#SOME people should've already realised it TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. where have you been! what were you reading!!

[helga-grinduil]

Already said it on Twitter, and gonna say it here too.

The idea that stopping someone from hurting themselves (and everyone around them) and rehabilitating them is 'invalidating' their trauma is truly the most 'what in the actual fuck' BNHA take ever. Huh? Please make it make sense. Do those people also think that going to therapy and choosing not to be miserable your entire life is invalidating your own trauma? 'Oh, you're feeling suicidal due to your trauma and depression lately? Better not accept or ask for help! And if you know someone who is showing concerning signs, don't you dare try to stop and help them, and try to make them feel better, 'cause then you'd be saying that their traima doesn't matter and they should learn to act normal! You're opressing victims! >:('

The point of the bad/good victims idea in BNHA is not that 'bad' victims should be left to run amok, lash out, and self-destruct just because they're victims and this is how they express their trauma. No, the point is that despite their behavior and actions they also need and deserve help just as 'good' victims do.

'But heroes haven't showed any signs of recognising that they were wrong yet' - they literally have, that's the entire point of the hero students from the Savior Squad. And some aspects of the system ALREADY started changing - for example, finally reconnecting heroes and civilians and making the latter to start viewing heroes as just people again.

[bangtanpromptsfics]

acacia.

dialogue prompt #1: “Is this illegal?”

pairing: jungkook x reader

genre: f2l, fluff

word count: 1,590

warnings: alcohol consumption, swearing

summary: jungkook is in love with his best friend who would date anybody but him

a/n: these are meant to be for writing practice. feedback is greatly appreciated. it's really short but I hope you like this!! prompt is inspired from pinterest.

masterlist

“Is this illegal?”

Jungkook realises you are dumb, especially with all that alcohol from the party, or more so even without it. 

He takes a sip of his beer and tries to construct a safe sentence which won't come out as rude.

“Bitch”. Well he tried. “You want to rob someone? That too his Balenciaga jacket? ”

You are referring to Namjoon who is busy chatting up girls with his dimples and loads of knowledge, for which he is mostly known. Redefining sexy or something on that line. 

He was hosting this party for reasons you don't remember now anyways, it has something to do with his never ending list of achievements. And he basically invites most of the population of college. I mean free drinks so, whatever. 

“I'm cold Kook, and his jacket looks so warm. He didn't give it when I asked him politely, so let's steal it”, you slur, shifting your body weight around enough to not have your face planted on the floor. 

“You asked him? ”, he squeaks. “You can have mine”, he is removing his denim jacket in the next second, with a look of amuse of course and drapes it over your shoulder, “feeling better?”

“Yes!”, you begin to chime, “It smells like you too!”

Jungkook’s cheeks warm up instinctively. Though sometimes you are a pain in the ass, especially drunk, he had never complained about it. He shoots death glares and unpleasant nose scrunches of course, but nothing more. He'd been your friend for so long, so he should've been used to the random appreciation you give him. He should be immune to your flirty laughs, the way you look absolutely endearing with his hoodie on your small frame and definitely not clench his fist in jealousy when you go out for dates. 

Probably a very cliche best friend in one-sided love story, but he feels so much more complications than that. He was going to confess ages ago, but since you are dumb as I said, would jump around random guys, scare them off with your mouth and wonder why you are single. 

At times he wants to blow a punch to his face, like now, for being so crazy about his best friend, and being limited to only give you some sort of bro love until it's alas the final year of college and he completely misses the chance when you go to Paris for career. 

“Talk something Kookie”, you bump shoulders together to catch the boy's attention who is in deep thought. He was indulgent in walking you to your dorm, and it reaches by ten minutes, and he really just want to fucking kiss you before you go, but he can't. 

He faces you when you rest your face on his shoulder. “What are you thinking about hm?”, you ask. 

“Nothing”. Liar. 

“Well then I have something to say”, you remove your face and gaze on the ground, feeling a little sad already. 

For a second he is hopeful and he doesn't know why. “What about?”

“Yesterday’s date”. Ouch. But as always he is trying his best, “Oh totally forgot about it. How did it go? Any luck? ”

“He stood me up. That asshole didn't even show up. I guess he just wanted sex”, you kick a pebble out of frustration while Jungkook wants to kick his face. It breaks him that he doesn't stand a chance to show you how much you can be loved. That you are more than the body all boys crave and go. 

This time he kicks a pebble, and it jumps fairly up to land on some car’s window. 

“Careful”, you chuckle, “I don't have money for concession”.

“Y/n, why don't you understand when I say someone is playing you? I always warn you, but you choose to do your bullshit anyway”. He is aggressive, but he's just sad; broken. And even though you get it, it sets you off. 

“I am trying to find my soul mate”.

Jungkook couldn't help but laugh out loud, he thinks you are so innocent, so naive to let people run you over because of how soft your heart is. He even bends a little to catch his knees to support himself. 

“What?”, you scoff, crossing your hands across the chest. 

“You want to go on a date?”, he asks. And it takes him off guard too, more than you. But he seemed confident for the first time. Probably because the sober you doesn't remember the drunk you even in the slightest, or perhaps he thinks it'll go right. 

“Date?”, you repeat, “With you?”

“Yeah”

“Like… right now?”

“Yes”, he puts out his hand, waiting for you to join hands. 

