#i think once a week the crew gathers on the deck for show and tell like ‘you want to see my new move :)’

[thychesters]

zoro goes “one gorilla, two gorilla” and his biceps grow right before he attacks kaku honey what the hell

[ageingfangirl2]

A Little Goes A Long Way! Buggy (OPLA)

SMUT! A week has passed since a drunken encounter between you and your captain occurred and he's all you have on your mind, little do you know your captain feels the same way. Buggy x Reader (Female)

Part 2

Y/N

It had been a week since you'd gotten drunk with the crew after a successful raid that came with a lot of treasure. It had been a week since you drunkenly told your captain that you wanted him to fuck you and that you craved him, and the captain followed through fucking you beneath the deck. It had been a week since he left dark hickeys on your inner thighs, chest and neck that had only started to fade recently. It had been a week since your last interaction, and you weren't sure if he regretted that night because his orders came from other crew members.

There was one thing you were sure of and that was that you couldn't get him off your mind. He was like a drug and you were addicted. Maybe you'd been at sea too long and needed a release. You would fool around when you docked in a port with random guys, but the captain made those guys seem like boys and sex wouldn't be the same unless it was with him.

You weren't the only female crew member, but you'd been around the longest. Of course, Buggy had screwed them, and they had stories to tell that only piqued your interest. Alvida was the only one who didn't have an interest in him that way. The other crew were more feminine than you, but you could draw an eye or two, choosing to make men come to you and not the other way around. But here you were debating going to Buggy and begging for round two.

'y/n can you do me a favour?' Alvida asks, popping her head around the kitchen door.

You stop chopping vegetables and face her smiling, the two of you got along really well since she joined, 'Anything for you Alvida.'

She winks at you, 'I was asked to gather intel on our next target from a guy in town. Can you deliver it to the captain please, I'm going back into town.'

she slaps some documents down on a barrel and you roll your eyes, 'Of course, go get laid.'

She blows you a kiss, 'See you tomorrow beautiful, don't do anything I wouldn't do.'

You laugh at her antics as she vanishes. You finish chopping the vegetables before picking up the documents. It looked like you had an excuse to see Buggy, you just weren't sure what was going to happen.

BUGGY

Running a ship was hard work. Yes, we had a success last week but now we need to move on to the next target. Alvida should have something for me, though I wasn't quite sure where the damn woman was. Working also got my mind off y/n of all people. They'd been on the crew for a couple of years, mainly helping in the kitchen and showing impressive knife skills in shows. They put up with my rants, and flirting and took punishments like a champ. I never once pursued them, unlike other female crew members out of respect. So imagine my surprise when a week ago when they were drunk they came up to me and said they wanted to fuck and had been thinking about me for a while.

I'm a man and gave into my carnal desires, taking y/n in the shadows, pounding into them as they begged for more. I left marks all over their body, and they were beautiful in the light of day when they weren't covered. But for a week now I'd been ignoring them, assuming that once sober they had regrets.

'Captain can I come in?' y/n calls out, knocking on the door.

Well, this would be interesting. I take a deep breath, 'come in.'

y/n walks in smiling, they are always a happy person, and this makes it hard to read them, 'Alvida's a little busy and asked me to deliver this intel.'

y/n puts the folder on the desk but doesn't immediately leave. I sit back in my chair and smirk, 'something else on your mind?'

y/n closes their eyes and takes a deep breath before pointing an accusing finger my way, 'I'm all over the place and it's your fault.'

My smirk reaches my ears and I chuckle, 'Mmm, it's not all on me, you know y/n,' I say teasingly, 'I was minding my own business having a couple of drinks when you came onto me. Been thinking about me all week have you?'

y/n opens their eyes and a blush gives them away. I detach a hand and use it to pull them towards me, forcing them onto my lap which they straddle without any further prompting.

I unbutton their shorts and slip my fingers inside, shocked to find them not wearing any underwear, 'dirty girl.'

y/n bites their lip, 'I need to do laundry, this wasn't planned.'

I nod along, mischief in my eyes, 'You didn't lock the door. Do you want someone to walk in on us?'

This wasn't my first rodeo, I knew exactly where to touch, rub, pinch and how much pressure to apply to the clit to get certain responses. y/n was putty in my hands whimpering and trying to keep control, but this was my fight to win.

I lick my lips, 'answer me. Do you want to get caught with your captain? Do you want the crew to think you're another whore for my dick?'

y/n's whimpers were enough to get me hard, but they still kept eye contact which was hot, '...maybe...right now...I want you inside me...'

I don't give any warning before I move away from the clit and thrust two fingers inside their tight warm cunt, 'BUGGY!' they squeal loudly, and squirm on my lap.

'Tell me what you want,' I whisper, voice low, and y/n shudders beneath me.

'...faster...please...' they beg and a moan slips out.

I add a third finger and quicken the pace. Beads of sweat form on y/n's forehead as they come undone around me. y/n bucks their hips and grinds against me, 'FUCK!' I exclaim as y/n starts fucking themselves on my fingers matching my pace.

if anyone walked past my quarters right now all they'd hear were y/n's moans, 'You really are a dirty girl. So desperate and needy, I should have fucked you sooner,' I laugh.

With one more forceful thrust from me y/n cums on my fingers still inside them. They breathe heavily coming down from their high, the blissful look in their eyes turning me on even more, '...fuck...Buggy...'

I remove my slick fingers and bring them to my lips, licking them clean, 'so sweet. I didn't have to do much, you fucked yourself and it was hot.'

y/n's face turns a darker shade of red before they bury it in my chest in embarrassment at their slutty actions. I can't contain my laughter as I hold them against me and kiss the top of their head, 'next time I'm going to watch you finger fuck yourself y/n. You're captain's dirty girl now.

[marcothephoenixhusband]

Fortune

Heres a dream drabble that turned hella sad, but nonetheless here it is. An extra for you guys dont cry itll be okay.♡

Never said I was a good writer.

🔞18+ NSFW Like one scene.

~Marcos POV~

"Lets go to the fortune teller Marco" you hear Ace say as your both walking through the underwater city which was in a enormous bubble of air.

"Allright Yoi" you cave easily quite intrigued yourself to find out something. Once at the shop Ace peer pressures you into going in. A pretty half shark half human looking lady says

"Hello there gentlemen how may I help you today?"

"I wanna know about my future will I be famous?!" Ace blurts out as she giggles at his request then motions for him to sit down in front of her glass orb on her table as she sits and stares into the orb.

"Hmm strange im not getting anything usually that means the person will die soon. Sorry." She says apologetically. Ace gets up confused looking then motions for you to sit.

"Id like to know if I have a soul mate and who they are Yoi" you ask politely as she hovers her hands over her orb she starts speaking

"You do, but they are not from this time. You will enter a portal in one week and bring them to this time. There is only one chance to bring them here so you must not hesitate, if you do the portal will close forever loosing your chance at romance. Her name is (n)." She says as your eyes grow wide then return to normal, chuckling you hand over some undetermined amount of berry then say.

"All right thank you. Ace lets go Yoi" you say as she nods and Ace follows you back to the ship you thinking

'This must be a scam my soulmates from another time? Impossible'

~One Week Later On Deck Of The Moby Dick~

Your in your office when you hear your name being called.

"Marco!" You hear Ace yelling as he bursts through the infirmarys door. Huffing he yells

"Theres a portal that opened on deck you probably want to hurry!" Shocked you run out and follow him to the portal as some of the crew on deck gathers around it. You remember the fortune tellers words

"There is only one chance to bring them here so you must not hesitate, if you do the portal will close forever loosing your chance at romance." As you put your arms through the portal you feel something soft, put your arms around it then yank as a girl falls out of the portal onto your chest you both on the floor.

~(N)s POV~

You were in your room listening to music on your headphones via bluetooth when you felt and arm around your waist then a yank as you fall backwards your headphones are knocked off as you fall onto something soft. When you opened your eyes again you werent in your room but on deck of a ship with something soft under you. You look down realizing your sitting on someone as you get up all wobbly from teleporting through time. Your wearing a short black dress with short sleeves nothing else not even shoes or socks. You hear gasps as the man you fell on stands up.

'Dam hes tall hes got to be at least six foot eight' you turn around looking at the portal as it closes and dissapears.

'Shit well looks like im staying here' you gulped as you turn back to the handsome man who had blonde hair, glasses, a purple jacket open showing off his hot abs and chest, blue pants with jewelry adoring his side and sandals. He stared at you then asks

"Is your name (N)? Yoi" you gulp and ask

"How do you know my name?" He smiles then says

"Dont worry about it Yoi" you gulp.

'He seems nice but I can tell he also is very observant like me.' you think as he seems to notice how uncomfortable you are.

"Welcome to the Moby Dick my name is Marco the Phoenix. Yoi" you just nod as you look around at the crowd around you.

"All right thats enough staring back to work everyone!" He yells as the crowd disperses, you feel more at ease. He notices and says

"Sorry about yanking you through that portal it seems you cant go back now... where are you from? Yoi" he asks as you untense a bit.

"Im from the year twenty twenty three." You state and think

'It seems like im in the past now strange. I better make the best of it since I cant go back now' you think looking up meeting Marcos eyes as hes smiling. You wear a plain expression on your face.

"Heya there im Ace nice to meet you (n) sorry about ol bird brain over here" you look at Marcos side seeing a black shaggy haired man not wearing a shirt with black shorts and a cowboy hat says

"Um ya nice to meet you too?" You say confused as to why your here.

"Wait where am I what year is it?" You question as your head begins to feel fuzzy starting to forget details about where your from. Gripping your head Marco looks concerned.

"Are you all right? Here come with me let me give you a check up. Im a doctor. Yoi" he gently grabs onto your hand and leads you to the infirmary making you blush.

'His hand is so gentle and soft.' You think. Once sitting on a med bed he starts his check up using his stethoscope to gauge your breathing but your heartrate increases with every brush of his hand on your chest. He seems to notice and takes his hand off of you as you blush slightly.

"Shortness of breath.. racing heart rate... Yoi" he puts a hand to your forehead.

"Fever.. Yoi" he jots down your symptoms as hes continuing your check up.

"Even I could tell you im sick right now" you say as you get up grabbing a tissue sneezing then blowing your nose. He jots down your symptoms as he glances back to you.

"Yes your definitely sick what other symptoms do you have? Yoi" you look to him and say

"Hot flashes and cold sweats thats it really. I was on antibiotics for an infection six hundred mgs and it halfed my other medications so im going through withdrawals and now... ill be going through total withdrawals because all my medications were in my time..Greatttt." you say sarcastically as he frowns and says

"Ahh right thats going to be a problem, all right im sorry about that. Unfortunately we dont have anything to help withdrawals but I can do this. Yoi" he reaches his hand out and a blue flame appears as you cringe closing your eyes but then realize its not burning just warm. Opening your eyes you hear him chuckle as you feel some relief. Confused you say

"Whats this magic? Um thank you?" Chuckling he explains all about devil fruits and how they work in this timeline. Very intrigued you listen then smile as he transforms into hybrid form then Phoenix form and back to human.

"Ahh!! Thats so cool!!" You exclaim as he chuckles and says

"You think so? Good. Hey since your stuck here now why dont you join our crew the Whitebeard pirates? Yoi" he asks as your eyes widen.

"Pirates?! We dont have pirates in my time" You yell as Marco seems worried.

'Pirates! This gentle handsome man is a pirate?!' You think as you calm down and ask

"Are you guys good pirates?" He looks shocked then replies

"Well I dont know about that, theres good and bad for everything right? Yoi" you feel stupid for that outburst.

"Ahh yes ... your right sorry it just caught me off gaurd."

"Take your time to think about it theres no pressure. Yoi" he chuckles and you sigh in relief.

"Thanks Marco" you sneeze again and he says

"Here let me get the medicine." He stands from his rolling chair and digs in a cabnet then hands you a bottle of pills.

"Here these should help. Yoi" he says then leaves the room and comes back with a cup of water and hands it to you. You open the pill bottle take one out and swallows it with water. Marco smiles probably that you trust him enough to take medicine from him.

"You still need to meet Pops when do you want to meet him? Yoi" he asks as you cock your head in confusion. Marco sees this and elaborates more

"Pops is the Captain of the Whitebeard pirates his name is Whitebeard or Edward Newgate to be more precise. Yoi" you nod then say

"Ohh well can I meet him now im rather curious" you say as Marco smiles again and says

"Sure follow me Yoi" you both stand as you follow him barefoot out the door to the deck and right before the gaint of a man.

"Hey Pops this is (n) just making sure you meet her before getting her settled for now she hasnt decided on joining yet. Yoi" Marco says as the gaint man looks at you.

"Shes the one you dragged out of that portal earlier. Well since shes allready here get her set up with a room then ill need you to go on a mission. By the way where are you from? lil lady"

Marco tenses up as you noticed.

"Im from the year twenty twenty three." You say then Marco says

"All right Pops ill be back to get the details Yoi" Whitebeard nods then waves you both away. You follow Marco to the rooms and he leads you to a single person small room as you look around the room you say

"Cute." And he replies

"Its not much but its cozy. Yoi" he hands you your room key with the corresponding number on it. You set your pills on the dresser.

"Thanks." You say locking up then putting the key into your pocket then follow him back on deck as he gets details for his mission.

"..... so itll probably take a week to complete" Edward says to Marco as Marco replies.

"Allright got it Pops. Yoi" Marco turns looking for someone then walks up to Ace you following him silently.

"Hey Ace take care of her while im gone itll be a week. I better get going. Yoi" you see the black haired man named Ace say with no shirt on

"You got it Marco" he smiles then give a thumbs up to Marco. Painiced a bit you look to Marco and say

"Your leaving allready?!" He turns to you and chuckles.

"Yes im the first devision commander. I have a reputation to upkeep. Dont worry Ace will take good care of you. Ill be back before you know it little bird. Once I get back we can talk more. Yoi" he says and pats your head causing you to blush slightly both men taking note. Marco transforms into Phoenix form and flies up and away as you watch him. Then you hear Ace say

"Dam I wish someone would stare at me like that" he chuckles which makes you blush again and motions you over to him while hes drinking with friends. He goes to the cantina and grabs another mug of booze your assuming and hands it to you.

"So (n) how old are you cutie?" Ace asks you

"Im thirty how old are you?"

"Im just twenty haha you dont look your age at all I thought you were closer to my age not Marcos" you look at him quizzically.

"What? How old is Marco?" You ask as he replies

"Marcos forty four." He smiles at you bumping mugs and says "Cheers!"

"Cheers wait hes forty four?! He totally doesnt look it" you blab out which makes Ace laugh and give you the ahha so you like him eyes, so you gulg down some ale trying to cover your blush.

"So whats twenty twenty three like?" Ace asks

"Hmm my memories getting more fuzzy the longer im here but I remember that theres more land than water people drive cars instead of ships."

"Whats a car?" Ace sounds intrigued as he gulps down some booze

"A car is a machine that transports people or things like a ship but is much smaller on wheels on roads like wagons. But their must faster going up to two hundred mph or miles per hour" he almost spat out his drink.

"Woah thats fast!" And you nod smiling now warming up to him more as he was peppy. He smiles back and refills your drink for you.

"Thanks Ace but I shouldnt drink that much." You admit

"No one around here cares if your tipsy or drunk (n)"

"I figured as much since your pirates. So why should I join you guys give me a good reason?" He looks shocked.

"What you havent joined yet? Well for one were all family here and for two we will all protect you from now on"

'Protect me? But im safe if I just stay on the ship right?' You think as Ace grabs another refill and you just sip on your second mug.

~At Dinner~

"We have a guest from the year twenty twenty three. Now treat her with respect as Marco brought her here but hes off on a mission right now... also....(words, words, words)....." You hear Pops say as Ace glances at you from your side. You hear murmurs then some claps and a whistle. Ace said you could sit in Marcos spot when dinner started.

~In The Middle Of The Week~

The week had been pretty uneventful. You discovered that Ace was the second devision commander, Thatch was the fourth devision and Izou was the sixteenth devision. They all sat at your booth during dinner so you grew found of them. Your withdrawals have been getting worse you felt so weak you mainly slept and ate and drank but today you unlocked your door then felt arms drag you out of your room into the hallway where no one was right now.

"So you belong to Marco huh? Well see about that pretty lady" One rookie says while pinning your arms above your head and grabbing your throat. Another rookie starts unzipping his pants. You scream as loud as you can

"ACE HELP!!!" Hoping he would come to save you. The first rookie covers your mouth then says

"Shit she screame-" you bit his fingers down to the bone as he yells then you hear a familiar voice

"Sorry fellas we dont have room on this ship for traitors!" seeing Ace punch the first rookie KOing him then punches the second with his pants open KOing him too, you falling to the floor huffing for air then go up and hug Ace.

"Thank you!" You say as he pets your (L) hair.

"Its all good now my pretty girl. They wont be bothering you anymore." He says then realizes your crying. He wraps his arms around you rubbing your back saying

"Shh there there its okay now your safe. Marco will be back sooner than you think and he can protect you too" you stop crying eventually and release Ace letting him dragging the two who were knocked out to deck and throwing them over board after grabbing their room keys.

"See all good!" Ace beams at you.

"Yea ...." you say shaken up still.

"Why dont you start hanging out with me until Marco gets back?" He says and you just nod.

~On Sunday So One Full Week Has Passed~

You hung out with Ace when youd leave your room and help him with paperwork over the rest of the week. You started opening up more to him, Thatch and Izou. Your withdrawals were a bitch and you knew itd take at least a month before they lessened. You shake slightly wherever you go. Today was supposed to be when Marco got back so you were sitting on a barrel on deck with Ace drinking and talking.

"Hey Ace why was I-"

"Hey look who it is!" He points to the sky and you turn your head to see a blue Phoenix fly onto deck and transform into human form. You see Marco headed to Pops probably to report in. You get up and run over to him embracing him in a hug.

"Marco! Your back!" You yell happily as he smiles, chuckles and looks down at you petting your head.

"I see someone missed me haha. Here follow me I need to report in. Yoi" you let go of him and follow him up to Pops. After his report he looks to you and asks

"So have you decided on joining or not (n)? Yoi" you nod and reply

"Yes ill join but im afraid all I can help with is paperwork haha" you giggle as Pops says

"Well then welcome aboard (n) Child why dont you fill the first devisions assistant spot then?" You nod

"That sounds great ill try my best Pops!" You chime and shuffle your feet nervously. Marco leads you over to Ace and Aces buddies and asks

"So how was the week? Yoi" Ace sighs and says

"Well there was only one incident but I took care of it and her. You two probably have alot to talk about dont you?" Marco nods as he leads you to his room unlocking it and letting you inside leaving the door open to make you feel better. He sits on the couch resting his head on the back, you sit next to him.

"Hey Marco so whyd you bring me here?" He tenses at the question glances at you and sighs

"Well.. before I brought you here. I went to a fortune teller and she said the person id bring through the portal would be my soulmate... Yoi" he blushes lightly resting his eyes. You also blush a deep red as he meant you.

"I see well then...im not opposed to the idea..." you say and blush harder which makes him look to you with a shocked expression.

"My world sucked to be honest haha I like the simple things in life anyways." You smile as he pats your head you leaning into his hand.

"Someones cuddlely haha if you want cuddles all you have to do is ask. Yoi" he states as he withdrew his hand you pout.

"I said you have to ask silly. Yoi" blushing super red you ask

"Marco... could I have cuddles please?" He smiles at you saying

"Of course my little bird come here. Yoi" he pats beside him and you scoot over then lean on his chest as he wraps an arm around you. Shaking slightly from withdrawals he asks

"Have you been taking your medicine? How are your withdrawals going my little bird? How are you getting along on the ship? Yoi" you look up at him meeting his gaze

"Yes I always take my medicine and they got worse honestly it sucks so much. Im doing okay im slowly getting used to everything." You say shaking he transforms into hybrid form and wraps his wings around you.

"We can stay like this for awhile if you want. Yoi" you hear him say as you reply

"Id like that Marco your so warm it feels so nice. Thank you for being so kind" your shaking lessens.

'Hes so laid back its so nice' you think.

"Of course my silly birdie. Yoi" you both dont move and eventually you fall asleep on him. You dream of your old timeline when you awoken by something

"(N)... (n).... Yoi" you hear as your brought back to consciousness. You rub your eyes as you look up and see a smiling Marco looking down at you, petting your hair with his wings. You blush and your sure he takes note of your face. You sit up as he transforms back to human form.

"Whatsup Marco?" You ask sleepily yawning. He chuckles and says

"Its dinner time sleepyhead. Yoi" you look at him and say

"Yay~ food"

"Here come on cutie. Yoi" his comment making you blush, him noticing and smirking. Holding your hand he leads you out and locks his door.

"We didnt talk much sorry I fell asleep" you yawn. He pets your head and says

"Its all right you seemed like you needed the rest so I let you sleep. You looked so cute sleeping. Yoi" he says leading you to his table sliding in the booth then patting beside him you obey and sit next to him.

"Lets congratulate (n) on joining the crew cheers!....(more words)..." Pops says holding up his sake gourd with everyone cheering then drinking. You sip your drink as you dont like alchohol that much you just socially drink and Marco takes note of you. Eating dinner you chat with them all at your table smiling and laughing which makes Marco smile too. After dinner was over you all decided to stay up playing spin the bottle.

"Okay Izou I dare you to take your hair down and say im feelin fabulous!" Ace dares Izou as you all laugh while drinking you were on your third mug feeling quite tipsy but shaking a lot less due to the alcohol. You didnt notice Marcos gaze on you as Izou does the dare and spins the bottle it lands on you and you pick dare for once.

"Allright I dare you to sit on Marcos lap for the rest of the game" Izou says as you blush looking up at Marco he pats his lap and you scoot over sitting on his lap then asking

"Is this okay?"

"Yes dont worry little bird. Yoi" he smiles looking down at you and you smile back turning your attention to the bottle you spin it and it lands on Ace as he picks truth. Thinking hard as the alcohol had tinted your cheeks red you ask

"Hmmm okay whats your body count?" Confused he asks

"What do you mean (n)?"

"How many girls ya slept with?" You correct yourself and he blushes seemingly embarrassed holding up a zero with his hand laughing. He makes you laugh as you lean back into Marcos chest you feel Marco tense up slightly then release. You stay leaning on him as it felt nice.

'Marco feels so nice I can feel his abs and chest why is he so hot?!'

"(N)! (N) (n)!" You hear your name being called and are snapped from your thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Its your turn or were you daydreaming about someone~" they all snicker and laugh while you blush and yell.

"Was not! Im just sleepy!" You hiccup and defend yourself as they all chuckle.

"I pick truth" you say while reaching for your mug but Marco slides your mug away. You look up at him with questioning eyes as he whispers in your ear making you involuntary shiver and the other guys snicker drinking more.

"Cant have my assistant having a hangover tomorrow~ Yoi"

"I dont get hangovers" you correct him as he raises an eyebrow.

"Hey you guys im gonna head to bed let me know how it goes" Thatch says getting up and leaving while Izou stands also

"Same here goodnight everyone" Ace whines and says

"Come on guys things were about to get good!" He yells but stands as you try and crawl out of Marcos lap Ace holds out a hand for you. Taking it you manage to stand swaying a bit.

Yawning you rub your eyes as you hear chuckles. You turn to see Marco stand grabbing your mug headed to the cantina putting them away as Ace looks at you saying

"Well guess its time for bed huh, see ya tomorrow you love birds" Marco chuckles and walks back to you as Ace leaves leaving you alone with Marco. Looking up smiling at him he puts a hand on your back leading you to your room.

"Sweetdreams my little bird. Yoi" he says sweetly and pets your head. Turning to him as you unlock your door you say

"Goodnight handsome" *hiccup* you giggle and wave as he goes back down the hallway to his room. You close the door and lock it as you plop down and curl up in bed falling asleep.

~The Next Morning~

You awake to knocking at your door. With a bed head you go open the door to see

"Goodmorning my little bird slept well I see. Yoi" he chuckles as he fixes your hair.

"Thanks and Goodmorning Marco!" He smiles at you then says

"Time to go to work Yoi" you nod, grab your pills, then lock up and follow Marco to the infirmary. He unlocks the door and lets you in. Sitting across from him at the table he notices your pills and gets you water then hands it to you. Taking your pill, he smiles at you then sets a stack of paperwork on your side of the table. He shows you how to fill out the paperwork and you both get to work. After awhile

"Take a small fifteen minute break (n). Yoi" you look up and nod getting up and headed to the cantina.

"Hey there what can I get yea (n)?" Thatch asks

"I was wondering if I could get a smoothie and what kind does Marco like?" You ask

"Sure lil lady what flavor, weve got melon, strawberry, cherry and pineapple. Oh Marco? He loves anything pineapple" Thatch says

"Could I get a cherry smoothie and could I get a pineapple one for Marco please?" You ask politely smiling.

"Sure! Taking a little break then?" You smile at him and say

"Yup!" Thatch smiles and starts grinding the ice. After he grinds the ice he grinds the fruit and puts them in each mug then stirs and slides them to you taking a sip of yours you blab out

"Thats so fuckin delicious Thatch!!" He chuckles then says

"Glad you like it you better head back to work, he points at the infirmary and your gaze follows his pointing finger to see Marco staring at you through the window.

"Thanks Thatch see ya later!" You say hoping off the barrel grabbing the drinks and walking back to the office. Using your back and elbow you try opening the door but felt it open quickly and you feel yourself fall backwards but am caught by Marco. You hear a chuckle from him as he helps steady you.

"You allright? What have you got there baby bird? Yoi" standing you say

"I got you and me a smoothie here big bird" you turn and hand him his smoothie which he seems surprised.

"Awe thank you. You didnt have to get me this. Yoi"

"Well its hot out and you havent drank much of anything today." You say as he raises an eyebrow

"You keeping tabs on me now? Haha Yoi" he chuckles and sips his drink then his eyes widen slightly.

"Howd you know I love pineapples? Yoi" he asks with a smile. As he stands aside letting you pass him to go to your desk.

"I asked Thatch, he told me" you beamed at him as he nods.

"Allright cutie time to get back to work. Yoi" he says a smile adorning his face.

~October 5th More than Six Months Later~

Whenever the Whitebeard pirates docked at your first island, Marco helped you get some more clothes and shoes etc and womanly products really whatever you needed. Eventually you found out Ace told Marco your age. Marco had said it didnt bother him though. Youve grown quite close to Marco and Ace. Marco and you would cuddle in the open with his wings wrapped around you and Ace would openly flirt with you and give you piggyback rides. You found out a week ago that today is Marcos birthday hes turning forty five today. Your thirty but it doesnt show. Youve been working on something to give him even if it wasnt much.

"Acceee stop pestering me im almost finished here" he looks at your hands while your both chillin in your room on the bed with the door open.

"Ah come on pestering you is my second nine to five" he says laughing as you laugh and reply

"Why dont I believe you? And you go outside those hours you know haha. And done! What do you think will he like it?" You ask as you hand the intricate leather corded bracelet to Ace. He examines it then hands it back to you.

"I think hell love it and if he doesnt ill wear it. And I think hes coming better put it away (n)" Ace says as you put the handmade intricate bracelet with blue and yellow beads on it in your shorts pocket then someone approaches your open door.

"Hey you guys what are you doing? Come out for cake Thatch made. I need Ace to light the candles and (n) blow them out with me Yoi" you see Marco say as he raises an eyebrow to you both being nervous chilling on the single person bed as you both were sitting cross legged.

"Yay cake! I havent had sweets since I got here!" you jump off the bed then put your shoes on and pull Aces arm so hes following you both. Hooking arms with both of them you swing on their arms.

"Your so silly (n)" Ace says while you all make your way to deck you just smiling at them. After getting to deck you all huddle the cake and the rest of the crew is cheering on Marco singing happy birthday as Ace lights the candles Marco asks

"Are you ready (n)? Weve got to get all of them in one go or my wish wont come true Yoi" you nod seriously and giggle as Ace says

"There all lit now blow them out you guys!" You wait for Marco to start blowing the left side as you blow the right side and managed to get all the candles. You clapping, Marco gives you a side hug

"Thanks for your help (n) Yoi" he smiles then releases you as Thatch cuts a slice and hands Marco a plate and fork.

"(N) come share this with me Yoi" Marco says as Ace says

"Happy Birthday Marco!"

"Thanks everyone thanks Ace! Yoi" Marco smiles as he sits down and pats his lap. You instinctively sit on him as he uses the fork to grab some cake and motions for you to eat it off the fork. Looking up at him he says

"Well go on, you were so excited to eat some cake before what happened? Yoi" Marco chuckles as you say

"But its YOUR birthday Marco the birthday boy should eat the first bite" he chuckles then eats the bite of cake off the fork them gets another fork full motioning for you to eat it. Blushing red you open your mouth as he gently lets the fork slide off your mouth.

'Ahh! An indirect kiss?!' You think. Putting your hands to your cheeks you yell

"Ahh thats sooo good and its pineapple flavored!!" You both hear Thatch say thank you from over where the gaint cake was as you notice everyones drinking and partying now with cake slices everywhere. Marco continues to feed himself and you till you both finished the cake. Ace came over handing Marco and you a mug of ale.

"Thanks Ace, Yoi" you both say at the same time which makes you both laugh and him chuckle. After awhile of drinking on your third mug

'Oh shit I almost forgot his gift' you think

"Hey Marco close your eyes real quick" he obeys as you squirm on his lap to get the bracelet out of your pocket. You hold his hand seeing a light blush over Marcos face makes you blush at holding his hand. You gently slip on the bracelet then say

"Okay open!" He obeys then looks at his wrist and smiles

"Wow its so intricate is this what you were hiding in your room? Yoi" he smirks as you blush red

"Hey howd you know?! Did you eavesdrop on us?!" You yell he just shrugs

"You were hiding something. Yoi" he says raising an eyebrow at you which makes you giggle

"Okay you caught me big bird" you say and lean against his chest face red as he chuckles petting your hair

"Thank you for the gift ill treasure it Yoi" making you smile into his chest. After drinking your third mug you felt slightly tipsy and were cuddling Marco as he used his wings to cuddle you back.

