@simpingforthisonedeer collect your husband he's scaring people again
Zoro: He fell first and harder
Law: You fell first, he fell harder
Kid: He fell first and harder
Luffy: You fell first and harder
Ace: He fell first and harder
Shanks: You fell first, he fell harder
Crocodile: You fell first and harder
Mihawk: You fell first and harder
Buggy: He fell first and harder
Sanji: He fell first and harder
Sabo: He fell first, you fell harder
Marco: You fell first, he fell harder
Doflamingo: You fell first and harder
Rob Lucci: You fell first and harder
Corazon: He fell first and harder (literally and figuratively)
CLINGY MUCH? | ONE SHOT
Shanks x GN!Reader
Zoro x GN!Reader
Mihawk x GN!Reader
a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only so expect this ff cringe and oc
tags: sfw, fluff, soft, ooc(?)
masterlist | ko-fi
: đČđ àčàŁÂ àŁȘ Ëâ©àżàż đ
SHANKS
You were many things aboard the Red Forceâcalm, sharp-tongued, and painfully unbothered by Shanksâ endless antics.
You were also completely unaware of the fact that the most feared (and flirted-with) captain in the New World couldnât seem to stop touching you.
Not in a creepy way. Not even in a romantic way⊠at least, not that you noticed.
Heâd toss an arm around your shoulders like it was a habit. Rest his hand on your waist when laughing. Tug you into his side when something âdangerousâ happened, like a slightly aggressive breeze or a seagull flying too low.
You just chalked it up to him being Shanks.
Until, one bright morning, the crew decided enough was enough.
It started with Benn Beckman sighing dramatically as he walked onto the deck.
âDo you two need a room or something?â
You blinked from where you stood, arms crossed. âWeâre not even doing anything.â
Benn pointed. âHis hand has been on your lower back for ten minutes.â
Shanks blinked down at his own hand like it betrayed him. âHuh. Didnât even notice.â
You raised a brow. âAre you okay? Do you have tactile issues?â
Lucky Roux snorted as he passed by with a turkey leg. âYeah, itâs called âfalling for someone and not knowing what to do with your hands.ââ
Shanks turned red. You remained⊠utterly unaffected.
âTouch-starved pirate disease,â Lime Juice muttered, jotting fake notes like a doctor. âTragic. Symptoms include: prolonged physical contact, excessive grinning, and spontaneous cuddling in public.â
Hongo popped his head out of the crowâs nest. âI saw him brush your hair behind your ear during the storm last week.â
âThat was because it got in their face,â Shanks defended.
You nodded. âHe didnât want me to get stabbed by my own bangs. Very heroic.â
âYouâre wearing a braid,â Yasopp called from the helm.
A long pause.
ââŠOkay, Iâm not good with excuses,â Shanks muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His hand bumped yours in the process.
You tilted your head, eyes narrowing. âCaptain.â
âYes?â
âYouâre touching me again.â
â...I genuinely didnât notice DAHAHAHA.â
The crew erupted into laughter.
You blinked slowly and glanced down at your joined hands, then back up at him. âYouâve been holding my hand for a minute now. You good?â
âMaybe.â
You stared.
He stared.
ââŠYouâre kinda warm,â he added, grinning.
âIâm wearing gloves.â
âExactly. Impressive.â
You didnât smile, but your voice was flat with dry humor. âYou wanna marry me, too? Get it over with?â
Shanks choked. âWhoaâwhat?â
âYouâre already touching me like Iâm your lover. Might as well commit.â
The crew howled.
âIâm starting to like them more than you, Cap,â Benn said, lighting a cigar.
âTheyâve got more bite,â Lime Juice grinned.
Lucky Roux offered you a celebratory turkey leg like a sword. âYou just proposed better than he ever could.â
You calmly took it, giving a single nod. âThanks. I accept my own proposal.â
Shanks was still frozen. âWait, are we actually engaged now?â
You took a slow bite of the turkey leg, deadpan. âKeep touching me like that, and youâll owe me alimony.â
ZORO
You were minding your own businessâarms crossed, eyes half-lidded, back leaned slightly against the Sunnyâs railingâwhen a familiar weight thunked into your side.
Again.
You didnât flinch, didnât glance, didnât even blink. Just spoke.
âZoro.â
âWhat.â
âYouâre doing it again.â
âDoing what.â
âTreating me like a living chair.â
He grunted. âYouâre stable. And not annoying.â
âThatâs a compliment?â you asked, still deadpan.
âTake it or leave it.â
The crew had noticed. Of course they had. This was the sixth day in a row Zoro had casually latched onto you like a sleepy barnacle.
âOi, mosshead!â Sanji snapped, appearing from the galley with smoke swirling and a righteous fury in his eyes. âGet off them, you clingy cucumber!â
Zoro cracked open an eye. âMake me.â
âOh, I will!â Sanji stomped over dramatically. âY/N-chwaann shouldnât have to carry your freeloading swordsman body weight! If anyone deserves to be close to them, itâs me!â
You raised an eyebrow. âYou literally tripped into my lap yesterday trying to âtie your shoe.â You were barefoot.â
âIt was a metaphor!â Sanji cried. âFor falling head over heels!â
Zoro scoffed. âThat was the dumbest thing Iâve ever heard.â
âSays the mossy limpet glued to their side like a touchy fungus!â
Zoro didnât move. âJealousyâs not a good look, curly.â
âYouâ!!â
âGuys,â Nami sighed, âcanât we go one day without turning affection into a shouting match?â
Brook leaned on his cane, chuckling. âYohohoho! Young love⊠or something!â
Usopp squinted. âWait. Has Zoro always been this clingy with Y/N?â
Robin smiled mysteriously. âSince thriller bark, at least.â
Franky nodded solemnly. âSaw him fall asleep on their shoulder mid-battle once. SUPER unconscious.â
âI thought he was dead,â Chopper added, horrified. âTurns out he was just really comfy.â
Zoroâs grip on your shoulder tightened very slightly, and you finally glanced sideways at him.
âDo you know youâre this touchy?â you asked.
He looked like he wanted to evaporate into the deck. âI⊠just donât mind you being close.â
You blinked slowly. âIs that samurai code for âI like youâ?â
Sanji audibly gagged. âOi! Donât flirt in front of me!â
âWeâre not flirting,â you said.
Zoro mumbled, âMight be.â
Sanji died inside.
âY/N-chwannâ he said gravely, dropping to one knee. âI beg of youâpick me instead! I would never lean on you like a sweaty tree log!â
Zoro growled. âBecause youâd faint from being close.â
âAT LEAST IâD DIE HANDSOME!â
You looked between the two of them and sighed.
âI just want to drink my tea without being fought over,â you muttered, walking offâZoro immediately following, like a shadow with swords.
âYouâre still touching me,â you noted.
âDidnât say Iâd stop,â he replied casually.
You stopped walking, turned, and looked him square in the eye.
âYouâre aware this is very couple-coded, right?â
He blinked, then grunted. âGuess we should make it official then.â
You blinked right back. âThat was fast.â
âWhy waste time.â
You smirked just a little. âRomantic.â
He shrugged. âYouâre warm. And you donât talk too much.â
âThatâs your idea of a proposal?â
âWorked, didnât it?â
From behind you, Sanji dramatically screamed into the ocean.
MIHAWK
Kuraigana Island was a wasteland of stone, wind, and uncomfortable silences. You didnât mind. You were the type to thrive in eerie places â quiet, observant, and allergic to nonsense.
Which is probably why Mihawk didnât bother with small talk.