What's the worst thing that's going to happen anyways? It's Jungkook, that one person who would give his life to protect you. 

He doesn't say anything for the rest of the walk. It's a bit rushed because he can't simply wait. A whole thunderstorm is rushing inside his veins and he wants to make everything about this just perfect. So perfect that you forget about every date you have ever been too. 

This is surely not the best date he had planned if he ever took you out, but it sounds alright on his mind and wishes it does the same on yours too. 

After a stroll, you're waiting for Jungkook behind some rented building. He returns with a ladder; enough to make it to the first floor. 

He makes sure to stand behind you and assure your safety. The rest of the way up was stairs, several tiring floors and heavy breath. 

He observes your face forms an ‘O’ out of surprise. 

At the rooftop of this building sits the most beautiful view of the city and thankfully starry sky to make things better. 

It's Jungkook’s self-reflection space to be exact. There were things he shared with you of course, you were each other's shoulder to cry on, but ever since he caught feelings for you, he is just afraid he'll end up ranting into a sudden confession and ruin the friendship. 

So he found other ways to cope. You however were convinced that it was some sort of “change” over time. Everyone changes and you believed it was just something of that sorts. 

“It's so beautiful! ”, you grin, “How come you never bring me here you meanie! ”, you smack his arm as you sit down on the ground beside him. 

“I was going too! ”, he fights back,  rubbing his arm. 

“This is a perfect date”, you begin after some moment of silence, “how come you don't go for relationships!? Girls will be so happy to be treated this way! ”

The first part of the sentence makes his chest warm out of pride, but it collapses to where it was before as you end. 

He just knows you'll never know how he feels unless he just says it, without beating around the bush. 

He doesn't say anything and instead gets up to take two cans of beer he had hid somewhere. You are way past your alcohol limit and acting knowingly for once, you reject. 

He opens his and chugs down half of it in one go. 

“Woah… hey Kookie you alright? ”, he flinches when your palm presses against his shoulder. 

“I want to kiss you really bad”.

Bad line of start. 

Your cheeks burn and turn vibrant shades of scarlet, expecting anything but that. But the more you continue to look at him, the more ethereal he looks; attractive, and someone definitely not deserving of petty friend zoning. 

He feels a pair of lips on his cheeks, startling him. He turns around to see your face breathtakingly close. 

He is really slow, studying every clue you give, once he is certain he is doing this with consent, he places both of his palms on your cheek and leans in. 

Jungkook wants to pinch himself because he thinks he is sleeping and it's just another one of his blissful day dreams. But when you nibble on his bottom lip, he thinks maybe not. You are really here, hands on his hair and kissing him. He holds your head more firmly as he begins to dominate the kiss, ambitious to let you know what he had been thinking about you for the past several years. 

His lips are flushed and glossy when you break off of him, but hands still on his body, on his shoulder, taking your time to catch your breath. 

“Y/n...I hope it's clear now. I like you. Like… . I really like you. And it had been killing me for years whenever I see you going behind other guys, sleeping with them just because they agree to take you on a date. Please Y/n, will you give me a…chance”.

Since the author had enough of Y/n’s dumbness as well, the story continues with Y/n accepting him, realising how blind she was. 

You feel already intoxicated by his lips so you give it a peck and hug him, “Yes Koo. And I'm sorry, for all this, and thank you so much for this date, I am looking forward to our second one”, you beam. 

He finds it cute how you think soulmates exist. He doesn't know about all that. He just knows you can make him happy and every heartbreak for you was worth it. So he smiles and nods, nothing conveyed after, until he takes you back to your dorm and kisses you one last time for the day. 

Thank you so much for reading!!

Original Content of ©bangtanpromptsfics

[supernaturallyamazing]

The One || Sam Winchester X OC

I got out of the spirit's grip and salted it's remains. I looked for my lighter but couldn't find it. The spirit came at me once again so I shot it with a salt bullet. I disappeared for a second then it grabbed me from my neck choking me in the process. I was about to pass out when the body caught fire and the spirit was gone.

"Want this back?" a tall man with long brown hair said to me. I got myself together. He threw it to me and I caught it. "Sam" "Elena"

"So you're a hunter?" Sam asked as we left the building. "Yeah, I started five years ago, when I was twenty one." I said and smiled at him. "How did you get into the business anyways?" He asked. "I met a hunter once. He told me about this stuff." I said. I had no obligation to give details.

"Do you need a ride?" I asked him seeing there were no other cars there. "That would be great. If you want you can come to our motel. I'm staying here for a demon the ghost was an extra." he said.

"I'd love to come, it's been a while since I faced a demon. Do you mind catching me up on the news? And what did you mean by our motel?" I asked. "I have a brother. He's a hunter too and of course I'll catch you up."

With that I started the engine and Sam told me everything about them case. We had started chatting when we finally arrived. We got out of the car and what I saw startled me. A 1967 Chevrolet Impala.

We made our way to the door and knocked. I was even more surprised at who opened the door. I took a step back. "Dean?" "Elena!"

"You two know each other?" Sam said. "No, not really." I said as I stared blankly into Dean's eyes. "Let's go in." said Sam and we entered the motel room. I sat on one of the chairs and the two sat on their beds.