"Hey Marco its been awhile wheres (n) did she go to bed allready?" You hear Ace ask

"Shes right here. I think shes tipsy though. Yoi" You feel Marco lower his wings revealing your face against his chest as you open your eyes to see Ace and blush as your hugging Marcos waist.

"Your sure cuddly (n) makin me jelious over here haha. Do you want to join our game?" Ace asks. You rub your eyes and hop off of Marco grabbing your mug while Marco changes back to human form grabbing his mug drinking.

"Sure Ace whats the game?" You ask swaying a bit.

"Drunken truth or dare" Ace says as you facepalm.

"Ace im allready feeling it" he grabs your hand as you know Marco follows you both.

"Too bad! You allready said sure!" Ace chimes and you sigh in defeat. Sitting in the circle that was forming you waited for everyone to refill their mugs. Marco filling yours and sitting next to you with Ace on your other side. Halfway through the game you picked truth two times meaning you had to drink two mugs of ale and if you werent tipsy before you definitely were tipsy now. The bottle lands on you as Thatch says

"Truth or dare (n)"

"Uhm dare"

"Okay I dare you to kiss one of the men here" Thatch snickers as he glances at Marco which you didnt cetch since you were tipsy. Blush adding to the redness in your face you glare at Thatch who chuckles

"You cant switch unless you chug your mug" he says as you look around the circle them all looking at you blushing even more you turn to Marco and quickly reach up holding onto his shoulders kissing him on the lips then sit back down blushing seeing Marco blush too.

"Okay I did it!" You yell spinning the bottle as everyone chuckles.

"(N) I said kiss I didnt say where to kiss" he laughs as you glare at him flipping him off. The bottle lands on Izou which he chugs his drink and you ask

"So do you have any fetishes?" To which he blushes

"Yess (n)" and you laugh with everyone as he spins the bottle it landing on Marco.

"Ill do dare. Yoi" Izou smirks as he says

"Okay I dare you to kiss (n)" chuckling Marco turns to you leaning down sweet soft lips meeting yours then departing as they all clap you blushing even more if that was possible him chuckling at you.

Marco spins the bottle it landing on Ace as Ace says

"Truth" and chugs his mug.

"All right do you have a secret crush? Yoi" Ace blushes and says

"Yes okay" waving it off as he gets up to refill his mug while you giggle. Once he comes back he spins the bottle it landing on you again.

You gulg down your mug as he asks

"Allright (n) who is your crush?"

"You guys stop embarrassing me!" You whine as you sway and gently punch Aces arm making him laugh at you.

"Ughh fine" you close your eyes cross your arms and take a deep breath as you respond.

"Its Marco.." you admit blushing deep red as you felt a pair of strong arms drag you onto a lap. You allready knew whose lap you were on, Marcos since you both would cuddle a lot.

"Awee (n) It seems like he feels the same" Ace chuckles as you look up at Marco him smiling wide then pecks your forehead. You continue playing spin the bottle then Izou, Thatch and Ace call it a night as your left with Marco alone on deck now. Looking up to him you lean up kissing his cheek then say

"Happy birthday Marco I hope it was okay" looking at you he leans down kissing your soft lips as you wrap your arms around his neck. Kissing turns into making out as you reciprocate. Finally breaking for air your blushing like mad giggling.

"So who do you like handsome" you ask as he chuckles.

"Your definitely drunk but I like you too silly to bad you probably wont remember tomorrow." Staring into his eyes you decide to be bold

"Well I might remember if you cuddle with me tonight" you blush but your drunk face was allready enveloped in red.

"Ouu is that an invitation? Yoi" he asks chuckling as you nod.

"Sorry but we wont fit on your bed how about you cuddle with me on mine? Yoi" you just nod and he picks you up bridal style then head to his room unlocking it then locking it once in he sets you on the bed as he undresses his jacket showing off his abs and chest which you couldnt stop staring at.

"See something you like? Yoi" you hear as you blush even more and nod making Marco blush as he comes to the bed sliding in. Him gently pushing you down into his chest. Wrapping his arms around you pulling you as close as possible to him. Your hand cups his cheek as he stares into your eyes.

"Hey so what was your wish?" You whisper.

"I cant tell you silly but it came true. Yoi" Giggling you lean up your lips meet his closing both your eyes you make out as he clutches you close. Feeling a twitch in his pants makes you wet but you know your limits. Breaking for air you huffing he says

"Go to sleep my little bird. Yoi" he nuzzles your head kissing your head into his warm chest as you obey placing both your hands on his chest letting the hum of his heartbeat lul you to sleep.

~The Next Morning~

Your woken up with kisses on your head.

"(N)~ little bird~ Yoi" you come too and open your eyes to see Marco and your cuddling on his bed.

"How are you? You drank a lot last night. Do you remember anything? Yoi" he says as you blush everything comes rushing back to you. Blushing deep red he chuckles

"I remember yea unless it was all a dream." You say. He leans down kissing you as you reciprocate kissing him back. Making out for awhile he breaks for air as your both huffing.

"It was no dream dear. Yoi" he says making you blush.

"So ... you like me too?..." you whisper as he rubs your back.

"Yes I do. Yoi" he admits a light blush dusting his face and yours. Wrapping your arms around his waist you sigh as he asks

"(N) would you be my..... girlfriend? Yoi" shocked you blush a deep red with a look like is that okay? Making him chuckle. Him petting your head he says

"Dont worry its all right. So what do you say? Yoi" he asks as you reply

"Id love that Marco" you smile then lean up to kiss him again. He reciprocates kissing back as he clutches you close. Breaking for air he says

"Allright we have to get to work my little bird. Yoi" smiling at you he slides out of bed putting his glasses on as you pout. He chuckles and hands you the key to the infirmary.

"Why dont you go get started in the infirmary while I finish getting ready. Yoi" he says. You reluctantly slide out of bed saying

"Okay big bird ill go do that" he leans down pecking your lips.

"Good girl. Yoi" he says making you blush as your let out of his room. Everyone knew youd wear some outfits more than one day in a row so wearing this outfit again wasnt a problem. But coming out of the first commanders room the next day turned some heads but noone said anything to you since everyone knew you both were so close anyways.

You walk to the infirmary and open it, grab a stack of papers, and walk to your chair setting them down then sitting down starting paperwork. Soon Marco walked in with wetish hair.

'He must have needed to take a shower. Dont get a nose bleed (n) ahh! Marco in the shower. Ahh!! Me and Marco in the shower ahh!!!!!'

"(N)~ (n)~ ohh (n)~ Yoi" Marcos voice pulls you from your thoughts.

"Im not daydreamin I swear!" you yell as he chuckles and raises an eyebrow.

"Dont even ask" you blush deep red as he laughs now.

"I wasnt planning on it silly. But now im curious what were you day dreaming about? Yoi" hiding your face in your hands you peek at him through your fingers.

"Its nothing!"

"Okay okay Yoi" he says chuckling and sits in his swivel chair grabbing a stack of allready done paperwork from your side of the table that he needs to finish. After you quickly finish up the rest of your paperwork for the day you notice Marco finishing his. Walking over behind him you start giving him a shoulder massage.

"Mhhh feels s'good Yoi" he sits straight as you work your magic.

"Im glad you like it handsome" you say rubbing out the knots. He lets out a soft moan which makes you feel hot down there and blush. Slowly sliding your hands down his chest you kiss his cheek then neck making him shiver. Resting your head on his shoulder he says

"Now how am I supposed to get any work done with you doing all this to me? Yoi" he whines as you giggle.

"Ill stop then" you say and were about to pull away when he gently grabs your hands on his chest.

"Nevermind I like it Yoi" he says which makes you giggle on his neck causing him to shiver slightly.

"Oh you like this?" You say kissing his cheek then butterfly kissing his neck.

"Yes I definitely like this. Yoi" he continues to work but keeps stopping.

"You know what come here. Your too distracting my little bird. Yoi" he pats his lap to which you obey, sit on him resting your head against his chest and kiss the side of his neck one last time. Feeling a bit of a bulge below you makes you blush as he leans down and kisses you, soft lips on yours. Him holding your back for support, you both make out and you slide your tounge out as he reciprocates flicking your tounge bar. After some time you break for air huffing, face red, pussy wet in your shorts. Him chuckles smiling at your face and cups your cheek.

"Is someone embarrassed or just hot and bothered? Yoi" he asks calling you out, making you bury your head in his chest, him chuckling more.

"You know its perfectly natural to have such feelings. Yoi" he says as your heart feels like its gonna burst out of your chest. He seems to notice as he says

"Seems I was right haha. Dont worry beautiful well go at your pace. Whenever your ready. Yoi" you nod against his chest as he continues doing paperwork. Once he finishes his paperwork he lets out a sigh seeing you cuddled against his chest.

"(N) working hours are over, want to get some drinks then cuddle? Yoi" sleepy you nod and get off of him. Yawning you follow him to the cantina.

"Hey Thatch can we get some smoothies going please? Yoi" Marco asks.

"Sure how are you guys doing today? I overheard someone slept in the same room last night" Thatch looks to you and winks while Marco chuckles. Your face going red Marco notices and says

"Its not like that Thatch my little bird just wanted cuddles. Yoi"

"Ahh right." Thatch says as he slides over the drinks.

"Thanks Thatch!" You squeal.

"Thanks. Yoi"

"Sure anytime you lovebirds haha" Thatch chuckles as you both go over to the table sliding in the booth Marco pats his lap and you obey sitting on him while you both finish your drinks. Cuddling into his chest you shiver and hold your head.

"Brain freeze owww!" Whispering in your ear

"You need to learn how to not suck it down so quick. What am I going to do with you my little bird? haha Yoi" he chuckles then uses his flames on your head.

"Thanks handsome" you say and kiss his chest making him transform into hybrid form covering you in blue wings as you continue to kiss his chest then neck. Feeling a bulge again you nip at his neck causing him to bite his lip muffling a soft moan.

"My my what are you trying to do to me my baby bird? Keep this up and ill have to punish you. Yoi" Marco whispers as you look up to him with a devilish grin.

"Oh ya what did you have in mind?" You say boldly which shocks him then he squeezes your thigh with his wing making a moan escape from you. Blushing deep red you stare into his eyes with your lewd glossy eyes. Whispering in your ear

"Are you sure? You dont know who your messing with little bird. Yoi" he slightly growls as you cut him off kissing him as he clutches your thigh the heat getting to you making you even more wet. Breaking for air you say

"Im sure Marco my sweet handsome man" you say as he transforms into human form and picks you up bridal style walking to his room turning some heads but you see Marco is just smiling as normal as he opens his room and locks the door gently throwing you on the bed he sits next to you as you sit up and lean on him. He takes off his jacket hanging it from the bed pole railing as you blush at him again.

"What are you blushin at baby bird? Yoi" he asks as he kisses your cheek then makes his way down to your neck making your heart race and making you shiver. Chuckling he cups your face and kisses you which turned into making out as you wrap your arms around his neck soft moans fall from your lips as he gives a moan in response him wrapping his arms around your waist. Breaking for air you couldnt help but blush. He tugs at the bottom of your shirt then asks

"Are you sure (n)? Yoi" putting your hands on his you help him take your shirt off revealing your black lace bra blushing he gently kisses the crevasse of your breasts as he unbuttons and unzips your shorts sliding them down as you kick off your shoes. You run your hands through his hair. He bends down kissing your lips as he undoes your bra revealing your pierced breasts. He licks one of your nipples then starts sucking as you let out a moan shuffling your legs as he slides off your panties with some effort.

"Ahh! Marco feels good" you see his bulge against his pants so you unbutton his pants but have trouble since he has a sash and jewelry adorning his side. Marco stops sucking and undoes his pants sliding them off leaving his shoes on as he slides his boxers off too revealing quite the package ten inch cock dripping with precum. Smiling you lean forward

"What are yo-! Yoi" taking his cock in your mouth you hear a moan escape from his lips as you swirl your tounge around his tip. Swirling your tounge bar around his crevasse of his mushroom head you start sucking, slowly going deeper and deeper making moans fall from Marcos lips

"Fuckk! Dam it (n) that feels so good! Yoi" after a couple minutes your deep throating him, humming keeping pace making him grip the bed railing he pulls you off of him throwing you on the bed.

"Your in for it now. Yoi" you see blue flames in his eyes as he spreads your legs hands gripping your thighs as he bends down and you feel his velvety tounge inbetween your folds of your pussy sucking on your folds and entrance as he sticks his long tongue in your wepping hole.

"Ahhh!!! Marco!! Yes!!!" You yelp as your thighs twitch trying to close but he holds them firmly in place while skillfully eating you out.

"Marco!! Gonna ahh gonna cum!!" You yell as he thrusts in and out with his tounge.

"Fuckk!! Marco im cum-ming" you felt your walls constrict around his tounge as he laps up your juices. After cleaning you with his tounge, he crawls on top of you his lips meeting yours as you kiss then he breaks off asking

"Are you ready my little bird? Yoi" you look at him with a lewd expression nodding.

"Yes im ready Marco~" you run your hands through his hair as he positions his precumming dick at your entrance slowly inserting himself as you gasp at his girth as he slides his full tip in making you moan

"Ahh Marco your so big!!" He chuckles and starts thrusting, slowly inching his way in you as you grip the sheets. Feeling his sweet lips on yours you reciprocate wrapping your arms around his neck playing with his hair. Parting for air he finally bottoms out in you reached your cervix making you moan loudly.

"Fuckk! (n) your so tight" you hear him say as you moan

"Ahh god! Marco your so fuckin big! You hit my wall!" He chuckles while moaning. Suddenly you both hear a knock on his door. He puts a finger up to his lips for you to stay silent as he continues to thrust into you. Biting your tounge, you try not to moan.

"Who is it? Yoi"

"Hey its Ace have you seen (n)? I wanted to ask her something." Ace says through the door.

"Shes right here, were talking well be out soon. Yoi" he smiles while he thrusts extra deep into your g spot, at right here causing tears to form and you to actually bite your tounge. You dig your nails into his shoulders.

"Okay Ill ask her later, well have fun you two" you hear Ace walk off as Marco chuckles

"You did so well baby bird should I reward you now? Yoi" as he continues his slow paced thrusts, gasping for air you say

"Please yes Marco! Your gonna make me cum again!" You say squeezing your pussy muscle.

"Ou you naughty girl! Maybe I should punish you instead? Yoi" you shake your head no releasing your muscle as he chuckles

"So you think you deserve a reward now? Yoi" you shake your head yes as he says

"Since youve been so cooperative, I suppose ill reward you. Yoi" saying as he folds you into a mating press making you moan

"Ahh fuckk yes!! Marco sssoo deeep!!" You hear him chuckle as he picks up his pace now hitting your g spot every time, that ball of heat in your abdomen begging for release.

"God!! Your sso good aat thatt!! Gonna cumm!!" He smiles at you keeping a good pace as he continuously hits your spot.

"Cum on my cock (n)!! Yoi" he yells in your ear thrusting deeper if possible, sending you over the edge. Your face contorts into a lewd expression as you come to your third orgasm this time being more powerful

"Ahh!! Marco!!! Im .. im s'soo good! cumming!!" He picks up the pace, thrusting through your high as he starts to relentlessly pound you.

Moaning uncontrollably now you start to drool.

"You like that? Like my cock buried deep in your pussy? Yoi" he asks loudly as you nod

"Yess big bird!! I love it!!" You yell with tears in your eyes as he smirks. Going at now a break neck speed he moans with you. Feeling your self cum prematurely your walls clamp on his cock making him grunt but continue thrusting.

"Naughty girl tell me when your gonna cum! Yoi" he thrusts extra deep at the word cum, making you a moaning mess.

"Ssorry!" You yell hanging onto his neck.

"Shit! Im close! Where should I cum? Yoi" looking at him with lidded sex driven eyes managing to get out

"My birth control is still effective so cum in me Big bird!" his eyes widening

"Are you sure my good girl? Yoi"

"Yes please I need you!!" you moan out loudly as he continues his speed and thrusts as deep as he can feel your greedy hole sucking his cock deep in your womb.

"Get ready (n) im about to cum deep inside you! Yoi" Just hearing his words make your abdomen burn you about to cum again also.

"Mar-co im go-nna Im gonn-a cum!" yelling as you dig your nails into his shoulders.

"Cum on my cock baby bird cum with me! Yoi" He bends down sucking hard on your neck leaving his marks on you.

"Ye-s fir-st comm-ader!!!" your tounge out, you gasping for air. You feel one of his hands on your abdomen him feeling his cock splitting your womb open as he thrusts into you. His cock twitches in you as his cock stiffens you knowing that means a male is about to cum.

"Im gonna cum little bird! Yoi"

"Me too" you both yell as you feel your cunt swallow his dick, walls clamping down makes his cock squirt his gaint load into you.

"Fuck im cumming big bird!!"

"Im cumming too!! Take my hot seed (n)!! Yoi" Marco moans as he thrusts through both your sex highs.

"Fuc-kkk!!! Go-d Mar-co y-es!!" you moan as he slowly comes to halt. Slowly letting your legs down with a gasp from you, he slides you closer to him making his cock go all the way into you pressing your cervix as he picks you up. Stepping into the shower with your fucked out face arms around his neck legs around his torso. As he holds your ass and back, he chuckles as you both regain your breath, him faster than you since hes also a fighter.

"Was it that good my little bird? Yoi" chuckling he stares into your eyes as he turns on the water. Having developed a deep blush you respond

"Uh huh"

"Im gonna pull out now little bird. Yoi" him chuckling, you nod and gasp as he holds you up while sliding his gaint cock out of you. Once he pops out his tip you moan loudly as he sets your feet on the floor feeling both your cum dripping out of you. Leaning against his chest your sure he can feel your legs twitching.

"I dont think I can walk straight Marco" chuckling he pets your head as he soaps you both up then helps clean you after himself him fingering your throbbing cunt soaping it up then letting the water rinse away all the soap. Moaning at his touch you kiss his chest as he turns off the water. Shivering at the loss of heat, he steps out handing you a towel as you walk out legs twitching as he transforms into hybrid form wrapping his warm wings around you holding you close to him. Leaning into his chest you close your eyes as he holds you, the water evaporating off you both. Once dry he takes your towel and puts it into the hamper as you both get dressed.

"How do you feel now my little bird? Yoi"

"I feel much better thank you Big bird~" you coo to him. He helps you get dressed as he dresses too. You both exit his room as he locks it, he bends down and says

"Here hop on Yoi" obeying you hop on his back as he hikes you up on his back holding your thighs, he walks you both to dinner turning some heads. He lets you down at the table and he slides in patting his lap as you obey sitting on him.

"Talking my ass" You hear Ace say at the table making you cock your head to the side. He just points to his neck as you realize what he meant. Marco had marked you it rushing back to you, you blushing deep red as Thatch, Izou and Marco just chuckle. Marco petting your head as Ace says

"You coulda just said you guys were busy"

"Uh huh because that always works with you" you say to Ace crossing your arms. Ace gives you a face and you giggle.

"So im guessing you two finally are a thing?" Ace raises an eyebrow as you hear from behind you

"Yea haha my sweet little birdie couldnt help herself Yoi" looking up at Marco you blush deep red as you turn to your side resting your head against his chest yawning.

"Awee is someone tired~ Yoi" he lets the word tired roll off his tounge making you blush harder. Glancing up to him then closing your eyes you just nod. Snickering Ace says

"Ya I bet your tired~"

~Six Months Later~

The Whitebeard pirates stopped off at an bar island, Ace piggybacked rode you to the bar. Marco said hed be there soon that hes finishing up first commander things. After awhile of chatting with Ace.

"So I over heard that one of the nurses likes you Ace~" You say as you both drink some ale.

"Really now which one?"

"Kiki"

"Oh Kiki now ya shes super cute. What should I say to her?" Ace asks while sipping his ale.

"Just ask her how she is doing use an icebreaker then see what she says dummy." You giggle as you hear some pirates walk in making a ruckus turning to look but felt an arm wrap around you as your mug falls from your hand. You realize the man who had you also had a knife to your neck.

"Ace!"

"Dont move Fire Fist Ace shes ours now!" Your assuming the leader of these thugs. You notice Ace look behind you as most of this guys crew was faceing the bar.

"Oh you dont have to worry about me saving her" Ace says as you feel a presence behind you and the leader lowers the knife slightly confused.

"What? Whaddya mean?" The thug leader asks.

"He means me! Yoi" The thug leader turns around but sees his crew knocked out in one attack of Marcos hybrid form then before you know it your freed from the thug leader grip and Marco kicked him through the door out onto the street. Marco transforming into human form walks out the door to outside. You follow with Ace in tow outside and see Marco punching the thug leader into unconsciousness.

"Marco hes out!" You and Ace yell to him. He stops and walks over to you putting an arm around your waist pulling you with him with Ace in tow.

Suddenly you wake up in your bed beads of sweat pour down your body. Looking around you just see your room headphones playing the One Piece theme songs. Slowly realizing that you had just had a vivid dream you start crying. Tears flowing down your face tears staining your shirt and covers.

"It was just a dream.... just a dream..."

[panzershrike-pretz]

Lanterns

Part 2

Disclaimer: If the timeline becomes confusing, remember my universe has time loops -> places where the time has been stopped. Tortuga is one of those places, it's stuck on the past behind a thin veil, while the present goes on as normal.

Summary: A Goddess who lost her faith, trying to get back to her senses so her family doesn't fall apart.

Warnings: ???nothing?? I think??

Taglist: @malarkgirlypop, @bucky32557038ww2 (if you want in or out, just tell me!)

-> Image below found here.

The day after the storm was calm. If it wasn't for Blithe, peacefully floating along the current, no one would even know about the gale of last night. Pacing around the main deck, all the damage was now visible.

"The mizzen really is broken", the Captain sighed, his hand on his hip as he lookesd up, wondering what exactly happened to it. "Cheer up, boys, we'll be makin' way to port earlier."

Peggy marched along the bow, sniffing whatever was left of the things caught up in thes raging battle against the weather. She was more than happy to find a dead fish, looking around before gulping the thing down - it didn't try to escape, which means it was food.

"Whatcha got there, big girl?", one of the crewmates asked, but it was too late. Being caught, Peggy simply ran off with her prise, leaving him to wonder what the fuck was up with that dog.

"Hey, Rodion, c'mere." The Captains voice was rough and the man quickly went to his service, following his glance. "What'dya think? We make it to Tortuga or stop earlier?"

"Earlier. Our sails are all ragged and we'd need a couple days far from trouble to get it all fixed."

The Captain felt defeated. He wanted to make the trip as quickly as possible and make port back in Tortuga before the end of the year, to properly celebrate, but he knew his impatience was what got them all in truble in the first place.

The ship creacked along, tilted a bit to the side. They still had enough water and food for weeks, but old Blithe wouldn't be able to make it to Tortuga - specially if they ended up in the middle of another gale or, may the Gods forbide, ended up face to face with a Man O' War.

"CHEER UP, JEREMY!", the First Mate yelled, far above them, sitting in the main mast's crow nest. She didn't exactly show up yesterday, which fuelled even more the Captains rage. He needed a break (and would've gotten one in Tortuga, dammit!).

Her smile was wide as she pushed herself from the edge of the nest, free falling for most part before opening her wings wide to glide the rest of the way down. The woman had a flask of some good ol' whisky in hand as she opened her arms, maybe to try and hug Jeremy's angryness out.

"Don't", he simply said, putting his hand up to stop her. "Where exactly was you last night, Athena?"

"Hmmm... wanderin'..."

The way she didn't even flinch while flat out saying she abandoned her crew had Jeremy really missing his old days in the Royal Navy - keel hauling would be very welcomed sometimes. But he couldn't simply keelhaul Athena. She'd break free - and damn him once again.

"Lis'en, Cap'n, I ain't lyin' to ya. I flew off. BUT!" And she put two of her fingers up, one of each hand, to stop him from speaking. "Good news is we're not far from some whatever-the-fuck town. We all can rest, get the Mizzen and whate'er else fixed, spend some money....... Jeremy, why ye lookin' a' me like tha'?"

"You flew off 'n left us in the middle of a gale. A big one. Why wouldn't I look at ye like this?" he almost growled. Athena wasn't impresesed.

"Look, Jerry, mate... sometimes things are just... ehh" she was saying, as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "I wasn't feelin' it, ya know?"

"Someone could've died, Athena."

"What would I do? Is Enoch's job to bury people! Gods, Cap'n, ye're as hard as a rock, aren't ya? E'ery last man is still standin'. No one died. We win!"

Jeremy was gathering all his strenght not to punch her right in the face with his iron hand; he knew that was just how Athena was. She was the Death Goddess, for Her sake, would she really care if a few peoples died?

He knew the answer: she loved her crew more than she loved booze, herself or flying. She'd give up both her wings for them. After all, she found a safe place for them to stay... but it didn't excuse the fact that she ran away without telling anyone. Again.

"Fiona, keep that mizzenmast in place, will ye?", he finally said, turning his attention away from Athena to look at the girl.

She was entertained in making little flower buds grow out of Peggy's fur, almost missing the order. She quickly got back on her feet, silent as always, while making her way to the mizzen. The plan was simple: make vines strong enough to keep it in place 'till they docked.

"Athy, wasn't 'cause of you flying away that your ol' crew did a mutiny? Wasn't it your daughter's orders?", Rodion asked, a playfull smirk on his face as the First Mate turned on her heels to look at him.

"Shut yer trap, bastard" she oushed him away, making the man laugh. "Get yer ass back in line, boy."

"As you wish, Mama Bird", he winked, then laughed his way towards one of the Captain's mates, Sirius, who didn't seem all that awake while steering the wheel.

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

The rain and storm may not have killed or seriosly injured anyone, but it still made some victims to a cold. Pangey, for one, couldn't stop running around the lower deck, trying to get at least somethings in place so she could find the medicine.

"Do a potion", a woman said, making her almost jump. "We got some herbs and stuff, it'll work better".

"Miss Serpens, ya almost scared me to death", the other, with one hand above her heart, took a deep breath trying to calm herself. "Besides, I don't know how to make 'em and the crew aren't really all that inclined to wait. I'm just a medic, not some witch."

"Lucky for you, I am." Hydra had a sweet smile on her face. Pangey stood still, watching while she gathered a cauldron and enough stuff to use.

Pan didn't know any of the ingredients, but she still stayed there, against the ships counter, paying attention while the Goddess hung up her stuff and, with a little snap of her fingers, made a small spark light the coal and wood below on fire.

It was ingrained in Hydra's memory. She grew up loving potions and always tried something new - well, at least when her mom would let her, anyway. She used to do some harmless pranks on her brother - Sirius' face when one day he drank some tea and immediately started coughing up moths never failled to make her laugh. Granted, he never again accepted anything she gave him to drink or eat.

The lower deck was badly lighted by some lanterns, attached to the ship by chains so they wouldn't fall and break - yet, yesterday some still did. Everything was a mess that needed cleaning, but with half the crew ill, it would need to wait.

Pangey couldn't for the life of her seem to figure out where was the medicine box, amidst all the chaos. She didn't even noticed the way Hydra looked at her, while making somewhat funny faces trying to catch any memory of how the box was. They were all the same.

"Don't beat yourself up, dear", Hydra said as she grabbed a knife to cut up some of the herbs. "We don't really need them now. I'll make them feel better, you can catch a break."

"Still, i was never like this, so careless with the essentials. I always had something on me... that little bag, you remember? I forgot where it was."

"Down below", a boy said, looking almost greenish as he sat close to them.

"Where?"

"Laying with Davy Jones", he pushed his glasses in place. His hair was neatly put, not a single strand out of place - even when feeling bad, Horace could not bear the thought of presenting himself badly or even close to messy. "Hydra, is it finished yet...? I am dying here."

"The water is just now boiling, boy, you'll have to wait."

"But my nose is all... stuffed. I can't breathe well! And my throat hurts. Badly."

"Then maybe you need to shut the fuck up, it'll hurt less", another boy said as he passed, going up the stairs before Horace could even think of an answer.

"Oh, dammit. Why don't we just toss him overboard?"

"Because..." Hydra stopped, knife in the air, playful. "Enoch's important. And you know how things are: kill one of his and you are dammned for the rest of your life."

"I hate curses... almost as much as i hate having my nose all closed up! Pangeyyyy, help a guy out! I'm dying over here!"

"I wish, darling. We have no meds for now, you'll have to drink her stuff."

"Fuck."

Horace hated to admit that it worked in about half an hour. The potion acted quickly and he was feeling better in no time - which meant that everyone else was up too and the ship could finally be put in order again.

"Dammit, I found the meds", Pangey huffed, as soon as she began moving boxes. "Be real, Miss Serpens, you just put some spell on me so you could make a potion, right?"

"Not really", Hydra smiled. Pangey wasn't really sure if she could believe this one. "But now you know how to make a quick potion for colds, don't you? I see this as a win-win kind of situation".

"Gods do really love messin' around, don't they?"

"We do. But I wouldn't mess around with people's health. Believe me, if I knew where these meds were hiding, I'd use them."

She helped Pan push the box back to the infirmary, wich had it's door broken yesterday and sent all it's contents flying all over the room.

The two of them didn't really speak while working on puting stuff back in place - 'till Pangey turned to her and asked: "Miss Serpens, aren't you sad we'll not make it to Tortuga for yer Holiday?"

"Hum. Night of Libero Sanctis?", she shook her shoulders. "I wish we could celebrate it there, but Blithe needs to have a check up, right girl?" she pat the ship's wall, smiling as if it could understand the Goddess. Everyone had a slight feeling that Blithe did, almost like their own little surpestition. "At least we'll be together anyway, Panpan. That's what that night is about, not some silly trip to the beach."

