Oh, Shit. Here We Go Again

The weeks pass in an agonizing blur. After returning to Sabaody, you had taken to checking in on Luffy as he grieved the loss of his brother. Pushing your own grief aside to aid him might have been your way of avoiding your feelings.

After Luffy’s rage had been temporarily quelled, you set off on your own journey. When asked, you had responded with a false confidence you were desperately clinging to.

“I’m not sure, but I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to stay for a while, maybe I’ll even find a teacher and get stronger that way!” You were only half lying, as you didn’t have any intentions of finding a teacher at the moment. You just wanted to separate yourself from everyone and wallow in your sorrow.

After a bit more convincing that you would be safe and would return to Sabaody like everyone else, you set off. A small boat with the basic essentials was all you could motivate yourself to take, not having the energy to care for anything not absolutely needed.

A few pit stops made quickly as possible were taxing, but necessary. Keeping a low profile was easy enough, covering yourself to blend in and keeping conversations with shop owners as short as possible without putting a target on your back. Drifting around wasn’t wise, but you weren’t in the right headspace to be concerned about that at the moment.

After another pit stop, you left the New World and sailed back to the east blue. With no conscience destination in mind, you let the sea take you where it wanted to go. You briefly thought about how getting back to the red line would be inconvenient, but as quickly as the thought appeared in your mind, it vanished into the darkness of your mind once more.

As you sailed, you recalled your adventures in the east blue with your crew. After reuniting with your younger brother Luffy at Cocoyashi Village, you honored your promise to officially join his crew. You had shocked the rookie pirates with your reveal of your shared past, and the difference in your abilities. After a bit of being poked and prodded for information, the crew readily accepted you into their rag tag group.

Eventually, you docked at a familiar island. Securing your boat to a small port that only you and a few others knew about, you make your way through the forest and up the mountain. Your heart feels heavy in your chest as you continue your trek.

The climb is not new to you as you walk, if anything it’s the easiest and hardest thing you’ve done for weeks. Your mind swims with memories of the past, and you choke down any noise that might escape.

Finally, you stand at the wooden door atop Mount Colubo. You debate turning around and leaving, but find yourself unable to move your legs to turn away. Taking a deep breath, you raise your arm and knock. You hear rummaging as you stand at the door.

If not for the noise, you might have thought no one was home.

Slowly, the door creaks open, just barely, and a voice speaks.

“Who are you and what the hell do you want?” Being unable to keep silent, you respond.

“Dadan, it’s me.”

The door slams open with force you recognize, and the face of the voice appears.

Dadan’s eyes widen as the takes in the sight of you. Your clothing is crumpled, your shoes are muddy and your face - oh your face - sunken and full of pain as you stand there, eye swirling with emotions she wishes she’d never seen on your face.

All the anger and hostility drains from her body and she pulls you inside, closing the door before pulling you into an embrace that could rival Luffys.

The feeling of being held breaks the last bit of restraint you have as you start to cry, holding onto your mother figure with a strength you thought you had lost. Your cries turn into sobs as she cradles the back of your head with one hand and holds onto your back with the other. The feeling of her body shaking and the sound of her own tears falling is not lost on you as you both grieve together.

Not a word is said as you stand in the wooden house where you grew up, mourning the loss you share.

The sobs have been reduced to silent tears and small hiccups, and slowly, as if it were the last thing you want to do, the two of you separate just enough to look at each other.

Both of your faces are red and puffy, tears both dried and wet stick to your faces and shirts. There may be a wet patch on Dadan’s shirt where you face was, and there may be some snot dripping down her nose, who knows, that a secret you’ll take to your graves.

Luffy

Wraps himself around you

You are NOT moving for a while

Snores, unless you prop him up right

Likes to cuddle, will whine if you say no (unless you look like super uncomfortable, emotionally aware king love that)

Mans has no thoughts of personal space. He wants to be close ALL THE TIMe

Will talk your ear off as he’s wrapped around you. Yes both arms and legs if it’s comfortable.

