ONE PIECE one shots,,

-THE SAFE HARBOR-

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the quiet, empty shoreline. Rayleigh sat on the weathered dock, a bottle of rum in his hand, his blond hair catching the last rays of daylight. The sea, endless and vast, stretched out before him like it had for so many years—always calling, always tempting him back into the wild, unpredictable life of a pirate. But now, after everything, he wasn't sure if he wanted to answer that call anymore.

It had only been a few weeks since Roger disbanded the crew. A few weeks since Rayleigh had found himself wandering, aimless, unsure of what came next. He had no orders, no direction, no grand adventure to chase. It felt... strange. For the first time in decades, he was alone, no crew, no ship, no purpose.

Then he met her.

She had appeared in his life like a warm breeze, unexpected yet comforting. It had been in a small, nondescript port town, one that Rayleigh had stumbled upon while wandering. She had been sitting by herself in the tavern, nursing a drink, her eyes fixed on the sea outside. There had been something about her that drew him in—something quiet yet fierce, like a flame that refused to go out.

They had talked, shared a few drinks, and by the time the moon was high in the sky, it felt like they had known each other for years. She told him about her own life, her own aimless wandering, and how, despite everything, she had never felt at peace—never felt like she truly belonged anywhere.

But when she looked at him, something in her eyes changed. "I don't want to leave," she had said, her voice soft but certain. "I feel safe with you."

Rayleigh hadn't known what to say at the time. He was a pirate, after all. A man who had lived his life on the edge, constantly moving, constantly searching for the next thrill. But something about her words resonated deep within him. He hadn't felt that sense of safety in years—since the days with Roger and the crew. And now, here was this woman, offering him something he hadn't realized he needed.

And so they stayed together.

Now, as the evening breeze gently rustled through the trees, Rayleigh turned his head to the side, watching her approach the dock. Her steps were soft, her expression calm, but there was a warmth in her eyes that always made him feel like he was right where he needed to be. She came to sit beside him, her hand resting on his knee as she looked out at the sea with him.

"You look like you're deep in thought again," she teased, her voice light and soothing.

Rayleigh chuckled, taking a sip from the bottle and handing it to her. "Just thinking about how things have changed," he said, his voice low and easy. "About how much quieter it is now."

She smiled as she took a drink, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Is that a bad thing?"

Rayleigh shook his head. "No... not at all. It's just different."

For a moment, they sat there in comfortable silence, the waves gently lapping against the shore. The world around them seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of them, side by side, watching the sunset.

"You know," she said after a while, her voice soft, "I've never felt this... settled before. With anyone." She glanced up at him, her eyes reflecting the fading light. "You've been wandering for so long... do you ever feel like you're still searching for something?"

Rayleigh was quiet for a moment, his golden eyes focused on the horizon. "I spent a lot of time searching," he admitted. "But I think I've found what I didn't even know I was looking for."

She raised an eyebrow, curious. "And what's that?"

He looked down at her, his smile warm and full of affection. "You."

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. Instead, she smiled, her hand slipping into his. "I'm glad I found you, Rayleigh," she whispered. "I feel safe with you. Like... like I don't need to run anymore."

Rayleigh's chest tightened at her words. He had always been a man of the sea, a man who thrived on freedom and adventure, but with her... he had found a new kind of freedom. One that didn't come from sailing the world or chasing after treasure, but from knowing that someone wanted to be with him, not because of his reputation or his past, but because of who he was now.

He pulled her closer, his arm wrapping around her waist as they watched the sun disappear below the horizon. "You don't need to run," he said quietly, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "Not anymore."

They sat like that for a long time, the stars beginning to peek out from the darkening sky above. The world felt far away, distant, and for the first time in a long time, Rayleigh wasn't thinking about the past or what might come next. He wasn't thinking about Roger or the crew or the sea that always called to him.

He was just here, with her, in this moment. And for the first time in years, that felt like enough.

"Stay with me," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the waves. "I don't want to be anywhere else."

Rayleigh smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "I'm not going anywhere."

And as the night settled in around them, Rayleigh knew he meant it. For once, he didn't need to wander. He had found his harbor—his safe place—and he wasn't about to let it go.