Gore.

All that I can say......

Here's a fun little story for the strawhats reader makes a tim burton reference (like sleepy, hollow or beetlejuice or whatever Tim burton movie is your favorite?) But none of them knew the reference, nor ever heard of it. So, the reader has to explain it?

I don't know if they have movies in the one piece universe? So we could just say that the tim burton movies are "books"

The Nightmare Aboard the Thousand Sunny

strawhat crew x strawhat!reader (platonic)

a/n: let's pretend movies exist but in a subtle way if this makes sense lmao also it’s been years and years since I saw the movies and my memory is really short so I went on google for some help, hope I got the references right

words count: 1.7k

tags: platonic, strawhat reader, humor, modern references

masterlist || ko-fi

The Thousand Sunny bobs gently on the waves, the sea stretching endlessly around you. The crew is sprawled across the deck, enjoying the lull between islands. You’re sitting cross-legged near the mast, absentmindedly peeling an orange while recounting your latest island adventure.

“That whole place gave me Sleepy Hollow vibes” you remark, flicking a piece of orange peel into the sea.

Silence.

You glance up. Nine pairs of eyes stare back at you, blank and expectant.

“…You know? Sleepy Hollow? The Headless Horseman?”

More silence. Luffy scratches his chin “Is that a pirate?”

You groan, dragging a hand down your face “No, it’s a classic horror story! A guy on a horse, but, like, without a head? He throws flaming pumpkins at people? Ringing any bells?”

Franky leans forward “Wait, so the dude has no head? How does he see?”

“That’s—it’s part of the horror! He’s supernatural!”

“Sounds like a Logia-type” Robin muses, flipping a page in her book.

Sanji exhales a puff of smoke “And what was that other thing you mentioned? Sleepy Hollow?”

“It’s the name of the story!” You gesture wildly “By Washington Irving! Adapted into a movie by Tim Burton! You know, Tim Burton? Beetlejuice? Corpse Bride? Beetlejuice? Nightmare Before Christmas?”

Brook gasps “A corpse bride? How romantic! Ah, if only I had one to marry too!”

You sigh dramatically “Not the point, Brook.”

Zoro crosses his arms “Never heard of this Tim Whatever guy.”

“Of course you haven’t,” you mutter “I bet if he were a famous swordsman, you’d know his whole life story.”

Zoro shrugs “Maybe.”

Nami raises an eyebrow “Did you just say Beetlejuice twice?”

You pause “Yeah. That's the joke. But I’m not saying it a third time.”

Chopper tilts his head “Why? What happens if you say it a third time?”

The whole crew stares at you, waiting.

You sigh, rubbing your temples as the crew continues to stare at you, waiting for an explanation.

“Okay, so Beetlejuice—”

“That’s three times” Usopp interrupts, eyes darting around the ship in panic.

You blink “Huh?”

“You said Beetlejuice three times,” he hisses, pointing at you “You just summoned whatever the hell that is!”

Luffy immediately looks excited “Ohhh! Who is it? Are they strong?!”

You groan “No, no, it’s not real! It’s from a movie. In the movie, if you say his name three times, this creepy, chaotic ghost guy shows up and causes mayhem.”

Franky grins “Sounds like my kinda guy!”

“He was not super,” you deadpan “He was gross. And weird. And kind of a pervert.”

Sanji instantly scowls “Tch, I hate this guy.”

Brook hums in thought “So you’re telling me there’s a ghost you can summon just by saying his name? How interesting! I must try this with my own name. Brook, Brook, Brook!” He spreads his arms dramatically.

Nothing happens.

“Yohoho! It appears I am immune!”

Robin chuckles behind her book “So this Tim Burton person creates horror stories?”

“More like… spooky and weird stories,” you explain “Creepy but fun. He has a really distinct style, dark colors, long, spindly figures, big eyes, gothic settings. His movies always have this eerie, dreamlike atmosphere.”

“Like a nightmare?” Chopper asks, eyes wide.

You nod “Kinda! Like The Nightmare Before Christmas!”

Luffy perks up “Christmas?! We fought a guy with Christmas-themed moves once!”

“Not the same thing” you sigh “It’s a stop-motion movie about Halloween and Christmas colliding.”

“Sounds complicated” Zoro grunts.

“It’s amazing!” you insist “It’s got singing skeletons, spooky monsters, and a guy named Jack Skellington who tries to take over Christmas!”

Brook gasps “A singing skeleton?! Finally, some real representation!”

You snort “Right?! You’d love it, Brook. It’s all about embracing who you are instead of trying to be something you’re not.”

Robin smiles “That does sound like something our crew would appreciate.”

Nami sighs, stretching her arms “Alright, so let me get this straight. This Tim Burton guy makes creepy, weird, yet somehow heartwarming stories. And you’ve seen all of them?”

“Of course,” you say proudly “I grew up on this stuff.”

Usopp squints “So if we ever run into a headless guy throwing pumpkins, we’ll know it’s a Sleepy Hollow situation.”

“Exactly.”

“And if someone named Beetlejuice shows up, we punch first, ask questions later” Zoro states.

“Uh… more like, don’t summon him in the first place” you correct.

Luffy grins “Alright! Then let’s find this Tim Burton guy and invite him to the crew!”

You laugh “Yeah, good luck with that, Captain.”

Brook taps his chin “Still, I wonder what I’d look like in this… Burton-esque style.”

You smirk “Oh, you’d totally fit in.”

The conversation trails off, but as night falls over the Sunny, you can’t help but smile. Sure, they don’t get the references, but at least they listen. That’s what matters.

It starts with a simple thought: If they don’t get the references, I’ll just show them the actual movie.

Easier said than done when you’re on a ship in the middle of the Grand Line.

But you? You’re determined.

The first step is convincing Franky and Usopp to make a projector.

“Okay, so I need you guys to build a machine that can play movies” you say, clasping your hands together in front of them.

Usopp raises an eyebrow “A what-now?”

Franky rubs his chin “Movies, huh? So, like, a visual playback system? A moving image display?”

“Yes!” You point excitedly “You’re both geniuses when it comes to building stuff. I know you can make something!”

Franky grins, cracking his knuckles “Well, if it’s a challenge, then hell yeah I’m in!”

Usopp sighs “Why do I feel like this is gonna take way more effort than you’re letting on?”

You wave a hand dismissively “C’mon, you built a climate-controlling staff and laser beams before! You’ve got this!”

It takes them days of tinkering, but eventually, they rig up a projector using various spare parts from Sunny’s workshop. The hardest part was figuring out a power source that wouldn’t fry the entire thing, but thanks to Franky’s Cola-powered genius and Usopp’s fine-tuned engineering, the contraption actually works.

Step one: Complete.

Step two? Getting the movie.

That one takes a little more effort. You spend your time at the next trading port digging through every odd shop you can find. You’re almost ready to give up when, miraculously, you spot it.

A dusty little store, tucked between two fish markets, has an entire shelf of old-world relics. Among them?

A DVD copy of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

You nearly cry in relief.

After some haggling (and by haggling, it mean bargaining away a favor that Nami is definitely going to make you pay for later), you return triumphantly to the ship.

Finally everything is ready.

That night, the crew gathers on the deck, sitting in a semi-circle around the makeshift screen Franky and Usopp put together. The ocean breeze is cool, the stars above twinkle like tiny lanterns, and the faint hum of the projector fills the air.

“Alright,” you say, practically vibrating with excitement “Tonight, I present to you all—The Nightmare Before Christmas!”

Luffy raises a hand “Is this the one with the singing skeleton guy?”

“Yes!”

Brook claps “Excellent! I’ve been looking forward to this!”

Zoro grumbles, arms crossed “This better not be a waste of time.”

“Oh, lighten up, moss-head” Sanji sighs, flicking his lighter for a fresh cigarette.

Robin smiles at you “I’m curious to see why you love these stories so much.”

You grin, heart full “Well then, sit back, relax, and let the magic of Tim Burton change your lives.”

The movie starts, and from the first eerie yet whimsical notes of “This is Halloween” you can tell the crew is hooked.

Luffy leans forward, eyes wide “Whoa! They’re all singing! And they’re monsters?! This is awesome!”

