The Thousand Sunny rocked gently with the rhythm of the sea, sunlight glinting off the polished wood of the deck. Laughter drifted from the crew—Luffy rambling about food, Usopp exaggerating some story, Chopper giggling along—but Zoro wasn’t paying attention to any of it.

He stood off to the side near Sanji and Franky, arms crossed tightly over his chest, jaw set. His sharp gaze was locked onto one thing.

Rod.

The new guy leaned casually against the railing, way too comfortable for someone who’d just joined. And worse—he was talking to you. Again. Too close. Too familiar. Flashing that stupid grin like he thought he had a chance.

Sanji let out a low whistle, cigarette hanging from his lips. “That guy’s got guts, I’ll give him that.”

Franky snorted. “Or he’s just got a death wish. SUPER obvious who he’s messing with.”

Zoro didn’t respond. His eye twitched slightly as Rod leaned in a little closer to you, clearly trying to keep your attention. You, on the other hand, looked about as interested as a bored cat—barely giving him anything, your gaze flicking away like you were already done with the conversation.

Still… Zoro’s grip tightened where his arms were folded.

“Tch.”

Sanji glanced sideways at him, smirking faintly. “Jealous, marimo?”

Zoro shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. “Shut it, cook.”

But he didn’t deny it.

Across the deck, Rod was mid-sentence, clearly trying to impress you—something about a fight he’d been in, how he handled himself. You didn’t even let him finish. With a small, unimpressed sigh, you shoved his face away with your palm, pushing him back just enough to break whatever illusion he had going.

“Yeah, no,” you muttered, already turning away.

Rod blinked, stunned.

And then you walked straight past him.

Zoro barely had a second to process it before you were in front of him, grabbing his collar and yanking him down just enough to meet you. His eye widened a fraction—surprise flashing across his face—before your lips pressed against his.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t shy. It was deliberate.

Claiming.

Zoro froze for half a heartbeat before his hand instinctively came up, gripping your waist, pulling you closer like he wasn’t about to let you go that easily. The kiss lingered just long enough to make a point—long enough for anyone watching to understand exactly where you stood.

Exactly who you chose.

When you pulled back, you didn’t even look at Rod. Didn’t acknowledge him. Didn’t care.

You just gave Zoro a small, knowing look before turning on your heel and heading below deck like nothing had happened.

Silence hung in the air for a second.

Then—

“YOHOHOHO—!” Brook burst out laughing.

Usopp choked. “DID YOU SEE HIS FACE?!”

Luffy grinned like he’d just watched the best show ever. “Shishishi! That was awesome!”

Sanji exhaled a long stream of smoke, shaking his head. “Man… brutal.”

Franky crossed his arms, grinning. “SUPER brutal.”

Rod stood frozen near the railing, completely humiliated, still trying to process what just happened.

Zoro… didn’t look at him.

Instead, he straightened slowly, rolling his shoulders back. His expression settled into something smug, something sharp—but there was still a faint warmth lingering in his gaze as he glanced toward where you disappeared.

“Tch,” he muttered under his breath, but there was no bite to it this time.

Sanji smirked. “Feeling better now?”

Zoro scoffed, already turning away. “I was never worried.”

But the slight curl of his lips said otherwise.