"And definetely not about having to hear Miss Ezebel, 'ight?", Pangey raised her eyebrows, catching Hydra make a face.

"Yeah, definetely. Woudn't like sharing my special day with that harlot. Constance can have her island all to herself, I don't mind."

"Especially after this fucking storm."

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

Peggy poked her head around the corner, making sure no one was looking as she skipped around with a sword between her teeth, tail violently wagging again.

It would be a problem to however found the dog and her new toy.

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

[mac-kd8]

                                                 Law x pregnant readers

Waking up, (Name) only felt tired as if she hadn't slept in months.  She  just blamed it from the late nights of working and nothing else. Not even realizing when she woke up it was already in the afternoon and the Heart Pirates were currently eating in the galley.

With a loud groan (Name) took off her Pj's and walked into the shower, she gasped slightly when the water presser felt a little more sensitive on her chest than usual.

(Name) shrugged it off, thinking it was because she was still healing from the last battle she took part of, so she didn't think much about it. Propping herself next to her captain like she always does, she quietly ate her late lunch while trying to keep her eyes open. Law being the observant man he is, grew quite worried about his beloved wife acting so fatigue. "Are you alright?" Law asked, trying to act he wasn't concerned. She only nodded before face-planting into her food with a loud smack. No one panicked or thought it was something to worry about, guessing (Name) was just having a narcoleptic attack.

Later that day, (Name) was currently laying on her bed while reading a book. Feeling like she was about to throw up, she put down her book next to her and quickly opened the bathroom door. She then puke out all of her lunch and maybe last night dinner as well into the toilet. Wipeing her mouth, (Name) then headed toward the sink to splash some cold water on her face.

Feeling a familiar presence, (Name) then turned her head to where Law was currently standing with a worried expression on his face. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I guess it's just a little food poisoning." (Name) said while scratching the back of her head.

"Alright but let me know when it gets worse."Law stated as he exited the bathroom.

(Name's) heart almost escaped from her chest when the submarine started shaking and yellow lights started flashing. Running onto the deck she could already see a battle taking place with men in white and blue uniforms on one side and men in colorful hats and white overalls on the other side. Unsheathing her twin katanas, (Name) then started cutting one marine after another but for some strange reason she already felt like she was out of energy. 20 minutes into the battle, with a large pant for air she finishes off the last of the marines before wobbling back to the submarine's doors.

"Damn why am I already out of breath, those marines were just small fries. My training methods haven't changed one bit, why do I feel so weak. "(Name) muttered to herself in annoyance.

(Name) only pushed her food around on the plate, hardly nibbling then she looked around the room. Everyone was so cheerful and she couldn't help but smile.

"Not eating much I see." Law commented, leaning over to whisper in her ear. Not like he needs to, over the usually loud noise that the Heart Pirates made at each meal.

"I'm just not hungry." She responded.

"Strange and I thought for someone who was out of breath just by fighting a few marines would be starving." Law stated in a matter-of-factly tone.

"Is it not to your liking, (Name)?" The head chef asked, catching sight of Law's actions.

"It's good. I'm just not hungry right now"(Name) said as she pushed back the plate.

"I'll put it in the fridge until you feel like eating again,"The chef said as he scooped up her plate of uneaten food.

"Do you need to lie down again?" Law asked her again for the third time today.

"I'm okay."

"Could I get some orange juice though?"(Name) sweetly asked the cook.

Then immediately , the crew got back to their usual antics paying no mind to (Name's) odd behavior.

She got to her feet while squeezing Law's shoulder gently. "I'm going to read a book." She said before taking a sip of the juice.

She was hoping that it was simply a case of stomach flu and not something alot more serious.

(Name) was once again in the bathroom and vomiting all of what she ate yesterday, which was not that much. (Name) felt terrible , as would anyone in these types of situations would, however, she still didn't want to bring the matter up. Luckily, Law hasn't woken up from his deep slumber , which made her sigh in relief. Slipping back into bed, she then let her eyelids close as she slept all the way through the afternoon again.

Then that cycle of having no appetite and vomiting lasted for this day as well, which made Law start to worry even more about his wife.

"(Name)!" She picked up her head by the ship's railing in surprise as she heard her name being called by Penguin. Her stomach hadn't seemed to settle, and now she is throwing up into the sea.

She then turned her head to the mechanic, trying her best not to look sick.

Penguin walked up to (Name) getting rather closer, causing (Name) to become nervous.

"You look pale." Penguin commented.

"I haven't been feeling well the last few days Penguin. So I'm probably a bit pale." (Name) stated .

"You're sick (Name)?" questioned Shachi. (Name) nodded her head, however quickly realized what she had brought up.

"I'm only slightly sick, just a little headache. Really."

"You sure (Name)?" Law asked as he walked up to the swordswoman, worried about her health.

She then gave a reassuring thumbs up to everyone to show that she was okay. Though internally, she was kicking herself for lying to the crew, even more so to her trusting and loving husband. The crew soon believed the lie as they continued with their day, however, Penguin, Shachi, and Law didn't seem to be convinced, so they kept an eye on her.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it." (Name) thought as she ran to the bathroom for the third time this week. She still was getting lucky with Law having once again already left their room or sleeping, but she knew that it was only a matter of time before they really began to be suspicious.

"This will pass. This will pass."(Name) kept telling herself furiously as she finished with her recent vomiting episode. She picked herself up, taking in deep breaths trying to settle her stomach. As she looked into the mirror, she noticed that she is even paler than yesterday.

Putting on a brave face, she then walked out of the bathroom and went onto the deck.

"Land ahoy!" Shachi shouted as he pointed at the piece of land.

All of the Heart Pirates gather around the railing in a disorderly long line, and lean over it, while watching the island they were about to dock. They had docked at a unique island well-known in the areas as vicious wild blood thirsty animals live there.

"Yahoo, a new adventure!" (Name) said happily before walking off the submarine's plank. As she got closer and closer onto the island, she felt someone grabbing her shoulder.

"I think it's for the best if you stay back in your current state."Law stated with a worried look on his face.

She only shrugged his hand off. "I'm fine, I feel a lot better today."

Before Law could protest, (Name) had already made her way onto the island.

And then she left, not running, but walking kinda in a slow pace into the forests.

After some time had passed, both Penguin and Shachi had returned after a troublesome adventure with some saber-tooth monkeys. Law was starting to get a little worry since (Name) wasn't back yet, so he went the same direction she walked in.

As Law walked deeper and deeper into the forest he finally made eye contact with the swordswoman. "Help!" (Name) called out as she was kneeling onto the tall grass while clenching her slightly bleeding shoulder.

Law was surprised, (Name) never called for help unless it's something really serious or life-threatening .

Activating his Room he switches places with (Name) while killing the beast in the process.

While Law was carrying (Name) through the forest, she leaned away from his chest so she wouldn't get vomit onto his clothes

-x-

"I'm going to take a blood sample." (Name) nodded as she rolled up her sleeve allowing Law to apply the alcohol onto her skin then inserting the needle. Only taking a tiny amount, Law removed the needle and quickly placed a band-aid on where he poke her. "You can leave, I will give you your results as soon as possible."

She only nodded before leaving the infirmary room.

Law stood there from where he was sitting in shock, not knowing how to feel after reviewing the results of her blood test. It was a mix of happiness, relief, fear and mostly parental love. It took all of his strength not to jump down like a crazy man who just won the lottery, because it was the middle of the night and he didn't want to wake up his crew. When he finally made it to the doors of his room, he put on a calm face and slowly and quietly opened the door. "Hi Captain, so did my blood test turn out good?" (Name) asked casually.

"Yep, it seems that both of you are fine." Law said with a big goofy smile on his usually calm and serious face. (Name) looked at her captain in surprise and in slight confusion, even already knowing the answer. "W-what do you mean the b-both of us?" (Name) managed to stutter out.

"I mean our baby. You're 9 weeks pregnant."

He was in love with (Name), and the idea of her having his baby was ideal to him, but it was still a shock, they'd never even spoken or brought up the subject. He wanted a family, but the idea still scares him. All the memories of his mother and father, and his little sister Lami all stuck to him. Then, the struggles and problems of them being famous pirates with both of them having large bounties on their heads. And all of the struggles that their child will face as well, everything he, (Name) and his unborn child, everything they will face together suddenly hit him in one go.

"Law I'm sorry, I should have been more careful." (Name) said while sobbing.

Law quickly, but carefully picks her up and sits her onto his lap while stroking the spot where their child was growing.

"Sorry for what? Making this the happiest day of my life." Law said before kissing her still flat stomach.

(Name) began to cry more but it wasn't tears of sadness, they were tears of joy. "We're going to be parents. I'm going to be a mom."

"And I'm going to be a dad. " Law said while showering her with even more kisses. (Name) squeaked when Law gently swooped her off her feet and began sprinting across the metal halls.

"What the... Law?!"

"Your shoulder, your shoulder was wounded. You're staying overnight, no, 3 nights in the infirmary. What if the baby got hurt. What if the baby got killed?"Law started listing off the things that could happen to their unborn child.

-x-

"Everyone, we have an announcement!" Law shouted loudly to get everyone's attention who was on the deck.

"We're getting a new crew member." (Name) said while trying to hold back her giggles.

"Oh, that's nice, when can we meet them?" Penguin asked.

"Less than 9 months." Law answered which made everyone go completely silent.

"We're having a baby!" Both (Name) and Law shouted cheerfully.

They were all staring at the expected couple, completely dumbfounded.

Astounded, flabbergasted, shock whichever word to describe their expressions and the tense atmosphere. Law's hand started to turn purple just by how hard (Name) was squeezing his hand.

"CONGRATULATIONS," Penguin and Shachi shouted in perfect unison.

"This is amazing, this calls for a party!" A Heart Pirate exclaimed.

"No alcohol for the pregnant woman though," Bepo smiled warmly at her from Law's side.

"(Name), don't cry, " Law said, reaching around her shoulders to comfort her.

"I know, it has to be the unbalanced hormones. I'm just so happy, this is a new chapter of my life." (Name) said as she cried into Law's chest.

Throughout the day everyone was partying while congratulating the new parents-to-be.

"So who will be the godparents?" Bepo asked.

"We have already decided that Ikkaku and you will be the godparents of our child."(Name) answered. Bepo then lifted both (Name) and Law off their feet and gave them a big hug while crying tears of joy. "Thank you, I'll be the best godfather ever." Bepo said, which made everyone in the Heart Pirates stare in jealousy, especially Penguin and Shachi.

"You guys will make great uncles." (Name)said with a big smile while hugging both of them in her arms.

"Lucky bear." Shachi muttered.

The 2 mechanics' faces turned a deep shade of red when (Name) kissed both of them on the cheek. "Don't worry, there is enough love to go around."

Then out of nowhere, a large explosion could be heard across the deck.

"Heart Pirates, Give up now or prepare to die."A marine holding a megaphone demanded.

(Name) smirked before unsheathing her twin katanas as she got into a fighting stance.

"Do your worst.''She retorted before Law used his devil fruit ability to transport her back into the sub.

Law shut the metal doors, ignoring the loud banging noises that were coming from the other side.

"Law, you ass, I want to fight too. Let me out, let me out." (Name) demanded as she kept on banging her fist onto the metal door.

"No, as your captain and doctor I order you to stay back and let us handle this. You're pregnant, you need to take it easy for now on."Law stated, which made (Name) slump down in disappointment. She hated being useless, she wanted to fight, she wanted to help, she wanted to do something besides laying down and doing nothing.

"Oh great, 7 more months of being totally useless." (Name) muttered under her breath while sighing.

A few weeks later-

(Name) felt like she was already going crazy. She wasn't allowed to do anything and she meant she couldn't do anything. First, the large weights she and Jean Bart can usually lift with ease have been replaced with 5 pound weights and she wasn't even allowed to use them for more than 5 minutes. Law had also forbidden( name) in certain places in the submarine as well, which was almost one half of the metal vessel that was off limits for her.

(Name) also swears, Law has super hearing because when she decides to get out of her bed, Law uses his devil fruit abilities to teleport himself right next to his wife's side.

"Law, go back to work. I'm just getting a snack."(Name) protested.

"Then ask me or someone else from the crew to get it for you. You're still in your first trimester of pregnancy, there is still a possible chance of miscarriages or physical deformities or all sources of possible medical stated as he called forth his room again then instantly a jar of peanuts appeared in his hand.

"Here, take these and go back to our room." Was all Law said as he pointed the direction of where their room was located, as if she was completely clueless of where she had been living for most of her life.

Rolling eyes (Name) went back to her room while munching down on the jar of peanuts on the way.

-x-

When the Heart Pirates docked onto an island, (Name) thought she could get some alone time to herself while getting the necessary items for the future stages of her pregnancy. And it was a good thing too since her pants and shirt had been feeling tight lately. "Bye Captain, I'm going to do a little shopping." (Name) said before she jumped off the submarine's front deck.

"Room, Shambles." Law now had (Name) in his arms.

"What the hell Law?" (Name) questioned.

"I'm coming with you, " Law stated as he tightly held her hand.

"Law, I'll be just fine. It's just a little shopping, I'm barely showing." (Name) retorted while trying to slip her hand from Law's strong grip.

"Nope, as long as you're carrying my child you're stuck with me." Law said, securitly wrapping around his arm onto her waist.

After 5 medical and clothes stores later, Law's arms were both covered in shopping bags while (Name) just carried a single bag with a small bottle of medicine inside of it.

"Law, let me carry that for you. You know I can lift 1000 times my own body weight." (Name) Stated with an annoyed frown.

"I got this, I don't want you to lift even one eight of your body weight. Your-" (Name) then cut off Law before he could finish the rest of this statement. "Yeah, Yeah, I know I'm pregnant and pregnant women shouldn't be exerting themselves."

Smirking devilishly, (Name) came up with a small plan to get away from her overbearing husband.

"Hey honey, I really need to use the bathroom."(Name) said as she pretended her bladder was about to burst.

"Very well."He responded, then they headed to the closest bathroom.

Reaching down in her left sock, (Name) grabbed a screwdriver and began unscrewing the bathroom's top window.

When (Name) was finally outside of the building, she began to grin like she has been in prison for 20 years and just now escaped. She was free, she could do whatever she wanted without worrying about Law dragging her back to their room and making her stay there until the next day.

In a swift motion, (Name) unsheathed her twin katanas and blocked an attack from a familiar mask man.

"Yo... it's been a while, when was the last time we fought together."(Name)greeted, enjoying the weight and feel of her swords when fighting. "Too long and this time I will become victorious." Killer responded.

Killer and (name) have been rivals ever since their crew had first met. The 2 of them will always break into fights everytime when they see one another. But so far they're about even, most of the time their fights usually ended up in draws.

The fight soon stopped when Killer stepped away and put back his scythe blades into its case. "Hey what gives, why are you chickening out now! The fight was just about to get better." (Name) shouted.

"I'm not fighting a pregnant woman, I want to kick your ass at your best."Killer stated while pointing to her slightly rounded stomach. "Damn, I knew I should have put on more baggy clothing."(Name) thought to herself as she tried to cover her baby bump.

"You're a pirate, why should you even care? Pirates do whatever they want."(Name) exclaimed while pouting slightly.

"I may be a pirate but I'm still a man who doesn't like fighting weak women." Was all he said before walking away.

"I'm not weak...fight me, please! Law won't even let me hold a fork. Please, I'm only on my 16 week."(Name)whined as she tugged onto Killer's shirt.

"No, and you look alot more further along than that."Killer retorted which made (Name) gasp loudly of being called fat.

Before Killer had any time to dodge, (Name) kicked him square in the balls which made him groan in pain.

"Meanie!" (Name) spat out before taking off into the forest nearby with small tears running down her face.

"Ouch!"He groaned loudly, laying on the ground while holding his sore nuts.

-x-

Law was pissed. But mostly Law was extremely worried. He couldn't find his wife anywhere, but what really worries him is that the Kid Pirate's ship has been spotted as well.

What if the Kid Pirates took advantage of his wife's current state or even worse killed her on the spot.

No matter how much observation Haki Law uses, he didn't have any lead on where his wife is.

"Captain, we know where she is." Penguin reported.

"Yeah, Killer from the Kid Pirates told us she kicked him in the nuts and went into the forest,"Shachi added.

"And why did she kick him in the nuts, (Name) doesn't usually use low blows?"Law stated with a raised eyebrow.

"Well,"Penguin started off while scratching the back of his head.

"He kinda called her fat." Shachi answered.

In a blink of an eye, Law called forth his room and teleported himself into the forest. Without even trying, Law hears small whimpers coming from the top of a tree so he looks up and sees the person he was looking for all day.

"(Name!)Law called out his wife's name.

"Go away!" She screamed then resumed crying again.

"No, I know I've been a little too clingy lately, but it's only because I want the best for you and our future kid as well. And to be fair, I don't really blame you for running away from me, so that is why I promise you I will try my best to give you your space."Law promised as he kneeled down.

(Name) stopped crying and looked at her husband.

"Okay, I'm coming down now."(Name) responded as she started climbing down onto one branch after another.

She gasps when one branch snaps from her weight and she begins to fall, face first into a painfull fall, and Law swears his heart stops for 5 seconds as his throat hitchs.

"Room, shambles!"

When his wife's stomach was only inches away from hitting the hard ground, she instantly appeared in Law's arms.

"Law, I'm sorr-"(Name) whispered her husband's name.

"That was way too close." He then looked and touched her baby bump gently.

"You're never ever leaving my sight until that baby is out of you. That's an order." Was all he said as he started walking back to the sub with his wife in his arms.

-x-

(Name) found herself laying flat on her back in the medical bay as Law prepared the new ultrasound equipment.

"Damn, that's cold." She hissed when the clear gel made contact with her stomach.

"Sorry," he apologised half-heartedly.

"Usually I would just use my scanning ability, but I think it would be a lot more useful to check in like this."Law stated then he turned on the monitor. He moved the device around her stomach slowly with his eyes on the screen, instantly stopped when he saw a gray blob in the middle.

"There's our child."He pointed to the blob.

As (Name) looked closer at the screen, she cock an eyebrow when another blob had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Honey, why are there 2 of them?"(Name) stated while pointing where the 2 blobs were located.

"You're just seeing things, there is no-"Law stopped himself when indeed there were more than 1 blob. "We're having twins."Law whispered so softly that (Name) had to ask him to repeat himself.

"We're having twins. Yes,! Now you don't have to get pregnant again."Law said again as his wife just stood there in shock, not knowing how to process the new information.

"Wait, you're not satisfied with one kid." (Name) yelled at her husband in which he only nodded.

"Great. I already get smothered enough with one baby, I'm sure it's gonna get worse."

"It's now double," his lips formed into a smirk. "For now you're going to have daily instead of weekly check ups. And you're no longer allowed to practice swordsmanship with real swords anymore."

"Excuse me? No way, I've been holding swords since I was only 5 years old, you can't do that." She sat up sharply.

"You lost all of your rights when you started carrying precious cargo. Now you must be twice careful with our little ones." He brushed his fingers against her stomach before kissing it gently.

The more (Name-s) belly got bigger and bigger, the more cautious everyone, especially Law became. In only her 30 weeks of pregnancy, (Name) already looks like she could give birth any day now.

The Heart Pirates were currently docked on a winter island while (Name) only watched from a sideline.

"But Law, I want to play in the snow like everyone else. Please, I've been cooped up in this submarine for far too long."(Name) begged while giving Law the puppy eye look.

"Fine, but you need to bundle up."Law exclaimed.

6 layers of thick clothing later, (Name) walked off the Polar tang's deck with Law right next to her side.

Working on her snow fort for about 30 minutes, (Name) started to feel a sneeze coming along and tried her best to hold it in.

"Achoo!" She then covered her mouth, in hopes Law didn't hear it.

She sighs and doesn't even put up a fight when Law's room incases her, and teleports her into his arms.

"You're going back to the sub, I knew it was a bad idea to let you play in the snow."Law stated flatly.

And once again (Name) was laying flat on her back as she watched Law move the ultrasound equipment around her stomach for the fourth time this week.

"Is this really necessary?"(Name) questioned while pouting.

"Yes, unless you don't want our babies to be healthy. You're now forbidden to leave our bed until your cold has subsided. If you break any of those rules then I will bind you to the bed until your pregnancy has ended. Do I make myself clear?" Law questioned which only made (name) stick out her tongue.

"You 2 need to get out of mommy soon because I can't take another minute with your daddy."(Name) talk and rub to her rounded stomach when Law left the room.

-x-

2 weeks later and (Name) Was finally on her last trimester of pregnancy. "Law!" (Name) shouted his name loudly.

"Yes my darling, is there something you need." Law responded as he headed toward where his wife was currently sitting down.

"The babies are kicking, they're kicking again."(Name) said excitedly then grab's Law's hand to guide him where the kicking was happening.

Then the day when his children would be born.

(Name) woke up in the middle of the night when she felt a warm wet substance in between her legs and soon realized her water just broke.

"Law...Law." She shakes her husband awake.

"Yeah, what is it?" He muttered as he tried to rub away the sleep from his eyes.

"My water just broke."She then yelled in agony after she felt a contraction.

"Shit?!" Law then quickly moves to her side to help her into the wheelchair he had laying by for this day. "Bepo, round up the medical squad, it's time." Law shouted through a den den mushi.

"Whatt, I thought she wasn't due for at least another couple weeks." Bepo shouted.

"Well, the kids have decided to come now!" Law stated.

12 hours of shouting and a lot of pushing later, the first one came out.

"She's a beautiful girl!" Law said before handing the bundle of joy to Bepo.

"Come on just one more push." Law said then he could see the head of the baby.

"It's a handsome boy," Law said before handing the other baby to Penguin's arms.

"Law, what should we name them?"(Name) asked as she panted for air.

"Rosey for our baby girl and Corazon for our baby boy." Law answered, then placed a sweet and tender kiss on his wife's forehead.

"You need rest now, I will take care of them in the meantime."

[saphirered]

The Lovers

Spoilers for Campaign 2 Ep141

Man oh man oh man. I've had this one written since the day after the last episode but I've been soooooo hesitant to post it at all 🙈. Anyway... I'm just gonna regardless because it's just sitting there staring at me to either delete or post it 🤭. I hope you enjoy because I'm still so conflicted about his piece of writing 😅. Unless people actually like it I might just end up deleting it after all.

---

Jester had asked you to come along on another journey of the Nein Heroez. She needed your expertise for something but couldn’t get across what for within the twenty-five word limit. Regardless, the opportunity to see and travel with your friends is not one you’re just going to pass on so of course you happily made your way to Nicodranas. Maybe the ocean would do you some good. It’s been a while after all.

In the first few days of your journey Jester had been keeping a close eye on you, watching your responses and reactions. Specifically your reactions to any and all interactions with a certain lavender tiefling. When she was certain your responses to the tiefling in question were not in any way negative and cordial if not friendly you found yourself being paired with him more often than not. Watch, hoisting the sails or dropping them, food shifts and even at the helm a few times.

You caught an argument between Fjord and Jester a few weeks later. Fjord was defending you and telling Jester she couldn’t just play matchmaker after everything that had happened between the previous inhabiter of Kingsley’s body and you and how it might still be a painful subject of not once but twice being faced with someone that’s not the person you loved and lost.

Jester seeing reason in Fjord’s arguments put aside the love story she’d been trying to unfold with you and the poor tiefling as her main characters. The shifts you shared with Kingsley came to a close and would be no more often than any shifts shared with anyone else on the crew.

One day the Nein Heroez made port to stock up on some supplies after being hit by a storm and running short on food. The crew was given some downtime to enjoy the many pleasures port has to offer but you decided to stay back at the ship. You asked Jester for the cards.

You’re sitting crosslegged on the docks watching the sunset as the crew leaves in groups bidding you goodbye while they go. Once the majority of them have left you take out the cards and begin laying them in certain patterns starting with simple ‘yes/no’s onto the past present future and more complicated readings. You’re not paying attention to any particular results but instead study the drawings fondly.

“You’d call me a sentimental fool.” You snicker as the fool card is revealed in front of you.

“Sentimental? Yes. A fool? I’ve yet to decide.” You turn around at the familiar voice seeing the tails of the black sleeveless coat you’ve grown accustomed to seeing around. You pick up the cards and put them back in their order stacking them.

“Oh really? You’d think a few weeks of being not so inconspicuously paired together on any task possible would give you enough time to form an opinion on that?” You tease beginning a new read.

“Maybe that makes me the fool then.” You can almost hear the smirk in his words.

“Care to find out?” You put down card by card face down. You know how to push for certain results. A trick you’d picked up from your former lover. It feels right to use it against him in a strange twisted way like this. Not really him but close enough.

Kingsley sits down to the side, not trusting you to not push him off the docks if he were to make an offensive (in jest of course) remark. Gathering the cards back up you start over. Time for a bit of fun. You push for the first card setting it down face up in front of him.

“The owl and the bear. Some might say the most deadly combination when put together. Be watchful of the owl’s words or you might find yourself at the ends of the bear’s claws.”

“So it was a good idea to sit on this side and avoid meeting my waterlogged demise.”

“Are you doubting my capabilities, Kingsley?” You smirk and watch the tiefling gulp. You move on to the next card making a show of pulling it from the deck and displaying it.

“Look at that! What did I say. The fool has appeared. The cards have spoken. my fool.” You take a bow as if addressing the most pretentious royalty around limited only by your crosslegged position on the docks. Kingsley can’t help but let out a chuckle at your theatrics.

“The cards have spoken indeed! A fool I must be.” He plays along. You begin picking up the two cards and restack the deck.

“Hey hey hey, isn’t there supposed to be three cards for this one? Not two?” You stop. He’s not wrong technically. You raise an eyebrow at him, fan out the cards and allow him to pull one from the deck as per the variant of this reading, putting the fate in the hands of the drawer. Not really of course. Usually you’d still be able to push for a card for them to draw but for this one you’d leave it up to the divines. You’ve had your fun.

And fun it was until Kingsley kept the card for himself, studying it closely. You were curious to see which one he pulled but you hadn’t exactly paid attention to that like you’d otherwise done. You wait for him to either give it back or tell you what it is but he takes a long time.

“So what is it?” You ask, your curiosity getting the better of you. It still takes a good few seconds before he lowers the card so you can see it too.

“Oh.” Is all you manage to vocalise upon seeing the card. The Lovers. The familiar drawing of a lavender tiefling looking at another figure arm outstretched and love in their eyes. The image of the tiefling reaches for the outstretched hand of the other figure; your figure. You’re staring back at your own face and the expression Mollymauk had claimed to have plenty of visual references for to know he could properly draw you but would always ask for one more just to remind him.

“I’m so sorry.” Kingsley hands the card back to you and you keep staring at it. He stays for a little bit to make sure you’re alright as you’re hit with a whirlwind of emotions. Once he’s sure you’re alright he begins to get up.

“I’ll leave you to the rest of your evening. Someone’s gotta make sure these fools drink just enough and start a brawl or two.” You snap out of it putting the card back into the deck.

“Kingsley. It’s alright. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” The whirlwind subsides and you return back to a peaceful state of mind. You offer the tiefling a kind smile and he halts himself sitting back down still somewhat tense. He opens his mouth to say something but is quick to close it again. There’s a moment of silence between the two of you as you shuffle the cards absentmindedly. You catch onto the conflict and hesitation in Kingsley’s features.

“If there’s something you wish to say please do say it.”

“When you said you loved him… I think it never registered it was anything other than the love the others held for him. Strongly yes but I always assumed it was akin to Yasha’s. Why didn’t you say anything?” Kingsley states piecing things together watching you closely.

“It’s not a burden for you to bear.” You pull the Lovers card back up to the top and study it closely.

“I might not know much but I don’t think being faced with your dead lover’s body inhabited by someone not him doesn’t bother anyone. That’s just cruel.”

“It doesn’t bother me. Not anymore. I’ve grieved Molly when he died. I grieved him again when Lucien returned. I’ve gone through it all and accepted he’s not coming back and that’s okay. Everything comes to an end at some point. I don’t think it’s cruelty. I think everything is as it should be.” You speak honestly stroking your thumb over the card.

“I have so many questions.” Kingsley states. You get it. He woke up one day, recovering from death not knowing who he is or was before that moment beyond emotions and flashes of a past that didn’t feel like his. That’s exactly why you wanted to spare him another previous relation to figure out. Yes it might make things slightly more difficult for you but that’s not his fault. That’s no one’s fault.

“And I believe Beau gave you her notebook so you can read back about your predecessors. But you’re not ready for that yet, are you? That’s okay. Don’t read it until you feel ready.” Kingsley’s head shoots up to look at you. Why do you understand him? Maybe you’re wiser than he gives you credit for but he thinks you’re already pretty wise.

“Expectations. Everyone expected something of me but I didn’t live up to it. I’m not who he used to be and that disappoints people. But from you, you never expected anything from me. Why?” He’s piecing it together bit by bit. You never slipped up. Never asked him to put on a coat that wasn’t his or asked him if he remembered something. You never even asked him if he recalled anything about you or sought to involve yourself in his life without his permission.

“It’s unfair to expect someone to be or become someone they’re not and never will be. You get to be your own person free of the constraints of the past.” The answer is simple. There’s no deceit or doubt. No hidden message or intent behind it.

“How is it you of all people can say that without pain or regret or wishing it were different?” You turn the card back around and put it back in the deck in its place and put the cards away. You take a second before answering trying to formulate a proper answer as Kingsley waits studying every micro expression.

“Bear with me for this one.” You start and he nods. “Lucien was born lonely forced to fend for himself and make friends out of the need to survive. Molly rose from a grave alone and scared. He was taken in by friends but he had to find a home his home with them. He found that home and got kindness and love. You awoke surrounded by friends, no family you didn’t even know but would still love you regardless. No matter what, you’d always have a home with them. You’d be neither alone nor lonely unless you choose to be.” You explain and take breath before you continue.

