Ruby

He looks up at you, distracted from his weights. He claimed to hate being interrupted during his workout, but you knew the truth. He was a show off. If he got challenged to do something, not only would he do it, he would do it best.

"What?" He asked, lazily enough, attempting to seem nonchalant. His image was almost as important as his love for you, which was another fact you took into account when asking him to do things for you.

"How long can you hold a plank?" You asked. You tried not to put on an air of faux-innocence. When you acted normally, it was much easier to get him on your side.

He dropped the dumbbell he had been holding, letting it hit the deck with a heavy thud, likely startling someone below.

"Longest I've gone is three minutes, no movement." He said, standing and pressing his hands on his hips, challenging you. "And after that you gave up?" You asked, a smile daring to cross your lips.

Zoro twitched, knowing you were up to something. "I don't quit. I take breaks. It's responsible."

"Of course." You leaned forward with a grin. "But, what if we could see how long you could go? Completely?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What is this?" "I just want to encourage your growth as a swordsman. Core strength should not be overlooked."

He squinted at you, but you held firm. "Until failure." You suggested off handedly. "Just a thought." He frowned, but backed away, kneeling on the deck.

"Time?" He asked, knowing you would come to him prepared. You pulled out a watch, sitting in front of him, smiling.

"What are you doing?" He asked. "I'm-" "Get on my back." You laughed, gladly moving behind him as he lay down, climbing into the spot he liked to have you for boring reps of pushups.

Without warning, he raised himself up, and the time started.

For the first thirty seconds, Zoro stood strong, a brick wall in the face of this incoming challenge. Then, the waver.

He stayed still, but you could sense the rising tension in his back, extra effort Boeing put into the lift of both his body and yours.

The first gasp was quiet, he had been keeping a level breathing rhythm for the time until then, but it hitched for just a second, a gasp of air too desperately needed to keep him up.

The second gasp came in a few more deep, controlled breaths. A bit louder this time, and his tone came through, just barely there, but intoxicating. A couple huffs, and a shudder ran down his spine, shaking you slightly.

Slowly but surely, his breathing began to waver greatly, hearty pants that betrayed the strain he was going through.

You almost wished to see him from below, his Adam's apple bobbing, the sweat bearing on his face.

He continued to groan occasionally, at first instinctively, but soon it became a way to let out the pain he was feeling, trying to lighten the load.

"God." The first word slipped through, think, as if he wanted to force the word through a sliver between floorboards.

"Doing okay down there?" You asked. He tried to nod, but his neck wouldn't move. "Yep.

Two and a half minutes. He stayed as still as possible, but the trembles were more frequent. He was getting rosy, flushed. Still, he held on.

The three minute mark treated you to a much louder groan as he reset his hips, realising they had slowly been rising as he went on. The strained breathing intercut with short groans as he tried to keep still.

"What time am I at?" He asked, voice trembling. You said nothing. "What-" he groaned again, his back raising for a second before he corrected himself, breathing speeding up before he could control it. "Time?"

You tutted. "Keep going, I won't say until you're done." He laughed, but his whole body tensed as he did, his core wavering with the pain.

He started to mumble to himself, quiet words used as reassurance. "You can do this." His voice low, intercut with heavy breaths that betrayed how tired he was.

"Come on."

"Five more seconds."

"You're strong."

The little confidence boosters made you smile. What sweet encouragement. He whined, and though you say on his back, you knew he had tensed up the muscles in his abs, trying desperately to keep his rapidly fading composure.

He swore a few times, and you could feel the anger rising in his posture, tense as he could be, breath hitching as he tried to keep his breathing under control. Breaking the pace and gasping was what would take him down.

Five minutes. He was shaking like a leaf, all but suffocating as he whined through the pain, shuddering like a leaf in the autumn, ready to fall.

He gulped and said your name. "Are you happy yet?" He asked, head tilting back, eyes shut firmly. He whined and you felt the quick tension run through his side, a cluster of muscle cramping from the exertion. He cried out at that, and collapsed on the deck just as the six minute mark was hit. You rounded up to make him feel better.

You climbed off his back, allowing him to settle his breathing as he lay flat on the deck, a pool of sweat accumulating beneath him. His hair was soaked, but he was laughing. "You're disgusting." He accused, a wry smile peeking at you from where his head lay, forehead down on the wooden floor.

"I don't know what you mean." You shrugged. "You did pretty good, soldier." You patted his back, and for a split second, the muscles relaxed before tensing up with another hitch in his breath.

"Six minutes." You praised, tucking the timer in your pants. "Not too bad." Zoro turned his head to you. "Six minutes straight? Not bad? It's impressive." You nodded. "Of course, wouldn't want to bruise your ego." "Let's see you do it." He grinned, a hungry look in his eye. "Six minutes, come on." You laughed. "Nice try."

He sat up eventually, hair sticking up at odd angles. "Then what do I get? For being good?"

You considered it. "I'll massage your muscles." He closed his eyes immediately lost in the thought of your soothing touch. "But then you win again by touching me." He said, mouth quirking upwards. "I can't make everything fair, Zoro. Maybe I'll let you pick what I wear while I do it."

He grinned. "I like the sound of that." "Good. Now get yourself washed up and I'll see you in my cabin." You stood and smiled as you walked away.

Zoro watched you go, running a hand through his wet hair. You knew exactly how to push his buttons. You were the best operator he had ever met, that made his heart race and his breath catch without an ounce of work being done to deserve it. You impressed him, and thinking on your words, he immediately got up and walked to the bathroom, shirt off before the door could close behind him.

They both seemed to back off when you approached, and you were proud of your ability to scare them into submission.

It was probably for the best that they began to settle themselves, although there was always hidden glares when you turned and walked away.

It had been relatively easy by the time you scored the role, they both had connected with you enough to respect your wishes over each other's thoughts.

This came with the added side effect of them wanting to keep you close, hoping that you would keep the other one at bay, preventing any arguments that were sure to arise.

You had to admit that you liked it. They were both nice, and if you had no worries about the dynamics shifting, you had even thought about them romantically before.

However, you knew that seeking one of them out would push the other one away, and you did not want that. You liked them both, and if you could keep them both, you would avoid your feelings to make it possible.

"Wanna work out?" Zoro asked one day, his shadow blocking your view of the sun. "Why?" You asked, not moving from your place, comfortably splayed out, being warmed by the sun's rays.

"If you're there, the cook won't bother me." He huffed, answering simply. "Damn, didn't know you were scared of him." You laughed. "Not scared." He clenched his teeth, offended at the suggestion. "Just don't want a fight."

You rolled your eyes, but followed him, accepting his offer to assist with his workout. You stood by, spotting his exercises, though you felt more like an audience instead of support.

"You don't even need me." You commented as he bench pressed several massive weights you assumed would crush you should he drop them.

Zoro continued lifting. "Spotting is responsible." "Ah yes, Zoro, the responsible one." He grinned. "I can be." "Doubt that."

When he finished the exercise,  he dropped down to the ground, immediately starting pushups. "You want me to sit on your back for these?" You asked, half joking. "Sure."

You were surprised by his affirmation, but took the offer, sitting politely on his back as he worked, rising and falling in the silence.

You liked Zoro for these moments. Soft, sturdy moments, where everything was right and good. You trusted him in battle, and his presence was reassuring. If you did persue him, you would have a strong partner who could keep you safe, keeping you comfortable and happy.

From across the vessel, a singsong voice trilled through the air, your name floating through on a long note.

"Oh where are you, beautiful?" Sanji called, and you saw Zoro's face morph into a scowl. As he stopped, allowing you to get off his back.

Sanji walked up to you, looking like the sight of you was a relief. "There you are!" He completely ignored Zoro. "I need your opinion!"

"Buzz off, we're working." Zoro groaned, standing up, positioning himself between you and Sanji.

"I have a treat for you in the kitchen." Sanji waved off Zoro's complaint, peeking around to make eye contact with you. "Freshly baked."

You sighed, knowing better than to let them passive aggressively ignore each other. "Zoro can do one more set and I'll come over, alright?" You did your best to placate both of them at the same time.

They both frowned, but said nothing. When you stepped in, it was like a wall was dropped between them, blocking the argument of the day from snowballing.

The three of you sat in silence as Zoro worked, and despite saying he would do ten reps, he pushed through a staggering twenty before dropping the weights, exhausted.

"Looks like he's done. Come with me." Sanji stepped between you and Zoro, offering a friendly arm for you to take.

You took Sanji's arm, leaving Zoro alone to rest. "Such a lovely day, isn't it? Sanji asked as he guided you to his base of operations. "Yeah, we've been getting nice weather lately." You smiled back. "Please tell me you've been wearing sunscreen, I would hate to see you burn."

You smiled. "Yes, Sanji, I have." Admittedly you had been wearing sunscreen, but there was always a chance you had not been reapplying properly throughout the day, but that was an issue for you in the future.

"Excellent. The sun really brightens your features. A kind of golden glow." He observed, gesturing for you to enter the kitchen.

Instantly you were hit with the comforting smell of freshly baked cookies, your favourite flavor, wafting into the air around you. "Please, have one." Sanji insisted, placing one in your hand, his fingers lingering for a second, tickling the skin of your palm.

You took a bite, the warm cookie still softened from the oven, the taste familiar and delicious, catered to your tastes perfectly. "Damn Sanji, these are good." You complimented. "I'm glad you like them. I would make a thousand more for you."

Sanji leaned forward in a slight now, head tilting upwards, a grin painting his face.

You smiled back, finishing off the cookie and licking the crumbs from your fingertips. "You could stay here if you want." Sanji invited, pulling a chair up to the island. "I was about to start making lunch, won't you keep me company?"

