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It starts on the most mundane day. The winds are soft and the sky is clear. Sunny floats quietly toward their next destination- a small island that Mihawk was supposedly seen at. They've been chasing the ex-schibukai for almost a week and Nami's already tured of it.
Luffy, however, is not. Their captain - their King. Finally King of the Pirates for all of the world to know. He's always been Nami's King (the rest of the crew's too, she knows ), but there's something magical about the fact that the world knows it top now - has been bouncing off the walls since Mihawk's name reached Sunny's deck. Because it's finally Zoro's turn. Zoro's turn for his name to reach the heavens and the world to know what the crew always has - Roronoa Zoro is the greatest swordsman the world will ever know.
"Luffy," Zoro grumbled when the captain bounces over him for the third time. "Cut it out. I'm trying to sleep."
"But Zoro," Luffy whines.
Nami turns her attention back to her magazine, flipping the page. She has no interest in listening to Luffy whine his way into napping with the first mate. Or in getting Zoro to get up to go fishing with him. Or one of the other thousand and one things Luffy - and only Luffy - can convince Zoro to do.
"-bet you my whole shore allowance ."
It's Usopp's voice that catches her attention, muffled by the kitchen door. But Nami knows what she heard.
Bet.
His.whole shore allowance.
Setting her magazine aside, she picks up her nearly empty cup and makes her way into the kitchen.
Usopp sits at the bar, drink and empty plate in from of him as he stares at Sanji intently. Their cook stared back, smoke swirling around him before it floats out the window.
"Ah, Nami-san." Sanji turns his gaze from Usopp to greet her with his usual, overly eager smile. "How was your drink? Do you need another?"
"That would be great, Sanji-kun." Nami offers him her glass and slips into the seat beside Usopp. "What are you boys up to?"
"Usopp's being ridiculous," Sanji says dismissively.
"No! Sanji's being blind. Or homophobic." Usopp pauses, his brow furrowing. "Or maybe both?"
"I'm not being homophobic," Sanji snaps. "If they wanted to he in love, fine. More beautiful ladies for me. But they aren't. They're just idiots."
"My poor, poor, dull friend," Usopp laments. "They're both desperately in love, they're just too scared to admit it."
"You think Luffy's afraid to admit anything?"
The confidence on Usopp's face wanes.
"Who are you talking about?" Nami accepts her new drink from Sanji and looks between the two.
Luffy certainly isn't afraid of admitting anything to anyone. He's an idiot that way. But, Nami knows full well there's only one person that Luffy is in love with. And that green haired moron is in love right back.
Sanji rolls his eyes. "Usopp," he shoots the sniper a pointed look, "is convinced that our idiot captain and idiot swordsman are in love with each other. But neither of then know how to admit it. So he thinks we should figure out how to help them."
Nami stares at them, her voice vanishing at the shere stupidity in front of her. There's absolutely no way that either of them can be serious.
Luffy and Zoro, not knowing how to admit feelings for each other.
Luffy and Zoro, in love but not in a very loving, very committed relationship.
"What?"
"I know, my dear," Sanji sighs. "Utterly ridiculous."
"If it's so ridiculous then take the bet," Usopp godes.
And, oh, shit. They're serious. Neither of these idiots know.
Who else on their crew is completely oblivious to Luffy and Zoro?
And, more importantly, who else is willing to bet on it.
As it turns out, everyone on the crew is oblivious to Luffy and Zoro's very obvious, very public relationship. Even Jinbe. Even Robin.
Nami's day just got a lot more interesting.
The crew - sans Luffy and Zoro - gather around the kitchen table. Nami sips her drink watching her nakama as they argue over the two, oblivious morons out on the deck. Last she looked, Luffy was weaving flowers through the swordsman’s hair while Zoro napped. It’s sickeningly sweet, the way Luffy carefully creates the crown of bright yellows and pinks against the vivid green of Zoro’s hair.
Everyone else continues to bicker around the table. Usopp, Chopper, and Franky all arguing with Sanji and Brook over whether or not their idiot captain and first mate were in love. Robin looks on with a slight smile while Jinbe fiddles with his cup.
“I’ll bet you fifty thousand beli,” Usopp finally announces. “Luffy and Zoro are in love, they just need a nudge!”
“Yeah! Yeah, me too!” Chopper cheers.
Sanji scoffs, smoke curling around him with his exhale. “You idiots. Luffy might be a little more touch with the mossball, but that doesn’t mean they’re in love. I don’t even think that idiot swordsman is capable of feeling love.”
