pause.
âSheâs going to grow up knowing love, Sanji. Because you give it so easily, so naturally. Because you would rather die than see her cry. Because when she wakes up at night, you hold her before I can even sit up. Because youââ Your voice wavers, but you press on âBecause you are already the best father she could ever have.â
Sanji exhales, shaky, uneven. His grip on your daughter loosens just slightly, his thumb resuming its soft strokes against her tiny hand.
âSheâs so smallâ he murmurs, almost to himself.
You smile, leaning into him again âYeah. But sheâs yours.â
That does something to him.
You feel the tension in his body shift, melting just a little. He looks down at your daughter again, something lighter in his expression now. Something less like fear and more like wonder.
âSheâs beautifulâ he breathes.
You kiss his shoulder âLike her dad.â
Sanji huffs, but you can hear the warmth creeping into his voice âI hope not. She deserves better than a troublesome cook.â
You nudge him playfully âShe has a father who will love her unconditionally.â
Sanji doesnât answer right away.
Instead, he shifts, adjusting his hold on her, drawing her closer. And when he finally speaks, itâs barely above a whisper, so quiet you almost miss it.
âYeah, she has that.â
Your throat tightens.
You donât say anything, just slide your arms around him, tucking yourself against his side, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw.
Sanji rests his chin lightly atop your head. Heâs quiet for a moment, but you can feel the way his heartbeat slows, steadying.
Then, just as softly, almost like an afterthought, he murmurs, âI was easy to love. My father was just really bad.â
Your breath catches.
Itâs not something heâs ever said before, not so plainly, not so simply.
But now, with his daughter sleeping in his arms, with you curled up beside him, with love so clear and so real around him, he finally believes it.
The fears wonât vanish overnight. The scars wonât disappear. But right here, right now, in the quiet of your room, with your daughter safe in his arms Sanji finally lets himself believe it.
He is more than enough.
And he always will be.
The next morning you wake up to chaos.
âOi, oi, oi, CAREFUL!â Sanji nearly vaults over the table as Luffy lifts the baby girl high into the air, laughing as she squeals in delight âLuffy, sheâs not a sack of flour, PUT HER DOWN!â
âShe likes it, though!â Luffy beams, spinning in a circle with her in his arms âRight, mini-cook?â
His daughter giggling is the only reason Sanji doesnât immediately drop-kick his captain into the next century. Instead, he clenches his fists and growls, âIf you drop her, Luffy, so help meââ
âOh, come on, love-cook,â Zoro snickers, leaning back against the railing âYouâre acting like sheâs made of glass.â
Sanji whirls around to glare at him âYou grip your sword too tight, you sit too close, you BREATHE wrong, and I swearââ
âOh no,â Nami sighs, crossing her arms with a smirk âWeâve lost him.â
Usopp nods dramatically âRIP Sanji. He used to be cool.â
Franky wipes an imaginary tear âAnother victim of dad syndrome.â
Sanji ignores them, practically vibrating with anxiety as Luffy tosses the baby just slightly in the air before catching her again.
âLUFFY, I SWEAR TO ALL THEââ
You snort. Loudly.
And just like that, Sanji freezes.
His brain short-circuits becauseâoh.
Youâre laughing.
Not a little chuckle, not a polite giggle. Full-on, tears-in-your-eyes laughter.
Sanji forgets about murdering Luffy, forgets about all the dumbasses around him, because youâre happy.
His shoulders drop. His fists loosen.
Then, as if sensing his shift, his daughter suddenly reaches her arms out for him.
Sanji immediately swoops in, taking her from Luffy and holding her close to his chest, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead âThatâs enough flying for today, sweetheart.â
Nami smirks âAww, the overprotective dad act is over already?â
Sanji barely reacts. Instead, he turns to you, watching the way youâre still wiping laughter from your eyes, andâ
God.
If this is what family feels like, if this is what love feels like, then he never, ever wants anything else in the whole world.
