4rticbolt - Oh!

i'll crawl home to you

trafalgar law x fem!reader —ᡣ𐭩 blurb c/w: it's hozier so religious themes, reader is referred to as an 'angel' and a 'goddess'.

I've done terrible things in the past...

It was always an excuse, a justification, a way for Trafalgar Law to convince himself he deserved all the terrible things that happened to him. He was a man of solitude, preferring his own company to that of others, and if others wanted to stay beside him, it was their funeral.

It was the first thing he told you, in the back alley of a marketplace, his blank hands grasping bags of meat. He was young, in his late teens when he asked you to join his crew. You seemed like a critical addition to the Heart Pirates, your expertise and skills in an area he hadn't considered essential.

It was a whim, something he hadn't discussed with Bepo, Shachi, or Penguin, but Law wanted to make this call without their commentary. It felt right to ask you, like the strings of fate were pulling the air from his lungs and puppetting his lips.

It was briefly surprising when you agreed to join, despite his initial warning, and he felt his heart flip in a way it hadn't before. You never questioned him like you should have, but, when you're young and eager to leave your small island, any out is enticing.

All I care about is who you are in the present...

Trafalgar Law didn't know it at the time, but you'd nestled yourself beside his heart and vowed to remain there for eternity.

—

When the Navy had come looking for Trafalgar Law, famed pirate of the Worst Generation, there was no way he'd go down without a fight.

The Polar Tang is alive with chaos, the air thick with clouds of apprehension and charged by panic. The storm raging inside the submarine is nothing compared to the one occurring outside.

Law stands on the deck, his hand outstretched and the sea shrouded with his power. Three Navy ships surround his beloved Tang, but none had come close enough to harm it, and by extension, you.

Against his wishes, you loom in the doorway, the darkness of the entrance a veil. It doesn't take much for Law to notice your presence, and when his chest tightens and aches, he knows you're watching.

It used to alarm him that his blood-soaked hands didn't scare you, and now you watch with pride. His mind was a whirlwind of crippling anxiety and debilitating despair at the thought that his sins could imprison him, forbid him from worshipping you the way you deserve. But even if they did, he'd claw his way from hell to be beside you again.

"You're not meant to be here," He says lowly, gaze calculating. "Go back inside."

"You need help, more ships are coming from the south."

Law scoffs, his anger toward the Navy growing tenfold. The pulsing blue dome retracts and the floating Marine vessels fall into the sea, the men aboard flailing into the water. "Submerge."

You step aside as Law approaches, his footsteps are heavy against the metal. The Tang shutters once he pushes the door closed, and the familiar sensation of your stomach rising has your hands latching onto Law's forearm.

"You okay?" You whisper, voice soft. If Law didn't know any better he'd think you were an angel.

His piercing eyes assess you for injuries he knows you don't have and then he sighs. Law leans down, his lips a ghost over your own.

"Better now that you are."

You smile and press your mouth against his. Law swears he could get a toothache from kissing you.

"C'mon," You say, walking backwards and tugging him along with you. "Let me check you over."

Law used to struggle to grasp your need to ensure he wasn't hurt after he wounded so many. Good and evil weren't two opposites that he would have contemplated in the past, considering his upbringing, but when he laid his eyes on you, he questioned whether the two thrived separately or could co-exist.

Can good live with evil when good knows all that evil has done? When evil is everything that good opposes? Law thought himself as inherently evil, but with good like you love him like he was not, he wasn't sure he knew the meanings or cared anymore.

Nothing matters but you.

"You seem to be fine," You mumble, pulling the thermometer out from under his tongue. "No fever."

"I am fine. No symptoms of illness or any injuries."

"Just making sure."

"Baby, not even death could separate us. I'd crawl out of the cold, dark earth to be with you. No need to worry."

The corners of your lips tilt up, and Law rests his palms on your cheeks. His touch is firm, and the look in your eye absolves him of any crimes—like a judge and a goddess.

Your hands press over his, and the added pressure of his skin on yours does little to satiate your need for his touch. He's not going anywhere without you.

He says your name like a prayer, his voice low and raw. "I love you."

You kiss his palm, gaze locked on his. "Don't think I wouldn't do the same."

Law sighs, his heart clenching. "You're not going in the ground on your own."

You don't think too much about his omission for your own sanity. "I love you."

Now, it wasn't an excuse. The things Law did in the past, and still do to ensure the safety of you and his crew, are something you admire. There's never good without evil, and as much as Law believes he is the latter, he is half your soul, and it is nothing but good.

Unintentional couple behaviour

you two acts like a loving couple all the time, so what happens when someone points it out?

characters: zoro, sanji, law, ace and sabo

words count: around 0.8k - 1.3k each

masterlist || ko-fi

── .✦ Roronoa Zoro:

You do a lot of things for Zoro without thinking.

You wake him up when it’s time to eat. You stop him from training too much. You make sure he doesn’t get lost whenever the crew visits a new island.

It’s normal for you. Someone has to do it.

But one day, the others start teasing you about it.

It happens at lunch. You are eating with the crew when Usopp laughs and nudges your arm.

“Hey, aren’t you gonna get your boyfriend?”

You blink. “What?”

Sanji, cleaning his hands with a towel, nods toward the deck “That moss-brained idiot. You always bring him to meals. It’s like a little routine between you two now. Like a couple…”

“We’re not—” You nearly choke on your drink “We’re not a couple!”

Usopp grins “Then why do you always take so much care of him?”

“Because he’s stupid and forgets to eat!” you say, standing up “I’ll go get him, but not because of whatever weird ideas you guys have.”

You walk away while they laugh behind you.

You find Zoro exactly where you expect, napping against the ship’s railing, his swords next to him.

You roll your eyes and shake his shoulder “Oi, wake up. Lunch is ready.”

Nothing.

You shake him harder “Zoro. If you don’t get up, I’ll eat your food.”

He grumbles and waves his hand, like he’s trying to swat away a fly.

Sighing, you do what you always do. You grab his wrist and pull him up with both hands. He lets you. He always does, like it’s natural.

Zoro blinks at you, still half-asleep “Huh. You again.”

“Yeah, me again,” you say “Come eat before Sanji ‘forgets’ to save you anything.”

You’re still holding his wrist, making sure he doesn’t fall back asleep. That’s when you notice Nami and Robin watching from across the deck, smiling.

“What?” you ask, feeling awkward.

Nami smirks “You two are cute.”

Your face heats up “We’re not—he’s not—we’re not together!”

Robin chuckles “You do take care of him a lot.”

Zoro frowns, confused “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” you mutterl “Come eat.”

You let go of his wrist too fast and walk away, ignoring the warm feeling in your chest.

You think it’s over, but now you notice things.

Zoro always sits next to you at meals, even when there are other seats. You always save food for him without realizing. And during fights, he always protects you first, like it’s a habit.

And, worst of all, people keep pointing it out.

“y/n,” Chopper asks one day, tilting his head “Are you and Zoro dating?”

You almost trip “What?! No!”

“Oh...” He looks confused “But you act like it”

You groan “Not you too”

After that, you can’t stop thinking about it.

The next time you wake Zoro up, your fingers stay on his wrist a second too long. The next time he pulls you behind him in a fight, your heart beats faster.

And then one evening, when you catch him watching you with a thoughtful look, you realize you might be in trouble.

That night, Zoro speaks first.

“Oi”

You look up from your seat on the deck “What?”

He leans against the railing, arms crossed “Does it bother you?”

You frown “Does what bother me?”

“What people are saying” His eyes stay on you “About us.”

You swallow “Why? Does it bother you?”

He doesn’t answer right away “No” his voice is quieter than usual.

Your stomach flips and you look at the ocean “I mean… it’s just dumb teasing, right?”

Zoro doesn’t reply. Instead, he watches you for a long time. Then, finally, he smirks.

“Doesn’t really matter what they say” he says, voice calm but sure “I’d still stick with you either way.”

Your breath catches and suddenly, your heart won’t let you ignore this anymore.

For the next days you try to brush off what the crew said.

You really do, but it’s impossible to ignore when Zoro keeps acting the same way.

Like when you’re on lookout duty together, and he hands you his jacket without a word.

Or when you spar with him, and he pulls his hits just enough so you don’t get hurt.

Or when you fall asleep on the Sunny’s deck, and you wake up covered with a blanket, one you know you didn’t grab.

And every time it happens, you catch the crew watching. Smirking.

It’s driving you insane.

One afternoon, you finally decide to do something about it.

You find Zoro by the training room, lifting weights. His shirt is half undone, sweat glistening on his skin, but you shove that thought aside.

You cross your arms “Hey, Zoro.”

He grunts in acknowledgment, not stopping his reps.

You hesitate “…Why do you treat me differently?”

He finally sets the weight down, wiping his face with a towel “What?”

“You heard me...” You shift uncomfortably “You do things for me that you don’t do for anyone else.”

Zoro leans back against the wall, looking at you like you just asked a stupid question “So?”

“So?” You huff “That means something, doesn’t it?”

He shrugs “I guess.”

You blink “That’s it? You guess?”

Zoro sighs, scratching his head “Look, I don’t really think about it. I just—” He pauses, then shrugs again “I want to.”

Your heart skips a beat “…What?”

“I want to do those things for you,” he says simply “it’s not a big deal”

You stare at him “Not a... Zoro, are you serious?”

He frowns “What, you don’t like it?”

“That’s not the point!” Your face feels hot “You don’t do this for Nami or Robin or anyone else!”

Zoro looks at you, unimpressed “Yeah. Because it’s you.”

You freeze.

The way he says it, so blunt, so obvious, it makes your stomach flip.

He isn’t flustered. He isn’t overthinking it. He’s just stating a fact.

“…Oh.”

Zoro crosses his arms, watching you carefully “Is that a problem?”

