❛ THAT'S HOW (N/N) AND LU DO THINGS. ❜
₊˚៹ . ❪ episode : 97 ❫˖ ₊˚.⋆
࿐┊ CH. 5┊🏴‍☠️🌊👒

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The more the Straw Hats traveled through the desert sands, the more the heat was picking up for them and scorching down on their bodies. It was very unbearable, but the group would get through it like they always did, and have done in the past adventures.

Luffy was trailing behind the group groaning complains from the heat, tongue poking out wishing he was caught up by his sister who was up head of him.

"Burning up... Sweat won't even help out...." He drawled out of breath, using his stick he had found to walk better up the dunes they were crossing.

Nami fans her face with her hand glancing back at the male, as she walked in front of Zoro carrying Happy and Chopper on a sleigh, "Quit moaning so much, Luffy. You'll only tire yourself out." She gained even more groans in response, making her deadpan, "Guess he's not listening."

(Y/N) would of helped her brother if she wasn't dying also from the intense heat, which normal she could handle but was sweating even more for some reason. Her clothes stick to her like a second skin, as well as her loose pieces of her on her forehead.

Ace had her on his back safety prior to seeing that state she was in. He wrapped his arms around under her thighs, keeping her up against him and she had her arms loosely around his neck with her head limply resting on his shoulder, thankful for her straw hat covering the sun from her eyes.

"Can't go on...." Happy wheezed out sweating badly, his eyes closed trying to block out the heat placed next to a groaning Chopper, and rolled his tongue out panting, "Can't take hot weather.."

Usopp raised his eyebrows at the two creatures close to passing out, him using a stick also to carry his weight along the sand, "It's 'cause of all that fur..." He pants out also struggling, "You should take off that animal suit."

Happy was too weak to say anything back but Chopper was irking on his behalf, teeth bared annoyed now lifting his head up to look at Usopp, "What was that, you jerk?!"

He transformed into his bigger form being careful not to squish Happy on the sleigh, scaring Usopp who shrieked out monster waving his arms around frantically.

Zoro tried to pull along the rope connected to the wood but it wouldn't budge, since the reindeer was in his bigger form, "Chopper! Don't turn big or else I won't pull ya or Happy!" He scolded the said creature.

"Who're you calling a monster, Humomgo-Nose?!" Chopper snarled out with shark teeth again down at Usopp, who's legs were shaking in fear firing back a comment to protect his nose.

Zoro, having enough of Chopper not listening to him moved back to slam his hand on the creatures back, and made him transform back into his smaller beside Happy, "Just turn back already!"

(Y/N) smiled a little at the scene behind her still being perched on Aces' back, lifting her pounding head up from his shoulder to glance at Sanji to make sure he was alright, and saw him walking with Vivi talking to her.

If sensing she was staring at his back he swiftly turned his head over his shoulder, lips perking up into a loving grin waving his hand back to her in reassurance. This had her stomach flipping, and hiding her face back into Aces' shoulder who was chuckling to himself at the interaction.

"What's with all these hills?" Usopp questioned heaving, finally catching up a bit with the few up in front of the group using his stick to hobble along, "I figured a desert would be more flat."

Luffy's dramatic groan was heard after his words also catching up a bit, while Vivi goes to answer Usopp turning back to him, "This is a very old desert, so come sand dunes here are 300 meters high."

"Th-three hundred meters?" The sniper repeated incredulously and breathless, fingers slipping from his stick because of how sweaty they were, "No wonder this is like climbing mountains..."

Luffy shakes his head from side to side, weakly pulling at the top of the water barrel around him, "It's too much... it's so hot..." He whined out of breath, hinting he wanted some of the water which had Nami looking at him.

"Just one drink, Luffy." She strictly orders knowing what he was like, especially when both siblings got involved which never ended well, "Just one mouthful."

He goes to stick the blue straw into his mouth, cheeks puffing up from out much he was taking in, not even listening to the order. It had Usopp and Nami punching the back of his head, making the water be spat out of his mouth, "Don't drink so much!"

"Hold on! You just has some! I'm next!" Sanji exclaimed furiously pointing at Luffy, the male stomping over to the three of them and it caused the males to break out into a fist scramble between each other.