Or... so you thought.
Lately, the worldâs greatest swordsman had developed a habit of materializing wherever you were. Youâd be cleaning a blade â and there he was, pouring tea. Youâd sit on the crumbling stone wall for some air â and there heâd be, suddenly trimming the overgrown vines right next to you.
At first, you thought it was coincidence.
Until today.
â...You know you donât have to sharpen every one of my knives,â you said flatly, watching him work silently at the bench beside you.
âI didnât,â Mihawk replied, still honing the blade. âOnly the dull ones.â
You blinked. âThat was my butter knife.â
âThen it was very dull.â
From the far side of the ruins, Zoro grunted as he finished a set of squats. âHe refilled their canteen twice this morning.â
âOnce,â Mihawk corrected, still not looking up.
âTwice,â Zoro insisted. âOnce after breakfast. Then again after they just looked at the sink.â
Perona floated down with a snort. âHe also folded their coat. While they were still wearing it.â
You narrowed your eyes. âWait. Is that why my sleeves were shorter for a second?â
âYou had a wrinkle.â
âI always have a wrinkle.â
Mihawk looked up with that unreadable expression. âAnd now you donât.â
Zoro huffed. âWhat even is this? He acts like a butler. But like, a scary one.â
Mihawk narrowed his eyes at him. âIâm not a butler.â
âCouldâve fooled me,â Perona muttered, arms crossed. âYou fixed the strap on their satchel too.â
Mihawk didnât respond to that.
Perona raised a brow. âYou gonna deny it?â
âNo,â Mihawk said coolly, âbecause it was crooked.â
Zoro leaned against a stone pillar, towel around his neck. âHe also moved your seat at the dining table.â
âThat was my seat,â you said.
Mihawk finally gave you a long, side glance. âYouâve sat on the left for the past four mornings. I simply ensured it remained consistent.â
You deadpanned. âYou rearranged the furniture.â
âBriefly.â
Zoro stared. âAnd when they tripped over that vineââ
âI cut the vine before they fell,â Mihawk snapped with a tone just shy of defensive.
âBro. You lunged across the courtyard.â
Mihawk sipped his wine calmly. âIt was in the way.â
You raised an eyebrow. âAnd when you pulled me by the hood into the shade the other day?â
âYou were overheating.â
âI wasnât sweating.â
âYou were blinking slowly.â
You stared. âThatâs just how I blink.â
There was a long pause.
Then Perona gasped. âWait, wait â you also fixed the strap on their scabbard!â
âI adjusted it. The weight distribution was uneven.â
Zoro clapped once, grinning. âSo you are clingy.â
Mihawkâs eyes narrowed, the glint in them sharp and dangerous. âI am not.â
You leaned your chin on your hand, amused. âThen what would you call this?â
He paused. âAwareness.â
Perona lost it. âYou mean hyper-awareness. Of one (1) person.â
Mihawk ignored her. âItâs strategic. I simply ensure you're at your most efficient.â
âThatâs not efficiency,â Zoro said, wiping his forehead. âThatâs doting.â
Mihawk arched a brow. âYou think a swordsman cannot be observant?â
âYou folded their laundry in order of fabric weight.â
âThey prefer it that way.â
You blinked. âI never said that.â
He side-eyed you, expression cool. âYou didnât need to.â
You blinked again.
Zoro grunted. âYou see? Heâs acting like weâre all weird for noticing.â
Perona jabbed a finger toward him. âHe's totally doing the âif I act calm, no one will notice I'm obsessedâ thing.â
Mihawk finally gave a soft, tired sigh â the kind that said you people are exhausting.
Then, turning to you, he asked, âWould you like tea?â
âI havenât said I was thirsty.â
He didnât blink. âYou will be.â
You stared. âAre you psychic?â
âNo,â he said simply. âYouâre predictable.â
You squinted. â...That sounds like flirting.â
Mihawk blinked slowly. âI donât flirt.â
Perona groaned. âOH MY GODââ
Mihawk stood up, cloak sweeping behind him, expression unreadable as always. He held out the canteen like heâd already won this conversation.
You took it with narrowed eyes, muttering, âThanks... I guess.â
He nodded, calm as ever. âYouâre welcome.â
Zoro crossed his arms. âStill denying it?â
Mihawk looked at all of them â then at you â and with perfect poise said,
âIâm just efficient.â
And with that, he turned and walked away.
You stared after him, took a sip from the canteen, and sighed.
ââŠEfficiently annoying.â
Monkey boy! I was most definitely listening to Jack Johnson's Upside Down hehe
â naked in bed.
âąÂ°. *àżwhat are their reaction when they see your naked body waiting for them under the sheets?
âąÂ°. *àżNSFW, featuring : Law, Shanks, Zoro
It was a long day, and he wanted nothing more but to rest in his bed and relax
You had other plans
You have been craving for his touch for such a while but never found the perfect moment to make a move
So you thought about doing something simple but clear: sleeping naked
You giggle to yourself when you hear your boyfriend slide open the door from the bathroom.
You stare at him shamelessly full with need and lust
Only his hips were wrapped around a way too colourful towel for him (you insisted to buy it for souvenir at an island) the water from his wet dark hair was slightly dripping down his toned back. You watched his beautiful tattooed body move as he was searching for his clothes, his tooth brush in his mouth.
You wanted to jump on him
He still hasnât noticed your little stunt and you donât believe he will until he gets into the bed
Law finally heads back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth and change into fresh clothes
As he gets out, his eyes connect with yours immediately. Your gaze barely left his silhouette and he has been quite aware of it.
He smiles as he approaches the bed and he quickly kisses the top of your head. He moves the sheets a little to get into them, until he stops and look at you.
âWhat-âŠâ
âWhatâs wrong?â You ask him with a smirk as you wrap your arm around his waist. Your chest pressed against his tank top. Law smiles
âYou never really let me rest, you know that?â
âItâs just another way to relaxâ you say to him as you feel his cold fingers brush against your skin. His lips press against yours and with his other hand, he cups your breast.
âIf you say so..â he whispers back before diving back into another passionated kiss.
Your lips were hungrily attached to his as you two were caught in an intense making out session
It basically started off by some flirty comments from both side, a little kiss on the neck by Shanks and boom..
You found yourself hovering over Shank on the bed, desperately trying to get his clothes off
Then suddenly you got interrupted by a knock on the door, claiming they needed the captain for something
You two sighed frustrated and you got off your man and watched him leave horny and disappointed.
âI will be right back ok?â He reassured you with his familiar smile before closing the door behind him
You wanted to waste no time, so you took your clothes off, ready to just get right into it
As Shank opened the door again, his eyes fell on your naked upper body , leaving him confused at first, but it was soon replaced with a mischievous smirk
âSo eager, are we darling?â
His mouth closed around one of your nipples , bringing a moan out instantly out of you
âShanks please..â
âWe have time, letâs take it slowâ
Heâs such a cocky teasing asswhole
we still love him
He always ripped apart some pieces of your underwear
Last night your thong barely made it alive, few days ago your bra lost an arm, one of your pantie didnât make it through the injury
You were two panties away from a penury of underwear and when you were sailing for days and days, you couldnât afford that
So you had to protest in your own way, and it was now to sleep naked so he wonât rip none of your clothes off
Zoro walked into your shared room with a cocked eyebrow when he quickly realized what was happening
âWhat are- why are you-â
âIâm protesting!â
âHuh?â
âYou carelessly rip my underwear off so I wonât sleep with them anymoreâ
He rubbed his face against his face before he broke in a silent chuckle. He smirked and looked you up and down.