You swallow “No. It’s just…”

It’s everything. It’s him always being there, always looking out for you, always treating you like someone important.

It’s a realization you should have had ages ago.

You let out a breathless laugh “I’m an idiot.”

Zoro raises an eyebrow “Well, yeah.”

You smack his arm. He smirks.

But when your hand lingers just a little too long, he doesn’t pull away.

And suddenly, you both understand... this isn’t just a habit.

It never was.

Ever since that conversation in the training room, things between you and Zoro have… shifted, but not in a bad way.

He still trains for hours. Still naps in random spots. Still bickers with Sanji.

But now, when you sit beside him, his arm naturally rests along the back of your chair.

Now, when you fight, he doesn’t just watch your back, he makes sure you’re never out of reach.

Now, when you look at him for a second too long, he looks right back.

Like he’s waiting.

Like he’s giving you the choice.

One evening, you find him on the Sunny’s deck, looking out at the ocean.

“…Can’t sleep?” he asks.

You shake your head, stepping closer “Thinking too much.”

Zoro smirks “Dangerous habit...”

You huff a laugh but don’t argue.

Instead, you stand beside him, silent for a moment before you finally ask...

“Do you regret telling me?”

Zoro frowns “Telling you what?”

“That you… actually treat me differently. That you want to.”

His jaw tightens slightly “No.”

Your heart does something strange “Good.”

You don’t give yourself time to hesitate.

Before doubt can creep in, you grab him and pull him down.

Zoro freezes.

For half a second, he doesn’t move. Doesn’t even breathe.

Then a quiet growl rumbles from his chest, and his hand cups the back of your neck as he kisses you back.

It’s firm. Solid. Like he’s been holding back for too long and refuses to anymore.

When you finally break apart, Zoro leans his forehead against yours, exhaling through his nose.

“…Finally” he mutters.

You grin “You were waiting for me?”

“Wasn’t gonna rush you” His fingers brush your jaw “You get there when you get there.”

You hum, leaning into him “And now?”

Zoro smirks “Now, you’re stuck with me.”

You kiss him again, just to make sure he knows you wouldn’t want it any other way.

── .✦ Vinsmoke Sanji:

Sanji has always been a flirt. That’s just how he is.

He calls Nami and Robin “my love” and “my dear”. He spins around the kitchen whenever they compliment him. He offers to carry their bags when the crew goes shopping.

But when it comes to you, it’s different.

It starts when the crew is eating dinner together.

“Sanji, can you pass the salt?” you ask.

Instead of handing you the salt shaker, Sanji grabs it, twists off the lid, and sprinkles just the right amount onto your plate.

You blink “Uh. Thanks?”

“Of course, my dear” he says smoothly. Then, as if nothing happened, he turns back to his own plate.

You think nothing of it... until you notice the way the others are watching.

Usopp raises an eyebrow “Did he just season your food for you?”

“Yeah?” You shrug “What's new about it? He's a chef and he’s just being nice.”

Luffy grins “He doesn’t do that for anyone else.”

“That’s not true,” you argue “Sanji treats everyone like this.”

Nami hums “Not exactly like this. If we wanted more salt he would start a lecture about how it would ruin his masterpiece.”

Before you can ask what she means, Sanji stands up to grab dessert. He places a plate in front of you first. It’s your favorite.

The crew stares.

You stare too “Sanji…”

He smiles “What? I made extra for you.”

Usopp coughs “Yeah. Okay. Totally normal.”

Robin chuckles behind her hand.

You shake your head and go back to eating. It’s nothing. Sanji is just being Sanji.

…Right?

But then, you start noticing other things.

When you’re cold, Sanji drapes his jacket over your shoulders without you asking.

When you need something from a high shelf, Sanji wordlessly reaches up and hands it to you.

When you’re about to trip, his hand is always there to steady you.

And every time, every single time, he does it so naturally that you don’t even think about it.

Until one day, Franky whistles and says, “You two sure act like a couple.”

You nearly drop the drink in your hands “What?!”

Sanji, who was stirring a pot at the stove, pauses.

Franky leans against the counter, grinning “You two do all that coupley stuff. He gives you the best food, takes care of you, treats you differently from everyone else—”

“That’s not true,” you say quickly “Sanji’s like this with everyone.”

Franky snorts “Nah. He does flirt with everyone. But this?” He gestures between you and Sanji “This is different.”

You glance at Sanji. He’s staring into the pot, silent.

Your face feels hot now “You guys are reading too much into things.”

“Sure we are...” Franky says, smirking. Then he leaves.

The kitchen is quiet now. You swallow and turn to Sanji.

“…Is it true?”

He looks at you. His usual confident smile is gone. Instead, there’s something softer in his eyes.

“I don’t know” he says “is it?”

Your heartbeat quickens.

Suddenly, every touch, every sweet gesture, it all feels different.

Maybe it wasn’t just a habit.

Maybe it was something else all along.

After all this the teasing has only gotten worse.

Ever since Nami and Usopp pointed out how Sanji treats you, they will not let it go.

“Here comes Sanji’s beloveeeed~” Usopp sings when you walk into the kitchen.

“I should start charging you for all the extra food Sanji makes only for you” Nami smirks.

Even Luffy, who usually doesn’t care about these things, grins at Sanji one afternoon and says “Oi, cook, when are you gonna marry y/n?”

Sanji chokes on his cigarette so hard he has to brace himself on the counter.

You groan and drag a hand down your face.

But what really drives you insane?

Sanji never denies it.

He stutters, blushes, waves his hands, but he never says “That’s not true.”

Because it is true.

And it’s starting to drive you crazy.

You try to ignore it. But then you start noticing things, even the smallest ones.

Sanji never lets you carry anything heavy.

He always pours you tea first, even before Nami and Robin.

He adjusts your chair at dinner like it’s second nature.

And the worst part? He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

But you do.

And now, every time he gives you that look—the one that’s soft, full of admiration, like you hung the damn sun in the sky—your heart stumbles over itself.

This has to stop.

Or something has to change.

It happens one evening after dinner.

You’re in the kitchen, helping Sanji clean up. He hums as he washes the dishes, sleeves rolled up, golden hair falling over his forehead.

You watch him for a second, then take a deep breath.

“Sanji.”

He glances at you, smiling “Yes, my love?”

You grip the counter “Why do you act like we’re together?”

Sanji freezes.

The faucet keeps running. The kitchen is warm with the smell of spices. But Sanji is frozen.

Slowly, he turns his head toward you “…P-Pardon?”

You cross your arms “You treat me differently. Even the crew notices. You never do this stuff for anyone else.”

Sanji swallows hard “I—”

“You never deny it,” you press “and honestly? I’m tired of waiting for you to finally say something.”

Sanji stares at you like you’ve just flipped his entire world upside down.

His hands shake. His lips part like he wants to speak, but nothing comes out.

“…Sanji.” Your voice softens “Do you want this to be real?”

A shuddering breath leaves him. He looks at you, eyes wide, vulnerable.

“More than anything...” he whispers.

Your heartbeat stutters.

That’s it. That’s all you need to hear.

You step forward, grab the front of his shirt, and kiss him.

Sanji malfunctions.

His entire body locks up, like his brain has completely short-circuited.

For a solid two seconds, he does not move.

Then a noise escapes him, something between a whimper and a desperate sigh, and his hands come up to cup your face, pulling you closer.

The kiss is warm, overwhelming, but soft, like he’s afraid you’ll disappear if he holds on too tight.

When you finally pull away, he’s redder than his own suit.

“…M-Mon amour,” he breathes, voice shaking “You...you actually...”

You smirk “Took us long enough, cook.”

Sanji makes a strangled sound and immediately buries his face in your shoulder, arms wrapped tight around you.

Outside, the crew is losing their minds.

“TOLD YOU!” Usopp shouts.

“I WON THE BET!” Nami cheers.

“Oi, Sanji, you alive in there?” Zoro snickers.

Sanji doesn’t answer. He’s too busy melting against you, whispering sweet nothings into your skin.

And honestly?

You think you’ll let him.

── .✦ Trafalgar D. Law:

Law is not the kind of person who likes physical contact. He doesn’t let most people touch him. He keeps his distance, always standing at the edge of conversations with his arms crossed. If someone bumps into him, they get a glare.

But for some reason, you are different.

It starts when Bepo hands you a coat one evening.

“Here,” he says, tail flicking “you left this in the lounge.”

You blink at it. It’s black, long, and definitely not yours.

“This isn’t mine” you say, confused.

Bepo tilts his head “Oh. But you always wear the captain’s coat, so I thought it was yours now...”

You freeze.

“Wait. What?”

Shachi walks by and hears the conversation. He grins “Yeah, you totally do. Every time you’re cold, you steal his coat.”

Penguin nods “And Law never complains.”

You open your mouth. Close it. Try to remember.

…Okay, maybe you have borrowed Law’s coat a few times. But that’s just because it’s warm! And because it’s there! And because...

Oh no.

Your stomach twists “I... I do not...”

“Sure you don’t...” Shachi teases “What’s next? Calling him ‘dear’?”

You groan and shove the coat at Bepo before walking away.

But now, you can’t stop thinking about it.

After this, you start noticing other things. Like how Law always lets you into his personal space.

How you can tug his hat down over his eyes without him pushing you away.

How he casually rests his hand on your shoulder when he stands next to you.

One day, you trip over a loose crate. Before you even hit the ground, a familiar blue glow surrounds you... Law’s Room.

In an instant, you’re back on your feet, completely unharmed.

The Heart Pirates snicker.

“Captain didn’t even think” Penguin whispers.

“He never uses Room for anyone else’s clumsiness” Shachi adds.

You glare at them “I heard that.”

They just smirk.

Law doesn’t say anything. He just sighs and keeps walking, like saving you without thinking is the most natural thing in the world.

