#I NEED TO MAKE A POLAR PATCH

[nina-ya]

Synopsis: It's your first time seeing snow and you decide to make the most of the day until you wander off from the group and Law finds you admiring the scenery. Pairing: Law x reader CW: fluff, first kisses!! • ficmas masterlist • ko-fi • discord server •

The first snowfall of your life felt like stepping into a dream. Each flake tumbled gently from the sky, blanketing the island in a glistening white, transforming the island into something out of a storybook. Everything about this day made your chest flutter with an excitement that you couldn’t quite put into words.

You were barely two steps on land before diving into the snow, your laughter ringing out as you flopped onto your back in a pristine patch of snow. Sweeping your arms and legs back and forth, you formed a snow angel, grinning up at the sky as you worked. When you sat up to admire your new creation, you caught sight of Law standing a short distance away with amusement etched across his features. 

“Not bad,” he remarked as he glanced between you and your creation. 

“Not bad?” you repeated, feigning offense before flashing him a teasing grin. “I’d like to see you do better. Come on, make one!” 

Law raised an eyebrow at your challenge, muttering a ‘maybe later’ under his breath. You rolled your eyes, laughing as you dusted off your gloves. “You’re no fun,” you teased before bounding off to find your next snowy adventure. 

Your enthusiasm was infectious, drawing everyone around you into your antics. Snowball fights erupted with chaotic energy, your laughter mixing with yelps as you narrowly dodged some perfectly aimed throws. You sculped a lopsided snowman, its crooked grin and mismatched arms earning a beaming smile from you as you showed it off. When you weren’t building or battling, you were tilting your head back and catching snowflakes on your tongue. 

The day wore on, and some crew members retreated to the warmth of the Polar Tang, while others stayed behind longer. You were just about to join those going towards the warmth until you caught sight of something shimmering through the woods. 

It was just a glimmer, subtle and fleeting, but it tugged at your curiosity. A light? Ice? Something hidden in the forest? You couldn’t tell, but you didn’t think twice before wandering off and trudging through the snow toward the source.

Eventually, you emerged into a small clearing, and you let out a soft gasp. A frozen lake stretched out before you, its surface gleaming under the pale light of the late afternoon. The surrounding trees were dusted with snow, their reflections faintly visible in the ice, and the scene looked like something pulled straight from a dream. 

You stepped onto the ice cautiously, the crunch of snow now replaced with the faint creak of frozen water beneath your boots. The chill bit at your exposed arms, but you hardly noticed, too entranced by the beauty before you. You stared in awe at the surroundings, soaking in the moment in bliss, thinking nothing could ruin something as perfect as this. 

That was until one voice came and shattered the peace as it cut through. “Are you out of your mind?” 

You spun around startled to find him standing at the edge of the lake, his figure stark against the snowy backdrop. You could barely make out his expression to be something caught in between exasperation and disbelief at you. 

“What happened to your coat?” he asked, tone sharp as he started making his way towards the center of the ice where you were. 

“It was holding me back,” you replied flippantly, crossing your arms as if to emphasize your point. 

Law’s brow twitched. “Holding you back?”

“Yeah,” you said with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant even as the cold began to seep into your bones. “It got caught on a branch, and well, I figured I didn’t need it.”

“Well you figured wrong,” he snapped back, voice losing some of the calm it once held. “You’re going to freeze to death out here.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but a shiver wracked your body, cutting you off. Law’s frown deepened, and he stepped closer.

“Don’t tell me you’re not cold,” he said, his voice low and firm. “You’re freezing. Come here.”

Before you could protest, he opened his coat, revealing the warm lining inside and gestured for you to step closer. The size of the coat didn't surprise you, as Law always seemed to favor clothes that dwarfed him, but what did surprise you was the way he pulled you into his chest, wrapping the heavy fabric around both of you.

The warmth was immediate, his body heat radiating through the layers and chasing away the chill that had settled into your skin. His arms circled you, holding the coat closed around you and you reveled in the comfort. 

“Better?” he asked, voice less harsh. You nodded and murmured a ’thanks’ in response. “Let’s get back to the others, you’ve had your fun for the day.”

You leaned back to look up at him, your eyes wide and pleading. “Can we stay a little longer?”

His brows furrowed, lips parting in an attempt to argue back, but you pressed on quickly, your tone insistent. “The sun’s about to set, and I want to see what this place looks like at night. Just a little longer, please?”

Law glanced around at the frozen lake and the woods that surrounded it. The temperature was already brutal and he knew it would only get worse as the night settled. “It’s going to get even colder,” he pointed out, tone sharp as he attempted to reason with you. 

“I know,” you said, your voice tinged with desperation and excitement. “But just look at it, Law. The way the ice catches the light, the way the trees frame everything so prettily. I just… I just want to see it under the stars. Please.” 

Your eyes met his, wide and shimmering with sincerity, and for a moment he was at a loss. Logic dictated that he should insist you leave and drag you back to warmth if he had to, but the look in your eyes shattered any logic he had in his mind. 

With a long sigh, he relented. “Fine. But we’re not staying on the ice. Come on.”

He guided you off the frozen lake, hand firm on your arm as he led you to a small patch of dirt nestled between the snow-covered trees. The area offered a clear view of the lake and the horizon beyond, and the ground was a much more comfortable spot to sit. 

He pulled you down with him as he lowered himself to the ground and you got comfortable as you settled into wait. The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the world in oranges, purples, and reds, bouncing the colors off of the lake as the surface shimmered with the last rays of sunlight. 

The first stars began to emerge as the sky deepened into twilight, their faint twinkles growing stronger with each passing moment. You sighed in contentment, murmuring ‘It’s perfect’, more to yourself than anything. 

The stars above glittered like scattered diamonds, and you sat bathing in their glow, your breath puffing into the crisp air as your wide eyes scanned the constellations. Law hadn’t intended to linger, much less to find himself utterly captivated. Yet here he was, his attention irrevocably anchored to you.

He caught himself entranced by the small things: the gentle curve of your jaw, the way your eyes were wide, alight with a child-like wonder that shimmered with the reflected glow of the stars. The way the night wrapped itself around you, painting you in muted blues and silvers, made you seem untouchable. And yet, there you were, close enough that each puff of breath that you released towards the night sky mingled with the warm breaths of his own. 

You reached a hand towards the heavens, fingers outstretched as though you could pluck a star from its celestial perch, and when the illusion faded into your palm, your soft and breathless laughter filled the silence.

Law’s gaze softened further, lingering on the curve of your face, the way your breath puffed into the air like tiny clouds. His eyes lingered on your lips, softly parted as you signed in contentment, and he found himself captivated by their softness, their unspoken pull. To put it simply, he was mesmerized, caught in a moment where only you remained. 

It was rare for Law to let himself linger like this, to let his thoughts wander without restraint, but at that moment, your body pressed against his, he allowed himself to memorize you. To etch this instance into the depths of his mind, knowing it was a memory he would hold onto long after the cold had faded. 

Before he realized it, his hand moved of its own accord. Fingers brushed a few stray flakes of snow from your hair, the movement catching your attention. You turned to face him, and his breath hitched at the sight of your curious eyes meeting his. 

“What?” you asked, a soft laugh escaping your lips, a smile tugging at the edges. 

Law hesitated, his mouth parting as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, he shook his head, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Nothing,” he murmured, his voice lower than intended. “Just thinking.”

“About?” you pressed, playful and unguarded.

He swallowed, the air suddenly feeling too thin. He should have deflected, should have buried the words threatening to spill over, but instead, the truth fumbled from his lips in an accidental confession. 

“You.”

That one little word seemed to suspend the moment in time. You blinked, your lips parting as his answer settled over you. “Me?” you murmured, your voice soft and almost unsure, as though saying it too loudly might make this whole moment go away in an instant. 

Law didn’t respond. Not immediately, at least. His heart stuttered and he opened his mouth, but words failed him as his golden eyes, softened by the starlight, flitted from your questioning eyes to the faint quiver of your lips. The silence stretched out and he seemed like a man frozen in time, caught in a trap of vulnerability that he didn’t intend to expose.

A shiver coursed through you, and it snapped him from his trance. His arms tightened reflexively, moving to pull his coat closer around you. The movement was meant to shield you from the biting cold, but instead, it brought you both even closer. The press of your bodies was no longer incidental but undeniable. 

The breath you exhaled wavered as the sudden proximity left neither of you room to escape. Your hands, once bunched up in fists wrapped around you, now lay against his chest while his hands froze at your sides mid-movement, as though he too had just realized just how close you'd become. You could feel his heart beneath your fingers beat in a rapid rhythm that matched your own. Neither of you breathed. Neither of you dared to. 

Your eyes flickered to his lips, a breath away, the distance so small you feared even taking in a gulp of air would close the gap. The world narrowed to the warmth of your breaths mingling, his faint scent, and the feeling of the winter air kissing your skin. 

You couldn’t tell who leaned in first. Perhaps it was both of you. Or maybe the universe itself conspired to close the gap. All you knew was that the moment his lips brushed yours, the rest of the world fell away. 

The kiss started off as a question rather than a statement, as though both of you were unsure whether to continue. But that hesitation dissolved the moment you melted into him, your lips parting to welcome the warmth he offered. 

His lips were soft and tasted faintly of the coffee he had not too long ago, mixed with something that was wholly, undeniably Law. His hand rose to cradle the side of your face, thumb brushing against your cheekbone with a tenderness that made your stomach flip. 

You leaned into his touch, your fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as you kissed him back, deeper this time. The cold seemed to vanish entirely, replaced with the heat blooming between you. His tongue brushed against your bottom lip, and when you parted for him, he seized the moment to deepen the kiss as his tongue brushed against yours. His taste was intoxicating, heady and consuming, and the way he kissed you, left you breathless. 

The moments blurred, reduced to the press of his lips, the muffled sounds that slipped past both of your lips and the faint crunch of snow beneath your shifting bodies. You wanted to draw this out as long as you could, not wanting it to end. 

When you finally broke apart, it wasn't out of desire, but necessity. Your breaths came in soft pants, visible in the air as the cold rushed back to remind you of its presence. His forehead rested against yours, and you could see Law’s lips quirk into the faintest of smiles as his eyes searched yours for a confirmation that you enjoyed that as much as he did. 

It was you who broke the silence when you asked between pants, “Do we… have to go back yet?” A smile stretched across your lips as you finished the question, the sight alone dissolving any final pesky bits of tension that may have been floating in the air. 

His smile widened, and he let out a huff of laughter as he wrapped his arms tighter around you, pulling you flush against his chest. “Not if you let me keep you warm a bit longer,” he responded. 

Such words of affection felt foreign coming from him, but you did not complain one bit as you settled into his hold, leaning into the warmth he provided. You giggled, the sound light and airy, as you leaned in again and captured his lips in yours. 

The stars above glittered on, indifferent to the magic folding just beneath them, but you couldn’t help but feel that they were shining extra brightly for just the two of you.

[inseobts]

TRAITOR pt.1

law x traitor!reader

⤳ PART 2

words count: 2.5k

tags: series, enemies to lover(?), traitor reader

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

“You know, you’re not as scary as you pretend to be.”

You lean against the railing of the Polar Tang, the ocean stretching endlessly in front of you. The salty breeze plays with your hair as you glance sideways at Trafalgar Law, whose arms are crossed, golden eyes watching you with something unreadable.

“And you talk too much” he mutters.

You grin “That’s a terrible thing to say to someone who just saved your life.”

Law exhales sharply through his nose, looking away. The recent battle had left him exhausted, and if it weren’t for you stepping in at the last second, things could’ve ended badly for him. You, of course, had taken full advantage of the situation, teasing him ever since.

“I didn’t need saving” he finally says, tone dry.

“Uh-huh.” You tilt your head “That’s why you looked like you were seconds away from getting skewered?”

He glares at you, but there’s no real heat behind it. If anything, there’s curiosity, like he’s still trying to figure you out. You’re a relatively new member of the Heart Pirates, joining just a few months ago. Skilled in combat, intelligent, and surprisingly resourceful, you had quickly earned the respect of the crew. Even Law, who rarely lets people close, had grown used to your presence.

And maybe, just maybe, something more than that.

It starts small.

Casual conversations late at night when neither of you can sleep. Accidental touches, like his hand brushing against yours when passing a scalpel in the infirmary, his shoulder knocking into yours when standing side by side on the deck. You tease him constantly, and though he pretends to be annoyed, you catch the way the corner of his lips twitch, like he’s holding back a smile.

Then, one evening, everything shifts.

“You’re staring” you say, raising an eyebrow.

Law, sitting across from you in his dimly lit office, doesn’t deny it. His gaze is steady, analytical, like he’s trying to see through you. It sends a strange thrill through your chest.

“You’re… different” he finally says.

You blink, caught off guard “Different how?”

“I don’t know yet.” His fingers tap against the wooden desk “But I intend to find out.”

There’s a weight to his words, a quiet intensity that makes your stomach twist. For a second, you almost feel guilty. Almost.

Because if he intends to figure you out, he’s already too late.

Then the first time he kisses you, it’s unexpected.

It happens after a fight, another skirmish with the Marines, another victory for the Heart Pirates. You’re both catching your breath in an alleyway, hidden from sight, when you turn to make some sarcastic remark, only for Law to suddenly grab your wrist and pull you against him.

His lips crash against yours, heated and desperate, like he’s been holding back for too long. And maybe he has.

You don’t hesitate. You kiss him back just as fiercely, fingers tangling in his dark hair, pulling him impossibly close. The world fades, the sounds of battle disappearing until there’s nothing but him, his warmth, his touch, the rapid beat of his heart against your chest.

When he finally pulls away, you’re both breathless.

“That was… unexpected” you murmur.

Law smirks, thumb brushing against your lips “Didn’t hear you complaining.”

You laugh softly, leaning into him “Yeah, well. You’re full of surprises, Captain.”

What you don’t say is that he’s making this too easy.

Time passes, and the relationship deepens. Law isn’t the type to be openly affectionate, but you learn to read between the lines. The way he always makes sure you’re patched up first after battles, the way his fingers linger a little longer when he touches you. The way he watches you when he thinks you’re not looking.

You spend nights tangled together, whispered conversations in the dark. Sometimes, he tells you about his past, about Flevance, about Corazon, about the scars he carries that no one else can see. And you listen, pretending you’re not keeping secrets of your own.

Because this was never supposed to happen.

You were supposed to get close, gain his trust, gather information for them.

But now, with the way he looks at you, with trust, with something dangerously close to love, you start to wonder if you’ve let him get too close.

And if, when the time comes, you’ll be able to do what you were sent here to do.

You don’t realize how deep you’ve fallen until it’s too late.

It’s in the little things, how your heart beats just a little faster when Law smirks at you, how you find yourself looking for him in a room even when there’s no reason to. How you never pull away when his touch lingers longer than necessary.

You tell yourself it’s part of the act. That getting close to him is necessary, that earning his trust is just a step toward your real goal.

But then there are nights like this.

“You should sleep.”

Law’s voice is quiet, but firm. He’s leaning against the doorframe of the Polar Tang’s infirmary, arms crossed, watching you with a look that’s somewhere between amused and concerned.

You roll your eyes but don’t stop what you’re doing, patching up one of the crew’s minor wounds “I’ll sleep when I’m done.”

“You said that three hours ago.”

You glance at him, raising an eyebrow “And you’re one to talk? When was the last time you slept, Captain?”

Law sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose “That’s not the point.”

You smile, shaking your head as you finish tying off the bandage. When you straighten up, Law is still watching you. His expression has softened... just a little.

“What?” you ask.

“You take care of them.” His voice is quieter now, more thoughtful. “Like you’ve been here forever.”

Your breath catches.

Because that’s not true. You haven’t been here forever. You’re not one of them.

You force a grin, nudging his arm playfully “Well, someone has to. You’re a terrible doctor when it comes to yourself. So I help if it means you can rest”

Law scoffs, but there’s no real irritation behind it. Then, to your surprise, he reaches out, fingers brushing lightly against your wrist before curling around it. It’s a simple touch, but it makes your stomach flip.

“You’re overworking yourself,” he murmurs.

And maybe it’s the exhaustion, or the dim lighting, or the way his fingers feel warm against your skin—but you don’t pull away.

“Maybe,” you admit “But you worry too much.”

Law doesn’t answer right away. Instead, his thumb traces a slow circle against the inside of your wrist, sending a shiver up your spine.

“I can’t help it” he finally says.

The words are soft, almost like he didn’t mean to say them out loud.

And that’s when you realize, he’s not just saying it as your captain.

He’s saying it as himself. As Law.

As the man who, against all odds, has started to care for you.

It only gets worse from there.

You’re not sure when it happens, when you stop thinking of this as a mission and start thinking of it as home.

The Heart Pirates are chaotic, loud, and ridiculous. But they’re also kind. Loyal. They treat you like family. Like you belong.

And Law—

Law lets you see pieces of him that no one else does. The quiet moments, the rare, unguarded smiles. The way he lets his walls down, just enough, when it’s only the two of you.

And you know, deep down, that this is dangerous. That you shouldn’t be letting yourself feel this much.

But then there are nights when you’re lying next to him, tangled in warm sheets, his heartbeat steady beneath your palm. When he lets out a soft sigh and pulls you closer, half-asleep, like he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

And in those moments, it’s easy to forget.

To pretend this is real.

That you’re not a liar.

That you’re not here for all the wrong reasons.

But the truth is always waiting.

And one day, when he looks at you with nothing but trust in his eyes, you’ll have to tell him.

Or worse—he’ll find out on his own.

And when that day comes…

You don’t know if you’ll be able to handle the way he’ll look at you then.

Life on the Polar Tang has a rhythm. A steady, comforting chaos that you’ve come to know well.

Days are spent navigating treacherous waters, dodging Marines, and patching up injuries after yet another reckless skirmish. Nights, though, are when things slow down. When the crew unwinds, when laughter echoes through the submarine’s halls, when Law finally lets himself breathe.

It’s on one of these nights that you find yourself in the middle of a full-blown disaster.

“Bepo, put that down—”

A crash. A shout. Penguin howling with laughter as Shachi dives for cover.

The common area of the Polar Tang is in complete chaos. Empty plates and bowls are scattered across the table, remnants of what was supposed to be a peaceful dinner. Bepo is standing in the middle of it all, guilty and frozen, holding what used to be a perfectly intact chair. Now, it’s nothing but splintered wood and regret.

“I barely touched it!” Bepo insists, ears flattened against his head.

“You threw it,” Ikkaku deadpans.

“It was an accident!”

Shachi, still hiding behind the couch, snickers “I told you he doesn’t know his own strength.”

“You made him arm wrestle the table...” you point out, exasperated.

“Okay, but in my defense—”

“Room.”

The entire room freezes.

Law is standing in the doorway, arms crossed, expression unreadable. A slow, heavy silence settles over the crew. Bepo still has the broken chair in his hands. Shachi is half-hidden, looking like he’s about to bolt.

And then there’s you, sitting cross-legged on the couch, watching the disaster unfold with barely concealed amusement.

Law’s gaze sweeps across the room, taking in the mess, the guilty faces, the sheer absurdity of whatever just happened. He exhales slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Do I even want to know?” he mutters.

“No,” you answer immediately “Definitely not.”

Law looks at you, unimpressed.

Penguin clears his throat “Uh, so, funny story—”

“No stories,” Law interrupts, already done with everyone’s nonsense. “Bepo, clean this up. The rest of you—figure out how to replace that chair. And if I hear one more crash tonight, I’m throwing all of you overboard.”

A collective groan echoes through the room, but no one dares argue.

As the crew reluctantly begins cleaning up, you watch Law turn to leave, only for him to hesitate, then glance at you. His brow furrows slightly, as if debating something. Then, after a moment, he jerks his head toward the door.

“Come with me.”

You blink “Uh, am I in trouble?”

His lips twitch, just barely “Not yet.”

You follow him to his quarters, where the air is quieter, calmer. Law shuts the door behind you, then leans against the desk, arms crossed.

“You looked entertained back there,” he remarks.

You smirk “Oh, I was. That was the most fun I’ve had in weeks.”

Law shakes his head, exhaling through his nose “They’re impossible.”

“They’re yours.”

His gaze flickers to you, something unreadable in his expression. You don’t think much of your words, you meant them as a joke, nothing more.

But for a split second, something shifts.

You see it in the way his fingers tighten slightly against his arm. In the way his golden eyes linger on you, searching.

And for the first time, you wonder... does he think of you as his, too?

The thought is dangerous.

You push it aside, grinning instead “So, what do you need me for, Captain? Because if it’s paperwork, I—”

Law rolls his eyes before you can even finish “Shut up.”

And then, quicker than you expect, he reaches out, fingers curling around your wrist, tugging you forward. It’s not forceful, but it’s enough to make your breath hitch, to send a rush of warmth through you.

His hands are always cold, but his touch is steady. Solid.

“Stay here” he murmurs.

You don’t answer right away. Because you know that if you stay now, it’ll only get harder to leave later.

But when he looks at you like that... like he’s choosing you, again and again.

You can’t bring yourself to say no.

You don’t pull away.

Law’s fingers are still wrapped around your wrist, his touch firm but not forceful. You’re close enough to hear the steady rhythm of his breathing, the quiet hum of the submarine around you.

He doesn’t say anything else—just watches you, waiting.

You swallow “You’re being weird.”

His brow twitches “You’re the one staring at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re debating something.”

Your heart skips a beat.

Because, of course, you are.

You’ve been debating it for weeks now, maybe even months. How much of this is real? How much of this is an act? And most terrifying of all... are you the one being played?

Because the way Law looks at you sometimes, with quiet intensity, with something dangerously close to trust, it makes you feel like a terrible person.

And yet, here you are, standing in his quarters, his fingers still wrapped around your wrist, not moving away.

“I was just thinking,” you say finally, keeping your voice light “That you’re kind of clingy.”

Law scoffs and immediately drops your wrist “Forget it. Get out.”

