❛ YOU'RE ALRIGHT NOW, SWEETHEART. ❜
₊˚៹ . ❪ episode : THE COOK AND
THE CHORE GIRL ❫˖ ₊˚.⋆
࿐┊ CH. 18┊🏴‍☠️🌊👒

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** warning : long chapter **

The orange haired girl pursed her lips in thought, gazing from the girl in front to Zoro as a cold expression takes over her features, "Not everyone gets to follow their dreams." She sneered in a whisper, giving a dirty look that made (Y/N)'s face drop again and watched sadly as Nami stormed out of the room away from her.

A heavy sighed left her lips when Nami was officially gone out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway away from where she was.

(Y/N) understood why she was so upset, and wouldn't hold it against her for being so rude, but at the same time, she sensed there was something else that Nami was carrying around with her, that weighed her down more than any bag she carried.

The Monkey D. girl makes her way over to where Zoro's sleeping figure was, standing on the side Nami was once on glancing down at him with a worried expression.

She took a seat on the chair slipping off the straw hat to hang around her neck, and also gently pulled his bandanna from his forearm to place it around her hair again.

Once her locks were tied by back his cloth that she hopefully knew would be alright to use, she sniffles grabbing onto his hand that was slightly opened, and softly intertwined their fingers to give a firm squeeze.

His frowned brows in his sleep seemed to relax at her warm touch to become a more peaceful looking one, as his breathes became softer also instead of laboured ones. Seeing that happening it brought a small smile to her face, and rubbed her thumb over the back of his rough textured hand.

The sound of incoming footsteps were also heard now from down the hallway, making her perk up to see who was coming. Usopp and Luffy's figure came into her view, as their heads poked around the room and smiled in greeting spotting her with Zoro.

Luffy happily bounces over to where his sister was seating, trying to stay positives for her and the others, as he placed a hand on her left shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. In response she rested her cheek for a second on his hand, very thankful he was here now.

"How's he doing?" Usopp asked warily stepping into the room through the opened door also, and walked around to behind them duo with the sleeping Zoro.

She made a funny face at his silly question to ask, but also knew Usopp meant well, "He hasn't said a word, yet." She answered softly, pulling up the blanket over his stomach more to his chest making sure he was warm enough.

Usopp and Luffy shared a small look between each other, as the snipper wraps his arms around the rope tied to the bed, and leans on it gazing at Zoro, "Didn't Zeff say we're supposed to talk to him? Tell him stories?"

"What would I even say, Sop?" She breathed out through a strained smile turning to him, the hold on Zoro's hand getting tighter as she sniffled more, "There's too much I want to say, and I can't even word half of it."

"Whatever pops into your head, (N/N)." He retorted gentle smiling at her widely hearing the nickname, and shrugged his shoulders glancing back to meet her stare assuring, "Just... speak from you gut, or maybe heart?"

A scoffing noise escaped her biting down on her wobbly bottom lip, "Both of those haven't been so great to me lately." She admitted in a thick voice, and blinked back the stinging in her eyes looking back at Zoro's wrapped up wound, "None of this would've happened if they were better to me."

Luffy frowned sadly knowing how easily his sister felt the blame for situations that she couldn't control, nor stop no matter how hard she tried. His hand rubs up and down her arm gently, and pressed an assuring kiss on top of her head hoping to bring her some comfort.

"Well.." Usopp trailed off tapping his fingers on the rope, sharing another look with Luffy over her head, as they both send her knowing and hinting smiles, "at least he'll know it's you, and I'm sure he'll be glad it is."

Her lips also perked up into a warm smile at them trying to reassure her, looking at them both as they move back a bit to give some space, and now leant on the benches behind her.

She turned back to Zoro again gulping harshly, bending her arm to rest her elbow on the bed that was holding his hand, and brought up his knuckles to her mouth, sighing gently that was muffled by his hot skin.

Before she could even open her mouth to speak to her first mate about everything that's happened, the sound of a frantic Nami calling the siblings name is heard through the hallway, "(Y/N)! Luffy!"

The three in the room all snap their heads up hearing her voice shouting loudly, sharing more confused looks as they all stand up from their spots. She gave a quick kiss to Zoro's knuckles, before gently placing his arm back down on the bed, and rushed up to the duo walking out from the bedroom.