(Y/N) sighed tiredly at their normal ways, feeling Ace coming to a stop to watch them also behind them, and it had her lifting her palm up to send a small amount of sand in between the fight to split them up.

"Stop fighting! You need to save your strength!" She tried to reason with the boys, only getting a cooing noise from Sanji on the ground while Luffy and Usopp were still blindly throwing hands at each other ignoring her.

Why do I even bother... she thought to herself deadpanning but yet still couldn't stop the smile appearing on her face, and squeezed Ace in a hug from behind that had him fondly patting her sweaty arm.

⚔️🏴‍☠️⚔️

It was now night time in the desert where it had gotten colder, like much colder than the day time hot environment, and all the Straw Hats had found a place to camp for the night between some rocky outdoor caves.

"So hungry..." Luffy whined out staring at the meat longingly, that was being cooked on the fire along a stick branch thanks to Sanji using his skills.

"Don't be so greedy!" The cook smacked Luffy's hand away sneering in a warning, as he stood up to watch over the food smoking over the fire, "It's still raw!"

(Y/N) was sat beside her brother holding onto Happy in her lap tightly who was eating a fish happily, the two of them near their tent for the night behind the group around the fire. She was thankful for her fire power at night time, since it was keeping her warm and Happy's fur also was doing the job.

"Oh, come on! Cheapskate!" Luffy nagged standing up in his spot, pouting upset as he pointed at the meat now closer to being cooked, and really wanted to try it smelling the scent, "Let's eat!"

It gained another scolding from Sanji with a kick to his head, that instantly had Luffy sulking to his sister who giggled rubbing the sore spot gently, and seeing that had Sanji internally screaming out of jealously.

"It was so hot during the day!" Nami shivered wrapping her arms around her body, huddled up close next to Vivi seated on the other side of the fire, "What's going on?!"

"With nothing to block out the temperature, the desert scorches during the day but falls below freezing at night." The blue haired princess explained also having her arms around herself, "The desert is fraught with unpredictable dangers."

The wind picked up again blowing a gust of it through the camp, which had everyone shivering some more because of it. Though Happy and Chopper were unbothered, since their furs were now coming in handy for the environment they were in.

"Cold weather doesn't bother me!" Chopper stated in a chirpy tone at Usopp, the male being behind him on the ground near a tent also.

Usopp grabbed the fuming animal in his hands, rubbing his cheek onto his furred one, "That's because you wear such a warn suit!"

"Hey, you! Get away!" Chopper snarked trying to push off the pouting sharp shooter, and transformed into his bigger form scaring Usopp back again, "Quit making fun of reindeer!"

A little over away from the noisy group was Ace, watching the scene with his hats brim covering his eyes making a shadow over them. His head perked up a bit hearing incoming footsteps, and it was followed by Vivi's voice.

"It must be a real surprise for you." He looked up confused at her comment, and it had Vivi added on at his lost expression, "I mean (Y/N) and Luffy. I was surprised too, at first. Maybe it's that they're not captain-like, or that normal pirate captains are respected by their crewmates..."

They looked over to the group now seeing (Y/N) trying to pull back Happy from Luffy, the cat was sulking at his limbs getting tugged back and forth. Usopp trying to hold Chopper who wanted to help Happy, while Zoro tried to break out of the hold Luffy had on him and Sanji was fan girling over his captains beauty even when she got mad.

"But just this afternoon, a simple drink of water caused that big fight." Vivi continued on laughing a bit amused, remembering the fight to broke out turning back to a quiet Ace, "But, you know the longer I've been with them, the more I've come to understand."

Ace made the edges of his lips perk up, moving his head up a little bit still being covered by the hat's brim, "That's how (N/N) and Lu do things. They haven't changed a bit since they were kids." He began to talk fondly about his younger siblings, "Despite how airheaded she is, and how stupid he can be, people always gather around them. It's always been that way. People join Luffy, but they follow (Y/N)."

Vivi made a surprised face not realising he already picked that up, looking down at the taller male on the floor, and muttered out, "Oh. You already knew."

"Us three, including Happy do go way back." One of his eyes were visible under the hats brim, showing off the freckles that matched his younger sisters ones, "But thanks. You were worried that I was concerned, right?"