"So, she's a hunter?" Dean asked. "Yeah, she says she started five years ago." said Sam. I looked away when I saw Dean understand. He was the reason I started hunting. He told me about his job and all of it's dangers. Then he left me without even saying goodbye.

His disappearance pushed me towards the supernatural. At first I'd go to jobs hoping I'd run into Dean but after a few months I gave up all hope and stuck with the job. It was my life. Only thing that kept me together.

"How did you two meet anyways?" Dean asked separating me from my train of thought. "I was hunting a ghost when we ran into each other." I said and winked at Sam. He smiled. Dean didn't have to know Sam saved me.

"Why did you bring her here?" he asked Sam. It almost seemed as if he was angry at Sam for bringing me along. "Dean, we dont know what this demon is or even how many there are. We need all the help we can get." said Sam. "She can't help us."

"I saw her fight Dean. She's good." Sam said. Dean sighed. "If you say so." he turned to me. "Do you even know what a demon is?" It was clear he was trying to annoy me.

I didn't bother answering and started unbuttoning my shirt. "Whoa!" said Dean. I stopped at the fourth button and showed them my tattoo. "Pervert." I said.

"Nothing you haven't seen before Dean. You see I do know what a demon is. I've killed a few before too." I said as I buttoned my shirt.

The next few hours of daylight was wasted in the motel room searching for anything that'd indicate the demon was close.

Just when I was about to give up I saw an article online. "Hey check this out. Three people killed in their home and one missing." I said. "It's worth checking out." Sam said. "Where?"

"The next town. It's probably a thirty minute drive from here." I stated. We decided to go with the Impala so I left my car in front of the motel. Dean opened the trunk and I saw a bunch of weapons. "Nice touch." I added.

He was clearly annoyed. We got in and they made me sit at the back. Dean was eyeing me from the mirror time to time. "So who was the hunter that got you into this stuff?" Sam asked trying to start conversation.

Dean looked at me with panic in his eyes. He didn't want his brother to know. I respected his decision. "Gordon." I lied. Dean's face relaxed and he took a deep breath.

"I heard he's dead. Thanks to you guys." I said. "Sorry" said Sam. "He was an asshole. My hatred for him makes me a better hunter." Dean realised the words were aimed at him and he shot me a threatening look. "At least he's not around anymore." Dean said.

"Dean are you okay?" asked Sam. He must've realised Dean was tense. "Yeah I'm alright." he said. There was an awkward silence until we arrived at the town.

We found a motel and got a room with one king bed and a normal bed. That was the only room for three people. It was nighttime. "Guys have a good night. But not too good. Some of us want to sleep." I said playfully.

We'd start investigating in the morning. Every window and the door was salted.

I heard Dean and Sam fight over the blanket. Sam sighed. Dean had won. "Hey Elena, can I borrow your blanket?" Sam asked me. "Of course... not. You have to fight for it Winchester." I said.

He pulled onto my blanket but I pulled harder. He fell on my bed. Suddenly the lights got on. "What the hell?" Dean said half awake. "You should've given him the blanket." I said as Sam got off my bed. "For god's sake, go to bed you two."

Sam went back to his bed but I kept eye contact with Dean until he turned the lights off. We all went to bed and all of us slept this time.

I woke up at 5 a.m as usual. The boys were still asleep. I watched them for a while. All the good memories with Dean started popping up but I tried my best to stop it. I didn't feel that way anymore but I wanted closure. It all felt unfinished. I looked at Sam. He was so different. I had started to like him.

I was lost in my thoughts for about an hour until Sam woke up. "When did you wake up?" he asked me as he slowly made his way out of the bed, careful not to wake Dean up. "About an hour ago. When will sleeping beauty wake up?" I said. Sam laughed. "Not until eight. Wanna go for a walk?" he asked. "Sure."

We went out and started chatting. "So how did you start hunting?" I asked him even though I already knew the answer. Dean hadn't told me about his brother but he told me about his dad. Sam told me the same things.

"But I then decided to quit and go to college. I dropped out when Dean came and asked me to help him find dad. When I got back Jessica, my girlfriend was dead. The demon that killed my mother had killed her." Sam said. He sounded broken. I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever, I took off and we've been hunting ever since." he said. "When was this?" I asked. "Five years ago." I stopped. Maybe that was the reason Dean had left me. Maybe, but it didn't matter anymore. "I'm sorry Sam." I said. "So here we are. You, me and Dean. He's not always like this. I don't know what got into him." He said changing the subject.

"I'm used to it." I said. We chatted for another hour and went back. It was now seven thirty. We went in and there was an angry Dean inside. "Where have you been? I've been calling you both for an hour. At least leave a note or something!" He shouted.

"Dude chill. What's wrong with you?" Sam asked. "Yeah Dean, what is wrong with you?" I added. "Just don't disappear again." he said and sighed.

We went out to get breakfast and sat down at the table at the back. "So, the victims were brothers. Kevin, Fred, Stephen and Paul Browngate. There will be a remembrance ball this evening at the Browngate Mansion. Perfect opportunity to search around the house. Who wants to be my date?" I said. The boys looked at each other than back at me.

"I have to go to the restroom. Nobody touches my fries." I got up and pretended to walk away but hid behind a column and listened to the boys. "You can have the girl this time." Dean said. "At least flip a coin." said Sam. "I don't want to. You go as guests I will be the cop."

