a nameless pirate

Ever since then, your encounters with him had been a mix of competition and thinly veiled insults. You’d fought alongside and against him during chaotic battles, always at odds but somehow never truly harming each other.

And, annoyingly, the others loved to tease you about it.

“I think Law likes you” Nami said one night on the Sunny, smirking as you glared at her.

“Yeah, right” you scoffed, crossing your arms. “He’s just arrogant and annoying.”

“And yet, every time he shows up, you look very interested” Zoro teased, earning a laugh from the crew.

You rolled your eyes, ignoring their laughter as you stared out at the sea. The truth was, Law was interesting. Infuriating, yes, but undeniably clever and powerful. And every time he faced you in battle, there was a flicker of respect in his eyes that made your heart skip—though you’d die before admitting it.

The next time you crossed paths, it was during an ambush on a Marine base. Both the Strawhats and the Heart Pirates had the same idea: raid the place for supplies and information.

“Of course you’re here” you muttered as Law appeared beside you in the chaos, his Room ability slicing through Marine reinforcements.

“Likewise” he replied, his tone flat.

You rolled your eyes, summoning your energy to blast a group of Marines into the wall.

“Try not to slow me down, Surgeon” you taunted.

Law smirked faintly, his sword flashing as he neutralized another group. “I should say the same to you.”

The two of you moved in sync, your powers complementing his precision as you cleared the room. By the time the dust settled, you were both panting, but victorious.

“You’re not as bad as I thought” you admitted grudgingly, glancing at him.

“Likewise” he said, his tone softer than before.

For a moment, the tension between you shifted into something else—something quieter, almost… tender. But before either of you could speak, a loud crash from outside reminded you that the crews were still fighting.

“Back to work” you said, brushing past him.

After the raid, you didn’t expect to see Law again so soon. But a week later, the Heart Pirates docked near the Sunny, ostensibly to exchange information about the Marines.

“Sure, information” Sanji said annoyed as you watched Law step aboard. “More like an excuse to see Y/N.”

“Shut up” you hissed, your cheeks heating as you crossed your arms.

Law ignored the whispers and teasing from both crews, his gaze sharp as he walked toward you.

“Y/N-ya. Where’s your captain?” he said simply.

“He’s resting” you answer with a cold tone, trying not to question why he asked you out of everyone.

He nods, holding out a piece of parchment.

You raised an eyebrow, taking it. “What’s this?”

“Details about a Marine operation near here,” he replied. “I thought you’d want to know.”

“Why are you helping us?” you asked, narrowing your eyes.

He shrugged. “Your interference benefits me. Simple as that.”

But the faint smile tugging at his lips told a different story, and you couldn’t help but smirk in return.

“You’re lucky I don’t blast you off this ship” you teased, summoning a flicker of energy in your hand.

“And you’re lucky I don’t cut you in half” he replied, though there was no malice in his tone.

The crews watched the exchange with barely concealed glee, their whispers growing louder.

“They’re so into each other” Nami said, smirking at Robin.

“Think they know?” she asked.

“Not a chance” Nami replied, laughing softly.

Over the next few weeks, your encounters with Law became more frequent. You worked together to take down Marine operations, often bickering but always falling into a rhythm that felt almost natural.

And slowly, the tension between you began to shift.

It was during a quiet night on the Sunny, after a mission, that you finally confronted the elephant in the room.

“Why do you keep showing up?” you asked, finding him standing alone at the edge of the deck.

He didn’t look at you, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Maybe I enjoy the challenge.”

“Of working with me or putting up with me?” you asked, crossing your arms.

“Both,” he admitted, a faint smirk on his lips.

You blinked, caught off guard by his honesty. “Wait, are you—”

“Don’t overthink it, Y/N-ya” he said, finally turning to face you. “But for what it’s worth… I don’t hate having you around.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you fought to keep your expression neutral “Well, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Don’t get used to it” he said, though his tone was more amused than annoyed.

The crews, who had been secretly watching from below deck, erupted into cheers and whistles, ruining the moment.

“JUST KISS ALREADY!” Luffy shouted, earning groans and laughter from everyone else.

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “They’re never going to let us live this down, are they?”

“No” Law said, his smirk widening.

And as the chaos around you grew, you couldn’t help but laugh, realizing that maybe, just maybe, you didn’t mind being stuck with him.

It happened during one of those rare, quiet nights when the sea was calm, and the crews were resting after yet another skirmish with the Marines. The Heart Pirates and the Strawhats had docked together on a small, remote island to regroup. The two crews were enjoying a bonfire, their laughter echoing through the night, but you found yourself wandering away from the group, your thoughts racing.