âSure, doesnât seem like the big punishment if you ask meâ
âShut up and get to bed alreadyâ you spat back annoyed as you push yourself more against the wall to leave some space for him
âWho said we were gonna sleep?â
He smirked as he removed the sheets and pulled your body closer to him. He got to his knees and propped himself between your thighs.
âLet me apologize firstâ
you two acts like a loving couple all the time, so what happens when someone points it out?
characters: luffy, kidd, katakuri, shanks and mihawk
(zoro, sanji, law, ace and sabo)
a/n: since a loooot asked for more, here I am eheh
words count: around 0.4k - 1.1k each
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
You donât know when it started.
Maybe it was the way Luffy always stole food from your plate, but make sure to never let anyone else touch it.
Maybe it was how he always grabbed your hand first whenever the crew split up.
Maybe it was how he insisted on napping with you, his head always finding your lap, his arms always looping around you like a makeshift pillow.
Whatever it was, it had been going on for way too long. And the worst part is that you never questioned it.
Until now.
It starts with Sanji.
Youâre sitting at the dinner table, picking at your food, when Sanji suddenly snorts âYou two should just date already.â
You blink ââŠWhat?â
Sanji gestures between you and Luffy âYouâre basically a couple anyway.â
You choke on your drink.
Luffy just tilts his head, mid-bite âHuh?â
Sanji raises an eyebrow âSeriously? You guys act like a couple all the time.â
You open your mouth to argue, to deny everything, but then Nami nods âHeâs right, you know.â
Usopp grins âYeah, I mean, have you even seen yourselves?â
Franky chuckles âSuper obvious, bro.â
You stare. And then Zoro, of all people, grunts âTheyâre not wrong.â
Your brain short-circuits. Luffy just blinks at all of them, then turns to you âWait⊠are we a couple?â
Your face burns âNo!â
The crew groans.
âOh, come on.â
âYouâre in denial.â
âThis is painful to watch.â
You glare âWeâre just friends!â
Luffy nods âYeah! Just friends!â
The crew stares. Then Brook smiles âOh? Then you wouldnât mind if I asked y/n out on a date?â
Silence.
Then Luffyâs fork snaps in half and the table goes dead quiet.
Luffy grins at Brook, but itâs not his usual happy-go-lucky grin. Itâs the grin he wears before picking a fight.
âYohoho,â Brook laughs nervously âJust kidding.â
Luffy hums, still smiling âGood.â
Your stomach flips because holy shit. That was jealousy. Luffy was jealous... Over you.
The realization haunts you for the rest of the night. Because if Luffy was jealous then what did that mean?
Did he actuallyâ?
No.
No, this is Luffy. Heâs just protective. Thatâs just who he is.
âŠRight?
You barely sleep, and the next morning you wake up to Luffy in your bed.
Sprawled across your mattress. Arms locked around your waist. Face buried in your shoulder.
Like itâs completely normal.
Like he always does this.
Your heart pounds.
Becauseâwait!
He does always do this. Every night. Every time youâre on the Sunny, he sneaks into your bed without even asking. And you never questioned it.
Because it was just Luffy.
But now everything feels different.
You slowly try to move, but his grip tightens.
âMm⊠donât goâ he mumbles sleepily, lips brushing against your skin.
And thatâs it. You lose it.
âLUFFY, WHAT ARE WE?!â
Luffy jerks awake âHuhâ?â
âWhat are we?!â you repeat, flustered as hell.
Luffy rubs his eyes, confused âWeâre us.â
You groan âThatâs not an answer!â
He tilts his head âWhat do you mean?â
You gesture wildly âThis! Us! The sleeping together! The hand-holding! The food-sharing!â
Luffy suddenly grins âOh.â
Your heart stops âWhat do you mean, oh?â
Luffy laughs. And then, without hesitation, he leans in and kisses you.
Soft. Certain.
Like heâs been waiting to do it forever.
You freeze. Your brain short-circuits.
He pulls back, grinning âSo? Are we a couple now?â
You gape ââŠWHAT?!â
Luffy just laughs âWell, weâve basically been dating this whole time, right?â
Your eye twitches âAND YOU KNEW?!â
Luffy shrugs âI just thought you knew too.â
You sputter, because what the hell. What the actual hell. Luffy just decided you were dating. And you never even noticed.
You flop back onto the bed.
Luffy just grins, tugging you closer âYouâre thinking too muchâ he mumbles, nuzzling against you.
Your heart races.
Your face is burning.
But⊠maybe the crew was right. Maybe you and Luffy were always meant to be.
Even if you were the last person to realize it.
Youâve always known Kid was the stubborn type. He was gruff, intense, and always had that tough guy act. But lately, youâve noticed something strange. The more you were around him, the more he didnât seem to mind you being there. In fact, he almost seemed to expect it.
It starts with those small things, things he doesnât think twice about. Like when youâre both sitting on the deck, and a gust of wind hits just as youâre about to stand. Before you can catch your balance, Kidâs hand shoots out, steadying you. He doesnât say anything, but his grip lingers just long enough for you to notice.
âWatch itâ he mutters, his usual gruff tone, but thereâs something softer behind his eyes. You smile but say nothing. Killer, standing nearby, simply raises an eyebrow before looking away, smirking under his mask.
A few days later, when the crew is at port, you notice Kid keeping an eye on you more than usual. Every time someone gets too close or even bumps into you, his sharp gaze zeroes in, and he doesnât hesitate to step in between you and whoeverâs too close. At one point, a shady pirate from a different crew tries to flirt with you. Before you can even respond, Kid steps forward, pushing the pirate away with a low growl.
âGet lost.â
You blink, surprised at his intensity, but he doesnât look at you, just at the pirate whoâs now backing off.
âKid, I can handle myselfâ you say, rolling your eyes.
âDoesnât mean you should have toâ he grumbles under his breath, clearly annoyed by something. He turns away before you can say anything else, muttering about how annoying it is to babysit you. But you know itâs not just that.
The crew knows it too.
Heat lets out a low whistle as he passes by âDamn, Captain, didnât know you were the protective boyfriend type.â
Kid turns on him with a glare âShut the hell up.â
Heat just laughs, walking away. You shake your head, but the warmth in your chest lingers.
Then, it all comes to a head one evening. The crewâs just finished a round of celebrations, the ship rocking gently in the quiet of the night. Youâre leaning against the rail, enjoying the peace when you feel him behind you.
âCanât sleep?â Kid asks, his voice low as usual.
You turn around, finding him standing there, arms crossed, the moonlight casting a soft glow over his scowling face.
âI could ask you the same thingâ you reply.
Thereâs a quiet moment as you both stand there, not speaking. His eyes never leave yours, and the tension between you both seems to grow with every passing second.
Suddenly, you hear footsteps approaching. Instinctively, you move closer to Kid. You donât even think about it, but he doesnât pull away. Instead, his hand shifts from where it was casually resting at his side to just hovering near your waist.
The ship creaks, the quiet atmosphere making you both more aware of each otherâs presence. He doesnât speak. Neither do you. His fingers are so close, just barely grazing your side as if to assure himself youâre right there.
The closeness feels⊠different. Intimate.
You glance up at him âKid?â you ask softly, your heart beating a little faster.
He doesnât answer immediately, instead, his eyes flicker over your face, and you can see the internal struggle within him. Itâs a battle, and for a second, you think he might just ignore it, keep up the stubborn front.
But then, his hand finally rests against your side. His touch isnât harsh, but gentle. You donât pull away.
