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phyrestartr · 1 year ago

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Divine Favour | Sukuna x Kitsune!Reader (Pt.1)

W/C: 3.5k #full is NSFW, mild yuuji/reader, yuuji and gang are v early 20s, heian sukuna, male reader, typical kitsune shapeshifting, mentions of abuse, canon typical violence, morally grey reader, sukuna has FEELINGS but is BAD AT FEELINGS, unhealthy relationships, power imbalance, dubcon elements, soz if anything is clunky asdkjf; i can only reread the same fic so many times for editing sadge

A/N: Decided to separate this into parts since I'm dying to post some of it lol I've held it in a chokehold in the shadows of my WIPs for too long, some of it has to come out before I explode o(--( there is more to come!

tag: @nyanwko @kamote-kuneho @better-imagination-9

The scripture was incomplete, worn away by age.

…herein lays the God...imprisoned...by...Disgraced One…

Yet the society felt this, the coffin uncovered decades ago, could be an invaluable asset. The vessel was decrepit and ancient, yet still stood strong against the test of time and the wear of nature. Seal papers, no doubt left by a monk of sorts, covered the entirety of its surface, hiding away rotting wood and rusted bands of metal from modern sorcerer's curious eyes.

Few knew why the higher ups kept the vessel under lock and key. Fewer knew why they kept it at all; however, those few understood the importance of such a relic. They'd been the ones to seek it out, to steal it away before malicious forces took it for themselves, warping the supposed deity inside for their own, malevolent purpose, whatever that may be.

And with Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers being found one by one, they could not allow anyone to possess humanity's failsafe: you. A great being imprisoned by the devil.

“Anything?” Gojo trilled, patting Yuuji’s shoulders frantically as he stood behind him and beheld the wooden tub covered in sigils.

“Uh…” Yuuji tried to focus on Sukuna’s presence inside of him. He didn’t seem intrigued or frightened, nor did he seem too bothered with the idea of them trying to smite him down with a sealed god–he was, however, annoyed that Yuuji continued to poke and prod at him.

Piss off, runt.

“Yep. Nope. Sukuna doesn't care,” Yuuji sighed. “He's getting all pissy now that I'm bothering him, though.”

Gojo laughed and patted Yuuji's shoulders a few more times before all but twirling towards the bound box. “Well, that's a pretty good sign that he's not the one that did this, then! In that case,” he started, walking up to the seal papers keeping everything locked down, “let's pop ‘er open.”

Before Yuuji could even wonder if that was a good idea, the white-haired witch used an overzealous amount of cursed energy and disintegrated every scrap of seal paper.

Yuuji braced for impact. Surely something terrible like a bankai or a spirit bomb would send them flying once the coffin came undone. Surely they'd pay for this, for unleashing whatever godly spirit laid locked up for far too long, only to release it back into the modern age and–

“Huh. Weird.”

Yuuji cracked open an eye and saw the dull shine of tattered onyx fur, and his control slipped with a blitz of vertigo.

Markings flared across his skin as he stormed toward the coffin, heart howling with thoughts and memories crashing through a shared mind; a face he didn't know but knew so well bloomed at the forefront of it all, eyes framed in pointed scarlet, skin bathed in ancient, dappled sunlight.

They reached the edge of the coffin and gripped the edges, splintering the wood as they took in the sight; crimson and curse decay pooled around a figure, curled up and half-submerged. Several black, tattered tails spilled free from the tub, no longer crushed from the force of the lid sealing them inside, but they were bent awkwardly and matted with whatever tincture lay at the bottom.

Then there was the so-called god in the middle of it all–you. Still. Quiet. Curled up in a haori far too big for you. Eyes closed. Almost peaceful.

Confusion tore at Sukuna while nausea ripped through Yuuji; he couldn't bear to look at such a morose scene.

So, Sukuna pushed him aside.

[Heian Era]

You were never supposed to be anything more than a trinket.

You were a gift from some family trying to show off for Sukuna, so much so that they offered him a delicacy, something he surely didn't have yet–a yokai. A kitsune, to be more exact. One with peculiar black tails.

Sukuna found it interesting, and similarly desperate, to be brought such a creature as tribute. Certainly, it was meant to be seen as a high honour, yet somehow it felt…off. Why would humans give up something so powerful?

Unexpectedly, it'd be you who told him.

They submit me for the sake of convenience and mockery, your withering voice whispered where no one else could hear. You sounded weak. Tired. Maybe afraid, yet brave enough to reach towards the king and unveil the intentions of the men who brought you before him.

Sukuna's eyes flicked to you, his feigned interest in what the sorcerers said falling straight into dismissal. You were much more intriguing.

“Oh?” Sukuna asked, a smile creeping onto his face. The speakers ceased their jabbering and stared at your back with fierce intensity. Sukuna grinned wider. Oh, how he loved the way fear twisted mortal faces.

You didn't shift or crumple into yourself under the eyes of so many, however. You pushed on with what little energy and life you had, so intent on dragging that clan through the mud.

What I say is true, you assured simply. I expect to die today–

“Speak so everyone hears you, fox,” Sukuna commanded.

“--so I–I–” you coughed and cleared your throat, trying to rid your voice of the scratchy, weakness it struggled through. “I wish to not die with regrets.

"They have rendered me ill and unable to produce children, they see the black of my tails and regard me as an ill omen; yet they bring me to you, daring to spin sweet tales about the value of such an offering. But they lie,” You hissed. Your eyes glinted with molten malice, and Sukuna fell captivated.

“They throw me to you as they would diseased meat to dogs.”

The courtyard fell silent, and Sukuna basked in it. You really were such a little troublemaker. A quietly chaotic force of nature.

The king stood, rolling his shoulders as he did, and his pride flared as you dropped to your knees before him in respect. He walked to you and patted your head as one might a child's before appraising the sorcerers stood before him.

“What a disappointment,” Sukuna sighed, raising another hand. The couple took up position, pooling their cursed energy in hopes of fending off the monster standing before them. The effort was quite cute. “Here I thought your clan might actually earn my mercy.” His hand dropped as the two lunged. Then, the two clansmen fell, too, both in neat, vertical halves. Quite overkill, yes, but he had a point to make.

Where he expected a reaction from you, he got nothing. Only panting and poorly-stifled coughs came from you, racking through the entirety of your skin and bones frame. Sukuna could see it up close now, the way your body trembled from fatigue, the sickly greying of your skin, the scent of disease clinging to you.

That wouldn't do. Sukuna liked his things to be in good shape.

“Uraume,” Sukuna droned as he stared down at you, “fix this.”

It took some time, but you managed to recover. It was an unnerving experience, with the way Uraume tended to you with sincerity. Perhaps it was genuinity born from their devotion to Ryoumen Sukuna, but you greedily soaked it in, filling your stomach with the care they offered you.

Sukuna didn't bother much with you, not that you really minded; you were much more content to be fed and forgotten than hunted down by the creature that supposedly took ownership of you without enforcing it. If he didn't cause harm or good, if he simply existed somewhere else and forgot you breathed the same air as him, you'd still be at peace.

But he was more intrigued than you gave him credit for.

“Ho? So this is where you scamper off to,” Sukuna hummed, leaning over you as you dozed in the nice little spot you'd made for yourself in the garden, right under the crimson cover of a maple tree. You jumped the slightest bit, your daydreams and sunbathing interrupted by the brute’s silhouette eclipsing the sun, but you settled again quickly. The beast of a man wasn't a cause for panic in your little world, after all.

“Does it displease you?” You inquired, fixing your hair and straightening out your robes.

Sukuna held onto an overhead branch of the tree as he looked down at you. “Pets are supposed to play in the yard, aren't they?” He smirked as you pursed your lips and flicked your tail before calming it with hasty pets. “What, you don't like being my pet?”

“I would not refer to myself as a pet,” you countered as the man sat down with you and leaned against the tree. The king's presence calmed you. With him, you knew you were invincible.

“Pft. Then pray tell what your damn role is around here.” One set of arms folded behind his head while the other set crossed over his chest. “Pets are freeloaders. Pretty sure that's exactly what you are.”

You huffed. “Freeloader. Tch. How rude.”

“Lookit that. You're copping an attitude now that you're fat and fed. Used to be so much more polite.”

“Fat and–I am not fat.” You headbutted his side lightly, something that would make more sense had you been in your fox form. You grinding your forehead against him suggested this was more of a human move, however. “I am perfectly normal now. I was brittle and nonexistent prior to now. This is a grand improvement.”

Sukuna scoffed a laugh and looked down at your head pressed up against his side. “Thanks to me,” he boasted.

“Yes,” you agreed. You held onto his haori and looked up at him, placid and intense. “It is thanks to you. I would not be here if not for your mercy and intervention.”

Sukuna raised a brow as he regarded you. “Hm. And what will you do to repay me?”

“My very presence grants you luck, good fortune and fertility.” You tilted your head. “I already repay you by being here.”

Tch. But the gardens and surrounding lands did look more lush and lively since your arrival, he couldn't deny that fact. But he was a king; he could always ask for more and expect to get it.

“What more?” He prodded.

Your tail flicked as you thought. “What would you ask of me?”

“Something you haven't given another,” Sukuna replied. Ugh, your flowery, poetry-y, bullshit speak was rubbing off on him.

You stared at him, gemstone eyes glinting with earthen hues and shards of gold in the yawning afternoon sun. The leaves bristled just perfectly, letting in dapples of citrus sunlight as if trying to make this moment something special, as if to burn your ethereal presence into history for all eternity. All this, just while you thought of what to give him. Perhaps a riddle is what you wanted. Perhaps purple prose suited your fancy. Perhaps it was something else.

You sat up, carefully raising yourself onto your knees before leaning up towards the hulking king. He turned his face to you in interest, feeling a sort of natural energy begin to pool around the both of you, reaching from the far depths of the earth and the wide stretch of the sky to converge on your existence as you framed his face with gentle hands, and placed a chaste kiss on the corner of his mouth.

It lasted only a second. But a second was long enough to catch the scent of petrichor and petals on your skin, to indulge in the heat of wildfires raging in your soul, to feel the blasphemy of you against him; then, you parted.

“For now,” you murmured, and Sukuna swore he saw your single tail fan out into nine, “I give you my divine favor, Ryoumen Sukuna.”

You wondered if your favor was enough. He'd been gone some time, off to accept a duel from the snotty shitheads Sukuna had received you from. Apparently, having two of the eldest boys murdered rubbed them the wrong way. Sukuna was glad for it, you knew–the man lived and breathed for a fight.

Of course, you stayed put. Uraume assured you'd be fine on your own, and Sukuna reminded his staff they'd all be eaten alive by the king himself if anything uncouth were to take place in his absence. It was more so that Sukuna didn't like the idea of idiots touching his stuff than it was the notion you were important to him, from your understanding.

Regardless, the time alone left you restless. That king made you invincible. Without him, you were nothing more than the scared kit locked away in darkness, never to emerge lest your stubbornness trick them. But things were different here. Everyday was filled with unknowns and uncertainties when the two you'd forged fragile bonds with fell absent.

So, you thought of how to repay Sukuna. Your divine favor would only do so much, after all–you didn't think a man like that really needed the extra luck, but he seemed more than intrigued by the manner of delivering the blessing; you remembered how he looked at you, eyes half-lidded, shielding you from the inferno burning out of control. He grumbled something low in his chest, just loud enough that you heard:

You better be here when I get back.

“Ah–” The thrill those catastrophic words gave you nearly led to stabbing yourself with the needle. You tutted and regained focus, continuing to carefully embroider the sleeves of one of Sukuna's many plain black haori.

You learned how to sew and embroider from watching an elder from that clan work her magic on old, tattered clothes. She never spoke to you nor regarded you, but she never turned you away the rare times you watched her fix garments; you thought it was beautiful–the art of turning something mundane into something meaningful.

