Chapter Text
“Did you actually get to see the Yetis?” Riley asked Brook while they both enjoyed a cup of tea.
“Unfortunately, no.” Brook sighed. “We followed the footprints but that’s all I remember until waking up in the snow.”
Riley pouted from her seat on the railing. “Damn. I didn’t get to see them either.”
“Perhaps your sister saw them?” Brook offered. “You should ask her if she can draw a picture for you.” He chuckled. “Luffy and Chopper seem to approve of her talents.”
Riley turned towards where the two, along with Momo, were gathered around the swing where Willow sat, sketchbook open on her lap. She chuckled at the excited looks the three boys held when she presented them with whatever new creation they had dreamt up. “Maybe when she’s not surrounded by her admirers.”
Brook nodded. “She is quite talented. And very beautiful. I wonder if I can get her to show me her panties.”
Riley gave Brook a side-long look.
Brook took a sip of his tea, leaned back against the railing, and settled his attention on Willow.
Riley rolled her eyes. “What else did you see?”
“Well, the lake, you know the one between the two sides of the island,” Brook continued, “began to turn purple from the jelly monster’s poison.”
“Really?” Riley asked in fascination.
Brook nodded. “Which was quite unfortunate considering that was where Kin’emon’s torso lay.”
Riley shook her head. “Of course, it did.” Their luck was just like that.
“Sanji was the one who bravely rescued the samurai’s body.”
Riley smiled. “’Of course, he did.” Their crew seemed to thrive under their ill luck, too.
“You know, at times, Sanji reminds me of one of my old comrades.” Brook observed, his voice taking on that almost dreamy quality it always did when he wandered too far into his mind. “Always so stubbornly gallant and so staunchly stayed true to his word. Ericson was a true gentleman, and he played his violin beautifully.”
Riley listened without saying a word.
Brook was delicate, she’d learned. She had to pay close attention. He might be close to immortal at this point, but he’d been through so much in his long life that she knew he was already tiptoeing at the edge of a breakdown.
Riley leaned her side against Brook’s, just enough to remind him he wasn’t alone anymore. His shoulders loosened in that way they did when he was honestly relaxed.
“Is Ericson the one that would always fall asleep under the table?” Riley asked.
Brook chuckled. “No. That was Harrison. Ericson was the boy we met right before crossing into the Grand Line.”
“Oh, the one that joined the crew on accident?” Riley asked. Brook had had such a large crew before that it was sometimes hard to keep track, but she knew Brook appreciated that she even tried.
He chuckled again, the sound growing less haunted by the moment. “That’s Ericson! Can you believe he honestly thought we were just a traveling symphony?”
Riley’s laugh was cut off by a shout and the familiar sounds of fighting coming from the kitchen.
Pans crashed, swords sung, Zoro growled, and Sanji cursed.
“I do believe Sanji’s found out.” Brook commented casually.
Riley narrowed her eyes at Brook. “Found out what?”
Brook sipped his tea.
Riley sighed and hopped off the railing, leaving her teacup in her place. “Well, I should probably make sure Sanji doesn’t kill Zoro.”
“Good luck!” Brook called after her.
Riley caught Willow’s eye and waved away her concern. Willow smirked in reply and turned back towards where Luffy, Chopper, and Momo had shifted their attention from her and were now playing in the grass with Kiri.
Riley braced herself before pushing open the galley door.
As expected, Sanji and Zoro were at one another’s throats. Unexpectedly, Usopp and Nami were sitting at the far end of the kitchen bar, each holding a drink while they entertained themselves by watching the other two.
Nami gave her a big grin, mischief in her eyes. Amusement and shame fought across Usopp’s face and Riley knew exactly what had happened. She knew Usopp realized he'd been caught when he gave her a timid wave. “Hi, Riley.”
Zoro and Sanji froze. They turned towards her.
“This Mosshead is spreading lies about you!”
“Usopp’s the one who told you, Swirly Idiot!”
“But you didn’t deny it!”
“Because there’s nothing to deny!”
“So you admit you were lying!”