Nami’s hands curl around her cup as she watches them, barely holding back an eye roll. If anyone needed help understanding love, she had a feeling it might be Sanji. Their cook was kind and wonderful and infuriating, but he doesn’t seem to understand what true love is. Not the way Luffy and Zoro feel.
Brook’s bony fingers tap against the table top. “Yoh-ho-ho, I don’t know, Sanji-san. Young love often does need a little… encouragement.”
“Exactly!” Usopp slaps his hand on the table. “We just need to come up with a plan. And, luckily for them, the Great Usopp is a master of love!”
This time, Nami does roll her eyes. Usopp’s no better than Sanji. Kaya’s been pining over the idiot for sniper for years and he still hasn’t figured out how to talk to her about his own feelings.
Robin hums softly as she leans forward. “A gentle push in the right direction may be in order. How tragic would it be to watch them stumble around for the rest of their days, their love story untold until the day they perish.”
“Robin,” Franky whines. “Romance.”
“Is it best to interfere?” Jinbe asks. “What if we ruin their friendship? Their bond is so strong. I, for one, do not want to be part of ruining it.”
Sanji nods furiously. “Exactly. The morons aren’t in love, they’re just stupid enough to be on a wave length no one else can reach.”
“What?” Chopper’s eyes shine. “Sanji, you don’t think they belong together? They act like soulmates!”
“Chopper,” Sanji pats his head. “They can’t be soulmates. Not when the marimo has the emotional range of a sea slug.”
The bickering continues. Nami takes a sip of her drink, lips curling in amusement. They really are naive. And Nami can’t help but take advantage of the naive: especially when there’s beli to be made.
“I think we should make this interesting,” Nami announces. “Since you guys can’t agree, let’s have a friendly bet. Everyone puts in and whoever’s right gets the pot.” All of them glance around at each other before back at Nami. She smiles at them. “If you’re going to fight about it, at least make it interesting.”
“You aren’t going to bet?” There’s a tinge of suspicion in Usopp’s voice.
“Someone has to be the bookmaker,” Nami says. “And I don’t care about those morons’ love life.”
Usopp’s eyes sparkle with determination and Sanji blows out another, thoughtful puff of smoke. Nami grins at them both. Maybe things will finally be interesting on the Sunny.
Nami settles into her chair, magazine on her lap, beside Robin and waits. Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji have been in the kitchen since the bet was finalized, all arguing over how to prove - or disprove - Luffy and Zoro’s joint pining. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, not quite close enough to sunset for dinner but that wouldn’t stop Luffy from being hungry.
“I’m surprised you didn’t want to place a bet,” Robin says, flipping to the next page in her book.
“Not worth it.” Nami shrugs, flipping her sunglasses down. “Let the boys argue over stupid things like that.”
“But there’s money involved.” Robin points out, a slight smile playing at her lips. “You wouldn’t happen to have inside information, would you?”
“Robin.” Nami feigns innocence. “I would never withhold information. Not when there’s money on the line.”
Robin hums, half amused, half disbelieving, and turns back to her book.
The kitchen door squeaks open. Usopp and Chopper step out with their heads held high. Behind them, Sanji slinks out to watch from against the railing. Chopper clutches a tray in his hands, holding a plate of onigiri, two glasses, and a small flower vase with a single daisy. Beside him, Usopp has a checkered blanket, a bottle of sake, and a bottle of milk.
It's so tragically cute that Nami almost melts on the spot.
It would easily win over a softer couple. The romantic picnic setting is something that Nami would devise in an attempt to woe Vivi - she tucks it away for the next time they visit Alabasta - or Sanji might try on a pretty girl. But neither Zoro nor Luffy are pretty girls.
On the other side of the deck, Zoro’s entire focus lays on his training. How could he not? They’re getting closer and closer to Mihawk. Nami’s surprised the idiot manages to sleep - she imagines Luffy’s been ordering him to bed - with all of the adrenaline that keeps his muscles so tense she can see them pressing against his skin. Luffy sits on his usual seat at Sunny’s head, but his eyes are locked on Zoro, watching with the intense, unblinking fascination that only Luffy can manage.
The two morons have been like this all day, barely pausing for food. Right now, Zoro’s entire focus centers around Mihawk, around his dream. So close that Nami knows if the swordsman reaches his hand out just far enough, he can touch it.
“Oi, Zoro!” Usopp calls, By some miracle, he manages to catch the swordsman’s attention. “Why don’t you take a break? Chopper and I have onigiri. I bet Luffy will sit with you.”
“Picnic?” Luffy shoots off his seat to circle Chopper and his tray of food. “Food! Yum!”