Though you wondered if Ryoumen Sukuna, the most powerful sorcerer, the most feared man alive, had a desire for anything useless and meaningful.

The answer came quickly. You'd found yourself void of confidence when the monarch returned to his palace after (obviously) winning whatever duel he'd agreed to; you weren't sure if you were to congratulate him, celebrate him or something more. On top of that, he'd eventually find that haori you'd slaved over for days, and you weren't sure you could take the heartbreak of dismissal.

However, those fears were quashed when, from a new little secret garden hovel, you spied the man donning the very haori you slaved over; it wasn't a flashy piece, you didn't want to subtract from the marvel that was the king of curses, so you opted for using black, shimmery thread to weave intricate twisting trees and blackened blooms along the sleeve. Only if the design caught the light would one be able to notice it.

But that was enough for you. Knowing he accepted such a meaningless gift was reassuring of your place in his world.

So, you finally let Uraume convince you to stay in the room they'd prepared for you.

“No need to be nervous,” you hummed, that undying urge inside you to take care of something helping you soothe the young woman's nerves. You fixed her hair, your deft fingers carefully slipping strands into place before sliding a decorative pin in to hold it all together. You took a step back to appraise her, Sukuna's latest concubine.

“I–thank you.” Sachiko blushed fiercely and bowed the slightest bit, not risking a deep bow for the fear of her hair falling loose. “I can see why all the girls love you.”

You laughed, low and warm. “Well, it's hard not to love someone who takes care of you, no?” Gently, you tilted her chin up and leaned in, carefully examining the red lacquer staining her lips. The colour matched her kimono and the gems in that exquisite hairpin keeping dark locks at bay. “But I'm glad. I know it's difficult to find respite in these times.”

Sachiko held her breath as she looked over the natural paint of crimson adorning your eyes. “I-I, um–yes, I do agree.”

You hummed and carefully fixed the smallest smudge on the corner of her mouth. “Mh. So I hope you do your best to please him.”

“I will!” Sachiko promised. “But–I wish to–may I give you something?”

“Of course.”

She gathered her kimono up in her hands and leaned up toward you. You leaned down, expecting a secret or hushed words, but perfect red lips pressed against your skin instead. And you were dumbfounded; you'd never been kissed before. You'd never had a lady show that interest in you.

Sachiko got down from her tiptoes and hid her mouth with her sleeve. “Just for good luck!” She squeaked before bowing and hastily running through the doors where Sukuna would no doubt be waiting for his woman for the evening’s events.

You looked at the doors sliding closed and caught a glimpse of Sukuna stood before the young woman, his frame swallowing hers as you looked on. And you caught a glimpse of his eyes, his stare of shock and utter vexation–clearly, he'd seen the short woman give you a kiss for good luck.

You turned away, choosing to abandon the girl to her demise as your fingers ghosted against your lips in wonder.

He showed up in your chambers later that night. You were still awake, quietly embroidering another haori; this time, it was for Uraume. They insisted they didn't want to burden you, but they crumbled under your more insistent insistence, and accepted the offer on the condition it looked subtle and muted.

Sukuna padded toward you, hardly bothering to announce himself or ask to join you (ugh, how annoying) before plopping himself onto the futon beside you, sighing as he laid down.

“I see you finished early,” you commented, jumping the littlest bit when large hands caught your flickering tails. He didn't hurt you, no; he was simply an overgrown toddler with a penchant for examining whatever wiggled before him.

“That woman kissed you,” Sukuna answered, unhelpful. “Ruined it.”

“Ah. Well. I didn't expect it either.” You cleared your throat, feeling an unexpected bubble of embarrassment rise in your chest. “I have…I've never been given a kiss before. Not from what I can recall, at the very least.”

“The hell are you talking about?” Sukuna grouched. “You planted one on me in the gardens.”

“Giving is not receiving,” you corrected, flicking your tail so as to hit his face. “I've never given a kiss on another's lips, regardless. Though I find myself wondering why I–”

You yowled when he yanked your tail like he meant to rip the thing off, and you whirled on him, eyes drawn into slits and chunky fangs bared as you dug your nails into his wrist in an effort to make him let go.

Yet the king looked unfazed. He sat up and tugged you closer by your tail, yank after yank, ripping an impressive collection of vexed noises from you until his broad hand caught you by the throat. You clawed at his wrist and forearm, scrambling to find purchase, idly wondering if he'd finally had enough of you and sought to put you down after dirtying one of his concubines–

But he kissed you instead. His lips were warm and dry, not quite soft yet not unwelcoming. Sukuna knew what he was doing, too; his tongue licked at your bottom lip before pushing inside to finally taste you and taint you from within just a little bit.

Your grip on him laxed the slightest bit, and you even eased into his hold as he, too, refused to harm you further. If you weren't aware of his malevolent spirit, you might've thought him gentle in that long, simple moment–a special brand of “gentle” that was wholly Sukuna's. Kind, but jagged around the edges.

He started pulling back, though, and you followed after his touch like a bewitched maiden chasing after the lips of a lover. You nipped at the air like that'd do something for you, but soon settled on leaning into the hand holding you still, even if your throat scratched and ached because of it.

You found Sukuna's calm stare watching you when you opened your eyes a crack. For once, you thought he looked content; the cruel, mocking lines of his face had smoothed and relaxed, and that annoying, cocky smirk he'd been born sporting had been replaced with a placid, normal lilt. Even the inferno blazing in crimson depths eased into pools of yawning embers–warm and spirited, yet contained.

The sight relaxed you despite the confusion it brought to your rationale.

“That,” Sukuna said, so odd and quiet, but powerful and judicial. “Is your first.” His thumb stroked against the side of your neck, pausing to feel the pitter patter of your heart thrumming under his mercy. “It'd serve you to remember that.”

You nodded shallowly. “Of course.”

Pleased, he let go of your quite breakable neck and moved like he was about to get up. You grabbed at his hand and pressed his palm to the side of your face like he was cupping your cheek. Your insistence on touching gave the beast pause, but he settled again, content to let you keep him hostage for as long as you wanted.

And you indulged in the simple favour. You nuzzled into his palm with a very fox-like chitter as a bassy, quiet trill of a purr lazily rolled through your chest, eventually reaching Sukuna himself. It somehow had him feeling content. Relaxed. Like he was basking in the warmth of the sun.

“I request another,” you chirped, and Sukuna quirked a brow.

“Another?”

“Kiss.”

Sukuna twitched a smirk. “It'll cost ya.”

“Oh?”

“Give me another blessing.”

And you agreed.

#sukuna x reader #ryomen sukuna x reader #sukuna x male reader #sukuna x m!reader #sukuna x you #jjk x you #male reader insert #male reader #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen reader insert #jujutsu kaisen x male reader #jujutsu kaisen x you

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eightmakesonebraincell · 1 year ago

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ateez as pirates who fall for you (hyung line)

read maknae line here

genre: pirate!ateez x gn!reader (fem!reader for hongjoong), fluff, angst, crack, and as always - a brainrot of every pirate trope to exist

length: 10.4k

c/w: heavy and mature themes - mdni, explicit language (swearing, insults), death, violence, blood & injuries, weapons, illegal acts (piracy, ransoming, verbal abuse, abduction), alcohol, pet names

a/n: maknae line will come yes but who knows when 🤷‍♀️ work has been really testing my dopamine vibes this year 😔👎 thank you @sorryimananti-romantic for keeping a detailed hitlist for me ♡

hongjoong

pov: you're a royal princess rescued by him

“captain, are you sure we can’t toss her overboard?”

jongho and hongjoong watch as wooyoung’s face falls after you pointedly ignore his attempts to make conversation once again

for someone who is technically their guest aboard the arriba, it seems as though you are hellbent on being as difficult as you can be

“unfortunately, we can’t,” hongjoong grouches to the younger, “not unless we want to exchange our payment for a hefty bounty on our own heads”

when jongho sighs, the captain squeezes his shoulder in comfort and adds on, “trust me, i’ve thought about it too”

hongjoong and his crew are privateers - pirates in theory, but technically excused so long as they have their letter of marque to state that they are authorised to attack other vessels

rescuing a royal princess was never explicitly part of the contract, although he thinks that not rescuing you would have pretty much been equivalent to a blatant show of insubordination

you had been taken ransom by one of the merchant ships the arriba had been plundering

needless to say, they had been close to tossing you overboard too; your kingdom had never paid for your ransom

the lack of response from your parents wasn’t anything you weren’t expecting but it’s a sore spot nonetheless

so it’s certainly hard for you to play friendly when you’re quite literally shucked off from stranger to stranger faster than a hot potato

san tugs wooyoung closer towards him and gently says to you, “he’s just trying to be nice - we all are”

the movement doesn’t go unnoticed by you

“i don’t need your pity,” you answer, the only sentence you have spoken today

you’ve lived two decades of your life pretending you don’t see the pitying gazes of your maids and butlers

you certainly don’t need pity from these people - pirates no less

“it’s not-” wooyoung starts to say

but the captain steps in before he can defend himself

“if this is how you’re always acting, i’m starting to see why your kingdom never paid for your ransom”

had hongjoong been less preoccupied by your words, he would have realised that your tone is candid, as if it is only natural for the people around you to pity you

but he’s clouded with his mindset as captain, unable to stand by idly while his own crew put up with your attitude, and so the words come out anyway - shards of shrapnel that bury themselves into your heart

there is only a fleeting second when your eyes dilate with hurt

you conceal it immediately, replacing it with a steely gaze, yet the image has already seared itself into hongjoong’s mind

“maybe you should throw me overboard, then,” you counter, “i’m sure my family will thank you for it”

and even if you have completely neutralised your expression, no one misses the wounded tone of your voice before you disappear down into the lower deck

mingi lets out a low whistle after the resounding slam of the hatch closing

“you fucked up, captain”

hongjoong doesn’t need anyone to spell it out for him

the heavy feeling in his stomach is telling enough

it isn’t until the moon has long since risen that you emerge through the hatch again

you had bypassed the sleeping quarters to the hold, wedging yourself between barrels of grain until you were sure no one would find you

not that they would have tried to anyway - seonghwa had told them all to give you some space

you had run your finger up and down the sides of the barrels repetitively for hours on end, mind simultaneously void and filled with thoughts

the walls you had built around yourself kept you safe, but it had started to become awfully lonely after a while

when it had become a little too suffocating in the hold and you guessed that most of the crew was asleep, you had softly padded back up the stairs and across the main deck

you now sit on the foredeck where the endless expanse of the sea stretches out in front of you, closing your eyes and letting the swaying of the ship lull you into tranquillity

tonight, the moon winks down fondly upon the waters

hongjoong watches you from the quarterdeck

he’s seen you sit at the front of the ship on many nights when you should really have been asleep

he wonders if you’ve always looked so small and fragile with your knees drawn up to your chest, or whether it’s because the flash of hurt in your eyes and voice is still fresh in his mind

“go, captain,” yunho murmurs from where he’s at the helm, “it’s a quiet night”

hongjoong startles at having been caught gazing, clearing his throat and dragging his eyes away

“why should i, if she’s just going to ignore me?” he scoffs

but he knows he’s just being petty at this point and his chest churns in agreement

“maybe,” yunho hums softly in response. “did seonghwa ever give up on you, though?”

it’s rhetorical - hongjoong knows the answer better than anyone

the captain doesn’t say anything but after several beats of silence, he sighs and makes a move to the foredeck where you are

yunho smiles to himself

you and hongjoong may be more similar than his captain realises

your shoulders stiffen when the sound of hongjoong’s footsteps approaches

you’re not sure what to expect and you don’t exactly want to find out and risk getting hurt

but having spent all day swimming alone in your thoughts, you do want to show that you feel apologetic because admittedly, you were being an ass too

getting up to walk away when he’s taken the first step certainly won’t help your case

you hold your breath in awkward silence as he settles down beside you, leaving a respectable distance between your hunched figures

only now is hongjoong realising that he hasn’t actually thought about or decided on what he wants to say to you

but he can feel the confusion rolling off of you in waves, so he grits his teeth and says fuck it

