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Chapter Text

When he is trying to propre : Marco the Phoenix.

Today was the day.

The day where Marco was finally going to ask you THE question. The question he had already answered to himself a few months ago, but he needed to hear the "yes" from your own mouth.

Marco had never thought about marriage before. Since meeting Edward Newgate, piracy and his family had taken over his life, to his great delight. He loved eating Thatch's meals every day, laughing with Vista about Ace's antics, talking late at night with Izou, staying close to his father on the deck of the Moby Dick in the silence under the stars.

Marco was a fulfilled man.

But the day you met had changed everything. Because you had created a breach, a crack in this perfect image: he needed to be loved, a passionate love, different from that of his brothers and his father. And above all, he needed to love you.

The first small exchanges were no longer enough. The simple "Hello, did you sleep well?", "Take my blanket if you're cold," or "Here, I made you some tea to help you fall asleep" were no longer enough. He needed to say it, he wanted to say it: "I love you," "you are so important to me," "stay by my side"... And he wanted to hear this words from you too. It was as powerful as a "son" from the emperor.

Simple contact was no longer enough: furtively touching your hand to help you stow the sail, taking your arm when you slipped and risked going overboard, "accidentally" brushing against your leg under the table during dinner. No, he needed more. He wanted to feel your body against his, to hold you until your bodies became one, to feel your body asleep in his arms in the morning, to caress your neck to hook your necklace and brush your skin with his lips, to discover your whole body, in its entirety, to know the parts that made you shiver, the most sensitive one… And let your body discover his, to feel his skin shiver under your fingers, to feel your hands in his hair before he fell asleep….

This simple, banal relationship was no longer enough. He didn't just want to be the doctor who heal you after a fight, the commander who guides you and your comrades, the friend who comes to serve you dinner when you're on watch in the lookout. No, he wanted to be your soulmate, your other half, your one and only. Because you already were that to him, he knew it. No other woman could compete; you had won a game you didn't even know you were fighting. And that innocence drove him crazy. Crazy because it made you magnificent. Crazy because you had to know it.

So, even if it meant destroying your relationship, even if it meant risking losing everything, he was going to confess everything, because the reward was worth the risk. The future he dreamed of was worth fighting for.

But Marco was an intelligent and patient man. He wasn't the type to declare his love after a few weeks or months of dating. In any case, it took him several months to be sure that, indeed, he'd found the right one. So he waited patiently, not to fall in love with you, since that had already happened a long time ago, but to find out if it was mutual. And when, finally, you had passed the big stage of confession (a very intimate moment, just the two of you, in the privacy of his bedroom), he was even more patient.

Discovering your life together, as a couple, had only confirmed his feelings. There was no doubt: you were the one, one day he would ask you to marry him. And when he finally decided to do it, Marco remained true to himself: calm, patient, intelligent.

He had planned everything.

The commander absolutely wanted his proposal to take place on the Moby-Dick, because it was the most wonderful place on this planet for the two of you.

He wanted the proposal to take place in the privacy of your room, during a quiet moment, where you could take the time to talk and enjoy this moment together.

He wanted Oyaji to be on the ship so he could tell him the good news quickly.

And above all, he wanted something simple. No extravagant decorations, no large gathering, no poetic and impassioned monologues.

So, he definitely didn't want to involve Portgas D Ace.

So, to help him with his plan, he had enlisted  Thatch and Izou. Thatch to take care of the meal and ensure his brothers' full attention so he could have a few hours of privacy. Izou to keep an eye on Ace and make sure he didn't screw things up.

So, one fine morning, as the Moby Dick slowly sailed towards the horizon, the plan fell into place without anyone noticing.

You woke up, as usual, in each other's arms, Marco gently waking you with a kiss on your forehead, his arms gently encircling your waist. The morning routine was always the same: Marco gets up and uses the bathroom first, allowing you to discreetly take a look at his barely awake but still perfect body. Then, once he was finished, you used the bathroom while Marco flipped through a book while waiting for you to go take breakfast.

First phase of the plan.

Marco, once dressed and lying nonchalantly on the bed he'd just made, had discreetly glanced at the clock and, as expected, Izou had knocked on the door at eight o'clock sharp. The commander had “unexpectedly” open it, spotting Izo, particularly excited about this fateful day but doing his best to hide it.

The blond had let him in and claimed to have received an incredible facial and hair care kit from the bird that delivers the paper. It was so phenomenal that you absolutely had to try it with him. And, oh ! You were so lucky todau, his family on his home island had also sent him two magnificent kimonos, one of which was just your size! The color was sumptuous; it would go perfectly with your hairs !

Naïve, but above all accustomed to Izou's personality, you let yourself be guided by the commander, abandoning Marco, who had claimed Oyaji was waiting for him, but promised he'd join you in half an hour to have breakfast together.

Meanwhile, Thatch was running the kitchen at full speed, and Ace had never eaten so much in his life, leaving his cute little butt on the dining room bench.

After half an hour, during which Marco struggled to hide his smile, he came to get you to have breakfast together. And indeed, that kimono suited you perfectly; you looked sumptuous. Izou slipped away, going to take his turn watching over Ace. You then both went to the kitchen, which had been particularly quiet since Izou dragged Ace into the weapons room to check together that everything was functional.

Thatch served you an extraordinary breakfast, consisting of absolutely all your favorite dishes. The smell was exquisite.

Far too exquisite.

This had awaken Ace's appetite, even though he was at the other end of the ship, deep in the weapons room with Izou, who hadn't been able to do anything. Well, yes, he had tried to do something, but it hadn't worked. Seeing the commander of the second division running away to return to the kitchen, Izou had found no other emergency solution than to use the cannon. But not just any cannon. The biggest cannon, the one supposed to warn the entire crew of an enemy attack. The code was simple: two cannon shots to announce the arrival of an enemy crew and to be ready for battle. It was the only way to make Ace change course. Sure, he loved food, but he loved his brothers even more and would fight to the end to ensure their safety.