She nodded her head in answer flashing a soft smile, "Yes. But it looks like I didn't need to worry after all." She giggled making him also chuckle a little bit, continuing on watching the crew argue in front of them with Nami trying to break it up, which wasn't working.

Back over where her shared tent was with Happy, (Y/N) sat down at the entrance of it with her legs pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them and rested her chin on her elbows. She had lost Happy to Luffy sadly, and now saw how the cat was sound asleep in his arms next to Usopp and Chopper snoring.

She chuckled amused at the sight knowing they'd have sore backs in the morning, the remaining members of the crew doing their own thing now getting ready for a must needed nights rest after the long day they had.

Her eyelids were also lowering as the minutes went by, feeling her limbs getting heavier in result of her body telling her to shut off for the night. But she couldn't sleep yet, not when the others were still awake and that no one would be next to her, which was something she was use to since Happy was always by her side.

Sighing to herself blowing the messy locks out of her face that fell from her pony-tail, she crossed her boots together brining herself closer in a ball, and felt another shiver past through her from the wind blowing over.

The sound of incoming footsteps were heard through her ears now, them stopping just before her figure as she saw a familiar pair of cut green pants, and the familiar deep voice, "What are you doing, princess?"

That nickname... she thought to herself lifting her head up a bit, looking through the brim of the hat to spot Zoro's calm face staring down at her, his features being light up from the warm still burning a few meters behind him.

"Oh... you know, just observing the sand." She mumbled a bit shyly, pulling her body free to cross her legs and use her finger to mindless bend some of the sand around, not wanting to tell him the real reason.

He snored softly in amusement at her answer knowing she was lying, the orange cloth around his head now placed away along with his swords safely, and went to sit down next to her on the ground catching her by surprise.

"Oh, yeah? And what's the news update on the sand?" He played along with her little act, making sure to place his knee against hers and made their elbows touch as he crossed his arms over his chest not staring at her yet.

She irked a bit a his obvious condescending words, licking her dry bottom lip pulling back her hands into her lap, "That... that it's very cold..." She trailed off hinting at herself, briefly glancing up to see Sanji packing up the cooking supplies near the fire, "and that it loves company."

Zoro's dark eyes moved to his captain away from ahead of him, watching as her body was shivering a little bit when the wind picked up. He sighed heavily twisting his body to her now, "Come here, princess." He coaxed gently in his deep tone, opening his arms up for her in gestuerment.

Her eyes widened a bit now expecting that from him, before a thankful smile crossed her. She processed to move into his lap now by him grabbing her waist, placing her sideways so her legs hanged off the side, and side was flushed against his muscular chest.

"I didn't think you understood what I meant..." She mumbled trying not to freak out being hold by him, the side of her head being placed in between his neck and shoulder, and loosely wrapped her arms around his waist.

He hummed low in his throat running his fingers up and down her exposed arm soothingly, "Of course I would," He rasped low enough for her to hear, other hand slipping down to cradle her lower back, "I know you like the back of my swords, (Y/N)."

She flushed a bit embarrassed at how carless she was, peeking up from under his chin to see his soft smirk that flashed his canines, and grumbled in response going back to hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

His deep chuckles vibrated against her back at her reaction, his eyes scanning her face now closely seeing how she was trying to keep her eyes open from sleeping, and it had him frowning deeply not liking it.

"Go to sleep, sweetheart." His voice urged gently into her ear, rough fingers still running up and down her arm. He pulled her closer now spotting Sanji's incoming figure, and brushed his lips along her forehead, "I'll be here to watch over you, don't worry."

Listening to his words finding no more strength to fight back her heavy lids, they fluttered closed now slowly drifting off into a much needed rest, and fell limp in his arms on the sand.

The last thing she remembered was strong arms lifting her up gently, the sound of a tents clips being pulled off, her back being placed onto a soft surface with two warm sources of heat on either side of her, lips on her forehead again and hushed whispers yells before it went dark.

⚔️🏴‍☠️⚔️

When (Y/N) came to be awake again, the sun was beaming up in the skies and it was no longer the cool night, instead being replaced with heat again. The first thing she felt was warmth around her figure, different pairs of limbs on her and a lot of sandy covering her.