âI donât know why I keep doing this shitâ he admits, his voice low but clear âBut when it comes to you⊠I donât want to risk something happening.â
You blink, surprised âRisk what?â
His gaze softens, and the gruffness in his tone fades away. He looks straight at you, the usual deflective annoyance replaced with something more vulnerable.
âI donât want anyone else near you. Not after I saw that idiot trying to hit on you.â
You smile, your heart fluttering in your chest âKid, Iâm not a damsel in distress.â
âI know,â he replies quickly, but thereâs no hiding the quiet affection in his voice now âI just⊠I donât want to lose you.â
His words hit you harder than you expected, and before you can even respond, something unspoken passes between you both. In a split second, his lips are near yours, and the kiss is soft, almost hesitant, like heâs still not sure if heâs allowed to show this side of himself.
But you kiss him back, your hand gently resting against his chest. The kiss lingers for a moment longer than either of you anticipated, but it feels like the world has paused, like this is the only thing that matters in that moment.
When you pull away, you both stand there in silence, but this time, itâs not awkward. Itâs comfortable.
And then the moment is completely shattered by the sound of someone clearing their throat. You both snap your heads toward the entrance to the deck, where Killer and Wire are standing, watching with amused expressions.
âSo,â Wire says, smirking, âyou two finally gonna admit youâre basically married, or should we keep pretending this isnât happening?â
Your face heats up immediately, but Kid just groans, rubbing a hand down his face.
âGo to hellâ he grumbles.
Killer just shakes his head âToo late, Captain. Everyoneâs been taking bets on when youâd figure it out.â
You gape âWhat?â
Wire grins âYeah. Heat won. He said youâd kiss before the next port. Guess we owe him a round of drinks.â
Kid looks absolutely done. You, on the other hand, canât help but laugh. Because honestly? Itâs not surprising.
You look back up at Kid, whoâs still scowling but isnât pulling away from you. You squeeze his hand briefly before grinning.
âGuess we were the last ones to know, huh?â
He exhales sharply, shaking his head, but thereâs no real annoyance in his expression anymore. Just acceptance. And maybe, just maybe, the start of something real.
Being part of the Red Hair Pirates meant living in a constant mess of drinking, laughing, and reckless adventures.
And somehow you ended up being the most responsible one. Which was probably why everyone assumed you and Shanks were together.
The problem?
You werenât.
But apparently, no one got the memo.
It starts with Yasopp.
Youâre in the middle of patching up Shanksâ arm because, once again, he got into a bar fight for fun, when Yasopp smirks at you from across the deck.
âYou know,â he says casually, âyouâre basically married to him at this point.â
You nearly stab Shanks with the needle.
âWhat?!â
Shanks, meanwhile, just laughs.
And the worst part? He doesnât even deny it.
âCâmon,â Yasopp continues, âyou take care of him, clean up after him, yell at him when heâs reckless...â
âI yell at all of you.â
âYeah, but you baby him.â
Shanks grins âItâs true. You do.â
You glare âI do not.â
Shanks just shrugs âIf you say so.â
And that should be the end of it. But itâs not.
Because after that the whole crew starts treating you like... ugh.
âOi, Y/N! Can you grab Shanks another drink?â
âY/N, tell the captain to stop picking fights with Marines again.â
âHey, Y/N, Shanks says he wants something spicy, maybe you could help... and it's not about foodâ
You want to scream.
But Shanks?
Shanks just goes along with it. Smiling. Laughing. Letting everyone assume youâre his.
And the worst part is that you let them, because deep down you donât hate the idea.
And thatâs dangerous.
Then one night, it all clicks.
Youâre sitting at a bonfire, surrounded by the crew, listening to them sing and drink and bicker over who can hold their liquor best.
Youâre not paying attention until you hear your name.
âSo, Captain,â Lucky Roux says, âwhenâs the wedding?â
You choke on your drink. But before you can argue, Shanks just grins.
âOh, give it time.â
The crew erupts into laughter.
You just stare at him.
Because... what????
Shanks turns to you, smiling like he didnât just casually imply he plans on marrying you.
And something in his expressionâ
Something warm. Something knowing.
It hits you all at once.
The hand-holding. The lingering touches. The way he always pulls you onto his lap when thereâs no room to sit.
The way he lets you fuss over him when he gets hurt, the way he only ever listens to you.
The way he looks at you like youâre something precious.
Your heart pounds.
And Shanks just grins against your lips.
âTook you long enoughâ he murmurs.
And when you pull back, breathless, flustered, you realize that maybe youâve been his this whole time.
You blink, heart still racing as the weight of his words settles in. The laughter of the crew fades into background noise, the warmth of the bonfire casting flickering shadows over Shanksâ face. Heâs watching you, waiting, like he already knows the answer, like heâs known it for years.
And maybe he has.
Maybe heâs been waiting for you to catch up.
Your throat is dry. You open your mouth, but no words come out, just a strangled sound of disbelief.
Shanks chuckles, eyes crinkling at the corners âYou alright there, sweetheart?â
Sweetheart. Like itâs the most natural thing in the world. Like he hasnât just upended everything you thought you knew.
Your hands tighten in his shirt, and you canât tell if itâs to ground yourself or to pull him closer âYou...â you swallow, voice quieter now, meant just for him âYou shouldâve said something...â
He tilts his head, considering âI thought I did. Plenty of times.â
You scowl, smacking his chest lightly, which only makes him laugh âThatâs not what I meant, and you know it.â
âOh, I know.â His fingers brush your jaw, featherlight, reverent âI just like seeing you all flustered.â
You groan, but you donât pull away. And well, that says everything, doesnât it?
And Shanks knows it too, because his grin softens, something unreadable flickering in his gaze âSo,â he murmurs, close enough that his breath tickles your lips, ânow that youâve finally figured it out, what do you plan to do about it?â
The challenge is there, teasing, but thereâs something raw beneath it, something real.
You take a breath. Then, before you can overthink it, you grab the front of his coat and pull him in, kissing him again, firmer this time.
The crew erupts in cheers. Someone whistles. Someone else yells about winning a bet.
But all you can focus on is the way Shanks smiles against your lips, like heâs just won something far more important.
And maybe you have too.
The first time someone calls you Katakuriâs spouse, you nearly drop your mochi donut.
âExcuse me, what?â
The Big Mom Pirates stare at you like youâre stupid.
âWell, yeah,â Oven says, like itâs the most obvious thing in the world âYou take care of him, he lets you into his tea time, youâre the only one who sees his faceââ
BrĂ»lĂ©e smirks âAnd you always defend him when people talk behind his back.â
Daifuku nods âMight as well be married already.â
You sputter âThat doesnât meanâ! Weâre notâ! Heâs just my commander!â
Oven raises an eyebrow âYou ever see Katakuri treat anyone else the way he treats you?â
You freeze.
Because... okay.
Thatâs a good point.
Katakuri isnât exactly warm with people. Heâs respected, feared, distant. A perfectionist. The strongest Sweet Commander.
And yet, with you?
He lets you tease him. Lets you see him.
Lets you in.
Your stomach flips.
And you donât know what to do with that.
You try to forget about it.
But after that you start noticing things.
The way Katakuri always saves you the best snacks at tea time.
The way he steps in front of you during battles without thinking.
The way he lets you touch him, his arm, his back, his face.
His unguarded moments are always with you.
And suddenly you canât ignore it.
Neither can the crew.
It all comes to a head one evening.
Youâre sitting with Katakuri in his usual spot, tea cooling beside him, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his sharp features. Heâs eating, as usual, but his guard is down because youâre here.
