#and the crew gave him a new leg. Like. Things Happened.

[death-rebirth-senshi]

He lost a leg. He had to eat his own toe. What more do you people want.

[syrupfog]

Luffy grew up with two brothers who, at first, hated him and kicked the shit out of him. Then, eventually, loved him and who expressed that love through kicking the shit out of him. 

Luffy's grown up with a low level of violence as love his whole life. 

His crew is the same, from very early on. Nami will beat on anyone (or at least any of the boys), and Zoro's been known to land a punch to the back of his head at every dumb remark he makes. 

And Sanji... his kicks are INTENSE. 

Luffy's lucky he's made of rubber.

and he laughs it all off-- because it's FUNNY. He knows his crew loves him, they're his CREW. He knows his brothers loved him, they're his BROTHERS. Luffy has always known violence as a form of love, although notably he rarely reflects that methodology onto others.

When Luffy meets Law the first time, Law watches as Luffy punches a Celestial Dragon in the face. That violence is, obviously, NOT a form of love. 

When Luffy meets Law the second time, it's when Law is saving his life, doing impossible levels of knitting him back together.

Luffy doesn't remember a lot of that bit, or the bit right after, on Amazon Lily, when the grief is at its strongest. 

But then, two years later, he sees Law again on Punk Hazard, and they form an alliance, and Luffy declares that Law is a good guy. 

No one else agrees.

But when has Luffy ever cared about other peoples' opinions? Now certainly isn't the time to start. Law gave all those pirates new legs. He saved Luffy. He's good. 

and then Law is travelling with them, aboard the Sunny. 

And he's mean and grouchy and short tempered and, again, everyone is wary of him. 

Luffy's not, of course, because that's just how Law is, but he's confused. 

Because no matter how many times Law snaps or yells or threatens to slice people apart, he's never violent. He doesn't throw punches or kick or draw his sword.

Which does make Luffy wonder if he's done something wrong, that Law doesn't feel like he can be free with Luffy, to go after him when he says something stupid. Everyone else does, is it because he's the captain? But Law's captain too, and they're in an alliance, they're equal.

But he doesn't say anything on it-- and even in Dressrosa, when Law tries to tell him the alliance is over, Luffy knows he wouldn't attack him even if he could. And it's confusing. He couldn't count the amount of times Ace landed a punch on him just for waking him up wrong.

After all that is said and done, and they land on Zou, and Luffy meets the Heart Pirates in all their glory, all twenty of them, he doesn't know if he gets more confused or less. 

The Heart Pirates LOVE their captain (as they should, Traffy is great!) and clearly would do anything for him, starting with those dorky poses they strike. And they yell at him for abandoning them, but they don't get violent with Law, and doesn't get violent with them. He sort of just... lets them yell at him and then talks over them. 

It's weird.

This isn't a thought that keeps Luffy up at night so much as it's a thought that he returns to whenever he looks at Law, reclining as his crew tries to get him to talk about what happened, or whenever Luffy's getting literally kicked out of the kitchen by Sanji.

It's a fact that Luffy puzzles on even in Wano, as Law is passively letting Luffy ruin every plan and then announcing that he planned FOR Luffy to ruin every plan. 

He doesn't hit Luffy for ruining his plan. He doesn't even elbow him in the side.

Before Luffy had seen Law with his own crew on Zou, he had thought that maybe Law didn't really like him. But after seeing Law interacting with his crew, he started to reevaluate. Law loves his crew, and although he threatens to use his Room on them (and maybe sometimes he does), that's not a violent thing. They can pop back together like Kin'emon did. 

But Luffy wonders-- what does it mean to be close with someone without feeling the freedom to get physical with them? 

He wonders this and doesn't have an answer, because that's never been his world.

And of course, what Luffy doesn't know, is that Law grew up with that violence. Had those formative years with Doflamingo, where he was taught to fight and lived with a family who was just as violent as Luffy's own. He was full of hatred and happily took it out on people.

And the only difference was Cora-- who at first was just as violent, to be fair, throwing him out a window and all that. 

But Cora who saw him as someone that could be saved, who sacrificed everything from his mission to his life, to give Law freedom of a different kind— the freedom of gentleness. The freedom that comes from being able to live for yourself. The freedom that comes from being loved enough that the one who loves you gave it all up for you. 

He gave Law everything he had, and he held him tight and told him it would all be okay.

And it wasn't, because Cora's gone, but Law took that love and internalized it, and from the very start the first thing he does is save Bepo from being hurt. 

He gathers a crew little by little and does so by giving them second chances like he was given, and gives them safety— including physical safety. Because separating himself from Doflamingo and that hatred means also separating himself from that senseless violence that comes from growing up in organized crime. 

Law's crew respects him because, despite his prickly exterior, he's stoically kind.He's using his fruit to help and to heal-- even when he gives those pirate hearts to the marines, did he kill them? Debatable. 

Law has worked hard to excise that violence from his life, and Luffy can see that even when no one else on his crew seems to notice.

And Luffy doesn't know why-- doesn't understand it-- but god it makes him smile wide when he sees Law snap at someone and knows that he can trust that Law won't hurt. 

It's like having a wild animal, capable of destruction, lay lazily at your feet.

Luffy wants that. It's an addicting feeling, to feel safe in that way. 

He loves his crew and he loves his brothers and he's made of rubber-- they couldn't hurt him, wouldn't hurt him. 

But the secret gentle kindness of Law is addicting.

[sturniololoco]

Shy

Pt 2 Pt 3 Pt 4

Sturniolo Little Sister (SLS) x The Sturniolo Triplets

SLS x Nathan Doe

Warnings: kissing, language, etc. Pure fluff!

SLS/N's POV

I woke up in Matt's bed, alone, unlike last night when I fell asleep with him watching a movie. I fell asleep in a pair of Chris's boxers and one of Nick's hoodies, looking like a train wreck. I throw my hair in a messy bun and then check the time.

11:15 am. Damn, I slept in.

Yawing, I quickly stood up and made my way to the kitchen. I heard my brother's voices coming from the couch as I walked in.

Only it wasn't just my brothers.

Sitting on the couch were Nick, Matt, Chris, and Nathan, who I completely forgot flew in from Boston this morning. He gave me a small smile as I met his eye.

They all turned and stared at me. I immediately felt my face turn red as I looked down at my feet awkwardly.

"Oh good! Sleepy head his up." Nick said. I gave a fake little laugh as I backed out of the room, mumbling something about getting ready. Once I rounded the corner, I sprinted to my room.

I cannot believe I just walked into a room with Nathan Doe, looking like absolute shit.

-

I changed into some cargo jeans and a crew neck, I also curled my hair and added some light makeup to my face. I was desperately trying to revive my first interaction with Nate.

I walked downstairs again, trying a new technique, rather than boxers and a baggy sweatshirt.

When I got downstairs, everyone was still on the couch, but now they had bagels. I grabbed one and sat next to Chris, who just so happened to be a couch cushion away from Nate.

"Well didn't someone dress up all fancy? Big difference compared to Matty's boxers." Chris said, nudging me in my side. I punched him lightly in the shoulder, giggling as my face turned red again. Nate laughed with us, meeting my eye again.

"So, what should we do today?" Nick asked the group, all of us finishing the last of our bagels.

"Top Golf?" Matt suggested. We all nodded in agreement.

"Sounds good to me!" Nate said cheerfully. He stood up to throw his plate away, but as he passed me, he said,

"Lemme get that for you." As he took my plate for me. I smiled at him for a split second before looking away and mumbling thanks, my cheeks feeling hot.

-

As the smallest, I usually sit in the middle back whenever we have company riding in the car with us. Only this time, I was squished between Nick and Nate, our legs constantly touching.

I felt the butterflies rise in my stomach with every little movement, my heartbeat quickening its pace.

But we soon arrived at top golf, our legs separating as we got out of the car.

-

About halfway through a basket of donut holes later, it was my turn to swing again. I placed my ball on the T and swung, barely missing the little red one. My brothers have always been better at gold than me.

"Oh, that was so close SLS/n! But here, try more like this next time." Nate said, walking towards me.

He wrapped his arms around me, grabbing my hands and helping me swing. He was talking, but I wasn't comprehending. The only thing I could think of was how close we were.

"...Got it, SLS/N?" Nate finished.

"I-Um... yeah, thanks," I said, quickly averting my eyes from his perfect smile. He stayed up at a matt since it was his turn, while I bolted to sit next to Nick. I could feel the heat all over my face.

"Someone blushing again," Nick said, nudging my shoulder. I gave him a Please don't say a word look and he just chuckled and then stood up, going to take his turn. But to my surprise, his seat was filled by Nate moments later.

And the cycle continued.

-

It was late. 1:04 am to be exact.

Everyone came home exhausted from our day of fun, showered, and then hit the hay. Except for me.

I woke up thirsty, so I walked down to the kitchen, turned on the overhead lights, then filled a cup with water.

As I was taking small sips of my water and scrolling through my notifications on my phone, I saw someone's hands being placed on the counter on both sides of me.

I quickly spun around, almost spilling my water and dropping my phone in the process, and came face to face with Nate.

I let out a breathy laugh, saying,

"Holy shit, you scared the fuck outta me!" He laughed lightly, giving me a lazy smile, his arms still on either side of me, trapping me.

Butterflies.

Our noses were only centimeters apart, and Nate was only leaning in closer.

God, I hope I don't have morning breath, I thought as he gently laid his lips against mine. He smelled amazing and tasted even better.

After a couple of seconds, he started to move his lips along mine, deepening the kiss. Just when I was starting to get the hang of it, he pulled away.

My face got hot and turned beet red as I rested my forehead on his chest, hiding my face.

"No, no, none of that. Don't get all shy on me baby." he said, laughing lightly as he used his index finger and thumb to lift my chin. I looked into his eyes, and just as I thought he was about to kiss me again, he backed up, moving his arms.

"You should go back to bed, you need rest." He then reached behind me and grabbed my water glass, taking a sip, and then handed it to me. I took it, staring at him dumbfounded as he walked back to Chris’s room.

Shortly after, I did the same. But as soon as I laid down, my phone buzzed.

It was a text from Nick.

I fucking knew it.

-

Pt. 2????????

Lemme know!

[lucifers-rubber-duck]

oh my god! I just read the modern time one and it gave me an idea!! hazbin crew with a modern reader that is just so chaotic. but like not even a dangerous chaotic and they could probably be killed by any demon but they just have no regard for their safety at all. if a demon makes them mad, the yell at the random demon (even if it's like Alastor or something, they just don't care) calling it something stupid. or if they so much as encounter a slight inconvenience they act like their dying all over again and then within a few seconds goes back to normal like nothing happened. but is overall just entertaining to have around the hotel

Characters: Charlie, Vaggie, Alastor, Husker, Angel, Niffty, Sir Pentious & Lucifer.

Warnings: None.

A/N: We need more Chaotic!Reader in fics, let Reader be a drama monarch and be extra! Thanks for the ask!

𖤓Charlie

• She lost the count of how many times she apologized in your name to random demons on the streets and stores every time you two go out together, you simply have no filter.

• If a demon annoys you you'll scream at them, if they look at you in a way you didn't like you'll flip them off, you just don't care about your own safety and the fact that you're being rude for no reason and that kills her.

• Every week you'll have a behavior exercise where she'll make you be nice to a member of the hotel or simply do good deeds around hell, she even made you apologize to a demon that you fought in a clothe store once, that's your last favorite part of living in the hotel and you make that clear.

• But your behavior does come in handy sometimes, like when some random thought it would be nice to mess with Charlie and shit-talk her hotel, you threw your hot coffee on them making them run away with an angry grin. She didn't scold you that time but didn't say it was acceptable.

• “There are better ways to… resolve those types of situations, but I'm thankful that you stood up for me, that's another good attitude to have!”; “Whatever you say princess, you can thank me by buying me a new coffee.”

𖤓Vaggie

• Sometimes your way of acting annoys her, a lot, you're just so headstrong and so she is so you two just clash with each other a lot, and neither will give up so easily.

• You would make things that annoy her, like poking her or just making a few rude comments, and that would work because she would always have to hold herself to not put her spear on your throat and silence you herself.

• I imagine Charlie putting you two in one of those “get along” shirts, that didn't end up very well and you two almost threw punches with each other.

• The only moments you two middly get along is when a random attack happens at the hotel, what for some reason actually happens at least once a week, and both of you team up to beat the shit out of the demons, you two would he too tried to fight after.

• “You weren't so bad this time Vagina.”; “Don't make me add another one to my kill count.”; “To your what?”

𖤓Alastor

• You not being scared or intimidated by his presence annoys him like nothing else, he doesn't enjoy not being in control, he likes when people fear him and plead for their lives so your lack of care for his power makes his smile be a little more forced everytime.

• He dislikes your attitude towards him, but mostly dislikes how modern you are, you have no respect for him or the older demons, you're always using slangs he doesn't understand and is always so full of modern technology, he especially doesn't like the VoxTek phone you always carries with you.

• He's pretty verbal on how much he dislikes you, just how you are about him, he wouldn't be as aggressive like Vaggie when showing his dislike, he's more the type to give sarcastic comments than throw punches. There was only one occasion where he used his magic to make your phone get all glitchy with his presence.

• I also think he would like to try and correct you on things just out of spite. Sitting with your legs crossed? He'll tell you to sit properly. Bad posture? He touches your back with his staff making you fix it. Even when you're literally just doing your duties at the hotel, he'll tell you that you're doing it incorrectly to make you mad.

• “That's not how my mom taught me how to do it, you should try another way dear, maybe like that you'll actually be useful for something.”; “Oh, kiss my ass old man, come and do it yourself if you're so bothered by it.”

𖤓Husker

• Hates your guts 90% of the time, he hates the way you're just so careless like you aren't literally in Hell, he wonders how you didn't get yourself killed or had a beef with the wrong people already, you look like the type that would face against a Overlord.

• But he does like having you around the bar sometimes, he won't admit it of course, but he always offer you a drink after he sees you do something that annoys Alastor in the slightest.

• He also saved your ass a few times. When Charlie gives the hotel staff permission to have a night for themselves and go to a club, he just knows you'll enter a fight, doesn't matter how well the night is going, you always manages to get in trouble so he had to keep and eye on you all the time.

• After that fight at the club happened, just Like he tough it would, he has to carry your slightly bruised and heavily drunk body, putting one of your arms around his shoulders and holding you to make sure you don't fall while you state how annoyed you are that he got involved on your stuff again.

• “I could take that motherfucker, get my ass back there so I can show them.”; “And I wish I could take a break from you but we can't always have what we want, can we?”

𖤓Angel

• Do I even have to say he's the one that mostly enjoys your presence? He likes your attitude, your way of dressing, your personality, it matches his and you two can be just the most annoying pricks together.

• Your favorite activity when going out to do whatever is to silently judge sinners on the way, you and him would point at a random sinner while talking about their looks and shit-talking them just because you two can.

• If a sinner ever gets annoyed at you two Angel just knows that you're not going to stay quiet about it and will most likely try to fight them, and as the good friend he is, he's always there to help you out in a fight with some fire power.

• He makes sure to not talk about his boss though, he knows that if you learn about how horrible he's treated by him you'll want to go there and have a conversation with him yourself. He will make sure that you're far away from Valentino with your careless attitude.

• “You know what toots? You should meet my friend Cherri, you two were made for each other.”; “If she's anything like me then I know she's no good influence, when can I meet her?”

𖤓Niffty

• She enjoys your attitude, probably thinks it's attractive and will call you a Bad Boy (in a gender neutral way).

• She's probably giggling every time you're creating chaos or getting into a beef with another demon, you're just her type to be honest and she'll for sure start flirting with you in her own weird way.

• The only way I see her not liking your attitude is if you're openly getting things dirty, like not cleaning the dishes when it's your turn or not bothering to throw the trash in the trash can, the only thing that she likes more than people with bad attitudes e keeping things clean so that's the only way you can really annoy her with your way of act.

• “Hey bad boy, I made you a gift, hehehhehe~”; “How… peculiar… What are those?”; “The mother bugs I killed on front of their children and turned into a necklace.”; “.... Riggghtt…”

𖤓Sir Pentious

• The first time he interacted with you was when he attacked the hotel trying to fight Alastor and you commented on how noisy and weak he looked so let's say he was not very pleased with you at first.

• He's still very annoyed with you at first when he started living at the hotel and would give you the silent treatment, or at least try, he's not very good at just ignoring your rude comments, especially if it is about his looks, you just find his hat funny.

• After you two, forced by Charlie and her exercises probably, started to know each other he would start to like you, you two would just be so extra together, he's a theater kid and you're chaotic neutral energy what could possibly go wrong?

• Definitely tries to act a little bit like you after you two start hanging out, be it by trying to act a little more rude and confident or by trying to use more modern slangs and expressions. You can appreciate the effort.

• “So, wasn't I simply the coolessst ever?”; “If you use the word ‘cringe’ again I'm hitting you on the head with a brick.”

𖤓Lucifer

•If his first impression of your headstrong and somewhat cocky attitude is when you're being rude to Alastor or just your simple existence making the Radio Demon annoyed, he'll already like you.

• He would be surprised at first while interacting with you on how much you just didn't care, you would talk to him like he was a long-term friend instead of the king of Hell that you just met a while ago, are all people on earth like that?

• You would have to be a little patience with him, because he would ask you tips on how to act around people, you're younger and came from a newer generation, he can learn one thing or two with you, especially about the right ways to say insults, you don't need him saying “I'm going to fuck you” again.

• You remind him of Charlie's emo phase, he will chuckle every time you do something that reminds of her smug attitude in that period of her life. Don't be offended if he calls you emo, that's the only word he knows to describe your personality.

• “You remind me of my daughter you know, there was a time she acted just like you, I kinda miss that time if I'm being honest.”; “Are you… complimenting me or insulting your daughter?”

[softonshanks]

The captain’s gift

Word count: 2291 Characters: Shanks x female reader Plot: When Shanks and the crew return to the ship after exploring a new island, Shanks surprises Y/N with a thoughtful gift. Though she tries to act tough, Y/N can't hide her excitement and joy for the present: a pirate teddybear. She starts to show it off to everyone, while Shanks can't help but fall in love with her and with her happiness. As the days pass by she is always more in love with her bear, even if her sleeping problem is far from being fixed. One morning she waked up in Shanks's bed, together with her teddybear. What the hell happened the night before? Yes, this is just pure fluff and fun. Author's note: I was looking for a toy as a present for a friend's child and then this thing came up. I couldn't resist, I mean, how could you? This bear it's so fucking cute... so I had to write this dumb thing down. I just couldn't help it. Hope you like it, ciao <3

(btw love this gif: that's exactly how I pictured him while he said the line I decided to put in bold)

After days of sailing, the Red-Haired Pirates had finally docked at a new island. The crew was buzzing with excitement, eager to stretch their legs, explore, and enjoy the local food and drink. Everyone except Y/N, who yawned and stretched lazily, blinking sleepily at the busy deck. She had barely slept the night before, her hammock feeling more like a bed of rocks than a place to rest. She gave Shanks a weak smile as he walked past, but exhaustion had clearly taken its toll.

