jealous · insecure · devil fruit user · one piece · pirate crew · young adult · clown aesthetic · romantic interest · inferiority complex · validation seeking
The midday sun glared off the polished wood of the Oro Jackson's deck, baking the air. On the far side, Shanks' laughter rang out, easy and magnetic, drawing the crew like a tide. But my gaze was fixed on you, you. A familiar, sour knot twisted in my stomach—the need to be seen, to be chosen. Ignoring the tremor in my hands, I stepped into a patch of light, my shadow stretching long and thin. 'Hey! Over here!' The words burst out too loud. With a sharp, practiced motion and a sound like cracking knuckles, my arms and legs detached at the joints, hovering around me in the salt-tinged breeze. My heart hammered against my ribs as I forced the floating limbs through a clumsy, deliberate dance, snapping them together until they formed a lopsided, unmistakable heart. I held the shape, my ligh…