So the cannon fired two cannonballs.

And the crew exploded immediately.

All the men had gone out onto the deck, including Thatch and Marco, convinced that this was indeed an attack. Even Newgate had come out of his room, a smirk on his lips, ready to throw himself into battle. And suddenly, Ace had come out onto the deck, speeding along. The pirates had started shouting, trying to find the location of the enemy crew in question on the horizon. One of them, convinced he'd seen a shadow on the ocean to starboard, had yelled in that direction. Then Ace, much too awake after his feast and the tantalizing smell of food, had literally burst into flames. He had taken the sprint of his life to starboard and jumped over the ship, setting everything ablaze in his path.

Of course, since there were no enemy ships, Ace had fallen into the ocean. It was Thatch who had jumped into the water to save him.

Meanwhile, Ace's flames had begun to engulf the ship. Newgate, seeing his ship begin to burn, had no other solution than to use his weapon to project seawater onto the main deck to extinguish the flames. The fire was immediately stopped, but Marco and you were soaked and particularly angry at Ace.

Of course, the kimono was ruined. Too bad.

You had taken refuge in your room, taking a shower for the second time that morning, and you still hadn't eaten. Marco was particularly angry since exactly what he'd feared had happened, but he didn't let it show; the day wasn't over, he'd find another perfect moment to propose.

Thath, to make up for it, brought you a huge tray of food half an hour later with a hearty breakfast. He was also soaked, but there was no way he was abandoning the mission. Marco thanked him sincerely and immediately closed the bedroom door to isolate you from all the chaos.

So, plan B: you had breakfast in bed.

Freshly washed (again) and laughing kindly at Ace's stupidity, Marco told himself that, after all, he might never manage to make his plan work in this crazy ship. So he might as well keep things simple. Too bad for the romantic dinner under the stars he'd planned tonight; there would definitely be something (or someone) to ruin everything.

So he wanted to enjoy this moment together. He took your hand gently and looked at you for a moment while you were mesmerized by the breakfast. The room was quiet, you were beautiful, it was just the two of you, so maybe it was time?

Marco then opened his mouth, armed with his courage, and-

KNOCK KNOCK.

The blond closed his eyes, dejected; he could never rest.

At first, he'd wanted to ignore his brother waiting outside the door, but by some misunderstanding, it might have been the emperor, so he might as well not take the risk. So, he'd opened the door, letting you eat peacefully.

And what a pleasure (it's not true) to see Ace, soaked and with a few bruises on his face, held tightly by an enraged and equally wet Izou behind him.

Marco could never stay mad at Ace for long, or any of his other brothers. The man was a walking chaos, but that was how it was, and they all loved him for it.

"I'm sorry," Ace had whispered sincerely, bowing to Marco.

Izou was glaring at him, his arms crossed over his chest, his makeup half gone from his face. Ace looked like he'd had the argument of his life and resembled an adorable little Labrador puppy who'd done something wrong.

“It's okay, Ace, it was a false alarm and the bridge almost didn't burn. But you'll also have to apologize to Oyaji,” Marco replied, his voice calm and full of love for his brother.

Ace immediately looked up, a big smile on his lips, and nodded briskly, promising he'd go see the emperor afterward. Izou, still angry, lightly nudged Ace in the ribs to signal him to continue.

“And?” Izou asked in a slow, threatening voice.

Ace immediately bowed to Marco again.

“And I'm sorry I ruined your proposal. I didn't know you were planning on proposing this morning. Izou only told me after they pulled me out of the water.”

What an idiot.

It's impossible to be that stupid.

Izou froze, his eyes bulging.

Marco clenched his jaw as hard as he could to suppress a howl of rage.

And you appeared behind the door, next to Marco, a big smile on your lips, looking mischievously at the blond who had closed his eyes to contain his rage. Ace, upon seeing you, bowed to you to apologize, not even seeming to realize what a huge mistake he'd just made.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to you.

So you thanked him, and he left.

Just like that.

Like an idiot.

Izou stood frozen in front of the door, on the verge of death, and Marco was already contemplating the possibility of throwing the kid back overboard.

“ACE, GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!” Izou yelled.

Shit.

He'd confessed the whole plan to Ace, thinking he could use his reason and ask him to stay calm for at least a day, for his brother's sake, since they'd never be able to keep him busy for a whole day. And the idiot had said everything.

”I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!” Izou yelled, running off in Portgas's direction.

Marco still hadn't moved. You'd never seen him in such a state of cold anger. His fists were clenched, his jaw tight, his eyes closed, as if he were taking in a bomb blast.

So you put your arm on his, and your hand in his. Immediately, he relaxed and your fingers intertwined, as always. You gently kissed his cheek, making him finally open his eyes and look at you.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't what I’ve planned at all," he mumbled, trying to calm himself.

"I really liked that request. It's typically the kind of request a member of Whitebeard's family would make." You replied, laughing softly.

"If I get my hands on Ace, I swear..."

"So, are you going to propose to me, or do I have to give my answer to Ace?"

Marco immediately opened his eyes, as if electrocuted. He looked at you, surprised, and seeing your impatient face and your loving gaze, he knew it was time.

This is it, it's now.

So he took the ring he'd kept in his pants pocket and knelt there, in the hallway near the bridge, opposite your room, while several of his brothers were going back and forth for ship maintenance, you were in shorts, your hair soaked, and he was wearing a plain shirt.

It was time.

"Will you marry me?"

Ace was far away, chased by Izou. Thatch was giving his meal tray to Newgate, who was discreetly watching the scene out of the corner of his eye, a thin smile on his lips. The ship was noisy, pirates were everywhere, shouting, rowdy, alive. It was the most ordinary moment aboard the Moby Dick. But one of those moments you'll never forget. A moment of pure happiness, surrounded by the love of your family and those you love.

