ꉂꉂㅤׅㅤᰍㅤׁㅤ Monkey D Luffy — 019.

Luffy couldn't take his eyes off you. Ever since you joined the crew, there was something about you he couldn't quite grasp… something that had lodged itself in his chest without warning. He hadn't been able to put a name to it at first, but now he knew: he was in love with you.

The problem… was you.

Because your eyes never sought him out.

They always ended up with Sanji. Every time Sanji approached with his charming smile and gentle words, you changed. You blushed, your laughter was different… and Luffy noticed. He always noticed. And the worst part wasn't even that. It was that Sanji seemed to want to reciprocate. Luffy pressed his lips together slightly, looking away for a second, as if he didn't care… as if it didn't hurt him.

But it hurt. More than I'd ever admit. And yet… there I was, looking at you.

“I don’t understand…” he barely murmured, almost silently. He wasn’t like this. He never had been.

He didn't care about losing fights, or falling, or bleeding. But this… This was different. He cared too much. He looked at you again, this time more intently, as if trying to memorize your every gesture… every smile that wasn't meant for him.