“You plant random seeds in the ground it’s very unlikely you’re going to receive the same flower twice. The only similarity they have is that they are seeds and will grow as long as they have the right foundations to do so. When I look upon you I see Kingsley Tealeaf, a man that became a sailor after we brought him back from the Astral Sea. There may be similarities, your roots may even be the same but you are not the same. You are separate.”

Kingsley takes in your words very carefully with a sense of understanding and something with in him he couldn't quite pinpoint until now. Acceptance and content. Whatever might have been holding him back before, he’ll have to come to terms with that. That’s the past and if the past comes searching for him one day, so be it. Until then, Kingsley Tealeaf has a life of his own to live and to enjoy. Enjoy all life has to offer, to its fullest and don’t hold back.

Let the sailor become captain of his own ship knowing he has a home and a family that will welcome him with open arms to return to. Let the eight be nine despite the expectations of others. Be free and be happy. Live content.

[hoglady]

Surprise

Okay, so this is my very first fanfiction!!!! I am both excited and terrified.

Basically I had a dream that was so real and vivid that I decided to write it down. Please be gentle!

Warning: none, fluff

You were together for over four years now. You met at your mutual friend's party and immediately hit it off. A heating argument about Frodo Baggins might be the cause of your chemistry. After the party, you stayed in contact. It was hard at the beginning, as you had a regular office job and he was, of course, traveling due to filming. Nevertheless, you skyped a lot and see each other every possible time you had. After a year you moved in together and after another two he asked the big question. The big wedding was set in 2020 but of course, due to pandemics, you had to reevaluate your plans. You did small home reception with the closest family and friends.

The day before, you arrived to the yacht that Henry rented for a short trip with your friends. He had a break from Witcher filming so you gathered your closest friends and went on yacht for a week to Croatia. Once you arrived to the docks, it was already night so you briefly unpacked and went to the city for a dinner. The evening was warm, sky was clear, you were drinking wine by the sea - perfect paradise.

After the dinner you all came back to the yacht to go to sleep as it was past midnight already.

"Come babe, I want to show you something" Henry said taking your hand. He guided you to the top deck and pointed at the sky. It was the most beautiful view you have ever seen. The clear starry sky, the moon was shining, calm sea and the mountains right next to it.

"Hen it's beautiful!" you stated.

"You're beautiful.." he hugged you from behind and started to kiss your neck.

"Okaaaaay I know what you're doing, mister. I suggest we go back to the cabin so that you can continue with sucking up to me" you turned around and whispered in his ear. You bit his earlobe and started to walk back.

"I got so lucky" Henry mumbled to himself and followed you with a stupid grin on his face.

The night was over before you knew, so you slept in a little bit longer than usual. Henry got up first and went for a short run to the seaside. You woke up happy but tired from the night activities. You were still at the dock as you were going to do small shopping in the morning so that you can go for an all-day cruise. The first couple of hours on the sea always gives you small sea sickness so you were not surprised when sudden nausea hit you. After sorting yourself out you went to the deck to join the rest. You all sat, ate and talk.

"You okay babe? You look pale." Henry whispered to you.

"Yep, just have to get used to the rocking and the waves" you kissed him on the cheek and he squeezed your thigh. After the breakfast, the ladies went to the nearest supermarket for the grocery shopping, as guys stayed on the yacht and started to prepare it for the cruise. Luckily, one of Henry's friend had a boat license so you didn't need any other crew members. While doing the shopping, one thing draw your attention. You bought everything and went back on the yacht. You left the docks and started the cruise between the lovely small Croatian islands.

The day went by so quickly - you were doing short stops for swimming in the sea, sunbathing and just relaxing. The sun has started to decent so the yacht was heading towards another Village to dock for the night. As the air got a bit chilly you went to the cabin to change clothes. As you were going through your clothes, you found the thing that you bought in the morning. The truth is you were feeling a bit tired lately and the nausea you felt this morning gave you a hunch to buy a pregnancy test. You knew Henry was eager to have kids but he didn't pressure you. After the wedding you two just decided to leave it for the faith - he was often gone for a week or two so you both figured to focus on the expanding the family once he will be more at home. You went to the bathroom and do what was instructed on the box.

As you waited for the minutes to pass, you started to imagine having a small replica of Henry. You always wanted a girl so that you can dress her in all the cute clothes but lately, the vision of small Henry running all over the house grew on you. The timer went off so a little bit nervous you looked down on the stick. A wave of joy and tears hit you immediately as you saw two stripes. All you wanted to do is run to Henry and tell him the news. After the minute you actually rethink the whole situation and decided to wait with the news when you two are alone. You dressed warmer and went back to the rest.

"Well someone is happy" Henry smiled at you as you emerged from the door.

"I'm just happy to see you again" you grinned and focused on not being overly excited but inside you were screaming with joy. You made a plan on how to tell Henry good news but you needed another day to go buy something. As the night approached, you all were tired from the active day so you went to your cabins.

"I love having a holiday. We must do it more often." Henry sighed and smiled while lying on the bed relaxed. He was drunk as the guys discovered local beer last night and bought a lot of bottles which were all gone by now. Drunk Henry was even cuter than regular Henry as he got all loving and chill." I love you Y/N. You are like, you know, the love of my life... I miss Kal. Can we call Kal? I'm gonna call Kal." Kal was at Henry's parents as he wouldn't feel good on the boat. It was just past midnight so too late to "call" the dog.

"Hens it's late already, we will call Kal in the morning." you said soothingly taking the phone out of his hand.

"Okay MOM. I think I will sleep now" he mumbled and fell asleep. You laughed at this goof and took off his shoes. You went for a shower and joined him in bed minutes after.

You woke up first, as Henry needed more sleep that morning due to the alcohol absorbed last night. You quickly got up and decided to go buy the thing you wanted to deliver good news. Luckily you were back before he woke up. You joined the girls in preparing the breakfast as the guys were sleeping in.

The day was lazy, your friends went to the nearby beach.

"Henry, do you want to go for a walk to see the village? I want to buy some souvenirs" you asked. You decided you can't wait any longer and wanted to tell him right away.

"Sure. Let's go" he agreed.

As you were walking by the seaside, eventually you wandered to a secluded part of the beach and you decided it is the best moment to tell him.

"Babe, I actually bought you something" you said handing him a striped T-shirt with the writing "Captain Dad reporting for duty". You saw he was confused for a bit but after a split second his eyes went wide.

"Does it... It means... We're having a baby?!" he looked at you with the biggest grin.

"Yes babe, I'm pregnant!" He momentarily scooped you into his arms and kissed you mumbling "I love you" in-between kisses.

"I didn't want to tell you on the boat. I don't think we should tell people yet." you two were standing in an embrace and grinning towards each other.

"How long have you known?"

"I did the test yesterday. So first let's go see the doctor once we're back and then we will tell, okay?" you asked.

"I will try to hide my excitement, although it might be quite hard" he agreed and kissed you once again.

You continue your stroll talking about the baby, laughing, kissing and smiling.

"You know what, I think we must go back to the boat. I need to specifically express my excitement and gratitude in the dim light of our cabin." Henry said giving you a quick slap on your ass. You loved this dork. And oh did he show his excitement alright that night.

[krisiverse]

Staring at the Sun [Link/Tetra]

Rating: T (for swearing)

Word Count: 2246

Summary: Link is so in love with Tetra it hurts, both figuratively and literally. But she only seems concerned when it starts interfering with his work on the ship. He has to figure out how to get a grip on his feelings, or else lose himself in them entirely.

Read on AO3

–––

There was a storm on the way.

Already the clouds blotted out the sun overhead, and thunder rolled in the distance. The winds were still, but Link could feel they wouldn't be for long.

He was in the middle of reefing the mainsail, making sure it couldn't be caught in the strong winds of the storm— captain's orders. And though he didn't quite see the point of it if he could direct the wind, he trusted her experience and judgement.

And speaking of the captain… there she was, like the sun through the clouds herself. Forgetting his work, Link watched as Tetra walked about the deck, checking over the crew's work and making adjustments where necessary. She was so sure in the way she carried herself, and that went double when she was working on the ship. The sheer strength she showed in pulling the line taut, the confidence of her practiced movements tying it secure in little more than a moment… It was nothing short of breathtaking.

While Link was distracted, a sharp gust caught the sail he was supposed to be tying up, and it snatched the rope clean from his hand. He lost his balance, falling to the deck where he lay in an undignified sprawl.

He could hear Tetra walking towards him. He wasn't sure if that made things better or worse.

"Link?"

"Mmn?"

"You alright?"

"Mmyeah," he mumbled into the deck. His pride was more hurt than anything, really.

"That's good. Get up," she told him, and he did, rubbing his arm that had taken most of the impact.

Tetra was silent for a bit, as if struggling to figure out what to say. After a moment she spoke.

"Look, Link. I've seen how you look at me, and I'm flattered, really— but you can't let this distract you from your job. You have to focus on the task at hand, before you or someone else gets seriously hurt. Understand?"

"Yes, Captain."

"I don't want to do this, but if this keeps up I'm going to have to move you to second watch so you can concentrate."

Link's breath caught in his chest. It felt as if someone had reached in to grab his heart and squeeze it as tightly as they could. Working second watch would mean he'd never be off at the same time as anyone from the first watch. That meant everyone in the crew he was familiar with. That meant Tetra.

"Do you understand, Link?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Is that what you want?"

He hung his head. "No, Captain."

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Link. But we can't afford distractions. You have a job to do, and so do I."

"I understand," said Link, and he did. "…With all due respect, miss, it would have hurt less if you'd thrown me overboard."

Tetra laughed at that. It was a beautiful sound, honest and unafraid and sweeter than honey. "You'll be fine, loverboy, you've made it through worse. Now get back up there and finish what you started, alright?"

"…Yeah."

As she walked away, Link stole one last glance after her, before sighing and turning back to the mast. The winds were picking up, and the unsecured side of the sail he was supposed to tie up was flapping in the breeze.

It took a long moment for him to gather the strength to pull himself back up and continue with his work.

–––

It had been two weeks since Link had gotten distracted and fallen from the mast. Two weeks since Tetra had called him out for staring at her so much, two weeks he avoided looking at her whenever he could, because he knew if he did it'd be next to impossible to tear his gaze away. No one else had gotten hurt since then; at least, not physically, but there was an ache in Link's chest that wouldn't go away. Now, he and Tetra were working together to tar the lines, which left them far too close together and gave him far too much time to think about it.

To distract himself from his thoughts, he asked, "How much longer do you think we'll be out here?"

"There's really no way of knowing. It could be a few days, or we could keep sailing the rest of our lives without finding anything."

"Oh, is it that simple? Let me mark my calendar," Link snapped. He felt Tetra shift next to him, and when he glanced up, she was looking at him with concern. "…What? What is it?"

"That wasn't like you at all, Link. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Link echoed. "What's wrong is— is I don't know what's wrong. I should be happy, right? We're on an adventure, sailing across the ocean to find new land, just like I've dreamed about ever since I can remember. There are so many amazing things in store for us, it's new, it's exciting, but instead I'm feeling shitty and awful for no damn reason."

"Maybe it's just stress from sailing for so long," Tetra suggested. "It can get to even the most seasoned sailors."

Link considered that for a moment. He knew it could be that simple, but… "That doesn't feel right. I think it's something else."

Tetra didn't get the chance to say anything to that before the bell rang out eight times, marking the end of their watch. She stood and stretched while Link finished up what they were doing, then he followed suit.

"Is it just me, or are those getting shorter?" He asked.

"It's just you. You're getting more used to working with us on the ship, loverboy."

Link tensed. He knew the nickname was supposed to be affectionate (—wasn't it? maybe he was misinterpreting things—) but at the moment, it felt more patronizing than anything. He fixed his gaze on the deck and said nothing. He knew he could look at her, but somehow it felt like he wasn't allowed.

"Still not feeling great, huh?" Tetra asked, a note of sympathy —that was sympathy, right?— in her voice. "Let's head to my quarters, we can talk more there."

Link's brain practically stopped working at that. He had to forcibly remind himself that it didn't mean anything, that he had to stop thinking about Tetra that way. She just said she wanted to talk, that's all, it wasn't her fault he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted anything else in the world.

"Yeah," he said, though it came out somewhat strained. "Let's do that."

She led the way to her cabin and Link followed behind, his brain too busy to do much else. Once they were there, she sat on the bed and left him to just stand and look around. This was only the second time he'd been in here, the first time being only a quick peek long ago when he'd snuck onto the ship to steal bombs and his curiosity had gotten the better of him. Now that he had the chance to look around properly, and now that he knew Tetra better, it made him ache. It was all just… so her.

"Link… Are you upset with me?"

"What?" He blinked in complete shock. Where did that come from? "No, of course not. What gave you that idea?"

"You haven't been looking at me recently… I thought it was because I was too hard on you the other day. I'm sorry about that."

"No, that's not it. It's because you told me not to let myself get distracted, so, I've been trying hard not to."

"There's nothing here to be distracted from."

"Except breathing."

She let out a laugh; even her voice was so beautiful, he couldn't escape. "Link, come on."

He took a breath, like he was about to dive underwater, and lifted his gaze to meet hers. Her eyes were blue like the ocean, like sapphires, like the summer sky on the day they'd met; her skin, a sun-kissed golden brown dotted with countless scars and freckles. He wanted so badly to run his fingers along them, to trace constellations between and navigate by the stars of her sky. She was smiling at him, softly, and he longed to find out if her lips were as soft as they looked…

"You're so beautiful," he breathed, because looking at her how could he say anything else?

"You really think so?"

"Of course I do. You..." He struggled to find the words to describe just what he saw in her. "You—you're like the sun and the stars to me, you shine so bright and so beautiful and when you're around I can hardly think about anything else. It's just… too much for me, I'm too hopelessly in love."

She laughed again, but this time, Link felt some part of him splinter and break. "You're so cute—"

"It's not a joke, Tetra!"

The smile vanished from her face. He hadn't meant to yell so loud, but he couldn't find it in himself to regret it. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes, and his hands shook.

"I love you so much it hurts. And you know how I feel about you, and you keep treating it like— like the world's biggest fucking joke. I tell you how I feel and you laugh in my face. " He took a shuddering breath. He could tell Tetra was staring at him, but he couldn't make out her expression, he was crying too hard. "And— and you keep teasing me, and leading me on, you keep acting like you, like you have feelings for me, too, but then you always back off and leave and I just… just tell me! Quit playing with my feelings and just tell me you don't like me back so I can stop wasting my fucking time!"

Link dissolved into a coughing fit, punctuated by sobs. His chest and throat hurt so much from screaming like that— but worse was that he'd probably just ruined his friendship with Tetra for good. It was selfish of him to expect her to feel the same way he did, wasn't it? And yelling at her over it was even worse.

He was so ready for her to kick him out of her cabin, to tell him she didn't owe him anything, to drop him off in his little sailboat and leave him all on his own. He wasn't ready for what she did instead, which was to take his hand and gently brush the tears from his face.

"It's okay, Link… It's okay," she assured him. But then before he had the chance to recover, she added, "But I do actually like you back."

"What," he said flatly. Then, at a higher pitch, "Why the fuck would you say something like that?"

"What??"

"You can't just— you can't just say that and make it all better!"

"Link, I—"

"If anything this is worse! Because if you really felt the same way about me then why—"

"Link." She interrupted him, clearly exasperated. "Can you please just listen for a moment?"

Link fell silent. Tetra tugged at his hand, guiding him to sit on the bed beside her.

"I do return your feelings," she said. "But we can't be in a relationship, not while I'm captain of this ship. There's no way for it to be balanced while I'm still the boss of you, and I can't give you the time and attention you deserve when I have this to worry about. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"Okay." Now that he was hearing the actual explanation, that made a lot of sense.

"But, I didn't realize I was already being unfair to you by leading you on. I'm really sorry for that… I promise I'll stop teasing you from now on."

"The teasing is fine! It's… it's already a lot better just knowing where you're coming from with that, you know?"

"Alright, I'll stay the course, then." She smiled. "And as for seriously being together… We can discuss that more once we find land, alright?"

"Yeah." He rested his head against her shoulder for just a moment, before he thought of something. "Though if it could be years before we find it, like you said… How about a kiss to tide me over 'til then?"

"You really are a bold son of a bitch, aren't you?" Tetra chuckled and shook her head. "Alright. One kiss, that's all you get. Better make it count."

When Link didn't act, she did instead, cupping his face in her hand and leaning in to press her lips to his and gods it was everything he'd imagined and more, it felt soft and warm and right like sunlight made solid and he never wanted this moment to end. He wrapped his arm around her back to pull her in closer and kiss her as deeply as he could. He couldn't care less that he didn't know how to kiss someone, because all that mattered was her with him right here and now.

It ended too soon —but really even if it never ended it would've been too soon— and he flopped backwards onto the bed. There he simply lay and stared at the ceiling, totally starstruck.

"You good there, loverboy?"

"I think I can die happy now."

"You better not!" Tetra objected and jabbed him in the side. Link burst out laughing, and then Tetra did, too; and in that moment, everything was perfect.

[redstainedsocks]

The Vow

Pirate AU, part two! I don't have any more written than this, and I don't have a whole lot of plot planned for it, I'll just come back periodically and have fun in this fantasy version of the setting. Open to requests/suggestions if there's something you want to see let me know!

Notes: Decker's name changed to Ecker for the AU because I couldn't write about ship decks and have a main character called Decker... I just couldn't... xD

Content: aftermath of whump, death threats, angst, emotional whump, captive whumpee, failed rescue

[Part one] [Main Series]

Archer’s breath was thick in his lungs. Words stuck in his throat. The world spun and then stopped only to start spinning again as he tried to comprehend what was happening around him. The same way it had a week ago.

He never wanted to be one to put his crew in danger, but the contract to salvage certain things from a wreckage of one of the King’s vessels paid well, so he’d taken the job. It should have been easy and simple. The wreck was washed up on some rocks and mostly intact but incapable of getting back out to sea. They were to retrieve the goods and the captain's logs and some important scrolls and deliver them back to home shores. Tidy, straightforward. He knew the risk of pirating was high on a washed up vessel but he had a fast, manoeuvrable ship and good men, it was as likely to be them who braved the rocky seas first as anyone else.

But... Ecker. In a sleek schooner, with his evil, rank men. Ecker had got there first and hell had broken loose. Archer’s ship was better equipped for it, more cannons, more trained men, it wouldn’t have been long before they could subdue and overcome, and he had just hoped there wouldn’t be too great a loss of life.

In the midst of the firefight, between cannon shots and gunpowder smoke, and frantic sailing, a man had been dragged onto Ecker’s deck. A man blindfolded, in a loose shirt, hands bound, and too far away to see properly.

“Hold fire!” Ecker had shouted across the space. “Hold fire or I will spill his guts across the deck!”

Archer dismissed it, at first, because he couldn’t back down or lose ground just for some poor sod caught prisoner on Ecker’s vessel. Only then Jordan had handed across a looking glass, as drained of colour as the sun-bleached sail above their heads. It had taken one look through the glass to recognise the man. He would know that face--even half obscured--anywhere.

Zach—back from the dead. Zach, not lost at sea as they’d thought, but taken captive and held without word for two long years. All while Archer sailed on without him, without even knowing he left Zach behind.

So the world stopped and he called a ceasefire even as his head spun, and walked onto a sandbank with Ecker to negotiate the freedom of the friend who he’d lost two years previously.

“He was lost, lost at sea.”

“Seems like he was very much found, to me,” Ecker had said, gloating, drinking in Archer’s distress.

“Why wait this long, why not reveal your hand before now?”

“I knew a day would come where he would be a useful bargaining chip. Why present that on a platter when I held all the cards? Now I have leverage, and a way to get my ship out of your sights.”

“Fine, leave him behind, and I’ll let you sail away. Unscathed. You have my word,” Archer had tried to say it without sounding like he was pleading.

“Oh I don’t want your word, young Captain, I want your gold.”

“And then you give us Zach? Unharmed?”

“I can’t say unharmed, it has been a long two years for the poor lad. But yes, you pay, and he stays alive, and I’ll throw in the important bounty from that there wreck for good measure, if you like. You’ll meet us at my chosen location as soon as you have the ransom… but if any of ye so much as look at my ship wrong as I take my leave he’ll be dead before you can say ‘Davy Jones’. Locker”

He’d told his men to hold steady while Ecker sailed off into the distance, and did all he could to gather the damn ransom Ecker had demanded, and in return he was supposed to get Zach’s life as well as the logs and scrolls Ecker had pilfered from the wrecked ship. Ecker would go free, but he’d have his friend, he’d get Zach back.

So why was he now walking out of the Keep empty handed?

Zach had been—god, dragged away, without a care for his well being—and he’d rounded on Ecker with a snarl.

“What do you even want with him?”

“That’s my business, and if you want to keep your heads you’ll ask no more questions.”

“Tell me what can I do to persuade you? What will it cost? My life? You can take mine!”

“I want nothing you have to offer, and the look on your face is all the satisfaction I need. Now get out, before we throw you out… in pieces.”

Ecker’s threat had been real, he didn’t have to second guess that, so he took the chance to keep their heads. Their blades and guns and ammunition were dropped unceremoniously from the parapet above the gate after it slammed closed. Slammed and barred him from rescuing the one person he had sworn not to let down another time.

Turning his back on the Keep was the hardest thing he had ever done, it was surreal to place one foot in front of the other and walk away. And yet he was doing it. The sea was before him across the span of the small island, and his two most trusted crew were at his back.

So he walked, head swimming, just trying to keep them all alive. Treading the waters of his mind and trying to find some solution, a way out of this, even as it felt like drowning. His heart clenched as he cast one last look behind him at the Keep, half expecting to see a flash of dark hair at a window, a hand reaching for him. He wasn’t sure if it was better or worse that he didn’t. He didn’t know if he imagined the scream ringing in his ears or if it was real.

“Archer, we can’t.”

Jordan’s voice was easy to tune out. He needed space to think. It was harrowing to consider leaving like this but he had nothing to hold over Ecker. “Nothing you have to offer.”

So maybe there was something, if he could just find it.

“Didn’t you see him, what they’re doing to him?”

Archer shuddered, pausing briefly before he kept walking through the scrubland. He’d seen. Zach’s bruised body, chafed and scarred wrists, how thin he was. More than that it was his eyes that told more than Archer could bear. They were haunted, hurting, desperate and then filled with hope that was snatched away so cruelly, so instantly.

“What if he doesn’t survive much longer?”

“Jordan,” Sasha snapped.

Archer held his head higher, it wouldn’t do to have Ecker’s men see him breakdown at the threshold of their own defences. He had to be stronger, prove he was better, not show how rattled he was. And Ecker had to have a weakness, something they could exploit. He wasn’t a god or a lord, he wasn’t even a good sailor, he just had enough people around him to make sure he couldn’t fail. If he could just get him alone, five minutes alone and he could best the man. But like this…

“Are you listening to me?” Jordan grabbed his arm and swung him around.

“No I'm not fucking listening to your petty whining! I'm thinking about how the hell we're going to get him out of there!” Archer said it in one breath and wrenched his arm loose. He buckled on his sword belt and stared above Jordan’s head, unwilling to meet his eyes..

“We can't do it here, not in this fortress, not so outnumbered,” Sasha said quietly from his right.

“No, we can’t,” he agreed.

“What’s the plan, Captain?” she replied.

“I don’t know yet, I have to think…”

“Archer, we can’t leave him here,” Jordan said and Archer finally made himself look at Jordan’s face, saw the pain there, and let that pain sink into him too. He’d carry all of their hurt, shoulder every burden.

“And if we get ourselves killed today, trying the impossible, who will come for him then?” he asked quietly.

Jordan paused, licked his lips, and dragged his eyes back to the Keep with a barely perceivable nod. “I understand, but to see him like that…. There are hurts there that even I may not be able to heal.”

“I know. It pains me too. And we will not leave him to rot with them, we only have to be smart about it. We wait, and we make a plan, and then we bring him home.”

He didn’t wait for a reply but turned and walked on, to the small beach where their row boat had been dragged high upon the sand. With practiced ease he hauled it back out into the water and tried to not to feel like a failure. It was only halfway back to the ship, with the spray stinging his eyes, did he finally let a few stray tears fall--when he could pretend it was just the splash of the waves on his face. He’d have to be strong again once they reached the ship, when he had to be Captain again and not just a man.

He wouldn’t look back. This was not the end of it. He vowed it with one hand on the pommel of his sword and the other on his heart.

I will save you, I will come back for you, this I swear.

[Taglist, let me know if you want to be added or removed from either the AU or the regular list! @haro-whumps @whumpthisway @hurting-fictional-people @lonesome--hunter @crowned-avery @extrabitterbrain @firewheeesky @outofangband @0idril0]

[iworshipkeanureeves]

The One That I Want

Neo x Reader

Warnings: smut

Words: 3.2K

Requested by dear @babayagakeanu​ ❤️

Can you write a neo x reader where he overhears the reader talking about how in love she is with neo to dozer but she’s afraid he’s being to oblivious. Neo realizes later after dozer tells him and he flirts and teases the reader all day (winking, showing some of his skin etc) and then its smutty fluffiness 

Brushing the sleep off your eyes, you entered the Nebuchadnezzar and looked around to see if the crew was ready to leave. It was really quiet and you only managed to find Dozer dropping his stuff in the living quarters. “Is Neo coming? I haven’t seen him today,” you asked, trying to sound casual and not too interested.

“Yeah, he was just here, he went to talk to Morpheus, I think.” After hearing his answer, you turned around going to mind your own business. “Y/N,“ but Dozer had something more to say. “Every time we’re about to go on a mission, you come and ask me about him.” He arched his brow and put a teasing smile on, trying to mess with you on a friendly note, but you froze in place, feeling yourself getting a little sweaty.

“What? No!” You gasped, terrified the he might know too much about what you feel for Neo. “Well, it’s definitely not every time,” you tried to defend yourself, but in the middle of a sentence you realized how pointless it was, you just hoped Dozer was the only one suspecting this.

“Why don’t you simply go and talk to him yourself, ask whether he’s going?” Dozer seemed like he genuinely wanted to help, seeing how shy both of you were. “Or do you want me to play the matchmaker?” He smirked.

“No I just, I-I…” You stammered not knowing what to say. “That’d be weird, we’re not like…”

Dozer exhaled with a slight disappointment, “Don’t worry, I get it,” he smiled. “But come on, look at him… I honestly don’t think Neo will figure this out on his own.”

“I don’t care,” you whispered, realizing you should probably lower your voice in case anyone was around. “Yes, he can be clueless at times, I know, but just don’t tell him anything, please.”

“Whatever you wish, I was just saying.”

You heard Morpheus calling everyone to the deck, so Dozer quickly helped you with your bags and you both rushed, leaving the conversation behind.

---

The trip was really different this time. You felt like you were seeing things that were not actually there, maybe it was just your imagination or your desperation to know that Neo felt something too.

It all began on the first day aboard, when Neo accidentally, or maybe not, knocked on the wrong door, saying he was looking for Dozer, when in fact, he was on your doorstep, apologizing for mixing up the rooms. He did seem nervous too, so maybe it was actually his mistake, and it meant nothing, but you wanted to believe it was something.

The same day before plugging you in, Neo gently brushed your hair aside uncovering your headjack, his fingertips smoothly running down your sensitive nape, sending excitement throughout your whole body. Even if that happened seconds before going into the matrix, the feeling lingered for days after you got back, reminding you how soft you actually were for him.

Another day came, and there was an accident with a flamethrower. Of course, you were the one to get injured, but it wasn’t all bad, since Neo rushed to help you, squeezing your waist tightly in order to put your flaming sweater out. Later, he even came to check up on you, offering to take a look at your burn, but you chickened out pretending it was all fine.

Five days in, you felt Neo sitting unusually close during lunch, his elbow occasionally brushing against your side. It was the point where you realized, that for the whole trip, every single meal, Neo had been sitting next to you. You could even recall how unusually funny he was, trying to keep the conversation going between you two with his lighthearted jokes.

There were too many signs and little details for this to be just a coincidence. Part of you felt like Dozer might have ratted you out, but then again, you really trusted him and that wasn’t something he would do, especially when you had specifically asked him not to. The mission was coming to an end, and you knew that the time would show whether Neo had been really trying to tell you something during this trip, or it was just your mind playing tricks on you.

---

Everybody from Zion gathered to hear Morpheus’ speech, he was the one to calm and inspire people of the last human city, even if everyone knew that the war was approaching soon. No matter how little time Zion had before the machines were about to take over, the people here had an unbreakable spirit and that was the most powerful of their weapons. This wasn’t the city that would mourn over never ending war, quite the contrary, these people were celebrating how far they had come.

There were no other parties like the ones of Zion. The music was so loud, that the beat felt like ripping through your veins, and people dancing in a crowded underground, surrounded by rivers of magma, their sweaty bodies moving in a synchronized motion, turning into one. To say it was a spectacle was an understatement and you came to enjoy the view.

You got yourself comfortable on a high cliff, gathering the whole cave in your sight and relishing the trance of the party. You were so immersed in the scene, that you barely noticed Neo coming to sit next to you. He smiled and said something, but you couldn’t hear a word, the music was just too loud.

“What?” You asked, sticking your head forward, trying to grasp his words.

“I said…” That was all you heard and you were beginning to feel embarrassed, desperately trying to read from his lips, but you failed as you got distracted by how perfectly smooth and rosy they were.

You raised your voice with a frustrated “What!?” leaving your throat, but Neo just laughed, realizing it was pointless to repeat anything he had said.