"Yes."

Chapter Text

Roronoa Zoro.

Roronoa Zoro had wanted to do things right.

So, he had decided not to propose aboard the Sunny. Firstly, to avoid the walking disaster that was his captain, but also to avoid seeing the stupid, blond face of the cook. And that witch Nami would have been capable of asking him to pay to rent the Sunny for his proposal.

No. No. Definitely not.

He would propose on the island, away from others, in complete privacy.

The swordman had this idea when the crew arrived on this strangely peaceful island in the New World. A tropical island, with a pleasant climate that day. The main town was commercial and beautiful; he would undoubtedly find a pleasant place to propose.

So, as soon as the ship docked, he wandered around the town, taking advantage of Robin's suggestion that you go shopping with her to find the perfect dress for this island. He suspected the archaeologist had figured out his plan, but since he'd long been convinced she was capable of reading minds (her intelligence was too suspect, she may also be a witch, we never know...) he said nothing and used it to his advantage.

And after only an hour of walking, he found the perfect spot: a cafe hidden  at the edge of the forest, with a magnificent, perfectly maintained garden. The terrace overlooked the sea, from which you could admire the sunset. He'd heard a lot of people talking about it and was now convinced: it was the perfect spot.

So, after a polite chat with the cafe manager, he went back to the Sunny to change into more presentable clothes. He might not have been the most refined man in the world, but he knew this would be an important day and that he had to make an effort.

When you finally got back with the girls, the sun was already slowly beginning to set. He then approached you and offered to come to town for dinner with him, claiming he could no longer stand the cook's disgusting food. The blond, strangely enough, didn't answer him but simply turned his back on him, hands in his pockets.

You accepted, of course, even though Sanji's food was delicious, but the idea of spending a romantic evening, especially after weeks of sailing on this crazy ship, was truly tempting. Robin then advised you to wear one of the dresses you'd just bought, and you left hand in hand.

To avoid the city crowds, Zoro led you directly to the dirt he'd used an hour ago, the peaceful one with beautiful flowers.

Except the path had mysteriously disappeared.

Zoro could have sworn it, the path was still there two hours ago, but now it had disappeared, as if someone had stolen it.

More than used to this kind of situation with him, you didn't reply, smiling softly and letting him try to find your way back. You were slightly disappointed because you knew you'd never be able to find your way back to the restaurant and that your only option was to turn around and return to the Sunny, but this walk hand in hand in the forest was already quite pleasant.

After almost thirty minutes, where Zoro was really starting to get annoyed, much more so than usual, you gently placed your hand on his shoulder and suggested turning around. Zoro insisted several times, but since the sun had definitely disappeared and the moon was beginning to appear, you didn't really have a choice.

Never mind, he'd try again tomorrow, taking the other path, hoping no one had stolen it by then.

It took you another hour of walking to find the Sunny, which, strangely enough, was lit up tonight. The deck was covered with small lights that Usopp was finishing attaching to the mast. Robin was sitting on the deck, on her usual chair, reading her book under the light, but as soon as she saw you, she gave a signal to the sniper, who quickly disappeared with her into the corridors. By the time you boarded the ship, the main deck was empty, and in its center was a magnificent, perfectly set table with a candlestick and magnificent silverware (the one that was precisely hidden from the capitain so he would never see it; in his gluttony, he often ate the cutlery along with the food).

Intrigued, you remained speechless on the deck.

"It's too quiet..." Zoro commented, suspecting something strange was going go.

"It can't be that quiet if the captain is on board." You added softly, reflexively keeping your hand in Zoro's.

Then the cook appeared, skillfully holding a silver tray with two plates on it.

“Miss, and that other idiot, I'm pleased to invite you to a romantic dinner!” Sanji said theatrically, gently placing the tray on the table. The cook pulled out one of the chairs to help you sit down.

Delighted, you sat down immediately, closely followed by Zoro, who remained vigilant.

“I think tonight is the perfect evening for a romantic meal…” Sanji said, giving the swordsman a knowing look. “That's why I'm offering you as a starter...”

And as Sanji was reciting the menu in an expert voice and you were marveled, Zoro's anger finally disappeared. The starry sky was magnificent, the Sunny was resplendent with its decorations, and, he had to admit, the food was exquisite. So maybe his proposal would indeed take place tonight. Never mind the popular cafe overlooking the ocean; you were never happier than in the comforting warmth of the Sunny.

Dinner passed quietly without any interruptions, until Zoro gently placed your hand on his as you were about to start eating dessert.

"I wanted to ask you something..." he said hesitantly.

You looked at him, surprised.

He searched with his other hand for the box containing the ring he had bought a few weeks earlier, but nothing; his pocket was definitely empty. His eyes widened as he began to realize he had lost the ring, probably during your walk in the forest.

"Yes?" you asked, intertwining his fingers with yours, a worried smile on your lips. Zoro was rarely this serious, except during fights.

“Uh...” He tapped his pocket several times. Nothing. Nothing in the other one either.

Shit, shit, shit!

“Can I offer you one last dessert?” asked Sanji, who seemed to have magically appeared.

Zoro scowled. This really wasn't the time. It was a serious matter, he'd lost the ring!

The blond placed an upside-down cup of coffee in the center of the table and disappeared without further explanation.

Given Zoro's unusual silence and Sanji's strange behavior, you turned the cup and discovered a magnificent jewelry box. Typically the kind of box that could only contain a ring.

Zoro's heart skipped a beat when he recognized his box.

How the hell had the cook found it? Had he lost it before leaving the Sunny, when he was changing in the men's bedroom?

No time to think. Judging by the surprised look you had, it could have been a misunderstanding, and one would have thought it was the cook who had proposed to you.

He quickly took the box and took your hand again, his hand trembling slightly.

It was definitely much less scary to face Mihawk than to propose.