Brook hums along immediately, tapping his bony fingers to the beat “Ah, this song is quite catchy!”

Robin watches with a soft smile, clearly fascinated by the gothic yet charming visuals.

Zoro, meanwhile, squints at the screen “So this Jack guy… is he an idiot?”

You gasp dramatically “Excuse you?! He’s just lost, Zoro! He wants something more out of life!”

“Yeah,” Usopp chimes in “He’s like Luffy but… spookier.”

Luffy grins “I like him!”

As the movie plays, Sanji strolls over with a tray full of snacks “Here,” he says smoothly, handing you a warm bowl of popcorn “Figured movie night wouldn’t be complete without something to munch on.”

Your eyes sparkle “Sanji, you angel, I could kiss you right now.”

He smirks “You can try, sweetheart.”

You don’t, but you do immediately shove a handful of buttery popcorn into your mouth. The rest of the crew digs in, each with their own snack, Chopper happily munches on caramel-coated nuts, Franky enjoys a ridiculously large soda, and even Zoro eventually takes some popcorn (though he pretends he’s not into it).

The movie continues, and reactions vary:

• Luffy cheers every time Jack does something dramatic.

• Brook cries at “Sally’s Song” saying “I feel her pain!”

• Franky thinks Oogie Boogie is “SUPER!”

• Usopp yells, “NOPE!” when Oogie’s bugs spill everywhere.

• Nami complains that Jack’s Christmas plan is a financial disaster.

• Robin simply watches with an amused, knowing look.

• Sanji rolls his eyes but clearly enjoys the aesthetic.

• Zoro claims he doesn’t care, yet you catch him watching intently.

By the time the movie ends, the deck is silent. The credits roll, the music fades, and you turn to see everyone deep in thought.

“So?” you ask, heart pounding “What did you guys think?”

Luffy grins, jumping up “That was amazing! The singing! The monsters! The explosions!”

Brook nods sagely “Jack Skellington is truly a gentleman. I respect him.”

Usopp shudders “Yeah, but that Boogie guy? Never sleeping again.”

Nami sighs “I mean… it was good, but Jack really should’ve stayed in his lane.”

Franky wipes a fake tear “SUPERB storytelling!”

Robin smiles “It was lovely. I see why you love these kinds of stories.”

You beam, turning to Zoro “And you?”

He shrugs “Not bad.”

Sanji exhales a puff of smoke “Kinda weird, but… entertaining.”

You sigh in relief, flopping back onto the deck “Mission successful!”

As the crew starts discussing their favorite parts, you feel a warm sense of happiness settle in your chest. They may not have gotten the references before, but now? Now, they get it.

And you’ve just officially introduced the Straw Hat Pirates to the magic of Tim Burton.

Best. Movie Night. Ever.

Katakuri and bewear

𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚♡

A perfect synopsis

oh to be a rich depressed divorced alcoholic gay man just trying to live in his castle alone who accidentally adopts a goth lesbian equally wine drunk daughter and a gay son who wants to be just like him when he grows up

yuri zosan for the people (myself, mostly)!!!!

Heyy! Love your work! I have an idea for law and ace (my goattss dont playy lol), but it can be for anyone else in one piece too! I was thinking reader thats similar to Maomao(apothecary diaries) and her obsession with poisons, eating it etc. As for plot, really up to you but I have an idea, maybe they dock at a new island with lots of herbs and their caught trying to eat the most textbook poison looking plant, no doubt thats not poisonous type of plant. Idk it can be like their secret or something. A lil basic cause I have the creativity of a stick, so if u think of something better then plss do it no hesitation fr!! If you do write this thank youuuu!! 🫶🫶

Poison Queen

a/n: I don't know the anime/character but I hope I got the intention of it right after a small google research T.T

characters: law (wc 2.6k), ace (wc 3.6k)

tags: poison enthusiast reader, slow burn, humor, fluff (eventually)

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Trafalgar D. Law:

The island is lush. Dense, dripping green stretches as far as the eye can see, humid air thick with the scent of earth and herbs. From the deck of the Polar Tang, you practically bounce on your heels.

“Is that… purple nightshade?” you whisper, eyes gleaming unnaturally.

“Don’t eat it.” Law says without looking up from the chart he’s examining, standing nearby. His voice is as flat as the sea on a windless day.

“I wasn’t going to…” you lie.

He turns his head a fraction, golden eyes narrowing “Yes, you were.”

You hum innocently, stuffing your medical satchel with your vials and note scrolls “I’m just here to observe, Captain.”

Shachi leans over the railing besides you “This place gives me the creeps. Everything looks like it wants to kill you.”

“Or cure you” you murmur, a little too enthusiastically.

Penguin eyes you warily “Why do you sound excited about that?”

You flash them a polite smile “Because it’s fun.”

Law sighs, sharp and tired “No wandering alone. You stick close to the group. Got it?”

You nod obediently “Of course.”

He doesn’t buy it. No one does.

The island is a botanical goldmine. You’re taking notes faster than your ink can dry. Moss that numbs the tongue, vines that smell like overripe peaches but rot skin on contact, and…oh. You spot it.

A crimson-stemmed flower, petals a sickly sweet yellowish pink, growing under the shade of a tree.

You gasp.

Law, who had started sketching a tree trunk for identification, stiffens “Don’t.”

“But it’s not poisonous!” you defend, already crouching, eyes wild “It looks like it, but this is Miracle’s Folly. It only mimics toxic flora to keep herbivores away. You can eat it, and it has incredible stimulant properties.”

“You just said it looks poisonous.”

“Exactly!” You pluck one with clinical precision “I’ve never seen one in the wild before. This is amazi—”

Law snatches it from your hand, holding it between two fingers like it’s radioactive.

“You’re obsessed” he accuses.

You blink “I prefer the term enthusiastic professional.”

“You tried to eat a known neurotoxin last week.”

“I suspected it was a neurotoxin. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

“You lost motor control for six hours.”

“It was valuable data.”

He stares. You stare back, unbothered.

There’s a beat of silence before Shachi and Penguin burst out laughing behind you.

“She’s gonna kill herself one day” Shachi cackles.

“Captain’s gonna lose his mind before then” Penguin adds.

Law exhales through his nose. He pockets the flower, out of your reach “You’re banned from going anywhere without supervision.”

Your eye twitches “Captain, please. This is a scientific expedition—”

He turns “Touch another cursed-looking plant and I’ll have Bepo chain you to the ship.”

You pout “Kinky.”

His ears turn red. You catch it.

Later that night, while the others are prepping camp, you quietly flip open your hidden pouch. Inside: one perfectly preserved Miracle’s Folly bloom.

You smirk “I am a professional.”

You glance at the campfire where Law is sipping his tea, glancing up only when your giggles reach him.

His eyes narrow again.

You chew the petal. Slowly. Carefully.

It’s bitter. Burns the tip of your tongue. But beneath that… Electricity.

The world tingles. Not in a hallucinatory way but in a sharpened, humming, this-might-kill-me-or-make-me-a-god sort of way.

You lean back on your heels, staring up at the canopy as the flower’s effects trickle through your veins “Oh, I have to isolate what’s responsible for this…”

“What are you muttering now?”

Law’s voice cuts through your thoughts like a scalpel.

You jolt and whip your head around. He’s standing there, arms crossed, dark brows drawn low.

You swallow quickly “Nothing.”

His eyes narrow “You’re sweating.”

“It’s humid.”

“Your pupils are dilated.”

“I’m excited to be alive.”

He steps closer. You instinctively step back, hiding your pouch under your coat. He notices.

“Show me what’s in your bag.”

“No.”

“Y/N.”

You sigh, dramatic “You know, trust is the foundation of any good captain-crew relationship.”

“You ate that flower, didn’t you?”

“No! Just a piece of it.”

“Unbelievable,” he mutters, stepping forward “Tongue out.”

“What?”

“Tongue. Out.”

You blink at him.

He’s completely serious.

“…Always so kinky.”

He closes his eyes like he’s mentally ejecting himself from the conversation “Just do it.”

You stick out your tongue, smug “Ahhh~”

He leans in, inspecting “Slight discoloration… mild irritation… your body’s resisting the stimulant effects.”

You raise a brow “You’ve memorized what this flower does?”