It seemed like a sand storm had passed over the group when she was asleep, and surprisingly she slept through it something for once. Which normally wouldn't happen unless she was exhausted, or used to much of her power.

The crew were also getting up from the sand since they were buried in it, not expecting Vivi's warning to be that bad. Ace was pull out Happy from the sand also, chuckling nervously trying to reassure him as he was sulking about almost dying, and passed him to Chopper to go over and help Vivi up.

Her (E/C) eyes blink awake to get use to the bright line, groaning tiredly as she goes to sit up from the now sandy bed, but pause abruptly once she noticed what was, or better yet who were currently on her.

On either side of her body, Zoro and Sanji had her squished between them with one of their arms draped over her, or had a leg intertwined with hers, still sleeping peacefully unaware of her now awake, and shuffled closer feeling her body sitting up.

She gazed down at their sleeping faces blanky for a few seconds brushing off the sand on their cheeks, before she paused mid way and her face exploded into embarrassment finally taking in how she slept last night.

A high pitched scream escaped her lips now altering the others around them, turning to look at how she was freaking out stuttering iniable words, and waved her arms around looking to her brothers, and Happy for help to get her out of the situation.

Luffy was ready to punch the two crew mates he trusted most with her, but was held back by Ace who grabbed his collar smirking interested, and held onto Happy again who snickered not going to help her out.

"Looks like (N/N) finally slept with her boyfriendsss-" He drawled out in a tease, placing a paw up to his mouth muffling the laugher and it gained a wack from Luffy scolding him, and more screeches from the girl.

The boys now slowly woke up hearing her panicked screams, wondering what was going on as Zoro grumbled lifting his head up, "What's going on?" He yawned barely opening his eyes, and gazed at his tensed captain beside him.

"Can't people get some rest?!" Sanji's complaining voice was talking next, pushing himself up from the sand with his arm still around (Y/N)'s waist. He finally saw her flustered self when he turned, and it had his eyes turning into hearts with a dopey grin cooing, "My love-!"

Before he could even flirt with the girl Zoro had sent a kick to his head, that had the cook flying back along the sand from her, "Back off, shitty-brow!" He scowled standing in front of (Y/N), and it resulted in the two butting heads fighting once more over her.

I can't believe they got along last night, she thought to herself in awe, really surprised that they agreed to sleep beside her. Just the thought of it had her stomach flipping, and hiding her face with her the straw hat squealing into her clothed arm trying to ignore everyone teasing laugher from behind.

⚔️🏴‍☠️⚔️

"Hey! Sanji! Let's have a lunch!" Luffy exclaimed to the cook now all walking again through the hot desert, getting back on track from the issue before where Nami solved it by punching the males heads yelling to stop.

"Not yet. Not until Vivi-chan says so."

Luffy moved towards Vivi who gave him a look, and saw his toothy smile trying to persuade her to eat, "Come on, Vivi! Let's eat! I'm out of strength."

"But we're only one-tenth of the way to Yuba, Luffy." The princess knowingly pointed out, turning briefly to look at the just shorter male than her.

(Y/N) snickered a bit softly at her brother's want for food, which wasn't any better than hers at times. She was carrying a passed out Happy from the heat in her arms, trying to ignore her skin blazing and walked in between Zoro and Sanji along the sand.

"You're so dumb!" Luffy grumbled giving her a weird look, and got closer to her face raising his eyebrows mischievously, "Haven't you heard of this proverb? 'If you're hungry, eat!'"

"Your liar! Quit making stuff up!" Usopp exclaimed in a pant, heaving himself along with his stick next to Nami and had sweat dripping down his forehead badly.

The Monkey D. girl looked back at them, shaking her head a little bit, "No, he's right Sop." She chirps giggling amused, which gained a deadpanned from him and a gently forehead flick from Zoro carrying Chopper on the sleigh beside her.

"Then what do you say we take a break at the next rocks we find?" Vivi suggested hoping to ease Luffy's needs with this, and smiled relived when his eyes sparked at the thought.

He grinned widely running up in front of everyone, "Guys! Lets hurt to the next rocks!" He cheered loudly making his sister laugh some more, and he raised his arm up into the air, "Whoever wins rock-paper-scissor has to carry everyone's stuff!"

