Gone Too Far ~ Part 20
Pairings: Zoro x Fem!Reader, Sanji x Fem!Reader, Robin x Fem!Reader, Sanji X Robin
This is part 20 of the Series 'We've All Got Needs,' linked below:
Word Count: 4411
We've All Got Needs Masterlist
Ao3 Link (Ch. 10 of We've All Got Needs cont.)
Summary: The crew splits up to enjoy time on Water 7. Then everything goes wrong. Can your crew hold together when it's being torn apart?
Rating/Warnings: AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, 18+ Only, MDNI, Reader-Insert, Swearing, ANGST, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Polyamory, Pet Names,
A/N: !!SPOILER WARNING!! Spoilers for the anime for the Water 7 arc. I'm sorry y'all, I had to write it, so please have my tears. This part is rough, but I swear there will be breaks ahead. Plus, I hope you enjoy the extra smut scenes from the missing month, an extra sweet and smutty one will be posted tomorrow! 💜
You grumbled as you got ready for the day, wanting to stay in bed with Robin for the next week.
“Come, botanist. Let’s explore together.”
That stopped your grumbling, and you followed her out on deck.
Usopp was hugging the mast, and you left Robin’s side for the first time to go pat him on the shoulder.
“You took great care of her, Usopp.”
“Thanks, Y/N. I know all the tinplate patches don’t look like much, but they bring back a lot of fond memories.”
“Why don’t you keep some of them? You can make something cool out of them, like a decoration for the Merry.”
Usopp broke out into a grin.
“That’s a great idea! But don’t tell Luffy, he still wants me to make him a statue.”
“Ha, you have my word.”
“Hey, Needy.”
You had started walking back to Robin, but Zoro’s voice carried over from the bow of the ship. Your body already itched to be close to her again, but you walked toward your swordsman as he leaned over the railing.
“Hey, babe.”
Zoro stared down at you for a moment, before reaching an arm toward you. Stepping toward his warmth, you let him pull you into a hug.
Outside of sparring, you hadn’t had much time with Zoro since you’d been so focused on Robin getting better. A twist of guilt hit your stomach, but you breathed through it.
It’s only been a few days, and she almost died.
Still, part of you had started to worry that he was upset. It’s been a couple months now since you first started seeing each other. Zoro hadn’t had any more blowups recently, and it seemed like things were going well.
The calm didn’t feel safe though. You wanted to believe that if he was harboring any resentments or pain that he’d come to you, talk to you about it. But he hadn’t brought anything up. It made you uneasy sometimes.
Knowing that a lot of that fear was your own trauma from past relationships, you fought not to project it onto Zoro.
I just wish he’d talk to me about his feelings.
You pulled him tight against you at that thought. At the three little words that you were too much of a coward to say out loud, even after all this time.
Afraid that you’d scare him away. Afraid that he didn’t feel it too. Afraid that he’d never examine his own feelings enough to know if he could feel it or not.
Those thoughts made you feel sick, and you knew most of it was your own shit. You didn’t want to think about him that way.
But no matter how clear you got your mind on those thoughts, you still felt too afraid to tell him.
“I’m glad she’s okay,” he whispered against your temple.
“Me too.”
You took a deep breath in, still trying to convince your body that it was true. That she was okay.
“Are you gonna… spend the night with her again?”
You pulled back, searching his eyes.
“Why?”
“I, uh…”
He frowned at you, and you tried not to roll your eyes.
He’s trying to tell me what he needs. He just doesn't have enough practice yet.
“Would you like some time with me tonight?”
Zoro looked away from you, but nodded.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Now look who’s needy,” you teased, winning you a playful grin from him as he picked you up. Then he stopped, setting you back down as he looked out across the bow.
“Hey, I think we’re there.”
Most of the crew ran up, shouting as you all squinted to see the island.
“He’s right, I can see Water 7!”