“I’m not lying!”
“Yes, you are!”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
“Am not!”
“He’s not.” Riley agreed.
“Yes, he is!” Sanji shouted at Zoro. He paused and blinked in surprise. He turned back to Riley. “He’s not?”
Riley shook her head somberly.
Sanji expression fell and he stared at her in disbelief. He waved his hands in Zoro’s direction. “Him?”
Riley nodded.
Sanji turned back to Zoro, expression scrunched and eyebrows high. “Him?”
“Hey!” Zoro straightened, affronted.
“Him.” Riley nodded again.
Zoro raised his chin and grinned at Sanji.
Sanji’s brow furrowed. He continued looking at Zoro up and down, clearly unimpressed. “First Robin, now you? Are you sure, Riley?”
Riley could see Zoro bristling and knew it wouldn’t be long before they started fighting again.
She looked over at Nami and Usopp, both were still sipping their drinks and watching the three of them without a single care. They’d be no use- Riley grinned as a wicked thought came to mind. “Hey, Sanji, did Nami tell you about the dream she had about you?”
Nami’s jaw dropped in betrayal. Sanji whirled towards Nami, love already in his gaze.
Riley took the chance to grab Zoro’s arm and pull him out of the kitchen.
Zoro was poised to fight but a stern look from her had him putting away his swords and following her back to her original spot with Brook.
“Everything settled then?” Brook asked calmly.
Riley took up her place on the railing once more, this time between Zoro and Brook. “No one’s dead. I consider it a win.”
“Riley and I are together.” Zoro informed Brook.
Brook laughed. “I was aware.”
Zoro nodded and leaned back against the railing. “Good.”
Riley raised a brow.
He ignored her question and stroked Kiri’s head when he breezed onto his shoulder.
Riley sighed and went back to enjoying her cup of tea.
Well, at least everyone knew now.
The night was dark but far from silent and Law took the time to contemplate the Straw Hat crew. They were energetic even at night when they should be sleeping.
Law liked the sound of life. He’d even missed it these last few months with just the quiet Willow at his side, but the Straw Hats… There was noise then there was chaos, and this crew was chaos.
Straw Hat embodied that sense better than anyone else, often laughing and running and playing throughout the ship. Sometimes with the cat, sometimes with Tony and Nose, and other times with Riley and whatever type of amusements she seemed to literally create out of thin air. But never still. Impossibly so, he was always moving and always loud.
Meanwhile, Willow, his sole companion the last few months and the one person he’d hoped would remain a port of calm, seemed absorbed in the chaos.
Law watched her slip into the Straw Hats’ world as naturally as she belonged, grinning with her sister, indulging Straw Hat and Nose while the cat curled around her.
Most of all, he watched how she seemed entranced by Roboguy…
The Straw Hat’s shipwright and the man made of metal and flesh had her completely fixated.
Willow had rarely spoken to him, much less looked his way since they’d boarded the ship… Law was pretty certain he’d lost his shipwright.
Law gripped his sword and tried to sleep around Nose and Tony’s whimpers and Caesar and Straw Hat's snores.
If things went the way he hoped, maybe it would be for the best that Willow could find a place among this crew. He wasn't sure she'd forgive him for what he was about to do...
He wasn't sure his crew would forgive him either.
Law sensed their approach a moment before whatever they were invaded the ship. It took him too long, afterwards, to realize they'd stolen Caesar.
Willow was in love.
Or at least, as close to in love as she was capable, she figured.
And she had the Straw Hat’s cyborg shipwright to thank for the realization.
A cyborg… what a thing that was. Steel warmed by blood and threaded beneath flesh. She hadn’t been able to resist touching the man. Hadn’t been able to resist running her fingers over shoulders that were unnaturally rounded and dependably pure metal, that hid excited weapons within. She couldn't stop herself from running her hands over his chest and feel the soft flesh give but only to hint at the metal bones of the man.
And all his metal loved him. It was warm and alive in a way that spoke of common handling and care.
It was happy.
Just like The Thousand Sunny.