Everyone but (Y/N), Ace, Chopper and Happy all agreed to play even though his idea of winner was wrong, and in the end of course Luffy celebrated his win, not expecting having to carry the crews bags now on the sleigh behind him.

His sister felt bad that he had to pull along all that extra weight, wanting to help him out but was always pulled back by Zoro and Sanji when she tried to walk up to him, or if she got near the complaining Luffy behind them.

Usopp stopped near the edge of a dune they were strolling along, using his goggles to zoom in onto something in the distance, and exclaimed what he saw to the others, "Rocks spotted a small ways ahead!"

Luffy was instantly perking up hearing this, "For reals?!" He shouted happily pushing through the crew now, "Break time! Food!" He was off like the speed of light, leaving a trail of dust in his wake before (Y/N) could grab onto him.

"That idiot..." She sighed to herself staring after the direction he went in worriedly, running her fingers through Happy's fur along his arm to calm herself, and felt Ace squeeze her shoulder reassuringly.

Next a second later though Luffy's figure was running back through the sand to the group, no longer carrying the supplies which had them all panicked to what he did with all the bags.

"Bad news! There's a lot of hurt birds that can't move! Chopper!" He informs in a yelling tone, making the said male stand up from the sleigh and rush after to where Luffy was to follow him to where the 'hurt' birds were.

Vivi was in deep thought hearing he saying that, a finger placed up to her chin before she gasped remembering something, "Birds?! Wait, Luffy! Don't tell me these birds are-!"

Her suspicions were correct when the crew arrived at the shady rocks, and saw that the birds had stolen all the supplies they needed, leaving a few whit feathers to prove that was the case, and it had Luffy exclaiming in horror.

"It's the truth!" He protested trying to defend himself from the harsh stares from some of his friends, hiding behind his groaning sister a little scared, "There really were dying birds here!"

"I'm sorry. I should've mentioned it earlier." Vivi apologies looking down at the empty supplies, and frowned feeling guilty for not saying anything sooner, "Warusagi birds are 'desert bandits' that trick travelers and steal their belongings."

Sanji gritted teeth placing his cigarette in between his lips, marching up to grip Luffy's short collar pulling him out from behind his captain, "Stop hiding behind my angel!" He snarled shaking him around angrily, "There were three days of provisions in there! And you just had to let some damn birds steal everyone's stuff smack in the middle of this desert?!"

"My poor fish..." Happy sulked with dramatic tears appearing in his eyes, now awake standing beside (Y/N) gripping onto her pants material, and stared at the empty green bag he carried around his back.

She blocked Sanji and Luffy wrestling on the sand near her boots now, use to that happening daily as the others all sat down on the rocks around. Her eyes moved from a smiling Zoro and laughing Ace to something in the distance, which had her gaze narrowing down to see what it was.

Those birds that stole all their supplies were standing at the end of the path leading into the rocky area, showing off their stuff smugly and cackled in their bird language seeing the pirates stunned expressions.

When the flock went to prance away from the spot they were in, it had her quickly acting not wanting to let the stealing birds get away, "Happy! Luffy! Let's go!" She exclaimed in an order, picking up her speed along side her brother yelling threats at the birds.

"Aye sir!" The cat chirped loudly in agreement making his white wings sprout, swoping down to pick her up by under the armpits seeing how Luffy was already pretty fast without help, and flew her towards where the birds were running off to.

The chaotic trio ignored Vivi's yells to not chase them, and continued on to rush on after the fleeing food stealers not hearing any of the crewmates words being shouted from their spot to them.

"Hey! You can't just show our food off and run!" (Y/N) exclaimed annoyed pointing a finger at the birds, feeling the hot wind rush over her as Happy was being her wings to gain speed, "You no good stealers!"

Luffy was having trouble keeping up with the birds now also since they were much faster, along wit Happy who was struggling to keep his wings sprouted feeling the heat get to him again, and huffed in warning, "(N/N), I don't think I can-"

His words were got off when his wings disappeared, making a poofing sound which had the two frozen mid air for a second. That was until terrified screams escape them feeling their bodies dropping to the ground fast, with her going to use her powers but instead was met with Luffy easily catching them both safety in his arms.