Zoro glares at the trio. “I don’t have time to eat,” the swordsman growls. “Eat it yourselves!”
“But, Zoro,” Chopper inches forward, his eyes full of hope, “studies show that relaxing can help your focus before a big battle.”
“If Zoro doesn’t want to eat, I will,” Luffy offers, snatching an onigiri from the tray.
Nami bites her bottom lip to keep from laughing at them. With any other couple, this might have been the perfect attempt. But Zoro and Luffy weren’t just any couple.
“Sitting on a blanket, shoving food in my mouth, isn’t going to help me fight better.” His voice is tense, gaze shifting to Luffy for barely a second. “I can’t waste time. We could run into Mihawk any day now.”
And I don’t want to disappoint Luffy , Nami can hear the words even if he hasn’t spoken them.
She hadn’t been there the first time Zoro challenged Mihawk but she’d heard all about it. About Zoro’s defeat. Luffy’s desperate cries for the swordsman. Zoro’s tearful declaration. His promise to never lose again.
“Good.” Luffy beams at him and Nami’s chest tightens for just a moment. There’s so much love in that single look that Nami might die from jealousy. She would give anything for someone to love her the way that Luffy loves Zoro. “Zoro’s gonna kick his ass. Come on, Usopp, Chopper. Eat with me!”
The captain grabs Usopp and Chopper, dragging them away from Zoro as the swordsman turns back to his weights. But not before Nami saw the soft, sweet smile on his lips. Relieved, maybe. That Luffy still believes in him and his dream.
Beside her, Robin hums thoughtfully. Nami glances at her. Her blue eyes are focused on Zoro, head cocked slightly to the side as though she’s just realized something.
Well, too late.
All bets are final.
The entire crew goes back to the drawing board after dinner. Nami lets them, engrossing herself in her magazine instead. If their first attempt is anything to go by, they’re hopeless.
“Zoro,” Luffy whines. “Please.”
“I’m training.”
“You trained all day. Please. Please .”
Zoro huffs in annoyance. The Sunny shudders slightly as Zoro drops his weights.
“Fine. Fine. Come here, Sencho.”
Subtly, Nami glances up. Zoro sits against Sunny’s railing, his eyes on the setting sun. Luffy plops himself down on Zoro’s lap, snuggling against Zoro’s chest. Neither of them speak, both sitting limply as they watch the sunset.
It's disgustingly domestic.
Nami turns her attention back to her magazine, her chest warm.
How has everyone else missed this?
The blood does nothing to stop Luffy from throwing himself into Zoro’s chest. Chopper squeals his objections as Zoro stumbles backward but the swordsman hooks his arms under Luffy’s legs, holding him up. Luffy’s laughter fills the air. Sunlight sparkles off the red speckled around Zoro’s face and mouth.
“I knew it!” Luffy cheers. “Shishishi! Zoro never loses!”
“Moron.” Zoro’s voice is full of soft affection.
“Luffy!” Chopper whines, “Zoro’s bleeding. Let me look at him.”
Both of them ignore him, as though he doesn’t exist. Nami doubts he does.They stare into each other’s eyes, Luffy’s forehead resting against Zoro’s and his arms wrapped around Zoro’s neck.
Robin and Sanji are already applying pressure to Mihawk’s wounds, much to the previous Greatest Swordsman’s chagrin.
“Sanji!” Luffy calls. “We gotta throw a feast!”
“We don’t need a feast,” Zoro chuckles.
“We do. You won, Zoro. We gotta have a feast. With lots of meat n’ lots of onigiri. Oh, Chopper, you gotta look at Zoro.”
The color fades from the swordsman and his steady grip on Luffy is already starting to fail. Nami shakes her head. Half bleeding to death and all the moron cares about is holding Luffy.
They really are disgustingly in love.
“Maybe I was wrong.” Usopp slumps against the bar with a pout.
The crew gathers in the kitchen again. Luffy and Zoro sleep down below, on Chopper’s insistence. Well, someone what on Chopper’s insistence. Their doctor wanted Zoro in the infirmary to keep an eye on his wounds. Zoro absolutely refused. They shouldn’t have been surprised. Zoro hated the infirmary.
Sleeping in the men’s room was a compromise and, since there was only one person Zoro actually listened to, Luffy had been tasked with keeping Zoro in bed for the rest of the night.
It isn’t perfect but it's as close as they can get.
“Zoro’s the World’s Greatest Swordsman and they didn’t even kiss.”