Your heart does something weird. You ignore it.

Later, you sit on a crate, arms crossed. Law stands next to you, reading a medical book.

You glance at him “Your crew keeps calling me ‘Captain’s partner.’”

He doesn’t look up “So?”

“So, why?”

He flips a page “Probably because you act like one.”

Your brain short-circuits.

You stare “Excuse me?”

Law finally looks at you, raising an eyebrow “You’re always in my quarters, you steal my coat, and you act like you belong next to me. They’re not wrong.”

Your face burns “I... You let me do all that!”

He smirks “I know.”

You open your mouth, but no words come out.

Because suddenly, you realize... he has let you. And he still is.

Ever since Bepo and the others pointed out how Law treats you differently, it’s been impossible to ignore.

The extra care during missions. The way he always stands just a little closer than necessary. The way he lets you touch him, his arm, his shoulder, even his hand, when no one else would dare.

But what really gives him away?

The way his ears burn red every time you get too close.

And yet he never says anything.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was running an experiment to see how long he could keep this up before you lost your mind.

So tonight you’re calling him out.

You find him in his quarters, buried in medical books.

“Hey, Law.” You lean against the desk, arms crossed “Can I ask you something?”

His eyes flick up “What?”

You tilt your head “Do you like me?”

Law chokes.

Not just a little cough... he full-on chokes on air, slamming his book shut as if that’ll somehow save him.

“What—?!” He coughs into his fist “Where the hell did that come from?”

You raise an eyebrow “You tell me.”

Law scowls, shifting uncomfortably “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Oh? Am I?” You step closer.

He stiffens “What are you...?”

You place your hands on the arms of his chair and lean in, caging him in.

His breath hitches.

Oh. Oh.

He is not prepared for this.

“Law,” you murmur, watching his face closely “you never let anyone touch you, but you let me.”

His jaw clenches “That doesn’t—”

“You always make sure I rest. You check my injuries before anyone else’s.”

“Because you’re reckless—”

“And...” you lean even closer “your ears are red right now.”

Law swallows.

You smirk “So, wanna try again?”

For a long moment, he just stares at you, lips parted, golden eyes darting between yours.

Then, in a last-ditch effort, he growls... “You’re annoying.”

You hum “Maybe.”

And then you kiss him.

Law goes still.

For the first time since you’ve known him, he is completely speechless.

But then a quiet sound escapes him, and his hand suddenly grips your wrist, holding you there.

You almost pull back, unsure, until his other hand slides around the back of your neck, fingers threading into your hair, and he kisses you back.

It’s hesitant at first, but when you don’t pull away, something shifts.

The kiss deepens, his grip tightens, and the heat radiating off of him is enough to make you dizzy.

When you finally part, Law exhales sharply, pressing his forehead against yours.

“…You’re gonna be a problem” he mutters, voice rough.

You grin “Yeah?”

His fingers tighten in your hair “Yeah.”

And then, despite everything, he kisses you again.

Because for once in his life he’s done running.

── .✦ Portgas D. Ace:

Ace is naturally affectionate.

He throws an arm around people’s shoulders, laughs loudly, and grins like the world is a joke he’s in on. He’s warm but also because he makes people feel welcome.

So it’s not weird that he touches you a lot.

Right?

It starts when Marco sits down next to you, smirking.

“You and Ace finally together, yoi?”

You look at him confused “what do you mean?”

“A couple… are you two a couple?”

You almost drop your drink “What? No!”

Marco raises an eyebrow “You sure? He always saves you a seat at meals. Always gives you his food if you ask. Always keeps an eye on you during fights.”

You roll your eyes “That doesn’t mean anything. He’s just like that.”

“Not with everyone” Marco takes a sip of his drink “Just you.”

You open your mouth to argue, but then you don’t know what to say, because now, you’re thinking about it.

The next time Ace sits beside you at dinner, you notice how he slides his plate a little closer to yours, letting you steal his food.

The next time the crew docks at an island, you notice how he instinctively waits for you before walking off together.

The next time you’re about to trip, you don’t even get the chance to fall, Ace grabs your wrist and steadies you like it’s second nature.

And maybe it is second nature.

“Careful, Ace,” one of the division commanders teases “If you keep acting like that, y/n might actually think you’re in love.”

Ace laughs, scratching the back of his head “Yeah, yeah.”

You laugh too. Because it’s just a joke… Right?

One night, you sit together on the deck, watching the ocean.

You fidget for a second before saying “The crew keeps calling us a couple”

Ace hums “Yeah?”

You glance at him “Why do you think that is?”

He leans back, arms behind his head, and grins “Probably because we act like one.”

You choke on your own breath “Excuse me?!”

Ace tilts his head “I mean, we do everything together. You always take my food, and I always let you. You always pull me out of trouble, and I always let you. Feels natural, doesn’t it?”

Your brain short-circuits.

Because now that you think about it... yeah, it does feel natural.

“…Ace,” you say slowly “Are we...?”

He looks at you, amusement flickering in his eyes “What do you think?”

Your stomach flips.

Because suddenly, you’re not sure where the habit ends and the feelings begin.

After this, Ace keeps flirting with you all the time.

It’s just who he is.

Winks across the deck. Throwing an arm around your shoulders. Calling you hot stuff like it’s your actual name.

You’re used to it.

But after the teasing from Marco and Thatch, after realizing that Ace treats you differently, you start to wonder.

Is he just playing around? Or is there something real underneath?

There’s only one way to find out.

The perfect opportunity comes one afternoon, when Ace flops down next to you on the Moby Dick’s deck, grinning.

“Hey,” he drawls, resting an arm behind his head “Miss me?”

You smirk “I saw you literally two hours ago.”

“That’s two hours too long.” He winks “Bet you were thinking about me the whole time.”

You hum, tilting your head “You really think that, huh?”

Ace chuckles “C’mon, you love me.”

You raise an eyebrow “Prove it.”

He blinks “Huh?”

You shift, leaning closer with a sly smile “You say all this stuff, Ace. You flirt, you tease... but are you actually serious?”

For the first time, he hesitates.

Just for a second, but it’s enough.

“…Of course I am,” he says, but his usual confidence isn’t all there.

You smirk “Then show me.”

Before he can react, you grab his hat, his precious hat, and plop it onto your own head.

Ace short-circuits.

“Oi! That’s...!” He reaches for it instinctively but stops mid-motion, staring at you.

You tilt the brim with a smirk “What? You said you liked me, right?”

Ace swallows “Y-Yeah?”

“Then just take it back.”

You expect him to snatch it back playfully.

What you don’t expect is for Ace to grin, eyes flickering with mischief, and suddenly tackle you onto the deck.

You yelp as he hovers over you, forearms braced on either side of your head.

The crew whoops in the background, but neither of you pay them any attention.

Ace smirks down at you “You think you’re funny, huh?”

You grin “A little.”

Ace shakes his head, chuckling, but then his expression softens.

He reaches up, tilts the hat back just enough to see your face properly.

And then without thinking he leans down and kisses you.

It’s grinning into the kiss kind of playful. It’s warm and teasing but full of something deeper.

And when he pulls back, face way too close, he murmurs “Now you gotta prove it.”

Your heart races.

You don’t back down. Instead, you tug him down by his necklace and kiss him again.

This time, Ace melts.

When you finally break apart, Ace huffs out a breathless laugh.

“Well,” he grins “Guess you do love me.”

You roll your eyes “Shut up.”

But you don’t stop him when he kisses you one more time.

Because, honestly?

He’s right.

── .✦ Sabo:

Sabo is easy to be around.

He’s kind, smart, and always ready to listen. He laughs at your jokes, never forgets your favorite things, and somehow always knows when you need him.

So it’s no surprise that you spend a lot of time together.

But apparently, the way you act around him is a little… suspicious.

It starts when you’re walking through the Revolutionary Army base with Koala.

“So,” she says casually “when are you and Sabo going to make it official?”

You nearly trip over your own feet “What?!”

Koala grins “Come on, don’t play dumb. You two already act like a couple.”

You scoff “No, we don’t.”

She raises an eyebrow “Oh really? Who’s the first person Sabo looks for when he gets back from a mission?”

“…Me.”

“Who’s the only person he lets borrow his gloves?”

“…Me.”

“And who’s the only one he lets fall asleep on his shoulder without complaining?”

You open your mouth, but nothing comes out.

Because—oh.

Oh.

Koala smirks “See what I mean?”

You shake your head “That doesn’t mean anything. We’re just close.”

She shrugs “If you say so.”

But now, you can’t stop thinking about it. You start noticing things, like how Sabo always finds a reason to sit next to you during meals, or how he reaches out to fix your collar or tuck your hair behind your ear like it’s normal, or how he always makes sure you have a blanket when you fall asleep at your desk, even though no one else gets that treatment.

And the worst part?

Now that you’re paying attention, everyone else is too.

“I swear, it’s like they’re married” one soldier mutters.

“They finish each other’s sentences” another whispers.

“Bet they don’t even realize” someone else chuckles.

You groan and drop your head onto the table.

Sabo, sitting beside you, blinks “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing” you mumble.

He frowns, then wordlessly slides his drink toward you.

You stare at it “…Did you just give me your drink?”

He shrugs “You like it more than I do.”

You glance around. Several soldiers are watching now, smirking.

Slowly, you push the drink back to him.

Sabo looks confused “You don’t want it?”

Your face burns “Nope. I’m fine.”

He tilts his head, then shrugs and takes a sip.

The others snicker.

You sigh.

Later that night, you sit beside him on the rooftop, watching the stars.

“Sabo,” you say carefully “do we… act like a couple?”

He hums “Why?”

“People keep saying we do.”

Sabo leans back on his hands, thinking. Then he smiles “I guess I can see why.”