“Not joining us today?” Shanks asked, his usual grin plastered on his face as he slung his sword over his shoulder.

Y/N shook her head, rubbing her eyes. “Nah, Captain. I’m wrecked. Think I’ll rest up on the ship.”

Shanks chuckled. “Alright then. We’ll bring back stories of all the trouble we get into.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, already leaning back in her chair, closing her eyes against the sun. “I’ll pass on the trouble for today.” “We’re headed into town. Is there anything you need?”’ “Don’t need anything,” she muttered with a wave of her hand; “everything I need is right here,” she excessively gestured, moving again on her chair to find a more comfortable position. “I just need to sleep a little bit,” she added yawning.

“Sure, sure,” Shanks chuckled. “I’ll get you something you don’t need, then.”

With that, Shanks and the rest of the crew disappeared into the vibrant island town, leaving Y/N to nap under the warm sun.

Hours later, Y/N was still dozing on the deck when the crew returned. Her rest had done her some good, and she sat up, stretching and yawning like a content cat. The pirates were in high spirits, laughing and sharing stories of their exploits. Shanks approached her with a teasing smile, hiding something behind his back.

“Hey, Y/N,” he said, his tone light and mischievous. “I got you a little something.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, still groggy but curious. “A gift? Captain, I don’t need a gift. I can handle myself just like any other member of this crew, you know.”

Shanks smirked and shrugged. “Alright, if you’re too grown up for gifts, I’ll just take it back to the store.”

With a dramatic gesture, he pulled out the item he’d been hiding—a plush teddy bear dressed like a pirate, complete with a tiny hat, eye patch, and a miniature sword dangling from its waist. Y/N’s exhaustion vanished in an instant, her eyes lighting up like stars, and she gasped, her exhaustion forgotten.

“Isthatateddybear?!,” she excitedly screamed.

Shanks nodded, repeating “It’s a teddy bear”, laughing.

“Apirateteddybear?” she screamed once more, while Shanks nodded. She immediately snatched the bear out of his hand, holding it close to her chest. She didn’t care about looking like a baby, she loved it. The crew, who had been watching the exchange, burst into laughter. Shanks crossed his arms, trying to suppress a smirk. “And here I thought you were a grown-up. You sure look like a kid to me right now.”

Y/N stuck her tongue out at him. The crew, who had gathered around to watch, burst into laughter. Yasopp slapped Shanks on the back. “You’ve turned her into a five-year-old again!”

Lucky Roo chuckled, raising his mug in salute. “I give it a week before that bear’s the most famous pirate on the Grand Line.” Y/N pouted playfully at them, but the grin on her face was too big to hide. She held the bear up, showing it off like it was the greatest treasure she’d ever laid eyes on. “Look at him! He’s perfect!”, she repeated, unable to stop herself from grinning ear to ear. She hugged the bear tighter, turning back to Shanks with pure joy in her eyes. “Thank you, Captain! I can’t believe you got this for me!”.

Shanks feigned offense, clutching his chest. “You hug the bear first and not me? I’m hurt.”

Y/N laughed and finally threw her arms around Shanks, making him almost lose his balance as she squeezed him tightly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cried, jumping up and down with excitement. Shanks chuckled, his eyes softening as he watched her bounce around the deck, showing off the bear to every crewmate she could find, her smile never leaving her face. “You’re welcome,” he muttered under his breath, feeling his heart swell with affection. Shanks watched her from across the deck, unable to wipe the goofy smile off his face.

He knew she would have loved it. A few weeks before, during a stop on a bustling island, Shanks had quietly picked up on something no one else seemed to notice. They had been strolling through the marketplace when Lucky Roo became captivated by a toy shop window filled with colourful trinkets and stuffed animals. While the rest of the crew poked fun at Roo for getting distracted by toys, Y/N lingered a few steps behind them. Shanks, with his usual sharp eye, saw her pause in front of the window. Her gaze locked onto a plush bear. Her eyes had sparkled with a childlike wonder for just a moment before she quickly gasped, shaking her head as if scolding herself. Shanks could see it—the way she quickly turned away from the bear, her face a little more serious as she caught up with the group. No one else noticed, but Shanks did. He knew that she wanted it, but was too proud to show that softer side in front of the others. So when he was walking with the rest of the crew in town earlier that day and noticed a small pirate teddy bear, he knew he just had to buy it.  

Y/N was pure joy—always laughing, always brightening the crew’s spirits. He had been silently falling for her for a while now, and seeing her so happy with something so simple filled him with a warm, fluttering feeling he couldn’t quite shake.

In the days that followed, Y/N kept the teddy bear with her constantly. She named him “Red” and declared him the ship’s new mascot. Whether she was working, drinking with the crew, or napping, Red was always by her side. The crew found it endlessly amusing, but Shanks couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride every time he saw her cuddling the bear he’d picked out for her: every time he saw her hugging that little bear, his heart skipped a beat.

It was so fucking ridiculous to him—he was the captain of one of the most feared pirate crews on the sea, and yet, here he was, falling head over heels for a girl with a teddy bear.

One night, unable to sleep again, Y/N wandered out onto the deck, carrying Red with her. She sat down near the ropes, curling up under the stars. The night was peaceful, and the sound of the ocean was soothing, but sleep still wouldn’t come. She hugged Red tightly, sighing softly as she stared up at the sky.

Inside the ship, Shanks was headed to the galley to fetch some water when he noticed the door to the deck was ajar. Frowning, he stepped outside and immediately spotted Y/N, curled up on the ropes, fast asleep with Red tucked under her chin. His heart clenched at the sight. She looked so peaceful, so small, and it warmed him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. But she couldn’t sleep out here—not when it would get cold soon. He shook his head and quietly made his way over to her.

“Y/N,” he whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. “Come on, you can’t sleep out here. It’s gonna get cold.”

She stirred, but didn’t fully wake up, simply mumbling something incoherent and snuggling deeper into her bear. Shanks sighed, but his smile didn’t fade. With ease he scooped her up in his one arm, cradling her gently as she slept. Red was still clutched tightly in her grasp. He carried her to his quarters, laying her down on his bed as carefully as possible. He pulled the blanket up over her and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, watching her breathe softly in her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so content. Shanks reached out and adjusted her blankets one more time, his heart swelling with affection.

“You really are something else,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Sleep well, Y/N.”

He stayed there for a few minutes, just watching over her, before finally pulling away.

The next morning, Y/N woke up feeling more rested than she had in days. She stretched lazily and she blinked a few times, her mind slowly catching up to the fact that she wasn’t in her hammock as her hand brushed against soft sheets. Her eyes snapped open as she realized where she was—Shanks’ bed. Her heart raced as she quickly sat up, looking around the room in a slight panic. “Why am I here?” she muttered to herself. She scrambled out of the bed, clutching the bear tightly as she rushed out onto the deck to find Shanks leaning against the railing with a casual grin on his face as he stared out at the horizon.

"Morning, sleepyhead," he greeted her with a wink, clearly having noticed her disheveled appearance.

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Why was I in your bed?"

He chuckled softly. "You fell asleep on deck last night hugging that teddy bear so tight, I figured you deserved better than the ropes. So I carried you to my bed." He paused, looking at her innocently. "Didn't want you getting cold."

Y/N felt her cheeks warm slightly, embarrassed by how vulnerable she had been. "You could’ve just woken me up,” she muttered, biting her lip.

“Well I tried to,” she looked at him. “I swear I tried to wake up you up, but you are a heavy sleeper,” he said laughing while Y/N pretended to be offended by his words.

Shanks tilted his head, his gaze softening. “Plus, you looked too peaceful in my bed. I can tell you are having some rough nights lately”.

Y/N sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah… about that."

He turned fully toward her, curious. "Something bothering you?"

She hesitated, glancing out at the ocean before letting out a frustrated breath. "I had a weird dream…"

The mischievous glint in Shanks' eye immediately sparked. He stepped closer, leaning down a bit to meet her gaze. "Oh? Do tell. Was it about treasure? A sea monster?"

Y/N scrunched her nose, avoiding his eyes. "It was... stranger than that."

Now fully intrigued, Shanks leaned against the railing beside her, all his attention on her. "Come on, spill it. You can't drop a mystery like that and not expect me to pry," he teased, giving her a playful nudge with his shoulder.

She huffed, still feeling silly, but the way he was looking at her made it impossible to keep the dream to herself. "Fine," she grumbled, her voice low. "I dreamt that… you kissed my forehead," she whispered shily, looking away.

Shanks froze, his face turning a shade of red that almost matched his hair. He didn’t know how to react at first, the embarrassment eating up alive cause he’d swear she was fully asleep in that moment. Finally, after a long pause, he let out a breath and broke into a grin as he decided to do what he always did— make a joke.  

“Well, that’s a snitch right there”.

Y/N blinked, confused. “What?”

Shanks pointed to the teddy bear. “Red here is a damn snitch! And you know what happens to snitches.”

He playfully grabbed the bear from her hands, pretending to shake it in mock fury. “I’ll teach him a lesson!”

Y/N gasped in mock horror, quickly grabbing at the bear. “No! He didn’t do anything wrong!”

The two of them tussled for a moment, laughing until they were breathless. Y/N finally yanked the bear out of Shanks’ hands, cradling it protectively to her chest. “You leave him alone, Captain!”

Shanks chuckled, shaking his head. “I love you, you know that?”

Y/N froze for a second, blinking up at him. “Wait… what did you just say?”

Shanks froze as well, realizing what he’d just blurted out, once again unable to maintain some dignity aroud Y/N. But instead of backtracking this time, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, you heard me. I love you. Been wanting to tell you for a while now. You just… you make me so damn happy.”

Y/N’s heart fluttered, and a wide grin spread across her face. She stepped closer to him, holding Red in one arm and reaching out to touch Shanks’ cheek with her free hand. “You make me happy too, Captain.”

Shanks leaned in for a kiss, but Y/N, ever the mischievous one, quickly placed the teddy bear between them. Shanks ended up kissing the plush toy instead of her, much to her amusement.

Y/N burst out laughing, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Sorry, Red gets the first kiss.”

Shanks groaned but couldn’t help but laugh as well. “You little rascal.”

With a playful grin, Y/N finally moved the bear aside and leaned in to give Shanks a proper kiss. Their lips met softly at first, then with more warmth and affection, as if they were both relieved to finally share the feelings they’d kept hidden for so long.

When they finally pulled apart, Shanks rested his forehead against hers, a content smile on his face. “You’ve got no idea how happy you make me.”

Y/N smiled back, her heart light as a feather. “I love you too, Shanks. And for the record… Red approves.”

[valentiyne]

𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗌 & 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗏𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝖺𝗅𝗌 ☆ 𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗎𝗆 𝗁𝗈𝗈𝖽

Calum Hood x Famous!Reader Summary: Requested! After 4 years of agreed no contact, one phone call and song takes back all that you've worked for. Warnings: Mild Cursing, Slight of Explicit Content. Word Count: 1k (not rlly proofread lol) Copyright © 2023 Valentiyne. All rights reserved. This original work is not allowed to be reposted on any platform in any format.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻

"So, Y/n tell us more about Calum Hood"

A name I hadn't heard in exactly 4 years to the very date.

48 months, 1461 days, and 35040 excruciating long fucking hours.

My face immediately lights up at the name nevertheless, brushing my hair behind my ear nervously,

"Hood? I'm not quite sure what this has to do with my upcoming EP coming out at midnight", I breathlessly laugh out, my eyes locking with the interviewer in front of me. My new work titled, "Bittersweet" was launching at midnight, only containing 4 songs to go along with the 4 bittersweet years I've spent away from him. It was hopeless of me to write about him, but he was the only source of inspiration I could find.

"Well you two had a bit of chemistry as far as we know, is that right?"

Sure we did. We spent over 6 years together on and off, but always came back to each other. He was my rock, my everything, but ultimately we knew it wasn't going to work out.

"Sure we did, I mean it was nothing but a mere innocent crush", I cross my legs now, my shaky hands clasped on top of my knees. The crowd was silent as excited fans packed into the small room to hear the soft launch before midnight.

"Well it was surely more than innocent", she motions to the screen next to us. "This picture was taken four years ago in Bali during the second leg of their tour", I mentally roll my eyes but smile anyway. A few people from the crowd squealed as the iconic picture of us in cuddled up on the beach was displayed, the same one he posted himself as an excuse to have me on his page.

"Like I said- It was a small crush" I was trying to convince myself more than everyone else.

I watch as the slideshow continues on, the screen filled with every single moment in time that Calum and I were spotted together across the world. A few innocent ones of us walking next to each other, to one taken on the balcony of a hotel. We were just kids who didn't know what they were doing- lost in the moment together. He will always have a place in my heart. When things ultimately ended, we both agreed to never speak again- it was only weighing each other down.

"Well I thank you for your time, I hope everyone enjoys the album and finds some comfort in the chaos", I stand up abruptly, extending my hand to shake the interviewer's hand. The crowd cheered quietly as I walked off the stage with a slight wave. I needed to get out of here, I felt like a complete idiot working myself up over someone that I no longer talked to.

I slipped past the stage crew as I shuffled out past the backdoors and towards the parking lot, my fingers fumbling with my keys as I tore my driver's door open and plopped down dramatically. The door shut behind me and I sighed to myself loudly,

That was fucking ridiculous, they didn't even ask anything about me. Just about someone I never wanted to mention. Of course, I could talk about him until the end of time, but it wasn't my place to do so anymore. He was playing sold-out shows every other day and had no worry about a girl back home who happened to have matching tattoos with him, right? The tattoo we shared was of a small flower underneath our ribs, the same flower he gave me on our one-year "situationshipversary" as he called it. It was a silly gesture that I treasured, the California wildflower that he pulled over on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway to pick during peak traffic on the way to my house. It now lay inside a small glass bottle hung around my neck, all wilted like our history.

I pull my phone from my purse, scrolling down to the bottom of my contact list, and clicking on the "DO NOT CALL!!!!" number. I hesitantly dial his number and bring it up to my ear,

"Hey! You reached Calum, I'm away from my phone right now but leave a message!", He declined it immediately, either that or his phone was dead. Not quite sure which one makes me feel better. I roll my eyes at the stupid prepubescent voice and turn my phone off.

I tossed my phone down onto my lap and leaned my head against the wheel. I subconsciously wanted to log back into my Instagram and scroll down an update page to find out anything about him. I had no idea what he was up to or who he was with, it's been years since I've last heard his voice.

"You know this isn't good for either of us, Y/n", he rang through my head as I remember standing on his porch in late July.

"Calum, we've been through this so many times- why can't we just try?"

He runs his hand through his freshly cut hair and shakes his head, "It never ends well, I feel like a fucking lost dog who always limps its way back to you.. I just- Fuck- I can't do thi-"

The last thing I remember was the door closing in my face, leaving me all alone with no closure. I could hear him on the other side, a thump on the door indicating he was leaning against it. I tried for the handle, jiggling it a few times before banging on it, begging for him to talk to me. I couldn't stay mad at him forever, as much as I wanted to. I wanted to scream at him, slap him in his beautiful face, and kiss him all at once.

My phone vibrating snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked down,

DO NOT CALL!!!!

My heart skips a beat, staring at my phone on my lap buzzing away. I bit my lip softly, pulling it closer to my face as I accepted the FaceTime call.

The camera was pointing to the ceiling when I answered, his voice booming loudly as he spoke.

"Hello?"

I let let a breath I didn't know I was holding, trying to gather the right words to say. What was I supposed to say after all this time?

"Cal?", my voice is softer than I had hoped for, the word slipping past my lip like it's begging to finally be let out.

"Holy shit", the camera shifts and he props it up against the wall, waving at me with one hand. Calum sits in his studio chair with his old bass in his lap, headphones pushed back against his long curly hair. His eyes are wide as he raises an eyebrow, "Shit, long time no see."

I adjust the camera against my steering wheel and scoot my seat back, allowing for a better view of myself as I smile innocently with an awkward wave. "Hi Cal, how ya been?" I see his eyes travel down to the necklace around my neck, my fingers dancing around the bottle as I speak.

"Shit, Y/n if I'd known it was you calling I would've answered way faster, I just had deleted your number-", he stops himself, looking up with a sympathetic crooked smile before sighing. I raise a hand up to reassure him instead, "Calum", god saying his name tugs at my heartstrings, "It's okay, I get it... we don't have to dance around it.. now what are you up to?"

He was lying, Calum hood was bluffing to my face and I had no idea. After all this time, he still had my contact listed as "My wildflower", but he couldn't dare admit to me that he didn't answer sooner because he was scared.

Scared of what I was going to say

Scared id tell him I found someone new

Scared of seeing or hearing me again

"I'm actually working on a song right now", he laughs and holds the iconic bass up, a small spot right under the strings that once had a star sticker I placed on it- now scraped off.

I make a face, reminding myself that that was the past and I shouldn't dwell on it too much, but seeing him happier without me didn't make me feel like I thought it would. A part of me wished he was as miserable as I was, cooped up in my room writing stupid songs that were confessing my raw feelings.

"What's it about?", I chirp up as he bends down to play a few notes on the keyboard next to him, assuming it's the intro.

"It's about someone that was in my life, uh someone you don't know- she came around afterward", he says slowly, not meeting my eyes through the screen. I just nod in agreement, opening my mouth to speak.

"Would you like to come over for dinner sometime this week?", The words flow out before I had time to think about it. As I wait for his response, I pick at my nails- a habit he absolutely hated. He would smack my hand out of my mouth every chance we were together, telling me "I'd get worms in my belly" I did stop for a while, but my bitten nails were the only reminder he was actually gone.

"Yeah, I would love to!- Look I'll let you go but we'll keep in touch alright?", He speaks quickly, his hand flying down in one swift movement. With that, he ends the FaceTime call and I'm left looking at my reflection. I looked dumbfounded, smiling to myself as wide as I could.