They walk back towards the kitchen through the short hallway wondering what was happening, Luffy pushing open the door to enter with his sister and Usopp behind him. Inside the kitchen was calm but confused Sanji, and a stressed Nami pacing around the table muttering to herself.

(Y/N)'s eyes light up a bit spotting Sanji there leaning on the table, a giant grin making its way across her mouth. She sees him smiling brightly also, and held out one of his arms for her to slip underneath, as she giggles quietly leaning against his tall figure side.

"The Arlong Pirates are at Baratie." Nami announced quickly spinning around when she heard them enter, and bit on her thumb already knowing what was going to happen, "We have to leave now."

Both the siblings raised their eyebrows at the sudden information, lost as to why they had to leave so early which didn't sit well the girl captain since she wasn't ready to say farewell yet, "What? Why should we leave?"

"Because they're looking for your sister." Nami confessed with a dreadful expression answering Luffy's question, which earned wide eyed looks from the all, "And the map."

(Y/N) made her brows crease in a fearful frown wondering why the pirates were after her, resting the side of her head against Sanji's chest. His arm around her gets tighter, and pulls her flushed against his side a bit possessively not liking the idea of her the target.

"Those fishmen will tear this place apart if Zeff doesn't turn her over." Nami stated now staring at a agitated Sanji by their captains side, and crossed her arms over her chest revealing the white bandage around her bicep.

The blonde clenches his jaw angrily at the fact Baratie and now the woman he cared for were both in danger. He gave a soft squeeze to (Y/N)'s waist and reluctantly pulled away from her to walk around to the door.

"Wait-! Where are you going?" She instantly fumbled out reaching out a hand to grasp the back of his suit following behind him, as he stopped in his tracks near where a panicked Luffy was.

"If Baratie's in danger love, I need to be there." He answered swiftly, and gently grabbed her wrists to pull off her hold on him staring down at her seriously.

"Well than, we're coming with you." She straightaway retorted reaching blindly to tug on Luffy's vest beside her, who yelped but nodded rapidly in agreement, as Sanji's face mouth parted in slight shock.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" Nami exclaimed towards the both of the captains, eyes wide not in the mood to deal with their normal selfless ways, "They are hunting you, (N/N). We need to run."

Usopp nodded his head also from standing in the back, gulping nervously as he fiddles with his white sleeved shirt, "I'm with Nami on this one. I'm really not trying to ruffle any feathers, or scales-"

She sighed to herself understanding why the two felt about this, brushing back a piece of her (H/C) locks behind her ear, "We can't run. We're going to protect this place." She stated giving Sanji a small reassuring glance.

The cook pursed his lips finding how confident she was acting a bit attractive, placing one hand on his hip as he dipped his head a bit to meet her eyes, "This isn't your fight though. Why would you do that?"

She lifted her chin up towards him to show him an closed eye, bright smile that had his gaze widening now, "You fed us." She chirped giggling sweetly, "And was kind to my brother and our crew!"

"My sister also likes you, so that's a bonus!" Luffy also added from behind her mischievously, head peeking over her shoulder to smirk at Sanji's embarrassed, but also impressed features.

No way he just said that- She screeched in her thoughts turning robotically to Luffy giving him a bug-eyed stare, lifting her leg up a bit to hit her boot into his shoe, making him huff out air in pain.

She glanced back at Sanji who was already staring at her with a soft, but cocky lopsided smirk on his lips making her embarrassment shy rocket, and span around to face Nami instead still feeling his stare drowning her.

"Look, I know this crew." The navigator interrupted stressed once more, ready to beg for the siblings to listen as she didn't want them or any of her friends getting hurt, "Their captain, Arlong, has the highest bounty in all of the East Blue. You do not want to mess with him."

"It sounds like he messed with us first." Luffy pointed out shrugging his shoulders innocently, before a sudden angry scowl took over his features, "And I'm not just gonna sit around if my kid sister is in danger."

Nami sighed through her nose understanding where he was coming from, but for everyone's sake she needed them to get out of here, "Guys, please." She now begged looking between the siblings desperately, "Please."

(Y/N) pursed her lips in thought for a second, getting the feeling that something else was going on with Nami again, and took a few steps up to in front of her, "I'm sorry but if they are after me, I can't let innocent people get hurt because of me."

She gently took Nami's slightly shaking hands in between hers to squeeze firmly, and glanced back around at the others smirking determined, "If those fishmen guys want a fight, we're gonna give them one."