“i won’t apologise for defending my crew, but i’m sorry for how i did it and for what i said”

he hopes you know he is sincere when he continues, “we all have our prickly edges. i can’t fault you for yours”

compassion is a foreign concept to you and so you’re a little stumped for words

hongjoong isn’t sure whether your silence is a good or bad thing, but you have yet to stand up and walk away from the conversation

“there’s only about a week left until we reach port and we’ll leave after you make it back to your kingdom and we receive our payment. i’m not asking for you to be friendly, but let’s at least be civil with each other until then,” he says

you want to nod, agree, anything

and yet you can’t seem to make your head move or the words to come out of your mouth

rome was not built in a day. but neither did its walls fall in a day

hongjoong doesn’t push for an answer when instead, you ask, “how many people have you actually tossed overboard before?”

he resists the urge to laugh at your question, suddenly endeared by the fact that you’re still bothered by his very empty threat

“none, but my offer still stands. you’re welcome to be my first,” he deadpans

you let out a snort and although you quickly turn your head away, hongjoong sees the hint of amusement in your eyes

no further words are exchanged between the two of you and you do not acknowledge him when he eventually stands to rejoin yunho at the helm

but it’s a start

and as with any relationship, be it friend, foe, or lover, there is always that

a beginning.

hongjoong isn’t really expecting much to change immediately so he doesn’t pay you much mind when you walk into the mess hall the following morning

you hesitate at the entrance when you see most of the crew are already present, the conversation you had with hongjoong last night replaying at the forefront of your mind

you chew on the inside of your mouth

wooyoung stops mid-conversation at the scrape of a plate on the table, looking up to find you sliding into the seat beside him with a tight-lipped smile

to your surprise, he greets you with enthusiasm and immediately drags you into the conversation

hongjoong watches as you slowly warm up and add one or two comments of your own in between bites of your hardtack

and when he catches your gaze after staring for too long, he gives you a smile to convey his appreciation; to acknowledge your efforts

you return it with a small smile of your own and unbeknownst to you, it stays on your face for the rest of the day

slowly, there become more and more reasons that elicit a smile out of you

you still sit out on the foredeck when everyone else has gone to sleep, but on most nights, hongjoong will join you even if just for a while

the two of you are content to sit side by side with nothing but the steady pulse of the ocean and intermittent creaks of the ship’s hull to break the silence of the night

tonight though, you find curiosity burning through you

“what’s it like?” you ask

“being a pirate?” he clarifies

you shrug vaguely, unsure yourself either, “being a pirate. being at sea. sailing with your crew”

he takes a moment to gather his thoughts - not because he doesn’t know what to say, but because there is too much he wants to say

when hongjoong answers, his voice rumbles softly from within his chest, tender and heartfelt

“there’s a sense of freedom that you can’t obtain when you’re bound to land and society. sailing the waters, the only limits are those of the open seas and of your own compass… the sunrises, the storms, the moonlight - it all becomes part of your home”

hongjoong leans back to rest on the palms of his hands, tilting his gaze up towards the twinkling sky

he reflects, “you experience brotherhood and gain a family that is worth multitudes more than the treasures you can accumulate, even if you were to live as a pirate for several lifetimes”

you’re enraptured by his words, like poetry that swirls off the pages of a book and drifts into your very soul

“i may be the captain of this crew, but they make me who i am. without them, i am nothing”

his words wash over you and unearth vivid memories

“that’s what the queen always says to me,” you reveal

a small smile starts to grace hongjoong’s face, but it falls just as quickly when he hears your next words

“that without her - without her title - i am nothing”

it’s funny, how the same phrase can hold such different meanings; can evoke such different emotions

you don’t elaborate any further, but hongjoong doesn’t think he needs you to in order for him to understand

he just wishes he had more time to show you that your mother is wrong

he can’t though

tomorrow they reach port and you will return to your rightful place in the palace

“tell me more about your crew,” you attempt to change the topic, “how did you all find each other?”

so hongjoong tells you

he talks for hours and hours and you listen all the while with a heavy heart, clinging onto his every word

on your final night, you two stay like that until the stars disappear and the horizon becomes streaked with the pale hues of sunrise

after the ship docks mere hours later, only hongjoong accompanies you to your kingdom after goodbyes are exchanged

wooyoung doesn’t take it well, and you find yourself holding back tears of your own as you are let through the palace doors with the captain by your side

but you blink them away when you approach the throne room because vulnerability is not an emotion you are willing to display

“y/n”

the queen addresses you curtly when you enter, and hongjoong wonders for a split second whether he has brought you back to the wrong kingdom

he knows your mother does not treat you fondly, but it’s still staggering to see it before his very own eyes

the monarch glances distastefully over him before her eyes flicker back to you

“i did not expect your return,” she states

your eyes remain impassive as you merely answer, “neither am i delighted to be back”

hongjoong recognises this look

he’s seen it when you first boarded his ship; he’s seen it when your hackles were raised

he’s seen it in himself, when he had been a teenager filled with nothing but growing resentment, before he had met seonghwa

your mother sneers, “then you should have made yourself useful and stayed with the pirates. as a whore or a dog, whatever it took.”

hongjoong has understood you since learning of your demons, but right now, he is you

he sees fifteen-year-old kim hongjoong, standing before a couple who are his parents only by title

he sees fifteen-year-old kim hongjoong, who doesn’t know what he has done that deems him undeserving of love

he sees fifteen-year-old kim hongjoong, all alone with no one to take his hand

“or really, you should have died on the ship”

hongjoong is close enough to you to hear the small hitch in your breath at your mother’s final jab

he may not have had someone to save his younger self, but he can do that now

he can be the person he so desperately needed years ago

and so he does just that.

hongjoong grabs your hand and drags you out of the palace

no one stops the two of you from leaving and he is unsure whether his heart hurts for you or sings with relief

you can only stutter in shock as you try to keep up, “hongjoong, what about your payment?”

his determined steps do not slow down, even as he looks back at you with a sure smile, “i told you before. some things are worth more than money”

the comforting squeeze of his hand conveys that you are worth more than any amount of money

the form of the arriba grows bigger in the distance and you think you can see the movement of excitement on deck when the crew spots your figures

hongjoong has slowed down his steps, but he has yet to let go of your hand

“and you deserve to know that. welcome to the crew, y/n”

to a family and love that you never had

you think you like the sound of that

“thank you, captain”

seonghwa

pov: you're a royal navy officer in disguise

you lay awake in your hammock, listening to the soft snores of the crew members around you

sleep doesn’t come easy to you anymore

particularly tonight

you contemplate whether it’s worth the risk to simply not show up

you know what the consequences are if they capture you - a slow and painful death - but you’re unsure whether you want to put ateez on the line too

your ship is currently docked for the night, having made a port stop at alcarres following one of the crew’s wishes to retire the pirate lifestyle and settle in the small town

their last night with ateez had been celebrated with sloshing rum and rowdy jigs, something you had found strange

there’s none of that in the royal navy

when one leaves, it is shameful and through one of three options only; old age, crippling injury, or…death

you had asked seonghwa, the quartermaster, why he and the captain were so accepting when crew members left as they wished

he had simply smiled and answered, “better a small but loyal crew than a large and unpredictable crew”

his words are like a sharp stone in your shoe as you finally slip out of your hammock and make your way off the ship

as ordered, you head to the tavern addressed

you salute the person in front of you and ease into your seat with a formality only when he disregards you

“admiral jang”

“you’re late,” the royal navy officer raises an eyebrow

“sorry, sir. i had to make sure everyone was asleep”

it’s not exactly the truth, but no one needs to know that you had spent an hour in your hammock questioning your morality

he ignores your excuse, jesting as he asks of your captain, “has the pirate king found the chart’s whereabouts yet?”

the charts

centuries ago, a crew of experienced sailors had travelled the six great seas and created the original navigational charts

the charts had become scattered and lost over time, but its value only increased exponentially as more and more sailors became victims to the sea trying to map its waters to the same detail and accuracy as the original charts

of the six originals, only the whereabouts of five are known, with most of them within the possession of the royal navy

it’s rumoured that hongjoong - the pirate king - has his hands on two of them and is currently tracking down the lost chart of the aurorian sea

the only sea that has yet to be chartered after its original map due to its dangerous and unpredictable sailing conditions

you know that your next words can hold an inexplicable amount of possibilities

“not yet. the last lead didn’t get him anywhere. turned out the last of the ahn clan had passed a decade ago”

his lips flatten at the lack of worthwhile information

“where’s the captain headed to next, then?” he probes

for a split second, the thought of lying crosses your mind

you can’t provide a different location - it would be much too obvious and would raise immediate suspicions

but you could give him a different time frame

after all, it’s not uncommon for navigational routes to be one to two weeks off should the waters be unpredictable enough

you find the truth spilling out of you anyway once you’re looking into his stone-cold eyes

“vlasgar. in about three weeks’ time”

for a moment, time stands still as your heart pounds and you attempt to slow your breathing, the officer staring back at you calculatingly

then he finally hums in satisfaction

you think that he is going to dismiss you, but as you make a move to leave, he leans back in his seat

the split second of hesitation was enough

“remember where your loyalty lies, y/n”

the air feels cold with the underlying threat

seonghwa’s words flit through your mind

better a small but loyal crew than a large and unpredictable crew

you swallow, “of course, admiral”

and then you’re dismissed with a nod

the unsettling feeling follows you all the way back to the ship and every miniscule creak of the floorboards underneath you seems to be amplified in the silence

you let out a short gasp of surprise when you’re about to climb back into your hammock, only to see seonghwa blinking blearily at you

“couldn’t sleep ‘gain?” he mumbles

you choke out a response, “yeah”

“i’ll make you tea b’fore you sleep ‘morrow,” his words slur with sleepiness

“okay,” you whisper

but you know it won’t make a difference

after all, there’s no remedy for guilt

it continues to fester the next day, as you linger outside the captain’s quarters

you can’t remember why you had come down to the lower deck, but it doesn’t matter now, not with seonghwa and the captain discussing what you think is related to the aurorian chart

“do you think he’s still in vlasgar?”