You laugh, catching his hand before he can fully pull away. His eyes snap to yours, slightly surprised, but he doesn’t stop you when you lace your fingers together.

“I’m joking,” you murmur, voice softer now “I don’t mind.”

Law exhales slowly, like he’s trying to decide whether or not you’re messing with him again.

“…You’re exhausting,” he mutters.

“You like it.”

“I tolerate it.”

You smirk “Same thing.”

His lips twitch, just barely, before he tugs on your hand, pulling you toward the bed. You go without resistance, letting him sit on the edge while you stand between his knees, still holding his hand.

For a moment, neither of you speak.

Then, quietly, he says, “You don’t have to keep proving yourself, you know.”

The words hit you harder than they should.

You blink “What?”

“You act like you have something to prove,” he says, tilting his head slightly “Like you need to earn your place here. But you already have.”

Your stomach twists.

Because he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that this entire thing is a lie, that you shouldn’t have a place here, that—

“Hey.” His voice is softer now. His free hand reaches up, fingertips barely brushing your hip “Did I say something wrong?”

You force a laugh, shaking your head “No, no. Just surprised you’re saying something nice for once.”

Law rolls his eyes, but there’s no real annoyance there.

“I say nice things,” he mutters.

You smirk “Name three.”

He pauses.

Then, after a moment, he says, “You’re competent.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“You’re reliable.”

“Still sounds like a job review.”

He sighs, giving you a dry look “You’re annoying, but I don’t hate it.”

Your smirk widens “Aww, Captain. That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He huffs, but his hand tightens slightly around yours, thumb brushing against your knuckles.

You don’t know what you’re doing anymore.

You don’t know if this is still part of the plan, or if you’re just falling into something you can’t escape from.

But for now, in this quiet space, with his fingers laced with yours and his golden eyes watching you like you matter...

You let yourself pretend.

Just a little longer.

[elodieunderglass]

Honestly thought I'd never hear the word "usborne" again. My mom used to live and breathe that company, and while I certainly don't regret a fair chunk, I do find it amusing as I look back now. I legitimately thought it had fallen off faster than Juice+.

In reference to a post where i mention my kid has the usborne “see inside germs” book.

So if people don’t know, usborne is a weird publishing company that has done indispensable books for British children for generations; they’re in every library, school and nursery, and have shelves devoted to them in every bookstore. They are how many people learned to read, and are the originators of many hyper focuses. They’re famed for doing educational lift the flap books for all ages, like “see inside your body”, as well as as the ubiquitous touch-and-feel series, “that’s not my….” In which a mouse comments improbably on various creatures not being their creature. “That’s not my dragon,” the mouse says, inviting you to stroke a dragon with a patch of fur on it, “its tummy is too soft. That’s not my dragon,” on the next page, where the dragon’s ears are lined with textured paper, “its ears are too bumpy.” This seems like such an inefficient way to find one’s missing dragon, a fact that simmers underneath you through endless repetition. Why does the mouse own so many things (pirates, ducks, polar bears) and why is it interrogating other people’s pirates etc by feeling their legs.

At any rate, turn a parents’ house upside down and these books fall out.

Which is why it’s completely hilarious that they are also an MLM.

Well. Kind of. In the old school sense. It’s less about signing up a pyramid scheme and more about getting a random citizen to buy a crate of perfectly popular books and try to sell them on from their home. It’s very traditional for Mums On Maternity Leave to do this. Pre-social media and online ordering, they’d hook up other mums at toddler group. Today, they post awkwardly on social media. The idea is that buying from another parent is cheaper than the bookstore, and they get to keep the markup. They get intense about things, and I believe they attend conferences. Nobody makes a huge amount of money and it’s unclear how undercutting local bookstores is helpful; it’s also basically the same RRP as Amazon I think.

And the books are perfectly respectable and sell perfectly well in bookstores.

So. Like. This marketing scheme is completely weird. Why?? Why does it still exist? People buy the books normally! You don’t need to promote them aggressively! You don’t need elaborate independent local middlemen schemes! You can just buy them! I have never understood this. I just file it under one of those weird mat leave hustles.

But don’t worry OP. They’re still going. They’ll never stop. The thing is that your mom got bored and online sales probably ate whatever residual profit margins were left and it’s probably very liberating for everyone to grow out of the “that’s not my cow” stage, but Usborne books are going strong.

[traflawgar]

law x very strong but clumsy reader? like shes clumsy and on top of that jumps into action because shes strong and thinks she can handle everything but still gets hurt sometimes? fluff if u can❣️

Law x reader. Fluff.

TAGS: mentions of wounds.

divider by @/uzmacchiato.

NOTES—hope this is what you wanted!

Law thinks, no—knows you’ll be the death of him.

Every time you run into battle without a plan, or rush into a fight with not one, not two, but three enemies, it pushes him one step closer to death. He’s sure of it. Don’t even get him started on your attempts to cook for the crew, which often end up with you somehow nicking your finger with a butcher's knife.

Even now, as he lectures you about safety and paying attention to your surroundings, he can tell you’ll end up in the infirmary again for him to patch up the wounds. There’s a fight on the beach, and your eyes flick between it and him. All but vibrating in your place, you nod along to his words. Itching for a fight, not listening.

“Sure thing, Captain.” Comes the boisterous reply as you leap over the railing of the Polar Tang and onto the sand.

Law draws a slow, exasperated breath, and follows suit.

He follows closely, always one step behind and ready to swoop in and help if things get ugly. His eyes do a dance that earns him the anger of his opponent, constantly torn between his attacks and your own fight.

“Think you’re so much better,” the man bellows as his sword comes down, Law barely manages to dodge it, “that you don’t need to look while you fight me?” The choleric, crazed look in his eyes warns him of the recklessness of the man. And still he can’t help turning towards you.

You’ll be the death of him. Without a doubt.

Just as he predicted, you end up in the infirmary. Again.

This time there’s a gash on your shoulder that extends to just above your heart. The way Law is looking at it, you’d think you were on your deathbed. You probably would be, had Law not been so focused on your fight. The second the steel bit into your skin, he was next to you and charging against your opponent. He fought decisively, brutally.

Luckily, and you were often blessed by luck, the fight was soon over. One second, you were sitting on the dirt, dust settling as the storm passed—the next you were surrounded by the sterile walls of the infirmary, thin mattress under you.

“Did you… Did you leave something on the bed just so you could shambles me here?” Law doesn’t dignify your question with an answer, too preoccupied with his medical supplies to hear you. Or notice the indignant pout on your lips. “I’m not a child, you know?” You go on, aware that he’s actively ignoring what you say now. “It’s not like I always end up getting hurt.”

That gets you acknowledged. A skeptically arched eyebrow, but still a reaction.

In spite of the reprimand you’re sure will come sooner or later, Law is always gentle in tending to your wounds. He carefully removes the T-shirt you were wearing, barely shreds and tatters now, so he can get a better look at your wound. Slow, gentle fingers dab around the torn skin. The soft press of the cloth leaves droplets of warm water on your skin, trickling down and getting lost under your bra.

You scoot away when Law puts the cloth down and brings out thread and needle. The fabric of the sheets feels rough in your fingers as you grip it in preparation of what’s to come. Suddenly, the stains on the wall—yellowing betraying the passing of time since the Tang saw its first sunrise—seem awfully interesting.

“That’s what you get for being careless,” Law scolds you when the puncturing of the needle pulls a hiss out of you. Still, his expression softens and he makes sure to be mindful with his touch. The remaining stitches are clean, swift. Before you know it, he’s giving the final stitch and closing the wound for good.

“Ready for battle, ey?”

Law lets out a long, suffering sigh and mutters, “You’ll be the death of me.”

The grave look in his eyes almost makes you not want to tease him. Almost.

“Oh, please, you love me.” You flash him a smile, toothy and bright.

There’s no real meaning behind your words. Nothing more than a taunt. Law knows this, and has come to accept it with time. Yet he’s instantly turning around to conceal the light blush spreading through his face. He busies himself with cleaning and putting away his surgical supplies as he tells you to “don’t do that again.”

You'll be the death of him, in more ways than one.

[16wolke11]

TEMPESTUOS - Max Verstappen 

A/N I know Max has his temper under control by now, but I needed him to be that way (:

Tempestuous -> Very stormy, full of strong emotions

WORDS: 2259

_____

Max Verstappen has always been known for his temperament. The world of competitive racing seems tailor-made for someone like him. Someone who thrives on speed, the passion for racing, and the rush—a mixture of adrenaline and victories. But with every win, there seems to come a burden. The pressure when a race doesn't end as expected, when an overtake results in damage, or anything else that can set his short temper ablaze and make him snap. His temper causes problems, not only for himself but also for those around him who need to fix the damage. Sometimes, Max's emotions bubble up like a storm that can't be tamed, and those around him become the target.

Acting as the polar opposite of him is something only a few people on the Red Bull team manage: his race engineer GP, his PR Vicky, and others close to him, like his trainer and the bosses of Red Bull. Max likes his team as it is, but when Vicky has to step away due to illness, the team faces the bitter reality of figuring out who can accompany Max to his interviews. In the end, they settled on me. And while I would usually be happy with the promotion, given how Max Verstappen currently behaves, I'd rather be anywhere but close to him.

I've been working around the paddock for a few years now, usually keeping a close eye on the Red Bull juniors. They might have their PRs in the junior categories, but for certain duties, they want me there as well. Usually, I handle the pressure in the paddock easily, getting along with a few interviewers, joking with the drivers, and staying calm no matter what happens. Until I was ordered to work with Max.

The start of the season wasn't easy for Max or the team. Instead of winning by 20 seconds, they had to fight just to get onto the podium. It stirred tension, not only within the team but also making interviews harder. The interviewers obviously love the "downfall" of Red Bull, as they like to call it, while everyone wearing dark blue works on changing that direction. Working with Max during that time wasn't a pleasure—interviews were tense, he snapped at them more than once, and he'd already accumulated a few fines. Luckily for him, no race bans yet. Then, finally, Max made it back to the top step, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he was grinning brightly.

He even hugged me, and I thought that would be the turning point—the moment he evolved from the snapping, hunting lion to the leader of the pride again. But oh, I was so wrong. Even though Max managed to win with great overtakes, the interviewers still found a way to turn his happy energy into a storming one.

"Max, you had quite a few rough patches this season," the interviewer starts, and I tense up. Hopefully, this is just a review of the season and how he managed to turn things around today, but luck isn't on my side these days.

"Do you think you finally got past the issues, including your temper and the car in general?"

I take a deep breath, close to snapping at the interviewer myself, but I keep a blank expression, hoping Max will remember what we talked about. That he has to keep it low with the anger, especially around cameras. That he can snap when he's in hospitality or anywhere else where only people from the team can see him. I quickly glance at Max, hoping he'll get the hint to stay calm, but the storm is already brewing behind his eyes.

"What does this have to do with me winning?" Max asks, his shoulders tense. That would have been enough, but of course, Max isn't finished yet. "I won, haven't I? That's all that should matter, not the kind of problems you project on me." His voice is cold, and before I can even try to step in or the reporter has a chance to continue, Max just walks away.

I mutter an excuse before hurrying after him. Great, there goes the happy Max. Back comes the one with the stormy personality. A thick skin is something everyone around Max needs at the moment, and even though I know he won't react positively, I still decide to give him a lecture.

"Max, you can't talk to them like that," I hiss at him when we're back in hospitality, shielded from the journalists who love to take pictures of a fuming Max just to fuel their stories with proof.

"Excuse me?" he asks, arching his eyebrow. There's a storm in his eyes, one that can't settle due to the constant reminders of how bad his season is going.

"You can't let your temper define you and overshadow your victories. If you snap at them like this, all they're going to write about is your temper issues, not your win." I explain to Max, and for a moment, he just stares at me, like he's debating whether this is worth discussing. Then, he just huffs and leaves. This time, I don't follow him. This is the first time I want to scream at him to calm down, my anger building, but I know it wouldn't make a difference if he isn't ready to listen.

Max doesn't talk to me during the next media day. He follows me to his interview but cuts his answers short. Not ideal either, but still better than him yelling again. During my break, I met up with one of my friends on the team who works for the social media department. She knows my struggles with Max and is one of the few people I can gossip with about him.

"Why do I have to keep working with him?" I groan at one point, placing my head in my hands and sighing, feeling like working with Max is giving me grey hair. I'd need at least two wellness holidays to cope with it.

"You're the only one he tolerates right now," she shrugs, and I know she's right. They tried bringing in other PRs to give me a break, but it was even worse with them. Max didn't even follow them. Instead, he stayed in his room until I got there and brought him to his interviews.

"Great," I mutter, rubbing my eyes. Looks like I'm stuck with him for longer.

By the next weekend, Max seems to warm up towards me, but in the media pen, his expressions are still dark, jaw clenched, and eyes storming. As soon as we finish the last interview and leave, he still looks upset by the questions he was asked, but it seems like he's trying to keep his emotions under control.

"I tried, you know," he speaks up quietly, his voice unsteady and anything but confident—not like the usual Max, but a broken one.

"Hm?" I ask, not sure what he means.

"Holding my temper down." His eyes are locked on the path in front, and I'm pretty surprised by his words.

"Really?"

Max sighs, frustration starting to show, and I'm almost sure I'll be yelled at. "I'm not perfect, never said I was," he says, before another sigh leaves his lips.

"No one is," I try to reply gently. "But you can still choose how to react." There's a long pause, and for a moment, it seems like the storm in Max's eyes settles down. It's not gone, but it's more controlled, like he's slowly getting a hold of it.

From then on, we kind of clicked, spending time together even though we didn't have to because work was finished. We made each other laugh, and the tension at Red Bull seemed to lessen with every day Max smiled instead of frowning or wearing an ice-cold expression. But after one particularly hard media day, I'm back with my friend again, whining about how hard it is to work with Max.

"I thought you two got on pretty well? Didn't you say you liked him last week or so?" She teases me, and she's right. We did get along well, and I did say I liked him. But spending more relaxed time with Max also led to more than that.

"My problem is that I like him a little too much for my sanity," I huff, blushing at my words and kind of regretting saying them out loud—especially when my friend laughs softly.

"Oh, so that's the problem."

"That, plus the fact he'd like to rip apart the reporters who dare speak up around him." I manage to say with a slight laugh. Liking Max and working with him sometimes clash, and I still need to figure out the right way to balance it.

"Give him time," she says, her voice gentle and reassuring. "He's getting much calmer with you around. Even Vicky struggled with doing that."

"Maybe because all he did was win last season," I reply with a dry laugh. Working with a winning Max is easier than working with one who's losing podiums on track.

"That could have been a positive benefit for his temper."

The next media day comes, and slowly, I want to curse the person who decided that letting the drivers answer the same question over and over again is an okay concept. Max is tense; I can see it in the way he stands, his fingers twitching, his eyes wandering. Then one of the interviewers seems to overstep a boundary because Max snaps again, drawing all the eyes on him. Before I can react or get over to him, he hurries to my side.

"You need to get me out of here," Max mutters, his voice pressed, eyes looking everywhere but at me.

"What's wrong?" I ask him, trying to figure out what could have put him in this state. There are many curious eyes and cameras on us, but Max is ignoring them all.

"Please," he whispers, his eyes so desperate that it pushes me into action.

"Okay, okay," I mutter, already thinking about a safe spot to take us. "Come with me." I take Max by the sleeve of his jacket and pull him with me, knowing these pictures will be everywhere in a few hours. I manoeuvre us through the paddock, walking between the hospitality areas, until I reach a spot where no one from the media is allowed. Max sits down, shoulders shaking, and I crouch in front of him.

"Max, breathe," I instruct, and he takes a hasty breath. Even though I wonder what brought him to this state, I need to focus on calming him down first.

"I tried to stay calm, to remember what you told me, take a deep breath and not snap at them." He rambles, his eyes wandering from left to right, not really focusing on anything. "But I failed. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You tried." I reassure him, and this time, he looks directly at me.

"I couldn't stay calm, and now I'm fully relaxed. I just want that to work during the interviews." He sounds frustrated, and I understand him. The pressure makes him snap, but being away from the media makes him calm. It does make sense.

"Can you think of anything that would help?" I ask, trying to figure out a way to make things better for him.

"Not doing interviews anymore?" he asks, a bit of humour in his voice, and it makes me laugh softly.

"Not possible."

Max is silent for a moment before whispering, "You staying close to me."

My mind goes blank, and I don't know what to say. "What?" I still don't know how to answer, but luckily, Max speaks again.

"You're the calm to my storm, the peace I didn't know I needed. When you're with me, I can stay grounded, calm." He explains, his voice still so soft it makes my heart ache.

"Max..." I try to say something, but he interrupts me.

"I need you, okay? I know I haven't been easy to work with, but I promise I want to try," Max admits quietly, his voice softer than I've ever heard it before. "To make things easier for you," he adds, lowering his head.

I feel the weight of his words sink in—how much he struggles with everything coming down on him, but that he's trying to change. Not for the sake of his image or balance in his bank account, but to make my work easier.

"I like your stormy personality a little too much, but you're right. Having a soft wind instead of a storm would make my job easier." I tell him with a soft laugh, trying to ease the tension bubbling inside him.

"So, you like me being a hot-headed idiot?" He asks, his face softening, and suddenly, he looks really young—like a boy craving the love of someone.

"Mostly the idiot part," I tease him, knowing that even though he's difficult sometimes, I wouldn't try to change him if he doesn't want to.

"I deserve that one." Max says, grinning at me.

"We'll figure this out together," I tell him, carefully taking his hand in mine. In return, I get the happiest smile.

"Together," Max promises, holding my hand a little tighter. And for the first time in forever, the distance doesn't look wrecked by the storm inside him, but rather like it's being petted by a soft wind of calm emotions.

[glassartpeasants]

Metal, Material, and Medicine

Eustass Kidd x F! Reader x Trafalgar Law

Warnings: Fluff, angst, love at first sight maybe, emotional cheating? The reader is a crafty girl in this so