Even the woodwork gleamed, and she could tell that the ship’s metal pieces weren’t the only parts that were adored.
How could Willow herself not recognize that echo of love?
How could she not absolutely adore the man that treated his body and his ship with the same warm respect she’d only seen in her own father?
Franky the Cyborg was absolutely perfect…
And she found herself yearning for the Polar Tang, and the Heart Pirates, and Law.
Franky was delighted by her and flattered by her attention, but there was never any heat in his gaze. There was never any spark of lust in their interactions.
Willow knew, within a few hours of knowing the man that the only future for them was the workshop.
But he had such a spectacular mind and a wonderful amount of ability and Willow found she didn’t really mind if they were only friends.
Every invention he showed her left her wondering how she could do something similar to the Polar Tang. She found herself gushing about the ship and squealed, squealed!, in delight when he should her his tiny shark submarine.
Almost without realizing it, Willow found herself sharing more about her time with the Heart Pirates to Franky, than she did to her own sister.
And she found herself listening to his stories, and watching the Straw Hats with her own eyes, and… Willow, damn it all, really did miss her crew. Not just the submarine, but the entire crew that brought it to life.
Willow watched Zoro patiently listen as their little doctor spoke and thought of Jean Bart’s patience when Bepo insisted he was in charge.
She watched Sanji fawn over each female on board and thought of Sachi and Peguin's wall of admiration.
When Nami twisted her hair above her head, Willow was reminded of braiding Pollock's hair while Ikkaku lay spread-out on the ground talking about whatever came to mind.
With Robin, she thought of Uni and his books.
Watched Brook sing and Luffy and Usopp play and thought of the Polar Tang when they took time off at an island and just enjoyed.
She missed them. In a way that made longing well inside her soul.
Willow’s gaze lingered on Law.
He was silent and stressed. She could see by the constant furrow in his brow and how his expression seemed torn between shock and annoyance when he thought no one was looking.
She missed him too.
Punk Hazard had been interesting. The metal was poisoned and hid darkness beneath darkness, but it had had its moments where it was almost... fun.
Law and she were playing a role but he’d been indulgent. Had let her do as she wanted and seemed more amused then angered when she would lose track of time sketching or would wander too far the wrong way just because she'd been distracted. He would tease her, and she’d tease him back and it felt natural.
It made it so easy to forget they were being watched.
“How do you know you’re in love?”
Franky tilted his head in thought. “Love? That’s sort of different for everyone, I figure.”
“What’s it like for you?” Willow asked, her hands absently toying with one of the gadgets on his worktable.
“It’s respect and admiration. Its caring about someone more than you care for yourself. Its wanting to be the absolute best version of yourself just for them. I think its more about little moments and their meaning more than anything.”
Willow thought of everything. She thought of everyone…
So, Willow was in love… it just wasn’t with the cyborg.
Maybe it wasn’t even with Law.
But she was in love.
The realization left her lost.
Something was wrong with Riley. Something had been wrong since the moment Luffy and the others came back with the sea creatures and the gas-man.
Her hands wouldn’t leave the knives at her hips and her gaze continued to jump around her surroundings. She even seemed unable to stand or sit still.
Zoro had tried to wait for her to come to him but she was terrified of something and it had Zoro on edge. He knew he was being impatient. That he could give her more time… but he didn’t like this and wasn’t going to let it fester.
The sun had begun to set when Zoro finally found his chance and followed Riley into the bath.
“Zoro?” Riley stared in surprise, dagger already in her outstretched hand.
Zoro leaned with his back against the door. He took note of the blade and the fact that despite her quick draw, her senses should have been alert enough to realize it was him.
Zoro hadn’t been trying to be stealthy.
“You going to tell me what’s wrong?”
Riley set down her change of clothes on the bench beside the bathtub. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Something has you on edge.” He narrowed his eyes. “Did Traffy or Kin’emon do something?”
Riley snorted. She started undoing her boots. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Did Will or the kid say anything?”
Riley gave him an annoyed glance.
“Then?”