“I know every entry in that ridiculous notebook you leave lying around. Including the one titled ‘Things I Definitely Shouldn’t Eat But Might Anyway’.”

Your stomach flips.

“Oh” you say, quieter.

He straightens, expression unreadable “You think I haven’t noticed? The stash in the med bay. The coded labels. You catalog poisons more lovingly than most people talk about their pets.”

You look away “It’s just… interesting. The line between medicine and poison. It’s so thin. One drop too much and—”

“You die.”

“Or you cure something incurable.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Law studies you, tone dropping low “Is that what you want? To be the one who finds what no one else has the guts to touch?”

You meet his gaze “Wouldn’t you?”

His jaw ticks.

“…You should be more careful.”

You grin “But then you’d have no one to lecture.”

Law huffs, walking past you “Bepo’s watching you tomorrow. Don’t test him.”

“Bepo lets me eat weird berries if I tell him they’re for science!”

“Exactly.”

Later that night, as the rest of the crew sleeps, Law leans over the log where you were sitting earlier.

He finds a scrap of petal.

Miracle’s Folly.

He twirls it between his fingers, thoughtful.

“You’re not letting me touch anything…” you whine.

“Correct” Law replies, not even sparing you a glance as he adjusts his gloves.

You’re trudging behind him, Bepo flanking your other side like a very fluffy prison guard. The island is buzzing with life but all you’ve gotten to do so far is stare longingly at roots and flowers like a kid with her nose pressed to a candy store window.

“I’m an herbalist,” you mutter “This is discrimination.”

“It’s self-preservation” Law deadpans.

Bepo pats your shoulder gently “You did try to lick a hallucinogenic frog yesterday.”

“It looked juicy.”

“You said you saw the celestial dragons dancing salsa.”

“…I mean, I did.”

Law shoots you a look over his shoulder.

You grin at him.

By midday, you’re sulking on a log while the others finish whatever they were doing.

You pull out your notebook and begin scribbling, sketches of the strange bulbous blue fruits you passed earlier, notes on the slightly vibrating moss near the creek, and, of course, the effects of Miracle’s Folly.

You don’t notice Law watching you.

He clears his throat “Give me your hand.”

You blink up “Why, so you can handcuff me to Bepo?”

“No,” he says, kneeling in front of you with a small vial “I want to run a test.”

You hesitate, then slowly offer your hand.

He drops a single, translucent drop of something onto your skin. It tingles.

“New tincture?” you ask, curiously sniffing it.

“Neutralized extract of Miracle’s Folly. I isolated it this morning.”

Your eyes light up “You tested it?”

He mutters “Voluntarily. With supervision.”

You snort “So boring.”

“But now I need to observe secondary exposure. You’re uniquely qualified.”

Your heart does a little somersault “You mean I’m special.”

He rolls his eyes “You’re reckless. And resilient.”

“And a little cute?”

“Don’t push it.”

You grin.

Minutes pass. He keeps his fingers on your wrist, counting your pulse with the pad of his thumb.

You try not to think about that.

“It’s steady” he murmurs.

“Disappointed?”

He ignores the question “You’re reacting differently than I expected.”

“How so?”

“Your nervous system is adapting.”

“Like immunity?”

“Like something else” he says, voice quieter now “You’ve been exposing yourself in microdoses, haven’t you?”

You pause.

“…maybe.”

He looks up at you, eyes unreadable “Why?”

You drop your gaze, suddenly unsure.

“It’s not just for fun.” you say “I mean, partly, yes. But it’s more than that. I want to understand them. The poisons. The lines. Everything people fear. I want to know it. Control it. Be stronger than it.”

He’s silent.

You add, softer, “I was sick once. Really sick. No one could help. All the doctors, all the books… nothing. But the old apothecary in my town? She mixed me something that should’ve killed me.”

You glance at him, eyes bright “But it didn’t. It saved me.”

Law doesn’t speak for a long time. When he does, his voice is gentler than before.

“You and I aren’t that different.”

You blink.

He rises to his feet, brushing off his coat “But if you ever eat another unknown fungus without telling me, I’m performing surgery with no anesthesia.”

You beam “That’s fair.”

That night, Law catches you adding a drop of something green and shimmering into your tea.

He stares.

You pause “It’s just moss extract.”

He raises a brow.

You sigh “…Okay, mildly hallucinogenic moss.”

He snatches the cup.

“Captain!”

“You can have it back after I test it.”

Your eyes widen.

“…Wait. Are you going to drink it?”

He gives you a rare smirk “For science.”

Your jaw drops. And suddenly, you think you might be falling a little bit in love.

Now you’re staring.

Not at the moss sample.

At him.

Trafalgar D. Water Law, Surgeon of Death, Warlord-turned-revolutionary, terrifyingly brilliant man of mystery… just drank the tea you spiked with a moss known to mildly bend reality.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand like it’s nothing.

You blink “That was an experimental dosage.”

“I adjusted for body weight.”

“Oh my god.”

Bepo’s ears twitch “Captain… are you sure that was smart?”

Law gives a slow blink “I’m fine.”

You and Bepo exchange a look.

Fifteen minutes later, he’s very much not fine.

“What… the hell is that?”

You follow Law’s dazed line of sight “That’s… the campfire, Captain.”

He squints.

“It’s breathing.”

You purse your lips “Okay, slightly more than mild hallucinations.”

“Why is it breathing, Y/N.”

“Symbolic warmth?”

He stares at you. His pupils are so dilated.

You pull out a notepad “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I see seven.”

“…I’m holding up two.”

He sways.

You sigh and grab his arm “Alright, that’s enough science for tonight.”

He lets you guide him with surprising ease, mumbling under his breath.

You make it back to the tent just as the hallucinations seem to peak.

“I need to sit” he mutters.

You lower him down gently, watching as he pinches the bridge of his nose “Throbbing temple. Flashing visuals. You’re not vomiting, though… interesting.”

He opens one eye “You’re enjoying this.”

“A little,” you admit, handing him water “You’re cute when your grip on reality is slipping.”

“Y/N.”

“Mm?”

“There are tiny doctors running in circles around me.”

You blink. Then look around the tent.

“…Well. You’re not wrong.”

You sit next to him. Close, but not touching. It’s oddly quiet for a jungle night.

“Headache?” you ask softly.

He nods once.

You reach up and, very carefully, press your fingers against his temples. Slow circles. He doesn’t flinch.

“Pressure can help the tension pass” you say.

He closes his eyes. Exhales.

You pause “Tell me what else you see.”

“…You.”

You snort “No kidding.”

“No, I mean…” he trails off, brows twitching “You look… soft.”

Your hands freeze “I—what?”

“You’re glowing.”

You’re absolutely not glowing, but...

“Oh” you whisper.

“You’re always buzzing,” he murmurs “Like something dangerous in a pretty bottle.”

You stop breathing for a second.

“Law…” you say, too quietly.

But he’s not done.

“I always thought I hated that. The unpredictability. But now it feels like… I don’t know.”

He leans his head forward, forehead bumping gently against yours.

“You scare the hell out of me,” he breathes “And I think I’m starting to even like it.”

You think your heart just stopped.

“Definitely a side effect…” you whisper, but your fingers are still on his skin, still gently pressing against his temples.

He exhales “I’ll regret saying all of that, won’t I.”

You smile, a little shaken “Only if you pretend it wasn’t true later.”

Silence. He doesn’t move.

Then he mutters “I’m keeping the tea recipe."

You laugh.

Outside the tent, Bepo lowers his paw from the tent flap and whispers to Shachi and Penguin “They’re in love. Told you it wasn’t poison.”

After that, Law pretends nothing happened.

You give him three days.

Three days of ignoring the fact he hallucinated tiny doctors and confessed to liking the chaos you bring to his life. Three days of sidelong glances, awkward silences, and you very purposefully reminding him of the tea incident every time he gets too comfortable.

“Captain,” you say sweetly as you walk by him, “you’re not seeing glowing versions of me today, are you?”

He glares “No.”

“Shame. I looked great in your hallucination.”

He drops his pen. Hard.

But he doesn’t say anything else.

Coward.

Later on - You don’t mean to get sick.

Not really.