But just as your face barely contained the joy that was beginning to fill you as you finally understood everything that was happening, Zoro spoke up and, in the middle of the Sunny's illuminated and silent deck, proposed to you.

It was only when you answered "Yes" that the muffled laughter of the archaeologist, the cook, and the sniper echoed from the kitchen.

Chapter Text

When he's trying to propose: Smoker

Smoker had always kept his romantic relationship a secret. Not because he was ashamed of it, but for various reasons:

– He didn't want to risk you becoming a target for his opponents, or risk you being hurt just to make him suffer. Many similar sordid stories already existed, and he had no intention of adding your name to that cursed list.

– Smoker believed that only those close to him had the right to know, and that his private life had no place on the front page of the world's newspaper. The opinions of others didn't matter to him at all, and he didn't want the gratuitous malice of strangers, especially toward you.

– If there had to be a separation, he didn't want this overly public relationship to become a heavy burden to bear, either for him or for you.

– He couldn't stand Hina's insolent and judgmental looks when he bought something to please you: "Are you really going to get her that dress? Or is it for your mother?"

So, when Smoker decided it was time for him to propose, he also decided to keep it a secret. Not because he was ashamed, but for various reasons:

– He couldn't stand Hina's insolent and judgmental looks when he asked for her opinion on choosing the engagement ring: "Are you really going to get a diamond that small? She's lying when she tells you she likes things simple and discreet. The bigger the stone, the more phenomenal your wedding night will be, my dear."

- He also didn't want the wedding date to appear in the newspaper because that way he would feel obligated to invite more people than he really wanted (due to a misunderstanding, Hina wouldn't learn about the big day until much later and would therefore cordially not be invited.)

- He was especially afraid that Tashigi would screw everything up.

Because Tashigi always screwed everything up.

Not on purpose !

She was a very caring girl who always wanted to do the right thing, especially for the people she liked, especially Smoker. But she was also a walking disaster, much more so than that idiot Monkey D. Luffy or his grandfather.

So Smoker wanted to put all the odds in his favor: he was going to propose while being  about a hundred kilometers away from Tashigi and Hina. And to make it a little more poetic, he decided to propose during your annual trip to your home island to see your family. You'd lived on Marineford for a long time, but leaving that military island always felt good, and ultimately, this peaceful island in the South Blue was where most of your fondest memories together lay.

There was the time you officially introduced him to your parents for the first time. Your family accepted him immediately, charmed by his good manners (the ideal son-in-law?).

There was this time when, after spending the day hiking in the mountains of the island, you came back much more tired than him, military training required, so he carried you on his back all the way home.

There was that time you spent the morning hand in hand walking through the market like an old married couple, and you ended the day by the beach, taking advantage of the absence of tourists to enjoy each other's half-naked bodies a little more…

Yes, this island was perfect for his proposal, a true slice of paradise far from the chaos of Marineford, Tashigi and Hina.

So, Smoker had prepared everything before the day you left on vacation to make sure everything was perfect: he endured three hours of listening to Hina's derogatory and narcissistic remarks and finally found the perfect ring. He called your favorite restaurant three weeks in advance to make sure he had a table. And the Vice Admiral had even secretly called your parents to get their blessing andtell them about his plan.

So, when your suitcases were finally packed and you boarded the ship, Smoker felt the pressure build within him. There couldn't be any mistakes, everything had to go well, everything was going to go well.

And frankly, he was convinced of it. The trip had gone very well, no tsunamies, no hurricanes, no Straw Hats Pirates.

When you arrived, your parents had welcomed you at the port with open arms. Your father discreetly signaled to Smoker that everything was going perfectly as planned. And once the suitcases were in the house, your parents had used the excuse of a meeting with the mayor of the town about some vague, obscure, and nebulous real estate project, only to mysteriously disappear. This hadn't aroused your suspicions at all; they were always doing very strange things.

However, what was strange was Smoker's attitude since his arrival. Or even since leaving Marineford. Even though he wasn't usually the type to talk much, let alone about his emotions, this time he seemed particularly nervous and closed off. You hadn't said anything, not wanting to spoil the atmosphere and putting it down to yet another pirate affair that was still going through his head (maybe Monkey D Luffy had committed another irreparable act?).

But even once you arrived, even after having coffee, relaxing together on the couch and while you were on your way to the restaurant like every time you arrived on the island for the holidays, he was still strange. And worse, he had become distant.

Not once had he taken your hand in his, he hadn't even kissed you this morning when you woke up, he had sat in the ship and contemplated the horizon with a frown as if your presence didn't interest him much, even annoyed him. You had tried to talk about trivial subjects to relax him and try to understand, but it was impossible; he didn't string together more than three words in a row. When you had walked around the city before going to the restaurant, you had tried to put your arm around his, but he had immediately taken a few steps to the side, as if to make sure you wouldn't touch him. He was smoking endlessly, much more than usual, he who was generally very careful to smoke as little as possible in your presence. But his mind seemed elsewhere, far from you and this island. So, not really knowing how to react, you had simply followed him in silence and saw what would happen.

Blbllbllb… Blbllblbl...

And you didn't have to wait very long. The friendly waiter had barely seated you on the terrace, which was strangely empty, when Smoker's den den mushis rang, a perfect excuse to avoid conversation.

"What?" Smoker asked with a grunt.

"Smoker... I'm sorry to interrupt..." Tashigi's voice, worried and hesitant, echoed through the empty terrace as you began to sip your drink and looked away, beginning to find this day and his behavior truly unbearable.

"What's going on?" the Vice Admiral continued, giving you a discreet glance that you didn't even notice, your sad gaze fixed on the ocean.

“Hina is forcing me to ask you… I'm sorry… To know, actually… if you told her ?

Smoker hung up immediately, not even bothering to answer.

It was too much for you. This situation had gone on long enough.