Said: replied, asserted, concluded, explained, articulated, retorted
Moved: maneuvered, shifted, walked, shuffled, turned, pushed
Amazing: unbelievable, wonderful, remarkable, startling, unusual, neat, marvelous
Very: greatly, eminently, terribly, absolutely, decidedly, remarkably, notably
Love (noun): affection, fondness, devotion, infatuation, appreciation
Love (verb): admire, cherish, treasure, prefer, be fond of, be attached to
Look: glance, notice, peer, stare, study, view, watch
Source â More: Word Lists â Writing Resources PDFs â Said â Very â Love
Ace x Reader, fluff, crack, sfw, minor swearing
Summary: School stresses you out, and Ace is there to motivate you!
A/N: Yeesh . . . college isnât easy, and it definitely isnât everyoneâs thing. I hope this fic reaches those who need it, and youâre motivated! Best wishes to the person who requested this, and best wishes to those who have an upcoming test/exam/quiz!
â˘-â˘-â˘ââ˘-â˘-â˘â˘-â˘-â˘ââ˘-â˘ââ˘-â˘
Working in your room, unbothered, your journal lies in-front of you.
The clock reads: 2:25pm, by your side, and you know youâve already wasted half the day. Youâd been procrastinating since this morning, changing up tasks, and different schedulesâto avoid this very moment.
But, you couldnât ignore it forever, so here you were now. Begrudgingly studying.
SLAM
â____!â Ace swung your door open, peeking in.
You flinched, throwing your pencil up as you shouted. âOi! Donât scare me like that!â
âOh, there you are!â he piped, smiling as he came in, completely disregarding your startle. He through his arms around your shoulder, holding you as he looked to what you were working on.
His head rested above yours, and a look of disgust crossed his face. âEw. What is that?â
âWhatâs what?â You sighed, sinking into your chair.
âWhat do you mean whatâoh my god,â he gasped, âAre you working on math?â
âYes?â
âEw.â he deadpanned, scrunching his nose.
âItâs not ew, go away if youâre just gonna be annoying.â you grumbled, pulling your journal to hide it as he inched closer.
âAceââ
Curiously, Ace reached to grab the journal, flipping through the messied pages. He raised a brow, seeing organized definitions . . . to the very un-organized ones.
The hot-head read it as if he could, nodding in understatement before he set it down. He leaned against your chair, flipping to a certain page.
âWhatâs this mean?â he asked, pointing to a scribbled equation with a poorly drawn âfuck this!â with arrow beside it.
Along with a few other curses and symbols.
You cleared your throat, averting your gaze.
âLook, Iâm trying here, donât judge.â you crossed your arms, averting your gaze.
âIâm not judging,â he shrugged, flipping to a pageâwhere youâd actually gotten an answer.
âHey, you got this one.â he smiled, patting your shoulder, encouragingly rubbing it to your neck.
âYeah, and I barely understood it.â you grumbled.
âBut you still got it.â
âBarely.â
âBut . . . you still got it.â he repeated.
You scoffed, looking away.
Yeah, it was true, youâd got it.
But you didnât understand it. Youâd didnât get all the material. Maybe in sections, but once you put everything together and you were under-pressure? Youâd flunk it. Youâd mess it up again.
And in a few weeks, thereâd be expectations and things you were ready for, expected to understand, but couldnât.
âYeah, barely.â you whispered, growing quiet. Your eyes glossed with tears, and you lowered your head.
âHey.â Ace nudged, âWhat wrong?â
âNothing.â
You shifted up, closing your journal, letting it glide towards the others. You let out a shaky breath, holding your tongue.
Great. That was just more things you needed to study for.
Tears welled.
â____,â he murmured, grabbing your arm.
âHey, look at me.â Ace pulled you to face him, plopping you to the chair as he kneeled in-front of you. He rested his arms on your thighs, leaning in.
