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aventurineswife · 29 days ago

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Could I request the Astral Express trio (you can choose Stelle or Caelus) with a reader (GN) who is also a member of the Express who is like an older sibling? Reprimanding them when they get hurt, or comforting them when they're upset?

No One is Alone

Summary: Life aboard the Astral Express isn't just about fighting enemies or exploring new worlds—it's also about looking out for each other. As the team's older sibling figure, you take it upon yourself to reprimand Dan Heng and Stelle after they return from a mission injured. Through scolding, comforting, and heartfelt conversations, you remind them that they're part of a team and don't have to face their struggles alone.

Tags: Astral Express Trio x Reader, Platonic, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Sibling Dynamics, GN!Reader, Protective!Reader, Team Bonding, Angst with a Happy Ending.

Warnings: Mentions of injuries (non-graphic), Mild guilt/self-blame themes, Emotional vulnerability and introspection.

The hum of the Astral Express filled the air, a comforting backdrop to life aboard the interstellar train. You sat in the lounge, scanning over a datapad while keeping half an ear tuned to the faint commotion from the infirmary. It was a sound you'd become all too familiar with since joining the crew.

Dan Heng and Stelle—recovering from yet another scrape they shouldn't have gotten into.

The infirmary door swished open, and March peeked out, her expression torn between amusement and sympathy. "They're ready for the scolding..." she chirped.

You sighed, setting your datapad aside. Rising to your feet, you felt the weight of your role—neither a fighter nor a strategist, but the de facto big sibling of this unconventional family.

The scene in the infirmary was almost comical. Stelle sat on one of the cots, a bandage around her upper arm, her usual unbothered expression firmly in place. Dan Heng stood nearby, his arms crossed over his chest, looking stoic despite the gash on his shoulder that hadn't been there when the mission started.

"Care to explain?" you began, arms crossed and gaze level.

"It was just a minor miscalculation." Dan Heng replied calmly.

"A 'minor miscalculation' doesn't leave you bleeding, Dan Heng," you said pointedly, turning to Stelle. "And you—didn't I tell you to call for backup if things went south?"

Stelle gave a sheepish shrug. "I thought we could handle it."

"You thought wrong." You sighed, your tone softening as you crossed the room. Grabbing a chair, you sat between them, your expression gentler now. "I know you're both incredibly capable. But even the best make mistakes. You're part of a team—you don't have to shoulder everything alone."

Dan Heng's gaze flickered to the floor, and Stelle's shoulders slumped slightly.

"You don’t need to push yourself to the point of breaking to prove anything," you added, standing to place a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders. "We're in this together. If something happened to either of you, we’d all feel it. And you’d feel the same if it were March, right?"

Both nodded, though they didn’t meet your gaze.

"Good. Now, promise me you’ll call for help next time."

"Promise." Stelle said, a small smile tugging at her lips. Dan Heng gave a slight nod, his stoic mask cracking just enough for you to catch the faintest hint of guilt.

Later, in the privacy of the archive, you found Dan Heng surrounded by stacks of books. He looked up as you entered, his expression as composed as ever.

"You didn't just come here to read, did you?" you asked, pulling up a chair.

"...No," he admitted after a moment, his voice quiet. "I thought I could avoid putting others at risk by keeping things to myself. I didn’t think about how that might affect the team."

You smiled softly, resting a hand on his. "Dan Heng, you're not a burden. You're not just running from your past anymore—you’re building a future with all of us. And we need you to trust us enough to let us help."

He hesitated, then gave a small nod. "I'll try."

Later that evening, Stelle found you in the lounge, sitting with a warm drink. She plopped down beside you, her usual confidence dimmed by something you couldn’t quite place.

"You were right," she said, uncharacteristically subdued.

"About what?" you asked, setting your drink down.

"About asking for help." She stared at the floor for a moment before meeting your eyes. "I’m used to going it alone. But... it’s different with you guys. It’s like, I know you’ve got my back, and that’s scary because now I care. You know?"

You smiled, ruffling her hair like a younger sibling. "That’s not a bad thing, Stelle. Caring means you’re not just surviving anymore—you’re living."

She leaned into your side, her head on your shoulder. "Thanks, big sibling."