I couldn't let myself fall for this again, for him- we both knew it wasn't going to end well for either of us. But hell it's been 4 years and I've changed as a person, and by the looks of it, he has too.

My phone buzzed once, twice, and then three before I looked back up at it to see three new messages from none other than Hood.

DO NOT CALL!!!!: I kinda lied, you do know the person I wrote it about

DO NOT CALL!!!!: mp3.wildflower.calumdemo.rec

DO NOT CALL!!!!: my wildflower ;)

[krabkrab-wontshutup]

Sanji fawning over male!y/n the same way he does with… Well, any woman ever.

I don’t see enough of male!y/n x sanji. I get that like his entire bit is that he likes girls but his backstory is just… SO QUEERCODED. Sorry if this is a little out of character, I haven’t seen very much of one piece yet! Reader and Sanji are both extremely awkward because i’m awkward. You tell me when this takes place because i genuinely could not tell you.

Sanji didn’t understand these feelings. Sure, okay, he’d felt them before - Plenty of times! But never- Not like this. You were different.

Mainly because you were a guy.

You were a new addition to the straw hats, a scrappy young man with seemingly no fears and a smile that could lure the stars out of the sky. Sanji had to hold himself back when he first saw you — your broad shoulders, the way your hair fell into your gorgeous eyes, the way your laugh was like a siren’s call... He caught himself staring at you more than once, His heart turning itself inside out in a familiar way that usually only happened when he saw a pretty girl. But here you were, Turning his world upside down without trying or even noticing.

He tried so hard to ignore it, to shove it down with all the rest of the things he refused to speak of, but it was like trying to ignore water in the desert. Every time you walked into the kitchen, every time your eyes met, every time you called his name… He’d catch himself blushing and looking away, only to find your eyes on him again, filled with an amusement that was somehow both endearing and infuriating. He figured you had to know what you were doing to him, there was no explanation! So, eventually, he goes to Nami for advice.

“HAH!” Nami’s laughter was loud and unrelenting like a summer storm. She leaned back on the ship’s railing, her head thrown back as she laughed into the air. “Sanji, Sanji,” she chuckled, “You’re so weird! You fall for every person with a pulse and two legs, and now you’re surprised because you’re into a guy?”

Sanji’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, his eyes flicking from side to side to ensure no one heard. The ship was mostly empty, the rest of the crew busy with their own tasks. Still, the thought of someone discovering his secret was akin to walking through a minefield - Especially you.

“It’s not like that!” He insisted.

Nami gave him a knowing look, her laughter softening. “Look, Sanji, we’ve all got our baggage, right? But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn to swim in new waters. Sometimes you just need to let go of the shore to find your way.”

Sanji sighed, and after a few moments of silence, he responded, “That’s surprisingly wise.”

Nami laughs again. “I got it from a magazine.”

Nami’s words stuck with him, and he tried his hardest to adapt. it was difficult, everything he’d ever heard from his father was telling him to force this down as hard as he could, but he’d spent so much time unlearning all that already.

He started with the little things. He’d always been courteous, of course, but now he found himself going out of his way to make sure you had whatever you needed. You noticed, of course, but you weren’t quite sure what to make of it. At first, you were annoyed at the special treatment, feeling like you were being treated like a damsel in distress, and you made sure to let him know you were very capable. But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, you found yourself looking forward to those little moments. The way he’d hover over your plate, ensuring every bite was just right, or how he’d listen to your food fantasies and whip them up without question.

Then, one fateful and very warm day, it happens. The two of you were in the kitchen - Sanji was rearranging the pots and you were escaping the sweltering heat, and he realizes that you’re in his way.

Without even thinking about it very much, his hands find a place on your waist and he pushes you out of the way, saying “Excuse me, i just need to-“

You don’t even hear the rest of his sentence, your heart is beating so fast and so loud in your ears. Suddenly, you feel very warm. After grabbing what he needed, Sanji turned to you.

“Sorry about that, Darling, but you were-“ He began to apologize, but cut himself off when he saw your face. his expression a mix of surprise and something else—something softer, something that made you feel uncomfortably fidgety.

“I- I think- I think I just heard Luffy calling for me- Gotta go!” You blurted out, turning on your heel and practically sprinting from the kitchen. Your heart was racing like a rabbit’s, and you couldn’t even think of what you’d just said. Did you really need to help Luffy? You weren’t even sure. But you needed space, you needed to get out of there before your heart exploded. You gripped onto a railing of the ship, your head spinning.

The rest of the day was a blur of half-hearted attempts to avoid Sanji, and every time you saw him, your stomach did a flip. He looked so conflicted, so torn, and you didn’t know what to do. What did it mean? Did he feel the same way? Or was it all just in your head? The doubt and confusion swirled around you like a tornado, threatening to sweep you away.

Sanji, on the other hand, had decided it was time to get some advice from someone who had actually been in a relationship before. So he approached Usopp, the only Straw Hat who had any real experience in that department. Usopp was busy sanding a piece of wood, a look of deep concentration on his face.

“Hey, Usopp. Got a minute?” Sanji asked, trying to sound casual.

Usopp looked up, his eyes lighting up at the interruption. “Sure thing, what’s up, Sanji?”

Sanji took a deep breath. “It’s about... relationships,” he started, his voice low and hesitant.

Usopp’s eyes widened, and he set down his sandpaper, leaning in closer. “Oho? Spill it, Sanji! Who’s the lucky girl?”

Sanji’s ears turned red. “Well, that’s the thing. It’s not a girl.”

The confusion on Usopp’s face was palpable. “But you’re Sanji. You love all the ladies! What do you mean it’s not a girl?”

“It’s one of the guys, Usopp!” Sanji blurted out, his voice a little too loud. He covered his mouth instinctively, and Usopp stood with a… mischievous grin on his face.

“Ah, so you’ve got a crush on Luffy, then?” Usopp teased, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Sanji’s face flushed even redder. “What? No! That’s not it at all!”

“Then it’s gotta be Zoro. I’ve seen you two eyeing each other when you think no one’s looking,” Usopp said with a wink.

Sanji’s eyes widened. “No, it’s not Zoro! Disgusting!”

Usopp chuckled, obviously enjoying Sanji’s discomfort. “Alright, alright, but that doesn’t leave anyone else!” He stops. “Unless-“

Sanji’s grip on the rail tightens as he prepares for the worst.

Usopp places a hand on his chin. “I’m dating Kaya, so its not me, so it has to be…”

“Y/N?” He whispers to himself, and Sanji jumps in fear. He didn’t expect Usopp to actually guess correctly!

Usopp’s grin grew wider. “I knew it! You’ve had the hots for him since he first joined!”

Sanji glared at him, trying to keep his voice low. “It’s not like that! I just don’t know what to do!”

Usopp’s teasing demeanor dropped away, and he patted Sanji’s back. “Look, it’s not the end of the world, okay? I’ll help you out. Let’s start with the basics, like asking him out or something!”

Sanji’s heart skipped a beat. Asking you out? That was a whole new level of terrifying. But if it meant he could understand these feelings, maybe he’d agree.

Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sky with a fiery kiss, you found yourself sitting on the edge of the ship, your legs dangling over the side, watching the waves slap against the hull. It was there, in the quiet, that Sanji found you. He looked nervous, his usual cool and collected demeanor replaced with something raw and vulnerable.

“I need to talk to you, Darling,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

You turned your head to look at him, still sitting on the railing, heart hammering in your chest. His blue eyes were sincere and slightly teary, his hands clutching the railing as tightly as yours, his knuckles turning white.

“I- …I think I’m falling in love with you,” Sanji blurted out, his cheeks tinted pink.

The words hit you like a tidal wave, and you felt the world tilt. Before you could respond, your hands slipped, and your body lunged forward. For a moment, it felt likeyou were suspended in the air, the ocean beckoning below. Sanji’s reflexes were lightning-quick; he lunged forward and caught you, Grabbing your wrist with his hand and pulling you back onto the ship and into a tight hug.

You gasped, your heart racing even faster now. You didn’t know whether it was from fear or the sudden proximity of the man you’d been trying to avoid all day. His grip was firm, and you could feel the heat of his body through your shirt. For a brief second, you wondered if he’d noticed your racing pulse, the way your heart was practically galloping in your chest.

Sanji’s embrace was comforting, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions that whirled inside you.

“Please don’t say that,” you managed to murmur. “It isn’t funny.”

You looked up into his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, any sign that he was joking, but all you saw was earnestness. You took a deep breath, trying to compose yourself.

"Sanji," you began, "I...I don't know what to say."

He swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving yours. "I know it's unexpected. I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," you said, your voice shaking. "It's just...I don't know how to feel about this."

Sanji nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I get it. I've been fighting these feelings for a while now, but I can't ignore them anymore." He paused, taking a deep breath. "But if it's not something you feel, I'll back off. I just had to tell you."

The silence was deafening as you both sat there, the salty sea air mingling with the scent of the evening meal that Sanji had prepared, and the faint smell of cigarettes you’d come to associate with him. His grip on you didn't loosen, but it didn't feel as desperate anymore. It was like he was offering a lifeline in the storm, and you weren’t quite ready to let go.

You took another deep breath, feeling the warmth of his embrace seep into your bones.

"Sanji," you started, your voice barely audible over the lapping waves. "I think I might feel the same way."

Sanji's eyes widened in surprise, and you could see the hope flicker in them like a candle in the wind. You felt his grip tighten around you, but it was no longer about keeping you safe from the ocean. It was about holding on to something real, something he hadn't allowed himself to dream about.

"You do?" He whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

You nodded, your heart racing. "I do," you murmured.

The air grew thick with anticipation, and your eyes locked onto his. Sanji leaned in, his eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation, but all he saw was the truth reflected back at him. And then, just as the last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the both of you, your lips met.

It was soft, tentative, like the first brush of a butterfly’s wing. Your heart pounded in your chest, the heat of his breath mingling with yours. Sanji’s lips felt foreign, yet surprisingly familiar.

“WOOHOO!” Usopp’s voice pierced the moment. Sanji pulled away and groaned.

“Are you two really spying on me?!” Sanji yelled, his face flushing an even deeper shade of red. Nami and Usopp emerged from their hiding spot, grinning like Cheshire cats.

“We just wanted to see how it went!” Nami giggled, slapping her hand over her mouth.

“Yeah, sorry about that, Sanji. Couldn’t resist watching the lovebirds in action!” Usopp chuckled, nudging Nami with his elbow.

You couldn’t help but laugh at their antics, the tension from earlier dissipating like the last remnants of the day’s heat.

Once they’d left, Sanji turned back to you, his expression earnest. “I’m sorry about them. They’ve been...helping me figure out my feelings, and they get a bit carried away. I never wanted to make you feel uncomfortable, Darling.”

You chuckled, feeling your own cheeks warm up. “It’s alright. Really, Sanji, Its okay.”

Sanji looked at you with a mix of embarrassment and sincerity. “I know I’ve been acting strange. I’ve never felt like this about… someone like you before, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I talked to them because...because I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to mess things up.”

You reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. You didn’t know what would happen next, but it didn’t matter.

[somanyratsinthewalls]

Burning Hearts Chapter 1

HI WELCOME TO MY FAVORITE PROJECT! This series is what my fic Prescribed Medicine was loosely based on. I've decided to bring it to life in a multi part series! This chapter is sfw and building background. I will probably post to AO3 since the series lovers live there.

Pairing: Wyvern Devil Fruit Reader (female) x Law

Burning Hearts Chapter 1: A Heated End. A Cold Beginning.

Summary: You were teleported across the globe in an instant, away from your crew. Your body was badly broken and beaten, thrust into the harsh landscape of a Northern island. You are discovered by the Heart Pirates and brought back to health. Startled upon waking up in a foreign place with an unfamiliar crew, you are shocked with the news that you’ll be spending two years there. Trafalgar Law, the captain of the Heart Pirates has made a promise to train you, but will it become something more than a mentor relationship?

Background: O/C (Rito Daisy) is a Strawhat Pirate. Long hair, dark brown with a streak of grey hair coming from the crown. Heterochromia, one eye brown and the other grey. O/C (Daisy) has a Zoan devil fruit power, although she is unaware what type of creature it came from. She was forced to ingest the fruit as a slave, therefore is resentful and only uses it when completely necessary. The only powers she has harnessed are black, bat like wings, and refuses to explore her powers further. O/C joined the Straw Hat Pirates a brief time before the Water 7 Arc. 

— —

Chapter 1: A Heated End. A Cold Beginning. 

Milky, iridescent ribbons of northern lights swirled quickly across your range of vision. Were you laying on the ground? You felt your long hair tickling your back, nothing impeding it. With nothing above or behind you, you were whizzing through space and time. You tried to move your hands. 

Your feet. 

Your wings. 

Nothing. You couldn’t move an inch. Your head spun with dizziness and confusion. What happened? Where were you? The last thing you remembered was-

“Wait Sanji-!” You called out after being face to face with the padded paw of Bartholomew Kuma on Sabaody Archipelago. 

“Don’t touch her you brute!” Sanji’s eyes flared with aggression as he aimed a kick towards your attacker. 

And that was the last thing you saw. You had been bested badly by Kizaru and Kuma, just as the rest of your crew had. You knew you had broken bones. You realized this now that the adrenaline had worn off and you could finally feel your injuries. The delicate tissue of your wings was ripped to shreds and you felt it deep in your flesh. You couldn’t even retract your wings and resume your full human form. You were helpless in your involuntary stasis. How long had you been flying away? The northern lights begin to meld together in your vision and your eyelids flutter closed again… 

— — — 

*WOOOOSH* *CRASH*

Your body crashed into the side of a snowy mountain like a dropped bomb. Pine branches snapped. Squirrels and foxes scampered away quickly. Boulders shattered at the sheer force of the impact. For a moment you were able to open your eyes. 

You were blinded by bright white. After a few moments of believing you had died and were ascending into the heavens, the craggy mountainside came into view. But before you could fully assess your situation, the rock face beneath you gave way and you were falling again. 

You scream but your mouth was quickly covered with snow from the incoming avalanche. You feel more of your bones snap. The pain is unbearable. Your head spins… 

— — — 

“Way too fuckin’ cold…” Penguin struggles to lift his legs from the knee deep snow as he trudges towards the woods on the mountain. 

“Captain said to get wood. You wanna tell him you were ‘too cold,’ Penguin?” Ikkaku snapped at her exploration partner while she too, struggled to move through the snow. 

“I’d like to see him out here in this shit! I can barely tell my hand from my dick in this blizzard!” Penguin shot back. 

“That’s probably because you can barely see your- Ooof!” Ikkaku trips over something in her path and takes a nose dive into the fresh powder in front of her. 

“Hah! Karma, bitch!” Penguin laughs and pulls his hat back. Upon clearing his vision, he sees what his crew mate had tumbled over. A pair of denim clad thighs and a slim waist. “Wait… Ikkaku…” 

“What is it? Help me up already!” 

“It’s… it’s a girl!” 

“What?” Ikkaku shakes her head to shake off the snow. 

“There’s some lady buried in the snow! We gotta get her out!” Penguin panics and starts scraping heaps of snow off the frozen body. 

“Oh shit, you’re right. Let’s pull her out.” Ikkaku reaches through the snow until she feels a lifeless skull lolling around. She places a gentle hand behind the body’s neck and pulls it out of the snow. It was a beautiful woman, long brown hair braided with flowers and vines that had been frozen and wilted in the snow, a large grey streak spread from a corner of her forehead. Ikkaku grabs the shoulders while Penguin grabbed the legs of the lifeless form. 

“Why isn’t it moving?” Penguin pulls on the legs. 

“Hmmph! It’s stuck on something… Hmmmpph!” Ikkaku tries to jostle the body free of the ice and snow. The duo pull and push on the body until something finally gives and it is released from the grip of the mountain. Suddenly, on one side of the body, a tattered black wing breaks free from the ice and flops back down. The second wing followed and slumped lifelessly next to the unconscious form. 

“What the hell is this thing?!?” Penguin exclaims. 

“I don’t know…” Ikkaku looks down at the strange person. “But Captain is definitely gonna wanna see this…” 

The two wordlessly agree to carry the body back down to the Heart Pirate safe house at the bottom of the mountain. 

— — 

“Captain! Law! Hurry!” Penguin yells as he runs into the base backwards carrying the legs of the unknown body. 

“Bring it to the med bay, if there’s any chance it’s still alive he’s going to want it in there.” Ikkaku hurries Penguin down the hallway to Captain Trafalgar Law’s surgery room that connected to his secluded office. 

Doors swinging open quickly, the pirates hoist the winged figure up onto the surgery table. The body laid lifelessly on the table while the shredded wings flopped lazily at its sides, tips nearly hitting the floor. Penguin collapsed against the wall behind him, breath heavy from the long, arduous journey back from the mountain with their new addition. 

The door to the adjoining office was flung open. 

“What the hell is this?” Law burst in and began pulling on a pair of blue rubber gloves. 

D, E, A, T, H.

H, T, A, E, D.

He slipped the gloves over each finger and moved towards the surgery table. 

“We found it on the mountain, Captain.” Ikkaku responds. “Under a blizzard and a landslide. I doubt it’s still alive.” 

Law wordlessly peruses the body. He stops by it’s neck and presses two fingers against it’s pulse point. 

E, A.

“There’s a pulse. She’s alive.” 

Ikkaku and Penguin look at each other and their eyes widen. 

“Bepo!” Law shouts. 

“Yes, Captain?” A large polar bear in an orange jump suit enters the operating suite. 

“Ready the surgery room.” Law eyes Penguin and Ikkaku gawking at each other. “You two, prepare for a procedure. Get Shachi too. This won’t be easy.” 

“Aye, Captain!” The duo immediately went to change their uniforms and scrub up for the procedure. 

—- —- —- —- 

“I need more stitches, Bepo.” Law states, muffled by the surgical mask in front of his nose and mouth. 

Law sits on a doctor’s stool sewing up the sinewy flesh on the being’s wings. It had taken him 2 hours, but Dr Trafalgar Law had already sewn up one wing and was finishing the other. It didn’t look good, even Law could admit that. He was just trying to stop the bleeding from the micro veins and tissue in the wing webbing. Bepo had hooked up the creature to machines to monitor its breathing and heart rate. 

“I-It’s a vampire. W-we should have left it out there.” Penguin says from the corner of the operating room. 

“If you can’t be helpful, leave.” Law states calmly without looking up from his work. 

“It’s not a vampire, you idiot.” Shachi remarks from his spot next to the body. “It’s that Straw Hat girl. You guys don’t remember her from the auction house?” 