And then the words slip out.
ââŠKatakuri.â
He glances at you, chewing âHm?â
You hesitate. Then screw it.
âAre we⊠something?â
Katakuri pauses.
Slowly, he sets his cup down. Then he exhales, like heâs been waiting for this.
âYou tell me,â he says, voice steady âWould it bother you if we were?â
Your heart pounds. Because no, it wouldnât.
You swallow âNo.â
Katakuri watches you for a long moment. Then, he smirks.
âThen I suppose we are.â
Your brain short-circuits.
âWaitâWHAT?!â
Katakuri chuckles, low and deep âDid you really think Iâd let just anyone this close to me?â
You gasp, because hold on. Has he known this whole time?!
Your face burns âYou couldâve said something sooner, you jerk!â
Katakuri just leans closer, his presence overwhelming.
ââŠWould you have been ready to hear it?â
You freeze, because damn it.
Heâs right.
Living on Kuraigana Island with Mihawk isnât easy, but somehow, you get used to it.
You get used to the silence. The way he watches you over the rim of his wine glass. The way he corrects your sword stance with the barest touch of his fingers.
You get used to the way he does things for you without asking, bringing you an extra plate at meals, fixing your sword when itâs damaged, moving his coat so you donât sit on the cold stone steps.
Itâs just how he is... Or so you think.
Until one day Perona stares at the two of you across the dining table and snorts.
âYou guys act like a married couple.â
You choke on your drink. Mihawk just raises an eyebrow.
Perona grins âOh, come on! You live together, train together, eat togetherâhell, you even drink out of each otherâs cups sometimes!â
You freeze.
Becauseâwait. When did that start happening?!
You sneak a glance at Mihawk, expecting him to argue.
But instead, he just takes a sip of wine and says, âAnd?â
Your brain short-circuits.
Because what does he mean, âandâ?!
Perona cackles âOh, this is gold.â
Meanwhile, youâre too busy spiraling to notice the small, knowing smirk on Mihawkâs lips.
Because the truth is, he knew all along.
The next few days pass in a strange haze. Every time youâre near Mihawk, youâre hyper-aware of his actions. The way he hands you your sword when itâs too heavy for you to lift properly, the way he adjusts your stance when youâre practicing, even the way he leaves his wine glass half-filled so you can sip it without asking.
You canât help but start noticing the little things. And it makes your stomach do these strange little flips you canât quite explain.
You try to convince yourself that youâre just overthinking it. After all, youâve spent so much time together, working side-by-side, that itâs only natural for him to be a bit⊠attentive. But you canât help but feel that thereâs more to it than that.
One evening, youâre training in the yard. Mihawk is watching from the porch, as usual, but today thereâs something different in the air. Maybe itâs the cool breeze, or the strange feeling of him staring at you.
âFocusâ he calls out when you fumble with your sword.
You grit your teeth and refocus, sweat already beading on your forehead. Your movements become sharper, more determined, but you canât quite shake the feeling that something is⊠off.
When you finish the routine, Mihawkâs still leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. He doesnât say anything at first, but you can feel his gaze. You give him a quick, sideways glance, noticing the faint hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
âSomething wrong?â you ask, trying to sound casual.
His response comes as a slow, deliberate drawl âYou still arenât quite in sync with your sword. Iâve been waiting for you to catch up.â
You feel your face flush, but you push through it âYeah? Well, Iâm not some grandmaster swordsman like you, Mihawk.â
He steps closer, his presence almost overwhelming, but his gaze softens for a moment âYouâre getting better. Iâm simply making sure you donât lose track of your progress.â
The softness in his voice catches you off-guard, and for a split second, you feel as if youâre standing on the edge of something, something new.
But you quickly push it aside, shaking it off as just another passing thought. You turn to grab your sword again, determined to change the subject.
âThanks for the help,â you mutter, trying to keep your voice steady âBut I think I need a break. My arms are sore.â
Mihawk doesnât respond at first. Instead, he merely watches you for a moment before he speaks again, his tone unusually gentle.
âAre you sure youâre fine? Youâve been training for hours without rest.â
You give him a small, appreciative nod âIâll be fine. Youâre too used to looking out for me, Mihawk.â
He lets out a faint chuckle, but you notice that thereâs a strange intensity in his gaze now âI suppose I am.â
Before you can react, you feel something slightly off, a flicker of tension between you two.
Itâs subtle, but itâs there. And you feel it in the way he looks at you, the way he almost seems to be waiting for you to say something.
But, just like that, the moment passes. He steps back, motioning for you to take a rest.
âIâll prepare dinner,â he says quietly, as if nothing had happened âIâm sure youâre hungry.â
You blink âYou cook?â
âOf course,â he says with a slight, almost invisible smirk âItâs not difficult, and youâve been working hard all day. You deserve a proper meal.â
You feel your heart race at his words, but you manage to keep it together âAlright, Iâll take you up on that.â
But as Mihawk turns to walk away, you pause.
For just a second, you wonder... has this always been a normal interaction between you two? Or has it grown into something more without you even realizing it?
The unease gnaws at you as you sit down on the steps, watching him disappear into the house.
Youâre overthinking it. Youâre just friends.
...Right?
Later that evening, youâre sitting across from Mihawk, your meal already finished. The conversation is easy, but thereâs still that lingering, unspoken tension hanging in the air.
Finally, Mihawk breaks the silence, his voice low and casual âYouâve been avoiding the subject.â
Your brow furrows in confusion âWhat subject?â
âThe subject of us.â
You choke on your drink, sputtering âWhatâus?!â
His expression remains unreadable, but thereâs a faint glimmer in his eyes âYou think I havenât noticed? Youâve been acting strange around me lately. Ever since Perona made her comment.â
You freeze âIâuhââ
âLetâs stop pretending,â he continues âWeâve been behaving like a couple, whether we admit it or not.â
Your heart starts to race. You open your mouth to deny it, but the words get stuck. Instead, you just stare at him, trying to make sense of what heâs saying.
And thatâs when Mihawk leans forward just slightly, his voice dropping lower âI donât know what youâre feeling, but I do know that I donât want you to leave.â
The bluntness of his words takes your breath away.
âI never planned to leaveâ you manage to say, the words barely leaving your lips.
Mihawk gives you a rare, genuine smile, one thatâs so small and almost imperceptible that youâre not sure you saw it at all. But something in his eyes shifts.
âGood.â
And just like that, the tension finally breaks.
Youâre not sure where this will go. But for now, youâre content to just be here with him, uncertain, but sure of one thing: neither of you are going anywhere.
you two acts like a loving couple all the time, so what happens when someone points it out?
characters: luffy, kidd, katakuri, shanks and mihawk
(zoro, sanji, law, ace and sabo)
a/n: since a loooot asked for more, here I am eheh
words count: around 0.4k - 1.1k each
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
You donât know when it started.
Maybe it was the way Luffy always stole food from your plate, but make sure to never let anyone else touch it.
Maybe it was how he always grabbed your hand first whenever the crew split up.
Maybe it was how he insisted on napping with you, his head always finding your lap, his arms always looping around you like a makeshift pillow.
Whatever it was, it had been going on for way too long. And the worst part is that you never questioned it.
Until now.
It starts with Sanji.
Youâre sitting at the dinner table, picking at your food, when Sanji suddenly snorts âYou two should just date already.â
You blink ââŠWhat?â
Sanji gestures between you and Luffy âYouâre basically a couple anyway.â
You choke on your drink.