“Then nothing.” Riley snapped, kicking off her shoes and slipping out of her socks.
Zoro lifted a brow. Riley had never talked to him that way before. He noted the tension in her shoulders as she lifted her loose curls into a knot at the top of her head.
She glared at him. “Why do you even care? Leave me alone.”
“You know exactly why I care.” Zoro bit back.
Riley’s hands paused in the motion of undoing her belt.
“I thought you trusted me.”
Riley tensed, but she stayed silent and Zoro felt his annoyance flare. For the first time, he wondered if maybe this thing between them really had been a mistake. Riley had never acted this way and the fact that she was doing it now, only a few days after she’d given him a shy smile and an excited “yes,” made him wonder if maybe her fear wasn’t something that had to do with him.
Zoro sighed. “Fine. Don’t tell me if you don’t want to. But deal with it.”
Riley’s face was still turned away, but her head tilted in question.
“Whatever is going on has you on edge. Talk to your sister or Kiri. Hell, talk to the cook if it’ll help. Just talk to someone.” He turned back to the door. “Whatever this is is hurting you and if this isn’t something you can deal with alone then you need to turn to someone who can help.”
“Zoro…” Her soft call made him pause with his hand on the doorknob. He waited for her to speak, to say something, anything- “You stink.”
Zoro snapped his head back to her in offense.
Riley grinned at him, hesitation in her eyes and her shoulders high. “Will you take a bath with me?”
Zoro blinked in surprise.
He nodded and Riley’s shoulders dropped. She started running the bath water before she finished undressing and slipped inside.
Zoro shook off his surprise and quickly undressed. He set his katanas against the edge of the bath and noted the way Riley dipped her head slightly when he got in. Just enough to try and hide her blushing features.
Zoro cleared his throat and went to sit on the bench a little away from her.
“Come here.” Riley motioned in front of her.
Zoro hid his own blush and settled before her, his back to her front and her knees on either side of his hips. He curled away from her, bending his knees and resting his elbows on them, sitting at the very edge to leave as much space between his body and hers.
They'd shared a stolen moment at Punk Hazard where they'd both admitted, to the other's delight how much they enjoyed one another's kisses, but they hadn’t even discussed more.
And right now, wasn’t the time.
“Why don’t you like baths?” Riley asked, her knees grazing his thighs as she seemed to stretch to grab the soaps and shampoos the girls, and the Love-Cook, kept beside the tub.
“It’s a waste of time.” Zoro shrugged, letting his fingertips lazily trail over the water, over the distorted sight her long legs made below the clear liquid.
“It can be relaxing.” Riley argued as tiny white bubbles began to appear from her movements behind him.
“So is fishing.”
Riley snorted.
Her hesitant fingers ran over his back and Zoro froze. “Will you let me show you?”
Zoro straightened slightly, still sitting at the very edge. He shrugged without looking back at her.
Riley’s soapy fingers ran over his shoulders lightly before pressing down on his muscles.
Zoro let out a sigh as her fingers worked down his back, then down his arms until her front was pressed flush against him.
Her strong hands working his muscles coupled with her soft flesh pressed against his back and sides had him almost melt in bliss.
Zoro leaned back into her fully as her hands ran up his sides and over his chest. He dropped his head back to lay on her shoulder and felt a mix of relief and disappointment when her hands failed to wander lower.
Riley moved her hands back up his chest, her touch once again light as they ghosted over his various scars.
“Alright,” Zoro admitted with a murmur. “This is better than fishing.”
They lazed in the water for a few minutes, both relaxed and calm.
Riley leaned her cheek against his and sighed. “This feels safe.”
Zoro lay his hands on her knees below the water. Then he waited.
“It’s Breed.” Riley held him tighter, her short nails scratching at him lightly. “And Finley.”
Zoro ran his thumbs over her kneecaps as he made the connection between the two. It wasn’t hard. After all, Breed’s Devil Fruit was a lot like Finley’s with the way they collared and controlled people. And Riley had been under Finley’s control for a long time.
