#lynn-writes

Prrr. Prrr. Prrr. Cu-lick.

“It’s been quite a while since you’ve called, are you sure about this?”

“Quite. They made it clear it would be utterly careless not to. Expected arrival time is at sunrise. No messes, you hear?”

“Clear as day, sir. Considering the walk in the park you just gave me, should I leave the ‘Thank You’ note with them, or should I save that for when you decide to ring again?”

“Focus. Stick to the plan. And it wouldn’t hurt to remember our deal.”

Cu-lick.

“Great.”

Zoro stirred from his slumber as soon as he heard the laugh of his captain. Was it already time for Brook to take his shift? Did he sleep through breakfast? He didn’t feel the sun on him just yet. He shrugged it off. If there was danger, he’d know, no doubt. He allowed his shoulders to relax as sleep absorbed him once more.

Until suddenly, “Now, Usopp, Chopper!”

The floor shifted, he shot back, the air in his lungs suddenly slammed out of him as his head struck the glass of the crow’s nest. His eye shot open, but his vision swam, followed by a thrumming on the base of his skull. He quickly grabbed his swords that slid under the bench from the change of position, scoping his surroundings. 

Of course, when his guard was down, something would happen to the ship. He ignored the way his vision blurred to turn around and scan the ship through the glass beneath him. He saw a familiar straw hat from a distance and loosened the tight grip of his blades. At least someone was out there.

What he still was trying to figure out was why in the hell was Luffy at the helm? Zoro ran to the hatch. He angled himself down the ladder and tightened his grip as he quickly realized they were soaring through the sky. 

“What the fuck is happening?!” He shouted over the whipping wind, watching Luffy let go of the wheel to stand on the now horizontal mast.

  He just laughed and held onto his hat, his standard goofy grin shined in the moonlight.  “We’re going to the city of meat, duh!”

“You idiot!” Zoro yelled. “We were going to be there in the morning!” His warning fell on deaf ears. Luffy, who was singing and dancing about meat, was too busy to care. He hoped everyone else was safe.

He already had a bad feeling about the poster they’d found on the ghost ship yesterday. The rest of the crew, however, seemed unfazed. Nami had determined from her Log Pose that they’d reach the island by sunrise, and everyone was eager for a break after the war they’d just endured. But, of course, Luffy’s hunger had to ruin that plan.

He glanced around while his thoughts wandered for a brief and unwelcomed moment.

Where was the damn cook? His face soured, trying to force the thought down as soon as it came. He’s probably clinging onto his bed in the men’s quarters like an idiot, he thought again, but the idea of Sanji flying overboard refused to leave his mind. 

“He’ll survive just in spite of me thinking that,” He humored, muttering under his breath to himself, the usual bite in his tone gone. Still, he scanned the doors for a mop of blonde hair that he wouldn’t admit he waited to appear. If he had half the brain Zoro thought he had, he’s probably helping the others. 

Now, Zoro was stuck there, gripping the rope ladder as he tried to make sense of the chaos. Over Luffy’s shoulder, he caught glimpses of the dark horizon. The Sunny pitched forward sharply, teetering above the sea before nose diving toward land. Zoro was relaxed as ever—if relaxed meant cursing under his breath and bracing for impact.

“Hold o-” Zoro’s warnings were cut off as the ship slammed into hard dirt, skidding like a rock skipping across a pond. Zoro jostled against the rope ladder with each impact, gritting his teeth. The hull screeched. Luffy was laughing, because of course this was absolutely hilarious to him, as he swung on a stretched arm. A chorus of startled yelling joined the ship’s groaning protests, the crew must have been rudely woken up just like him. 

Finally, they stopped. The wood wheezed underneath them, the pitch black enveloping them on all sides. 

“That was awesome!” Luffy’s cackle echoed off into the dark night as he dropped from the mast back onto the grassy deck. “Did you see that Zoro?!” 

He did more than see it, he thought. He drops from the rope onto the deck. He went to reply, but heard doors slamming open and shut, followed by multiple yells for the same person.

“LUFFY!”

Everyone clambered in, one after another. Jinbei carried Brook’s head, while Franky angrily dragged the other two culprits with him. Behind them, Zoro sees a shock of blonde, and he lets go of a breath he didn’t realise he had been holding. He scratched the back of his head and rolled his shoulders, as if his previous worries would fall off of them. Adrenaline is still pumped through his veins under hot skin, cooled off by the night’s air. 

“Morning everyone!” Luffy said excitedly, smile stretched so wide Zoro wouldn’t be surprised if his face stayed like that. “We’re here! Good work, Usopp and Chopper!”

“I can’t believe I let him talk me into this..” Usopp groaned and whimpered under the tight grip Franky held his waist in, and Chopper gasped for air. 

  “Too tight, too tight!” He clawed at the large hand with his hooves to no avail.

Nami was already tearing Luffy a new one, and Franky was following suit. Even Jinbei had a look of dismay, while Brook was steadily complaining in his palm.

“You can’t believe it,” Franky says through his teeth, dropping the two to the floor. “I can’t believe all the work I’m going to have to do on the Sunny because of you 3, this is not super, bros.” 

“I’m thinking we should’ve kept him in the cage,” Sanji muttered as he let go of Nami and set down robin on the deck. 

“I agree with you Sanji,” Nami bellowed as she charged past Zoro, and pinched hard on Luffy’s cheek. “I don’t think he learned his lesson from the waterfall, after all,” 

Luffy whined halfheartedly like a child. “Ow- I’m really sorry, Nami.. I was just hungry, ya know!”

“When you’re hungry, you wake up Sanji. You don’t crash the ship into land in the middle of the night!” She screamed, and it ringed in Zoro's ears, the sharp pain in his head roared to life. He winced and rubbed the back of his head again. It didn't surprise him when he removed his hand that he saw smudges of red on his finger tips.

“Why didn’t you stop him?” He felt a gentle kick at his shin, turning to see Sanji staring at him. He had dark circles underneath his wide, tired eyes that bore straight through Zoro. The blond hair that covered his face illuminated with the light of his lighter. The flame flickered to life as he scanned around, taking in their surroundings. “What happened to keeping watch?"

  Zoro rolled his eyes, “I keep watch against threats, not our own crew. Besides, how was I supposed to know what he was going to do, curly?” He really wasn’t in the mood to fight with the bastard, especially not this early in the morning. He watches Sanjis eyes look at him, squinting like he could see through him, his eyes lingering on the hand Zoro had rubbed his head with. Zoro wipes his hand on the back of his pants, shrugging it off like he already knew what Sanji would say next. They remain silent, but everything in Sanji’s eyes looks like they’re begging a question. Zoro chest tightens as he bit back the pain in his head and heart.