“I told you,” Sanji huffs, blowing a cloud of smoke toward the window. “Mosshead couldn’t feel anything more than battle lust if you paid off his debt.”
Usopp moans. “I lost so much beli.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Robin pipes up. Her brow has a concerned furrow and she stares at the kitchen door like it holds the answers. “I believe you might be half correct.”
The entire crew turns to stare at her. Nami freezes, her cup half way to her lips, and frowns at her nakama.
Half right?
Robin is easily the most observant of her nakama. Even if she keeps it to herself most of the time, she’s usually the one who can figure things out.
Half right?
“Half right?” Chopper echoes.
Robin sighs, resting her chin on her hand. “Zoro’s most certainly in love with Sencho.”
Jinbe makes a noise of agreement. “I agree. Once I started looking, it was more than obvious. Zoro would put his life on the line for Luffy.”
“His dream on the line.” There’s an old bitterness in Sanji’s voice, like he’s thinking of something he wants to forget.
Robin hums her agreement.
“So… So, you think Zoro’s in love with Luffy but Luffy’s not in love with Zoro?” Chopper’s voice trembles a little.
Robin nods her head slowly and sadly.
Nami stares at them. The entire crew falls quiet, all exchanging horrified looks. Oh god, they can’t be this stupid. Nami’s nakama are - well, they’re idiots. But they can’t be this stupid.
How could any of them miss the way Luffy’s entire face lights up the moment Zoro walks in a room? Had they missed the pure angst in Luffy’s voice when he screams Zoro’s name in a dangerous fight? Are they ignoring the way Luffy’s first instinct is to latch onto his swordsman?
It always has been.
Holy shit. Her nakama can’t be this stupid.
Franky bursts into tears. “That’s… That’s… That’s so sad.”
Shit. They are this stupid.
“Zoro’s the strongest,” Luffy announces for the thousandth time in twenty-four hours. He hangs off Zoro’s arm, head nestled against Zoro’s shoulder, without even trying to steal Zoro’s food.
Despite his best efforts to appear indifferent, Nami sees the prideful glow surrounding Zoro at his captain’s attention. There’s the smallest of smiles pulling at Zoro’s lips and he keeps looking at Luffy with the most adoring eyes Nami has ever seen.
“The most amazing, best, strongest,” Luffy continues.
“You said that already,” Zoro points out, lip curling up with amusement as he shoves a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
“Yeah, but it’s true !” Luffy declares, snuggling closer and beaming up at him.
From the corner of her eye, Nami watched the rest of their crew exchange uncomfortable looks. She rolls their eyes.
How can they be this stupid?
How are they missing that prideful puff in Luffy’s chest? They way he’s looking at Zoro like Zoro hung the moon.
“Luffy,” Chopper says, voice quiet and almost uncertain. “You shouldn’t lean on Zoro like that. He’s still recovering.”
Zoro glances at Chopper with a frown. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah.” Luffy grins. “Zoro’s the strongest in the whole world!”
“Luffy,” Usopp tries. “Chopper’s right. Maybe you should give Zoro some, uh, breathing room.”
“What the hell is wrong with you morons?” Zoro asks, more confused than angry as he looks between Usopp and Chopper.
Luffy ignores them, still draped over Zoro. “Shishi, Zoro likes it!”
Of course he does. Nami can see the way he practically vibrates with joy at Luffy’s touch. He leans into Luffy’s warmth, putty in Luffy’s hands, like he always has been. And Luffy’s the same.
“Bro,” Franky whispers, his voice wavering. Then he bursts into tears. “It’s so tragic!”
“Oi,” Sanji hisses, “Franky, shut up!”
“To love is to feel pain,” Brook laments, already reaching for his violin. “Allow me to play a tune, Zoro-san. Perhaps it will help you process.”
“Process?” Zoro echoes. “Process what?”
Franky wails. “He doesn’t even know!”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Nami moans.
Finally, Luffy sits up. His brow furrows in concern as he looks around at the crew and then back at Zoro. Watching the two of them stare at each other is like being an outsider to a foreign conversation. They can understand each other perfectly - even without words - while Nami desperately wishes she knew what they were saying.
“Doesn’t know what?” Zoro presses.
“Is Zoro dying?” Luffy asks, tone urgent. “Oi, Chopper, is Zoro dying? Zoro are you dying?”
“Stop it.” Zoro shoves Luffy away when the captain lunges toward him again. “I’m not dying.”
“You might.” Tears sparkled in Chopper’s eyes. “There are several health defects that can come from heartbreak.”
“Heartbreak?”