“Is there something I should know?” you asked, your voice not conciliatory or soothing this time. You were clearly annoyed by this situation, by his behavior and his secrecy, and the nicest restaurant on the island wasn't going to make you ignore all of this.

Smoker remained silent, unsure how to respond given your reaction. He felt the situation slipping away from him, and he didn't like it at all.

But since you stared at him coldly without answering, he had no choice but to continue.

“Nothing, Hina and her princess behavior, as usual,” he said, crushing out his cigars once and for all.

Finally! More than three words! The Vice Admiral seemed to have remembered how to phrase a full sentence. And obviously, this was about Hina, who else ?

“You've been spending a lot of time with Hina lately, you get along well…”

It was true, he couldn't deny it. The pink soldier had played an important role in developing his plan, and he had to admit, having the opinion of a woman like Hina in this kind of situation had been a great help, even if he would never admit it out loud; she was already narcissistic enough as it was.

Sensing that the situation was really starting to escalate and understanding perfectly well the insinuations you were making about Hina (you had always been wary of her, unlike Tashigi; her long “friendly” relationship with Smoker had scared you about your relationship and made you feel insecure despite all and your trust in Smoker), Smoker then decided to act, in his own way.

"She helped me with a project I recently had." He replied evasively, trying to gauge your reaction.

This answer didn't seem to convince you, and you rolled your eyes.

Smoker then grabbed your hand as it was quickly playing with the straw in your glass to calm you down from the nervousness that was gradually taking over you.

"To propose. I want to marry you."

You froze completely, not expecting this answer at all. Your bulging gaze was fixed on him as he stood up from the table, still caressing your hand in his, and began to kneel.

Blblblbl… Blblllblbl…

Smoker nearly exploded on the spot, closing his eyes to contain his rage at such a moment. He then grabbed the den den mushis, immediately picking it up, yelled a powerful "TASHIGI SHUT UP!", and violently hung up.

You didn't dare tell him that the face that had appeared on the den den mushis the moment he picked up the phone wasn't Tahsigi's, nor even Hina's, but rather the Fleet Admiral's.

Too bad, he'd have plenty of time to find out later, right now you were too busy not jumping of joy as he finally said the words you'd been dreaming of hearing ever since you met him:

"Will you marry me?"

Chapter Text

When he's trying to propose

Shanks

"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO ATTACK THEM, YOU IDIOT!!!! WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!!!" you yelled as the sky, which had been black just seconds before, took on a menacing red hue.

The Red Force seemed to be caught in a whirlpool in the middle of the ocean, while Yassop and Hongo struggled as best they could against the current to prevent the ship from sinking into the depths of the ocean, carried away by the power of the waves and the wind that seemed ready to rip off the main mast. The rain was falling in torrents, making the ground slippery and vision difficult at more than three meters, so you thought the captain hadn't heard you, not even knowing where he really was.

The Marines opposite seemed in great danger as well. The warship was also swept into the whirlwind of the storm, tilting dangerously to starboard, directly toward the Red Force, which was on the other side of the whirlpool. Lightning rumbled in the sky, and you weren't sure if it was the apocalypse or the Emperor's Haki.

The sky grew redder and redder as the magma-covered meteorites hurtled straight toward both the Red Force and the warship. You hadn't had time to see Admiral Akainu himself when Yassop sounded the alarm when the admiral's ship was spotted on the horizon. And while usually the navy's officers only attacked emperors with huge fleets, and especially with the Fleet Admiral's approval, Akainu didn’t seems to give a fuck that day.

Yet, you would have had time to turn around to avoid the confrontation since the wind was in your favor, but that crazy Akagami had charged the ship with a stupid grin, like a kid rushing towards the gate of Disneyland. The rest of the crew, eager to participate in the battle, had prepared immediately while you felt the cataclysm coming. But no one seemed to give a damn, seeing only the interest in an exciting fight, emperor against admiral.

Therefore, when the wind had suddenly risen and the ocean had opened the gates of hell, you had seen the doubt on Benn Beckman's face. Facing an admiral was one thing. Facing an admiral during a storm in the New World was perhaps a little suicidal ? But it was impossible to call the captain to order, as he was far too busy fighting directly with the admiral, ignoring the wind, the swell, and the rain, while Benn and Yassop had quickly turned around to try to save the ship.

Several soldiers had invaded the bridge, taking advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the Red Force, and even though they were far less powerful than you, their numbers still made it very difficult.

The first magma meteorite crashed into the ocean three meters from you, producing thick black smoke in its path, the result of the collision between boiling magma and icy water, making your vision even more difficult. Hongo dealt with the second meteorite, which threatened to crash right into the middle of the deck. The third exploded part of the warship under the frightened screams of the soldiers, who preferred to jump into the ocean rather than end up burned. The fourth, smaller but faster, tore off part of the Red Force's main mast in its path, which fell hardly into the ocean, the torn and burnt sail floating on the surface, dancing with the waves, sticking to the hull of the pirate ship.

"ARE WE ALL GOING TO DIE?" Shanks asked from afar in a mock-outraged voice.

You cursed. That jerk allowed himself to laugh while you fought three soldiers with a shoddy saber, since your weapon had sunk into the ocean in the first wave that nearly rolled the ship.

"FUCK YOU!" you yelled, hoping your words reached his ears and his ridiculous red hair.

You knew you weren't going to die. You could sense in the distance the admiral in a bad position facing your captain, who valiantly continued to fight without too much difficulty. Benn and Yassop managed to keep the ship from sinking and Lucky Roux and Hongo had cleaned the ship from most of the soldiers.

But you were pissed. Because he had to make another stupid choice, as usual.

"IF WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE, YOU BETTER MARRY ME RIGHT NOW THEN!"

You froze in place, using your haki to deflect the soldiers' pathetic attacks, stunned by what you had just heard.

"FUCK YOU!"