It’s just that the vines didn’t look that threatening, and you were pretty sure it was just a paralytic contact toxin, and well… maybe you’d misjudged the concentration.

The world tilts sideways.

You feel your legs give out before your brain registers it.

And then darkness.

You wake to voices.

“…found her by the river. Unresponsive.”

“I told her to stop touching unknown plants. Why can’t she just—”

“She didn’t do it on purpose.”

A long silence.

Then Law’s voice again. Quiet. Cracked.

“She always makes it look like she’s in control. But she’s not.”

You open your eyes.

The ceiling of the Polar Tang greets you. So does a pounding ache in your chest. You shift and wince.

Law’s at your side in an instant.

“Stay down.” he says, low and sharp.

Your voice is hoarse “Didn’t think I’d go out like that. No drama. No romantic poisoning. Just a stupid plant.”

His eyes flicker “It was… dramatic. You stopped breathing.”

“Oh…” you say, blinking.

“I didn’t know what it was. For once, you knew more than me. And I couldn’t—” He swallows the words.

You offer a small smile “So… scared the hell out of you, huh?”

He doesn’t answer.

Just sits back down beside you. Shoulders tense. Jaw clenched.

You watch him, softly “Law.”

“Don’t say it.” he mutters.

“Say what?”

“That I was right. That you should’ve listened. That this was inevitable. That I knew you’d get hurt eventually.”

You tilt your head “Wasn’t gonna say any of that.”

He looks up, surprised.

“I was gonna say,” you murmur, “that I’m sorry I made you worry.”

You reach out weakly, stupidly, and your hand grazes his.

“I forget sometimes,” you whisper “That people care.”

Something breaks in his expression.

“Y/N,” he says tightly, “you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep flirting with death like it’s a hobby.”

“I wasn’t flirting with death.” you tease “That was basically a date. I only flirt with you, Captain.”

He glares.

You smile, and it fades slowly as your fingers curl around his.

“I didn’t want to die. Not really. Not before I figured out what this thing is.”

He blinks “What thing?”

“This,” you whisper “Whatever this is between us. The hallucinations. The confessions. The weird tension where you want to kill me and kiss me at the same time.”

“You’re wrong.” he says.

Your chest tightens “Oh.”

“I don’t want to kill you, you already do that to yourself alone.”

Pause.

“I just want to kiss you.”

You stop breathing.

He leans forward. Slow. Intentional. One hand brushing your jaw, tilting your face toward him like you’re something fragile and fleeting.

“Captain” you whisper.

“Y/N” he breathes.

And then he kisses you.

It’s gentle, for all of three seconds, then desperate, frustrated, furious about the fact that he was almost losing you.

When he pulls back, you’re both breathless.

“You’re the most dangerous thing I’ve ever studied” he mutters, forehead against yours.

You grin.

“And you’re my favorite side effect.”

── .✦ Portgas D. Ace:

The sun is brutal on the upper deck, but you don’t notice. You’re too busy holding a tiny, glittering vial up to the light with the reverence of someone holding an engagement ring or, in your case, an exciting new potential toxin.

It’s pink. Slightly viscous. Smells faintly like fermented fruit and regret.

Perfect.

“Please tell me you’re not going to drink that.” Marco says behind you, half-exasperated, half-terrified.

“I’m going to sip it,” you say, rolling your eyes “For science.”

“For science?” he repeats.

“For science,” you nod solemnly, uncorking the bottle “And also morbid curiosity.”

He groans “Y/N…”

Too late. You down it in one go.

There’s a moment of silence as you smack your lips thoughtfully.

“…Taste?”

“Like someone dissolved candy in cheap rum and lies.”

“Oh good,” Marco mutters “You’ve poisoned yourself again.”

You wave him off “If I die, I’ll write it down first.”

He opens his mouth to argue but a loud whistle cuts him off.

“Oi!” Ace calls, walking over shirtless, sun-drenched, grinning that smug grin that says I’ve definitely started three fires before breakfast “You experimenting again?”

You nod, blinking a bit “Just something I found in a locked crate under Izo’s bunk.”

Ace raises a brow “You… drank random liquid you found in Izo’s stash?”

“Yes,” you say matter-of-factly “And also, your laugh makes my spine feel weird.”

He stares.

You stare back.

Marco sucks in a sharp breath “Oh no.”

You tilt your head thoughtfully “And your shoulders are distracting. I’ve catalogued seventy-eight poisons but can’t remember what you said this morning because you yawned mid-sentence and I lost focus.”

“…You what?” Ace coughs.

You continue, voice perfectly even “Also, I sometimes fake headaches to watch you carry me to the infirmary. You’re very warm.”

You slam your hands on your mouth to stop it from saying more, while the crew begins to gather like sharks to blood.

Thatch appears holding popcorn. Someone is calling for Izo. There’s actual cheering.

“You’re glowing,” Marco says quietly, inspecting your skin “Shimmering. That’s one of Izo’s truth serums. A prototype he was working on some time ago.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?” Ace echoes weakly.

You turn to him “Also, I ranked your freckles once. The ones on your jaw are my favorite.”

Ace turns so red you think he might combust without using his powers.

“You… I… how long is this stuff supposed to last?!” he splutters.

You shrug “Few hours, probably. Don’t worry. I’ll be asleep before I get to the part about your hands.”

“What about my hands?!”

“Nothing!” you say, far too quickly “They’re just… statistically… dangerous looking.”

He’s speechless. Marco is already reaching for his notebook.

You’ve become the Moby Dick’s favorite form of entertainment.

You’re still sitting cross-legged on the deck, glittering faintly in the sun like a cursed disco ball, while the Whitebeard Pirates form a loose circle around you.

“Truth serum,” Thatch hums, rubbing his hands together “This is the best day I’ve had in weeks.”

“It’s unethical...” Marco mutters beside him.

“It’s hilarious,” Izo corrects, snapping open a fan and leaning in “Y/N, darling, be honest... who took the last chocolate muffin last week? It was you, am I wrong?”

You open your mouth immediately “Not me. It was Ace.”

“Traitor!” Ace sputters from somewhere behind you.

You shrug “You left crumbs in the storage room. Also, your heartbeat spiked when someone mentioned it at breakfast.”

Everyone turns to Ace. He throws his hands up “It was one time!”

“You licked the wrapper, too.” you add calmly “Twice.”

Someone howls.

“Alright, my turn!” Thatch grins “Y/N, have you ever sabotaged anyone’s food?”

You nod serenely “I put mild laxatives in Namur’s tea once because he wouldn’t stop stealing my ginger cookies.”

Namur gasps “You monster!”

“You deserved it,” you reply without a trace of guilt “You called my medicinal brownies ‘dirt bars.’”

“Next question,” Izo purrs, leaning forward “Have you ever kissed someone on this ship?”

The crew leans in.

You blink “No.”

“Have you thought about it?” Marco asks, suddenly very interested.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Ace.”

The sound Ace makes is somewhere between a squeak and a small, internal detonation.

The crew loses it.

“YES!”

“I KNEW IT!”

“PAY UP, IZO!”

“I had money on Marco, damn it!”

You sigh as if this is all deeply inconvenient, like the truth is just leaking out of you against your will, which, of course, it is.

You say casually “He smells good. Like firewood and something sweet. Maybe toasted sugar. I haven’t narrowed it down yet.”

Ace is covering his face with his hands now, bright red from the neck up.

“Can I go lie down?” you mumble “Or roll into the sea?”

Marco snorts “Not until the glitter wears off.”

Thatch throws an arm around your shoulder “C’mon, Y/N, one more... if you had to kiss anyone else on this ship—”

“I’d rather drink from the mildew jar in my lab.”

“…Fair.”

You blink slowly, tone still deadly calm “Thatch, you once tried to trim your chest hair with surgical scissors. Drunk.”

Thatch chokes “That was off the record!”

“No such thing,” Marco laughs “She’s the serum’s hostage now.”

“I regret nothing,” you reply “Except licking the blue mushroom last month. That hallucination lasted eight hours. I tried to dissect the air.”

Ace groans “Can someone drag her below deck before she tells everyone what I look like shirtless in creepy detail?”

You look straight at him “You’re built like a statue someone made while going through something personal.”

