#✦ ┊ ooc ៸ ៸ a tale told by an idiot.

[collude]

plot with me brothers 🫂

[jeankluv]

The tale of the fox and the knight - Satoru Gojo | Chapter 06

summary: You have been living all your life in almost isolation due to your true nature, one your parents want to hide and protect you from anyone finding it. But when the spring of your 20 year your parents grant you the wish of being able to walk around the city, you meet him. Your doom. Satoru Gojo, a white haired knight whose intentions in your eyes are unkown. And whose presence in your life will change everything, from how you see the world to your way of being.

words: 5k

tags: enemies to lovers, blood, eventual smut, Gojo is pretty rude at the beginning, Gojo ooc, betrayal, fantasy, magical creatures, angst, injuries, heavy/strong language, no use of y/n or minimal use of y/n, female protagonist

Warnings for this chapter (the last part of the chaper, in a flashback): violence, character death (past), description of blood

notes: looooong chapter this time, I thought about diving into two but I wanted to add the flashback that happens in this chapter. Sorry if there are any mistakes or anything

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Your hands slammed onto the table as you stared at him. What was he doing there? How did he get here so fast? Why couldn't you get away from him?

You were angry, but you also had so much pent-up rage, so much so that you were pressing your lips together to keep from throwing yourself at Satoru and killing him right there.

”Really.” Satoru said, shaking his wet hair. ”You're going to finish me off…”

That's what I want.

You bit your tongue, wanting to scream at him, to tell him that this was what you wanted most. But the words wouldn't come out, you couldn't.

“You know.” You spoke again after seeing that you had no intention of doing so. “I think fate really wants us together.” He said in a tone you couldn't decipher.

“Destiny surely is an asshole then.”

Satoru looked at you surprised but soon a smirk appeared on his face, it was strange to see you saying those types of things, but he did like them. Way too much.

“Oh!” You heard Fly's voice and turned to look at him. “Satoru?”

You watched as Fly approached Satoru, smiling, and with a single movement, lifted Satoru from his chair and hugged him.

You felt your heart shake. Fly and Satoru knew each other... There was no way you were going to return to Zerua with Fly's help. There wasn't.

You watched them hugging, or rather, Fly hugging Satoru, but for the first time, you saw Satoru laugh. During the months he spent as your personal guard, you had never heard him laugh. You had seen his smile, but at that moment, you wondered if the smiles he had given you had been genuine, or if he had simply faked it all. A pang went through your chest as the thought sinked in.

Fly put Satoru back on the floor, and he put the clothes back in their place. You looked at both of them, uneasy, wanting to know what it was.

“Oh! Y/n, this is Satoru.” He introduced him to you as if you didn't exactly know who he was. “Satoru, this is…”

“I know.” Satoru smiled arrogantly, and you snorted.

Fly moved his head between the two of you, trying to read your expressions. “Oh…” He mumbled and approached you. “Is this the idiot?” You looked at him, it was a question but it sounded more like an affirmation, you nodded softly as your eyes went back to Satoru. “Satoru…” Fly crossed his arms and put all his weight on one side as he fixed his eyes on Satoru. “What the hell are you into?”

The deep voice and tone he used made you flinch slightly. It was brusque and powerful, clearly meant to intimidate. But you didn't understand why; they seemed to get along well after all. You had assumed Fly would side with him, since he'd barely knew you.

Satoru rolled his eyes and, like Fly, crossed his arms while shaking his head from side to side. He didn't seem intimidated by Fly's voice.

“Fly…” Satoru spoke. “I've always told you to stay out of my business.”

“Satoru.” Fly seemed to grow taller with every word that came out of his mouth. “Do you want me to do nothing when someone tells me you've kidnapped them?”

Satoru turned away with a laugh. “Fly, leave it, I'm not going to talk about it now.”

“Oh well, you'll have to talk about it.” Fly took a step forward. “You may have been my best friend since we were kids, but I can’t just ignore what you’re doing with Y/n.”

Satoru then laughed loudly, his laughter the only thing that could be heard in the forest of tall trees. “Has she told you who she is? Hasn’t she?” He pointed at you. “She’s the fucking princess of Zerua, the only daughter of the kings.”

Fly’s eyes flicked to you and then back to Satoru. “Satoru…” Fly walked over to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. “How about you rest?”

“I don’t want to.” Satoru knocked Fly’s hand away from his shoulder.

Satoru was agitated, restless, and almost looked like he was going to fall onto the ground. Fly put his hand back on his shoulder and waved his other hand in front of Satoru’s face. Satoru’s body fell forward, and Fly caught him.

Satoru had fallen asleep.

Fly took Satoru in his arms and told you to follow him into the cabin. You followed Fly’s big steps as you entered the cabin.

You noticed how big the furniture was compared to you, but it was normal, considering Fly’s height. He continued walking across the house, which was bigger than you expected.

Fly then entered a room, and left Satoru's body on the bed that was perfectly located in the middle of the room. It had big windows where you could see the trees from the outside, a small table and a closet on the opposite wall to the window.

Satoru’s little mumbles brought you back to the situation and you looked at Fly, hesitant to ask what was happening and why he reacted the way he did.

Almost as if he'd read your mind, Fly turned to you and smiled. “You probably have a lot of questions. How about we sit down and talk?” You looked at Satoru, fast asleep in the bed. “He'll take a while to wake up, so don't worry.” He said before walking past you and leaving the room.

You stayed in the room, listening to Fly's footsteps fade down the hallway. You approached the bed and looked at Satoru, it was then when you noticed the dark circles under his eyes and how his body seemed thinner than it had been when you were in the castle.

To be honest, you mostly ate alone, and you only saw Satoru eating some fruit or small snacks. And when it came to rest… you didn’t remember seeing him sleep at all.

Moving away from him, you left the room and closed the door behind you. You walked down the hallway, while the old wooden floorboards creaked beneath your feet. Not far away, you heard the sound of dishes and running water. Fly must have been cleaning the plate you had used. As you reached the end of the hallway, you turned left and found Fly standing with his back to you.

With your heart still in your throat after discovering Fly and Satoru knew each other, you spoke. ”Satoru, is that boy you mentioned?”

Fly looked at you and stopped what he was doing. “That's right, Satoru's family took me in after I became an orphan.”

You gulped and looked at the floor. “Sorry for asking…” You whispered, just enough for Fly to hear.

“Don't worry.” Fly laughed. “It's been a while since then, so don't worry.”

You nodded, still unsure. “I guess the deal…”

“If you want me to take you back to Zerua, I will.” Fly said firmly, and you looked up.

“Really?!” You said cheerfully.

“Yes, but first I’d like to talk to Satoru.” You could feel the sadness in his voice as he said the last part. “And don’t worry, Satoru may have his magic, but I’m still much stronger in physical combat.”

You looked at him in surprise. “Satoru can do magic?!”

“You didn’t know that?”

You shook your head; you knew nothing about Satoru Gojo. Everything he’d shown you during the time you were together in the castle had been fake. Well, at least his name was real. But the looks, the smiles, the sweet words—it had all been a facade.

“I guess Satoru didn’t want you to know about him.” You smiled.

Why did it hurt?

“Don’t make a big deal out of it.” He stood up and walked over to a closet. “I’ll talk to him, see if I can get him to stop being such a complete idiot.” He picked up two bottles and examined them closely. “Have you ever had Strut wine?”

“Strut, it's a kingdom beyond the red mountains, isn't it?” Fly nodded and placed two glasses on the table.

“It's one of the best wines.” He smiled and handed you the full glass. “Try it.”

You brought the glass to your lips and let the taste of the reddish wine hit your tongue. The flavor was sweet and smooth, definitely not like any wine you'd tasted before.

You swallowed and looked at Fly with a smile. “It's really good.”

“Isn't it?!” he said enthusiastically. “A traveler passing by gave me two bottles. I was eager to share this one with someone. Let's drink, Y/n!” He raised his glass and you did the same.

The clink of the glasses rang in the room, followed by your laughter.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Satoru's head ached, like those times he woke up after drinking nonstop with Sukuna. But this time he hadn't had any.

He sat up in bed and looked around. The room was practically dark, the little light coming through the window was slowly fading. Satoru crawled to the edge and held his head. He hadn't slept enough to recover and be at his full potential, but he had enough to stay on his feet.

After getting up and approaching the door, he stopped with his hand on the handle when he heard laughter coming from outside. He recognized one of those laughs perfectly; after all, he'd known Fly for as long as he could remember, but the other was unfamiliar, even though it seemed familiar.

Satoru left the room and walked down the hallway, heading for the light at the end.

“He's a complete idiot!” Satoru stopped walking when he heard your voice. “I hate him so much, Fly…”

Satoru leaned against the wall, wanting to hear what you had to say about him.

“But the worst part!” You sounded drunk, the words stumbling out of your mouth. “I just really liked him! Liked of course in the past… I don’t anymore!”

The sound of a glass being set down followed your confession, and Fly’s voice followed. “Calm down, Y/n…”

“No, no, Fly, I really don’t understand. He hates me so much that he did all this to take me with him?” Satoru moved, feeling uncomfortable. “Fly, please… tell me why does Satoru do this? I want to understand. I want…” You fell silent, and Satoru grew anxious; he wanted to hear more of what you had to say. “I want to believe that Satoru has a good heart and that he had a reason for everything…”

“Why do you think that?” Fly asked the question Satoru also wanted to ask.

“Because I can see it…” You whispered. “Deep down, I can see he has a good heart.”

Satoru sighed and moved from the wall to enter where you and Fly were standing. Your back was to him, but Fly quickly noticed his presence.

“But if he really wants to take me to Lur.” You continued. “I think I know why… Fly, you have to help me get back home.”

Satoru gulped. He didn’t even know why the king wanted you, but you suspected knew why it might be. Satoru grew curious and wanted to ask, wanted to know what you were thinking, but he knew you wouldn’t answer.

“Fly.” Satoru’s voice finally sounded, startling you and making you look back.

Satoru saw your tired eyes and flushed cheeks; he knew it wasn’t from embarrassment but from what you were drinking. His gaze shifted from you and focused on the nearly empty bottle of wine resting in front of you. A sigh escaped his lips and he grabbed the glass in your hand. Your response was a pout and a whimper, as if you were a little girl who had just had a toy taken away from her.

“Why did you give her this?” Satoru asked.

Fly shrugged. “We wanted to enjoy ourselves and chat a little.”

Satoru rolled his eyes and looked back at you. “Go to bed.”

You narrowed your eyes and turned away, ignoring Satoru’s command.

“Don’t ignore me.” Satoru spoke again, but you continued to turn your back on him. “You’re about to fall asleep, go to bed.”

You shook your head wordlessly, but Satoru, tired of your childish behavior, moved his chair back enough to gain access to your body and held you over his shoulder. You moved on top of him, hitting him and yelling at him to let you go.

“I'll put you down if you go to sleep already.”

“I'm not a kid!”

“Then don't act like one!” Satoru replied.

“I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to be here with you!”

Satoru put you down and looked at you, frowning, and you did too. But your gaze was heavy with accumulated sleep, and you were struggling to stay awake.

“Go to sleep…” Satoru said more calmly.

You blinked and nodded, your body was heavy. Satoru followed closely behind you, watching you stumble against the walls. So much so that on one occasion you tangled your feet and tripped. Luckily, Satoru reacted quickly and grabbed you, putting an arm behind his head and guiding you to the room where he had been sleeping a moment ago.

Satoru watched as he dragged your body into the room, your face reflecting not only tiredness but also the hangover you would have tomorrow. Satoru laughed at the thought.

He dragged you to the bed and dropped you onto it, a small moan forming from your lips as you shifted to find the best position. Satoru turned to leave after checking that you were in a decent position to rest.

“Those months…” Satoru stopped and turned his head to look at you. “Did you really hate them that much?”

“You're drunk, close your eyes and go to sleep.” Satoru simply said.

“I'm not…” A soft laugh escaped Satoru, and he walked over to the bed.

He looked at your red face and half-closed eyes. “You are, and you'll complain about it tomorrow.”

“Answer me.” You said without blinking.

Satoru remained thoughtful, the only sound being your soft breathing as you waited for an answer, one that Satoru knew you'd forget the next morning.

But for some reason, Satoru found it hard to say his response, hard to say that he'd hated it, that he'd despised it.

He let out a long sigh. “You're so…” The words hung in the air. What did he want to say? His hand rose, going to your face, but he stopped mid-air.

“What?” You tried to sit up, but you were barely able to stay awake. “I didn't hear you…”

“Fine…” Satoru clenched his fist and got out of bed. “Go to sleep.” He said, throwing the sheets in your face.

Satoru left the room while scratching the back of his neck; he was exhausted. He walked back to where Fly was still drinking. Unlike humans, Fly had a high tolerance for alcohol and could drink and drink without falling down drunk.

He slumped onto the chair where you had been sitting and sighed heavily. Ever since you had left the castle, Satoru felt like he hadn't stopped for a single second; his instincts had always been on alert.

But standing there next to Fly, he felt a little more relaxed, although Satoru knew perfectly well that his friend wasn't on his side.

“Spit it out already.” Satoru said, straightening his back.

Fly raised an eyebrow and looked at him seriously. “You know what I'm going to tell you, Satoru…” He put his glass aside. “Leave what you're doing.”

“I can’t…” He clenched his fists.

“Satoru, your family…”

“Fly, don’t even think about mentioning them.”

Fly closed his mouth and looked at his friend sadly. “How long are you planning on staying here with Y/n?” Fly said, sipping from his glass again. “Don’t think I’m okay with what you’re doing. Y/n is good and doesn’t deserve to be taken to that place.” Satoru shifted in his chair. “She wants me to take her back, and I will.”

Satoru glared at him. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Yes, I would.” He pointed an accusing finger at him. “And so would you.”

“Her family were the ones who…!”

“Satoru! She was probably a little girl when that happened, and how are you so sure it was the kingdom of Zerua?” Satoru started to respond, but Fly interrupted him. “Don’t give me that ‘the king told me so’or ‘I saw it’ crap when he’s been after you for years and you were in a state of shock when it happened!”

“Are you implying it’s all a lie?” Satoru stood up angrily from his chair.

“I’m just telling you what it is, and what you don’t seem to want to see!” Fly also stood up, and Satoru had to raise his head to look at him. “I was there that day too, and…”

“I’m leaving.” Satoru turned around, not wanting to listen, not wanting to remember.

“Stop running away like always!” He heard Fly say, but every word he said afterward was silenced by the door that stood between them.

Satoru walked down the front steps and approached Nut. The night was cold, but perhaps that helped him calm down and not think. Without much effort, he climbed onto Nut’s back and began to walk.

He didn’t want to remember, didn’t want to think… But the memories were too vivid, so much so that he could feel the heat of the flames.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

That day had started like any other in the Gojo household. Satoru, the youngest of three, had been the last to wake up, but he was the youngest of the house, so he was the favorite of his parents and everyone there, and no wonder; after all, he was adorable, but he was also the user of the six eyes.

The Gojo possessed knowledge of magic, and every so often, a child was born with the power of the six eyes. Satoru had been blessed with that honor, or curse. Depending on who you asked it. The six eyes allowed the user to use the magic in levels that no other could, but it was also dangerous, because if the user pussed themselves too far, they could lose themselves.

That’s what happened to the last user, they pussed themselves to the edge with the magic and ended up losing their minds, to the point where the Gojo clan almost disappeared. But that blessing, like a lot of them called, was also able to grant a lot of desires. And that was something the king of Lur knew.

Throughout their history, the Gojo had remained largely at arm's length from Lur. They were a noble family of the kingdom of Lur; their territory lay on the coast, and to the south lay the no-man's-land, which separated Lur from Zerua. And they helped them when necessary, but beyond that, their relationship remained cold.

40 years before Satoru's birth, the then prince at the time was informed by a fortune teller that the six-eyed king would be born during his reign and that it was best to keep him by his side, as a faithful devotee.

After the birth of the third child of the family, the already crowned king began to strengthen relations with the Gojo family, but the Gojo family was always cautious, monitoring every move while maintaining a low profile. They knew what Satoru could do with the power that was granted to him, but they knew better than anyone what the king wanted to do with that power.

Satoru hurried down the stairs, passing by the dining room where his sister, Tay, and his brother, Nobu, were having breakfast.

“Hey! Stop right there.” Nobu said as he grabbed Satoru by the collar.

“Let me go!” Satoru squirmed in his brother’s grasp.

The age gap between Satoru and his siblings was significant, 12 and 10 years to be exact. Tay was the oldest, with 18, she had long, light brown hair and blue eyes like Satoru’s. They both resembled their mother, who had white hair and blue eyes. You could say Satoru was a carbon copy of his mother. Nobu, on the other hand, was the middle child with 16. He had dark hair, like his father, and his eyes were a perfect blend of his mother’s and father’s.

Satoru's arrival came as a surprise to everyone in the family, but Tay and Nobu became the best brothers to Satoru, especially knowing that the king wanted to use him for their own benefit. The two silbings would never let their little brother have to deal with that.