Luffy just tilts his head, mid-bite âHuh?â
Sanji raises an eyebrow âSeriously? You guys act like a couple all the time.â
You open your mouth to argue, to deny everything, but then Nami nods âHeâs right, you know.â
Usopp grins âYeah, I mean, have you even seen yourselves?â
Franky chuckles âSuper obvious, bro.â
You stare. And then Zoro, of all people, grunts âTheyâre not wrong.â
Your brain short-circuits. Luffy just blinks at all of them, then turns to you âWait⊠are we a couple?â
Your face burns âNo!â
The crew groans.
âOh, come on.â
âYouâre in denial.â
âThis is painful to watch.â
You glare âWeâre just friends!â
Luffy nods âYeah! Just friends!â
The crew stares. Then Brook smiles âOh? Then you wouldnât mind if I asked y/n out on a date?â
Silence.
Then Luffyâs fork snaps in half and the table goes dead quiet.
Luffy grins at Brook, but itâs not his usual happy-go-lucky grin. Itâs the grin he wears before picking a fight.
âYohoho,â Brook laughs nervously âJust kidding.â
Luffy hums, still smiling âGood.â
Your stomach flips because holy shit. That was jealousy. Luffy was jealous... Over you.
The realization haunts you for the rest of the night. Because if Luffy was jealous then what did that mean?
Did he actuallyâ?
No.
No, this is Luffy. Heâs just protective. Thatâs just who he is.
âŠRight?
You barely sleep, and the next morning you wake up to Luffy in your bed.
Sprawled across your mattress. Arms locked around your waist. Face buried in your shoulder.
Like itâs completely normal.
Like he always does this.
Your heart pounds.
Becauseâwait!
He does always do this. Every night. Every time youâre on the Sunny, he sneaks into your bed without even asking. And you never questioned it.
Because it was just Luffy.
But now everything feels different.
You slowly try to move, but his grip tightens.
âMm⊠donât goâ he mumbles sleepily, lips brushing against your skin.
And thatâs it. You lose it.
âLUFFY, WHAT ARE WE?!â
Luffy jerks awake âHuhâ?â
âWhat are we?!â you repeat, flustered as hell.
Luffy rubs his eyes, confused âWeâre us.â
You groan âThatâs not an answer!â
He tilts his head âWhat do you mean?â
You gesture wildly âThis! Us! The sleeping together! The hand-holding! The food-sharing!â
Luffy suddenly grins âOh.â
Your heart stops âWhat do you mean, oh?â
Luffy laughs. And then, without hesitation, he leans in and kisses you.
Soft. Certain.
Like heâs been waiting to do it forever.
You freeze. Your brain short-circuits.
He pulls back, grinning âSo? Are we a couple now?â
You gape ââŠWHAT?!â
Luffy just laughs âWell, weâve basically been dating this whole time, right?â
Your eye twitches âAND YOU KNEW?!â
Luffy shrugs âI just thought you knew too.â
You sputter, because what the hell. What the actual hell. Luffy just decided you were dating. And you never even noticed.
You flop back onto the bed.
Luffy just grins, tugging you closer âYouâre thinking too muchâ he mumbles, nuzzling against you.
Your heart races.
Your face is burning.
But⊠maybe the crew was right. Maybe you and Luffy were always meant to be.
Even if you were the last person to realize it.
Youâve always known Kid was the stubborn type. He was gruff, intense, and always had that tough guy act. But lately, youâve noticed something strange. The more you were around him, the more he didnât seem to mind you being there. In fact, he almost seemed to expect it.
It starts with those small things, things he doesnât think twice about. Like when youâre both sitting on the deck, and a gust of wind hits just as youâre about to stand. Before you can catch your balance, Kidâs hand shoots out, steadying you. He doesnât say anything, but his grip lingers just long enough for you to notice.
âWatch itâ he mutters, his usual gruff tone, but thereâs something softer behind his eyes. You smile but say nothing. Killer, standing nearby, simply raises an eyebrow before looking away, smirking under his mask.
A few days later, when the crew is at port, you notice Kid keeping an eye on you more than usual. Every time someone gets too close or even bumps into you, his sharp gaze zeroes in, and he doesnât hesitate to step in between you and whoeverâs too close. At one point, a shady pirate from a different crew tries to flirt with you. Before you can even respond, Kid steps forward, pushing the pirate away with a low growl.
âGet lost.â
You blink, surprised at his intensity, but he doesnât look at you, just at the pirate whoâs now backing off.
âKid, I can handle myselfâ you say, rolling your eyes.
âDoesnât mean you should have toâ he grumbles under his breath, clearly annoyed by something. He turns away before you can say anything else, muttering about how annoying it is to babysit you. But you know itâs not just that.
The crew knows it too.
Heat lets out a low whistle as he passes by âDamn, Captain, didnât know you were the protective boyfriend type.â
Kid turns on him with a glare âShut the hell up.â
Heat just laughs, walking away. You shake your head, but the warmth in your chest lingers.
Then, it all comes to a head one evening. The crewâs just finished a round of celebrations, the ship rocking gently in the quiet of the night. Youâre leaning against the rail, enjoying the peace when you feel him behind you.
âCanât sleep?â Kid asks, his voice low as usual.
You turn around, finding him standing there, arms crossed, the moonlight casting a soft glow over his scowling face.
âI could ask you the same thingâ you reply.
Thereâs a quiet moment as you both stand there, not speaking. His eyes never leave yours, and the tension between you both seems to grow with every passing second.
Suddenly, you hear footsteps approaching. Instinctively, you move closer to Kid. You donât even think about it, but he doesnât pull away. Instead, his hand shifts from where it was casually resting at his side to just hovering near your waist.
The ship creaks, the quiet atmosphere making you both more aware of each otherâs presence. He doesnât speak. Neither do you. His fingers are so close, just barely grazing your side as if to assure himself youâre right there.
The closeness feels⊠different. Intimate.
You glance up at him âKid?â you ask softly, your heart beating a little faster.
He doesnât answer immediately, instead, his eyes flicker over your face, and you can see the internal struggle within him. Itâs a battle, and for a second, you think he might just ignore it, keep up the stubborn front.
But then, his hand finally rests against your side. His touch isnât harsh, but gentle. You donât pull away.
âI donât know why I keep doing this shitâ he admits, his voice low but clear âBut when it comes to you⊠I donât want to risk something happening.â
You blink, surprised âRisk what?â
His gaze softens, and the gruffness in his tone fades away. He looks straight at you, the usual deflective annoyance replaced with something more vulnerable.
âI donât want anyone else near you. Not after I saw that idiot trying to hit on you.â
You smile, your heart fluttering in your chest âKid, Iâm not a damsel in distress.â
âI know,â he replies quickly, but thereâs no hiding the quiet affection in his voice now âI just⊠I donât want to lose you.â
His words hit you harder than you expected, and before you can even respond, something unspoken passes between you both. In a split second, his lips are near yours, and the kiss is soft, almost hesitant, like heâs still not sure if heâs allowed to show this side of himself.
But you kiss him back, your hand gently resting against his chest. The kiss lingers for a moment longer than either of you anticipated, but it feels like the world has paused, like this is the only thing that matters in that moment.
When you pull away, you both stand there in silence, but this time, itâs not awkward. Itâs comfortable.
And then the moment is completely shattered by the sound of someone clearing their throat. You both snap your heads toward the entrance to the deck, where Killer and Wire are standing, watching with amused expressions.
âSo,â Wire says, smirking, âyou two finally gonna admit youâre basically married, or should we keep pretending this isnât happening?â
Your face heats up immediately, but Kid just groans, rubbing a hand down his face.