He explodes.

The next morning you’re back to your usual self.

The strange, glittering effects of the truth serum have worn off, leaving you feeling… normal again. You’re busy carefully grinding some herbs into powder, a mixture for your next experiment, when a familiar voice rings out behind you.

“Morning, poison queen.”

You freeze.

“Don’t call me that” you mutter without turning around, but there’s an unmistakable edge of dread in your tone.

Ace slides onto the bench next to you, uninvited, a grin spreading across his face as he leans toward you, looking like he’s about to launch into a full assault.

“Oh, I think I will...” he says, practically purring “You’re the one who told the entire crew how much you love my shoulders, remember?”

You tense “I did not—”

“And those freckles?” Ace raises an eyebrow, already loving the flush spreading across your face “Did you know that Marco bet I’d get at least five different comments on my jawline today? Maybe next time you should be more specific.”

Your eyes snap to his, and you open your mouth to argue but then he continues.

“You really should have warned me before you started cataloging all my features. Or how about when you admitted you fake headaches just so you can get me to carry you to the infirmary?”

The teasing tone in his voice is getting under your skin, and you try to focus on grinding your herbs, but his words are still ringing in your ears.

“You do know that it’s not even the ‘headaches’ you fake that’s the problem, right? It’s that you actually like it when I carry you. Which I can totally tell from the way you always sigh in my arms.”

You bite your lip, cheeks burning, desperate to look anywhere but at him.

“Or how about when you—” Ace’s voice drops low, “—admitted that I smell good? Like firewood and… What was that you said? Oh, right! Toasted sugar!”

You inhale sharply “I never said that.”

“Oh, yes you did, and you know.” he says, leaning in closer, the amusement in his eyes dangerously obvious “And you also said I’m built like a statue. Do you really think I wouldn’t remember that?”

“Shut up.” You finally look up, but your voice is strained as you meet his teasing gaze.

“I mean, I’m just curious,” Ace continues, a little too happily, “how much more stuff you’ve been hiding from me. How long have you been analyzing my muscles, exactly? Do you think they’re… aesthetically pleasing?” He pauses to let the words sink in “Hmm, maybe I should flex for you to get a clearer answer.”

The crew, who had been quietly watching from a distance (but clearly listening), suddenly bursts into laughter, but you just want to curl into a ball and disappear.

“Oh, this is good,” Thatch says, clearly enjoying the show “I never thought Ace would get revenge like this, but here we are.”

“You should see her when she’s trying to make that poison tea thing,” Marco says, shaking his head “She’s way too serious about it, but now we know she’s been obsessed with Ace’s shoulders the whole time.”

“You guys are awful.” you mutter, sinking into your chair, arms crossed tightly across your chest in an attempt to hold yourself together.

Ace, however, is not letting up. He knows the soft spots, and he’s making sure to press every single one of them.

“So, how’s it feel?” Ace grins, tapping your shoulder playfully “Being soooo open about how much you like me? You definitely don’t look uncomfortable at all.”

You shoot him a glare, but it’s hard to stay mad when he’s looking so damn smug about it.

“I don’t know, Ace. It must be so hard for you to carry the weight of being so perfect that I couldn’t stop talking about how handsome you are, huh?” you bite back.

Ace stares at you for a moment, clearly thrown off by your unexpected response. Then he laughs “Oh, that’s rich. You think you can out-tease me?”

“You’re the one who’s been doing it all day.” you shoot back, finally turning to face him fully “Seems like you loved me pointing out all the things I like about you.”

The crew laughs even harder, and Ace’s grin only grows.

“I won.” he says, smug as ever “It’s not my fault you’re so obsessed with me. Honestly, I’m kinda flattered.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you are.” You roll your eyes, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing you break.

But Ace doesn’t relent “Admit it, Y/N. You’re in love with me.”

You pause.

“And if I am?” you ask coolly, holding his gaze.

The teasing gleam in his eyes flickers, then vanishes. Ace looks just a little taken aback by the way you’re holding your ground.

“Well…” He scratches the back of his head, clearly flustered now “You’ve already said it once. So I’m just making sure you’re still on the same page.”

And just like that, it’s his turn to feel the heat in his cheeks.

“Well, maybe you should stop teasing me, then.” you say with a sly smile.

Ace grins, shaking his head “Nah, this is fun. You’ll get used to it.”

Now it’s your turn to mess with Ace.

After days of relentless teasing, you’ve decided that it’s time to use his own game against him. He’s made it clear that he loves to toy with you and now, it’s time for him to spill the truth, whether he wants to or not.

The deck is quiet, the crew all doing their own thing, but you know Ace will find you soon. He always does. And, sure enough, as you’re mixing something into a flask in the corner of the kitchen, his voice floats over the rim of the doorway.

“Hey, poison queen,” he says with a grin, clearly thinking of another thing to tease you about “Are you planning to poison the whole crew with whatever concoction you’re making today? Or is it just my poor, unsuspecting self?”

You don’t answer right away, focusing on your work. You’re careful with every motion. Just one drop of this ingredient, and you’ll have him talking like a parrot for hours.

“Alright, alright, what’s in the flask today?” he presses, inching closer “Am I going to shit myself?”

You glance over your shoulder, smiling sweetly “Oh, nothing dangerous, I promise.”

“Then why do you look so… suspicious?” Ace narrows his eyes playfully, still not suspecting a thing.

You flash him a mischievous smile, taking the flask with one hand and adding a few drops of your carefully prepared herbal mix into his mug “Just a little something to make sure your day is… interesting.”

Ace raises an eyebrow, but at this point, he’s practically inviting the teasing. He’s completely unaware of the slight adjustment you made. After all, you’ve poisoned your own drinks with far worse. The concoction in his mug isn’t lethal, but it’ll get the job done.

You hand it over with a flourish “Here you go, fire boy. Drink up.”

Ace takes the mug, his smirk growing wider. He’s used to your antics, but he doesn’t know you’ve just pulled the wool over his eyes. He takes a swig, and just as the liquid slides down his throat, you watch him carefully.

But then, a few seconds later, Ace’s expression shifts, his eyes flickering with confusion as he sets the mug down.

“You okay?” you ask casually, keeping your voice neutral.

Ace blinks, a frown tugging at his features “Yeah, just… feel a little weird. Like, light-headed… You didn’t actually put something in here, did you?”

“Oh, it’s just a little herbal remedy,” you say with a shrug, your grin widening “You know, to make you feel better.”

“Well, I do feel better, but I also feel...” he admits with a nervous laugh “Weird.”

That’s your cue. You pull out a chair and sit down, raising an eyebrow “I think we can have some fun with that.”

His eyes flick to yours, unsure “What do you mean?”

“You see, I didn't drink all that bottle the other day. And, well… the thing is,” you continue, now holding his gaze, “you’ve been teasing me for days, Ace. And I’m really curious about how much of what you said was… well, the truth.”

Ace stares at you, confusion melting into realization as the drug starts to kick in, the subtle influence of your concoction making him more vulnerable to his own thoughts.

“Wait, what…?” He shakes his head, trying to focus “This is… a trick, right? Did you really—”

“So, Ace...” you say in a soothing tone, leaning in slightly “Admit it, you like me.”

Ace laughs awkwardly, his eyes unfocused as his lips move to speak without hesitation “Well, uh, yeah. I’ve liked you for a while now… I just thought it’d be funny to make you squirm about it.”

You narrow your eyes, pretending to act surprised “You like me? You’ve been teasing me because you like me?”

He stumbles over his words, but it’s too late to stop himself “Yeah, you’re like… fun. I don’t know how to act around you, okay? Every time I try to be normal, you just—ugh, you get under my skin. And I can’t stop teasing you.”

You smile wickedly, feeling the rush of victory surge in your veins.

“Is that so?” you ask sweetly, letting his confession sink in “And here I thought you were just being a brat.”

"That's just my love language ok? I don't know how to act normal around someone I like, so I just tease and tease and tease."

"Love language?" you ask actually a bit shocked "So you really do like me?? Couldn't you just confess back when I got exposed with that truth telling thing?"

"It's too complicated. I just... didn't know now." he says trying to avoind your eyes.

"You just did it."

"Well, not in a fair way, though."