“min taesoo? it’s hard to say. but i’m sure he’ll have acquaintances still on the island who may have an idea of where he’s gone”

min taesoo

your brain tries to carefully file the name away, knowing that it’s what admiral jang would want to know, but at the same time, your heart tries to pretend it doesn’t know what you have heard so that you can forget about it

you find yourself scratching the name onto a scrap of paper anyway

unbeknownst to you, at the almost-imperceivable sound of your footsteps walking away, the two men behind the doors share a look

the crew sets sail again in the afternoon towards the next destination - vlasgar - and the scrap of paper in your pocket weighs you down so heavily that you feel off-kilter as you absentmindedly follow jongho up into the rigging to unfurl the sails

you’re near the top of the ropes when a sudden wave lurches the boat to starboard

it’s only a small push, really, but with your mind elsewhere, it catches you off guard and you miss your next step

the feeling of your hand dislodging from the sudden drag of your body weight brings you back to the present with a yell of surprise

(whether it’s your own or jongho’s, you can’t remember)

your sailing experience takes over and you try to swing your body back towards the safety of the rigging

you barely manage to grasp the ropes again but your hands slip down with your weight until they hit the next knot, the hot rush of friction threatening your grip

with adrenaline rushing through your body, you shakily climb back down, where there are several pairs of hands waiting to help you down the rest of the rigging

seonghwa’s hands do not leave you even after your feet are planted on the deck again

dread and shame heat the back of your neck and curl around onto your cheeks, knowing that a mistake like the one you had just made - accidental or not - would lead to a punishment like confinement in the lower deck back in the royal navy

except, when an apology starts to form on your lips, seonghwa bursts out in dismay

“y/n, your hands!”

you let out an unintelligible noise as seonghwa gently turns your palms over and you realise that the ropes have grazed some of the skin off

“it’s fine,” you want to say

but you’re silenced when he leads you to the small sick bay on the orlop deck

even if there is no surgeon on board, there is a small chest fastened to the wall that is home to their few and valuable medical supplies

you sit as he fusses over you with alcohol and strips of cloth

although he does a good job of wrapping your hands, your insides start to bleed with how intensely guilt eats away at you, like a maggot deep inside the core of a festering apple

that night as you shuffle towards your hammock to sleep, you flinch when you find seonghwa already sitting in his

he’s fighting the heaviness in his eyes as he carefully cradles something

upon seeing you, he wordlessly hands it to you with a sleepy smile before he finally sags into his own hammock with a content sigh

you look down and the warmth of it seems to burn through the padded dressing that the man before you has tenderly wrapped around your palms

the sensation travels upwards to burn your heart too

because in your hands is a cup of warm chamomile tea

and yet, despite the emptied cup, you find yourself unable to fall asleep

but in the darkness of the sky, with no witnesses other than the waves and sea foam themselves, a small piece of crumpled paper gets tossed overboard that night

the closer their ship approaches vlasgar, the more distant seonghwa notices you become

he worries

seonghwa thinks he worries for the reasons that he should be

he is the quartermaster; entrusted to protect the crew as the captain’s right-hand man

if that means ensuring no one will compromise the rest of his crew, even if it’s you, then so be it

that’s what he justifies to himself as he walks through the cobbled streets of vlasgar, slinking through the shadows as he follows your figure from a safe distance

(in reality, seonghwa worries for the reasons that he is not quite ready to admit yet)

he follows you into the dim bar of a tavern and carefully situates himself where he can watch over you without being discovered

he orders a mug of common ale as you approach someone

the man is dressed in civilian attire, but seonghwa can tell straight away from his demeanour and expression that he is not as ordinary as he appears

it’s confirmed when he hears you say, “admiral jang”

and then he sees it

the small but striking lapel pin on the breast of the man’s coat - the royal navy’s insignia

seonghwa feels for the sash that’s hidden underneath his own jacket and his fingertips meet the cool metal of the pistol tied inside

“you better have updates for me, y/n. what’s the pirate king’s purpose here in vlasgar?”

seonghwa knows he only has about five seconds to make a decision - one that could jeopardise the crew, or one that could jeopardise you

but you surprise yourself and the both of them when you answer steadfastly, “i don’t know, sir”

despite the din of drunker patrons in the tavern, it seems to fall deathly silent

“am i hearing wrong, officer?” the admiral questions with a disbelieving scoff

to your credit, your voice does not waver when you state again, “no, sir. i believe the captain and quartermaster are lying low. they have not revealed anything to me nor the rest of the crew”

seonghwa suddenly understands why you have distanced yourself

the admiral’s jaw tics

“is that so.”

you do not respond, only focusing on the spot between his raised eyebrows as he leans forward across the table

“where does your loyalty lie, y/n?”

neither the admiral nor seonghwa need to hear your answer to know the truth

a small crew may be outnumbered, but they have strength in loyalty and devotion

there’s a glint of movement from underneath the table as the admiral inches something out from his belt

seonghwa makes his decision

you flinch, eyes wide as there’s a deafening gunshot and the table beside you splinters and scatters the tankards of alcohol onto the floor

instantaneously, chaos erupts

there are drunken yells of fright and weapons clumsily brandished, tables upturned and chairs hurled across the room

it only takes one other misfired shot for the tavern to descend into hellfire as customers who were previously drinking together now turn on one another

nobody notices the two pirates dashing out, not even admiral jang, who is busy wrangling two inebriated men off his arms

your composure dissolves the moment you are dragged into an alleyway several streets away and you look up in shock to discover-

“seonghwa?! why are you here?”

“i could say the same about you,” he counters, hardly out of breath

you’re stunned by the fact that he seems completely unfazed by the mess that he has just dragged you out of

something clicks

“was that you? did you know all along?”

seonghwa smiles, “let’s just say you’re not as subtle as you think you are when you sneak around. plus, it’s uncommon for sailors to have the experience that you do without having had some sort of training”

you curse under your breath and wince, “does hongjoong know too?”

the quartermaster nods and you fear the answer to your next question

“then why has he not…why have you not…”

“killed you yet?” seonghwa chuckles. “i’m sure you’ve realised by now how skewed the royal navy’s beliefs are”

you’re quiet

the royal navy has always been cult-like in preaching the ruthlessness and barbarism of pirates, drilling into the officers the belief that pirates are the scum of the sea

but everything that you’ve known has been proven false since you’ve joined ateez; ironically, the pirates are more humane than the royal navy themself

their crew stand at attention whenever hongjoong or seonghwa walk onto the deck - not out of cultivated fear but genuine respect

when jongho is sore and tired from handling the riggings on a particularly rough and windy day, the others will offer to cover for his chores instead of flogging him into submission

and when mingi is divvying up the shares of the provisions and loot, the others will slip an extra bar of soap for seonghwa, the shiniest ring for mingi, or the largest bottle of rum for yunho, because they want to make each other happy

“hongjoong is the pirate king, yes, but a king should not take the lives of others for his own power. a true king uses his power to change the lives of others for the better…like yours…and like mine”

you frown with a jerk of your head

“what do you mean?”

you can’t see seonghwa as a broken man whatsoever

he gives you a weak smile, “i, too, used to be part of the royal navy”

your jaw drops

everything clicks into place - how he had figured out you weren’t just a common sailor and why he hadn’t confronted you about it

the shame and guilt come rushing back over you in a storm that is much too familiar by now

“i’m so sorry, all i’ve done is betray your trust-”

“but that’s what second chances are for, no?” seonghwa cuts you off, playfully flicking your forehead as he reminds you, “and i’m pretty sure you’ve chosen me over the royal navy”

your cheeks grow hot

“not you. the crew,” you mutter

he laughs and it’s a wonderful sound

“come on, it’s late,” seonghwa beckons. “let’s get some sleep”

when he sees that you’re still rooted to the spot, unsure whether you are deserving to go back, he decides for you and moves behind you to gently nudge you forward by the shoulders

you let him guide you

his hands are warm, you note, even through the linen of your shirt

his hands are also pretty, you observe, when he tries to fluff your hammock once you two have crept your way back to the berth

seonghwa helps you up into the hammock and you watch as he climbs into his

his hands are also teeming with love, you realise, when he wordlessly extends his arm nearest to you in a silent invitation

if you both reach out, you can just entwine your hands together from your respective hammocks

the burns on your palms have healed nicely and without the need for them to be wrapped, you can feel every expanse of his hand covering yours

he doesn’t retract his hand and neither do you, even though it’s not the most comfortable position and you both lose feeling of your arms soon after

but you lay in your hammock, drifting to the soft snores of the crew members around you and the soft tug of seonghwa’s fingers in yours

sleep comes easy to you

particularly tonight

as it will for the rest of your life

yunho

pov: you're the crew's navigator

you know it’s going to happen even before it actually does

you can feel it in the air and from the way the baby hairs around your hairline start to frizz

but you never say anything because you wouldn’t trade it for the moment when the first raindrop hits the back of yunho’s neck and he abandons his duty at the helm to drag you out onto the upper deck

(hongjoong only sighs in defeat before he stations himself at the helm instead)

you don’t like the rain

not like yunho does

you are already looking up from the map spread out in the captain’s quarters, a knowing smile on your face just from the sound of his bounding footsteps alerting you of his presence, when yunho appears with the beckon of rain

you pretend to let yourself be dragged to your feet along to his urges of come on!

but then you dash forward towards the hatch with yunho chasing after your bright laughter

in the short span of time that it has taken him to fetch you, the sprinkle of rain has steadily grown and the weathered planks of the deck are already a dark grey

you feel the coldness of the raindrops hitting the crown of your head and the spreading chill as your clothes start to become damp

but that’s not what makes you feel alive

yunho catches up to you easily and then he is snaking his arms around your waist to lift you up into the air

you barely have time to squeal and steady yourself on his broad shoulders before he is spinning the two of you around, the world blurring away as the spotlight shines on him and he is all that you can see

the deck is your stage and the sea is your audience

rain with yunho is twirling hugs, tiptoed kisses and tinkling laughter. it’s soaked shirts and rosy cheeks and the only thing that matters in the moment

you don’t like the rain, but it’s easy to like the rain when it’s with him

(hongjoong lets the two of you be - so obviously and hopelessly enamoured by each other - because when one sees people in love, one cannot help but watch and smile)

the rain eventually peters out and you and yunho must return to your respective duties, but not until you two have changed out of your drenched clothes and sneaked in a few more kisses

a few hours later, you hear the racket above the deck as a ship pulls up beside the arriba and ropes are thrown across from both sides to lash the vessels close together

hongjoong comes down to join you in his quarters, but he’s not alone

behind him is the captain of the silver light, dae jihoo, and his quartermaster, with seonghwa entering last

you note that this crew doesn’t have a navigator of their own

but you suppose that’s one of the reasons why their captain had implored an alliance for this particular raid

the crew of the silver light are wanting to target the prosperity triangle - an area between three large ports that is frequently trafficked by wealthy vessels transporting valuable goods

it’s a raid that would prove difficult for a smaller pirate crew like your own and the silver light, and especially if they have no navigator

but it’s not uncommon for pirates to form temporary alliances for such purposes, and together, your crews have a good chance of plundering a fortune

you nod your head in acknowledgement when hongjoong introduces you to the two pirates as ateez’s navigator

you don’t miss the way jihoo’s eyes seem to linger on you for a second too long before he flashes a crooked grin and gestures towards the navigational map spread out on the oak table

clearing your throat of discomfort, you step forward and flatten the creases out with your hands

“this is the most open spot within the triangle that the vessel we’re after will pass through,” you tap an annotated spot on the chart, “and this is where we are now”

you slide your finger across, “we’ll follow the rhumb line west to avoid the shallower waters and when we can catch the trade winds, it should be smooth sailing from there”

jihoo challenges you, “how can you be sure we’ll catch the ship within the triangle?”