âGo to hellâ he grumbles.
Killer just shakes his head âToo late, Captain. Everyoneâs been taking bets on when youâd figure it out.â
You gape âWhat?â
Wire grins âYeah. Heat won. He said youâd kiss before the next port. Guess we owe him a round of drinks.â
Kid looks absolutely done. You, on the other hand, canât help but laugh. Because honestly? Itâs not surprising.
You look back up at Kid, whoâs still scowling but isnât pulling away from you. You squeeze his hand briefly before grinning.
âGuess we were the last ones to know, huh?â
He exhales sharply, shaking his head, but thereâs no real annoyance in his expression anymore. Just acceptance. And maybe, just maybe, the start of something real.
Being part of the Red Hair Pirates meant living in a constant mess of drinking, laughing, and reckless adventures.
And somehow you ended up being the most responsible one. Which was probably why everyone assumed you and Shanks were together.
The problem?
You werenât.
But apparently, no one got the memo.
It starts with Yasopp.
Youâre in the middle of patching up Shanksâ arm because, once again, he got into a bar fight for fun, when Yasopp smirks at you from across the deck.
âYou know,â he says casually, âyouâre basically married to him at this point.â
You nearly stab Shanks with the needle.
âWhat?!â
Shanks, meanwhile, just laughs.
And the worst part? He doesnât even deny it.
âCâmon,â Yasopp continues, âyou take care of him, clean up after him, yell at him when heâs reckless...â
âI yell at all of you.â
âYeah, but you baby him.â
Shanks grins âItâs true. You do.â
You glare âI do not.â
Shanks just shrugs âIf you say so.â
And that should be the end of it. But itâs not.
Because after that the whole crew starts treating you like... ugh.
âOi, Y/N! Can you grab Shanks another drink?â
âY/N, tell the captain to stop picking fights with Marines again.â
âHey, Y/N, Shanks says he wants something spicy, maybe you could help... and it's not about foodâ
You want to scream.
But Shanks?
Shanks just goes along with it. Smiling. Laughing. Letting everyone assume youâre his.
And the worst part is that you let them, because deep down you donât hate the idea.
And thatâs dangerous.
Then one night, it all clicks.
Youâre sitting at a bonfire, surrounded by the crew, listening to them sing and drink and bicker over who can hold their liquor best.
Youâre not paying attention until you hear your name.
âSo, Captain,â Lucky Roux says, âwhenâs the wedding?â
You choke on your drink. But before you can argue, Shanks just grins.
âOh, give it time.â
The crew erupts into laughter.
You just stare at him.
Because... what????
Shanks turns to you, smiling like he didnât just casually imply he plans on marrying you.
And something in his expressionâ
Something warm. Something knowing.
It hits you all at once.
The hand-holding. The lingering touches. The way he always pulls you onto his lap when thereâs no room to sit.
The way he lets you fuss over him when he gets hurt, the way he only ever listens to you.
The way he looks at you like youâre something precious.
Your heart pounds.
And Shanks just grins against your lips.
âTook you long enoughâ he murmurs.
And when you pull back, breathless, flustered, you realize that maybe youâve been his this whole time.
You blink, heart still racing as the weight of his words settles in. The laughter of the crew fades into background noise, the warmth of the bonfire casting flickering shadows over Shanksâ face. Heâs watching you, waiting, like he already knows the answer, like heâs known it for years.
And maybe he has.
Maybe heâs been waiting for you to catch up.
Your throat is dry. You open your mouth, but no words come out, just a strangled sound of disbelief.
Shanks chuckles, eyes crinkling at the corners âYou alright there, sweetheart?â
Sweetheart. Like itâs the most natural thing in the world. Like he hasnât just upended everything you thought you knew.
Your hands tighten in his shirt, and you canât tell if itâs to ground yourself or to pull him closer âYou...â you swallow, voice quieter now, meant just for him âYou shouldâve said something...â
He tilts his head, considering âI thought I did. Plenty of times.â
You scowl, smacking his chest lightly, which only makes him laugh âThatâs not what I meant, and you know it.â
âOh, I know.â His fingers brush your jaw, featherlight, reverent âI just like seeing you all flustered.â
You groan, but you donât pull away. And well, that says everything, doesnât it?
And Shanks knows it too, because his grin softens, something unreadable flickering in his gaze âSo,â he murmurs, close enough that his breath tickles your lips, ânow that youâve finally figured it out, what do you plan to do about it?â
The challenge is there, teasing, but thereâs something raw beneath it, something real.
You take a breath. Then, before you can overthink it, you grab the front of his coat and pull him in, kissing him again, firmer this time.
The crew erupts in cheers. Someone whistles. Someone else yells about winning a bet.
But all you can focus on is the way Shanks smiles against your lips, like heâs just won something far more important.
And maybe you have too.
The first time someone calls you Katakuriâs spouse, you nearly drop your mochi donut.
âExcuse me, what?â
The Big Mom Pirates stare at you like youâre stupid.
âWell, yeah,â Oven says, like itâs the most obvious thing in the world âYou take care of him, he lets you into his tea time, youâre the only one who sees his faceââ
BrĂ»lĂ©e smirks âAnd you always defend him when people talk behind his back.â
Daifuku nods âMight as well be married already.â
You sputter âThat doesnât meanâ! Weâre notâ! Heâs just my commander!â
Oven raises an eyebrow âYou ever see Katakuri treat anyone else the way he treats you?â
You freeze.
Because... okay.
Thatâs a good point.
Katakuri isnât exactly warm with people. Heâs respected, feared, distant. A perfectionist. The strongest Sweet Commander.
And yet, with you?
He lets you tease him. Lets you see him.
Lets you in.
Your stomach flips.
And you donât know what to do with that.
You try to forget about it.
But after that you start noticing things.
The way Katakuri always saves you the best snacks at tea time.
The way he steps in front of you during battles without thinking.
The way he lets you touch him, his arm, his back, his face.
His unguarded moments are always with you.
And suddenly you canât ignore it.
Neither can the crew.
It all comes to a head one evening.
Youâre sitting with Katakuri in his usual spot, tea cooling beside him, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his sharp features. Heâs eating, as usual, but his guard is down because youâre here.
And then the words slip out.
ââŠKatakuri.â
He glances at you, chewing âHm?â
You hesitate. Then screw it.
âAre we⊠something?â
Katakuri pauses.
Slowly, he sets his cup down. Then he exhales, like heâs been waiting for this.
âYou tell me,â he says, voice steady âWould it bother you if we were?â
Your heart pounds. Because no, it wouldnât.
You swallow âNo.â
Katakuri watches you for a long moment. Then, he smirks.
âThen I suppose we are.â
Your brain short-circuits.
âWaitâWHAT?!â
Katakuri chuckles, low and deep âDid you really think Iâd let just anyone this close to me?â
You gasp, because hold on. Has he known this whole time?!
Your face burns âYou couldâve said something sooner, you jerk!â
Katakuri just leans closer, his presence overwhelming.
ââŠWould you have been ready to hear it?â
You freeze, because damn it.
Heâs right.
Living on Kuraigana Island with Mihawk isnât easy, but somehow, you get used to it.
You get used to the silence. The way he watches you over the rim of his wine glass. The way he corrects your sword stance with the barest touch of his fingers.
You get used to the way he does things for you without asking, bringing you an extra plate at meals, fixing your sword when itâs damaged, moving his coat so you donât sit on the cold stone steps.
Itâs just how he is... Or so you think.