“I’m fine, Cook. Nothing happened,” Is all he gives, turning away to look at the rest of the crew. "Drop it."

“I didn’t say a thing, Moss,” Is all he says in response, lighting a new cigarette as he listened to the crew begin to brainstorm a plan of action.

After a moment of arguing and tired deliberation, All adventures to the mysterious Buffalo Bay were cut off for the night. Even with Luffy’s master plan, they had no choice but to wait until sunrise with how dark it was. Even with Franky’s freak ass lights, they could only see dirt and grass for what seemed to stretch on for forever. Robin questioned if there was any land of meat at all, and the fact they were stranded settled amongst the group in a grim veil.

So much for a tourist destination, he thought. He had heard enough of the plan. He walked away from the group, settling on the edge of the grass to rest his aching head. As sleep began to overtake him as he droned out the sounds of his friends talking, he couldn’t help but to feel a pit in the bottom of his stomach. It was small, but large enough to annoy him and eat away at his steeled nerves. Something was really off about this island. As sleep washed over him, he could only think that that was just something he’d have to worry about later. 

A/N: AHHH finally!! I have been planning this fic in my head with multiple drafts and outlines and brainstorming for I think 2 months at this point, and finally feel pretty good about how to started this off.

The bitter cold was all consuming. The wind raged over the icy hills. Its whistling rang against the metal that shielded you from its burn. Snow pelted the foggy windshield in a thick layer of white, frost seeping into the cramped, humid caravan. You looked over at the man in front of you— well, what you could see, at least. 

Hunched over, his thick thighs squished against both walls. He made a poor attempt to find comfort as he spread his legs wide but preserved what distance he could from you.

Yet, your knees still knocked together. The polyester squeaked as you both tried to avoid contact. A green glow lit the dark silhouette of his brow bone and jaw. His scowl was clear, even in the dark. 

You rubbed your clammy, cold hands on your snowsuit. You weren't sure what made you more uncomfortable. It was a toss-up between the swordsman, your freezing feet, and the sweat rolling down your back, soaking your thin cotton shirt that insulated you like a sauna.  You didn’t know how long you could take this, and it seemed he was at his limit too.

“You do realize this is your fault?” His voice sliced through the stale, warm air, snapping his head up at you, voice leaking with annoyance. 

“I don’t control the weather, Zoro,” you bristle, avoiding his unwavering gaze.

You look behind at the console, the screen blinking an incessant warning on the panel: Warning, low temperatures detected. Return Brachio Mini to Franky immediately. 

"But you control this." He gestures at the broken panel.  “We could’ve been back by now.”

“I’m sorry I like to be thorough; you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” You snapped back, but a small ounce of guilt bangs in your chest. As if you didn’t already know that, you thought. It didn’t stop you from holding on to your sliver of pride.

“When has Nami ever been wrong?” He tried to adjust for the hundredth time with no luck.

You sighed. How did he know how to get under your skin and fester there? “It was just sunny outside! You even took a swim earlier,"

“Now I’ve got a stalker?” His lips curl in cruel amusement, making your eye twitch with anger.  “That still doesn’t answer the question.”

“Fine, Nami was right. that's what you want to hear?” you hiss between tight lips. "And she’s going to kill us if we don’t freeze to death. Or maybe the lack of oxygen will come first.”

He tilted his head. “So Nami is right, and I’m not?”

“Glad to see you have your priorities straight.” You can’t help how naturally your eyes roll into your skull. He always brushed off the danger, like an annoying fly. It was a mere inconvenience to the brute. While he sat there, calm and unwavered, you were trying to quell your racing pulse, worry eating away at your patience.  

“I’m not dying here, and neither are you. I told you I could open the hatch." His voice was soft but determined. You feel your chest burn. 

“And lose the heat? Are you stupid?” you grumbled.

“You’re the one worried about the air.” He shrugged.

“Yeah, and I’m also worried about freezing to death too. Say, do you have anything between your ears, or is it just a stand for your sword?”

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” He claps, each echoing off the tinny walls. You sit in silence, trying to calm down. 

"I only agreed to come because I knew you'd get lost." You repeat, fiddling with the transponder snail. Still, no signal. 

And that was something Zoro couldn’t argue with. He slanted his eyes down at you as you turned back toward him, crossing your arms over your chest. Silence enveloped you once more, thick with tension and aggravation. 

You could see it so clearly 3 hours ago. Zoro went off by himself on the island. He either got into trouble or got lost, causing it. With limited options, you knew tagging along was the better one. He never tried to see it from your angle, no matter how hard you would persist. You used to feel envious of this, how his troubles would roll off his shoulders like a duck sheds water. Now, you realize he lacks the brain to see the issue. 

With a voice laced in anger, he broke the silence once more. “Anyone else would’ve gotten us back to this ship now,”

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” you shoot back. “And I’m not anyone else.”

“You got that right,” he muttered, shifting as your knees knocked together again. You ignore the swift blow to your ego, pestering further. 

“So you rather Sanji?” 

“Please, don’t say that name right now; my head hurts enough with just you here.” 

"Answer my question, swords." You point your finger at his chest. The heat of his body radiates into your finger. He swats your hand away, rubbing the spot like it burned. 

“Both of you are annoying. One of you is lucky they're—" He paused, catching himself, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. You tilt your head, leaning closer in curiosity. 

"Never mind, this shit is stupid.” He trailed off, voice low as he avoided your gaze. His face twists between disgust and something else you can’t quite label; his eyes flicker away.

“No, finish your thought. Lucky? Lucky for what? And who?”

“I’m not doing this with you right now.. You're impossible.” He groaned, rubbing his temples. “Let me try to fix it; we’re losing daylight.”

You stared at him. “And do what exactly? I don’t think you can slash yourself out of this one.”

He looked up at the ceiling, hands reflexively thumbing the swords jutting at his hip. “That’s not a bad idea, actually.” 

You scoffed. “You can’t be serious.” 

“As a heart attack. Move.” He grabbed your shoulder, standing up, hunched over with a hand gripping Wado. You dug your heels in and leaned back. 

“No.” You glare at him, ignoring how his frame folded over yours. You sink further into the chair to avoid his gaze. His legs slot into yours awkwardly. “I won't let you ruin our only way back.” 

“And I’m not going to listen to your constant whining anymore. Move.” He grips tighter on your shoulder, eyes boring into you, unreadable. “Now.” 

“I won’t, asshole!” you seethe, but you’re losing your bite as he dips his head down, slamming a hand down behind you in frustration.

“ I have had it up to here, with you. You can’t control everything.” He whispered tersely, eyes searching yours for the answer.

"I don’t,” you whispered back. 

“Then why have you insisted on doing everything? There’s no I in team.”