Luffy grinned widely proud of his sisters acting like a true captain, while Usopp grimaced but also hesitantly nodded, as Sanji was biting his lower lip to hide his giddy smirk nodding also.

"You stay with the ship and protect the map." She now ordered the conflicted Nami looking at their captain, as she slipped of an orange bracelet into her palm, and gently closed Nami's hands around it smiling, "Wear this while we're gone, hmm? They're both gonna be safe with you."

Nami took the handmade orange bracelet into her hands once (Y/N) let go of her, gripping it tightly in her shaking body as she watched the others now disappear out of the door, and back to the Baratie.

..........

The doors leading into the main room of the Baratie was pushed open loudly, appearing out from it was the Monkey D. siblings with Usopp and Sanji right behind them.

They walked up towards the edge of the railing beside the stairs, and saw the famous Arlong trying to attack one of the customers with is lackies sitting at a table.

"You're Arlong aren't you?" (Y/N) was the first to speak up confidently down at the fishman pirate, becoming serious seeing all the innocent people down below, "I'm Monkey D. (Y/N). I hear you're looking for me."

"Why, yes, I am." His gruffy voiced drawled still holding onto the guy he was going to eat, and looked over his shoulder to see the group walking down the stairs, "So this is the pirate and her brother I've heard so much about?"

He dropped the person he had in his webbed hands, and eyed her figure down smirking, "You know, I wasn't expecting someone... so good looking."

This set off the males around her in the crew at the sickening remark, gaining warning looks from Luffy and Usopp, as Sanji's face shifted into a dangerous expression, and clenched his jaw tightly itching to kick the guy's lights out for saying that to her.

She made a disgusted noise hearing his comment, dragging her thumb along her neck also as she brings it down to pat Sanji's arm feeling him behind her now.

"That's nice of you to say, but it ain't happening fish face." She deadpanned bluntly, making the trio stiffle their amused chuckles behind their hands.

Arlong paused his walking mid step to growl low in his throat, and narrowed his eyes down on her figure standing on the stairwell, "Do you know who I am, little girl?" He sneered out wanting to intimidate, "I'm Arlong the Saw. Even the Marines flee before my flag."

She made a confused face shrugging her shoulders dramatcially, and rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Am I supposed to know?" She remarked in bored tone, "How'd you find me and my brother anyway?"

He just chuckles through his sharp teeth tilting his head to the side, "An old friend helped me track you down, though he still kept things from me about you." He grunts a bit annoyed, before clicking his tongue to his lackies behind him at a table.

Another fishman named Choo lifted up the black bag on the ground near him, pulling out the familiar head of Buggy the clown, "Heya, Fox girl! Straw hat! Did you miss me?" He calls in a friendly greeting, and gets placed onto the table also.

"Burpy?" Both the siblings exclaimed in surprise seeing the clown they once defeated, and shared a look between each other confused, "What are you doing here?"

"Believe me, it wasn't my first choice either." Buggy tells them trying to wiggle his head around to face where the duo stood, and spoke through his teeth, "But these fine fishy folk persuaded me to point them in the right direction, which ain't easy when you don't have hands."

"How'd you even know how to find us?"

Bugg chuckles a little loudly at Luffy's hesitant question, before growing serious to speak, "I told you two. I've got eyes and ears everywhere." He explains just as his ear comes slipping out of Luffy's hat, and pops back onto his head as he laughs some more wiggling it, "Stereo!"

(Y/N) gasped in the back of her throat at the realisation, grabbing onto Luffy's shoulders to pull of his straw hat and held it out to see where the ear once was, "You were listening all along?" She breathed out dreadfully, handing back the hat to her shocked brother, "You heard everything, didn't you?"

"Sure did, kid." He confirmed in a cheery voice now finally facing his head their way, "And that got old quick, 'cause you shidiots have no idea what you're doing." He now tried to turn back towards Choo, "Hey, Lips, how about a scratch behind the old ear, huh?"

"Sorry, honey." Choo sarcastically answered placing his drink down onto the table, and uncrossed his arms sitting up in the chair more he was sat in.

"Oh, come on! Give a clown a break. I-" His annoyed words were cut off when Choo grabbed his head, and picked him up now, "Oh, wait! No! Not back in the bag! It's so dark and wet and sandy-" His wails were muffled by getting put back into the bag again, and Choo zipped it shut tight to no longer hear from him.