“Nobu, leave Satoru alone.” Tay said as she put the book she was holding aside. “You want to go to the beach behind the house, right?”

Nobu let Satoru fall and he approached his sister. “Yeah, Fly said he’d wait for me there after her classes. We're going to play in the sand.” Satoru said excitedly.

Nobu looked at Tay with a worried expression upon hearing Fly's name. “Satoru... You have to make sure they don't see you.” Tay said as she grabbed Satoru's hands. “You know…”

“I know, I know, Fly isn't welcome in the kingdom.” Satoru pouted. “But I really don't understand…”

“Just be careful, okay? Mom and Dad are coming back today” Tay said with a smile.

“Really?” Satoru jumped with excitement. “Then I'll come back early to get ready!”

Satoru shot out of the living room as his siblings stared at each other in silence. Nobu looked away and with a long sigh stood up from his chair.

“Are you going to tell me now why Mom and Dad left for the capital two weeks ago?” Nobu crossed his arms, waiting for his older sister to answer.

Tay closed her eyes and sighed. “Two weeks ago, a letter arrived from the king. In it, he said he wanted Satoru to take classes at the royal school.” Tay looked at her brother with a grimace. “You can imagine why…” Like Nobu, Tay got up from the table and walked toward the large window overlooking the beach. In the distance, she saw Satoru still running.

“Those bastards, if I could…” Nobu mutters with his fists clenched.

“Nobu, be careful…” Tay says, turning to look at Nobu with a cold gaze.

Tay was the firstborn, the heir to the Gojo family. Not only was she skilled in academics, but she was also skilled with a sword. But above all, she was cautious and cold toward everyone outside her family. Tay had learned from a young age to be careful with what she said, since walls could have eyes and ears.

“The letter said that if they didn't accept, they would send you to the front.” Tay said once she was next to Nobu.

Nobu was also skilled with a sword, but not as skilled as his sister, Nobu preferred to focus on art, like painting or playing the violin. Having to go to a battlefield was an idea he never wanted to have to consider. That's why, when his sister whispered that to him, something in him trembled, and he looked worriedly at Tay.

“That's why they went in person.” Tay tried to reassure him. “They'll be back today, and everything will be fine, okay?”

Nobu nodded, trusting his sister's words. After all, she knew better than anyone how to handle things, and if she said she would, she would.

Satoru was running, feeling the salt air hit his face while he saw his best friend in the sand waiting for him.

Fly turned his head and watched Satoru approach with a smile. He had known Satoru since he was a baby; the Gojos had taken him in when he was four, shortly after Satoru's birth. They had cared for and protected him during that time. Fly knew that if he had been left to his own devices in the lands of Lur, he wouldn't have survived for long.

But now he had the chance to learn new things and play with Satoru. They were only slightly older than him, but that didn't stop them from playing for hours.

The sand next to Fly shifted as Satoru fell into it, laughing. They both began to laugh and play. Hours passed, and the two children played happily in the sand until a deafening roar was heard.

Satoru and Fly looked at each other in surprise and then looked at the family home to see where the noise was coming from.

Satoru's face turned white as he began to see smoke and then fire coming from the house. Fly, worried, quickly got up.

Was it an accident or something more? The 10-year-old wondered.

Ever since he arrived at the Gojo house, he'd always been told that Satoru was important, more than anyone else in the family, and that if things ever got ugly, he had to protect him. That's why Fly grabbed Satoru. He knew he was impulsive and would run there, but he had to protect him, not only because he'd been asked to, but because Satoru was his only family.

Satoru squirmed in Fly's arms. What his eyes were seeing couldn't be real. He had to go home, to his siblings, his parents, everyone.

“Let me go!” Satoru screamed, and a force threw Fly away from Satoru.

Satoru looked at him, scared. Had it been him? Had he caused his friend to be thrown like that? Satoru looked at his hands and held them tightly against his chest.

“I'm sorry!” He looked at Fly, who was still on the ground, staring at him in disbelief.

“Satoru…”

“I have to go…” He said and turned around. “You have to escape, Fly. It's not safe.”

Fly watched as Satoru began to run across the sandy path that led to his house. Satoru ran as fast as his feet could carry him, his chest aching with every stride, but he couldn't stop. He had to help his family. His eyes began to sting with each step he took toward the house, and when he reached the old wooden deck, he felt the scorching heat of the flames coming from inside. Satoru's chest ached; he felt like he couldn't breathe properly. Where were his siblings? His parents?

“Mom! Dad!” He shouted with all his might. “Tay! Nobu!”

Carefully and trembling, he made his way inside the house. Everything was on fire, but Satoru just wanted to find his family. The wood creaked beneath his steps, threatening to break at any moment.

But Satoru clenched his hands and told himself not to be afraid, that he had to find them. He called their names with every step he took, hoping someone would find him in all the smoke.

But his steps were interrupted when he bumped into something and fell to the ground. Satoru wanted to cry; his body ached, and he still didn't quite know what was happening. His head turned to see what had happened and quickly turned back. It was one of the house maids.

Satoru couldn't help but start crying out loud, calling out to his siblings, hoping someone would appear and get him out of there. He felt tired, dizzy. He just wanted to sit at the table with his parents, his siblings, and Fly. Nothing more.

“Hey, I think I found him!” Satoru heard a voice speak.

Startled, he got up from the ground and looked ahead. It was a burly man, carrying an axe in one hand and covered in small crimson drops on his shirt. Satoru felt a chill run through his body and took a step back.

“Hey, kid, come here, I won't hurt you…”

“No!” Satoru yelled and glared at him. He didn't know the man, but his intuition told him not to go with him.

“Damn kid!” He said, clenching his fists and approaching him. Satoru was too tired to run; he had no strength left, and fear had completely immobilized him.

The man was about to grab him when a figure pushed him to the side, and the man fell to the ground. Unable to process what was happening, Satoru felt himself lifted off the ground and begin to walk away from the scene. It wasn't until he looked down that he saw Nobu's dark hair. Nobu was there, carrying him.

“Nobu!” Satoru cried as he clung to him.

"What's wrong, kid?" Nobu's voice sounded shaky, and his movements were clumsy.

“I'm scared…” He hid his face in his older brother's neck.

"I know."

Nobu stopped moving. They had left the house and were on the path that led to the beach. Satoru still had his face hidden; he didn't want to look; he was afraid.

“Fly…” He heard his brother call, and Satoru looked up. A few feet away from them was Fly, his face serious and his eyes sad. “You have to take care of Satoru, okay?”

Satoru looked at him confused. “What?!”

“I will.” Fly spoke and moved a little closer to the brothers.

“Okay…” Nobu said as he pushed Satoru away from him.

“No, no, no.” Satoru kicked his feet.

“Satoru.” He called. “You have to go with Fly.”

A sob escaped Satoru. “But what about you? And Tay? And Mom and Dad?”

Nobu looked away, a thin line forming on his lips, then looked back at Satoru with a smile and crystal-clear eyes. “Everything will be okay, Satoru.” He gently stroked Fly’s head. “Now go with Fly, okay?”

“But…”

“Satoru, listen to me for once, just this once.”

Satoru threw himself into Nobu’s arms and nodded. “Okay, but… but… then we’ll all have a meal together, and you’ll make that delicious cake!”

Nobu smiled and hugged his brother one last time. “Sure…”

Satoru pulled away from him, and Fly grabbed him. They both watched, as Nobu struggled to his feet and looked at them as he drew his sword.

“Fly, take care of each other, okay?” Fly nodded sadly, knowing that would be the last time he saw Nobu. “Now go.”

Fly grabbed Satoru tightly and began walking, leaving Nobu behind. Nobu began walking firmly, gripping the handle tightly, toward the silhouettes that Fly and Satoru couldn’t make out.

That was the last time Satoru saw his brother. They didn’t sit at the table, nor did they eat Nobu’s cake.

🫣

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[eirist]

Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven

ARE WE?

One-shot #: 40

Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot.

Rating: T

It’s been so long! I know! Seems like it was just yesterday when I was writing some Christmas prompts and now… it’s spring and Easter bunny prompts.

Well enough blabber. I miss my babies. And I also can’t believe this is the fortieth one-shot in this collection and finally hit a thousand kudos! I realized I wrote this many ZoNa stories already?! Yet I still don’t want to stop.

So like always. Enjoy! This is pretty much straight up and predictable. And uh, sappy?  

Summary: Like hell she’d let him think otherwise. Not when she realized she can definitely shoot the moon and hit it.

Chaotic.

It’s always been like this in every tavern their crew ever visited… especially if some of their members inadvertently end up in the same place at the same time after wandering around the island to wind down and grab some food or drink.

Nami was used to it… well, kind of. Right now, she can only thank her lucky stars that even if their crew’s major troublemakers (namely Luffy and Zoro) are under one roof with quite a large number of rowdy folks—who from their looks could also be pirates—trouble wasn’t anywhere near brewing.

Both Luffy and Zoro are preoccupied with eating and drinking. The former was stuffing his mouth voraciously; occasionally spewing out a muffled interjection or two, along with bits and pieces of food, as Usopp told them the harrowing story of their adventure in the forest that afternoon. The latter was silent. Listening and enjoying his liquor, smirking every now and then at some parts of Usopp’s tales he deemed entertaining.

Nami was laughing at something the sniper was griping about when it happened suddenly and so unexpectedly.

One minute everyone was shouting and laughing boisterously over the meal and drinks and Usopp’s story. The next, some woman was leaning down the space between her and the drinking swordsman.

“Hello.”

Their table immediately went silent at the intrusion. Even Luffy’s obnoxious chewing halted as he blinked blankly at the newcomer. Not even their blond cook managed to breathe out a word of compliment for the lady from surprise.

Nami raised an eyebrow as she stared at the back of the woman’s head. What in the world is happening?

“Hi!” The woman greeted again. Probably all smiles and flirty eyes based from the tone Nami was hearing. “I noticed you.” She said without missing a beat, not caring if she had the whole table’s attention.

The other Straw Hats exchanged glances and waited for the green-haired man to respond. Nami shifted slightly from her seat to try and see Zoro’s expression and to watch what he will do afterwards.

There was no surprise when Zoro barely spared a glance at the woman and just grunted, going back to his drinking as if no one was talking to him. 

Sanji was about to cut the conversation off knowing full well how brusque the moss-head can be when it comes to the ladies. He started to stand up. “Mademoi…” he began. 

​But the woman was unfazed and didn’t bother glancing at Sanji’s direction. Instead, her eyes just swept across the expanse of the table briefly, before settling at Nami.

A smirk spread across her lips then she turned her attention back to the still drinking swordsman who was now looking at her… amusedly. 

Much to Nami’s annoyance. 

“You know,” the woman’s voice dropped in a low whisper as she boldly rested a hand on Zoro’s arm. “We can do without the distractions. I know some place private.”

A squeak came from Usopp’s direction, followed by a muffled sound of suppressed snickering which turned into a sound of pain when Sanji elbowed him roughly on the ribs.

Luffy glanced back and forth at Zoro and the woman before meeting Nami’s eyes. Of course their idiot captain wouldn’t know what’s happening. He’d most likely open his mouth to say something dumb like…

“Oi Zoro, she probably needs help.” Luffy said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Go with her.”

There was it.

Nami took a deep breath and pressed a finger to her temple to stave off an incoming temper explosion. Usopp finally broke into laughter at that, unable to control himself as Sanji stared at their captain with wide eyes that clearly says:

What a fucking dumbass. Really! 

Zoro just chuckled at Luffy’s obvious incomprehension of what’s currently happening. His face then broke into a wide grin. 

“Think so captain?”

The rubber man nodded before chomping on the meat he was holding in his hand. “Uh-huh!”

That made Zoro laugh. Loud and belly deep. A throwing his head back kind of laughter that made Nami scowl.  

“Luffy!” Her tone was chastising as she called out her captain. Why was he ordering their swordsman to go with this woman who clearly had a devious intention than what he was gullibly thinking?! 

“Well then,” Zoro drawled, his voice dropping low enough that it was almost like a growl—a sound that never fails to stir something inside Nami whenever she hears it. She wasn’t happy that it was being directed to a stranger right now. She can feel her irritation skyrocketing by the second.  

The swordsman looked directly at the woman between them. Nami caught the slight quirk of his lips, a clear indication that he was really entertained with what’s happening.

“Not interested.” He said nonchalantly.

He then paused. And in an afterthought, he added.

“I’m already with someone.”

Another hush fell on their table… followed by jaws dropping, eyes widening, then the clattering of utensils falling on the floor.

“Eeeeh?!” The gasp came from both Usopp and Sanji. Nami was staring at the green-haired man with mouth agape. And Luffy…

Luffy was not bothered at all. His gaze was just flicking over each of them curiously, chewing on a big chunk of meat he stuffed in his mouth.

“What the HELL do you mean by that you third rate swordsman?!” The blond chef suddenly exploded, drowning Nami’s voice as she asked the very same question, in the very same tone, sans the insult part.

Zoro just shrugged at them and didn’t bother explaining. He chugged the last of his drink, stood up and placed some belis on the table (Nami seethed afterwards when she realized that it wasn’t enough to cover his share, that stupid man!) before exiting the tavern without another word and leaving them all bewildered, including the woman who had brazenly approached him.

------------------------

Nami was fuming.

She was fucking mad as hell. She was absolutely raging.

What did that idiot mean when he said ‘he is already with someone’?!

She stopped walking the moment she reached the port where the Thousand Sunny was docked. The urge to pull at her hair from frustration was so strong that she needed to take a deep breath and another and another to calm herself down.

What the actual fuck did he mean by that?

The wind suddenly picked up, blowing strands of her hair across her face. Nami angrily pushed them away as she stared at the now dark stretch of the ocean before her.

A feeling of dread was settling down at the pit of her stomach. Cold sweat trickled down her back as her head wrapped around the inevitable truth.

It felt like a splash of cold water on her face.

Zoro was in a relationship with someone.

The ocean breeze blew some more, bringing in the salty scent of the sea. Her hands fisted on her sides, fingernails digging into her palms.

Why in the world did she not know of that? She was supposed to know about that right?

Right?

As tight-lipped as he is, this is still something that he should’ve told her.

Because no matter where or how she looks at it…

She was unwittingly sleeping with someone who was already in a relationship.

------------------------

Nami made her way up the galley slowly, each step leaden, like she was actually carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders.

Well she was carrying something heavy alright, something called anger and guilt.

Was Zoro really that jerk enough to put her in this position? Was he asshole enough to do this to someone he was in a commitment with? Wasn’t he all pride and honor and loyalty? Yet here he was doing the very damn opposite of the traits he held in high regard.

Oh he is making her furious!

Right now she seriously wanted to wring his neck, choke him to death then surrender him to the marines to cash out his billion worth bounty. Then she’s gonna spend every last freaking beli from his name for herself!

But not even the thought of money was enough to make her feel better.

Nami knows he didn’t say it just because he wanted to throw the woman off earlier. That wasn’t his style. He was tactless and crude; yet he knows what he wants and what he doesn’t want, easily answering a yes or a no. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well apparently today he decides to say more, share more.

Dumbass.

Zoro doesn’t lie about these things. So Nami knew from the bottom of her money-loving heart that what he said earlier was the truth.

Only, she didn’t know about it.

So who could it possibly be? Who was lucky enough to actually make their uncompromising swordsman commit?

Is it someone from East Blue? A girl he left in his hometown with a promise of coming back to her once he fulfilled his dream of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman?

Or was it someone he met during their two-year separation? Perona, the ghost girl? After all, he spent more time with her than with her—correction, them.

Or maybe he met someone during those two years that he realized he actually wanted to be with.

Or it could also be Momo’s beautiful sister, Hiyori? She was the sole reason why the powerful sword Enma ended up in his possession. Plus they did spent a lot of time with each other while their crew was in Wano. They were together before the raid in Onigashima. Zoro was her protector all throughout their stay there. And the beautiful oiran didn’t even bother hiding how attracted she was to the green-haired man.

Nami was not actually privy to what happened between them there. But she heard bits and pieces from Brook but never actually asked Zoro upfront about it.

Like he would tell her.

The orange-haired woman huffed loudly when she realized in all her musings, she was already standing in front of the galley’s door.

She and Zoro need to talk.

Because if that was the case then their stupid trysts has to end. She refused to be the other woman! Damn it!

It wouldn’t really bother her if they were just in a friends with benefits situation or whatever they have been doing was called. It was fun after all. She enjoyed his company both in and out of the bed and Nami knows that Zoro did too.

Surely it wouldn’t continue happening if that wasn’t the case right? They are very much at odds with each other most of the times that she considers it a miracle that they were able to finally discover a neutral ground.

And honestly, it kind of brought them closer… definitely much closer than before as most of the times they’d share drinks and plans, goals and complaints, secrets and…

… bed.

The only thing Zoro did not share with her, was the fact that he actually was involve with someone else!

Jerk.

Nami rubbed her temples, wincing at her stupidity that brought her to where she was now.

So yeah, they have to talk about this. And if Zoro doesn’t want to… he can say goodbye to his beloved ambition because she will choke the life out of him.

