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Luffy had always had that strange energy that made you want to orbit around him. Luffy was quite simple in many ways, he was cruelly honest but gentle at the same time but most of all he loved with all his body and soul. Making you melt with just a few words, smiling as if they were the most important part of his world, because they were.
Nami knew her captain was rare ever since she met him. Meeting Luffy in the navigator's words was like a burning fresh and abundant air, absolutely necessary, but he was also an absolutely fierce force that fervently clamored for your being and for you to be his, completely his.
Usopp was totally convinced as well as Nami that their captain was selfish and jealous, the two didn't know why this echo didn't really bother them, it was strange, if that was not enough, Luffy had made it clear to them many times that they were his and if they wanted to leave, he would never let them go.
Sanji and Robin had experienced it firsthand. They had watched as Luffy had entered their hearts at a wild pace and forced them to see him and ignore the world around them.
Robin certainly seemed quite, enigmatic to him, their captain could certainly be, possessive, but he didn't force anyone, to do something they didn't want to do, if you did something it was because you wanted to do it, Luffy just gave you that push you needed, it was like he always knew what you would need, the crew could fondly say that their captain was dumb. Robin really wasn't sure about that.
Their captain had an excellent ability to read people, he just knew what was wrong with each of them with a look, it was unnerving and comforting at the same time.
Franky on the other hand saw Luffy as a pillar, firm and shining, lighting the way for each and every one of them, with a smile that could split his face if it were not made of rubber. The carpenter for some strange reason was convinced that if he hadn't met his captain when he did, he would have done it differently. Maybe that time without a panty-snatching in between.
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Brook was truly grateful to his now, new captain. The rubber boy had plucked him from his 50 years of loneliness and had saved his shadow! The first few weeks Brook was on the ship, he watched Luffy orbit around him, fervently worrying when the musician seemed too deep in thought, losing himself in his years of loneliness. Luffy would simply sit quietly beside him those days, which was truly impressive, with his energy calm and menacingly bright to Brook's horrible nightmares.
Remaining silent or humming some song the musician was sure he had invented, but always concentrating on him and simply on him. Brook felt his heart would collapse in affection, if he had one clearly, yohoho.
Chopper knew that Luffy was someone truly amazing, the little doctor had never seen a person like his captain in his life (though he hadn't seen many either) But something told Chopper that Luffy was indeed special, from the moment he hadn't hesitated one bit to accept him for his blue nose and being a monster, Luffy had simply told him that that was what was amazing, Chopper was happy.
But perhaps I hesitate at something. The love Luffy poured out to them was certainly disconcerting, it was too much, but it wasn't overwhelming. Chopper believed that their captain would at some point get bored of loving them as he did. The doctor didn't know how Luffy had noticed his thoughts or perhaps his nervous energy had gotten to him and now his body was being crushed against a rubbery body, which smelled of the sea, flesh and freedom.
-Chopper doesn't have to think about stupid things- he had said softly- Chopper is my doctor, you are mine and that means you are stuck with me forever, because I love you.
Chopper never doubted that again.
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Ace had talked about Luffy many times while they were on Impel Down, Jimbe knew the rubber boy as if he was an extension of his body, he didn't really care at the time, until he saw him for himself.
Straw hat strength was surprisingly incredible, Jimbe knew the little captain was not strong, but his presence alone lit up the battle making those present tremble. He experienced it at Marineford when he and his straw hat turned the tide of a battle, Jimbe was sure he would make it, until he saw it slowly shatter and destroy.
Jimbe is absolutely sure he wasn't a babysitter, until he was, he was thinking how that wasn't a bother at all, but here he was babysitting his future captain, helping him slowly repair himself.
The fish-man still has no idea what it means to get Monkey D. Luffy's attention, perhaps he realized it on Gyojin Island, when Luffy smiled too brightly at him as himself, asking him to join his crew beating Jimbe into realization and realizing he would follow the man wherever he wanted.
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Luffy to Sanji was simply his savior, though he would never tell him, the younger would look at him as if he had insulted all his offspring, funny if you thought about it.
Sanji was too grateful to Luffy. The moment he had gone after him, of all the damn people, into the territory of a damn emperor (damn it, Luffy) Sanji knew he had to get them out of there any way he could, he couldn't watch as his friends, no, his family, was crushed by him, a coward, a useless, worthless being.
-Sanji, without you.... I can't be the King of the pirates!
Sanji snapped. Maybe somehow the cook knew it, knew that Luffy would give up his dream as long as they didn't and it hurt him. Sanji couldn't just ignore it, he couldn't do it, he didn't want to do it, he looked for his captain and asked, begging him in tears to go home, to go back with him.
Luffy smiled and Sanji knew it would be all right.
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Zoro had been rather skeptical of his captain at first, the swordsman didn't know at what point his skepticism had turned into absolute, unwavering faith.
Or perhaps, he did know. From the moment he raised Wado Ichimongi to the sky and firmly stated that he would never lose to him again, to the future king of pirates, Zoro knew he had fallen.
The moment Kuma had risen up and proclaimed almost mockingly to take his captain's head, it was the first time Zoro felt fear, screaming and begging, kneeling in front of the enemy begging to take his life in return. Zoro knew that Luffy would hate him if he found out that he had bargained with his life in exchange for his safety, but Zoro did not regret it, nor would he ever.
For they awaited the moment when he would take the crown as his own and shatter the world with his smile.