A/N: In my defense i never said it'd be ONLY fluff

~~~

Sitting on the bed, you couldn’t help but stare hard at the mirror, picking yourself apart. Wondering why you weren’t enough. What was wrong with you that he’d cancel your dates and ignore your calls? Why did he spend time with everyone else but you? Didn’t he know that you loved listening to him talk? Loved hearing the interest and excitement in his voice as he spoke about medical terms. You even studied hard to learn a lot of them just for him.

Was it because you preferred to read romance rather than history or textbooks? How you’d like sparkling water and tea over coffee? Because the simple sight of blood made you squeamish, and you were easily scared? Or was it because you didn’t have a Devil Fruit power like he did? What was so good about everyone else that he’d rather spend time with them and ignore you?

Holding the small polar bear you crocheted for him, a tear or two slipped down your cheek and onto the carefully crafted plushie. You had made it look exactly like Bepo cause you knew how much the Mink meant to him. You even crocheted his orange uniform. The plan was for you and him to have a small date night, to go to a fancy dinner to make up for him ditching you last time. Yet just as the time before, you're sitting on the edge of the bed, all dolled up and crying your eyes out.

Getting up, you place the crocheted Bepo on the carefully made bed. You pick up your bag before making your way to the hallway, you decide you need to get some fresh air. It was the first time you’ve worn something that wasn’t your uniform. Sure, Law had allowed you to decorate your uniform in cute pins, patches, and drawings with fabric marker, but this was different. You had put effort into this look, thinking about it for a whole week before today came, just wanting to look beautiful for him. Wanted his attention for at least one night? Was that too much to ask? For one moment of love?

Upon exiting the Polar Tang, the feeling of the cool air hitting your face has you shivering. It was way too cold to be going out in what you were wearing; after all, you weren’t expecting to leave the ship. But you worked hard tonight, and you wanted at least some recognition. So as you begin walking down the dock and towards the town, hugging yourself for some warmth. It was too late to get a coat now, so you’ll simply prevail. 

Only when you opened the door to the bar did you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. As you stepped inside, the conversation never stopped with the other patrons. Looking around, you find yourself a seat at the bar top. While normally you weren’t a drinker, you were at least gonna down some and hopefully stop the ache in your heart. Your shoes clicked against the floor before you stopped and sat in the chair. The sight of all the choices is almost overwhelming. 

Gently, you pull out the small crochet project you were working on from inside your purse. A cute little red monster plush that you worked on when you weren’t on the Polar Tang or when you were upset. To say you’ve made countless monster plushies in the past few months would be an understatement. This time, you had all the fixings to decorate it, too.

“What can I get ya?” Lifting your head, you met the bartender. An older man who looks like her’s been through a war or two.

“Oh, just one (fav drink) please. Thank you.” Smiling kindly, you sit up a little straighter, happy that at least someone was talking to you. Even if it was his job. Anything was nice.

BAM!

Boisterous laughter immediately fills the bar as the door slams open. Making you fumble with your project as you jump. Looking over your shoulder to glare at the loud men, you feel your stomach drop as you make eye contact with the most rambunctious of them all. Amber eyes meet your own. 

Time felt as if it had stopped as the noise around you went silent. The only thing you're able to do is stare, as does he. Your heart picks up its pace as you feel this indescribable pull towards him.

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

The man in front of you looked nothing like Law. He was taller, built like a tank, and his clothing had him standing out compared to everyone else in the room. His hair was red as rubies, with goggles being the only thing keeping it in place. His face was covered in freckles, with red lipstick painting his lips. Each second looking at him made your heartbeat faster.

“Your drink, Miss.” Blinking, you snap your head back to the bartender as he sets down your drink. Small bubbles come to the top. Reaching out to grab it, the loud chattering of the bar comes back to life all at once. Almost giving you whiplash. Your face felt like it was burning, a feeling that seemed so foreign. Yet a simple glance had you feeling more awake than you have in months.

Resisting the urge to grab at your chest and yell at your heart to calm down, you dig your nails into the wooden bar top and take a sip of the beverage. It was a fleeting feeling. A simple attraction that meant nothing. People see attractive people all the time. It wasn’t anything too great, right? Just drink and go back to making the plushie that had your attention only minutes earlier.

The hair on the back of your neck stood up as you heard someone sit down next to you at the bar top. From the corner of your eye, you can see the familiar unkempt hair, the galaxy of freckles adorning pale cheeks. The fuzz of his coat brushes against your arm, making you shiver before you quickly try to pull yourself together, not wanting him to see how much he seemingly got to you. 

The silence was almost deafening between the two of you. Neither of you has a word. Just suffocating in the tense silence that clouded both of you. Moving your eyes to the bartender, you feel your brows furrowing as you see a look of nervousness on his old face. But this wasn’t the kind of nervousness that you were feeling; it seemed more like fear. Was there something wrong? Did the bartender know something you didn’t?

“Can I get you something, sir?” Barely able to speak without stuttering, the bartender asks the man beside you for his choice of drink.

“Strongest shit you’ve got.”

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

You grit your teeth as you grip the yarn tightly. His voice was ragged like gravel, yet a silky tune that worsened your already racing heart. Your heartbeat against your ribs, almost as if it was going to jump right out of your chest. How could a simple spoken sentence have so much effect on you? Especially a stranger? Was this a devil fruit power or something? You’ve never experienced such a devastating pull to someone before. Not even Law.

When the bartender set the drink down, you decide to once again look at him through your peripheral vision, and to your shock, you see him doing the same thing. After realizing that you both had been caught staring at each other, you both turn your gazes away. Your face felt hot at being caught looking at him. The man’s own freckled cheeks are bursting pink as he slams down the freshly brought alcohol. 

Your fingers began to work on the small red project that was tucked in your lap, hoping it’d take away the edge that clung to you like a second skin. The yarn going through and out of each carefully crafted loop does little to have your shoulders slumping. By now, Law’s cancelation of the date no longer on your mind, instead, the only thing that had your head spiraling was this wall of a man beside you. His body heat is almost like a furnace. 

“What are you making?” The man’s voice broke through your crafting haze, making you stop. Your eyes look up to meet his own. His amber eyes stared into you like a spear. But not with deadly intent if even possible. Looking down at the unfinished plushie, you turn your gaze back up to the man before finally finding your voice.

“Oh…this is just some project I’m making. A little red monster, a small crocheting thing I make when I go anywhere.” Holding up the crafted yarn with your heart in your throat, you gently twirl it, making sure he gets a good look at it.

“Crochet? What the hell’s that?” he asked gruffly, his fingers tentatively touching the acrylic yarn, face scrunching up. “It’s itchy.” 

“Well, it’s acrylic. Sometimes it’s soft and sometimes it’s not. This is a case where it’s not. And crocheting is like a cousin or sibling to knitting and sewing? I can show you how it works…if you want to of course.”

“...Sure.”

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you scoot closer to the larger man, pulling up your yarn and the crochet hook as you get your hands in the proper position. “Okay, so first, you make sure your yarn is wrapped around your finger like so, then you can start.” Explaining the start, you feel your heart quickening again. The smell of metal and alcohol infiltrates your nose, but you don’t move; instead, you find yourself feeling a little less nervous about stranger danger. It was almost…comforting. 

While you explained, he listened, his amber eyes studying it intensely. It was nice having someone to talk to about the hobby that meant a lot to you. You continued your demonstration while talking about everything. Types of yarn and their ridiculous prices, different hook sizes, things you could make, and even stuff you’ve made before. He just let you ramble on while asking a question or two. Everything you were happy to explain and answer. Each question asked only made you more determined to finish your monster plushie. 

“What do you like doing?” You ask, stopping your movements. What did this man, who had just spent the last thirty minutes listening to you talk about yarn, like to do? Surely there had to be something. Maybe something with woodworking?

“Metal.” You blink, close enough.

“Metal? Like wielding?” Watching him smirk, he picked up a spoon and just like that, it began to levitate. It moved around in the air beside the two of you. Mouth dropping open, you reach up to touch it, but it turns into a spiral before your eyes, then undoing itself. It proceeded to turn into different shapes mid-air.

“Holy shit…” Eyes wide, you turn to the man in awe. Starstruck, you feel a million questions popping into your mind. “How did you do that?”

Bringing the spoon to himself, he drops it down into his hand before holding it up. “Jiki Jiki no miu. Ate a lad and now I can do whatever the hell I want with metal, anything you can think of I can do.” The confident smirk on his face made your stomach do flips.

“Supposed it doesn’t help that I’m great with metal regardless. I wouldn’t need the fruit to kick anyones ass when it comes to metal. I’d like to see someone try!” His confidence makes you laugh as you put your head in your hands. What else could he do? What else has he made?

“Do you make weapons too, like a blacksmith? What's some of the coolest stuff you’ve made?” Peppering him with your own questions, you listened intently, hanging onto every word he said. Watching as he showed you small, cool tricks with metal, he could do.

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

He talks about everything while you ask about everything. Each question was answered with enthusiasm. Which metals work best together, and what is the normal heating point for said metals? His favorite to work with, what he likes creating, even telling you times about when he first got his devil fruit powers, and how he practiced. 

“You told your friend to shoot you?! Why?! That could’ve killed you!”

“But it didn’t. And look where I’m at now!” His laughter was infectious, as you couldn’t help but let out your own few chuckles. 

“You're crazy, but you're right. Wild.”

Looking down at your lap, you see the now finished monster plushie. It was the size of your hand, and you quickly put the finishing touches on it before lifting it up to match the man's hair. The yarn of the plushie is the same color as his hair. “Matching.”

Before you stop yourself, you hand over the plushie to him. “Here. He needs a good home, and I’m sure a matching pair like the two of you could make some badass weapons.”

The man looks at you with slightly wide eyes and a light shade of pink against his freckled cheeks. His bigger hand carefully grabs the plushie, holding it to his face. Almost as if admiring it. A look of a lightbulb moment flashes across his face before you watch him levitate a few metal pieces towards himself. He set down the monster before beginning to manipulate the metal. He hid it from you, making you try to peek over his coat.

Finally, he turns to you with his fists closed, his familiar smirk on his face. Yet as you go to comment on it, he opens his hand and a metal-crafted butterfly flies towards you, landing right in your hand gently. Your eyes widened in shock, and your face felt hot. It was beautiful even if it was made with so little. When was the last time someone made something for you? Looking up at the man, you feel your heart beating out of your chest harshly. Your hands curling gently around the butterfly. 

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

“Thank you. It’s beautiful…”

The charging tension felt suffocating as you both simply stared at one another once more. It’s then you realize you never asked his name. You’ve spent the last few hours talking to him, and you haven’t even asked his name? Yet to be fair, He hadn’t asked for yours either. But just as you were about to speak, a loud rupture hits the bar and dust fills the small area.

Coughing and swaying away the dust, you turn around and feel your heart drop to your stomach. There stood Marines aiming guns at you and the man, along with the people he came with. YOu were so screwed. How could you fight Marines with none of the weapons you usually fight with? Not to mention how you were dressed in the worst clothing to fight in. These heels weren’t made for walking, let alone fighting against Marines who have a million guns pointed at you.

Whipping your head towards the man, you start to ask what you should do before a familiar blue bubble surrounds you. Eyes widening, you speak. “Wait! What's your name-?”

Before you can finish, you're no longer at the bar, but instead you're in the Polar Tang deck. All your friends and crewmates are rushing to get in. You see Law in the corner of your eye, huffing and puffing from exhaustion. You knew how making those bubbles tired him out, and if he made a big enough one to cover how far it did, it must have had him on the verge of passing out. The sound of Marines yelling makes you panic and run towards the hatch, your heels echoing on the deck as Law follows after you. Water rises as the Polar Tang begins its descent into the ocean, yet thankfully, the door closes before any water gets in.

The silence now seems tense as there was an obvious question that you saw in Law’s eyes. “Where the hell were you? Why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going?” Anger covers Law’s words, making you shuffle side to side. 

“I was at the bar getting a drink. Everyone was off the ship.” You answer honestly before frowning. “I’m sorry for wanting to take my mind off my boyfriend blowing me off on our date night for the third time.” Crossing your arms, your bag digs into your shoulder. It now feels heavy as the bold metal of the butterfly digs into your hands. Your fingers are absentmindedly running along the gift. 

Law looks you up and down, noting how you're dressed up, rather than in your uniform. A curse leaves his lips before you see a look of guilt and regret flash in his eyes, before a look of annoyance crosses his face. “So just because I’m busy, you go out and try to get the attention of other people. If you knew I forgot, why the hell didn’t you change into your uniform before going to kill your liver?” 

“Maybe because I spent a long time looking nice for you. I put on your favorite outfit, and I still got stood up. I didn’t want to spend hours on makeup, choosing the perfect outfit, heels, and I even made you onigiri and grilled fish for supper! Yet the hours I spent meant nothing, so is it wrong to just want at least a little time to feel pretty? To feel like I'm not invisible?” While you tried speaking with confidence and conviction, there was a sliver of hurt in your voice that couldn’t be ignored. Law was silent for a moment before speaking.

“It is when you're doing it out of spite. Go put your uniform on. You're no longer on the surface, and you're back with your crew. There are rules for a reason, and you’ll freeze if you keep that on.” Turning, he begins to walk away, while his voice wasn’t as mean as it was before, there was still a tone of annoyance in his voice that made your chest ache.

You follow him as if there's no way this conversation was over, not when your heart still hurts. “Hey! This isn’t over! You can’t just brush me off after standing me up and not at least apologize! I waited a whole hour after the date was supposed to start! What was so important that you had to stand up to your girlfriend instead of telling her you were canceling?!” You call out, following him to his study.

“I had more important things to do! That’s what being a captain entails!” He snaps back, opening his study door before slamming it behind him, locking you out.

Pulling at the door, you pound at the door, tears of frustration and rejection threatening to slip down your cheeks. “Damnit, Law! Being a captain also means accepting responsibility! And just accept you were in the wrong!” You yell through the metal door, yet no response from Law. “Law, open the door and talk to me like an adult!” Pounding your fist against the metal once again goes ignored. 

Gritting your teeth, tears slip down your cheeks as you softly touch your forehead to the door. The chill metal against your forehead makes you shiver. Placing your hand on the door beside your head, you whisper out, knowing he probably couldn’t hear you through the thick metal. “...please…” 

With a trembling lip, you push yourself off the door, turning to go to your shared room to change. No longer feeling the happiness you once felt minutes ago with the man who made the butterfly you still held in your other hand. It was like a lifeline as your soul feels heavy. All you want is someone to love you and be there for you. To look at you like…like the man at the bar did.

Closing the door to your shared room, you let your purse fall from your shoulder and onto the floor before collapsing onto the bed. Curling up into a fetal position, you hold the butterfly to your heart. Sniffling as your tears fall against your pillow.

It wasn’t fair. How come a random stranger at the bar treated you better than your own boyfriend?  Looked at you like you were the only one in the room? Spent more time with you than Law has in how long?

Each thought made a small voice nag in the back of your head. Was it bad to compare them? Were you wrong for talking to him? You weren’t flirting, were you? At least you didn’t try to. He was just so easy to talk to. It felt as if you’d known him for years. Like you’ve known each other since birth, despite only meeting him tonight. He didn’t act as if you were a burden or an annoyance. Was it so wrong to enjoy the feeling of company? 

But now, you’ve never met again, as you never caught his name. Being bubbled away before you could after the Marines showed up. Now thinking of it, was it okay? The Marines held their guns at him, too. What you didn’t know but you just hoped he was okay. You didn’t know who the Marines were after precisely, but considering you were a heart pirate, you weren’t gonna think too hard about it. 

Holding the butterfly tighter, you let yourself fall asleep. Hoping a world of dreams would soothe your aching heart. 

~~~

The Victoria Punk sails away from the island, yet the Captain stares at it from the upper deck alone. A scowl on his face. A suffocating feeling in his chest as he watched the piece of land get smaller and smaller. He felt his eye twitch as he remembered how he easily spent hours listening to someone talk about yarn and how they listened to him ramble about his devil fruit powers and about everything metal. Hell, the only one who listens to him ramble and whom he actually listens to is his best friend. Why the hell was this person so easy to talk to?

Looking down, his amber eyes stare at the small plush that was given to him. It didn’t even fully cover his palm, but it felt so heavy. He couldn’t even think of a time he owned a plush creature. So, to be gifted one by a stranger felt odd. The red yarn, while itchy, seemed soft and as red as his hair, its eyes staring back at him with the smile you had embroidered into it. ‘I’m sure you two could make some badass weapons…’ Your words echoed in his head as he stared into the monster's eyes.

“Oi Kidd! What's up with you? You’ve been acting weird ever since we went to that bar on the island.” Turning his head, Kidd sees his best friend enter his cabin, his voice curious and concerned. 

“Nothing, Killer. Just tired.” Hr grunts back, trying to hide the small plush. Like hell he’s showing him the creature he couldn’t imagine getting rid of.

“Bullshit. The moment you entered the bar and looked at that girl, you acted like a completely different person.” The scowl on Kidd’s face grows more as he feels a muscle twitch in his jaw.

“I don’t know what you're talking about.” All Kidd did was a simple glance, nothing more. His heart didn’t beat in his chest like a drum, nor did he feel like it was trying to pull him to the bar top. Of course, his face didn’t flush when he caught your eyes with his own. His body would never betray him like that, no sir.

“Liar. I saw how your eyes widened in shock and slight panic when that chick disappeared. You can’t hide shit from me.” Kidd didn’t need to see his face to know he was smirking.

“That's it, get out!” Kidd goes and shoves him out the door before locking it. Letting out a huff, Kidd tries to ignore how warm his face feels as he sits on the edge of his bed.

“This ain’t over! You can’t escape it forever!” Killer calls out in a laugh from the other side of the door.

“Fuck off!” Snapping back, Kidd groans before flopping back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. 

Killer didn’t know what he was talking about. He was Eustass “Captain” Kidd! The most wanted worst gen pirate! Whose name caused fear in anyone who heard it or saw him! Like hell he’d let some girl try and come along to screw it up all cause she made him feel funny and made him a small creature just because he made her a butterfly meant nothing either. He was simply feeling generous cause he was in a good mood, and she didn’t cause it. Nope. It was the beer he drank, even if it was only one.

He definitely wasn’t feeling worried when you disappeared into thin air. Why would he be concerned when, on his way back to his ship, he couldn’t spot you? Only some dumbass would feel shit like that. Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore. After all, he never caught your name, nor would he ever see you again. It was just a pirate and a civilian talking. Nothing weird about it at all. He’d sail the world and become king of the pirates while you’d stay on your little island and move on with your life. It was just the way the world worked, and it’s the way it’d stay.

But he supposed it’d be nice to have a little buddy to make things with.

~~~

Sitting in his study, Law looked at the maps sprawled across his desk. Desperately trying to ignore the accusing picture that stared back at him from the very edge of the wooden surface. Your smile berated him for his failure as a boyfriend. The loud words you spoke from the other side of the metal door earlier rang in his ears. And even if he didn’t want to admit it, it’s all he’s been able to think about.

The sound of your cracking voice as you demanded an apology after he stood you up bounced off the walls. Inside, he knew he owed you one. He knew he was in the wrong, knew he’d hurt you again. But he really didn’t mean to. He just got caught up in restocking the ship with food and supplies. Figuring out the next course of action for the crew. It couldn’t have been that long, right?

He was the Captain; he had duties to attend to. You must’ve known what being with him entails, right? Hell, you were just a crew member before you two got together.

Law runs his fingers through his hair as his mind tries to justify himself for why he stood you up, but nothing truly sticks. The date was planned weeks in advance, hell, he even knew about it yesterday, and still forgot.

The plush creatures you’ve given him stare at him with disdain, along with the blanket you made him, which is burning on his chair as if he didn’t deserve to touch it. His coffee cup sat on top of the cozy coaster you made for him for Valentine's Day. Almost his entire office was covered in things you’ve made him. Stuff that you spent hours on just for him. 

He remembered the time he caught you reading one of his medical books, and how you looked embarrassed at being caught. When you admitted that you wanted to learn some medical terms just to be able to talk to him and understand what he was saying, it made his heart flip in his chest. Knowing that even though you fainted at the sight of blood, you tried to learn just for him. And yet, while you tried to learn for him, he had never spent the time learning for you.

Never tried learning about the ins and outs of your hobbies or things you love. All the abbreviations or patterns he ignored, not bothering to understand the difference between types of yarn. Weren’t they all the same at the end of the day? If they got the job done, then what was the difference?

Thinking about it all, he hates how shitty he’s been, but how could he apologize now? Not to mention, would you even accept it? He couldn’t blame you if you didn’t, especially when he had made you cry. Even through the metal door, he could hear the tremble in your voice as you demanded to talk to him. How could he face you when you looked so beautiful in your outfit, even when you cried? 

His heart told him to rip off the door and pull you close, to kiss away your tears, even if he was the one to cause them. To whisper apologies and promise to be better. To tell you how ethereal you looked. How your smile lit up every room, or how your voice always made his heartbeat faster. That you deserved all the treasure in the world, and how you meant more to him than any title or gold could give.

The uniform that adorned your body felt suffocating as you approached the water's surface. A whole two weeks without contact from the outside world and being hundreds of feet underwater with only LED lights illuminating the sub made you question your sanity.  Metal that creaked under pressure and was always cool to the touch, just like the stale air that circulated. It was always so cold on the subway. Normally, it was fine, but the last two months it's just been so unbearable. Almost as if you’ve actually stepped into the Arctic. Each time you’d change it, it felt like the air was stabbing at your skin like needles. 

If the environment wasn’t cool enough, then there was the rift that came between you and Law. Ever since that night, things haven’t been the same. Anyone with eyes could see how you’ve moved back into the girls' cabin. No longer sharing the captain's quarters where you’ve spent countless nights staring at the man who once slept next to you. But now, it was simply a skeleton of what had been.

Your relationship was deteriorating with each passing day. Law had never said he was sorry, not even giving you something as an apology, since he wasn’t good with words. It was something he’d do a lot instead of verbally apologizing, but at least it was something. Yet he wasn’t even doing that now. Instead, he just ignored you like you were some worm on the ground where he walked. Then again, you haven’t really made an effort either, have you? Since you cried yourself to sleep that night, clutching that butterfly tightly, you’ve kept your distance. Purposely or not, you’ve avoided being near him. Instead, choose to simply stay in your bunk.

While in there, though, an array of colors decorates your share. Shades of red voice your side like a shadow. The color usually associated with anger brought you a calm you’d never felt before. Making it to the point where you could even say that you’ve used all the yarn with red in it. Something that usually takes you, maybe a year, depending on what you’d make. But you’ve never gone through any color that fast. And you put the blame on the man whose name you never got.

Small red tulips scatter your bed, each one reminding you of the wild hair that haunted your dreams. The small fighting bull you’ve made in honor of him slept by your side every night. Helping you cope with the feeling of rejection and loneliness. You hugged it up as well as the pillow that you clung to in place of a warm body to sleep next to you. Every morning, waking up to noting how you clutched the pillow like it’d disappear with even the slightest loosen of grip. And while you knew it was wrong, you dreamed it was the man at the bar rather than the man you called your boyfriend. The scent of metal and alcohol seared into your brain as you did your best never to forget the smell. Thankfully, it was easy since you were surrounded by metal walls, which made it impossible to forget him. 

The metal butterfly you always kept with you has now turned into a good luck charm. Keeping it in your pocket and protecting it like it were the most important thing in the world. Never being apart from it for a moment. Even now, it’s the only thing that someone has given you and shown they care. Not even a hug in the last two months in this death pit. So now that you're free to actually breathe fresh air, you’d take off with you, hoping for just a small amount of luck. Maybe you’ll get lucky and there’ll be a sale at a craft store on the island. With how big it’s supposed to be, it’d be dumb if there wasn’t.

“Everyone ready? Remember what I’ve told you about the dangers on Sabaody? Alright, Group A, come with me, Group B, go grab some supplies, and Group C, stay here to watch the ship. We’ll meet back at the sub at 4 pm.” Law’s voice echoes against the walls as each crewmate leaves the Polar Tang and steps onto the grass. 

Taking a deep breath, the feeling of fresh air seemed to lift a small amount of weight off your shoulders. The warm sun shining down on you, scaring away the chills that had become your norm. It took everything inside you not to just lie on the ground and soak up the sun. The sound of your shoes hitting the soapy ground goes unnoticed as the chattering of patrons overpowers it. Citizens far as the eye could see.

To your honest shock, you wouldn’t have thought Law could put you in Group A. After the way your relationship has been heading, you would’ve thought he’d put you on Group B or C. But you weren’t gonna complain. At least this way, you get more time outside instead of being cramped up inside the sub.

You walked behind all of them, being in the very back behind Bepo and Penguin. Now you wouldn’t have to be so close to LA and enjoy the sights. It was so bright and lively, unlike the dark abyss of the sea. The way children giggled as they played, loving couples holding hands and acting without a care, it all seemed to laugh at you. Showing you what you're missing and can’t have what seems to have been lost. 

Kicking a rock on the ground, you stick your hand in your pocket. The butterfly soothing your frayed nerves, telling you it’d be okay.

~~~

“All worst generation pirates?”

“The top ten, yeah. We’re next to Marine HQ, so we shouldn’t make a big fuss. Try to keep a low profile for now.” 

“Ha! Yeah. Whatever you say, Killer.” With his three best crewmates beside him, Kidd walks along the archipelago. His eyes never stay in one spot for long as he takes in the overwhelming life blooming in the soapy environment. His aura as he walks has people looking in fear, rushing to get out of his way. Afraid of angering the known hot head.

His smirk plastered on his face, walking with confidence despite the small weight in his pocket that haunted him like a ghost. The red crocheted beast was tucked away into the pocket of his pants. Always there to stand by his side. Just like his best friend. Even if he didn’t admit it, the creature meant so much to him. His good luck charm and a reminder of the woman who constantly haunted his dreams. 