She seethed as she gripped the handle of the galley’s door tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Whether she would admit it or not, it really gnaws at her that he is actually capable of being in a relationship with someone…

…someone who is not her!

She almost banged the door with her fist. She can feel her face heating up and her eyes welling up from a mixture of anger and frustration. But of course she refused to cry. She wouldn’t. She still has her pride after all.

To think she was alright with whatever they currently have right now, whatever he was willing to share with her. Because she understood… that is all he can give. All that he’ll allow himself to give.

And because of that they’ll never have a chance to actually be together.

She’s not going to try and shoot at the moon.

But now she knows that he just doesn’t want that with her.

Nami pushed the galley’s door open so hard it banged against the Sunny’s wall and almost came off its hinges. Then she stiffened.

The object of her current ire and woe was sitting inside the galley about to eat the remaining onigiris Sanji-kun grudgingly prepared earlier for dinner.

Zoro was staring at her with one eyebrow cocked curiously, silently asking what her problem is and why she was breaking down their ship’s door.

Nami met his stare head-on, hackles rising. Every ounce of anger, guilt, frustration and disappoint all rolling in together to form one tight ball of fury about to explode.

This forthcoming confrontation is going to get really ugly. And messy. And they would probably never speak to each other ever again after it.

She was contemplating on being the bigger person and walking away to calm herself first so they can have a decent conversation like two mature adults.

Or if she was just gonna bring everything crashing down on him.

Then Nami squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, pulling out an air of confidence from deep within her as she strode inside, purposely ignoring Zoro who was still looking at her curiously.

She didn’t bother glancing at his direction. She can feel him watching her like a hawk as she headed towards the ladder leading to the upper deck.

The tension was palpable; the silence between them was insufferable. But she knows Zoro was just… waiting…

And just like that Nami snapped.

“You didn’t tell me you are actually with someone?”

She swivelled back towards him, her long hair whipping around her as the words flew out of her mouth, stomping towards Zoro who merely tilted his head at her questioningly.

“Out of all the things that you’ve told me, that should’ve been the first one!” She slammed a hand on the table ignoring the jolt of pain that ran up her arm. “What is wrong with you?!”

She definitely got his attention at her outburst. And probably his scathing temper as well from the way a frown creased his forehead.

Zoro stared at her. Stared at her really hard, his gaze piercing, pinning her on the spot. Nami almost forgot how intimidating he can be when he serious.

He scrutinized her silently, studying her like she was an enemy he needed to obliterate in an instant.

But Nami stood her ground, meeting his stare head-on. Oh he is not in the place to be annoyed with her right now. It was she who is angry at him!

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Nami exploded when he remained silent. “You as—”

“Aren’t we… together?”

Huh?

Nami stuttered to a stop, her tirade immediately dying on her lips. She gawked at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

Together?

THEM?

“E-eh?” Was the only sound that managed to came out of her as her brain short-circuited, her tongue failing her at the same time.

What… 

But…

“What… do you mean?” She asked in feeble tone, a complete three hundred sixty degree turn from the one she was using earlier. Still in shock, her eyes were rapidly blinking as she gazed at him.

There was a fucking ringing sound in her ears and it was as if everything around her was being sucked inside a vortex.

She collapsed down the chair across from him; the fight, the anger, the frustration, all leaving her body instantly.

Together?

They were together?

Was that what Zoro meant when he said he was with someone?

Someone was her?

Her? Not some other women…

It was as if the whole world was spinning and spinning and spinning.

Nami racked her brains for anything in the recent days, weeks, months that might have tipped him off to the fact that they were together.

Because she sure hell was not aware!

Was it because they were sleeping so much together? It had actually become a normal part of their day, of their lives.

But that was just it.

Sure they seemed to be doing a lot of things and errands together lately. He was her constant companion whenever she heads to the town to do supplies and stock shopping or even just plain shopping. Heck, they’d been on more excursions together than she and Robin had these last past weeks.

Last past months. Her brain corrected her.

He was also with her whenever she wants to do an ocular review of the island before drawing it on the map, grudgingly carrying her tools on an overflowing backpack as they hiked up the mountains to see the bird’s eye view of the land and explore the forest trails and coastlines so she can have a more detailed information of the island’s layout.

Afterwards, they usually end the day relaxing on the crow’s nest, waiting for the sun to set while drinking or sometimes they’d settle inside the library, with Nami hunching down at her mapping desk, eager to start her charts while Zoro caught on his forty winks on the bench nearby.

Sometimes they’d end the day at taverns, drinking the night away (while she mooched and nicked belis from unsuspecting gullible men so they could use it to buy some more drinks much to Zoro’s amusement).

Then they’d close the night or dawn after drinking enjoying each other on the bed.

Consistently.

She felt realization sink in at that moment.

From the way they were behaving with each other and the way that their so-called tryst had been going on for some time now… it definitely gives the impression that they are kind of ‘together’.

Because holy hell she just realized that they were just… unofficial. Because they never talked about it. They never properly labelled it.

Why didn’t it occur to her? She was the smart one. She’d been reading everything wrongly. She was assuming everything incorrectly.

She was drawing in shaky breaths that Zoro was now looking at her with a concerned frown.

“Nami you’re looking pale.” He observed as she just blankly stared at him.

Oh gosh. Did her brain just flat lined?

“Oi Nami breathe!”

“I’m good, I’m good!” Nami assured him. She just needs a minute to compose herself. Or two. Or five. Or half an hour to an hour because what he said had just thrown her completely off balance.

“It was just like my life is flashing before my eyes,” she murmured offhandedly.

“Huh?”

She waved her hand slightly to tell him to forget what she said.

“So when you said earlier that you’re with someone…” she began.

Zoro had an unreadable expression on his face; his attention was focused on her.

“Yeah,” he finally answered. “Are we not?”

Are they not?

Nami stared at him. More seriously this time.

If she were to be honest…

She had thought a lot about it… about them… during the quiet hours before the early light of dawn starts to brighten the sky. As Zoro drifted off to sleep beside her, sated and spent and she veered into the threshold of wakefulness and sleep, her mind saving the image of the sleeping swordsman looking peaceful and content. Like sleeping beside her is the most normal thing in the world to do.

She imagined it a lot of times… that instead of a nameless tryst, what if they were really together?

To think, Zoro had already supposed that they are together while she was still wondering if there is a possibility that it would happen in this life or even the next.

She had forgotten how simple he was. How some things are just black and white for him. He is dense when it comes to matters like this.

And yet she was, as it turns out, denser.

Unlike her who was teetering into the unknown if they can or cannot be… Zoro just went right into thinking that they can and that they are… charging full straight ahead without any second thoughts just like how he always does in battles.

Because he knows what he wanted.

And he wanted her.

Nami pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling a big sigh of relief. Every bit of tension she was feeling earlier dissipating in that single breath.

She wouldn’t have it any other way though.

Nami stood up and approached towards him, her heels clicking against the galley’s floorboards. Zoro eyed her warily.

She plopped down his lap, earning a grunt from him as her weight pressed down on Zoro’s unprepared thighs. He shot her an irritated look that Nami only answered with a cheeky grin.

Like hell she’d let him think otherwise. Not when she realized she can definitely shoot the moon and hit it.

But first…

“Zoro what made you think that? Aren’t we just sleeping together for fun?” She teasingly said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“So we are not?” The green-haired man asked; his tone gruff and a bit angry. Nami can definitely hear the disappointment in it.

“You still haven’t asked me!”

They looked at each other, gazes challenging each other.

“Didn’t think I need too.” Zoro said lowly. “You also think that.”

“What?!”

She frowned when a smirk appeared on his lips. A rather cocky one.

Because Zoro knew he was spot on.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

He laughed. “Nami I’m not that oblivious.”

She watched him laugh again, fascinated. She loved hearing him laugh out of amusement because of something she did or said. And pulling it out of him is making her feel like a hundred butterflies are fluttering inside her stomach.

When he stopped, he tucked her hair behind her ear and said earnestly. “But if you say we aren’t, then we aren’t. I’m not gonna force you into something you don’t want to be part of.”

Nami tightened her hold around his neck. He’s dense and sometimes clueless and he probably thinks what they were doing equates to being together instead of just randomly hooking up repeatedly and consistently.

But Zoro is all or nothing. Either your friends or not. Enemies or not.

Together or not.

And he chose to believe that they are together instead of just casually fooling around.

That says a lot. Really.

Good heavens what an idiot.

But he is her idiot. Apparently.

“So?”

“Hmm?”

“So yes?” He asked in a gravelly tone. “To this.”

“To us?”

“To us.”

Nami smiled. A feeling of elation overtaking her. All worries and uncertainty gone with the wind.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He rubbed her back up and down, the gesture soothing as Nami leaned her forehead against his. Zoro’s  lips found hers in the lightest of kiss, sealing the deal.

“I can’t believe you made me think you are with another women,” Nami muttered, rolling her eyes at him.

Zoro snorted. “I don’t know why you jumped into that conclusion. Like I’d want another. You’re handful enough.”

Nami tightened her grip around his neck some more, practically choking him in her arms.

“Oi!”

It was her turn to laugh this time.

She’d still make him pay for all of that stress much, much later though.

“Well,” she slid out of his lap to stand up. “That settles it. I’ll leave you to your meal. Sanji-kun will have a fit if you waste it.”

Zoro nodded.

Nami headed towards the upper deck stairs again; this time feeling completely different. Her were steps light, almost bouncing. Her whole being and heart now untroubled and her smile never leaving her face.

She turned around again to look back at her now official boyfriend.

“What?” Zoro raised an eyebrow at her, noting the Cheshire cat-like smile on her face.

“Oh nothing,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Just thinking of all the things I want to do to you later.” She said softly, teasingly, letting the suggestive thought behind her words linger in the air.

Zoro was now looking at her like he was going to pounce.

“Do not make me pound you here on the dining table.” He threatened.

She laughed at that before letting a smirk grace her lips. “Not the dining table Zoro! Besides, I’m also thinking of all the things I will make you do for me from now on.”

She watched with glee as the expression on his face changed to what can only be called as trepidation when he realized that he deliberately and willingly placed himself in a position just right under her thumb.

“See you later… babe,” she blew him a kiss, before heading up to the Sunny’s bath for a relaxing shower, all the while snickering and humming as he protested the new nickname she bestowed upon him.

[bunji-enthusiast]

Hello! I want to request a Bunji x gender neutral reader, where reader is patching up his wounds and scolding him for being reckless. The reader knows that it would take a lot to actually kill Bunji but it doesn't stop them from worrying about him. Established or pre-established relationship, either of them is fine with me ^-^ Thank you in advance! I love your writing <33

A/N: thank you so much for being my first request, he might be ooc but we ball <3

[contains: toned down scolding, description of wounds, a very broken down Bunji, mild angst and stuff. Sorta established and pre-established? Uh be surprised.]

“You idiot.”

That was the first thing he heard coming from your lips, he gritted his teeth to suppress the onslaught of pain that he was feeling.

You weren’t the usual and gentle person as he had come to know, not having the light touch.

You were angry, and Bunji knew you had every right to be. “Sorry for worryin ya doll.” Bunji let out a sharp inhale as you pressed down on a bullet wound, the aftermath of the hot shelling inflicting hot-flashes of pain into the side of his abdomen.

Simply…

old habits die hard.

Knowing that had made you a little more familiar with the uncomfortable givings of a reality that was far more true then you wished it was.

“You may be the goddamned Wolf,” you hissed through gritted teeth, trying to calm yourself down at the same time as you were patching his wounds with a few dabs of alcohol, the blood seeping into the cotton-ball. “But your still just a man.”

Jabbing a finger at the lapels of his pre-burned jacket, he immediately understood what you wanted him to do.

“Man I may be,” He chuckled warmly, cut off by a scratchy cough from the nicotine of cigarettes he was so hopelessly addicted too. “Uncertainty is still a given.”

Bunji tugged at the ends of his jacket and shrugged it off, causing the jacket to fall right behind his backside. You looked up at him, brows creased with a worry you haven’t felt in a long time for anyone.

“I-..” You paused, not knowing what to say. Usually words came so easily to the wolfish man as it came to you. Partners-in-crime was a lightly worded way in accordance to knowing one another.

Knowing him.

Suddenly you felt a warm hand patting the crown of your head, looking up, it was Bunji giving you the most reassuring smile he had ever done. Least of all toward you in particular.

Yet it was caught off by a hiss leaving his throat, Bunji heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back against the wall. “S’was never your fault.”

“But still.”

His eyes flickered over to you, tired and worn out—killing was something he didn’t mind doing. Yet it was all he had even done since the dawn of the goddamned day he became a part of the Big Four.

The Wolf was always, always alone. You were disproving of this, walking through the darkness and clutching onto the maw of a diseased ridden corpse, a walking dead man. Cracks and stone crumbling away to reveal the man you had fallen in love with.

In the lowest whisper possible, something you never would’ve imagined to be heard; it simply felt like thorns and crawled in and twisted your heart.

“I’m.. not a guy that likes being alone.” You frowned at this for a moment, allowing your hand to crawl over to his you started rubbing soothing circles into his weathered flesh.

“Despite being told as this tall-tale killer where whoever works with you ends up all being dead but you?” You joked, only meaning to lighten up the mood. Bunji scoffed at your words, cracking a grin.

“I’m not a fan of people, but you..” He leaned toward, stopping for a moment to see if he had your permission to be in your space. You nodded, to which he had leaned closer now.

Letting his large hands wrap around your waist, Bunji pulled you in.

“Kuga…shira?” You squeaked out, a little surprised but was more then happy to reciprocate the hug.

“Bunji,” He spoke out in a warm gruff tone, sighing for a moment as he revealed in your touch.

“People I care about the most call me Bunji.”

[possessednest]

@vibrantsouled​ replied to your post: 👀

yepyep-- post apocalyptic girl getting a glow-up. Though her child self is p much staying the same asdfjkasnf  I did my college thesis, (which, was a film since I be animator) during the height of Covid. Never finished it for that very same reason (neither did anyone else finish their thesis sooooooooo). So I want to try and work on it from the ground up in some places, since most design choices then were just stress and lack of sleep. Plus, I’d like to do something more illustrative with them from here on out.  So have thick buff lady with big creature boyfriend who totally isn’t that. Their just really good friends. Yep. Nothing to see here-- 

Bonus old doodle of me trying to come up with animation style ideas. As well as figuring out how tf to draw kids

[actiniumwrites]

𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃

synopsis: heizou offers you a deal to go on an investigation with him, and given that you have feelings for him, you agree. you, unfortunately, didn’t anticipate how long and emotional this investigation was actually going to turn out to be.

wc : 5.6k

characters: heizou x reader

warnings : fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, kinda slow burn ?, mutual pining, heizou is kinda mean, kinda rivals to lovers, idiots in love, written pre-heizou release (possibly ooc), lots of cussing

a/n: at the time this is released, we only have heizou’s splash art and some voice lines or little things from the game about him so i had very limited material to characterize him with. that being said, i apologize if he ends up being ooc from what he’s like in the game when he’s officially released !!

It was a rather normal, and if you were being quite honest, boring day at the Yashiro Commission today. As a detective, you’d think you would be out doing things like solving huge cases with long chases and impossible puzzles to crack, but those were the kinds of things you dreamed of as you read those fictional mystery books as a child. 

You remembered them fondly as you sat in the courtyard of the Kamisato Estate, the books you read as a child. Your brain was filled with various tales of detectives of all kinds and the adventures they went on soon made their way into your dreams at night. And those dreams at night eventually became your goals, to become a real detective- 

“Uh, y/n-” 

“Oh- Thoma!” you jumped at the sight of the Kamisato’s housekeeper. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you, I swear!” He exclaimed. 

“No, it’s okay, Thoma, really!” You waved your hands around, “I was just lost in thought.” 

“Uh anyway, I just came to check on you, you normally would’ve been out working right now so I found it a bit odd to find you sitting out here so late in the day,” he explained. 

“Today’s just been really slow, there hasn’t been much to investigate around here recently. I’m not really sure if that’s a good or bad thing now that I think about it,” you reached up to scratch behind your neck. 

But just as your nerves were beginning to calm, a guard came rushing in through the front gates, “Detective y/n, a letter has just been dropped off for you, the deliverer expressed that the sender requests you open it immediately upon receival.” 

“A letter? Strange…” You mumbled as you fiddled with the firm paper of the envelope. 

“This seems kind of urgent, I’ll see you later, y/n!” Thoma said as he entered back into the Estate’s interior. 

“Bye, Thoma!” You called out as you waved goodbye. 

Finally opening the letter, you unfolded the faded and wrinkled piece of paper inside. The handwriting seemed awfully messy and nearly impossible to read, you felt lucky to have been so experienced in handwriting analysis. 

Reading over it, the letter was anonymous, but you had a good idea of who it had been. The mysterious sender had requested you meet them down in Ritou at sunset, but since you had nothing to do, you set off early. 

