It takes you forever to realize but every time you try to talk to shanks you interrupt him in the middle of trying to kiss you. It takes you even longer to realize that any time anyone does anything when you’re at his side they’re interrupting him when he’s trying to kiss you
I love it when Luffy grabs Zoro and makes him fly around.
roronoa zoro; 21,051 words (not including epilogue), fluff and angst, ENEMIES!!! to lovers, the slowest of slow burns, canon-normal violence, on-page description of injury, excessive use of flashbacks, some banter, healing from trauma, baroque works!reader to strawhat!reader, no "y/n", emotionally constipated!zoro, hurt and comfort, angst with a happy ending; (epilogue tags will be posted separately)
summary: in which neither you nor zoro are the children you remember each other to be.
update: new chapters will be posted on @shouyuus!!!
a/n: IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! i honestly cannot believe i actually finished writing this lmfao. but anyway, this post will act as a table of contents/masterlist of sorts, and i will update links to the separate chapters as they go up. chapters will be posted every few days (but they are all done! except for the epilogue LOL). i've tagged everyone who has req-ed to be tagged in this series so far on this prologue post, but if you wish to be tagged for the upcoming chapters and you're not already on this fics specific taglist, please comment below to be added! and without further ado -- here we go!
TABLE OF CONTENTS ━
prologue: someone, somewhere
chapter one: a shadow of the past
chapter two: tell no tales
chapter three: sleep of the living, dreams of the dead
chapter four: another life
chapter five: true love's kiss
epilogue: la petite mort (nsfw)
prologue: someone, somewhere
He remembers you most as a child, in halcyon images and gold-limned flashes of his own childhood memories, the edges blurring watercolor soft, but the center (always you) carved in knife-sharp relief.
You were one of the few children that lived in Shimotsuki Village who hadn’t come from the doujou — one of the few children he knew that (at least to the best of his knowledge) had a thing called family. A mother to braid your hair, a father to chase the darkness away, a warm bed and a kitchen that always smelled of freshly made rice. And perhaps it was jealousy, or some other more complicated emotion that had been then too big to name with one single word, but he’d never gone out of his way to befriend you like the other kids from the doujou did — fascinated as they were by your soft hands and round cheeks and the bright, glittering array of homemade sweets you’d bring with you once every couple of weeks.
He’d learn later on that it was because Shimotsuki-sensei had saved your father’s life at some point in time; the story now lost to the annals of legend and withering memory, but back then, he’d only assumed it was the natural way of things. Of waking up for kata practice and then settling in for lunch, and then maybe, if it was to be a good day, you, with your basket of sweets and your blue-bell laughter.
And perhaps this is why, years later, when he meets you again in a dark, nameless village tavern, he doesn’t recognize you — not at first. Because you’d looked so different. Gone was the roundness in your cheeks, or the natural star-bright light in your eyes. Gone, too, were the bright braids that your hair had always been set in — he remembers so clearly, watching the other boys from the doujou jab their fingers into the rings of your pinned up braids, pulling down just to hear you squeak. He hadn’t said anything then, stupidly thinking him above it all, watching as you tried to jerk away, but laughing when the boys finally relented with half-hearted apologies.
You always threatened to take their sweets away; you never did, in the end.
But there, then, in that tiny tavern, you’d been thin, your hair dark as an oil spill, loose and inky as it cascades over your shoulders, your eyes lightless as the windows to an abandoned house — the hollowness made all the more visceral by the light he knew once inhabited them. The way loneliness is always more potent when coming back to it, the second time around.
He wanders up to the bar, slates you a glance before rapping his knuckles on the worn wood to catch the bartender’s attention.
“I’ll have beer and a refill of whatever the lady’s having.”
You shift slightly, shoulders hunching towards your ears.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” you say, shifting to shield your face from his gaze.
Zoro cocks his head, tossing a few Berry towards the bartender as they set down a stein of beer and a champagne flute to replace the one in front of you.
“Can’t a guy buy a girl a drink?” Zoro asks, rolling his shoulders as he reaches out for his beer. You eye him warily.
“Not for a guy that’s been tracking me for three weeks straight.”
Zoro hums, thumb poised on the hilt of his swords.
“We just happened to be going in the same direction.”
You reach out to run a forefinger along the rim of the thin champagne flute before swirling it once by the base. You watch the bubbles fizzle before leaning in to take a dainty sip.
“And they say chivalry is dead…” you murmur, almost too softly for him to hear. Zoro scoffs, allowing himself a twinge of a smirk before his mouth falls flat.
“You let me track you for three whole weeks.”
There’s no question in his words, only a harsh, accusatory certainty.
You lick your lips, leaning back in your stool, tugging your glass of champagne with you.