Waiting for his further actions you gazed into his eyes, noticing they had flames inside, reflecting from the burning torches. The atmosphere was already scorching, the heat of the party was divine, but as you noticed Neo getting closer, leaning towards you, you felt like really boiling within. Suddenly, you sensed his warm breath soothing your cheek, as he got near your ear. “Should we go somewhere quieter?”

With Neo’s words sinking in, you felt your stomach tingling, that familiar feeling of butterflies you’ve been carrying for so long now. There was no use in vocalizing your words, and at this point you couldn’t even do so, as the excitement and anticipation had completely taken over you, leaving your mind blurred. You just smiled and nodded, reaching for his stretched hand, feeling his fingertips settling on your skin like electricity, spreading those tingles all over your body.

Following Neo, your knees felt so shaky and weak from all the thrills, that even walking was difficult now. He was still holding your hand, going in front of you and couldn’t help but admire his physique from behind.

‘Seriously, Nebuchadnezzar, after the whole week of rotting in there?’ You thought, as you realized where Neo was taking you, but you couldn’t complain. You would have followed him anywhere.

“There’s something I want to show you” Neo said, letting you enter first. He gently pressed his forearm to your lower back, directing you towards the living quarters. Every touch was delicate, and you could see how Neo wasn’t sure if he was allowed that, but you didn’t oppose, wanting to feel him closer.

After reaching the dining area, Neo rushed to the food dispenser, leaving you to wait in the corner. “Are you asking me to a dinner?” you giggled, finally finding yourself able to speak.

“Just wait a minute,” Neo chuckled, and you saw him preparing something, but you couldn’t see exactly what it was, as his broad shoulders were getting in the way.

Once Neo was finished, he turned around giving you a bowl filled with what you called food here. Everyone hated it and you were really confused why Neo would offer you this. “This goop? Please don’t make me eat this more than necessary,” you grimaced taking it from him.

“Just try it,” Neo grinned curious to see your reaction, and somehow he convinced you. Reluctantly, you stuck the spoon inside your mouth, and you felt like your taste buds were mocking you, it tasted so sweet, that even food in the matrix could not compare to it.

“What is it?” You looked at him completely puzzled, with your mouth slightly agape. “It’s sweet, how is that possible?”

“It’s sugar,” Neo seemed so happy seeing you pleasantly surprised. You figured the sensation was probably so strong, because your receptors had never tasted anything nearly as sweet as that in the real world.

“I thought there was no sugar here?” You rapidly emptied the bowl, handing it back to Neo.

“Well, Dozer synthesized some in his lab, and he said I could show you”

“Dozer said that? For you to show me? Really?” It all started to make sense, and you realized it was Dozer after all, who told Neo. However, you weren’t sure anymore whether you should be mad at him or grateful.

“Relax, he didn’t snitch you.” Neo was moving closer to you, and you couldn’t understand what he meant by that. Was it someone else?

“I overheard you speaking with him before leaving the last week,” he continued smirking, standing inches away from you.

“Oh, okay…” At this point there were no words to describe how hot your cheeks felt, and you were confident they were the brightest shade of red. “That’s embarrassing,” you mumbled looking at your feet and hiding your face.

“No, not at all,” Neo giggled, trying to catch your eyes, while you were desperately avoiding his. “It’s cute, I’ve been trying to give you signs for the whole week.”

“I thought I was imagining things,” you said very shyly, finally raising your head to look at him. Neo seemed to be in awe, staring at you from above and he looked like he couldn’t believe you actually felt the same way he did.

You felt his chest getting even closer and his palms landing on your shoulders. “I really like you, Y/N.” He kept on staring, and his hand went up your neck, finally arriving to cup your cheek. For another second he looked at you, making sure you were comfortable with him doing all this, and then he leaned in for a kiss, his lips gently pressing against yours, getting more open with every touch.

Savoring the kiss, you felt Neo raising his second palm up to your other cheek, and you couldn’t believe this was finally happening. In that moment you kind of wished you had told him sooner, much sooner…

All of a sudden, you sensed Neo pulling away and you opened your eyes, witnessing a cute smirk ornamenting his face. “What?” You whispered.

“You taste so sweet,” you both giggled, and you couldn’t help but snug back into Neo’s lips. It felt like this tension had been building for so long, that once it was out, there was no way of stopping it. Your hands suddenly felt freed, roaming all over his body, and there was this unexpected confidence taking over you, indeed, you felt really comfortable with him.

Caught up in the kiss, you sensed Neo slowly pushing you backwards until your thighs bumped into the brim of the table. His hands reached down your sides, gripping on your hips, and he sat you up on the tabletop, pushing his core forward between your legs.

The kissing had gotten more passionate, with your tongues timidly gliding against each other and your hands loosely exploring. Feeling his bulge getting prominent against your inner thigh and his kisses getting wetter trailing down your neck, you decided to push things further. “Neo?” He snapped away, looking at you a little worried, considering that maybe he went a little too far, but you grinned dissipating his concern. “Should we take this to my room?”

“Are you sure?” You felt his thumb softly stroking your cheek, and you knew you were surer than ever, you had been dreaming about this for so long, that you didn’t want to waste another second. Gently biting your lip, you nodded at him and an eager yes left your mouth as you were jumping off the table.

You turned around closing door after yourself and felt Neo intensely breathing against your shoulder. His fingers were holding the only strap keeping your dress in place, hesitantly fiddling with it. “Go ahead,” you encouraged him, and with a simple tug, Neo left you standing just in your panties. His fingers were stroking your shoulder, and then his lips joined in, leaving hundreds of little kisses down your spine before you felt Neo’s hands firmly twisting your hips and turning you around.

He knelt in front of you, his breath was warming up your stomach. “I thought you said the burn wasn’t serious,” Neo placed a kiss on your belly, close to where the damage was.

“It looks worse that it feels, really. It doesn’t even hurt anymore, you can touch it.” Neo gently pressed his lips to your reddened skin, and began gradually getting lower.

He ran his fingers along the waistband of your underwear. “May I?” He asked. You were so aroused that you just hummed your agreement, enjoying him slowly peeling your panties off. Neo brought his fingers back up your thighs, pushing them further apart and rubbing your slickness with his thumb. Suddenly, you felt his tongue pressing on your swollen nub, as he started licking you in broad motions, gathering all your heated sap, his steady hands were holding your shuddering body.

Neo carefully helped your leg up onto his shoulder, and you moaned with your back rubbing against cold steel door. But it didn’t matter, Neo was making you hundred times hotter, and you felt like melting right into his face. “Right there, oh, Neo” you whimpered, his name felt so right leaving your throat in sultry moans, and as you sensed your muscles tightening, you gripped his shoulder in need of better support.

Feeling you getting closer, Neo pressed his hands firmly onto your bottom, tightly sealing your slit to his face, with his tongue vigorously quivering around your ready to explode nerves. In that moment, your ecstasy erupted, making your pussy throb under Neo’s lips, while you kept on tugging his hair and whimpering his name.

It was so strong, forcing you to slide down with your back leaning against the metal door, and you ended up on the ground leveling with Neo’s face. His eyes were blazing with desire, scanning your bare body collapsed from the satisfaction, and you bent forward rewarding his overworked lips with a fervent kiss.

Grabbing the hem of Neo’s sweater, you hooked your fingers under his shirt too and dragged them together over his head, exposing his radiating skin. Your hands landed on his abdomen and you were slowly guiding them down. “Neo, I’ve been craving you for so long…” You whined, feeling his fingers settling on your breasts, playing with your sensitive nipples.

One of his hands went up to your shoulder, pulling you closer into a kiss, while another lowered to your pulsating heat, gently spreading your folds. “Me too, Y/N, you have no idea.” Neo slowly pushed two of his fingers inside your needy hole, paving the way for what was to come, and you gasped focusing on his belt.

“Neo, please,” you were becoming desperate, rolling your hips to meet his fingers, whining under his amorous touch. “Make love to me,” you moaned.

Escorting you to the bed, Neo stripped what was left on him, slowly guiding you to lie on your back. He stood compelled, admiring your alluring body exposed just for him, with your perfect breasts slightly slanting, and the succulent glint between your thighs inviting him.

Neo stepped closer to the bed, looking sexier than ever, and you felt the strong urge to grab his voluminous length, which was standing tall pressed against his belly. Stroking him, you could feel the blood rushing through his prominent veins, pulsating in your palm, as your thumb was smearing seeping precum all over his glistening head.

“Tell me if something’s wrong,” Neo said kindly, positioning himself over you and covering his member in your juicy essence. He leaned in locking his lips with yours, and you felt his generous girth cautiously invading your tight walls.

Neo was controlled and tender, gradually increasing the depth and examining you face for any sign of discomfort. But it wasn’t there, he felt like heaven inside of you, perfectly filling you up, hitting just in the right places and making you moan with every thrust.

Neo’s fingers were brushing through your hair while he kept panting against your lips, occasionally letting a grunt slip. “You feel so good…” He whispered, delving into your lips and increasing his pace. Sheer layer of sweat was covering your bodies, making your skin cling to each other with every push, creating a rhythmical sound adding to your moans.

You were so close again, absorbing the pleasure Neo was giving you, with his cock reaching your deepest furrows and stretching your drenched passage. “I-I’m about to…” you exhaled feeling the weight sinking in your lower stomach, ready to burst any second now.

“Come on,” Neo kissed you and began thrusting vigorously, piercing through your core and bringing the stars to your shut eyes. You were trembling under him, incoherent cries leaving your throat, while your pussy was clenching around his stiff member that was exploding and coating your throbbing walls, fucking you through your astounding climax.

Neo finally stalled and collapsed onto you, burying his face in the nook of your neck, with his softening member remaining inside of you. Trying to collect your breath, you were rubbing his shoulders, smoothing the marks that your nails had accidentally left all over his back. That was how good it felt to have Neo make love to you.

“You know, when I came to your room saying I was looking for Dozer it wasn’t the truth,” Neo whispered to your ear, slightly raising his hips to pull out, and you could feel his warm seed erupting from your stretched hole.

“Yeah, you made it seem pretty obvious,” you giggled pushing Neo off of you and rolled over to lie on his chest.

His large hands began stroking your slightly damp hair, and you felt a kiss landing on the back of your head. “I was going to tell you then,” Neo silently said.

“So why didn’t you?” Slightly shifting your head, you rested your chin on his chest, in order to see Neo better.

He sighed and smiled at you. “I got scared, imagine how awkward it would have been, if you rejected me and we still had the whole week ahead of us on the Neb.”

“Well, it’s good that we finally figured this out,” you winked and moved closer for another kiss.

Tag-list: @keandrews​

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[chaseatinydream]

pirate king (53) || atz

You’re standing at the bulwarks as you watch the crew preparing to storm the island.

The main deck is in a flurry of activity, the pirates gathering weapons and priming muskets. Even you aren’t spared from the hard work, you’re helping the men pack gunpowder into tiny bags for them to bring when they head ashore. There’s a sense of unease hanging heavily in the air, a prickling feeling creeping across everyone’s skin as they all take turns to glance worriedly at the approaching island, the ominous shape of it looming against the night sky like a harrowing nightmare.

Something uncomfortable lingers, tangible paranoia slithering over you.

“Are you worried?”

You don’t need to turn around to know who it is. Your master appears at your elbow, one arm slipping around your shoulders to pull you close. A sigh leaves your lips and you lean into his embrace, taking comfort in his warmth, inhaling the scent of wildflowers and herbs lingering on his skin. The familiar smell calms you down, if only a little.

“Yeah.” You answer honestly as Mingi commands a group of men to lower the anchor. The Treasure is set to be moored just off the eastern coast of the island, the only place where the waters are deep enough for the ship to be anchored without being beached. The plan, carefully laid out by Hongjoong, is for majority of the crew to disembark the ship and split into two teams. The first group is to ascend the hill located in the centre of the island as fast as possible, find Commander Kang or Jeong Gunho, get the antidote and bring it to Yunho as fast as possible. This team would be led by Jongho.

The role of the second team is to sweep through the forested area of the hill and take out any… unpleasant surprises there and keep the first team safe. This group would be under by Mingi and… Wooyoung.

You glance behind your shoulder to see Wooyoung sitting against the bulwarks alone, purple hair falling into eyes dark and silent as he focuses on lacing up his boots, primed muskets and small blades strapped all over his body, completely unaware of your gaze on him.

Something sinks in your chest when you look at him.

Wooyoung hasn’t spoken to you since that day on the mast and it’s been weighing on your mind almost as heavily as Yunho’s plight. You know, you know that you shouldn’t be so selfish, that you shouldn’t be thinking of the problems in your friendship with Wooyoung at a time like this, but you can’t help it. Over these last few days, there’s been a sinking feeling in your chest as you hope that maybe he’ll just speak to you, just look at you in the eye, but all your hopes have been for naught.

You sigh, and it’s at this moment that someone else steps up behind your shoulder.

“You alright, Chin Hae?” Hongjoong’s voice is steady, but you can see the genuine concern in his eye. You nod awkwardly as San’s arm tightens around your shoulder, trying to provide you with some comfort, but at this point, you don’t think anyone could give you any semblance of relief. You’re too worried, too tense, and even though you’re not the one physically going onto the island, you’re just as worried as any of the boarding party.

What if the antidote isn’t there?

What if the boarding party is overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the Royal Navy’s crew? From what Hongjoong had told you, a Royal Navy frigate like the Black Crow carries large numbers on board.

What if… what if they die?

“I have a bad feeling that I missed out something in the plan…” Hongjoong mumbles under his breath and San clips his captain over the head, causing the older man to yelp in pain, scowling at his crew member.

“San! What in the depths of hell was that for?” Your master groans in exasperation and buries his face in his hands.

“You’re not helping things, you know!” San scolds his captain and Hongjoong looks like he’s just been smacked across the face, nearly shrinking into himself at San’s chastising. You’d find the sight hilarious had it not been for the circumstances you are in, the nerves weighing in your gut too heavy for you to even force out an amused smile.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” Hongjoong’s voice trails off as his hand hovers awkwardly at your shoulder before it clasps down, warm and gentle, soothing, almost. You attempt to give him a reassuring smile, nodding at your captain. You know he must be going crazy at being forced to stay behind on the ship while the rest of his crew puts themselves in danger, that he can’t be part of the boarding party like the rest of the crew, but he’s reining in his own frustration to comfort you.

He’s truly selfless.

You bite your lower lip. “Yeah… I’m fine, captain.” The words leave your mouth more naturally this time, not as forced as they were before, as if some part of you now truly believes that. San lets out a sigh of relief and pulls you closer for one last hug, before releasing you, patting your head reassuringly. Shaking your head in response, you turn to glance at Wooyoung’s silent form one last time before they disembark the ship.

Then you stumble.

The vertigo comes out of nowhere, sweeping through you and you nearly lurch to the side as the nausea and pain washes over your entire body, threatening to swallow you whole. It throbs, agony radiating from your chest right where your heart lies, outwards and throughout your form and you somehow register, through the haze of pain and panic, a sickening feeling building up in your throat.

Something metallic and warm.

Blood.

Your body rejects it immediately, trying to expel it from within you with a forceful cough. You’re used to this, it’s been happening more and more constantly over the last few weeks ever since you’d left that sea witch’s island. It’s been a pain to hide it from the rest of the crew, to keep it under wraps from Seonghwa’s watchful eyes and San’s keen intuition, but never impossible.

But this? The pain has never been this tormenting before, like white hot flames searing your very flesh, reducing your body to nothing more than ash. Your hands rush to cover your mouth, warring a battle against your own body as you desperately fight to hide the state that your body is in from your master and captain. You can’t let them find out that you’re ill, not at a time like this, at least!

“Chin Hae? Chin Hae! What’s wrong?” Warm hands come to hold you by the shoulders, voice edged with worry and concern. Even though you’re near blinded by the pain, your fingers somehow find his as scorching fire licks at your very bones, and you find yourself pulled into his chest as his arms wrap around you to keep you upright.

“Chin Hae!” San’s voice, alarmed and panicked, rings in your ears as if you’ve been struck over the head hard with a hammer, tears pricking at your lashes as you try to keep your balance. Your captain is strong and sturdy for one so lithe, you can feel the hidden, coiled strength in his chest and arms when you’re in his embrace, and for a moment, you just want to close your eyes and collapse so that all this pain can just finally end-

“What’s happening? San!” Your captain’s voice is laced with worry, sharp as a whip as he seeks his healer for an answer. But you know that San has no idea what is happening either, this secret yours to keep, buried deep in your chest.

“I don’t know!” Your master yelps, his voice unnaturally high pitched and trembling. You haven’t heard him this worried since the time Yeosang got shot in the back… and that was a matter of life and death. Your hand tries to lift itself of its own accord, wanting to find your master and tell him that you’ll be fine, that this is nowhere as serious as Yeosang dying…

As if in response to your thoughts, the pain leaves your body all at once like an ebbing tide, fading like a wraith in the morning daylight. You’re left trembling against your captain, his words fading in and out of your ears as he catches you before you fall to your knees in front of him, strangely exhausted.

“Chin Hae! Are you alright?” Hongjoong’s words nearly crack with fear as he pulls you upwards, so that your chin is resting against his shoulder and his arms are supporting your weight. San hovers behind anxiously and studies the sickly pallor of your face, as concerned as you’ve ever seen him.

Your heart softens at their genuine worry.

“Yeah…” You manage to croak out, trying your best to return to standing on your own two feet so you can show them that you’re perfectly fine. You don’t want them to look at you like that, anxious and worried out of their minds. You want them to keep smiling, keep staying safe and happy, even if something does happen to you… “I’m just tired and got dizzy for a moment… Master, can I go and lie down for a while?”

“Of course! I’ll bring you there… you need to take care of yourself!” San slips into a long ramble of the necessity of self care and getting enough rest as his arms wrap around your shoulders and pull you away from your captain, carefully leading you down the stairs of the forecastle deck to the sickbay so you can get some rest.

Your captain is left alone on the forecastle deck, watching with a silent, narrowed eye as the sounds of the crew preparing to disembark without him fade to nothing but white noise in his ears. His single green eye darkens as his eyes follow your form, crossing the main deck with San at your side, the healer carefully ushering you into the gloom of the sickbay.

Something is wrong.

Night has fallen.

The forest is eerily quiet, the only sounds in the still night air being the bell-like chirps of the crickets and the hushed murmuring of the men beneath as they discuss their next move. But Wooyoung tends not to concern himself with battle strategies and plans.

That’s Mingi’s job.

Instead, he rests on the boughs of one of the many trees scattered across the hillside, eyes shut as he concentrates on slowing his breathing, practicing what Seonghwa had taught him so many years ago.

Breathe in, count to five, breathe out, count to five, breathe in...

Wooyoung has always hated the still and silence of the night, the promises that the darkness brings, but this night, he hides away in the shadows away from prying eyes. He knows on the other side of the island, floating just a few feet offshore, is the Treasure, with you on it. Then he desperately tries to force every thought that involves your name from his mind.

No.

The memory surfaces in his mind before he can stop it.

“Have you been to Grand Iguana before, oppa?”

Your smile is so vibrant, so genuine as you lounge back against the main mast, eyes shining. The outline of the island of the Grand Iguana is reflected in your gaze, bright and alive. He’s exhausted with worry, hasn’t slept much for the last three days helping San tend to Yunho, every bone aching with weariness, but when he sees you smile like this, everything seems to fall away in an instant.

Wooyoung doesn’t believe that he’s capable of loving romantically. The wounds that criss cross his heart like claw marks are still too raw, still too fresh, he can’t risk having himself torn apart again, be played by women who only use him as an object to fulfil their own sick desires. But you’re a friend. One of the crew. Important to him, yes, but nothing more than that.

If you’re nothing more than that, then he can let his guard down around you.

If you’re nothing more than that, you can’t use him that way.

If you’re nothing more than a friend, he’s safe with you.

Stifling a groan that threatens to fall from his lips, his fingers clench and unclench around the grip of the musket hanging from his side, as his other hand comes up to rub fiercely at his temples, trying to fight off the phantom pains echoing in his mind.

“Yeah.” Wooyoung manages to answer, his fingers closing around yours. He’s realised that he does it often, his hands searching for yours every time you’re close to him, as if magnets exist in him that draw him to your side instinctively.

Your hand is warm in his.

He tries to joke a little to brighten up your mood, aware that you’ve been driving yourself crazy with worry over Yunho’s plight. “Not a lot of pretty ladies here.”

The words surprise him the moment they pass his lips. He realises, with something resembling incredulous shock, that he hasn’t thought about women since… he can’t remember. Hasn’t felt the urge to remind himself that he’s the one who is in power now, hasn’t felt the need to search out a female body to satisfy his needs, hasn’t felt the desire to paint over those terrible memories with new, sexual ones…

You elbow him in the side and it startles him out of his momentary stupor, and when he sees the awkward, blushing smile on your face from his words, his heart constricts tightly.

It’s almost painful.

He doesn’t understand.

“It’s not nice to say that in front of me.” You tease lightly, looking a little downcast. His eyes are simply drawn to your features, admiring the slant of your nose, the softness of your cheeks, the gentle curve of your smile, the affection in your eyes.

You’re beautiful to him, he thinks to himself with a sigh. And you should know it.

Wooyoung’s hands raise to grip his hair by the roots tightly with a muffled scream, the shackles scraping roughly against his wrists. He was such a fool, such a fool, such a gigantic, massive fool-

Before he knows what he’s doing, he’s taken both your hands in his, fingers running over yours. His lips descend to touch them with feather like kisses, wanting for you to know how much you mean to him, how you’re nothing like the women in his life before, how you’re an irreplaceable friend to him.

It’s just a few simple words.

His mouth opens to speak.

“I-”

Then his words falter and die on his lips, every warning bell in his mind screaming at him to stop right now before he says something he can never take back.

A sob rips itself from his chest. What did he want to say? Why… why had those three words, words he had sworn to never speak in his entire life ever again, come to mind so easily, so naturally, as if it were truly his own desire?

He couldn’t say it.

Couldn’t bear it.

Couldn’t face it.

So he had fled before you like a coward.

He couldn’t forget the look of utter hurt on your face. Guilt and regret had sunk in a few days after, but he didn’t know how to look at you in the eye again without feeling those phantom pains across his body all over again.

They were scars, physically, and he knew that more than anyone else. They weren’t able to hurt him any longer, shouldn’t be able hurt him any longer, but it was as his captain had cautioned him years back, when he’d first joined the crew.

“I might have broken your chains, but only you can free yourself. What I can do is be here for you. I promise.”

He can feel them.

The poisonous hands on his body, sliding up his bare legs and around his neck, yanking hard on his collar as he struggled for breath, tears slipping from his eyes as he fought to keep in his sobs.

The claws leaving crimson indents on his skin, the lips dancing across his skin, leaving a trail of bright red bruises in their wake, each one stinging painfully as blood trickled from them, leaving a mess of scarlet on the sheets.

The cold weight of the shackles around his wrists, seemingly weighing him down even though his hands were no longer bound-

“Wooyoung!”

Luckily, before he can descend into a full blown panic attack, Mingi calls from him from below. Wiping the tears from his eyes as quickly as he can, he ignores the weight of the shackles around his wrists and leaps down from the tree, landing nimbly on his feet.

“What do you need me for?” He clears his throat, but his voice is hoarse. Mingi doesn’t seem to realise the state his friend is in, eyes too preoccupied with scanning the area around them. Then he bends down to whisper into Wooyoung’s ear.

“Something… something seems off.”

At those words, Wooyoung frowns. Something is off?

“I don’t know… It’s just a nagging feeling in my chest.” Mingi curses and shakes his head, running his hands anxiously through his hair. “I can’t figure it out… it’s probably just paranoia or whatever, but it just...”

But Wooyoung’s no longer listening to him.

His mind suddenly runs through every conversation he’s had with Hongjoong, all the time spent poring over the maps with Yeosang, planning for this raid. It doesn’t make sense to him at first, the thought coming together slowly in his mind until the horrifying, stark answer spells itself out for him.

If the area the Treasure is now at the only place deep enough for a ship to drop anchor without getting beached and General Kang is already on the island…

His eyes widen in terror and he whips around to stare at the sea, barely visible if not for the slight moonlight rippling off the waves of the ocean.

“Wooyoung? Wooyoung, what is it?” Mingi grabs him by the arm and he merely spills the words that are at the forefront of his mind, his body numb with shock.

“Where is the Black Crow?”

He can see the exact moment Mingi understands what this means as well, his mouth falling open in shock as he whips around to scream orders at the men.

“It’s an ambush! They’re targeting the Treasure!”

Just as he says those words, the night sky lights up in a brief flash of light, followed by a sound Wooyoung is only too familiar with. His heart sinks in his chest.

The sound of a cannon shot.

[bitchapalooza]

Sail to sea

Lukas sees the Sea Spirit.

Tw death mention, past death, child death, drowning mention

Lucas scanned the horizon. The sun was setting, ending his third day on the job. Orange reflected off the waters of the quiet Norwegian town. The clouds were a beautiful cotton candy pink, soft enough to touch, good enough to eat. As the night closed in, the atmosphere changed. Everything calmed to a relaxing still. The wind blew gently. Jostling his hair. Messing it up.

The boat swayed as the crew readied themselves to port. Lucas drew in the last of the nets. Nothing in them. Same as the previous evening. A low frustrated growl rumbled from Lukas' throat. He tossed the net aside, it hitting the deck with a thud.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Thomassen." William, his cousin and crewmate, frowned. His larger, rougher hand clasped Lucas' shoulder firmly. Grounding the younger worker from his rising emotion.

Lucas jerked away. "How are you so calm? The haul is lighter than yesterday. And the day before." William shook his head as he gathered the empty nets.

"S'way it always is, kid." He tossed the nets back to Lucas, the young man falling back a step but otherwise catching it without further struggle.

"Wasn't this way when I was a kid." Lucas muttered. "There were netfulls everyday. More than my father could handle sometimes."

Erick pushed past his fiance's cousin, bumping shoulders with the shorter man. "Things change. Get used to it."

Lucas wouldn't accept it. His father had run this small fishing business for years. Spent his life on it to provide for his family. Then he passes it down to his brother and it goes to shit. The amount of fish fluctuates daily, he's been told. He was instructed to deal with the dead ones they haul in. Do not question the half eaten fish. To throw back the younger ones to avoid killing off the supply. Most shops relied on them for stock. Restaurants relied on those shops. Families relied on both. The whole town will collapse if nothing could be done to fix this.

But Lucas let it go for now. He stored the nets away in the proper place. And then he caught something unusual in the corner of his eye.

Glistening violet in the setting sun. He scanned the landscape but saw nothing more. He was about to turn away, thinking it was a trick of the light, when he saw it again. In as much detail as he could capture.

Out in the distance, a glimmer of purple soared through the air. Lucas swore it was a body. Small and slim. Jumping from the water like a dolphin. "What," Lucas began, not looking away from the ocean. "What was that?"

"What was what?" William asked from the other side of the boat.

"The— whatever jumped into the air just now!"

"Oooooh," Finnigan, the old self appointed crew captain, came up from below the deck stroking his salt and pepper beard. "Sounds like little Lucas has seen it." He trotted over, ruffling the younger one's head of hair. Lucas swatted him away.

"It? Hell is 'it'?" He demanded.

"It," Erick sat down on the gunwale of the boat. "Is the Sea Spirit. Kids these days say it's a mermaid."

"Others say it's a lost spirit. And that's where my money lands honestly." Finnigan finished.

Lucas turned back to the open sea. "So," He looked over the edge, brows furrowed. "It's definitely paranormal?"

The crew nodded.

"Interesting.."

Later that night, Lucas helped his uncle and aunt clean up the dinner table then snuck off, telling them he was going out for some air. He took down a path where he knew the tide would be low, leaving the rocks dry and exposed. He climbed down the now rusty latter. Maneuvered over the rocks. And sat huddled on the flat bare stone that acted as land. The water was calm and the wind chilly.

Lucas dipped his hand into the cool salty water closing his eyes as he remembered a time long past. When the latter was brand new. Built by his neighbor and son. Kids used to come down here to play with their toy boats. It was once a tradition for the graduating seniors to let go a paper boat in preparation for their free life. Some even set the boats on fire, making a bigger deal out of it than needed. Lucas came out here to play too, once upon a time. When things were simpler. Happier.

But it looks like things have changed. The rope blocking kids off from the deeper parts is gone. The dock where, on occasion, a lifeguard sat, was in shambles. Barnacles hug every nook and cranny possible of every rock in sight thanks to the change in sea level.

And to think it's only been eight years.

"Hey spirit." Lucas called out. Back in the day, their town was home only to humans. No paranormal being could be found. It's a pretty foreign deal to these folk but to Lucas it's become normal. His parents moved him to the city where creatures did reside. Hostile ones. Friendly ones. He met a Fossegrimmen in the surrounding forest he observed everyday as a teen, always trying to muster the courage to ask him to teach him how to play the fiddle. He did always have the stolen meat prepared but never did approach him. He also met trolls and an usual Danish Nisse when he visited the countryside. Lucas is still convinced, after all these years, he even saw the winter spirit when he first moved. His parents continue to deny it.

Lucas was no stranger to these creatures. In fact, being told there was a spirit here, in this boring old port town, was just the pick-me-up he needed after leaving his parents' comfort and care nearly a week ago. Back in the city, he kept journals about the creatures he found. He found them intriguing. Fun to study.

Lucas swirled his hand in the liquid a few more times before retracting it, wiping it dry on his pant leg. "If you are out here, Sea Spirit, you don't have to be shy. I'd like to meet you if that's okay."

Nothing but the sounds of the sea answered.

A few more good bouts of silence and Lucas got up, ready to leave. And then something splashed his shoes as he turned away, soaking them to the bone. He faced the water again, looking down at the edge of the rock. And there it was, the top of a head and a pair of bright violet eyes reflecting the moon poked out of the water's surface. Lucas carefully sat back down a good distance away, never breaking eye contact.