Months passed, and your face was still crystal clear in his dreams. There were countless dreams of things that never happened or didn’t make sense.

He’s seen you on his ship, sitting near the railing, crocheting something with a contented smile on your face. Talking to his crew as if they belonged there. As if you’ve been there from the beginning. Or how he’s dreamed of you enjoying some drink at some other dingy bar than the one he originally met you at. Except this time you weren’t wearing the tej clothes he first saw you in, but in a beige-like boiler suit. You didn’t have your bag with you, just nursing on some pink drink.

The final was in this theater-like place, with seats lined up accordingly. You sat with people in the exact same outfit as the bar dreams boiler suit, with the only difference being that you were next to someone nearby. But despite that, he still knew it was you. As in the dream, the two of you had made eye contact. You seemed shocked to see him before you smiled, and of course thats where the dreamed ended. The sight of you smiling at him even in your dream made his heart do flips.

Two whole months, and the thought of you still had his heart beating in a way he refused to acknowledge. It was absurd. Him, Eustass ‘Captain’ Kidd, losing his goddamn mind over a woman who’d he met and never got her name. Who had disappeared suddenly as you tried to ask for his own name? How you didn’t know him was curious. The most feared and wanted worst gen pirate. On one hand, it made him curious on how you could’ve been so out of the loop, but on the other hand, it was nice to be just talking to someone who kissed his ass out of fear. How you two locked eyes, but you didn’t immediately look away in terror. When you listened to him ramble and explain metalworking and his Devil Fruit powers. The way you looked at him in awe, almost felt like a drug he missed.

Now, every island he went to, he’d actually take a second glance at any store that sold fabric or yarn. Thinking of what colors you’d like compared to the ones in the windows. What you’d look like choosing the right ones for you. The way you’d probably compare prices, and quietly, while feeling the softness of each material. Torn between cotton and acrylic. Simple things that seem so small but manage to live rent-free in his head. 

It was driving him crazy. Almost insane with how you plagued his thoughts constantly, never giving him a moment's peace. Hell, he even found himself making things he’d normally never do. Instead, he found himself making things he thought you’d like despite knowing he’d never see you again. Tiny metal sculptures of bodies that just coincidentally had the same body type as you. His mind swirled as no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts always ended back at you.

Looking around, the sign of a bar caught his eye. Scoffing, he turns to his crew. “Let’s go get a drink. I can tell this place is gonna drive me crazy.” Without another word, Kidd makes his way to the building. Hoping that a few drinks will purge you from his mind. At least until he gets back to his ship

~~~

Walking through the overpopulated land, Law stays vigilant. Keeping an eye out for bounty hunters, Marines, Celestial Dragons, and other pirates. The dangers of Sabotage were not lost on him, which led him to his three-group plan. People always try to protect the Polar Tang, people grabbing supplies and their closest crewmates with them as backup, including you. While his mind wanted you at the boat safe, he knew you’d be pissed. Even more pissed then you’ve been these last couple months.

He also knew he wasn’t doing much to help either. Knowing he never apologized or tried to rectify missing that date. What would he say that didn’t make him sound like the biggest asshole and worst boyfriend on the Grand Line? There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Corazon, his parents, and Lami were probably criticizing everything he was doing now. 

It didn’t help that he didn’t know what to do. He watched as you moved back to the girls' bunk. Now, the shared bed that used to have a comforting warmth that he took for granted was gone. Instead, a lonely cold replaced it. You were no longer waiting for him to join you in bed. No longer there to wrap yourself around him and warm him up. To massage his shoulders after a hard day. Give him those small kisses he claimed to hate, yet never stopped you.

Those days of looking at him and listening to him explain the plot to Sora. The face you made when you caught him reading a volume. How you insisted he ramble and read the comics with you, all gone. Now all he did was stare at the ceiling, wondering how to fix what he’s damaged.

The plushie you left on the bed the night he missed that never left there. Instead, he hid it under his pillow until he went to bed. Grabbing it and holding it like a lifeline. Like it was you he was holding rather than being alone. The smile on its face mocked him, reminding him that it was no longer the smile that he woke up to.

That Bepo plushie was the last thing you made him ever since, and even though he knew he didn’t appreciate them like he should’ve, he missed seeing the heartfelt creations. The bottom drawer of his desk was filled with crocheted flowers. Much better than the real thing, as these would last forever and never wilt.

“Hey, Captain! Where are we going again?” Bepo’s voice pulled Law from his own world, bringing him to the present. 

“Auction house.” His response was swift, eyes still staring straight ahead. Desperately trying to ignore how you walked behind everyone else when you used to be glued to his hip. How, instead of being the chatterbox he knew you to be, you were silent. Seemingly lost in your own thoughts. 

An uneasy feeling hit him like a train. There was something that didn’t seem right. It wasn’t how distant the two of you had been, but there was just something he couldn’t explain. A dread that seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. 

He tried to ignore it, needing to focus on the present even if the past and future seemed to chain him to the ground.

~~~

As you sat in the chair, the whole situation seemed suffocating. Sitting behind Law and your other crewmates, you try to ignore the whole room. How anyone was able to stomach being in the same room as this happened was beyond you. Oh how you wanted to bash in teh Celestial Dragons skull for all teh horrible shit they’ve done and continue to do. But you knew you were powerless to stop it. With Marine HQ nearby, you had to be on your best behavior.

After catching another comment made by a Celestial Dragon, you turn your head, holding your metal butterfly tightly. Hoping it’d calm you down. Sighing, you throw your arm behind the seat, happy since no one was behind you to say anything. Throwing your head back as well, you stare at the large ceiling. The voices of the auctioneer bounce off the walls.

Turning your head towards the door, you feel your eyes bulging open as you sit up straight. Your hand grips the seat as your hold on the butterfly tightens.

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

It couldn’t be, could it? No…he was just some random civilian you’d never see again. Someone you left on that island. Someone with a face you’ll never forget. Your mouth goes dry as you stare. He looked no different. The familiar flaming hair, those amber eyes, and the freckles that dusted his skin. That feathery coat that felt like a cloud when it brushed against you two months prior. The gold bracelets that glittered in the lights and those red nails that were better than your own. And you couldn’t forget the enchanting red lipstick on his lips. 

Your hand rushed to your chest, clutching your racing heart, telling it to calm teh fuck down. That your mind was playing a trick on you. Even if the same men who accompanied him that night were there too. You must be hallucinating; your sleep schedule has been horrible, so it must just be from lack of sleep.

Just as you go to turn around, the man himself turns towards you. It's then that the realization hits you. Both your eyes meet and immediately lock. The world around the two of you ceases to exist. An unbearable pull fills you, just as it did that night. A dying urge to go to him. It felt like someone was wrapping a rope around your heart and was tugging you with all their might to make you leave your seat and approach him.

His eyes were wide, just as shocked to see you as you were him. Kidd could feel his fingers twitch and his heart thumping against his ribs. It felt as if it was going to burst from his chest. The familiar feeling he felt those months ago resurfaced instantly. From the top, he was able to look down at you a few rows away, and saw the metal butterfly still clutched in your hand. Knowing you kept it with you all these months, like he’d done with your plushie monster, made his head spin.

The dream he had of you those weeks ago was playing right in front of him. Never in a million years did he think he’d see you again. Let alone on Sabaody. His eyes scanned the area around you and took note of the multiple people in the same outfit minus the patches and pins that adorned yours. That made you unique and stand out from the crowd.

It didn’t take long for him to put two and two together, and he realized that you were a pirate. Just like him. Sailing the seas for adventure, only on a different crew. He felt his jaw tick as your crew's Jolly Roger showed on your uniform. He recognized it instantly as the Heart Pirates. He’s heard about them through the papers and random passing conversations. His eyes moved along the seats beside you before he saw your captain. He must’ve felt Kidd’s stare as he turned around. Smirking, he watched as Law filled him off before turning back to face the front. 

Kidd felt his eye twitch as the insurmountable urge to wipe that smug look off his face almost as suffocating as the feeling of you staring at him. In a shocked silence, Kidd watched as you turned to face your Captain, seeing him no longer pay attention, before you quietly left your seat. Each step towards him felt like an eternity. You kept looking behind you to make sure he wasn’t going to catch you coming near a rival Captain. 

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

When you finally reached him, time stopped as his heart rang in his ears. It’s never beat so fast in his life. The two of you said nothing at first. All the confidence he usually carried disappeared in your presence. His voice stuck in his throat.

“Hey…” Your words were soft, full of the same shock he was feeling himself.

“Hey,” he repeated what you said, his mind short-circuits. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” 

“I could say the same. I didn’t know you were a pirate.” Your words made a blank stare appear on his face. Still, after two months, you didn’t know his name? He knows he’s been causing chaos and has been in the paper numerous times over the last month. Did you live under a rock or something? 

There was a silence between the two of you, trying to figure out what to say. It felt like he’d just met you all over again. Kidd dug a singular nail into his palm as he tried to think about what to talk about to keep you next to him.

“How's your metalworking going since we last spoke? Make anything cool?” Kidd tried desperately not to give away his flushed cheeks so as not to admit he’s been constantly making things for you and things he thought you might like. Even though he was so sure he’d never see you again. 

“Just the usual. Fixing up the crews things.” Liar.

“Oh, that's cool! You’ll…have to show me sometime.” Kidd’s heart flipped in his chest at the knowledge that you wanted to see his work and see him more. See what he’s capable of. He bit the inside of his cheek, hoping it’d help calm his heart down. It felt like it was beating hard  enough the whole auction house could hear it. 

“Yeah, totally…how’s your crocheting going? Make anything new?”

It was your turn to feel nervous now. No way in hell would you tell him that every piece you’ve made has been dedicated to him by the simple color red. That you used all your red just to surround yourself in it. 

“I’ve been trying to learn how to crochet clothing. I’ve seen some cute things in magazines, I may or may not have stolen from yarn stores.” You heard his laughter once again after months of it playing in your head. 

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

“What? Stuff’s expensive for no reason! I’ll pay for things when they're a reasonable price.” Crossing his arms, he looks down at you with a smirk before being deep in thought. “You know, I never caught your name,” you add, which makes a lightbulb go off in his own head.

“You tell me yours first.” The memory and knowledge that you still haven’t learned each other's names made you feel silly.

So you held your hand out for him to shake, trying to calm down your racing nerves. “(L/N) (Y/N).”

The moment his hand engulfed yours, it felt as if your whole body was on fire. The feeling of his huge hand fully engulfing yours made your head spin. 

“Eustass ‘Captain’ Kidd.” Shaking each other's hands, the urge to keep him holding your hand was overwhelming.

“Captain, eh? My apologies for not reading the papers. I might have known your glorious title sooner.” You joke, causing Kidd to grin widely. That single look was enough to have butterflies in your stomach. The world around you was nonexistent, as all that was in front of you was Kidd.

As Law focused ahead of him, unaware of your absence behind him, it was Penguin who caught you talking to the rival captain. He watched you silently as he studied the two of you. The way Kidd held your hand was just a little too long to be anything but friendly. Noting how the two of you talked like you've known each other for years. The lack of hostility from the normally erratic rival captain was unlike anything he'd seen before. And anything like what was happening on the Polar Tang.

Penguin and the rest of the crew weren’t dumb. They could see as their captain's relationship cracked and decayed each and every day. How did you move back into the girls' bunk instead of sleeping in the captain's quarters? That you no longer got him coffee or sung his praises. It was hard to see. The crew cared about you and their captain. How could they explain how they felt about the situation without being accused of taking sides? 

Elbowing Shachi, Penguin nodded his head towards you and Kidd. Even kicking Bepo’s foot. The bear and man, confused, look over to the entrance of the auction house, eyes widening when seeing the scene of their crewmate being more social and smiling for the first time in months.

They look back at their captain before looking at you. One sitting forward and unaware. While the other laughs at something unheard. A laugh that they’d thought they’d never hear again, but here you were. What was it about the rival captain that so easily brought you out of your self-imposed mutism? 

Staring at the two of you, they tried studying every movement. Every facial expression. From him and you. Trying to pick up exactly what they were seeing. I wanted to ignore the uneasy feeling that rose in my stomach. 

The more they looked, the more they could clearly see the smitten look on both your faces. How close the two of you were. Not on edge. Not acting like you were supposed to be rivals. They could see the way the most wanted worst gen pirate seemed so…calm, gentle. Well, as gentle as a brute like him could be. But it was like they were witnessing a different person entirely.

The two of you are in your own world, ignoring the chaos that surrounds you.

Hearing the shuffle of their captain, they immediately go back to facing the front. If he saw the way you looked at Kidd, the way his crew simply watched without telling him wasn’t something they wanted to learn. SO they played the part of oblivious crewmates. Pretending not to have seen the look you once gave to their captain to another man.

~~~

You don’t know how long you’ve been talking to him, but you never wanted to stop. It was amazing to have someone listen to you ramble. To look at you like you weren’t bothering him. Was it so wrong to want attention on yourself? To be seen at least for a moment?

It’s what you told yourself. Cause deep down, you knew that what you were feeling wasn’t something you should be feeling. THe crippling want to be near him and never leave when your still with Law. Still have this voice in your head that says,  one more time. That you still love him. That he still loves you, even though he just has trouble showing it. You’ve been with him for 3 years, you couldn’t throw that away for a man you’ve met twice, even if the man made your heart flip more than it ever has before. How the butterflies in your stomach grew tenfold every time he smiled.

Your heart ached. Beating too fast yet breaking as the love that you once wielded for Law poured out a gentle stream. Quiet and unsuspected until the last second. But as it broke, it felt as if it was being wielded together to hold a new emotion that's overwhelming to the point of insanity. Mind racing as your life forks in front of you.

The Heart Pirates have been your everything for years. IT’s all thanks to them that you know what you do. That you feel more confident as a pirate. Hell, that you're even a pirate in the first place. So, how could your heart do this to you? Bring you to such a magnetic pull towards this man. That the single meeting two months ago has your feelings in wack. A single man can change you so much. Can feel your heart beating like a drum. Have you been dreaming of him every night and remembering his face so clearly? Consciously or unconsciously making things with the color red, you’ve never bothered to do before.

Every waking minute was spent thinking of him. Doing your duties on the ship, fighting other pirates, even talking to other crewmates, your mind was wild, always on him. And now, you even know his name. Eustass Kidd. It felt like honey on your tongue and music to your ears. Butterflies flutter in your stomach constantly as your mind replays it like a broken record. 

“You know, I saw a bar not far from here.” Kidd offers with that same hypnotizing smile. You wanted to say yes without a second thought, but you were with your crew. What would happen if they saw you were gone? Then again, they do look focused… 

“Lead the way.” 

~~~

On your way to the bar, the two of you pass through the market, distracted. Bright signs and goods as far as the eye can see. Anything and everything for sale. 

“Oh! Look! There's a yarn shop!” Stopping, Kidd watches you tug on the sleeve of his jacket, pointing towards this small shop snuggled between a clothing and shoe store. When you turned your head towards him, it felt as if his heart was going to explode out of his chest. The way your eyes filled with stars and your touch had his skin on fire. 

“Fine. But no more than ten minutes. I don’t want anyone seeing me in here.” He watches as you roll your eyes before practically dragging him into the shop.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your reputation will take SUCH a hit.” Your teasing made a slight flush appear on his cheeks and a small smirk on his painted lips. Not many had the guts to talk shit right back to him and it was a nice change of pace.

The smell of the shop hits his nose, making his nose scrunch up. An overwhelming lavender scent wafts through the air. Incense sticks poke out on the table, surrounded by boxes of said incense and a holder for them.

Although small, the shop was filled with a wide variety of yarn. Small, chunky, itchy, soft, and shiny. He moved along the shelves, looking around, but his attention always went back to you, how your face would light up when you found a color you liked, when your eyes went wide at seeing the price tag on some items before putting them back. 

Grabbing a thicker yarn, Kidd watches as you feel it around before handing it to him. “Here, feel this and tell me your thoughts.” Cautiously, reaching out to it as if it’d burn him, Kidd grabs it. The yarn is soft and malleable. It was only a bit bigger than the size of his hand. 

Distracted by the soft yarn, he doesn’t notice you holding up a ball of yarn to him. The color is bright red before you hold up another one.

“What are you doing?”

“Comparing colors, trying to get the right shade.” With your answer, Kidd watches as you grab more yarn. Random colors that didn’t make sense till he saw you grab enough to almost fill your entire arms. The pile practically covers most of your face. Only your eyes and what was up above the mountain of yarn were visible. It made Kidd laugh as he looked down at you. A smirk was placed on his lips before he set the yarn he was holding right on the spot in front of your eyes. 

“Hey! Move that!”

“Should’ve brought a cart.” He heard you huff, imagining the annoyed look on your face. The feeling of doing such a simple thing, like getting some yarn to make you happy, was foreign. Such a mundane thing, but the urge to be the one to make you smile is overwhelming, like a need. Every time he saw you smile, it felt like a train hit him at full speed.

Was this what a heart attack felt like? The burning in his chest at your laugh and smile? It made him want to clutch his chest. Even if he sisn’t understand the interest, the fact that it made you happy seemed to be enough for him. If you could hear him ramble about metal and look so engrossed with what he's saying the entire time, then he’d learn the difference between yarns. But only for you. 

“Come on! Take it or move it to the side so I can see! I need to pay for these!”

“I thought you stole when it’s too pricey?” Kidd questions as he carefully moves the yarn just enough for you to see. Your voice muffled by the multiple skews of yarn. 

“I support small businesses. Especially in this economy. Plus, we raided an enemy ship before we got here, so I gotta use my berries somewhere.” Shrugging your shoulders, you turn and make your way to the counter. “We can go find a blacksmith or something after I pay. You know, so you can get something since you came with me to the yarn store. I don’t mind learning a bit more about the metal work you do.” 

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

“I don’t know, can you carry all your bags cause I ain’t carrying them for you.” Kidd teases with a smirk, which makes you chuckle in response.

“I’m strong enough to carry my yarn! Just watch me!” He watches as you put your things in bags and loop them on your arms before turning to him. “Alright, let's go! Lead the way, Captain.” Kidd felt his heart skip a beat as the two of you left the store. 

When your back outside, he searches around, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. It’s in the far distance that he sees a sign that catches his eye.

“There. Think you can walk that far?” His teasing puts a smile on your face before you start moving.

“Let’s go.” Walking side by side, Kidd can’t help but steal glances at you. He hoped you wouldn’t notice the way his cheeks were probably flushed. The way you managed to make him overthink everythnig he was doing when next to you had him spinning. Each glance at you only strengthened the urge to wrap his arms around your waist and hold you close so no one else could look at you with the feeling he felt himself.