Your heart skips a beat “You can?”

“Well, we’re always together,” he says easily “I trust you more than anyone. You take care of me, I take care of you. Feels normal.”

You stare at him “That’s… kind of a couple thing, don’t you think?”

Sabo looks at you for a long moment. Then he smirks.

“Well,” he says, voice teasing but gentle “do you want it to be?”

Your breath catches.

And suddenly, the answer seems obvious.

Sabo has always been easy to be around.

You never have to force a conversation. Never have to second-guess his presence.

He’s just there, a steady warmth beside you, the hand that always steadies your back when you walk through the Revolutionary camp, the person you find yourself naturally leaning against when you’re tired.

And the thing is?

He never pulls away.

Even now, sitting beside you near the fire after a long day, his arm rests lightly along the back of your seat. Close enough to feel, but not demanding.

It’s natural.

But tonight, something’s different.

There’s a quiet between you, not uncomfortable, but charged with something unsaid.

You don’t know who moves first, but suddenly your head is resting against his shoulder, and instead of shifting away, Sabo just exhales softly, tilting his head against yours.

You close your eyes, feeling the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

“…I like this” you murmur, barely thinking.

Sabo hums “Me too” A pause. Then... “I always have.”

Your heart stutters.

Slowly, you lift your head, turning just enough to meet his gaze.

His expression is calm, too calm, like he’s waiting for you to understand something he’s known for a long time.

And you do.

Because of course it was always him.

You don’t say anything. You don’t need to.

Instead, you reach up, gently tracing your fingers along his jaw.

Sabo closes his eyes briefly at the touch before opening them again, watching you with something unreadable, something deep.

Then, without hesitation, he leans in.

The kiss is slow, certain.

It’s not rushed, not desperate because this was never a question.

It was always going to be this.

When you part, Sabo lingers, his forehead resting against yours.

His hand finds yours, fingers lacing together easily.

“…Feels like we should’ve done that a long time ago” he murmurs, lips brushing against yours.

You smile “Maybe. But I think we got here at the right time.”

Sabo chuckles softly, squeezing your hand “Yeah. I think so too.”

And when he kisses you again, it feels like something that was simply meant to be.

Enclosed |Master-list|

Straw Hat x !GNReader, platonic, can be interpreted as romantic, comfort fic, angst, fluff, crack, straw hat shenanigans, the crew is very protective of you

Summary: Experiencing a vivid panic attack, you clumsily avoid the crew.

A/N: This is the re-made version of Anxiety, and I cannot BELIEVE how much my writing has changed since the original. Also, there's no Jinbei in here—I apologize, I'm not that far yet 💔

Around 3.2k

Warning! Anxiety/Panic Attacks written in detail + Orthostatic Hypotension.

•-•-•—•-•-••-•-•—•-•—•-•

Mindlessly walking the deck of the Thousand Sunny, you used the rail for balance. With blurred vision, you helplessly caught your breath, gripping the rail like a lifeline as it cut edges into your palm.

Blood didn’t draw, but it pooled at your feet as you sluggishly walked down the stairs.

The moon hung high, and it was nearing 11:00 as the crew kept to themselves and their duties, relaxing in the galley or their designated spots.

The Sunny traveled at night, meaning everyone had to be alert. Shifts were taken and naps were often, though you were left to your senses.

Feeling everything—but nothing at once.

Your nervous system couldn’t tell the difference between being held at gunpoint to the peaceful company of your crew.

It could never make up its mind, and it left you cautious of those around you. Especially Zoro, who you avoided as he rested by the mast.

You carefully, as quietly as you could, stepped down the stairs, faintly making out his form through the dark. His arms were crossed over his lap, protecting his swords even in peace, soundly asleep.

Or so you thought.

Stepping down the last step, your breath hitched.

crk—

A sharp pain ran up your side, making you stagger to grab the rail, fighting yourself as you fought the raw ache in your chest.

You squeezed your shirt, temporarily kneeling, and you knew you had given yourself away. Quickly, you looked up to watch the swordsman—but it was too late.

Zoro didn’t move; he was as silent as a ghost, no longer snoring.

Fuck. Great—he’s awake.

Embarrassed, you fled inside, unaware of the eye that cracked open to watch you. The door swiftly shut, and Zoro sighed, leaning up, muttering something soft under his breath. “Idiot . . .”

You hurried down the hall, passing the kitchen as you ignored soft-talk; limbs burning in protest, with a hand muffling your breath, but you pushed on.

You couldn’t let them see you like this. It wasn’t fair. They hadn’t done anything—it was just you.

It was your problem.

“Your tea, Robin.” Sanji swooned, probably spinning around the table by now. “Ah, thank you,” she smiled, taking the cup. “Hey, where’s my tea?” Usopp grumbled, tinkering with his gadget

“You’ll get in a second.” Sanji replied, then casually, “Chopper, yours.” “Hey—rude! I’m right here, you know!”

You held the wall, slowing down, keeping quiet. But it was damn near impossible to.

“Sanji, I’m hungry!” “I just made you something!” “And since when has that ever worked? He’s an endless pit, bro.”

Suddenly, your hand grazed a painting, and you froze.

“Sooo... about that meat, Sanji?” “Get out of my kitchen!”

“Shh—wait,” Chopper muttered, “did you guys hear that?”

“Hear what?”

With your heart racing, you slipped into the infirmary, going unnoticed. Footsteps came from the galley, and you knew you had to act fast. Tears covered your vision, though a shortcut to the aquarium bar sparked your movement.

You shifted to the hall, exiting from Chopper’s side door—but a familiar hum filled the corridor. Flinching back, you realized it was Brook.

Shit. Shit—Shit.

Impulsively, you left in the opposite direction with your back facing the skeleton. Your shoulders were hunched, and you quietly cried into the palm of your hand.

“Oh, ____! I thought I heard you!” Brook piped, then paused, watching you stumble into the tank room. “Oh, there they go—“

Crashing into the couch, you gasped for air, holding your chest. Dammnit. You couldn’t do this. Too much.

Way, too much.

You loved them with all your heart, and every single of your being—but fuck. There was too much action. Adrenaline coursed through your veins, and you could barely breathe.

A struggled noise escaped you, and you curled into the couch’s armrest. Your limbs ached, tingling as they grew weak, and you muffled a sob, sharply drawing in.

The quiet surrounded you, suffocating you only for a moment, before you realized the room’s lights were on.

Someone else was in here.

“____?” Nami asked, peeking over the couch. “Oh my god, hey,” she worriedly came to meet you, but you’d already bolted up.

“I’m okay,” you rasped, using the wall for leverage. “I’m fine,” you repeated, wiping your eyes.

“Hey—hey, wait,” only getting so far, voices sounded from the door you reached.

You flinched, stepping back—bumping into Nami—you were lost. You didn’t know what to do.

“I knew I heard someone, I figured it was—“

Someone touched your shoulder, and you flinched, covering your ears. You searched for an exit, looking through tears, but there was nothing.

There was so much happening at once.

“___, hey—hold on.”

Voices. Muffled voices, in blurs shapes—you could barely make out what was in front of you. You stepped back, bumping into something, and you couldn’t tell what happened after that.

Your eyes shut.

“Yohoho, there you are!” “I told you they were in here!” “No, you didn’t, you said they were—“

“Oh—You guys, hold on—“

“Stop talking!”

For a moment, you looked for some way out, and a peaceful, single storage closet called to you. You didn’t even hesitate. You bolted.

The door slammed shut, and you crashed into whatever was inside.

Silence shrouded, and objects poked at you. Your head felt like it was going to explode.

With your heart pounding and anxiety raging, you couldn’t think, you couldn’t feel. Only the burning of your nerves, to the shaking in your limbs, was overwhelming.

In the dark, static blurred with reality, and tears covered them all. You felt like it was the end of the world, with everything folding in on you at once.

•~•~•~•

Outside the closet, a room of confused and worried crew members stood still.

“Shh!” Nami hushed, silencing the group. “Be quiet.”

“Sorry!” Chopper whispered, covering his mouth, side-kicking Usopp, who winced.

“Are they okay?” Luffy asked.

“What do you think?” Sanji spoke, physically tensing as the cyborg strolled in. “Yoh! What’s the big—“ A giant hand slapped over Franky’s face, and he nodded, immediately getting the memo.

Robin’s hand disappeared, flurrying into petals, and Zoro silently followed in.

Everyone shared a look, checking the closet, and an understanding passed through. The moment seemed to slow.

Luffy slipped by Nami, sitting beside the door to listen to your panicked breaths. His hat covered his face, and his fist clenched over his knee.

You’d think he was angry, but right now? It was the complete opposite. He was torn.

Another moment passed before Sanji spoke quietly. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Nami muttered, “They burst in here, trying to be alone, I think I scared them.” A hand rubbed over her chest, and her eyes softened.

“She was already startled,” Robin murmured, taking a seat on the couch. “I believe it’s a panic attack.”

“Yeah,” Chopper mumbled, lowering himself beside her. The doctor looked to the closet, wishing he were in there with you.

It wasn’t fair that you were alone.

“I wish I’d noticed sooner,” he added quietly,

“You couldn’t have done anything,” Zoro said, leaning against a table, “they were hiding. I saw them sneaking around the deck.”

“Sneaking?” Brook blurted, a little too loudly. The skeleton quickly covered his mouth, ducking to avoid Robin’s hand that sprouted from the wall. He placed a bony hand over his heart, thinking back to earlier, when you’d avoided him.

Realization set in, and he sighed.

“Oh—____, no one deserves to be alone when experiencing something so hard.”

Sanji hummed, his expression growing grim. He leaned against the wall, opposite of Zoro, bringing a cigarette to his lips.

No. No one did. Especially you.