Luffy’s excited words had you covering your eyes from the sun, until you could see the island coming into view. It was massive, built of gray stone, huge numbered gates surrounding all sides. Everyone was speechless for a moment as a giant fountain came into view, spiraling water into the air, towering in the center of the island. Canals flowed down, spilling back down into the ocean.
You squeezed Zoro’s arm before making your way to Robin, loving the way her face lit up at the sight.
Holding her hand, you laughed as you sailed through the town. Everything was floating. Instead of streets, people took small boats led by strange fish creatures across the water.
The crew found a place outside the city to dock, and you watched your swordsman furl the sails. His strong arms were mesmerizing as he pulled the rope, but your breath caught in your throat as the mast started to crack.
“Are you trying to break the ship,” Usopp yelled, as everyone panicked.
“No! All I did was pull the ropes like I always do. Holy shit, if the Merry’s falling apart this easy, we’re lucky we made it here at all.”
Ice sank into your stomach at Zoro’s words. You knew it was bad, but the mast seemed like it was barely holding on to the ship now, swaying dangerously overhead.
Nami took charge, declaring that Luffy and Usopp accompany her to turn in the reference letter to have the ship looked at, and to trade in the gold from their last big score.
“I guess I missed my chance to go with them,” Chopper pouted as he watched the group head toward the city.
“You can come with us later if you like.”
Hearing Robin’s voice still gave you shivers.
“Really? Can we go to a bookstore?”
“Yes, of course.”
“That sounds great,” you agreed, reaching for her hand again. “I wonder if they have a nursery here, I'd love to see what plants they have available in a floating city.”
You rushed to give Zoro a kiss, then ran after Robin and Chopper as they left the ship.
A small part of you felt bad for not searching the ship to kiss Sanji goodbye, but it was quickly drowned out by Robin’s laughter, and the feel of her arm around your waist while you followed Chopper.
~
The city was bustling, street vendors hawking wares, while citizens laughed and bartered. The people were almost strangely friendly here, even to pirates.
Sometimes a little too friendly.
That thought got stronger the more you and Robin were showered with compliments as you walked past.
“This town is full of Sanji’s,” Chopper noted, and it left you and Robin in a fit of laughter at the thought of your amorous lover.
A lot of the townsfolk were wearing painted wooden masks, and you stopped by a vendor to take a look as Robin reassured Chopper that they were just masks, not monsters.
“It seems the people here take the sea train to San Baldo Island where they hold a costume carnival every day.”
You tilted your head at Robin, while Chopper asked how she could know that.
“The people walking by are talking about it.”
“And you hear everything they say?”
You tried not to tense your hand in Robin’s, hoping she would answer his question.
“I can’t help it. Ever since I was young, I’ve made it a habit to keep a critical eye and ear on my environment.”
Her tone toward Chopper was sweet and light, but you felt yourself going still.
What has she been running from? Why is she so scared?
“Look at that, I think we found your bookstore,” Robin observed.
Chopper ran forward, talking excitedly. You knew public spaces were difficult for him alone, so you found yourself reaching out for him. He shifted into his massive human form, and you raced forward to join him, dropping your hand from Robin’s for a moment.
“Hold on, Chopper, we’re coming.”
You followed him through the doorway, seeing that he was already perusing the shelves, and that no one seemed to be bothering him.
I’m glad everyone here is so friendly.
Robin hadn’t joined you yet, so you stepped back outside.
The street looked the same. Vendors, customers, people in masks.
Ice cold fear shot through you.
Where’s Robin?
“Chopper! We have to go.”
“But, Y/N,” he said, a pile of books in his large arms.
“Robin’s missing!”
Panic raced through you, and you saw Chopper’s eyes fill with concern as he left the books on the counter.
Chopper shifted into his reindeer form, and you yelled her name as he followed her scent.
She’s okay, she probably just got distracted.
What if Aokiji came back? What if he took her?
What if she’s hurt?