—

When you arrived down in Ritou about an hour later, you weren’t shocked to see the red haired detective from the Tenryou Commission. Yet, you couldn’t lie, your heart felt as though it skipped a beat when you saw the way the light was hitting the side of his face, perfectly illuminating all his features. 

“I thought I told you to come at sunset,” Heizou spoke, not turning to face you. 

“I know, but work’s been slow today so I just came early,” You explained.

“Aw, couldn’t wait to see me?” 

“Shut up, Heizou, you’re the one that asked me to come here,” You snapped back.

It was true though, you did come here for him. Normally you would’ve been suspicious of a letter like the one he sent you. Who wouldn’t? Faded and old looking paper with a strange request to meet someone anonymous, but you knew exactly who it was from. Even though you were from rival commissions, you could never ignore him. 

“I’ll get right to the point, normally I wouldn’t ask this of someone of lesser status and value than me, but I need your help,” he spoke with a serious tone. 

You could tell he looked almost nervous. It was obvious he didn’t want to ask you for help and it was seriously damaging his pride, it almost made you want to laugh. 

“Help with what exactly?” You questioned. 

“I thought you were supposed to be smart?” He mocked, “We’re both detectives, are we not? Shouldn’t it be obvious I need your help with a case?” 

“Guess I’m just shocked you’d even ask me for help.” 

“Here’s the thing, this case is a bit different,” he began, “Here in Ritou, there’s been strange sightings of people going in and out of the docks, foreigners to be specific.” 

“What’s so strange about these foreigners? The ban was lifted a while ago so what’s the issue here?” 

“If you would actually shut up and listen, you wouldn’t have to ask such stupid questions,” he rolled his eyes at you, “As I was saying, these foreigners appear to be from Sumeru, or at least coming from Sumeru. That’s where you come in.” 

“Let me guess, you want me to help you because I studied at the academia in Sumeru and you need my knowledge?” 

“Bingo,” he said as he threw finger guns at you, “I’ll make you a deal.” 

“What kind of deal?” 

“I don’t know, we can work that out after we solve the case, “ he said as he leaned against the wall behind him, “If you help me solve the case, then I’ll do something for you. But get in my way or mess it up, then you get nothing.” 

“Fine, I’ll help you.” 

You didn’t need the deal to accept his offer. Truthfully, you’d already made up your mind to help him the moment he had asked. The thing is, you’ve had a major crush on Heizou for a long time. Even though he belonged to the Tenryou Commission, you’d always admired him. 

Sure, a lot of people in Inazuma greatly disliked him, but you? You were the outlier. 

He’d intrigued you since the day you met him. You weren’t sure if it was his odd clothes for a detective or something simpler like his red hair or bright green eyes. Perhaps it was his cocky personality that a lot of people hated, but you didn’t care. Annoying as he could be, you liked him as he was. 

Every time you were around him, your heart would beat faster, similar to the way it was beating now. You would feel a little more flustered and stutter over your words. You were shocked that for being such a great detective, he’d never noticed it. 

—

It wouldn’t be until three days later that you would be meeting back up with Heizou again. He said that he needed to get a bit more information before finally debriefing you and getting you caught up. He also called you slow but you chose to ignore that part. 

He’d told you all the details of the case: criminals appearing to have been from Sumeru, suspected to be a more elite kind of treasure hoarders, have somehow been illegally bypassing the Outlanders Affairs Agency at the docks of Ritou. The problem is, they’re using tactics from Sumeru and are suspected to have been smuggling in illegal technology. 

He explained that he needed your expertise from the academia in order to understand how they’re getting in and what kinds of tech they may be bringing in. 

“Okay, I think I understand the case now, “ You told him as you flipped through various pages of notes and documents from the case, “Hey, how long has this been going on again?” 

“About a month I think?” 

“How has this passed by for a month and no one has noticed?” you questioned. 

“I don’t know, probably because ninety-nine percent of the population of Inazuma are dumb people.” 

“Archons, Heizou. Not everyone is gonna be as smart as we are.” 

He laughed, “Don’t flatter yourself, you know you’re not as smart as I am.” 

You didn’t return his laugh, instead choosing to stare down at the file you were holding to tune out his insults, “C’mon, let’s just get to working on this case.” 

“You’re no fun, but fine, we’ll stake out at 1:00 am tonight down at the docks. Be late and I’ll make sure you lose your job.” 

“Heizou!” 

— 

The next day you were exhausted, though there hadn’t been much going on with work recently, you felt all the exhaustion from previous cases beginning to settle in. And staying up all night watching for the suspects was not making things any better for you. 

“Morning, sunshine,” a voice from behind you called out. 

“Why are you up so early, Heizou?” You groaned as you took another sip of your coffee before resting your head back down on the courtyard table.

“Well, I was gonna go to sleep but then I figured we should probably get back on this case so I can stop having to hang around you.” 

“Can’t you ever say something remotely nice?” 

He put his hands up in surrender before joining you at your table, “I’m just being honest.” 

He set his files down and began spreading them out in front of the two of you while you quickly finished your coffee and called one of the staff members over to take the cup back inside for you. 

“Do you have the photos from your kamera?” he asked, nodding toward your bag. 

“Uh yeah, let me go grab them really quickly, they’re inside,” You said standing up from the table. 

Turning around to walk back into the Estate, you nearly tripped out of embarrassment. You cursed Heizou in your head for showing up so early. 

As you got inside, you walked around the corner before grabbing the photos you had placed in an envelope and bin for safe keeping. You counted them to make sure they were all there before gently sliding them back in their envelope and heading toward the door. You didn’t, of course, forget to check how you looked in the mirror before heading back out. 

“Archons, how long does it take you to grab some photos?” Heizou yelled out to you. 

“Sorry,” You mumbled, though in reality, you had only been gone for around 3 minutes. Heizou was just impatient. 

Spreading out the photos, you organized them by people, objects, and anything else that may be suspicious. 

“Hey, does this symbol look familiar to you at all?” Heizou questioned while holding up the photo directly in your face. Rolling your eyes at his brashness, you pushed it back a bit before inspecting it for yourself

The photo was a picture of a crate and it appeared to have a strange symbol on its lid. 

“Yeah, actually it does,” You squinted your eyes trying to get a better look at the rather low quality photograph, “We studied a lot of symbols at the academia, but that’s not a Sumeru symbol, it’s from Fontaine.” 

“Fontaine, huh?” He glanced at the photo before cocking his head to look at you like a curious child, “You think these guys are from Fontaine?” 

“Looking at the other photos, I think it’s likely,” you said before meeting his bright green eyes, “The symbol on the crate belongs to a manufacturing company based in Fontaine. While that may not seem important, that company actually doesn’t source its products to other nations.” 

“How do you know it then?” He interrogated as he rested his head on one of his hands while leaning closer to your face and squinting his eyes. 

“We got lucky that someone had donated them to the academia. They lived in Fontaine before moving to Sumeru, they actually taught us a lot about Fontaine’s inventions and high-tech manufacturing equipment. The stuff in these photos actually looks very similar to that equipment.” 

“Interesting,” He mumbled while sliding back against his chair and away from you, “So they’re criminals from Fontaine, not Sumeru. That makes a lot more sense.” 

“Still, these guys are obviously using Sumeru academia tactics in order to bypass the Outlanders Affairs Agency and smuggle their stuff in,” you commented, “there’s also the fact that we still don’t know what they’re bringing in.” 

“Alright, then it’s settled,” Heizou announced as he jumped up from his chair and messily grabbed his things, carelessly shoving them into his bag, “We’ll go back to the docks early tomorrow morning before the sun rises and see if we can get a hold of one of their crates.” 

— 

You could barely see where you were walking as you and Heizou carefully approached the docks. It was around 4 am and not a single person was in sight. You lightly shivered as the wind picked up a bit and you noted how empty it seemed to be. 

“Heizou,” you whispered out, “It’s really empty around here, do you think they moved everything?” 

“No, there’s no way.” 

You didn’t get much time to actually have a look around before Heizou was pulling you down by the arm. You nearly crashed into his chest as you both sat with your backs against one of the wooden stalls that were stationed near the front of the docks and closer to Ritou’s entrance. 

You stared at him with wide eyes trying to telepathically ask what was wrong. He held up a single finger to his lips in response, signaling for you to be quiet. Then, he pointed to his left with a smirk. 

You craned your head up as an attempt to see what was going on. You squinted your eyes trying to get a better look at what appeared to be two men talking in a hushed tone, flashlights searching through the parked boats. 

As you observed them, you noticed their expensive looking outfits, ones that seemed far more modern than any other nation. ‘Definitely Fontaine,’ you thought to yourself. 

“Should we leave?” you whispered to Heizou as you turned back to him. 

“Not yet, we need to see what they’re doing,” he said eagerly. 

The two of you carefully shuffled your position so you both could remain hidden but also giving you the viewpoint to observe the men. They appeared to be picking up the crates and moving them onto some sort of metal cart. A third man appeared every so often to take the filled cart with the crates and then bring it back empty. It was repetitive, but they were clearly taking things to another location. 

With that you had your next clue to solving this case, now you just needed to find out where the criminals were taking the goods. 

– 

The following few days were a lot less exciting, the two of you had just spent all your time reviewing photos, files, documents, interviews with witnesses, etc. The only change of pace you got was that you were now working at an outdoor table at the Tenryou Commission headquarters instead of an outdoor table at the Yashiro Commission headquarters. 

It felt like things were becoming slow. You could tell Heizou was becoming antsy too, more so than he normally was. You just needed a breakthrough. 

“Why is it so goddamn hard to find this stupid ass warehouse?” Heizou spat out as he stood abruptly from the table, slamming his hands down. 

“Careful!” you grabbed the files from under his hands, “You can’t damage our evidence just because you’re upset over the case.” 

“I can do what I want, thanks.”

“Not really, this is our evidence and quite literally the only things we have for this case. How are we supposed to solve it if you ruin all of it?” 

Heizou crossed his arms, “I don’t know, you can figure that out for yourself.”

“What, are you leaving me to work on this case all by myself now?” you joked. 

“Maybe I will.” 

“You wouldn’t.” 

“I would.” 

“Heizou.” 

“Y/n.” 

A third voice joined in, “Break it up you two, this is rather unprofessional of the two of you.” 

The two of you jumped back, you hadn’t realized how close you had gotten to his face. Too focused on not breaking the staring contest. So focused, you also missed the faint shade of red that now painted Heizou’s face. 

“Ah, Kujou Sara.” 

“Heizou.” the general greeted back, “How’s the case coming along? I’d hope the two of you are making good progress seeing how long this is taking.” 

“It’s been a little slow recently, things were really coming together in the start but now we’re just stuck,” you answered. 

“How so?” 

“Ah, ah, ah!” Heizou cut you off, “This is our case, Madame Kujou. You can know the details when we’re done with it.” 

“That is no way to speak to someone of higher power than you, Mr. Shikanoin,” Sara snapped back, “I’ll have you know that I can have your position as ‘detective’ revoked shall I see fit.” 

“Whatever, you guys need me and you know it,” he shot back rather arrogantly. 

You held a hand to your face to hide the small laugh that nearly left your lips, you had found it quite amusing to see him put in his place. Though you had quickly regained your composure once she glanced at you.

“I apologize, Madame Kujou,” you spoke hesitantly, still wary around anyone from the Tenryou Commission, “We really do need to get back to this case though.” 

“Alright, I’ll be taking my leave then,” she turned around but stopped in her tracks, not bothering to turn around to face you, “Please keep Heizou in check, the last thing this commission needs is him screwing up even more that he already has.” 

“I’ll try my best,” you called out to her. 

As she left, the two of you got back to viewing the evidence. And though only an hour and a half had passed, it felt like it had been hours. Your head was practically slipping out of your hands as your eyelids began to feel heavier and heavier by the second while Heizou looked like he was about to pass out on the table. 

“Can’t we just call it a night?” Heizou yawned as he complained. 

As tired as you felt, you ignored him as you looked closer at the photo in front of you, “What the hell?” 

“What?” Heizou leaned back up in his chair suddenly feeling more awake, arms now crossed and leaning forward as he got up to stand over your sitting form. 

You felt a little flustered at the action but kept your composure nevertheless, “Um- I think,” 

“Why the hell are you stuttering?” He cut you off. 

“I’m not,” you couldn’t even look him in the eye, “just- look at this photo.” 

You handed him the photo and he examined it carefully before tossing it back on to the table, “I don’t see anything special about it.” 

“Don’t you recognize that symbol right there?” you pointed. 

“Yeah, it’s the Kanjou Commission’s symbol, what’s so special about that?” 

“Heizou, this whole thing has been happening down in Ritou where the Kanjou Commission is stationed. If their symbol is on all of the crates and the strange building in this photo, then do you know what that means?” You said as you smiled at him, excited to finally have made a breakthrough. 

“That the warehouse they’re storing everything at belongs to the Kanjou Commission. How else would everything be getting past unnoticed? Dammit it’s been right in front of us the whole time!,” He answered quickly, a cocky smile now plastered on his face, “We’ve gotta get down there.” 

“Wait, Heizou,” you grabbed his hand as he got up, “Shouldn’t we come up with a plan or something?” 

He looked down at your hand holding onto his for a brief moment before dropping it, however he felt about your hand holding onto his, he wasn’t showing it. 

“We don’t have time to sit around and wait, we’ve been stuck on this for days, who knows how far they’ve already gotten?” He stated, “Besides, we can come up with a plan once we get there!” 

“Archons, I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this,” you muttered as you picked everything up off the table. 

Heizou had already begun leaving though and before you knew it, you were off to Ritou to visit that very building that belonged to the Kanjou Commission. 

– 

When you arrived back in Ritou about an hour later, you and Heizou had begun looking for the warehouse. Ritou was small, but wherever this warehouse was, it was hidden pretty damn well.

“We’ve nearly searched the whole island, where the hell is this damn warehouse?” Heizou groaned rather dramatically. 

“Well we know it has to be here somewhere because it belongs to the Kanjou Commission’s headquarters which is stationed here.” 

“Yeah, no shit,” he snapped back. 

The exhaustion from 2 hours ago was beginning to set in again. Not being able to find the warehouse was bringing down the both of your guys’ adrenaline rushes from finally making progress in the case. Now you both were just crashing. 

“What if we just come back tomorrow when it’s actually bright outside? Then we can come back later tomorrow night and check it out,” you suggested. 

He was quick to shut you down though, “No, we’re not doing that. You heard that stupid general, we have to speed this case up.” 

“Didn’t think you were one to follow rules.” 

“I’m not, you should know that by now,” he was getting really snarky with you now, “I’m not trying to lose my job, if you want to go back, go ahead. I can do this without you.” 

“So you really invited me to help you with this case and now you’re throwing me out?” you retorted back, “and when did you start caring about the Tenryou Commission so much anyway?”

“Woah woah woah, I did not ‘invite’ you to this case, I was practically forced to because I don’t know shit about Sumeru!” 

“So what, you were just using me then? I thought we had a deal, Heizou?” 

“If that’s how you see it, then yeah, I guess I was just using you, not like you provided much help anyway,” his voice was rising louder and louder with each word.

“I haven’t provided you any help?!” You exclaimed, now frustrated with him, “Which one of us knew about the equipment? Which one of us knows what systems they’re using? And which one of us realized where this goddamn warehouse is actually located and who it belongs to?” 

“All of that is practically useless! Don’t you understand, y/n? We haven’t found shit, all you’ve given me was information I probably could’ve found in books or from people on the island. And we haven’t even found this stupid ass warehouse, you just figured out the Kanjou Commission is involved because of their logo!” 

You were silent as he kept yelling. 

“Do you even realize how stupid you are? I mean really, I don’t think you even deserved to study at the academia in Sumeru.” 

Just as you thought he would stop, he just kept going, “You don’t deserve your position as a detective, you know that? Archons, I can’t even believe I even asked for your help. What a waste of time.” 

Not being able to look him in the eye, all you could do was stare down at the floor at your feet. His words felt like a dagger piercing through your heart and it hurt, so much so that you began to feel hot tears pooling in your eyes. 

You wanted to say something, anything. You wanted to tell him he was wrong, that you were helpful and that you did deserve to be a detective, but no words would leave your mouth. 

His face was filled with shock as you finally tilted your head back up to look at him, but he quickly recovered his uncaring facade and spoke one last thing to you that night:

“Just go home.” 

— 

The next morning you didn’t go into work. You were too paranoid you might run into Heizou or Kujou Sara or anyone else that may question you about the case. All you could think of were the words Heizou screamed at you last night and you suddenly felt insecure again. 

Every time they would ring out in your head you felt like crying again. Small tears would start to form in your eyes and your stomach would begin to ache all over again, just like the way it did last night. 

You hated that you felt like this, but even more, you hated that you still held feelings for him. And because of that, you blamed yourself. 

Was he really right about all the things he said? 

That very question just kept echoing over and over again in your head until you began to believe everything he had told you. 