"Anytime," you said, wrapping an arm around her. "Just stop scaring me with the near-death experiences, okay?"

"I’ll try." she mumbled, and for now, that was enough.

(yonagi on X)

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clare-875 · 4 months ago

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Hiraeth (ASL brothers x Reader)

_____ Pairing: ASL brothers x Female Reader Summary: You grieve a time you cannot return to. Warnings: SPOILERS for Marineford War Arc, Hurt/Comfort, Grief [One Piece Masterlist] _____

You watch the ocean rise and fall, finding yourself enraptured in a brief and rare silence. However, the silence slowly becomes a burden; the quiet brings thoughts you would often keep locked away. They were thoughts that brought tears to your eyes if you lingered too long on them, thoughts that could make you break if you picked away at them too much. Unfortunately for you the gentle rock of the boat, the rising moon and the crisp early evening air did nothing but bring him to the forefront of your mind; Ace. You feel a few tear drops pass your lash line as you quickly wipe them away, leaning on the railing and taking in a steady breath. It had been just longer than two years, and you were now in the New World with your beloved crew, but time did scarcely anything to subdue grief, it only made it easier to live with it. As your eyes trace the dark horizons before falling to the depths of the ocean before you, you feel yourself wonder about memories you now look back at bittersweet. First, you lose Sabo, then your beloved Ace. The hurt is heavy on your chest and you feel the tears you push back start to rise again. You felt so homesick, so reminiscent of a time you could never go back to.

You remember it all, as clear as day; the brothers that hold a permanent spot engraved on your heart.

You remember the joy.

You remember how the sun would shine onto you, gifting you, Luffy, Sabo and Ace with countless days of youth spent on adventure; spent on dreams. You were all an outcast of some sort or never fit into the lives you were endowed with, but when the four of you found each other, everything clicked; the world enlightened. You can still hear Ace calling your name, the juvenile ring etched within his words. "Hey, [y/n]!" You remember looking up at the sound of his voice. He was always so keen to show you the new skills he'd learnt, keen to call for another round of combat to see who bested who, keen to have you join in on whatever fun he had found with his two brothers. You remember Sabo's smile, one that encaptured his kindness and diplomacy even in his youth. "I got this for you!" You remember one day when he had returned from the grey terminal and found you a beautiful bracelet that you still hold onto to this day. You remember Ace and Luffy's pouts as you hugged him. You remember calling for a group hug soon after; the warm arms that embraced your form, seeping love and care and nostalgia.

You would find yourself laughing if you lingered on those memories the way you had a few years ago, but now it just filled your heart with unbearable pain. And so, more tears fall from your eyes but you don't stop them this time. You remember the countless nights filled to the brim with laughter, remember the secrets and promises made under the stars. You remember the brotherly conflict. You remember Luffy's joy when you said you'd join his crew, you remember the upset faces of Ace and Sabo. You remember promising you'd visit them often, and how their faces enlightened merely at the thought that you would come see them succeed in their dreams. You remember the comfort that cannot be matched to this day, of the words Ace would speak softly when you had a bad day, of the gentle arms of Sabo, of Luffy's range of hilarious faces as he tried to hear your laugh. They were everything to you, and you wouldn't ever find what connection you had with them anymore, anywhere. You missed the time when innocence encaptured your days and ignorant dreams were free of reality. If I had known it all then, what would I change; would I change anything at all?

You remember unbearable grief.

You remember the falling of your heart when you heard that Sabo had died at sea; the unspeakable rage and guilt. It shocked you, it shocked you all, to learn that Sabo, your sweet Sabo was killed by a Celestial Dragon just by sailing upon the same ocean. What about his dreams? His life? All the countless days and nights and years of knowing him? All the love he gave and received and cherished? Everything that encompassed who he was, was lost to oblivion, never to be seen again. You try to remember your last words with him, your last actions, but it is a blur to you. You remember leaving him with a family you knew you should have saved him from; you knew how much he hated them. Of course, you did, for what would those nights spent dreaming and talking be, if not spent sharing the deepest concerns that confined you? What would a family be, if not spent consoling those thoughts and showing him love? The shock of it still reverberates within you if you linger too long, but you remember the pain, the crying, the screaming. It was something you would never forget, it was something you would never want to go through again.