He looked at you, pleading, and you softened, sitting down and watching as he made preparations. "You look extremely lovely today, that colour looks wonderful on you." Sanji smiled, chopping up some vegetables.

"Thanks." You smiled, touching the hem of your shirt. "I got it on the last island." "I shall have to thank whoever let you take it."

Sanji was certainly the more affectionate of the two. If you went with him, you would never go a day without being treated like a goddess, pampered and showered in a handful of dazzling compliments.

You wished you could act on these feelings, the ones that urged you to confess yourself and reap the rewards, but you knew it was not a valid possibility. If you stuck with one of them, chances were the other would ignore you, and that was not what you wanted. Staying in limbo was your best option, no matter how much it hurt to be pulled between them.

The door opened, and Nami peeked in. "Island spotted in the distance. Prepare to dock in ten minutes."

You nodded and she headed off to inform the rest of the crew. "How exciting." Sanji swept the chopped vegetables on a pan, letting them sear.

"What adventures do you suppose we'll have next?" Sanji asked. "I hope we can relax for once." You sighed. "I'd love to just spend time relaxing, not overthrowing a government official or having to fight another pirate crew."

"If we have to, I will protect you." Sanji winked. "Thanks. Let's hope it's just a normal island." "Of course."

You docked and had lunch, discussing how the crew would split up on the island. You were usually assigned either Zoro or Sanji,  as well as someone else. You were one of very few members of the crew with a lick of common sense, so you agreed to be a voice of reason for your crewmates, though they never listened.

Today you were stuck with Sanji, who swore he would stay at your side, which Zoro responded with an eye roll.

The crew got off, faced with a massive forest, trees reaching as high as the sky. "Turn around and meet back in three hours." Nami ordered before Luffy dragged her into the forest.

"Alright." Sanji offered his arm and you took it with a smile. "Shall we?"

You nodded, walking off, into the deep foliage. The dappled sunlight illuminated the ground, a lovely scene of vegetation, with various animals flitting about in the trees and along the ground.

You let go of Sanji's arm to inspect a tree that had an arrow carved into it, and suddenly the world seemed to move beneath you. You turned to see if Sanji had felt it as well, but he was nowhere to be seen. In fact, you backed away at the sight of a large open field, stretching out in every direction.

"Sanji?" You called out fearfully, unsure of how you had managed to lose him and discover a field in only one second, without taking so much as a step.

You could not hear him respond. "Sanji?" You tried again. Silence.

You turned back and discovered you were no longer in the forest at all, but surrounded on angles by a vast, open field. Instantly, instinctively, you ran. There had to be something, somewhere, but all you found was more horizon.

You ran until your legs burned and in one instant, the world lurched again, knocking you off balance and landing you in a pile of snow. You recoiled, now finding yourself stuck in the middle of a snowstorm, cursing whatever magic was tricking you like this. You shivered as snow melted off your skin. You had not been expecting cold temperatures and dressed for the sun. You swore, the cold snow frigid against your skin. You shuddered, looking for shelter from the flakes coming down around you, but you had no luck.

You began to shiver as you prayed whatever situation you were going into next was at least a warm one. You trudged through the snow, hoping refuge would come soon, but the time seemed to stretch in this environment, the temperature chilling you to the bone.

Your breath came out in clouds of warm air, every second a reminder of what you were losing.

You encountered a patch of ice, dangerously slippery, and you did not want to risk snapping something when you were already a trembling mess.

You stood, frozen in your tracks, unsure how to proceed. You were stuck. Trapped in this freezing landscape with nowhere to go.

"Help!" You screamed, hoping anyone could hear you. Somebody else had to be trapped there as well. They just had to be.

All your cries did was startle a flock of birds who flew away, leaving you a trembling mess.

You lost the energy to stand, collapsing into a pile of snow that stung every inch of skin it touched. Your nose, cheeks and ears burned most of all, along with your fingers and toes.

You had no idea how long you sat there, every inch of you shuddering in the frozen wasteland, until the ground finally rumbled again, and you were deposited on a rocky mountain scape. You were laid right next to the sudden raise in altitude, a forest on your other side. Maybe you had hope of getting back to the ship anyways.

The temperature was warmer, but you were still impossibly cold, shivering violently.

You managed to sit up, looking around. "Hello?" You called out, voice weak.

For the first time since you had lost Sanji, you heard a voice. You nearly began to cry.

"Over here, you idiot!" Sanji called out. Two figures appeared from the treeline.

Sanji and Zoro. You had never thought you would be happy to see both of them together. And yet, here you were.

They raced towards you, and you realised that they were holding hands, albeit in the most uncomfortable way imaginable.

Sanji swept down to hug you, gasping when he felt your skin. "Oh I was so worried when you disappeared like that, goodness you're freezing!"

"What happened?" Sanji asked, pulling away, his hands bringing futile warmth to your skin.

"I got stuck." You shivered. "It was snowy. It lasted so long." You felt your bones rattle inside you, trying desperately to warm up.

"Why are you holding hands?" You asked. They both looked sick at you mentioning it, but did not let go. "We figured that if you keep contact with someone, it stops you from being... transported." Sanji explained.

You shot a hand out to grab at Zoro, hoping to stay in this warmer climate, not trying to freeze to death again.

Your hand caught on his wrist, and he recoiled. "You're freezing." He muttered.  "I know."

You saw Sanji awkwardly try to take off his coat with only one free arm, a mess of shuffling and flailing. Once he was free of it, switching hands to briefly grab Zoro's bicep, he lay his coat on top of you. Despite the rather futile attempt, you absorbed as much warmth from the action as possible.

You shuddered like a leaf in the wind as Zoro and Sanji tried to get you somewhat comfortable.

"Here, sit against this tree." Sanji suggested. He guided you over, allowing Zoro to be tugged along.

"Watch it." Zoro warned. "I'm busy helping our frigid crewmate." Sanji snapped back. "We should find shelter, the sun's setting." Sanji rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "And where are we going to find a shelter?" Zoro pointed at the mouth of a cave nestled in the stony rock wall.

"Would you two stop arguing?" You hissed, another shudder shaking your entire body. "I'm freezing over here." You tried to stand, but the trembling in your knees prevented you from doing so. "Shit." Zoro took one step and caught you before you hit the ground, Sanji following quickly behind, pressing a warm hand to your forehead. You leaned into the heat of their bodies, eyes drifting shut at the slight relief they provided.

"Ice cold." Sanji whispered, looking at Zoro, inviting him to come to an understanding. Despite their differences, they both liked you, and you needed help.

Zoro carried you until the three of you made it to the cave. It was nowhere near as comfortable as the ship, but it was the best that could be done on such a short timeframe. Zoro attempted to set you down, but you held onto him when he pulled away. You had tasted warmth, and you still needed it.

"Cold." You explained half heartedly, eyes drifting shut.

Zoro tried to manoeuvre himself into a dignified position, but that was very difficult with you pressing as close as you could, within reason. Still, your back was exposed. You were facing Zoro and he was facing you, both your backs exposed. Despite Sanji's coat over your shoulders it was still cold. You shuddered and felt movement behind you. To your back, Sanji closed in, hovering slightly away from your body out of respect, but when you leaned back, your spine connecting with his chest, he accepted your invitation to close in.

The three of you lay awkwardly in the cave, Sanji unsure what to do with his arms and Zoro wondering what he was supposed to do at all. You were curled up in his arms, his hands cautiously wrapped around your shoulders, while Sanji lay straight as a board behind you.

You reached your hand back to grab Sanji's arm, pulling it over your waist to gain just a little more warmth, draping it over both you and Zoro. Neither of them said a word.

You felt an odd comfort, being stuck between them. Sure they were awkward about it, but they were gentle enough with you to excuse it.

The warmth was satisfactory, and soon you stopped shaking involuntarily. You still had the odd shudder, but nowhere near what it had been before.

You realised, perhaps too late, that this was a shockingly intimate position you had taken up, though neither of the men cared to comment on it. You made no movement, content with this brief respite from having to keep them separate, enjoying having them both present in their own ways without forcing you to pick a side. If only it could always be as such.

You decided to take the opportunity, staying still, brain calming, until you were on the brink of sleep. Zoro seemed to notice the change in your breathing, unrestrained, on the verge of unconsciousness, and decided to make his move. "Get your hand off me." He whispered harshly, still trying not to alert you from your rest. Sanji's hand did not retreat. "My hand was placed here, did you forget? I'm helping by keeping it here." Sanji smiled smugly, the grin growing wider as Zoro dropped the subject, a rosy red hue dominating his cheeks.

"No fighting." You mumbled, clearly on the brink of sleep, teetering on the edge. "Be nice to each other.... for once." You sniffed, and said no more, a soft snore indicating that you were out.

Neither of them spoke as the sun set, and they realized that they would have to sleep in this position if they did not want to disturb your rest.

And so they did.

In the morning, the sun beamed down at them, through the entrance of the cave.

The awkward, stiff position taken the night before was discarded, the movements of the night leading to Zoro and Sanji lying next to each other, Sanji's head tucked against Zoro's neck, while Zoro's arm was draped across Sanji's chest. You lay snuggled between their bodies, using Zoro's arm as a pillow, your legs tangled between those of the men.

None of you seemed ready to wake, each one of you awaking but not making a single move, not wishing to rouse the others.

"You two up?" You asked quietly, eyes still shut. The cold had dissipated from your bones, meaning there was no reason to remain cuddled up, although you desperately wished there was.

You got two mumbled affirmations, but still, nobody moved. You dared to acknowledge the elephant in the room. "This is nice." You whispered. "I like when you get along."

