#saying 'i want to move in with you' is brazenly presumptuous even for him so

[rimatsu]

his enamored, overly optimistic self was really expecting a "move in with me instead" response.. that's so funny buck is the og bucktommy clown 🤡

[acciofanfics]

Teacher’s Pet (Remus Lupin x Reader) Part 4

Summary:  (Y/N) wants to be a professor at Hogwarts. Dumbledore offers her a chance to intern and figure out what she wants to do… hopefully she’ll make it through the year.

Pairing: Remus Lupin x Younger FemReader

Warnings: Age Gap, eventual smut, probably language.

A/N: I’m struggling with whether I should make this a longer series and try to keep a lot of canon movie moments or skip around and go ahead and get to the point??

———————————————————————-

(Y/N) didn’t know if she’d ever catch Remus Lupin in the Three Broomsticks. She didn’t imagine the man to have a personal vendetta against the establishment, just that he never seemed to have a lot of time recently to wander. Of course, it hasn’t been (Y/N) to spot Remus in the first place. It had been the other way around and Remus pondered if he should disturb the woman tucked away in the corner booth. Considering how rude it would’ve been to simply walk away knowing she’d mentioned having a drink with him before, Remus made his way to the table, “May I?”

(Y/N) looked up from a book. Her face immediately reflecting a look of pleasantness, “Of course! Didn’t think you ever made it off the castle grounds?”

He didn’t blame her curiosity. He rarely did lately. Remus had taken on giving some lessons to Harry on how to deal with dementors (Merlin knew the boy clearly needed them with all the run ins). Remus also enjoyed spending time with Harry when he had a chance. He just reminded Remus so much of Lily and James... plus with Sirius on the loose... well, he just thought it best to stay close to Hogwarts, just in case. Remus shook himself from his mental rambling, “It has been awhile... what do you say to me buying you a drink as a proper thanks for all those essays? What’ll you have?”

Remus noticed a mug of butter beer in front of the girl that was nearing empty. Though it was a loved beverage of witches and wizards of all ages, he didn’t want to be too presumptuous. Perhaps she’d had her fill already. However, he wasted no time in procuring two glasses of the drink when she confirmed she could go for another. He walked slowly back to the booth, careful not to slosh by foam towering over the rim. He also took notice of a few students scurrying away when he got closer. Their young faces gleaming with excitement, showing their motives. Remus slid a butter beer in front of (Y/N) before sliding himself in the seat opposite of her, “Some admirers I see?”

“Quite normal, probably. We’ve all had crushes on a teach or I guess someone in a similar position rather. I’m sure even you can relate?”

He could recall a few girls a few years ahead of him, which he supposed might’ve been similar. “I can’t really remember any of I did. And you? Gilderoy Lockheart was the professor last year, right? I hear many young witches fancied him.”

Remus wasn’t sure why he was prying for an answer he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted. It wouldn’t be like anything would happen between them... still he thought it might sting a little to hear that her type was the complete opposite of him.

“I won’t lie, I definitely thought about it, but I think it was more about the idea of it... that man was bloody awful, not a big shock he ended up at St. Mungos...” (Y/N) took a sip of the warm liquid. Though there was only a tiny bit of alcohol in butter beer, this hadn’t been her first. That must’ve been the reason she decided to speak so brazenly, “Of course, if you had been my professor, it would’ve been a different story entirely.”

Remus coughed, quite taken back by the bluntness of her words. Though he couldn’t lie he felt quite prideful and hope she was not simply pulling his leg. “Is that so?”

“You find that surprising?”

Remus nodded, not lying at all. He’d had a few partners in the past, but he still often found it surprising there were people in the world attracted to him. Sure, after all this time he’d come to terms with who he was, but he’d never really expected others to do so as well. Of course, Remus had to remind himself that (Y/N) didn’t know a lot about him at all. It was probably better for both of them that way.

“You shouldn’t. I mean if I’m attracted to you know, I don’t know why I wouldn’t have been then.” (Y/N)’s logic made perfect sense, but even having a moment to think while she downed the rest of her drink, Remus couldn’t think of anything clever to say.

“How many of those have you had?”

(Y/N) laughed and stood to her feet, “Maybe one too many? Don’t worry, I’ve never been quite fond of making the first move. You’re safe from my advances so long as you choose to be.”

“Leaving already?” Remus chose to ignore the confession and hoped she wasn’t really going to leave him alone to go over everything in his head.

“Yeah- sorry! I know you just got here, but Professor McGonagall asked me to do a sweep for any straggling students and their curfew is getting close. Better me find them than Filch.”

He nodded in agreement and said his farewells then watched the young woman leave the restaurant (tapping a few of the younger patrons in the shoulder as she went). Remus wasn’t quite sure what to think. He had his suspicions, obviously. But now (Y/N) has blatantly confirmed them. It would’ve been much easier to ignore his attraction if he didn’t know it was definitely not one-sided. Now he’d just have to rely on his willpower not to act knowing that he simply shouldn’t. Why was it that knowing you shouldn’t always made you want it more?

Taglist: @iamabeautifulperson18 @figlia--della--luna @ickleronniekinsemotionalrange @idkitsrandxm @marvel-rhapsody @little-bit-of-randomness @nuttybeardetective @siriuslypadfootmc @tugabooos @obx-beach @badedum-badaboom @starlightkell @bepo-is-sorry @hamildork @shadesofbarryallen @lunaqveen @pxstelink @auberosier @harrypotter289 @levylovegood @sapphicnoodle69 @thestunningspell @themostdivisive @pan-pride-12

[apharine]

The First Annual Staff Party of the Castle That Never Was

Chapter 2: The Superior of the In-Between

Pairing:  Reader/Organization XIII

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Rating:  M

Read on AO3

Summary:  [Reader-insert Seven Minutes in Heaven with Organization XIII] When you woke up, you were expecting a quiet day off from missions, shared with no-one but yourself. But your day off went terribly, almost predictably, wrong, and by that evening, you'd been roped into contributing towards a potluck dinner and playing some mashup of Seven Minutes in Heaven and Spin the Bottle with your Organization XIII colleagues. Kingdom Hearts help you.

Notes:  First up we have Xemnas!  This fanfic will be updating on Tumblr every Saturday night!  There are entire first chapters for all of the Organization members already up on AO3, so please feel free to jump over there and read as well.  If you’re interested in following me on Tumblr, I always follow back and am opening requests soon!

                                        _____________________

     The bottle was pointing to Xemnas.

     Xemnas.  The boss.  The Superior of the In-Between.

     You were sure you were going to have a heart attack, right then and there, and that Dusks would be sent in after the party ended to sweep up your remains.  As Xemnas' golden eyes met yours, you were also certain that you had a total deer-in-the-headlights expression written all across your face.  The Superior's eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

     He knew he scared you.

     Xemnas rose slowly from his seat, the steady swishing of his cloak as he walked towards where you sat the only sound in the room.  Nobody dared to make any cat-calls or wolf-whistles or teasing remarks to the Superior.  The silence surpassed even the quiet still of the cemetery in Halloweentown.

     “Well?”  Xemnas' deep voice startled you out of your thoughts, and you whipped your eyes off the solemn expressions surrounding you and back to the Superior.  He was watching you expectantly, one gloved hand extended.

     You swallowed hard and nodded, placing your smaller hand in the Superior's as quickly as you could.  You didn't want to keep him waiting.  His strong fingers closed around your palm rather gently, but still firmly enough that he could help pull you to your feet.  The gesture, you noted, was remarkably easy for the well-muscled man.