“How many more people like them are out there?” Riley whispered, her nails digging deeper, her cheek pressing harder against him. “How much worse are they going to get?”
Zoro wrapped his hands around her thighs. “If Luffy and Law hadn’t come back when they did, if we’d had to go in there and fight to get them out and you knew who was in there, would you have gone?”
“Of course.” Riley replied instantly.
“If it had been you, do you think any of us would have hesitated?” He asked.
The pressure on his cheek relaxed and so did the grip on his chest. “No.”
In a quick movement that had water slashing over the sides, Zoro turned until he was standing before her with a knee braced on the bench between her legs, her face held between his hands. “Do you trust me? Do you trust our crew?”
Riley nodded, green eyes wide.
Zoro locked his gaze on her, needing her to believe him. “Then trust that no matter what happens, no matter what sicko tries to take control, me and everyone else in our crew will do everything to get you back.”
Riley’s eyes grew glassy as they searched his face.
He let her look, knowing that the only way she’d finally truly relax would be if she believed him completely.
Zoro understood her fear. Even though he hadn’t had to suffer for long with Finley’s collar around him and he hadn’t had to suffer at all with Breed’s, he understood the well of fear she had to be carrying inside. To be betrayed by her own body, to be held prisoner inside her own mind…
Zoro definitely understood.
But she also needed to understand that no matter what happened or who they were up against, Zoro would do everything he could to keep her and all the others safe.
Riley leaned forward and rested her forehead against his chest, breathing out. The tension she’d been holding and the fear she must have hidden for far longer, flowing out of her with her exhale.
Zoro shifted them until he was seated, Riley settled in his lap and their arms wrapped easily around one another.
“You should join me more often.” Riley murmured against him.
Zoro snorted. “You just want me to take a bath as often as you do.”
Riley leaned back and grinned at him. Teasing in her smile. “Are you saying smelling bad is more fun than this?”
Zoro let his hand run over her bare back. Riley let her own trace the wide scare on his chest. “I’ll have to think about that.”
Riley laughed without a trace of the shadows that'd been haunting her and Zoro was unable to stop himself from pressing his lips against hers to taste taste her laughter in her kiss.
Zoro knew then that everything would be alright.
The sun had been down for hours when Willow settled beside Law at the main mast and held out her hand.
Law handed her his nodachi without hesitation.
Willow unsheathed the blade before running her fingers over the edge.
Law relaxed as he watched Kikoku sharpen and begin to gleam piece by piece between her touch and the moonlight.
Like so many other things, Willow taking care of his Kikoku was one more habit they’d gotten themselves into.
Each night he watched her take care of her scythe before turning her careful attention on his nodachi.
Only when she was done would she crawl into bed with him. And each night she slipped in beside him, both their weapons shining and ready, and her body warm and soft, Law fell asleep far more easily than he ever thought possible.
Law hadn’t realized how much he’d even missed the simple routine the last few days he’d been without it.
He was actually surprised she was here. Law had barely spoken to her since they left the SAD tanker at Punk Hazard.
“We reach Dressrosa tomorrow?” Willow asked.
Law flexed his fingers against his thighs. “We do.” After a few days on the water, they would finally reach their destination.
They would finally reach Doflamingo.
Willow nodded. “You should sleep.”
Law looked over at her.
“I’m staying here tonight.”
Law rose a brow.
Willow leaned her head back against the mast. “Unfortunately, I’ve gotten used to sleeping beside you, too.”
“Too?”
Her eyes dropped down to the bags under his eyes. She smirked at him in challenge.
Law chuckled. He should have realized it would have been impossible to lie to the same woman who he had spent months learning to read. He sighed. “Fine. I’ve gotten used to you.”
Willow’s lips quirked. “Then go to sleep, Law. I’ll keep an eye out for the both of us.”
Law nodded and closed his eyes.
Willow was right, he’d need every ounce of strength for tomorrow… but there was something he had to talk to Willow about first. “Can I still trust you?”
Willow gave him a sharp nod.
“There’s something I’m going to need you to do while we’re there.”