Neither of them spoke, seemingly afraid to break the silence.

Then, a shocking three words left your mouth, a statement that had rung true in your head for ages, but had never seen the light of day.

"I love you."

They both tensed under you, flinching away from each other, leaving you between them. That had done it. You had shattered the glass that had kept the peace.

"This is so sudden, but I am honoured. I love you too." Sanji sputtered out, practically bowing to you as he tried to grasp what was going on, while Zoro just stared at you, silently asking who you had been speaking to, which of them had captured your heart.

Sanji looked up, seeing the silence between his two companions. "Wait. Was that for me? Or..." He blushed fiercely, realizing his potential mistake.

"No!" You cursed your tongue. "I mean. I love you. Both. Sanji and Zoro."

They looked at each other, then you. Back at each other, unsure how to proceed. "One of you say something damn it, I just bore my soul." You curled in on yourself, backing away from the two of them.

Zoro was the one to speak this time. "I love you too." Sanji looked like he could not decide whether to one up Zoro or look at you pitifully. He did neither.

Still looking down, he mused. "Both of us?"

You nodded. "I like you both. A lot. And I don't want to choose between you. I can't choose. You're both amazing and I love you two, damn it." You backed up even further.

The men looked at each other, now burdened with your struggle.

"I need a minute." You said quickly, walking outside, just hoping that you could possibly be transported far away from them. You leaned against the stony wall, breathing.

Inside, Sanji watched you go. "Wow." "What do we do?" Zoro asked. "What do we do? I don't know." Zoro swallowed thickly. "We can't make them choose." He said firmly, although he knew he had jeopardized his chance at having you to himself, but he knew too well that you would not be happy without Sanji. Neither would he, in all honesty. He liked their bickering, in fact, he sometimes looked forward to it, but he would never admit it, of course.

Sanji felt the same. He knew he could not make you choose. You always seemed happiest with both of them, heck he had seen it clear as day that very morning, snuggled up against his green haired crewmate, and selfishly, he had liked it too. Though he would never say so.

"Maybe... They don't have to choose?" Sanji offered. "I know how to share. Do you?" He asked, with enough sarcasm implemented to make sure Zoro knew he had no intentions of making complete peace.

"I do." Zoro replied. "As long as they still fight with me." "Only if they can still be my taste tester."

There was a silence between them, and a moment of understanding. For a second, there was uncertainty, as if there was something else to be discussed. But neither of them spoke up about it. Not yet, at least.

They broke out of their stillness, opting to check in on you, outside.

You were still there, thankfully.

"We talked." Sanji began. "You don't have to pick one of us, if you don't want to. We'd be willing to both be in your life... Like that." He hoped you understood.

Zoro cleared his throat. "We both like you too, but we know you won't be happy with only one of us. We both want you. We can share."

You stayed still for a second before leaping up, wrapping your arms around their necks, holding them close, the pressure of the morning relieving itself in a rush of emotion. You cried, thanking them for understanding.

The three of you stood there, the men hugging you, not caring if they touched each other. They were both in love with you, after all. They would have to tolerate each other.

"I love you Zoro. I love you Sanji." You said happily. "Hm. My name came first." "Saving best for last, clearly." You laughed at their bickering. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

"I can handle anything." "Of course I can." You just smiled.

You broke apart from them, and suddenly you found yourself on a sandy shore, your ship off in the distance, a forest past the sand. You were back. Without a word, the three of you darted back to the ship, hands held tightly, not allowing for separation.

The rest of the crew had already gethered there, looking relieved to see you approaching.

You were welcomed back with hugs, and worries about trying to find you. And as far as anyone was concerned, this mysterious island could be left in the past.

The following days, everyone noticed a small difference in you Zoro and Sanji. They noticed the way you walked around, as if a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. They noticed that Sanji and Zoro could bear to be in a room together and make eye contact without throwing accusations at each other. Zoro's hand would touch your shoulder, Sanji would press tightly against you at meals, and neither of them seemed to mind the stares they got in return.

In your room, you had invited them many a time to snuggle up, the three of you, knit together, cozy and gentle, and something inside you told you it was right. This was meant to be.

You sit on the couch, the crappy tv illuminating your face. "Welcome home." You greet him kindly, but Toji can instantly tell you've been waiting for a while, and you are not exactly in your best mood.

"Sorry." He grumbles. "I should've called." You shake your head. "No use worrying about it. The kids are asleep." Toji feels like you're strangling him. Your averted gaze, your emotionless remarks, as if you're some babysitter he hired for the night, not his lover.

"Hey, I'll make it up to you." He kneels next to you, making himself small. He knows you like to see him beg.

"Have a shower." You instruct, offering him a brief glance to tide him over. "Come on ma, I'm sorry." He's getting tired of your little game. "Have a shower and I'll let you cuddle me."

His heart skips a beat, but he refuses to show it. Whipped. That's what all his drinking buddies say. Like you have him on a leash, you're the master of him, you make the calls, you boss him around. And maybe you do, but come hell or high water he will never admit it.

You being the boss was the least of his worries. Between his job, his addictions and every other thing that was going on in his life, he needed the support you gave. A sturdy wall to fall on. And he had fallen alright.

You most certainly know how to mess with him, and it both infuriates and intrigues him at how well you manage to do it.

As he strips in the bathroom, he can hear you walk down the hall towards your bedroom. He knows what you want. Him to wash off the smell of blood and sweat, maybe get some shampoo in his hair too, and he does, making sure to work both efficiently and quickly so that he can get to you before you fall asleep.

He barely sees the last of the suds spiralling down the drain when he shuts off the water and grabs his towel, furiously drying off while he tries to understand how you captured him like this.

One day you're just a server at his favourite restaurant, dropping a plate of cheap fast food in front of him, the next, you're sending his kids to school with packed lunches and a smile. You were just what he needed. You showed up and you worked. You didn't submit to him like everyone else and it impressed him. He wanted you so bad it made him look stupid, requesting the table in your section so he could see you. When you quit to work at the supermarket he nearly lost his mind.

He wrapped the towel around his waist, tossing his dirty clothes in the laundry basket before hurrying to your room. He tugged on some sleep pants and climbed in next to you. "Hey ma."

You roll over, an arm sliding around his waist. "Hey Toji."

He sinks into your touch, the word "whipped" echoes in his ear as he slides down, his face just above your chest, head tucked under your chin. "You mad?" He asks. "No. But you will call next time."

You don't ask. You tell. You have expectations and he's oh too pleased to follow your lead.

He presses his nose to the skin of your collar, inhaling deeply, the scent of you, beyond any external fragrances, of his body wash, of blood and sweat, it's the smell of you. He could recognize it anywhere. It perfumes his stuff now, and he's overjoyed. It picks him up when he's upset. His drug of choice ever since you tried -mostly successfully- to stop drinking. He inhales deeply, the sensation of you filling him like the smoke of a cigarette, and far more appetizing. He doesn't even kiss you, just breathes.

"You trying to absorb me or something?" You ask him.

"Just loving you." He protests. "What's wrong with that?" "You kiss when you're loving me, it just feels like you're trying to, I don't know, inhale me."

"What if I am? I'd keep you with me always." You laugh beneath him. "What the hell is wrong with you?" "Nothing." He holds you tighter, like a boa constrictor about to eat you whole, and yet you do not freeze like a deer. Instead you pull the duvet higher, as Toji begins to kiss you feverishly. "I'll never work late again." An empty promise, but a nice one nonetheless.

You hum and the vibrations of your chest make him melt like butter on a warm knife.

God he loves you. If he could absorb you into his soul he would. He'd keep you safe, nestled next to his heart, knowing that you were protected from whatever horrors faced you from his line of work.

"Tomorrow we have a meeting with Megumi's teacher." You say gently. "So you have to be here for six. No later."

"I'm surprised you want her to see me again after that display last time." He chuckles, remembering the way she shamelessly laughed at every one of his comments, flashing her bare fingers and stressing how lucky you were to have such a strong man fathering your children.

"Maybe I like to brag." You say, and Toji swears he just fell in love with you again.

"You're beautiful." He says it like a vow, a truth that has been sewn into the very essence of reality. He means it from the bottom of his cold, broken heart.

It's not just your face, although he does appreciate your looks, but everything about you. He's never been so entranced by someone. You wrangled him. You managed to turn the wild raving beast inside him to a docile puppy, thumping it's tail on the ground, awaiting your arrival.

You kiss his forehead and he presses upward, breathing into your neck. Then, he does something he never talks about in the light of day. Only for you. Only. You.

"Say you love me." He phrases it as a statement, but it's clear he's asking you to say it. He knows what shit his other friends would say about that. It was pathetic, that he needed to stand up for himself if he was ever going to reclaim his standing as a man. Weak, whipped Toji. That's the name they would come up with. And if he had a lick of self respect in this moment he would flip out.

But he doesn't have self respect now. It's you and him, the only two people on planet earth. The kids are asleep a thousand miles away, safe and sound as their father asks his new partner to say "I love you." He will grimace about it later, but in this moment he'll wait for you to say the magical words, to release him from the pressure he's been feeling since he walked into a silent house without so much as a look of admiration from you.

"I love you Toji." You say quietly, and the tension strung through every muscle washes away like blood in water.

"I love you too." He holds the urge to devour your pretty face with your lovely lips and pretty eyes, your skin so perfect he can already imagine the feeling against his mouth. He waits for you to show that you'll allow it. Like a predator, waiting to attack.

Your eyes flit down to him and he pounces upwards, capturing your lips, immediately tasting the ambrosia of you.