     Xemnas escorted you to the closet, walking slowly, deliberately, as if showing off his trophy to a silent Organization.  You weren't too sure how you felt about that.

     The Superior opened the closet door himself, holding it open for you.  Letting go of his hand, you stepped inside the relatively small space with a curt nod of thanks, and immediately flattened yourself against the nearest wall, hoping you could sink backwards into it and just disappear from this terrifying situation.

      Xemnas shut the door, and for a moment, you could see nothing.  You winced, almost expecting a large hand to descend on your skin painfully, or to feel the familiar sting of an Ethereal Blade.  While you had only incurred punishment from the Superior once, it had been more than enough to make you realize just why the rest of the Organization had found your former lack of fear for Xemnas to be so foolishly naïve.  Nothing happened, though, and you glanced around the closet, wondering where the Superior of the In-Between actually was.

      “Sir?”  You squeaked, uncertain of what else to do.

      “I'm here,” Xemnas murmured from the opposite side of the closet.  As your eyes began to adjust, you caught a glimpse of his silver hair in what little light crept through the crack under the heavy closet door.

      He really was quite an exotic creature, with his dark skin contrasting beautifully against that hair of his.  Now that you thought about it, he was also one of the most well-built members of the entire Organization; his upper body was most impressive to look at, with beefy pectorals and biceps straining the fabric of his cloak.

      If it weren't for the fact that he was your boss, and he terrified you, you could have seen Xemnas as being...well, hot.

      A long moment passed in awkward silence, though it felt more like an eternity.  Your eyes adjusted fully to the darkness, and you could make out Xemnas' expressionless face, his golden orbs focused on your eyes, occasionally dipping down to roam over your body.  Every time they did, you shivered.

      “Are you well today, sir?”  You asked cordially, unwilling to allow the oppressive silence to continue any longer.  You felt you might suffocate in it if you did.

      “I am,” Xemnas responded briefly.  You kicked yourself mentally for not coming up with a better conversation starter.  Small talk and yes/no questions bored Xemnas.  What did he like to talk about, then?

      “I trust Kingdom Hearts is coming along well, Superior?”  You asked deferentially.  Maybe, if you were lucky, he could fill up the entire seven minutes just talking about his beloved Kingdom Hearts.

      “We continue to make progress on our sacred moon, yes,” he agreed, taking a step towards you and peering down into your eyes with an unreadable expression.  “More hearts are, of course, required.  ...Tell me, are you afraid of me?”

      You froze.  How in Oblivion's name were you supposed to answer that?!

      “S-Sir?”  You gaped.  When it became clear that the Superior was prepared to wait for your answer, you fumbled around for the proper words.  “I...I believe a healthy amount of fear is useful for maintaining respect and order in the Organization, wouldn't you agree?”

      The Superior smirked, taking another step towards you.  He tucked one large, curled index finger under your chin gently, tipping your face upwards.

      “I would agree,” Xemnas murmured, his low voice a deep rumble.  By now, he was close enough that you could almost hear it through his broad chest.  “But you seem to have been avoiding me ever since that incident...”  He paused thoughtfully.  “I don't enjoy punishing you, you should know.  But it had to be done, to encourage you to avoid repeating your mistakes.”  You were certain that if he could feel emotions, he would, indeed, enjoy dealing out punishment, but you kept your mouth shut.  “All the same, you've always been loyal and eager to please me.  I've come to rely on your contributions to the Organization, and for that, I thank you.”

      You felt a swell of pride at his words, but were quickly distracted as the hand that wasn't currently cupping your chin slid around to caress the back of your neck, the warm heat comforting in the chill of the closet, but the grip rough.  The Superior leaned in towards you slowly, until the tip of his dark nose brushed against yours.  You temporarily forgot how to breathe, the air getting stuck somewhere between your lungs and mouth.

      Suddenly, the Superior's lips were on yours in a surprisingly tender kiss.  He moved his mouth lustily, the large hand on the back of your neck grabbing you a bit more roughly than before.  You remained immobile, uncertain as to what to do.  This man was beyond your fathoming. Whenever you thought you had him figured out, he always did something completely baffling.  A strand of silver bangs brushed your face, and you shivered, the reality of the current situation fully hitting you.

     Xemnas is kissing me.

     Suddenly, the Superior pulled away, leaving your lips feeling cold and tingling.

      “My apologies,” the man intoned, sounding, for a moment, almost disappointed.  That was absurd.  Xemnas never sounded disappointed, or happy, or emotional at all.  You were imagining things.  “I won't force myself on you if you really see me as such a monster.”  He turned to leave, his long fingers lingering, trailing across the soft skin of your neck, before their touch disappeared completely.

      “Wait!  Superior, you're no monster,” you blurted, gazing up at him through your lashes.  Something strange – a memory of a feeling – was bubbling up where your heart had once been; you almost…pitied the man.  Being at the top of the Organization could surely be a lonely affair; maybe you really didn't have to be quite so afraid of him?  Xemnas turned back towards you, obviously interested in what you had to say.  You swallowed hard and continued, your voice gaining strength the more you spoke.  “At least, I don't think so.  You're always sacrificing so much for us, constantly working to complete Kingdom Hearts for our benefit.  Please, allow me to thank you, for all you do for the Organization…and me.”  Brazenly, you rested a hand on his chest, pulling him back towards you as you stood up on tip-toe and stretched your head back.  For an instant, the thick layers of muscle under your hand flexed, and your stomach twisted.  Had you been too presumptuous?  Was he going to push you off, or worse, strike you?

      Xemnas' kiss was no longer tender this time.  He crashed against you like a wave, pressing you against the wall, moving his lips against yours relentlessly.  You reeled from the sensations, trying – and failing – to fight back a quiet moan, moving your hands over his well-muscled chest sensuously.  The man was a damn good kisser, his tongue exploring your mouth thoroughly even though you couldn't remember how it had gotten there in the first place.

      As suddenly as it had started, the kiss ended, with the Superior smirking down at you, his eyebrows raised.  He pulled away, still wearing that impossibly confusing smirk, his fingers lingering on your skin once again.  This time, he didn't return for another kiss, instead heading for the closet door.  As he turned the doorknob, his golden eyes slyly drifted back to you, peering at you through his silver hair with a look that clearly said you'll be back for more.

      Then he rearranged his face into that calm, very Superior expression, and stepped out of the closet and into the party once more.

[zayashmaya]

Lingering.

(i was inspired by @clusband‘s prompt lists and also their bomb ass writing so here we go with that fluff)

Lanque x Reader, SFW

You were used to a certain routine.

Lanque would invade your comfort bubble with his usual unexpected flair and whisk you away for a night of adventure, which may or may not typically lead to crashing a party, getting shitfaced drunk, and finding respite in your home for amorous daubetchery. Come dusk, you would wake up to an empty, chilly spot beside you in the bed, with no signs of Lanque ever having been there. Only his scent sometimes lingered on the pillow, but you were too proud to bury your face into the softness and pretend it was his chest.

Nope, you were not so weak-minded and needy. Not for him.

So when you woke up this time to familiar solitude, you simply stretched and rolled out of bed to begin the night. And when you spotted Lanque’s shirt and tie strewn haphazardly over your chair, still untouched from when he threw it aside last morning before pressing his bare chest to your overheated skin, your muted resignation bloomed into an onslaught of utter confusion.

Did he return to the caverns without it? Maybe he woke up too late and rushed out of your hive in a hurry to avoid being caught by Bronya for sneaking out yet again.

You snickered to yourself on the way to the bathroom as you imagined him hightailing it back home without his shirt. A brief moment of satisfaction surfaced — you had an excellent opportunity to not only tease him about his slip-up, but also a perfectly reasonable excuse to get him to come over to get his stuff. Not that you particularly cared if he decided to stick around after. It’s not like you had a movie you wanted to watch with him. Nope.