As much as you hated to admit it, Law had been on your mind far too often lately. His sharp wit, his calm demeanor, the way his gaze lingered on you during battles—it was maddening.

You sighed, sitting on a rock overlooking the ocean, when you heard footsteps behind you.

“Y/N-ya” Law’s voice called softly.

You didn’t turn around, but the corner of your lips twitched. “Stalking me now, Surgeon?”

“I could say the same about you, wandering off to brood” he replied, stepping beside you.

“Brooding is your thing” you shot back, finally glancing up at him.

He smirked faintly but said nothing, his silver eyes scanning the horizon. For a moment, the two of you sat in silence, the sound of the waves filling the air.

“You’ve been quiet tonight” he said finally, breaking the silence.

“Just thinking,” you admitted, resting your chin on your knees. “About… everything.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “Everything?”

You hesitated, debating whether to speak your mind. But something about the way he was looking at you—calm, patient, as if he already knew what you were going to say—made you want to be honest.

“About you” you said softly, meeting his gaze.

Law’s eyes widened slightly, the smallest crack in his usual composure. “What about me?”

“You’re infuriating,” you began, standing up and pacing in front of him. “You’re always so calm, so smug, like you know everything. And you drive me crazy because you do know everything half the time. And yet… you’re the one person I can’t stop thinking about.”

The words tumbled out before you could stop them, and you froze, suddenly feeling vulnerable.

Law was quiet for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he stood, stepping closer to you.

“You drive me crazy too, Y/N-ya,” he said, his voice low. “Your recklessness, your power… the way you always throw yourself into danger without thinking.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “That sounds more like an insult.”

“It’s not,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Because for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

Your heart skipped a beat, but before you could reply, a loud crash sounded behind you.

“DAMN IT!”

You whipped around to see the Luffy fall from a nearby tree, covered in leaves, turning to the others who were poorly hidden.

“What the hell?!” you shouted, your face burning.

“We weren’t spying!” Usopp says as the rest of both crews scrambled to hide behind trees and rocks.

“Yeah, totally not spying!” Luffy shouted, laughing loudly.

“Let’s just leave them alone!” Nami groaned, smacking Luffy on the head as the crews retreated, their laughter fading into the distance.

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “I’m going to kill them.”

Law chuckled softly, his amusement breaking the tension. “They’re persistent, I’ll give them that.”

When you looked up at him, his usual calm had returned, but his silver eyes held a warmth you’d never seen before.

“So… about what you said” you began awkwardly, your cheeks burning.

Law took a step closer, his hand brushing against yours. “If you’re done yelling at the audience…”

You laughed nervously, but the sound faded as he leaned in, his expression serious.

“Can I?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You nodded, your breath hitching as his lips brushed yours. The kiss was soft, slow, and far gentler than you’d expected from someone like him.

When you pulled away, your power energy flickered around you, uncontrollable as your emotions surged.

“Sorry” you muttered, trying to rein it in.

Law smirked, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “It suits you.”

From the distance, you heard muffled cheers and groans, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“They’re never going to shut up about this” you said, shaking your head.

“Let them talk” Law replied, his voice calm but firm “I don’t care.”

You had always thought Trafalgar Law was a mature man.

From the moment you joined the Heart Pirates, he had carried himself with an air of authority—commanding, sharp-witted, and composed. His knowledge of medicine and tactics made him a formidable captain, and his often-cold demeanor made it clear he didn’t tolerate foolishness. You respected him for that.

But then, you started noticing the cracks.

It was small things at first—like the way his lips twitched upward whenever Bepo did something particularly endearing, or how his fingers would absently toy with the coins he kept in his pocket. Then came the comics. You had stumbled upon them one evening when you went to grab a medical text from his cabin, only to find a neat stack of well-read books featuring over-the-top action scenes and exaggerated expressions.

And then there was the bread.

You had never seen a man react so viscerally to something so harmless. The way his expression soured, nose wrinkling in utter distaste, was so dramatically childish that it almost made you laugh out loud the first time you saw it.

Yes, Trafalgar Law was not just a man who had grown up too fast—he was still, in some ways, a child beneath it all.

And so, you decided to conjure those reactions more often.

It started subtly. You’d leave tiny, cute trinkets on his desk—once, a small plush bear you claimed was from Shachi and Penguin. Another time, you placed a particularly round and fluffy piece of bread on his plate at dinner, watching as he scowled, dramatically shoving it onto Bepo’s plate instead.

When you pointed out a particularly adorable sea otter floating by the ship one day, he had scoffed—but his gaze lingered a little too long, his fingers twitching like he wanted to reach out.