"So," Lucas began. "You're what I saw this evening, huh?" The spirit popped their head further out of the water, revealing their beautiful spots of purple that glimmered in the moonlight. Lucas also noticed it's features. Very child-like, he thought.

"What is your name?" They tilted their head. "Your name. What do they call you?" He repeated.

The spirit suddenly came ashore. With the moonlight as his only source, he could just make out how sickly green and pale their skin was. Their hair covered their eyes, touching their shoulders. Gills sat on the sides of their throat while more purple scales littered their exposed skin. They wore tattered cloth, most likely a torn sail they fashioned into some clothes. Most of all, it was a child. A young boy by the looks of it. Perhaps around four. Or six in human years.

This was unlike anything Lucas has read about.

"If you don't have a name, may I call you something?" The spirit nodded slowly, hesitantly. "Okay. Hm..." Lucas thought hard on this. He's never come across a completely nonverbal creature before. Much less one he's never seen before. This felt like a huge deal to him so the pressure was on.

And then he snapped his fingers, spooking the spirit for a second. "I got it! Emil. You can be called Emil."

Emil grinned from ear to ear at that. Lucas chuckled. "I see you like that, hm?" Emil nodded, more vigorously this time.

"Well my name is—" Without any warning, Emil came over and took Lucas' hand in his. Clasping them together tightly. The two met face to face, Emil smiling with big bright eyes as he shook their hands up and down in an incorrect hand shake. Lucas laughed a little again. "It is nice to meet you too, Emil. I'm Lucas." Emil let go and plopped down on the rock in front of Lucas.

"Can you not talk, Emil?" Emil frowned. He shook his head. "Seems you can understand well enough however. That's good."

With the young spirit closer, Lucas got a better view. His hands seemed to be webbed, feet too. Good for swimming of course. His ears were not human but fin. Small but still stuck out away from the face.

"Hey Emil," The spirit's eyes swam with curiosity. "Would you like to know why I named you Emil?" The boy nodded, leaning forward in anticipation.

Lucas gave a small smile. He took a breath and began. "I had a younger brother. He was around your age even. A small, skinny kid. He was going through this difficult picky eater phase that made mom worry for his future health on a daily basis."

"His name was Emil. A shy kid that had this fixation of collecting rocks and picking up strange bugs every chance he got. He opened up around me, mom, and dad a lot more than he did strangers.. He loved to fish with dad and I. We went every weekend to the docks to catch a few and throw them back. Dad would sometimes make us kiss the fish as it would apparently give us good luck. What a fool.." Lucas chuckled from fond memory.

Emil scooted closer, listening intently as Lucas carried on. "One day, dad thought it would be a good idea to show us how he worked. He took us out on the boat. Put life jackets on the both of us as he knew us kids would want to look out over the boat's edge. But Emil's hardly fit on account of his small body. He." Lucas took a shaky breath. "He fell overboard. And he couldn't swim. Emil had already fallen under before dad jumped in to save him himself. He died. And we never did retrieve his body either."

The spirit layed a cold hand across Lucas' warm one. Emil pointed to himself, tilting his head.

"Yeah. I named you after my brother to honor him I suppose."

Emil shook his head. He quickly retracted his hand and retreated back to the water in the blink of an eye.

Lucas stood, confused.

Now what was that about?

[oneletteredwondered]

Siren Song

Sum: Pirate Remus hears a song on the water and needs to find out what it is. Nothing can console me, but my sailor bold.

Written for @dukexietyweek Day 3: Pirates

Warning: possible manipulation, referring to a creature of unknown origin as ‘it’, mild descriptions of drowning, kisses.

--

Salt isn’t the only thing in the air. The crew can feel it. Anticipation or dread. There’s something dangerous lurking in the water they know. Of course none of them have seen the thing, but it’s in the hit against the hull of the ship, the scratching they can hear late at night, the sound of a song that permeates through the waves. There’s something down there they know, and the captain is eager to find it.

“Simple really,” Mad Captain Remus says to them, securely tying their longest length of rope around his torso. The crew shifts from foot to foot unsure if they should allow this to really happen.

“Pull me up if I scream,” The captain says and falls backwards off the edge of the ship. The crew rushes to the edge and looks over into the water, seeing the line of rope down into the sea foam but none of their captain. They whisper to themselves and take positions near the rope, waiting and waiting for the tug to signal pulling their captain back to deck.

--

It’s cold. The water presses on his chest and constricts his breathing. Remus has a chance to catch another gulp of air then lets the water drag him down. His fingers are already numb but he keeps his body moving to ward off most of the chill. It does little but Remus isn’t one to give in so easily.

Which is mostly true. He’s heard the siren song on the water for weeks now, getting closer to his ship. At first he wanted to destroy the thing, protect his crew from their trickery and potential death. Perhaps sell the hide and teeth for a pretty penny to treat the crew a day of relaxation and well deserved pillaging.

Then he started listening to the song, which is probably his first mistake, part of the trickery involved. He listened, and the song sounded sad, more sad than any he’s ever heard before. Desperation, sorrow, despair. Remus felt it burn inside him and fester till he felt like his flesh would rot due to the emotions whirling inside him. None of the rest of the crew could hear it as well as he could, could feel what he could, it drove him more mad than he already was.

Perhaps that’s what the siren wanted, to make him feel, and give in. Remus doesn’t much feel like he’s giving in even as he breaks the surface of the water to breathe again. He feels dangerous, challenging even, wanting to play the siren at their own game. He takes another deep breath and dives back under the water.

It’s so dark he can barely see through the murk, but he can see enough though it stings his eyes. He spins weightlessly in circles, trying to figure out where the sound of the siren is coming from. Their voice echos through the water and bounces in every direction he can’t directly pinpoint where the singer is. As soon as he thinks he knows where the siren is, the song is behind him, making him spin dizzy in circles.

He pops over the surface of the water again. Refusing to go back to the deck without seeing the siren if it kills him. Which may very well be what the siren wants. He inhales slowly and gathers as much as air as he can, and sinks back down to a song closer than it was before.

His eyes burn with the strain of searching, turning this way and that, trying to catch merely a glimpse of the creature that has been haunting his nightmares. The song is vibrating in his skull now, loud enough to block out the waves above him. He closes his eyes tight and clamps his hands over his water logged ears to block the sound out.

Suddenly it stops. Silence besides the rush of waves. Carefully Remus lowers his hands and opens his eyes to the water around him, coming face to face with rows of sharp jagged teeth.

He blows out a puff of bubbles, clamping a hand over his mouth to not waste any more air as the siren tilts it’s head back and forth at him. His lungs are already burning with a need to breathe but he’ll be Davey Jones himself if he lets this moment pass him.

The siren is there, floating in the water not a foot apart from him. Dangerous points of teeth stick out of their mouth and their eyes are solid glowing purple. Their color marking are hard to pick out in the dark water surrounding them but Remus supposes that’s the point. He can detect hints of grey, black, and that brilliant purple, but nothing definitive.

The siren lets out a coo, trill and sharp and it sends a shiver down Remus’s spine. The siren reacts positively to that, smiling wickedly at him and swimming in a circle around him that causes the length of their body to curl around him possessively. Whatever emotion Remus is feeling at the action he can barely focus on it as his chest begins to spasm.

He lets out the last of a puff of bubbles and thrashes for the surface. He doesn’t quite make it, a hand, cold and quick, wraps around his ankle and yanks him farther downward. He wants to scream or fight, hand reaching for the dagger strapped his side but the siren is faster, hands gripping him and body coiling around him as much as the shark like body will allow.

Remus tries to inhale once, body desperate for something to breathe, and expects to swallow down salt water but that doesn’t happen. Just as he opens his mouth, lips cover his and air, warm and hot, enters his lungs instead. He nearly gasps and ruins the whole thing, watching as the siren’s gills work to breathe water in and air out for him.

Once he feels able to hold his breath he pulls back, surprised the siren lets him. Their hands on his face are colder than the water, eye shimmering with subtle movements. Remus can’t help it. A grin begins to spread across his face, an expression that gets wider when the siren returns it fully showing off their sharp teeth.

Morbid curiosity consumes him and Remus touch the teeth boldly, feeling the point and nearly pricking his finger on it. The siren lets him touch, another trill of noise curling out of their throat. Remus shivers again at the noise. It draws him in, something deep and longing calling him closer to it.

The siren makes another noise, more pointed and direct this time. Despite the water threatening to bring him to his grave, Remus opens his mouth and repeats the noise as best he can. The siren spins around him again, kissing air back into his lungs.

This time Remus knows he has to pull away or he’ll stay down there forever. As tempting as it is. He points up to the surface and siren glares at him, letting out a hissing noise. Still it helps him up. Remus inhales hard once he breaches, coughing up the water that infiltrated his lungs. He can feel the creature curling between his legs as best it can with it’s size, reminding him it’s there.

And Remus wants to stay there, wants to float in the water forever staring at the creature and their hypnotic eyes. He only wishes he could tell if the want is because it wants him, or wants to kill him. He’s scared and excited by both options, which is how he knows he needs to get out fast.

So Remus screams, a strangled sound from his salt water wrecked throat. The reaction is instant. The rope around his torso tugs hard, dragging him upwards, as the siren lurches up, a pained noise escaping them as Remus clambers up the side of his ship. He can hear it crying as he hits the deck, covering his ears with his hands to block out the noise. He wants to dive back down and console the creature, let it keep him forever. It burns his soul and the only thing to stop him from doing so is his crew, using the rope around him to tie him to the mast and hoist the anchor to get the ship moving.

The crying follows them for three days, a wailing noise that has the crew miserable but none as much as Remus. It affects him so much more it seems, able to hear the sound clearer than the others, hear the sorrow in the song that makes him scream and cry. Still he does not return to the water or look over the edge of his ship for three days.

It’s on the evening of the fourth night that something changes. The song is softer this time, more subdued, begging now instead of demanding. That’s not what gets Remus to stand from his chamber and stumble his way out to the deck to lean over the edge of his ship looking for purple scales. It’s the fact he can understand the words being sung to him.

“My heart is pierced by cupid, my disdain all glitter and gold, there is nothing can console me.. but my sailor bold.” The song stings right through him, his soul vibrating with knowing he is the sailor being sung about and the words leave his mouth before he can think.

“His hair hangs in ringlets, his eyes black as coal, my happiness attend him, wherever he may go.” He’s lucky, or perhaps unlucky, none of the rest of the crew is around to hear him or see him. He scans the water, nearly desperate as the song, when the siren surfaces, letting out a coo to him. Relief floods Remus’s system at seeing them, something settling his frayed nerves at being apart. He mimics the noise back and siren smiles. They open up their arms to him and coo again. Come down here.

The urge to jump is commanding. Remus holds fast and instead repeats the noise with a gesture up. Come this way. The siren grimaces at him and coos again, more forcefully. Come down, please. Remus does not. He shakes his head and siren lets out a cry that hurts. Please.

Remus wants to. He wants to jump over the edge and follow the siren wherever they may lead him. He can’t. Not knowing their intentions with him.

“How can I understand you now?” He finds himself asking, clawing at the banister of his ship, anything to ground him to where he is. He debates tying himself down if it’ll help his urge. The siren tilts their head at him and smiles with their teeth, letting out a trill of a noise.

You belong to the sea, to me. The siren says. Remus knows this. Seven seas save him he knows this.

“What do you want with me?” He asks then. The siren smiles more genuinely at that and disappears under the water. Remus nearly does jump then, not wanting this to be over, but the siren appears again, shooting up out of the water claw their way up the boat. Once they’re close enough, Remus leans over and helps them settle on the edge. 

He can see all the patterning of their body now, swirls of purple and black and grey, blending into one another it’s hard to say where one color ends and another begins. Their eyes now have a ring of black around the edges of the purple, adjusting to being out of the water. They coo and drag a finger across Remus’s cheeks softly and he melts into the cold touch.

I want everything, you are mine. The siren says and Remus kisses them. He cuts his lip on their teeth but it’s nothing compared to the feel of their scaled skin under his hands.

“Stay with me,” Remus finds himself asking. The siren coos happily and Remus echoes the noise. The night is wiled away cooing at each other until the first of the crew wakes. They catches Remus curled in the arms of the siren, both sleeping on the deck. The creature leaps over the edge of the boat as quick as it can and Remus jumps to watch them fall into the water until they can’t be seen any more.

Whatever questions the crew has he can not answer. He is unsure of the nature of what just happened himself. But come next night, he’s tying a rope to his torso and jumping overboard. The siren catches him and trills and teaches Remus it’s language.

Despite the concern, the pattern continues, a night above, a night below. Perhaps worrying when Remus begins to grow gills on the side of his neck, but he’s the same reckless captain the crew knows. Reckless as anything when he spends his nights with a deadly sea creature.

Word spreads when another ship threatens to attack, half the crew jumping overboard with a glossy look in their eyes and the sounds of a siren’s feast follow after. The crew wasn’t sure to be fearful or thankful considering the siren had not done the same to them. Remus couldn’t have been more besotted.

The rumors spread and when the crew docks, Remus stays on the ship with his siren. The crew tells hims tales of what everyone says and he laughs with them and they laugh when the siren trills from over the edge. They are feared even more now on the waters than ever before and they take full advantage of so.

Davey Jones prays for those who come across Mad Captain Remus and siren song for a lover.

[valhallanrose]

Show Your Fangs

After years of feeling aimless, Astoria finds an unexpected avenue to reassert control. 

You can find the rest of the Cursetaker arc of Astoria’s story here. 

3.9k words. CW for attempted manipulation. 

Title: Show Your Fangs by The Crane Wives

On the eve of their twentieth birthday, Astoria found themself climbing into the rigging of the Moorish Lady, thighs locked firmly around the rope and hair ripping free of its haphazard bun to dance in the breeze that made the sails grow full. The sky was starry overhead, the moon broad and full, and not a cloud blocked their light as they were guided back to Rosinmoor. 

At this vantage, they could see the peaks of Castle Kintyre, the colors of the stained glass windows melting together into hues of rose and gold from the distance they were at now. Idly, they wondered if their family was waiting in the great hall to meet them before they sat down for dinner. 

Castle Kintyre had seemed so big the first time they left. And rationally, they knew that was simple perception - of course it would have seemed literally bigger when they themself had been smaller in stature, but it was somewhat amusing all the same. The Whitethorn Citadel was perhaps the same size, if they had to hazard a guess, but...this had been their world, once. A life behind stone walls, in rolling fields and on rocky cliffs, on stone beaches and crystal lakes - a life that had once seemed utterly satisfying was as peaceful as it was positively boring.

Funny to think how big the world had gotten when they had the opportunity to see it all. 

“...toria!”

They were pulled from their musing when a voice, somewhat swept away by the wind, managed to reach their ears. Astoria shifted their grip on the rope, looking down at the deck to see their grandmother standing far below with a somewhat amused look on her face. 

“Are you really going to make me climb up there?” Myrna called playfully, tapping her cane on the deck a few times. “I’d love to, but I’ve only got one good knee, and I’d like to keep it that way for at least another ten years.” 

Astoria cracked a smile, carefully unwinding the rope that had been wrapped around their right leg and letting out a small gasp as they dropped down faster than they’d anticipated. 

With a huff and a gloved hand raked through their hair, they began the descent down, sliding slowly as to keep control, until they were perhaps three feet off the ground and could simply let go and let their boots thump firmly on the deck in front of Myrna. 

“Time to go?”

“Soon, dear.” Myrna sighed, offering her arm to Astoria, to which they set their hand in the crook of her arm and frowned as they fell into step beside her. 

“Why do I have a feeling I won’t like where this is going, granny?”

Myrna leaned against the side of the ship, smoothing silver curls behind her ear as she gazed out over the Strait of Seals. Neither of them paid mind to the crew, who began to prep the ship for it to pull into the inlet at the base of the Cliffs of Balgaire, knowing that they both would be more likely to be in the way than helpful on a journey at night and respectfully staying out of their way. 

“You know I’ve been writing Malvina.” She began, and Astoria nodded, folding her arms across their chest and tilting their head back to look up at the sky. 

Despite no longer being clan head, Malvina was well involved in the background of Canonach affairs - Astoria remembered clearly the days that the matriarch had joked that she had her nose so tied to clan affairs she’d be buried with it poking out of the ground to sniff out gossip.

With Astoria’s permission, Myrna had written to her not long after their enrollment at the Citadel, detailing as much as she could to explain what had happened in the weeks prior to keep someone in the family in the loop. And for all Malvina loved gossip, a secret laid with her would be locked up as tight as a vault should you ask to keep it that way. Not even her wife, Lorraine, would be privy to such a request - an agreement that Lorraine knew at least meant something was serious. 

“I do. She’s written to me a few times - sent me new gloves for my birthday.” Astoria wiggled their fingers subconsciously, the leather of the gloves in question already molded to their hands like a second skin. “Is she alright?”

Myrna chuckled, Astoria catching her nod out of her peripheral. “Oh, she’s fine. Lorraine caught a nasty fever a few weeks ago, but they’re both right as rain. But...Malvina’s kept things quiet, as you asked. I wanted to ask you if you plan to tell the family while you’re home, or if we should continue to keep this between us for the time being. Whatever your decision, I respect it, but I would like to walk in and be on the same page as you before we face the rest of them.”

Astoria was quiet for a long, long moment, closing their eyes and letting the calls of the crew fill the gap between them before they managed to muster up the words they wanted. 

“I haven’t been home since I was fifteen, if I remember right. Before Bulan. I’d like at least one last week where I know things will be normal.” Slowly, Astoria reached up, gathering their hair in both hands and refastening their lazy knot at the nape of their neck - letting their hands fall to rest on the sides of their neck as they glanced back to Myrna. 

“Those first days in Galbrada...I had to repeat myself so many times, tell my story so many times, be picked at and interrogated and smothered so many times. I love my family, but I have no doubt it will be a repeat of that all over again.”

Myrna nodded slowly, turning to rest her back against the railing and folding her hands over the silver-wrought handle of her cane. “I thought that might be the case. Still, I just wanted to be sure. You’ve got a knack for surprising me, my little rascal.” 

Astoria laughed as Myrna threw an arm around their waist, dragging them into an embrace and smiling as they pressed their face to the crown of Myrna’s head and buried their nose in her curls. 

They would remain like that until the Moorish Lady finally came to a stop at the shores, and together, they took the first steps onto dry land - the first steps on the soil of their home. 

*     *     *     *     *

Coming back was...eventful. 

By the time Myrna and Astoria had made it up to Castle Kintyre, the hour was late, and though the family had already eaten - Myrna and Astoria had been unsure when during the day they’d arrive exactly - they were happy to linger and chat while the visiting Canonachs raided the kitchens for leftovers. 

Many of the youngest cousins had gone to bed by the time they’d arrived, as well as some of the more daytime inclined relatives (Myrna grumbled about her own twin being a wuss for going to bed before the clock struck twelve) who would likely receive word of their arrival by morning.

Astoria did not miss the gap left by Senga, or their step-father, James, both of whom had apparently been perfectly lively until the Moorish Lady was spotted by a scout, but they couldn’t find it in themself to care. Their mother had a habit of making herself scarce when Myrna came to visit. Their grandmother was the embodiment of ‘hell hath no fury’, and Astoria vividly remembered the thorough reaming her mother was given after the incident in the library all those years ago. 

It’d been kept largely quiet among the family - only Myrna, Senga, Astoria, and Malvina knew the whole story - but gods if it didn’t make the holidays tense. 

Still, Astoria felt light as they left the hall, filled with joy for seeing their family again and looking forward to the following morning - they’d already received many early birthday wishes - when they’d get to see the rest of them over a traditional Moorish breakfast. The day had been long, as had the journey, and they were looking forward to crashing in the comfort of their bed and letting sleep claim them. 

The way to their bedroom was muscle memory no matter how long they’d been gone. Down the hall, to the left, shortcut through the lounge, nestled in the corner with two broad windows looking out over the grounds toward the Frozen Sea and the twinkling lights of Rosafearn in the distance. Absolutely the best room in the castle - it had been Astor’s, once, until he explicitly stated the only person who would take over the space would be Astoria. It’d long since been painted and redecorated, but the old armchair set by the window had been his and would remain there until it crumbled the next time Astoria put their ass in it. 

They closed the bedroom door behind them with a tired sigh, reaching to undo the buttons of their blouse as they strode across the room - 

Only for the light to click on unbidden and a voice greeted Astoria from across the room. 

“Hello, Catriona.”

Astoria yelped, scrambling to clasp their shirt together as Senga leveled them with a cool stare that somehow made them feel more naked than they actually were. 

“Bloody - hell are you sitting there in the dark like that for?” They breathed, trying to calm themself as Senga folded her hands neatly in her lap and held Astoria’s gaze. 

Astoria always knew they had their father’s eyes - somewhere between blue and green, depending on who was looking - but Senga’s had always been like ice. Pale, pale blue, almost white, and absolutely unnerving when she looked at you like you were something to be gained. 

Something in her eyes made Astoria think they were, to her, the greatest prize of all. 

“This is my home, I have every right to be where I please. Is it so wrong that I wished to spend a few moments with my child?” She asked, smoothing the single silver curl she had behind her ear and uncrossing her legs. 

“...no, I suppose not.” Astoria murmured, sitting cautiously on the edge of the bed nearest to her and buttoning their shirt back up as Senga leaned forward in her seat. “How are you, mother?”

“Peachy, darling, absolutely peachy.” She reached for a sheaf of paper on the coffee table, leafing through the pages idly as she spoke, cutting straight to the point when she looked back up and offered them to Astoria. “You know, I’m hurt you never wrote to me once while you were away. You wrote to Malcolm, for birthdays, and you wrote to your cousins a few times...and Malvina. Oh, you wrote so many times to Malvina, you and my mother. I’m counting, what, thirty letters since you went to Galbrada?”

Astoria’s heart dropped like a stone into their stomach as Senga tutted, throwing the papers back on the table when Astoria didn’t reach to take them. She rose from Astor’s armchair, skirts sweeping across the rugs until she had Astoria’s chin grasped tenderly between her fingers and forced them to meet her gaze. 

“Why would you hide something like this from me, darling?” Senga crooned, tucking a bit of hair behind Astoria’s ear. “You know you can tell me anything. We don’t keep secrets from family, remember? Secrets lead to strife among us.”

Astoria tried to turn their head away, but Senga’s grip tightened on their jaw, even if her sickly sweet tone didn’t change. 

“You could have come home to Rosinmoor so much sooner. The Argyllians have always had magic in their bloodline, they were more than capable of teaching you whatever you could have learned in the Republic. They would have taken you in, taught you the ways of the court...no matter. What’s done is done. We have much to catch you up on.”

Senga released their jaw suddenly, reaching to smooth out their collar and straighten their shirt as if it were the most natural thing in the world. 

“Do get some rest, darling. You’ll need it. I invited some friends of mine to visit tomorrow. They’ll begin teaching you the ways of the court, catch you up on the who’s who and the what’s what - several courtiers from different clans to bring you up to speed on each. It’ll be a process, surely, but you’re a quick study, otherwise I’ve no idea why you spent all this time with my mother. They’ll be here for about two weeks, so you’ll have to learn as much as you can before they go, and then your lessons will start to keep you on track.”

Astoria paused then, brows furrowing as Senga began to dig in their wardrobe to rifle through the clothing that was too stiff and formal for them to cart around while they were globetrotting. 

“Mother, I’m only here until the end of the week.” They said, voice trembling slightly as Senga paused mid examination of a blouse with broad lace sleeves. “Granny and I have a dig to go to in the Fennekh Desert at the end of the month, I can’t stay much longer than that. I just wanted to see everyone while we had the time.”

The tension between them both was so thick you could have bitten it.

Astoria flinched when Senga took one step closer, then another, until she was right in front of them with that lacy blouse draped neatly over her arm. 

“I know what you did in Galbrada.” She said softly, tilting her head as she looked down at Astoria. “A room of people - three of the best minds and magicians of the Whitethorn Citadel, and your bull of a grandmother - frozen by the blood in their own bodies at your command. Deny it all you wish, Catriona, but we both know it’s true.”

They tried to speak, but Senga’s voice rose, silencing them in a moment and making them flinch back as she stepped closer. Already being interrupted made them flush with irritation, but they bit their tongue, hoping that Senga would tire herself out in the end if they just let her keep ranting.

“Do you understand what that power can mean for you? The Canonach seat was always your birthright and it always will be, that won’t change. But you could become the greatest of all of us if you choose not to suppress it like you’ve been told all this time. That kind of power is strength, darling, a strength that will protect this clan so long as you hold the Barony.”

Astoria took another step back, feeling their hip bump the edge of their nightstand and quickly moving to fix the lamp as Senga advanced on them. They felt heat building in their chest, like a kettle on the stove, but they tried to tamp it down until their back hit the broad pane of glass that looked out into the starry sky.

“It is time for you to grow up. You will be twenty tomorrow morning, and it is time to stop gallivanting about carefree when you have duties to fulfill. I shouldn’t have let it go on for so long, I should have demanded you come home after Myrna supported that first year of your little temper tantrum.” Senga’s hand snapped out, grabbing their chin and forcing them to look her in the eye as her fingers dug into their cheeks. “Do you hear me, Catriona?”

Something...something snapped in Astoria then, and their own hand shot up, grabbing Senga’s wrist and ripping it away from their face with a strength they didn’t know they had. 

“If you’re going to address me, mother, at least give me the respect of calling me by the name I’ve called myself for as long as I can remember.” Astoria spat, shoving her hand away and stepping to the side to try to work themself out of the corner they’d been physically backed into. “You’ve weaponized ‘Catriona’ every time I did something you didn’t like, every time you wanted me to bow to your whims and sit pretty like the perfect child you pretended you had.”

“How dare you -”

“How dare you treat your own child as you have treated me all these years?!” Astoria shrieked, voice breaking slightly as Senga seemed to freeze in place at their outburst. “How dare you make my cooperation a condition I had to fulfill to earn your love, make me feel like I had to prove myself over and over to you to earn scraps of respect?”

Senga’s face flushed, and she turned, tossing the blouse onto Astoria’s bed and moving toward the bedroom door. “I’m not going to speak with you if you want to behave like this. We can talk in the morning when you’ve calmed down.”

Before she’d even reached the door, Astoria had moved in front of it, flipping the lock and positioning themself in front of the mechanism so Senga couldn’t leave.

“No. No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to run away because you don’t like what you’re hearing. For once in my life you’re going to open your ears and listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once.”

Their blood was boiling, so hot through their veins that Astoria thought they were going to burn up, but the words kept spilling over faster than they considered putting a damper on them. And they didn’t want to, if they were honest with themself. It was the first time they spoke unfiltered to Senga, truly voiced how they felt, and it felt...it felt like flying. It felt like they had control for the first time in years, and they weren’t ready to let go of that feeling just yet. 

“You said that the primary reason you even had me was so I could take the barony one day.”

Senga’s eyes rolled, and Astoria’s temper flared as she dismissively waved a hand. “You’re still on about that? Come now, let bygones be bygones. That was years ago.”

“I am not nearly done speaking.” Astoria said firmly, holding a hand up to stop Senga before she could continue. “But yes, I am ‘still on about that’, as you put it. I’ll carry those words in my mind for as long as I breathe, because it was what made me open my eyes to the truth of things. You don’t own me, my life, or my freedom for as long as I am strong enough to bite back. My temper tantrum, as you called it, was the first choice I ever made for myself without fearing what you’d say to me when I told you. And I learned from that choice, and every choice I made after, that you can do nothing to me if I don’t allow it. You are too selfish to consider a reality in which your plans fall through, thinking your way is the best way regardless of what I want.”

“If you cared about something beyond yourself you’d have seen in those letters how I told Malvina about my nightmares, about my fears, about how I felt like I was losing myself until I learned to control my magic rather than force it outward. But you only had eyes for what you thought you could stand to gain, what you thought I could give you, not my own well-being or my opinions on the matter. I’ve made it clear for years that I never wanted the barony, and the power that I have won’t change that. You don’t have to accept it, but understand it’s the way things are. Understand that I’ll take no more of this. You are no family of mine, Baroness, and you never will be if I have anything to say about it.”

Senga reached out, as if to touch their cheek, but Astoria dodged her hand and raised an arm to gesture for her to stay back. “Blood is thicker than water, Astoria. No matter what you say, you cannot possibly abandon your family so easily.”  

“I prefer an alternative interpretation. The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb - the bonds in the family I choose are stronger than those that are given by birth. And I choose Myrna, who has been more my mother than you ever have been. I choose to find a family who will love me for me, who won’t attach conditions to their acceptance and approval, who see me as I am and expect nothing more than Astoria Fenharrow, lover of bones and dirt and other things long since dead."

Astoria reached behind them and turned the lock again, opening the door just as the grand hall clock began to toll midnight and gesturing to the empty hall. 

“Now get the hell out. Your house it may be, but it’s my goddamn bedroom.”

Senga opened her mouth to argue, but Astoria was already walking across the room, picking up the letters they’d sent to Malvina and tossing them into the cold hearth with every intention to use them as kindling for the cool summer night. She turned on her heel, and just as she took a few steps out into the hall, Astoria called out to her again with their tone clipped.  

“Oh, and one more thing?”

Senga paused just beyond the doorway, looking back over her shoulder -

Something in Astoria’s face made her freeze then, going so pale it was like she’d seen a ghost. 

“You lay a hand on me again without my consent, and I swear I will make sure you no longer have one.”

The door fell shut as Senga disappeared down the hall, and Astoria let out a trembling sigh, hands shaking as they peeled off their gloves to toss them on the table. They ran a hand through their hair, looked up to gaze in the mirror mounted above the hearth -

And then startled when they looked into their own eyes and met red, red, red irises that stared right back. Astoria took a few steps closer, removing their glasses and letting the chain catch them against their chest when they raised a hand to their eyes.