This peaked Law’s interest. 

“Straw Hat? She’s with his crew?” Law takes a moment from his hunched position over the wing to look at the body’s unconscious face. He notices her button nose, full bottom lip, and her frostbitten skin. Law cocks his head. He remembers her from Sabaody now. She was with the young man in the Straw Hat. He recalls the information on her wanted poster. They had only left the chaos a few days earlier. 

“The botanist…” He mumbles under his breath. 

“Yeah! That’s it! They call her the Earthly Devil… Rito Daisy I think..” Shachi confirms. 

“Daisy…” Law says pensively. He looks at your peaceful face. His gaze lingers for a moment before returning to his work stitching up the flesh of his new patient. 

“Must be a Zoan type.” Bepo says from over Law’s shoulder. “She’s certainly no mink. The question is what kind of Zoan type makes wings like that…” The bear has worry and concern his voice. Law sighs and rises from his chair. 

“It’s not important right now.” He ties off his stitches and moves towards the body’s torso. “We need to set the bones. If we don’t do it now, it’ll be a lot more painful when she’s awake.” 

Law cracks his knuckles.

D, D, E, E, A, A, T, T, H, H. 

His crew members look at him expectantly.

“Well, let’s do it.” 

— —  

Burning. Bright. Fluorescent. 

“Ow… my eyes…” You mumble as you wake from a deep slumber. All you could see was artificial lights and steel ceilings. You knew you were not on the Sunny anymore, ToTo. You try to reach your arm to rub your eyes and found that both of them were shackled to the table you were laying on. 

You were a prisoner. 

Again. 

You heart throbbed in your chest. Your stomach dropped through your whole body. Someone had taken you captive again. How could this happen? You had aligned yourself with the strongest pirates the worst generation had to offer and yet here you were, strapped to a strangers ship just like was 8 years ago. 

“Hey…” You try to sit up.

“HEY!” You pull your body up further. 

“GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! HEY! HEEEEEY!” You try to lurch your body forward but you were met by sharp, extreme pain throughout your whole being. 

“Hey woah hold on relax it’s okay! We’re going to help you!” 

A voice comes from the corner of the room you couldn’t see due to your restraints. 

“Who… who are you! Get away from me! Let me go!” You shouted. 

“I know you’re freaking out right now but I promise we-“ 

You see who the voice was coming from. 

It was an 11 foot tall real-life anthropomorphic polar bear wearing an orange jumpsuit. Your eyes crossed in shock. 

“GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME YOU FUCKING CARNIVORE DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME!” You pull at your restraints, ignoring the searing pain in your body. 

“No no! I wouldn’t! Please stop!” The bear raises his hands in front of his chest to signify he meant no harm, but you would’t believe it. You scream.

“AAAAH!” The metal restraints holding you down to the table broke under your strength, the material melting slightly. 

“CAPTAIN!!!! HELP!!!” The bear shrieked and cowered. 

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” You shouted and pushed yourself off the operating table and into the cabinet across the room, breaking the glass. You honed your eyes in on the polar bear. 

You spread your broken wings and they crash against the furniture in the cramped operating room, knocking over carts full of medical equipment. 

“Shit!” You groan in pain. 

“ROOM.” 

Suddenly, the air around you tuned light blue. You spun your head around, trying to see where the voice came from. 

“Shambles.”

You felt a body behind you. You breathed hard in suspense. 

“Shit, that burns!” An arm around around your torso pulls back. 

“Wha-?” You felt a sharp jab in your neck and then your eyelids closed. 

Three fingers pushed down the plunger of a syringe.

E, A, T. 

— — — —- —- -

“I have to go to Marine Ford. Picking up a patient. You stay here and make sure this patient stays sedated.” 

It had been a week and Law had been taking care of his new patient in his medical bay at the Heart Pirates safe house. Law had made sure that Daisy would stay unconscious during this time, pumping her full of sedatives. He needed the patient’s bones to heal. 

“Keep her sedated. I’ve left the exact measurements of medications in the folder on the desk. Make sure she stays unconscious. If she were to wake up now, the sheer volume of her broken bones would send her into another shock-like state.” Law gives the instructions to Shachi and Penguin. 

“G-got it Captain! You can leave it to us!” Penguin nods at his captain. 

“It might be a few days. Call only if it’s an emergency.” Law tosses Shachi a transponder snail and heads out of the base towards where the Polar Tang was docked, Bepo at his heels. 

“Great. What did you do that landed us in charge of the vampire girl? If she wakes up we are so fucked.” Penguin remarks at Shachi. 

“She won’t wake up. If we keep giving her meds, we’re in there like swim wear. It’s an easy gig.” Shachi laughs. “And if she does, so what? We just shoot her full of one of these…” Shachi grabs a syringe from a medical cart and squirts it into the air. “So what if she’s a Straw Hat? She’s their gardener. She’s about as dangerous as their damn musician. No real threat.” 

“I don’t feel real great about this, Shach…” Penguin remarks while rubbing his brow. 

[middlingmay]

john & gale join the mile high club?!

EDIT: Credit to @onyxsboxes who absolutely came up with this idea first on this post and I completely forgot. Did not mean to snatch it, but it clearly left an impression!

.

I honestly don't know how this happened Anon, but here's 3K words of Gale/John after the war (sometime in the 1950s), experiencing their first commercial flight.

I used this plan for an idea of the layout of commercial planes from that era. Fun fact, there really was a small waiting area at the WCs!

Rated M below:

The heavy curve of John’s hand pressed down hard above Gale’s knee. Gale felt the skin underneath spread under the weight, and the muscles of his leg protest against the pressure.

John leaned into Gale’s side and ordered into his ear, “Stop. Bouncing. Your damn leg.”

His fingers squeezed Gale’s knee even tighter, making it jerk as Gale tried to free ot from his grasp, but Bucky wasn’t for moving.

“Buck,” John said gentler now. “Will you relax? I don’t like it either, but there’s nothing we can do about it. And you’re starting to make people nervous.”

Gale glanced around at his fellow passengers. These new commercial planes weren’t as open as the B-17s he loved so dearly and could picture nose to tail with greater clarity than the house he grew up in. No, these new fangled planes had them sitting in generous rows two seats wide, affording the luxury of privacy, barring the passengers across the aisle from you.

Or in this case, the passengers to the left of Gale. Where he was supposed to be.

A woman and a young child, maybe ten or so. To whom Gale had no business casting such dark looks, but he wasn’t entirely aware he was doing it.

And just as John said, when Gale risked a glanced at them, he saw the woman hurry to look away.

He sighed, frustrated. “I always—”

“Sit on the left, I know. I know.” John risked letting his hand rub Gale’s leg so very slightly, millimetres by millimetres up and down. “But this isn’t Our Baby, you’re not Major Cleven here, and this isn’t the 350th squadron. Besides,” he said. “You are on the left; the left of me.”

Logic. Reason. That’s what Gale operated on. It’s what he used to curb his wilder impulses, when he felt the need. It’s what held him together at the stalag, held them together, and John was hoping it would hold him together, now.

But he miscalculated.

“That’s another thing: what do you know about these pilots, hm? Where did they train? How long ago? Where did they come in their class? How many hours they clocked?”

The ears of the woman across the aisle were starting to prick again, and John noticed some shifting in the seats in front and behind. Could be coincidental, but still.

“Buck.”

“What about their ground crew? When Kenny was responsible for checking the planes, you knew they were as good as they were going to get. I don’t know who they’ve got, but I bet it ain’t no Ken.”

Gale’s leg started bouncing again, dislodging John’s hand. He caught flashes of skin peering between the gaps of the seats; heard a murmur or two flutter over the noise of the cabin.

“Buck, you gotta keep a lid on it.”

“What if we get into trouble? You think these idjits gon’ know what to do?”

“Gale.”

An air stewardess, with her snappy suit and impeccable smile, appeared before them like she’d been conjured. “Is everything alright, gentlemen?”

It was a testament to Gale’s nerves that he didn’t even unpluck his lips from his own teeth, and just gave the woman a jerky nod.

John smiled at her tight, but his tone was smooth and easy. The kind he’d doled out in the English pubs and dance halls regularly. “Yes ma’am.”

But there was no mistaking that Gale was uncomfortable, and bless the stewardess’ heart but she looked at Gale full of sympathy and understanding and leaned in a fraction so as not to be overheard.

“Lots of our passengers are first time fliers,” she said, and John swallowed the giggle that worked up his throat. “It’s very common to be nervous on an airplane—”

The sheer affront of this woman stilled Gale’s leg. He released his lip and leaned into John as he turned and looked at her, brow cocked, lips pressed and pursed, unimpressed. “Excuse me?”

John’s laugh snuck out before he could catch it. He lightly tugged on Gale’s shoulder forcing him to turn back round a little.

“Aren’t you sweet,” he said to the stewardess, easing her alarm at the tone Gale had taken with her. She eyed the blond man carefully, but gave John a small smile easy enough. He lowered his voice. “But it’s not that. We were, uh, pilots. During the war. It’s a helluva change, being the passenger instead of the man in charge.”

Her face cleared with understanding like the sky after a storm.

“You, uh, you got somewhere? Private, so I can talk him down?” John jabbed his thumb at Gale and smirked like it was all a joke, but he didn’t need to look at Buck to know that if looks could kill, he’d be ash in his seat.

The stewardess looked thoughtfully up and down the cabin. She grabbed one of her passing colleagues and muttered something in hear ear. When she got a nod in return, she turned back and said, “Come with me gentlemen.”

John stood, hunched underneath the luggage rack, and shooed Gale out of his seat using hands and feet. Trapped between the stewardess’ good cheer and kind concern, and John’s blatant bullying, Gale had no option but to follow along their strange little line.

She led them through the cabin, towards the nose of the plan, before she came to a skinny door. She eased it open and stepped through, holding it aside for Gale and John to follow. It opened into a cosy corner nook with two leather chairs, a counter top and sink. To their left was a smaller door that led to the WC.

The stewardess pointed to the last door, right at the front. “That door is locked. Only the pilots have access, and they won’t be coming out any time soon,” she giggled at her own joke and the muscle in Gale’s jaw tensed and ticked. “I can say the gents is out of order for a few minutes, but not too long.”

She turned on her smart little heels and closed the door behind her as she went.

Gale eyed the door to the cockpit intensely, with purpose.

“Knock that off,” John shoved and pushed and manhandled him until Gale fell onto one of the leather seats. “That is not what we’re here for.”

“Then why are we here?” Gale frowned, sulky and put out. He always denied, vehemently, that he pouted when he was cross with John, but it was a bald-faced lie. Gale’s lips were always plump and kissable, a deep pink most dame’s couldn’t hope to emulate with any shade of lipstick. But when he got sore like this, well. John knew it wasn’t right, but he just wanted to sink his teeth in and bite.

“Because you are going to get a cabin full of civilians riled all the hell up if you don’t calm down.”

Pouting turned to embarrassment and something softer, something sorrier. And John felt any amusement and vexation flood all the way out of him. He loped forward and took the chair next to Gale’s and let him nibble on his own lips whilst he tried to find the words.

“It’s just…I can’t stand it. Being in a plane and not behind the yoke.”

“I’m not a fan of it, either,” John confessed and Gale’s eyes shot up surprised. “But I’m pretty sure I’d like being arrested for breaking down the door to the cockpit and tossing some poor pilot on his ass, even less.”

That got a smirk out of him, even if John was pretty sure it was a vindictive one at the thought of bodily removing any other pilot from the captain’s seat. But it fell pretty quick, and Gale let himself tap along John’s knuckles.

“What if…”

John ducked his head to get a look at Gale’s face. “What if what?”

“What if something happens? And I can’t…I can’t fix it, John. I don’t like not having the controls.”

And there was nothing John could say to assuage that; not when he understood it so well. He’d had to ride second more than Gale ever had back in the Air Force, but that didn’t mean he liked it anymore. John was bossy and brash and managed to take control even when he wasn’t technically the lead pilot. But as a passenger? There was nothing he could do; he couldn’t bark out orders, take over the guns, watch everyone’s six like he had eyes in the back of his head.

But he had Buck to focus on, and that was something he could do.

“Tell you what,” John teased, earning a skeptical glance from Gale. “If we spot the Germans in the sky, I’ll help you kick down that door myself.”

Gale laughed and his eyes finally had a bit of sparkle in them. “Alright, Johnny.”

And to John’s surprise, Gale leaned forward and covered John’s lips with his own, pressing soft and full in that way that felt like he meant it, prolonged and sweet. When it ended, with the soft whisper of the kiss breaking, Gale didn’t go far. He brought his hand to John’s chin and let his fingers drag over the stubble there. John shivered and Gale had stayed so close that the movement knocked the tips of their noses together.

Gale’s hand snuck around the back of John’s neck and weaved its way into the curls there. With his thumb under the curve of John’s jaw, he pulled him in and kissed him again. And again. And again.

The fourth time, John could no longer contain the eagerness that had built layer by layer with each kiss. He surged forward, one arm locking around Gale’s back, the other round his shoulders so he could palm at Gale’s neck, and he tugged at the fine hairs at the nape, so he gasped just they way John liked it.

John eased his tongue into the opening between Gale’s lips. But as soon as Gale felt the silky slip of John’s tongue ease through, he closed his lips around it and sucked. John’s groan echoed in the little nook of the gents’ WC.

They broke apart. John kept his eyes closed, knowing if he looked at Gale with his reddened lips and ruddied cheeks, he was going to lose all control.

And that poor stewardess had been so helpful. She didn’t deserve an eyeful.

But he’d taken up with Gale Cleven, who had a way of derailing John’s best intentions when they occasionally reared their head.

“How quick can you be?”

John’s eyes snapped open. Gale’s eyes were dark, his pupils blown. He stared at John hard and heated.

“At—at what?”

Gale leaned back into the leather seat and spread his legs. And John, weak, predictable man that was, locked straight onto the space they left, perfect for him to curl into and press himself against the core of Gale. Breathe him in, touch, mouth, taste—

He looked up and saw Gale smiling, apple cheeks knowing. “You wanted to help me relax.” He cocked his head infinitesimally downwards.

John dropped to his knees with a thud so quick and so hard he felt it ricochet in his spine.

“I’ll be quick,” John breathed. “You know I take care of you real good.”

Gale’s fingers trembled as he unfastened his buttons and eased down his zipper, casting glances between the door to the cabin and the door to the cockpit.

“I know baby,” he reassured John as he palmed his cock inside his slacks. “I know.” He pulled himself free and John tipped forward the way he did when he was drunk sometimes, totally out of control of his own body. Gale smoothed a hand between his sizeable shoulder blades and tugged him forward. “Quick as you can, now. Before we get caught.”

But it was Gale’s turn to miscalculate. He should have learnt by now to never test John’s devotion to giving him exactly what he needed.

Because John swallowed him down, tip to root, in one swallow.

Gale nearly threw himself out of the seat. But John had tipped himself into Gale’s lap and his upper body pinned Gale down by the thighs. Gale’s chest buckled under the sudden heat and wet, pulsing suction and his body curved down towards John. His teeth were gritted in a solid, harsh, almost painful line to keep in the noise John always, always, managed to bring out in him.

“Christ, John,” he barely managed to rasp between his teeth.

He dared to look down and John was already waiting for him, eyes crinkled with mischief. And then John got to work.

Gale felt the muscles in John’s throat relax and watched the line of his cheekbones get sharp as he sucked Gale down deep and bobbed his head to a sharp rhythm they knew well.

March, two, three, four.

The nook was filled with John’s slurping and low, choked of hums of pure enjoyment. His hands crept up Gale’s thigh and thumbed where his underwear bunched underneath his cock and over his balls. John’s deft fingers peeled away the fabric and rolled Gale’s sack with the palm of his hands and the noise that tore from Gale’s throat was inhuman.

He felt fire and lightening zing up his spine already. The way that John knew how to work him, to take him to the edge so quickly was heady and overwhelming. John had always known how to love him; or rather, Gale would argue that John didn’t know how not to love him. And when they’d first stumbled into bed John had been a devoted student to all of Gale’s preferences, even those he didn’t know he had.

Whenever he got to enjoy proof of that devotion, like right here and now, it never took him long to reach the highs he had only ever felt with John.

“That’s it,” Gale crooned, whispered, promised as John looked up at him eyes bright and focused on the pleasure washing over Gale’s face and controlling the rhythm of his body. “So good, baby. Always so good. No one better for me. No one else. G-god.”

Gale started rocking his hips in earnest. John’s noises, cut off by Gale’s cock stuffed down his throat, had become a constant thrum against his heated skin. John’s hands remained dedicated to squeezing, rolling and pressing against Gale’s balls, ignoring the pressure Gale knew had to be growing in his own trousers.

Dedicated. Loyal. Faithful. Devoted. That was John Egan.

“Fu-John. John, I’m—”

There was a knock at the door.

And John did not stop. Gale stared at him wild eyed.

“Sirs,” came the same gentle voice of the stewardess from before. “Is everything alright?”

John, the daring bastard, pulled back to tongue at Gale’s slit, to dip into that sensitive fold and dip out, and to swirl his tongue around the cock head, and not to call out to the stewardess, leaving it to Gale to somehow find a way to become coherent while John worked to tip him over the edge he was already hanging over.

And losing himself to the drop fingertip by finger tip.

Gale took a steadying breath, which shook and rasped in his chest and wasn’t steady at all, before he called out. “Yeah-yes, just. Just one moment, please.”

His voice was thick and desperate, and Gale hoped the woman heard it as an ex-soldier feeling a bit emotional over an airplane ride after the war. But whatever she heard, she didn’t call through again.

Gale got one flash of that blinding, roguish Egan grin before John descended, ravenous and gulping down Gale like he was the cure to what ailed him. John’s eyes fluttered closed in blissful contentment and Gale thrust his hands into John’s curls, bringing him down until his lips touched the skin of Gale’s pelvis, and Gale could grind up into the gorgeous, wet heat of John’s throat.

“John. John. God, that’s - I’m comin’. Baby—I’m comin’!”

The sound John made was high and whining. When Gale was in a certain kind of mood in moments like these, he’d say squealin’, and he drank down every drop of Gale’s release to slake his thirst.

At home, John could be content to lie there just holding a spent Gale in his mouth for minutes, an hour, however long either of them wanted. But they didn’t have that luxury here and they both knew it. Reluctantly, Gale shifted his hips back and John dutifully released him from his mouth, but not before placing the sweetest kiss on the head. Gale exhaled shakily as he tucked himself away and did himself back up. He lurched to his feet bringing Bucky with him to sweep him into a deep kiss. They shared the taste of each other, the breaths of each other. In it, Gale conveyed one thing and one thing only:

I love you.