I walked back to them. "So who's the lucky one?" I genuinely enjoyed messing with them. "Sam would be the guy." said Dean. I sat down and found my fries untouched. "You know Dean used to eat burgers everyday for breakfast for one year." Sam said. I laughed.

Sam and I talked while Dean just ate. It was really fun hanging out with Sam. He was actually really funny. We hung out at the restaurant for an hour or two because we had nothing else to do. When we finally got out of the restaurant the boys went back to the hotel and I went to pick up a dress . I found one pretty quickly and went back to the motel.

I went into the room and saw Sam fighting with his bow while Dean's was perfectly tied. "Glad to see progress." I said to Dean and Sam looked up confused. "Here let me help." I tied his bow. Dean stared at me the whole time. I wasn't even flirting, well maybe I was a little.

"Let me get dressed then we'll go. It starts at five." I said and went into the bathroom to change. When I got out the boys' jaws dropped. "Okay Sammy let's go." I said and took Sam's arm. Dean was frustrated because I was going to drive the Impala. He had to walk.

The mansion was huge and all the guests were looking classy as hell. The guys were clearly extremely wealthy which was probably why that many people bothered to come there. "You have the Holy Water?" Sam asked me. "Of course."

"Let's ask around if anyone knows something. We meet here in ten minutes and figure out a way to go upstairs." with that we parted and after a very dull ten minutes we were back where we started. "Nothing. None of the guests know anything. Some of them don't even know the guys." I said frustrated. It was the same with Sam.

"We have to find a way to go upstairs. They were all found in their bedrooms." said Sam. "Leave that to me." with that I left all my muscles lose.

  Sam caught me before I hit the ground. "Someone help us." Sam shouted and a security guard came and took us upstairs. He took us to the guest room. As soon as the guy left the room I got up. "You could've given me a head start." said Sam. "Where's the fun in that?"

"Come on let's go. You take the ones on the right. I'll go left." I said and we left the room. The first room I went into was covered in blood. The sheets and the floor were all blooded. It was clear the guy's throat had been cut off. I looked for traces of sulfur and found it pretty quickly.

I went into the second room. There was no blood which meant I was in the room of the guy missing. I looked around and practically the whole room was covered in sulfur. I looked at the guys photos. It would be useful when identifying the demon in case it possessed the guy. When I was done I went out and Sam was also finished. "Demon." we said in unison.

When we went back down we saw Dean. "What did you find?"  he asked.

"Sulfur. Everywhere. I think the missing guy is possessed. The victim's throats were cut and they all were probably asleep." I said. "What do you have?" asked Sam.

"Well the same things but the police think the missing brother killed the three." said Dean. "Our work is done here. Let's go." I said and we left.

Dean sat on the drivers seat and started kissing the steering wheel. "Did that evil bitch do anything to you?" he said. "Dean please." I said sarcastically. "Sam get in. Elena you walk."

I didn't need his stupid car. "Fine." I said and started walking. A few minutes later I felt a hand cover my mouth and everything went black.

I woke up tied to a chair. The missing guy stood before me. He had black eyes. "What do you want?" I said. "From you, nothing. From Dean Winchester, everything." he said. "You made a mistake.Dean wouldn't come looking for me." I said. The demon laughed.

"Dean won't but Sam will. Which means Dean will come too." he said. "What did Dean do to you?" I said. "He killed my sister. He'll pay for it." the demon said. I laughed. "Oh my God. A demon with feelings, how cute." I said. "You'll regret that."

He took out a knife and started cutting at my stomach. It was very painful but I tried not to scream. This went on for an hour or two. They really weren't coming. It was Dean, what did I expect? But Sam... I thought we had something.

Something broke inside me the same way it did when Dean left me. The pain of the cuts were nothing compared to the pain inside. I tried my best not to cry.

I had given up all hope when the door smashed open and the boys came in. Dean shot the demon with... the Colt? They had the Colt and didn't tell me. "I knew you'd come, after all you loved her." the demon said before it went back to hell.

Sam ran over to me and cut the ropes I was tied with. He carried me to the car. Sam and I sat at the back and he stitched my cuts. "I'm sorry Elena." he said. I put my hand on his face. I leaned in and kissed him. I quickly pulled away and mumbled a sorry.

He smiled and kissed me. It felt right. I saw Dean in the mirror. He was.. smiling? I looked away. There was nothing between us anymore and I was happy that we both knew that.

We went back to the motel and I was able to stand up. "Elena, Dean... Why did the demon say that?" Sam asked us. "It's a demon Sam. Demons lie." said Dean. I looked at him. "He deserves to know the truth." Dean sighed and then nodded. "Dean was my boyfriend. He was the hunter that told me about this stuff. He left me five years ago." I said.

Anger filled Sam's face. He was furious. We should've told him from the start. He took the car keys and ran outside. I tried my best to run after him but couldn't. The stitches hurt too much. Dean ran after the car. I watched from the door as Dean tried to catch up with the car. Soon the two were nowhere to be seen.

A recked Impala pulled up to the front door. Dean was inside. I ran out and got in. "Sam crashed. He's in the hospital." Dean said and started driving. "Dean I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I cried. "It's not your fault. It's obvious you like him." he said.