He is ravenous, like a feral animal, and the small laughs you emit when something tickles make him even more intense, a fiery passion fueling his endeavour. You kiss back and he feels like a cord being plugged into an outlet, electricity sparking through every part of him.

He reaches a hand to slip below your pyjamas, the soft fabric yielding under his touch, but your hand grabs his wrist. You don't stop kissing him, but move his hand away. "Not tonight." You say simply. Toji retreats from your body but kisses harder. He'll get his fix of you this way.

Eventually you grow tired, and he does too, sighing against your lips, rolling onto his back. He lays with his arms outstretched, exhausted. Your stamina never ceases to impress him.

You sit in a similar position, breathing heavily before nuzzling close next to him. "Toji?" You whisper, voice slightly scratched.

"Yes?" He asks between breaths. "Can I sleep on your tits?" He huffs at the joke you keep repeating. It annoys him slightly, but it makes you smile. They cancel out.

"If you wanted tits you should've dated a woman." You lean over, resting your cheek on one of his pecs. "So you think there's someone better out there for me?" That makes him defensive. "Hell no. Just lay down." He feels you shuffle on his bare chest, getting comfortable. "Goodnight Toji." You mumble, thoroughly comfortable on his chest.

"Goodnight ma."

You had your fair share of flings on your home island, men and women alike, before you had begun sailing with the straw hats. After your travels began, it was difficult to keep up with a relationship while constantly on the move.

Being without a special partner was no big problem for you, after all, your crew was incredibly friendly and more than enough to keep up with. Still, late at night, you longed for a special companion.

While with the straw hats you had flirted with the odd man, after all it got you free drinks and a warm feeling in your stomach, but this night was different.

It was a woman who caught your eye, and boldly, you had decided to shoot your shit with her. It was just your luck she found you attractive as well.

Your conversation ended with a light peck on the cheek and a paper with an address written on it, in case you found yourself in need of some late night company.

Her smile reminded you of the people back at home, warm and inviting, asking you to sit down and be comfortable. You were more than happy to oblige.

You were forced to decline her offer as Sanji was in need of assistance. He was kneeling in front of a herd of girls, giggling at his silly display as he counted off individual compliments for each of them, blushing redder than a tomato.

It was a team effort between you, Zoro and Luffy to get him away from the ladies, and the rest of the crew to direct him back to the ship without incident.

Once he was settled down, you fell back into a cushioned chair, smiling to yourself.

As you sat there, you felt a silence fall over your group of friends. Looking up, your eyes snagged on Usopp, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, restless. You glanced over at Nami, who kept sneaking quick looks at you which she clearly thought you could not see. Luffy was silent too, but mostly seemed confused as to Nami and Usopp's behavior.

"What's going on?" You asked, turning to Usopp, hoping he would cave quicker than Nami.

"Uh, well, you see..." Usopp looked desperately at Nami, silently begging for help. "We saw you flirting with that girl at the bar." Nami finished, keeping her face straight.

"And?" You asked, nerves building in your stomach, wondering if your beloved crew was actually one of the people who disliked people like you.

"We just didn't know you liked.... girls."

You nodded silently. You had avoided the topic of your preferences as much as possible, hoping that if you could just keep them from asking, it would be no trouble, and they would never learn about it.

You had worried about the people on the open seas, less accepting and more cruel, nothing like the secure community you had been raised in. You had been safe enough, but it seemed one chance run in with a lovely lady was enough to upset your peace.

You inspected the faces of your crewmates. Maybe they could be trusted not to shame you. They were nice enough in every other aspect, but the idea of them not accepting you was scary.

"Yeah. I like girls." You said softly, waiting for a reaction from your crew.

"Not guys?" Luffy asked.

"No. I like both."

There was a moment where you watched the gears click in everyone's heads.

There was no judgement. No confused looks or disgusted, gaping mouths. Just a couple nods and understanding noises of affirmation.

"Aw cool!" Luffy shouted, breaking the silence, grinning wildly.

"I knew it." Usopp bragged, crossing his arms confidently. "You did not." Zoro barked back.

"So... everything's fine?" You asked, your nerves dissolving. Nami laughed. "Why wouldn't it be?" After a quick look at you processing everything she moved closer to you, resting a hand on your shoulder. "Come on, I like ladies too."

Your eyebrows jumped up. "Really?" She laughed again. "Yeah, I just don't care about it!"

She gestured at the crew. "Heck, Luffy doesn't seem interested in anyone, Zoro either. I wouldn't be surprised if every member of the crew turned out to be on the spectrum!"

You relaxed. "So no shame in me liking girls and guys? Luffy shook his head. "Nope! You're a part of my crew no matter what!" "Yeah!" Usopp echoed, thrusting a fist in the air.

The rest of the crew followed suit, and looking upwards, you recalled a memory.

“Am I in trouble?” She asked quietly, her voice trembling almost as much as her body.

“No.” You comforted, taking a step closer. “We just want to know what you're doing here.”

You kneeled next to the girl, who did not move away. “I was curious about the boat.” She sniffled. “It was pretty, I wanted to know what it looked like on the inside.”

You nodded. “We left our last island days ago. Did you get aboard there?” She nodded, and you heard a soft rumble from her stomach.

“Sanji, prep a meal for her.” You requested. He rushed away, needing no other instructions.

The girl shifted in place. “I didn't know you guys were leaving. I was gonna get off. Then the island was gone.” You sighed, thinking about the terrified little girl living in silence and solitude for days, slowly starving until someone dared to look behind the boxes she had covered herself with.

“You're not in trouble, we'll get you something to eat, don't worry, you're perfectly fine.”

You stretched out a hand, hoping she would take it and you could lead her to the kitchen, but she shuffled closer to you and gave you a hug, arms around your neck, very clearly wanting you to carry her.

You stood up and took her to Sanji, who promptly started feeding her while the remaining crewmates had a meeting.

“We kidnapped a child.” Nami sighed. “Not on purpose! She snuck on!” Luffy protested. “Either way, we have to get her back home, which means returning to that island as soon as possible.” You sighed. The crew had been hitting a lucky patch, days of sunshine and perfect winds, directing you to your next location, but you were sure the second the ship turned around, that luck would dissipate. It always did.

“So what, we turn around?” Zoro asked. “I guess. We can't drop her off at the next island, she's our responsibility.”

Nami huffed, but went to check her map anyway. “This will ruin our pace.” She grumbled.

“So, we have a kid on the crew now?” Luffy asked. “She's not a part of the crew, she's a stowaway!” Usopp accused.

“And she's going to be staying with us, so behave yourselves.” You shot a pointed look at Zoro. “What?” He asked, sensing your attention. “That means no fighting, no swearing, no drinking-” “Like hell!” “And no being reckless. Our primary concern is getting her home unscathed, do you understand me?”

“You listed off too many things.” Zoro yawned. You rolled your eyes. “Just keep her safe. No excessive risk taking, okay?” You glanced at the rest of the crew to confirm that you had been heard. You received various nods, and the view of the back of Nami's head as she chatted a course back to the island.

While the crew waited for the girl to finish eating, Nami set the course, turning the boat around, and everyone dispersed, going back to their daily duties.

Sanji eventually appeared with the little girl, who looked significantly happier now that she had been fed.

She walked over to you, eyes wide. “We're going back to your home, okay?” You informed her. “In the meantime, you'll be stuck here with us.”

She scanned your crewmates and nodded. “I'll be useful!” She promised. “What can I do?”

She was given free reign, spending her first day shadowing each of the crewmates, attempting to help them as an apology for ruining the trip.

She stumbled across Zoro's workout, watching intently at his exercises, asking if she could do anything. You watched their interaction carefully, worried that Zoro was going to be the worst with the child.

At first Zoro ignored her, but eventually told her to do some pushups while he finished working out. She did as instructed, dropping to her hands and knees, raising and dropping her body with little to no skill, and Zoro immediately grimaced.

He tried to ignore her awful pushups but soon stepped in front of her, telling her to stop. She lifted her head and smiled. “Are they good?” She asked. “No.”

You straightened up, planning to guide her away from Zoro, but he moved to a push up position himself, facing her.

“Like this. No knees.” He instructed, effortlessly dropping his chest to the deck and raising it back up. The girl tried to emulate his form, but failed again. To your surprise, Zoro kept instructing her, fixing her form until she managed to do a handful of decent pushups without needing his instructions. He went back to his workout as she worked on her pushups.

When she had enough with the exercises, she walked over to you, settling in next to you, looking over your shoulder at your book. “Whatcha reading?” She asked.

You showed her the cover. It was a guide you had bought a few islands back, all about weather formations. She looked at the page, squinting at the words. “I can't read.” She said simply, leaning back against the wall behind you. “Can you read it to me?” She requested.

You shrugged, flipping back to your page, reading her a passage on tsunamis while she listened intently. Maybe the next few days weren't going to be that bad after all.

You regretted that thought immediately, your mistake being proven that night, when a cluster of nasty clouds gathered across the horizon, cracking with electricity and rumbling with thunder.

The rain came at dinner, along with stronger winds. Come bedtime the winds were violent and loud, howling loud enough to be heard inside. You cozied up in your hammock, the girl snuggled up on a seat covered in blankets.

The thunder crashed, lightning illuminating the windows with brief flashes of light, all the while rain pummeled down from above, wind screaming.

You were woken from your sleep by a tiny figure yanking on your arm. The girl looked terrified. “I can't sleep. It's scary.” She whispered. She whimpered as another bright flash of lightning went off in the distance.

Despite your comfort, you flailed out of your hammock and guided the girl back to her makeshift bed, surprised to see Zoro nodding off there already. “What are you doing?” You asked him, the girl already getting comfortable under her covers.