“Maybe I wanted the company.”
“Or maybe… you wanted me to follow you here.”
Every muscle in his body is tense, drawn taut as a tightrope, coiled tight as a spring.
You sigh, twisting a single lock of your hair around a finger, examining the ends as if looking for split hairs.
Then, quick as a flash, you’re at each other’s throats — him with a sword poised at your jugular, you with a knife pressed against his stomach.
“One move —” you warn, digging the knife slightly further into his skin. Distinctly, Zoro feels the pressure slice through his thick linen shirt, the cool kiss of the blade against his abdomen. And he’s killed enough by now to know that you’ve picked a major artery — one that would hurt, and take minutes for him bleed out. Just long enough for him to suffer, but not enough to get help.
The edge of his mouth ticks upward — not bad.
It’s then, in the infinitesimal flicker of your eyes meeting his, that he realizes who you are.
He nearly topples back, jerking away slightly with the revelation. Your eyes go wide, jolted by his sudden movement. But he’s quick enough to evade the sharp jab of your knife and a second later, you’re on either ends of the tavern, drawn blades and bared teeth.
“Y-you!” the word rips from Zoro like an unripe scab, thick and hard and still bloody underneath.
You lick your lips, eyes narrowing to slits beneath your long, lanky hair.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The hell you don’t.”
“Oi! No fighting in the bar!” the barkeep’s voice is gruff and loud, and for a second, Zoro wonders if you’ll listen. The next, the sharp clang of metal on metal stuns him backwards a few steps as you wrest your knives from between two of his katanas, snarling.
“If you’re so much of a gentleman — let’s take this outside.”
“Ladies first,” Zoro spits out as he whips both swords through the air before sheathing them. He makes a show of holding the tavern door for you as you stalk out in front of him, your hackles raised, your knives jutting out from your belt like so many pairs of sharpened claws.
“What do you want?” you ask, as soon as you’re both out of the bar and standing in the moonlit street outside, the wharf to your left, the strip of small, rundown taverns to your right.
The air twangs with the metallic smell of fish and the thick, oppressive sweetness of rotting wood.
“An explanation,” Zoro says, crossing his arms and planting his feet.
“I don’t owe you anything.”
Zoro nods, “Sure. But that doesn’t mean I don’t wanna know.”
You lick your lips, glaring at him for a second longer before turning and marching down the rickety boardwalk. A moment later, Zoro levels himself with you as you round a corner onto a small stretch of beach, pillowed against a backdrop of sharp, unrelenting rocks, the tips bleached white by the round, silver moon.
“There was a beach just like this,” you say, stepping onto the tide-soaked sand, leaning down to pick up a fragment of a broken seashell, washed ashore by an errant wave.
It takes Zoro a second to realize you’re talking about Shimotsuki village, and the tiny little beach on the other side of the dense, cedar wood.
“Yeah. A bunch of us used to play there — see who can throw rocks out the furthest.”
“You were always the best at that,” you say, your voice softer than he’d heard all night.
“Yeah, well…” Zoro shrugs, leaning down to pick up a piece of rock, weighing it in his palm a few times before whipping his arm back to snap it into the gentle, shushing waves. You both watch as the rock skids out over the water before plunking into the sea, “Guess I’ve always been kind of a show-off.”
The sound of your laughter sends summertime sparklers racing up his spine.
The quiet pools between you like spilt blood, rank and dripping.
“So. You go by Ms. Double Nines now, I heard,” Zoro says, in a flagging attempt to be casual as he turns to glance at you, both his hands resting on the hilt of his swords.
You stand next to him, your eyes focused on a point far out on the horizon, still as statue.
“What’s it to you?”
Zoro sighs, looking down. In the pale, cool moonlight, his earrings glint like baring teeth.
“What happened?”
You suck in a breath.
"Life happened,” you say, turning back towards him with a steely glint in your eyes. Zoro stiffens, his grip tightening on his swords as he sizes you up. He does the mental calculations — you’re just far enough for him to defend against an attack, but close enough where if things were to go south entirely, he’d have a hard time getting back to safety.
You grin, seemingly noticing his rough internal calculations.
“Do yourself a favor, Roronoa — and don’t ask questions you don’t wanna know the answers to,” you say, flicking out one of your blades and tossing it up into the air, only to catch it around your finger, swinging it round and round, the sharp edge of the blade nicking the air just shy of your cheekbone.
“Who said I didn’t want to know?” Zoro presses, bracing himself for a fight.
You chuckle, the sound harsh and mirthless.
“If you’d wanted to fight me properly, you wouldn’t have waited till I got you onto this stretch of deserted beach.”
“Maybe I just wanted a quiet place to kill you.”