“they’ll need to sail past the equator and i’m almost certain their ship will be slowed down by the doldrums. we can easily gain knots on them”

he squints at the scribbles you’ve made noting down what you’ve gathered of the wind patterns

you know for a fact that it will mean nothing to him, but whatever he sees must satisfy him because jihoo appears to make up his mind

“when do we set sail?” he directs his question to your captain

“three days from now”

he grunts a noise of affirmation and stands, which hongjoong takes as the cue to see them and the rest of their crew off your ship

you trail behind the group as you all head back to the upper deck

you prepare to emerge from the hatch with a playful wink, knowing that yunho will be craning his neck from the helm to get a glimpse of you, when a sudden holler surprises you out of your thoughts

it’s immediately met with the answering cries of several other pirates - none from your crew - and you hurry to clear the hatch to gain your bearings

you’re thrust right into the throes of battle as ateez are forced to unsheathe their cutlasses to defend against silver light’s sudden attack

having been caught off guard, basically none of your firearms are loaded with gunpowder, rendering them unusable

you will have to make do with the short sabre at your waist

there’s no time to account for the whereabouts and safety of your crew members and you just have to pray that you all make it out of this unscathed

especially yunho

but as ateez retaliate, you all notice something is off about the situation

your crew is very quickly overpowering the other pirates - it was a losing fight for them from the very beginning

it makes no sense to you nor the rest of your crew

the losses of breaking the alliance before the planned raid, much less through betrayal, far outweigh any gains they could possibly make from their choice of action

it makes absolutely no sense

until it does.

you are blocking the swing of a sabre with your own when you are tugged backwards harshly by the collar of your shirt

there’s an angry snarl in your throat as you prepare to turn around, but it’s quickly silenced by the warning shot of a pistol right beside your ear

the cold ring of metal is then pressed to the back of your head

you know that firearms require time to reload and there’s a chance that this pistol is now useless

but, like wooyoung has taught the rest of the crew to do, they may have pre-prepared several pistols and you are not willing to play with fire - especially when you are only the flex of a finger away from death

you vaguely hear someone yell out your name in panic, but you’re not quite sure you hear correctly over the clamour of cutlasses clashing, warcries resounding and your own heartbeat pounding

“stand down or your navigator dies,” the voice behind you thunders

it’s jihoo…and he wants a navigator for his crew

“ateez,” one of your men commands, “lower your weapons”

your crew may make decisions fairly, but in battle, only hongjoong has the power to make commands

yunho has never spoken against his captain or disobeyed orders

until now

the words do not come out of your captain’s mouth but yunho’s

the rest of the members hesitate - they will not stand down unless hongjoong commands them to, yet, they are unsure whether they will be able to follow should he demand them to fight on, even if it means endangering your life

but there is no guarantee jihoo will let your crew go unharmed even after you all surrender, and as the captain, hongjoong must make decisions in the best interest for the crew

“captain!” yunho yells desperately

yunho never yells

“stand down,” hongjoong commands

silver light’s captain steps in closer behind you until you can hear and feel the noise of intriguement that leaves his mouth down the back of your neck

“that your loverboy, hmm?”

he smirks

there’s a false moment of primal relief when the press of the pistol is removed from the back of your head, but it is immediately replaced with fear that is irrevocably worse as he aims it in yunho’s direction and shoots

“no!”

you shriek and pull against the tug of his hold, still fisted around your collar, your pupils blown wide with terror at the sight of the clean hole in the mast right beside yunho’s head

“it’ll be pretty boy’s head next if you don’t come with me,” jihoo coos into your ear

the fight slips out of you immediately

because if you can save him, a life for a life, then you will

even if the sight of mingi holding yunho back from lunging forward when the pistol’s barrel returns to your head makes your heart clench painfully

“y/n, don’t you dare,” yunho pleads, voice filled with anguish

you’re barely given enough time to lock eyes with him and say resolutely, “remember what you said to me,” before you are tugged away to the boarding plank

ateez can only watch helplessly as the planks are removed from over the bulwarks and the last of the ropes are untied, releasing the silver light from their ship for good

jihoo tugs you down the hatch as the ship starts to pull away, and just like that, you’re gone from their sights

“fuck!” yunho shouts furiously, unable to contain his emotions as he turns around and connects his fist with the mast

right where the musket ball had made a hole

his hand pulls away with bloodied knuckles from the splintered wood and the sheer force of his punch

a concerned whine leaves seonghwa’s mouth and he tries to approach the taller, but yunho shakes him off and looks determinedly at hongjoong

“we’re sailing to the banver isle just east of the triangle. we’ll ambush them there”

seonghwa looks between the two, hope flickering in his chest at the potential plan, “you think the silver light are stupid enough to try taking on the prosperity triangle alone?”

yunho chuckles darkly, “they were fucking shitbrained enough to take y/n, so yes”

nobody disagrees and hongjoong smirks dangerously

“ateez, ready the sails for banver isle,” he commands. “prepare for battle”

because not only have the silver light taken you away from ateez, but they have also annihilated the light from yunho’s eyes

gone are his warm brown orbs - they are now black holes thirsty for retribution

there will be lives to pay and even that will not be enough for the void

unaware of what your crew is capable of, jihoo looks down at you with a triumphant leer

“you’ll navigate us to the triangle in three days’ time. don’t even think about lying - you’ve already shown me where the location is”

with an even nod you reply, “of course”

it’s true though - you have absolutely no intention of navigating them somewhere else

because you know yunho will be waiting there for you

amidst chaste kisses exchanged between plush lips cold from the rain, yunho tells you in a brief moment of seriousness

“don’t show them where the real location is,” his breath is warm across your cheeks. “you know the coastal island roughly ten nautical miles away? show them that instead”

you tilt your head to look up at him, “you think they’ll betray us?”

“no,” he reassures you with a deeper, slower kiss, “but we can never be too safe”

and even if your vessels miss each other this time, you have complete faith that yunho will sail to the very ends of the world just to find you

two days before the originally-planned raid, the arriba sails as closely to banver isle as possible without risking running aground

yunho has navigated the ship around the back of the isle so that the form of the rocky terrain conceals them from sight

once the anchor is lowered, the crew members use every ticking moment to make preparations

swords are sharpened and firearms cleaned

mingi distributes the gunpowder and ammunition, which is pre-loaded into muskets, pistols and swivel cannons ready to be engaged

the ship’s sails and riggings are checked and yeosang keeps a keen lookout in the crow’s nest

and it’s as if the world itself can sense the brewing storm that grows inside yunho

the sea is eerily still and silent, but the sky is an omen to something impending, its rolling clouds dark and angry with the threat of rain leering over the waters

yunho doesn’t actually like the rain

he only likes it because it’s with you

rain with you is barefoot dancing, breathless confessions and bashful giggles. it’s drenched locks and fluttering eyelashes and the only thing that exists in the moment

but as the profile of the silver light finally approaches the isle two days later, the heavens split open and you are not by his side

rain without you is falling pinpricks, frigid winds and flaunting mockery and yunho despises it with his entire being

at yeosang’s call of, “vessel approaching from starboard,” up in the lookout, yunho smothers the fervid desire to barrage the other ship with cannonballs like hail from hell; to unleash an inferno that blazes through their hull as he sadistically watches the crew jump for their lives

he stamps out the hunger to shoot the ones that make it into the sea, not to kill, only to maim and induce a long, painful struggle in the open waters until death becomes inevitable - until there is enough blood spilt that it becomes the only stench in the air that stretches across for miles

yunho leashes his monsters with an iron fist

because he will not do anything that could even remotely endanger your life

even if it means that he has to hold back - to sit and wait like prey instead of advancing on the other ship like a predator

at least not yet.

silver light do not know, but this is the calm before the storm

the heavens may be crying, the winds may be howling and the waters may be roiling

but this is nothing compared to yunho

yunho is a tempest of unparalleled rage and their ship is in the eye of his storm

as the bowsprit of the silver light starts to appear around the isle, the members ready their grappling hooks and yunho draws his cutlass with a menacing whisper of unsheathing metal

you are his treasure, and pirates never lose sight of their treasure

today…you return to him

yeosang

pov: you're a tavern keeper

watching the ale reach the brim of the tankard you are holding, you’re about to step away from the barrel when the voice of a patron sounds behind you

“‘scuse me, could i get a mint-”

you look up and turn around in confusion as their voice cuts off

only to have the question taken right from the tip of your own tongue as you’re met with the face of the person you had loved for years

the same person you have spent twice as long trying to forget

eyes searching each other’s in a surprised stupor, seeing kang yeosang standing right in front of you takes you back to those memories that you have tried to remember and simultaneously bury

it thrusts you headfirst into what used to be of your shared love - like the feathery remnants of a dream, so distant from the fingers of your consciousness, suddenly returning to vivid existence when you least expect it

“hey, mint leaf. i’m back”

yeosang at least has the perceptiveness to appear a little apologetic, immediately pulling you into a hug and pressing soft kisses against your hairline uncaring of the other people in the tavern

it’s been several weeks since you last saw him, and whilst he had warned you he would be gone for longer this time, you hadn’t expected it to mean two whole months

he’s a small merchant who also fishes along the coast to earn enough to make ends meets, so he’s often gone for a few days or a week or two

you knew what you were in for when you first made it official with him, but just because you become accustomed to something, doesn’t mean it gets any easier

and he’s never been gone for this long

something must have happened - something good - because he looks alive, cheeks glowing and eyes fiery

“i met the crew”

“the crew?” you ask, hands reaching for the bourbon to prepare him a drink as he lets himself behind the counter to stand beside you in your workspace

he nods excitedly, "wooyoung’s pirate crew, ateez"

you think you know where this is going to go and you hate that your stomach sinks at the thought of what your future may become, because yeosang looks so happy to tell you about this and a happy yeosang is all that you could ask for

“the captain offered me a position as their lookout”

you pick out your next words carefully as you hand him his finished drink - a mint julep with two sugar cubes, just the way he likes it

"aren't…isn't being a pirate dangerous?"

“not as dangerous as you might think, actually. they’ve been showing me the ropes the last couple of weeks and…and i think i want to join them. officially”

there it is

the forked end of the road

you wonder how far two people can keep walking with their hands intertwined before the distance becomes too great and they have to let go

his words become a little muddled when he goes on to tell you about how they divvied up their recent loot to include his share too

how he’s gained more money than he’s made from the last two years of working as a merchant and fisherman combined

if he joins his old friend and his crew, he could earn enough to buy his parents a proper house; earn enough to build you your very own tavern

you want to tell him that you don’t need the tavern, just him, but you also know just how important his family is to him

his filial desire to take care of his parents was one of the very reasons you fell in love with him in the first place

before you can say anything though, the tavern keeper is interrupting to let you know that your shift is over

yeosang immediately perks up and herds you out of the place, claiming that there is a new fishing spot he discovered that he has to show you

and so you sit while he rows his modest boat, only the splash of his oars disturbing the peaceful stillness that has settled over the waters as the sun dips below the horizon

the waning light casts a soft, warm glow over him, like a gentle kiss against his skin and birthmark

if angels graced the earth, there would be one sitting right in front of you

“i missed you, mint leaf,” he confesses, gaze shyly averted. “i thought about you when i was gone”

“did you think about showing me this place?” you feel a little breathless

he nods, “every single night”

and that’s enough for you

it feels like everything is okay again

it doesn’t matter if you’re standing at a forked road

you think that perhaps, for him, you can walk on an unpaved path - just so that you can keep holding his hand

“y/n”

yeosang’s voice is deep

the word sounds foreign to your own ears but you don’t dwell on it

(because if you do, you’ll wonder whether it’s because you’ve forgotten the sound of his voice or because you want to hear him calling you something else)

“what would you like to order?” you ask

(because it’s easier to pretend that he’s just another patron than to admit that he used to be all that you ever knew)

yeosang fumbles a little but then regains himself, “oh, um- just a mint julep, please”

you turn your back to him to prepare his drink, hands reaching for the barrels lined along the bottom shelves without needing to look

you’ve made this drink too many times to count

half of those times were in the safety of the darkness that midnight offered; when the tears could flow freely without anyone seeing

it’s only when you start to mix his cocktail that yeosang realises he didn’t ask for his sugar cubes, but he figures the drink will taste bitter tonight either way so he opts to watch you instead

he wishes that he could walk past the counter like he used to and wrap his arms around you

he wishes that he could whisper endearments into your ears and press them against your lips

he wishes that he could show you that he still loves you

“do you still love me?” your voice wavers with hurt as you stand in front of him

he’s finally back after being gone for four months this time and you hate this conversation as much as he does, but it was bound to happen eventually

yeosang pleads, “more than anything”

“then why does it hurt so much? loving you…and being loved by you”

he doesn’t have an answer

but god be damned if he doesn’t try to find a way to fix things

“tell me, mint leaf, what can i do?”

you blink back your tears furiously, having already made up your mind while he was still at sea