It became a quiet game between the two of you—though Law didn’t seem to realize it until much later.

One evening, while the crew was docked at a small island, you sat on the Polar Tang’s deck, flipping through a book when a shadow fell over you. Looking up, you found Law standing there, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was a slight crease in his brow, a sure sign he had been thinking about something for far too long.

“You’re doing it on purpose,” he said flatly.

You blinked. “Doing what?”

He exhaled through his nose, clearly unimpressed by your feigned innocence. “The comics. The plush. The damn bread.” His jaw tightened. “You like… that.”

You considered him for a moment, watching the way his ears tinged slightly pink, the way his fingers tapped a steady beat against his arm. Finally, you closed your book and stood, looking him in the eye.

“I do.”

His brows furrowed further. “Why?”

You gave a small shrug. “Because it’s you, Law. The real you.”

That caught him off guard. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. He seemed completely thrown off by the simple honesty in your words, and before you knew it, his hand lifted, tugging his hat low over his face.

“…I have work to do,” he muttered, turning abruptly and striding away, shoulders stiff.

You were still watching the spot where Law had disappeared, trying to make sense of the strange flutter in your chest, when another voice cut through the quiet.

“Enjoying yourself?”

You turned to see Ikkaku standing beside you, arms crossed, lips curled in amusement.

You met her gaze evenly. “What do you mean?”

She jerked her chin toward the stairs Law had just fled down. “You like seeing him like that, don’t you?”

You didn’t hesitate. “I do.”

Ikkaku hummed knowingly. “Figured. It’s not every day you get to see Trafalgar Law flustered.”

You exhaled a quiet laugh. “He tries too hard to act composed. It’s nice seeing him be himself.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ikkaku waved a hand dismissively. Then she tilted her head at you, eyes gleaming. “But have you ever noticed something else?”

Your brow furrowed slightly. “Something else?”

She leaned in just a little. “It’s always you.”

You stared at her, uncomprehending. “What?”

Ikkaku grinned. “You’re always trying to get a reaction out of him—but have you noticed who he reacts to?”

Something about her tone made your stomach twist.

She patted your shoulder and walked off, leaving you standing there, silent.

And then you started thinking.

The way Law’s gaze always seemed to settle on you when you spoke, even when you were talking to someone else. The way he never scolded you the way he did Shachi or Penguin, even when you were obviously pushing his buttons. The way he had just reacted—not with irritation, not with exasperation, but with embarrassment.

Oh.

Oh no.

A slow, creeping realization settled over you, and for once, you weren’t sure how to handle it.

You weren’t blushing, of course. That would be ridiculous. But your heart was beating far too fast for comfort.

The captain, in love with you? Certainly not.

You couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t like you to let something rattle you, but Ikkaku’s words kept circling in your mind. You turned on your side. Then onto your back. Then onto your other side. But no matter what, you couldn’t shake the thought.

The idea of Trafalgar Law—your captain—being in love with you was absurd. You weren’t the type to entertain ridiculous fantasies. And yet… the weight of his gaze, the way he had reacted earlier, the way he always reacted—

You exhaled sharply and sat up. This was useless.

A walk. A drink. Something to clear your head.

You slipped out of your quarters and padded down the silent hallways of the Polar Tang, making your way toward the kitchen. But when you pushed open the door, you weren’t alone.

Law stood by the counter, back to you, pouring himself a cup of tea. His hair was messier than usual, as if he had run his fingers through it too many times. His hoodie hung loosely off his frame, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

He turned at the sound of your steps, his tired eyes meeting yours.

“…You too?” he asked.

You nodded, stepping inside. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Law didn’t say anything as you walked over and grabbed a cup for yourself. The silence between you was surprisingly comfortable, the occasional clink of porcelain filling the air.

If you hadn’t been thinking so hard about him before, you would have left it at that. You would have let it be another quiet moment between the two of you.

But your mind was still tangled with Ikkaku’s words. In your mind, you battled against her words.

And maybe that’s why, without thinking, you muttered, “Don’t worry, I didn’t think you were in love with me.”

A pause.

A sharp, quiet breath.

Then, in a voice so calm, so matter-of-fact that it took a moment to register—

“But I am.”

The world went still.

Your fingers tightened around your cup. You turned your head, slowly, as if movement itself might break the moment.

Law was staring at his tea, his expression unreadable, except for the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly.

You weren’t the type to let things shake you. But this?

This stunned you.

He realized it a second too late. His lips parted just slightly, as if to take it back—but the words had already been said. There was no erasing them now.

For a long moment, neither of you spoke.

Law, the man who always had a plan, the strategist, the genius doctor—looked utterly lost. His fingers flexed against his cup, his shoulders stiff as if preparing for some inevitable response.