Tried to listen to you too, but will probs fall asleep. He doesn’t mean to be rude, bro is just tired and happy your with him.

Warm, but wiggles a lot.

After Marineford, he’s especially clingy. Has nightmares about it and only sleeps well if he knows his crew is safe and close by.

Please comfort him and tell him that the crew is safe, that he is safe.

Will drag you off for a nap if he’s tired. Or just falls asleep on top of you.

Will wake you up in the middle of the night to spout off random shit. Then fall back asleep. Or he’s going to try and grab a snack. Sanji is not pleased when the fridge is dented from this attempt.

Please make a deal with him to shower more. Your nose will think you.

Zoro

Dude also needs a shower

Likes to work out and then have a nap

Doesn’t like to admit it but prefers when your around for both of these activities

Enjoys flexing while training and then relaxing with a nap with one of his favorite people on the ship

If he stinks, MAKE HIM BATHE. Bro is STINKY and needs to scrub more. After he washes then it’s nap time. That’s the deal.

Nami thanks you for this

It started with just napping around you, then slowly leaning onto you.

Neither of you make a big deal out of it, more for his sake then yours. He’s embarrassed to admit he’s soft for your time together.

Not a huge talker, but is very good a listening.

Gives advice if he thinks you want it, but will sit and listen if you need to get stuff off your chest.

Is a little jealous you can do so with ease (in his mind). He’s too caught up being strong for the crew that he forgets that he’s allowed to just be Zoro, not Pirate Hunter or King of Hell Zoro.

Snores a little, but not super loud. Place his head on your shoulder or lap and he’s OUT. May even curl an arm or leg around you if he feels like it.

Nami

Not used to co-sleeping

Sleeps with a weapon close by due to her past with Arlong. This doesn’t change, only the location of the weapon does.

Particular about her sleep. Has a routine and everything.

Expects you to hold yourself to a certain standard if your sleeping in the same room as her (you’ll have to work up to cuddling).

Will gift you nice pjs, soaps, blankets, things like that.

Gets hot easily, but hates being too cold.

Will fall asleep at her nap desk. Please pick her up and tuck her into bed.

That’s how it starts probably. She holds onto you in her sleep and mumbles something you can’t make out. You wait and get a quiet “stay…don’t go”. You stay.

This happens a few more times before your invited into her bed. You slept on the floor before to avoid making her uncomfortable.

Refuses to admit that she likes being the little spoon, but she has the best sleep when she feels safe and protected by someone she trusts deeply.

Likes to nap in the sun under her trees with you. The warmth and the smell of the fruit is relaxing.

Doesn’t ask you to nap, just expects you to agree. Drags you to nap when she’s had a bad day.

Please just hold her for a bit and listen to her rant about stuff. She appreciates it more then you’ll ever know.

Usopp

Tries to act chill when you fall asleep on him for the first time.

Is smiling while trying to act annoyed like it’s an inconvenience (he feels so happy do NOT believe him)

Another one to fall asleep while creating. If you can’t pull him away wrap a blanket around him and place a pillow under his head.

Usopp is a lonely guy, considering he didn’t really have any friends before the straw hats (not including the Usopp pirates and Kaya).

If feels nice to be chosen

Likes to tell you stories (real and make believe) as your winding down to sleep.

Lights up when you smile or laugh because of him.

Makes it his goal to make you smile at least once before the end of the day. Even if it’s just an eye smile, he knows he’s made you happy, and that makes him happy.

LOVES late night talks. Doesn’t matter what it’s about. He’s happy to spend time with you.

Does his best not to wake you up in the morning if your not ready to wake up. Will save you some food (from Luffy) if your not awake yet.

Will be thinking of stories all day to tell you. Of course he tells the rest of the crew, mainly Chopper and Luffy, as well. But your late night talks hold a special place in his heart and day.

Is forever grateful you chose him as your best friend.

Sanji

Another one who has a hard time accepting affection (Zoro, and Robin too).