âHey, youâre doing good. I didnât mean anything by it.â
âI know you didnât.â
âThen why are you crying?â
âIâm not.â you answered, rubbing your face.
âIâm just frustrated and stressed out.â
Ace paused, not expecting you to answer, but agreed. âYeah, you are.â
âWhat? Donât look at me like that, youâve been stressing over this thing forever.â he grabbed the journal, placing it in your lap. âIâm not completely clueless.â
âI know youâre not, I just. . .â
âYeah, I know, but look.â he grabbed your chin, tilting it down.
âSee this thing here?â Ace gestured to the book, hitting it against your leg. The paper snapped softly throughout the room, and you paused before answering.
âYeah?â
âYouâre trying, ____, and thatâs a lot more than other people can say.â he smirked, letting it drop in your lap.
âLook, I know that testâor exam, or whatever the hell youâre working so hard for is important, but you donât need to worry so much.â
Ace leaned closer, smiling. âYouâre smart, really smart, even if that stupid test says otherwise. I know it, deep down you know it, so stop freaking out.â
âYou got it, you always do.â he smoothed, poking your forehead.
âI know, thatâs why Iâm studying but it still doesnât make sense.â you tried.
âBecause youâre thinking too much.â he poked you again, harder this timeâmaking you wince.
âThatâs not even a thing,â you muttered, grabbing the journal, but Ace took it right out of your hands.
âOhâtrust me, it is.â he laughed, pulling back.
âYouâre doing it now, sitting here crying, and Iâm not saying you shouldnât, get frustrated all you want, but this?â he shook the paper, âdoesnât decide your worth. Even if people say it does.â
âYouâre working hard, hard enough anyone out whoâs smart enough to realize it, will. So donât beat yourself up about it.â he smirked, pulling you up.
âYouâll get there, I know you will.â he cupped your face, smoothing over your tears.
You sniffled, lowering your gaze. âYou think so?â
Slowly, Ace leaned forward. âI know so, and Iâm proud of you for trying, even if itâs hard. Youâre getting closerâtrust me on that, and youâre getting better without even realizing.â
Gently, his lips met yours. Aceâs kiss was soft, reassuring, and sweet. His hands traveled to your waist, and his forehead leaned against yours.
Steady, and calming.
âYouâll get it right, I know you will. Youâre gonna do great.â
you spend 30 minutes choosing the perfect synonym for âsaidâ only to change it back to âsaid.â
you google âhow long does it take to bleed outâ at 3 a.m. and now the FBI is probably watching you.
you write one sentence, stare at it, rewrite it 14 times, and somehow end up back at the original version.
âthis scene is so importantâ but you have no idea what the scene actually is or why itâs important.
you come up with the best story ideas⌠in the shower⌠with no way to write them down.
your characters feel like real people but also youâre like âwho are these guys and what do they want from me?â
your brain says âstart writing!â but instead you reorganize your desk, reread your notes, and spend two hours naming a side character who shows up once.
youâve cried over your WIP exactly 67 times and will do it again because the pain is the point.
you reread something you wrote and think, âwow, did i peak as a writer three months ago?â
every writing session begins with the sacred ritual of scrolling social media, opening unnecessary tabs, and procrastinating until panic sets in.
you have no idea how long a chapter should be, so you just⌠vibe.
you canât watch tv or movies without mentally critiquing the plot, dialogue, and pacing.
your writing playlist is 98% vibes, 2% songs youâll actually listen to while writing.
you keep a âmurder notebookâ but swear itâs not suspicious because itâs for your novel (probably).
the phrase âjust one more draftâ is your eternal mantra, even though youâve rewritten this thing more times than you can count.
You know the song? "My heart will go on" imagine how the monster trio (separately) would react to reader singing that song and they've never heard of the song before so it's completely new to them.
YesyesyesyesyesâI would LOVE to do this. This is adorable. Itâs the Celine Dion one right?? Thereâs so many Iâm thinking of right now lol