The nagging feeling of knowing you were part of a rival pirate group still ate at the back of his mind. Out of everything in the world, it was a Heart Pirate that made him feel like this? It was wrong. If his crew knew about it, what would they think? How can he even explain it? Yet how could he deal with more months apart when only two drove him crazy?

~~~

“How long has she been gone?!” Law demands, his eyes wide as his heart beats out of his chest. What the hell did Bepo mean you left with Eustass Kidd?! Did you know how batshit crazy he was? How violent was he?! He was dangerous? “Which way did she go?!”

“We only saw her leave the auction house, Captain! We didn’t want to cause a scene and have Marines show up…and besides…it looked like they knew each other. They were talking and laughing like old friends.” Law couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Why and when did the two of you get so cozy? There had to be something Bepo was missing. No way you’d just walk away with a complete stranger! Not to mention a violent rival captain! 

“Come on! We’re going to find her.” Without sparing a second, Law quickly moves out of the auction house and back out into the sun. His head moves constantly, desperate to try and get a sign of you. With his heart beating out of his chest, he quickly started making his way closer to a more populated area. Hoping he’d see you. Yet, he screeches to a stop when he sees you and that brute walking back towards the auction house. 

You're smiling and laughing. Happier than he’s seen you in months. Instead of being quiet, you were talking just like you used to. Law actually had to rub his eyes, just to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. Eustass-ya was even holding your bags for you despite your protests, even if they were weak. He couldn’t comprehend how the hell you managed to even have him do it. 

Law turns to Kidd, and it’s then that he feels a muscle in his jaw twitch when he fully examines Kidd’s face. There's a look that makes a slow yet burning rage bubble inside him. Why was he looking at you like that? Like you meant something to him.

And when he looked at you, it felt like the rage was doused in water. The same look you used to give him. Something reserved for only him, yet now someone else was on the receiving end. No longer was he given that look. When was the last time you looked at him like that? And why did he get that look? 

“(Y/N).” Law watched as you whip your head in his direction, your eyes going wide for a second before going to a different look. But he could see the look of guilt in your eyes.

“Captain.” Your response made his heart clench. He remembered the times you called him by his name. Even if he didn’t like it, you still said it with a joy that made him forget why he was upset in the first place.  

“What are you doing with Eustass-ya? He’s from a rival pirate group and dangerous. Come here.” He felt his heart sink when you didn’t move.

“But he hasn’t done anything to hurt me. If anything, he’s been kind to me. Hell, he won't let me carry my own bags! Besides…he actually listens to me. He doesn’t pretend like I don’t exist.” With your voice trailing off, your face falls. He can see the faintest flush on Kidd’s face from your praising.

There was tension in the air, as no one spoke. Your hands clenched into your fists as Law watches you taking a shuddering breath. “He listens to me ramble about interests. Why couldn’t you do that for me? How come a stranger enjoys my company more than my own boyfriend?” The defeat in your voice made Law’s heart ache with regret. He knows he hasn’t been perfect, but knowing what you truly felt like out loud almost had his heart stop. Is that what you truly thought? Is that what your relationship has become? So deteriorated that a stranger, dangerous one at that, made you happier than he did?

“Is that how you really feel?” Law’s voice was quiet as all that mattered right now was you. The world was nothing but empty space, as all he saw and heard was you. He watched with a shredded heart how you struggled to hold back tears. Your lip is trembling as you stare at the ground.

“Yes.” The sound of your answer rang through his ears as he wanted nothing more then to scoop you up in his arms and hold you close. To whisper apologies into your ear and promise to be better. To give him a chance to prove that he deserves your love. But he didn’t.

When he looked at Kidd and saw him looking at you, he saw the way his amber orbs were soft. Nothing like the sharp and crazed way they were in every picture of him. It felt like he was witnessing a different man. It was a look he knew so well. One where everyone in his crew said he used to look at you with. And it looked an awful lot like love.

Now here was this man who was looking at you like some lovesick fool. And even though he tried to erase it from his mind, he saw you looking at him with the same look earlier when you were walking back from the market district. He was losing you before his eyes, and he didn’t know if there was anything he could do about it.

“Why didn’t you tell me…?”

“I’ve tried. But you locked me out. So I stopped trying. What’s the point when I’d get rejected all over again? Have my heart broken again?” Your voice was soft as you lifted your head up. Eyes glassy, and when he looked hard enough, he saw a flicker of the love you hold or held for him. Begging him to try harder. 

“What now, then?” Another tense silence spreads between all of you. The tension was almost suffocating as Law waited for your response. 

“I don’t know.” Law watches as you take a deep breath before speaking again. “Can we talk alone, you guys? Please?”

Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo look at each other before looking to Law, who nods before turning back to you. Kidd’s eyes slightly sharpened as he gazed at Law before doing his own nod to you. As he moves back to the auction house to meet his crew, the other three follow a safe distance behind. Taking one last look before turning back forward.

There was another dense silence before Law took a few steps forward till you were only feet apart. Your heart beat harshly as your mind spun. What was there to do now that you two were alone?

Hearing Law sigh, you feel him grab you and pull you into a hug. Not tight or rough, but gentle, comforting. The single touch had you finally breaking down. Your tears pour down your cheeks as they quickly drench Law’s hoodie. Wrapping your arms around Law, you hold onto him like a lifeline. His own hands rubbing your back and gently petting the back of your head. 

He put his chin on the top of your head. A slight sway as you cry into his hold. It was a feeling that you missed more than anything, but it no longer felt the same. It no longer filled you with the warmth it used to. The love, while still there, was not what it used to be.

“I’m sorry (Y/N). I shouldn’t have shut you out.” You can hear the tremble in his voice even though he tried to stay strong.

“I’m sorry for not trying harder. I’m sorry for hanging out with Kidd I-”

“No, it’s fine. I know.”

Sniffling, you breathe shakily. “How now? I don’t know what happens next. The Heart Pirates is all I know, but-”

“Does he make you happy?” Law’s question made your heart ache, but you couldn’t lie to him. Not now, not anymore.

“Yes…” You could feel him nod before sighing. “Please don’t hate me.” The feeling of Law kissing your forehead for a single moment before going back to resting his chin on your head. 

“I could never hate you (Y/N). Not in a million years.”

“I could never hate you either.” Law closes his eyes, enjoying the moment and the feeling of you in his arms.

“No matter where you go, whose crew you're in, there’ll always be room for you on the Polar Tang alright?”

Looking up, your blurry vision still clearly sees Law’s eyes like a beacon. It doesn't take a second before the two of you kiss. It was filled with an emotion that, while still there, was no longer the path it needed to go.

The kiss was short and sweet before you both pulled away, your foreheads touching each other. Opening your eyes, you look at one another.

“See you in the New World?”

“See you in the New World.”

[theemissuniverse]

“THE HEART AND THE HEAD” HENRY HART X SCIENTIST FEM! READER

SUMMARY : You and Henry are polar opposites but Henry couldn’t care less. (Based on movie Henry so Henry is 24.) Reader is also based on Harper from Wizards of Waverly outfit wise.

WARNINGS : explicit content. Reader is meant to be on the plus size but it really doesn’t matter I don’t think

MASTERLIST

Ever since Henry moved to Dystopia, he had to get used to the weird characters he would come across. That included you, the quirky but insanely intelligent scientist he just happened to met.

It was all by chance. He ended up saving you from a burglary. And ever since then, the two of you were inseparable.

The two of you clicked, despite your differences. There honestly wasn’t anything about the two of that was the same and yet, the two of were stuck together like glue.

He appreciated how different you were. Your weirdness attracted him to you. Not to mention you could match his sarcasm well.

And he liked it.

The only thing you hated about Henry was how heroic he was. He took risks. Being impulsive was a trait you did not appreciate when it came to him.

And it was showing right now.

“Ah, shit.”

“Hold still.”

Right now you were patching Henry up from his recent fight. Henry ended up defeating the guy with the ability to control fire but he ended up with some battle wounds to show it.

You were cleaning out the wound down towards his abdomen. Henry could hear the attitude in your voice. “You’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“I’m mad at the things that you do now hush.”

Henry hissed a little, feeling you clean the wound with chemicals. He saw you were having a hard time cleaning it with his shirt on. “I can take it off.”

You paused, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “No, it’s fine.”

“Here, let me.” Henry pulled the shirt over him anyway, and tossed it to the side.

You always knew Henry had a nice body but seeing it up close and in person did something to you. You bit your lip, mumbling a quick “thanks” before going back to work.

Henry didn’t say anything. He just admired you. He knew he was developing feelings for you. He wasn’t stupid. He could recognize it. How could he not?

You were beautiful, intelligent, brave, caring, funny. All traits he loved in a woman. He was trying to push it away because he respected the relationship he had with you. You two were partners, helping get crime off the streets.

But he didn’t want to push it away though.

You were clearly going through making one of your crazy outfits that you always did. Today, you were wearing a dress made out of crayola markers. Yes, the dress would’ve been bizarre to anyone else but there was something about your uniqueness and you being unapologetically you that made you attractive to Henry.

Henry was looking you up and down, checking you out as if you were half naked and the hottest girl in the room. You could wear the stupidest of clothing to anyone else but to him you’d still be attractive.

As you cleaned the wound, you felt his eyes on you. When you looked up, you saw Henry was looking at you, dead in the eyes.

When you first met Henry, he was a nice guy. A little sassy at times but he was humorous and good and you needed a guy like that at the time. In a place like Dystopia, you had to treasure men like that.

Then Henry started to get a little flirtatious with you. You couldn’t tell if he was serious or just playing around so you’d always ignore his advances.

This time you didn’t think you could ignore it.

You looked away from him and focused on the wound. “I’m almost done cleaning it.”

Henry wouldn’t let you look away. He lifted your chin up and forced you to look at him. “I’m sorry, okay? Stop being mad.”

His voice was a little playful but you felt the sincerity in his voice which made it tug at the strings of your heart a little. “What you did was too much.”

“I know but you know I’m on autopilot when I get into the action.”

You sighed, knowing this about him. “You have a good heart, Henry.” You placed your hand over his heart. “But sometimes we need to use this.” You pointed at his head. “Because if we don’t then this.” You placed your hand back over his heart. “Doesn’t matter.”

Henry gripped your hand when you placed it. “I don’t need that. That’s what I got you for.”

You let out a smile, tilting your head at the former sidekick. When he spoke, it always felt like poetry to you. Or maybe you were a little bias.

You cleared your throat. Then took a bandage. You placed it directly on Henry’s wound. “All done.”

Henry saw you were trying to be quick to pull away at his touch and walk away. He got off from the table and grabbed your arm. Then forced you to turn and look at him.

A gasp came from your lips from his assertiveness. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” You forced yourself to play stupid.

“Pushing me away. You’re driving me insane.”

“I’m not pushing you away, Hen.”

“Bullshit. I feel it.”

You let out a sigh before turning away from him. You rubbed the back of your neck out of frustration. Henry was right behind you, following your lead.

He started to rub the back of your neck with his strong hands. The tension from your neck instantly released. You let out a moan of relief.

His hands were on your love handles and he gave them a gentle rub, making you sigh more out of relaxation. “Stop, pushing me away.”

“Henry…”

The long moan of his name, made him force you to turn around and face him. His left hand stayed on your love handle while his right hand caressed your face. “Why are you doing this?” You asked him.

Henry tilted his head at your behavior, observing your reaction. He saw your eyes about to fill with tears. Then it was too late. A tear dropped down your cheek.

He quickly kissed it away. “Why are you crying?”

“Why are you doing this?” You repeated.

Henry brought your chin up, making sure you were looking at him in the eyes. Usually he did have a smart remark but now wasn’t the time for that right now. Now was the time to be real. “Because I have feelings for you.”

“No you don’t.”

He knew this was coming. You doubting his feelings for you just because you were different than the girls he would usually go after. “You don’t get to tell me who I can and can’t have feelings for. I decide that. Not you, me.”

You bit your lip. You wanted to look away but you knew Henry was just going to make you look at him. “I don’t want to get hurt, Henry.”

“I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He whispered.

It was your turn to make a move. You cupped his face with both hands, kissing him.

Henry quickly kissed you back. He wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you closer to him. The kiss felt perfect. Everything he imagined it would be. He didn’t want to let you go, afraid if you pulled back he would never get you like this again.

He pushed you up against one of your desks. He knocked down all the stuff that was on it. You were thankful you didn’t have any important work on the desk.

He picked you up, setting you down on the desk, continuing to kiss you like his life depended on it.

Your hands went to his chest. You had forgotten he was completely shirtless. His abs were defined. The muscles along his arm hugged you like a snug blanket.

Henry moaned in your mouth at the feeling of just simply your hands on his chest. His hand went to the back of your neck. He gave you a big, sloppy, deep, but passionate kiss.

He pulled away and looked at you back in your eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He told you again.

It was then you just had to take in a deep breath and nod in acceptance. “Okay.”

[vamp1reb1tez]

“Bar Tabs & Bandages.” Silco x Male reader

A/N: This is my first fanfic I hope you guys enjoy :3

Working under Silco and the Eye of Zaun, you never imagined the two of you would get along—polar opposites in every way. Silco, with his calm, calculating demeanor, could keep even the most unruly of his men in check without raising his voice, while you were the kind of person who couldn’t resist poking the bear. You found his cold professionalism amusing to test, and it drove him mad. The only reason you were here was to pay off your debt.

You still weren’t sure why he saved you during the enforcer raid all those months ago, dragging your bleeding body back to The Last Drop instead of leaving you to die in the gutter like everyone else. Maybe he just wanted another soldier for his growing army. Or maybe he saw potential in you. Either way, here you were, stuck under his roof and his rules. Not that you were complaining. It was better than the alternative—at least here, you had regular meals and a bed, which was more than most in Zaun could say. Still, being beholden to Silco grated on your nerves, even if you found a certain satisfaction in testing his patience whenever you could.

Lately, though, you’d noticed a change. Silco seemed less irritated by your constant sarcasm, meeting your remarks with an exasperated eye roll or even, on rare occasions, a wry quip of his own. You weren’t sure what to make of it. Maybe he was getting used to you, or maybe your banter was finally wearing him down.

At least, that’s what you told yourself.

One evening, Silco was hunched over his desk, a lit cigar between his lips as he traced a blueprint of Zaun’s streets. The Chem Barons were at each other’s throats again, and you could tell from the tension in his shoulders that the situation was weighing on him. He didn’t look up when Sevika burst into the room, dragging you in by the arm like a misbehaving child.

“This is the third time this week, Boss,” she snapped, shoving you forward. “He keeps picking fights in the bar. I’m sick of it.”

Silco lifted his head slowly, exhaling a cloud of smoke. His mismatched eyes flicked to you, then back to Sevika. “Leave him here. I’ll deal with him.”

Sevika hesitated, clearly annoyed that she wouldn’t get to rough you up, but eventually stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Silco leaned back in his chair, studying you with a mix of irritation and amusement. “You have a knack for getting yourself all messed up, don’t you?” His voice was smooth, with just a hint of mockery.

You shrugged, wiping the blood from your nose with the sleeve of your coat. “This one had it coming. Should’ve kept his mouth shut.”

Silco sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stood. “Maybe you should learn to control that temper of yours. I don’t need you bleeding all over my floor.” He moved to a drawer, pulling out a cloth.

You couldn’t resist. “It gives the place some character.”

That earned a scoff from him as he stepped in front of you. Silco knelt slightly, pressing the cloth to your nose. His touch was firm but surprisingly gentle, and you couldn’t help but notice how close he was—close enough to catch the scent of his cologne mingling with the sharp tang of cigar smoke.

“You can’t keep picking fights,” he said, his voice low. “Sevika’s already on edge with the way you speak to our patrons.”

You rolled your eyes. “Maybe Sevika should mind her own business.”

That earned you a sharp look. Silco’s hand moved to your jaw, his fingers firm but not harsh as he tilted your face up to meet his gaze. “That is her business. You’d do well to respect that and rein in that attitude of yours.”

You gritted your teeth but stayed silent, his mismatched eyes locking onto yours. He continued cleaning your face, his movements methodical despite the tension crackling in the air. When the cloth pressed against a particularly sore spot, you hissed and tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“Quit squirming,” he growled.

“I’m capable of patching myself up, y’know,” you muttered, glaring at him.

Silco smirked, dropping the cloth onto his desk. He leaned forward, his hands braced on either side of your chair, boxing you in. The intensity in his gaze made your breath hitch.

“Oh, you’re capable, are you?” His voice was silken, dripping with sarcasm. “Then why did you let me help?”

Your chest tightened at the question, and your usual sharp tongue failed you. Silco’s smirk deepened, and he tilted his head, studying your face. “You wanted my help, didn’t you, doll?”

“That’s ridiculous,” you mumbled, looking away.

Silco’s hand caught your chin, gently but firmly turning your face back to him. “Oh, it’s entirely ridiculous,” he said, his tone mocking but without malice. His thumb brushed against your cheek, sending a shiver down your spine.

For once, you were at a loss for words. This side of Silco—soft, almost tender—was something you’d never expected to see. And yet, you couldn’t deny the way your body leaned into his touch, craving more.

“Maybe I enjoyed being taken care of,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Silco hummed, his thumb tracing lazy circles on your cheek. “Maybe I enjoy taking care of you,” he murmured.

The air between you grew heavy, the tension almost suffocating. Silco leaned in, his lips dangerously close to yours. “Now,” he said, his voice a low drawl, “are you going to stop fighting in my bar?”

You swallowed hard, nodding quickly. “No more fights. Promise.”

Silco chuckled, his breath warm against your skin. “Good boy.”

The words sent a jolt through you, making your legs feel like jelly. Before you could overthink it, you grabbed his lapels and pulled him down into a kiss. Silco responded immediately, his fingers tangling in your hair as he deepened the kiss with a low groan.

When you finally broke apart, both of you were breathing heavily. Silco straightened his coat, his expression calm despite the flush on his cheeks. “Don’t let me catch you out of line again,” he warned, his voice steady but tinged with amusement. “If you persist, I’ll handle you differently.”

You couldn’t help but smirk at that. Maybe one more bar fight wouldn’t hurt, just to see what he meant.

[theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction]

Imagine calling Law ‘Captain-kun’ by accident while helping Bepo with his costume...

“Y/n, I need you to help Shachi with the- are you listening to me?”

You were scrambling around the room gathering varying styles of fabric and materials in light and dark shades. You had noticed the captain of the Polar Tang walk in but you were far too occupied.

“Sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush to work on something for Bepo.” You passed him on the way to the door, absentmindedly pressing a feathered kiss to his cheek. “I’ll help Shachi later, Captain-kun.”

Dashing out as quick as possible, your eyes drew down to the items in your arms, mind wandering to the bear in dire need of your creative assistance.

Scissors, glue, red fabric, kiss…

You nearly bumped into Penguin and a few other crew members in the rush, throwing out your mental list. Rounding the corner, you entered the room where Bepo was waiting. His paws rubbing together nervously as he looked at the various costume items that he had gathered on the floor.

“I’m back. Don’t worry. We’ll patch something great for you to wear at the show.” You assured and added the items in your hand to the small pile. “There’s different kinds of fabric and a leather belt that Shachi wasn’t using.”

“Did the captain see you?” Bepo asked and you knew how he had been denied to attend at first by the stoic leader.

“He was there and saying something about-”

Captain-kun…

You gasped and dropped a roll of ribbon you had been holding, fingers flying to your lips. Heartbeat drumming against your chest, your whole body suddenly felt uncomfortably warm.

How had you been so distracted? He was your temporary Captain and you treated him like a lover who had done this dance many times.

“I called him… I can’t believe I said it out loud.” You buried your face in your hands. How did you let this happen? You were due back to the Thousand Sunny in a few days. You shouldn’t have let these feelings grow.

Bepo’s eyes widened when he pieced it together - you were in love with Trafalgar Law.

“Captain!” He squealed and sped out of the room quicker than your mind could register.

Shit.

Collecting yourself, you rushed out and chased after the damn bear. If he spoke to Law, it would make things so much worse.

Zipping through the corridors, you ran back to the spare room barging through the doors and starling a few other crew members. They looked at you with puzzled expressions before returning to their business. Scanning the area, you saw no trace of fluffy ears or a spotted hat and your stomach dropped.

Where were they? Retracing your steps to outside the door, you turned to the left and stared at an empty corridor.

The library. Law’s usual haunt.

You took off in that direction desperately hoping that you weren’t too late. It was another series of twists and turns aboard the ship and you’d be sure to mention it to the Heart Pirate Captain on your way out.

When you made the last turn, it was a beeline to the library and as you neared, there was a black, white and orange object drawing close.

Bepo. He seemed frightened and was… running away?

Whatever he was up to didn’t matter. As you started to get a clearer sight, you stretched your arms forward with every intention to latch on to the furball when - very suddenly - you were enveloped in a blue light.

~ More imagines here ~

A/n: To be continued? I've actually yet to get to Law in the anime but I've seen so many clips, I just couldn't resist! x

Happy Valentine's Day!

[zosan-secondchances]

The Pirate King of the North: Part 10

Main Themes: Villain Sanji, Alternate Universe, Zosan Ship

Warning: Long post ahead with One Piece spoilers. Contains strong language and explicit content.

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 (Special) | 19

It was an early morning start for everyone aboard the Polar Tang.

Zoro and Sanji had spent the night together in the bubble ship parked on deck for a much needed quality time, much to Niji's dismay. The helmeted blue-haired commander found them ass naked in their hiding place at first light and woke them up. He was finally able to finish Sanji's claw gauntlet fitting which took no time at all. While he was there, he saw an opportunity to improve the ship's primitive maneuvering system to ensure that the bulky vessel has the capability to take sharper, faster turns in case of any events of unexpected knock up streams.

After getting kicked out of the bubble ship by the demanding Niji, Zoro ran back to their room to dress up and finish packing for the trip. He had nothing but his underwear on him after getting his clothes torn up during his crazy night of passion with the blonde. He received a lot of stares and some light-hearted teasing from the crew during his walk of shame but he wore it with a shameless smirk. In his mind, it was all worth it. Though he makes it a point to try and patch up the garment that his friends worked so hard to make for him later.

Sanji stayed in the ship, also naked after having his clothes somehow lost in the process. He has entrusted the swordsman to fetch him his travel pack that he'd prepared the night before so he sat waiting on one of the passenger seats, snuggling himself in Niji's long cloak to keep warm. As much as he appreciates his brother's thoughtfulness by offering him his cape, and the extra effort he's putting in to improving the ship, he still holds a grudge on him for picking on his beloved Marimo, especially after last night's progression in their relationship. He glares down at the blue-haired commander who is currently in deep concentration, fine-tuning the steering wheel from the pilot seat.