Finally, you set your tea down carefully, leveling him with a look. “…What?”

It was the best you could do.

Law exhaled sharply, tipping his hat forward to shield his face, as if that would somehow save him.

“…Forget it,” he muttered, turning toward the door.

Like hell.

Law tried to leave.

You didn’t let him.

The moment he turned, you stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve. He froze—not yanking away, not looking at you, just standing there, tension running through him like a live wire.

“Forget what?” you asked, your voice steady.

His fingers twitched. “…It doesn’t matter.”

You tightened your grip. “It does.”

Finally, slowly, he turned his head just enough to glance at you. His eyes were sharp, searching, but there was something else there—something hesitant, something uncertain.

You exhaled, forcing yourself to be honest. “I don’t know what I’m feeling for you,” you admitted. “But I know I don’t want to forget this. And I know that… I want to be with you.”

Law inhaled sharply through his nose, his lips parting slightly, his whole body locking up as if you had just struck him with Room.

He looked—

Embarrassed.

Genuinely, painfully embarrassed. And still, still, he tried to escape. He turned again, this time slower, as if hoping you wouldn’t stop him.

You refused to let him slip away.

So, you did something reckless.

“I don’t even know how to use the washing machine properly,” you blurted out.

Law froze mid-step.

“I was the one who turned all the boiler suits pink,” you added.

His head tilted just slightly, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“And sometimes,” you continued, voice as calm as ever, “I have very intimate dreams about you.”

This time, Law nearly choked. His shoulders hunched, his ears instantly burning red beneath his hat. “What—”

“You’re not the only one embarrassed here,” you stated simply. “So don’t run away.”

For a moment, Law just stood there, hands clenched into fists, face half-hidden by his hat.

Then, slowly, he turned back to you.

Something in his expression had shifted. His gaze was still hesitant, still unsure, but there was something determined beneath it now. His fingers flexed at his sides before curling into loose fists.

And then—without a word—he stepped closer.

You stayed perfectly still as he reached for you, as his fingers hesitated just inches away before finally brushing against your cheek. It was uncertain, clumsy, like he wasn’t entirely sure he was allowed to do this.

But you didn’t pull away.

So he leaned in, just slightly. Just enough for his lips to press against yours.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t smooth.

It was awkward and hesitant and entirely, unmistakably him.

And when he pulled back, lips barely lingering against yours, he swallowed hard and muttered, “…You turned the boiler suits pink?”

You exhaled a quiet laugh. “That’s what you’re focusing on?”

“…It’s my crew.”

“Not just your crew anymore.”

Law stared at you for a moment before exhaling sharply, tipping his hat forward to hide his face again.

“…Shambles,” he muttered.

And with that, he vanished—leaving you standing alone in the kitchen, lips still tingling, heart pounding, and very much not forgetting any of this.

“And what’s the challenge?” Zoro asks, leaning back lazily against the mast with his arms crossed.

Nami’s smirk widens “Truth or Dare… with a twist.”

You groan, already sensing this won’t end well. Zoro groans too, echoing your thoughts.

“Don’t be a party pooper, marimo” Sanji says, lighting a cigarette “Unless you’re scared of losing.”

Zoro scoffs, sitting up “Bring it on, curly-brow.”

The crew forms a circle, and the chaos begins. The early dares are harmless: Luffy is dared to balance Chopper on his head (which he almost manages), Usopp does a dramatic impression of Nami (earning a smack), and Brook serenades Robin with a love song.

But when it’s Sanji’s turn to dare, his eyes land on you, and you instantly regret ever agreeing to this.

“y/n-swaaaan, I dare you… to go on a date with me” he announces, bowing dramatically and pointing at himself with a proud smirk.

Your jaw drops. “What?!”

Sanji grins, pointing to the kitchen “We’ll set it up RIGHT NOW! Candlelight, a five-course meal…”

“Absolutely not” Zoro interrupts, his voice sharp.

Sanji raises an eyebrow “Why not, moss-head? Feeling jealous?”

Zoro’s glare could cut through steel “Jealous of you? Don’t make me laugh.”

Nami claps her hands, clearly enjoying the tension “I think it’s a great idea! Y/N, you’re not backing out, are you?”

You look between them, panicked “uh… do I have a choice?”

“Nope!” Luffy chimes in, grinning.

Before you know it, Sanji has dragged you to the galley, where he sets up an elaborate table with candles, flowers, and what looks like the fanciest meal you’ve ever seen on the Sunny.

“You deserve only the best, my dear” Sanji says, pulling out a chair for you.