“I don't know, but she wouldn't stop asking.” He huffed. He glanced at her as she closed her eyes. “You didn't tell her to suck it up?” You asked. “I did and she looked like she was gonna start crying.”

You doubted Zoro was the kind of guy to cave at a couple of tears. Maybe he wanted to avoid a scene. You certainly would have given him a mouthful about being nice.

You huffed and sat down next to the makeshift bed as a flash of lightning caused the girl to whimper, reaching out a hand for you to take. You took her hand, staring Zoro down. “You don't seem the child friendly type.”

He scoffed. “What's that mean?” “Uh, swords, excessive drinking, you have a tendency to swear, you're probably the most violent person I know? You sound pretty child friendly.” Zoro grumbled, looking away, not responding.

You sighed, resting back on the wall, the rumble of thunder pulling you to sleep.

The storm had drastically slowed you down, meaning that the trip back was going to take much longer than previously thought.

The girl seemed unbothered by this detour, having already found her surrogate parents in you and Zoro, which surprised you, but apparently nobody else in your crew.

“Well obviously she picked you two.” Nami said one day, standing on deck with you while Zoro did pushups with her on his back. “You're so loving, and he's almost completely oblivious to her presence. Kids love that. Plus you two bicker like a pair of old lovers.” You gasped in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

Nami laughed. “Are you kidding? You two are basically a married couple at this point.”

She walked away, leaving you scorned. You were sure you and Zoro were just a regular pair of crewmates, even if you were at odds every once and a while.

The girl stayed up that night, wanting to look at the stars, saying her mom told her that the night sky always looked best after a storm.

You sat on a borrowed blanket, the girl squished between you and Zoro, keeping warm. She pointed up at her favourite constellations, telling you scattered stories about them in a long stream of consciousness. Over her head, you shared a look of disbelief with Zoro as she seemingly reached her fourth minute without taking a breath in her rant.

He shared your quiet exhaustion, ready to go to bed, but it seemed neither of you were able to say no to the poor girl. As she continued to blabber on, you found yourself scanning Zoro's features. You had never given him too much thought. In your mind, he was just the stoic swordsman who could be found in three places. Drinking, working out, or sleeping.

Maybe you had judged him too harshly. Was it really such a surprise to see him being kind to a child? Were you seriously convinced he was unable to be nice?

“Do you know any?” The girl asked suddenly, tearing you away from your thoughts. “What?” “Stars? Do you know any?” You nodded, clearing your throat and jabbing a finger up at the sky. “Yeah. There's a warrior god. Right there.” You pointed haphazardly at a cluster of stars, lying through your teeth. “Does he have a sword?” She asked giddily, looking pointedly at Zoro. “He does.” You answered without thinking. She squinted at the sky before nodding. “Cool. I'm tired.”

And so you put her to bed, tucking her in, and feeling strange when you and Zoro were left in front of her, unsure of how to say goodnight.

You opted to walk away, something sinking in your stomach as you did, hearing Zoro's footsteps as he went to his own space, and you felt a splash of guilt.

You awoke feeling normal, although there was now an ominous presence hovering over you. Something had happened. You tried to ignore it, but it remained, a cloud of darkness hovering over you.

The girl spent her day wandering again, giving you brief respite from Zoro's presence. And yet, you found yourself glancing over as he worked, watching the precision in every movement he made, every bit the image he wished to show the world. The swords clenched tightly in his hands cut through the air, unburdened by gravity, and yet intensely aware of every object around him, avoiding true destruction, probably too used to you yelling at him about being cautious.

That thought made you turn away. Why did you scold him so much? Why did you pick a fight with him every time he opened his mouth? It was just because you wanted to help. You were careful, that was what you provided to the crew. He was a man with three swords and an inability to find a fountain while standing in the basin. He was hazardous. You were careful. Water and oil.

The girl walked up to you, yawning, breaking you out of your thoughts. “Naptime?” You asked. She nodded, taking your hand and leading you to her napping spot of choice. Typically she slept in her bed, but this time, she guided you over to Zoro, ripe from his workout, stretched out, the sheen of sweat still visible on what skin you could see.

You suppressed your mild disgust and let the girl sit down next to him, resting against him, and tugging at you to join.

You had your reservations, but settled down, letting the girl shift until she was completely comfortable.

She sat across your laps, a bed of legs for her to comfort herself with, while you and Zoro sat awkwardly next to each other. He seemed okay with the setup and tilted his head back, a snore beginning to flow from him easily.

You also felt yourself getting drowsy, and conceded to napping as well, head dropping without warning, onto Zoro's shoulder. He grunted in his sleep but did not stir, and you were too close to falling asleep to notice or care about readjusting.

You woke up to find that the girl had evacuated to bother someone, leaving you with Zoro, head resting on his shoulder. His head was up, and you could see his eyes open and alert. He was awake, but had made no moves to leave you, despite there being no reason for him to not take advantage of you being asleep and make a hasty exit.

You decided to spare him the embarrassment of leaving by standing up yourself, embarrassed that you had been sleeping on him in the first place, not even trying to comprehend why he had just let it happen, even after the girl had scurried away.

You stormed off, neither of you saying a word as you went to find something to do. Something to distract from thoughts of how comfortable it had been to nap on Zoro.

You found Sanji preparing a snack and offered to help, cutting up fruits and vegetables, although the repetitive motions allowed your thoughts to drift, your thoughts winding up with Zoro again, and the way he had not left you while you were asleep, dutifully waiting until you woke up to do anything, even though he himself had finished his nap.

You finished cutting up the food, dropping the knife as if it burned your hand. You had no idea why the simple action was making your whole world fall apart but it had, and you hated it.

You tried to avoid Zoro for the rest of the day, but the little girl was insistent on having both you and him by her side.

You felt like a bodyguard, stiff next to Zoro as the girl pranced around, showing off her somersaults and jumps. You could sense Zoro beside you, but there was no telling what he was thinking. Was he also pondering over his simple action? Or was it typical for him?

You were forced to sit next to him at dinner as well, when the little girl claimed the seat next to Luffy instead of between the last two empty chairs, forcing you to endure his presence, ominous and distracting.

Then at night, when another thunderstorm rocked the boat, you were dragged out of bed and sat next to Zoro to keep the girl company.

When the girl was surely asleep, Zoro opened his eyes to look at you. “What's wrong with you?” He asked, sounding bored. “I'm sorry? What?”

“Ever since the nap you've been acting weird. What's wrong?” Zoro grumbled, frustrated. “Nothing.” He did not buy it.

“So why are you being weird?”

You said nothing, trying to ignore him. “Whatever.” He crossed his arms.

“Why do you even care? We're not particularly close.” “I thought you weren't talking to me.” “Oh my god, have you always been this irritating?” “I know you've always been this annoying.” “Shut up!”

“Are you fighting?” The girl asked softly, and you cursed yourself for thinking she had actually fallen asleep. “No.” You both said at the same time.

“You sounded like you were fighting. Do you not like each other?” you shook your head. “No, he's just stupid.” “Well you're no genius either.”

“So you do like each other?” Despite her innocent tone, you sensed the slight implication of what “like” meant.

“Well, we're friends.” You explained awkwardly. “Yeah, we're crewmates.” “Just crewmates.”

She seemed unsatisfied, but her eyes drifted shut again, soothed by the sound of pattering rainfall, and you stayed silent until she began to snore softly.

You felt Zoro's eyes on you, watching, analysing. You had no idea why you were so torn up, but it seemed he had enough of dancing around the topic.

“We'll reach the island tomorrow.” Zoro said to the side of your head as you refused to look at him, a swirling feeling drilling through your stomach, draining you of your ability to think. “Then you can ignore me again.”

You felt your heart clench, betraying you. That sounded wrong. Ignoring him. It was nicer than saying you could go back to critiquing his every move, but it was a lie nonetheless.

“Ignore?” You dared to ask. “Yeah. No problem with me. Once she's gone, this can be too.” “This?” Your voice was quiet, but you knew he could hear you.

He stayed silent, forcing you to reach out, over the rain and the building wind. “What do you mean, this?” You asked, turning to look at him. “Us.”

The word was simple, but it released the torrent building in the back of your mind, the chaotic rush of feelings painted over with ambivalence and irritation, the small details you had erased to keep yourself from uncovering the truth.

Us. You and him. A cautious rulemaker and a spontaneous fighter. Oil and water. Zoro had considered it apparently. He seemed upset to see it go away.

The thunder roared outside, a flash of lightning briefly illuminating the room in a blue haze where you found Zoro's eyes before being submerged in darkness again.

Your heart pressed against your ribs, thumping angrily as you registered everything. Us. The word repeated over and over. Us. Us. Us.

The ship rocked harshly, and you stumbled from your seated position, forced to your hands and knees, Zoro sat still, braced against the wall. The boat continued its harsh course, and you struggled to get a hold of yourself. The only good news was that the girl had not woken up, apparently a heavy sleeper.

A hand shot out and despite knowing the consequences of reaching out, you knew better than to remain on the floor, stumbling like an idiot.

Zoro pulled you over as the ship tilted, having you fall flat into his lap, for a second you were practically laying on him, before he moved you beside him, letting go and leaving the echoes of his touch on your skin as you both braced against the wall.

You breathed deeply. “Do you like me?” You asked, a howl of wind drowning out your voice. Zoro heard anyway. “You're a part of my crew. Of course I like you.” He knew that was not the question you were asking, and in the following silence, he caved, scowling. “Yes.”

The single syllable caught in his throat. It scratched its way out of his mouth, a thousand words starting around in his head.

