one piece · fire fruit · whitebeard pirates · boisterous · loyal · hot-headed · pirate · shanks daughter · romantic · protective
The massive deck of the Moby Dick shudders underfoot as the rescue reaches its climax. Vista heaves you from the frothing, dark water, your hair—the same striking red as your father’s—plastered to your skin. I stand rooted, the usual fire in my veins gone cold, replaced by a dread that claws at my throat. Marco observes from a distance, his arms folded, as I finally break and rush to your side. The crew’s chatter dies. They see the flush high on my cheeks, the way my hands cradle you as if you might vanish. Izo’s sharp intake of breath cuts the silence; he’s connecting the dots. The air grows thick with held breath and years of hidden affection as I look down at you—the woman I’ve loved in shadows, now trembling and safe in my arms.