You try to deflect, picking at your sleeve. “I’m surprised you can spell."

He rumbled your name, and you looked at him, eyes serious. The green highlights his small, pouting mouth. It reflects pretty shimmers off his earrings, which sway with his movements.  His grip on your shoulder loosened as he loomed down, his face impossibly close to yours. You feel his breath feather against your cheeks, warming your windburned skin. 

“Trust me, dammit..” His voice was low, not commanding, but pleading- a small tinge of frustration laced within his voice that left you wondering ‘trust you with what?’ 

The weight of heady legs pressed closer into yours. You freeze.

 ...Was he?

 You watch his eyes soften as his eyes dart across your face. For a brief moment, he eyes your chapped lips, his own twitching into something too tender, too vulnerable to be meant for you. You were rendered silent, trying to steel your legs from squeezing his toned leg between them.  this must be some cruel dream you were conjuring for yourself. But no, you both were here, breathing in each other's air, staring into each other's eyes for what felt like eternity. You feel your body buzz with the palpable energy left suspended in the air. 

Before your brain can catch up with your thoughts, you exhale sharply, lips forming a soft ‘o’. You were unable to back further away, feeling yourself pulled in by his gravity. He couldn’t be... Could he? 

But then- 

Sharp metal and glass clash violently after Zoro swiftly unsheathes Wado, stabbing the panel behind you. You scream and jolt forward, tumbling into Zoro’s chest as he falls back, sparks whizzing in the air. The interior groans and spurts, before suddenly, the engines whirs with purpose. The lights of the cabin flicker on, and the power levels itself out again.

“What the hell was that?!” You jump out of Zoro’s arms, pushing away the arm he had wrapped around your waist. You can see the way his cheeks are dusted red, but he leaned back, sheathing the sword. 

“I fixed it. See what happens when we can trust each other,” He smiled.

You look at him incredulously. He was stupid, but not braindead.“That wasn’t trust! that was- you- you tricked-”

“What did you think was going to happen? I’m not that easy.” He smirked and you feel embarrassment eat away at whatever nerves you have left.  He did know what affect that had on you, and seemed to relish it. 

“I’ll kill you with my barehands,”

“Why don’t you just get us home instead?” He juts his chin to the panel.

You try to calm your shot nerves for a moment to think, reaching at whatever remnants of the panel to carry yourselves back home. You needed to be far away from him, as soon as possible. Your hands twitch as you try to retrace the land, snow melting slowly off the windshield. 

You worry on your bottom lip.  Great. 

“I... I think we’re lost.” You force the words out of your mouth, defeat weighing you down.

“I thought you knew where you were going?!” He yelled behind you in exsperation.

"Uh.. yeah, my bad."

Maybe you were a little impossible.

and legends say they are still in the snow, battling their sexual tension, frozen in time lol.

hope you enjoyed this! If you can't tell I like when zoro is mad at you lol. Sorry if the end is a bit rushed :')

ngl I highkey wouldn't mind making a pt.2 to this with MAYBE some smut- but forewarning, i’m rusty asf. if you would want one, let me know! this was definitely supposed to be longer, but I thought it'd be cute leaving it off here.

The Sunny rocked in the gentle evening breeze, the sun retreated behind the horizon. Purple and orange hues stretched across the galley. A book laid heavy in your lap as you relaxed with the remnants of the crew after dinner. You had means to finish a chapter before you wound down. But, the rare, sweet peace made your body feel like lead. The soothing song of clinking dishes, muffled snoring, and soft scribbling filled the space with a cozy air. Since you joined the merry-band of pirates, you quickly learned that times of silence were few and far between. You wouldn’t dare disturb it. 

Nami hunched over her logbook next to you, charting a map with fervor. On the other side, Luffy rested on your shoulder. Food crumbs were scattered across his drooling mouth as he slept. Across the way, Sanji hummed a soft tune as he flitted around the room. The song pulled you in and with each note, you found yourself lost in thought, rereading the same words over again. 

From the corner of your eye, you felt the cook’s lingering gaze on you. Not that it bothered you; it gave you another reason to abandon your book. You both were playing a silent game 一 a game you had been playing for weeks. A game he was failing miserably at. 

Your eyes lock again for a moment, the darkened cerulean meeting yours with uncertain curiosity. 

You raised a playful brow, letting your eyes wander. His neck and jaw tightened, a splatter of red rising to his ears as his adam’s apple wavered in his throat. His tune faltered, and he quickly glanced away, fumbling with the cutlery he had in hand. You feel a chill run down your spine, trying to quell the trail of goosebumps on your arm. 

Nami let out a groan, looking at the porthole behind you. The wind rattled against the glass, and Luffy stirred, pressing closer to you for warmth.

"We're getting close to a winter island,” she announced, tapping her pen to the journal. "Expect snow in the morning."

 “Snow?” you felt your heart flip in your chest, excitement rising in your voice. “Like a lot of it?”

“...That’s right,” Nami smiled, pushing her glasses up the brim of her nose. “Should’ve remembered snow isn’t common for you.”

“Does frosted grass count?” you offer sheepishly.

Sanji chuckle grabbed your attention as he approached with a folded blanket tucked beneath his arm.

 “Here, you’ll be needing this, then,” He hands the soft fleece to you and you reach out, gentle fingers brushing yours. It was a quick, unassuming exchange. You stare at the crisp white linen of his shirt ruffled at the cuff, straining under his toned arm. 

 “I would hate to see you catch a chill,” He looks up at the ceiling, avoiding your eyes. He cleared his throat and whipped around, busying himself again. You mumble a weak ‘thank you’, ignoring how your fingers still burn from the feathered touch. You shimmy the warm fleece over you and Luffy’s shoulder. It smelled like smoked tobacco and vanilla extract, and you pushed the urge down to bury your nose in the fabric.

He turned to an unimpressed Nami. “Guessing soup or stew for tomorrow?” 

“Soup?” Your insatiable Captain groans in his sleep, a dazed smile playing on his drooling lips. 

Nami scoffed, rolling her eyes. A pen flies through the air and hits Luffy square between the eyes.

“Ow..! What was that for?” He croaked blearily,  rubbing his head.

“All you ever think about is food, I bet you were dreaming about it too.” She chides, closing her journal with a soft thud, collecting her things. “Come on, time for bed. Tell the others about the snow.”

“It’s snowing?!” Luffy boomed, soaring up, wide-eyed with joy. The blanket fell off your once-taken shoulder.

“Not now, later.” Nami re-iterated with annoyance. “Come on,”

“Night, you two,” “G’Night guys!”