From the corner of your eye, you spot Zoro leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, scowling like he’s been personally offended by the concept of romance.

“You’re really going all out, huh?” you say nervously, sitting down.

“For you? Always” Sanji replies with a wink.

As Sanji pours you a glass of sparkling juice and starts talking about the “art of love”, you can feel Zoro’s glare burning into your back.

“Oi, chef” Zoro finally growls, stepping into the room. “Don’t you have other people to feed?”

Sanji doesn’t miss a beat “They can wait. Right now, y/n deserves all my attention.”

“Oh, come on” Zoro mutters, walking closer. “You call this a date? It’s pathetic.”

Sanji straightens, his grin widening “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, marimo.”

“I’m not jealous” Zoro snaps, his voice tight.

“Then leave us alone” Sanji says, waving him off.

“I’m not going anywhere” Zoro replies, pulling out the chair beside you and sitting down.

You blink at him, your cheeks burning “uh… what are you doing?”

“Making sure this idiot doesn’t do anything stupid” Zoro mutters, grabbing a random piece of bread from the table and biting into it.

Sanji’s eye twitches “Excuse me?!”

“Calm down, curly-brow” Zoro says with a smirk “I’m just here to make sure y/n doesn’t get bored, and you don’t give her a love potion or something crazy”

You bury your face in your hands as the two bicker back and forth, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Luffy and the others peek in from the door, struggling to contain their laughter.

“Wow, this is better than the game” Usopp whispers.

Robin nods, sipping her tea. “It’s like watching a romantic comedy.”

Back at the table, Sanji is trying to impress you by listing all the dishes he could make for you, but Zoro keeps interrupting with sarcastic comments.

“She doesn’t need a gourmet meal,” Zoro says, smirking “She needs someone who can actually keep her safe.”

“And you think that’s you?” Sanji retorts, glaring.

Zoro shrugs “I’ve got a better track record”

You finally snap “Okay, that’s enough!”

Both men fall silent, looking at you in surprise.

“This isn’t just a game, and you two are acting like children” you say, standing up “If you can’t behave, I’m leaving.”

Sanji immediately softens “y/n, I didn’t mean to upset you…”

Zoro cuts him off, standing as well “She’s right about that,” he mutters, scratching the back of his neck “This wasn’t a real date.”

You blink, confused “oh now you understand?”

He looks away, his usual confidence replaced with something almost… shy “I mean… if it were, I’d do it right.”

The room goes dead silent. Sanji’s jaw drops, and the crew watching from the door erupts into whispers.

“Did Zoro just…” Franky starts.

“Yup” Nami confirms, grinning.

Zoro clears his throat, his cheeks faintly red. “Anyway, this whole thing was stupid. I’m going back to the deck.”

He brushes past you, but just before he leaves, he pauses. Without turning around, he adds “Next time, it’ll just be us. No interruptions.”

And with that, he’s gone, leaving you stunned and the rest of the crew cheering like they just witnessed the grand finale of a love story.

Sanji sighs dramatically, slumping into his chair. “Unbelievable. That moss-head can’t actually beat me.”

You’re still processing what just happened, but one thing’s for sure: the next game night is going to be even more chaotic.

It’s been a few days since game night, and the Thousand Sunny has been anything but quiet. Since then the crew has made it their personal mission to meddle.

You’re in the galley with Nami and Robin, attempting to focus on lunch, but it’s impossible with the way they’re looking at you.

“So” Nami says casually, resting her chin on her hand “When’s your date with Zoro?”

You nearly choke on your drink. “My what with who?!”

Robin smiles, far too amused “He did say ‘next time,’ didn’t he?”

“That wasn’t—he didn’t mean—ugh, can we not do this right now?” you groan, burying your face in your hands.

Nami laughs “Come on, Y/N. You’ve got to admit, it was pretty romantic…for Zoro, at least.”

“I don’t even know if he actually meant it” you mumble “What if he was just saying that to shut Sanji up?”

Robin sips her tea, her expression unreadable. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Before you can question her cryptic comment, Luffy bursts into the galley, grinning from ear to ear.

“Y/N! Zoro’s looking for you!” he announces loudly.

Your stomach flips. “He is? Why?”

Luffy shrugs. “Dunno. He looked mad, though. Maybe you did something?”

“What?! I didn’t do anything!”

“Oh, this is going to be good” Nami says, smirking as she stands “Come on, Robin. Let’s go watch.”

Robin chuckles, following her out “Poor Zoro. He’s probably trying to figure out his feelings.”

You groan, dragging your feet as you leave the galley to find Zoro. When you spot him on the deck, he’s leaning against the railing, arms crossed, his usual scowl firmly in place.

