# 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐒! zoro

v , charmspeak

zoro, growing tired of our back-and-forth, let out a sigh. "would you stop?"

i shrugged playfully, maintaining my smug expression. "no."

nami wasn't ready to concede, though, and insisted, "the way you're clanging those swords around, you must've broken something," gesturing toward zoro's swords hanging from his waist.

zoro looked up at her with a glare, "maybe you should've stolen a better boat."

i chimed in once more, repeating my previous claim, "maybe he ate something."

"you brat-" zoro's head turned to me in a scary speed.

nami's frustration continued to escalate, and just as she was about to unleash a colorful tirade of words directed at zoro, luffy swiftly intervened, raising his hands to calm the brewing storm.

"guys, guys, guys. okay, crew meeting."

we all corrected him in unison, "not a crew!"

i couldn't help but snicker on the side. "i can predict what you guys will say now," i remarked, only to earn a death glare from both nami and zoro.

"sorry," i added sheepishly.

"we're gonna need a better ship to make it to the grand line. a real pirate ship," luffy's expression shifted to one of seriousness, his eyes locked on the horizon, before he flashed a confident grin.

"worthy of the straw hat crew."

nami raised an eyebrow, her initial disappointment at the crew name apparent. "straw hat crew? really?"

"yeah, i thought it had a nice ring to it," luffy replied, his enthusiasm undeterred.

"'demon' has a nice ring to it," zoro chimed in, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "headgear? not scary."

i couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "and i thought cabaji was the emo clown."

zoro's sharp gaze immediately locked onto me. "what did you say?"

"nothing!" i quickly responded, not wanting to provoke him further.

luffy's determination remained unshaken as he countered, "who says pirates have to be scary?"

"the point is we need a new ship. so where do we get one?" luffy turned his inquisitive eyes toward each of us.

"take us to the nearest village! i can steal a huge ship right under the seller's nose," i offered with a mischievous smirk.

nami raised an eyebrow, "how so?"

"i charmspeak!"

luffy's tone grew serious at what i said as he issued a clear order, "no stealing."

my surprise was evident in my frown as i asked, "wait, are you serious?"

"our closest bet is the gecko islands. we can probably make it there before our ship sinks. we'll ditch this one before we get a better one," nami suggested, her voice laced with practicality.

"good. with a working toilet," zoro added, casting a meaningful glance at the toilet-less ship.

luffy grinned and praised nami, "great job, navigator."

nami remained resolute, asserting, "you're still not hanging out on my ship."

i stared out at the front deck, momentarily stunned by nami's revelation.

'gecko islands?'

my mind raced, connecting the dots. i couldn't believe it.

'isn't that where usopp lives?'

'holy shit.'

my excitement was palpable as i exclaimed, "holy shit! i'm gonna meet usopp!"

the other three stared at me, their faces blank, before syncing their words,

"who?"

⚓︎

syrup village 6 years ago -

"usopp!" i called out, bursting into his house.

"you disappeared for over a week! where were you?" usopp exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

i grinned and replied, "uh... i got us some fruits!"

usopp's expression quickly shifted from concern to suspicion. "you stole them from the marines, didn't you? i couldn't find your boat either!"

i didn't steal them from the marines.

i stole them from fishmen.

though the one i was searching for wasn't there.

"they deserve it," i replied with a grin, my secret hidden behind a playful facade.

usopp shook his head, a mix of admiration and bewilderment in his voice. "how do you even do it?"

i couldn't reveal the truth - that i killed them with my arrows.

"i charmspeak!" i offered with a playful wink, hoping to divert his curiosity.

"you're brave," usopp mused, studying me with a thoughtful expression. "you're around my age... yet we're so different. why?"

i took a moment to gather my thoughts before responding, "we're not different, usopp. we both fight to survive, usopp."

usopp leaned against a wall, deep in thought. "ever since my mom died, you've been the one helping me out with goods. how could i ever repay you?"

i smiled warmly at him, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. "i'm the one repaying you for saving me when i first arrived here."

usopp chuckled softly, shaking his head. "you saved yourself, (name). i was just there to see it."

i held his gaze, my appreciation evident. "no, usopp. you saved me. you just didn't know you did."

⚓︎

present time -

as soon as the boat reached the shores of the gecko islands, i sprinted towards the village, paying no heed to the three figures left staring at my now diminutive form in the distance.

"(name)!" nami called out.

"don't. let them have their moment," luffy chimed in with a small smile.

zoro's gaze remained fixed on my retreating figure.

"usopp, huh?"

cue a slightly jealous zoro in the next chapter 😋😋