And with that, the galleyway soon was draped in another tranquil silence. With how cold the temperature was dropping, you wouldn’t have been surprised if it was snowing right now. You pull the blanket towards you closer, brain racing with the promises of a new experience tomorrow. You had joined the straw hats out of desperation for adventure, to see the world for more than what your tropical island could offer. Now, it felt like it was finally paying off.

“Excited?” Sanji’s voice jerked you out of your thoughts. You look up, watching him polish spoons like second nature, blonde hair falling like golden silk in front of his eyes. 

“Uh- yeah, ” You mumbled into the fleece, burying yourself further. “I guess you say that,”

“Come on,” He throws the towel over his shoulder, voice low and teasing, “ indulge me, sweetheart.” 

Ignoring the way your stomach flips at the deep rumble of his voice, you give in. 

“I dunno, it’s just,” You admit, shifting in your seat, “There’s only so much reading you can do before you wonder what it would be, ya’know?” You stare down at the forgotten book, closing it and placing it on the table.

“I think I get what you mean,” The tenderness in his voice caught you off guard as he continued. “-beauty like that you can only witness in person, no words would do it justice,” When you meet his kind gaze again, your mind goes blank, and you have to remember how to breathe.

“S-so true,” You cleared your throat, mouth impossibly dry. “Well, u-uh, let me get ready for bed, I want to be the first one up!” You jumped up, the blanket forgotten on the bench as the pen in your lap clattered to the ground. You scuttled quickly out the galley way with a rushed ‘good night!’, leaving Sanji as the last one standing. 

Sanji blinked, and sighed, staring at the door where you had left. His shoulders drooped low at the brief, sweet moment. He fished in his pocket for a cigarette, shaking his head.  He lit the cigarette and watched hot smoke curl in the cool air. He lets his mind wander to the promise of tomorrow, the promise of seeing you again. 

“Goodnight, Princess.” He murmured out to the empty room. 

-

That chilly night you tossed and turned. Even as your body thrummed with hot adrenaline, you shivered. As much as you tried to bundle yourself deeper into your blankets, the cold seeped into your bones. Your nose and cheeks burned from the chill. You stared out the porthole, watching the clear black of night until you drifted off to sleep.

-

You wake up with a start. Bright white light shines in, and you look over at the others, who are still fast asleep. Nami’s soft snores and Robin’s even breathing are muffled by their blankets. You slowly peel the covers away, hissing at the cold that bites your skin. Excited breaths plume in the air like smoke, as you tip-toe slowly out the room. Opening the door, the sight blows you away, air escaping your lungs. You didn’t think it would be this magnificent. Soft snow covered the tops of everything in a thick layer of bright white made you squint. The rising sun shot gorgeous rays of yellow across the falling snow, sparkling in the morning light. 

An icy blast of cool wet air brushes past your legs and feet, and you quickly shut the door to not disturb the women sleeping. Your barren feet take their first steps onto the deck, and you barely can contain your excitement with each skip you take down towards mens quarters, you couldn’t be the only person to witness this. Thinking back to your conversation with Sanji last night, heat fills your body even as your toes begin to turn numb.

 Fresh footprints lead you to the door, and you quickly slip inside. enveloped in a loud chorus of groans and snores. You scan the room as your feet heat up on the solid wood. You tiptoed over Zoro and Chopper who huddled for warmth. Past Usopp and Luffy’s hammock, you looked for a tuft of blonde hair with no luck. You cursed under your breath. He must be up already, you thought. You turn behind, looking at your sleeping Captain. 

Guess he would do. You poke at his cheek softly.

“Pstt.. Luffy..” He groaned, swatting your finger away and turned over. You shake him this time, watching his head jostle around. “wake up, it's snowing, come o-” 

“SNOW?!” His eyes shoot open, screaming at the top of his lungs. The rest of the cabin jumped up with a bewildered confusion. Before you could apologize, Luffy was grabbing Usopp by the nose and you by the wrist, pulling you out onto the deck.

-

You screamed as you skipped around the deck. The snow crunched under your feet, the frigid air biting your exposed skin as soaked in the new sensation. You squeal as you flounce around,the fresh snow upturned by each step.  

-

Sanji watched from the doorway curiously, and he couldn’t help the cheesy smile stretching his face. God, you were gorgeous like this, He thought. He watched you play in the snow with wonderment, Luffy and Usopp’s cheers muffled in the background. How could he deny himself with the pleasure of watching you? You were like a dream, something he was convinced he conjured in his brain to torture himself with. 

All night, he was awake, picturing your first moments in the winter, how you would glow against the snow. How the snowflakes would fall on your eyelashes, begging him to swipe them away.  He imagined would be able to provide you with warmth after a day of reliving your childhood anyway you needed him to, if you willed it. These thoughts plagued him well into the night, till the sun threatened to peek over the horizon as he watched out the port hole as it began to fog over with frost, too late into the morning to fall asleep. He rubbed his tired eyes, the sight of you absolutely vibrant with joy fueling his exhausted and needy heart. 

Even with his answered prayers, he couldn’t help but worry about your lack of clothes. Where the hell were your coat and shoes? He worried on his bottom lip, glancing at the ice bitten soles of your feet, trying to keep his eyes away from the way your shirt rode up with every leap forward.

 Had he been careless? He felt responsible for your lack of winter preparedness. His brows furled in worry as he watched you slip onto your back. 

His stomach dropped. He vaulted over the railing, dress shoes sinking into the frigid snow. With each determined flounce towards you, his socks became sodden with cold water.

 “You alright, gorgeous? Where’s your coat and shoes?” He flits above you nervously, his shallow breaths fogging in the crisp winter air. 

“You’ll freeze solid in this weathe-” He was cut off by your floaty laughter, his heart seized and banged rapidly against his ribs. 

“This is so much fun,” You laughed, arms outstretched as you made snow angels below him, beaming with happiness. “Join me Sanji!”

His brain was short-circuiting as he stood there with his mouth agape. Everything in his body wanted to get him into the snow next to you, to bury his hands into your side and roll around in the fluff, but looking at your bright red palms made him stop.

 “No, We need to get ready first, up you go,” He holds out a hand, and you whine in protest, but begrudgingly take his hand. He hisses at the soft cold hand, clasping it gently as he pulls you up. 

“Your hands are so cold...” He murmured. Without thought, he rubs your fingers softly in his hand, his curly eyebrows furrowing. A chill runs through your spine, but you feel like you're sweating at the soft touch. 

He slowly brings life back into your fingers as you stare in silence.His other hand catches yours and he cupped them gently, bringing them to his chapped, pink lips. They form into a soft ‘o’ as he exhales balmy, heavy breaths into your trembling fingers. Even with the winter that surrounded you, you were going to melt into the deck of the Sunny if he continued. You squeeze your eyes shut and look away. It was all too much. 