Sclera, black as night, making scarlet irises seem to glow as they looked back at their reflection and blinked a few times. They moved to wet their lips and froze when their tongue slid over a canine that definitely hadn’t been that sharp before, and with a cautious finger, pushed their lip up to look at the teeth behind it. 

They had...fangs. 

“Look at that.” They muttered, blinking a few more times and watching with intrigue as their eyes faded back to familiar white and turquoise and their teeth seemed to almost...retract, as if they’d never been fangs at all. Logically they knew they should be terrified, but they were high on adrenaline, and they gave their reflection a bit of a smile despite themself. They weren’t afraid - they thought it strange, surely, but at this point, strange was the name of the game. 

“Guess mother knows I can bite back after all.”

[banditthewriter]

Eye of the Hurricane - Charles Vane - 3

 I keep forgetting to post these. I’m sorry! Here’s part 3!

*gif not mine*

Enjoy!

------

After the third full day in the captain’s cabin without being brought back to the hold, you gathered enough courage to ask Anne about the relocation as she delivered your food. Neither her nor Jack had said anything about you returning back to the hold the other times they brought you food. 

She put the bowl and cup down on the table next to the window seat where you had been sleeping at night. Before she turned to leave, you said her name.

“Anne. I uh, I was wondering if the captain has plans to return me back to the hold. I thought my being in his quarters was just temporary?”

Anne crossed her arms over her chest as she looked you over.

“You miss the cell that much?”

That earned an honest smile from you, one that seemed to surprise the pirate in front of you.

“No, definitely not. I just want to be prepared if I am to be put back in the cell for the rest of the voyage.”

“The cell you were in now has Trask in it. The other cells are full of merchandise from your ship and the prize we caught before we came across you. So unless you want to share the cell with Trask…”

She let the rest of that sentence hang in the air, but you shook your head. There was no way you wanted to be in the same room with Trask, much less in those small cells. 

Anne left without saying anything else. It left you alone with your thoughts once more.

It wasn’t uncomfortable in the captain’s quarters. You stayed at the window for most of the day, but sometimes you would walk around and inspect things. There were books on the shelves, topics that ranged from sea life to grand adventures. You read the covers of each one carefully before you moved on. There were a few small chests that you were curious about but you didn’t touch any of them. 

You might be allowed to stay in his cabin, but you doubted he would like you going through his things.

There was a low hanging hammock on the far corner that you hadn’t noticed the first day or so you were in the cabin. It must have been where the captain slept normally which brought to mind the question of where he was sleeping while you occupied his quarters.

You hadn’t pegged Charles as the type of man to give up his own comfort for the sake of someone else. Did that make you special or was the ransom from your kidnapping that important? 

Charles came in a few times himself. He never started conversations with you but if you posed a question, such as how long until you reached your destination, he would answer you. His attention never seemed to fully be on you which gave you the opportunity to observe him.

He was an attractive man. This was a bit of a surprise to you. Perhaps you had assumed that pirates were ugly, cruel looking men, but this ship had changed that perception. Charles, Jack, nor Anne fit those earlier assumptions of what pirates looked like. Some of the other men on the ship did, like Trask, but not all.

So that you found Charles attractive was surprising. It was also surprising because of what he had done. You had watched him kill the captain of your ship. It had been a cruel action and the image of the man’s blood seeping through your fingers would likely haunt you, but that didn’t color your interactions with Charles.

His smirk made your blood run hot, most likely with the urge to wipe the smirk from his face. The way his hair hung over his shoulders when he was seated as his desk forced you to sit on your hands or else make a fool of yourself. And the fact that it seemed like most of his shirts weren’t made to be laced to the top made your skin feel hot and stretched too thin.

The impropriety alone embarrassed you, but you weren’t so naive not to understand what your body was telling you. You might not have ever experienced lust or attraction before, but you had heard it spoken about often enough from people who did not know you were nearby. 

You were attracted to the captain. How inconvenient. 

------

One week after the storm you were finally allowed up onto the deck again. It was the middle of the day, the sun an unforgiving force from above, but you were grateful for the clear air in your lungs once more. 

It was Jack who had collected you from the cabin. He didn’t seem to enjoy his duty, but he didn’t voice his displeasure.

On the deck you took a few deep breaths. The wind felt nice against your face and in your hair. You closed your eyes and gave in to the urge to twirl around a few times. It was childish and out of place on the deck of a pirate ship, but it brought joy to you so you did it again with a laugh.

“What is she doing?”

“Trying to conjure a hurricane I reckon,” Jack replied back to Anne in a deadpan voice. “Are we sure she wasn’t injured by Trask? Or in the storm?”

You laughed as you finally stopped spinning, your vision swimming as you looked around for the two of them.

“Perhaps I’ve gotten a little stir crazy being locked up for weeks on end. The sight of the sky and fresh air has revived me.”

There was the smallest smile on Anne’s lips as she stared at you. Perhaps it had been a while since she had seen joy, real joy. Jack, on the other hand, seemed bemused.

“Stay away from the railings and out of the way of the crew and you’ll be allowed to stay on deck for a while longer.”

You asked Anne to show you a place you could sit without being in the way. She found a spot for you on the top deck where fewer of the crew needed to get through. When she went back to whatever her duties were, you were left alone.

Without your permission, you found yourself scanning the ship until you found the captain. He was talking to Jack near the railing. While Charles didn’t seem to be bothered, Jack was speaking with his hands swinging around wildly.

Most likely about you. It hadn’t escaped your notice that Jack wasn’t happy about the change in location for you. He probably didn’t like you being free among the crew at that moment either. Did he think you would try to swim to freedom? 

You tried to turn away before you were caught staring but Charles turned his head right before you did. Even over the distance you knew that your eyes met his. 

------

The mixture of heat and breeze made you sleepy. Anne had led you to a corner out of the way so you stretched out a bit and just enjoyed your temporary freedom. It was the best you’d felt since before you left Virginia.

A shout from the bird’s nest quickly squashed that relaxation.

“Sails!”

You were not the only one that seemed to come alive at the warning. The members of the crew who had been milling around picked up the pace, some darting up the rigging.

Questions were yelled up to the crew member in the bird’s nest. Was it a merchant ship? Was it another pirate? Was it the navy? There were so many questions but it didn’t seem like they had a solid answer just yet.

“Think we should get you to the hold now,” Jack said as he grabbed your arm.

You let him lead you down the steps towards the lower deck but you weren’t quiet about it. 

“Do you think there will be another battle?”

“Hopefully not,” he admitted as he danced you between two pirates who were lugging more rigging for the main sails. “We haven’t had the chance to completely get whole after our last two battles. A third might cause the ship to become unable to sail.”

He didn’t leave you with much beyond that before the two of you made it to the lowest level. Your cell was empty, a few puddles of dried blood on the wood floor. Jack shut the door but made it obvious that you were not locked in before he disappeared back up the stairs.

Trask was probably released to help with the potential battle. You were glad that you didn’t have to share the small area with the man. This did make you wonder if the captain would make you stay in the hold for the last of your voyage. 

Instead of wondering too much about that, you sat down in the corner and wrapped your arms around your legs. You closed your eyes as if that would help you hear what was going on above you. Besides the distant sounds of voices and thuds of footsteps, you didn’t hear anything that would let you know one way or another what was happening.

The almost silence lasted so long that you felt yourself become lulled into a dreamlike state. You didn’t come to until you heard your name called from in front of you.

Charles knelt in front of you, his head cocked just barely to the left as he stared at you.

“Praying for a savior?”

You hadn’t even realized that your hands had been linked in front of you as if you were praying. You released your hands and put them in your lap as you shook your head.

“I suppose you being down here means we aren’t under attack?”

He smirked as he stood up, leaning back against the wall on the other side of the small cell.

“It was a ship that was known to us, no attack necessary. No reason to fear for your safety.”

Is that what you had been doing? You didn’t bother saying anything to that effect, simply stood up and wiped your hands on the skirt of your dress.

“I suppose I will be spending the rest of the voyage here now that Mr Trask has been relocated?”

The emotions that went over his face were too quick for you to catch before he finally stepped out of the cell. He purposefully left the cell door open behind him.

“You are more than welcome to stay down here. Or you can go back to residing in the cabin. Matters not to me.”

Without waiting for your response, Charles turned on his heel and walked out of the hold. You hesitated a moment before you followed him.

He had offered you the use of his cabin. And you had to admit that you preferred the view from the window than you did the sight of those bars.

Even if it was all temporary.

------

“Where are we headed?”

You had held the question in for as long as you could, but as the sailors all seemed to relax as they got closer to their home, you needed to know. There could be no harm in knowing the name of the land that you were being taken to.

Charles shut the log he was writing in before he turned to look at you. He’d spent the last hour or so in the cabin with you, both of you silent and lost in your own thoughts. The question had come from nowhere. 

“Our home,” he replied as he turned back to his desk. 

“Does your home have a name? Can it be seen on a map?”

You saw a twitch on his cheek that told you he was trying not to smile. It was something you saw often. For whatever reason, he tried to hide the fact that you amused him, but you had learned the signs.

“Nassau.”

There was a heavy silence after that. While you hadn’t traveled much if at all, you had heard of many different places. It was part of your education. It was also part of the day to day life, living so close to the port of Norfolk and being surrounded by merchants and sailors. Even your father told you tales of other places.

Nassau being one of them.

Tales of the lawlessness of Nassau had reached you. It was an island that held no flag, no claim from any country. It was owned and ruled by pirates.

And that’s where you were headed?

You shouldn’t be surprised that these pirates were based out of a place so infamous, but you could feel your apprehension building. On The Ranger you were safe because Charles meant to ransom you back to your family. What would guarantee your safety once you were on land?

If your ransom would bring a small fortune to Charles, it would do the same for any pirate that had claim of you. Wasn’t it possible that you could be in more danger in Nassau simply because there would be more people who would want to claim the ransom?

“Will I be safe there?”

You hadn’t meant to ask, but it had flowed out of you so easily. Charles turned around to look at you. Then he rose and crossed the distance to where you were perched on the window seat.

“You’d trust a pirate to keep you safe?”

You hadn’t been asking him directly if he would keep you safe, but you had to admit that it made sense. He had done a good job of it so far. Between saving you from Trask and the storm, he had already proven himself capable. It had been simply because you were needed for the ransom, but that would still be true in Nassau.

“In this case I think it’s about trusting the devil you know,” you said with a small gesture towards him. “It makes sense that other pirates might want to take advantage of the ransom as well.”

The thought of being stolen back and forth amongst pirates like you were some hunk of meat thrown to hungry dogs made your stomach turn. You had come to accept your reality as plunder, but you weren’t sure if you could handle it if your circumstances became worse.

Charles took a few steps until he was directly in front of you. His hand reached out and when you didn’t even flinch, he grasped your chin and angled your face up to look at him. It meant being unable to look away from his gaze, no matter how much you wanted to.

He had only touched you twice before that you could remember. The first time had been reminiscent of this, his hand on your chin as he checked to see if Trask had hurt you. The second time had been when he had saved you the night of the storm.

You weren’t sure why you could remember those instances so clearly.

“You will be safe from the other crews,” he said in a low voice as his eyes moved over your face. Then he added, “As long as you do what you’re told.”

You jerked your chin out of his grasp and leaned back a bit, eager to get out of his space as much as possible.

“Then I suppose I will have to do my best to stay out of trouble,” you said as you crossed your arms over your stomach.

Charles laughed at that, the action softening the look on his face. He turned away from you and started towards the door of the quarters.

“That will be a nice change,” he called over his shoulder with another laugh.

And then you were left to your thoughts once more.

------

It was Jack that came into the cabin a few days later while you and Charles were once more sharing the space silently. You hadn’t heard a knock but it was possible that you had just been so absorbed in pretending not to stare at the captain that you had missed it. 

You’d spent a lot of your time pretending not to stare at the captain. It had become your favorite pastime beyond reading the books you found on his shelves.

“Nassau is in sight. We’ll be dropping anchor soon.”

Jack’s eyes darted to you very quickly before he left the cabin. You closed the book around your finger.

“Happy to be home?”

Charles looked over at you and then back at his desk. After a long moment he stood up and headed towards the door.

“Stay in here for now.”

Without waiting to hear you say that you would stay put, he left the room. You shut the book completely and moved to put it back on the shelf. You tried to measure the time it took for the ship to stop moving completely. As the large vessel drifted a bit, you saw the edge of another ship nearby in the water.

This must be a bay near Nassau rather than a port. You tried to press your face against the glass for more of a glimpse but there didn’t seem to be much to see. 

Not from this vantage point at least. And Charles had told you to stay put so you would do just that. You’d all but promised him that you wouldn’t try to get in trouble again.

It took hours before the captain came back. By time he stepped back into the cabin, you were half asleep on the bench with the night sky reflecting back through the window behind you. You sat up slowly, the familiarity of the situation making you complacent.

You lost that ease when you saw the rope in his hands. 

“And what do you think you’ll be doing with that?”

He crossed the distance and grabbed one of your wrists. As you started to pull it away, he quickly grabbed the other. He took them in one of his own hands as he wrapped the rope around them quickly.

“You can walk off this ship or you can be carried, but you will do so like this. It is up to you if you want to be gagged as well.”

You weren’t sure why you were shocked. The rope was tied tight enough that you were sure you would lose the feeling in your fingers soon. 

He was a pirate captain, of course he was ruthless. You had been lured into a false sense of security the last few weeks with the quiet conversations and almost care that he showed you. You should’ve seen it. You should’ve known it was just for show.

Your first interaction with him was after he had brutally slaughtered your captain. How stupid you’d been to forget that. How naive you were to ignore the warnings just because of your attraction to the man.

You glared up at him.

“I suppose it’s my own fault for thinking better of a pirate than he deserves,” you spat out as he hoisted you off the bench.

His glare made yours feel weak in comparison.

“You know nothing about me or what I deserve. Now get a move on before I make up my mind about that gag.”

With that he tugged you forward and against his side. Then you were marched out of the cabin and up onto the deck. Jack and Anne were off to one side. Once you got up to that part of the deck, a small gasp escaped your lips.

Nassau during the day was probably a spectacular sight because the view at night already stole your breath away. You could see solid structures in the distance, off the beach. The beach itself seemed to be packed with tents and shacks. Off on the far side of the bay was a dark structure you couldn’t fully make out in the dark.

There were longboats on the water between the ship and the beach, lanterns lit to lead the way. 

“It’ll be hard for her to climb down the rope ladder with her hands tied,” Jack noted with a lack of true concern in his voice.

“You two climb down first. If she falls into the water, fish her out,” Charles said as he gestured down the side of the ship.

You could barely see down but you made out the shape of a small dinghy. It seemed empty which meant that it was just the four of you in this one. 

“What if I don’t know how to swim? I could drown before they get to me.”

Charles grabbed your arm and yanked you away from the railing.

“Try hard not to fall into the water then.”

When it was your turn to climb down the rope ladder, you focused carefully on where you put your feet and how you placed your arms. You had to use your elbows, hands stretched upwards to grab the rope above you with almost numb fingers. 

All the while Charles climbed beside you. He waited for you to take the next step before he did so, didn’t jostle the ladder while you climbed. The one time you slipped, he grabbed your arm until you were able to get your footing.

You desperately wished he’d just toss you into the water. You could swim, although you weren’t sure how skilled you’d be with hands tied. It would be easier to let that happen and hope that Jack and Anne would fish you out of the water if it meant that you didn’t have to deal with Charles Vane and his ever changing moods.

The wood of the dinghy appeared under your shoes and you sighed gratefully. Hands were on your waist and shoulders to help you dismount. It rocked a bit when Charles jumped down, but it stayed upright thankfully. 

Jack grabbed the oars as he settled down. You were pushed at Anne and then shoved down onto the bottom before Charles walked past to be at the front of the boat.

“Remember to aim towards the inlet. We don’t want anyone to see where we’re headed or what we have with us.”

You glared up at Charles although you were sure he couldn’t tell in the dark. When the boat started the move, you looked back up at The Ranger. There were still people on the ship, most likely because it could never be undefended even around other pirates. Maybe especially around other pirates.

Soon you would be on solid land once more. Between that realization and the aching in your wrists where the rope rubbed raw, you knew that you were in more trouble than you had accepted on the ship. It wasn’t real, not truly, not while you were at sea and things all felt like a dream.

This though? This was real.

And at some point you’d have to tell Charles the truth. Not yet, not after he’d just treated you without care, but soon.

Soon you’d have to tell him that you weren’t truly certain that your parents would pay the ransom for you.

------

You hadn’t really imagined where you would be once you got to Nassau, but it wasn’t this. Even your first glimpse of Nassau hadn’t led you to expect your current location.

Maybe you would’ve expected one of those tents or shacks. Some small building that felt more like a cabin on a ship than it did a structure on dry land.

You didn’t expect a fortress.

The men that were inside the fortress looked different from the pirates you’d seen on the ship. These men looked more haggard, hair matted and thicker. They all stared as you were led through by Charles’s hand on your arm. Jack and Anne stayed with you but even they seemed a little off center around these other men.

“I still don’t see how you trust them,” Jack admitted as the four of you stepped out of the courtyard and started to go through the hallways.

“We have something in common,” Charles said without clarification. He grabbed a torch off the wall and used it to point at his quartermaster. 

“I can handle her from here. Get down to the beach and make sure the crew knows no one is to speak of her existence. No use heading for the warehouse until morning.”

Jack frowned.

“Might be better if you take the merchandise to the warehouse. Miss Guthrie might not like you, but she doesn’t trust me.”

Anne scoffed at that. You caught her eye roll under the brim of her hat.

“Let’s go Jack,” she said as she nudged her friend. 

The two of them turned and went back in the direction towards the courtyard. You were left alone in the hallway with Charles. He didn’t bother saying anything, just grabbed your arm and continued to drag you through the halls.

You expected another cell. Even though you had been trusted in the captain’s quarters on the ship, you realized that being in Nassau was different. Whatever rules you had slowly figured out on the ship didn’t exist on the land. Here you were tied up and led around like a dog. 

Or worse, like a cow to be slaughtered.

The room that you entered wasn’t a cell. There was a bed and a small table nearby. A few half burned candles sat on the table and he went there first to light some of them. Then he went to light a torch on the wall that you hadn’t seen at first.

You sat down on the edge of the bed while he worked. Your wrists stung and in the brighter light in the room you could see that the rope had rubbed a few layers of skin off. 

He put the torch in a holder on the wall and came over to where you were. He didn’t say anything, just took your hands and started to work on the knots he had tied. You winced at a particularly painful tug as it scraped against the part of your wrists that were already raw.

When the rope came off, you had trouble clenching your fingers to ease the ache and numbness.

“You should’ve told me it was too tight.”

He pressed his thumbs into the palms of your hands as he lifted them towards the light to see where the skin had been rubbed raw.

“Would it have made a difference?”

There was a pause in his movements but he didn’t respond. Finally he put your hands back down onto your lap. After a long moment where he just stared at you, he turned and went back to the door. He grabbed the torch before he stepped back into the hall.

You looked away before he shut the door behind him. In the silence of the room you heard him turn a key and lock you into the room.

It wasn’t like you could escape, not when you didn’t know anyone on the island that could help you. You would have to rely on Charles ransoming you back to your family and the hope that they would comply and pay the ransom.

Which didn’t begin to cover what your life would be like once you were safe at home once more. There was no way your intended would agree to marry you after you’d been alone with pirates for so long. He would consider you tarnished even if you hadn’t been touched. It would make it harder for your parents to marry you off. 

Maybe there was something good to come of this after all.

X

Thanks for reading!

[takerfoxx]

Blood Island, Chapter 7

With apologies to those in it for the dinosaurs.

...

The rain continued on.

Two times Nuriel had fallen asleep for an unknown length of time only to reawaken to the sound of its patter. Two times she had drank from the bottle and eaten the fruit, leaving her with enough for only one meal left. Once she had crawled over to the far side of the ship to find a space to relieve herself. She was going to have to find a clean way to go about that once the rain stopped, but for now she had few options.

Now she was sitting slumped in her dark corner, hand closed around the bottle’s neck, sullenly looking out at a small crack in the ship’s hull across from her. Beyond she only saw the flicker of raindrops. Not even the light of the moon pierced through.

Sighing, she leaned her head back and stared up at the dark. She was miserable, she felt a little queasy from eating nothing but fruit and drinking wine, she was slightly disappointed in herself for accepting the red-eyed demon’s offerings, she was bored out of her mind, and she was fairly certain that her horribly bloody death had only been postponed, which made being cooped up in the boat’s hull all the more aggravating.

Strangely though, the one thing she wasn’t was afraid. Oh, sure, she had been absolutely terrified when fleeing from the razor-birds and the massive crocomonster. But now, having been yanked back from the precipice of death itself, she felt strangely neutral about her continued survival. If anything, she was mildly annoyed.

She took another pull of the wine. It was okay, but not the best drink she had ever had. To tell the truth, she had never much cared for alcohol. It dulled the wits, and the last thing Nuriel needed to be was off her guard, and the taste had never meant anything to her.

Still, there had been one drink that she fondly remembered…

…Nuriel yawned wide…

…one that she never expected to enjoy again, but sometimes found herself longing for…

…Arroyos is an odd town. Nestled in a bay just off the coast of the island of Cuba, it is not built upon dry land, but instead raised up above the water on wooden slats and connected by bamboo bridges and wooden walkways, expanding outward until it was twice the size of the meager slice of dry land it had grown from.

It even boasted a decent dock, letting the Periwinkle finally find mooring after weeks at sea. The crew was all worn down and exhausted, and are looking for to some measure of shore-leave, to just having something beneath their feet than the ship’s swaying timbers.

Frankly, Nuriel half-considered just staying with the ship. More people means more possibilities of being discovered, and the town isn’t the sort she can just walk into and disappear.

But like the rest of the crew, she is tired and restless. Besides, the men all were insisting that she come ashore, eager to show Ned the silent cabin boy a good time.

Unfortunately, it isn’t the fun times she had been promised, at least not at first. First comes the mooring of the ship, the tying and checking of ropes. Then comes the back-breaking part, the unloading of the cargo that they had been commissioned to deliver to this particular town, and of course, though she is easily the smallest and weakest member of the crew, Nuriel is expected to shoulder her fair share of the load. And even after all that, she is given little time to rest, as next comes the loading of supplies, from the new stores of food and water to cloth, wood, and metal for repairs to other bits and pieces that had been depleted by the voyage.

But then, with the ship watered and victualed and the repairs well underway, it is finally time. The sun is dipping down below the horizon, night is coming, and normally that would mean lights’ out, time to sleep, but tonight it means something different.

Tonight it is time to play.

Any crewmember not needed aboard loads into a pair of rowboats and heads out to the larger island, following the cliffs until they come across a wide beach. And once there, scrap wood is gathered and set alight into a massive bonfire. Bottles are passed around, freshly caught fish and rabbits are scaled and skinned and set alight, and the soon everyone is gathered around the fire, drinking, eating, singing, talking, and laughing. Several locals join the fun, some of them dockhands known to the crew, others are ladies of the town interested in making sure that the crew’s time spent with them is memorable.

Everything about that night remains seared into Nuriel’s brain. The warmth of the bonfire as it crackles beneath the stars. The sound of the black waves mingling with the cries of the gulls. The laughter of her crewmates and the songs that they sang, the first time any of them experienced joy in weeks. The humming of the ship musician’s accordion as he leads the crew through their favorite shanties. And though Nuriel can’t join in, she still grins and claps along, enjoying a rare moment of comradery in her life of lies and fearful solitude.

But most of all, she remembers her.

Nuriel’s eyes snapped open. The dream had been so vivid, so realistic that even after awakening, she could still the burning wood. She took a deep breath and glanced about.

It was still dark, and outside, the rain had not subsided. Whether that meant it was night or that the clouds were so thick that they choked out the sun, she had no way of telling.

Nuriel ate the rest of the fruit and drank the last of the wine. Wiping her mouth, she settled back, folded her hands over her belly, and closed her eyes.

They first see each other on the docks.

Though Nuriel is curious to see the town, there is little time to stand and gawk. Nuriel has a job to do, and to slack would be to invite unwanted attention. She kneels down, grabs onto the sides of a box packed with glass jars filled with seasonings and spices, and lifts it up.

The box isn’t that heavy, but its contents are fragile, so Nuriel has to take it slow as she makes her way out of the cargo hold, up onto the deck, down the rampway, and down the dock, until she finally comes to where the cargo is being stacked.

Placing the box down, Nuriel straightens up, wincing at the complaining of her knees. This is the fourth such box she carried out, and it is starting to get to her.

As she wipes her palms on her trousers, she glances down the dock.

And then she sees her.

There, standing at the other end of the dock, is a local girl, one that seemed to be about Nuriel’s age. But while Nuriel took great pains to hide any trace of felinity, this girl seems to rejoice in hers, from the way her white blouse hangs loosely around her slender shoulders to the flowers in her shimmering black hair. Though she isn’t doing anything particularly provocative, nothing more than stand with a basket tucked under one arm as she speaks to an older woman, there is a sensuality in her every movement that Nuriel cannot ignore, from the way she curves her hip outward to support the basket to how her face lights up as she laughs.

Nuriel feels her breath leave her. She used to scoff at sailors who would describe the madness that would take a man who had been at sea too long without the touch of a woman. After all, sure, women were pretty, and kissing them was probably fun, but have some self-control, man!

But now that she too had been away from civilization on a small boat filled with ugly men with no pretty girls to look at, Nuriel finally understands, and she cannot help but stare.

The girl finishes her conversation and turns away from the woman. In doing so, she catches sight of Nuriel staring at her. Nuriel feels her heart leap and tells herself to look away, but for some reason cannot tear her eyes away.

The girl’s perfect brow furrows, and her bright eyes roll with what was no doubt annoyance with another slobbering sailor unable to keep from ogling pretty girls. She starts to turn away, but then pauses.

And the next thing Nuriel knows, the girl is staring right back at her, her lovely mouth curving up into a smile of delight.

Nuriel’s cheeks flush, and she finally turns away to hurry back to the ship.

As she rounds the corner to head down into the cargo hold, she hears someone chuckle. “I saw that, lad,” says a gruff voice.

It’s Mr. Gagne, the ship’s quartermaster. An older, roguish man with close-cropped black hair and a cleft in his jaw, he always struck Nuriel as someone not to suffer fools, so Nuriel always did what she could to avoid upsetting him. During the whole of the voyage, he probably spoke less than a dozen words to her that weren’t short, gruff instructions.

So why was he speaking to her now?

In answer to his comment, Nuriel merely blinks up at him in confusion.

Mr. Gagne smirks knowingly. “I saw you staring at that pretty girl. Been a while, ain’t it, lad?”

Damn it, was she really that obvious?

Blushing with embarrassment, Nuriel turns to leave, for once thankful for her inability to speak, as it provides an excellent excuse not to answer.

But rather than let her go, Mr. Gagne clamps a hand down on her shoulder, stopping her.

“I also saw the way she was looking at you,” he says. He gently pushes his fist into her shoulder. “Maybe you should do something about that.”

Nuriel winces, and, without looking up to meet his eyes, miserably shakes her head.

Mr. Gagne sighs. “I know not speaking is kind of a problem. But just because you’re dumb don’t make you useless. You can find a way to charm her without words. And you should.”

Then Mr. Gagne pats her shoulders and is on his way.

Nuriel mulls over his words as she goes and finds another box to carry out. Of course she ought not to go seek out the girl. Even if she could speak, the girl thinks that she is a boy, and will likely not take kindly to the truth.

But…

But what if she doesn’t? What if she doesn’t reject Nuriel? What if she is still interested?

Nuriel shakes her head. No, that is a silly line of thought. Even if the girl is that…open-minded, how would Nuriel even begin to woo her? She didn’t have any experience with that sort of thing, even if she could speak?

Regardless, when Nuriel walks back onto the dock, the girl is gone.

Nuriel’s eyes again opened. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the fear, maybe it was the solitude, but she felt flushed, almost feverish but without illness. A smoldering warmth was growing within her, heat building deep within her gut.

She licked her dry lips and turned over onto her side. She knew what it was, of course. It had been years since she had first bled, and was quite accustomed to feeling the warmth of arousal, especially during whatever brief moments of peace she happened to encounter.

Nuriel usually ignored them. She lived life on a razor’s edge and could afford neither distraction nor exposure. The temptation was sweet and seductive, but she knew better to give in, not because of sin, because let us be frank, what those stuck-up cloth-wearers liked to proclaim sin and blasphemy was no less than what they enjoyed behind closed doors, but because it would cause her to drop her guard, making her vulnerable. She had seen grown men, many of them smarter and more experienced than her, end up losing everything because they could not resist a woman’s wiles, and she would not let it happen to her.

But it had to be admitted that there had been a few times, only a scant number, when the burning had become too much to ignore, and she had found herself slipping her fingers down the front of her trousers in the dark of whatever secluded hole she happened to be hiding in at the time. And ever since that night and that girl, those moments of weakness were ever harder to push away.

With a long, slow breath, Nuriel curled up into a ball and closed her eyes. She tried to think of something else to take her mind off the fire that was starting to burn inside her loins.

Maybe she ought to think of what to do about the Santa Carmilla. Sure, it was an ideal base camp, but there were improvements that could be made, alterations to make it a little more homey. Perhaps she could figure out how to make some kind of rope ladder, or patch up the holes, maybe even do something with the now-abandoned captain’s quarters, such as cover up that broken window, do something about the smell, and make some kind of bed so she didn’t have to sleep on a hard, cold floor…

And the girl is there, lying with her in the captain’s cot, hand roaming over Nuriel’s cheek while Nuriel’s own fingers explore her curves. They kiss each other sweetly in the dark, while the gentle sound of the rain outside lulls them both to sleep…

Again Nuriel’s eyes snap open. She let out a low whimper of frustration and, well, arousal, as her thighs squirm against each other in discomfort.

