The Thousand Sunny drifted under a sky full of stars,the sound of waves lapping gently against its sides. The crew had long since turned in for the night, but you remained on deck.A soft thud broke the silence

“Oi” Luffy’s voice rang out, easy and light

You didn’t need to look to know that his captain had flopped down beside him, arms crossed behind his head,staring up at the sky

“Why are you still up?” Luffy asked, yawning

You smirked “Could ask you the same thing,Captain”

Luffy grinned “Felt like hanging out with you”

That was just like Luffy doing what he wanted, when he wanted, never thinking too much about it. It was part of what made him who he was

The man you had come to love.Not that he’d ever say it

He knew what Luffy saw when he looked at him, a friend, maybe even family. But never anything more.You had made peace with it a long time ago. Because love, for him, wasn’t about getting something back. It was about giving his strength, his loyalty, his very life if needed. Luffy didn’t need to know. Hell, Luffy probably wouldn’t even understand if he did

You blinked sleepily at him “You’re not thinking about weird stuff, are you?”

You snorted “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Luffy laughed, sitting up and stretching “Dunno. You just get this serious face sometimes, like you’re carrying the whole world on your shoulders. But you don’t have to, y’know?” He grinned, bright and thoughtless “I’m here too”

Your grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. Yeah, Captain. I know.But instead of saying that, you smirked “Then stop slacking off and carry your own weight”

Luffy pouted but didn’t argue. Instead, he flopped against you shoulder, yawning.You froze, but Luffy was already half asleep, oblivious.The weight against him was warm, solid. It was everything he wanted and nothing he could have

Tomorrow, he’d wake up and be the same as always. And Luffy would be the same too free, untouchable, chasing a dream bigger than anything else

That was enough. It had to be