After freshening up, you spent a full minute staring at your messy dresser for some outfit inspiration to strike. And it certainly did, once your sight unconsciously drifted to your palmhusk resting atop the polished surface. You smiled deviously as you slipped on Lanque’s shirt and buttoned it up just low enough to reveal some tasteful cleavage for when you would inevitably bombard him with suggestive selfies. Should you incorporate the tie into the picture somehow?

While you considered your options, you nuzzled your nose into his collar and breathed in that annoyingly pleasant smell. He had taken to wearing a particular fragrance that reminded you of the scent of forget-me-not flowers — they grew like weeds beside a churchyard near your home on Earth, always luring you in with their potent smell during evening time. You closed your eyes and pictured that distant memory. Humid air after a mid-summer storm, far-off laughter of children, the sun blazing orange as it crept below the horizon, the taste of something on your tongue — something like —

Like eggs? What?

You broke out of your reverie and scrunched your nose. Why did you suddenly smell frying cluckbeast eggs? You followed the mysterious scent like a hungry bloodhound, smoothing your hand over your stomach as it rumbled for food.

You half expected Charun to be raiding your pantry and helping themselves to your scavenged goods. What your sleep-adled brain did not expect was Lanque busying himself at your stovetop, turned slightly away from you as he stirred an omelette in the frying pan and rested a hand on his cocked hip. His face held a neutral expression, perhaps even slightly peaceful, as he concentrated on his task. You folded your arms and leaned against the doorframe, admiring the sharp angles of his bare torso.

“What are you doing in my kitchen?”

If Lanque was startled by your sudden appearance, he hid it remarkably well behind a mask of indifference. His eyes trailed over you as he continued to stir, seemingly fixated by your choice of attire. “Isn’t it obVious?” he drawled, and reluctantly tore away his gaze from your naked thighs to focus on the omelette instead. “I’m making you breakfast.”

A sharp laugh escaped you before you could reign in your surprise. “You’re kidding.”

He glared at you. “Oh, excuse me — I’m making breakfast for myself.”

“Have I finally managed to domesticate you?” you teased, pushing yourself away from the doorframe to saunter over to him.

“I must haVe pailed you senseless to make you belieVe such a thing could eVen be possible.” His arm came around your waist to pull you to his side. Your hand found its way into the back pocket of his pants and you helped yourself to a squeeze.

“It’s just that you’re never around when I wake up,” you explained without a hint of judgement or displeasure in your voice. “Don’t you need to be in the caverns?”

He hummed. “Someone’s coVering for me.”

“Right, because Bronya won’t catch on to that.”

“I don’t care,” he lightly replied. “I Wanted to hang out in the city today, so I figured there Was no point in returning to the caVerns and risk getting caught up in more chores.”

You looked at him curiously. “I didn’t know about any plans.”

“That’s because I didn’t tell you,” Lanque said, and you weren’t sure if you heard a certain bite to his tone, but it was too late to unhear it regardless.

You bristled at his remark and moved away from him entirely, reaching up to the cabinets to take out two plates and fishing out forks from a nearby drawer. The silence that stretched on was a little unpleasant, but you were in no mood to be combative nor acquiesce to his attitude. When he held out his hand for a plate, you begrudgingly made eye contact with him as you handed it over.

Lanque regarded you with an air of amusement, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. Apparently, you had been the only one stewing in negative thoughts. “You are such a dumbass,” he snarked, spooning some of the omelette onto the plate and setting it to the side.

You offered him the second plate, resisting the urge to bash it over his head. “How so?”

Lanque rolled his eyes and scrapped out the remaining omelette. “Sometimes, not eVerything I say needs to be oVeranalyzed and misconstrued.” He grabbed a fork and helped himself to a bite before saying, “You’re coming With me, obViously.”

“Oh.” Leave it to Lanque to make you feel like an overdramatic moron. You smiled sheepishly and stuffed your mouth with the omelette, taking a moment to enjoy the delicious saltiness and gather your thoughts lest you say something stupid. “Thank you, by the way. This is really good.”

“It’s just an omelette,” he huffed, yet his grin told you that he had been pleased by your compliment. “Would'Ve been nice to haVe gotten some help instead of you roaming around While I did all the dirty Work.”

“I didn’t even know you were here!”

He arched a perfectly sculpted brow at you. “My shirt Wasn’t a dead giVeaWay?” he pointedly asked, placing his fork on the plate and hooking a finger into your — his — collar, exposing your chest to his lecherous gaze. “Why are you eVen Wearing it, first of all?”

You continued to eat, unbothered by his attempt to rile you up. He’d seen you naked far too many times for you to care. “I was gonna send you some selfies,” you admitted brazenly, giggling at the way he pursed his lips in regard.

“I’ll haVe to leaVe more stuff around here,” he absentmindedly said, releasing his hold on the shirt to trail the back of his knuckles over your collarbone.

“If by ‘stuff’ you mean yourself, then you won’t even need pictures,” you teased, and your heart raced as soon as you had said it.

“Presumptuous … “ he cooed, hooking his finger back into the shirt and pulling you closer to him. You had to angle your head up at this proximity, and he lightly gripped your chin to keep you in place. “I’Ve decided your empty Words of praise regarding breakfast don’t mean much. GiVe me a kiss.”

“Presumptuous of you to think I’d want an assorted taste of cluckbeast eggs, lipstick, and last night’s booze.”

He chuckled, a low and rumbling laugh that made your insides flutter. “Only the best for you, dearest,” he purred, before capturing your lips in a tender kiss.

[willowcatkinblossom]

Soulmate AU where you can’t lie to your soulmate

Part 1 is here :)

“I’m waiting for a bout of rain,” Lu Li had said. But like the calm before a storm, Chi Zhen waltzes in with a confident smirk on his face, adorned in a uniform Lu Li worked so hard to earn the right to wear.

“Sergeant Lu, when will you give me the tea plantation case details? I want to start investigating,” Chi Zhen asks directly. It’s presumptuous and arrogant, but Lu Li can see right through it. He’s slouching in the chair and brazenly inserted himself into the case with no hesitation, but it’s too deliberate. And all it takes is a slight lift of his eyebrow and a tip of his head to subdue him.

And then it comes. Rain falls clear and honest, sounding like a gust of wind when it first starts, but continues—fragmented and even. It’s steady, yet heralds something unknown. When thunder strikes close by, he knows he’s done waiting.  

Chi Zhen looks surprised when Lu Li tells him to take off his uniform. He places a hand over his chest protectively, and his voice is wary when he whispers, “What are you doing?” There’s something like apprehension etched in his face.  

“When the rain stops, we’re going out.”

The car ride is quiet, and Lu Li’s waiting for Chi Zhen to ask his question. He’s been staring at Lu Li the entire time—it’s not in the least bit subtle.

But he doesn’t ask.  

“What did Commissioner Dong want you to do?” Lu Li says finally.

“I thought you could last the entire afternoon without talking—so even you can’t manage it,” Chi Zhen says. It’s a deflection. The muddy ground squishes and oozes under their feet, and it’s as though they’re sinking even though they’re climbing up the mountain. Because the ground is desperately trying to dispel the source of its contamination; one that even rain cannot wash away. As green as it is, all Lu Li can see is grey—grey like cement.

“He said that you used to have a partner that you were really close to—called Chu Dao. He was framed as a traitor to the police department and shot at the scene.” It’s a statement, yet Lu Li only hears the question.