You squirm under the touch, but don’t pull away. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes I do,” He shakes his head, cheeks dusting pink, “Wouldn’t want any of these pretty fingers to freeze and fall off, right?” You don’t respond, staring at your feet. He always had a way with words that left you speechless. His gaze follows your, smacking his teeth. 

“You’re killing me,” He sighed, before dropping your hands, “Up you go,” With a swift movement, your frozen feet are swept off the ground. You let out a small noise of protest, but quickly wrapped your arms around his neck. 

“But the others-” 

“-Are complete idiots. You can come back out here later when you have appropriate winter clothes.” He made quick, determined strides towards the galley door swinging it open. Sweltering heat embraced you as he placed you on the bench, the smell of tomato and garlic wafting in the air. 

“Let's warm up and dry off first. I’ll make you hot chocolate, too.” He rambled, clasping his hands together as he scanned the room, “Or would you rather have cider? You think on that,  I’ll be back in one minute, my little snow angel.”

As quick as he leaves, he’s back again, shutting the frigid air out. “I brought a towel, a change of clothes, and a spare coat. Nami picked them out, don’t worry, I didn’t want-” 

“Someone’s mothering me right now,” You finally cut him off.

You watch his windburned face twist in embarrassment. “Someone has to, don't they?”

“And that someone should be you?” You tease with no bite in your words, but shift uncomfortably in your seat. The more you warmed up, the more you were hyperaware how your soaked t-shirt clung to your back, dripping onto your legs. 

You weren’t the only one who had notice, when a towel was shoved quickly in front of your face. Sanji’s eyes glued to the ceiling. You take it, wiping and patting yourself dry from the melted snow. 

what a weird way to end a fic ik i suck for it, but I got pretty uninspired there at the end. I have so many ideas but I suck at the romance sometimes. I used to rp a lot eons ago when I was a teenager and am just really trying to gain confidence in my writing again after that trauma, iykyk LMAO

I dunno if i’ll come back to edit this or finish my idea. Let me know if you liked it though!

chapter 1 - The devil went down to buffalo bay

Zoro squinted at the mirages on the horizon and leaned back under the Sunny’s deck tree, hoping to find relief from the heat—which was doing a piss-poor job at it. The thick syrupy air and the bleary sun caused slick sweat to coat every inch of his hot skin. It didn’t help the knot that had formed at the base of his skull. He swung his arms up behind his head and rubbed the tender sore with his fingers.  He couldn’t figure out which was more annoying—the heat or the throbbing ache.

On any other day, the sea breeze would’ve helped cool him off after such a rough morning. Being aboard the brigantine normally made even the blistering heat of the Grand Line bearable. But here, on this humid scrap of dirt, grass, and jagged rock they dared to call an island, the Sunny sat dead in the center of it, far from the cooling relief of the water.

He grimaced but kept his jaw tight, forcing himself to relax. The last thing he wanted was to draw the Doctor’s attention — Chopper wasn’t faring much better, anyway. Zoro’s gaze shifted toward the deck stairs, where Usopp and the tiny doctor were dramatically draped over one another, pitifully squeezing water onto each other’s heads. The liquid evaporated almost instantly in the oppressive heat.

Zoro clicked his tongue, his eyebrows furrowing as another sharp thrum pulsed through the knot in his head as he let his mind wander. Serves them right, he thought grimly. It’s partially their fault we’re stuck here in the first place.

Their genius of a captain in the middle of the night grabbed two of his even smarter crewmates to Coup De Burst onto land. The same land that they were set to explore that morning. The land that they were only 4 kilometers away from, from what Nami calculated before she went to bed. But no, the call for adventure — no —food, was too great. 

Feeling more cynical than usual, he hoped the tattered flyer Usopp found on the ghost ship was a dead end. The sun made its way across the sky, shining down on the sparse field. Beyond the patchy clay valleys, plateaus jutted out from the sea of green and maroon. For a land promising tourism, it looked pretty dead.

Maybe, he was right, then. Hopefully, he'd wake up again just as Franky figured out some miracle to return them to the sea, and that damn cook would have his onigiri ready. A side of cold sake served with a fresh ‘I told you so’ for the rest of the crew to chew on sounded like exactly what he needed.

He cursed under his breath and breathed in the hot air. Why the hell did he keep thinking about curly brows now of all times? His thoughts had been swimming ever since Wano. He tried to drop it, but something about the tension between them felt different now—more candid, somehow. Zoro hated it. Scrunching his eyes closed, he stretched out his straining leg muscles. It was showing, in a more intense way than usual, and Zoro found himself looking like an idiot in front of the other man. 

Before leaving with Nami to see if the flyer was a hoax, the dumbass squad—including the captain—were stuck on the boat, along with Robin, Brook, and Jinbei. They were forced to stay behind as punishment for their earlier antics, while Franky stayed to assess the damage to the ship. Zoro had slept through the  decision, and they hadn’t bothered waking him. He only noticed when he heard the familiar footsteps draw near and he reached out, grabbing the cook’s leg as he passed under the tree where Zoro sat. 

Sanji stopped mid-step, his eyebrow arching in confusion as he glanced back. “Hey, let go, you idiot—”

 “—Are you good?”  Zoro’s voice was low, and he immediately regretted how it sounded. His grip on Sanji’s pant leg stayed firm, defiant.

Sanji’s face scrunched in disbelief before it melted into his usual smugness. “I’m just fine, thank you very much. Did you hit your head, Moss, or are you just going to miss me that much?” 

Zoro refused to reply, glaring instead as Sanji gave a sharp tug, yanking his cuff free. The cook smoothed the tiny wrinkle Zoro had caused, dragging his hand down the length of his leg. The fabric strained slightly over his thigh before relaxing as he let it drop. Typical, Zoro thought. Always worried about his stupid clothes. 

“As if,” Zoro muttered, forcing a scoff through the thudding in his chest. “Go ahead, get yourself killed for all I care. Just don’t make a mess.” The words came out harsher than he intended as he leaned back against the tree, shutting his eye tightly. A dull throb pulsed at the back of his skull.

“Fuck you, asshole.” Sanji’s voice was sharp, as he turned to continue to follow Nami who was impatiently waiting by the ladder. 

“Take Luffy with you,” Zoro adds, though he already knew the idiot wouldn’t listen. “Bad idea to leave him on the ship, he’s gonna leave anyways.”

“It’s Nami’s call, not mine.” Sanji’s back stiffened as he paused, then looked over his shoulder, his tone clipped.” And if you want to blame anyone, blame those idiots for getting us stuck here in the first place.”

Zoro exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, his chest tightening with irritation—or something worse. Good riddance, Curly. Hopefully, the idiot would find something in town to distract himself and stop being such a pain in the ass. It had been three hours since then, and two hours since Luffy bolted off after getting bored. Was the island really that large?