“You were looking for me?” you ask hesitantly.

Zoro glances at you, his expression softening slightly. “Yeah. Got a minute?”

“Uh, sure.”

He gestures for you to follow him to a quieter part of the ship, away from prying eyes—not that it stops the crew from peeking around corners and whispering.

“Listen,” he starts, scratching the back of his neck “About the other night…”

Your heart pounds. “What about it?”

“I wasn’t kidding,” he says, avoiding your gaze “when I said I’d do it right next time.”

You blink, caught off guard “You mean… you actually want to go on a date?”

“Yeah” he mutters, his ears turning red.

Before you can respond, Sanji’s voice cuts through the air like a dagger.

“A date?” the chef asks, sauntering over with a tray of snacks in hand.

Zoro groans. “None of your business, cook.”

“Oh, but it is my business…” Sanji replies, smirking “If you’re planning on taking my y/n out, you’d better have a plan that doesn’t involve getting lost, napping or clean your damn swords.”

“Say that again, curly-brow” Zoro growls, hand drifting toward his swords.

“Boys, please,” you interject, stepping between them “Can we not do this right now?”

Sanji turns to you, his expression softening. “Y/N, are you seriously considering letting this brute take you on a date? I can guarantee I’d do a much better job.”

Zoro narrows his eyes. “She doesn’t need fancy meals and flowers to have a good time.”

“And you think you can show her a good time with what? Sword training?”

“I just don’t need to try hard like you, love-cook.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose, already regretting everything “I’m going back inside” you announce, turning to leave.

But before you can escape, Luffy’s voice booms from the crow’s nest.

“Zoro and y/n sitting in a tree! K-I-S—”

“LUFFY!” you shout, your face burning as the crew erupts into laughter.

Zoro sighs, rubbing his temples. “This crew is impossible.”

“You’re telling me” you mutter.

Before either of you can say another word, Nami appears, dragging you by the arm. “Come on, y/n. We’re going to help you get ready for your date.”

“What date?!”

“Obviously with Zoro, duh” she says matter-of-factly, ignoring your protests.

Robin follows with a teasing smile.

“Can someone throw me overboard?” you plead, but it’s no use.

Meanwhile, Zoro watches you being dragged away, his jaw tightening as Sanji smirks beside him.

“You’re really going for it, huh?” the chef asks, lighting another cigarette.

“None of your business” Zoro mutters.

Sanji exhales a plume of smoke, his smirk widening “Just don’t mess it up, marimo. Or I’ll be happy to take your place.”

Zoro grips the hilt of his sword. “Try it and see what happens”

The crew’s laughter echoes across the ship as the sun sets, the promise of more chaos—and perhaps a real confession—lingering in the air.

The day of the “date” arrives, and you’re already dreading it. Not because of Zoro, but because the crew has taken it upon themselves to make it their personal project.

Robin and Nami dragged you into the women’s quarters hours ago. You’re currently sitting in front of a small mirror while Nami styles your hair and Robin picks through outfits.

“I don’t need to get all dressed up” you protest “It’s Zoro. He probably doesn’t even care about what I wear.”

Nami smirks “That’s exactly why we’re doing this. He’ll care once he sees you.”

Robin nods “Trust us. Subtle effort goes a long way with men like him.”

Meanwhile, in the galley, Zoro is facing his own nightmare.

“Here’s what you’re going to do” Sanji says, slamming a piece of paper down on the counter.

Zoro glances at the elaborate list of dishes and raises an eyebrow “I’m not cooking.”

Sanji glares at him “It’s either this, or you let me cook for her, and I sit at the table to make sure you don’t screw up.”

“Fine” Zoro growls, crumpling the paper “I’ll just keep it simple.”

Sanji sighs dramatically. “You’re hopeless. She deserves better than plain rice and sake.”

Zoro glares at him, muttering under his breath about “fancy idiots” and “overcomplicating everything.”

The sun is setting as you step onto the deck, your cheeks already warm from Nami’s teasing. She’s chosen a simple outfit, but it’s enough to make you feel self-conscious. You spot Zoro near the ship’s edge, arms crossed, looking… nervous?

“Hey” you say softly, walking up to him.

He turns, his usual scowl softening when he sees you. His eye linger for a moment before he clears his throat and looks away. “You… look nice.”

“Thanks” you reply, trying not to smile too much.

Sanji appears out of nowhere, carrying a tray. “Dinner is served! Well, the parts Zoro didn’t ruin, anyway.”

“Get lost, cook” Zoro snaps, grabbing the tray.

Sanji winks at you “Let me know if he bores you, y/n. I’ll be waiting.”