“What about you?” He asked, a nauseating ache growing in his stomach. “You like me?” an accusation. You had just forced him to expose himself, he could only hope you would do the same.

Now it was your turn to consider everything. You had always found Zoro a little irritating, but that was certainly not all. It scared you, how obvious it was, in hindsight. Your constant worrying about him, keeping track of him wherever he went, the way your eyes silently begged to meet his so you could squint at him. Maybe in some twisted way, you did like him.

“I don't know.” You forced out, a lump in your throat, choking you. Zoro nodded. “I see.”

He stood, and despite the rocking, managed to stumble his way to his hammock, leaving you with the little girl, still sound asleep.

You slept at her side, and woke up late, the sun already high, high up in the sky. You were alone, but a blanket had been tossed over you, though you had no idea who it could have been.

You stepped out to see the girl at the bow, pointing at the dock ahead of her.

The crew delivered her to her family's house, where she was enveloped in hugs and kisses and warnings to never do that again.

She said her goodbyes and begged the crew to visit her as soon as possible, making sure to hug you and Zoro extra tight when it was your time to wish her well.

The family thanked you immensely, apologizing profusely and offering money for returning their wandering child, and Nami was more than happy to negotiate the offer.

“I'm gonna miss you.” The little girl sighed, looking up at you with watery eyes. “Will you miss me?” You nodded. “Of course. That was one of the best weeks I've ever had. I'll miss you the second we set sail.” That seemed to settle her.

She tugged you over to one of her relatives, a man about your age. “This is my cousin.” She said proudly. “He's single too!” You coughed at her sudden declaration, but her cousin seemed used to this behavior. “Since you're not with Mr Zoro, you should date him! Then you could stay here forever!” Her cousin looked at you apologetically. “Okay, that's enough.” He ruffled her hair, tucking her under his arm as she squealed, kicking her legs around and laughing furiously.

She stood at the very edge of the pier as the ship pulled away, the whole crew waving back at her as you finally prepared for your next island, this time without a surprise visitor on board.

You went about your business, the ship noticeably quieter without the young fireball running around.

Your focus split away from every topic, thinking about Zoro, and how his sudden presence in your life had forced you to make a discovery about yourself, and you were certainly not happy about that.

Mostly you felt conflicted. Was it truly romantic feelings that you had been experiencing all along? It felt embarrassing, but the more you thought, the more puzzle pieces fell into place. Your heart pounded as you realised how you felt. You needed to find Zoro.

You sped around the deck, catching sight of him facing the direction the island had disappeared to.

You still felt wrong about the night prior, and decided to act accordingly. If he was upset you would live with that burden, although you prayed he would accept your revelation.

“You missing her too?” You asked cautiously, standing a few steps away from him. “Yeah. Now it's just Luffy we have to worry about.” You huffed a laugh.

The silence following his comment blanketed the world around you, sucking away the sound of waves and wind and faint conversation. “About last night.” You started, a collection of feelings stirring in your gut. “I'm sorry.” Zoro did not move from his spot, not sparing a glance at you. “You don't have to apologize.” He sighed. “I should have known.”

You took a bold step forward, moving until you stood next to him at the railing. “No. I’m sorry I was too confused to do this.”

You gave ample time for Zoro to move back and embarrass you like you had embarrassed him. As you leaned forward, hand reaching out to hold him by the collar of his shirt, he leaned in as well, almost as if he was transfixed by a dream, a vision he never expected to be brought to reality.

You pressed your lips to his, and Zoro changed. The slouched figure straightened, precise control reaching out to every inch of his body, as he evidently resisted the urge to grab you and hold you close, to devour every inch of you like his final meal. His mouth did enough, pressing hard, need and desire stirring together, channeled from his lips to yours, passionate and gleaming, practically reviving you.

You had no idea how long the outburst lasted, only that by the end you had been lifted into a banister and were straddling Zoro, the flavour of him embedded into your tastebuds. His hands were around your waist, gripping like a lifeline, your hands digging into his shoulders with an iron grip.

The both of you were breathing heavily, and it was to your advantage that nobody had come up to wave at the island one last time.

“So what is this?” Zoro asked, voice stretched thin, the desire for you to acknowledge your relationship with him palpable in his tone.

“Love?” You asked, still breathless from the encounter. “I like that.” He leaned forward again, lips colliding with yours in a frenzy. “I love you.”

There were a variety of ideas, including opening some a bakery, and living in the comfort of a storefront.

He found peace in that daydream, you in a flour dusted apron while he kneaded à blob of dough. Croissants puffing up in an oven and a variety of baked goods you insisted on taste testing every time.

You and him in such perfect sync, travelling behind the counter and knowing the other's movements so well that you never bumped into each other unless you wanted to.

He loved the idea of leaving the hard world behind to a live a cozy life baking bread with you.

He had browsed local empty storefronts occasionally, nothing too serious, but every time he saw a nice place, he bookmarked it, just in case.

Malaysia. That had been your other suggestion. You said you had never been. You liked the idea of moving to a tropical place and retiring in peace. If not living there, at the very least you wanted a holiday there, spent lounging on the sand and relaxing, wading through the shallows, free, for once.

Nanami was more serious about that idea. He had sworn to himself that you and him would retire to Malaysia. He did not care about cost, he was going to take you to Malaysia.

He had set some money aside, planning to save up and surprise you with it.

Those discussions were had a long time ago. Before Sukuna's reawakening, before you were fully immersed in the lives you had chosen for yourselves, before Shibuya.

The Shibuya incident ended in heartbreak and agony. Innocent people dead, sorcerers gone, executions planned. It was a disgrace.

Nanami spent his time in the hospital, receiving surgery after surgery. His left eye was completely gone, and the entire side of his body needed skin grafts. He was on a regimen of so many painkillers and antibiotics he began to forget their names.

He said next to nothing while in the hospital. He talked only when necessary, thanking nurses who brought him his food, updating them on his pain, but it was nothing besides that.

Everyone was too busy dealing with the aftermath to visit him, and what visits there were provided him with the bare minimum information about the rapidly unraveling world.

Gojo. Geto. Sukuna. Yuji. Names that were brought up every time. They were all dangerous. They all needed to die.

Nanami found that he hardly cared anymore. He spent his time greiving. Nobody knew what had happened down there. He refused to say. He only said that Mahito and Yuji had escaped him. He said nothing else about it. They would not understand.

One of the nurses approached his bedside with a man in a crisp suit. "Mr. Nanami? You have a visitor."

The man sat down, taking out a stack of papers. "Hello Mr. Nanami. I'm here to discuss what happened in Shibuya." Nanami felt his insides crumble. He no longer wanted to think of Shibuya. He wanted to forget the terror and the fear and the loss. He wanted it all gone.

With no answer, the man in the suit continued. "It has come to my attention that your spouse died in the accident."

Nanami froze, body chilling in an instant.

"There was a life insurance policy taken out before then. I'm here to give you your death benefit."

Nanami trembled, and the nurse ushered the man out, saying that Nanami was not yet ready for visitors and apologized.

Life insurance. He had forgotten about it. You and him had made the deal in case something happened on your missions. Precautionary, but he never expected that he would have to use it.

The nurse returned. "Mr Nanami?" He said nothing. "I apologize. I treated...." She couldn't say your name. Scared of the reaction from her patient. "Once. Such a wonderful soul."

The word struck him like a knife. He had heard enough about souls and hearts for a lifetime. You did have a wonderful soul. At least, before it was warped and twisted all bent and cracked. Before Mahito manipulated your soul, carving you into some horrific creature.

He could remember every detail of your body, before the end, that is. Sometimes at night, while he slept in his hospital bed, he would roll over, intending to place his arm around you, but right when his arm reached the imaginary peak of your shoulder, it dropped, his arm dangling off the bed, a sad sight for anyone who knew why he did it.

He also could remember your twisted body, although he didn't want to. He remembered every gruesome thing Mahito had done to rub salt in his wounds. It burned and twisted like a parasite in his stomach, the memory of you, twisted beyond recognition, the only sounds you made being warped whines that made his heart squeeze as if enclosed in an iron box.

He caressed what had once been your face with burning skin, skin that would be covered up with patches of health, trapping his last moment with you forever. He kissed the grim sight in front of him, and mercifully, he killed you.

The hospital was a box with no room for him to think beyond the tragedy that had befallen him.

Even in his sleep, you haunted him. Dreams of you that made him forget that you were gone. When he woke up and you were missing, he had to remember the painful truth.

Then there were the nightmares. Violent, vicious terrors that plagued him more frequently than not. The nurses were often called in late at night, after he had woken from a nightmare, confused and demanding to know where you were. The nurses got him settled back into bed, having to tell him the sad truth that he already knew but hated to believe.

When he was too tired to think about it anymore, he paged a nurse who arrived instantly. "I want to go home." He said sternly, refusing to let his emotions escape.

The nurse grimaced, knowing the question she had to ask. "Do you have someone at home who can take care of you?"

His heart had no more room to break. He simply spoke again. "No. I can take care of myself."

Somehow he was discharged, informed on how to change his bandages, what to avoid and when to call a doctor. He struggled not to think of you memorizing the doctor's instructions, promising to follow them to the letter.

He made it home and was immediately aware that nobody had crossed the threshold since the two of you were dispatched to Shibuya. Mail was piled up, a fine layer of dust had settled in the absence of the owners.

It was dark, and Nanami wasn't ready to turn a light on yet. He took off his shoes, left his coat, and stumbled through the house to your kitchen. He found the stash of painkillers and swallowed some, adding a glass of water to the pile of dirty dishes from your last dinner together.

