(Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda, obviously.)

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Broken

I never really understood why you thought your little quirks would drive me away. If anything, it should have been you who were having second thoughts about being with someone that is more than slightly unhinged. Everytime this somehow came up and you jokingly asked me what I was still doing with you with a smile on your face that seemed disturbingly more bitter than playful, something inside me would snap. I would have the irrepressible urge to grab your shoulders and shake you, make you look me in the eye and make sure you understand how much you mean to me and how I'm never ever letting you go; how you are the one certain truth in my life... Everything else could come and go and I wouldn't spare a second thought about them. Except for you.

I know how much you hated being vulnerable, but once in a while I could see the carefully crafted façade slip and the insecurities you tried so hard to bury show themselves. It reminded me of a dam standing strong for so long only to come crashing down under the constant pressure. In those moments of fragility, you were always quick to remind me how hard it is to put up with you, how surely I was gonna get tired of it sooner or later... There were many things I didn't know about your past but the haunted look you had from time to time told me your childhood memories were anything but nice, which made me want to find the bastards responsible for you thinking you were unbearable to have around and smash their skulls. It wasn't fair... You of all people shouldn't have to deal with those thoughts constantly eating away at you, and you shouldn't have to doubt the affections of the person who would do anything to protect you. Not that you would let me of course... God forbid you ask for help and protection, and it makes no difference that I'm your life partner... But you also know that the frown marring your features and the warningly whispered "Eustass-ya..." would never be enough to stop me from foing everything in my power to prevent you from being harmed in any way either.

Even though I jokingly complain about your cockiness, I want nothing more than to see your inside match that over-confident exterior. I want the fact that you were all I cared about to be something that goes without saying, something that you are sure of just like you are sure of your own name. And I want you to know that nothing you can do, especially being yourself, could ever drive me away. You are my Law, and everything else that you're worrying about can be fixed, accepted, adored...