“Who broke Zoro’s heart?” Luffy demands, wiping around to look at Zoro. “Who? I’ll kick their ass!”
“No one broke my heart.”
“You are,” Franky cries. “He loves you and you’re so affectionate without loving him back. You’re breaking his heart, Strawhat!”
Luffy freezes and Zoro stares. The two exchange a long look before looking back at Franky. And then around at the rest of the crew.
Zoro, unsurprisingly, is the first one to speak. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Jinbe clears his throat. “We weren’t trying to invade your personal affairs, Zoro.”
Setting down her coffee, Robin places a soothing hand on Jinbe’s arm and turns to look at the pair. “Zoro, we’ve all noticed how much you care for Luffy. And we’re afraid you may be harboring some… unrequited feelings. We don’t mean to intrude.”
“We just don’t want to see you hurt, bro,” Franky sniffles.
Luffy and Zoro stare at them, silent and utterly blank.
Scrubbing the tears from his eyes, Chopper wrings his tiny hooves. “We just thought,” he pauses to sniffle. “With Luffy hanging all over you like that, it must hurt. Since, well. Since Luffy isn’t in love with you.”
Luffy and Zoro look at each other, their bewilderment clear. Zoro looks away first, his gaze meeting Nami’s with a raised eyebrow.
You didn’t tell them ? he asks with his eye.
Nami shrugs. That’s not my place.
And she kind of assumed that Luffy and Zoro had. Or that her nakama would be smart enough to figure it out themselves.
Zoro heaves a heavy sigh and shakes his head at Luffy. As one, they turn back to the rest of their nakama.
“We’re married,” they say in perfect unison.
Complete and utter silence. Disbelief - ridiculous and completely unhinged disbelief - fills the air around them.
"Married?" the crew yelp.
Even Robin and Jinbe look surprised. Nami refrains from rolling her eyes, but just barely. It didn't take a genius to see that their captain and first mate were soulmates. The moment Nami met them, she felt the pure sense of right that poured from them.
The tips of Zoro’s ears creep towards red with embarrassment. “Yes.”
"Since when?" Sanji snaps, eye searching the first mate and then their captain.
Luffy cocks his head to the side like a confused dog. As though Sanji's asking the most ridiculous question in the world. Which, Nami supposes, he is.
How could anyone look at Luffy and Zoro and wonder when they'd fallen in love. When they'd decided to throw caution to the wind and get married.
"Shishishi." Turning to his husband, Luffy throws himself into Zoro's side, nuzzling his cheek against Zoro's shoulder. "Since always."
Since always. Since they’d known each other. Since before they’d even met Nami. She still remembers her exasperation at Luffy’s proud declaration that Zoro was his husband and the man that would be the World’s Greatest Swordsman. And, yes, they had only known each other for a few days and they were married but so what?
“Zoro’s mine,” Luffy had said with all the fierceness of a man defending his soulmate.
Zoro had shrugged when Nami turned to him. He was famous, the demon bounty hunter of the East Blue. A man known for his cunning and strength. And he’d married a man he’d known for a few days.
“Sometimes you get lucky,” Zoro had said. “An’ fate gives you what you need.”
Nami's heart swells with fondness as Zoro peeks down at their captain. He watches Luffy for a handful of seconds before the softest, most in love smile crosses his face and his arm drops down to pull Luffy closer.
Sanji groans as Robin giggles and Franky sniffled.
"Well," Jinbe says diplomatically. "I do suppose that means Usopp and Chopper win the bet."
"Really?" Chopper looks so excited that Nami almost feels bad for what's about to happen.
Almost.
"A hundred thousand beli!" Usopp grins. "Think of all the upgrades I can-"
"You didn't win," Nami interrupts.
The room falls silent. Luffy and Zoro, who have long stopped caring, nestle themselves in the corner for Zoro's after lunch nap but the rest of the crew stare at Nami as though she's groan a second head.
"But," Chopper says, looking between Nami and Usopp and then the couple in the corner. "But Usopp and I said that they were in love!"
"In love and needed help getting together," Nami corrects. '"They're in love, but they didn't need your help. They're already together. So you all lost the bet."
"What?" Usopp cries, leaping to his feet. "That's not fair!"
Nami shrugs. "That was your bet."
The sniper glares at her. "So what? We all take our money back."
"Nope." Nami pops her p and grins at her crew. "In the event that no one wins the bet, the money goes to the bookmaker."
"What?" the crew echo back at her.
"Since when?" Usopp demands.
Nami shrugs. Her gaze flickers toward her captain and first mate snuggling in the corner. "Since always."