After that little dramatic scene display from the clown, Arlong decided to step back in gaining the Straw Hat's crew attention, "Listen here. I want my map, along with half of whatever you plunder as tribute." He rumbles out lifting a webbed finger up, and smirked wickedly at the girl, "And if you bow down to me, I might even let you serve in my kingdom. Right by my side, as my queen."

She made another grimacing face not finding interest in that idea, very unaware of the murderous glare Sanji had on behind her staring at Arlong with, "I don't bow down to anyone." She claims also scowling making the fishman growl, "And you're no king."

"I will be when I get my Grand Line map."

His confident declaration had Luffy smirking knowingly leaning his elbow on his sisters shoulder, as she crossed her arms over her chest chuckling lowly, "Then..." She began looking through her hair at Arlong in challenge, "you're gonna have to fight us for it."

"Then let the flighting begin." Arlong growled accepting the challenge from them, and crackled his knuckles to take a step forward. However a gunshot rings out in the room hitting his back, seen behind him was Zeff holding up a shotgun that had steam coming out the end showing he was the one who fired the hit.

"Old man...." She whispered to herself panicked for his safety, making sure the bandanna was tied enough in her hair along with the hat around her neck, as she watched the scene in front closely.

The fishman slowly turns around to face a scowling Zeff now pointing down his gun. Kuroobi grunts angrily seeing his captain fired on, standing up to send a kick at Zeff's peg leg which had him slipping onto the floor and all the guests clamouring.

Kuroobi gives the older man no time to get back up as he was sending another forceful hit at him, this time in the chest which sent Zeff flying back into a pillar and knocking over many tables in his wake.

"ZEFF!" Sanji yells loudly watching his father figure be taking down so easily, running off towards Choo to aim a powerful kick at his chest, and jumped onto a moving table. He flipped himself over it to aim another kick at Kuroobi, making the customers gasp backing away to safety.

He grunts jumping up into the air using both his feet to kick back Kurbooi in the chest, and span around to land another across his face. Dropping onto one knee, he leg swiped the fishman off his feet and flicked back his bangs still being perched on the tiled floor glaring.

When I thought he couldn't get anymore perfect- (Y/N) gaped amazed in her thoughts, watching the male fight easily with wide impressed eyes, and placed the back of her hand up to her mouth, trying not to squeal out loud.

Sanji placed one palm onto the floor with one shoe also, spinning himself around yelling as he twirls sideways into the air, and lands a kick into the side of Kurbooi's neck. Though this time, the fishman caught his leg grumbling as Sanji strained to break free from the strong hold.

Choo smirked in amusement watching his friend fight the male, and stayed off to the side knowing he was going to win. Kurbooi brings his hand back to slam it into Sanji's chest, making him go flying back into the air and straight into a table that flipped over with him onto the floor.

Usopp was revealed from underneath the table when that happened, shaking scared holding onto his green sling shot as he scrambled to get out of the spotlight, "Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh."

"Sanji!" (Y/N) called out worriedly hearing him coughing from his spot fallen onto the floor, quickly turning to her brother who nodded at her to go, and she rushed up to his figure to kneel down beside him, "Sanji, hey-"

She frantically gazed over him with wide eyes to see if he was hurt anywhere, reaching up to cup the sides of his face to direct his blue eyes to her, "We need to move you, can you get up?" She questioned in one breath, slipping a hand down to rest against his heaving chest.

He just nodded coughing some more from getting the air knocked out of him, grunting as he leans up with her help and his side falls against her chest, arms loosely placed around her, legs also trapping her in between them.

She placed a hand behind his locks to thread her fingers through them slightly, trying not to squeal feeling his rapid breath hitting her collar bones, and glanced over the table blocking them. She saw Luffy fighting with Arlong now to keep him distracted, but was getting easily beaten which had her panicking for him now also.

Usopp whistled quietly from behind them on the stairs to gain her attention, causing her head to snap his way and saw him motioning to come over with his hand, wanting them away from the area where the fight was.

She nods in understanding at him before, glancing down at Sanji's lumped figure resting against her chest, "C'mon, we gotta move you now-" She grunts moving her arms to around his back, heaving the both up from the floor the best she could, and carefully placed him back down beside Usopp who grabbed him next.