He rubbed his eyes, still unused to the feeling of an empty socket. He supposed getting an eye patch was in order, ignoring the pang that came with thinking of you, ordering one eye patch for every occasion, so he would never have to worry about being a fashion disaster.

He fell asleep on the couch, unable to breach the sanctuary of your bedroom, not even changing from the clothes provided to him by the hospital.

He awoke at an unknown time, and he did not check the clock. He simply stumbled to the bathroom, running a hand over his face. He needed to shave. He needed to change his bandages. He needed you.

Alone, Nanami changed his bandages, cleaning the graft sites and covering them back up, swallowing down more painkillers.

He debated drinking. You and him had a secret bottle you were saving for a special occasion. You wouldn't know if he used it to drown out his sorrows, he thought. But he would know. Your celebratory drink would be tarnished by his greif.

Instead, he fell back onto the couch, falling asleep again.

He awoke at noon, his stomach growling. The food in the fridge was all weeks old, and he realized just how long he had been gone. The hospital kept him for three weeks. November was almost over.

He would have to go grocery shopping. Without you. The thought sickened him. He probably looked like a mess. He never looked less than perfect. He refused to be that way. Once your neighbors had knocked late at night, asking if their cat had run by. Even then, Nanami was in his pressed pyjamas, hair tastefully messed up by you, slippers on his feet and reading glasses perched on his nose. He wondered what your neighbors would think now.

He cleaned up, if just to give himself something to do. The only company he had was the running water and the sound of dishes knocking against each other.

He cleaned out the fridge, getting rid of produce and meats that had gone bad, looking for something still edible.

He ended up making a small bowl of rice, nothing special, just enough to fill his belly so he could trudge around another day.

He lived that awful life for a while, sleeping on the couch, eating rice, replacing his bandages, repeat.

The dreams followed him home, domestic vignettes that made him forget you were gone, and horrors that had him begging you to still be there. Nothing could stop those, so he had to deal with them.

He cleaned slowly, never once entering your bedroom. Finally, he spilled something onto his shirt. It had to have been day five of his life back home, and he felt unable to do anything, but he finally broke. He tossed the shirt into the laundry and instinctively walked into your bedroom.

The sheets were clean, smooth, awaiting their inhabitants to return. It still smelled like you. Nanami froze, every emotion hitting him in a cascade of broken dreams and heartbreak.

He hadn't cried since that day. Not since he last held you and collapsed atop your mangled corpse.

He had refused to let go of you when he was found, clinging to life by a thread. He often wondered if he should have cut himself free too. Spare himself the agony.

But he couldn't. Your sacrifice was the only thing that had kept that thread safe. You had forced yourself between him and Mahito's cursed hand. The second he touched you, you were as good as dead.

You had managed to tell him you loved him before the transformation started, and Nanami was forced to watch, so drained he barely even sensed the cursed presences around him. The guilt he felt for standing by was immeasurable, even though he knew that he was too drained to fight Mahito. Yuji was the hero. Yuji chased Mahito away while your withered husk decayed in front of Nanami.

The rush forced tears to his eye, having him collapse to his knees as a knot churned in his stomach, so devastated he felt sick. He wished that he had been able to save your life, to protect you from harm, but you were too fast. He sobbed on the floor, the smell of you so potent it was almost as if you were still there.

Nanami sat in agony for what felt like hours, crying until his eye dried out and his throat felt raw.

And he stood, moving to sit on your side of the bed, pleading with the universe to let you return to that spot. That place which was uniquely, unforgettably yours.

He wanted you to walk through the door, apologizing for a late shift, joking about being looser about your overtime restrictions.

Nanami slept in your bed that night. The nightmares persisted, but he was comforted by the warmth of his sheets, and the lingering smell of you. For the first time since he'd gotten home, since Shibuya, he felt okay. Not good, certainly not normal, but okay.

The next day, Nanami begrudgingly got up, showering and removing his bandages to discover the fully healed skin beneath. He had a skincare regimen now, to prevent infection and to help the skin adjust. His eye was still gone.

He cared for himself, combing his hair and shaving, washing his face and applying ointments to his delicate skin, bandages tossed into the garbage instead of laying on the floor.

He dressed himself in an old suit, deep navy and white, colours you loved seeing him in. He pulled on his tie, pressing it neatly down and looking at himself in the mirror, half of the closet being untouchable.

His hand skirted over one of your shirts, and he brought it to his nose. It still smelled like you, and he prayed it always would. The tears began to brim, but he shook his head. He had to get himself together.

There was a memorial made in honour of the sorcerers that had been lost. Your name was carved into the stone, along with many, many others. Nanami had missed the initial service while he was at your house, but he found it easier to grieve you alone. His hand gently passed over your name, tears dripping down his face. There was a variety of flowers and gifts piled at the base of the monument, honouring the fallen. He spotted some of your favourite flowers among the offerings. He found the strength to smile at that, if ever so faint.

He wandered through the streets, the autumn chill sneaking through his coat. He missed your presence at his side, arm intertwined with his.

He got groceries, and did not miss the double take your usual cashier gave him when he passed by, without you by his side. She said nothing, and he silently thanked her for it, although the pain streaking through his heart tore him to shreds.

At home he cleaned up after his weeks of depression, washing dishes and carefully putting them away, making sure not to break anything, the world as sensitive as he was.

In an attempt to console himself, he headed to his office, and pulled out an empty journal you had purchased for him. You had intended it to be a ledger for your finances, but now Nanami had a better use for it.

He opened the leather cover, embossed with your names, to find a note inside.

It was short, a wish for him to make use of the gift and to remember that you always loved him. He had to remove his glasses for a second to wipe away an incoming tear.

He continued, lifting a pen, and beginning to write.

My beloved,

It has been almost a month since you've passed and the world has changed. It is difficult to manage without you by my side. You would be disappointed to see the state I was in, but I have begun to better. I may not ever be the same again. I miss your voice and I want nothing more than to hear you chide me for something I have done. Everything about you has left a gaping hole in its wake. I have many regrets, not saving you, splitting up with you in the first place, not taking you to Malaysia sooner. I never got to tell you about our place in Malaysia.

He stopped, setting down his pen. He hadn't thought about Malaysia since that day, dancing with the twisted creations around him, a slaughter while imagining that peaceful life with you, on a beach, cloaked in sun and sand, living your days in peace. Never would that happen.

He sighed, rubbing his face. The cold metal of his wedding ring kept him grounded. That was one thing he had thankfully done before the end. He had married you. It was a beautiful yet contained ceremony, and he still had your wedding photos on his desk.

Regrets were all he seemed to have. "I'm sorry." He mumbled to the book, resisting the urge to cry. "I should have protected you." A finger gently brushed the paper, hoping, maybe miraculously that it would feel like you. It did not. Still, he brushed it back and forth with the pad of his thumb. "I love you." He wept. "I love you. I love you."

He spent a week waiting for news of your remains. Apparently whoever had found him found you beneath his grasp, the metal of your matching rings identifying you immediately.

He retrieved your remains on a rainy day, a jar of ash. In a way it comforted him. You were no longer trapped inside the twisted shell. It had been burned away. You, your essence, remained. He pressed a gentle kiss to the lid and imagined it was the top of your head. Now it was, he supposed.

The next day, he got his affairs in order. He was being called to work but ignored every message he received.

He had made you a promise. He was going to keep it.

He purchased a plane ticket, flying over with two suitcases and a large carry-on he refused to part with, save for security purposes.

When the plane touched down, he felt lighter. He was not in Tokyo anymore.

He travelled to a remote location, a small township with a nice ocean view. The locals seemed friendly enough, but he stayed focused. He picked up the keys for a small home resting just along the shoreline, a suitable living condition for one person, but perfect for two.

He stood on the deck out back, holding your urn carefully in his arms. "I'm sorry you can't see this." He sighed, removing his glasses. "But I did bring you here. I promised."

Malaysia was just as nice as Nanami imagined. He kept your urn in an ideal spot in the living room, facing the sea, next to photos and small trinkets that reminded Nanami of you.

He was getting better. The scars were fading, albeit only a small amount, he was smiling again, infrequently, and he still had no idea what to do with his hair while it grew out, but it was better. He was better.

He felt the sand in his toes, tossing his glasses aside, as he let the world pass him by. Trouble was not going to find the two of you anymore. He refused to let it.

You had been born, small and detested. You grew up believing every rotten name falling at you. Every insult, every kick from every boot was just a reason to build up your walls. Impenetrable, unyielding, impossible to pass.

Unless you were him.

There was no wall Monkey D Luffy couldn't climb over, break through, or destroy completely. The concept of “not being able” was foreign to him.

You remembered meeting him for the first time, and hearing his optimism. You hadn't had the luxury of hoping in your life. And yet there was something about him that chipped away at the structure you were protecting yourself with.

He became a light to you. When all was dark, you looked to Luffy. His warm smile, his unbeatable confidence, he was everything you weren't.

You let him attach himself to you. You let him speak for hours about everything and nothing, about his dreams.

When he asked you about your dreams, you practically laughed. You had no dreams. Besides finally getting away from the terrible island and everything that had happened there.

Luffy was aware of your situation, somewhat. He had figured something was off when he saw your bruises, and when you flinched away when he got excited, moving erratically and speaking loudly.

“I want to leave this island.” You told him. He had nodded, and within the next two days, you found yourself on a boat, sailing away from everything you had known. It was a relief. But a scary one. You were now at the mercy of the world beyond your front door.

Luffy kept you from spiralling. His confidence was your anchor, and you found yourself feeling for him. Emotions that you had never felt before, sickeningly sweet, gooey, scary.