Robin didn’t answer your calls, but you kept trying until your voice got hoarse.
~
“I’m sorry, Y/N, it’s like her scent just vanished.”
“What do you mean vanished?”
“I don’t know, it just stopped,” the note of panic in Chopper’s voice as he explained wasn’t helping your speeding pulse.
“Hold on…”
Chopper lifted his nose to the air, and hope gripped your chest.
“There’s something else over here. I know that smell.”
Racing to look around the corner, your hope dropped when she wasn’t there. Instead, you found Sanji.
He was sitting on the edge, looking out to sea with a pile of groceries beside him.
“Sanji! Have you seen Robin?”
Chopper's hooves clattered on the stone as he caught up to your frantic steps. Sanji frowned at him.
“I just saw her. It seemed like she ignored me, and she was walking with a large person in a masked outfit. I thought that was you in your human form, Chopper.”
“It wasn’t m-”
“She’s missing, Sanji!”
You gripped his arm, watching him take in your features, your panicked eyes. He gestured behind him, looking around the area.
“I followed her over here, and it seemed like she just disappeared.”
“So did her scent.”
Your ears were starting to ring as they spoke, and you pulled away, shouting her name.
“Angel, hold on!”
He clambered after you, grabbing the groceries as he and Chopper followed.
Your voice was cracking, and your breaths were ragged.
Sanji dropped the bags again, wrapping his arms around you.
“We’ll get her back, Y/N. We’ll always get her back.”
They convinced you to hop into a boat while you continued to call for her around the area, before heading back to meet with the rest of the crew.
You noticed Sanji and Chopper had started speaking in hushed tones, and you were able to pull yourself together enough to start listening.
“I hope she’s alright. I feel uneasy.”
“Do you need an examination?”
“No, Chopper, it’s not like that. It’s what the admiral said, all that terrible stuff he said about Robin’s past…”
Your voice was raspy and empty as you interrupted.
“Protecting this troublesome woman leads to nothing but regret.”
They turned to you, brows tensed in concern. You kept going.
“He said that every group she’s ever been a part of has been destroyed, everyone except for her.”
You glared defiantly at them, anger bubbling in you.
“But I don’t care about her past. I don’t care what he said.”
Sanji gripped your knee while Chopper nodded.
“None of us care, sweetheart. We’re going to get her back.”
~
“The Merry can’t sail again.”
You couldn’t understand Zoro’s words as Chopper and Sanji started to argue. Your fists clenched hard, nails digging into your skin as you tried to make sense of everything.
“It just seems so extreme, it's our same old Merry, we’ve traveled with her so long.”
Sanji’s emotional words brought you into the moment, only for Zoro’s calm, unaffected voice to make your mind go sickly still.
“You just answered your own question. Human beings get stronger after hardship, but ship’s wounds just pile up. The shipwright said her keel is broken, she won’t even make it to the next island.”
Chopper started to cry, and you almost sobbed as you watched Sanji touch the top of his hat to comfort him.
“We need to find Ro-”
“Hey, everyone!”
Nami’s frantic voice interrupted your plea, and you watched her climb onto the deck. She was carrying a large briefcase, and was dripping with sweat and tears. You ran to her, fresh panic flooding your veins.
“Are you o-”
“Usopp’s hurt! Some assholes called the Franky Family stole most of our money for the Merry, and they- they…”
Everyone surrounded her, all speaking at once while you moved her hair out of her face, taking the briefcase from her trembling arms.
“Where’s Usopp?”
Chopper’s serious voice broke through Nami’s staggered breaths. You felt like your world was spinning as the boys set out to find him, and to go after the pieces of shit that hurt your friend.
Zoro’s face was inches from yours, his hands gripping your arms.
“Stay here with Nami. Protect the Merry. Okay, Needy? You need to stay here. Protect that money so we can get a new ship.”
Nami gripped your hand while Sanji kissed your temple.