They checked each other over, tucking hairs back into place and making sure their clothes were sitting proper. John did some clever tucking to hide his own arousal, before he opened the door and held it open for Gale to head out first.

The stewardess spotted them, and after they retook their seats, she hurried over with a smile on her face.

John shot her a smile. “Thanks, sweetheart. Appreciate it. We’re all good now, aren’t we, Buck.”

Gale coughed and flushed and looked at the stewardess apologetic. “I’m sorry. For how I spoke to you, before. I didn’t mean—”

“No need to explain,” she cut him off. “But if I can bring you anything you help you relax: some whisky or a cigarette, you just let me know.”

John had promised Gale no whisky or cigarettes during the flight. But she did give him an idea.

“You don’t happen to have any toothpicks, do you?”

Gale tilted his head just a little and looked at John out the sides of his eyes, but John kept his eyes on the stewardess, who’d beckoned one of her colleagues over and searched the little tray of good she carried, before emerging triumphant.

She passed into John’s outstretched hand a paper packet. Inside, his fingers could feel twin thin sticks.

He tucked them into his palm, and sent her off with a wink. “Thanks, doll.”

She resumed her checks down the aisle and John turned his prize over to Gale. Gale simply looked for a moment, before the tugging at his lips won out. Carefully, he picked up the little packet, tore open an edge and slid one thin little toothpick out of its sheath before slipping it between his lips.

Airplanes were loud, But John knew the sounds of Gale’s sighs better than any record by now. Gale relaxed into his chair and gave John a grateful look.

“Thanks, Johnny.”

Johnny. Gale’s favoured endearment when they were in public. Not Bucky, his name, Not John, which he used when he wanted to get his attention or impress something, or when Gale himself was stressed. But Johnny, for all the times they were in public and couldn’t say darlin’, sweetheart, baby, and if John was particularly lucky, sugar.

“Anytime, Buck."

[syrupfog]

The thing about Zoro— is that he’s lost. 

What he doesn’t tell his crew is that he hasn’t always been lost. 

He remembers being a kid, remembers running after Kuina every chance he had. He was ALWAYS able to track her down, always able to find her when no one else was.

He knew the land around the dojo like the back of his hand. He HAD to, since in the beginning he was sleeping in the underbrush outside and pretending to come from the edge of the village for practice every day. 

The thing is, is he doesn’t know exactly when it changed.

It was sometime after be became a pirate hunter, he knows that. But timelines get tricky when he’s not sure if he was getting lost with Johnny and Yosaku because they were in a new land together, or if he was getting lost FROM them, outside of his control.

He doesn’t like to dwell on such things, things he clearly can’t change. During really lost moments he’s considered asking Chopper if it’s some sort of sickness, some brain problem, but then he steadies himself and pushes that thought down.

If he’s sick he’s sick, and if Chopper thought it was curable he would have already cured it. 

Robin mentioned once that she wondered if maybe the curse of his sword has something to do with it, and if that’s the case, then it doesn’t matter. He’s not getting rid of any of them.

His swords are as important to him as breathing. He would be nothing without them.

Still, sometimes, as he takes the third wrong turn in as many minutes, lost to the trees around him, his thoughts turn sour as he thinks back to Kuina.

Kuina, who he could, without fail, instinctually find. Kuina, who always gave him an exasperated look when he popped up demanding a rematch.

He never questioned it, at the time, his ability to locate her. It wasn’t a marvelous ability, it was just what needed to be done.

And now, no matter how hard he tries, the frustration gets to him as he realises his crew is out of reach. Not because they’re dead, not because they’ve been kidnapped, but just because he is fundamentally incapable of locating them. 

All these trees look the fucking same.

And he wonders what good he is, a first mate who can’t even find his crew. He wonders (not that he would ever voice these thoughts) if they see him as lesser— not in the joking way they tell him off for getting lost, but in a real, true, instinctual way.

Is he unreliable? Is he failing them? 

He growls and unsheathes Wado, letting loose a strike that chops down about twenty trees in front of him but leads only to more forest. 

Kuina had needed him and he hadn’t been there. What happens when he’s not there for his own crew?

They’re capable, but so had Kuina been. 

If Kuina had been lost, Zoro could have found her. He’s sure of it. But if his crew now were to get lost, he’d be useless to find them. 

Useless like he is right now, wandering in fucking circles while his thoughts follow the same spiral.

He knows his thoughts are getting too sour, knows he needs to center himself, so, with a growl of frustration, he plops himself down on the forest floor, cross legged, and starts to meditate. 

It takes longer to clear his mind when he’s agitated, but he breathes deep.

His crew is strong, he tells himself. They can survive without him, if needs be. If he never finds them again, they will still be safe. If it takes him three islands to find them, he will manage. 

He’s reached a place of neutrality in his mind, assurances repeating, when—

“Mosshead, are you ready to come home yet?” 

Zoro opens his eyes. 

Sanji is there. 

He’s got a cigarette in his mouth and hands on his hips, looking down at Zoro with an expression that Zoro wouldn’t SAY is fond exasperation, but he might think it.

“What are you doing out here, Cook?” Zoro asks, wary. Is there a harem in the woods he doesn’t know about? 

Sanji snorts. “Finding you, of course,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

Finding… Zoro. 

“Huh,” says Zoro.

He rises to his feet and Sanji pivots ninety degrees. “Come on,” he says. “We’re about forty minutes from the Sunny, and dinner’s going to be late at this rate.” 

He reaches back, blindly, and grabs Zoro’s wrist, pulling him forward.

Zoro looks down at his wrist as he walks, then up at Sanji. “How’d you know where I was?” He asks. 

Sanji’s not looking at him, but the smoke from his cigarette blows back in Zoro’s face. “Stupid,” he says. “I always know where you are. Your green hair is like a beacon.”

‘I always know where you are’. 

Zoro stumbles, just a little, just for a moment. 

He thinks of Kuina. Of finding Kuina. 

The hand around his wrist feels like fire. 

Zoro had… forgotten… that someone could find HIM, too.

[grandpeachpersona]

It's A Man's World Chapter 4 (Drip)

a/n: I rewrote this chapter 2 or 3 times. I personally think it's not my best, but I hope you like it let me know in my ask ;)

Daft Day

Here we are, the anticipation of Draft Day hanging thick in the air. Don’t even think about asking me what happened after the party or the following day—I honestly can’t remember. I really should add "Don’t Party with the Bengals" to my ever-growing list of things to avoid.

A knock pulls me out of my thoughts “Hey Sierra, you ready? Kyle is here!” Joe’s voice calls out from the other side of the bathroom door, breaking my moment of reflection. 

I do one last check in the mirror, smoothing down my hair and adjusting my outfit before reluctantly opening the door. “Yeah, I’m ready,” I reply, a hint of excitement mixed with nerves in my tone.

“What do you think?”  I asked as I stepped out of the bathroom. I do a little spin to show off my ensemble. I had chosen not to wear a dress, instead opting for a tailored black blazer adorned with elegant gold decorations cascading down the shoulders. Paired with a sleek, short skirt featuring matching gold accents that gave a hint of sparkle, I feel chic and ready for the moment. To complete the look, I slipped on a pair of black heels that added just the right amount of height. 

He looks at me from his spot on the couch “You look stunning just missing one thing” he says as he gets up and approaches me. He reaches up and takes the of his chain off his neck “Turn around” he tells me. 

This boy here is doing things to my soul and he just doesn't even know it. Doing as he says I turn around and he puts his chain on me. He turns me back around “Now you dripping in gold”  

Shaking my head unable to find words I grab my clutch as he moves away and opens the door “Come on Ja’marr and Mia are waiting on us.”

When we arrived at the arena. One of the crew members led us to a section where Mia and Ja’marr were waiting for us.   

We exchange warm hugs and enthusiastic hellos, settling in comfortably on the plush couch. As I take a moment to look around the room, I can't help but notice the sea of nervous excitement among the crowd of players, all waiting for their futures to unfold during the draft. Suddenly, a rush of nerves hits me, and I start shaking my leg unconsciously, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

In my fidgeting, I unintentionally nudge Mia, who looks over at me with concern. “Hey, you okay?” she asks, her brow slightly furrowed.

I nod and glance at her, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, just a bit nervous,” I admit, trying to shake off the anxiety.

She grabs my hand “Just breathe you probably have all 32 teams gunning for you” she reassures me “Any team you're specifically looking for?” Ja’marr questioned. I shake my head “Not really although I would love to go back home and play for the Cardinals don't think I'd grow too much there” I respond with a shrug.

‘Hey maybe the Reds will draft her that way she can't leave Cincinnati” Joe pipes in with a laugh. 

I looked back at him “Naw me cold weather don't get along” 

“Girl no weather and you get along” Mia interjects we all laugh because she is right Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall if I wasn't playing baseball you have to catch me in the comforts of my bed. 

As we continue to share laughs and stories, the lights suddenly dim, and a dynamic video package begins to play on the large screen, showcasing the highs of previous seasons and the promise of new talent.

The energy in the room surges as the hype package concludes, and the spotlight shifts to the stage. The commissioner of the MLB, Rob Manfred, strides confidently onto the platform, radiating authority and excitement.

“Hello and welcome to the 2021 MLB Draft!” he announces, his voice echoing throughout the arena. “Tonight, we usher in a new era of baseball. You all have worked tirelessly for this moment, and now it’s time to see your dreams become reality. Let’s get started, shall we?” Rob declares from the podium, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.

The first round has concluded, and the results are in—nothing for me. 

As the second round begins, the atmosphere remains tense, and yet, I cling to the flicker of hope that perhaps my name will be called. 

When the third round rolls around, I hear another name—a person named Riley is chosen. My heart sinks as I realize I’m still overlooked. 

Now, as the fourth round draws closer, a wave of anxiety washes over me. I navigate through the crowd, feeling the pulse of anticipation in the air. I approach the bar, the gleaming surface reflecting my apprehension, and the bartender looks up, asking, “What can I get you?”

“Whiskey, straight, please. Thank you,” I respond, my voice steady yet laced with underlying nerves.

She nods, her movements fluid as she prepares my drink. “Coming right up,” she says, and moments later, she slides the glass toward me.

I inhale deeply, trying to release some of the built-up tension. “Thank you,” I say, accepting the drink from her with a slight, grateful smile. 

As I take a generous sip, the smooth warmth of the whiskey hits my stomach, providing a momentary reprieve from my anxious thoughts. Just then, I have the unsettling sensation that someone is watching me intently. Turning my head to the right, I lock eyes with a man making his way over, and his approach feels predatory as if I’m the target in his sights.

“I hope I'm not intruding,” he begins, leaning against the bar with a casual confidence, “but I must say, you look absolutely stunning tonight.” His tone is suave, designed to charm.

I muster a polite smile, aware that I want to deflect this interaction as quickly as possible. “Thank you,” I say, deliberately avoiding his gaze, trying to focus on anything but him.

“My name’s Chris,” he introduces himself, extending his hand toward me with an expectant grin. I glance at his hand, assessing the situation, before shaking my head gently. “Sorry, Chris, but I’m really not interested,” I reply softly, retreating into my glass as I seek refuge in my drink.

He draws back his hand and smirks playfully at me, his confidence evident. “Playing hard to get, I see,” he teases, leaning slightly closer.

I shake my head firmly, dismissing him. “Nope, just not looking for any extra company,” I reply, keeping my tone plain and simple as I mentally strategize my exit from this awkward interaction.

“You sure? You just seem tense,” he probes, inching even closer for comfort.

Before I can formulate a response, I suddenly feel a reassuring hand pressed against the middle of my back. A familiar voice cuts through the noise. “Wonder where you drifted off to. You okay?” Joe asks, his concern palpable.

I turn my head to face him, grateful for his interruption. “Yeah, I’m good. I just needed something to calm my nerves,” I respond, a sense of relief washing over me as his presence provides a buffer.

Joe nods, his expression softening. He motions with his head toward our group. “Come on,” he says, gently leading the way while keeping his hand on my back—a gesture that provides unexpected comfort. As we return to our section and settle into the couch, I lean closer to Joe and whisper, “Thank you.”

Joe takes a seat beside me, casually draping his arm behind me on the back of the couch. His protective stance envelops me in a sense of security.

“Not a problem,” he replies, though there’s a slight edge to his voice that piques my curiosity. 

Was he feeling jealous?

I don’t have much time to ponder this question, as the lights in the venue dim once again, signaling the beginning of the fourth round of the MLB Draft. The anticipation in the air is almost electric.

Rob makes his way back to the podium, confidence radiating from him. “Alright, with the first pick of the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves select…” He glances down at his card, and a broad smile spreads across his face, crafting suspense in the room.

“Sierra Riley, shortstop out of LSU!”

The moment his words register, my heart races. I can hardly believe my ears. Suddenly, everyone around me is on their feet, applauding and cheering, and I feel like I’m floating. Someone pinch me, please—I must be dreaming!

As I stand up, I look at Mia, my heart pounding with disbelief, and mouth the words, “What the hell?” She chuckles, sharing in my incredulity. Joe steps aside, allowing me a clear path to the stage. As I stroll past him, he encourages me with a smile, saying, “Get ’em, superstar!”

I can’t help but grin back at him as I make my way to the stage, ascending the steps with a mixture of excitement and nerves. At the top, I’m greeted by Justin Bell, the manager of the Atlanta Braves, who stands ready with a baseball jersey and a Braves cap.

With a beaming smile, I approach him and wrap my arms around him in a brief hug. “Thank you so much!” I exclaim, my voice filled with genuine appreciation.

He pulls back slightly, maintaining eye contact as he responds, “You’re very welcome, Sierra.” Justin then carefully places the baseball cap on my head, his hands steady as he unfolds the jersey to reveal my last name and number, now emblazoned on a Braves jersey.

At that moment, words escape me entirely, and I shake my head in disbelief, overwhelmed by the reality of it all. Just then, I feel another hand on my shoulder. I turn to see the commissioner standing beside me, a warm smile on his face. “Congrats, Sierra,” he says, genuine joy in his voice.

“Thank you,” I manage to say, still absorbing the significance of this incredible moment. The commissioner's voice breaks through the fog of excitement as he gestures toward the cameras, encouraging me to pose with the jersey. I reflexively smile, showcasing my pride.

As I scan the room, my eyes land on Joe, whose face is illuminated by a broad smile. I see Mia, her eyes glistening with tears of joy, and Ja’marr cheering enthusiastically, like he’s at a football game.

In that instant, it hits me: all the hard work, the sacrifices, and the endless dedication truly do pay off.

As I made my way backstage, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. One of the reporters from ESPN, eager and enthusiastic, pulled me aside for an interview.

"Sierra Riley, congratulations! You've just made history as the first woman ever to be drafted in Major League Baseball. Can you describe how you’re feeling at this moment?" she inquired, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

I couldn't help but smile widely. "Thank you so much! Honestly, I feel incredibly blessed right now," I said, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. "It’s overwhelming, and part of me feels like my brain hasn’t fully processed everything yet,” I laughed lightly, shaking my head in disbelief. “But overall, I feel fantastic!"

The reporter leaned in for his next question, clearly intrigued. "What should Atlanta Braves fans expect from you moving forward?"

With confidence, I responded, "I hope they can expect all great things! I want them to know that I don’t take any of this for granted. This moment is huge for me, but it’s just the beginning of my story. I’m ready to work hard and make my mark!"

She nodded in appreciation, her face reflecting genuine excitement. "Thank you once again, and congratulations on this incredible achievement!” she exclaimed brightly before walking away, leaving me buzzing with a mix of joy and anticipation for what lay ahead.

Atlanta here I come.

Chapter 4...Batter Up...

[blacklegsanjiii]

•°♤°• Read a Zosan fic where every single male (Except for the male Strawhats; compliments here and there) is attracted to Sanji and I'm so here for that. But think, what would happen if this thing happened in the ASL x Sanji or God AU? That would be so fuking funny and hilarious that alot of men are down bad for this beautiful blond cook with blue eyes with muscular legs and a gable waist.

I would also like to add for the God au that before Sanji lost his godly status and life, he placed the inability to all DF users to be unable to swim. This is their punishment because of what the WG did to the gods (Ex: Sabo, Ace, and Luffy).

First: Yeah, Sanji was fucking pissed and absolutely told the Elders and the World Government to get fucked during the void century and wrapped his most prized creations, amalgamations with the god of life, taking the ability to swim away. If they want to fuck with the gods the gods will fuck right back. Sanji was more than giving, he gave far more than he was worshipped which led to his followers always singing their praises to the ocean, so after the void century his followers were distraught to find the fruits, now called devil fruits because if you eat one you have betrayed the ocean, betrayed him. He is a god who forgives easily, you just need to give it back, it only costs your life. His partners had never seen the god so enraged because he used to bestow fruits to those were so utterly devoted to him or his fellow gods. Now? It doesn't matter if all three of his husbands have eaten a fruit, Ace and Sabo were old enough to remember what happened, Luffy might not have been but it doesn't matter, they do not get leeway either. It's probably a really fucking dark joke he makes despite how often he does save them, just grins at them and says he could always get his fruits back if they want to swim so bad. Sabo didn't eat a fruit in this from what I can find so Sabo spears Sanji overboard quite a bit to avoid his brothers.

I did read that fic as well I think? But like could you imagine the crew are meeting the other gods for whatever reason(how much do you think it would fuck with the romance dawn trio if Buggy was a god? Or the Cross Guild and Shanks?) And a lot of the gods and others are just flirting with Sanji. Nothing new, he's a handsome guy. He is married though, he has the marks from his godly spouses claiming him just as they do from him. Buggy is ruffling their hair and avoiding Luffy because he can't play nice with the god of luck and travelers in this life. Buggy looks at Zoro and just goes 'oh no, poor baby' and does nothing to fix his sense of direction because Buggy is a trickster god, tell me otherwise. Sanji is of course used to striking deals with the clown in past lives for the wayward travelers but also Buggy redirects so many gods from Sanji and tells the blond to quit being born pretty and Sanji rolls his eyes.