It was ironic, you thought as you sat on the small steps outside your home, the clouds outside were a dark and gloomy gray. It was like you were out of one of those silly books you read as a kid. Like one of those scenes where the main character cries on their porch because someone upset them or their day went everything but right. Your inner child couldn’t help but laugh at the irony that it was now you sitting on the porch instead of some fictional character. 

And you hadn’t realized it, but the past two weeks you had spent working on this case with Heizou had provided you with a lot of adrenaline, it sparked something inside you. 

It was different from your other cases. As much as he liked to trash on you, you never really got upset about it. Working with him was exhilarating and you were happy to even be spending time around him. It never felt awkward, and as weird as your dynamic may have been, it felt natural being around him. 

But that was just one more thing to add to the list of things that now made you upset. You thought that you may never see him again, that the two of you will probably part ways and avoid each other for a long time. 

All that thought did was just bring more tears to your eyes as you once again rested your head on your knees outside below the now darkening sky, brainstorming all the ways you could fix what had happened between you two. 

– 

Walking down to the Tenryou Commission, you nearly bumped into a lot of people. 

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” 

“Sorry!” You apologized. 

You looked rather disheveled and you knew Ayato would probably get on you for it later once he heard about all the citizens who complained about an ‘emotional looking detective running through the streets of Inazuma City’. 

You stopped at the gates once you arrived and suddenly you felt more nervous than you ever had in your life. So nervous you even contemplated going home and just wrapping back up in your blankets and crying again. 

“Detective Y/n?” 

Shit! you thought as you turned around slowly. 

“Detective, are you alright?” 

“Madame Kujou! I uh- I’m fine,” you practically stuttered out, “Is um- is Heizou here?” 

Sara tilted her head to the side in confusion as she looked at you strangely, “Mr. Shikanoin is here, yes. I thought you should know that, didn’t you guys finish the case together early this morning?” 

Huh? Finished the case? 

“Uh-I was just double checking something! We have to wrap up some reports, you know how it is!” you quickly made up an excuse, “Is it okay if I go in and talk to him?” 

“Of course, just let the guards know I said to let you in,” she said as she walked off, still confused at the sight of you but stoic nevertheless. 

You walked into the building practically shaking from all your built up nerves. 

“Y/n?” A voice you knew all too well called out.

Your stomach dropped and you felt as though you had lost any confidence you had as his voice rang out, but nevertheless, you turned to your left to meet his eyes. 

“Heizou, I um…” you started, “I’m really sorry.” 

You looked down at the floor, cursing yourself as your hands started shaking. 

Though you were barely holding your composure, you continued while still staring down at your shoes, “You were right and I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to get in your way and I know that I’m not that smart! And you were right that I probably didn’t deserve to study at the academia and I don’t even deserve to call myself a detec-” 

You were cut off by two arms suddenly embracing you with such force that nearly caused you to fall over. 

“Don’t say those things about yourself, you shouldn’t be the one apologizing,” Heizou spoke gently, contrasting his normal arrogant tone, his voice muffled by his head being tucked into your neck. He hated how dejected you looked right now, but hated himself even more because he knew he was the one to blame for all of this.

You stayed quiet, but sniffled softly, arms now wrapped around him too as he continued, “You never got in my way and I don’t regret asking you to help me with this case. And if we’re going to be honest here, I never actually needed your help with this case. I asked you out of selfish personal reasons.” 

“What?” You breathed out with a whisper. 

“Why do you think I kept coming back early to help with the case?” 

“I thought you said you wanted to get it over with so you wouldn’t have to see me again?” you said as you leaned back to look him in the eyes while still holding onto him. 

He felt a pang in his chest as he looked at your now tear stained face, “I was lying, I kept showing up early because I wanted to spend more time on the case with you.” 

Now it was his turn to look down at the floor as he released you from his arms, it took a lot out of him to bite his own pride and admit all of this to you.

“Why did you say all those things to me then?” 

“I never wanted to hurt you, I swear. But I also didn’t want you to figure out that I liked you,” he admitted. 

“And what about the things you said last night?” 

“I was exhausted, we both were. I was also just frustrated that we couldn’t find anything and that Sara was getting on our asses about the case. Believe me when I say that I didn’t mean any of that.” 

“One more question, Sara said that we completed the case, what did she mean by that?” 

“After I told you to leave last night, I finished the case. I found the warehouse and I was able to successfully obtain one of the crates and bring it back before sunrise. Turns out it belonged to one of the Kanjou Commission guards just like you suspected. He was providing all the information to the criminals.” 

He paused before continuing, “It also turns out that that dumbass guard had previously studied books on the academia and even spent some time in Sumeru. It’s how he helped them implement their Sumeru and Fontaine tactics to bypass all the enforcers down at the docks. They made the arrest and raided the warehouse this morning.” 

“What are we gonna do now?” You asked him. Truthfully, you didn’t want it to be over just yet and you were hoping he felt the same. 

“Well we had a deal right?” he gently smiled at you. 

“Huh? I thought you called that off since you told me I didn’t help you?” 

“I also told you not to take anything I said seriously, so the deal is still on and you get whatever you want.” 

You stared at him nervously, it was a lot of pressure. You could ask for anything, and your silence was only making him nervous too. 

“I know we’re from different Commissions and all, but I like to think that we worked pretty well together,” You spoke hesitantly, scared he would decline what you were about to suggest, “That being said, Heizou, do you think we could be partners more often?” 

He was shocked, but you kept going, “If I’m being honest, I don’t want this to be over. I’ve had a lot of fun this past week and I don’t want to see it end. But only if that’s okay with you, of course!” 

“I don’t want it to be over either, so yeah, I’ll be your partner,” he spoke but not before meeting your eyes with that mischievous smile of his, “On one condition, though!” 

“Heizou!” 

He shushed you quickly before walking closer to you and leaning in to meet your eyes, “You have to go on a date with me.” 

You smiled softly as you gazed into his eyes, “Of course I’ll go on a date with you. Didn’t you know I have feelings for you?” 

His smile dropped, “You have feelings for me?!” 

“You didn’t know! I thought you were some great detective?” 

The two of you stared at each other for a brief moment before bursting out laughing together, nearly falling to the floor as you clutched your stomachs at how stupid you both were, especially for having the reputation of the two best detectives in all of Inazuma. 

Slowing down his laughter, he returned your soft smile from earlier with one of his own, “All jokes aside, are you free on Friday?” 

“I do believe I am,” you spoke with a jokingly proper accent, “So Mr. Shikanoin, where do you plan to take me?” 

“You can find that out on Friday,” he rolled his eyes yet a smile remained plastered on his face. 

“Then I guess I’ll see you Friday.” 

Needless to say, neither of you could stop smiling after that, eager for Friday to come sooner.

[darxk]

crimson ties that bind

warning: ooc characters

___________________________________________________________

soulmates… what a obscure concept. there were firm beliefs that it had come to be when zeus split humans in half as a punishment for their pride, and that they were destined to walk the Earth searching for their other half.

it is also said that aphrodite felt pity towards the humans and from the luscious strands of her own hair, she tied pairs together, making it easier for the two halves by their pinkies to be whole in their own way.

you’ve known this since as long as you could remember. stories and fairy tales were told of the ‘red string of fate’ all throughout your years.

the idea of having someone somewhat specifically designed for your existence intrigued and excited you, someone that would allow you to feel complete and whole. you weren’t in any rush to discover your soulmate, whether they’d be platonic or romantic but you would never have been able to guess you would have found him in a desolate shell of tokyo city.

you had tried to get along with your soulmate, chishiya which you found his name to be, you approached him with sincere intentions and purely platonic- you couldn’t understand the toxic emphasis on romantic soulmates- but as soon as he saw your pinky, he tensed up and walked off, leaving you confused and alone by the poolside of the “utopia”.

after a few more days of attempting civil conversations, he finally began warming up to your presence- although you had two gut feelings. a) it was kuina that persuaded him to act civil or b) he was attempting to emotionally manipulate you. how you had formed the latter option? simple, you weren’t dumb and you had studied his actions just as you noticed him doing the same and this was an unknown world where the fight for survival was very much real. he was cold and calm yet nonchalant to those around him, you and kuina were no exceptions.

despite all of this, your heart began to warm up to the blonde, you found yourself chuckling more often at his grumpy antics and hanging out with him and kuina more often. you didn’t miss how he kept his hands in his pocket, was it because he felt burdened by the crimson sting? you’d heard of some cases like this where some would even snap their own string, severing the bond between the soulmates. to be honest, you had half expected chishiya to have snapped his own string weeks ago, the naive part of your brain felt thankful he didn’t and held hope that you wouldn’t, the same part had developed… an infatuation with the man which you couldn’t confront with yourself.

that hope shattered after a game. your mind was in a blur and you could only vaguely recall it to be an eight of spades game, something like an extreme parkour course from skyscraper to building - spades or physical activities was not your strong suit, you were average but you made up for it with logical reason- it just so happened that you were in the same game with chishiya and that at the very end of the course, you’re footing slipped and you were moments away from plummeting to your death.

the only thing that had stopped you had been chishiya’s hands latching onto your wrist in the nick of time and signalling over the other players for assistance, you were not sure whether you were delirious from the adrenaline rush but you could have sworn that you caught a glimpse of distress and concern in his eyes. “thank you,” you had said to everyone as the survivors left the arena. “that was a close one,” you had walked beside chishiya and into the car where he stayed silent.

your nerves started to grow as he got out of the car and left without a word. days flew by of watching the pathetic idiots dance- or at least what they claimed their stupid body movements to be- around like headless chickens and committing any acts of public indecency that they could possibly do- wow… okay, so maybe chishiya’s ghosting must have affected you more than you’d like to admit.

you inwardly groaned in frustration as you saw a white hooded figure standing out the corner of your eye. you immediately could tell it was him, even without the red line connecting the two of you. it always frustrated you how he would just watch you and never had the guts to actually talk to you.

it was that night after talking with kuina, you realised that you both deserved better. he deserves someone more patient that will wait for him and you deserve someone to give you the attention and love that you desire. so without second thought, you tugged the string with both hands, effectively snapping it which caused it’s slight glow to die out and the string to wither away and for only a red ring on the pinky, no strings attached.

you planned to ignore chishiya for the rest of eternity if possible but unfortunately, you both had an executive meeting which was compulsory to attend. something about the cards and a black envelope. you were focused on hatter since you refused to look chishiya in the eye and it appeared that he felt that same. “woah, it’s a bit chilly here,” niragi snickered.

“mind your own damn business,” you snapped, rolling your eyes as he threateningly pointed his gun at you.

hatter got up from his seat, “that’s enough. niragi, lay off of (name) and chishiya’s lovers quarrel.”

chishiya’s head snapped up and you both exclaimed words of denial at the same time. “you’re all dismissed! out! you two, figure out your shit. nobody wants to sit through these meetings with the tension between the two of you.” hatter exited the room, followed by all the executives, leaving you alone with chishiya. you took a glance at his pinky. typical, you weren’t surprised to find the band stringless. he seemed to be fixated on your own pinky and you gave him a tired smile as he looked up.

“didn’t expect that, did you?” you held your pinky finger up proudly and a smug smile etched onto his face.

“you finally used that brain of yours.”

you ignore his remark as you turn to the door and walk out, leaving behind the man whom you had prepared to give your heart to.

~

you were foolish to believe that his stalking tendency would be done after severing the bond but you had made it obvious you were ignoring him whenever you and kuina would bump into him in the hallway, steering the both of you in his opposite direction.

unfortunately, your dumb, naive heart still longed for him but you drowned it out by your rational thoughts. it was obvious that chishiya despised the concept of soulmates, being eternally bound to another. you didn’t know why but he made it obvious everytime kuina or somebody would bring it up. he saw soulmates as a lost cause, a flaw and the weak link, something to be used against someone.

surprisingly, the band on your pinky finger had actually grown a small, long string and was continuing to grow. it was very thin, by fair thinner than your hair strands and you were still astounded by the fact you had even been able to see it during a pool swim. a warm feeling sprouted in your chest as you began to wonder about your new soulmate.

one day, you woke up to find that your string had returned to the original size. you sauntered up to the rooftop to find kuina and tell her all about it when you stopped in your tracks. you realised that the string had actually been leading up to the rooftops and you excitedly hurried up the flights of stairs and opened the door.

as you stood at the doorway, you followed the string with your eyes to a figure standing near the edge. a figure in a hoodie. a white hoodie to be exact. your fears were confirmed when said figure turned around. there he was, with his dyed blonde hair, weirdly perfected makeup and the alluring beauty spot under his half lidded eyes.

you silently cursed your luck as you approached the man. “what are the chances,” he marvelled, looking you up and down with that condescending gaze.

“mm, just my luck,” you sighed, fiddling with the sleeves of your blouse, “oh quite looking at me like that.”

“like what?”

“you know, like you want to push me off the roof right now.”

he paused before letting out a deep chuckle, making your heart clench and twist. how unfair, you had found your soulmate whom you had dreamed of meeting for years yet he’s the most distant man you’ve known and when you grew hope for a new soulmate, you’re given the same one.

“if you find this so funny, i suppose we should part ways again,” you go to snap the string but his hands stop yours by grabbing your wrist. his fingers were cold, you noted, your resisted the urge to grab his hands to warm them up.

“Don’t,” he muttered. you blink at him, confused before trying to rip away your hand, you couldn’t bear the fact that he was so close yet so far. his grip tightened on you and you yelped in surprise.

“the fuck do you want!?” you huffed in annoyance.

“you,” he said simply, his hand retreating from your wrist, “i want to try this soulmates thing again.”

you look at him incredulously, “you expect me to believe that? that it’s genuine and not some sick scheme i need to be the scapegoat for?”

“are you dumb?” he hissed, you glared at him for what felt like the millionth time, he quickly added, “you make me feel… happy and nice? i don’t like it, you worried me during eight of spades and i didn’t like that feeling. you’re a liability but i can’t seem to stand not interacting or being with you.”

you’re shell shocked and still before you let out a laugh. he frowned, growing more irritated and perplexed by your actions, “what’s so funny?”

through your chuckles and laughs you managed to say, “sorry, sorry. if that was a confession, it was a pretty shit one.”

now it was chishiya’s turn to glare but you smiled while walking over to him, wrapping in a hug you said, “but knowing you, it’s very sweet.”

he pulled back from the embrace but before you could ask what was wrong, you felt a soft pair of lips crash onto yours. you’re shellshocked but you smile into the kiss as you copied the action.

you heard a whistle in the background. breaking, away you turned to see kuina walking forward with, slowly clapping, “thank god you two got that over and done with. i was surprised you weren’t already dating when i could feel the tension.”

out of the corner of your eye, you caught chishiya rolling his eyes and you giggled. “Tatta’s rounding up the executives, something about intruders sneaking in being caught,” kuina explained.

your eyebrow quirked at that and nodded, turning to walk down the stairs. when you realised chishiya wasn’t making a move to follow you, you sighed, “you’re skipping this meeting, aren’t you?”

he smirked, “yep.” you press a quick kiss on his cheek and he chuckled, “see you later, darling.”

you’ll pretend he didn’t notice the faint blush forming around the tips of your ears and cheeks as you walked away with kuina.

[itsclydebitches]

No one should of trusted RWBY+ with fucking anything, let alone saving the world (LIKE REN SAID THEY SHOULDN’T BE MAKING DECISIONS ON) and now look. Two cities destroy, millions dead or homeless, and Salem half-way to completing her goal that might get everyone killed. Yeah, Ozpin totally should apologize for not trusting these idiots.

At the very least the story might have pulled some plot strings to "prove" that Ozpin should have trusted them from the start. Like with Oscar succeeding with Hazel. We know that success required him to go OOC and that in a story with more consistent characterization/realistic reactions from its cast, Oscar would have definitely failed... but that doesn't erase the fact that he didn't. No matter how badly executed, the story essentially argues, "Oscar was right to trust Hazel because look, Hazel helped him" and we might have gotten something similar with the group: "Ozpin was wrong to mistrust them because look, when they learned the truth everything got better."

But, uh... things got so much worse.

The group drove Ozpin away rather than proving that they were actually different from everyone else who learned about Salem. Then they nearly lost the Relic at the farm. They tested the fragile trust between the kingdoms by stealing from Atlas and in doing so got a Leviathan to attack a city. Then they lied to Ironwood - the exact thing Ozpin supposedly shouldn't have done to them. They actively divided their allies - you know, the thing Salem wants. Not splitting the group to complete two separate tasks, Ruby - by turning on the Ace Ops and Ironwood. Ruby told everyone about Salem, which realistically should have caused massive grimm attacks across the entire world. They lost the Relic because they never bothered to put it in the vault. They also ended up losing the last question because of that. They lost the Staff because they stupidly took it out of the vault. Their Maiden was killed, again. An entire populace is displaced and currently getting picked off by grimm. They knowingly, willingly, and deliberately destroyed an entire kingdom when they didn't have to.

Oh, and then five out of ten “died.” If there was any part of Ozpin that held back out of worry for their safety, that’s been proven correct too. They weren’t strong enough, or smart enough to survive this war. Within just a few months they were (we’re meant to believe) killed. 

