It was their third day out from Punk Hazard.

And Y/n still hadn't quite figured out where they fit.

From across the deck, Zoro let out a grunt from his spot under the tangerine trees, one eye cracked open. "Leave 'em alone, Usopp. Some of us actually enjoy the quiet."

Y/n had been on this ship for seventy-two hours, and in that time, they'd learned exactly three things. One: the cook and the swordsman would literally fight over a piece of bread if left unsupervised. Two: the shipwright was absolutely not normal, and that was somehow the least strange thing about this crew. And three—

There was a shift in the air. A shadow fell over Y/n, blocking out the sun. It was accompanied by the unmistakable sound of sandals slapping against wood.

—Luffy moved like he was always being pulled toward them. Like gravity was less of a law and more of a suggestion he bent to his own will.

Luffy tilted his head, studying Y/n's face with an intensity that felt disproportionate to the question. His dark eyes didn't drift to the horizon that Y/n had been staring at. They stayed locked on them.

Luffy didn't seem to notice Usopp's escape. Or maybe he did. Maybe he was just happy about it. His grin widened—if that was even possible—and he shifted his weight, his body curving slightly toward Y/n like a plant seeking sunlight.

Somewhere behind them, Zoro and Sanji's bickering faded into the background. The gulls cried overhead. The waves lapped against the hull.