Zoro returns wearing fresh new robes and holding two travel packs over his shoulders. He begins hauling them into the ship while standing outside by the door to respectfully keep his distance from the blonde's brother who is hard at work. He starts arranging bags under the side consoles to ensure that their possessions are secured and out of the way. Sanji gratefully grabs spare clothes from his own bag from where he sat.

Before dressing up, the blonde suddenly realises the perfect opportunity for revenge–in front of the very man his brother had picked on. He leans back against his seat, hugs his knees up to his chest, and strokes a lock of hair, trying to play it casual.

Sanji

So Niji, how's our chef Cosette doing?

Caught completely off guard, Niji yanks the steering wheel off its panel, tearing wires and other components that he'd meticulously been working on for the last hour. His face had suddenly gone scarlet red and blood trickled down his nose.

Sanji smirks at his brother's reaction. He leans his cheek against the palm of his hand and tilts his head innocently, watching the man practically start hyperventilating. He could have sworn he saw tiny sparks of electricity emit at the tip of his blue hair.

Zoro looks shocked and pissed at the commander for breaking Nami's old bubble ship.

Niji

I–hah–why would I…she's a servant. Loyal and… dedicated and… talented and…. How… why would you–hah–what possessed you to think that I would know–?

Niji looks down at the panel where he'd ripped out the steering wheel and then at his hand where he's gripping it. His tight hold around the handles had contorted its shape. Slowly, he realises what he'd done. He drops to his knees and starts repeatedly banging his head against it in frustration.

Sanji

So…I take it she's well then?

Niji pauses his movements to shoot him a furious glare behind his goggles, his cheeks still reddened.

Sanji hears a faint sound of their host captain from a distance talking to his crew while approaching the ship. He sounded excited for a change as they're finally lifting off to Skypiea. When Law hopped up onboard, he froze at the sight of seeing the Pirate King practically naked in his seat and the commander holding onto the broken steering wheel.

Law

What the hell is this? Why are you tearing apart my bubble ship?

I don't even know what's going on with you, Mr. Prince-ya.

Niji

I can explain–!

Zoro and Sanji 

Niji broke the ship.

Law practically had smoke coming out of his ears. He rolls up his sleeves.

—

Sanji

That's not… where I thought that was going to go….

Niji

Really now?

Zoro, Sanji and Niji all had bumps on their heads from the fuming captain. They all stood in pain behind Law who is making a final speech to the Heart Pirates crew before separating from them until they return from Skypiea. He wanted to make sure that everyone is fully aware of their plan to meet back near Jaya, and told them to stay under the radar by not staying in one place too long. They're to keep a constant eye on their long distant transponder snail in case there are any emergencies.

Niji had repaired the damage he’d done and replaced the disfigured steering wheel for a makeshift one. He still managed to do the maneuver upgrade that he wanted right on schedule so Law's punishment on him wasn't as harsh.

Sanji soothes his painful bump with a hand, wondering if he should have done his act of revenge another day. At least he has clothes now and his claw gauntlet fitted properly with its blades retracted.

Zoro had no idea what exactly just happened but given how much he'd been getting punished by Law recently, he just accepted his fate.

They sail the Polar Tang until it reaches a good distance away from Jaya to avoid any unwanted attention during take off. Niji launches himself in the air to scout ahead, hoping to travel high enough to potentially find the floating island by eye and watch out for any unwelcoming shifts in weather. They're to keep tabs with him through transponder snails. Bepo reported that there may be a storm later in the day but if they reach the sky island before late afternoon, they should be safe.

Zoro, Sanji and Law follow by bubble ship shortly, waving farewell to the rest of the Heart Pirates from inside as they lift off. The blonde volunteered to pilot as he claimed to have done it before. This proved evident when he started up the engines, inflated the float bubble and launched the vessel without a fuss. Before they know it, they reach their desired altitude just under the stratosphere where they reconvened with the commander as planned.

Zoro and Law watched the two siblings, surprised at how quickly their dynamic switched as they expertly navigated the skies together. Past all their snide jabbing and teasing, Sanji and Niji operated like two veteran mercenaries who clearly had years of experience in their arsenal. Niji flew ahead and continuously sent advice through his den-den mushi, and Sanji made executive decisions based on his brother's reports and piloted the ship expertly. They managed to avoid troublesome cloud formations without a navigator, thanks to their collaborative teamwork.

Law

How do you know how to fly so well, Mr. Prince-ya?

Sanji

Err…I'm the only one who doesn't fly in the family so I tend to take a bubble ship for myself when I need to.

Niji interrupts through the transponder snail.

Niji 

Correction–he chooses not to. He can, if he just wears his–

Sanji

Commander, we talked about this.

Niji

Tch.

Zoro was looking at Sanji curiously, clearly wanting to hear more about the whole subject of flying but the blonde wants to avoid the uncomfortable topic so he quickly shifts the conversation. He clears his throat.

Sanji

Marimo-kun, can you please remind us what we're on a lookout for?

Zoro

We're trying to find South Birds or one of its variants. They're native to Skypiea and a lot bigger up here. They should help us find the island.

Otherwise we should see thick solid clouds with houses or a jungle on them. It's pretty big so it's hard to miss.

Sanji

Did you get that, Commander?

Niji

Got it.

There is a painful stretch of silence as the ship floats aimlessly in the sky. This part of the troposphere should be thinning out of clouds but today seems to be an odd exception as it's more fogged up than usual. Zoro notices Sanji gradually getting worried after an hour with no news. He starts impatiently tapping his fingers on the steering wheel while his feet twitch restlessly, his hand almost reaching out for the den-den mushi several times but ultimately acts against it.

Zoro

Hey…is everything okay?

Sanji

Y–yeah…. I just… don't worry about it.

Law

If you’re that concerned, we should call him.

Sanji

Maybe…. Give him more time. He might be in the middle of something.

After several more tense minutes, they hear a long squawk from a distance behind them. Zoro, Sanji and Law turn their heads to find a large bird, more than twice the size of their bubble ship, writhing mid-air. Around its body, a familiar blue-haired man gripped around its neck, trying to force its wings closed with his legs. He carries it with difficulty towards the bubble ship, his boots kicking off pulses in different directions to try and gain some semblance of stability.

Law

What the hell–?

Sanji starts laughing out loud as the bird throws its head wildly in every which way. It relentlessly flaps its wings and kicks its sharp talons out madly, desperate to free itself from the commander's death grip.

Niji stops just in front of the ship while still wrestling with the bird.

Niji

Is this–?? OWW!!!

The commander only just manages to dodge the bird’s attempt to eat his face, but the side of his face gets whacked with its powerful beak with a loud crack.

Niji

IS THIS IT, SWORDSMAN?!?

Zoro

Err…

Zoro looks back and forth between Niji and the giant bird dumbfoundedly, still trying to take in the comical scene before them.

The blonde shuffles through his pack calmly.

Sanji

Does anyone else have a camera?

Niji

Fuck–! Answer already!! Is this a South Bird or what?!

Zoro

Yes…?

Niji

Why do you sound so unsure?!

Zoro

It's been a while, okay?! And I can't see the crest properly! Can’t you hold it still?

Niji

FUCK YOU, YOU BROCCOLI HEAD! You come out here and do it then!

Zoro

It's MARIMO!!!

Sanji

Yonji’s going to love this.

Sanji finally pulls out a photo camera and snaps a couple of shots of the action, cheerfully kicking his legs from his seat in delight.

Sanji

And for the fridge….

He turns his seat around and takes a nice photo of Zoro laughing at Niji. He also manages to catch one of Law who can't help but bear a small entertained smile on his face under the shade of his cap.

Law

Oi! Watch the talons! Back off, Commander or it will pop the bubble!

Niji briefly dips out of sight but manages to recover. Zoro takes his time thinking, his hand massaging his jaw as he digs through his memory banks while watching the commander wrestle the giant bird.

Sanji

You know, I've seen them in a book.

Niji

So what?! Is this it??

Sanji

…It was a black and white print. I don't know if the colour matters.

Niji

Oh, for fuck's sake! Don't give me useless information!

Law

Zoro-ya, just say something already!

Zoro

Curls made a good point…. Was it more blue or more pink…? Is the face really that long? I can't remember.

Law slowly pulls out the feather from his pocket that Corazon had left behind for him, very carefully taking his time to avoid damaging it. He holds it up in his hand for everyone to look at.

Sanji

It's a little more pale than the one Niji’s holding.

Law

Maybe it was younger?

Niji

I hate all of you.

Zoro

I think… I think it is a South Bird.

Niji finally releases the furious bird from his grip. He dodges its angry pecks and swooping before it flies away from them. His clothing had suffered huge scratches throughout his body.

Sanji

Great job, Commander! Need a break?

The blue-haired man flops over the side of the ship, half hanging off the edge as he catches his breath.

Sanji turns the vessel to follow the bird. Thanks to his brother's earlier modifications, they're able to keep up with it without an issue.

After a few moments, Niji pulls himself up to sit on the side of the ship with his feet dangling over the edge, all the while keeping a close eye at the pursuit. He clenches his fist over his chest, still feeling breathless and the altitude isn’t doing him any favours.

Sanji notices the commander’s state and he narrows his eyes at his damaged helmet. A large piece at the front is cracked so badly that it’s just about ready to fall off at any moment.

Zoro offers the blue-haired man his flask of water. Reluctantly, Niji accepts and drinks from it, too tired to say no.

Sanji

I need you to go home, Commander.

Niji

No, I can make it. I promised I'd get you to Skypiea–

Sanji

No, Niji. Not this time.

After another swill, the commander wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and glares at Sanji.

Sanji

We'll be fine, alright?

And…you still have that other mission. You can't dally.

Niji doesn't turn his head but behind his goggles, Zoro notices that he shifts his eyes between him and the blonde. Ultimately, the blue-haired man sighs exasperatedly and throws the half empty flask back to him.

Niji

Fine. But I'm not happy about it.

Sanji gives him a weak smile to try and reassure him.

Sanji

I know.

The blonde turns his attention back towards the South Bird. When he notices that Law gazes away from him as well, Niji takes the opportunity to quickly grab Zoro's arm and shoves something metallic and cold in his robe’s long sleeve, out of everyone else's sight.

The swordsman was initially freaked out but picked up on his discretion. He raises a brow curiously at him.

Niji releases him and gives a thankful nod. He turns his attention back to the blonde.

Niji

Later, Your Highness.

Sanji

Thank you for all your assistance, Commander.

And…get home safe. That's an order.

Niji

Ugh… don't be gross.

He angles himself on the bubble ship, facing the opposite direction where the group is heading. With a kick of his Raid Boots, he sends a strong pulse of force against the surface of the vessel, giving them a rapid boost forward towards the bird. The passengers onboard see him take off into the distance the other way.

Sanji melts in his seat from relief.

Law

What was that other mission, Mr. Prince-ya? …Or is this one of those on the “need-to-know basis” things that you mentioned?

Sanji purses his lips, seriously considering Law's question. After a while, he answers.

Sanji

I sent him to infiltrate Doffy’s ranks…discreetly.

I don't know if I should have done it earlier but…Doffy’s just been too quiet and I don't like it.

Law has a surprised look on his face but decides against arguing about it, detecting the man's genuine concern about the situation and risking his own brother to investigate. In his head, he weighs all the things that the blonde had done to help him during their quest so far. He hated him a little for not following through on any one of his plans, but he can't ignore the fact how effective Sanji has been. He decides to do the unthinkable and put his faith on him.

Law

Do you think there's a possibility that we're in danger?

Sanji

I always think that we’re in danger. How much exactly…is hard to say…. I don't like working blind, doctor. That's why I'm taking the risk. But this means that I have to trust my brother to do the right thing. You've seen him prove himself in the short time he's with us. I hope that's enough to give you comfort.

The doctor eyes the man up and down, considering his words and trying to get a better read on him. He crosses his arms and looks away silently. To him, it sounded like the blonde was trying to convince himself more than anything that he's made the right call.

Zoro felt that cold texture in his sleeve. When he peeks under his robe, he sees a dark canister with the number “3” on it. Confused but thinking it might be important for later, he shifts it somewhere more securely in his haramaki.

—

As they travel, the sky becomes too hazy to see through. After what seemed like hours of obscured vision similar to that of a whiteout during a blizzard, the South Bird descends just as the passengers in the bubble ship start to lose their patience. The fog parts before them and, up ahead, they see a vast sea of clouds stretching far beyond what the eye could see. 

Zoro

THERE! The White Sea!

Sanji

Holy shit.

Law

How is this possible…?

The South Bird that they’ve been following disappears somewhere in the horizon as Skypiea finally comes to their full view. As they near, they see a small settlement that consists of tented dwellings, various totems of cultural significance and a tall structure that looks like a wooden watchtower poking out near the edge of the dense jungle.

Zoro 

Odd…we should have seen someone by now. The last time I was here, someone was collecting tolls.

Sanji

Hmm…what do you think, doctor? Where should we land?

Law lays the map on the console in front of the blonde and points near the edge of the island.

Law

Let's dock at this shoreline near that village. If that's what I think it is, they would have seen us by now from that watchtower. I want to make sure that we’re not intruding on anyone's territory before we can properly introduce ourselves. I don't know what they're like but I'd like to avoid any political dramas if we can help it.

Also, we need to check our fuel before we get too far. We need to have enough to go back with.

Sanji follows his direction, and lands the ship near a sturdy tree, not bothering to deflate the bubble in case they need to take off soon again.

When they disembark, Zoro immediately secures the bubble boat using its mooring line, then sets to work to check on the state of the ship while Law walks off to investigate the nearby houses for any locals. 

—

After a loo break and doing some warm up exercises, Sanji is feeling excited for the new adventure. All his worrying about his brother had overshadowed the fact that he hadn't gone out to properly stretch his legs in a mission for a long time. But now, after seeing a few of the local flora and fauna that he'd never seen before, the blonde is positively enthusiastic for whatever is in store ahead. He approaches the tired-looking captain who is hunched over with the swordsman on the side of the bubble ship, trying to read the map in their possession.

Sanji

Alright, Traffy!

The blonde claps and rubs his hands together in excitement, practically bouncing on his step as he closes in on his companions.

Sanji

I am at your disposal, ready for anything! Just say the word! So what's the plan? I'm assuming you have a well thought through plan? Let's hear it!

Zoro walks to stand behind Sanji with a bright smile on his face, supporting the blonde's statement. He puts his hands on his hips, looking like he's also ready for anything the doctor throws at them.

Law kept still, remaining hunched over the piece of paper, his expression hidden behind the shade of his cap.

Zoro

I uh… feel bad for pretty much wrecking every part of your plans leading up to today so…I'm with Curls. We'll do everything you say. By the book.

Without moving his body, Law turns his head slightly towards them, still hesitating to show his face.

Sanji

Traffy? You okay?

Law

I…

Law finally straightens up to look at his companions eye to eye. He has a morbid look on his face.

Law

I…I don't have any plans.

Zoro and Sanji's jaws drop in disbelief as the doctor rubs the back of his neck shyly. They see his ears redden from embarrassment.

Law

I usually just…wing this part somehow. But I'm stuck without my guys…. I don't actually know how we've come this far….

There was an awkward pause then Sanji suddenly bursts into a fit of laughter and Zoro grins widely at the doctor. Between difficult breaths, the blonde speaks.

Sanji

I was–so, so prepared to do everything right by you!!!

I thought–the doctor is alright–he's great–he saved my life. I need to make up for it–show how much I appreciate him–

He falls to his knees, tears flowing freely from his face. His laughter has become so unhinged that even Zoro's shoulders start twitching from the contagion.

Sanji

And now–now we ask for it and you DON'T have anything?! BWAHAHAHA–!!

Law’s expression darkens just as gradually as Sanji's laughter gets more out of hand. When the doctor finally snaps, Sanji receives well-deserved smacks on his head and the bumps that come with them.

—

After Law tells him that the settlement is weirdly deserted, Zoro suggests that they make their way to Upper Yard, remembering the treaty between Skypiea’s citizens and the tribe of Shandia. They had the joint intention of reclaiming the land that the former God, Enel, once took control of. He thinks that maybe they had all moved there as their new home.

Law supported this as they simply just need more information at this point to see if anyone remembers any Marines or someone of Corazon’s description visiting. He makes an executive decision that they walk to the place, not wanting to miss out on any opportunities that might come their way and use up any more fuel than they already have.

They each carry their own packs and walk towards the general direction where the swordsman pointed to on the map, though Law doesn't have high hopes given the man's directional skills. The bubble ship was left behind after being relocated in the jungle, covered in leaves and other floor debris to keep it out of sight.

Eventually, they come across their first obstacle–a wide river of clouds that separates their side of the land and where they need to be. The moving puffs of cloud before them makes it look like water flowing between solid ground.

Zoro

You can swim in it but from what I remember, there are these things called err… hmm….

Law kicks a pebble into the river. It creates a ripple that spreads right through to the middle, causing a disturbance under the surface. A giant length of scales erupt through the puffs of white then the creature slithers away as quickly as it came.

Sanji

Woah! It's like…what–a Seaking in the sky or something?

Zoro

Sort of. There’s a lot of Sky Fishes. But there’s also Sky Sharks and these giant worms with teeth.

Law

So…no swimming then. That's not a problem.

Zoro

We passed by a big tree with vines. We can swing across–

Law

Don't bother.

The doctor brings up his hand and conjures his Room ability. With a couple of flicks, he teleports Zoro and Sanji to the other side, swapping places with jungle debris in the area. He follows them himself shortly after.

Sanji

Give us a warning next time!

The swordsman and the blonde struggle to stand from the ground, feeling woozy from the sudden vertigo.

They continue their journey forward, stopping often whenever they find an interesting specimen that they each want to look at. They felt like children with short attention spans, getting distracted at everything new everywhere they go. Sanji having a camera also meant more delays whenever he wanted to stop and take pictures. When Law told him to put it away, the blonde snarled and said it was the gift from his Heart Pirates crew. They had made him promise to snap shots of their adventure on their behalf. Law didn't bother him about it since then.

They come across two more gaps to hurdle. Each time, Zoro insists that they swing on a vine but they get teleported before they could say anything about it. Sanji's starting to get sick of being moved from one place to the next so carelessly. After the third time, he finally snaps.

He grabs Law's wrist just as he was about to use his Shambles ability again. The doctor glares at him angrily for the interruption.

Sanji

NO! NO MORE. I'M SICK OF THIS! I almost threw up last time!

Law

What the hell, Mr. Prince-ya?! Get your hands off me!

Sanji pushes Law on the chest childishly.

Sanji

You're taking the fun out of it!!!

Law

The…fun?

Sanji

We're adventuring pirates! We're supposed to go through struggles and find ways to overcome them! Not just…whatever the hell you're doing!

Law

You're complaining about…lack of struggle.

Sanji

You're making it too easy!

Zoro

Traffy, I know I said I'd do everything you say but…I kinda agree with Curly.

Law

…You just want to swing.

Sanji

Let the man swing!

Zoro crosses his arms and nods his head in agreement. Law slaps his forehead in frustration at the whole notion.

Law

It would be faster if–

Zoro and Sanji 

NO!!!

Law

Oh, for the love of–FINE!!! How do you propose we cross–

Flailing his arms forwards, Law gestures at the wide river separating them from the next piece of land. The distance is almost twice as long as the length of the Polar Tang.

Law

This?!

Sanji places his arms on his own hips and smirks.

Sanji

I propose a game.

Law

A game?

Sanji

Something that I like to play with my siblings when we're out on joint ventures. It'll be fun, I promise!

Slightly intrigued, Law crosses his arms and listens intently.

Law

Alright…. Let's hear it.

Happy with Law's willingness to listen, Sanji claps his hands together enthusiastically and begins to make hand gestures as he talks.

Sanji

We each hurdle obstacles however we want BUT we have to make it as cool as possible!

Law

…“As cool as possible”.

Sanji

Yes!

Law rolls his eyes looking unimpressed but the blonde continues.

Sanji

There's three of us, so we'll each take a turn playing judge on who gets from point A to point B the coolest way possible. When we reach our final destination, the one with the most points wins!

I’m talking flair–the badassery–even the underappreciated, underrated skills–the whole thing! It's the time to show off what you got and be creative!!!

There's about a million things Law wants to say about the silly game–how unnecessary it is and how many faults there are in the rules. Before he can say anything, the swordsman interrupts.

Zoro

Do I get to swing?

Sanji gives him a wink.

Sanji

To your heart’s content, baby.

Zoro

Let's do it.

Sanji

YES!

Law

Seriously, Zoro-ya?!

Zoro

It sounds more interesting than… “shambles” all day.

Uhm…no offense.

Law groans but waves his hand in dismissal.

Law

Do whatever you want.

Sanji squeals in excitement.

Sanji

That’s the whole point of it!

Zoro

So what’s the prize?

Sanji plays with his goatee thoughtfully. Then his expression darkens as his lips thin into a devilish smile.

Sanji

How about…a favour?

Zoro furrows his brow at that.

Law tips his head at the idea. He takes a step forward towards the blonde.

Law

Go on…

Sanji

Any time, anywhere in the world, no questions asked. The winner gains the favour from the other two contenders so that he may call on them at a time of his choosing–together or separately.

Zoro

Oh… Curls… I don't know…

The doctor unexpectedly chuckles, his tone just as dark as the blonde’s smile. He holds out a hand, which Sanji takes without hesitation. The swordsman looks between the two of them nervously.

Law

You’re on, Pirate King.

[lxshoxk]

Hi 👉🏼👈🏼 so I won’t be the first to ask for them, but if I could please see a really cute and snuggly Law x Luffy it would sustain me for the rest of my days?!

Luffy obvi being a silly goose, pulling Law in for a big smooch and Law’s barely letting his walls down, he’s definitely blushing but trying to hide it. I can see this unfolding at a celebration like after they win a big fight, so they’re probably patched up a good bit (if Luffy is in bandages and no shirt, hey it’s a chance to practice anatomy!

There’s a bonfire behind them, the soft glow of the fire illuminating them from a distance cuz they’ve wandered away from the festivities gassing each other up after seeing how hard they fought. I honestly cannot get enough of them, i love their polar opposite personalities and even though Luffys shorter, younger, and super unserious, I think he’d somehow make the perfect comment to melt Laws icy exterior and finally grab him for their 🥹first kiss🫣

I’m so giddy thinking about this

Law x Luffy | event masterlist / kofi

Wow! What a beautiful scene you've set here! Honestly, I get it. I absolutely think that Law kinda needs someone like that. It's...well it's a lot like how Rosi ended up acting with him. Goofy and outwardly affectionate. He certainly isn't gonna do that on his own. Well, first of all--you were, in fact, the only person to request lawlu for this little event of mine ~ so I can only *hope* you see it since your on anon and won't be notified directly lol

I tried to focus on mostly close-ups for mosts of the pieces for the event since I was putting out so much but I tried to capture the spirit of it at the least ^-^ thank you so much for participating and i hope you enjoy your piece for this event :3 and happy belated valtentines' day!

notes: i experimented with a different liner brush...yeah. i need to figure out how to color with soft lines before i try that again lol

tag list: @pandora-writes-one-piece @jintaka-hane @armiliadawn @fanaticsnail @chibinasuu @daydreamer-in-training

[pomegranate-pen]

Daym sis !! It took you this long to finally do your reqs ? Better late than never ig, ok but fr tho I’m glad you’ve decided to do your reqs for lackadaisy. Cause I was starting to worry !! So I’m glad your ok <33