Zoro’s eyes burned into yours.
“Promise me, Needy.”
“I promise,” you managed to whisper, voice still shot from yelling Robin’s name.
Nami’s palm was clammy in yours as you watched your crewmates head back into danger.
Why is this happening?
~
It felt like years had passed when you finally saw the five Straw Hat boys walking home, Luffy back with his crew, and Chopper’s human form carrying Usopp’s bloody, limp body.
You sat on deck against the unstable mast, and tried not to scream at everyone.
We need to find Robin.
“Angel, are you okay?”
Sanji was crouching in front of you, soft eyes searching yours.
“No.”
His lips pursed as he nodded, and he looked like he was about to speak when Chopper yelled.
“He’s awake!”
Relief moved through you for your friend as you followed the crew inside. But you caught Sanji’s eyes, and knew that he was still thinking about your missing archaeologist too. Reaching for his hand as you went through the door, you caught the sound of Usopp crying out.
“This wouldn’t have happened if I was strong like you guys. It’s all my fault, I’m so ashamed of myself!”
Even covered in bruises and bandages, Usopp lurched forward, catching Zoro off guard as he wrapped his arms around one of his thighs. Zoro seemed to panic, flailing a bit, unsure of what to do as Usopp wept against him.
Tears streamed down your face. You knew all too well the fears of failing the crew because you weren’t strong enough.
“It’s not that big a deal, alright. Calm down.”
Zoro squirmed as Usopp still clung to him, and you rushed forward, rubbing Usopp on the shoulder until he let Zoro go. He clung to you now, and you didn’t know what to say. You just held your friend, letting your own tears fall quietly as he kept sobbing in your arms.
“I lost the money, what are we gonna do about the Merry?”
“You need to rest, Usopp, or you won’t get better,” Chopper pleaded, the threat of tears in his voice.
Luffy was finally able to calm Usopp a bit, declaring that they would find that asshole, Franky.
“Besides, even if we can’t get our money back, we still have a hundred million berry, so don’t worry about it!”
You thought the vein in Nami’s forehead would pop when she scolded him. The crew had lost two hundred million berry on Usopp’s watch.
Poor Usopp. This is awful.
The thought of what a shitty day it was brought you back to Robin, and you almost screamed to get everyone to focus on her. But Usopp’s hopeful voice made your stomach twist in knots.
“Is Merry gonna be okay? Can we get her fixed with the money we’ve got? There’s all these awesome shipwrights, you talked to them about it, right?”
Luffy glossed over the pain, smiling as he broke the news.
“Uh, yeah, we did. But we decided to get a new ship instead. The Going Merry has taken good care of us, but it looks like our journey has to end here. But look, there’s a bunch of great ships we can still afford,” Luffy said lightly as he showed Usopp a catalog from the shipyard.
Feeling the pain from the silent crew with the captain’s choice, the look in Usopp’s eyes made your heart break.
You watched him build himself up again, trying to convince himself that it was a joke.
Until he looked at all of your faces, the truth evident.
“Does it mean we don’t have enough for the repairs? Is it because I lost the money?”
“Usopp-”
You tried to move back to him, wanting to reassure him, but Zoro’s firm hand on your shoulder stopped you.
Usopp was yelling at Luffy now, demanding the truth, and you’d never seen Luffy’s face like this. Not when looking at a friend.
His teeth were clenched as he held his words in, sweat beading on his brow. Until he started yelling back.
Zoro moved past you then, stepping in to stop the fight. You caught eyes with Nami, your pain echoed in hers.
“I don’t see what I’m doing wrong, he’s the one saying all this dumb shit.”
Nami broke in to stop Usopp, begging him to calm down and rest.
“Who cares about me? How can you all just sit here when he's making jokes about getting a new ship?”
Luffy was shaking now as he started to yell back.
“I’m not joking about anything, this was a hard decision for me too!”