Chopper’s whine through Zoro’s foggy thoughts, “When will they be back? It’s too hot, I’m going to die before I get to try any of the candy,” 

“I told you to sit inside with Jinbei,  Brook, and Robin,  if you were going to complain,” Zoro chided. He doubted there was any food in general. 

The door to the galley way opens, and Robin walks quickly to the banister. She peered over the edge, looking down at Usopp and Chopper’s situation with pity.

“It’s quite hot today, isn’t it?”  She brings a hand to cover her eyes from the rays, “Usopp, would you happen to still have any of those breath dials?”

 Usopp with a sudden burst of renewed energy jumped and spilled the water onto the ground. He startled  Chopper, who almost fell if it weren’t for the hands that sprouted next to him and catched him gently. 

Chopper wheezed in excitement, unphased and excited about her proposition, “Robin, that’s such a good idea!” 

“An astute observation from Robin yet again! I think I have just the right thing in my workshop,” He scratches his chin as the gears turn in his brain, “We’re off, Chopper!” 

And a clobbering of leather boots and hooves scrambled away, going down the ladder to the lower part of the ship.  Zoro thought back to the cool air that emitted from the shell. His lips twitched upwards. 

  "No calls yet?" He turned to Robin, who stood looking far off into the distance.

Robin shook her head. "No, which makes me think our Captain hasn’t caught up to Ms. Navigator and the Cook."

"I told that idiot cook he might as well take Luffy with him. He wasn’t going to stay put for long."

Robin hummed impartially, her gaze fixed outwards, her thoughts dancing in her eyes, though she didn’t seem keen on sharing just yet.

Zoro sighed. "Classic, they went and got themselves lost again, leaving it up to us to find them."

 Trying to gather the energy to move, he relaxed one last time, looking up at the clear sky. Zoro began to debate whether to take a dip in the fish tank and swim with Jinbei, who seemed to be taking the heat just as badly as the rest of them.

So much for a break, he thought. 

Before he could succumb to the exhaustion the dreadful heat pressed on him, he felt a small tremor underneath him. 

The subtle thrum became stronger by the second, vibrating the deck and earth around them. His head beat loudly in his ears, his heartbeat ever present. He tried to push back the overwhelming presence creeping closer and closer to him. Robin gripped tight on the rails as she lost her footing underneath the pressure of the Haki. Zoro hesitated for a moment. He quickly decided that Sunny was more important right now. 

The hair on his neck stood on end. Without a second thought, he reached for the hilt of his blades, trying to suppress the excitement in his veins. He stood up and ran to the center of the ship, gripping the woven material of his blades as a chill made its way down his spine like a needle grazing over the skin. Someone powerful was coming their way. He peered off in every direction.

Fuck, where was it coming from?

His eyes land on billowing clouds of red dust that barreled in their direction. He squinted, watching the blob get closer. There was no mistake in these barren fields — it was headed straight for them.

"Looks like we got company, bro!" Franky yelled from a distance, who’d been working diligently on the hull of the ship all morning.

"I can see that, I’ll handle it," Zoro said back, watching whatever beast approached, barely making out the outline. Was that a cow?

"I guess nap time’s over," he muttered, jumping off the ship for the first time. The crunch of the red clay beneath him was harder than he’d expected. He strolled closer to the dust cloud approaching, rolling his neck, blocking out the pain he felt.

 He looked closer. The challenger began to come into view through the haze of dust and dirt. The distinct rumbling of hooves on the ground confirmed his suspicions, but this beast was large. Its size became more noticeable as it got closer. That didn’t bother Zoro. He’d slain many beasts. He could see clearer now, the horned bull tugged back by the large ring in its nose, reins attached from either side. His gaze traveled up, his eyebrow raised out of pure curiosity.

A woman?

She sat on the back of the massive beast with an air of indifference, her gaze fixed elsewhere, not even sparing a glance in his direction. Her legs were casually crossed, and her hat was drawn low, casting a shadow over her eyes. Wild hair billowed beneath it, flowing, dark tresses like a cloud in the wind. She was dressed in dark  leather and denim, the harsh sun reflecting off her tanned skin. Two guns rested on either side of her wide hips, a silent warning. As she closed the distance, she effortlessly tugged the reins bringing he beast to a dramatic halt, mere feet away from the ship. 

The bull bellowed, its roar piercing the air, right in Zoro’s face. The roaring pain in his head persisted, but he forced it down. His eyes narrowed as he instinctively reached for Enma. She seemed like the perfect target to test his one-sword style with the new blade. The way she flaunted her skill, like this was some kind of game, already pissed him off.

 Another show-off who’d be easily cut down. He can’t help but smile at the idea of humbling her. He unleashes his own haki, a warning as she continued her steadfast approach.

His eyes caught the white gauze wrapped around her finger that stopped at her wrist, clothed fingers absentmindedly fiddling with metal between them. Her gaze flit to him, finally acknowledging his presence. She carried herself with confident, nonchalant approach, that gave way under her intense, dark eyes. The tension between them hung thick in the air, the swirling dust cloud that surrounded them settling around the Sunny. They silently sized each other up, and for a moment, he considered cutting her down, right then and there. Bu, she hadn’t made her move yet. Not yet. Zoro tilted his head back.

“What do you want?” he demanded, his tone sharp, watching as she uncrossed her legs. A small, almost dismissive chuckle leaves her lips,  eyes flickering with amusement.

“Well, hello to you, too,” She stretched haphazardly, raising her arms above her head as if Zoro was the most boring thing she could be entertaining right now, He scowled. "I should be asking you the very same thing, pirate." She replied simply. “-I suggest you leave now, if you’re smart.”

 “A woman with a bull and a pair of guns… You think you can scare me with that?” Zoro chuckled darkly. "If you were any good, I’d already be bleeding by now."

She raised an unimpressed eyebrow, pocketing the small, silver item in her palm. “Ya sure you wanna pick this fight? I can do worse than make you bleed,” 

Suddenly, he felt it. The slow building of an ever-present Haki crept up his neck. The prickling sensation ran his blood cold, and he felt adrenaline trill through every nerve in his body. That type of power only had one pure desire: murder. He reflexively reached for Enma to unsheathe it.

It all happened in a flash. One second, he was grabbing for his blade, pulling it out as he felt his own power surge forth into the steel, ready to hack the woman and her bull down. The next second, her gun was drawn, and the shot rang throughout the valley.

Zoro went to dodge the lead, slicing through the air, when he realized what she had been aiming at. Zoro tried to adjust his torso, but the bullet came barreling quicker than he had expected. Before he could fully react, she made a swift motion with her hand still on the reigns.