Luffy did not appear to share your feelings, at least not visibly. He only had eyes for his future title, so you kept your feelings subdued.

You trailed behind him like a dog on his misadventures, meeting people, inviting them to join his crew. Of course, there wasn't many willing to join a rubber boy and the timid shadow huddled behind him.

So it was just the two of you, alone.

And then there was Koby. He was just like you, abused and lost. But he had aspirations. You had nothing like that. You had Luffy. That was it.

Then there was Zoro. The first permanent resident. And Nami. The next.

You connected with these strangers, as more and more people joined the cause.

Still, Luffy was your guiding light. He had formed the cracks in your walls that allowed the others to connect with you.

You particularly found yourself infatuated with Zoro. He was opposite Luffy. A serious man with a furrowed brow and a body as tough as rock. At first you had been fearful of him, after a lifetime of being hurt at the hands of men stronger than you, but you learned quickly that Zoro was not like that. He was strong, but he aimed to protect. He harmed those who harmed him and saved those who were hurt.

You supposed this was why you began to feel those sticky emotions towards him as well.

It was confusing to say the least, but you found yourself adapting to the strangeness of it all.

You had hidden your feelings for so long, kept the deepest parts of you concealed, and that was no longer something you wanted.

So, one sunny day, you found Luffy, alone on the deck, and approached him.

“Luffy?” your captain turned to look at you, grinning as he always did. “Hey! You excited to see the next island too?”

He had been looking out for your next stop, but that was not your reason for being there.

“Yeah. But there's something I wanted to ask you.” Luffy nodded, looking wholly unaware of what you could possibly be interrogating him about.

“I like you, Luffy.” You said simply, a knot churning in your stomach as he processed what you said. “Aw, I like you too!” He beamed, but you could tell that he did not understand.

“No, I mean I like you. More than like. I love you.” He blinked, and the expression on his face changed. “Oh.”

“Yeah. And I was wondering if you felt the same.”

Luffy looked at you, slightly dumbfounded. You had been with him the longest, before any of your other crewmates, before Koby. He had taken you from your broken past and changed you for the better. He wondered how he hadn't sensed it before this, your change in attitude as you realized your feelings.

He said your name carefully, and you knew immediately that you were going to be hurt. “I love you too, but not like that.”

You felt a void tear open in your chest, sucking everything away, until you felt empty. “And plus, I'm trying to be king of the pirates. I'd be way too focused on that anyways!” He tried to reassure you, but the damage was done. “I'm sorry.” He said, waiting for you to answer.

“Of course. Thank you for being honest.” You said softly, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to spill down your face. You backed away, needing someplace private to collect yourself and rebuild what you had foolishly torn down.

You heard a half hearted protest from Luffy as you hurried away, but he seemed to understand that you needed this moment alone.

You found a spot in the hull of the ship, next to a crate of alcohol, something you were surprised to see. You had no idea someone had been stashing it all away, but you took the liberty of stealing a bottle. They would have to understand.

You leaned back against the crate, hidden from the world. What would you do now? Luffy knew about your feelings, but certainly did not reciprocate. So now you were all alone.

You cried for a while, a messy explosion of your frustrations steeped in longing and pain. You chased agony wherever it went.

You coughed, sniffled and wept until you felt truly finished, sitting back and breathing through the last of your emotional outburst.

You took a gulp of the drink in your hand, feeling it burn down your throat, leaving another ache behind. You nearly coughed. It was strong. You wondered if Sanji had kept the stuff for cooking purposes. Nobody could enjoy drinking it otherwise.

You sat, sipping at the vile drink, moping about your situation, when you heard footsteps.

You had instinctively learned to identify the footsteps of each of your crewmates, a habit you could never kick.

The slower but deliberate steps were Zoro's, heavy and strong. You realized it was probably his booze you had stolen.

His shadow passed over you and you tensed, ready to be yelled at for taking some of his secret stash, but instead you heard him remove another bottle and sit down next to you.

The temperature seemed to rise in the silence that followed, shame and fear clouding your thoughts.

“That's mine.” Zoro said, not angrily, just as a blanket statement. “Not anymore.” You shot back, feeling nausea creep up as you challenged him.

“Luffy told me about… the thing.” He sounded uncomfortable. Had he been sent to talk to you? You doubted it. It was easier to have a conversation with a boulder than it was to talk to Zoro.

He took a swig of his drink and sighed after he swallowed. Of course he'd think nothing of the scorching burn.

“He's sorry.” Zoro said simply. “And he wants to still be your friend.” “And he sent you as a messenger?” “Not really. I was just itching to drink. Didn't know you were down here.”

You doubted that, but said nothing of it. “Why do you even have this stash?” You asked, wiping the tear tracks off your face, hoping Zoro hadn't seen them shining in the dim light.

“The cook's always on my case about stealing it, so I got some of my own. He thinks he stopped me.” Zoro said, almost proudly. “But he doesn't know about this.”

“Are you sure it's even safe?” You asked, swirling the remainder of yours in the bottom of your bottle. “It tastes horrible.” “That's how you know it gets you drunk.” Zoro insisted.

“You're insane.” You set down your bottle and Zoro picked it up, finishing the last gulp of your drink.

“Ew.” “I'm not wasting booze because you can't handle it. Plus it's mine anyways.”

“And you can keep it.”

Zoro chuckled, and it became silent again. The air reeked with unanswered questions.

“So, Luffy?” Zoro asked. “Didn't think he was your type.”

You felt a lump in your throat, but pushed it down. “And what is my type?” You asked.

“I don't know. Someone less energetic. Someone who matches your speed. Someone calm.” He shrugged.

You nodded. “Maybe I should have fallen for someone like that.”

You felt the tears start to return, pricking your eyes. “But I didn't.”

Zoro tensed at the shake in your voice. He had no idea why his impulses had driven him there, only that he was there now and now he needed to address his own feelings towards you.

Zoro stared at his empty bottle, willing the rather small quantity of alcohol to help him out.

“You know, Luffy would probably be an odd boyfriend.” “Hes an odd anything.” “Yeah, but you know what I'm saying.”

You shook your head. “Oh, like there's a better contender on this ship?”

Zoro sat still, giving you a look that implied what he wanted to say.

You laughed, a harsh noise. “You? You do nothing but nap and work out all day! You'd be no worse, but definitely no better.”

“I do more than that.” “Oh sure, when Nami tells you to get off your ass and man the sails you'll sometimes rise to the task, but your seafaring days are boring.” “I would do more if there was more to do.”

You laughed again, your share of the alcohol beginning to kick in. “I doubt that.” You rested your head on Zoro's shoulder, in an attempt to comfort him. “Besides. It's not even like you're interested in anyone.”

Zoro said nothing in response. In fact, you felt him freeze under your head.

“I am.”

He sounded slightly indignant, but there was a deep current of hurt flowing beneath his words.

“Really?” You gasped, lifting your head from his shoulder and looking at him. “Who is it? On the crew? You need to tell me, I won't tell anyone else, I promise.”

He turned his head so that the two of you were facing each other, noses almost touching, eyes boring into each other.

“You.” He said simply, but under his skin a whirlwind of emotions were sparking all over the place, awaiting your answer, screaming for him to do something, to protect himself from the impending rejection.

You sat still, processing his admission, realising that in your flurry of questions you had propped a hand on Zoro's thigh, which sat rigidly under your touch.

The two of you said nothing, just staring at each other in the dim light of the hull, two bottles on the floor, rattling with the rocking of the boat.

Finally you felt a tear drip down from your eye, a shiny stream marking your cheek, the cherry on top of a miraculous mess of your mental state.

Zoro moved slowly, a hand carefully coming up and wiping the droplet from your face, a previously unseen act of tenderness coming from him.

Your body acted without consulting your brain first, yearning, years of pent up emotions, broken barriers and pain, so much pain, from your past, your present, your future, all combining into one swift movement, pushing your face upwards, locking your lips with Zoro's.

He reacted immediately, hands cupping your face and pulling you closer, shifting his sitting position so he was facing you immediately, one leg lifted over yours, carefully placed so as not to actually touch your legs.

He devoured you, savouring every second you spent with him against you, letting his lips suck the struggles from your body, letting them evaporate.

There was twitching in his arms as he struggled to decide how to hold you, wanting to cradle your head and pull you in by your waist. He moved frantically, as if he was stuck in a dream in which he was only seconds away from waking up.

You continued to kiss him until you needed air, gasping desperately before he tugged you back down, a primal sound coming from his throat. He wanted you so bad, and you had finally taken him. It was pure ecstasy. He wanted the moment to last forever, until the sea dried up and the world crumbled to dust.

He felt you slow down, the heat of the moment fading away, you coming to your senses, though you continued to kiss him as you did so.

When you finally parted from his lips, he resisted the urge to pull you back in, letting you sit back, processing the events that had taken place.

“Oh god.” You groaned, an overwhelming sense of guilt clouding your brain. You were not an impulsive person. Your hand moved to cover your mouth, as if hiding would erase the line you had just crossed.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-” you stumbled over your words, confused and flustered. “It's not that I don't- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-” you cursed yourself.

Zoro looked at your panic and regretted confessing to you. You weren't ready, and it looked like he had just made things worse.

“Stop.” He said, holding up his hands. You moved away slightly, still wary of everything. “You don't have to say anything. If you don't want anything I'll leave.”

You watched him carefully, waiting for him to continue. “But if you want to do something, we can, when you're ready.”

He stood to leave and you watched pitifully as he disappeared, leaving you with two empty bottles and kiss-swollen lips. A confusing storm of feelings brewed over you, complicated and painful. Luckily for Zoro, you found pain comfortable.