Soon we arrived at the hospital. We ran in and they took us to a room where Sam laid unconscious. I sat down while Dean talked to the nurse. He came in and sat across me. "Elena  I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to protect you." Dean said. I looked at him in understanding. "I know. I heard what happened to Jessica. I wouldn't come back if I saw that too but you couldn't keep me out of this stuff could you?"

"I guess not. I still love you just not in the same way. Sam is a good man." he said. "I know. Thank you Dean." I said. Sam woke up about fifteen minutes later. I ran to his side while Dean stood over his bed. "I'm so sorry Sam. We are just friends. There isn't anything between us anymore. Sam you're the one I want." I said.

He leaned in and kissed me. "Go get a room you two." said Dean. We all laughed. I stuck around with them and we continued hunting together.

[missmungoe]

PRE-timeskip: Ace briefly meets Sabo, they don't recognise each other even though they both get this super uncomfortable feeling that they should've.

The tavern was filled to bursting – a good thing, Sabo thought, given the factthat he wanted to blend in as much as possible.

Thefake beard itched, and the sunglasses sat awkwardly on his nose. Koala hadtold him he looked ridiculous, but it was all he’d had at hand, and it waseither the ugly, fake beard, or stay behind at the safe house. And he’d beencooped up there two days already – and he’d told her as much when she’d pursedher mouth and put her hands on her hips, but she’d relented after she’d pinchedhis ear and made him promise not to get caught.

He wasn’t going to get caught. So it wasn’t thebest disguise, but it wasn’t like anyone was paying him enough attentionto notice.

“Oi.What’s with the getup?”

…damn it.

Stealinga furtive glance towards the person seated at the bar next to him, Sabo wassurprised to find him engrossed in his meal. His own plate was empty, finishedsome time ago and forgotten in favour of keeping an eye on the room; but thepeople he was keeping an eye out for were nowhere to be seen.

Andso, “I could ask you the same,” Sabo said, taking in the wide-brimmed hat andthe fake nose attached to the stranger’s own, too-large sunglasses.

Hereceived a smirk for that, and his next words were offered around a mouthful,“I’m laying low.”

Sabonodded, and didn’t know why he said it – Koala would have smacked him for beingso careless. “That makes two of us.”

Thestranger made a noise of understanding. “Marines?”

“Amongothers.” And there was Koala’s voice in his head, yelling about compromisinghimself – and her. But something about the stranger dragged the words outbefore he could stop himself. “You?”

Abrief pause followed, wherein he flicked his gaze to Sabo, the slightinclination of his head so brief he almost didn’t catch it. And he knew he wasbeing assessed, and wondered for a moment if he’d made a mess of things, whenthe stranger said, “I’m looking for someone.”

Itwas vague enough to skirt more than one category – undercover marine, maybeeven a bounty hunter – but it was also more than he could have offered, and forsome reason Sabo felt his shoulders relax a bit at the implication.

Heconsidered him then – the bawdy floral shirt, and the freckled forearms. Thesun wasn’t doing him any favours, but he didn’t seem to be bothered by thefact.

“Nice tattoo,” he said, noticing the letters, butpausing on the crossed-out S. “Did you fallasleep or something? Give the artist the wrong letters?”

Acurious smile – the corner of his mouth lifting, a half-fond, half-deprecatingthing of terrible feeling, and for a moment Sabo felt like an intruder on somefiercely private ground, but–

“It’sa homage,” he said simply, and left it at that.

Sabodidn’t pry any further, recognising that there was a story there, but also thathe wasn’t likely to share it with a stranger – and one in a pretty obviousdisguise. Although something about that crossed-out letter kept drawing hisgaze back, as though he’d seen the symbol somewhere before, but when hesearched his memory he came up short.

“Sothis person you’re looking for,” Sabo said then, fixing his gaze instead on therow of wanted posters stapled to the wall behind the bar. He didn’t likedwelling on that gap in his memory; it always left a restless itch under hisskin. “I take it they don’t want to be found? Seeing as you’re in disguise.”

Theslight tightening of his grip around the fork in his hand told him enough, but,“Something like that,” the stranger said. Then, lifting his eyes from theplate, although Sabo couldn’t see them behind the tinted glasses, “Speaking ofdisguises – if you’re undercover you’re doing a pretty shit job.”

Sabogrinned. “Speak for yourself. That nose doesn’t have enough freckles to be remotely convincing.”

Thestranger raised his fork towards him, pointing. “Fake nose still trumps a fakebeard. And your glasses look ridiculous.”

“Atleast they’re in fashion.”

“Inthe void century, maybe. Should have been lost with the rest of it.”

“Theguy with hibiscus flowers on his shirt is giving fashion advice now?”

“Hey– I like hibiscus flowers.”

“Yeah, well that pattern doesn’t like you.”

Thestranger was grinning now, too. “If I was a marine I’d cuff you for that.”

“Agood thing you’re not, then.” He was sure of that now. A pirate, most likely –or a bounty hunter, but he’d make a good bet on the first, from the look ofhim.

Heshrugged. “I could have been,” he said then.

“Yeah?”Sabo laughed. “I doubt they’d let you wear that shirt.”

Asnort greeted that remark, and he had the sudden feeling of not being privy tosome joke when his companion drawled, “You’d be surprised.”