It’s one he can’t answer. “It’s true that he was involved with the fugitives.”

Chi Zhen isn’t satisfied, “You were the one who shot him.”

Lu Li wonders what Commissioner Dong is trying to do. Bringing in Chi Zhen and feeding him misleading information, it must be convenient. “Something like that,” Lu Li says. And it’s not a lie. With the way it’s phrased outright, he can almost deny it without feeling the bone-crushing guilt that settles over him. But that’s always there. So, it feels like a quiet, calm trace that envelops his being.

“How many years were you two partners?

“Since I graduated from the police academy—seven years,” Lu Li hasn’t had a partner since. It’s almost fitting that Chi Zhen is his next one.

“Then he probably wasn’t that great, right?” Chi Zhen says jokingly, and he almost sounds as though he’s trying to make excuses for Lu Li.

“No, he was a good person,” Lu Li says truthfully. “He was the best man at my wedding, and I celebrated New Year’s at his house one year.” He feels like a bystander observing his own actions. It’s disorienting.

“And then you killed him,” Chi Zhen says sharply and it’s there again. The wary, apprehensive surprise that means Chi Zhen really doesn’t hate him. Because why else would he be surprised? He must have assumed that Lu Li was a better person.

There’s a part of him that wants to say, no, it wasn’t me, but it feels as much as lie as yes, I killed him. And for some reason, he can’t say anything at all.

But perhaps, he doesn’t need to, because Chi Zhen must see something in his face that’s too real. So, he breaks the tension.

It’s many days later, when they’re standing on the roof, when Chi Zhen asks him again.

“It’s my first time seeing someone who was perfectly alive for one moment and dead the next—just frozen there. You’ve probably seen it a lot, haven’t you?”

“I haven’t,” Lu Li says. They’re never early. They’re always too late to save anyone. All they can do is avenge their loss.

“But I remembered Chu Dao. He died in front of me.” There’s something about standing here with Chi Zhen that feels timeless. It’s as though they are observers, contemplating. Like a star that exists but cannot be seen on the plane of their horizon. The world moves on without them.

“You killed him,” Chi Zhen asks again.

But this time, he can say it.

“No.”

And this time, there’s no surprise. He’s not sure what possesses him to ask, but it’s as though something inside has been tugged. And the exposed, fraying end is replaced by spinning coils of something new.

“And your sister? How did she go?” And suddenly there’s hurt and suspicion painted across Chi Zhen’s face, but then, something that’s almost comprehension erases it.

“The same as the others, killed.” The ‘others’ he’s referring to feels ambiguous, but it’s the certainty in Chi Zhen’s voice that’s meaningful.

It puts uncertainty in Lu Li. “Hua City averages forty-eight cases per year—a few more is fifty. One year…fifty cases…fifty killers. The second year, there’s still fifty killers waiting.”

And yet, it’s with absolute certainty when he says this, “There’s no changing for the better for this world.”

“And sometimes I wonder—what am I still doing?” It’s easy to be truthful around Chi Zhen. And he doesn’t need to explain, understanding percolates between them like a vast, surging river, flowing calmly with no splashes.

“It’s going to rain again,” Chi Zhen says, and Lu Li knows what he means instantly.

“Hua City has always been like this. Rain doesn’t wait for people: people don’t wait for rain.” But neither of them is talking about rain anymore. It’s figurative and Lu Li wonders what rain means to Chi Zhen.

“My mother has said before that my sister used to like Hua City’s rain. Once per day, everything is clean after rain—the good and the bad can both start over.” It’s naïve and idealistic in a way that Lu Li can’t relate to.

“There’s no way to start over. One bout of rain will only keep it clean for a few hours, the next day will be dirty again,” Lu Li says sharply, and it’s like every case he solves. It’s clean for a few days, and then someone will make it dirty again.

“It’s better than no rain at all though—it’s always better,” Chi Zhen insists and Lu Li wonders who it is that he’s trying to convince.

“You said you don’t want to a police officer anymore? Sure, thousands of years ago there were no police. The world still spun, and the population increased nonetheless. Let’s use me as an example. The police caught my sister’s killer and my family was able to set down our stone. Our burdens were reduced, and our guilt lessened.”

It’s peculiar that Chi Zhen’s character is so expectant, hopeful, optimistic. Yet, Lu Li remembers what Chi Zhen looked like when his license was taken away. It was a look of ire and hopeless desperation that Lu Li couldn’t understand. Where does his compassion come from? To defend people who have no right to leniency—it’s unfathomable. It’s counter-intuitive.

“You said that you can investigate fifty cases every year. That means fifty families can set down that stone—the world is already more beautiful.” Chi Zhen pauses and it’s like he wants to add something else. There’s nothing cynical about his words.

It’s as honest and pure as a pellucid rain that falls resolutely, trusting nothing more than gravity to ensure its destination.

“Isn’t it?” And once again, Lu Li finds that he can’t answer. Cold wind sweeps across the rooftop, pushing away clouds and clearing the air.

It doesn’t rain.

But perhaps it’s because the world has already been cleansed today.

[merrylog]

Marine Parents

A new fic I’ve written which I hope anyone reading will like. If there’s anything you want to comment about feel free to do so! I’m open to constructive criticism.

Main Characters: Trafalgar D Water Law and Nami (No Shipping)

Secondary Characters: Ussop, Smoker, Tashigi

Mentioned Characters: Corazon, Belle-mere, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Momonosuke, Kinemon, Doflamingo

Genre: Very light angst, humour, general

Summary:  Law overhears Nami talking to Ussop about Belle-mere leading to Law talking to Nami about their marine parents. Set in canon timeline on the first night that they leave Punk Hazard.

Word count: 2,288 words

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"Room"- Law had just finished extracting the NHC-10 poison from the children's bodies when the Strawhat navigator strolled into the room brazenly whilst the sniper toiled behind her.

"I thought I said that no one should peek in until I say so" said Law nonchalantly tinged with an undercurrent air of authority.

"How are you feeling kids?" Nami grinned at the children before she tilted her head and flicked her hair in his direction to acknowledge his words. Law should have expected the strong-headed navigator to ignore his thinly veiled irritation just as the other Strawhats had before her. "Sorry, Nami was just worried" said the sniper in a soft tone.

Taking a last look at the children's blood composition using his scan he moved to walk out of the room and cast a glance at the beaming woman taking pleasure in talking with the kids and the sniper standing to her side recounting some sort of fable. He will not be saddled with children whilst going on a dangerous mission no matter what Strawhat said and he steeled himself to tell Strawhat just as much if he even suggested a detour. Not for the first time Law questioned where this alliance will lead him and if he'd made a mistake.

Just as he was walking out of the room he passed by the female marine he had humiliated earlier in the day. She raised her head, took a look into his eyes and willed herself not to grimace, "I take it that you're done" she spoke in clipped short tones. Standing straighter Law smirked in place of an answer. He might have saved those children but he still had a reputation to uphold. Huffing in response Tashigi moved past the surgeon and into the room.

Law should make his way to where food was being served and yet he hid in the shadows right outside the room. He might have teamed up with Smoker on this island but that didn't mean that he trusted the marines. The navigator's attitude towards him was irksome but he'd be damned if his alliance burned before it started just because he let his guard down and allowed a sword-wielding marine get close to the unsuspecting duo. Should the female marine move suspiciously he will bind her before she caused damage. Law was confident that his ally could subdue Smoker if the conflict grew. He raised his hand and posed his fingers "Roo-"

"I beg of you!! Please allow me to take care of those children!"