“Or maybe…” your voice is so low Zoro almost doesn’t catch the stomach-wrenching longing in your words, “I just wanted a quiet place to die.”
The sharp shink of blades being drawn is heart-rendingly familiar, but the bone-rattling clash of metal on metal still shakes him to the roots of his teeth. Zoro grunts as he parries a blow from either side, before crossing his swords to catch your assault down the center.
You’re fast, he’ll give you that, your body smaller and quicker. You slip through the shadows with the comfort of a person who knows nothing but and he can’t help wondering at the life you’ve led that had pushed you to this point.
To having a mark on your back, a bounty on your head.
You’re a good fighter — this much, he acknowledges. But good isn’t usually good enough to best him. This much, he also knows. Yet somehow, you’re keeping up, somehow, you’re pushing him back, forcing him to retreat one step and then another. It’s not until you duck beneath one of his pin-wheeling blades and force yourself into a knife’s-breath of his space that he realizes — it isn’t that you’re good, it’s that you’re reckless.
Reckless with your own body in a way that makes him stumble back at the realization. Reckless, in the way you charge forward and thrust your body into spaces where he’d easily be able to slip a blade between your ribs — and later, when he’s wiping his swords clean of your oxidizing blood, he’d wonder why he didn’t.
Still, there’s something terrifying in the way you barely flinch when he knicks your arm, drawing a dark line of blood through your clothes, or how you jerk yourself forward when the tip of his sword catches your stomach, almost as if daring him to impale you in one fell swoop.
“You — you used to be… someone else,” he says, panting as he steadies himself against a sharp jut of moonlit rocks. Behind you, the ocean churns, dark and foaming as it throws itself onto the jagged reefs.
You lick your lips, wiping a smear of blood from your cheek. Your chest heaves with the exertion, but there’s a pale, flickering ache behind your eyes that sets Zoro’s whole body on edge.
He shivers as you grin, savage and unrecognizable as the tiny girl with mochi-round cheeks who had once upon a time offered him sweets in a hand-woven basket.
“Yeah? Well — so did you.”
TAGLIST: @brairslair @msheds0519 @yunabelless @lynndt-chocolate @lostonthrillerbark @stunies @tsumu-senpai @phroggii @ssailormoonnn @breathinginyoursmoke @guridoodles @kyllium @naomihatake @itoshiexx @mythicallystupid @mars-mizuko @astroniii @crispynutella @enhastolemyheart @fanficwriter101 @jamesbparker @dira333 @weirdowithaphone @ink-perfect
contains ✰ sfw!, crew member!reader, fluff, post-timeskip, established relationship, wannabe nonchalant!zoro
bf!Zoro who tries to be nonchalant but is indeed… chalant
bf!Zoro who secretly loves when you yap while he lifts weights
bf!Zoro who loves the weight of your body against his as he rests his eyes underneath the sun
bf!Zoro who can’t hide his annoyance when any other man tries to speak to you, especially the cook on the ship
bf!Zoro who is smug about the fact that your his and his only
bf!Zoro who always keeps an eye on you whenever you’re at a bar to ensure you’re safe at all times
bf!Zoro who loves to be your black knight when you don’t want to drink and teases you about his favor in return
bf!Zoro who drinks all the free drinks you get from the men at the bar
bf!Zoro who can’t hide his jealousy when you praise someone else’s strengths
bf!Zoro who loves manhandle you
bf!Zoro who gives you piggy back rides once you complain about your feet hurting
bf!Zoro who pretends like he hates carrying you and tells you that you should’ve brought comfier shoes but secretly loves it
bf!Zoro who blushes madly around you but gets mad whenever someone points it out
bf!Zoro who loves it when you tend to his wounds and change his bandages for him
bf!Zoro who wouldn’t think twice before putting his life on the line for you
bf!Zoro who may not understand all your interests or hobbies but still supports you nonetheless
bf!Zoro who has a harder time hiding his feelings than he likes to admit
bf!Zoro who laughs and smiles around you the most since you’re the only one he truly lets his guard down around
Yagi-san
ONE PIECE LIVE ACTION MEN + DICK HEADCANONS & SIZES
a/n. i wrote this last night at 5am while sleep deprived so the further it gets the more wack it gets LOL
cw/tw. f!reader, rough sex, blowjobs, dirty talk, slight exhibitionism, body hair, skinny penis, unprotected sex, for 18+ readers
MONKEY D. LUFFY
— 6.5” but thinks he’s average, so he doesn’t stretch it out with his abilities. not too girthy, but he makes up for it with his unrelenting stamina. it curves up against his stomach and leans left slightly. a little bit messy because he tried to shave it once and nicked himself, so he just settled with the hair. honey-toned towards the base and a deep red at the tip, especially when he’s raring to go.