But you did.

You remember your world breaking as Ace’s gaze travelled to you. You and Luffy had spent so long chasing him, trying to save him, despite his initial denial. But of course you did. Because what would a family be, if we did not look out for one another, if we did not push away at his pride so he sees our love; our desperation to protect him? But when you finally thought he was within your grasp once more, that his life was still a part of yours, he became lost to you too. You remember Luffy, clutching him in his grasp trying to stop the red that just kept pouring. You remember teary eyes, no longer of the youth they were but still lingering with that childish charm. You remember the smile that shone with gratitude, it was a sight you could never forget; your childhood encapsulated within it. “Thank you for loving me.” His smile lingered even in his death. You remember Luffy’s inconsolable form; the tears that wouldn’t cease, the shock that clouded his mind. You remember the screaming. You remember being lost in despair at the thought that you would never see him again. Never feel his warm arms, see his wide grin, or know what it was like to be loved by him again.

You missed them; You missed “back then.”

You missed the simplicity of waking to self-found adventure and you missed the charm of life that came with youth. Your breathless laughter, their smiling forms; all three of them beside you.

I want to go back.

Please, take me back…

Take me back so I can see them, so I can hold them and love them again…

Please…

Your tears fall freely to your face now as you stare silently against the cool breeze, teeth gritted and heart heavy. You find yourself begging the starlit sky for something you knew was inconceivable. Please.

"[y/n]"

You are so lost in thought, so lost in your tears you fail to notice a boy with a straw hat that approached you a small while ago. But when he called your name you turned swiftly, because in that moment you swear you heard Sabo, you swear you could've heard Ace, calling to you too. "[y/n], why are you crying?" Luffy's face is of utmost confusion, the tilt of his head and the shine of his sincerity almost making you break down further. But strangely it brought you to calmness as you saw the final brother before you, the same features as he had in his youth, the same eyes and smile. Your heart tugged against your chest as you looked to the man you chose to be your Captain, over Ace and Sabo, over everyone in the world. He was the same and yet so grown up, even when sometimes he hid his new-found maturity well.

"Luffy," your voice is there but faint, almost lost to the breeze as he silently makes his way to your side and joins you on the railing. You are beyond surprised when he maintains the quiet atmosphere, the seriousness rare on him unless in dire situations. But you also know deep down he sees and he understands why you are crying. You know because you have seen your very image on him before; tears pouring, grief heavy. From four to two. Only you could understand the true depth of what he has lost, and only he could recall the same memories you had lived because he lived them too. You found yourself wondering if Luffy, someone you knew to be a believer in living in the present moment, wished to return to those days that could never return. You wonder if he ever felt the homesick feeling of wanting those same youthful days once again, of wanting three pairs of arms embracing you warmly; of wanting back the time that has passed too soon.

"Luffy, do you ever miss our lives back in Dawn Island? Do you ever miss those days spent together with Ace and Sabo? It was so easy back then, don't you think?"

Do you ever miss the past?

There is a brief silence, as though Luffy is actually contemplating your words, but you are unsurprised when he answers; his answer is blunt and obvious as it has always been. "I miss them." He looks at you with a wide grin, but his eyes are surprisingly solemn, as though reminiscing with you the two boys you both held so dear to your hearts. "But I have the best crew in the world now! I wouldn't give that up for anything!" Your eyes spark with fondness at his never wavering confidence in his nakama as he then reaches over to you wrapping an arm tight as he pulls you in. "Ace lived with no regrets, and I'm gonna live the same way; I'm gonna be the king of the pirates!" His eyes shine and his features are determined when he faces you again; just like every instance he spoke of his dream. "And you'll be there right beside me." You meet his wide smile with a soft one of yours as you lean against him and he laughs joyously. You find yourself shaking your head at the simplicity of his thoughts, but you also remember how he had clutched to the thoughts of the crew in his darkest days. You envision Sabo's toothy grin and Ace's teasing smirk; a sight you would remember and adore for the rest of time. You would live enough for both of them, exactly the way Ace wanted you to; with no regrets.

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