Putting aside, for the moment, that a story needs conflict and failure on the part of its protagonists, everything that has happened since Volume 6, to my mind, proves Ozpin right. Not just in terms of "Wow, when I tell people about Salem they hurt and betray me" but also "Wow, somehow I don't think this group of teenagers with one year of training is ready to be the linchpin of this war." Because that's what they wanted by demanding every secret: to be at the very center of the fight, to be making the tough calls, to play at being the world's hero. The problem is, their idea of a hero is still someone who fixes everything with an epic punch to the face. When that fails... they crumble. Cue Ruby sitting around in the mansion half the volume. Should Ozpin have trusted his inner circle? It's debatable. Lionheart ran to Salem the second he learned of her immortality, Qrow sunk deeper into his alcoholism and gave up the fight, but Ironwood took it in a stride and kept pushing forward. Theodore we don't know yet. So it's pretty up in the air whether that would have assisted Ozpin, or just made things worse that much faster, but then that's not really the question here. Should he have told the group? Should he have deliberately made these teens generals in this war? The plot says, "Absolutely not." Because when they made themselves the generals through force - stealing the question, lying to Ironwood, defeating the Ace Ops, hijacking Amity - things have consistently gotten worse. Nothing we've seen on screen the last three volumes says, "See? Look how much better things are once Ozpin was forced to trust love and put his faith in this team."

And what slays me is that the show so desperately tries to backtrack on this with the fight between Ren and Yang:

Ren: Are you kidding?! We don’t know the first thing about being Huntsmen. We clearly weren’t ready.

Yang: Were we not ready when we saved Haven? When we took down a Leviathan? We got the Lamp to Atlas.

Ren: And then we lost it! And after that, when we had to make real decisions, we got every single one wrong.

Yang: I’m not going to pretend like we did everything perfectly, but if we’d done nothing, things would be even worse than they are now.

Ren: How could they possibly be worse? We are stuck out here while Salem has the Lamp and Oscar. We’ve got no plan, no army.

Yang: We’ve got the Maiden!

Yang is forced to omit so much information to make the team look good here and Ren is only allowed to point out one (1) thing she omits: "And then we lost it!" Yang fails to mention that they didn't save Haven, Blake's army did. So yeah, one member of the team, but it's not like they got in there and kicked epic ass. Weiss nearly died. The Relic was only saved because Raven decided she didn't want it anymore. The group barely held their own and then won due to good timing and the bad guys taking each other out/changing their minds. They were going to defeat two Maidens? Lucky them one Maiden took the other out and then decided to hand them the Relic.

Took down a leviathan? Funny how she fails to mention that they drew the leviathan there in the first place and that Cordovin's drill is what did it in. Even Ruby's eyes is a single person ability that only works on grimm, not at all useful for the human-based problems Ren is talking about. They got the Lamp to Atlas? Yeah, and then you lost it. Getting it to Atlas is literally meaningless when the villains still managed to steal it, that victory a direct result of the group's stupid decisions. It's like going, "I successfully got water out of the boat" and failing to mention that the boat still sank. Oh, and also you could have plugged the hole at any point and just... didn't. The boat sinking is absolutely on your hands. When pressed just the tinniest bit, all Yang can come up with is that they've still got the Maiden, someone who will be attacked, hacked, and murdered by the end of the volume. Everything else? "but if we’d done nothing, things would be even worse than they are now."

That's a very big claim from someone ignoring all her failures. And of course, soon after this Ren dares to use Jaune's lack of training as an example of how unprepared they are (valid), he gets mad, the duo later tells him to open up more (he literally just did), and then the story drops his anger for a semblance upgrade instead. RWBY banks on us just believing Yang, carried along by everyone - all the way through to Nora - going on about how Very Very Wrong Ren Is - because if you actually consider these themes of trust and ask whether Ozpin was wrong to hold back... there's not a lot to challenge that decision. The go-to argument would be, "The heroes made things better once they knew the truth, ergo, they should have known the truth from the start" but the group has continually made things worse. It's not even a temporary problem anymore. No matter that they'll inevitably win, Atlas is gone. They've done irreversible harm to the world and yeah, they're trying to do good, they're trying, but this isn't the story of some teenagers forced into a conflict and doing what they can with the hand they've been dealt. This is the story of some teenagers who forced their way in, so when things go wrong... that's on them, no matter their intentions. They are now responsible, just as much as Ozpin was responsible. Except the story refuses to admit that, continually positioning Ruby as an innocent child in need of reassurance, not the licensed huntress who stole control from Ozpin, lied her way into a new inner circle, attacked former allies to avoid the consequences of her own actions, and presented herself as the world's savior... only to then cry because she never had a plan to begin with. We've got a fantastic story here about how Ruby wasn't ready, none of her friends were, and their naïve belief that they were the heroes of this tale - running after the White Fang, then Cinder, then Salem herself - has done incredible harm within a delicate, multi-generation war. We might have started telling that story if the group had actually sat with Ren's accusations and admitted their mistakes. Instead, we're left with this ridiculous claim that no matter how bad things get, it's always better than the alternative of the group not being involved at all. Because they're the heroes, remember. Their goodness they provide is, supposedly, inherent. The only problem is we no longer have a plot that supports this claim.

[omgrachwrites]

Falling Stars (Sequel to Tell A Tale of You and Me) - Prologue

Pairing: Dean Thomas x Reader

Summary: In the midst of a brewing war you fall for one of your classmates, a boy that you used to know. When you have the chance to fight against evil, you fight for what you believe in.

Chapter Summary: Chapter Summary: In your third year you finally meet your father and discover he’s as wonderful as your mother has always told you. Unfortunately, it leads you to have an awkward conversation with your friend and crush.

Warnings: fluff, angst, dialogue heavy, kind of ooc Draco

Words: 2703

Disclaimer: This gif doesn’t belong to me!

A/N: Here we are, the prologue of the sequel! This part is set in the third year but the rest of the fic will be set in fifth year! Also, I’ll be writing chapter summaries for this fic! You guys will get to see Dean’s POV in the next part! This is still a reader insert fic, the reader just has a name! Hope you guys enjoy and please let me know what you think and let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist! I love you all!

next part   masterlist   prequel

Prologue - Stormy Eyes and Dimpled Smiles

As a little girl your mother had always told you stories about your father, she told you what a great man he was and how much she loved him. But, as you got older she had told you that he’d been betrayed by someone who he called a friend and he’d been carted off to Azkaban. But he was innocent, your mum had always insisted upon that and she wouldn’t lie to you.

When you were accepted into Hogwarts your mum had begged for you to use her maiden name as your surname, she didn’t want you to get bullied when people discovered who your dad was. However, changing your name would have been an insult to your dad and nobody had really bullied you for it.

Your heart was beating wildly as adrenaline coursed through your veins as you grabbed your broomstick, pulled on the dragon hide jacket that used to belong to your dad and you left your dormitory.

“Cassie,” your second cousin sighed as you wandered into the common room with a determined look on your face, “please don’t do this, don’t go to him.”

You groaned at his words, “Draco, you told me that my father is in the top cell of The Dark Tower. Do you really expect me not to go to him? You don’t understand, you have your father here, I know he might not be the best dad but you still have him. I’m not asking for your permission.”

Draco sighed and finally relented, “fine, just be careful Cass.”

You laughed as you quirked an eyebrow, “you’re not going soft on me, are you Malfoy?” you teased and he scoffed as he looked away with the hint of a smirk on his face. You smiled as you leaned forwards and hugged him, “see you later,” before he could reply you were out of the common room.

You knew what was going to happen to your dad if you didn’t get to him in time, he would have to endure getting his soul sucked out by the Dementors and you couldn’t let that happen. You hardly remembered your dad but you loved him fiercely. You had never run so fast in your life, thankfully you didn’t meet anyone as you sprinted through the castle corridors. You didn’t see anyone until you passed the portrait hole outside of the Gryffindor common room and you saw one of your friends – and your secret crush – Dean standing outside.

“Cass, where are you going?” he called after you and you stupidly flushed at the sound of his voice.

“I’ll explain later Dean,” you shouted over your shoulder, and you carried on running like the wind.

Once you got out onto the grounds you mounted your broom and soared up through the velvet night sky on the way to meet your dad, you felt sick with nerves. When you got to the top of the tower you saw your dad through the bars, he was sitting there with his head in his hands. You were too scared to speak out loud so instead you cleared your throat.

Sirius’ head shot up and he stared at you with wild haunted eyes, he was still as handsome as the man you had seen in photographs but he was so thin and gaunt. His hair was matted and the gleam in his eyes had died. He truly looked like a man on the run.

“Who are you?” he mumbled, frowning at you from behind the bars.

“I uh, well,” you stammered, feeling tears well up in your eyes.

Sirius regarded you closely before he gasped and you saw his dull grey eyes fill up with tears, it made his eyes sparkle in the moonlight, “Cassie, is that you? You look beautiful, just like your mother did at your age,” he smiled.

You nodded as the tears trickled down your cheeks and you gave him a watery smile, “it’s me dad,” you sniffled.

The gap between the bars was big enough that he could get his hand through and he cupped your cheek, wiping away your tears, “let’s get you out of here,” you felt around for your wand and that was when you realised that you had left it on your bed, “I don’t have it,” you sighed, you felt like such an idiot, you had forgotten your wand when your dad’s life was in jeopardy, “I’m so sorry,” you sniffled.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay sweetheart. I’m just so happy to see you,” he grinned, “how is your mother?”

“She’s fine, she misses you so much,” it was hard to see that your mum wasn’t truly happy. How could she be when the love of her life was behind bars?

A crease formed in the middle of his forehead and it looked like he was seconds away from bursting into tears, “Merlin, I miss her more and more as each day goes by.”

You bit your lip and decided to address the pressing issue, “I know that you’re innocent, you were betrayed by one of your best friends. Mum always used to tell me and Uncle Remus that you were innocent, I’m sure whether Uncle Remus believed it.”

“Uncle Remus?” Sirius raised an eyebrow and burst out laughing. His laugh was a warm, rich sound, it made you feel protected and you almost remembered it from your childhood, “I’m sure Remus loves that,” there was a sparkling gleam to his warm eyes and you smiled sheepishly.

“Mum didn’t want him to be alone.”

Sirius nodded, “I heard that Morgana, Remus’ wife died. They were together in school, she was nice.”

“She was killed by a Death Eater a few years after Harry’s parents died.”

“Your mum has always been like that Cass, she’s always been exceedingly kind, she’s never wanted anyone to feel alone,” you could see that he was still plainly in love with your mum, after twelve years. But you knew that she was still in love with him too. You wished that one day you would meet somebody who desperately loved you.

Your dad cleared his throat as he looked at you with a cheeky grin, “so, Cass, tell me about yourself. I can’t believe I don’t really know anything about my daughter, I take it you play Quidditch? You look very much at ease up there.”

You giggled as you nodded, Quidditch was your pride and joy, you loved playing it so much, “yes I do, and I’m a Chaser. Though, I’m the only girl on my team,” you fiddled with the ends of your hair, suddenly feeling nervous, “I’m in Slytherin, I know you would rather have me be sorted into Gryffindor but I wasn’t.”

“Woah, sweetheart,” he chuckled, holding up his hands, “I don’t care what house you’re sorted into; the only thing I care about is if you’re happy. Besides, your Uncle Regulus was a Slytherin and even though we had our differences, he was my brother and I loved him. One of the best teachers that I’d ever had was a Slytherin too, Horace Slughorn, it’s not a weakness to be a Slytherin. I love you Cass.”

You grinned as you felt your tears well up and you felt an overwhelming amount of love for your dad. He was just as you had always hoped, “I love you too dad.”

Sirius smiled as he raised an eyebrow and nodded at your jacket, “is that my jacket?” he laughed.

“Yeah,” you smiled bashfully, “mum gave it to me at the start of the school term and I’ve hardly taken it off.”

“It was my first dragon hide jacket, my first of many. It suits you Cass.”

You spent about ten minutes talking to your dad about your experience at Hogwarts – you even told him about Dean – before you were interrupted by Harry Potter. Harry and Hermione were on Buckbeak’s back and you were momentarily speechless as Harry smiled at you kindly, “hi Cass.”

“Hey Harry,” you smiled; you knew that Harry was here to rescue Sirius because your dad was his godfather.

You moved out of the way as Hermione pointed her wand at the bars, “Bombarda!” she shouted and the bars exploded right off the cell and Sirius hopped onto Buckbeak. You felt a twinge of jealousy at the fact that Hermione had been the one to release your dad. Sirius must have seen the look on your face because he chuckled and kissed your forehead.

When the four of you reached the courtyard, you stood back to let Harry have his time with your dad, Sirius was his godfather after all. You sighed as you breathed in the warm night air as you leaned against the stone wall. It was hard not to feel jealous but your dad didn’t just belong to you.

“Are you alright Cass?” Hermione asked you sweetly, her hair was bushier than usual due to her flying through the sky on the Hippogriff’s back, “tonight must have been a weird one for you.”

“I just found him, after twelve years. I hardly remember anything about him before he was sent off to Azkaban, I don’t want to lose him again,” you sniffed, blinking the tears out of your eyes.

“Oh, Cass,” Hermione sighed and pulled you into a warm hug, you hadn’t always been friendly with Hermione but right now, you needed a hug. You hugged her back tightly as you rested your head against her shoulder.

“I have to go now Cass,” your dad’s voice caused you to pull away from Hermione and you ran into his open arms.

You felt a great pain in your heart as Sirius wrapped his arms around you, “when will I see you again? I have to know,” you asked thickly as you fought back tears.

“Soon, I promise, just keep an eye on the horizon,” he chuckled as he pulled away and cupped your cheeks, “I love you Cass,” he kissed your forehead.

“I love you too dad,” you sniffled.

As Sirius mounted Buckbeak, he turned to Hermione, “you really are the brightest witch of your age.”

Hermione smiled in response and then he was gone, flying deeper and deeper into the night sky. You hoped that he would go and see your mum; you lived for the day when you could see him again.

----------------------------

On the last day of the school term you said goodbye to Remus and wandered down to the carriages that would take you into Hogsmeade Station. You sighed, leaning your head against the side of the carriage as it travelled towards the village. You wondered where your dad was now and you hoped that he was safe. Now that he was free from Azkaban you supposed that you could write to him over the summer. You were sure that he would appreciate it.

“So, what’s your father like?” Draco prompted as you got out of the carriage and walked onto the platform.

You smiled, you couldn’t believe that after twelve years you had seen him again, he was just as your mum had always said, “he’s wonderful.”

Draco nodded at you as you boarded the train, “you are sitting with us right?” he asked, gesturing to your Slytherin classmates, “lately, we’ve been a little concerned about where your loyalty lies,” he smirked and you scowled as someone in the crowd laughed.

“No, there’s something I need to do, I’ll just see you next term,” you hissed as you grimaced at him before you pushed past him and began to search the compartments.

You had to find Dean; now that your dad had escaped Hogwarts – and certain death – you guessed that your family would be pulled into drama. Dean didn’t deserve to be a part of it, he didn’t need the trouble. Your heart twisted as you rehearsed what you were going to say to him. Finally, you found the compartment he was sharing with Seamus and Neville, you really didn’t want to do this but you really had no other choice.

Taking a deep breath you pulled open the glass door and poked your head in, “Dean, can I talk to you for a second?”

Dean looked up and gave you a dimpled smile, the edges of his deep brown eyes crinkling as he did so. Merlin, you were going to miss that beautiful smile, especially with those dimples, “Hi Cass, of course,” he got up and followed you into the corridor.

You bit your lip nervously as you fiddled with the ends of your hair, “okay, I’m just going to come out and say it, Sirius Black is my dad.”

Dean raised an eyebrow as he let out a surprised laugh, “Cass, I know.”

“You do?” you frowned up at him, “why didn’t you say anything?”

Dean shrugged casually, “I dunno, I thought it might be something that you were insecure about, I didn’t want to pry so I figured that if you wanted to talk about it, you would have told me already. It must have been hard for you,” he offered you another one of those brilliant smiles.

You felt the warmth gather in your chest, you wished that you could have told him that your dad was innocent but he would never believe you. He was so sweet and kind, there was no way that you could tell him that you didn’t want to be friends with him anymore, “Merlin, that is so nice,” you smiled and Dean let out a nervous little chuckle, “with my dad being on the run and everything, things will be crazy with my family and I don’t think that I’ll be able to hang out this summer,” you weren’t exactly lying.

“Hey,” Dean smiled and pulled you into a warm hug, resting his chin on the top of your head, “that’s completely fine, just let me know if you ever want an escape from it.”

You bit your lip to keep the goofy grin at bay, “I will,” you pulled back slightly to smile up at him, “thanks Dean.”

The sound of the door being wrenched open caused you to jump away from each other and Seamus poked his head out with a mischievous smile on his face, “wanna come and sit with us Cass?” he smirked over at Dean.

You and Dean exchanged amused glances and you shrugged, “sure, I’d love to,” you beamed and sat opposite Neville.