You heard the emperor's laughter in the distance as the sky turned red again and the ambient temperature rose.

Behind you, Benn laughed softly as he nimbly tossed a soldier overboard.

"BENN MARRY US BEFORE WE DIE!" the captain ordered.

The first mate tossed his cigarette overboard in an elegant gesture and jumped onto the upper deck, between you and Shanks, who were still fighting with the admiral, taking advantage of the height to fire directly at the soldiers who were dropping like flies.

“Gentlemen and lady, we are all gathered here on this radiant and peaceful day to celebrate the union of Akagami no Shanks and-”

“FUCK YOU!”

The soldier in front of you, who was about to cut off your arm with his saber, fell suddenly to the ground, inert, a bullet in his skull. In the distance, you could hear the emperor laughing his head off with his first mate, urging him to continue the ceremony.

“BLA BLA BLA, THROUGH LOVE AND PASSION, THROUGH POVERTY AND WEALTH, AND HOPEFULLY LOTS OF SEX!”

All the crew members burst out laughing under the outraged gaze of the last soldiers standing. The Red Force tilted dangerously to starboard, propelled by a huge wave.

“AKAGAMI NO SHANKS, DO YOU WANT TO MARRY THAT BEAUTIFUL AND ANGRY LADY RIGHT THERE?”

“YES!”

“FUCK YOU!”

Yassop began singing that famous wedding song in time with Hongo, dancing together arm in arm under the storm, completely soaked but hilarious.

Shanks activated his haki one last time to defeat the admiral once and for all.

"ANGRY LADY, DO YOU WANT TO MARRY AKAGAMI NO SHANKS?" Benn yelled through the storm, a huge smile on his lips as Shanks impatiently awaited your answer, a slight doubt still invading him.

He had always been afraid that all his nonsense would end up separating him from you, who were much calmer and more thoughtful.

But the answer didn’t came.

You rushed up to the upper deck, still really upset and angry, your fists clenched, and approached dangerously close to the emperor, who had let the admiral return to his warship, wishing no one dead. He looked at you with that smile: stupid but endearing, the one you could never resist.

"YES!"

And just as, under the rain, the Emperor was about to kiss you passionately, overwhelmed with happiness at having finally married you, you used all your strength to push him into the ocean. The look of outrage he had as he fell was comical. Benn swore and dove in immediately; the redhead had lost much of his swimming ability since losing his arm. And once safely aboard the Red Force, which had been badly damaged during the battle, Shanks took you in his arms and kissed you passionatey and everyone one applause. 

The wedding would take place in four days, once the Red Force was repaired.

Chapter Text

When he is trying to propose: Monkey D. Luffy.

The Sunny was far too calm this morning. Much calmer than usual…

Nami was drying her hair with a white towel, enjoying these few minutes of peace, knowing full well that the captain would surely find some reason to unleash utter chaos.

The navigator had had a pleasant morning. The crew had left yesterday evening from yet another island in the New World, and the Sunny had been sailing on a particularly calm sea ever since. And according to her predictions, it should stay that way for at least a few hours before the snow started to fall gently. The redhead had taken advantage of this peacefull time to work on her maps, enjoying the peace and quiet to work seriously. Then, since the captain still hadn't done anything unusual and the cook hadn't come to disturb her in her room, she had taken the opportunity to take a shower and put on warm clothes.

But when the clock in her shared cabin with Robin struck 10:00 a.m., the navigator began to seriously worry. It was far too quiet. So she quickly finished her hair care routine and headed to the only place on the pirate ship where she could find the captain: the kitchen.

And indeed, when she opened the dining room door, she found several crew members already there. Sanji was still working behind the stove, greeting her with an insufferable "My Lovely Nami!" which she tolerated since he quickly placed a plate of food in front of her. The captain was also present, seated in front of her at one of the dining room tables, but remained strangely calm. There were no plates or cutlery in front of him; the table was completely empty and clean, yet the pirate remained calm, silent, and manageable. Nami hesitated for a moment before calling Chopper for backup, but when she saw you were also in the room, sitting on the bench under one of the large windows, a book in your hands, she sighed with relief.

So that was why the Monkey D was so calm…

It had to be said that since you joined the crew, the captain's behavior had changed drastically. He was still the same energetic and almost unbearable Monkey D. Luffy, running around everywhere, shouting about adventure, and making terrible decisions, but Nami had noticed that when you were by his side, you seemed to act as a natural calming influence on the captain. No more shouting, no more frantic running through the corridors.

And after studying this very strange and unusual change in behavior with Robin for several hours, the two women had reached the same conclusion. Monkey D. Luffy wasn't calm because you were too, acting a bit like a mirror image, just as the captain became excited and enthusiastic with Usopp or serious and ready for battle with Roronoa Zoro.

No. According to them, the simple reason for the pirate's tranquility was precisely because he was with you. You would never have tolerated him running around or shouting while you were reading or working, just like Nami. But unlike the redhead, whom he avoided like the plague to escape her wrath when he was annoying her, Luffy unconsciously forced himself to calm down precisely so he could stay by your side.

And it had to be admitted that it worked, because since your arrival, the future Pirate King never seemed to leave your side, following you like your shadow, his head always over your shoulder, interested in everything you did, telling you all sorts of anecdotes about his childhood while he listened religiously and silently to your every word.

Nami had then bestowed upon you the unofficial role of: Captain's Wellness Manager.

"Nami, darling, here's your orange juice!" the cook practically shouted, placing a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in front of the navigator. But the navigator almost ignored him, captivated by the captain, who, never far from you, was strangely serene.

“Luffy, what did you do this morning?” she asked, smiling gently.

While the captain was certainly always calm by your side, the redhead was smart enough to understand that behind that calmness could be lurking some monstrous foolishness that would infuriate her, so she might as well get him to confess right away.