"Wait, what are you doing?!" The sniper whispered yelled seeing her turning back around to the fight, pulling Sanji up beside him to lean against the stairs and watched their captain with widened eyes.

(Y/N) held up her hand in the air to make a tight fist as her back was facing them, "Someone's gotta fight him and take the hits," She answered him determined now spotting her brother's figure sliding down the wall across the room hurt from Arlong, "otherwise all of us will end up injured."

Both boys didn't have time to stop her or shout their protests about going to get involved, as it had Sanji gritting his teeth, and gripping the stairs railing feeling weak that he couldn't protect her, and anyone else that mattered to him.

"Come on, let's see what you've got, Fox girl." Arlong sneered the nickname only a few called her, him having no clue what it actually meant since Buggy refused to tell him. He glared at her challenging, and raised a finger to signal 'come here' while standing in the middle.

She narrowed her gaze down on him not liking how he called her that, making her eyes subconsciously become slits like a foxes ones as she frantically glanced around at how many people were still inside. Looks like I can't use my bending too much, she thought agitated knowing if she did, the inside of Baratie would be more destroyed than it already was.

Instead she goes for a move that hopefully won't cause much damage to everything around. Swiftly turning her body to the side, she thrust her fists forward to send a gust of air that momentarily blinds him, and she takes the chance to rush up to him seeing the chance.

She lifts up her leg to aim a kick right where his neck bone was with a fire at the bottom of it, but at the last second before it touched him he caught her calf in his finned hand. Why did I think I was a match for him?! she sulked to herself at Arlong's smug smirk he stared her down with, and prepared for the worst to happen.

He easily swings her around to throw her across the room like she weighed nothing, causing her to yell out as she slammed into a pillar roughly. Groaning she slumped onto the floor on her stomach right beside Luffy, who tried to ease her fall with his rubber body.

"Damn, don't go easy on us or anything..." She strained out through her teeth rolling off of Luffy's chest onto her stomach again, and held onto her sore head groaning.

"Get up!" Arlong growls out aggressively to the hurting siblings on the floor, just as Luffy tried to do so wobbling a bit and went to aim his stretchy arms at the fishman, getting it a few hits at his rough body with his fists.

Though the fishman caught both of his fists in his webbed hands growling menacingly, pulling him in now despite Luffy trying to fight back, and it had (Y/N) scrambling to stand up straight seeing her brother in trouble.

She quickly brought both of her hands to her side feeling the trail of air that followed it, and sent a powerful spiral of airbending in between them to make Arlong let go of Luffy. She caught his body in her bending gentle, and placed him safely on the floor away from harm, as she took over the fighting once more.

"Pretty interesting power you have," Arlong hummed with a dangerous smirk lining his mouth, and flashed off his sharp canines, as he raised up his arms in the air a little, "really reminds me of that one lost devil-fruit."

"Stop running your fish mouth, and fight." She grunted out through a clenched jaw, the slits of her eyes now having a faint orange glow around them, as she sends another kick of firebending towards him.

He easily dodged just at the last second again moving his body sideways swiftly, which had her waving the fire away and instead charged at him with her fists surrounding by a spirals of moving air.

Her left left fist was once more caught in his palm causing her to wince feeling the strain he was putting on it, and tried to hit with her other one, but was met with the same mistake, I don't learn do I- she groaned annoyed at herself mentally.

"Oh, big mistake." Arlong growled out threateningly to her panicking self, a noise of pain escaping her when his much larger hand scrunched hers, "I was going to do this to your brother and show you mercy, but now I'm gonna have to make an example out of you."

Oh this is just great, (Y/N) deadpanned in her thoughts with her eyes growing wide, as he grips her collar now despite her fighting back, and doesn't waste another second to send her flying straight through the entrance to the Baratie.

The other three yelled out her name fearfully watching this happen to her, Luffy's being the loudest. Unable to do anything as every time they stood up to go help, something pulled the trio back down to keep them stuck in the spot. It was almost like she was doing that, but at the same time had no idea she actually was.

Arlong laughs a cackle at her figure on the deck near the water groaning, walking up to where she was stumbling back up, and was rolling her shoulders back ready for round two now they were in open space.

The only thing I need to worry about is touching the water, she thought trying to come up with a plan glancing around the decks, and didn't see Arlong coming up towards her until he sent a hit to her face.