Zoro’s jaw tightens as Sanji retreats, leaving the two of you alone at the small table he’s set up. It’s simple—just a few dishes and a bottle of sake—but it’s kind of sweet.

As you sit down, you notice Zoro fidgeting with his drink “This is… nice” you say with a smile, breaking the silence.

“Tch. Don’t make it a big deal” he mutters, trying to not make eye contact but there’s a faint blush creeping up his neck.

You’re about to tease him when Luffy’s loud whisper reaches your ears “Are they holding hands yet?”

You glance toward him, and see the entire crew is hiding—or at least trying to. Luffy and Usopp are peeking out openly, while Nami and Robin sip drinks, pretending to be inconspicuous.

Zoro follows your gaze, his eye twitching “Do they seriously have nothing better to do?”

“I guess not” you laugh.

The two of you try to enjoy the meal, but the crew’s antics make it nearly impossible. At one point, Luffy climbs onto the rigging and yells “Kiss already!”

Zoro slams his sake cup down, his face bright red “Luffy, I swear…”

Before he can finish, Sanji comes over with dessert “Thought you might need this to salvage the night” he says, placing a small cake on the table.

Zoro glares at him “No one asked you.”

Sanji ignores him, turning to you “How’s the date going, y/n? Is moss-head boring you yet?”

“He’s not the problem here” you says side eyeing the crew. Zoro standing up right away.

“That’s it. You..” he says pointing at Sanji “Get out of here before I throw you overboard. And y’all there, we see you, just leave us alone”

Before things can escalate, you grab Zoro’s arm “Ignore them, they won’t stop. Let’s just… go somewhere else.”

He hesitates, but the look in your eyes is enough to calm him down. With a grunt, he leads you to the crow’s nest, far away from the crew’s meddling.

The crow’s nest is quiet, save for the sound of waves and the occasional creak of the ship. You sit on the floor and finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Sorry about… all of that” Zoro mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s not your fault” you say, smiling “They mean well… I think.”

He snorts “They’re idiots.”

You laugh, and for a moment, the tension eases. The two of you fall into a comfortable silence, the stars above providing a peaceful backdrop.

“So” you say, breaking the quiet “Was this your idea of a date?”

Zoro shrugs “I’m not good at this stuff. I figured keeping it simple was better than messing it up”

“I like simple” you admit smiling at him “It feels… more like you.”

He glances at you, his expression softening “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

For a moment, you think he might say something more, but instead, he leans back against the wall, his usual smirk returning “Good. ‘Cause I’m not trying to impress anyone else.”

Your cheeks heat up at his words, and you quickly look away, pretending to admire the stars.

Down below, you can hear the crew still laughing and arguing, but up here, it’s just the two of you. And for once, Zoro seems at ease.

Maybe this date wasn’t such a disaster after all.

It’s another lazy night on the Thousand Sunny, and boredom has once again taken hold of the crew.

“Let’s play Never Have I Ever!” Luffy suggests, slamming his hands on the table in excitement.

You exchange a glance with Zoro, who doesn’t look very thrilled about it. Still, the rest of the crew cheers, and you know there’s no escaping this.

“It’ll be fun!” Nami chimes in, her smirk making it clear she’s planning to use this game for maximum chaos.

Sanji quickly grabs drinks for everyone—though he places yours in front of you with a flourish and an overly sweet “For you, my love!” which earns a glare from Zoro.

The rules are simple: if you’ve done the thing someone says, you take a drink. If you haven’t, you stay dry. It starts innocently enough.

“Never have I ever… stolen food from the kitchen” Usopp says, narrowing his eyes at Luffy.

Luffy, you and Chopper take big gulps, unapologetic.

“Never have I ever… gotten lost on an island” Robin says, smiling knowingly at Zoro.

“Oi” Zoro growls, taking a sip while everyone bursts into laughter.

The questions continue, ranging from silly to borderline embarrassing. But as the game goes on, the atmosphere starts to shift, with Nami and Sanji clearly steering the questions toward more… personal territory.

“Never have I ever… kissed someone on this ship” Nami says, her eyes darting between you and Zoro.

Your stomach flips, but you stay still subtly avoiding their eyes. Zoro, seated beside you, side eye you but doesn’t move either, though his jaw clenches slightly.

Luffy interrupts “Wait, wait, wait! I’ve got a better one!” He grins mischievously, clearly loving the drama “Never have I ever… been in a secret relationship!”

You freeze, glancing at Zoro out of the corner of your eye. His hand hovers over his drink for a split second before he sighs, picks it up, and takes a long sip.

The room explodes.

“WHAT?!” Usopp yells, nearly falling out of his chair.