“Haaan…” Luffy picked his nose and seemed to think for a moment. “I bumped into Zoro when I woke up, so he chased me all over the Sunny for about fifteen minutes until I fell into the ocean…” the pirate began in a neutral voice.

Indeed, it wasn’t exactly an ordinary morning if the captain wasn’t on the verge of dying from his own stupidity.

“So Sanji made me take a shower, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten breakfast…”

“Thanks, Sanji-kun!” The redhead winked at the cook, who happily returned the wink, already busy preparing lunch.

"Then I ate... What did we eat?" Luffy turned to you, who had been half-listening to the conversation.

"A whole sea monster with vegetables and rice for you." Luffy made a strange face at the mention of vegetables. "And my usual breakfast."

This was also a new and rare occurrence: since you had joined the crew, the captain no longer ate a single meal on the Sunny without you. He had even decreed that his place was now next to you and that he wouldn't eat a single bite until you arrived. And just as strangely, in addition to never stealing your food, the captain even offered you his favorite pieces so you could taste them with him. The entire crew had thought it was a collective hallucination at firt, and it took Chopper an hour of searching to confirm that it wasn't a case of semi-collective poisoning. Now they got used to it. 

"Then she braided my hair," the captain continued, quickly raising his straw hat, revealing tiny braids in his unkempt black hair.

Nami smiled tenderly and calmly drank her orange juice. So far, so good.

"Then I proposed to her, and she said yes. And I went to see Usopp to—"

Nami spat out all the orange juice from her mouth directly onto her captain’s face, who was sitting opposite her, a stupid look on his face.

“Wait, excuse me, WHAT ?” yelled the navigator, who had expected anything but this.

Insulting an Emperor? Likely. Punching a Celestial Dragon? Consistent. Committing yet another affront to the Marines and the World Government? Everyday!

But a marriage proposal ?

Sanji chuckled softly, his hands full of carrot pieces.

“What do you mean, a marriage proposal, Luffy?”

The captain shrugged, seeming surprised by the redhead's reaction.

“Well, yeah.”

As if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“But? But? Why? Are you serious?” asked Nami, who seemed truly disillusioned, trying to figure out if Luffy was serious or if this was just another one of his pranks.

“Because I love her,” the captain replied simply, turning his attention to Sanji, who had just put the meat on to pan, filling the kitchen with a pleasant, spicy aroma.

“Besides, you’ll have to give me some money on the next island so I can buy a ring!” the captain added before leaping to his feet and launching an attack on the cook, who had sensed his approach and was already hitting him with his hot spatula.

Who had talked to Monkey D Luffy about marriage proposal ? Portgas D Ace ? Monkey D Garp ? Impossible.

Nami sighed in despair and turned to you as the two men fought.

“Is this for real?” she asked, disillusioned. She had truly expected anything but this…

“Yes.” You replied softly, a cute smile on your lips.

Nami thought to herself that this face could only belong to a woman deeply happy and in love.

She then turned gently towards the captain to analyze him for a moment.

“Luffy, what does marriage mean to you?” she asked.

The captain, having managed to steal a piece of barely cooked meat, fled to the other side of the room, jumping onto the bench beside you—the only place Sanji wouldn't dare interfere for fear of hurting you—and looked absently at the book you were reading, his arms wrapping around your waist several times. His head rested gently on yours, and he smiled as if he was the happiest man on the planet.

“That means I can sleep with her every night, shower with her, kiss her whenever I want, eat from her plate and she from mine. That means I’ll have her all to myself.” He shot Sanji a quick, dark look, but Sanji immediately understood the implication and smiled gently.

“That means I can give her my hat and she can take it whenever she wants. That means it will be her until the end, even after I found the One Piece and became the Pirate King !” Luffy proudly proclaimed, gently placing his hat on your head before softly kissing you on the cheek, still unable to stop himself from smiling as he always did when you were by his side. You then gently took his hand and stroked it softly, nodding gently.

It was for all these reasons and so many more that you had said yes!

Chapter Text

When he is trying to propose: Loki.

The word “marriage” had vanished from the universe. The word “rejection” seemed to have always existed by his side, following him like a faithful shadow that would never leave him.

And since he had met you, Loki finally understood the meaning of the word “love.”

When you live every day with a giant, whether he is the prince of this kingdom or not, it was necessary to make certain concessions: buying a bed that was literally the size of your childhood home, using an entire vegetable garden to make a simple soup for dinner, using entire bathtubs to wash the giant’s clothes and making sure not to fall in, at the risk of drowning.

And when you live every day with the prince of the giants, it is necessary to make one more concession: it will be strictly forbidden to speak of marriage.

This was obviously not a topic you had discussed at the beginning of the relationship; it was far too early, and honestly, the giant could be exhausting and irritating at times. You even wondered if you would be able to put up with him for the rest of your life. But in just a few weeks, the giant had managed to convince you, without even realizing it, that it would be impossible not to have him by your side for the rest of your life.

So, since the subject of marriage never came up, and sensing that it was part of his past’s wounds, you simply shrugged. In any case, all you asked for was his unconditional love for eternity, and that was far more precious than a ring and a piece of paper.

[...]

“You, who are so close to the sun, have you ever dreamed of flying?” you asked in a half-asleep voice, eyes closed, a faint smile on your lips, the sun gently caressing your skin.

The day was magnificent, like every day in Elbaph, and since you hated the feeling of sand grains sticking to your hair but adored the gentle melody of the waves, you found yourself once again asleep on the giant’s chest, gently lulled by his breathing. Loki was laying on the sand, arms crossed behind his head, eyes closed, feet in the water to cool him.

While the giant was indeed, by definition, taller than you, he was still thousands of kilometers away from the sun.

“You, who are so close to the ground, have you ever dreamed of becoming a mole?” “Replied the giant, stifling a burst of laughter that would certainly have inadvertently sent you directly onto the sand.