That startled Law for half a second before he dropped his hand back down. He decided to observe for the time-being. Nami turned around, planted her feet widely on the ground, crossed her arms and looked down on the still-bowing Tashigi. Despite her scantily clad body, in that instant, Nami looked ferocious and Tashigi, whilst still bowing to a pirate, drew her shoulders together in shame and plea. Judging by the look on the orange-haired girl's face Nami was going to explode in anger at Tashigi's request- and rightfully so! It was the marine's fault that the kids were in danger for so long in the first place. Ussop was in the back trying to calm down the children and allow the adults to...negotiate.

A small and forgotten part of Law seethed in anger at the presumptuous marine for even thinking that they could make up for their mistakes without consequence. Taking a quick breath he buried his anger and watched with bated breath for what the navigator would do. The seconds trickled by and Law watched in fascination as the knots in the navigator's brows unfurled and her clenched teeth relaxed. Puffing out air in resignation she calmly said "Okay" and grabbing the shocked sniper's arm moved past Tashigi to walk towards the door.

Law was dumbfounded but he managed to recover quick enough to move past the shadows and towards the congregation of marines and pirates before the Strawhat duo noticed him. Nami and Ussop joined in and the cook took off his coat and offered it to Nami. The surgeon took a bowl of soup for himself and another one for the marine Vice Admiral sitting on an uprooted rock some distance away from the mayhem. Sitting contently on a wooden crate he talked with Smoker.

"I know you're planning to use the Strawhat to start something" said Smoker with an air of resignation. Out of the corner of his eye Law spotted Nami walking away from the mess and towards the deck of the tanker with Ussop following her. "Use, huh...I wonder who's using whom..." he answered distractedly. Law got up, threw his bowl, and walked in the same direction as Nami and Ussop but not before he glanced back at Smoker and added "Anyway, I'm planning on heading to Green Bit now, but....I wonder if I'll be able to manage Strawhat-ya's crew...".

Law stood behind the mast of the tanker and watched on as the Strawhat shipwright was expertly fixing the deck. He could clearly hear Nami and Ussop's conversation and while he was not one for eavesdropping he was curious as to why the navigator relented the children to the marines -the ones who've wronged them in the first place- so easily when it was clear how protective she was of them.

"Did you figure out everything with the marines? Concerning the children I mean" said Ussop jovially and Nami answered in a wistful voice "I'm no match when facing down a marine woman...". Law was confused to say the least. Why would a pirate be weak towards a marine? And why a female marine of all things? "Ah, that's right. Your mother...she was a marine!" exclaimed the sniper in a chipper tone. Suddenly Law understood and he willed himself to walk away whilst internally berating himself for giving into his curiosity. He cannot afford to be distracted like this.

Soon the festivities came to an end, the marines and the children sailed away in the newly fixed tanker and Law boarded the Strawhat crew's ship to sail to Dressrosa. After recounting the plan to the rest of the Strawhats and affirming their alliance the crew fell into an easy rhythm until night took over. Law chose to take first watch with Franky while the others went to rest. Luffy, Brook and Zoro took to the bunks in the men's room while Nami, Robin and Momonosuke took to the bunks in the women's room. Sanji and Kinemon decided on some midnight drinking to will away their jealousy towards the child and Ussop and Chopper frightfully decided to keep watch all night.

Some hours passed by and the rotation of watch switched. Sanji and Kinemon had passed out from drinking while Franky, Ussop and Chopper had gotten exhausted and retired to the men's bunk room. Brook and Nami got up to take second watch. Law opted to rest on the grassy deck instead of retiring in the men's room because this was still a rival ship and pirate alliances were riddled with betrayal. Brook took to keeping an eye on the front of the ship whilst Nami walked to the back of the ship to keep watch.

After a while Law got exhausted from the grassy deck and decided to find something to eat or drink from the galley so he got up and trucked his way towards the stairs. Once he climbed the stairs he heard a faint wheezing sound coming from behind the galley and while Law would have been perfectly fine ignoring the masked coughs; he decided against his better judgement to see if the navigator was alright because he was still a doctor at the end of the day. Making his way around the galley he saw the orange-haired navigator hunched down next to the ship rails with her hands at her mouth trying to stifle a cough raking her body.

She had yet to notice him but we made his way towards her "Oy! are you getting sick?! Let's get you to the infirmary. Can you get up on your own?". Noting the crumpled cigarette and the ashes at her feet he put two and two together to make four. It seems that he was unnecessarily worried. The girl had taken a smoke and it must have been a new thing for her. Wondering what would spur her to try smoking was wasted effort; he didn't know her personally enough to judge what would be out of character for her.

The coughs came to an end and Nami raised herself from the ground with the help of the rails. Taking a final clear breath and ignoring his concerns again she said to herself "Blegh! How could Sanji stand this stuff? It's disgusting! Belle-mere too! I swear-" She stopped herself from continuing when she finally noticed that it wasn't any of her crew members who was standing in front of her. "Torao!....I thought you were - nevermind; did you want something?" and she straightened her back masking her slip with an air of confidence.

Before Law could catch himself he heard his own voice ask "Is Belle-mere your mother's name?". He watched as Nami's brows furrowed, jaws hardened and her hand moved to grip tightly at her bicep where her tattoo rested. "Where did you hear that?!" She retaliated. "I swear if those idiots are going around blabbering their mouths!! Aghhh Was it Ussop?? It was him wasn't it? That idiot with a penchant for stories! I'm going to go teach him a lesson right now!!". Law had to rectify his slip of tongue before this escalated "Wait. It wasn't long-nose-ya - or anyone from your crew - I just overheard you and him talking yesterday."

Puffing out the air she trapped in her lungs Nami gripped her arm tighter and answered curtly "I see".

Law gripped his hat and cast his eyes down deciding that he wouldn't divulge everything with her but still continued on "My caretaker was also a marine....". "Was?..." she questioned. "He died 13 years ago" And this time she loosened her grip and answered sympathetically "I see...mine died 12 years ago" And Law was startled again; he had assumed that her mother was safe and alive; fulfilling her marine duties just as Strawhat-ya's grandfather has.

Nami planted her hands at her hips and with a large cheshire grin declared to Law "I bet my mom could have wiped the floor with your dad! My mom was the strongest marine!" She continued to beam at him; he raised his head and let out a short chuckle "She probably could have. Cora-san was too clumsy to be able to fight for any length of time". Feeling a kindred spirit within her he continued "So, your mother was a smoker too? I hope she wasn't prone to burning herself with one!" A look of confusion crossed Nami's face before she caught on "That clumsy?! Wow! No, Belle-mere was rowdy but stable on her feet".

They laughed for a bit before settling down. Wiping the mirth from his voice he asked "So what made you want a smoke after 12 years?". Nami, too, sobered up "Ah, I found some in Sanji-kun's jacket and the kids reminded me of Belle-mere so I thought I'd give it a try to see what's fun about it" scrunching her nose "I don't recommend it.....Ah, but I guess a doctor would know better!"

They fell into a comfortable silence and Nami started up "I was actually wondering....are your tattoos for....?" Law took a look at her tangerine-pinwheel tattoo and the tangerine trees up above them before answering "Yeah.....you could say so....Yours?"

"Yup! Ah, but mine's also for my father of sorts.... He's back home with my big sister!"

Law thought back to Lami and his parents and felt a swirl of regret and sadness wash over him. He wishes that Lami was still alive and that he could talk with her, take her to her favourite festivals, eat ice cream with her, anything....anything, just sit by her side, hold her hand, read her books..."...ao.Torao. Torao, can you hear me?"