She yelped thrown off balance at the punch that grazed her cheek, stumbling back a bit across the deck closer to where the Going Merry was, and skidded along the wood to stop herself.

"I don't know why everyone think's your special, girl." He sneered through a snarl at her, and bared his sharp canines once more eyeing her figure down, "I see nothing but a nobody with no control over their abilities."

She released a breath of air that was visible to the eye, praying the accessories on her stayed during the fight, as she chuckles amused, "Yeah, I don't know why either." She mused to his first words, and raised her arms up over her head which a bunch of water followed the movement, and sent it spiralling towards Arlong fast.

The water slammed straight into him with great force causing him to grunt alarmed, and now stumbling back a few steps. He tried to dodge the many water slice attacks she sent at his body, and only manged to avoid a few, as he wasn't prepared for her to use his own home against him.

She goes to rush up towards him with a circle of water spinning around her waist mid air by her palms controlling it, but was met with his leg kicking her in the side roughly. The waterbending drops at this, along with her onto her knees as they buckles and heaved for air feeling like it was currently getting cut off.

Taking advance of her taking off guard state he lifted up his leg to send another kick to her side, making her wheeze out air and skid along the deck until she came to a stop laying on her back now near some more small boats.

Arlong advanced on (Y/N) who stood back up stumbling a bit, her fists up raised ready for more of her ass getting beaten which she'd gladly take over making the others receive this kind of defeat. His hand came to punch her across the cheek, causing a cry of pain and alarm to escape her as she landed into a small boat that was behind them in the water.

She groans when her head rammed into the basket in the boat, huffing out some air to regain herself as she rolled onto her side, hands gripping onto the side and poked her head over the boat's side.

"We can keep playing tag if you want," She pants out chuckling mockingly, her eyes glaring determined at him across the deck, and tipped her head to the side, "I can do this all day, fish lips."

She pushed herself out of the boat flipping up into the air using her airbending, and landed with a thump onto the deck right in front of him. Yelling out she sends more water spirals at his body, making them slam into him quickly one by one and tripping him back onto his knees against the deck.

At the same time a familiar stretchy arm was being thrown at him from the other end also, her (E/C) eyes went wide spotting her brother standing there scowling down at Arlong, the one who also had hit him in the fight.

Luffy rushed back over to his sister to stand protectively in front of her now, as she sighed fondly to herself behind him, knowing she'd never be able to keep him out of trouble, when she was the one who was already in it. No words were exchanged between them yet, both knowing they needed to defeat Arlong first before that.

"How about a drink?" The fishman pirate sneered at the appearance of the male now in front of his pray, webbed hands going into the water to flick a heap of it onto the siblings who yelled getting hit with it, and flew back through the air to land in a heap on the deck separately.

Luffy tried to get up wanting to protect (Y/N) who was a few meters in front of him groaning in pain, his hands moving  to try and reach her, but felt too weak from the water being splashed on them, and his eyes were close to flying shut now also.

Arlong laughed in triumph seeing them both down for good now, stomping up to a half conscious (Y/N) now to roughly pick her up by the collars of her shirt, which had Luffy trying his best to crawl over in his current state.

She tried to push back the fishmans hands on her also, growling low in her throat as she fought against him despite her body feeling drained. He was going to snap at her neck, but was stopped by a familiar voice, "Arlong, wait!"

This had all three of them turning their heads towards the sound, her (E/C) lidded eyes going wide seeing Nami now walking down from the ship carrying the map in her hand, "I have it. I have the map." She announced now walking closer to where they were, face not showing any emotion, "I got it for you, just like I said I would."

"N-Nami?" (Y/N) stuttered out a bit slurred from the amount of strength she's drained, staring at the girl she called a friend and sister with confusion, "What are you doing?"

"I tried to tell you, (Y/N)." Nami answered her with a monotone voice, trying her best to keep her cold facade up seeing the siblings betrayed expressions, "I was never on your crew. I only joined up with you so I could steal the map."

Once she arrived where the girl was getting lifted above the ground by Arlong, the orange haired's left shoulder revealed a sword-fish tattoo, one that was the exact same to the other three fishman that were here.

She glanced down at her brother who had now passed out which she didn't blame him, before gritting her teeth looking back at Nami, "I don't believe that, you're lying." She grunts out spotting another familiar bracelet around the latter's wrist, that she was trying to hide from view.