Saboonly shook his head, but resisted the urge to rub at his neck. The mention ofattire had made him acutely aware of his own, and he felt strangely exposedwithout the cravat. But Koala had insisted – had said that the rest of hisdisguise needed all the help it could get, and had confiscated it, along withhis hat and goggles for good measure.

Herealised belatedly that he’d let his guard down – and pretty thoroughly atthat, when what he’d initially set out to do was some covert reconnaissance,which didn’t include talking to people, or making a spectacle of himself, bothof which he’d managed to do in less than twenty minutes. Koala was going tohave a field day when he reported back.

Butthe stranger was still eating, seeming entirely unperturbed, and if he foundanything at all amiss with Sabo his behaviour didn’t let on. Of course, hemight just be a good actor, but for some reason Sabo was more inclined tobelieve that he just wasn’t bothered. Or that it was a kindred thing – therecognition often found on this sea, between one lawbreaker and another.

“Youknow,” the stranger said then, a curious note slipping into his voice. “I can’tput my finger on what it is, but there’s something familiar about you.”

Behindthe beard, Sabo smiled. “Maybe you’re mistaking me for someone else with a fakebeard and glasses.”

Hemade a contemplative noise. “Could be.”

Saboshrugged, considering his empty plate. “Or maybe we’ve crossed paths before.This sea isn’t that big.”

“Yeah,but I’ve only been here a few years,” the stranger said. “I’m from East Blue.Or, I grew up there, anyway.”

Atthe mention, Sabo resisted the urge to fiddle with his fork. “I hear it’s nicethere.”

“Youfrom one of the Blues?”

The fork making a restless clink clink againstthe plate alerted him to the fact that he’d picked it up, and so he put itdown, and curled his fingers towards his palm to choke that odd restlessnessthat had sprung up in the wake of the mention of East Blue. And he didn’t knowwhy he felt so weird about it – or why he was sharing this with someone he’djust met, but, “I don’t know where I’m from,” Sabo said at length. “I don’tremember.”

Lookingover at his companion, Sabo had the impression that he was sympathetic – to thepoint where his personality allowed it, anyhow.

“Damn,”the stranger said, and for all that it wasn’t the usual response he gotwhenever he spoke about his amnesia, there was a rough sort of earnestness inthat word. “Tough luck.”

Somehow,the blunt response made him smile. “Yeah.” He shrugged. “I’m hoping it wasn’tall worth remembering. That I’m better off like this.”

“Youreally believe that?”

There was a moment where he was prepared tosay yes – the part that had fought so hard to get towhere he was, and to who he was,regardless of who he had been.

But,“No,” Sabo said, after a lull. “I think there are always some good things toremember, no matter where you come from.”

Hiscompanion made a noncommittal noise at that, but Sabo had the sudden sense thathe’d struck some sort of cord, and resisted the urge to ask. He’d already sharedmore than was strictly advisable for anyone on this sea with something to hide,but when he looked for the regret he expected he found nothing – just an oddsurety that, whoever he was, the man beside him didn’t seem liable to doanything with the information he’d let slip.

Andanyway, between the two of them, Sabo was the one sitting with the mostinformation. East Blue. A pretty recognisable tattoo. And he had to realisethat, but all he did was eat his food, still entirely at ease, despite the fakenose and sunglasses that were clearly meant to hide his identity.

Heput down his fork then, pushing his plate away with a sigh that spoke of thecontentment that followed a particularly good meal.

Then,rolling his shoulders, as though in preparation for a stretch – “You ready?”

Saboblinked, and for a moment he had no idea what he was referring to, but at thesight of the grin stretching under that ridiculous nose, and the two emptyplates sitting on the counter before them, it clicked.

“Youthinking what I’m thinking?” Sabo asked, tossing a casual glance towards theexit – then back to the barkeep, polishing a glass behind the counter. A bigguy, and the amount of wanted posters stapled to the wall behind him suggesteda part-time job that brought in more cash than tips. And if Koala had been withhim she would have shot down the suggestion before he could make it – wouldhave told him in no uncertain terms that it was the furthest thing from beingcovert, and that if he wasn’t careful he’d get himself into trouble with morethan just a bounty-hungry barkeep.

Butthe stranger’s grin made him, inexplicably, think that it was going to be fine.And he didn’t know where that surety came from, or why he didn’t feel likequestioning it, but the jittery excitement he felt now had chased away hisearlier restlessness, and hadn’t left room for regret, either.

“I’mthinking,” his companion said then, the words quietly musing, “that I’m notgoing to find who I’m looking for sitting here all day. And whatever the hellyou’re supposed to be doing, you haven’t been doing it for the past tenminutes.” Then, dropping his voice, “And since they’ve seen us talking, if Ibolt now without telling you they’ll probably make you pay for both ourmeals.”

Sabogrinned. “So this is you showing goodwill? That’s a risk, given that I could bea marine in disguise.”

Hesnorted. “With that beard? You’d be demoted just for thinking you couldactually pull that off.”

“Hey, this is a nice beard.”

“Please.It’s giving me fleas just looking at it. And it’s not even your colouring –you’re blond.”

“Areyou going to keep giving me flack about the beard or are we doing this?”

A flash of teeth – a smile that lookedsuddenly, strikingly familiar, like he’dseen it somewhere before, but before Sabo could even consider the thought fullythe stranger had slipped from his chair, making for the door, and before histhoughts could catch up with the rest of him he was following suit.