“They were fine earlier,” Usopp whispered, pausing. He looked at his hands, closing them into fists. “I swear, I saw them not even 30 minutes ago, they helped me find a piece for something.”

“They come on fast,” Chopper responded, sniffling. He rubbed his nose, leaning against Robin. “It’s hard to control them when they do, I just... I don’t think they wanted us to see them like this.”

“They avoided me like the plague.” Zoro tsked, crossing his arms. “It’s probably a lot more than that.”

“Well, that’s too bad,” Luffy said firmly,

“They’re a part of this crew—they’re ours. They don’t get to go through this alone, not when we’re here.”

A gentle pause, and the heavy breathing finally stopped. Everyone listened, but only to silence. Nami let out a breath, looking at Robin.

Already acting, the archeologist crossed her arms, muttering a soft; Un Fluer,” and a single hand sprouted from inside the closet.

It gently reached your leg, grounding you with single taps.

You sniffled, blinking through tears, and you hesitated. Through the dark, you saw her hand, and you didn’t know why you froze. Your throat tightened, as if this simple gesture were a grand speech.

Outside, Robin was determined. Her eyes had a focused gentleness to them, and she wouldn’t let this go. She closed her eyes, making her hand reach yours.

It was the gentlest push, but it was needed, and your hand squeezed hers, signaling you were okay.

Robin smiled, reciprocating the gesture. “They’re coming out of it, just give them some time.”

“Fine by me,” Zoro grumbles, taking a seat. “I’ll sit here all night if I have to.”

“For once, I agree with you,” Sanji sighed, blowing out his cigarette. He leaned against the tank, quietly watching the reflection of the glass.

“Uh-huh,” Franky agreed, “we’re super patient, kiddo, take all the time you need.” he plopped down, creating a loud thump, and Nami shook her head at Usopp.

They shared a look, checking the closet.

Clunk

Something fell from inside, as if you were moving, and the crew acted casual. They lounged, creating a soft tension that left it easy to breathe. They made sure not to make you feel small or crowded, even if they were secretly watching.

Another object fell, thumping softly, and a weak “ow” echoed.

Usopp cracked a smile, and so did Luffy. The captain leaned on his left knee, peeking at the door that cracked weakly open.

“Shishi, there you are.” he smiled, “We were worried about‘cha.”

You wiped your eyes, managing a smile, though it wasn’t convincing. It was weak, just a tip of the lips, but it was there.

Papers littered where you sat, with bent boxes and random trinkets—you slowly stretched your legs, leaning against the doorframe.

“Yeah, sorry about the shelves.” You mumbled, looking behind you.

“It’s fine,” Robin assured, as calm as ever. “We didn’t need it anyway. It was just free storage.”

“Yeah,” Franky mentioned, “I was gonna turn that into room space, but you just did the demolition for me.” he laughed, eliciting a few smiles throughout the room.

“I’m just glad you’re not hurt! I heard the crash from upstairs.”

“As did I, you startled us ___.” Brook started, crossing his legs. “Yohoho—it looked rather painful, seeing you so lost.”

“Yeah, it was, I’m sorry you have to go through that.” Usopp said, rubbing the back of his neck, “You don’t have to hide that, though.

“You know we’re here.”

“Mm,” Sanji agreed, “We’re everywhere, whenever you need. Always.”

You nodded, looking at your feet. “Thank you, that... means a lot.”

“I’m sure it does,” Nami hugged her sides, checking the clock. Not out of urgency, but as a reminder. That you, right here, right now—we’re struggling.

12:05am…

This late. And you still tried to hide it.

She was frustrated—not at you, but herself. She’d been the one to startle you further, and that guilt lingered.

Nami—just like everyone else thought, knew this wasn’t fair. Because you were safe: with them, not with whoever made you feel the need to act this way.

To hide, bury your feelings—tune it out till it all boils over, leaving you overwhelmed. Bittersweetly, she smiled.

You reminded her a lot of herself.

“And you’re welcome, but you shouldn’t feel the need to thank us.” “It’s not out of obligation,” she added.

“It never is.”

“We want to be there for you, even if you think something like this is ‘small,’ it’s not. Everything matters, and if you already know it, I, and everyone else, are going to remind you, over and over again—you matter.” Nami walked forward, standing close.

“It doesn’t matter what it is, just tell us. Tell someone. You don’t deserve to suffer alone.”

Luffy stretched, internally relieved—because in his own words, he would’ve said the same thing.

Just . . . Not as Nami-ish.

However, he still had something on his mind, and it was killing his patience to ask you. Luffy nudged your foot with his own, bumping it again as if he were thinking.

“Is that why you hide?” he asked, casually.

“'Cause you're scared?”

Pulling a leg close, you shrugged, knocking his foot back.

“Sometimes,” you admit. “Sometimes it’s like that, when I don’t know what you’ll say, or how you’ll react. Or, I just don’t really know. It just... happens, and I freeze up. I can’t think, and I can’t talk, and I don’t know what to do with myself other than hide.”

A short pause.

“It feels safer that way.”

Luffy hummed, bumping your foot again.

“It shouldn’t,” he muttered, almost grumbling. “We’re just as safe as some stupid storage closet. And you shouldn’t worry about that, we’d never hurt you.”

Weakly, you nodded. You couldn’t stop your tears, but you didn’t know if you wanted to. You hadn’t let yourself cry like this in a long time, not with people who cared for you now.

“I know you’re safer than some storage closet, Luffy.” You chuckled, sniffling. “It’s not that I think you’re not, it just... It’s different.”

“I know it is,” he shifted forward, placing his straw hat on your head. “Just come to one of us next time, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you agreed, nodding. Nami rubbed your shoulder, and Luffy slowly stood up.

He offered you his hand, as a choice, and you took it. With little warning, he pulled you up, and almost instantly, dizziness washed over you.

You didn’t have enough time to even think.

“Oh—Luffy, be careful—“ Chopper warned. But it was too late.

Static spread up your body, crawling into your vision—and as stable as you came, it suddenly disappeared. You went limp, ears blaring as both knees gave out underneath you.

“Oi—____!” Luffy quickly caught you, eyes wide as he held you to his chest. In a matter of seconds, the room erupted.

“Idiot! You can’t just pull them up that fast! Their body needs to readjust!”

“Readjust? What does that mean?!”

“He means acclimatize, Luffy,” Robin sighed, watching your head loll gently against his shoulder. Her eyes softened, “They just can’t seem to get a break, they?”

“No, apparently they cannot,” Usopp sighed, his head dropping.

“So what—they just passed out?” Zoro ignored, walking over. “Are they okay?”

“Yes, and no, I mean—technically?”

“Chopper.”

“It was a drop in blood pressure! Orthostatic Hypotension, they had a lot of things to contribute to it, anxiety, dehydration—standing up too fast,” Chopper listed, coming beside you.

“When that happens, their brain and heart don’t have enough blood or oxygen to properly function,” he finished, gently taking your vitals.

“I understood none of that.” Franky blurted.

“Exactly, that’s why I’m the doctor.” “Ok, lil’ bro.”

“They just passed out, they’re only unconscious,” he continued, pausing. Worriedly, his eyebrows scrunched.

“Oh, that’s not good, that’s really low.”

“Low? What’s low? Are they dying?!” Usopp panicked. “Yohoho, my heart can’t take this—“

“No, you idiots! They aren’t dying, quit it!” Nami snapped.

“They just passed out, like Chopper said. Just give it a second.” Robin assured.

“Yeah, well, I hate waiting,” Franky muttered, standing above Luffy. With his hands on his hips, he watched you protectively, just like the crew did.

If he ever found out who’d done you harm, to this extent? Bringing your anxiety to an all-time high? They wouldn’t walk another painless day. If at all.

“Sanji, can you get them some water? They’ll need something light to eat too, for when they wake up.” “Already on it.”

•~•~•~•

Blearily, you stirred to panicked voices.

Luffy’s hat had tipped to the side, shielding your vision, while Chopper tracked your pulse, and Zoro broodingly hovered . . .

You wondered how long you’d been out, but you’d been too tired to move—or signal that you were alive.

“God, there you are.” Sanji sighed, placing a hand to his heart. “You’re just all over the place.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Chopper muttered, “How are you feeling?”

You blinked, slowly, very slowly—almost grogily. “Did I j’s pass out?”

“Yeah, you did.” Nami deadpanned, gently adjusting Luffy’s hat. She looked at the captain, glaring. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“I won’t,” Luffy chuckled, “sorry, ____.”

“It’s fine,” you muttered, shakily leaning up. Your balance didn’t last, and Luffy let you rest against him. “Ugh, I think I got hit by a ship.”

“No, you got hit by a Luffy.” Usopp corrected, letting Sanji slip by with some water. “Here, this’ll make you feel better. There are some electrolytes in there, so it’s sweet.” He soothed.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Luffy grumbled, but Franky was quick to interrupt. “Oh, it was that bad. They folded like a chair.”

“I did not.” You mumbled, though it was completely ignored.

“How was I supposed to know they’d do that?” Luffy huffed, his arms tightening around you.

“Yohoho, because.” Brook shrugged. “Because—?”

“Ok, on a serious note!” Chopper finished, bringing their attention back to you. “Your blood pressure is low, you’re dehydrated, and you need rest. So don’t even think about doing anything strenuous.”

You nodded, but went to say something—

“And no. I’m not sure about training tomorrow, we’ll see how you feel.” “Seriously?”

“You just passed out, moron.” Zoro’s eye twitched. “Give yourself a break.”

“You’re one to talk.” “Oi—watch it.”

“They’ve got a point, Zoro, I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Chopper chase you around.” Usopp plopped a seat beside you.

“Haha—remember when he bandaged him to the mast?”

Here we go . . .

“Don’t turn this on me!”

Leaning against Luffy’s side, you listened to the crew’s banter, relaxing. Everyone had made themselves a comfortable spot, lingering close, and your eyes began to droop.