“let’s break up”

because in the end, unpaved paths have too many rocks, too many thorns and too many arched roots; they were never meant to be walked along

you pass yeosang his finished drink without another word and then move further down the counter to serve a different customer

his eyes linger on you wistfully before he tears them away from you

it’s a good thing his hair has grown long enough to cover his face when he looks down

because his eyes start to grow wet at the sight of the mint julep you have made him

with two sugar cubes in it, just the way he likes it

perhaps, once you’ve loved somebody, you never really stop loving them

yeosang shows up again the next day and seats himself at the bar

you don’t serve him though, actively avoiding his end of the counter and letting another of your staff tend to him

he orders his usual but he leaves out his request for additional sugar cubes

it feels wrong for him to order it from someone that isn’t you

but you’re watching out of the corner of your eye as the worker mixes the bourbon, sugar and water, topping it with a few mint leaves and then sliding it across the counter for him

you let out a little sigh, half amused, when he takes a small sip and smacks his lips together at the bitterness

you take two sugar cubes and drop it unceremoniously into his pewter cup before you realise what you’re doing

yeosang immediately seizes the opportunity to talk to you

“my crew’s docked for the fortnight…” he waits to see if you’ll respond. you don’t, but you also don’t move away, so he continues. “we’re making some repairs to the hull and sails before our next raid”

you have half a mind to walk away after you reply, “i didn’t ask”

he forges on regardless

“we’re going to work with another crew for this one. it’s going to increase our chances of a successful raid because-”

your voice comes out a little harsher than you mean for it to when you hiss again, “i didn’t ask”

yeosang’s mouth closes as he pulls away slightly, back straightening

then he says in a softer voice, “i’ve been doing well. wooyoung still takes care of me, even though i’m not new to the crew anymore. i also saw my parents today and they’re happily retired now…”

you don’t stop him from talking this time

because how many sleepless nights have you spent sitting outside your tavern looking up at the stars; how many times have you served a mint julep to a patron and accidentally added sugar cubes; how many moments have you been consumed by the thought of him, simply wondering if he is living well?

this is everything that you have ever wanted - yeosang in the flesh letting you know that, yes, he has been well

but it is also everything that you have ever feared - that he has been well even without you

you don’t know what to feel

“my parents asked about you,” he says gingerly. “how have you been?”

his voice is barely audible, as if he is afraid of what you might say

or perhaps, afraid that you might not say anything at all

“good. excellent,” you force a small smile, your eyes still focused on the mint leaves floating in his drink. you don’t think you can look at him. “i own this place now”

his body loses its tension, cheeks rounding as he looks at you with genuine relief

“that’s…that’s really good to hear”

his words sting

you are unsure if it stings your ego or if it picks at the wound in the shape of the person you have lost

but it hurts to know that he has worried over you in the exact same way you have over him, the whole time you two have been apart

you’re suddenly overwhelmed by the realisation and hot tears well in your eyes almost immediately

your bottom lip starts to crumple so you rush into the back room to escape

“y/n!” yeosang calls out after you, alarmed

when you don’t stop, disappearing into the storage, he jolts up from his seat and follows

your body shudders with every heaving breath you take, unable to stop yourself from crying even harder when you feel him tug you into his chest

you try to pull away but his sturdy arms tighten around you

yeosang refuses to let you go once more

“i hate you,” you sob, struggling against his hold as you hit his chest weakly

he hushes comforts against the crown of your head, soothing noises as he endures your fists

“you have every reason to”

yeosang holds back tears of his own

he feels your body gradually losing its fight, sinking into his embrace instead, hands desperately holding him close

your voice is so impossibly small when you tearfully confess, “but i still love you”

“oh, mint leaf,” he brushes the stray locks of hair away from your face and cradles your jaw tenderly, “i still love you, too”

he presses a soft kiss against your forehead, pulling away once only to reaffirm, “so, so much”

when he kisses you again, his lips taste salty against your own, but nothing has ever tasted sweeter than this

your breath no longer stutters but the tears continue to run down your face because your heart finally feels right after all these years apart

and yet-

you pull away

“we can’t do this”

yeosang feels his heart shattering

“why not? i don’t understand,” he whimpers

“you know why,” you say distressingly, “my life is here, yeosang. i can’t just leave and return whenever i want. but you, on the other hand? you can. you go where your crew goes - you belong with them”

“but my heart belongs to you. please, y/n,” he begs

his arms are still wrapped around you and you feel his desperation as his fingers cling onto you like a lifeline

you look earnestly into his bloodshot eyes, your own vision blurry, “yeo, you’re not the one who gets left behind here. you’re not the one who waits weeks, months, years on end, just hoping that the next person to walk in is the person that you want to see”

he wants to plead that he waits to see you, too, but he knows that he’s the one who leaves, too

“you’re the right one for me - the only one for me - but it’s not the right time,” you tell him gently

slowly, his arms lower themselves from around you

“it wasn’t the right time then and it isn’t the right time now,” he repeats, “then when is the right time for us?”

you shoot the question right back at him, “when is the right time for someone whose life is to sail the world?”

neither of you know the answer

nobody does, because loving a pirate has no certainties

but yeosang doesn’t give up

“if we can’t ever be sure, why don’t we just make it the right time ourselves?”

you caress his cheek sweetly, and despite having stepped away from you earlier, he leans into your hand, starved of your loving touch and affection

“yeosang…what if we’ve already had it? what if…meeting each other was already it? what if we’re just meant to love from a distance, not side by side?” your voice is poignant but resolute

he brings up a hand to cover yours, still warm and tender against his wet cheek

how is it that he can be touching you yet simultaneously feel worlds apart from you

“okay,” he accepts with a whisper

if loving you silently is the only way he gets to love you, then he will choose it in a heartbeat over losing you entirely

he thumbs away the remainder of your tears

“can i kiss you? one last time?” he asks

you nod

“one last time”

your lips slowly meet, slotting together as they find their home in each other’s dips and curves

his hands cradle the small of your back and neck and your own hands rest against his chest

the kiss you share is steady, longing and bittersweet

it conveys everything that you want to say to each other, and even then, it is hardly enough

thank you

i’m sorry

i love you

goodbye…

you can feel your eyes burning up again, but you focus on the feeling of yeosang’s lips against yours instead

because you know that the moment one of you pulls away, that is it forever

in the world of love, there are people who are ill-fated

they meet the right person, but at the wrong time

and then there are people like you and yeosang

not ill-fated, but star-crossed lovers

the right person…

but just not meant to be

3K notes · View notes

heliosunny · 4 months ago

Note

Just see that you do lucky eggs with kevin, can you do it with su?

I really need this man 😭🙏 (I'm a simp for him lmao)

LUCKY EGG

Yandere!Su x Reader

The museum was bustling with visitors, each admiring the historical artifacts and priceless art. You navigated through the crowd, pausing occasionally to admire the more striking exhibits.

Then, in the center of the hall, a particular display caught your eye.

Inside a grand glass case sat an egg. The plaque beneath it read:

"The Ancient Relic of an Unknown Civilization—Speculated to be a Vessel of Power."

Shrugging off the odd feeling, you lingered for a moment longer before moving on. After all, it was just an exhibit.

Later that evening, you were curled up at home, scrolling through your phone, completely unaware of what had transpired after you left.

The news played in the background as you lazily sipped your drink.

"Authorities are investigating the sudden disappearance of the museum’s prized relic, which mysteriously cracked open last night. Footage shows an unidentified figure emerging from the exhibit before vanishing. Officials are urging the public to report any suspicious sightings—"

You yawned, setting your cup down. "Damn, whoever took it is in for a bad time. Hope they get caught."

BANG

A loud crash from your front door made you jolt. You hurried over, hesitating for just a second before unlocking it.

A man stood there—no, collapsed there—leaning against the doorframe as if he had barely managed to reach you. His long grey hair was matted with sweat.

"Found you."

And then he crumpled into your arms.

You called an ambulance immediately, watching anxiously as they lifted the strange man onto a stretcher. He was severely weakened, his body cold to the touch. The doctors said he was suffering from extreme fatigue and malnourishment—like he hadn’t eaten in years.

You stayed at the hospital, though you weren’t sure why. Maybe it was guilt? He had collapsed at your doorstep, after all. But you also had no idea who he was or why he was looking for you.

Once he woke up, you decided—you’d leave. This wasn’t your problem.

But the next time you visited his room—he was gone.

The whole situation had been bizarre, but at least it was over.

Or so you thought.

You felt it before you saw him—an eerie sensation of being watched. And then, from the corner of your vision, he appeared.

"Why are you following me?"

"I wanted to stay."

"No. You can't stay with me." You crossed your arms, standing firm. "I don’t even know who you are. You should go back to the hospital—"

"I don’t want to go back there," he interrupted softly. "I want to stay with you."

"Well, that’s not happening."

And with that, you turned on your heel and walked away.

You expected that to be the end of it.

But it wasn’t.

The next day, you spotted him at the café where you grabbed your morning coffee. He sat at a table by the window, staring at you with those unreadable eyes.

The day after that, he was waiting outside your workplace, his hands neatly folded in front of him as if he had all the time in the world.

By the fourth day, you snapped.

Dragging him into a quiet alley, you glared up at him. "Enough. Either you give up, or I’m calling the authorities."

"Give me three days."

Your brows furrowed. "What?"

"Three days." His voice was gentle, "If I can’t persuade you by then… I’ll leave."

"And what exactly do you think you can do in three days to change my mind?"

Su simply smiled. "You’ll see."

The first day passed almost too smoothly.

Su didn’t just sit idly. By the time you woke up, the smell of breakfast filled the air. You groggily shuffled into the kitchen, only to find the table neatly set. Su stood by the stove, stirring something in a pot with serene focus.

"You’re awake" he greeted, placing a warm cup of coffee in your hands before you could protest.

"Uh… thanks." You took a sip automatically, only to freeze mid-drink.

Wait.

You were supposed to be serious about this. This was a test, not an invitation for him to play house.

You set the cup down, clearing your throat. "This doesn’t mean you’re staying."

"Of course not. But I still have two more days."

He wasn’t just helpful—he was ridiculously competent.

You came home to find your apartment spotless. Every surface gleamed, your books were neatly arranged, and even that stubborn leaky faucet had mysteriously stopped dripping.

That night, you accidentally scraped your arm on a sharp cabinet edge. It wasn’t serious, just an annoying little cut—but before you could even grab a bandage, Su was already at your side.

"Sit," he said, gently taking your wrist.

"Where did you learn how to do this?" you asked, watching him work.

"I’ve always known how to care for others," he replied, "It’s what I do."

A doctor? A healer of some kind? You had no idea.

But you did know one thing—this wasn’t just about being useful. Su genuinely wanted to stay.

And that made this whole situation even harder.

By now, you were used to him being around.

When he handed you your morning coffee, you took it without thinking. When he set dinner on the table, you sat down without hesitation. When he spoke, you listened.

And that was exactly why you needed to put an end to this.

After dinner, you set down your fork and looked at him seriously. "Your three days are up."

Su placed his hands neatly in his lap, tilting his head slightly. "Yes."

"And?" You exhaled. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Have I not proven myself worthy of staying?"

"That’s not the point!" You stood up. "I never wanted you to prove yourself as some kind of servant! I don’t even know who you really are!"

"You know enough."

You had learned more about him in three days than you had about some people you’d known for years. He was intelligent, efficient, skilled, and knew how to take care of others. In another life, maybe this wouldn’t have been so strange. Maybe he would’ve been a trusted companion.

But this wasn’t another life. This was now, and you weren’t going to let some mysterious man worm his way into yours just because he could cook and clean.

"This isn’t about whether you’re ‘worthy’ of staying!" you snapped. "I don’t want you here! I never asked for this!"

"I know."

That only frustrated you more. "Then why are you still trying?!"

"Because I want to be by your side."

"That’s not your choice to make."

"Then what must I do?" he asked, "What must I do for you to allow me to stay?"

"You don’t get it, do you?"

Without another word, you turned and walked out.

He didn’t follow.

You needed space.

Your life was already chaotic enough, balancing jobs as an explorer and dungeon conqueror. Normally, you had to be summoned to a site, but tonight, you just wanted to clear your mind—so you went out on your own, picking a lower-level dungeon nearby.

It wasn’t much, just a small underground ruin filled with slimes and weak monsters. Nothing that required effort.