“Oh yeah, I feel really sorry for you,” Usopp growled, before grabbing the ship catalog out of his hand. “Already window shopping for a new toy!”
You gasped as Usopp slammed the pages to the ground, wishing this nightmare would fucking end so your crew would be safe and happy again.
“Are you trying to pick a fight with me, Usopp?”
He kept yelling at your captain, demanding to know that it was his fault for losing the money, his fault for failing the Merry.
Luffy finally said the words, the painful words that none of you wanted to hear. But you hoped it would stop the fight.
“The Merry can’t be fixed.”
But that awful truth didn’t stop the fight. Usopp denied, and accused, and bartered. Then he demanded.
“Don’t give up on the Merry!”
Hot tears stung your cheeks as you stood frozen.
More yells and accusations toward Luffy felt like whips snapping in your face, almost making you flinch with each swing.
Sweet Chopper moved toward Usopp, hoofs quivering as he reached out.
“I know you’re upset, but you need to calm down.”
“Not until we settle this, I won’t let you take the Merry away from me! You’re ignoring your crew, ignoring your friends. I can’t believe that’s the kinda captain you turned out to be.”
Usopp had stood and grabbed Luffy by the front of his shirt. He wasn’t listening to any of your voices as the crew pleaded with him to stop.
“I thought you were better than this!”
“You’re not being fair, Usopp-,” Nami tried again, before Luffy flung out his arm for her to stop.
“You stay out of this. It was my call. We’re getting a new ship whether you like it or not.”
Usopp was sweating through his bandages now, dark spots of blood showing through some of them. You didn’t know your friend could make a face like the one he had right now. You felt like you were going to throw up.
They kept screaming, and you couldn’t follow the words anymore as you watched in horror. Sanji tried to step between them, but Luffy pushed Usopp to the ground, yelling in his face. Nami cried out, and you tried to run forward, but Zoro stopped you again. You almost screamed at him.
Luffy’s next yell pierced through it all.
“Fine, if you don’t like the way your captain does things then why don’t you get-”
Sanji’s leg was so fast as it spun, launching Luffy straight through the kitchen table, shards of wood and dust flying. You gaped at your cook, rage and sweat dripping from him.
“This is going way too far. What the hell is wrong with you? If you don’t watch it you’re going to say something you can’t take back, so calm down.”
Sanji was shaking now, breath ragged, and you felt your lips quiver at the anger in his eyes.
Luffy crawled from the broken pieces of the table, and apologized. You felt a breath of relief, before Usopp tore it away.
“If you’re gonna throw away the Merry, might as well throw me away too.”
Sanji tried to step in again, but then Usopp laid out his own fears before the crew. You felt raw, aching. You wanted to reassure your friend, but how could you, when you felt the same way he did about being weak?
“It’s not like it was before. You’re all too strong for me now. You can’t even trust me to guard our money. You don’t want weak people on your crew do you?”
Nausea flooded you, your own guilt and shame at your weakness making you hate yourself in this moment.
“I’m leaving the crew. This is goodbye.”
It’s only a matter of time before something like this happens to me. Maybe I should follow Usopp. Maybe he's right.
Most of the crew lurched forward, calling for him until he shut the door. Part of you was screaming to join him, to leave the crew before you could fail them, before you could hate yourself for failing them.
“Luffy, what are you doing, go after him!”
Nami’s frantic voice kept pleading with him, but he stayed down, eyes dark.
“Fine, have it your way then.”
Nami ran out the door, Sanji and Chopper following. You heard the three of them calling his name, but you couldn’t get your feet to move. Luffy and Zoro stayed, their silence heavy. Finally, Luffy stood, moving outside. You ached for him, finally free to follow.
Usopp’s voice carried over from the shore, and you grabbed Nami’s hand.
Please, Usopp, please come back.
“I challenge you to a duel, Monkey D. Luffy! At ten tonight. If I win I'm taking the Merry, and I’m leaving.”