Neville gave you a wary look and you couldn’t exactly blame him, most of your Slytherin classmates had been horrible to him and you couldn’t understand why. There was no need for people to be mean to him, it was uncalled for, “hi Neville, what book have you got there?”

“Hi Cass,” he stuttered, “um, it’s a book about Herbology,” he gestured to the heavy tome on his lap.

You nodded with a grin, “I’ve heard that you’re really good at it.”

Neville shrugged as he flushed bright red, “I guess, I’m okay at it,” he smiled. You caught Dean’s eye and he gave you a warm smile.

“So Cass,” Seamus started, “will you still be playing Quidditch next year?”

You laughed and nodded, there was no way that you would ever stop playing Quidditch, “of course, maybe Slytherin will have more of a chance next year because Oliver won’t be the Keeper.”

Seamus burst out laughing as he shook his head, “no chance.”

“I agree,” Dean smirked, “Gryffindor will be even more unstoppable next year because I’m trying out for the team.”

You felt a competitive thrill course through your body and you narrowed your eyes at your crush, “I’ll kick your arse into next week, Thomas.”

Neville and Seamus watched your interaction intently with amused looks on their faces, “promises, promises,” Dean smirked, causing you to laugh.

The rest of the journey consisted of the four of you laughing and joking – even Neville warmed up to you – as you played Exploding Snap. You could hardly keep your eyes off of Dean and you were looking forward to the next term. You had no idea that there would be no Quidditch matches and you had no idea that the wizarding world was about to be plunged into darkness.

---------------------------- 

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[disasterlibrarian]

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I added 1,242 tags in 2021

#fairy tales and hokum (ooc) - 449 posts

#take that bembridge scholars! (memes) - 355 posts

#have i kissed you today? (rick x evy) - 99 posts

#i've dreamt about this since i was a little girl (aesthetic) - 85 posts

#i am a librarian (about) - 54 posts

#ericbrandonrp - 43 posts

#jabberswildworld - 43 posts

#anonymous - 41 posts

#omniishambles - 38 posts

#i believe in being prepared (rick) - 35 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#/ although i guess it isn't any worse than him having an army of chaotic evil jackal people that can be controlled with a magic bracelet

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

His Name Is Jonathan, Not “Evy’s Comic Relief Brother” — the long-awaited sequel to Rick O’Connell Is Not a Himbo

20 notes • Posted 2021-07-12 18:24:21 GMT

#4

Evy at some point probably: "Not all men” you’re right, Rick would never do this to me

20 notes • Posted 2021-06-21 18:39:20 GMT

#3

@ricochetoconnell | cont.

“No.” Evy sniffled and shook her head vigorously as Rick embraced her. “Please, don’t apologize.” She knew it wasn’t easy for him to open up about his emotions, particularly those surrounding her death, and the last thing she wanted to do was make him think he had to suffer in silence for fear of upsetting her.

“And don’t blame yourself for not protecting me,” she continued, pulling back slightly and raising a hand to cup his cheek. “You didn’t know what was going to happen. Neither of us did. You were focused on Alex, as you should have been.”

24 notes • Posted 2021-08-09 13:25:20 GMT

#2

(How about an angst-inducing anon?)

Hello there, old mum.

If you're reading this, it's either because I'm dead and you're sorting my things or because you're nosy and going through my things. Either way I'll kindly ask you not to read the papers locked in the secret drawer you probably already opened. I know you. (And I'm supposed to be the mildly criminal element of this family - you've never seen a door you didn't want to open, for God's sake.)

I love you. I don't say it. Blame our national obsession for stiff upper lips. But you're the most important thing in my life and one third of the reason this world is worth saving every time some nutters decide to end it. I know I've never been that good at taking care of you, and anyway Rick gladly took on the job all these years ago, but please take good care of yourself, all right? I've seen what a world without you looks like. It's fu I still it was

Anyway.

Say hi to Rick, Alex, and the grandkids for me. Sorry I couldn't it's not Well. C'est la vie, I'm told the French say. Don't be sad. We had a long run, and a good one.

Your brother who loves you, even if he's rubbish at reminding you,

Jonathan

(PS: I'm not kidding about these papers. I will know.)

Evy chuckled as she read the first lines -- the first time she’d permitted herself to laugh since her brother’s passing. “'Secret’ drawer?” she said with an affectionate roll of her eyes. “The key fell out of your trousers, idiot.” She couldn’t imagine why Jonathan would have hidden the key in such an obvious place unless he secretly wanted her to read the papers -- and, in any case, the warning was too late.

As she read on, she felt a lump forming in her throat. No, he hadn’t often told her he loved her, but she’d always known -- even when he was at his lowest point, after the war and the deaths of their parents, even despite his seeming inability to take anything else seriously. He wasn’t exactly wrong in saying he hadn’t been good at taking care of her -- in those few years before Rick joined the family, when it was just the two of them, Jonathan had barely been capable of taking care of himself -- but he’d always supported her, encouraged her dreams even as trauma and alcohol ruined his own. She ached to tell him how much his support and unwavering faith meant to her.

She stopped cold at the words he’d crossed out, one trembling hand coming up to cover her mouth. Dear God...Evy had seen how her death at Ahm Shere haunted her husband and son, comforted them both through the odd nightmare even years after the fact. But by all appearances, her brother hadn’t changed from his usual jolly, joking self, though she knew he was surely suffering, too. Now, for the first time, she saw the depth of Jonathan’s suffering in the words he’d been unable to write.

Tears clouded her vision as she finished reading, though she couldn’t hold back a smile at how casual, straightforward, and distinctly Jonathan the final lines were. “I love you, too, big brother,” she said, folding up the letter and setting it aside. There was no doubt in her mind that he heard the words, nor that he was watching her as she began to peruse the contents of his so-called “secret” drawer -- a travel diary beginning with Hamunaptra and detailing all of the Carnahan-O’Connell family’s adventures of the past three decades.

29 notes • Posted 2021-11-21 03:46:38 GMT

#1

(plotted starter for @medjaichieftain)

Your son has made a grave mistake, Evelyn O’Connell, the god of death had told her with a sneer on his great black muzzle. The Book of the Dead is not meant to be used for such purposes. He has disturbed the balance of life and death and must be punished.

No! I’ll come back with you. I’ll do anything, just...spare my son, please.

You will surrender your ka to me willingly?

Yes.

That would have been the end of Evy’s brief second life had Thoth, the ibis-headed scribe of the underworld, not interceded on her behalf. Evy had been killed before her time, Thoth had argued, and Alex was only a child; moreover, the fact that the O’Connells had twice saved mankind from destruction surely deserved consideration. The god of wisdom had then proposed a way for Evy to both save her son and keep her life, to which Anubis had reluctantly agreed.

There is a book that belongs to me. It was stolen from me long ago by Prince Naneferkaptah, son of Merenptah, and now lies in his tomb in Memphis. Retrieve it for me.

I will.

Needless to say, Rick had not been pleased to hear about this vision of hers. The events of Ahm Shere had left her husband shaken and exhausted, and Evy knew he watched her die again every night in his dreams. For once, his adventurer’s heart yearned for nothing more than peace and quiet, which she was happy to grant him. But then she’d informed him that she was heading back to Egypt to search for yet another ancient magic book buried in a tomb as a favor to the gods, and the two of them had argued — perhaps the most heated argument in their ten years of marriage.

I can’t do this again, Evy, Rick had said, and Evy had responded by urging him to stay home with Alex. Rick had then looked at her as if she’d completely lost her mind and insisted, No. If you have to go, I’m going with you. Evy had tried to pacify her husband by saying she would ask the Medjai for protection on her journey, but Rick had reminded her that he was a Medjai and perfectly capable of protecting both her and their son. Eventually, it had devolved into a shouting match, with Evy accusing Rick of being willing to selfishly risk their son’s safety and Rick accusing Evy of not trusting him to protect his family.

Evy had been saved by the most unlikely person imaginable: Rick’s estranged father, who wrote from Chicago that he was terminally ill and had only months to live. Jack O’Connell wished to see his son before he died. Rick had no intention of going until Evy suggested that he take Alex with him, as this would likely be his only opportunity to meet his grandfather. Don’t do it for your father or yourself, she urged him. Do it for Alex. Finally, Rick agreed.

And so Evy found herself riding across the Sahara Desert on camelback in search of Ardeth Bay. There was no telling what might be guarding the Book of Thoth, so she intended to fulfill the promise she’d made to Rick and seek the protection of the Medjai.

39 notes • Posted 2021-03-20 21:48:31 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[collude]

any muses out there with a predator animal motif wanna have a predator/prey dynamic with my sheep girlboy ester haha jk ... unless 🤨

[walkingshcdow-a]

𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐈'𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 !

1. alias / name: Deanna

2. birthday: December 5th

3. zodiac sign: Sagittarius 

4. height: 5′ 6

hobbies: reading, writing, D&D, singing, cuddling my dog 

6. favorite color: teal or purple

7. favorite book: You dare ask me that? In my own house??

8. last song: “A Million Dreams” covered by Pink. 

9. last film / show: The new Helluva Boss episode!

10. recent reads: I just got “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein” from the school library. My colleague and I each picked a book to read from the new set as a “prize” for setting up the school library on a Saturday. I told her I was excited to hate -read it and she looked at me like I was crazy. I also have a couple books in my trunk I need to read. 

11. inspiration: For... what? Writing? No clue. I’m just brimming with ideas, I guess, lmao. 

12. story behind url: It’s from Macbeth! (Which I’m teaching this year!). “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” It’s the speech Macbeth gives after Lady Macbeth dies about the futility of life without her. Depressing shit, I know. But I love Macbeth. And, if you notice, my OOC tags are all also from this quote. 

13. fun fact about me: My living room is Universal Movie Monster themed. 

tagged by: my fellow Freddie Fox Enthusiast @kcrclrezni

tagging: @raichoose / @tinfoiltemplar / @professor-of-predators / @noblehcart / @genrcsavvy / @ladiesofhell / @personnages

[keeroo92]

I read your post about the dmc boys helping a s/o with body image issues and I loved it 😭 can I ask for more comfort?? How would the guys help a partner who has PTSD from an assault that happened years ago? If you're uncomfortable writing that's totally fine! 💞

Soooo this got slightly out of control. I originally planned on making this a headcanon thing, but... well...

The first section is an intro to the Reader’s viewpoint, read that first and then pick your favorite guy. (Sidenote - Apologies in advance for Vergil going OOC)

Hope you enjoy!

 ____________

The past weighed heavy on your soul. Over the years, you learned how to ignore it and keep moving forward, but some scars never fully heal. It wasn’t a memory you spent much time dwelling on if you could help it.

You told yourself it didn’t matter, that you were over it. That person couldn’t hurt you ever again, you wouldn’t let them. You were stronger than what they did to you and never again would you surrender to them, even mentally.

Yet when your beloved partner accidentally reminded you of it, the walls shattered. The ache in your chest felt as if it was only yesterday, the tears as powerful as ever. Even after all those years.

---V---

He froze as your breathing hitched, but not in pleasure. Something was wrong, had he hurt you?

“What’s wrong, love?”

Tattooed hands left the bare flesh of your stomach to stroke your cheek. He longed to ease the pained expression on your familiar face, but you flinched back from his touch. Confusion and concern warred in his mind as he shifted away, granting you the space you so clearly needed.

The glow of the television danced across your body as the film played on, heedless and uncaring. A soft rustle accompanied your every move upon the upholstery. Only seconds before, sighs and moans filled the now silent air.

Something was terribly wrong.

“Please talk to me. Did I hurt you?” the poet begged.

You shook your head, arms and legs pulled tight to your core. “I- it’s not you.”

His heart twisted at the broken tone of your sweet voice. Restrained sniffles and shaking shoulders only heightened the sensation. He knew you far too well for you to hide your pain.

Slick fluid still coated his rapidly wilting length, the flush on his skin only barely faded. Echoes of his arousal lingered in his belly, but easing the ache was his last priority. All he cared about was restoring your smile.

“What can I do?”

At first, he thought you weren’t going to answer. By the time you finished telling the story, he wished he’d been correct.

Why did such terrible people exist? What evil needed to manifest for a person to steal your very ability to choose? How dare they, what gave them the right? He would tear them to pieces, drive stakes into their body until they begged for mercy just as you did. They’d receive the same level of compassion as they’d given you.

But not tonight.

Tonight, you needed him. His wrath could wait.

“I cannot imagine the strength required to survive that. I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “Thank you for trusting me with the truth.”

Hesitant hands reached out to you, slow enough you could easily deny his attempts to pull you into an embrace. Despite the fear and pain lingering in your eyes, you allowed it, huddling against his chest as if he could hide you from any strife.

He’d do his best.

“I’m sorry I’m like this, I thought I was past it,” you whispered. “I won’t hold it against you if you want to leave.”

You trembled in his grasp, curling inwards as another round of tears slipped free to drip from your chin. His grip only tightened, crushing you against him as he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

“Never apologize for being in pain. Not to me.”

He paused and rubbed soothing circles across your spine, listening to your unsteady breathing. When you stopped shaking at last, he pulled back to look deep into your eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere. Now that I’ve found you, I refuse to let you go. Understood?”

You sniffled again and nodded, the first hint of a smile gracing your lips.

 Nero

In the back of his mind, he always knew. The way your eyes always searched for an exit in public spaces, how you never slept as well alone, the way you saw yourself… It all hinted at the truth, but he never pressed for the whole story. You’d tell him when you were ready. In the meantime, he did his best to support you.

As you finally broke down and spoke about it, an odd sense of joy rushed through him. It was nice to know you trusted him so much.

But the feeling didn’t last. How could he ever be happy about any aspect of it?

It didn’t matter that you barely cried. It didn’t matter that your voice was steady and constant. It didn’t matter that you didn’t push him away or let go of his hand as you spoke. No, all that mattered was how none of it should’ve ever happened.

“This is so messed up…”

He didn’t know what else to say. Words didn’t seem like enough.

“I’m working through it, bit by bit,” you said. Judging by your defensive posture, it wasn’t helping.

Nero sighed and scratched the back of his neck. He knew plenty of people who dealt with similar crap. Growing up in the orphanage exposed him to the concept before he even hit puberty. It never made sense to him, wasn’t it more enjoyable when everyone wanted it? What kind of monster preferred forcing themselves on another person?

Regardless. It wasn’t the kind of thing anyone should face alone and despite his knowledge, he knew he could only do so much. He stared at the floor as blood rushed to his face. It felt strange to ask such a personal question, but considering the circumstances…

“Have you… y’know, been talking to someone?”

Your hands fidgeted the way they always did when you got nervous, picking at the seam of the bedspread. Was that because of the trauma?

“No, not for a few years,” you mumbled.

He took your hands and brought them to his lips, pressing soft kisses across the knuckles. It was important not to make you feel worse, no matter how much he wanted to scold you for not taking proper care of the issue. Support, not judgement. Understanding, not condemnation.

“I can help you find someone, when you’re ready. Anything you need, okay?”

He wrapped an arm over your shoulders and kissed the top of your head, his heart heavy and stomach twisted. What else could he do? Was anything enough?

Probably not.

But that never stopped him before.

 Dante

The devilish smirk fell from his lips the moment you started crying. He’d never seen you cry before, not once. It shocked him, if he was being totally honest.

“Babe? What’s up?”

It was clear on your face how desperately you fought whatever was troubling you. What could possibly be wrong, and why didn’t you say something? You told him everything, even the stuff he didn’t want to know.

The clatter of the cue ball breaking the rack at the next table made you jump. Raucous laughter followed soon after and the red-clad man set aside his stick. Fear and shame stained your eyes; whatever was going on, this wasn’t the place.

He took your hand and pulled you outside into the chilly evening air. Overhead, the stars shone in a pitch-black sky, no moon to be seen. Wisps of cigarette smoke drifted over from where some idiot puffed away.

“Hey, get lost,” Dante commanded.

The fool almost protested, a sneer already teasing at his mouth but Dante had no patience. He focused on his blood and allowed his eyes to shift, growling at the man until he dashed away with a terrified look. That shit never got old.

“Right. Wanna tell me what’s going on, now?”

He never would’ve imagined the tale you told him, pausing here and there to sniffle or take his hand. Pressure built in his sternum with every word, glass choking him as his hands tingled. What he wouldn’t give to take away your pain and make it like nothing ever happened.

But all he came up with was a stupid joke. “Want me to go kick their ass for ya?”

You sighed and wiped your eyes, staring at anything except his face. “No, it was my fault anyway. I should’ve been more careful or worn something else. It was my mistake.”

Oh, hell no. He was not letting you get away with that bullshit. Not in a million years. Calloused hands took careful hold of your chin and gently turned it to face his stern glare.

“That’s stupid and you know it. The only person responsible is them. They chose to… do that to you. They chose to be an ass. It’s not your fault. Don’t you ever say or even think stuff like that ever again, you hear me?”

“But-“

“No.”

A petulant frown split your tear-streaked face. “But-“

“Stop it,” he insisted.

“Dante, come on-“

“I said no, damnit!”