"Stupid, stubborn, infuriating man..." You slashed through a group of slimes, watching them explode into useless puddles. "Who even does this?! Cooking, cleaning, waiting outside my job like some lost puppy—"

A goblin jumped at you, and you sliced it down in a single strike.

"‘Give me three days’? What kind of nonsense is that?! Stupid—"

Another group of slimes appeared. You tore through them with unnecessary aggression, their remains splattering across the dungeon floor.

"I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone. He should’ve just left when I told him to—"

By the time you finally stopped, panting slightly, the dungeon had been wiped clean. You let out a breath, wiping some monster goo off your sleeve.

That should’ve been cathartic.

So why did you still feel unsettled?

You sighed, rubbing your temples. It was late. You should head back.

Stepping out of the dungeon, you stretched, feeling the cool night air against your skin. You had expected to walk home alone, to have time to think.

But you weren’t alone.

Su stood near the entrance, waiting. His long hair shimmered under the moonlight.

"You—How did you know where I was?" you demanded.

Su blinked, as if the question was unnecessary. "I know you."

"That’s not an answer."

"You always do this when you’re upset."

"You shouldn’t be following me."

"But if I don’t…What if you don’t come back?"

"You were angry when you left. What if you ran into something stronger? What if you got hurt? What if someone else found you before I did?"

"I won’t allow that."

You barely remembered collapsing into bed that night. After the dungeon run, the fight with Su, and the weight of the entire day pressing down on you, exhaustion had won over.

AAAAAAAAAAH

Your eyes fluttered open.

Did you hear a scream? The room was quiet now, eerily so. Maybe you had imagined it? A leftover thought from some distant dream?

Then—another noise.

You were on your feet before you realized it. You stormed toward the living room, prepared for something.

Su wasn’t awake. He was curled on the couch. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps, his brows tightly furrowed, and his fingers clutched the fabric beneath him as if it was the only thing anchoring him.

"No…" he murmured. "Don't leave me…Don't do this... "

"Y-you alright?"

He didn’t respond.

"Kevin? Why are you..."

Without thinking, you moved closer, kneeling beside him. His breath was uneven, and for a moment, you wondered if touching him would make things worse. But watching him tremble made it impossible to just stand there.

You reached out, resting a firm hand on his shoulder. "Wake up!"

In a flash, his hand shot up and grabbed your wrist.

You barely had time to react before his eyes snapped open.

"…You’re alive."

You nodded slowly. "Of course... You were having a nightmare."

"I… apologize" he murmured, "I didn’t mean to disturb you."

"You don’t have to apologize," you said, still watching him carefully. "Do you… want to talk about it?"

For a moment, Su looked like he might answer. But then, he stopped himself from doing so.

"It was just a dream. You should rest. I’ll be fine."

You weren’t sure if you believed that.

-----

By now, you had grown used to Su’s presence lingering around you, always nearby. Whether you liked it or not, he had woven himself into your routine.

But today, he was nowhere to be found.

At first, you ignored it. Maybe he had finally gotten the message and left. Maybe he was resting after the nightmare from last night. Maybe he realized there was no point in staying with you.

Yet, as the hours ticked by, an uneasy feeling settled in your chest.

So you went looking.

You were walking through the streets, half-expecting him to be waiting at some corner, when you overheard a group of kids running past, chatting excitedly.

"That weird guy is still there!"

"Yeah! He’s just staring at that tree like it’s gonna talk to him or something!"

You knew exactly who they were talking about.

Turning on your heel, you caught one of the kids’ attention. "Hey, where?"

They eagerly pointed toward a small park down the street.

And sure enough—when you arrived, Su was there.

He stood beneath a towering tree, his hair gently swaying in the breeze. From afar, he looked impossibly serene, his eyes half-lidded in thought as he inspected a handful of leaves between his fingers.

He hadn’t noticed you yet.

You exhaled before approaching. "Su."

"Mm?" He didn’t even flinch at your sudden presence. Instead, he turned his gaze toward you, calm as ever. "You found me."

"I shouldn’t have had to. Why here?"

He glanced back at the tree. "I just wished to observe."

You frowned, crossing your arms. "Observe what? A tree?"

"They’re different here." His fingers brushed against the leaves, "The veins, the way they curl at the edges… They resemble ones I’ve seen before, yet they’re not quite the same."

"You’re seriously getting lost in thought over leaves right now?"

Su finally turned to fully face you. "Is it strange?"

"Yes."

"You say that, yet you still came to find me."

"You should find somewhere to stay," you said. "Or your family. Someone who knows you."

"I have already decided. I will stay with you."

-----

If Su wanted to stay, then fine. But he needed to pull his weight—in a normal way. Not by cooking and cleaning like some overly devoted servant, but by actually getting a job and proving that he could function in society like a normal person.

Except…

It wasn’t going well.

Su had no background. No identification. No records.

That alone made every employer suspicious. Pair that with his eerily calm demeanor and strange, too-perfect speech patterns, and not a single place would take him in.

You glanced at Su as you both sat on a worn wooden bench in a quiet plaza. His posture was as straight as ever, hands folded neatly on his lap, looking completely unbothered by the failure of the day.

Meanwhile, you were exhausted.

"This is impossible," you groaned, rubbing your temples. "Not a single person trusts you."

"That is understandable," Su replied. "I do not belong to this era."

"You really need to stop saying things like that."

He merely offered a small smile. Then, after a pause, he tilted his head slightly and murmured, "We will succeed in the Veridion Tradepost."

"…What?"

"I saw it" he said, completely serious.

You stared at him, waiting for him to say he was joking. He did not.

"Right..."

"We will find an employer there. One who does not care for background checks. One who simply requires results."

You exhaled slowly. "Su, if you’re just guessing—"

"I am not guessing. You will see."

The place was as chaotic as you remembered—merchants haggling, travelers passing through, deals being made in hushed voices.

It wasn’t exactly the best place to find employment, but it wasn’t the worst either.

And, somehow, Su was right.

You weren’t sitting for more than five minutes before a man approached, eyeing Su with a shrewd look. "You. You look sharp. You good with numbers?"

Su nodded once. "Yes."

"Good. You start now. We’ll handle the pay later."

You stared in disbelief as the man turned and gestured for Su to follow. Just like that.

Your head snapped toward Su. "You—"

"Told you so."

"Don’t get smug about this."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

You huffed, crossing your arms. "You better not screw this up."

-----

The exhaustion from the day knocked you out as soon as you hit the bed.

You didn’t even remember dreaming.

Yet, something pulled you from sleep. A strange feeling, like you weren’t alone.

Your instincts kicked in immediately, your body tensing—then your eyes snapped open.

And there he was.

Su was sitting beside your bed, his silhouette barely illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the window.

"What is going on?"

"You were restless. I was making sure you were alright."

"…What?"

"You had a nightmare."

You frowned, trying to shake off the grogginess. "I don’t…" You trailed off, searching your mind for any scraps of a bad dream, but there was nothing. Your sleep had been deep.

"I don’t remember that"

"I saw it."

"Saw it?"

He nodded slightly. "Your breathing changed. You murmured something—"

"Su," you cut in, rubbing your temples. "Even if I did move in my sleep, that doesn’t mean it was a nightmare. Sometimes people just… shift around."

"No."

The certainty in his voice made you pause.

"Something disturbed you. And I was here to make sure it wouldn’t harm you."

"I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine. You should go back to sleep—you have work tomorrow."

"...As you wish."

----

Su had worked hard these past few weeks. You had to admit—even if he was suspiciously too perfect at everything he did—he earned his keep.

And today, he had done something surprising.

He invited you for a meal.

"It’s only proper," he had said earlier. "The first meal I pay for with my earnings should be shared with you."

It was oddly… sentimental. But you weren’t going to turn down free food.

Except when Su arrived at your place to pick you up—he found it empty.

And then he saw you. You had just finished a minor dungeon run, nothing serious—just an excuse to clear your head and let off some steam. You emerged from the ruins with a group of fellow adventurers, laughing lightly as you wiped off stray bits of monster slime.

And there was him. Orion. A fellow explorer, taller than most. He had a hand lazily slung over your shoulder, grinning as he leaned close.

Su did not like that. Not one bit.

"Oh, there you are!" you finally said when Su made his presence known, stepping forward from the crowd. "I was just about to head back—"

"Clearly," Su cut in smoothly, his gaze flickering to Orion, "Though it seems I wasn’t needed after all."

"What?"

Orion smirked, "Relax, pretty boy. We were just finishing up—"

"And you were unbearably close. I wonder, do you always hover like a parasite, or is this a special occasion?"

Orion let out a laugh, "Big words for someone who looks like he’d snap in half with a strong breeze."

"Words?" Su’s tone remained eerily calm. "Or simply facts? You—who couldn’t even match me in a million possibilities—think you stand a chance?"

The playful glint in Orion’s eyes shifted to anger. "Yeah?" he said, rolling his shoulders. "Want to try?"

Before you could stop them, Orion swung.

Su dodged effortlessly, his body shifting like he had already seen every possible angle of attack. Then, in a single fluid motion, he struck—his fingers pressing sharply against a nerve in Orion’s wrist, forcing him to drop his weapon with a startled curse.

"Predictable," Su murmured in disappointment, his grip tightening just enough to make Orion wince. "You lost the moment you decided to challenge me."

"Tch—!" Orion struggled, but it was useless. "Damn—what the hell are you?!"

"Someone you shouldn’t challenge."

"Alright, enough. We’ll talk later!" you called over your shoulder to Orion and the others while grabbing Su away.

You had tried everything—reasoning, scolding, even outright ignoring him—but nothing worked. So, in a final act of defiance, you decided on something drastic. You refused to eat.

It wasn’t like you were starving yourself entirely—you just made it clear that you wouldn’t eat any food he made, nor would you accept anything from him until he stopped his nonsense.

At first, he didn’t take you seriously. Then, by the second day, you could see the frustration seeping into his usually calm features.

"This is foolish," he finally admitted, watching you push away yet another meal. "I yield. Eat."

You leaned back, crossing your arms. "And?"

"And I will not be… unreasonable."

You gave a firm nod, finally picking up a piece of food. "See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

Su didn’t reply.

Instead, he merely watched you eat.

----

The Abyssal Maw was considered a mid-tier dungeon. Dangerous, but nothing a well-prepared team couldn’t handle.

That’s what they thought.

That’s what they all thought.

When the party descended into the ruins, there were no immediate threats. The air was damp, thick with the scent of moss and old stone. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting elongated shadows. The deeper they ventured, the quieter it became, as if the dungeon itself was swallowing sound.

Then, one by one—people vanished.

"Where’s Orion?"

"He was just here!"

"Spread out! We can’t lose anyone else—! Velan? VELAN?"

But those who went searching never returned.

Some would hear a whisper, a familiar voice calling from just around the corner. They would step toward it, convinced it was a teammate—only for the world around them to shift.

They were no longer in the dungeon.

Instead, they found themselves in a dream.

Some stood in warm sunlight, reliving their happiest moments. Others found themselves in places they had long forgotten—childhood homes, old battlefields, lost memories crafted with perfect, vivid detail.

The ones who realized it wasn’t real—who tried to break free—were met with something else entirely.

They saw the walls of their dream world crack, and through those fractures, a pair of eyes watched them from the abyss.

Then—blackness.

They never woke up again.

Not everyone was taken into the dream world.

Some were left behind.

And for them, the dungeon was no longer just a dungeon. It became a graveyard.

A slow, rhythmic tap of something wet hitting stone.

The first corpse was discovered impaled against the dungeon wall—suspended unnaturally, as if something had arranged it on purpose. His eyes were missing. His face was frozen in silent horror.

The second was found curled in a corner, clutching his own throat—his own nails having ripped through his flesh as if trying to claw something out of his body.

The third was alive when they found him.

"It’s here," he whispered, trembling violently. "It’s still watching."

"What? What’s watching?!"

He turned his head, staring at them with his own reflection.