“It was a good waste of bandages, I’d do it again.” Chopper proudly smiled, crossing his arms as he finally let your wrist go. “Shishi—he looked like Sanji’s pork wraps!”

“I did not!” Zoro blushed, scoffing as he turned away. “I’m leaving you to drown next time you fall overboard.”

“No, you won’t!” “Oh, yes, the hell I will!”

Luffy’s hat fell in your lap, and slowly... your eyes closed. The light-hearted arguing acted as a white noise, and as insane as it sounded, the loudness was comforting.

Yet again, everyone’s voices blurred, but this time it was by sleep, not by the torment of your anxiety. Your body, for once, relaxed, and almost instantly, you were at peace.

In the arms of your captain, and the company of your crew, you could finally rest. It would be okay, and in a matter of no-time, your energy would return.

It wasn't everlasting, only temporarily in the depths of your episode, and you had to remember that it would pass. And I would be okay.

•~•~•~•

The Menacing Bra |Master-list|

Fluff, swearing, kissy-kissy, crack, cringe and cliche?? Longish-drabble

You and the cook have a moment, and he actually grew a pair to make a move

!finally revised—lemme know if there’s errors pls and ty!

……………….

Laundry day.

Oh boy, what joy, the repetitive chore that tested your limits. Chipping away your mental capacity and motivation to do absolutely anything.

You’d spent hours on end scrubbing and rinsing the clothes, only to wear again, ferevently repeating the cycle.

You cursed, pinching a clip to your nose. You’d always wished there was some cheat sheet, some easy way out, other than free labor from the boys.

Especially when you’d gotten stuck with Nami and Robin’s clothes. You’d kindly asked, seeing their closets were getting low and they’d never decline an offer like that.

Because, honestly, who would? Washing clothes by hand was time consuming, and neither you nor the women had the patience for it.

Sure you might be throwing yourself under the bus here, but you cannot for the life of you throw fucking soap and bubbles for an hour.

Wiping the sweat from your brow, you scrubbed and submerged the materials hoping you could get done with this before lunch was done.

Which the odds were in your favor as you hadn’t procrastinated as much as you normally did. Meaning you’d started early on it, and there was nice weather! Though that luck didn’t last long as a distant crash emitted from downstairs.

“Spoke too soon,” you muttered, hearing a distant laugh and girlish scream follow after one another. A familiar shout rang after and a chaotic catchy cackle echoed.

You didn’t even want to think what the cook was dealing with now.

However speaking of the boys, if you even had to touch their laundry you’d pass away. That was an actual health hazard, and even thinking about it made your skin crawl.

You shuddered, shaking your head as a shiver ran through your spine, causing some bubbles to fly.

Ew. Just imagining the men’s laundry was a shit show. Maybe not Sanji’s, as he actually cared about his hygiene—but regardless, it was still gross.

Without even realizing, your thoughts filtered back to the cook who’d still been hollering in the kitchen. Consequently reprimanding the idiots for whatever crime they outdrew.

Though the thought of his agitated face made you smile.

The way his brows creased into a frown, and the way his jaw would have clenched—sharpening his chin. You silently cursed as your mind wandered further, leaving the rest of you to the mercy of your imagination.

Ok, sure, maybe you had fallen for the hopeless romantic—but how could you not?!

He’d always showered you in devoted affection—heartfelt compliments, and any craving you could think of. You saw him as the perfect package.

At-least from your point of view.

Maybe a little perverted in the terms of others, but that was just his charm, or so you’d convinced yourself. You had never had an issue with him, he’d never really lust after you—or anyone else for that matter.

Not that you knew of, which made it easy to brush off. Yeah sure—maybe an unhinged comment every now and then, but it could be a lot worse.

Deep down, his selfless acts and perverted thoughts felt more like a puppy love than anything. Appreciation, admiration, and his firm morals…were always so oddly refreshing.

…

However speaking of that said appreciation, you were almost done with this stupid laundry. You just had to hang up one of your bra’s.

The deck seemed to finally quiet, meaning lunch was ready. So as quickly as you could, you stepped onto the railing, reaching to a height where you could hang the garment.

Ignoring the warm breeze that rushed past, you hopped down to deal with the soapy water dumping it overboard.

“____, my love! Lunch is done,” Sanji called, his voice glowing with an excited smile as he steadily rounded the corner to take you inside.

“Yeah, just a sec!” You replied, shaking the soapy suds from the container watching them fall to the ocean below.

“No worries, I can wait darling.”

Turning back with a sigh, you weren’t met with the handsome face of the cook, but a sharp gust of wind and wet towel speedily flying towards you—smacking you straight through your face.

“Shit-“ Thwack

“Damn wind—you alright?” His voice reached, muffled over the violent winds. The pressure being immeasurable as it howled around and over the ship, shoving you against it’s side with blunt force.

You managed to holler back a muffled response, but the towel had still blocked your vision, making it impossible to see. The smell of a wet towel wasn’t pleasant, though it’d disappeared and fallen to the floor as the wind had finally died down, a sopping thud following to the floor. An annoying imprint was left on your shirt, peskily being a darker hue from what it originally was.

“Ugh, what the hell—you okay?” You asked, looking up to the cook as you wiped a dry sleeve across your face—but you froze seeing the sight in-front of you.

No.

Actually die.

He’s dead. You killed the man—or well, the bra that covered his face did. He was as red as a tomato, frozen in place. And you would’ve laughed at the sight if your weren’t embarrassed out of your mind.

Your hands slowly came out infront of you, hesitating at what to do with yourself—and the situation.

“Sanji?”

..

“S-so soft..” he whispered, dramatically plummeting to the floor.

There he goes…

You let out a long sigh, watching as a familiar pathetic trail of blood streamed from his nose. You slowly knelt to his side calling his name again, watching as he twitched like some possessed, squashed cockroach—far too gone for some unknown reason. He was clearly down as bad as you were for him—if not far worse.

Peeling off and tossing aside the bra, your hands hovered hesitating over his face for a moment, before you gently patted his cheeks, hoping to snap him out of his spell. However, he was painfully out like a light.

“Hellooo? Earth to sanji?” You sang, growing increasingly worried as the seconds stretched on.

Sure he had nose bleeds, but never this bad. Maybe back-up was needed.

“Hey!” You finally snapped, gently swatting his face—unable to wait any longer as the seconds and leading minutes painfully dragged on. You’d silently regretted your decision as his eyes fluttered open into hearts—but you could never stay irritated with a face like that.

“Yes darling?” he stuttered, quickly reaching into his pocket as he dabbed a light blue handkerchief you’d gifted him to his face. He secretly felt as if he’d been to heaven itself, knocked out by the cusp of a bra, and awoken by an angel.

“Are you okay?”

“Haha, yes—lovely,” He slurred, obviously still locked in the cages of the aftermath.

You could only grumble at his words—and at the sight. Your heart hammered at the way his eyes shined at your own, and the way his gentle smile lingered. Your heart was taking too many hits, and you really tried to fight it, but your gaze softened looking to his—locking gazes. Without the hearts.

As the air suddenly grew tense, and a heat built—Sanji was up in the blink of an eye offering you his hand, sending you a charming smile as his eyes still lingered.

“Are you sure?” You hummed, taking his hand.

“You’re offly pink.”

“I’m sure, and it’s only for you my Angel.” His voice softened, coming out with zero hesitation, hoping for—and ever so loving your reaction. The way your cheeks flushed, and the way your eyes teasingly rolled, a soft chuckle leaving your lips.

God he wanted you closer.

So he did. It was sudden, but his arm wrapped around your waist and it shamelessly pulled you closer.

He could tell you were nervous, and once again loved it. He loved everything about you. How your breath hitched, and how you brought your arms infront of coyly distancing yourself…

He knew if you’d given him a chance he would go hours on end naming every reason you were so adored. And he was tempted to ask, as you how you felt, but he knew it wouldn’t be so easy to get out of you—so his hand grasped your waist tighter, letting himself lean slightly against you.

His eyes scanned your body, your eyes, your face—your language for discomfort. But he didn’t, so he continued. And he knew a little teasing couldn’t hurt.

“Is it too much?”

Absolutely.

No. Not at all. Not even in the slightest.

You repeated to yourself, unable to properly think enough so you could speak. How could he affect you like this? Making you just…so god damned flustered. Your heart thudded yet again in your chest as you watched a soft smirk tug at his lips—and a light laugh sounded after.

“I’m joking, easy,” he mused, reaching a hand to very gently push some hair out of your eyes.

“No you’re not.” You muttered, cursing the way your voice was so small.

“…You’re right, I’m not.”

And for another moment, his eyes locked with your’s.

It felt as if your lungs had been in his hold, being squeezed softly—making you breathless as he finally leaned in.

Sanji slowly moved his hand from your waist to the nape of your neck, pulling you in, and you could feel the heat rise between you as he watched your lips like honey to a bee.

Sanji felt as if you looked far too sweet not to be held, not to be touched—not to be loved…and he couldn’t even comprehend how’d you taste. He knew he was far too eager to wait, and he’d controlled himself with you for far too long.

His lips longingly met yours, and you melted into it—sliding your hands from his chest to his neck—pulling your hips to his.

Sanji quietly groaned, his legs almost buckling at the feeling, and he needily slipped his tongue to meet yours, further deepening it. The kiss was a first time rush, feeling ever so feverish—and love ever so yearning fully deep.

Finally taken from the shelf you’d both restlessly waited upon, dusted off and brought into the light of the peaceable sense of purpose and belonging you both seemed to give each other.

You parted away to take a breath, but Sanji was too eager. His hands pulled you back and his head further tilted into your’s…

Until a door beside the two of you suddenly opened. An impatient captain running your moment.