— he wants to do it in every position, on every surface. he has you bent over the dinner table, one leg up and slamming into you mercilessly. he has you spread eagle in the bathtub, legs locked behind his back as he stuffs you full. it’s almost as if his dick is made for you, the curve perfectly abuses your g-spot as every orgasm overwhelms you, and you’re left a sobbing, babbling mess. he wants to know if he’s doing well, and he gets his answer when you chant “s— so, ah! good, fuck, d— don’t stop!” like a prayer.
RORONOA ZORO
— long, fat and heavy. he’s blessed with a stunning 7.3” length, though if anyone asks, he rounds down to make them feel more at ease. veiny. the mushroom tip is flushed purple, and it’s rests nicely on your tongue!! probably messy down there, he doesn’t see the point in shaving or trimming, but if you ask nicely, he’ll grunt, roll his eyes, and do it for you.
— you insisted that you didn’t need any prep, but as you straddled him, lining up your cunt with his cock, you soon realised your mistake. you have to spread yourself open, face scrunching up, and slowly sink down. he loves the feeling of your pussy walls fluttering as you start riding him. when your eyes flutter shut and your hips stutter, he takes control—holding you tight by the waist and fucking into you until you’re screaming.
SANJI VINSMOKE
— 6.4” and so so pretty. slender, with a pale shaft that leads into a rosy pink at the tip. it curves up and to the right. the carpet matches the drapes. he keeps it neat, though he probably doesn’t grow much hair anyway. he trims it once every few days, but he’ll never admit to it. smells the best AKA smells really clean, like soap.
— he goes crazy when you maintain eye contact and drop to your knees. you take his cock in hand, lifting it to run your tongue on the underside, tracing a prominent vein. you swirl your tongue around his sensitive head and his whole body is shaking, knees buckling as he chases that familiar high.
USUPP
— coming in at 5.8”, he makes up for it in his thick girth. when he jerks himself off, he can barely wrap his hand around it. he’s soooo sensitive that the wind can blow and he’s be hard. fat fat fat mushroom head that’s olive, golden-hued, and always oozing precum. heavy heavy balls. he might be clumsy and inexperienced, but his size alone is enough to make you drool. trims sometimes but only when he thinks he might get lucky.
— his hand grips your hair as you worship his cock, working magic with your mouth. as you jerk him off, you give small kitten licks to his leaking tip, tasting his salty precum. you whisper, “i want you” and before you know it, he has you pinned under him, rutting his thick cock into you desperately. his eyes are fixated on the way your cunt swallows him, and only strangled groans escape his lips.
BUGGY
— sorry buggy simps but he’s definitely a shower not a grower, though he still does comes in at a nice 6”! also, it’s ya boy, skinny penis. built like a tree branch but at least it’s really veiny, AND he knows how to talk you through it. so really, it might not be the most impressive but with his confidence when he’s fucking you? he’ll fuck you out and make you believe he’s 8” and 5”.
— he loves admiring your sopping cunt as it swallow him whole, your princess parts stretching to to accommodate his cock. he likes to fucks you. he presses you up against a window and fucks you from the back, choking you with his forearm and practically purrs, “taking me so well, ya dirty slut, fuckin’ cunt was made for my cock.”
SHANKS
— he doesn’t act like it buuuuuuut monster cock. it’s 7.8”, thick, and curved so much it slaps against his happy trail. let me tell you that when he sun tans, he does it naked. he lathers that horse cock up with sunblock and spreads eagle on the sand, hands behind his head, so he’s bronzed and beautiful. trims when he feels like it or if you ask, he doesn’t really think much about it.
— he doesn’t look like he’s putting in much effort when he fucks, barely breaking a sweat, but he has you writhing, hands gripping the sheets, eyes hazy and choking on your own spit. he knows what he’s doing to you. his thumb finds your clit, rubbing in delicate circles making you cum over and over again until you’re absolutely wrecked. when he’s close, he picks up the pace, grunting heavily, hips stuttering as he spills his seed inside of you. when he pulls out, he takes the time to finger fuck his cum back into you, your body shaking as you work through the aftershock.
Shanks rlly will play up the gentleman thing it’s so insane. Hes kissing your knuckles and holding your hand to help u off the ship and telling his crew to “mind their manners around the lady” as if he’s not abt to have you sitting on his face grasping at the knots of his hammock for dear life in less than an hour
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 || ao3 || ko-fi
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The best stuff in FASA’s 1988 Star Trek: Next Generation Officer’s Manual was about Mr Data.
Leonard Nimoy had such beautiful hands! Here are some close up shots of Spock's hands from Star Trek The Original Series. Enjoy! 😁🖖