This wasn’t working. She couldn’t come up with a way to distract herself that wouldn’t turn toward the burning need that continued to grow inside of her.

Maybe it was the boredom making her restless. Maybe it was the long solitude, being trapped in the ship’s hull. Maybe it was the general fear and unease of her predicament keeping her on edge. Maybe whatever the red-eyed monster had used to heal her had some…interesting side-effects. But she just couldn’t shake free from the boiling lust clouding her head and setting every inch of her aflame!

Then Nuriel frowned.

Why resist? She was in no danger of being discovered. She was on a forgotten island of monsters and mysteries, and the only other “person” with her already knew where she was. And with the rain being what it was, she was going nowhere for a long time. Why not indulge?

Because it would be wrong. Because succumbing even once to temptation, even in a moment of relative peace and safety, would make it more difficult to resist in the future. Because she had to stay ever vigilant and not give in to-

The feel of the girl’s soft lips as they brush her own, the burning trails in Nuriel’s skin left by the girl’s fingertips as she slides her hands up under the hem of Nuriel’s shirt…

Fuck it.

Swallowing, Nuriel reached down with one hand. Her fingers were trembling and clumsy, but she managed to hook into the ties of her trousers and loosen them. From there, she slid her hand down her trousers’ front. The small, thin patch of hair tickled her palm, and she closed her fingers down over her aching womanhood.

The touch is enough to send shivers ripple over her skin, eliciting a small gasp. Taking in one deep, shuddering breath after another, Nuriel started to move her fingers, caressing the moistening folds as she closed her eyes again.

A hand comes down on Nuriel’s arm.

Startled, she pulls back with a small squeak of surprise, whirling around to face her assailant.

Then she sees dark eyes and gorgeous smile. The girl is there, the same one from the docks, now wearing a simple wraparound garment that leaves her shoulders bare.

But how? Why? How did she get there? How did she know how to find Nuriel?

“Surprised?” she says. Though she pronounces the word well, her inflection and accent tells Nuriel that English is perhaps not her native tongue. It does not matter, as her voice is sweet and rich and full of promise.

“I saw you at the docks,” the girl says by way of explanation. “And I know you saw me.” Tilting her head, she lets one hand slide down her side. “And I think you liked what you saw, did you not, cabinboy?”

Swallowing hard, it is all Nuriel could do to nod.

“Hmmm.” Then the girl nods over to one of the local men, who is laughing raucously at something the first mate said. “That is my cousin. And I told him, well, you will go be with your friends from that ship, yes? Well, there is a pretty cabinboy with them I want to see. And my cousin, he understands. Many men would not, but he does, and he says to me, the cabinboy will be gone tomorrow, why go see what you cannot keep? And I say, all more the reason to go see the cabinboy now.”

Then the girl moves her hand to Nuriel’s, squeezing her fingers. She gives it an insistent tug and tilts her head toward the shadowed part of the beach, her impish smile gleaming even in the darkness.

For a brief moment, Nuriel has no idea what is being offered. The girl wants her to go with her…why? Where? To do what? Puzzled, she tilts her head, her brow furrowed.

Rolling her eyes, the girl tilts her head again, with greater emphasis this time.

And then Nuriel gets it, and the realization causes her breath to catch and her spine to froze. No. Sure the girl couldn’t mean that, could she?

Seeing the look on Nuriel’s face, the girl’s wry smile becomes amused. She chuckles, a light, throaty sound that is honey-sweet to Nuriel’s ears.

Excitement mixing with panic and uncertainty, Nuriel glances around, hoping for some direction. The quartermaster is sitting nearby, an older, roguish man with close-cropped black hair and a cleft in his jaw, and to Nuriel’s chagrin, he is watching Nuriel slyly out of the corner of his eye.

But how long had he been watching her? Does he know what is going on?

Catching Nuriel’s eye, he slowly nods and inclines his head as well. The message is clear. Go with her, you daft idiot.

Nuriel’s eyes widens, and she looks back to the girl, who is now looking quite smug. She stands up and tugs once again on Nuriel’s hand, and this time, Nuriel goes with her.

Nuriel winced as her stomach clenched up. Just the act of indulging in the memory of that night was stoking the fires in her loins as much as the movement of her fingers was. Biting down on her lower lip, she squeezes her thighs together, pressing her hand down harder.

One hand wrapped around Nuriel’s and the other holding the neck of a rum bottle, the girl leads Nuriel away from the bonfire, away from the voices, into the night.

There is a cluster of large boulders splitting the beach in half. The girl takes Nuriel past the boulders so that they give the two of them some privacy, cutting them off from any prying eyes. As soon as they had climbed over the rough rocks and touched down onto the soft sand beyond, the girl suddenly turns around and pushes herself into Nuriel. Startled, Nuriel backs up until she is stopped by the rocks, but the girl doesn’t stop pressing into her. She leans in, planting hot, wet kisses onto Nuriel’s neck and shoulder, and Nuriel, who never had been kissed in her life, is so stupefied that she can do nothing but stand still and let her.

Then with a soft sigh, the girl backs away. “You are quite the blusher, you know that?” she murmurs. “Even in the dark I can see.”

Nuriel nervously swallows.

“Come.”

The girl gently pulls on Nuriel’s wrist, drawing her away from the rocks. She then releases Nuriel’s hand to press a single finger against the top of Nuriel’s chest, guiding her down. Nuriel tries to sit, but she seems to have forgotten how to properly move her legs, and they give way from under her, causing her to drop roughly onto her ass.

The girl laughs. She then kneels down and leans forward, laying one hand in the sand next to Nuriel while the other moves toward Nuriel’s chest.

It is then that a surge of horror breaks through the smoldering desire muddling Nuriel’s brain, and she freezes in fear. Oh fucking Christ, how could she have been so stupid? The girl thought that Nuriel was a boy! And if this kept up, there was no way Nuriel wouldn’t be exposed! She is taking her own life into her hands! Literally!

She panics, jerking away from the girl’s touch and scrambling back on her elbows. But before she can get to her feet to flee, she heard the girl sigh. Then a hand grabs onto the leg of her trousers, stopping her.

Nuriel glances back, eyes wide and heart beating fast. The girl had one lovely eyebrow cocked, her lips lifted in a wry manner. “I know,” she says. “Of course I know. You think I cannot tell another girl when I see one?”

Wait, what?

“You are not the first girl to come through here, trying to pass off as boy,” the girl continues. She reaches up to brush the back of her fingers down Nuriel’s trembling face. “I knew from the second I saw you.”

She did? Was Nuriel’s disguise really that bad? But that would mean-

“Those men you sail with only see what they want to see. They see what they expect to see: a soft boy to order around and do what they do not want to do. But I see what is.” Tilting her head, the girl slides her hand down to rest it on the back of Nuriel’s neck. “You are like me, yes? Not just girl, but girl who likes pretty things, yes?” She smiles that beautiful smile, the one that catches the breath in Nuriel’s throat and sends her heart pattering. “Girl who cares not for the touch of man, girl who shivers at the touch of other girl, yes?”

There is a pause, and Nuriel slowly nods.

“I thought so. Well then, little cabinboy, let me give you a moment of honesty.” Her hand pulling Nuriel’s head forward, the girl closes her eyes and leans in, her lips parted and ready.

Nuriel’s hand paused. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. As beloved as that night was to her, this part of the memory hurt the most, and yet was the part she most treasured.

Nuriel finds herself responding, leaning in as well. But when she feels the girl’s soft lips brush her own, suddenly the floodgates within her mind are opened, unleashing a torrent of darkness and pain.

The cold steel is forced into her mouth, holding her jaws apart.

Nuriel jerks back with a gasp, her hands clapped over her mouth. No, no, no. Not this. Not now.

The crushing grip of the pincers that are squeezed down on her tongue and yank it out of her mouth.

“What is wrong?” the girl asks. “Did I frighten you?”

Shaking her head, Nuriel turns away so that the girl won’t see the look of grief and shame on her face.

The agonizing feel of the heated steel blade, both cutting and burning as it slices through Nuriel’s tongue and sears the back of her throat. She screams and screams and screams, but the pain doesn’t stop, the cutting doesn’t stop, until-

Sobbing, Nuriel covers her face as the useless stump in her mouth throbs with ghost pain. Why did it have to happen now? Was it because she dropped her guard? Was this her punishment for not being more careful.

And then a slender hand gently lays itself on her shoulder. “What is wrong?” the girl says. “What happened to you?”

Oh God, she knows. She may not know exactly what had happened, but she knows of the hurt Nuriel was carrying around. Damn it, damn it, damn it! That is what she gets for letting herself become vulnerable!

The girl touches Nuriel’s cheek and draws her face around so she can see it. “Please, tell me,” she insists. The sultriness in her eyes is gone, replaced by nothing but concern and compassion.

Nuriel almost turns away again, almost pushes her away. She already went too far, opened herself up too much. To expose herself any further would only make her even more vulnerable. Father would give her one hell of a tongue-lashing were he alive.

But instead, for reasons even she doesn’t fully understand, Nuriel just stares deep into the girl’s dark eyes. Then, with a harsh swallow, she opens her mouth and pulls her cheeks apart to show her.

The girl frowns in puzzlement. Tilting her head, she leans in for a better look, something that is no doubt difficult in the dark.

But then she sees.

“Oh, sweet Lord,” she gasps, covering her mouth. “Your tongue!”

Closing her mouth, Nuriel swallows again at the lump in her throat and nods.

“What…Who would…” Then the girl’s eyes narrow, and she looks back to the bonfire. “Did they do that to you?”

Oh God, she thought the crew were responsible! Nuriel hastily and emphatically shakes her head.

“Then who?”

Oh, that was a story too long, too complicated, and too painful to tell even if Nuriel could speak. She slowly lets out a long, shuddering breath, and then spreads her hands apart.

“Large…No, long. It happened a long time ago?”

Nuriel nods.

Sighing, the girl leans back on her haunches and shakes her head. “I am sorry,” she says simply. “I did not know you had been hurt so. It must have been a very, very evil person.”

A small sob shakes Nuriel’s shoulders. A very, very evil person indeed.

There is an awkward pause, and then the girls asks, “Would you like to stop? Is it too painful?”

She ought to say yes. Nuriel ought to stop things now, to compose herself and return to the ship. That would be the safer course of action.

Instead, she finds herself shaking her head. Safer, perhaps, but she doesn’t want to do that. Instead, she wants…she wants…

“I understand. Then, shall I comfort you?”

That. She wants that.

Nuriel sniffs and nods.

The girls says nothing in response. She merely leans in, and instead of caressing or kissing her, she wraps her arms around Nuriel and holds her tight. Nuriel clenches up a bit at the unfamiliar touch, but she doesn’t draw back. Part of her is scared, yes, and part of her wants to run away and hide. But so much of her wants this and wants this badly, yearning to hold someone warm and kind and be held in turn.

Nuriel gingerly and stiffly encircles her arms around the girl, clasping her hands behind the girls back. It takes her some time to work up the nerve, but she tightens her arms around the girl’s middle.

It is Nuriel’s first time being held like that. Though she knows that Father loved her and did his best to take care of her in his own way, he wasn’t one to show it like that, the few times he actually hugged her being few and far between. He did hold her tight the night that her tongue was cut out, and more times afterward. But his death came not long after, and Nuriel was left alone.

She thought that she had everything under control. She thought that she recovered and was steady in her mind and heart.

Clearly, she knew nothing.

Nuriel clings to the girl, the stranger whose name she doesn’t even know, holding onto her as if doing so could save her. Tears continue to stream down her face, tears that she normally would push back but now simply let run free. A reservoir is being emptied, one of pain, of grief, and of loneliness, one that she didn’t even know she was carrying around.

And the girl lets her. Though she doesn’t know Nuriel, though they probably won’t even see each other again after tonight, she continues to hold onto the strange girl without a tongue, letting her cry.

Then the girl parts from her. She draws her hand down the side of Nuriel’s face, brushing away her tears, and cups her cheek. “Maybe you won’t taste this,” she says. “But you will feel it.”

As the two lock eyes, the girl lifts up the bottom of rum with her other hand, pulls out the cork with her teeth, and takes a long drink. Despite everything that is going on, Nuriel is impressed, as the strong drink doesn’t even make her wince.

Lowering the bottle, the girl smiles, the mischievous twinkle in her eye visible even in the dark. It is clear that she did not swallow, as her cheeks are puffed out.

This time, when she moves in to kiss Nuriel, Nuriel doesn’t pull back or resist. The reflexive tightening of her gut and the urge to flee again rise up, but she fights them, letting the girl press her lovely mouth against her own.

Though there was much about that night that Nuriel held dear, it was that first kiss that burned the brightest in her memory, a moment of intimacy that still left her lips tingling to that day. Warm pleasure rippled out from her core from the memory alone, causing her back to arch.

Shivering with feverish delight, Nuriel pulled her hand out from her trousers and braced her back against a wooden beam. She loosened her trousers’ bindings even further and pulled them down off her hips and past her thighs. Then, settling back on her bare buttocks, she again pressed her hand back onto her yearning sex as she let the echoes of the best night of her life wash back over her.

As their mouths make contact, Nuriel feels the strength leave her, and she lets the kiss melt into, leaning back onto her elbows as the girl presses her body into Nuriel’s.

At first Nuriel really isn’t sure how to properly respond, so she tries to copy what the girl’s mouth is doing with her own. The movements of her lips are clumsy and amateurish, but the girl doesn’t seem to mind.

Then Nuriel feels something slick and warm slip in-between her lips. It’s the girl’s tongue, pushing and probing its way into Nuriel’s mouth.

Was this a normal part of kissing? Nuriel didn’t know, and with no tongue of her own she surely couldn’t respond in kind. So she did the only thing she could do: lean back and let the girl do whatever she wanted.

The girl’s tongue parts Nuriel’s lips, and then Nuriel feels warm rum flood from the girl’s mouth into her own. The harsh alcohol burns her mouth, and of course Nuriel can’t taste it. And yet, it is somehow sweet.

She swallows. It burns, yes, but it also warms, giving Nuriel courage to press on.

Then the girl places a hand on Nuriel’s chest, right over her heart. She gives a gentle push, and Nuriel is more than happy to comply, letting herself be pressed down flat on her back in the sand. She stretches her torso across Nuriel’s, heart-to-heart, and kisses her again. Nuriel lets out a small groan of pleasure.  

The girl then sits back on Nuriel’s lap, legs straddling her to either side, her sensual smile reflecting the moonlight, her midnight-black hair like a veil framed by the stars in the night sky.

In that moment, she looks like a goddess.

As Nuriel stares in awe, the girl reaches up to take the edge of the wraparound garment she’s wearing. A few tugs, and it loosens around her torso.

Nuriel’s heartrate quickens. Oh, it’s happening, it’s really happening.

Not taking averting her eyes from Nuriel’s and without even a hint of shame or embarrassment, the girl gives her garment a small push from the top, and it down, sliding down off of her, unveiling the perfection beneath.

Nuriel can’t keep from gasping a little. She never even dreamed something like this could happen to her, and yet here she is, lying back beneath a starry sky as a beautiful girl undressed for her.

Obviously enjoying Nuriel’s reaction, the girl lounges back a little, turning so that her breasts, small but perfectly shaped, are silhouetted against the stars. Nuriel’s fingers involuntarily clench, digging furrows in the sand.

Sighing, the girl leans forward, lowering her body back down onto Nuriel’s. “You can touch me, if you like,” she murmurs as she nuzzles her face into where Nuriel’s neck met her shoulder, planting small kisses on Nuriel’s freckled skin.

Nuriel’s nods, and she gingerly lifts her hands and settles them on the small of the girl’s naked back. Her skin is silky smooth, with a slight covering of sweat. She moves them upward, finally clasping them behind the girl’s shoulders.

“That is it?” the girl says in mock-disappointment. “Why do you not touch me…here.”

And then, before Nuriel could fully comprehend what is about to happen, the girl grabs Nuriel’s arm and rises up, pulling Nuriel’s hands around and pushing them into her breasts.

Nuriel sucks in air between her teeth. Oh. Oh yes. This was nice. This was very nice. She squeezed her hands in, digging them into the soft mounds, and judging by the throaty moan, it was clear that the girl quite enjoyed the experience.

And then the girl lays her hand on Nuriel’s own chest. “Hmmm,” she says. “This feels…ah. Of course you would?”

She would? She would what? What was Nuriel doing.

“Please keep doing what you’re doing,” the girl says as she coyly fingers the top button of Nuriel’s shirt. “This will not take long.”

Nodding, Nuriel continues to knead the girl’s breasts, squeezing the flesh while the girl unbuttons Nuriel’s shirt, starting from the top and working her way down, uncovering her little by little.

She reaches the bottom and slips her fingers in under hem. Leaning forward again, she places another kiss on Nuriel’s lips as she slides her fingers up, parting her shirt to either side.

Then she sits back, her hands coming up and gently pushing Nuriel’s hands away from her breasts. Taking the hint, Nuriel lets them fall to either side.

“A shame you have to hide like so,” the girl murmurs as she reaches down to slide a single finger over the linen binding Nuriel’s chest. “I understand, but tonight, no disguises, yes?”

Nuriel slowly nods.

“Good. Now, sit up a little, please.”

Nuriel struggles to obey, propping herself up on her elbows. The girl runs her hand over Nuriel’s belly, sending shivers across Nuriel’s skin, and reaches behind Nuriel’s back, arms going into her shirt. Her fingers find the edge of the linen wrapping, and she works to loosen it.

Remaining perfectly still, Nuriel stares up at the beautiful girl as she is slowly unwrapped. Finally the girl finishes peeling the linen off from Nuriel’s chest and sets it aside. Then she smiles down at what she sees.

Given her lifestyle, Nuriel never gave much thought to her own breasts, save to find them annoying when she had to tie them up. They weren’t large; in fact they were smaller than the girl currently undressing her, but it did not pay to become complacent.

But now, as the girl looks appreciatively down at her exposed chest, Nuriel suddenly finds herself quite fond of them. No one ever looked at her like that before.

The girl playfully drags a finger over Nuriel’s chest, circling around one breast and then the other. Then she takes the slight mount in her hand and bends over to close her mouth over one tiny, pink nipple.

Nuriel squirms and gasps in ecstasy. The girl sucks and kisses the hard nub, swirling her tongue around its base and kissing its peak. Then she moves her mouth over to the other breast and does the same.

Nuriel is again on the verge of tears, but not from any buried pain or shame, but from the waves of hot arousal surging through her young body. She never felt anything like this before, never imagined that it could be so good.

When she woke up that morning, she was a girl pretending to be a boy. And soon she would have to go back to being that. But for now, for this brief moment of pleasure, of vulnerability, of exposure, of naked honesty, for the first time in her life she is a woman.

The girl again sits up and wipes her mouth. Nuriel blinks her eyes, trying to clear her head. As wonderful as that felt, she doesn’t want to miss a thing.

The girl reaches down and takes the hem of the garment lying around her waist and slowly opens it up, revealing the rest of her.

Then the girl slides back off of Nuriel’s lap down between her legs. She gets onto all fours, the curve of he rear sticking into the air, and lowers her top half down over Nuriel’s waist. Running her fingers over Nuriel’s lap, she mischievously played with the laces, flicking them back and forth, before finally untying them. One they were loose, she grabbed onto the waistline and pulled them down.

Unable to wipe the silly grin off of her face, Nuriel craned her neck to watch as her trousers were tugged down past her thighs, down to her knees. Leaving it at that, the girl then runs her hand over Nuriel’s thighs and traces the contours of her groin.

Nuriel’s abdominals clench up in anticipation. Sweet Jesus, this is actually happening. This is-

Her eyes closing, the girl lowers her head down between Nuriel’s legs.

“Nnngguhhh!”

Nuriel’s hips bucked as she came, warm arousal flooding her palm. She hissed sharply, her back arching, thrusting her sex into her own hand, riding out the first orgasm she had been permitted in months.

The waves of bliss rise and crash, rise and crash, until finally the beautiful torture subsides, leaving a comfortable ache in its wake. Panting, Nuriel removed her hand and let it drop to the floor.

For a time it was all she could do to just lay there, feeling drained, sticky, but relieved. It was like finally being able to scratch a persistent itch at the bottom of her foot, one she had been unable to reach because she never had the opportunity to remove her boot. It feels like heavy stones had been rolled off her shoulders, and she could finally lie down and rest.

She had felt the same that night. When all was said and done, and she and the girl, whose name Nuriel still didn’t know, had laid together in each other’s arms, basking in the afterglow, sleep had come upon her so quickly that she hadn’t even realized that she was tired until she was waking up the next morning, still sprawled out on the beach.

When she did, the girl had been gone.

Nuriel had panicked then, convinced that it had all been a set-up, that the girl had led her away, gained her trust, and seduced her only to rob her after.

And yet, upon frenzied inspection, Saint George remained in his hidden sheath, and the few coins that she had secreted upon her body were still there. The girl had even taken the time to replaced Nuriel’s bindings and button up her shirt, leaving her disguise intact.

But she was still gone.

There had been many leering grins and knowing looks when Nuriel had returned to the Periwinkle. Mr. Gagne had slapped her on the back, and some of the crew had cheered. Nuriel’s had been flushed with embarrassment, but also somewhat proud. Regardless of what they knew about her, the crew had still been proud of her, and she appreciated that.

Even so, she had never seen the girl again. But she never, ever forgot her.

Gradually the blissful haze started to dissipate from her mind, and she started to feel her strength return. Sighing happily, she lifted her ass and pulled her trousers back up, though she left the ties undone. Then she lay down flat on the ground, curled up into as comfortable position as she could, and let herself drift off, hoping that if she dreamed, it would be of that girl.

As the soft drumming of the rain lulled her back to sleep, Nuriel found herself wondering if her new red-eyed friend had been watching.

…

When Nuriel’s eyes opened again, rain no longer pounded against the Santa Carmilla’s hull, and light was streaming in from the various cracks and holes.

Blinking, she slowly straightened up. A knot in her neck made her wince, as did the looseness of her right arm, which she had apparently slept on. What was more, her head was throbbing, probably thanks to that wine. Massaging her neck with her left hand while she shook some life into her right, she looked around.

It was day, and the storm was over. Outside she could hear the sound of seabirds mingling with the surf.

She had survived.

As the rest of her body woke up, Nuriel took notice of something interesting. Her friend had again returned. The basket was once again full of fruit. What was more, it was joined by a smaller basket. She leaned forward to look inside.

Inside were several chunks of some kind of cooked meat. Fish, from the smell, though whoever had done the cooking hadn’t been very good at it, as it seemed like they had simply torn out chunks and charred them over a fire. She gingerly reached down and prodded on especially blackened piece. It was still a little warm, so it hadn’t been there for that long.

Nuriel shrugged. Who cared? Taste never mattered to her anyway.

She scarfed down breakfast, shoveling handfuls of burnt and greasy fish and chunks of wild fruit into her mouth.

As she did, she took note of the two wine bottles, now sitting upright near the baskets. She grabbed one and sloshed it around. It was full.

Good.

Nuriel swallowed her mouthful and took a sip.

A second later she coughed. She had been expecting wine, but instead it was only water.

Well, whatever. It was probably for the best. Wine was good for when she needed to rest, but water was what she needed now. Her throat was parched, and her head hurt.

Moments later Nuriel had gone through both baskets and drank a bottle and a half. She sat back, feeling better than she had in a good long while. Her hurts were healed, her belly was full, her throat was wetted, and even her headache was clearing up.

Feeling cheered, Nuriel slowly rose to her feet. They wobbled, but held.

Then she noticed that the note that the red-eyed monster had left her was still there, lying near where she had slept.

Frowning, she knelt down and picked it up. It was still very long, and though it was obviously by the same hand that had left her that first note, this one was hurried, almost frantic.

Well, reading it would be difficult enough even in the shadows of the ship’s cargo space. Nuriel ascended the steps, braced her shoulder against the hatch, and shoved it open.

The bright light of the sun made her wince, and certainly did the receding throb in her head no favors. Squinting, Nuriel walked out onto the deck and looked around.

It was either late morning or early afternoon. The sun was high, and the sky clear. All in all, it was a very lovely day, and the view was astounding.

If one were to overlook all of the monsters out there looking to eat her, of course.

Nuriel blinked until her eyes had adjusted. Then she sat down in the sunlight to try to decipher the letter.

Her reading skills were quite rusty, and never that thorough to begin with. And the hand that wrote it had done so…quickly. Still, the letters were large, so it was clear that the writer really wanted to get the message across.

After some time she managed to get the gist of it. It went a little something like this.

I am so, so, SO sorry I scared you. That was not my (here was a long word that she had to really spell out, but she felt that it was probably “intention”) at all. Please (another long word, something-“stand”) that I am not a threat. I swear by my blood (by its blood? Was that some kind of witchcraft thing?) that I mean you no harm. You have nothing to fear from me.

Nuriel frowned. That was unlikely.

But please, please, PLEASE (here the word was written so large that it was nearly the size of the preceding paragraph) never do anything that (um, what was this word? Something-less, starts with an “r”) ever again! The island is (damn it, another big word! Dan…dangger…no, danger! Dangerous!) at night! Well, it is dangerous at day, but even more at night!

Well, on that, Nuriel agreed.

I drove the birds away from the ship, and made sure they will not return. But they are active at night, and if you go out too far, I cannot stop them from hunting you! Nor any of the other (mon…mon…Mondays? No, wait, monsters! Of course it was monsters. Why hadn’t she known that? She had certainly had the word repeating in her mind over and over again lately!) that hunt in the dark.

Nuriel breathed out. It sounded like her red-eyed friend was telling her to stay put at night, to not leave the ship. And Nuriel didn’t care for that. She wasn’t one to appreciate being told to stay or stay out of anywhere.

Then again, considering what had happened the last time she had left the ship when the moon was out…

I know I have given you little reason to trust me, and I am sorry for that. If you wish for me to leave you alone, I will do so. But I have been trapped alone on this island for a very long time, and never (ex…expe..expected!) to share it with such a brave, (cutting? Did the letter just call her cutting? No, wait, those were n’s. Cunning. Was that even a word?), and, if you do not mind me saying, (here was another long word, but Nuriel recognized it immediately, and it made her groan a little) beautiful young fighter such as yourself.

Despite everything, Nuriel couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Great, flattery.

I have been watching you from afar, and you really are quite (another long word that started with “ex,” one that Nuriel couldn’t even begin to guess at. Probably some kind of silly compliment)! Please, it would break my heart to see you come to harm especially in response to me.

If you wish for me to go, then I will do so, never to step foot near the Carmilla's Fancy ever again. I would not blame you if that were to be the case. There would be no hard feelings.

But, if you would permit me to continue to keep watch over you, I think you would find me very useful. You needn’t even see me. I will stay out of sight, bringing what you need while you sleep and keeping the monsters away.

Again Nuriel frowned. She didn’t like the thought of anyone or anything strange doing stuff while she slept, regardless of what it was.

But again, if you’d rather I not, then I would understand.

Just please promise me that you will stay safe.

Please.

And at the bottom was a flourished signature, one that Nuriel couldn’t even begin to decipher, other than it also began with an “N.”

Breathing out, Nuriel slowly lowered the paper. She sat down cross-legged on the deck and thought.

Clearly the red-eyed monster was a strange one. It was not human; that much was obvious. But Nuriel was no longer convinced that it was some kind of malicious demon. She still didn’t trust her unsettling friend, if that truly what it was, but she didn’t feel as threatened by it either.

But what to do? What if she grew complacent, came to rely on the red-eyed monster’s gifts, and it cost Nuriel her soul? What if in accepting its help she ended up damned?

You already ate its food, came the reply from the back of her mind. You already drank its wine and accepted its gifts. In for a penny…

Nuriel shivered, but she had no retort.

You tried to flee, and it almost got you killed. It was only because of the demon that you still live. And if your stubbornness kills you, then what good would your purity do? You will be burning in Hell regardless.

That was true. That was very true.

Nuriel looked down at the letter. It was true, there was nothing more dangerous than the attention of another person, and whatever this thing was, it was clear that Nuriel had its full attention. And yet, if it weren’t for that attention, she would be dead.

But what if that was the point? What if the red-eyed monster was lulling her into a false sense of security, to make Nuriel reliant on its help? What if she became too accustomed to its gifts and protection? She might as well put the collar around her own neck for it!

On the other hand, there was literally nothing stopping it from taking her by force if it wanted to. Anything capable of driving off the razor-birds and keeping the other monsters away would have no trouble subduing one small girl. It wouldn’t need to get her to drop her guard; it only needed to act, and she would be helpless to stop it.

Still, there were many stories that claimed that for all their power, creatures such as demons, the Fair Folk, spirits, and the like were bound by certain rules, and could only act according to those rules. That was why so many stories were based around them disguising themselves and engaging in some kind of trickery in order to steal souls, because they would be unable otherwise.

But again, what good would her soul do her if she were torn to pieces, if she were to starve to death, if she were to be fall sick to infection or some strange, exotic disease?

It was a puzzler, one that Nuriel had to be very careful in solving. She sat down and thought for a very long time.

Then, after nearly an hour, Nuriel stood. She walked over to the captain’s cabin and looked inside.

It was still empty, bereft of bloodthirsty birds, but the chest remained. Squatting in front of it, Nuriel perused its remaining contents until she found what she was looking for: a piece of charcoal, a hammer, and a nail. Then she turned the note over to where there was still some blank space and with unpracticed hands jotted out two rough words.

That done, she pressed the note to the side of the ruined mast and used the hammer to drive the nail through, pinning the note in place. The red-eyed monster was sure to return, and when it did the note would be waiting for it.

Nuriel’s message simply read, “THANK YOU.”