"Yeah, just thinking" Nami pursed her lips and hesitated "I see, I'm sorry about your family Torao"

"Me too" he answered

Letting some air out Law asked the question he had wanted to ask her since he learned that her mother was a marine "Do you think she would have approved? You being a pirate I mean?"

Nami leaned her back into the rails and fiddled with the ruined cigarette "I don't know..." she tilted her head up towards the moon "I'll never know but I think she would have liked me living freely as I am now. Marine, pirate, civilian...whatever it takes me to map out the whole world!!"

And Law thought back to Cora-san and the lengths he went through to keep him alive, the risks he took, the people he betrayed...all for Law. He'll never know if Cora-san would approve of his revenge or his status as a pirate but maybe...maybe he would at least not hate him for it, maybe Cora-san would be saddened or disappointed but at least he won't hate him....

"I see...I hope you fulfil your dream Nami-ya"

"You too Torao! Ah, but if you want to become Pirate King then give it up, only my captain will be one!" She declared with the confidence of a thousand armies.

Smirking in response he started making his way to the galley for that drink he came up for but paused and answered in a cool tone "We'll have to take care of Kaido first...then we can think about Pirate Kings!"

Maybe this alliance wasn't so bad after all.  

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Well that was the longest fic I’ve written to date! I hope you enjoyed reading it! This is un-bteaed so if you catch a mistake please let me know!

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (52/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous Chapters conveniently available here

[9 June, 236 Before Age.  Luffasworld.]

Just as moons orbited planets and planets orbited stars, the galaxy was a system of at least a hundred billion stars all orbiting around a supermassive black hole at the center.  Surrounding the black hole was an accretion disk of matter.  This matter was close enough to the black hole to be pulled into its event horizon, and the gravitational forces compressed the matter enough to increase its temperature, causing the entire disk to emit electromagnetic radiation.  Among other reasons, this was why the very innermost part of the galaxy was completely uninhabitable by any mortal life forms.  

Consequently, when sapient beings spoke of the "center of the galaxy", they usually meant the region that lay safely beyond the accretion disk.   In that part of the galactic interior, there lay a dense stellar population of globular clusters, which contained the galaxy's oldest stars.  Navigation in this region of space was problematic, though not impossible.  Many of the stars in the galactic core had planets and moons, and a number of them were capable of supporting life.  But these older stars were formed with lower quantities of heavier elements, and so their planets and moons were born with little in the way of exploitable mineral resources.  So while travel and colonization were possible, there was little economic incentive, leaving many of these so-called "Core Worlds" untouched by intelligent life.  

Still, there was a market for just about anything in the universe, and the Core Worlds were no exception.  Among the galaxy's idle rich, there were those who liked the idea of owning their own planet, even if it was in an inconvenient location.  A handful of these actually visited their holdings from time to time, using them as personal retreats.  

Luffasworld was such a place, although its owner had no interest in recreation.  Indeed, the planet was less than ideal as a vacation getaway.  Its orbit around an orange dwarf star was situated in just a way to make the climate habitable, but not enjoyable.  There was a temperate zone around the equator, but no one bought an entire planet for just a thin strip of paradise.  A hardy band of colonists might have relished the challenge of making a life on the rest of the planet, growing crops in the tough sod of its plains, trapping furs in the taiga forests, or whatever else needed to be done.  But such colonists would have gone to a much more accessible planet in the outer rim.    

"It's perfect," Luffa said as she stepped off the ramp from her star-yacht.  She took a deep breath and started rubbing her hands together excitedly.  

"What's so great about this place, anyway?" Keda asked.  

"Everything," Luffa said.  "There's no moon to worry about, and there's plenty of different environments.  Jungles, deserts, mountains, tundra, you name it.  The surveyors only did an orbital scan of the planet, but they checked it for potential settlement.  The fresh water is potable, and the plants and animals are edible.  Everything you could want from a planet."

"Except people," Keda said.  "The nearest hospital is twenty light years away.  Bad place to have an accident, if you asked me."

"Nah, the whole point of this place is that I can finally cut loose without anyone getting in my way," Luffa said.  "Why do you think I spent so much time out in the wilderness back on Dorlu Prime?"

"Because you didn't have your own spaceship back then?" Keda suggested.

"First thing I want to do is set up the shelter," Luffa said.  That way you can take the ship on supply runs or whatever else you guys want to do."

"You want us to just leave you here?" Keda asked.  The young Dorlun was visibly concerned.  

"I'll be fine," Luffa said.  "Look, I've got a lot of work to do here, but there's no reason for the rest of you to sit around on a deserted planet waiting on me."

"Yeah, but..."

Luffa snapped her fingers.  "No, scratch that, the shelter can wait.  First thing I want to do is have a look around.  Back in about an hour, okay?"

She leaped into the air and flew off into the horizon.  Keda watched her go, then shrugged and went back aboard.

*******

[12 June 236 Before Age.  Shafulb.]

Tik-Tak was the Archduke of planet Kopey.  It was the title bestowed upon him following the Monarchist Restoration Crisis on his world.  His father had been "First Citizen" of Kopey, a title that better suited the Egalitarian Revolution of that period.  Before that, Tik-Tak's grandmother had reigned as the Undisputed Sun-Empress.  Each of them had held the same basic authority, but the title changed to reflect shifts in the political climate, which were frequent on Kopey.  A dynasty like Tik-Tak's had learned to survive by being flexible.  

This tradition of flexibility was why he joined Luffa's grand alliance of worlds, which eventually became the Federation.  Though he was privately skeptical of the proposal, he couldn't deny the benefits of the alliance, nor could he argue against Luffa's ability to enforce the agreement.  And for a time, the Federation had been a successful venture.

But things had changed, as they always did.  And so he found himself on Planet Shafulb, a theocratic world which had once been a rival power to Kopey before they had joined together as Federation members.  There, he hoped to determine his next move.  It might have disturbed his father and grandmother to see him plotting alongside the Vicar of Shafulb, but Tik-Tak knew they would understand.  

"Nervous, dearie?" Drang Dedruhn asked.  She was a large creature with smooth, shiny skin, black on the back and white on the front.  Her blue raiment represented the holy office she served, but her broad smile full of peg-like teeth suggests a more cynical attitude to leadership.  

"How can I not be nervous, Vicar?" Tik-Tak asked.  "Marshall Booth consolidates his power with each passing day.  How long before we must call him 'Federator Booth'?"

"Nonsense!" Drang said with a wave of her flipper-like hand.  "Booth has more sense than to usurp Luffa's position so blatantly."

"He has the tact perhaps," Tik-Tak countered.  "But I see no reason why he couldn't assume full control of the Council.  In a year, he may well rule over us all like an emperor, even if he insists on keeping the title of 'Marshall'."

Drang took a handful of morsels from a bowl on her desk and stuffed them into her mouth.  She nudged the bowl towards Tik-Tak, who politely declined.  "You should eat more, Tik-Tak," she said.  "Your exoskeleton looks a little paler than when I saw you last."

"Ever since Luffa disappeared, Booth has exerted more and more control," Tik-Tak muttered.  "He was already in command of the military, but now he no longer takes direction from the Council.  Luffa was the only direct check on his authority, and she's gone into exile, which only emboldens him to seize even more power!"

"Booth is incorrigible, isn't he?" Drang chortled.  "Worse, he's actually popular for once.  He came out of the war looking like a hero, so when he claims more authority, no one seems to mind."

"No one except you, Vicar," Tik-Tak said.  "You've defied him rather brazenly, albeit quietly."

She chuckled.  "Oh, I merely do as the Holy Tide bids, dearie," Drang said.  "I truly wanted to cooperate with Booth's proposal--for the good of the Federation, you understand--but after much consultation and prayer, I simply had to refuse him."