Thebarkeep was shouting after them before they’d made it across the room, but thetwo who rose from their chairs to block the exit were taken down withoutpausing, a near-synchronised ease to the joint effort that came withoutthinking. He had the sudden thought that he knew what his companion would do – acurious sense of premonition that sparked, a second before he’d tripped thefirst of their opponents, and before he could think Sabo had grabbed onto theback of the man’s shirt and shoved him into the second.

Thenthey were out the door, laughter trailing in their wake and the barkeep ontheir heels.

And – there was something; aninkling of familiarity, sprinting down the maze of side-streets, laughterpushing up his throat and his fake beard askew. And they could have gone theirseparate ways from the get-go, but for some reason Sabo found himselffollowing, his body acting seemingly of its own volition, until they both cameto a stop, several streets over in a dirty alley shoved between two brickbuildings.

“Hey,”Sabo said then, when he’d caught his breath. Resting his hands on his knees, hedragged air into his lungs, but his grin felt like it couldn’t be stifled, andfor some reason his heart sat feather-light in his chest. “Thanks.”

Thestranger inclined his head. The fake nose was coming loose from his sunglasses,and the cord hanging from his hat had gotten tangled in the beads around hisneck. “For what?”

Saboshrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Just felt like saying it.”

Thestranger was quiet for a moment. Then, “You’re a bit of a weirdo, aren’t you?”

Sabolaughed. “This coming from the guy with the crossed-out tattoo and orangecowboy hat.”

“Ifanyone’s in need of a hat here it’s you. Cover up that dandelion head.”

Therewas a remark on his tongue – that he did in fact like hats, but before he couldspeak the words the baby Den Den Mushi in his pocket gave a loud chirrup, andhe winced, remembering suddenly what he’d been doing – and what he was supposedto be doing.

Pullingit out, Sabo was about to speak when the line crackled, and Koala’s voice camethrough–

“–bo-kun,” the snailsaid, his name cut in half, the syllables mangled with static, but thedisapproval in her voice was perfectly discernible. “What do you think you’redoing?”

“Er– saving you the trouble of paying for my meal? I left my wallet in my coat.”

“You know you’re up for a promotion,right? This kind of behaviour isn’t doing you any favours!”

Hewas keenly aware of the stranger listening to the conversation now, and despitehis earlier ease, he felt the sudden necessity of keeping certain things underwraps.

“I’llbe back in a few minutes, okay? Just sit tight.”

Her sigh fell, a long-suffering thing, but he heardher yielding even before she said, “If you get back here in tenminutes without causing any more trouble I won’t mention it in the report.”

“Iowe you one.”

“You owe me at least fifteen and youknow it.”

“Thenthis makes it sixteen.”

“That’s nine minutes.”

“Okay,okay – I’m on my way,” he laughed, as the Den Den Mushi went quiet in his palm,and he tucked it back in his pocket.

Whenhe looked up, the stranger was smiling. “Promotion, huh? Not a pirate, then.”

“No,” Sabo agreed, with that curious certaintyagain, that he could. “You are, though.”

He shrugged, but didn’t deny it. “You’re not amarine, either,” he said. “But promotion suggestsan organisation.”

“Youdon’t know. Maybe I work in a really boring office.”

“Can’tbe that boring if they send you out to do reconnaissance. Even if it’s in anshitty disguise.”

Sabogrinned. “It’s worked pretty well so far. You don’t know who I really am.”

“Yousay that like you’re famous.”

“Icould be.”

“Socould I.”

Theywere both grinning now, and Sabo took a moment to consider the scene. And hedid wonder then, just who he was talking to – if their paths had in factcrossed before, or if he’d seen his face on a wanted poster somewhere.

“Inever asked your name,” the stranger said then, still grinning.

“Neitherdid I,” Sabo countered.

“You’regoing to give me a fake one if I do, aren’t you?”

Sabolaughed. “Probably.” Then, although he already suspected what the answer wouldbe, “And if I asked you for yours?”

“You’dget one faker than my freckle-free nose.”

“Gladwe’re on the same page.”

Thestranger held out his hand then, the gesture clear, and for a moment Sabo onlywatched the offering, before reaching out to take it. And his hand was warm –enough so that he felt it through his glove, and for a moment that curiousdetail held his attention, before he let it go, along with the hand.

“Ihope you find who you’re looking for,” Sabo said, eyes glancing off the logpose on his wrist. If he was a pirate he probably wasn’t the captain. Thenavigator, maybe, but he wouldn’t be alone if that was the case – unless hejust knew how to navigate, but didn’t hold the post.

“Yeah,”the stranger said, a dark note sitting in the word, and an ambiguity that toldSabo enough about what kind of person he was searching for. It was personal –and fiercely so.

Butthen, his mouth lifting with one of those strange smiles, “I’m actuallythinking I might take a break for a bit. There’s been a lot of dead ends, andtoday made me remember something.” He didn’t elaborate on what he meant bythat, but the smile softened a bit, and, “I’ve actually got someone that I’mwaiting for. He should be turning up any day now.”

Sabotilted his head. “Popular guy, are you?”

“Youmean you can’t tell just by looking at me?”

“Seeingas your ensemble makes you look like you robbed a thrift shop, not really.”