There's gods left and right grabbing Sanji and Buggy is sending body parts whenever Zoro and Luffy are distracted by some other god of whatever as they plan their assault on the Elders. The crews are fucking weirded out by the sheer godly power in front of them and how close the gods are to each other. Also Mihawk has to be digging deep into himself to find out the weakling of the Roger pirates is the god of luck and travelers and distracting so many gods from his normal waiter from Baratie who is the god of the ocean. Also Buggy keeps riling up Luffy and splitting apart to escape the sun god. Also he distinctly remembers Ace showing off his godly body at Marineford and watches him shoot off with the blond a few times. Sabo, the chief of staff for the revolutionaries for heaven's sake straight up attacks several gods for getting too handsy with his husband. Mihawk calls Shanks later and asks if he knew Buggy was a god like Luffy or Ace and the silence from Shanks on the other end of the denden is very telling as Crocodile is screaming next to him about how many gods there are and the strawhat crew has. This is a true test of will for them.

(I just had to make buggy the god of luck and travelers it's so him I'm not sorry)

[sheepheadfred]

Ectoberhaunt Day 13: Isekai: Old Hero New World

Summary: Danny doesn't know how he got here, but science seems to have advanced a lot... and gotten very animal focused?!

(cw: alternating pov)

Ao3 link

An explosion in the lab and a tumble through a random portal inside the realms later, Danny has no idea where he is.

Blue skies, green plants. He knows he must be on Earth, but where?

Doesn't help that the green is getting closer as he moves upwards. Oh, he's going down!

Are those trees?

Oh yeah, he also seems to be falling!

Danny sure hopes he's in ghost form. Not looking forward to if this is how he kicks the bucket for real. Either way, this is gonna hurt.

No energy to scream and barely conscious as it is, snapping branches snuff out any awareness he momentarily had.

The Wild Kratts crew are relaxing in the Tortuga when Koki gets an alert by some Wild Kratts Kids. It was Aiden! Something strange happened in the forest near his home.

Something had a big crash in the woods and it seems to have scared the animals near by and the kids are worried.

Could it be one of their usual villains? Maybe, but they tend to be more subtle than this. Hopefully it's not a new villain they need to worry about.

The crew packs up and heads to the North American Eastern Woodlands, full of concern and mounting dread.

Danny wakes on a bed of broken branches and is surrounded by trees walling him in, the sun shining through the canopy. A squirrel napping on him scurried away as he sat up to take in his surroundings more clearly.

How long was I out?

He's not Sam and can't identify plants on sight, but he's pretty sure this forest is local or at least similar to what he's used to. He thinks these might be oak trees but don't quote him on that. It just seems likely that he at least stayed in the U.S. is all.

It'd be easier to find out where he is if he could check the stars but, sadly, it's the middle of the day. No stars for him. A shame.

Checking himself for injuries, he finds that he must have changed back after crashing. The timing for it makes the most sense for one.

Hoping he doesn't have a concussion or any broken bones that he can't feel, Danny starts to walk through the forest. Too worn out to fly for now.

That and he doesn't know if its safe to risk it or if someone would see Phantom and call the GIW or something.

Danny limped forward in the direction he chose randomly and saw the sun peaking brighter through the trees. Hoping that it means there's a clearing, he speeds up as much as he can.

The closer he got, the louder and more distinct voices became in that direction.

They sound young.

Once he reached the edge of the forest and into the clearing, his legs gave out. He has been walking without rest since he woke up and Danny can't even remember when he last ate.

As he blacks out, his only thought was how he must look to the kids who had to be nearby.

Hope this doesn't traumatize them.

The crew arrives on scene. The clearing near the beaver pond seems undamaged but they know better than to just judge without investigating.

The area is eerily quiet, especially for this time of day.

Jimmy pulls them in for a landing and the others get ready to disembark. Kratt brothers Martin and Chris make their way to the concerned children first thing when the Tortuga landed.

"Ok, just to be clear. What did you hear?" Martin beat Chris to the punch in asking.

"There was a big crash deep in the woods. And then the whole forest went quiet. We haven't seen almost any animals since." The older of the two brothers answered, the younger one nodding to confirm he heard it, too.

After deliberating with the others, the Kratt brothers were about to venture into the woods to investigate. About to.

Because right before they could, a boy, early teens at oldest, stumbled out of the forest looking like he had been through a very rough hike.

Meanwhile, miles away but in the same forest hours ago:

The whelp didn't notice him?! What an insult. The halfling is quick to notice the presence of a ghost, even if due to that 'ghost sense' of his. To not be noticed means it was on purpose or something is wrong with his prey. Yet he seemed to be functioning like usual!

Skulker hovers above the treeline, watching Danny plummet into the leafy abyss.

"Pathetic. The whelp really must be slipping if he failed to notice me. Although his parents were right there and disrupted the sanctity of my hunt! They have no respect for actual hunters. Closer to savages who target indiscriminately than a hunter who can tell which prey is worth the effort and which are bottom feeders best left alone. Even the whelp knows that! They are more akin to Plasmius and his cruel experiments on the recently dead and never born than true hunters." The ghost thought out loud to himself, mentally marking his observations down as he flew. Grumbling along the way. "It should not matter where the hunt took place, even inside the cursed residence."

He left to find something more fun to hunt in the meantime. The whelp was no fun when he doesn't bring a challenge!

And he didn't have to search long.

He didn't happen upon a creature catching his eyes but another hunter! One with a different style and class than he's seen the human world have before! Even if he hasn't really seen most of the human world. He won't stay, of course, but he can observe these new methods and see if he can add them to his own style. The possibilities are endless.

Coming into consciousness was never fun as he was forced to take stock of what is wrong. Danny is sure more damage to his person happened since the last time he did so. A few hours ago. He thinks.

He has never been good at telling time on a good day, let alone on a day where he hasn't been aware of time's passing.

Sitting up, he realized his burns he can now feel have fresh bandages on and that he is not alone or surrounded by trees this time.

He seems to instead be in some kind of medical room. Not professional and it lacks the smell of antiseptic and buzzing of florescent lighting of a hospital. One less thing to worry about, he supposed.

I am getting real tired of not knowing what's going on.

A young woman poked her head in the room. She had a tan complexion, neatly tied back hair, and a bright yellow jacket. Her face lit up once she saw him, kind brown eyes landing on him.

"Hey, we were worried about you!"

Danny doesn't know this woman nor why she'd be worried. Sure he was hurt, but he got hurt all the time!

In lieu of answering with words, he used his very confused expression and pointed to himself to ask and make sure.

"Yes, you! What kind of kid goes hiking in the middle of the woods without any gear or ways of communication?"

Oh yeah, my phone should still be in my room. Haven't had the chance to tell anyone something happened. That and something was in the lab, of course I went alone!

"Someone who woke up there and just started walking." Danny was still groggy having just woken up, his mouth moved before his thoughts caught up with him.

"Just woke up there?!"

Ooops, guess that was the wrong thing to say.

"Sorry? It was the middle of the night when someone broke in and the sun was up when I woke up in the middle of all the trees."

Her face looks sickened.

SHIIIT. WHY CAN'T I SAY THE RIGHT THING?!

"What I meant was 'Hi, my name is Danny, what is yours?'!" he near panic shouted out of sheer embarrassment.

Taking a second, the woman in yellow tried to get her thoughts in order while making sure her mouth worked. Hopefully better than his as he keeps putting his foot in his mouth.

"R-right, I'm Aviva and you're on the Tortuga. The headquarters of the Wild Kratts crew."

"That was a lot of words that you said. I don't know what a 'Tortuga' or a 'Wild Kratts' is but it's nice to meet you, Aviva." Danny answered her with a polite smile and an attempt at a handshake which she thankfully returned.

"Well, it seems we both have questions. How about I get the others so I'm not the only one trying to clear this up with you? Or you can move to the main area when you're ready. Ayaiyai, I am not the team medic. I think I'll grab someone else to clear you and get you something to eat and drink. They'll want to know you're awake, anyway."

All he could do was not as she left the room muttering to herself like mad with a dazed expression.

Great, more strangers. At least I can get answers soon. Hopefully.

Martin and Chris were investigating the forest. Something mysterious is happening and they don't like what they've been seeing.They found the spot of broken branches a good ways in like something fell from way up high.

They sure hope it wasn't anything alive because they doubt whatever it was would have survived the fall. But given that there are nothing but broken branches, either an animal dragged it off or the fallen object got up on its own.

It wasn't just that. If it was just whatever fell, the forest wouldn't be as silent as it is. It's giving them an eerie feeling.

Chris searches for clues from the trees as the climbing brother while Martin checks from the ground.

Heavy boot prints and purposefully damaged plant life hints at someone dangerous out here. They worry about the kid they found who came from this direction and woke up here according to him if Aviva's report is accurate.

They decide to continue investigating a bit longer before heading back. Their animal friends could be in danger and a kid has been targeted!

Only, they didn't need to continue looking. The air grew colder when before the sun kept them warm and now it's like the sun can't reach them. A deafening silence even more noticeable over the lack of forest noise, and a new sound of the whine of small rockets like a jet pack.

Out of the corner of their eyes they could see a silver suit of armor and flaming green hair. A net suddenly sprung out at them and they barely managed to dodge!

The only thing they heard from this new villain was him calling for a 'whelp' and that nothing else in the area would be worth his time, but that they would do for now.

Danny made his way to the main area of this building he woke up in, having gotten tired of waiting, when he heard an alarm. Still exhausted, he braces against the wall after the noise assaults his ears.

What the?

Now fully awake, he tries to understand what has everyone in such a tizzy.

Two men were on a video call on the big screen talking to Aviva, a ginger, and a black woman he has yet to meet. Talking about a new villain searching for some rare creature he called a 'whelp' while stomping around in a metal suit.

A new villain? Wait... 'Whelp'? Oh no.

Danny is now glad no one noticed him because now he can sneak out as Phantom. His reserves are still low but if Skulker is here looking for him, then he's gonna get him!

Not gonna let some innocent civilians get hurt because he's too tired. He never let that stop him before!

... Though, he will have to be smart about his powers. They don't know about him, maybe even ghosts in general, and he doesn't want to ruin a forest because a ghost followed him all the way out here.

On his way out, he got to see the place from the outside and he just knows his friends would be jealous once their worry moves out of the way. A turtle ship! Not too unbelievable from what he's seen but it's amazing. A combination of both Sam and Tucker's passion!

Well, I can always be fascinated later.The dead never rest, after all.

He snaps out of his momentary awe and leaves towards where he first woke up. Following the now twice over haunted forest trail.

Further into the forest, the brothers were dealing with this guy. Or trying to at least.

It's like this anything they do goes straight through him!

Don't get them wrong, they are glad they are being targeted instead of some poor animal but c'mon! This guy has to be getting tired at some point! Even if it's just his suit getting overused.

He kept demanding information of where whatever creature he was looking for was. Which, even if they got what he meant specifically by 'whelp' and 'half ghost' they'd never rat out any creature to someone who'd want to hurt them, anyway!

And then, he decided since they aren't helpful, they might as well be target practice! Who does this?!

They're on the back foot, trying to get away when suddenly a blast of green energy comes from behind. Shooting right in between the brothers and hitting the suit or armor guy square in the chest. Pushing the villain back a few feet and leaving a strange, charged smell in the air.

Whatever that was, the new villain grinned at the arrival.

The crew back at the Tortuga scrambled.

A new villain, a hunter by the sounds of it, is looking for a creature he calls 'whelp' or 'halfling'.

And to make matters worse, when Aviva went to check on the injured kid and he was gone. He vanished as if he was a ghost!

She was the one to check on him because he already met her and now she's even more worried about him! She's glad they already sent the Wild Kratts kids who called them here home. It wouldn't do to worry about their safety, too!

He said he just woke up in the middle of the woods and some of his wounds are older than just the last few hours he has to have been hiking for. More like stumbling! He's lucky the direction he picked led him to other people!

How did he up and leave without anyone noticing, anyway? Even if they were busy, someone should have heard him leave! Right?

No! Don't beat yourself up for this, Aviva! Focus on the task at hand for now! A new villain is in these woods now and the injured kid disappeared! They could be connected somehow!

She jumped on a Buzz Bike after letting the others know she was on her way, and left towards the action.

The brothers Kratt only had a moment to turn their head to see the newcomer before things started happening again. The world felt like it was on pause between the blast and the newcomer floating in there, feet off the ground, as they gave a sassy and confident smirk.

Whoever this was had the physical appearance of a young teenager with snow white hair and glowing green eyes, shining the same color that is lighting up his outstretched fist. He seemed to be glowing the same white as his hair and off-putting aura that the man before them was. An aura that wasn't that noticeable before now is amplified. The rest of him was in black and white like a strange bodysuit with a stylized D on his chest. An emblem like their paw print ones on the power suits.

The power suits!

That gives them and idea.

Before they left to find some creatures, they could hear the robotic armor and newcomer exchange banter like they knew each other.

"Ah, so you finally show yourself!"

"Skulker, you asshole! First you broke into the lab and shot me in the back and now you are just throwing a tantrum because I'm not here to entertain you! What the hell!"

"You know full well how this goes, ghost child."

"But at 2 AM?! I just managed to pass out. And because you attacked in the house, the house's defenses activated! I am so tired of you and I'm running on negative sleep!"

Wait... the 'whelp' was this KID?!

The newly dubbed 'Skulker' refuted the accusation that he blew up whatever lab the kid was in. Then shouting about some kind of 'Frootloop' was the last they heard before they made a retreat.

Who that kid is doesn't matter right now, it's time to find some creature powers to help him out. They don't want to leave the kid alone with that guy for long, he looks and is acting like he can handle it but he's clearly very tired. Skulker is very clearly armed and dangerous!

Aviva made her way to the boys, having no idea where Danny wandered off to and only able to focus on one thing at the moment, when the brothers quite literally crashed into her. Leaving them all sprawled on the ground for a hot minute before picking themselves back up.

"Guys?! What is going on?"

"We wish we could tell you." Martin replied first, taking a second to process things.

"What we do know," Chris chimed in, "is that what we need is some creature power. There is a dangerous villain farther in and we need to help that mystery kid fighting him!"

"What? Is there someone else out there? Did you say 'kid'?"

"Yeah, and we need to help them. They showed up out of nowhere to help fight off Skulker, that's the villains name apparently by the way, but they seemed really tired just after one hit!"

"What?!"

"Yeah. We need to help them! Hopefully after we can learn who this person is, too!"

"Well, more than being the 'whelp' Skulker was searching for!"

The boys ran off in different directions, finding a different creature to transform into.

Aviva was left there, stunned.

Today has been so confusing.

And not the fun way.

She's going to help even if she doesn't know everything that's going on or so help her!

Aviva gets back on the Buzz Bike and heads for the action.

Danny has less energy than he thought!

One blast and he's already struggling to not change back again.

Damn Skulker! First his ghost sense wakes him up and then he comes at him from behind, pushing him into this mess!

Sure, maybe the lab explosion was probably not entirely his fault but there's a whole lot else from that night that was.

Danny is pretty sure adrenaline and rage are all that's keeping him moving, but what else is new?

Having to doge and weave through the trees while Skulker can go right through them, apparently finding it fun to have trees as obstacles. Frustrating but he knows the alternative is the fight above the trees and he's not sure he could stay in the air long enough for that.

Exhaustion dragging through him, right to his bones even in this form, is his body's payback for not resting enough even if he never really gets to.

One wrong turn and a failed dodge later, and he slammed into a tree. Winded, tired, and in a daze. Struggling to catch his breath, all he can do is lean on this tree that caught him mid-flight. Collapsing under his own weight.

He was sure that this was it for him, when suddenly a large green bird and a human sized bipedal blue wolf, he thinks, started attacking Skulker from two different sides.

It wasn't until they spoke did he realize that they were the two men Skulker was fighting earlier! At least Danny thinks so? Today has been wild for him. But he is pretty sure he at least heard their voices back at that giant mechanical turtle.

The green bird man took the fight to the sky, Skulker following him. The ghost is curious and confused, yet intrigued. He hopes they aren't some rare creature for him to hunt, too!

While one went off to take the fight out of here, the blue brother stayed behind. The man came up to him, concern etched onto his face.

"Hey, kid. Are you alright? Standard question, I know, but a response would be good." This was said in a light tone but caution was in his voice.

Shit, is he talking to me? Great, hope my mouth works properly this time.

"Yeah", a groan escaped him as he tried to stand while the world spun, "Just trying to find the bus that ran me over."

"Buddy, I can say with certainty that getting up right now is not a good idea for you."

"But if I don't fight him, who will? He could hurt someone! Besides, I'm used to this."

The man frowned, looking a bit heartbroken. Danny didn't understand why, especially while in this state. No one else minded he did all this stuff. Danger is the price to pay for living in Amity Park, let alone being a Fenton!

"How about this, you tell me what you usually do when fighting him and we can let my brother know? He's the green bird you saw earlier."

Danny wanted to protest but he could barely see straight. Can he really trust these guys? He wants to but his head is pounding too much to think clearly.

"I don't even know your name, wolf-man."

The blue wolf man paused, before chuckling a bit, "Oh, right! I'm Martin and my brother is Chris. We're the Kratt brothers! Most people we run into are able to recognize us so I forgot you probably wouldn't know."

"Huh", Danny's mouth tried to work as he processed this. Martin and Chris are apparently big names here! But all he could say was, "Didn't know a bird and a wolf could be related like that, are you adopted?"

"Wha-", he looks at himself and realizes he's still transformed, " Oh! No this is from my creature power suit! Our friend, Aviva, invented them. Programming and form and everything! Animal DNA and nature know-how takes care of the rest!"

Huh! Technology sure can be impressive! Especially when it's not centered on his and other ghosts' destruction!

"Oh." Apparently he cannot talk today, "I'm Phantom."

While trying to remember what else he was asked, an explosion shook the trees, stopping any further conversation.

Coming back down through the trees was Chris, plummeting right on top of them, screaming.

Martin moved to catch his brother. To keep him from getting more hurt and to keep Phantom from being directly impacted. A glow of green and blue signifying the crash to cause their deactivation.

The light from their de-transformations caught Phantom's eye. They can change just like him! He thinks he can trust them with this, after all.

Oh, no! But that could be bad if Skulker decides to want them for that!

Wait... Skulker!

"Ya gotta remove his head."

The now human looking brothers look at him in disbelief. Chris showed confusion as well as only Martin had context for that.

"Oh, right! Chris, this kid is Phantom! Phantom, this is Chris!"

"Bro, that only answered one question."

Danny just realized they are both looking at him.

Right, it's not obvious. Forgot.

"The head of his suit. It comes off," Danny tried to explain while his head and mouth were not working right, "then ya gotta use this."

He hands them the Fenton Thermos.

"For soup?"

"Nooooo, ya gotta uncap it and just point it at him once the head is off. It'll get him to stop."