“YOU TWO?!” Nami shrieks, pointing between you and Zoro like she can’t believe her eyes.

You look at Zoro as shocked as the others because you didn’t believe he’d actually drink.

He shrugs at you “what? I was thirsty”

Sanji looks like someone just stabbed him in the chest. “y/n-swaaaan, say it isn’t true! You chose him over me?!”

Luffy, on the other hand, starts clapping. “I knew it! I knew you guys were acting weird lately!”

Zoro leans back in his chair, completely unfazed by the chaos “What’s the big deal? It’s not like it’s a secret anyway.”

You bury your face in your hands, half-embarrassed, half-amused “yeah, we weren’t exactly hiding it” you mumble.

“You weren’t exactly telling anyone, either” Nami points out, still recovering from the shock.

Robin chuckles, her calm voice cutting through the noise “I had my suspicions. You’ve been spending a lot of time in the crow’s nest lately, y/n.”

Zoro smirks, reaching for his sake “That’s because it’s quiet up there. No nosy idiots.”

Sanji slams his hands on the table. “I demand an explanation! How did this even happen?!”

“It’s not that complicated” Zoro says with a shrug “We talked. We got along. End of story.”

“Not end of story!” Usopp argues along with Brook “We need details! When? How? Why?!”

You laugh, finally relaxing as the initial wave of chaos dies down “Does it really matter? We like each other. That’s all there is to it.”

Luffy grins, clearly satisfied “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy!”

Nami sighs, shaking her head with a smile “I can’t believe Luffy figured it out before anyone else…Well, at least now we know why you’ve been so weird around each other.”

Franky seems to snap out of shock and says “wait, earlier you didn’t drink at the kiss question, so you are in a relationship but didn’t kiss??”

Zoro looks at you and answers “I was about to but then I saw she wasn’t drinking..” pointing at you.

“Oh, I didn’t drink because it was too embarrassing to admit it like that” you reply trying to hide your face from them all.

Sanji sulks dramatically for the rest of the night, muttering about “unfair competition” and “stupid swordsman”. Meanwhile, Zoro stays by your side, his hand brushing against yours under the table.

As the crew moves on to more lighthearted questions, you can’t help but smile. It wasn’t how you planned to tell them, but in typical Straw Hat fashion, it was perfect chaos.

Kidd Tartan

While I the tartan notes leave much left to be desired in the way of it's original usage, I do think there could be interesting parallels drawn. In Sabaody, we hear Kid mention that they might buy a slave if anyone looks interesting—this does not occur. Now, you could say this simply did not happen as a result of the subsequent events but I also [like] to believe this was more of a pessemistic quip/tough facade/"reason to be there" than actually intending to purchase someone. Additionally, if they did purchase an individual I would like to believe they would have been made free to join their crew [or not]. Largely in part to how loyal, and joyful the Kid Pirates are. This is not a crew that runs on fear, punishment, and dictator-style control. All this to say, if Kid was wearing this tartan I truly think that it would be more of a statement than anything, as he is anything but. While very much an antithesis to Luffy, I truly feel that Kid is much more like Luffy than Law in many ways. He is truly against being reigned in (looking to be free), and the control of corrupt individuals who look past horrible things in the name of justice.

Tartan Notes: This tartan was originally supplied by William Wilson and Sons of Bannockburn to a Mr Kidd who used it to clothe the slaves on his West Indian plantation. It was therefore called 'Kidd' in Wilson's pattern book. In 1822 Wilsons supplied this design to MacPherson and it was thereafter known as 'MacPherson'.

Feileadh-mòr [feːləɣˈmoːɾ]

The earliest form of anything that we may call a kilt — the grandfather of the modern kilt, the feilidh-mór. Its name in Gaelic means “great wrap.” An untailored garment was essentially a blanket wrapped and belted around the body, it was used as a blanket for sleeping in at night. It was also a form of luggage, its many folds being used to hold goods for easy transport. One final purpose that tends to surprise many is that of camouflage! We wear tartan today in order to be identified — I belong to Clan X, Y or Z. But, historically, tartan was often worn to be hidden, the interlocking stripes serving to break up the outline of the wearer in the same way as a tiger’s stripes or leopard’s spots.

sources: albanach.org, tartanregister.co.uk

a/n: i wasn't planning on adding all this text but i thought it was interesting and i apparently had a few thigs to say! i spend entirely too much time on this. i hope you enjoy kid putting on a traditional kilt! ^-^ ps: oh! and the emblem on his holster is from his pre-timeskip belt! pps to the taglist: this was not how i planned on drawing kid in a kilt for the first time but it just...ended up happening lol.