"That's because you only believe what you want to believe." Nami spat aggressively making the other girls face drop, and face to scrunch up, "Doesn't make it true."

"Sister Nami's a loyal member of the Arlong Pirates." The fishman captain announced to the girl still trapped in his hold, and cackled mockingly at her, "She has been for years."

The orange haired girl ignored the looks from (Y/N) as the handmade bracelet felt heavier on her wrist now, "We have the map, Arlong." She touches his arm to gain his attention, "Let's go." She whispered now walking past them towards where the fallen Luffy was back to the fishman's ship.

Arlong chuckles a snarl again at the (H/C) haired girl who was glaring hatefully up at him, not figting back this time as he lifted her up more into the air. Just before she was dumped into the cold ocean, her eyes caught onto Nami's teary ones glancing back at them both with, and instantly knew that was a cry for help.

(Y/N)'s back slammed straight into the water creating a splash, as the frigid embrace of the water engulfed her. Panic surged through her veins as she struggled to resurface, but her limbs felt heavy, her energy drained by everything that recently just happened.

Bubbles of air left her nose trying to bend the water around her, but nothing was responding to what she wanted. Kicking and flailing, she fought to break free from the watery prison that threatened to become her tomb. Desperation gnawed at her as the world above turned into a blurry, distant dream.

Just when hope seemed lost, shadows descended from above where she could just see three of them. A powerful figure dived into the water with grace, and determination, as the familiar figure of Sanji was now swimming towards her.

Her (H/C) hair that wasn't tied up from the bandana was floating around her head in the water, eyes fluttering open the slightest to see his blue ones now right in front of her.

Once she was in arms reach for him, his hands come up to hold both her cheeks in his palms, and caressed them gently under the water, as his nose softly bumps into hers from how close they were.

Slipping them down to around her waist and back gently also, he grabbed her body in close and pulled her into his arms. Once she was securely against his side, he kicked his legs as fast as he could until he broke the surface.

Her head was resting on his bare shoulder blade, and his free arm was still around her waist tightly. He placed is other one onto the deck, flicking back his wet bangs as he stablise her on his knee slightly, "You're alright now, sweetheart. I've got you." He breathed out against her ear, before trying to help her up first, "I've got you, love."

Usopp was already there with Luffy's head resting on his leg since he was still knocked out, but carefully placed it back down now seeing that Sanji was back with their other captain. He helps the blonde heave her out of the water, as Sanji quickly pulled himself out and gently took her smaller body into his arms once he was.

She coughed up the water in her lungs now with her eyes just barely opened, heaving for some air as he brushed back the wet locks out of her forehead, and shifted his body so he sat knelt down flat with her in his arms.

One of his arms were underneath wrapped around her waist, while the other one was placed onto the side of her left cheek tenderly. Her head was resting against his shoulder, and her side pressed onto his abs that she didn't have the strength to freak over about.

"Where's Luffy? Where's Nami?" Those were her first panted out words from almost drowning, drowsy eyes staring around trying to find them but were focused on Sanji's ones above hers, as her fingers dig into his bare skin.

His face was hovering over hers which made his wet hair sometimes drip onto her cheeks, and he coos to gently shush her, "He's alright, belle. Usopp has him, don't worry." He reassured accent coming out thicker, as he rubs his thumb over her cheeks, and the coldness of his ring had her shivering, "You need to worry about yourself first."

She shakes her head in response hearing his words, moving her head so it rested just below his jaw as she turned her gaze to see Luffy resting on Usopp's leg again.

"We need to get Nami back," She swallowed the lump in her throat, before hiding her face back into Sanji's wet and bare neck gripping him tightly and whispered, "We have to.."

─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
I DID NOT MEAN TO WRITE THIS MUCH GUYS OMG AND IM SORRY ITS SO LONG 😭
i think i have a habit of putting to much detail into things and that's why my word count is
so fricking high LMAOA IDK THOUGH
BUT ITS ANNOYING

sanji diving into the water had me squealing and kicking my feet the first time i saw it plssss
his gawd damn abs?? hellooo???
taz the man you are- 🫠

next chap is gonna be so sweet guys cause i might be having zoro do a lil half confession scene to
y/n before his first mate vow
and promise EHEHEH 🤭

i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and
pleaseeee don't be silent readers guys 🫶