The silence on deck was deafening as you watched Usopp’s limping form move toward the city.
Robin’s still missing.
You hated yourself for it, but thinking about Robin was the only thing keeping you from falling into self pity. The only thing keeping you from leaving the ship in shame along with Usopp.
So you dug through her quarters. She was so private, and you felt sick as you searched for any kind of clue for where she might have gone.
You could hear Nami pleading with Luffy through the thin walls to apologize, and talk things through.
“It’s gone too far already.”
You shivered at Luffy’s tone, and kept on your hunt.
It wasn't long before you heard your boys screaming at each other, and you sank to the floor, too spent to try to stop them.
I’m worthless. I can’t protect anyone. I can’t do anything.
Nami tapped lightly on the door, calling your name softly.
“Y/N, it’s ten.”
Swallowing your self pity, you followed your friend to the deck again, watching Usopp’s silhouette against the city lights as he moved closer.
“Listen up, I don’t want any of you leaving the ship,” Luffy called over his shoulder.
You grabbed onto Chopper’s small arm as he started screaming, crying for them not to fight.
But nothing would stop them now.
Usopp started pelting Luffy with all different types of ammo, and you couldn’t hear what they were saying over the waves, and Chopper’s cries.
You thought Luffy was going easy on him at first, letting Usopp hit him, but soon you saw your captain jumping off the ground in pain shaking off what looked like caltrops.
Then the air around Luffy was filled with flames. Luffy made it through the smoke, and you almost screamed as you saw him pull his fists back. But before he could make contact, Usopp kept shooting star after star, and you watched your friend, the sniper, hold his own against your captain.
For a while, at least.
Luffy was looking wrecked, and you felt a twinge of disgust in yourself that you felt proud of Usopp for hurting him so badly.
This is horrible.
Then Luffy pulled back again, and this time, his fist hit. You sobbed as you clasped your hand over your mouth. Usopp swayed for a moment, and you could see more blood draining from him even from a distance.
You fell against the railing, barely holding yourself up as Usopp collapsed.
“At least it’s over now.”
Zoro’s steady voice made your head whip around, finding him looking as he usually does. Stoic, seemingly unmoved. Your mind was too filled with pain to think clearly, and then Sanji’s voice broke through.
Chopper was crying, trying to jump off the ship to help Usopp. Sanji was holding him trying to stop him and you wanted to scream.
“I’m a doctor-”
“He’s not a part of our crew anymore.”
Chopper shifted into his human form, but Sanji tackled him. You sank to the ground as you watched everyone fall apart.
“Chopper, it’s bad enough that he lost the fight. If you pity him now, you’ll end up hurting him even more. He knew this is how it might end when he challenged Luffy. We need to give him dignity in defeat.”
“That’s such bullshit,” you growled, voice cracking. You might have yelled if your voice wasn’t shot.
Sanji glanced back at you with pained eyes. Chopper used that moment to break away, running off the ship toward Usopp’s crumpled body.
Pulling yourself to your feet, you went to Nami, clasping your cold hands together.
Luffy made his way back, his head lowered under his hat, and you let out a sob at the pain in his cracking voice.
“It’s too much.”
Zoro didn’t even turn to face him as he took a breath.
“This is what it means to be captain. You can’t doubt yourself. If you lose your confidence, then who can we have faith in?”
Emptiness filled you as everyone stood silent. Then Zoro had to say the last words, the truth that twisted like a knife.
“Usopp can never return to the crew.”
Thank You for Reading! 💜
TurtleTaub Fanfic Masterlist
We've All Got Needs Masterlist
Part 21
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A/N: I'm sorry 😭😭😭 We won't be sad forever! I hope you enjoy the sweet and smutty extra scene with Sanji tomorrow, I'll make sure we have a good mix to get us through all this angst 💜
Buy me a coffee ☕🙏🏼
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