Dannys instructions were not as clear as they should be but they had no choice but to try it.

Able to get around the trees better and with Skulkers attention back on Phantom, they managed to knock his head off.

And they were really not prepared for what happened next.

With the head now off, the body just went limp.

Like no one was inside.

Then they looked at the head in their hands and tiny, green feet were sticking out of them. Kicking wildly.

"Use the thermos!"

Phantom's strained yell startled them that they dropped the thermos and almost dropped the head.

Only to be picked up by Aviva, coming in clutch.

Danny tried to explain what to do, but he's unsure if what came out made sense.

Well, either it did or she was able to intuit what needed to happen, as she did exactly what she needed to do.

She pointed the thermos and aimed it at the knocked off head. Skulker finally was able to force himself out of his robotic head right before the beam hit him.

His booger-y form is visible for all to see and cursing them all.

Danny laughed at his small form, feeling good about this.

"Hey, guess what! I can transform like you guys!" Danny exclaimed, impulse making an executive decision.

And Danny let his transformation rings wash across his body, passing out again for the second time that day. Oblivious to the three adults' shocked faces.

Back in the Tortuga, hours later:

"...And that's what happened. I'm pretty sure that the portal spit me out somewhere completely different or even a different dimension. I don't have time to keep up to date on most news usually, but I'm pretty sure either of my friends would be raving about you guys. One's an extreme activist and the other is a tech nerd who'd totally geek out about this ship."

Danny, bandaged and rested up, explained all that happened leading up to here since he was last home. He slipped in some things about his home and his friends and family. Even ending with what he thinks is a lame smile and jazz hands.

"Everything I learn about you makes me more concerned." One of them said. Danny thinks her name was 'Koki'.

"Yeah, dude. That is seriously messed up," JZ chimed in, "This guy wasn't even one of the more dangerous ones? Are you sure you should even go back?"

"Speaking to the choir, dude. I'm well aware how messed up my half life is. But it is my life, y'know? I need to be able to get back."

Despite the adults' clear hesitation about sending him back, they don't want to trap him here away from the people he loves. That's what their villains try to do when they kidnap baby animals! With what they old him, he can at least trust them to help him get home.

Somehow.

"How will I get home, anyway? I can do some basic engineering from being around my parents' stuff my whole life but I'm not sure where to start!" Danny had to ask. He feels like he can ask them despite the uncertainty. It's not often he comes across adults he can feel this way about.

"Oh, I can help with that!"

"Aviva? I thought you did animal based engineering and inventing?"

"Si, I am. But if I managed to crack time travel, even just a bit, then I don't see how I can't do this, too!

"Now, that is some confidence! Time travel? Do tell!"

"Oh!" The brothers simultaneously looked at her and Danny, "She invented a time trampoline!"

"We went back in creature time to meet extinct animals!"

They practically talked over each other out of excitement.

"A trampoline?!" Danny could hardly believe that human made time travel existed here, let alone one that functioned like a trampoline!

The group laughed good naturedly at his reaction, as understandable as it was.

"I think we all agree that you can stay with us until a way home is secured. Bet you never got to fly in a giant turtle ship, before?" Jimmy casually tells him in his usual, laid back tone.

"You bet I haven't! I did successfully land a NASA shuttle once, though. That was a story and a half for sure. I've done a lot of flight simulators in preparation to be an astronaut!"

It felt good to be able to passionately talk about what he loves with others who can share back different passions.

"Ah, a future space boy, huh?," JZ responded, "Thinking about life on other planets?"

"One of the many things to think about regarding space!" Space talk really brought out Danny's energy.

"Oh,"Koki added, "bet he doesn't know about tardigrades!"

"What are those?"

"Tardigrade, or a water bear, is a small creature, usually only visible with a microscope that can survive in even the harshest environments. Creatures like the tardigrade show us that life could be possible out there in ways we never thought possible." It's like all of them took turns infodumping that he wasn't able to discern who said which part as he took in the information.

"Those things sound so cool! How do we find them?"

"I guess we can show you. You are staying until you can go home after all!"

He's looking forward to future adventures while they last. To learning about animals he never once though twice about and giving their villains a good scare.

"Oh yeah," a thought just occurred to him, "what does 'tortuga mean? Like why did you make that the name of your giant turtle ship?"

"Danny," Aviva said with a smirk,"'Tortuga' means 'turtle' in Spanish!"

Danny's face lit up red in embarrassment and everyone laughed at his expense. He felt warm and welcome here, a way he hasn't back home in a long time if ever.

If animals and how they work were taught anything like this, I don't think I would have failed that class as badly. I think being here will be fun while it lasts!

Sam and Tucker are gonna be so jealous!

[hannahbarberra162]

Once in a Blue Moon (Werepanther Zoro x reader)

18+ MDNI on Ao3

Werepanther!Zoro x F!reader

I'm not doing Kinktober, but I thought of this kinda spooky idea for Halloween season. I don't normally write Zoro, much less were-Zoro, so he might be OOC. Not proofread all that well.

WC: ~5K, one shot

Summary: You used to hook up with Zoro until he became a werepanther. Now, he won't even talk to you. Until Zoro finds you one special night...

Notes: Rough sex, outdoor sex, were-sex, breeding kink. Kinda dub-con in that Zoro isn’t in full control, I'll tag it that way just in case.

~~~

You sighed heavily as you sat on the cliff overlooking the rocky sea shore, watching the gorgeous sunset. Your legs were curled up into your chest and you sat with your chin resting on your knees as you stewed in your feelings of melancholy. You’d been sailing with the Straw Hat Pirates for nearly a year and you used to think you’d found your nakama, the crew you’d sail with for the rest of your life. You were a second, you were able to take the place of almost any position on the crew in case they couldn’t or wanted a break. You could cook, clean, steer the ship, fight, had some medical training, some navigational experience, could do minor repairs, almost anything a crew would need. You were a jill of all trades, master of none. In reality what that meant was that you spent most of your time with Sanji in the kitchen or with Jinbe by the helm. You helped Sanji by washing, cleaning, and prepping, and learned from Jinbe more about steering and navigation. Every day was a new adventure and you were never stuck in one place too long, which was just how you liked things.

And on your new crew was an infamous swordsman, Roronoa Zoro. You’d harbored a crush on as soon as you saw him, muscles gleaming from intense training. It wasn’t love at first sight but you definitely felt something towards him the first time he looked you over with his good eye and smirked. You and Zoro had quickly become nakama with benefits soon after you joined, unable to keep your hands off one another. Zoro would come up to you, leaning with his arm on your shoulder like an armrest. That was your sign that he was horny and wanted some attention and the two of you would try to find any private location to hook up in. You'd done it in storage closets, dry storage in the kitchen, the infirmary, and more times in the crow's nest than you could count. You couldn’t deny him any more than you could deny yourself the bone-melting orgasms he gave you. 

At first it was only carnal, but you soon found you enjoyed spending time with Zoro. His dry sense of humor and sincerity drew you in, and his deep dedication and integrity had you wanting more. You tried to keep things casual but your romantic feelings only deepened with time. You’d been working on your friendship with Zoro, thinking that maybe he was starting to enjoy spending time together too. He would find you throughout the day, not just for sex, but to chat or to nap together. You tried to broach the subject of dating once but Zoro either didn’t feel the same way or perhaps didn’t know what you were talking about and you dropped it. You were content to spend time in his arms, even if you desperately wanted to become his girlfriend.

Things had been going well enough that you hadn’t broached the subject again, enjoying spending your days as crew mates and nights as lovers. That was, until Zoro had been bitten on Were Island. You were the one staying on the boat, you’d drawn the shortest straw and were standing guard. You’d warned him before everyone disembarked to be careful, but Zoro hadn’t heeded your advice.

“Zoro, please try not to fight here, the stakes are much higher than they normally -” you wanted to warn Zoro that bites and scratches from the Weres could cause him to become one himself. You’d been to this island before and had seen it happen to previous crew mates.

“Quiet, woman. I can handle myself,” Zoro said, preparing to jump off the railing. 

“That’s not what I mean, you don’t -” but Zoro didn’t hear the end of your sentence, already on the shore and walking away.

And, of course, Zoro had returned bleeding heavily from a fight. Zoro found you in the crow’s nest and grunted at you. Being fluent in Zoro, you turned to face him immediately, knowing the grunt meant he wanted attention.

“Zoro! How did you -” you moved quickly to his side, helping him sit down on the floor. You quickly stripped off his shirt, which was now drenched in blood. He had three deep parallel slashes on his right pec going downward and to left, making his chest look like an X. 

“Does it need stitches, woman?” was all he asked.

“Yeah, uh, it does. I can either go find Chopper or I can do it myself,” you answered, pressing the flesh around the wounds. The scratches were deep and jagged, they’d need to be cleaned before you dressed them. You’d given people stitches before, but never quite so many.

“Just do it, no need for Chopper,” Zoro said, closing his eyes. You knew he wasn’t asleep, just focusing himself.

“Alright, just - just stay here I’ll go get the med kit,” you scurried off, grabbing the emergency med kit from the infirmary and returning as quickly as you could. For as annoying as Zoro could be when he wasn't listening, he was an incredible patient. He didn’t move at all, not when you had to keep pressure on his wounds, not when you cleaned them with alcohol and not when you stitched him. You were focusing on your task, trying to work as efficiently as possible. When you were finally done, you snipped the end of the strong after tying off the knot.

“All done, Zo. What got you? Because if it was -”

“Werepanther,” Zoro replied, eyes still shut. This time, you detected fatigue in his voice. You hoped that it was a normal scratch, but only time would tell. 

“C’mon, I’ll take you down to the infirmary. You can sleep there undisturbed,” you said. You wanted Zoro to rest and you knew he wouldn’t get a deep sleep if he stayed in the crow’s nest.

“No. Smells too strongly of disinfectant. Can almost smell it from here.” Zoro crossed his arms and tilted his head back on the wood of the nest. You frowned, Zoro had never said anything like that before.

“Alright, you can sleep in my room. Would that work? The girls aren’t back yet and I’ll let them know you’re there.” Zoro grunted, which meant acceptance this time. Unlike the men, all the women on the ship slept in real beds and not hammocks. You didn't think the flexible material would be good for a healing wound, so you offered up your own bed. Zoro hadn’t ever slept the full night in your room, only coming in to hook up when Nami and Robin weren’t there and leaving immediately afterward. In your heart, you’d always wanted to stay the night with Zoro, but the opportunity hadn’t arisen. You helped him up and walked behind him as he made his way to the women’s quarters. When he got into the room, he practically jumped into your bed, rubbing his face all over your pillow. 

“Zoro, take off your pants, they’re covered in blood,” you protested gently. With as severe as his gashes were, you didn’t really want to bother him if he needed to rest. 

“No, want my scent - don’t want to move.” Zoro was already half asleep, you’d drop it for now. “Come back when you need to sleep, don’t sleep in my -  yawn - hammock.”

So, for the first time, you spent the night with Zoro in your bed. It was absolutely perfect, he held you close, and you slept deeply, wrapped in the warmth of his body. You thought the two of you were like two puzzle pieces, perfectly aligned together. 

Unfortunately, it was also the last time you slept in the same bed with Zoro. Or exchanged any kind of romantic affections with him at all. Zoro had been affected by the werepanther's venom and had his first shift during the next full moon. The full moon gave Zoro his hybrid panther form, his strongest, but also wilder and less controlled. During most of the month, Zoro gained the ability to transform at will into a dark green panther. It was a painful time for him as he learned to adjust to his new form, senses, and strength.

To that end, Zoro had Franky build him a containment room for the full moon, since he didn’t feel that he could control himself to an adequate degree. The afternoon before the full moon, Zoro would lock himself in chains and Franky would bar the doors, making sure no one could get in or out. There was a small hatch in the middle of the door that could be opened from the outside to supply Zoro with anything that he might need. Most often that was food, since Zoro grew ferociously hungry during his shift. Luffy was usually sent to bring Zoro food, since Zoro was the calmest around the Captain. It wasn’t that bad, since the full moon only came once a month and lasted for two or so days and nights. Zoro kept track of the moon on the calendar, marking the day each month that it would occur on.

Zoro had specifically banned you from bringing him anything, unlike any of the other crew. You’d only been asked to do it once before Zoro had forbidden it from happening ever again. Sanji asked you to bring a huge platter of meat to the hatch for the growling were. Opening it, you laid the food tray on the ledge and called out to your nakama.

“Zoro, I brought you something,” you said calmly. You’d been advised not to show strong emotion since in his hybrid form Zoro was much more volatile than his normal self. He didn’t answer but watched you with a hungry gaze from the back of the cell, tail twitching with interest. A shiver went down your spine as he shuffled towards the hatch. You’d never seen him in his hybrid form before, he was absolutely breathtaking. His fur was the deepest shade of green, appearing black in the low light. He was huge, head nearly hitting the ceiling as he strode towards the opening. His muscles rippled with every step he took, his body thick with unused power, hands ending in sharp tipped claws. Though he still had his three earrings and eye scar, his head was that of a panther, sleek and smooth. 

“Hello, little mate. Finally I get to see you. There’s something sweet here…” Zoro said in a husky voice not wholly his own. You got the impression that you weren’t speaking to Zoro, you were speaking to someone other.

“Yes, I brought -” you started to tell him about the food, pushing it through the narrow passage. But before you could continue, Zoro grabbed your wrist and pulled your arm all the way through the hatch with startling speed, the meat and tray clattering to the ground inside the cell. You squeaked from surprise, but not from injury. Scared, you didn’t speak, just stood with your shoulder to the door, stuck until Zoro let you go. You tried pulling on your arm gently but it was like it was encased in steel, completely immovable. 

“Ah ah, little mate. Give me a turn, I’ve been waiting,” insisted Zoro. You felt Zoro sniffing your wrist and arm, large tongue licking up your arm after each sniff.

“You smell so good, always so good, little mate. I never get to smell or taste you, he doesn’t let me out,” Zoro said, continuing his exploration. You could feel his razor sharp teeth against your skin but he didn’t piece you, content to smell and lick at your skin for the moment.

“Won’t you come in, little mate? Join me,” Zoro crooned to you, licking your palm with his rough tongue. “Ah, I can feel his anger rising. What is so wrong about spending some time together I wonder?” Zoro nipped the tip of your ring finger, causing a drop of blood to well. 

“Was that the tipping point? Hahaha, well then farewell, little mate, until we meet again,” Zoro said, kissing your blood away. Immediately after Zoro expelled your hand from his own as if you were on fire throwing it down angrily. He stalked back to the far side of the room, growling.

“GET OUT!” Zoro yelled, this time sounding more like your former lover. You removed your arm from the hatch, rubbing your arm where it had been licked.

“Zoro, I -” you tried to talk to him, though you knew there wasn’t much use this time of night.

“GET OUT!! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!” Zoro screamed at you, clanging his chains. Despite the fact that you knew Zoro wasn’t in his right mind, hearing him yell at you like that still brought tears to your eyes. The sound must have alerted Sanji, who came to the door of the containment room.

“Come on, love. He doesn’t mean it, he’s just an idiot marimo animal right now,” Sanji told you softly. Sanji then put a hand on your back, guiding you away from the area and from Zoro. Zoro roared the loudest you’d ever heard, making the hair on the back of your neck rise. You didn’t need Sanji’s guidance anymore, you quickly made an exit away from the shifted Swordsman.

Ever since that night, Zoro had stopped seeking your company completely, either romantic or platonic. Trying to talk to him about what had happened that night was met with either silence or Zoro walking away from you, refusing to hear what you had to say. In other settings, Zoro wasn’t exactly rude but he was keeping you at arm’s length. He talked to you in a group if needed but would find any excuse to avoid seeing you one on one. At first, you kept trying, but after a while you let it go. You couldn’t bear being pushed away time after time, month after month. The rest of the crew noticed the change between the two of you, but you declined to pour your heart out to any of them. If Zoro wanted to end your relationship, that wasn't anyone else's business.

As you sat alone on the cliff, thinking about the demise of your relationship, you couldn’t help the tear that ran down your cheek. It was too hard to see Zoro day after day when he was repulsed by you. You thought you would tell Luffy soon that you were leaving, you couldn’t take much more of the heartbreak. Luckily, your role meant that you wasn’t critical, the crew could survive without you. You pulled the grass by your feet, feeling sorry for yourself. Not every relationship was meant to be, you supposed.

Now that the sun had set, you looked to the night sky to appreciate the view of the moon. Since it had already been the full moon earlier that month, everyone was free to spend the night on the island as they pleased. Except, as the moon rose you saw….it was full. How was that possible?! You’d seen on the calendar where Zoro marked the full moon, remembered the days he was locked away…how…why? You gasped, figuring out the puzzle…it was a blue moon. Zoro probably didn’t think to check if there would be more than one full moon during the month and since blue moons came so rarely it hadn’t happened in the months since he’d been bitten.

Forgetting your heartbreak for a moment, you jumped to your feet and ran back on the path towards the ship. You needed to warn the crew and find Sanji and Luffy. They’d be able to corral Zoro, or at least keep him from harming anyone. Running away from the cliff and into the forest, you stopped as you heard a low growl coming from the tree branches above you. 

“Z-zoro? Is that you?” you asked quietly, hoping you wouldn’t hear an answer.

“Little mate……little mate….come here, little mate…..” Zoro’s deep were-voice crooned at you. You spun looking for the source, but couldn’t find him. You desperately wished you had observation haki like some of the crew, maybe it would help you. “Don’t be afraid, little mate….I won’t hurt you…well, not in ways you won’t like…” A low chuckle came from the trees, triggering your fight or flight. And you wanted to fly away as fast as you could. 

“Zoro, it’s n-not funny, I need -” you screamed as something heavy dropped on top of you, pushing you to the ground flat on your back. You instantly knew it was Zoro in his hybrid form as he pinned your hands above your head with one of his own easily. He pushed your legs apart, placing his own in between, his face hovering over yours. His clothes hadn’t made it through the transformation, he was completely nude, with his enormous cock bobbing against his stomach. When he was fully human, Zoro was well endowed. Now? Seeing his huge cock glistening with pre-cum made you gulp.

You forgot to breathe as he leaned his head towards your own. Cringing back, you hoped he’d make your death swift, if not merciful. Instead you felt his rough tongue lapping at your throat, his nose inhaling deeply.

“Mmmm, what is it you need, little mate?” Zoro husked into your ear. You shivered, words forgotten on your tongue. “You need me, little mate. I can smell your need on the boat, the fool wasting both of our time. You need me to mark you, make you mine, have your womb swell with my babies. I know it as surely as I know you are my mate.” Zoro gently bit at the juncture of your neck and shoulder, but not enough to puncture the skin. “I can’t wait any longer, it will be tonight” Zoro said, nuzzling into your neck. The sensations were different than anything you’d ever felt, his rough tongue lapping your skin unlike the soft tongue of your former paramour. 

“Z-zoro, p-please, I -” you tried to gather a coherent thought as Zoro continued kissing your neck and up the side of your face. You didn’t know the full sentiment he meant by mate, but it didn’t seem like a good time to ask. You moaned as Zoro kissed his way back down your neck, squirming under his ministrations. You’d missed Zoro, missed kissing him, missed having sex with him, missed everything about him. You wanted him, even in his current form, something the were above you didn’t miss.

“I won’t claim you until you beg for it,” Zoro whispered, licking the shell of your ear, “and you will be begging tonight.” With that, Zoro used a claw to slice through the front of your shirt and bra, pushing the ruined halves to the side. Wasting no time, he dipped his head lower to your breasts. Zoro captured one of your tightened nipples to his mouth, pulling hard. Even though he was being rough, he was being careful with his teeth, avoiding using his elongated canines. 

“I cannot wait to see my cubs suckling from your sweet tits,” Zoro growled, earrings tinkling with each pull. He used his spare hand to cup your other breast, using his fingers to pinch and twist your nipple. You cried out from the sensation, enjoying the heat of the beast’s mouth against the chill of the night. You’d always enjoyed when Zoro was aggressive during your hookups, but this was a whole other level. He switched nipples, drawing the other into his mouth. This time, he did bite down gently, causing your moan to become louder.

“Mmm, my little mate likes what I give her. I can smell your arousal, little one,” Zoro said, causing you to blush. You realized you had been grinding against Zoro’s enormous thigh, his pre-cum getting smeared onto your shorts. The tops of your thighs were covered in your own slick from Zoro’s attention. “Give me a taste,” he purred at you. You nodded, and lifted your hips to remove your shorts and panties. Letting go of your wrists, he allowed you to quickly shimmy out of your clothes to toss them aside. Now free to touch him, you dug your fingers into the gorgeous fur of his back. It was soft and thick, like petting the most velvety rug in the world. Zoro moved down and settled between your thighs, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

Pushing your thighs even farther apart, he kept you in place with his broad hands. Zoro gave your aching pussy a visual inspection before running his long tongue in a huge stripe up your entire slit. You jolted from the unfamiliar sensation, his papillae giving even more sensation than a flat human’s tongue. “I will enjoy this feast, little mate,” Zoro growled into you, licking you again top to bottom. You gasped from the attention, wanting Zoro to continue.

“Please, Zoro I want more,” you panted, trying to shift your hips. You had your hands gripping the fur on his head, but neither moved the were. He only laughed lightly, keeping you pinned in place.

“More you shall have,” Zoro grunted, parting your lips with his tongue and burying himself deep into the folds of your eager pussy. Zoro ate you like he was starving. His tongue was able to cover more area than it had before, and he used it to his advantage. He licked every inch of your aching pussy, heat building inside you until you thought you would explode. Your pussy was absolutely drenched in his saliva and your slick, increasing every moment as Zoro continued his onslaught. He teased your clit, lightly lapping at it gently before fucking his tongue into your hole. You burned with the desire to come, the need swelling inside you.

“Ah, ah, Z-zoro, please…” you whined at him, trying to reach your precipice. You could hear the squelching of your pussy as Zoro continued drinking from you.

“Please what, little mate? I will always provide for you,” he rumbled, nipping at your inner thigh.

“Please, Zoro, please I wanna come,” you mewled. Zoro grinned at you, his predatory smile showing off his gleaming teeth under the light of the moon.

“Sweet little mate, I will never leave you wanting,” Zoro replied. With that, he pulled your hips into his face, licking and sucking on your clit. You felt the coil inside you tightening and with a gentle bite of his teeth, Zoro had you coming on his skilled tongue. He didn’t stop during your high, lapping at you as you dissolved into pleasure. He continued until you felt overwhelmed, pushing at him to get him away from your oversensitive flesh. Crawling up your body, you felt his hard cock pulsing with need as he pressed against you.

“Now, little mate, are you ready?” Zoro said, nuzzling his head into you. You were still a little dazed, but nodded as you rubbed one of his fuzzy ears between your fingertips. Without warning, Zoro flipped you onto all fours under him, cock pressing against your ass. Now that you could feel the length of the whole thing, you were nervous, especially since he was fucking you from behind.

“Zoro, it’s not gonna - I don’t think you’ll fit,” you stammered.

“I would never hurt you, little mate,” Zoro replied in a surprisingly soft tone, “you were made for me, and I for you.” It didn’t quell your anxiety completely, but you relaxed a little. You felt Zoro place himself against your pussy, ready to enter you. “Breathe, little mate,” Zoro commanded as he pressed himself into you. You felt yourself stretching tight around him, more than you ever had before. Pushing himself in slowly, Zoro kept moving forward until he was fully sheathed within you, growling when you felt him bottom out within you. He waited for you to settle, to get accustomed to his length and girth. You could feel the tip of his cock against your cervix, hitting all of your most pleasurable spots.

“Zoro, I’m ready,”  you said, arching your back a little more. He didn’t need any more convincing, pulling out halfway and pushing back in, starting a brutal pace. He felt incredible, you couldn’t contain the moans and whimpers that spilled from your lips as Zoro fucked you within an inch of your life. Zoro kept you pinned beneath him as you took everything he gave you. You felt the slap of his heavy balls on your clit as he pistoned your gspot, making your legs quake. You’d been primed before, it wasn’t going to take much to make you come again. One of his hands was tangled in your hair, pulling your head back, baring your neck. The other hand was bearing his weight as he fucked you like the animal he was.

“Z-zoro, gonna come soon,” you squeaked out in between his thrusts. You could feel the sweat between your bodies dripping down as Zoro continued his onslaught, his hips snapping against your ass. 

“Not until you beg me to claim you,” Zoro gritted out, slowing his rhythm. “You want to come again, little mate? Come all over my cock? You can, as soon as you beg me to claim you,” Zoro cooed at you, now taking his time with long and deep strokes. He stood on his knees, one hand now free. “Can’t you feel me, little mate? Can’t you feel me here?” Zoro asked as he pushed up on your lower stomach. The movement caused you to feel as he pushed against his own cock within you. You shuddered as he continued to fuck against your sweetest spot while pressing against you. He kept his hand on your stomach, pushing up, until you started to see stars.

“Please, Zoro, please,” you begged, not even knowing what you were asking for.

“Please what, little mate?” Zoro hummed, pulling your hair a little harder.

“Please claim me, please let me come,” you blurted. Zoro kissed the back of your neck.

“Gladly, little mate. Since you begged so charmingly.” Picking up his pace again, Zoro fucked into you with more force, pulling your hair harder. You keened as you felt trails of fire coursing through your veins. Just as you were about to come, Zoro leaned forward and bit you in the soft spot between your neck and shoulder. The pleasure completely overwhelmed your senses, everything faded to white as you crested higher and higher on the wave. You felt yourself quivering and fluttering around his length, your pussy trying desperately to keep him in place as he yowled at his own release. Distantly you heard someone screaming in bliss, but you couldn’t determine who it was. There was nothing in the world beyond Zoro, his teeth in your skin and his cock in your pussy. Though it was mere seconds, your orgasm felt like it lasted an eternity as you floated back down to reality. 

Zoro removed his teeth from your shoulder, laid down on the soft grass, and placed you on top of him, your head resting on his broad chest. He began licking your wound, his rough tongue causing you to wince.

“Stop, Zo’, hurts,” you whined, already tired from his attention.

“Shhh, I know, little mate. But this will help with the healing. I’m almost done,” he replied. You hummed but stopped resisting, letting him complete his task. You weren’t sure exactly what the mark meant, but you had some idea. You’d discuss the implications of everything that happened - after the full moon ended. You dozed off for a bit, contentedly listening to Zoro’s steady heartbeat underneath you. A little while later, you woke to Zoro sniffing and licking your skin again.

“Whassat?” you asked groggily.

“You already bear my mark, it will keep other males away,” Zoro said, “but this will ensure they know you belong with me. That cook is bothersome to both of us.” Zoro picked up your hand again, kissing your palm the way he had the first time you’d seen him transformed.

“Is the other Zoro in there?” you asked timidly. You wanted to talk to your nakama, not just the were he became during the full moon.

“We are both here, at all times. The moon gives the panther a little more power, which I use to overwhelm the human, take control. If he feels very strongly, he wrests it from me at times. But he needed direction, he was making foolish choices,” the panther continued, shaking his head.

“Like what?” you asked.

“The fool was avoiding you, upsetting you, even though he wanted you desperately. He thought you wouldn’t accept us the way we are. He didn’t want to force you to mate with us, wanted to let you run away if you so chose,” the panther declared.

“And you?” you prompted, knowing you were speaking with the panther. Zoro smiled as a predator woul when cornering prey.

“You are our mate. There is nowhere you could run that I would not find you.”