The massive bull roared again, stomping  its hooves hard into the ground. A  shockwave sent a violent dust cloud swirling into the air, momentarily obscuring Zoro’s vision. The dust storm clouded the already heavy atmosphere, making it harder for Zoro to track the bullet’s trajectory. 

At that moment, Zoro’s world turned to chaos—the thick dust in his eyes, the rumbling hooves, and the overwhelming presence of that woman and her beast. 

The bullet came crashing down with a deafening crack, and struck Enma at angle. The impact sent a jarring vibration up his arm. The force of the bullet sent a sickening crack through the air.  Bullet barreled against his sword, and Emma sent a sharp shock through his grip, nearly sending the blade flying out of his hands. The chip was deep, nicking the edge of Enma in a way that made his stomach drop. The sting of the blade's damage only added to the tension in his chest, heightening his frustration.

"Fuck!" he seethed, tightened his grip on the hilt, anger rising by the second. 

"You’re really in for it now—how the hell am I supposed to fix this?" he yelled, his anger flaring, as he inspected his blade quickly.  Humiliation bubbled beneath the surface of his burning skin.

The stupid headache combined with the heat was getting to him, no doubt. He felt his chest tighten, his expression growing darker as his fears crept to the forefront of his mind. What if he was unable to take her down? He pushed that thought away immediately, deepening his stance and getting ready to lunge.

“Is that really how to treat the sheriff of this here island?” She held her hands up defensively, gun loosely dangling between her fingertips. She tutted under her breath. "You pirates really are all the same, huh, no honor at all.”

“And what would you know about honor, with a cheap shot like that?” Zoro said between his teeth. The chip in Enma made controlling the blade’s Haki harder, forcing him to grit his teeth against the strain as he worked the blade back under his command. She'd pay for that. 

“Cheap? I like calling it creative.” She bites back, flashing a plastic smile. “You’re the one who drew first, I was just quicker. Bet that’s something you’re not used to," 

“-You don’t know a damn thing about me, or honor,” Zoro snapped, fury bubbling over as his fingers twitched toward his other blades, as he searched for any opening. You could be cut down, just like anything else. 

“Zoro, stop,” Robin’s sharp voice cut through his focus. She stepped into his line of sight, raising one hand in warning.

“Give me one good reason,” he growled, his eyes locked on her like a predator tracking prey.

Robin’s tone was calm but firm as she approached the edge of the ship, addressing her directly. “You said you’re the Sheriff of this island?”

Mystery woman winked at Zoro, a gesture that made his blood boil even more, then turned her attention to Robin.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s me,” she beamed. “Though I’d say welcome, we’re not exactly open for tourists—especially of your profession.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Zoro snapped.

Her gaze flickered to him, her hands flexing around her pistol that was drawn low. “It means, this here island is under marine protection,”

“I don’t see any of ‘em around here,” Zoro retorted, 

“And that's dependent on me.” An edge of irritation flares in her voice, commanding and defiant. Zoro frowns deeper. She was definitely trouble. “I’m no marine, though,” She adds.

“We really aren’t here for trouble,” Robin cuts in again, before Zoro could say anything else. “ We actually had found a flyer for a fair, tell me, is this Buffalo Bay?” 

Zoro’s irritation burned hotter as your grin faltered, and holstering your weapon. Did you not find him worthy of continuing the fight?

“This is Buffalo Bay,” the mystery woman said gesturing around wistfully, “but we haven’t had a fair in twelve years.”

“Knew it was too good to be true,” Zoro muttered, his pounding headache flaring again.

Her head snapped toward him, eyes dark and stormy. For a moment, she leaned closer, as if preparing to deliver a cutting remark—but before she could speak, the clatter of boots and hooves broke the tension.

“Wait—wait, we’re back!” Chopper’s voice broke through the tense silence, followed by a dramatically underwhelming entrance by him and Ussop.

“Behold! The ultimate cooling machine!” Usopp, grinned ear to ear, brandishing a lopsided contraption that whirred pitifully. Zoro resisted the urge to groan.  “Chopper helped me perfect it!”

Chopper nodded enthusiastically, only for the device to sputter and die in a puff of smoke. The tiny reindeer’s ears drooped, as they said there, unmoving. “Well… it was working.” 

Usopp blinked, finally taking in the scene. His gaze darted between the new stranger, the massive bull, and Zoro’s tense stance before settling on Robin.

 “Uh, did I miss something? Who’s this chick?”

She chuckled softly, lifting a hand in a polite wave. “Hiya.”

Zoro actually groaned this time, “Don’t trust her Usopp,”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Usopp’s knees wavered, and his teeth threatened to chatter. Chopper, too, shifted nervously behind him. 

“I guess anyone and anything can be a pirate, these days,” She quipped, earning a sharp glare from Zoro, who bared his teeth in response. “They’re none of your business.”

She waved her hand dismissively, like swatting away an annoying fly. “While I’d love to stay and chat all day, y’all might want to get out of this heat. It’ll kill you if you’re not careful.” She tugged on the  bull’s reins, shifting her grip. “You’ll need to head into town—supplies, repairs, food, the whole deal. Lucky for you, I’m feeling generous today. Follow me, and don’t dawdle.” 

With a sly smile, she turned and spurred the bull forward, leaving in a cloud of red dust, too fast for anyone to follow behind. 

Zoro squinted after her, her words lingering like a challenge he wasn’t ready to walk away from. The biting edge he’d felt last night—the creeping sense that something about this was all wrong—was too undeniable to ignore. As he sheathed Enma, the faint resistance from the chip in the blade only sharpened his resolve. At the root of it all was her.

“What’s taking all day?” Nami barks from outside the door, as you scrounge through piles of clothes beside your bed. It was an endless sea of cotton and poly-blends. Your red winter coat nowhere in sight. 

“Treasure isn’t going to find itself, ya’know!” Her voice booms again. The anxiety of letting Nami down gnaws at your stomach.

Fuck. She was going to kill you if you took any longer.

You sighed, collapsing helplessly on the pile. It was always like this for you. Docking would creep up on you, and your ill-preparedness always left you lagging behind in the pack. Of course, your coat would magically disappear when you were about to dock on a winter island. 

Typical. 

You hear your name screamed, and a chill runs through your spine. You could feel the clock ticking; it would be only moments before she took the matter into her own hands. You scan your bed, seeing a glow of orange peek out from the mess of clothes. You quickly grab the sweater, shoving your head through the hole as you run out the door.

“Here, sorry, I-I’m ready.” You say through short breaths, finding the rest of the crew has already made their way off the boat. That left your Navigator, a scowl adorning her angelic face. She donned a beautiful pink puffer coat that fell at her knees. You notice how it matched the soft rose that dusted her face.

