surprise!

29th January 2023

“They’re here!” Nami yelled out to the Straw Hat crew. “Places!” She hid herself behind one of her mikan trees while the others also fled to hide behind objects on the ship.

“Huh. Wonder why no one’s on the main deck,” Luffy said, as he jumped onboard the ship with Zoro. They’d just gotten back from sparring with some of the island’s most skilled fighters. It had been a great but tiring experience.

“I don’t like this,” Zoro said, hands gripping his swords. “It’s too quiet. It’s never this quiet.”

Luffy hummed, putting his hand on his chin. “Why are they hiding? Did they forget we have haki…?”

“My thoughts exactly. What are they planning?”

Nami groaned and revealed herself. “Ugh! We were just trying to surprise—”

“SURPRISE!” came the loud yell by the rest of the Straw Hat pirates as they too revealed themselves. Confetti shot out of Franky’s metal hands and there was a handmade banner in Usopp’s arms that read CONGRATS!

Zoro arched an eyebrow, suspicious. “What…?” Meanwhile Luffy was grinning.

“We were trying to congratulate you guys on finally getting together!” Usopp said.

Luffy and Zoro shared a look. Zoro turned to the rest of the crew pointing between himself and Luffy. “You think… we finally got together?”

“Yeah!” Chopper said, grinning. “We’re so happy for you!”

Luffy started to laugh and Zoro was quick to join in.

“Y-you’re not? Wait, what?” Nami said, frowning. She turned to Brook. “I thought you said you saw them!”

“I did, I swear, Nami-san!” Brook said. “Though I have no eyes, yohohoho skull joke!”

“Brook’s not lying,” Zoro said. “We saw him watching us.”

“Then…?”

Zoro looked at Luffy and smiled, so soft it felt out of place. “We’ve been together since I joined the crew. Hey, Luff?”

“Yep!” Luffy said before leaning over and pressing a kiss to Zoro’s cheek. “Zoro’s been mine for ages!”

“We assumed you all knew already, but apparently it was only Robin?” Zoro said.

Robin chuckled. “I tried to tell them but they didn’t believe me.”

Nami gaped while Usopp spluttered.

Sanji groaned. “What about all the food I made?”

“Food!?” Luffy said. “We can still celebrate!”

Zoro nodded. “Might as well. At least you all know now.”

Robin just laughed.