"He could send troops to occupy your moon," Tik-Tak said.  "Then build the installation without your permission."

"But he hasn't, Archduke."

"Why not?  What do you have over him?"

She smiled insincerely and held out her hands.  "I serve a higher power, Tik-Tak.  I suppose a heathen such as yourself wouldn't be able to understand that."

"Oh, enough of that," Tik-Tak grumbled.  "I will respect your religious office to a point, but my family has crossed swords with you long enough to know better than to underestimate you, Vicar.  You know something, don't you?  Either you have information that would compromise Booth's power grab, or you've been in contact with Luffa.  That must be it.  Unless... unless you've entered into secret negotiations with Wist...!"

Drang cackled with relish at this suggestion.  "Let's say any of those are true," she replied.  "Skies above!  Let's say they're all true, why don't we?  If I had that kind of inside knowledge, why would I share any of it with you?"

"Fine.  Perhaps I have been a bit presumptuous, Vicar," Tik-Tak said, backing down.  He clacked his claws together in a apologetic gesture, although he wasn't sure the Shafulbian would recognize this.  "But you won't deny that you know something.  Something important."

"Oh my," Drang said.  "I do believe I see it now.  After I turned down Booth's generous proposal to built a military base in my system, he went to you, didn't he?"

"No," Tik-Tak grumbled.  "He went to Penticede IV, and my sources tell me they plan to accept.  You see?  The worlds of the Federation are choosing sides, and if a power like Penticede IV is siding with Booth, then it's only a matter of time before I must choose a well.  The choice should be obvious, and yet..."

"And yet I would seem to have made the foolish choice," Drang chuckled.  "Only I'm no fool, am I, Tik-Tak?  Your grandmother found that out the hard way during the Eight Years War, didn't she?"

Tik-Tak nodded.  

"Oh, your grandmother.   There are days when I actually miss that old harlot," Drang said wistfully.  "Tell you what, why don't we talk again in a few weeks?  I'll visit Kopey and we can tour the spot where the Sun-Empress and I signed the treaty.  And if you haven't found your answer by then, I'll share it with you."

*******

[26 June 236 Before Age.  Luffasworld]

There had been sensor sweeps and geological surveys of Luffasworld, but these had all been conducted years ago, and from orbit.  None of the planet's features had ever been named or even catalogued, and so the honor fell upon the world's new owner, who didn't especially care.  Upon visiting the three largest deserts on the planet, she eventually named them "Easy", "Medium" and "Hard" in order of the severity of their climate.  To keep from getting lost, she preferred to make her own landmarks, like the fifty-foot wide trenches she had made in Hard Desert.  

She had fallen into a routine as of late.   By the end of her day, after drilling various ki techniques in Hard Desert, she would fly west to Target Practice Mountain, mostly to blow off steam.  Then she would take the long way back to Campsite Forest, and admire the sunset along one of the shorelines.  If anyone had asked her to name it, she might have called it "Pretty Coast".  

In the center of Campsite Forest was a dome-shaped building atop a mound of earth.  She had built both herself, using clay and rock from other locations.  For a time, she had considered building more, since the first project had been a decent workout, but she had turned her attention to other regimens.  

"I'm home," she called as she walked through the archway entrance.  

"You're back early," Zatte said.  She was reading a computer pad and sitting in one of the deck chairs they had taken from the yacht.  Most of the furniture had come from the ship, which had been designed as a luxury pleasure craft, so while the house itself was primitive, the interior was oddly stylish.  

"Well, I had a pretty good day out there, so I figured I'd quit while I was ahead," Luffa said.  She crossed the room and inspected the slow cooker in the area they had designated as the kitchen.  "I think I'm gonna bake some of those tubers I found for dinner.  How many you want?"

"None," Zatte said.  "I'm still checking them."

Luffa turned to face her and crossed her arms.  "Zattie, they're fine."

"I know."

"The medical scanner cleared them.  No toxins, no pathogens.  Just plenty of starch and Vitamin B6."

"I know.  You showed me."

"Then why won't you eat them?"

"I did eat a piece of one," Zatte said.  "I rubbed a little on my arm and didn't get a rash, then I tasted it.  Nothing wrong there, so I ate it.  If I don't get sick in the next three days, it's fine."

"That's dumb," Luffa said.  

"No, it's the Universal Edibility Test," Zatte said.  "It's a Dorlun ritual on an unfamiliar planet.  Not everybody has a cast iron stomach like you Saiyans."

"Oh, come on," Luffa snorted.

"You should listen to me.  My species has tamed harsher environments than this with a lot less technology than what we've got," Zatte said, raising her index finger.   "What if there's toxins on this planet that aren't in the scanner's database?  What if the scanner breaks down for some reason?  We're a long way from a repair shop, you know.  You're lucky you've got an expert survivalist like me here to watch out for you."

"Yeah, but I still think you worry too much," Luffa said.

"Aw, you say the sweetest things sometimes," Zatte said.  "But I still don't want any tubers.  Ask me again in three days."

"Fine, more for me, I guess," Luffa said with a shrug.  She activated the portable stovetop and began poking holes in some tubers with a fork.   "At least you like my pot roast.  Anything going on around here?"

"Keda called.  She's on her way back from the Hobstot System.  Should be back at the landing site tomorrow night.  I thought we'd go over and see her."

"Sounds good.  I hope she found more of that cheese I liked.  It'd really go well with these tubers..."

"Oh, I think I finally straightened things out with the caterers."

"Good," Luffa said.  "What was their problem anyway?"

"Somebody got the order mixed up and thought you were a Sayvunn," Zatte explained.  "So they couldn't understand why we wanted so much food for such a small guest list."

"Sayvunn?" Luffa asked.  

"Yeah, I've never heard of them either, but apparently they only eat once a week."

"Poor bastards," Luffa said.  "Well, that's their problem.  So are we all set now or what?"

"I still need to clear up a few details on the license application, but yeah, I think we're on," Zatte said.  "You nervous?"

"Honestly?  Yeah."

"It's just a ceremony," Zatte said.  "We don't even have to do that part to make it official.  You're the one who wanted to get dressed up."

"I know," Luffa said.  "I just thought my first marriage was going to last forever, and... well you know how that turned out."

"Right."

"I mean I'm sure about this.  I want to do this, but I was so sure the last time, too.  I never expected to be doing it all over again, and you're an alien, and I've changed so much, and..."

"I know what you mean," Zatte said. "Well, I've never been married before, but everything else..."

Luffa finished wrapping the last tuber in aluminum foil, then sniffed at the air.  "Did you hear that?" she asked.  

"No," Zatte said.  She laid down her pad and rose from her seat.  "What is it?"

Luffa pointed to one of the round windows along the wall.  "Sounded like something rustling around outside the house.  Like an animal, but I can't pick up a scent."

"It'd better not be," Zatte said.  "I put enough sharpened stakes along the hillside to discourage just about anything."

"Could be something smaller, like a scavenger," Luffa said.  "Come on, we'd better take look."

*******

[26 June 236 Before Age.  Kopey.]

The Eight Years War between Shafulb and Kopey had formally ended with a treaty signing on Kopey, which at the time was viewed as a great step forward for the cause of galactic peace.  The site was dedicated as a monument, but that was one century and two revolutions ago, and eventually the entire area was rezoned for commercial use.  Drang and Tik-Tak sat at a corner table of a sports bar, which was as close as one could get to the original location of the treaty signing without smashing a wall and stepping halfway into the restroom on the other side.  