Annoyed but not angry, you gently tugged at his hair in revenge.

Silence slowly returned, each of you enjoying the peace that surrounded you. In the distance, a few brave seagulls had approached the strange pile on the beach, wondering if it was edible.

“I never dreamed of flying, only of traversing the oceans and discovering the world,” the giant continued evasively, his eyes still closed, the tide now rising to his calves. “And you?”

“I’ve always dreamed of flying, ever since I was a child. But I imagine it was also so I could discover all the beauty of this world.” You turned slowly, positioning yourself on your back, facing the sun, absentmindedly braiding one of his locks of hair.

The giant gently placed his hand on you, taking a deep breath; sleep was beginning to overtake him.

“By the way, we’re invited to my cousin’s wedding next week.”

Loki grumbled. He hated weddings, for obvious reasons to him but unknown to you. And while you enjoyed the ceremonies, it wasn’t enough to put up with your unpleasant, even unbearable, cousin.

“My love, your cousin is certainly the most unbearable woman in the world. Luckily, I have the most adorable woman in the world by my side, otherwise she would have ended up in the abyss before she could even open her mouth.” Loki chuckled, forcing you to cling to his hair to keep from falling with the rhythm of his abdominal contractions.

His laughter was contagious, as always.

“Don’t worry, I said you stepped on a cat’s tail and were attacked so violently that you couldn’t walk for three weeks because of—”

Loki jumped up abruptly, almost knocking you onto the sand, but his hand gently pressed you against his chest. He looked at you then, a strange pout on his lips, his brows furrowed, unsure whether to be grateful that you had spared him the torture of witnessing this wedding with this ridiculous woman or to be offended that the prince of giants had been reduced to the mere victim of a cat.

So, to prevent the volcano from erupting, you used your usual technique: you gently kissed his bare skin.

“No need to thank me, Loki, I already know you love me.” You continued, chuckling softly.

He was so cute when he didn't know how to react. You were certainly the only person in the world capable of making him react like that, a fact you were quite proud of.

"You're lucky that I love you..." the prince grumbled before stretching out on the sand again, sighing loudly to relax his body.

"I love you too, my love," you replied, settling back down on his chest.

"And how much do you love me?"

You didn't need to look up to know that a huge, mocking smile adorned his lips; you knew perfectly well what he was thinking. But today you were in the mood to tease him, so you decided to throw him off balance.

"To the point where I would agree to marry you without the slightest hesitation."

The slight heaving of his ribcage ceased immediately, his muscles stiffening beneath you, almost making you regret having said it. But it wasn't an order, an obligation, or even a threat. It was simply a fact, reality. If this man ever asked you to marry him, you would indeed accept without the slightest hesitation.

The sound of the waves and the birdsong seemed to vanish, replaced by a heavy, unpleasant silence. His hand tightened slightly beneath you, but you didn't move, knowing full well that he would never hurt you.

"Are you serious?"

Something was strange in his voice, unusual...

“Loki, I’m serious. And I’m also serious when I say I’ll accept to never marry you if you never ask me to, and that I’ll still stay by your side. Because I love you. I’ll also agree to live on the other side of the world if you ask me to. Because I love you. I’ll agree to change my whole life to stay by your side if you ask me to. Because I love you. I’ll even agree to go to my stupid cousin’s wedding if you—”

Loki stood up abruptly, gently picking you up and putting you down on the sand before disappearing into the adjacent forest in just a few steps. The thick fir trees swallowed him up in seconds, leaving you disoriented and alone in the middle of that vast beach, biting your lower lip, thinking you’d made a terrible mistake. It was always difficult to understand what was going on in the heart and mind of the giant, whose capacity of expressing his feelings was akin to that of an oyster, but it was one of the concessions you had agreed to make by staying by his side. So, you were often afraid of hurting him by unintentionally reopening wounds that had barely healed.

After long seconds of waiting, not really knowing what to do amidst all that sand, you slowly made your way back up the beach to find the coastal path. If Loki needed time alone to think, you might as well go straight home so you could take a shower; the prince would come back when he will feel better.

And you had barely walked a kilometer when you heard a voice roar from the forest.

"Where are you going?" thundered the prince , who then appeared at the edge of the forest, an enormous bouquet of wildflowers in his hands. The poor flowers, beautiful and colorful, seemed almost to suffocate between his enormous fingers. And again, that strange look on his face...

“I thought I had hurt you and that you needed to be alone, so I was going home to take a shower,” you admitted aloud, trying to make yourself heard from the other end of the beach.

“Huh?” the giant said, this time making a truly stupid face.

He then started running to come closer, as if he couldn’t bear staying that long away from you,  making the ground tremble beneath your feet as you tried to keep your balance as best you could. And as the giant ran toward you, he stopped abruptly in front of you and fell to his knees. Your blood immediately ran cold, already picturing the giant’s titanic body clumsily falling on top of you. It wouldn’t be a wedding you’d have to plan in the coming weeks, but rather a funeral. Your lungs stopped working, your heart pounded wildly, and in a foolish survival instinct, you stretched out your arms to try and catch the giant about to collapse on top of you. You closed your eyes, mentally preparing yourself to absorb the impact and disappear from this world, but you felt only a light tap on your head. No, it wasn't a tap, more like a caress, a touch…

So, not feeling death approaching, you slowly opened your eyes again, only to see in front of you a shower of colors and petals.

The bouquet.

Loki, kneeling in front of you, perfectly still and with a worried expression, offered you this magnificent bouquet, silently questioning you. He didn't dare say it, not aloud, as if he didn't dare to say it for real, for a reason you didn't know. But he didn't need to say anything; you'd never refused any of his gifts anyway.

So, slowly, you took the bouquet, placed it against your heart, and gently embraced the giant, who finally began to breathe again, a faint smile on his lips.

The wedding was held on the same day as your cousin's, and no cats were allowed to attend the ceremony.