"I've put nothing in that drink, you idiot..."

Ace freezes “Wait a sec… Are you messing with me right now?” he asks, his voice suddenly more wary “This isn’t real?”

“Oh, it’s very real,” you reply, letting a mischievous grin slip into your expression “The truth serum is working, wihtout even the need to actually use it. You’re just… a little more vulnerable than you think.”

His eyes widen “Wait… wait, what did you do to me?”

You chuckle, leaning back in your chair “Just a little something to get you to spill your guts. But what’s even better is that you’re admitting things you didn’t even realize you were feeling.”

Ace’s face twists as the realization hits him “I—I thought I was poisoned? You… you tricked me into confessing everything?!”

The crew, who has been silently observing the entire exchange, erupts into laughter from all corners of the room. Marco, Izo, and Thatch are barely holding it together, while the rest of the crew seems equally entertained by the spectacle.

“That’s right, fire boy,” you say, leaning closer “You weren’t poisoned at all. You were just brainwashed into thinking you were.”

Ace stares at you, his face redder than ever, looking like he’s ready to combust.

“Yeah, well, now I’m gonna make you regret it” he mutters, his earlier smugness replaced by genuine frustration and something else you can’t quite place.

But for now, you’ve won. And you’ll savor this small victory for as long as you can.

The crew is still chuckling from the aftermath of your little “truth serum” game. You can practically feel the heat radiating from Ace’s flushed face, the sheer embarrassment of his earlier confessions hanging in the air like a cloud.

“Well, Ace,” you say, leaning back in your chair with a smug grin, “I gotta say, you made it pretty easy for me to get all your secrets out.”

Ace grumbles, clearly trying to salvage what’s left of his dignity “I can’t believe I fell for that.” He crosses his arms, glaring at you but clearly not all that mad, more like… flustered.

You lean in a little closer, a teasing smirk tugging at your lips “You did admit a lot, though. Like how much you actually like me.”

That catches him off guard. He stumbles for a moment, as if he wants to deny it, but there’s no escaping the truth now “Well, what can I say, you did say a lot of embarrassing things, too, when you drank that ‘serum’.”

You raise an eyebrow, the teasing still simmering beneath your words “Like what, exactly?”

“Oh, you know, I still think about you counting my freckles…” He flashes you a grin, almost too proud of himself for turning the tables.

You smirk, taking a deep breath “Well, now that I know you like me back…” You pause for effect, leaning even closer, “I can finally say it all again without the need for any truth drink.”

The realization hits him like a punch to the gut. Ace’s eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, he’s speechless “Wait, what?”

You grin, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort “Yep. So now, I’m free to repeat everything. Your teasing? It’s actually kind of cute. And maybe I even find you hot… especially with that devil fruit power of yours.” You’re clearly enjoying this far too much “Might even be into that.”

Ace is completely flustered now, cheeks burning red, and he stammers, “You… you really are messing with me, huh?”

Before you can answer, he suddenly leans forward, a spark of determination lighting up his eyes “Alright, then, I’ll just prove to you how much I like you.”

You blink, confused “What are you talking about?”

He leans in, his usual cocky grin back on his face “You wanna tell me what you like about me? Then I’ll tell you what I like about you... Like a competition since you like it.”

You tilt your head, intrigued “A competition, huh? Alright. But what’s the catch?”

Ace leans in even closer, voice dropping to a low, teasing tone “No backing out. You have to admit everything you like about me, truthfully, no holds barred.”

Your eyes glint with mischief “Alright, fine. But be warned. You might not like what you hear.”

Ace’s grin only grows wider “I’m all ears, Y/N. Let’s hear it.”

“First off,” you begin, your tone as playful as ever, “I might like how your hair looks like you just rolled out of bed. It’s… charming in a ‘I just woke up and I’m not trying’ kind of way.”

Ace scoffs, looking both proud and a little defensive “Well, you know, some people can’t pull it off, but I do.”

You roll your eyes “And I might find it kind of adorable that you get so riled up when I call you out. Your pride’s kind of cute… in a completely frustrating way.”

Ace stares at you for a second, then grins, almost cocky “I’ll take that as a compliment… for now.”

But before you can continue, someone shouts from the back of the room.

“Get a room, you two!”

The words echo across the deck, and everyone bursts into laughter. Ace’s face turns redder than ever, and for a moment, it looks like he’s about to explode.

“Shut up!” he snaps, but the crew’s laughter is uncontrollable.

But the comment gives Ace an idea. He stands up suddenly, grabbing your wrist and tugging you toward the stairs leading below deck.

“Alright, fine. We’ll take it to my room,” he says, his voice a little breathless but determined “Let’s see how much you really like me.”

You blink, surprised at his boldness, but you can’t hide the grin forming on your face “Ace… you think you can just drag me to your room and get away with it?”

“Maybe,” he says with a sly wink “But you’ll never know unless you come with me.”

You chuckle, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline you get when Ace is being this unpredictable “Alright then, hothead. Lead the way.”

The crew, of course, continues to shout playful remarks as you both head toward his room. Marco just shakes his head with a knowing smile.

Ace’s room door slams shut behind you both, and whatever happens next is anyone’s guess. But one thing is certain, this game of teasing is far from over. And in the end, neither of you is going to back down from it anytime soon.

eeek i'm glad you're open to writing for koby ^^ ! if you aren't too busy, could i request just a few small awkward interactions between him and a marine/civillian reader pre-relationship? like yk when it's so obvious two people like each other but neither admit it... teehee 😼 thank you!

Tides of Hesitation

kobi × reader

a/n: first time writing about him so I hope it's good aw

words count: 3.8k

tags: fluffy, soft, you're a marine too

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

The Marine base is always alive with movement, recruits training, officers barking orders, and the steady rhythm of boots against the dock. But for Koby, it all fades into the background the moment he sees you.

You’re sorting through crates near the supply docks, uniform slightly wrinkled from a long morning of inventory. Your brows furrow in concentration as you check a list, completely unaware of the pink-haired Marine who just stopped mid-step upon spotting you.

Koby quickly looks away, pretending to focus on a group of recruits jogging past. He tells himself he’s just being polite, he’s a Captain after all, and he should be keeping an eye on the base. But he knows that’s not the real reason he keeps sneaking glances in your direction.

“Captain Koby!” a voice calls, snapping him out of his thoughts. Helmeppo strides toward him, smirking “You look a little lost there. Something distracting you?”

Koby flinches, straightening “N-No! I was just—” He stops himself before he makes it worse “Never mind.”

Helmeppo follows his gaze and immediately raises an eyebrow “Ohhh. I see.”

Koby nearly chokes “You don’t see anything!” he insists, but it’s too late. Helmeppo’s smirk deepens.

Before Koby can stop him, Helmeppo waves in your direction “Oi, Y/N! Got a minute?”

You look up, blinking in confusion before setting down your clipboard and walking over. Koby wants to disappear.

“Captain Koby, you needed me for something?” you ask, tilting your head slightly.

Koby opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again “Uh—I—”

“Yeah, Captain,” Helmeppo drawls, arms crossed “You did seem eager to talk.”

Koby silently vows to get revenge on him later. For now, he struggles to form a sentence under your curious gaze.

“I—I was just checking in!” Koby blurts out “You know, making sure you’re, um, settling in alright!”

You blink “I’ve been here for three months, Captain.”

Koby wants the sea to swallow him whole “R-Right! Of course! I just... uh...” He rubs the back of his neck “How’s inventory going?”

You look down at your clipboard and back up at him "…Fine?”

Helmeppo snorts, and Koby kicks him (it’s not subtle).

An awkward silence falls between you both, and so you clear your throat “Well… thanks for checking in, I guess? I should probably get back to work.”

“Y-Yeah! Yeah, of course. Sorry for interrupting!”

You nod and turn away, but before you get too far, Koby calls after you “Wait!”

You pause, looking over your shoulder.

Koby hesitates, then forces out “Let me know if, uh, if you need anything!”

You smile small but warme “Will do, Captain.”

The moment you’re out of earshot, Helmeppo claps a hand on Koby’s shoulder “That,” he says, grinning “was painful to watch.”

Koby groans, face burning “Shut up.”