A hint of amusement filtered through the sorrow in your eyes. It was a start. Enough for him to drop his hand and pull you into a hug, encasing you in his body in a silent promise. He didn’t know what you needed to do to heal, but he’d be there every step of the way.

 Vergil

It explained so much. Why you didn’t like swimming or wearing a bathing suit. Why you hated going downtown. Why you were so hesitant with your affections. How had he not figured it out before? You shouldn’t have to relive it just so he understood.

As if he ever could.

Still, he’d been violated before. Scars still marked his otherwise pristine skin, not to mention those on his soul. He knew what it was to survive against all odds, and the knowledge that you did too deepened his respect for you threefold.

“I never knew,” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

You sat on the antique couch, hands in your lap and eyes locked on the oak parquet. Throughout your tale, he’d been pacing. The living room was the perfect size for it, even with the elaborate fireplace. The motion helped to ease the pressure to do something, anything to fix this. A way to channel his energy without causing damage.

Much as he wished to sink his blade deep into the gut of the villain in your story. Not too deep; only a slow and painful death would suffice. No mercy for such a crime.

“I’m sorry. I… I didn’t want you to know how weak I am.”

His repetitive footsteps froze. You thought yourself weak, and that he would as well. Guilt and shame mixed in his mind; how could he have allowed you to not understand? A muscle in his cheek spasmed and he whirled to kneel at your feet, an earnest look etched across his regal features as he grasped your hands in his own.

“Weakness lies not in the inability to avoid pain, but the inability to withstand it. You are not weak, quite the opposite. That you haven’t given up is a testament to your strength.”

A shaky breath slipped from your lips. What else could he do or say to help? How could he make you understand that in his eyes, you had the strength of a typhoon?

“You’re wrong, I’m a coward. I’m not strong, just too broken for them to bother killing.”

First you called yourself weak, and now broken? You couldn’t possibly think so little of yourself. Unacceptable, he wouldn’t allow it. Not anymore, at least.

He knew of only one way to piece together a wounded soul. Hopefully, it would prove sufficient for your needs. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t be with you at all times.

The pommel at his waist warmed to his touch. His oldest ally and most reliable companion, the Yamato never failed him. A pang of loss ached in his heart as he untied the strings, as if he were surrendering a portion of his own soul by holding it out to your curious eyes.

He never allowed you to touch it before.

“Take it.”

Your mouth dropped open, shock tinting your gaze. “W- what?”

He huffed and forced his arms not to retreat. “I will train you, until not a soul alive can call you anything but strong. Even yourself.”

Your trembling hands wrapped around the sheathe after a long pause. Releasing his grip sent shockwaves through his body, but somehow he managed. It was worth it if it helped you.

“I- I couldn’t! It’s yours!”

A soft smile twisted his lips as the last echoes of pain faded into static. Truthfully, the arrangement was perfect. Yamato was a part of him; nothing in the world would work harder to keep you safe. If ever you found yourself in a dire situation again, escape would be child’s play.

And in a sense, as long as you carried his blade, he was at your side.

“And now it’s yours.”

He paused, another wave of agony rushing through him as you slid the blade free. “At least until I find a suitable weapon for you.”

[mega-ringsandthings-world]

Season 8 was just absolute shit. IT MADE NO SENSE. IT DIDN'T HAVE A FUCKING POINT. The NK was killed too easily, in 8x03. In 8x04, Jon is literally listening to his sisters basically disregard everything Daenerys has done for him, Winterfell, the Starks, and the North. They have absolute 0 reason to hate her/distrust her as they so clearly do, and for UNKNOWN REASON Jon decides NOW, right then, after hearing them piss all over the woman he supposedly loves (after she's already begged him (1/2)

(after she's already begged him not to say anything because she knows what will hapen if he does; after she's WARNED him that Sansa is going to do whatever she wants with the information to hurt Dany) -- Jon decides that RIGHT THEN -- after hearing the it doesn't matter what Dany does, his family will never accept her -- is the PERFECT MOMENT to tell them that he's the true heir to the iron throne? IT MAKES NO SENSE. AGGHHH. They made Jon an idiot. (2/2)         

Look, anon. Season 8 was putrid fanfiction written by D&D after they ingested a massive amount of  China White. It has every fanfiction trope from the 2010′s 11′s, 12′s, 13′s, whatever. I was younger, but I was there during that Long Night of fanfiction. I remember the Mary Sues, the out-of-character characters, the author’s notes in the middle of the story, self inserts, and on and on. Season 8 had all of those things and more.   Mary Sue? Sansa. OOC character? Jon, Arya, Drogon, Dany.Author’s notes in the middle of the story? That fucking coffee cup.Self inserts? SANSAAAAAAAAAAAAA.Real Sansa would have been courteous and polite to Dany despite her misgivings! Arya would have loved Dany! Dany would have taken Arya for a ride on her dragon like Visenya did to little Ronnel Arryn! There should been no stupid girl-against shit. We could of had some excellent girl-on-girl interactions, (take that wording as you will) but we didn’t, because D&D=stupid.Jon’s logic was idiotically flawed because D&D had only one goal in mind, and that was to achieve making Bran and Sansa King and Queen. Logically, Jon would have kept his mouth shut about his sperm donor, and chastised his sisters for their disloyalty, but would have also helped them to see that Dany was a good and true person. He would have stayed true to his love and pointed out his sisters’ hypocrisy. None of this happened. Games of Thrones turned out to be a “tale of sound and fury, told by idiot(s), that signified nothing.”

[thegayfromrulid]

Could I ask for a writing request? Canon Eugeo in Hollow Realization casually saved Kirito from a monster and Kirito got the idea of acting like a maiden who just got saved (because Eugeo looks like a "knight in shining armor) and Eugeo just plays along. Bonus if the others see it and wonder if they are sharing a single braincell.

OKAY! This took. WAY LONGER THAN I WANTED IT TO. Perhaps in the future I will spend on downloading HR and FB to my Switch. I had to scrounge for research for a few points and got some pointers from Discord buddies who played the games, so I hope this isn’t to OOC for HR. If not I apologize from the bottom of my heart! One-shot (finally!) under the cut.

           If I didn’t pull back and use apotion now, I’d end up respawning after I took the next blow. This monster waspretty high level, but I hadn’t anticipated the battle being this difficult. Itdidn’t give me time to back out of the fight and take a rest, though. It wasalready charging towards me, ready to strike, well before I could properly getinto the correct position to activate a Sword Skill. Instinctively, I snappedmy eyes shut and waited for the notification that I’d died.

           But no notification appeared.

           I felt myself come to a stop. Iopened my eyes and saw Eugeo with his back in front of me, sword extended inthe final position of the Sword Skill he’d just executed. Glittering shardsrained down from where the monster had been. He straightened up and turned tome, giving me a smile. I felt it appropriate to express my thanks, but I had astrong urge to tease him at the same time.

           Whaton Earth could embarrass this guy? I thought.

           An idea popped into my head almostas soon as I’d thought that. I smirked to myself. I turned to face him fullyand grabbed the sides of my coat like a skirt. Eugeo raised one eyebrow,curious. I bent down into a curtsey, resulting in an amused snort from Lisbeth.

           “Thank you, my liege,” I said.

           I glanced up to see if Eugeo wasreacting to my simple action. When he didn’t appear to do anything, I plucked anearby flower and offered it to him, pretending to be bashfully offering it tohim.

           “If not for you, dear knight, Imight very well have died,” I said, turning my head downwards as if ashamed.

           Surely, this would fluster him. Iheld the position, waiting for a response from him. The one he gave was ratherunexpected. He took the flower, reached across with his free hand, caressed mycheek, and gave me a sincere and stereotypically knightly smile.

           “Why, dear princess, it was notrouble at all!” he said. “I’m always at your service.”

           My little attempt at teasing him hadbackfired. I felt my face flush from embarrassment. Leave it to VRMMOs to incorporatean obvious way to show how you’re feeling. There was a glint in Eugeo’s eyessuggesting that he wasn’t letting me win this battle. I’d have to keep playingalong in hope that he’d eventually cave and show more embarrassment than I was.The others couldn’t see me blushing. I’d have to up my game.

           “Oh, but to put you in danger for mysake—I cannot bear the thought!” I exclaimed, dramatically putting my armagainst my forehead.

           Eugeo just smiled. He looked quitelike a fairy tale prince, dressed in knightly attire, who’d come to save hisdamsel in distress. I don’t think he knew so much about that sort of story, buthe certainly knew the role well enough to play the part. He casually scooped meup in his arms like a groom picking up his bride-to-be.

           “No danger is too great for me,” hesaid, rather boastfully, might I add. “I’ll be there no matter the trial. Be ita monster, or nature, or the gods themselves—I’ll come to your aid in yourdarkest of hours.”

           Man, he was really getting into thisrole. I almost ended up laughing at the statement. It seemed so wellthought-out that he couldn’t have just thrown it out on the spot like that. Thelaugh came out more as a giggle, though, which thankfully fit the image I wasgoing for.

           “Are they, perhaps, idiots?” I heardSinon mutter.

           As if to make matters even moredramatic, Eugeo gently put me down. I daintily stepped down onto the groundonce more. I covered my mouth with one hand and batted my eyes at him. Hedropped down on one knee, spreading his arms out wide, and then bowed as hepressed his hand over his heart.

           “Dear princess, I save you because Ilove you!” he said.

           At this point, Leafa and Lisbethboth started snickering with amusement. I could hear Sinon groaning. I stole aglance at the rest of the group. Several faces displayed mixed emotions ofirritation and hilarity. I turned back to Eugeo and pressed my hands over myheart, giving him my best emotional expression. I even pulled out the faketears. Thank goodness the system responded to that.

           “I-I love you, too!” I said.

           Eugeo once again spread out hisarms. I threw myself into them. He picked me up in the embrace and spun usaround. Of course, we both knew what followed. If this was a contest to try andembarrass the other, I had to be bold about this. I’d finally get him if I justpushed myself to do this one last thing—the completion of the picture-perfectimage of a knight in shining armor and his recently-rescued princess. It was sosimple. And it would definitely make him turn red.

           I prepared myself for the moment. Ashis feet came to a stop, I tucked some of his hair behind his ear. I leanedforward, preparing myself to finish the act. My lips parted ever-so-slightly,and my face moved in closer to his. I slipped my eyes closed. I definitely didn’twant to look at him when I did this. It was already embarrassing enough. I feltmy lips brush against his.

           Finally, he caved. He yelped insurprise and ended up dropping me. I couldn’t help but start laughing. His facewas so red with embarrassment that I thought his head might explode. As into theroleplay as he’d been, not once had he likely considered that I’d try to playalong and kiss him. He covered his face and shook his head.

           “K-Kirito! Warn me next time!” heexclaimed.

           I hopped back up to my feet and curtseyedone more time for effect.

           “Of course, my knight,” I said. “Nexttime I’ll make sure you’re fully prepared to seal our true love with a kiss!”

           I felt a flick to the back of myhead. I turned around and saw Sinon glaring at me.

           “Will you two morons finish up yourlittle princess act and move onto the next area with us?” she said. “We’re inthe middle of a quest!”

           “S-sorry,” I stammered. “I was havingtoo much fun.”

           She huffed and marched off towardsthe group. The others shook their heads. They headed in the direction of thenext goal for the quest while Eugeo and I hung back, both hanging our heads inshame that we’d been told to stop messing around.

           “They didn’t like that, did they?” Imuttered.

           Eugeo sighed.

           “No, but I thought it was fun,” hesaid.

           He smiled at me. I wasn’t sure if hemeant that or if he was just trying to be a good friend and lift my spiritsafter being told off. He patted my back and then walked off after the others. Iblinked at him as he walked.

           “W-wait a minute!”

           I could practically feel his smugexpression from behind him. Serves me right for trying to tease him.

[eirist]

Points of No Return

SCRIBBLE #6 : CAPTAIN’S ORDER

Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot scribble.

Rating: T

Note: This is all for the sake of fun and craziness. Robin’s tall tales of quixotism are back again creating havoc along with Luffy’s whim.

Summary: “Well, you can always order them captain.”

“We are gathered here today…” Luffy intoned.

"Gathered for what?" Zoro’s face was scrunched up in a frown while looking at his captain questioningly.

Luffy paused at the intrusion and cleared his throat. "Ehem! We are gathered here today..."

"I'll repeat Zoro's question," this time it was Nami who cut him off. "Gathered for what exactly?"

A pout appeared on captain’s face, though he chose to ignore the questions.

“We are gathered here today…” he uttered one more time, loudly and clearly. “Uhm…”

“To bear witness senchou-san,” a voice—obviously Robin’s—interjected with a chuckle. A flurry of pink petals flew around them indicating that she was nowhere near but is currently keeping an eye (and mouth) on them.

"Ah right!” Luffy’s expression brightened at the reminder. “We are gathered here today, to bear witness,"

“Bear witness to what?!” Nami looked bewildered.

Zoro was just as confused. "What are we supposed to witness?" He glanced at Nami who shrugged.

"Is this some sort of a meeting, Luffy? Should we call the others?"

"Uh no!"

Zoro and Nami exchanged puzzled glances.

"Tch. Why did you call us out here Luffy?" Zoro asked his tone impatient. Luffy had pestered him to come to the upper deck and from the look on Nami’s face, he probably did the same with her. "You're not pulling one of your stupid pranks on us are you?”

Luffy’s eyes widened and he waved his arms in defense. "NO! NO!"

"Then why are we here?!" Nami's voice was like the calm before the storm and it actually sent shivers down the two Supernovas’ spines.

"Luffy..." there was warning in Zoro's tone. He decided he better clear things up before the navigator decides to beat the living shit out of the young man.

And Luffy gulped. He maybe the captain but damn if his two oldest nakama cannot scare the shit out of him... especially Nami.

Said woman was already cracking her knuckles.

"Because as captain I can marry you two!!!" He shouted.

Silence.

"WHAT?!!!"

It sounded so much like an explosion that some of Straw Hats scurried out of their respective rooms-slash-hiding places.

But seeing that it was only their captain, swordsman and navigator in the upper deck; they all decided to shrug it off.

"Where the hell did you get that idea?!" Zoro all but roared.

At the same time Nami was shrieking, “Marry? US?! Are you out of your fucking mind Luffy?"

They both looked livid and in for the kill that Luffy backed away from them.

Robin had told him that as captain he CAN perform marriage ceremonies.

And she also said that when two persons liked each other, they eventually marry each other.

Just like in the tale she told them last night.

"Luffy,” Zoro growled, thumbing one of his swords out of its sheath. “You have one minute to explain or I'll be coating Kitetsu with your blood."

“No,” Nami snarled, pulling out her sorcery Clima-tact. “He has less than a minute.”

Luffy jumped away from them. "But... but when people like each other. They marry each other."

"Where did you even get that idea?!" Zoro bellowed.

“I think I know where..." Nami muttered lowly, looking pointedly at the archeologist, who was reading and sunbathing at the lawn deck. It was probably from one of Robin’s tall tales.

“Tch! That gloomy woman…” Zoro grumbled under his breath.

“But why US?” Nami hissed at Luffy, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You… you both said you like each other."

Zoro and Nami drew back, brows furrowing before glancing at each other, perplexed.

“Huh?”

“You both told me,” Luffy innocently, very honestly said. “You like each other.”

Eyes widened at what the rubber man casually dropped.

"LUFFY!!!” They both screamed in unison. “YOU TOLD ON ME?!!"

The swordsman and navigator turned to each other, mirroring each other’s shocked expression.

Luffy only laughed sheepishly. "Uhh.....shishishi".

“It was supposed to be a secret!" Nami cried out.

“I specifically told you not to say anything about it!” Zoro said at the same time, a vein popping visibly on his forehead.

“Wari, wari.” Luffy shoved a finger inside his nose. Then he grinned, ever oblivious to the chaos that he just unleashed. “So can I now marry you guys?” 

“NO!!!” They simultaneously answered and both flushed red when their eyes met.

Luffy looked crestfallen. “But…”

“So this is where things start being awkward,” Nami inhaled sharply, glaring daggers at Luffy.

“Yeah. No thanks to our aho sencho,” Zoro muttered darkly. “He just went and ruined it all.”

Their captain is really a certified idiot. Through and through.

But there’s no going back from this. And they both know it. Thanks to Luffy and his big rubber mouth.

Nami and Zoro’s eyes met and both promptly averted their gazes in embarrassment.

"Whatever happened to leaving it to luck? Or fate?" Zoro groused, scratching the back of his head as Nami sighed in resignation.

Robin suddenly appeared on the deck. “How are things?” 

“Oi Robin! You said I can marry them!" Luffy complained.

"Yes you can senchou-san. But we still have to consider if they want it or not." Robin responded glancing at the swordsman and the navigator.

Luffy whined in disappointment. “They’re saying no. Even if they both told me that they like each other.”

“Well…”

"Stop putting ideas into his head, Robin." Nami chastised.

“This is all your fault,” Zoro muttered.

Robin smiled cheekily at them.

“Well, you can always order them captain.”

Luffy’s whole face lit up at that idea.