Anyways, may I req a Rocky Rickaby x rich (closer to a billionaire) Fem! or gn! reader headcannons? Who is kinda polar opposite to Rocky? They’re kind, social, friendly yet calm, reserved, secretive and kinda mysterious because of their status? And it’s not like they got this money from some distant cousin, they had to work hard.

I can also see them spoiling Rocky in little, subtle ways. Like when his violin is broken from his rumrunning, the reader gifts him with a new one, and despite having no note to specify who exactly gave it to him, he can probably guess who it is. Can this also be like a friends to lovers kind of thing? That’d be cool.

Btw u dont have to do this if u dont wanna, or u can do this later, No pressure ! Make sure to take care of yourself, take breaks and have a wonderful day !!!

Rocky Rickaby x rich!gn!Reader headcanons

A/n: what?? Pomegranate pen actually keeping her promise and releasing something at a weekend?? That's impossible!!! Nsjwjwjwjw anyway, hi dear anon!! Tysm for requesting, I will admit, this was very fun to write,especially since I really missed writing for lackadaisy these few days. Thanks for requesting!! I hope you enjoy this!!

-----

Maintaining a bountiful fortune costs your time, soul and trust and in the world where greed overtakes all morals people have, you always need to be careful on whom you let see your weakness, whom you let see your heart.

So safe to say, you weren’t so keen on trusting a place so deeply rumoured as the lackadaisy speakeasy, let alone become a sponsor of it.

Or at least, that was the case before you met the infamous bootlegger of the place, Rocky Rickaby when he suddenly crashed face first with your car in a farmer's field late in the night. You truly thought he was dead at that moment, you were certain you just accidentally killed someone late into the night because the exhaustion of your soul-consuming meetings finally caught up to you. but then as you got out of the car, as you tried to reevaluate the situation and tried to find any sort of farm or shelter that you could ask help from, a sudden groan of pain gets your attention. The grey cat looks at you with the wooziest eyes and the silliest of grins.

One of his hands shakily goes up to point at you. “…has the nightingale sent her prettiest angel to take me away?” His voice was anything but coherent. “…why I must be quite the lucky…poet..”

As relief washes over you to the fact that he’s breathing, at the very least, you notice a nasty wound opening up on his head, a bit of blood ready to gush out of it. then you notice the box of what seems to be bottles of moonshine that spilled with him as he was running away.

 Before you could think of anything else- you hear grunts, gunshots and yells from across the fields, and in that moment of flight or fight, you grab onto the concerningly lanky cat and drive away.

Through all your yells to yourself about literally taking an injured stranger into your car and running away, you also realized why you felt such an urge. Your brain has seemed to connect the dots.whoever this guy was, it was obvious his job was the unsavoury kind, a bootlegger. An occupation you remember having a long time ago, a job you remember being your worst. Perhaps,you’ve felt sympathy for the guy and decided to save him before things got deadly.

Nevertheless, with an abundance of self-deprecation and worry for what will be the outcome of your quick and on-pressure decision, you took him to your house.

Maids and servants alike gasped in horror when they saw their boss caryying a man who looks like he took a deep swim in the mud, blood trickling down his blue suit and staining your own clothing. You quickly ask for their aid and bring him to the fireplace, let the maids patch him up while you get a proper change of clothes and soothing tea as well.

 The servants urge you to go to bed, to be rest assured that when the mysterious lanky cat wakes up they’ll be there to explain everything to him. Yet, you could not let anyone face the burdens of your silly and perhaps bad decision (though some of your employees commented that you could be deemed heroic in a certain lens. “some might even say a tad romantic!” a certain person with a known interest for romance novels added. You dismissed it all.)

You decided to stay the night sitting by the arm-chair next to the couch he laid on, awaiting his clarity while taking a small nap yourself. With a grunt and roll of their eyes,some from amusement and others from worry, they brought a blanket and a pillow and left you be. Next to the lanky, drifted asleep and bad-shape cat that was covered in bandages.

You were expecting at least a decent night’s sleep, since there’d be no way he’d be able to wake up quickly after the day he’s been through.his body would definitely take its time in recovery. What you hadn’t expected, was hearing rustling and shifts in the night, ones you dismissed as servants just shifted around to finish up the last of their tasks, but then hearing creaks, stumbles and the sound of something clunking and shattering on the ground before finally, a creak of a window opening. That is when your eyes immediately opened, and you were met with the cat who was hit with your car tangled up in his own bandages trying to make an escape. You both froze for a moment. Him, being midway out with his escape, his hand still latched on the window, and you, still in your armchair with a frazzled expression.

 “uh…sorry about that….” His eyes trail to the ground.”statue?...” he gives a nervous grin while pointing at the shattered artifact.he then looks up and gives a nervous chuckle. “and the torn drapes.” He then looks around again and winces. “annnnd the shattered vase.”

 After that failed attempt to escape seemed futile, you brought him back in and briefly explained the situation. Rocky told you his side of the story- though, with a few skipped parts and avoiding to get into details about what specifically failed so spectacularly in his task to retrieve some booze.

You talk for a little while, giving some small brief summaries about who you are and what you do, and gleefully answering some silly questions Rocky had about your status. You found yourself enjoying your talk with Rocky, talking to someone who's so incredibly lively. You've been around soulless businessmen for so long that you almost forgot what it’s like to actually speak to a person, to forget about status and money, to not read between the lines of every sentence someone utters. You finally felt like yourself for a moment, like something about Rocky’s eccentricities and unhinged nature has rejuvenated your soul.

 Yet, as Rocky looks back at the clock, he quickly gets up to leave, needing to go back to his work before anyone assumes he’s dead. You tried to convince him to stay a while longer, to sleep for the night so he can heal up. yet he didn’t falter. He quickly put on his coat and hat, looking at you with a charming smile. He tilts his hat, giving a small bow before graciously saying goodbye.

What he hadn’t noticed, was that your eyes trailed his clothing for a moment and noticed something intriguing. Something that could hint at where he truly works at. A small pin, in the shape of a club.

  After that, a few weeks have passed by before you decide to finally visit. Your main reason was to just make sure he’s  okay and that his injury has finally healed up. yet a part of you knew that you were also deeply curious about him, and had felt the urge to know more about his life. Perhaps, he’ll rise the ranks like you did. Or maybe just like old co-workers of yours at the bootlegging game, he’ll get himself into deep trouble.

Nonetheless, you visited the Lackadaisy speakeasy. The place you heard a cacophony of rumours and chats about, yet never visited it yourself. The empty mine with dark lights engulfed in the room left a lot to be desired. something was missing, something crucial that was holding the whole place up together. The very few guests that were there however, were noneother than the wife of Atlas May and…

  “…Wick Sable?!”

Wick chokes on his drink, tail frizzing up in distress as his ears perk up and take a note of the familiarity of that voice. He coughs out the drink he was meaning to enjoy (even if it’s taste wasn’t really in the highest of tiers in terms of ‘enjoyable’), looking at you with a stressed smile. “ah…L/n..what an unexpected surprise.”

Depending on your relationship with Wick, this interaction could go in three ways. If you're good friends, he’d have to suffer a bit with both your teasing and Mitzi's about not telling you about his frequent trips here. If you're mere acquaintances, then though he’d have to suffer only  Mitzi's teasing about him being so secretive about his visits, he’d still be forced to explain his relationship with the place to you over a few drinks. If you’re known to be rivals or enemies, well, not only would he be utterly displeased by the idea of you finding his go-to bar, but what would irk him more would be how Mitzi will try to make you a regular patron around here. often shutting up any sort of jab or retort Wick has to your musings and letting you have control over the conversation.

 As you start getting accustomed to the ambiance of the mine and the piercing galre of the bartender, the man of the hour-well, your hour, at least, comes in. this time with his suit only a tiny bit ruined by dirt and tears, but still not as bad as his awful state when you first found him.

His eyes beam when he sees you, and he immediately starts flirting with lines of poetry and song while he shoves the cart of illicit beverages he found into a small orange cat;s hands and takes the abandoned violin that was on the bar counter to strum up a tune.

Everyone expected him to be flat out rejected, to be ignored and maybe even weird out the new patron. But low and behold, the new patron merely giggled and smiled, matching his playful energy and cheeky jokes.

Safe to say, everyone’s jaw was dropped, while Rocky himself was beaming with joy and pride.

After that, you’ve become a regular at the speakeasy.often visiting the place to mainly speak with Rocky and develop a nice friendship with him. 

Your conversations with him were always insightful, since he was the very clear opposite of you. While you were known in society for your calm demeanour in different matters (often preferring to panic in the inside rather than out.), Rocky was known to be loud and spontaneous. No one knew how on earth you two got along so well, but you somehow did. He was able to bring charm and joy to a conversation, something that you desperately missed from your old life. While you were able to become the reasonable one in the relationship, often convincing Rocky to avoid causing some disastrous chaos that would’ve left the speakeasy in shambles.

Rocky’s clumsiness and acts of chaos has left him with more injuries and broken things than he can count. It’s something that you took note of immediately, and whenever you’d see his clothes, your heart would often ache for him. But you knew Rocky. You knew he wouldn’t accept something you bought with your own money, that though he’d act grateful, he’d somehow make some gleeful excuse to try to avoid taking it. And so, you’ve decided with the help of a few delivery boys to send these gifts to him anonymously instead. 

Now, though in everyone else’s eyes, Rocky doesn’t look changed at all, the keen observer would notice his new and clean clothes, and his violin of fine-quality and craftsmanship.

You’d often rant about your job with Rocky. Especially when you had had enough drinks in your system to forget the poised and strong demeanour you must uphold. Ever since you reached the top of the board, you’ve become a fish out of water. You cannot relate nor have any sort of fun with the people you’re often forced to speak with. Especially since the people in question are known to be incredibly judgemental and gossip-obsessed.Rocky would always hear your whines and try to cheer you up with a song, or maybe a funny story he can tell about another dangerous and concerning adventure he had for the day. Since he noticed how you always smile when he rambles on and on, and though you often give him a concerned glance, you never stop listening to him with a smile.

Another way you try to help Rocky is by helping the speakeasy itself, since you know how much it means to him. You sponsor the place and try to help Mitzi when she’s in any sort of financial difficulty, and you try to strum up some business by making your clients and fellow businessmen have meetings in the speakeasy.

This has created a sort of conundrum for the guests you bring. Because unknown to their own knowledge, they're often the same people you rant about all the time to Rocky. And so, Rocky always has the urge to somehow scare and intimidate them with his insanity. He treats them just as he treats Wick, sometimes even worse. He jabs, he nudges and he pretty much freaks them out when you’re too distracted talking about the business at hand to even notice his actions. And the worst part is, whenever you do look up, Rocky immediately stops his actions and gives you a charmed smile and innocent wink. As if he’s been as innocent as an angel the entire time. 

After a while, it didn’t take long for your maids to realize that Rocky wasn’t just some simple friend to you, but in fact, someone you’re into. And they made this theory of theirs become known to you when they suddenly start asking for details about your day at the speakeasy, specifically your hangouts with Rocky. You try to deny it at first, but you couldn’t help but admit that something about Rocky was different from others. To you, your friendship with Rocky was an entirely new and incredible experience, an experience that you cherish deeply, and…you wouldn’t mind for it to become something more.

So,you start initiating the flirtations, ones that Rocky immediately answers back with equal amounts of enthusiasm. Slowly but surely, your hangouts have become dates, and your rants have become more personal.

soon enough, and in the other’s point of view, shockingly so, you two have become a couple. An incredibly cheesy one at that.

 For a moment, everyone thought perhaps this was a sugar baby type of situation. That was until they all wondered what on earth could their lackluster bootlegger and not-half-bad violinist Rocky Rickaby offer in the sugar baby aspect of it all? they all came out with an utterly empty answer. However, though the relationship was far from such a thing, it doesn’t mean you don’t like showering Rocky with gifts all the time. Especially since you firmly believe he deserves at least some sort of nice luxury in his life. You’d often try to do the same old trick of anonymously gifting them, but he has caught you once in the act, and with a bountiful amount of kisses has convinced you to drop the whole act.

Rocky may at first be in somewhat of a denial for such attention. Though he will gawk, be giddy and awe-struck about the amount of gifts he is receiving, a part of him would also somehow feel guilty for it. like he doesn’t deserve such nice things in life. it’s a guilt that you quickly scold him for, and as punishment by even more gifts for him than before.

Though you are of high-status, both you and Rocky still prefer dates in the dark streets of Mississippi rather than any luxurious restaurant. You once tried to go to one  of course, but the night has ended with the kitchen going on fire and Rocky somehow freeing all the lobsters from their tanks. Nevertheless, it was still a great night, one where you couldn’t help but laugh in pure freedom because you felt all the societal pressure in your shoulders wash away. It didn't matter who the guests were in that restaurant, it was of no importance what they whispered about you or your partner whom you wouldn’t trade for the world. All that mattered was you and Rocky, dancing under the stars as rain started to pour.

Teasing Wick has become a mutual activity for you two. An activity Mitzi even joins in from time to time. Lord knows how many jabs Wick has to put up with whenever you both are at the speakeasy at the same time (which unfortunately for him, is quite the common occurrence.) it’s gotten to the point where whenever he sees you two together he gives out an exhausted sigh and asks Viktor to give him a stronger drink.

There are times where Rocky wonders if he’s worth it. times where the stink eyes and glances of high society get in his head a bit and he wonders if he’s truly worth all the reputational risk you’re putting yourself through. Those are the times where you must quickly go against such negative thoughts, to grab his hands and tell him firmly that he’s worth more than anything to you. though it never truly diminishes his insecurity in the matter, it does help lower it down.

You’re absolutely horrified and livid when you realize he’s living in his car. It’s something your heart breaks at and you quickly urge him to just come live with you instead. You have plenty of room to spare and would absolutely adore having him around. It’s an offer you wouldn’t let him say no to, no matter how hard he tried. You even offer to buy a house for him, if he’s uncomfortable with the idea of living with you. He quickly denies having such a thought, and in the end, he moves into your mansion.

Some maids are weirded out by him while others are a bit fearful. But they quickly learn to accommodate him, especially since he’s always bringing you into a better and happier mood. Hell, you even renovated one of the rooms to be his own workshop of sorts where he can write his poems. He never really uses it, preferring to work on his ideas with you beside him instead, but he does put some sizable amount of things in there. things he has definitely brought from his cluttered car.

Even though everyone had their fair share of surprised reactions when they finally found out you were dating, it was Aunt Nina who was the most shocked of all. she never believed Rocky could find a normal partner..let alone one that’s known for their wealth and successful businesses such as yourself. She even once wondered if Rocky has used some sort of devil witchcraft to steal your heart.

There are often times where both of you tend to falter, tend to become incredibly silent after a conversation that went wrong. You both have so many secrets you can’t share, so many thoughts and feelings that are hard to describe, let alone explain where they came from.Rocky admires you, he truly does. Because he knows you’ve worked hard for your status in the world, and that it’s normal for wealthy people to have secrets of their own. You are the same, you respect him, and know that his life wasn’t the most simple nor easiest. Yet both of you cannot help but sometimes get frustrated by the other for keeping important things a secret. You more than him, you will admit. You can’t help it. You don't want him to be in danger. But knowing how strange and unhinged his luck is, you’re certain he’s bound to get into deep trouble if he doesn’t find someone to help him. And that’s when you ask him, why can’t that someone be you? Why can’t he rely on you when he needs it? You’re not a simple person, you have more than enough resources and money to protect both you and him from any problems.

and that is when he asks why can’t you be more open to him,yet ask him for such an act? He knows very little about your family life, and there are times you skip a few stories and relationships you had with certain people you rant about. He has noticed, he just never spoke about it.and then, a chilling silence takes over the room. And you both need time to collect your thoughts before you talk.

In the end, you both reach out for each other at the same time and talk things out, and though you both know talking about each other’s past will take a lot of time and trust, you’re willing to wait for it, and will never forget that you’re by each other’s side for when you’re in need of help.

Though you both are an unexpected match for sure, that doesn’t falter the endless love and admiration you have for each other.

[moonydustx]

Law buying an Bepo bear to his shy girlfriend!

I loved the idea! I made a small adjustment on the "buy" issue, I hope you don't hate me for it. And of course, I hope you like it.

The Bear and The Target

Lawx F!Reader

warnings: fluff, F!Reader is a little more shy/reserved in this one, Law is a great boyfriend (as always)

a/n: I really loved this idea, Law doing cute things for his s/o is my weakness.

requests here | rules and guides | masterlist

Comments, reblogs and likes are greatly appreciated.

The Park's lights almost blinded you, as well as people pushing against each other, competing to get to the most sought-after attractions first. Despite having your arm side by side with your boyfriend and watching him dodge the countless proposals of "try this game and win thousands of berris" "bet and compete for the top prize", you were still dazzled by how magical the place seemed. .

"Are the two annoying people going to be a couple for the whole park?" Penguin appeared at your side, taking your arm and watching Law sulk. "Captain, don't be annoying."

"Unfortunately, I'm here for work" he pointed out, turning his gaze towards you. "But you do not."

"And I can't go to work with you?" you asked

"It's not really a job, I just need to figure something out." he tried to dodge the question, not wanting to give too many details. "In the meantime, why don't you enjoy a little night with them?"

"We can go on the roller coaster and then go to the monster house."

"No monster house." you and Bepo responded in unison, both of you clearly unhappy with the proposal. "Can we go in the bumper cars?" Bepo proposed and saw you nod.

"See you later then?" you turned to your boyfriend, who just nodded and watched as you and the group of friends left.

As much as Law was against lying in any situation in a relationship, he had just lied to you and it wasn't one of the things he was most proud of, but he had a good reason.

A few months ago, on another island, he had seen you looking at a huge teddy bear and not buying it. It took a few days for the subject to come up and he asked you why you didn't ask and again, shyness was an excuse.

Law was a reserved person, by pure choice - and almost as a personal whim. However, you were indeed shy. The only people who could break your shell a little were your crewmates and even Law had had trouble starting to flirt with you, not being able to know if he was understanding the few signals you gave in the wrong way.

For that reason - and because his eyes almost exploded when he saw you do or have something cute - he knew that that park was the best place to find what he was looking for so much, that cute and huge bear.

He just didn't expect to find exorbitant prices or bears uglier than any patch he had ever heard of, it was impossible to find something perfect.

In the distance, he could see you and the other crew members gathering around a little tent, as he got closer he saw it was one of those old throwing games, where there was definitely some trickery hidden. Seeing you further away from the others, he arrived quietly, stopping right behind you.

"What are we doing?" When he saw you turn around, scared, his hands soon found your shoulders, reassuring you. "It's just me."

"It makes me calmer, but not less scared." you laughed, your hands itching to clasp against Law, but it wasn't something the two of you usually did in public. "Well, we're trying to win something."

"And you, why are you staying away?"

"This guy at this stand is one of those funny charlatan types who love to meddle." You held back a laugh, seeing his expression darken.

Before you could continue complaining about the man, Law's mind immediately wandered to what was in the background: an immense, white, perfectly stitched polar bear that was just an orange uniform away from transforming into Bepo.

"I am going to try." Law's speech surprised you, making you follow him to the edge of the bench.

"The pretty lady decided to try?" the man said in the most charlatan way possible, but Law responded immediately.

"No, in this case, her boyfriend." He took out some coins and placed them in front of the man. "Which one do I have to hit to win one of the prizes in that row?"

"That one." he pointed to the smallest of them all, further back. "But I warn you that it may take some time."

"Captain, everyone tried and no one succeeded." Bepo commented, clearly more concerned than he should be with the simple game. Meanwhile, you remained closer to him, silently watching the bet unfold.

"There, five rings, five chances." the man passed the pieces to Law.

He tried a few times in a row and failed each time. Both Law and his friends were already sighing frustrated with the fact that almost twenty-five rings thrown in a row had escaped the hole.

"There has to be some trickery in this." Law snapped, frustrated with not getting the bear he knew you wanted. "You're fooling us all!"

"Me cheating?" the man said cynically as he accepted more coins and gave Law more chances. "You offend me like this."

"Well, captain…" Shachi approached his side and picked up one of the rings, slamming it against the counter in front of the two. Soon after, he threw a small piece of paper towards the bow and hit it. "See, you're the bad one, captain."

Law quickly connected the dots. The rings were made of some metal material - which could interfere with the weight or even have a magnet pulling it - and the paper ball was not. One look was enough for Shachi and Penguin to understand that they had to act.

"I'll try again." Law muttered, more as a point of warning to his colleagues than anything else.

"Come on man, confess, there's a scam here." Penguin pulled the guy's arm in a falsely gentle way, stealing your attention along with it. "There's no point in deceiving us."

"I got it!" Law's surprised voice drew the two of you back to the captain's attempts, who was now smiling broadly in the man's direction. "So, my prize…"

"How did you get?" the man shouted indignantly, going to check if he had actually succeeded. "I mean, okay, you can choose your prize."

"Come on, you choose." Law turned to you, seeing your eyes light up at the proposal. "Although I already suspect what your decision is."

"The cute Bepo over there?" Your voice was excited, but in a way that only he heard.

Immediately, Law pointed to the huge white stuffed polar bear, which the man reluctantly removed from the wall. Law's laughter remained contained as he watched you almost itch to reach the bear that the man handed you.

"It's so cute!" You squeezed him, burying your face against his soft fur. "It's so good, it's the best gift I've ever gotten."

"This version of Bepo at least lets us squeeze him." Ikkaku joined you, squeezing the teddy bear as well and listening to the real version of Bepo's mumbles.

"You guys squeeze me too much sometimes, I need to breathe."

"We have the need to squeeze cute little things!" you pressed the plush against your arms.

There was a little relay of who would squeeze your bear - which yes, you nicknamed B2 or as Bepo, the second of his name - until they were back at Polar Tang.

"So, did you like the gift?" Law's voice entering the room was enough to cheer you up. "Does that mean he's already stolen my side of the bed?"

"Just until you come here."

"As if I wasn't already offended since you have to squeeze cute things." he grumbled and it only took seconds for you to throw yourself into his arms, covering any trace of skin and face you could find with smacking kisses.