“Sanji! Can we eat now?!” A hangry Captain huffed, far outstretching the scene.

“Hey what are you—“

You and Sanji frantically pulled away, letting out a stifled cough you walked past the boy.

“We’re done! He just came to tell me lunch was done! All is well, all is just fine!” You cheeped, bringing a hand to your mouth as you wiped away any dampness—fleeing the scene, turning bright red.

After your quick exit, you’d failed to notice the awkward scene you’d left behind—a very hungry luffy, and a now seething Sanji.

“Huh? What’s her deal—“

“Did you have to ruin that?!” He snapped, grabbing the gummy dolt by his shirt and rapidly shaking him. He didn’t even bother to hide the blush on his face.

“You idiot! Could you not see I was having a moment! I’ve waited forever for this—and you just had to plow through and ruin it!”

“Wh-at moment! And what d-o you me-an ruin it! I just sa-id I was hun-gry!” his rubber head flopped back n’ forth, as he tried—but ultimately failed avoiding the cook’s wrath.

Yeah, sure, Luffy might’ve been hungry, but so was Sanji. He was practically starving.

………………………………

emergency food

"Still too light..."

Whumpril day 1: Hug (clammy)

(Yes I know it's May but I am just happy to finish this thing I started drawing like a year ago lmaooo)

I love Zeff and Sanji's father son relationship so so much. Zeff's poor Eggplant has gotten sick. Steamed himself instead of the actual food...

One of the mind-only fics I’ve had rolling around in my head is kinda similar to the Strays AU, but whatever, might as well.

Reader is Akainu’s kid and by some series of misadventures ends up being collected by Whitebeard. Kinda shifts between whether the Reader is a marine like their dad wants them to be, or if they ran away because they don’t like their dad. I typically imagine them as an older teenager, but I guess it doesn’t matter.

Maybe a bit much on detail, but if they ran away, Akainu reports them as missing, either because he won’t publicly admit that his child ran away, or he’s delusional and doesn’t realize how much they hate him, so marines are actively searching for them and when they show up with Whitebeard people think that the pirates kidnapped them, (which may or may not be true, not like the old man wouldn’t).

Breaking Point

Next

Whitebeard Pirates x Teen GN Reader

3.7k words

Summary: An espionage mission gives you the perfect cover to get away from your Admiral father and the life he forced you into. Everything seems to be going according to plan until some pirates corner you.

Warnings: unhealthy parent-child relationship, akainu being akainu, reader being in a terrible mental state, hopelessness, suicide attempt, blood, drugging

I did tweak the prompt a little bit, so I hope you don't mind. I also hope you aren't opposed to darker themes. If it bothers you, I'll write an alternate version of the scene where the reader snaps.

Clothes? Check. First aid kit? Check. Matches and firestarter? Check. Food and water? Check. Hygiene supplies? Check. Emergency shelter? Check. Money? Check.

Looks like you’re all set. After settling your hat into your head and pulling the bill down over your eyes as you always do, you head out.

With your backpack slung over your shoulder, you march out of the barracks so you can begin your mission. At least, that’s what everyone thinks you’re doing. You’ll let them keep believing that.

A sharp call of your name brings you to a halt, and you instinctively stand at attention. The empty halls allow for the sound of his footsteps to echo all around you. It’s debatable which is louder. The Admiral’s footsteps, or your own heartbeat. 

Akainu comes to a stop in front of you, glowering down at your form. His piercing eyes scrutinize your appearance. Instead of your usual uniform, you’re in civilian clothing for the mission. Spying in a Marine’s uniform would obviously not go well.

“At ease.” You relax your posture at his command. “I trust that you don’t need any further briefing on your mission?”

“No, sir.” Despite the man in front of you being your biological father, this is the only way you referred to him. Both in and out of work. “I understand the assignment in full.”

“As you should. I expect you to come back with results.”

“I will, sir.”

The Admiral stares at you a moment longer, then nods sharply, “You are dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.” With that, you take your leave, stepping down the halls of the base to leave. Just as you’re about to pass the threshold, you hear your name spoken again.

Akainu’s expression is as terse as ever as he stares a hole into you. He then sighs and turns away, “Don’t disappoint me.”

Of course those are his last words to you. Resentment twists inside you like a knife. Fuck this. You can’t wait to never have to see this bastard’s face again. You don’t respond to him, and you know that he doesn’t expect you to.

You march out of the base and toward the docks where a privateer vessel is waiting for you. It was a small, inboard paddlewheeler with an enclosed helm that doubled as a sleeping quarters. A nice ship. Shame you’re going to have to ditch it soon.

“(Y/N)!” There was a call of your name yet again, but this time it didn’t leave you in a worse mood for it. Koby sets down a couple of boxes of provisions on the boat, then leaps onto the docks, “We’ve got her all ready to go!”

A wisp of a smile graces your typically stern features, “Thanks, Koby. I appreciate it.”

“Hey!” Helmeppo jumps from the ship to the docks as well, landing with noticeably less grace than the former, “I- whoa- I helped too, don’t give him all the credit!”

His moody outburst makes you chuckle. Almost no one dared to speak to you in such a way given who your “father” is. You’ll miss these two. “Sorry, sorry. Thank you, Helmeppo. The Marines would be lost without you.” The new recruit beamed with pride, seemingly not picking up on the sarcasm. 

Koby was looking at you with awe. He’d never once tried to hide his admiration for your strength and rank, and he wasn’t about to start now. “It’s amazing that you get to go on a solo mission! I can’t wait until we get to do something like this!”

Helmeppo has a whole body reaction to the statement, recoiling away from his comrade as if the very words would harm him, “Speak for yourself! Did you miss the part about them having to spy on Red Haired Shanks?!”

“I know! Imagine being entrusted to go after an Emperor!” Koby’s eyes had turned to stars as he fantasized about his own missions some day resembling yours. 

“I’d rather imagine literally anything else.” Helmeppo shudders at the thought, “I mean, really? Why are they sending some kid to do this? Shouldn’t an Admiral like your dad be taking on missions of this caliber?”

Hearing Akainu getting referred to in such a cozy term of endearment makes you want to punch Helmeppo in the face, but you refrain. Barely. Hoping that your schooled expression doesn’t bely your true emotions, you answer him curtly, “Because they need to send someone that won’t be instantly identifiable. Do you think there’s a single pirate in the world that wouldn’t recognize an Admiral immediately?”

“I guess that’s true, but it’s still kinda messed up to be sending a kid. There are plenty of no-name Marines that are actually adults. I don’t see why they’re sacrificing you.”

Okay, the twenty questions game was starting to get old. You wanted to get out of here, not linger and explain your mission in excessive detail to a newbie. If you don’t leave soon, you run the risk of Akainu coming over here and asking what the delay is. You shoulder past the two recruits and leap onto the boat, “I’m not a sacrifice. The rank of Commodore wasn’t handed to me, I earned it. I’ve been trained for this for as long as I can remember.”

Koby ducked down to untie your boat with haste, then tossed the rope to you. He’s still starry eyed, and waves excitedly at you as your boat begins to drift away, “Good luck! I can’t wait to hear about everything when you’re back!”

Instead of answering, you just hit him with the good old smile and nod maneuver, then slip inside the cabin. You won’t be back. Never. You’d rather die than ever set foot on a Marine base again.

—

Several weeks have passed since your departure and covert runaway. At this point, they still believe you to be on assignment, and if everything continues as planned, it should be several months until your absence becomes known. Due to the high risk nature of spying on an Emperor, there would be zero communications until you got back. Sengoku wasn’t willing to risk you being found out if the Red Haired Pirates had a black transponder snail on them. Not only would it jeopardize your safety seeing as that you were alone and didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell against an Emperor’s crew, but the discovery would likely make them much harder to tail going forward since they would now know to be wary of this tactic.

Of course, you were nowhere near where that crew had been sighted lurking about. Your end goal was to get out of the Grand Line entirely and start life anew on some remote island where no one would ever think to look for you. Ideally, you would be assumed dead. Killed in action while stalking a predator you had no hopes against. 

If anyone knew you were still alive and just deserted the marines… Well, you’ve seen what Akainu does to people like that, and you aren’t naive enough to think that you’ll get special treatment because you’re his child. If anything, that would incentivize him more to make an example out of you. To prove that he would never go easy on anyone.

All in the name of his precious Absolute Justice. 

Currently, your biggest hurdle was the calm belt. Even if you hadn’t ditched- and burned- your original vessel, it would have done little to help you cross it. Sure, the absence of wind and ocean currents wouldn’t have slowed it down, but its wooden structure never would have stood a chance against the dense population of sea kings lurking in the depths of that part of the sea.

What you needed was something sturdy and fast. A high powered engine in a preferably metal boat that could take a few hits if need be. On top of that, you needed some weapons to assist you in fending off the beasts. As powerful as you were, even you could only do so much against the likes of such a creature.

Despite all of the risks, you feel relatively confident in your plan. All that you need to do is make it at least halfway through. After that, you think you’ll be able to fly the rest of the way out or at least island hop to the North Blue. Of course, you being a zoan devil fruit user came with risks, but hopefully the fear of drowning if your wings grow too tired will motivate you to persevere through exhaustion.

As long as you can pull this off, and do so without calling attention to yourself, you’ll finally have the freedom you’ve yearned after for so long. It’s so close that you can taste it.

“Commodore (Y/N)! Fancy seeing you here.”

W h a t ?

Once hot blood runs cold as ice through your veins. Who the fuck said that? You slowly turn your head to look over your shoulder to see who just recognized you. This could ruin everything. You can’t risk a sighting. You’ll have to kill whoever saw you.