Until one day Perona stares at the two of you across the dining table and snorts.
âYou guys act like a married couple.â
You choke on your drink. Mihawk just raises an eyebrow.
Perona grins âOh, come on! You live together, train together, eat togetherâhell, you even drink out of each otherâs cups sometimes!â
You freeze.
Becauseâwait. When did that start happening?!
You sneak a glance at Mihawk, expecting him to argue.
But instead, he just takes a sip of wine and says, âAnd?â
Your brain short-circuits.
Because what does he mean, âandâ?!
Perona cackles âOh, this is gold.â
Meanwhile, youâre too busy spiraling to notice the small, knowing smirk on Mihawkâs lips.
Because the truth is, he knew all along.
The next few days pass in a strange haze. Every time youâre near Mihawk, youâre hyper-aware of his actions. The way he hands you your sword when itâs too heavy for you to lift properly, the way he adjusts your stance when youâre practicing, even the way he leaves his wine glass half-filled so you can sip it without asking.
You canât help but start noticing the little things. And it makes your stomach do these strange little flips you canât quite explain.
You try to convince yourself that youâre just overthinking it. After all, youâve spent so much time together, working side-by-side, that itâs only natural for him to be a bit⊠attentive. But you canât help but feel that thereâs more to it than that.
One evening, youâre training in the yard. Mihawk is watching from the porch, as usual, but today thereâs something different in the air. Maybe itâs the cool breeze, or the strange feeling of him staring at you.
âFocusâ he calls out when you fumble with your sword.
You grit your teeth and refocus, sweat already beading on your forehead. Your movements become sharper, more determined, but you canât quite shake the feeling that something is⊠off.
When you finish the routine, Mihawkâs still leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. He doesnât say anything at first, but you can feel his gaze. You give him a quick, sideways glance, noticing the faint hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
âSomething wrong?â you ask, trying to sound casual.
His response comes as a slow, deliberate drawl âYou still arenât quite in sync with your sword. Iâve been waiting for you to catch up.â
You feel your face flush, but you push through it âYeah? Well, Iâm not some grandmaster swordsman like you, Mihawk.â
He steps closer, his presence almost overwhelming, but his gaze softens for a moment âYouâre getting better. Iâm simply making sure you donât lose track of your progress.â
The softness in his voice catches you off-guard, and for a split second, you feel as if youâre standing on the edge of something, something new.
But you quickly push it aside, shaking it off as just another passing thought. You turn to grab your sword again, determined to change the subject.
âThanks for the help,â you mutter, trying to keep your voice steady âBut I think I need a break. My arms are sore.â
Mihawk doesnât respond at first. Instead, he merely watches you for a moment before he speaks again, his tone unusually gentle.
âAre you sure youâre fine? Youâve been training for hours without rest.â
You give him a small, appreciative nod âIâll be fine. Youâre too used to looking out for me, Mihawk.â
He lets out a faint chuckle, but you notice that thereâs a strange intensity in his gaze now âI suppose I am.â
Before you can react, you feel something slightly off, a flicker of tension between you two.
Itâs subtle, but itâs there. And you feel it in the way he looks at you, the way he almost seems to be waiting for you to say something.
But, just like that, the moment passes. He steps back, motioning for you to take a rest.
âIâll prepare dinner,â he says quietly, as if nothing had happened âIâm sure youâre hungry.â
You blink âYou cook?â
âOf course,â he says with a slight, almost invisible smirk âItâs not difficult, and youâve been working hard all day. You deserve a proper meal.â
You feel your heart race at his words, but you manage to keep it together âAlright, Iâll take you up on that.â
But as Mihawk turns to walk away, you pause.
For just a second, you wonder... has this always been a normal interaction between you two? Or has it grown into something more without you even realizing it?
The unease gnaws at you as you sit down on the steps, watching him disappear into the house.
Youâre overthinking it. Youâre just friends.
...Right?
Later that evening, youâre sitting across from Mihawk, your meal already finished. The conversation is easy, but thereâs still that lingering, unspoken tension hanging in the air.
Finally, Mihawk breaks the silence, his voice low and casual âYouâve been avoiding the subject.â
Your brow furrows in confusion âWhat subject?â
âThe subject of us.â
You choke on your drink, sputtering âWhatâus?!â
His expression remains unreadable, but thereâs a faint glimmer in his eyes âYou think I havenât noticed? Youâve been acting strange around me lately. Ever since Perona made her comment.â
You freeze âIâuhââ
âLetâs stop pretending,â he continues âWeâve been behaving like a couple, whether we admit it or not.â
Your heart starts to race. You open your mouth to deny it, but the words get stuck. Instead, you just stare at him, trying to make sense of what heâs saying.
And thatâs when Mihawk leans forward just slightly, his voice dropping lower âI donât know what youâre feeling, but I do know that I donât want you to leave.â
The bluntness of his words takes your breath away.
âI never planned to leaveâ you manage to say, the words barely leaving your lips.
Mihawk gives you a rare, genuine smile, one thatâs so small and almost imperceptible that youâre not sure you saw it at all. But something in his eyes shifts.
âGood.â
And just like that, the tension finally breaks.
Youâre not sure where this will go. But for now, youâre content to just be here with him, uncertain, but sure of one thing: neither of you are going anywhere.
You: [trying to sneak to the spa and resort on the island without the crew noticing]
Shanks: [notices and follows in secret]
You: [makes it to the resort doors and does a happy dance because you were successful at eluding the crew ]
Shanks: so this is where you were sneaking off to.
You: eek! How long were you following me?
Shanks: since you left the Red Force. Why did you feel the need to sneak off to come here, no one would be mad at you for coming here. In fact, most of the boys would also enjoy it.
You: That's the problem, they'd want to come with.
Shanks: [cocks an eyebrow at you] and why is that a problem?
You: because they'd get too rambunctious and inevitably get me kicked out with the rest of them.
Shanks: that's not true.
You: Do you remember the resort on Flower Island? Or the Hot springs at Ash Island?? Oh, they set fire to the Butterfly Haven resort on Flutterwind Island.
Shanks: .... okay they do usually get us kicked out of places, and that fire was an accident
You: That's beside the point.
Shanks: well, what is your point?
You: if they come along, I won't be able to enjoy my spa day. All I want is one day without dealing with over a dozen loud men and getting spoiled by resort workers.
Shanks: they can't go one day without causing trouble, that's true... Fine, I won't tell them, but on one condition.
You: oh lord, what?
Shanks: I get to come with you.
You: counter condition, if the crew does find us, you send them away.
Shanks: deal
An hour later
Shanks: [a few mojitos deep and has cucumbers over his eyes] This is great, we should do this more often.
You: it won't do much good if you're drunk the entire time.
Shanks: Drunk? I haven't had a drop of liquor since last night.
You: You're literally drinking right now.
Shanks: I am?
Spa worker: [nods]
Shanks: really? I couldn't tell, I couldn't taste it at all. Y'all must use the good shit.
You: he usually drinks what's basically paint thinner.
Shanks: [mumbles] Paint thinner doesn't usually have that much water in it. [Turns to the spa worker] Can I get a pitcher of this stuff?
Spa worker: [sighs, but nods]
You: and can I get another slice of cake?
Shanks: you want more cake? [gets up and twerks at you] I've got plenty of cake for you right here, love.
You: [smacks his ass with the menu] Sit down you drunk fool.
Spa worker: would you like the strawberry shortcake or chocolate dreams cake?
You: ...[looks at shanks] both?
Shanks: [nods his head]
You: both [hands her the menu]
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