A/N~ Hey guys sorry I didn't post anything last month. I've been pretty busy with Christmas stuff and since I graduated thee days ago. Plus this chapter ended up being a little longer than I thought. Also if its not up to standard please understand that this is unedited. The song that helped inspire this and will be linked above is Battleships by Daughtry.~ 

Lately you have been repeating the same question to yourself in your head. How did I fall for such an insufferable, stubborn man like him? The man you referred to was your crush and commanding officer since you decided to join the marines after finding yourself in the world of One Piece, Smoker. It hadn't been too long after being rescued by him that you started to find him attractive, in addition to the fact that you became fast friends with Tashigi. Though that was partially because you had taken on half of her original workload when you were assigned to Smoker's crew and dealt with the more diplomatic areas. A task which you first started after handling the incident in Alabasta. But every time since the moment you and Smoker met the two of you could never be in a room together without blowing up in each other's faces. And over the two years under his wing it had gotten so bad that even the toughest members of the crew left the room and didn't dare go near either of you when the other one entered the room.

And for the longest time none of the crew knew why you stuck around despite the growing tension in the air. Until finally Tashigi decided to have a heart to heart with you at a tavern.

"Alright (y/n). This has been bugging everyone for a full two years now. So spill!"

"What are you talking about Tashigi?" you questioned, but you had a good idea what she was asking about.

"You and Smoker! What in the world is going on between you two?"

You slumped onto the surface of the table with your arms crossed beneath your chin as you pondered how to answer her. It was hard for you to determine how much you really wanted her to know about how you felt towards him. Soon enough though you came to the conclusion that she would probably figure it out on her own eventually and that it would be easier to come clean now rather than later.

With a heavy sigh you finally gave her a response. "Fine. But you have to promise not to tell a single soul." She gave you a single curt nod before leaning closer so you could whisper in her ear without anyone eavesdropping. Cupping your hand to keep your mouth invisible to any potential lip readers in the room you told her. "I have a huge crush on him."

She stared at you for a few seconds before she opened her mouth just about ready to scream before you covered it with an audible slap. After a couple of moments of heavy breathing on her end she finally removed your hand and continued to whisper shout at you. "What do mean you have a crush on him?! If you like him why in the hell are you always fighting with him?!"

"It's really hard to explain okay. But if I had to narrow it down to just a few words it's that a lot of the same qualities I like about him also infuriate me sometimes." She blinked at you a moment before taking your hand and dragging you outside where you didn't have to whisper. Then she turned around and spoke.

"Alright elaborate."

"You know how he holds on to his goals like a bull dog and doesn't let go. Sometimes to the point that he becomes a real asshole and forgets to check his surroundings in the process."

"Yeah."

"Well I find myself conflicted in those moments because I admire his tenacity and focus, but at the same time I'm pissed because he forgets the bigger picture and someone gets hurt. And of the two emotions my anger usually wins out because I'm also frustrated at myself for being so conflicted in the first place and worried that he's the someone about to get hurt."

She fell silent, processing what you had just told her. "Okay. So if the crew and I want all this tension to go away we need to find a way to help you express your feelings for him. Leave this to me." She stated with a grin.

You had a feeling you were going to regret this.

~a few hours later~

It was the next morning and you were just heading to the dining area for breakfast when the head chef ran into you with a tray in his hands. "Captain (y/n) good morning."

"Morning Chef."

"Think you could help me out for a minute?"

"The vice admiral hasn't left his room yet and probably has a hangover from last night, but I've got to finish some stuff in the kitchen. Could you bring this to him in the meantime?" he stated as he handed you the tray.

"Sure." You slightly stuttered out.

You tried to think of various scenarios and what to say or not say to Smoker without setting him off this time as you proceeded to walk down the hallway. And due to your nerves you took a deep breath when you reached his cabin door just before knocking.

"Come in." replied Smoker in a groggy tone.

As you stepped in and walked up to his desk you took the moment to observe him. He was more tired looking than usual with large bags under his eyes and was looking over some documents while pinching the bridge of his nose in an obvious sign of a headache, his usual cigars absent from his lips. Placing the headache medication and water on his desk in front of him you then placed the rest of the tray on a table close by. There was then a tense moment where the two of you stared at each other before you decided to leave, taking long swift strides toward the door while muttering under your breath. "Try not to overwork yourself."

You smelt it before anything else, his arm had turned to smoke as his hand had a firm grip on your arm. "Hold on a minute. I'd like to talk with you."

Swallowing the lump in your throat you slowly turned around and barely got out a response through gritted teeth. "About what?"

Apparently you had sounded irritated rather than nervous to him which in turn seemed to irritate him. "What the hell have I done to make you hate me so damn much?"

Standing straight you tried to keep eye contact. "What has brought you to the assumption that I hate you?" That's when the sarcasm thickened "Oh I don't know. Maybe the fact that you seem to like pointing out how stupid you think I am and have on numerous occasions questioned my decisions regarding the handling of particular situations."

You couldn't help but feel cornered, since he wasn't technically wrong, but you didn't want him to see you vulnerable so you put on a cool expression and demeanor before replying. "I apologize is my behavior has come off as hateful then. I only meant to point out when there were concerns to how you could manage those situations with less violence and more diplomacy. Furthermore, is it wrong for me to worry about your wellbeing?"

He had been gritting his teeth until that last sentence. Now he looked somewhat puzzled. "My wellbeing?"

Crap, crap, crap, crap! You revealed too much. "I...I mean...with you injured...h-how would y-you be able to lead the crew?" Your cool mask cracked and you stumbled over your words as you tried extra hard to think of a good way to rephrase your earlier statement. But it was too late it seems, as you watched his face become stony and he moved closer to your person. Eventually as you backed away you hit the wall and he hovered above you with his hand against it.

Oh my god! Oh my god! OH MY GOD! He's actually doing the KABEDON!? You felt like your brain was short-circuiting as he leaned in close to your ear, his warm breath causing your blush to brighten, and he whispered. "Do you mean to tell me that you actually care about me?" All you could get out was a whimper as you trembled from the overload on your senses. "So much that there's a lot of things you want me to do with or to you, and no one else. Things like this maybe?" Slowly he grazed his lips on your outer ear and down your jawline and then toward your lips, stopping just above them.

"Say it."

It was just barely audible but you somehow managed to speak. "I like you, Smoker." And when he pressed his lips to yours the sensation was as powerful as canon fire. The resulting make out session was just as intense as the many fights you'd had before, which is to say it was like two battleships going at each other. Before too long Smoker had picked you up and taken you to his desk only to have the moment ruined when the door burst open and Tashigi and several other members of the crew fell to floor in the doorway.

Smoker seethed at the cock-blocking sight as they sweated in fear before shouting. "ALL OF YOU OUT OF MY OFFICE!!! AND THAT'S A FUCKING ORDER!!!" Never before had you seen marines scramble away so quickly. But before you could move so much as another millimeter Smoker used his powers to reach across the room and slam the door shut behind them. Then he turned back to you with a smirk. "Now where were we?"