“Whoa! If looks could kill, I don’t think I’d survive that one!” The man laughs and jumps down from the rooftop he’d been perched upon. Oh, fuck. That’s Fire Fist Ace. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck-

Another person drops down in front of you, prompting you to whip your head back around only to see Marco the Phoenix blocking the other exit to this alleyway. Oh, this couldn’t get any worse! What’s next?! Is fucking Whitebeard himself going to appear, too?!

More Whitebeard Pirates filter into the alley, but Ace and Marco appear to be the only big name members here. Your hands clench into fists at your sides, “What the fuck do you want from me?”

Marco holds up his hands in a placating manner, though it’s anything but. “Nothing much,” he steps closer, “I promise that none of us want to hurt you, but we’re in a bit of a bind.”

“And? How’s that my problem?”

“We need to pick up some medicine for pops, but the only island that has enough of it right now has a Marine base on it. This medicine is really important, we can’t risk it getting destroyed in an attack, so that’s where you come in. In order to guarantee its safety, we’ll let them know that we have an Admiral’s kid in our custody, and that you won’t be released unless we get what we need.” Marco smirks, “Now are you going to make this easy or difficult? Because I can promise you, you’re coming with us whether you like it or not.”

No. No, no, no, no, no, no! This isn’t happening! This can’t be fucking happening! You were so close, and now everything is going to be ruined because of some fucking pirates! Your hands are shaking- no, your whole body is! Your heart is pounding, adrenaline is spiking, your nerves are on fire. No. You aren’t about to give up and let them take you and ruin your life.

“No… you can’t do this to me.” You shake your head and meet Marco’s lax eyes, “I won’t let you!”

In a split second, your arms transform into wings, and you shoot yourself up into the air. Your legs turn next, shifting into clawed talons that you use to send an attack at Fire Fist and the people clustered around him. Everyone but him dives out of the way as the strike slashes through the cobblestones and walls. Ace tanks the hit directly, but all it does is go right through the logia devil fruit user.

“Not bad, but you’re going to need to do better than that to actually hurt me!” Ace erupts into a column of flames and directs it right at you. Just what you wanted. You flap your wings hard, blasting the fire right back at him- but more importantly- the people around him. They all scream as their clothes catch to fire, making Ace immediately panic and focus on them rather than you.

Not wanting to waste a single precious second, you take off, cutting through the air with remarkable speed. That much is to be expected of someone with the Tori Tori no Mi Model: Peregrine Falcon. As one of the fastest animals on the planet, your speed was generally unmatched. Kizaru was the only person that could ever really challenge you in terms of speed. Escaping these pirates should be a breeze.

“You’re pretty good! I wouldn’t expect anything less from an Admiral’s kid!” The voice of Marco comes from above.

You look up just in time to dodge him swooping down to try and grab you. Fuck, he’s fast! It’s time to engage in some real evasive maneuvers. You rip off your backpack and chuck it at him, then shift into your full beast form.

With your body shrunk down to the size of the bird your devil fruit is modeled after, taking the backpack with you would be impossible. You’ll have to come back for it later, or maybe not at all depending on how poorly this goes. 

In your true form, you’re able to take full advantage of the speed the peregrine falcon is known for. Buildings all meld into a blur as you rocket through and around them. A family shrieks as you speed through one open window and out the other, then you’re weaving through lines upon lines of laundry, and next you’re in an open market.

As quickly as you shot off, you stop and slip under a table, the cloth on it easily concealing your presence. Your heart is pounding and you’re panting hard as you wait in silence. The tablecloth doesn’t get ripped off by your pursuer or anyone else, so you’re cautiously optimistic that you succeeded in losing him. Now you just had to figure out how to get out of here without being spotted again. All of those pirates saw what you look like in all of your forms, which was going to be a major problem. The second you leave this sanctuary, you’re going to be at risk.

There isn’t a clear, easy option. You’re just going to have to take a gamble and hope that your beast form will be unassuming enough to not catch their eyes again. You peek under the tablecloth to see if any of the Whitebeard Pirates are lurking nearby. It doesn’t look like any of them are here.

Okay, here goes nothing. You fly out from your hiding spot and high into the air at what should look like a normal speed for a bird. Flying as fast as you can would just draw attention to you. So long as you look like a normal bird at a glance, you should be able to get away unnoticed.

“There you are.”

Before you can even blink, a taloned foot closes around your small form. You squawk in surprise, then immediately shift into a half-bird form to try and break Marco’s hold. Something cold snaps around your wrist, and all of your energy is sapped away in an instant, right along with your powers.

Sea stone cuffs. They came prepared. You fall through the air, but only briefly before Marco catches you. He lands hard on a rooftop, but remains upright and doesn’t drop you. He grins, but his eyes have an odd gleam to them that you don’t recognize, “You’re good. I didn’t think they still made Marines like you anymore.” Why is he complimenting you? Weird.

You start to struggle in his hold, but he’s faster than you and locks the other cuff around your free hand. Now you’re completely at their mercy. This is awful. This is a worst case scenario.

“Now then, let’s get you back to the ship.”

—

The journey from the small seaside town to the Whitebeards’ ship was lost on you. You weren’t processing any of it. As soon as reality sank in, you went completely numb. Every word said by the pirates around you bounced right off you.

They were going to know. You’re nowhere near where Shanks and his crew are. They’re going to know you deserted. He’s going to know you deserted. It’s over. Your life is over. These pirates signed your death certificate as soon as they locked those cuffs on you.

Distantly, you glance at your surroundings. You’re chained to a cot in what looks to be the ship’s infirmary, if all the nurses milling about are anything to go off of. Only one of your hands is cuffed, the other is free again. They aren’t concerned about a devil fruit user being dangerous while sea stone cuffs are eating away at their strength. What a disaster. Years of training, and this is how it ends.

And to make it worse: your hat is gone, leaving your face bare for all to see. Now that you're thinking about it, you probably lost it during the initial chase.

Fingers snap in front of your face, and you look up sluggishly at the person disturbing you. Twin Blade Thatch is at your bedside, looking… confused? Sad? This is another expression that you don’t recognize.

He smiles slightly, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes, “You okay there, kid?” When you don’t answer, he looks over his shoulder, “Did you give them something?”

“No,” the voice belongs to Marco. “They’ve been out of it since we caught them. They’re… really upset about getting captured, it seems.”

Thatch lightly claps you on the shoulder, “Don’t beat yourself up about it, kid. It’s not like you got caught by a weak crew. There are plenty of Marines well above your rank that wouldn’t have won that fight either.”

“Yeah, you actually gave us some real trouble there at the start.” Ace was in here too, apparently. “Not many people are able to use my own powers against me, that was pretty smart.”

“Before I forget to ask, do you have any allergies? I don’t want to accidentally kill you with my cooking.” Thatch stares at you expectantly, but his smile fades as you neglect to answer his question. “Is that a… no? Come on, I’m just trying to help you out here, you don’t need to be so guarded. I can even make you your favorite meal to make up for the situation we put you in.”

“It doesn’t matter…” Nothing does.

“Don’t say that. We’ve gotta feed you, kid.” That weird expression is on his face again. You wish he’d stop making it. “It won’t take long to get the medicine we need. You’ll be back with your old man before you know it.”

No! “I won’t go back!” Hot tears start to drip down your face, then pour as the last thread of sanity within you snaps, “I’m not going back! You can’t make me go back there! I won’t let you!”

Ace is standing close enough that you’re able to lunge at him and rip the dagger from his belt with your free hand. He tries to snatch it back, but your frenzied state gives you the speed you usually only have with your devil fruit’s help. You aren’t going back, you’ll make sure of it! Marco might be able to heal, but he isn’t a necromancer. Even he won’t be able to do anything about a corpse. Dying by your own hands will be better than being burnt alive by the magma Akainu will use on you.

You raise the knife high, then plunge it down at your stomach. Blood splatters all over your torso… but you don’t feel any pain. You blink once, then twice. Your eyes finally focus on the sight in front of you. The knife is stabbed into a hand. It then closes around the hilt and snatches the weapon from your hands. Ace lets out a string of curses as he stumbles back and rips his own dagger from his hand.

All you can do is stare at him. W… What? Why did he do that? That shouldn’t have hurt him. Why would a logia devil fruit user let themselves get hurt like that?

Nurses rush toward him, but also you. All of your limbs are pinned down by them. Not that there was any need. The fight had left your body as your mind grew hazy again. You didn’t get it. You couldn’t comprehend what just happened or why.

A prick to your neck snaps you out of it. Your head was being held down, but your eyes flit to the side and see that Marco had a needle pressed into your neck and was injecting you with something. In an instant, a warmth spreads through you, and your body goes completely slack.

Marco heaves a sigh and sets the syringe aside. His hand gently strokes your hair for reasons you couldn’t understand. He speaks softly, “There we go, just calm down. You don’t have to go back if you don’t want to. It’s okay.”

On the other side of the room, Nurses are fretting over Ace’s wound. One even goes so far as to scold him, “What were you thinking? You have logia powers! Why would you let yourself get hurt like this?” Even in your sluggish state, your ears perk at the interrogation. You wanted to know this, too.

Ace looked almost offended by the question. “What do you mean “why”? If I’d let that go through me, it would have gone into them instead. Better my hand, than their guts.”

His answer did nothing but spawn more questions. What did he mean by that? Why would it be better for him to get hurt than for you to die? Your life was of no real significance to him. All that you were was a bargaining chip, and you didn’t even need to be alive for that. They just had to make the Marines believe that you were.

None of this makes sense. What is wrong with these people? You’re an enemy. Your death should be celebrated, not prevented. You don’t get it, and your mind growing more and more foggy by the second isn’t helping.

Your eyes are so heavy. Sleep… Sleep sounds good. Just for a little bit. You’ll figure this out after. It’s not like you’re going anywhere.

Overused Words & Alternatives

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 ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs ⚜ Said ⚜ Very ⚜ Love

recipe for perfect men