 She puffs her cheeks out, hand on her hip. She onced you over, squinting as she inspected your frumpy, thin clothes. 

 “Nice sweater.” She nods, eyebrows raised.

“Oh.” You stare down at the shirt and your face twists in embarrassment. You had definitely seen Nami wearing this two weeks ago. It must have ended up in the monster pile by your bed. “I guess I owe you for this?” 

Nami shakes her head, shoving her hands in her pockets, searching for heat in the coat. It was pretty cold. The more you stood there with her, you felt the heat of the room leaving your body. 

“Is that all you’re wearing?”

“Eh, I’ll be fine.” You shrugged, rubbing your arm to quell the frigid chill from the winter breeze. You tugthe wrinkled sweater over your butt.  

Her eyebrows furrow as she pouted, not convinced. She goes to protest, but you don’t let her. 

“I won’t have time to be cold if we run!” You grabbed her wrist, tugging her towards the ladder. But you miss the way her face flushes red, silently following your lead. 

-

You were not fine. Your skin and lungs burned from the biting air, slicing its way through your body. With each step, you felt like you were going to freeze in place.  All of you had split up to search in the snow for the promised treasure on the island, with no luck. 

As more time passed, you were convinced people were sent here to die in the cold- much like it felt like you were doing.  You tried to keep morale high, but it was a harrowing feat through each chatter of your teeth. 

“Hey.” You hear Nami call behind you. You turn and see her running to you, her hair like a rare flower in the sea of white.  “You alright?”

“Remind me that I hate snow next time.” You say, as she reaches to dust your shoulders off, fingers lingering on your collar. You watch her face soften, pressing the back of her hand to your cold cheek. It’s surprisingly warm, and soothes your raw skin.

Her touch was gentle. It was enough to melt your numb body, heat rising to the surface where her finger traced your jaw. You try to stop trembling, but she quells more out with each touch. She bites her lip in worry, and you look up to the sky to avoid staring. “What happened to running, then?”

You give her an exasperated look that makes her smile at you, playfulness in her eyes. You sneeze, and worry is back in her face. She sighed, pulling away as she reached for the zipper of her coat. 

“Here. Take my coat.” Nami says, and with no hesitation, she began to shed the pink coat.

It was a simple gesture, one of concern and genuine care. Your skin prickles down your back at the thought, but worry crawls to the forefront of your mind. Your frozen fingers grab her hand, stopping her actions. She looks at you with shocked, wide eyes.

“No,” You say, laced in mirror concern as if you weren’t far away from freezing to death. “then you’ll be cold.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” She rolled her eyes, but her darting eyes and flushed skin betrayed her,  “I’ll be colder if I have to drag your frozen body around the island.” “What is it going to cost…?” You ask, and her eyes flash in something unreadable, a gentle look as she drops your hand. 

“Come on, why would I charge you?” She shifts her feet in the snow nervously, and you double over in laughter, voice trembling in the chill.  Why wouldn’t she? 

“Maybe we could share?” You offer a soft and shy smile. She returns it tenfold. 

-

You both awkwardly share the jacket, and it threatens to slip every time you both take a step. It isn’t working at all, but you wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. With each fumble, your arms brushed together, hands daring to tangle into hers. Nami’s coat draped over your shoulders, you try to resist the urge to bury your nose in the sweet scent of her rubbing off onto you. 

You peek at Nami from the corner of your eyes, enjoying the shade of ruddy peach that covers her face, and turn away when she looks at you. You both make an effort with each step to keep in time. The trek silent as you both try to look for any signs of treasure, but it was proving hard to think when your body felt like it was on fire. 

You both take a break, breathing heavily, and annoyed but unwilling to give in. Maybe you weren't the only person enjoying yourself, as you turn to catch another look at the woman. You were about to ask her something, when a voice in the distance cuts you off.

“Oh, Ladies!”

Nami’s content smile immediately dropped, scowling as the lovesick cook made his way over to you both. 

“Are you two okay? I had been looking for you both.” Sanji wrings his hands nervously. The cook offers a cheery smile, worry coating his voice. You and Nami exchange wary gazes.  

“Did you need a coat?” Sanji’s eyes flit between the both of you, as he began to shed his own. You feel Nami tense up beside you.  “I am plenty warm, you could have mine.” 

“She doesn't need anything. Leave us alone.” Nami blurted out, eyebrows furrowed in rage.  Sanji’s eyes flash with an array of emotions: hurt, confusion, and sudden realization, before flashing a knowing smile at the irked Nami.  

“…I’ll just go bother Marimo,” He turns on a sharp heel, waving a hand in the air. “Stay warm, you two...” 

And as swift as he came, Sanji’s gone again, leaving you both with your swimming thoughts.

Nami is hot to the touch as you lean into her, flustered by your closeness, that feels all too apparent, when realizing how intimately ridiculous the situation is. You are the first to laugh, and she hits your shoulder. 

“What’s so funny?!” she demands.

You shake your head, her hot hand brushing yours again. “Nothing, nothing, I’m just thinking about how I am going to pay back for your generosity.”

“A billion berries.” She smiled wickedly, but it didn't match the sincerity in her eyes.

You could play that game. “Come on, cut me a deal at least. Half off since we’re sharing?”

“And how would I profit off of that?” She giggled, pressing a hand to shove again, but it stayed, fiddling with the pilling of the knitted orange. You stare at her, speechless, your toes curling in at the tender caress.

Nami’s hums softly, her breath fanning your lips, sweet and minty. “I think I know a way you could pay me.”

Nami pulls the coat over both your heads, a small tent that leaves you both shielded from the onslaught of snow.  You reach for her hand, giving it a small squeeze, savoring the way it slots perfectly in yours. She pulls you in by the collar, and there you both stand. You breathe in each other's air for what feels like an eternity, taking in the shadows of each other's face.

Nami breaks the soothing silence first. “I bet…” 

“Bet what?” You ask, enjoying the twinkle in her eyes.

“That just like snow, you’ll melt on my tongue too.” She whispers across your lips, her voice smooth as wine.  Your knees feel weak.

With all the confidence you could muster, you surge forward, pressing nervous lips to hers to test the theory. Nami’s lips are impossibly soft, meshing into yours tenderly as they return the sweet kiss. You wonder if they were made for this, a perfect heater for the chill of winter.

You sink deeper, hands squeezing hers tightly, as if it would all disappear if you didn’t. She rubs her thumb on the back of your hand, as if to remind you she was, in fact, still there. 

Your heart is pounding in your ears, and you feel high off the swirling taste of her.

Her prediction was spot on. 

I love the idea of nami always arguing with their partner over chivalrous acts like they're constantly trying to one up each other AAAHHH I kept kicking my feet and screaming while writing this, im too gay to handle the idea-