"That was a close one." She wheezed out with wide eyes, cheek pressed against her brothers one who was laughing loudly and squeezed to two in his arms tightly, not letting go yet sensing something was wrong.

He placed a dizzy Happy onto his straw hat making the Exceed grip onto it, and grinned pointing at the grumbling camel that stood before them, "Look what I saved, (N/N)!" He proudly stated looking down at her snickering, "He's so funny for getting stuck in a desert planet!"

She hummed a bit confused adjusting her arms to wrap around his covered neck, glancing at the camel who was now shaking in fear watching the sand a few meters in front of them cave in on itself, "What is that?"

The sand was now vibrating in waves on top of that she could feel along her fingertips, followed by a loud rumbling noise that shook the entire ground beneath them. Something now came up from out of the sand, making the siblings watch confused not knowing what was happening, and heard the camels nervous sounds beside them.

All of the colour drained from her already pale face realising what was towering over them in the sand, mouth opening up to let out a horrified screech that woke up Happy, who also shrieked seeing the huge purple lizard creature before them.

"HOLY SHI-" Her screaming words were cut off short when the camel swiftly hulled them all up onto his saddle on his humped back, and ran as fast as he could away from the lizard now chasing after them in the sand.

Her and Happy had their cheeks pressed together crying out shrieks of fear, her arms around his smaller figure with his paws around her neck, all while Luffy was laughing carefree like usual holding onto them and onto the camels rope on the saddle.

"A Sandora Dragon!" Vivi exclaimed with her eyes wide spotting the creature chasing after the four of them, Usopp and Chopper screaming over how big it was and the swordsman and cook worried seeing the situation their captain was in thanks to her brother.

"A what now?!"

"They're the largest of the reptiles living in the desert and they wait under the sand for their prey!" The princess answered Usopp's question in a yelling voice, watching the creature now showing its full form above the sand, "They have sharp claws and fangs, but they hardly ever use them! The reason being that they tend to swallow their prey whole because they're so large!"

Ace smirked widely being used to his siblings and Happy's behaviour when they were left alone, him being sat on the floor chuckling to himself, "Those three really do have a gift for attracting trouble."

"Yeah, we should know." The cook and swordsman both mumbled to themselves with blunt expressions, remembering the many times where (Y/N) needed to be saved from coming out second best to the trios stunts, and many times had her left in laughter which didn't ease their hearts at all for her safety.

The two now charged forward to where the trio were running to, meeting them in the middle now, and Sanji's eyes turned into hearts seeing his beloved, "My angel! Your knight is here to save you-!"

"We'll lend a hand, (Y/N)!" Zoro yelled over the cooks flirty words even during a fight, gaining a growling noise from the other male as they continued running to them, sometimes trying to shove each other away.

She felt her eye twitch at their behaviour no longer feeling scared over the dragon lizard chasing behind them, rolling up her sleeve to hand a passed out Happy to Luffy, who watched confused and slightly alarmed at his sister's now determined look.

"You two sometimes are so ANNOYING-!" She yelled out jumping off the camels back to send a fire forced kick to the side of the lizards face, making it cave in a bit and for it to fly back skidding along the sand.

Zoro and Sanji's jaws dropped in disbelief at her taking it down so easily, feeling their hearts leap in their chests as their running came to a slow stop. The cook had a dreamy look on his face for her with hearts, while Zoro looked away to hide his blushing cheeks and placed away his swords.

She landed back into Luffy's arms on the camel who caught her easily, sharing a wide grin with each other as she high fived him, hearing his proud laughter along the way back to the others.

Just as they arrived also, Ace had burnt the other lizard dragon with his flames, making the siblings laugh even happier realising their older brother had just gotten them food to eat.

─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
bit of a longer chapter but i love it since there was some cute scenes between the boys and y/n which had me squealing writing (and sobbing over how ill never experience it) andd how there
was some siblings bonding time also
with the ace, her and luffy <3

also im thinking of making a law x reader fic eventually but idk when or if i will but rn i say it will be going ahead unless something happens 👀

i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and pleaseeee don't be silent readers, it really helps to
keep me motivated lmao :') kisses🫶