Wow, I can't believe I haven't done a OS for Smoker yet, I love the guy. In fact, I started a book for him that you should definitely go check out because self promotion. (jk it only has like 1 chapter shh) Anyway, thanks for requesting @Lillianne_Night, hope you enjoy! I changed a few things, just out of convenience purposes, so I hope it's still alright. Next is a Smoker soulmate one!
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When you first saw the bounty posters that were released, you did not expect to see your name there. 'Snow Leopard (Y/N),' it said in big bold letters, and underneath marked you worth 300 million. You nearly choked on your own spit when you saw it, and when the crew you were enslaved to saw it, they were furious. How had a measly slave on their crew managed a higher bounty than the captain? The man called bullshit on it and decided to turn you in for the money.
"Hey! Marines!" the captain called to the ship. They hoisted a white flag up, showing their peace. "We come to turn in Snow Leopard (Y/N)!" He roughly shoved you to the edge of the ship, showing you off.
You were already in shackles---not sea prism stone, so you could surely escape, but as it stands you had no place to escape to---and your wrists burned from the metal scratching at the skin. Your hair was a mess and hadn't been washed for lord knows how long, and your clothes were little more than rags.
A man you recognised as Vice Admiral Smoker, for you'd encountered the man before when the crew fought, gave an odd look. You could tell immediately what was going through his head: But isn't she part of your crew? But he shrugged, clearly dismissing the thought.
Perhaps not, he supposed.
The captain offered a few last beatings, using all his might to beat you with the dull edge of the sword, before transferring you onto the Marine ship. The Vice Admiral eyed you before throwing a bag of 300 million Beli to their ship.
You were ready to be chucked into a cell before being put into Impel Down, never to see the light of day again. But you weren't.
Once the boat had gone out of sight, Smoker broke away your restraints. "Are you alright?"
You swallowed. "I'm fine... Aren't I going to be... chucked in a cell?"
He cocked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't imagine why that'd happen. Explain what happened to you, though."
You nodded slowly. "I was... it... I..." You tried to start, but couldn't find the right words.
"Here, let's go to my office. Take your time, I'm here all day."
He led you there and let you sit. You sat up straight and at the end of the seat, subconsciously avoiding eye contact. It took a few minute to formulate your words, and he was patient as promised.
"A couple years ago, I think, I'd been out since I was travelling to a different island. They got my ship, and they killed most of everyone on the crew. They took me and two of my friends as slaves." You choked back tears, trying to push the emotions away. "I was the only one that..."
Smoker nodded and remained silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. "And your devil fruit?" he asked.
"I found it in the back of the food storage, near the bottom of the pile. I looked into it," you said, "I think it's some mythical Zoan, that resembles a snow leopard."
He hummed. "That makes sense of the snow control," he said.
"I don't know what exact animal, though. So... what are you gonna do with me? Am I gonna be a slave here, too?"
Smoker paused. "No. If you'd like," he said carefully, "you could join the Marines."
"I hate the Marines," you said bluntly, without thinking.
He flinched.
"I, I mean, you know," you stuttered, trying to save yourself after saying such a thing in front of a Vice Admiral.
"I don't blame you," he said, cutting you off. "But right now, there isn't much of a better choice. See it as the lesser of two evils, per se. You could really help people, make up for some of the bad."
You bit your lip.
"You don't have to choose now, but---"
"I'll join, then," you said softly. "If I may. But that doesn't mean I don't hate Marines."
He shot you an uneasy glance. "Well," he said, "start here. I'll see you be put as a Captain, and your bounty be deactivated. Allow me to show you to where you'll be staying?"
You nodded. You hate Marines, you promised yourself, even if that meant hating yourself and the man who pulled you away from living in hell the rest of your life.
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"Smoker!" you called through gritted teeth, barely fending off several strong pirates.
He spared just a glance before drifting back as smoke and reforming, quickly disposing of the devil fruit users with his jitte, the tip being infused with sea prism stone.
"Thanks," you muttered, a little out of breath. "I'll take them to the ship."
Smoker watched you cuff them quickly and drag them by the chains. His eyes followed your figure, as if entranced. Feeling eyes boring into your back, you glanced behind you, catching Smoker turn his head in an instant. Your lips involuntarily bent up.
Tashigi sighed, watching the whole thing. "You know, neither of you are particularly stupid," she said, grabbing Smoker's attention, "but really?"
"I have no clue what you're talking about," he said stubbornly. "I should go check on... stuff. Bring in the rest."
Tashigi nodded, letting Smoker go on his merry way with a million thoughts swarming his mind. You trusted him, clearly, but you hated him. Right? At least he wasn't the only one thinking that. You let your subconsciousness kick in, putting the pirates in cells as your mind continued to work at a hundred thoughts a second.
"(Y/N)," came a gruff voice.
"Smoker," you returned. "Did you need something?"
"Meet me in my office, in 5, please."
"Please, huh? I'd say you're an imposter, tryna kill me." You heard a low sigh. You laughed quietly, music to Smoker's ears. "Alright, I'll be there in a bit."
Footsteps, then a door closing. Anticipation threaded through your body, and in a few minutes, you made your way to Smoker's office; a small-ish room where file cabinets and wanted posters made up most of the space. You knocked before entering and you took a seat in front of his desk.
He glanced up from his papers before humming and straightening the files, then setting them aside. He was particular with neatness, despite his unkempt appearance.
"(Y/N)," he started. "Through the past months, I've been thinking a lot about our relationship."
"Oh?"
"And, through those thoughts, I've two questions. First being, how do you feel about the Marines?"
You hummed. You supposed you didn't know the answer to it, but you figured you'd find out as you let your heart control your words. "I do not hate them as a concept, but from what it's become, I do hate the Marines, but I do not hate those who are Marines. As the concept it's become, yes. Of the people it's comprised of, no."
He was surprisingly pleased by the answer, as were you. "I see..."
"And, what was the second question?"
He forced out the words before he had time to doubt himself. "And, how do you feel about me?"
"Why," you said, unable to hide a smile, "I'd say I love you, Smoker. Though, that's a little inappropriate considering our ranks and situation. I've a question for you, now. How do you feel about me?"
A small, but genuinely happy smile adorned his face. "Why," he said, "I'd say I love you, (Y/N). Though, I'd say I don't care about how appropriate it is."
You chuckled, and Smoker couldn't help but laugh gently as well. "I'm glad, because I don't either."
The two of you sat in a comfortable quiet for a while, the sound deprived atmosphere filled with a sense of love.
You finally spoke up. "Smoker, thanks. For saving me, and bringing me in. And loving me."
"(Y/N)?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I kiss you?"
You grinned widely before letting out a hearty laugh. "Yes, of course."
He stood and walked in front of you, taking your smiling face into his gloved hands. You stood and wrapped your arms around his neck, bringing him in for a clumsy kiss of unexperienced, chapped lips.
When you pulled away, the two of you shared a small smile.
"We suck," you laughed.
"Yeah. Yeah we do." And he pulled you in for another one.