“Who would rob a thriftshop?”

“Youtell me,” Sabo laughed. “You’re the one who suggested a dine-and-dash from thecheapest tavern in this place.”

Anotherof those strange smiles flitted over the stranger’s face at that. “Maybe I wasfeeling nostalgic.”

Sabowas suddenly tempted to agree, although he had no idea where that feeling camefrom. The same place as that curious surety that kept making him let his guarddown, maybe.

“So,this person you’re waiting for,” he said then. “Enemy or friend this time?”

Thatprompted a grin, but it wasn’t an ambiguous thing now, Sabo saw. This one wasstaggeringly sincere. “Little brother.”

“Yeah? Ihope for his sake he dresses better than you do.”

“Don’tcount on it.”

“Runsin the family, huh?”

Anotherstrange smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Something like that.”

“Youhave a lot of siblings?”

Herealised the moment the question was off his tongue just how intrusive itsounded. And he hadn’t even thought twice before speaking it.

Thestranger fell quiet, and there was a second where Sabo wondered if he’d thoroughlyoverstepped.

Then, “Two,”he said, after lull that had stretched just a little too long for the ease thathad preceded all his earlier responses.

Sabotried not to wince. “Sorry. I don’t have siblings, so I was curious.” At least –he didn’t think he did. “Must be nice.”

Thesmile that followed wasn’t asking for an apology, Sabo was surprised to see.And, “Depends on the siblings, I think,” the stranger said, still grinning. “It’smostly troublesome.”

Sabofelt his own smile curve, without really knowing why. “You don’t sound very upset about that.”

The grin was still in place, and, “Nah,” he said. Then with a shrug, “Worrying comes with the big brother gig. But he can take care of himself. For the most part.”

“And the other one?”

Another laden pause, and Sabo had the distinct feeling that he was trespassing again. But then the stranger said, around a grin that looked like the manifestation of a weight lifting off his shoulders, “You want to talk fashionably challenged?”

“Looking at you I’m not sure I should take your word for it.”

He laughed. “Yeah, he’d probably say the same thing.”

“Your family sounds…eccentric.”

That earned him a snort. “You don’t know half of it.”

Sabowas about to respond when there was a commotion at the mouth of the alley, andthen a voice, cleaving through the air down the narrow street–

“That’sthem! The ones with the godawful disguises!”

“Godawful?”the stranger muttered.

“Yeah,”Sabo agreed. “Rude.”

“Anyway,that’s my cue,” the stranger said. Then to Sabo, “I hope you get thatpromotion. Maybe they’ll give you a decent beard with your new pay-check.”

Sabolaughed, as they took off running. “I’ll put in a request!”

Theysprinted down the length of the alley, the barkeep and a small group of navywranglers at their heels, before they cleared the mouth, the cramped shadowsgiving way to brilliant sunlight and a wide promenade curving along the shore.And without another word they took off in separate directions, parting wayswith the same ease that they’d first struck up conversation, their entireacquaintance having lasted less than an hour, for all that it felt like it’dbeen much longer.

Heprobably should feel some concern that he’d given away more than he shouldhave, and to someone who might well put the pieces together if given the right information, but his heart felt too light for remorse. And he couldn’t explainthat feeling – the one that felt like trust but that had to be something else,because trust wasn’t a commodity on the high seas, especially in his line ofbusiness.

Buteven if he couldn’t explain it – or the laughter that still threatened at the bottom of his gut, Sabolet it fill his chest to bursting, and the whole street.

Ittook him fifteen minutes to shake off his pursuers, but he was still grinningwhen he returned to the safe house. And something about his good humour musthave made Koala feel inclined to overlook his dawdling, because therewas no mention of his dine-and-dash in the final mission report.

But,“That’s the last time I let you pick your own disguise,” she said, tugging atthe ratty beard, and considering it like she might a dirty dish rag.

Unfasteningit, Sabo stuck his tongue out. “I think it worked fine. No one recognisedme.”

Thelook she gave him was entirely dubious, but then the corner of her mouthquirked, her expression bleeding from suspicion to a lighter kind ofbemusement. “Why are you smiling like that?”

Sabofelt his grin stretch wider. “I have no idea.”

Her sigh held a laugh. “You’re so weird sometimes, Sabo-kun.”

Helaughed, turning the beard over in his hands. It really was an ugly old thing.“Yeah,” he agreed, but the stupid grin stayed, despite his best efforts.

“SoI’ve been told.”

.

.

It will take years before he finally makes theconnection – that sunny day with the beard that itched, and sprinting down thestreet with his belly full of food and laughter. It’s years before that strangetrust finally makes sense, but it’s notsadness that greets him when it does, and it’s not loss that he feels,remembering the stranger who hadn’t been a stranger at all.

Andwhen he meets his little brother at Dressrosa and finds him wearing a disguise so ridiculous he doesn’t know which is worse, the fake beard or the gladiator helmet, Sabo laughs so hard he thinksit must carry – hopes it does, to wherever their brother is; to whatever quiet watersawait them all in the beyond.

Ormaybe it’s not a sea at all, but three cups and two empty seats at a bar – the third alreadyfilled, and a grin that sits with ease now on a freckled face he’d recognise anywhere, long years and death and truly terrible disguises be damned.