~~~

Later (this is a silly)

Zoro: what do you mean a blue moon? The moon can only come once a month, it's the MOON.

You: ???????? what do you mean? It JUST came again, that's how we ended up like this. How do you....you know what, I'm taking over the calendar.

[bloodykora]

I have covid so I've just been reading One Peice fics all day (I need more hobbies)

Could u write some headcanons where Buggy and his partner are polar opposites (he's very colorful and flamboyant, she's very stoned face and serious)

I am also sick so I get it dude, this shit sucksss. Need that fictional man comfort

Make sure you got tissues, plenty of water or tea to keep the hydration up. Take care of youu

- Blank stares galore, you naturally have a dead stare which somehow becomes worse when you’re mad

- Crew has no clue who would be better to go to when they fuck up, Buggy who is a homicidal maniac or you. You may not kill or harm them but the way your eyes turn back to them as they’re trembling telling you they somehow lost a whole crate of loot.

- I think though it’s what drew Buggy to you, when you first met him you were stoic. But not in the way where you didn't have time for him or that it was fake. You stood expressionless and listened to him ramble on about being in the spotlight.

- Then gave actual advice on how to help his attention seeking career, he knew he had to have you join him on the spot.

- He was good at keeping tabs on things within the ship, you knew where every prop was, if costumes needed to be cleaned, where weapons were supposed to go. When Buggy was going to need new makeup because his was on its last legs.

- If Cabaji was a news updater on how things were going on the outside then you were the assistant to Buggy on the inside.

- He insisted your outfit be a darker blue to compliment his orange and reddish costume. As long as it was comfortable you didn’t really care. He tried to get you some stage part of the circus but realized your best place was to be behind the scenes.

- And he wouldn’t want it any other way, the mad circus genius and his little informational second in hand.

- Sometimes though enemies do think you’re the more scary one, he doesn’t like it when that happens. Debated even getting you a mask so he was taken more seriously for looting.

- Deadpan too with your tone sometimes, you can be caring and emotional but sometimes it just slips your mind when you reply to someone. Straight to the point on how something should be done.

- Buggy would not trade it or you for the world, or the one piece. 

[cauqhtz]

My opinion about Luffy and the world of one piece.

What does Luffy or One Piece in general mean to you?

I'll start! This is completely my opinion and my personal feelings!

I should start off my saying I am a hard person to please. I'm extremely "picky" with every aspect of my life. For example: I hate it when my food touches, even when I'm eating it. I eat it in order. there are exceptions though. I do like for my collard greens and rice to touch but only if I put them together. I still plate them separately.

It's ridiculous and sooo annoying but its a serious thing for me. It's like trying to swallow a pill. I physically cannot force myself to swallow anything that dont fit those standards.

It's like this for every aspect of my life. Books, movies, JOBS, tv shoes, etc..

the first time I tried watching one piece i turned it off maybe not even a minute after watching the first half of the first episode. I remember seeing nami at a party and her looking out to see the whirlpool and I got the wrong idea about what the anime was about so i swore off it.

Maybe a year later I saw a instagram post. It was basically saying how they didnt understand how they found a pirate story about some kid made of rubber kicking everyone's asses entertaining. I was in disbelief and kind of took it as a challenge. It sounded absolutely ridiculous to me at the time so I gave it another shot.

As soon as Luffy popped out of that barrel knocking one of those guys out saying he'd catch a cold for sleeping right there? I was laughing. ME? LAUGHING? To say I was sold would be an understatement.

Then theres the part where Luffy expresses his dream to be king. It wasnt because of some overused reason like very other anime like childhood trauma. It was because he wanted to. Thats it and thats all. I was blown away. My heart raced with excitement after that speech from luffy and I binged watched the episodes from then on.

I was obsessed. (Still obsessed) Back then I was still in highschool and I was binging the episodes from the moment I woke up, during all my classes and lunch, after school and falling asleep to it.

I think the only anime I binged like that would be HXH another anime I'm still obsessed with.

One of the funniest episodes of one piece for me is 497. I was rewatching the marine ford arc and I was in tears laughing at this episode.

But back to the question!

As a young woman of color? Luffy is a dream to me. Luffy is the perfect mixture of malcom x and MLK. He's what I think the world needs. He's one of a damn kind, there is NO character like him or story like one piece PERIOD and there's no amount of hate from naruto fans that'll make that less true.

The only character that is unafraid of crying, laughing, fucking up, tripping up in front of friends and enemies alike.

insanely selfish but he's strong. He can have his friends, hell he can make new friends and have them ALL by his side or far away from him. All alive and fucking thriving, why? because he fucking said so. He's strong in more ways than one. He has that luxury.

He's unafraid of asking for help. He has never once acted as though everyone else is beneath him and he can do everything by himself.

Gets pissed when he finds his vest with flowers sewed into it, wanting to be a manly man but unbothered at eating all the love themed food sanji makes specifically for nami and robin.

He has asked forced Pirate Hunter Zoro to join his crew? Nah thats just zoro his best friend and the guy who ate stomped out sand covered chocolate rice balls out of respect for the little girl he saved from Helmeppo.

Cat burglar nami? Nami the navigator. Her maps and weather skills are unreal!

Sniper king the liar? Yup but he's a damn good sharpshooter.

Black Leg/ Vinsmoke Sanji isnt he apart of a family of comicbook villians? Thats just Sanji! One of the best chefs in the world!

Tony Tony Chopper the raccoon dog that happens to be a doctor? Oh no thats chopper. Our crews miracle treasure. He's a talking reindeer monster.

The demon child is on your crew? Huh? Demon child? You can't mean robin! She's a good friend of mine and she's an archeologist! I'd have to kick your ass if you think otherwise! :D

Cyborg Franky? Oh yeah I couldnt take the sunny without him! They're a package deal!

The humming swordsman? Oh you mean brook! He's a talking, singing afro skeleton not to mention hilarious! The part about him being a sword-swinging musician was just a plus!

The first son of the sea jinbei...A fishman? Hell yeah! He's THE fishman! Jinbei is a good friend of mine and the 10th member I've been looking for!

Luffy's crew is a dumpster fire of diversity. That right there is rare within itself. I mean it's a Japanese show, yet most of the main characters aren't japanese! They originate from a little bit of everywhere across the globe!

They all look different and act different. They are all flawed and yet Luffy accepts them with open fucking arms with his TRADEMARKED grin nearly splitting his face in half!

Speaking of accepting them! Luffy is always overjoyed when reuniting with his crew. Jumping to give them hugs, screaming his hellos, jumping up and down, lunging forward to give them hugs, and waving with excitement at the sight of his friends.

I mean Luffy is unfucking matched. Even his voice is one of a kind and so fucking satisfying for his dialogue??

Two of my favorite quotes from Luffy are:

"I'm kicking your ass and wrecking your birdcage."

"Speak up for yourself, aren't you the leader of these guys? SAY SOMETHING ALREADY!"

Luffy's very name holds mind-melting weight.

I just recently found out that his brother ace was the one that came up with "Gum gum Rocket." Something I'm now pissed at OPLA for giving Garp the credit of.

Luffy as a captain doesnt do major plans or specific orders. He says something and his crew either follows along or finds their own objective for example the punk hazard arc when law asked luffy if he was going to leave his crew on the island to do what they said they wanted to do and leave with him to fight kaido.

Luffy refused saying if his crew was staying to get their own things done then so was he and that Law had to get used to it quick.

Luffy is freedom in physical form. There one second and gone the next. Something that gave Law heart palpitations.

ALSO SCREW YOU LAW FOR TELLING CHOPPER TO SHUT UP WHEN HE TOLD YOU BYE IN WANO!

Luffy has no rhyme or reason for doing things the way he does other than the fact that thats just who he is. Something that only Zoro and Robin TRULY understand. Chopper understood this recently, just before the time-skip.

For example when big mom assumed luffy was there in wano to pick a fight with kaido and luffy denied it sternly.

confusing everyone around him including nami and carrot.

He went onto say everyone not only responsible but associated would be getting their asses kicked.

And thats EXACTLY what happened.

Zoro wasnt even there for that and he was already cutting the majority of their members in half.

MIND YOU. LUFFY AND HIS CREW DIDNT PLAN ANYTHING. NOR WERE THEY AWARE OF THAT PLAN. ALL THEY HAD WERE DISGUISES AND THEIR WITTS.

You'd think that with every plan luffy screws up they'd be major consequences? NOPE bc he's stronger than that. Everyone else would have to adapt or get their asses kicked.

jinbei fought with luffy in the fishman island arc. not wanting luffy to make matters worse, instead wanting him to be seen as a hero to which luffy refused saying he's not a hero and that he had to get to his friends... until jinbei said and i quote. "Luffy, I'll let you have all the meat you want! Just do as I say!"

To which luffy agreed after a few more pleas.

friends and enemies are one in the same to him.

You want to hit him? Fine he doesnt care. but Lie to him? He's about to shove his foot up your ass.

You want to take credit for his wins unless your law or kid? Hell yeah! Couldn't have done it without you!

You want to defend him? Dont bother. This is his business. Stay the hell out of it.

You want to cry? Suck it up! Crying wont fix anything so get the fuck up and do something about it already!

You want to ask him for help? Sure! Anything! As long as you're the right person asking!

You want to call him a hero? Literally might knock your lights out.

You want to put him down in history and tell everyone what he and his crew did? Don't bother he's not interested.

I mean the list goes on and on. I can talk about luffy and one piece for HOURS and never get bored.

Luffy is a dream to me. I tear up thinking about him and wishing to be apart of that world for even a day.

Thats what Luffy means to me.