Helmeppo just laughs.

Morning drills leave Koby exhausted, but that doesn’t stop his mind from wandering. Specifically, to you.

It’s frustrating. He’s supposed to be focused on training, strategy, and leadership, not on the way you smiled at him yesterday.

Helmeppo, of course, has noticed “You’ve been sighing a lot today, Captain,” he teases, leaning against the railing of the training ground “Something on your mind? Or should I say… someone?”

Koby nearly drops the training manual he’s holding “I have not been sighing!”

Helmeppo raises an eyebrow “Right. And I haven’t been watching you sneak glances toward the docks all morning.”

Koby stiffens, gripping the manual tighter. He refuses to dignify that with a response. Instead, he turns his attention back to the field, where a group of recruits is finishing their sparring exercises. He clears his throat, forcing his voice to be steady.

“Focus on work, Helmeppo. We’re not here to gossip.”

Helmeppo snickers “Oh, you might not be, but I certainly am.”

Before Koby can protest, a voice calls out from the direction of the supply docks “Captain Koby!”

He turns so fast he nearly gives himself whiplash. And there you are, jogging toward him with a clipboard in hand, eyes scanning a sheet of paper.

“I need your signature for the new shipment approval. Do you have a second?”

Koby straightens too quickly “Y-Yeah! Of course!”

You stop beside him, close enough that he catches the faint scent of salt and parchment ink. He takes the clipboard from you, trying very hard not to let his hand brush against yours as he signs the form.

Helmeppo, standing a few feet away, watches the exchange like he’s witnessing a drama unfold.

You shift on your feet “The shipment came in earlier than expected, so I figured I’d get the paperwork done now.”

Koby nods, handing back the clipboard “That’s… really efficient of you.”

You blink at him, then let out a small laugh “Well, I try.”

Koby realizes, belatedly, that he’s still staring at you. He quickly averts his gaze, clearing his throat “Uh—good work. Keep it up.”

You tilt your head, amused “Thanks, Captain.”

Another awkward pause. Koby swears he can hear Helmeppo physically holding back laughter behind him.

You give him a small nod before heading back toward the docks. Koby watches you go, feeling his entire face heat up.

The second you’re out of earshot, Helmeppo claps him on the back, nearly knocking him forward “Captain, that was tragic.”

Koby groans, rubbing his temples “Please. Stop talking.”

Helmeppo grins “Oh, absolutely not.”

Koby has survived brutal training, impossible missions, and direct battles with some of the world’s most fearsome pirates. And yet, none of those things compare to the sheer terror of sitting across from Vice Admiral Garp while Helmeppo tries very hard not to choke on laughter.

“So, Koby.” Garp takes a massive bite out of a rice cracker, crumbs spilling onto the table “You got a crush?”

Koby nearly chokes on air “W-WHAT?!”

Helmeppo completely loses it, practically keeling over with laughter “Oh, this is amazing.”

Koby grips the table, staring at Garp like he’s just declared war “Where did you—who told you—what are you talking about?!”

Garp snorts “Oh, come on, boy! You think I wouldn’t notice? You get all stiff and weird whenever that supply recruit’s around. Like a nervous little sea slug.”

Koby buries his face in his hands “I do not get stiff and weird…”

Helmeppo, still wheezing, barely manages to say “Koby, you literally bowed yesterday when Y/N handed you a clipboard. A clipboard.”

Koby groans “I panicked!”

Garp laughs so hard the entire table shakes “Panicked?! Boy, if you freeze up over a clipboard, how do you plan on ever confessing?!”

Koby immediately launches into damage control “There’s nothing to confess! Y/N and I are just—we’re colleagues! That’s it! Absolutely nothing else!”

“Right,” Helmeppo says, smirking “That’s why you turn the color of a cooked lobster every time they talk to you.”

Koby’s about to protest when a voice calls out from the doorway “Captain Koby?”

His soul leaves his body.

You step inside the room, looking between the three of them, clearly confused “…Did I interrupt something?”

Helmeppo immediately straightens, looking like he’s about to combust from holding back laughter. Garp, meanwhile, just grins like he’s enjoying the show.

Koby, on the other hand, is desperately trying to appear normal. He sits up way too straight and forces a totally casual smile “N-No! Not at all! What’s up?”

You glance at him suspiciously before holding up a document “I need your signature on the cargo report.”

Koby nods too quickly “Of course! Right! Cargo! Work!” He grabs the paper and hastily signs it, nearly snapping the pen in half with how hard he’s gripping it.

You hesitate for a second “…Are you okay?”

“Yep! Perfectly fine! Why do you ask?” he blurts out.

You blink “…Because you’re sweating?”

Koby internally screams “I-I was just… uh… training! Hard training! Very intense!”

Garp chuckles “Yep, boy’s been real worked up today.”

Helmeppo snorts so loudly he has to cover his mouth.

You still look confused, but eventually just nod “…Alright then. Thanks, Captain.”

With that, you turn and leave, and the second the door closes, Koby slams his head onto the table “Kill me. Right now.”

Garp howls with laughter, slapping Koby on the back hard enough to nearly knock him over “Boy, you’re hopeless!”

Helmeppo wipes a tear from his eye “Hopeless and hilarious.”

Koby just groans, face still pressed against the table “…I need to be reassigned.”

Koby tries to avoid Helmeppo for the rest of the day, but it’s nearly impossible when the man keeps appearing everywhere just to smirk at him.

At one point, Koby swears he sees Helmeppo whispering to Garp about something before the old man grins in his direction. He doesn’t have time to question it, though, because the universe decides to make his day even worse.

“Captain Koby! I—oh—wait—ah!”

Koby barely has time to turn around before you crash directly into him, nearly sending both of you to the ground.

He instinctively reaches out to steady you, hands awkwardly hovering before actually making contact with your arms “Are you okay?!”

You immediately straighten up, waving your hands “I-I’m fine! I wasn’t looking where I was going!”

Koby quickly steps back, rubbing the back of his neck “No, no, it’s okay! I wasn’t paying attention either!”

There’s a long, awkward pause as you both look anywhere except at each other.

Helmeppo, standing a few feet away, slowly puts his head in his hands “This is painful.”

You clear your throat, still visibly flustered “Um—right! I was actually looking for you!”

Koby’s brain completely shuts down “M-Me?!”

You nod rapidly “Yeah! I mean—yes! Because I, uh… I had a question! About… the, um… the thing.”

Koby blinks “The… thing?”

You shift your weight, clearly struggling “…The… Marine thing. With… the reports?”

Helmeppo audibly groans “Oh come on, Y/N, even you now?”

You snap out of your panic mode and shoot him a glare “Excuse me?!”

Helmeppo gestures wildly between the two of you “This! This! The mutual awkwardness! You’re both acting like nervous cadets instead of normal people!”

Koby sputters “W-We are not!”

You cross your arms, cheeks heating “I’m acting perfectly normal!”

Helmeppo gives you both a look before turning on his heel and walking away “I can’t do this. You two are a lost cause.”

There’s a moment of silence. Then, you nervously rub your arm “…I really did need to ask about the reports, though.”

Koby straightens “O-Oh! Right! Of course! Let’s—uh—go over that.”

You both walk toward his office, keeping at least a two-foot distance between you the entire way. Neither of you say a word. The tension is so unbearable that even the recruits passing by seem uncomfortable.

At this point, everyone in the base is starting to notice.

And everyone is waiting to see how long it takes before one of you finally admits something.

Koby does not want to be here.

Not because he doesn’t respect Vice Admiral Garp, he does, a lot even. But because you’re here too, standing stiffly beside him, and the moment Garp notices, Koby knows he’s doomed.

The Vice Admiral leans back in his chair, massive arms crossed over his chest, eyeing the both of you with a smirk that immediately puts Koby on edge “So. You two are spending a lot of time together lately.”

Koby nearly drops the stack of reports in his hands “I-It’s not like that! We—we just—work! We’re colleagues! Just normal colleagues doing normal Marine things together!”

You nod aggressively, gripping your own paperwork like it’s a lifeline “Yes! Exactly! Just work! That’s all it is!”

Garp snorts “Right. And I’m the King of Alabasta.”

Koby sputters “Sir, we’re serious!”