Happens after he has a nightmare about his family (this feels familiar ha).

You catch him up super late and ask him what’s wrong.

He doesn’t tell you right away (especially if it’s before Whole Cake) and gives a vague explanation of having a hard time sleeping.

You offer to help, and for some reason (sleep deprivation due to stress) he agrees.

You bring him back to bed and hold him. He’s not used to being held and take a bit to relax and get comfortable. The last time someone held him like this was either Zeff or his mom. Probably his mom.

This repeats for about a week before he starts seeking you out. He’s embarrassed about it at first but can’t deny he does sleep better with you around.

At some point, you start waking up with him and keeping him company while he makes breakfast. Whether you help him or not depends on what he’s making.

You keep him entertained while he cooks, and he makes you a little extra as a thank you.

Of course he’ll deny this if you bring it up, so if you want extra, just enjoy it.

He may tell you more about his dreams as time goes on, but nothing huge until you actually meet his family. Then he doesn’t even need to tell you, you just know when he’s having a hard time and step up the comfort.

He’s grateful to have such a wonderful crew to call his own.

(Inspired by a fic I read, I can't remember the name but if anyone finds it lmk so I can tag/credit the author)

You had been around for a long time, longer than most of the surviving gods in this era of the world.

You were not, however, credited for your deed towards humanity and its successes.

You had risen to power around the same time as Morax. It would be safe to say he would not have risen so high without you.

While you had only been a minor god, your intelligence had proven to be quite useful in the era of strength you were born into. An era of buff toddlers, you used to say.

Using this intelligence, you had decided to aid the up and coming Morax in the Archon War, as well as before it. You gained many followers due to this, as well as territory.

You did your best to protect your people, but you could only do so much against the raw strength of the power hungry deities wanting not only your lands, but your intellect as well.

Morax and his precious Guizhong had pressured you into a contract. forcing you to abandon your people to give them the upper hand in the war. You had agreed on the terms that your people would remain unharmed and safe.

This was not the end result that occurred, much to your sadness. You had been tricked by the infamous duo of the earth.

Prior to this deception, you had been close to the two gods, to the point where you could have said they were your friends and confidants. You hadn't thought of the possibility that they were using you for your power. You had thought that they were truly as loyal to you as you were to them.

You wanted to kill them both right then and there, tear them to shreds where they sat, watch as their confident body posture wilted as they passed on to the next plane of existence. But, you were not only bound by contract to see them through to a throne of the Seven, you were craving a deeper revenge, one much crueler than a quick and merciful death.

Over time, your anger concentrated onto one of the two, Morax. You had found out that Guizhong had not known that your people would be sacrificed to win the war. Once she had found out, it was too late.

Some time before her death, she had tried to reconcile with you. However, you were not so keen as to forgive her so easily. So, you made a deal, a contract.

She had to help you retrieve your lands back, as well as any descendants of what were once your people. She had agreed, desperate to regain your friendship.

The hard part was sneaking around behind the now Rex Lapis' back, as he seemed to always want the dust goddesses presence. Lucky for the two of you, he had the pressing matter of sorting out his new found responsibilities. Not so lucky for the two of you, he wanted Guizhong's help to do so.

This sparked a fight between them, pushing their already strained relationship further and further. This would be one of the last times they would talk.

Guizhong seemed to drift farther away from Morax as she drew closer to you once more.

You had to admit, you had missed her during your time apart. Her quick wit could rival your own on some topics, and her compassion was refreshing in the world of war and violence.

After regaining your land, and setting up ways for your people to prosper, you had continued to draw closer to the lady of dust.

That's why, when she perished fighting for the lord of geo, you felt as if you had once again been stabbed in the back. Deep down, you knew she had not meant to leave you all alone again, but you could not process that in your grief.

But this time, you would not publicly display your anger. No, this time would be different.

This time, you would not be forgotten and thrown away like useless trash.

After all, He was the reason she was gone. He was the reason your people had been so brutally wiped out and your lands had been taken from you.

He would pay for what he had done.