"Times have certainly changed," Drang chuckled as she dipped her appetizers into various sauces.   Tik-Tak thought she resembled a painter choosing a palette for a canvas.

"It must be difficult for you to see this area built up this way," Tik-Tak said.  

"Not at all, dearie," she replied.  "The food at the treaty signing was lousy.  They needed a good restaurant around here, and now they finally have one.  Better late than never, I always say."

For security purposes, the two heads of state had the entire establishment to themselves.  A crowd of armed guards stood at the entranceway and at least one stood on the opposite corner of the room, occasionally giving suspicious looks to the waitstaff.  Drang had asked that the video monitors in the room be changed to news feeds, and they had been watching the latest coverage for the past twenty minutes.  

"How did you know?" Tik-Tak finally asked.  She simply giggled and placed an appetizer into her mouth.

He was referring to recent developments in Federation politics.  Marshall Booth's planned construction on Penticede IV had backfired spectacularly.  The Pentiss legislature had tried to ramrod the approval against public outcry.  Eventually, the planet's prime executive vetoed the measure in an attempt to bolster sagging poll numbers.  At the same time, Booth's people had been trying to survey the construction site, figuring the arrangement was a certainty.  Protests erupted across the planet, and the next election cycle on Penicede IV was now being interpreted as a referendum on Booth's power grab.  

Today's top story was a new wrinkle: the protests had spread to other worlds across the Federation, including Booth's homeworld of Woshad.   One of the video screens showed dramatic footage of armed soldiers confronting civilians.  Most of the protestors had their hair dyed yellow, or they wore yellow wigs.  Many of them held out their hands and curled in their fingers, as though daring the troops to come and get them.  

"Normally, I despise the idea of a free press," Drang said between bites.  "But I have to admit that it has its advantages."

"My sources tell me that Booth is already backing down," Tik-Tak said.  "He had come here looking to set up another military installation on my world, but he revoked the proposal the day after all of... this got started."

"He'd better work fast," Drang said with an amused snort.  "Or he'll be worse off than when he started this little power play."

"But these are just... protests," Tik-Tak exclaimed.  "He has the power..."

"They're not just protests, Archduke.  They're a reminder," Drang said.  "Booth never had the power for any of this.  Otherwise, he would have conquered both our planets and every other Federation world years before Luffa arrived on the scene.  He's only as powerful as he is now because Luffa formed the Federation, and because Luffa convinced the member worlds agreed to pool their military forces under his command."

"But Luffa is gone!" Tik-Tak said.  "And she was defeated..."

"She'll be back," Drang said.  "That's the message those little heathens are sending to Booth.  He can have his way for now, but if he steps too far out of line..." She trailed off and began to laugh at the thought of that reckoning.  

"But you don't know that!" Tik-Tak argued.  "No one does!"

"You're right," Drang said.  "For all we know she's already faced the Shockmaster again and he killed her.  Or she's abandoned the Federation once and for all.  But the people believe otherwise, and even if they're wrong, that belief has left an indelible impression.  They'll never be as powerful as a Super Saiyan, but she's shown them how to be just as stubborn and defiant.  Booth might be rid of her, but he won't do away with her legacy quite so easily."

He clicked his claws for a moment and stared at the footage on the screen. Most of the protesters looked somewhat foolish in their homemade Luffa costumes, but  there was a humanoid woman in the crowd who looked just enough like a Saiyan that he almost thought it was the real thing.  He was startled for a moment, and then he realized that if Booth saw this same footage, the Marshall would probably be even more startled.  

"But it's all based on nothing but speculation," he mumbled.  "A gamble."

"No, not a gamble, Tik-Tak," Drang said with a smug grin.  "It's faith.  The same thing that's kept me in power for over a century.  Whether you believe it or not, the people on Shafulb believe I'm their rightful leader, and I do try not to dissuade them.  I'd prefer that these sinful rabble put their trust in something less secular, but the principle is the same.  Luffa's no saint, but she's fought for the Federation before, and asked for very little in return.  Small wonder she would become this kind of inspiration."

She looked down at her appetizers and smiled at the site of them.  "Hmmph, all this over a little Saiyan.  Amazing, really.  You know, you really should have something to eat, Tik-Tak.  You're no good to your people if you're malnourished."

He looked at the video screens again, and then down at the plate laid before him.  He hadn't even touched his share of the meal.  For the first time in weeks, he found he had an appetite again.  

"You know, Vicar," he said, glancing back at the protest footage one more time.  "I believe I will."

*******

[26 June 236 Before Age.  Kopey.]

Well after sunset, Luffa sat on the ground outside of the house, covered in wet towels.  Behind her, Zatte was scrubbing her hair and trying not to laugh.  

"It's not funny," Luffa fumed.  

"Why did you try to grab it in the first place?" Zatte asked.  She dipped a towel into a bucket, wrung it, then went back to work.  

"I thought it looked tasty, all right?" Luffa said.  "How was I supposed to know it could spray that awful smell out of its butt?"

"At least the stench is almost gone," Zatte said.  "Lucky for you we had enough baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to mix up this antidote.  Otherwise you might have had to sleep out here tonight."

"Shut up!" Luffa growled.  "If you think it stinks, just imagine how bad it is for me."

"I know," Zatte said patiently.  "You're very sensitive that way."

"If the little creep hadn't sprayed me and burned out my nostrils, I bet I could track him from a mile away," Luffa muttered.  Then she started shaking her fist as she shouted into the forest: "And I will, too, you hear me?!  This isn't over!  I'll eat your entire race!"

Zatte gave up on trying not to laugh.  

"Don't you dare mention any of this to Keda," Luffa warned.  

"Why would I--?"

"I mean it, Zattie.  Not one word..."

"Fine.  If she asks what we’ve been up to lately, I'll tell her you read love poetry to me all night."

"For an 'expert survivalist', you sure like living dangerously,"  Luffa growled.

"I'd better wash your tail, just to be on the safe side." Zatte said.  

Luffa crossed her arms and pouted.  

"So did the last Super Saiyan ever get married?" Zatte asked.  

"Huh?"

"I was just thinking about it before," Zatte said as she soaked another towel in the bucket.  

"Well, you're kind of putting me on the spot," Luffa said, her tone growing more relaxed as she gathered her thoughts.  "All the old stories say Chanisp had a harem.  Consorts, concubines, servant girls, 'advisors', you name it.  Some of those might have been full-on spouses, but there's no way to know."

"Doesn't sound much like any Saiyan I ever heard of," Zatte observed.  

"You’re right, come to think of it, but he was a big shot," Luffa said.  "He saved the entire Saiyan race from extinction, and then he went off looking for even bigger battles to fight.  They say he conquered so many planets that he had to conquer a whole other planet just to store all the spoils."

"And all the women," Zatte added.

"Yeah, he had an entire castle for them," Luffa said.  "Anyway, he could do anything he pleased, so maybe he didn't feel so inhibited about... you know.  He had about two-hundred children, and those were just the full-blooded Saiyans.  No telling how many half-breeds he sired.  I don't know how you'd keep track of a family that big..."

"Compared to all that, a second marriage doesn't sound so difficult," Zatte said.  

"Heh.  When you put it that way, I guess not."  

Luffa looked up at the night sky.  Being so close to the galactic center meant that there were far more stars to see, and the sky was much brighter than she was used to  on a planet like this.   Zatte dumped out the bucket and started putting the towels away.  

"So do I get to sleep inside?" Luffa asked.  

"I think you're back to tolerable levels," Zatte said.  "So you can come back in the house.  The harem took a vote and it was unanimous."

Luffa made a sigh of mock relief, and they went back into the house, arm in arm.  

NEXT: Long Shadows.