Garp waves a hand “Oh, I know you’re serious, boy. That’s the problem.” He leans forward, grinning “Because you’re so serious that it’s painfully obvious you’ve got it bad.”

You immediately stiffen “I—what?!”

Koby turns bright red “That’s—that’s completely incorrect, sir! I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

You nod far too quickly “M-Me neither! No idea! None at all!”

Garp glances between the two of you. Neither of you can hold eye contact with him or with each other. You’re both standing like you’re facing a firing squad, shoulders locked in place, expressions frozen somewhere between denial and horrified realization.

Then, Garp starts laughing.

Not just any laugh, a full-blown Garp laugh. The kind that shakes the entire room and nearly blows the papers off his desk.

“Oh, this is golden!” he howls, slapping his knee “You two look like a couple of schoolkids caught passing notes!”

Koby groans “Sir, please!”

Garp wipes a tear from his eye, then gestures toward the door “Go on, get outta here before I start planning your wedding.”

You both immediately move for the exit, neither of you daring to say another word. The second the door closes behind you, you and Koby stand there, stiff as statues.

For a long, awkward moment, neither of you move. Then, Koby slowly turns to look at you “…That was horrible.”

You nod, face still burning “Yeah. That was… a nightmare.”

More silence.

Then, you clear your throat “…Well. See you later?”

Koby nods way too fast “Yep! Later! Definitely! Okay bye!”

And with that, you both practically sprint in opposite directions.

From inside the office, Garp just shakes his head, grinning to himself “Hopeless.”

Koby swears he’s never been this embarrassed in his entire life.

And that includes the time he tripped in front of Admiral Sengoku. And the time he saluted the wrong superior and didn’t realize it for a full minute. And definitely the time he panicked and called Garp “Dad” during a training session.

But this? This is a new level of humiliation.

Because ever since the disaster in Garp’s office, the entire Marine base has started talking.

It starts small. A couple of recruits whispering when he walks by. A few smirks from officers who normally never pay attention to his personal life.

Then it gets worse.

Way worse.

By noon, Helmeppo has fully weaponized the situation. He strolls up to Koby while he’s trying to review patrol reports, looking far too pleased with himself “Hey, Captain.”

Koby doesn’t even look up “No.”

Helmeppo grins “I didn’t even say anything yet.”

“I know you’re going to say something, and the answer is still no.”

Helmeppo leans on the desk “Fine, I’ll just show you instead.”

Before Koby can react, Helmeppo holds up a sheet of paper.

Koby squints “…What is that?”

Helmeppo beams “It’s a petition.”

Koby feels instant dread “…A petition for what?”

Helmeppo flips it around. At the top, in very large, very bold letters, it reads:

“MAKE KOBY AND Y/N STOP BEING AWKWARD AND JUST ADMIT IT ALREADY.”

Koby makes a strangled noise “What—WHAT IS THIS?!”

Helmeppo chuckles “Oh, just something the crew put together. You’d be amazed how many signatures we got. Look, even Garp signed it.”

Koby’s eye twitches as he scans the list.

Not only is Garp’s name right at the top, but nearly half the base has signed.

“WHY IS THERE A WHOLE PAGE JUST FROM THE KITCHEN STAFF?!”

Helmeppo shrugs “Apparently, they’ve been betting on you two for months.”

Koby slams his head onto the desk “This cannot be happening.”

And just when he thinks it can’t get worse—

“Hey, Captain, I need to—”

Koby’s head shoots up.

It’s you.

And you’re holding a stack of documents, looking just as awkward and uncomfortable as he feels.

For a second, the whole room is silent.

Then Helmeppo, still holding the petition, smirks “Oh, perfect timing.”

Koby lunges for him “DON’T YOU DARE—”

But Helmeppo’s already turning to you, holding up the paper like it’s an official Marine decree “Hey, Y/N, wanna add your name to the list?”

Your eyes widen in confusion “ uh? For what?”

Koby desperately grabs for the petition “IGNORE HIM! IT’S NOT REAL!”

Helmeppo dodges, still grinning “Oh, it’s very real.”

You look between the two of them, clearly so confused. But then you catch a glimpse of the title. Your entire face turns red “…Oh my god.”

Koby groans “I’M GOING TO JUMP INTO THE SEA.”

You look horrified “WHO SIGNED THIS?!”

Helmeppo cheerfully flips through the pages “Well, Garp, obviously. Most of the officers. Some of the cadets. Pretty sure the janitor added a heart next to his name. Oh, and the kitchen staff wrote a whole paragraph about how sick they are of you two pretending you don’t like each other.”

Koby wants to die “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.”

You cover your face “I need to quit. I need to leave the Marines and change my name.”

Helmeppo grins “Oh, come on, you both like each other, just admit it—”

“WE DON’T—” both of you yell at the exact same time, which is the worst possible answer because now everyone in the room is watching.

Helmeppo just sighs, shaking his head “You two. Hopeless.”

And with that, he walks away, still holding the petition.

Leaving you and Koby standing there.

In the middle of the Marine base.

Surrounded by people who are very clearly eavesdropping.

Neither of you say a word.

Then, at the exact same time—

“I have work to do—”

“I should get back to training—”

You both turn and power walk in opposite directions.

The second you’re gone, one of the recruits sighs loudly “I swear, if they don’t get together in the next month, I’m quitting.”

Koby cannot take this anymore.

It’s been three days since the petition incident, and somehow, things have only gotten worse.

Everywhere he goes, people give him knowing looks. Recruits whisper the second he walks past. The kitchen staff has started serving his meals in heart-shaped portions.

And Helmeppo? Helmeppo has been insufferable, more than usual.

Koby really tries to pretend none of this is happening. But then, this morning, he finds a new note pinned to his office door:

“Confess or we riot.”

That’s it. That’s the final straw.

So now, Koby is marching down to the docks, fists clenched, heart pounding because damn it, if everyone is going to make his life miserable over this, he might as well get it over with.

And then he sees you.

You’re sitting near the supply crates, flipping through a stack of reports, completely unaware that Koby is about to have the most disastrous conversation of his life.

He takes a deep breath, walks up, and “WE NEED TO TALK!”

You jump so hard you nearly fall off the crate.

“What?? koby?!” You clutch your chest, eyes wide “You scared me. What is wrong with you?!”

Koby swallows, his face already heating up “S-Sorry! I just—I need to say something! Because if I don’t, I think I might actually die!”

You blink “…Okay?”

He exhales sharply “Listen. I don’t know when it started, and I don’t know why the entire Marine base thinks they have the right to butt into our business, but I… I like you, okay? There! I said it!”

There’s a long, horrible silence.

Koby’s entire body is on fire.

You just stare at him, mouth slightly open, as if your brain is still catching up “…You… like me?”

Koby nods aggressively “YES. VERY MUCH. A LOT, ACTUALLY.”

You blink again.

Then, slowly, your face starts turning red “…Oh.”

More silence.

Then you bury your face in your hands “I hate everyone so much.”

Koby freezes “…What?”

You groan, voice muffled against your palms “Because I like you too! But I was never going to say anything because I was convinced you didn’t feel the same and everyone was just trying to make fun of me, and now the entire base is going to rub it in our faces forever!”

Koby short-circuits.

“…You… like me too?”

You look up, expression absolutely miserable “Koby. Did you think I was just constantly being awkward for no reason?!”

Koby stares at you. Then he stares at the ground. Then he stares at the sky, as if begging for it to strike him down.

“Well, you thought that of me though… I am an idiot anyway”

You sigh “Yeah. Me too.”

And then, before either of you can say anything else.

“FINALLY!!!”

Koby whirls around.

Half the base is watching from the distance, cheering, clapping, and throwing their hats in the air.

Helmeppo is holding the petition, waving it over his head like a victory flag.

Garp is standing nearby, laughing so hard he actually wipes a tear from his eye.

The kitchen staff is clinking glasses.

Even the janitor is there, pumping his fist in the air.

Koby buries his face in his hands “…I should’ve transferred when I had the chance.”

You groan “We will never survive them”

Then, you both turn to look at each other and, despite everything, you both start laughing, because honestly this is exactly how it was always going to happen.

cross guild plays uno

never lose hope