Troublesome ~ Sabo x Reader *Oneshot*

       Why was he smiling at you like that? This standoff has become increasingly awkward. “.... What's going on again?” You ask looking around. Everyone on set collectively groans.

       “___, why can't we get past this part?” Your drama teacher asks.

       “Um…” You look to the new student, and male lead of this over romanticized play. “Sorry,  I just can't focus today.” You hum sheepishly.

       “Alright, we’ll try this scene again tomorrow,  let's work on the next one.” The teacher sighs.

       You blink looking at the sky, “Damn…” You murmur. Your mind just couldn't focus on anything lately, it felt as if you've drifted away from reality,  peering back in every now and again.  “Troublesome.”

        “Excuse me.” His voice makes you tense, looking back at him.  

        “Oh hey… Sabo.” You offer a smile, turning to him. Was he here to give you grief about the scene you kept blanking out on today?

        “Hey, you did really good today.” He smiles. You blink before giving him a look.

        “... I'm sorry, are you confused?” You inquire.

        “Well, besides the scenes with me, you were great.” He chuckles sheepishly.

        “Thanks… and sorry.” You hum.

        “It's okay… Maybe we can work on them together, off set.” He suggests. You pause, looking at him. Did you hear that right?

       “Um… S-Sure.. When and where?” You ask.

       “Well… Hmm…” He puts a knuckle to his chin and pouts slightly. “I still don't know my way around…”

       “Oh right… Alright, how about this, tomorrow after school I'll take you to where I practice, but if you tell anyone, you have to buy me dinner… Or cookies, I freaking love cookies.” You tell him. He blinks at you before chuckling lightly in amusement.

       “Alright, it's a deal.” He smiles and you pause again, stuck watching him walk away. That damn smile.

       “He's too damn cute…” You grumble before starting home.

       The next day, he was waiting for you at the gates with a big smile. You had to shift your gaze from him. “Alright, let's go.” You tell him leading the way.

       “So where are we going?” He as you cheerfully.  

       “Top secret.” You respond bluntly.

       “Oh, sounds fun.” He chuckles. You glance at him, finding him peering around curiously.

       “You realize you and Koala’s scenes are more important right? I'm just a side character.” You hum. He blinks and frowns at you.

       “You're so much more than that ___.” He objects. You blink, how he said it made your cheeks warm and you look away again.

       “Really?” You huff.

       “Yeah, you're the- my character's best friend, you're very important. His pillar of strength, the one who supports him the most.” He points out and you look at him. “That's why your scenes are just as important Koala’s and mine.”

       “You're really into this huh?” You muse, a smile comes to your lips at that. His enthusiasm was really cute too… Damn him. You look away with a slight sigh.

       “I'm sorry… Did I get overexcited?” He asks, slightly sheepish, but his words were careful. You blink and look back at him.

       “No no, I like your enthusiasm, it's nice!” You say quickly with a smile. He looks at you, seeming doubtful. “I just feel like, hmm… How do I put this…” You frown slightly, blushing a bit before sighing.  “I just feel like this, is too good to be for me.”

       “... What?” He tilts his head in confusion.

       “Look… Guys like you, ignore girls like me. Most of the time- And that's okay, I know this will only last until after the play.” You shrug. Sabo stops briefly before catching up to your side.

        “What if I prove you wrong?” He inquires.

        “What would be the point in that?” You raise an eyebrow at him.

        “To… Help you believe in me.” He smiles with a head tilt. Now you give him a confused look. “I'm not just here for the play… I want to get to know you.” He rumbles. Your eyes narrow at him briefly before you stop.

        “Alright, we're here.” You hum placing your backpack on the handmade picnic table and taking out the script.

        Sabo stops, blinking in surprise, he hadn't even noticed that you both had entered a forest until you stopped in this spacious clearing. “Wow… This looks nice… Where are we?” He looks to you.

        “It’s a patch of forest near the school… Me and my friend Zoro nap here.” You tell him, sitting on the picnic table. “Ready to practice?”

        “Yeah, let's start.” He smiles.

        The practice lasted about two hours, the second hour was just you two talking. Sabo was really interesting, the more you listened to him. You had admired his looks right away, and now you were starting to admire his mind. He was really sweet too, offering to walk you home.

         “You don't have to.” You try to assure, but he just seemed increasingly concerned.

         “But… You could get kidnapped or something.” He murmurs.

         “Alright… I can't argue with that face… Let's go.” You sigh, but your lips still pull up into a smile. At this rate, your poor heart would be in jeopardy.

         On the way home, he manages to get you to talk about yourself and for once, someone seemed genuinely interested in you and your story. But you couldn't get your hopes up, doubts pounding down any hope you had for something more.

         The private practices took place almost every day following, all the while you two got closer. However, you became more distant, mind trying to escape before the inevitable happened.

          Then, the day of the play came…

          Your stomach churned with anxiety, pacing at the side wing, trying to shake off your nerves. Sabo touches your shoulder, making you stop and look at him.

          “We got this, just focus on me.” He smiles a bit.

          “No problem there.” You hum jokingly. He chuckles before you both take the stage, leaving the unease behind, and focusing on your performance.

          Everything was going smoothly, until the end, when Sabo’s and Koala’s big scene came, the kissing scene. You shift in your place, amongst the other side characters, pretending to be preoccupied while the two main characters spoke. You glance over as Koala moves to kiss him but he pulls back.

         “I'm sorry Amelia.  I can't…” He states. Your eyes widen.

        “He's going off script. What do we do?” Usopp whispers.

        “Play along, make it real.” Law breathes back. “Our grades are on the line now.”

        You straighten as Sabo approaches you. “Malcolm? What's wrong?” You play it off, giving him a concerned look. He meets your gaze, becoming oddly serious.

        “I'm in love with you.” He declares. You blink in shock, blushing heavily. “Since the beginning, you've been here for me, and I've been searching for someone to love when you were here, deserving all of it.” He says, cupping your cheek. You were too shocked to respond, but when he came in for the kiss, you gladly oblige.

          “Did… Not see that coming..” Usopp says. Your mind scrambles for something to say but all you can come up with is.

         “You troublesome, lovable man.” You breathe. Sabo chuckles and kisses you again.

         “I told you, I'd prove you wrong.”