"You.are.the.best.boyfriend.in.the.world." with each pause, it was a new time that your lips met Law's, this time causing a louder laugh to echo from him. "I loved the gift."

"And I'm glad you liked it." He quickly kissed your lips. "I'm going to take a shower, then can we spend some time together?"

"Me, you and B2?"

"Okay, just tonight. I'm surrounded by bears that give me a hard time." he pretended to be offended, knowing that your reaction would be another kiss on him.

Despite the grumblings - and the exorbitant amount of money spent on the attempts - the vision Law found was worth it. You lay on his bed, one of his t-shirts on your body and attached to your arms, the huge white bear. You matched cute things and for him, that would be worth any game - even if a certain devil fruit power had helped him this time.

[grandlinedreams]

Hello, I've been reading Ur fics lately (esp with law) and I love them

I was wondering if you could make angst? Like... Let's say there's this big battle, like the one in wano, where reader and law gets separated, but after the battle Law finds reader unconscious and being treated by chopper who then explains they had severe wounds and might need blood transfusion.

It also just happens that he was gonna confess to them after all of the chaos so that they'd be safe in his arms. And that might not even happen since now they have each foot on both worlds.

I'd imagine Law going along with talking to them even if they're unconscious just to keep them here in the living. (If they're alone ofc)

I hope that's alright

OUGH some angst my beloved,,,i can absolutely do that, I hope I do this justice for you!!

[Heads up!: angst, serious injuries, some brief medical talk, hurt/very little comfort, keeping in line w Law literally calling none of the Strawhats by their names, open-ended]

Truth be told, Law doesn't keep much of an eye on you during battles. It's hard enough keeping an eye on what the enemy is doing ㅡ especially if the Strawhats are involved. They ㅡ especially their captain ㅡ have a knack for blowing careful plans out of the water and he's forced to play damage control until it's over.

You're also fully capable of looking after yourself, and he trusts you and your skillset. So when he doesn't immediately find you once things have started settling down, he doesn't think much of it.

When five minutes turns to ten, then to fifteen, then half an hour, however, alarm bells start going off in his head. You've never taken this long to check in with him. Has something happened? Have you beenㅡ

No, he won't let himself think of that option. Not now, not ever. So he keeps as optimistic as reality will allow him ㅡ until he hears his name being called.

"Oi, Law!"

It's Sanji. "What is it, Blackleg?"

The blond's expression is his first warning that whatever it is, it isn't pleasant. "Chopper told me to come get you."

That's his second warning. Eyes narrowing and trying to rifle through potential scenarios from best case to worst, he follows Sanji silently until they reach where Chopper is ㅡ and Law stares at who the little reindeer is desperately trying to patch up.

It's you.

Part of him whispers harshly that this is par for the course, that he's worn out his luck in terms of keeping you safe ㅡ another notes that he's never seen you look more fragile.

"What happened." It's a demand as he takes in the bandages all over you, trying not to think about how most of them are already soaked with blood. Your blood.

He barely hears the explanation above the rising ringing in his ears, but he gathers enough to find it in himself to mentally curse your perchance for heroics. He's told you time and time again that your self-sacrificing attitude will get you into trouble, and now it has. (As if he isn't guilty of it too from time to time, but that's neither here nor there.)

"They need a transfusion," he says, kneels to gather you into his arms, trying not to focus on how limp you are. "I'll take it from here."

If Chopper protests, he doesn't stick around long enough to hear it. From the second he sets foot back on the Polar Tang, it's a blur.

Bandages are stripped from you and replaced, an IV of fluid in one arm, blood in the other. One of the defaults to joining the crew is letting him know blood type so he has it on hand, and he's never been more grateful to have it and less so that he needs to use it.

For the next few hours, Law hardly blinks, barely lets himself breathe ㅡ afraid that somewhere between, you'll slip from him. He can feel the cold circle of death around you, measuring, evaluating. Deciding if you go, or if you stay.

He wants you to stay. If there were ever a way to guarantee that you do, he'd do it now ㅡ but there isn't. So he sits, counts your breath (in, out. Up, down.), and waits.

And he talks.

He tells you that you're a pain, that you need to stop thinking so much of others before yourself, that a quality like that is only admirable until it means a grave instead of life. That you shouldn't be so cavalier with your time, that there are people who care about you, and what are they supposed to do if you die?

He means himself in that too. He's gotten accustomed to your presence, the way you've slotted your way into his routines and habits like you belong, and perhaps, were he a romantic, he'd say you always have. But he hardly has time for that, barely lets himself entertain it ㅡ too soft, too ideal, too good to be true. Always too much of something.

But he wants it, wants you ㅡ wonders if he'll even get the slimmest chance to tell you now. Law could tell you now, but he doesn't. He's afraid if he does, it'll tip the scales further from his favor and he'll undoubtedly lose you.

He can't do that.

It isn't fair ㅡ but when has the world ever felt fit to treat him in a way that could ever be seen as kind enough to be called fair?

[nam-namming]

reggie rambling

ok so . This actually made me laugh the first time I saw it [reggie is just Vibing] . HOWEVER, the implications are pretty interesting.

We know that Reggie choosing to retire is the whole reason why Paul acts the way he does; Paul was so insulted by his choice, he decided to become the antithesis of Reggie's philosophy as a trainer and do what he could not- defeating Brandon.

Let's go back to Paul's comment about Reggie's emotions. The two brothers are polar opposites, this much is stated by everyone who ends up interacting with the two. Paul is blunt and can be cruel with his words, but he's also honest; he reacts naturally when he's taken aback, and he's still a kid who lets his emotions get the better of him.

The anime portrays this as somewhat petty, but I want to explore the potential of Reggie as a character with contradicting flaws that could lowkey piss Paul off as his brother

Reggie's connection with Maylene has always intrigued me. I know some people ship them, but I don't for a variety of reasons; my HC age for Reggie is one, but its also for his...seeming distance in his debut episode with Maylene.

In the JPN dub, Maylene refers to Reggie with "-san", while Reggie just uses her name. "-san" is a semi-formal suffix for people way older than you or above you, kinda like "mr/ms", so its still possible to see the two as friends [but that would mean a Significant age gap, or a level of formality on Reggie's side, since he doesn't even call her by "-chan"].

Secondly , just . Look at his face when he's introducing Maylene. In that episode, Maylene was struggling with her self-esteem and role as Gym Leader due to Paul beating her easily and calling her weak. She's even been having conflict with her partner Pokemon Lucario, to the point where she keeps getting attacked by full-on Aura Spheres.

[The exact translations of this specific dub may be a little . Dubious . but the general meaning still sticks]

Reggie knows EVERYTHING that went down, and judging from how the Pokemon he's been taking care of were even spectating during one of their scuffles, it kinda implies that he's been hanging around since the start. Still, its Maylene who has to request not to bring up Gym-related matters because it distresses her, and aside from Reggie hanging around, he didn't seem to be...doing a lot to directly help the situation?

Being defeated by a stronger trainer and being hit with words so harsh they nearly make you consider retiring...isn't that exactly what Reggie went through in the past? How come he's literally the most relaxed character in all these scenes?

He even knows the dynamic between Maylene and the Gym Assistants! Granted, the episode needed an exposition machine, and Maylene's conflict allowed Dawn to play a big role in her story, but its still kinda weird to see Reggie know so much despite not being shown to do much at all. Did Maylene tell him? Did he just extrapolate all of that by patching together Paul's stories and context clues?

Speaking of dynamics with the Gym Assistants:

Its not Shown in the second image, but the Gym Assistants actually refer to Reggie by "-dono", a VERY old-timey honorific with a Higher level of respect than "-san" [so even if he was just . there as a hired guy, they would use -san at best rather than -dono]. In the ENG dub, the Gym Assistants call him "Master Reggie" instead, matching with how they say "Master Maylene" when she runs off.

Which is . Interesting to say the least. In the ENG dub, Reggie states that she's been Gym Leader for 6 months; which is a very short time! If Maylene was respected for her and her Lucario's special martial arts, then what's Reggie's deal? I was just assuming maybe it was just a case of them being . Like That to guests; but the Gym Assistants aren't really interested in learning more about Ash and the gang, and Reggie had retired a long time ago. Speaking of, isn't it kinda weird that for a bunch of guys that are so dedicated to training [and even showed disapproval towards their current boss], they just . allow this non-trainer and his gaggle of LITERAL BABIES to hang out in their training area?

My headcanon is that Reggie beat Veilstone's former Gym Leader during his first region run, and just . hung around there to train sometimes. Maybe even do some martial arts? Bit of a crackheaded reach at that point, but we barely get any info on Reggie's hobbies and what else he did as a trainer; besides,

His brother's unparalleled athleticism and parkour skills at 10 years old isn't something that Paul could have learned safely by himself unsupervised. Mind you he did a full somersault and LANDED it while Ash was just hurtling full speed, but back to the topic at hand.

Then there's the way that Reggie does technically still battle, but he keeps holding back. Refer to my previous post about his swalot and his remark to Ash about "not being a proper substitute for the Veilstone gym" which is . Something considering how he said this just a few seconds before [projection, mayhaps?]:

Isn't that sort of bluntness very similar to someone else we know? And then his real intentions are made clear after the battle:

The poses [and also the expressions he makes throughout that battle] may make you think that perhaps he Was taking it serious, but once I compare it to Another pose of his, that may not look like the case .

He switches Swalot out despite it being more than ready to wipe Ash's team, and comments on the ability of Ash's Pokemon instead. He ends up teaching Brave Bird to Ash's Staravia, but in the ENG dub, Maylene actually makes a comment about knowing the next Pokemon to be sent out after Swalot. In the ENG sub of the JPN dub I watched, she only said "Lucario, did you see that?", but I think the ENG dub is much more interesting. It implies that Maylene has not only seen his Staraptor, but she's seen it several times in the context of training. Not only that, but Reggie actually encourages Maylene to watch the battle, maybe that's his way of helping? And since it does actually end up pushing Maylene to agree to a battle with Dawn, how come Reggie [who had a very similar problem in the past and SEEMS level-headed enough to practice his own advice] still retired?

"Oh but he still invited her to watch", sure, but it was ultimately Dawn's talk with Maylene that had a major hand in it. Reggie didn't even push back against this stranger from doing what he was trying to do; was he not concerned that they might not know Maylene as well as he does? Or are him and Maylene simply not that close, and him telling the Gym Assistants that he would talk to her was slightly performative?

I've established Reggie as a very observant character who's comments are treated as objective by the narrative, and a mentor-like character who is well-respected even by the Gym Assistants long after he's retired. How does that relate to his dynamic with Paul?

Quite a lot, actually. In my previous post, I noted that:

Paul is very particular about how his Pokemon are trained

He is very blunt, and doesn't really care if others dislike him for the thoughts he expresses

He cannot stand Ash's philosophy, which is noted to be similar to Reggie's

Despite this, he also:

Entrusted Reggie with most of his Pokemon

Speaks to him politely, or at the very least, doesn't speak directly to him in his usual harsh and rude manner

Constantly updates him on what he's up to

Discusses his team lineups to him and takes [some of] his feedback into consideration

Much like how he correctly assessed Maylene's situation and the state of Ash's Staravia, Reggie was able to point out Paul's strategies both in his Battle Pyramid fight and Semifinals battle with Ash. When Reggie suggests a rematch between Ash and Paul after Paul loses to Brandon, Paul actually looks shocked, as if he didn't consider it.

Whether he likes it or not, Reggie has the strong makings and fundamentals of a trainer, and despite Paul's personal gripes with his philosophy, he is not entirely allergic to talking about such things with him. Which is a great thing, because Reggie is VERY chatty about stuff like that [he even updates Paul on stuff that ASH DID . BRO I know you have a strong interest in seeing Paul journey play out, but I do wonder if he's this observant with EVERYTHING] [honestly THAT could be his unique strength as a trainer].

I don't think that Paul thinks Reggie is a weak trainer, but moreso he thinks he's sabotaging his own potential for reasons he doesn't know, and it drives Paul mad. That almost sounds like the same thing, but hear me out!

Paul is a very flawed character, he's one of the few cases in the Pokemon anime where the extent of his abuse towards a Pokemon is shown in extreme detail and is even made an entire arc for both him and the Pokemon. It wouldn't be out-of-character for him to reject Reggie as family either or act like a hissy cat whenever they interact, but that isn't the case. The two brothers don't have any other [canon] family, and with how Reggie is basically an adult, that means he probably raised Paul too.

I'm hitting Tumblr's image limit, but how often do you see Paul's battle posture be THAT tense? It exactly mirrors Reggie's own pose from when he battled Brandon [and if you compare the two brothers' poses in their other battles, they don't repeat this stance]. And look at Reggie, my guy is pumping his fist and- his eyes look the same as Paul's! He's very different from the Reggie we see Ash interact with in the anime. Regardless if you think that Paul was raised by a now-dead/estranged parent or that Reggie practically raised him ala teen dad style, its pretty clear that Paul imprinted an Image of what a strong trainer is like based on what Reggie used to be. Paul's agitation from his battle with Brandon was because of [you know], but I also can't help that under his initial cool bravado, there was some apprehension with the idea of battling the man who caused his brother to retire.

Plus, he sorta softened up to Reggie more after that.

This is NOT canon, but I also like to think- with Paul looking up to his brother back then and all- that the two made a pinky-promise of sorts that eventually went unfulfilled.

Just a simple, all-out battle between bros. Nothing too fancy.

So then, I'm gonna bring back a question I asked earlier: how come Reggie- who went through a similar experience as Maylene, someone who eventually overcame it with inspiration- still retired despite his clear passion and skill for battling?

Resoluteness. Just as Paul initially released/gave away Pokemon that he saw as weak with little hesitation, Reggie interpreted a single loss to his record as a sign that he was nothing as a trainer. Just as Paul stuck to his guns the whole anime, only relenting slightly when he catches himself complimenting Infernape after his loss to Ash, Reggie never once deviates or shows doubt in his own decision to retire even after helping someone NOT retire due to a stressful defeat...and he has yet to experience a situation where he is proven wrong. Just as Paul could see Ash slowly catching up to him in terms of badge progress knowing full well what his training is like yet still think his methods are ass for most of the anime, Reggie is incredibly observant + is treated as a good mentor by several characters on account of his battle knowledge and techniques- but he still downplays himself and never makes a comeback.

The truth is blatant, but it requires a very strong push for both of them to make a move. I would argue that this makes Reggie worse than his brother in terms of accepting new views, because he's already deadset on his own low esteem [refer back to his dialogue when challenging Ash].

I also feel like Reggie having 32 badges + gifted kid syndrome + older brother Baggage just made his loss to Brandon hit That much harder. Like okay Ash lost to him the first time too, but that kid had a support system and didn't have previously-mentioned baggage. Who exactly was there for Reggie to talk to him properly?

If you consider the age gap between Paul and Reggie, Reggie may even have ignored Paul's gripes due to his age; 'he's just a kid, it isn't any of his business', etc etc. And unlike Paul, Reggie doesn't have a rival [or a friend his age honestly] that could have consistently pushed him and challenged his ideas; it was just him, and a bunch of people with expectations he no longer had the energy to entertain. Perhaps it was out of pride that he put up a barrier or polite veneer between him and Paul regarding the matter. Everything is Alright, despite what everything Paul knows about his brother screaming that its not the case.

"One would think that he is upset, but like an idiot, he just keeps smiling all the time...I can't forgive him for that." Reggie giving up is a betrayal to Paul and the ideals that he represented, to see his usually passionate brother be reduced to a homebody that only smiles politely at people and never uses his skills for anything serious anymore...Reggie got Maylene to watch a battle so that she would agree to fight Dawn, and in some way I wonder if Paul still updates Reggie on his fights with Ash because he hopes that it'll do the same thing.

When Paul started acting out, I wonder if that in itself was the final straw for Reggie [esp if you HC Reggie to have practically raised him]. In his eyes, perhaps its for the best that he never sets the bar so high as to lead someone astray again. Perhaps its for the best that he purposefully downplays himself, and he perhaps he even deserves Paul's contempt. His life as a breeder was uneventful, but it was easy work, and he never failed it like he failed battling. He never felt like he would fail his Pokemon.

Between Paul calling him weak and Reggie saying that Paul always had a mean streak- BOTH of these incidents happening in front of OTHER PEOPLE and NEVER when its JUST THE TWO OF THEM- these two cannot constructively confront each other to save their lives. Or perhaps they tried, and their own personalities simply got in the way, and the experience was so disconcerting that they both agreed to never bring it up again.

[fridgemissionmaster]

Mephistopheles Demon Form Headcannon/Reference sheet

@ me/give credit if you use this design, I'd love to see someone who isn't stupid rusty draw Mephisto in this.

A Mephistopheles demon form far all your drawing/ fan fic needs cause who knows if/whenever we'll get an official one.

I was thinking of making fanart but just making this took all my drawing energy for the next 20 years.

WHY I designed him this way/breaking down of the character design and what exactly is everything is +close-ups under the 'read more'

Also I haven't drawn in a long time so if things look off that's why.

Sorry that it may be hard to tell but Mephisto's tail is furred and scaled. Scales black with a purple sheen, and fur his hair color.

(and sorry but lighting may make it hard to see the scales. The scale patches to note that, no matter how hard I tried just refused to be captured on camera, but I swear in-person you can see them just fine.)

Warning, back references are stupid sketchy, just enough to understand how the layering works.

First Outer Coat -Tail

(Text says: back strap thing keeps outer coat from enveloping)

Next Inner Coat

(Top text: collar of top under inner coat)

(Middle text: outline of tail hole strap thing under corset)

Also inner coat and top under inner coat don't have references since are just back and hug the body so I felt no need to make that since very simple. If however someone were to want that, you could ask and I'll make it.

(Last text is not a real note, just sillies)

And finally Outer Coat +Tail

(Text says: no tail hole for outer coat strap over where hole strap is)

I Warned ya they were very sketchy!

If you have any questions about the design like if something isn't clear feel free to ask.

And if you care to stay a little longer, under the 'read more' I'll explain why I designed him the way I did and the references to other characters like the triangles and horn jewelry.

Okay let's go from the top down shall we!

But before anything else. I do wish to explain that I loosely based Mephisto's demon features after the Kirin, this deer/ox/dragon creature. I felt something more mythical would fit him being born a demon like Barbatos and Diavolo who's demon features can't exactly be pinned down unlike most of the brothers who later in life became demons and who mostly have an obvious human animal they are based off of.

So first would be his horns!

I wanted something slightly branchy like a tree but not too much so lest they end up too similar to Barbatos or Leviathan's so I settled on this, and this is a more solid and less delicate fitting the more militaristic vibe I gave to his demon form as a whole.

Now with him being nobility I thought it fitting to give him some jewelry on his horns like Diavolo, however his are not gold as he's not royalty.

As for the colorful gems... I have no real reason other than tree horns that looked vaguely like there was rain, what with them hanging, was cool.

Next we have the jabot/green scarf thing.

I wanted his design to look like it could fit in the game, but generally the characters are mostly monochrome with 1 pop color, which I went for a berry purple except for here. Asmodeus' is pink and Belphie's is light blue, however both have and additional red or reddish orange out of nowhere, Asmo in the heart gem and Belphie on his belt. I felt the contrasting color was needed for the design as a whole to look better (and match his eyes/let them tie in and not look out of place), and, this guy is nobility, and with that I feel affords the use of extra little gems or flares to help tie things together.

Okay! Now for the outer coat!

I felt it was fitting he have an outer coat. Maybe it fits Diavolo, after all Mephisto's life's purpose is to be dedicated to the man so having a something that could fit him felt, well, fitting. The outer coat is also a kinda reference to Lucifer, both characters are alike and polar opposite at the same time.

When making his design I KNEW immediately other than the look of horns and tail, that I wanted him to be more covered up. Despite the man's loud personality, he's not one for being center stage, he has shown time and time again he's A. not used to being the center of attention, and B. is a nosy busy body so being more hidden makes that easier, so I felt something more covering and conservative worked for him. It's also why I gave him a military vibe, he's meant to protect Diavolo/right hand like Lucifer is now, blah, blah, blah, repeat points I just made.

Now... for the big block of white. I will admit, little odd for demon design, BUT A. the contrast to the black of the rest of the inner coat and grey of the outer coat looks good and B. I decided it's another reference to Diavolo who also has a big block of white in his design, it's just hard to see cause it normally off screen.

As for the body shape of the inner-coat and specifically having a panel thing in the middle. Going the military vibe just fits SO WELL for him, like riding horses, cause I wanted him to easily be able to do so in this form, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE MOMENT is how it's a similar shape to Barbatos' outfit someone who also is exceedingly loyal to Diavolo, so I felt thing having similar outfits works.

They also have frills, but honestly, that's more so because frills felt like they'd be SO FITTING for Mephisto, but it happening to also match Barbatos is a fun coincidence. And looking back I just noticed I gave Mephisto frills on the one leg cause I wanted to add Devildom funkyness to his design but it actually it perfectly reflects Barbatos' shoulder frills from being on the other side and lower.

The corset, nothing special, just another thing I felt could be fitting for him and made for a good break in the white so it didn't become too much and distract from the rest of the design.

And now for the inside of his inner coat.

I gave him triangles because I noticed that triangles were actually a big motif in both Diavolo's and Barbatos' designs. Barbatos' on his panel and Dia on his arms and pants, there even bigger triangles on the tips of his horns, but with horns being pointed that could just be a coincidence. But still. This gave birth to my newest headcannon that triangles serve as some sort of symbol as fidelity to Devildom Royalty (Yes, that includes Dia cause Dia is loyal to his bloodline's work, and it not it strictly representing royalty seems more interesting (ooh and with them on Dia's arms you could say they're like shackles oohhhh~))

And I guess lastly we reach the boots.

I HAD TO KEEP THEM, THE HIGH HEELES OF HIS OG DESIGN!? CHEF'S KISS!

However there is a reason I made one shorter than the other, other than Devildom funkyness.

I headcannon that Mephisto has some sort of injury or condition so his cane is not for show or a hidden sword, he NEEDS it. And since one uses their cane on the opposite side of the leg that's hurt, I made his hurt one shorter, cause it'd probably be a bit of a pain to get the boot off otherwise. I also loosely based them off of riding boots so... there's that for a little note.

And that's that! I know some of the close ups can be a little hard to look at but I couldn't so a thing about the high contrast and this was the only way to get close ups without them being blurry. Scrolling back up and looking at the full body shot should help.

And if you got here, thank you for hearing me rant about character design. I more so made this for myself for my own fanfic needs but if someone actually read this far, well, then I hope my ranting was entertaining for ya!

@penappal I know you wanted @ for fanfic but... I thought ya might like this