His face had no features. Only a smooth, mirror-like surface that showed nothing but their horrified expressions looking back.

Then, he laughed, right before his body collapsed into nothing but black mist.

By the time the last few adventurers reached the exit, they were no longer warriors. They were survivors.

They didn’t know what had happened.

They didn’t know what had killed their comrades.

All they knew was that something had hunted them.

When you returned home, you found Su collapsed at your doorstep.

His breath was shallow. His clothes were torn, stained with dirt and streaks of what looked like blood. His usually pristine hair was disheveled, and his fingers twitched weakly as if he had barely made it back.

"Su—!" You rushed forward, kneeling beside him. "What happened?!"

His lashes fluttered as he barely opened his eyes. "Ah… You’re here…" His voice was hoarse, "I… I tried to make it back sooner…"

You lifted him up, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. "Hold on, I’m taking you for treatment."

"I apologize," he murmured, his breath warm against your neck as you supported him. "For making you worry."

You shook your head, dismissing the thought. "Just focus on staying awake, alright?"

And though his body trembled against yours—though he played the role of the injured victim so perfectly—

There was one thing you didn’t see.

The faintest, smallest smile on his lips.

---

The night was silent.

Not a single trace of wind. No footsteps in the empty streets. Only the soft glow of the moon illuminating the world beneath it.

A figure walked through the darkened city with precise, unhurried steps. His clothes were pristine once more, his earlier “injuries” long gone as if they had never existed.

Because he had never been weak to begin with.

His destination stood ahead—the Grand Archives Museum.

The place where everything began.

The place where the egg had once rested.

And the place that could no longer be allowed to exist.

Su moved like a shadow, slipping past the outer guards undetected.

Security was pitifully simple. Locked doors meant nothing. Magical barriers had gaps he could exploit. And the few night patrols? They never even saw him.

He entered the halls one last time.

His gaze swept across the exhibits—ancient artifacts, forgotten relics. Useless things. Things that had no meaning except for one.

His fingers traced the empty pedestal where the egg had once been displayed.

Everything had gone perfectly.

But just to be certain, just to be sure—

It had to be erased.

He took a small vial from his sleeve, tilting it between his fingers. The liquid inside shimmered unnaturally. Su let the liquid drip onto the floor, the walls, the displays. He walked through the museum painting destruction itself with each precise step.

He set it alight.

The fire bloomed without sound. No crackling, no roaring flames—just a silent, hungry inferno that devoured everything without mercy.

By the time the alarms blared, the flames had already swallowed the heart of the museum. By the time the first people arrived—it was too late.

The Grand Archives were reduced to ash.

Far from the burning ruins, he sat in a quiet, secluded space—his sanctuary of thought.

Visions unfolded before him.

Infinite possibilities. Countless paths.

But nothing. No immediate threats. No unforeseen obstacles. No future where you left him.

It was exactly as it should be.

Everything was falling into place.

#yandere x reader #yandere #su x reader #su honkai #honkai impact x reader #honkai impact 3rd #honkai impact su #heliosluckyegg

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lazyjellyfish300 · 8 days ago

Text

𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒅𝒂𝒚 4 ~𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒚

🐚scarred prince!nanami kento x fem mermaid princess!reader

🐚 synopsis: part 1~based on The Little Mermaid, you're a mermaid princess from the kingdom of Kuantica, adopted daughter of King Yaga, ruler of the sea, in love with Danish Prince Kento Nanami, hoping for the day you can be part of his world when the sea witch, Mei Mei, grants you your wish. 💕

🐚part 1 | part 2 (ending)|

🐚words 4.3k

🐚cw: NO SMUT just FLUFF, crack, humor, cursing, angst, action violence, injuries, scarred Nanami Kento, tonsss of pining, yearning, jealousy, insecurity, villain death (This is an AU so some characters might be OOC especially Hiromi I'm so sorry), Danish culture references (pls correct me if I botched them ☠️) and a happy fairytale ending. 💕

🐚a/n: sorry for the late submission! My day 4 entry for Nanami week for the SFW prompt: beach day. Part 2 will be posted tomorrow. @nanamiweek

THIS IS NOT MY IDEA AND BASED ON THE LITTLE MERMAID SO ALL CREDIT TO THE OWNERS. this is just me being self indulgent and free. enjoy 💕 sparkle dividers by @/anitalenia and bubbles dividers by @/saradika-graphics. Shout out to @pmpmyread for writing alongside me basically nonstop for the past 48 hours, more like past week in preparation for this event.☠️☠️ Thank you for your encouragement💕 & to @princesa-querida for your support and friendship as always.💕💕

🐚 my nanami week masterlist

Adventure sweeps the brilliant horizon of boundless, blue ocean.

The ship coasts a ways out as seabreeze ripples through the waves, causing the vessel to bob up and down.

Kento Nanami first, and heir to the Danish throne second, sits on the sundeck, whittling a wooden flute with a knife with a chaotic pattern on the handle, one of his subtle ways of rebellion to all the eyes on him waiting impatiently for him to marry.

He wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of settling. But he would do so on his own time, on his own merits, and he certainly wouldn't choose just anyone. He didn't yearn, either, but the sea was the one exception.

It was an unspoken force drawing him to its depths, forged ever since he could walk, almost as though the true love that everyone insisted imposing on him laid beneath its turquoise surface.

His ship crew is lively today as they work, relishing the bout of pleasant weather. All except for his royal assistant, Ijichi Kiyotaka, who's currently bent over the side of the boat.

Kento tries to act like Ijichi's illness isn't just a little bit amusing, given his insistence on being here under the guise of duty, when really he just wanted an excuse to spy on Kento's whereabouts.

Just to his left, he can hear the sailors chattering about the legends of merfolk.

"I'm telling ya, this weather be fortuitous only because of the king of the merfolk. Be wary of what lurks below, says I. Lest ye anger him, he'll unleash the true powers of the ocean on us and sink us to the depths."

"The sea must be getting to his head. What bunch of hogwash." Ijichi sputters, coughing into his handkerchief. "Your majesty, pay him no heed."

Kento shakes his head as well. While he wasn't superstitious, he was...careful. He operated with a healthy dose of respect rooted in fear of the sea.

"Aye? Then perhaps ye want to be the first to test that theory?"

"Alright, that's enough." Kento says tiredly as the group of sailors begins to jokingly hoist Ijichi in the air while he shrieked in horror, dangling him over the starboard side until they finally put him down.

----

Hundreds of feet below the surface lies a secret underwater passage, eventually leading to the mystical thriving kingdom of Kuantica, a place that remained entirely the whispers of legends to the humans above it.

Multicolored coral and underwater flowers adorn the sea bottom, stretching to grant life to everywhere it touches in flourishing blossoms. The large stalks of seaweed loomed overhead just like trees in the world of dry land above, until the shapes of fins belonging to the mythical merfolk finally emerge from the shadows.

It is a day unlike any other in the lively kingdom.

The fish and merfolk alike seem to be on a mission, buzzing with anticipation. Schools of rainbow colored scales swim quickly towards golden architecture until a brilliant castle is revealed.

The palace is tucked deep, deep in the forest of coral and the very heart of the secret underwater kingdom where crowds have already gathered in a grand coliseum to witness an event in celebration of their most respected ruler.

Finally, the lights dim, and the most important guest enters.

"Presenting his royal highness, King Masamichi!"

King Masamichi Yaga rides in on a chariot, pulled by a pod of large dolphins. The audience of loyal subjects: fish, sea mammals, crustaceans, and merfolk alike break into applause as the mighty king took his seat.

"And the royal composer, Hiromi Higuruma!"

A small red crab wearing a suit scuttles onto the stage with a deep bow towards his adoring fans. His under eye baggage disguises the fact that he's both nervous and ecstatic for his grand symphony that's been several months in the making.

"Hiromi." King Yaga greets as the crab lands at his feet. "I look forward to seeing what you have prepared today, particularly for my youngest."

"Yes, your majesty." Hiromi manages to reply with artificial enthusiasm. "She has the most lovely voice in all of the Atlantic."

"...if she'd even show up to rehearsal once in a while..." Hiromi mutters under his breath as he takes the stand.

Hiromi taps his large baton on the seashell scaffold next to him three times before the band begins to play.

Angelic voices ring in harmony and five mermaids appear out of large seashells on the stage, sounding off in melodic unison until the grand finale approaches.

The entire audience gasps in shock and confusion at the empty seashell where you were supposed to make your dramatic entrance. Hiromi cowers back in his shell as Masamichi seethes in anger.

"Find her, now!!!!!"

---

In greater depths of the seafloor where light no longer touches is a graveyard of shipwrecks, specifically all the ones your adopted father forbade you from entering.

Yuji, your best friend and a flounder fish with fuschia and scarlet scales, does his best to keep up with you.

"Hey, slow down!" Yuji huffs and puffs even though he's surrounded by water.

He hears a creak and a groan inside the large shipwreck, almost like a large shadow is lurking outside the windows, and not because of the extensive depths.

"Did you hear that?"

You're completely enthralled with other things, like the treasure trove of trinkets lining the sunken halls of the ship.

Your fingers tingled as you placed one after another in your bag. Necklaces, (you had plenty of those) paintings... (This ship had a pretty fine collection but all styles you'd already seen before).

That's when you see it.

"Oh, Yuji! Have you ever seen anything like it?" You take the small camera into your hand, holding it upside down.

"Y-yeah. It's wonderful, amazing. Um, should we go??" Yuji jumps at another loud groan coming from the underside of the ship.

"Yuji, we just got here!"

"But there's sharks in here!"

"Yuji, we've been here before. There's no sharks."

A large great white stalks you two in the windows behind you. Yuji quivers as the room suddenly goes dark.

"Just a couple more." You chime, stuffing some teacups and fancy chopsticks into your bag.

The shark slams into the ship, shattering the stained glass window.

"SHARK, SHARK! AHHHHH!!!!"

Yuji screams and swims like crazy into your arms, shoving you both out of the way as the shark comes barreling into the pillars where you were.

Yuji screams bloody murder as you tuck him under your arm and swim as fast as you can out of there.

The shark chomps at the wood, snapping his jaws and smashing into the shipwreck.

"SHIT!!!!! AHHHH HELP!!" Yuji continues to yell as the shark pursues you outside of the shipwreck, bobbing and weaving past the sunken obstacles.

You get an idea and swim directly through a porthole in a nearby shipwreck, the shark is hot on your tail fins until he swims through and gets stuck, sneering in disdain.

"Serves you right!" Yuji gloats, flipping him off with one of his fins, screaming again when the shark snaps its large teeth at him.

"Oh, Yuji." You sigh and giggle as you both swim away towards the surface with all fins and body parts intact.

-----

Panda, the seagull, is preening his feathers, working on his tan in the sun on the empty beach.

He gets his name from his black and white markings around his eyes similar to the large bear creatures that live on land. (You've never seen them, but you trust his judgement)

"Whoaaa! Look what we have here!" Panda exclaims as you and Yuji approach from the tides with a new bag of loot for him to identify.

"Hi Panda!" You say cheerfully as though you and Yuji weren't almost fish sticks to a great white shark moments earlier. "Need your help."

"You've come to the right place." Panda answers, poking his beak inside your bag. "Let's see what you got... ooh!"

First up is a chopstick.

"Whoa! You shouldn't have!" Panda takes the chopstick in his beak and rolls his head back, using it to scratch his feathers. "The best backscratcher this side of the Atlantic. You mind if I borrow this?"

"Go ahead." You hum, watching him in amazement.

"Much obliged. You didn't bring any food, did ya?"

"Sorry, the ship we were at was fresh out." Yuji replies.

"Bummer."

Panda pulls out a digital camera. "Ah, I remember these. We had these all the time when I lived in California. This here's what they call a shutterdoodle." He props up the camera, hitting the button with one of his talons until it makes a wet clicking noise.

"The humans use these babies to make music."

Music??

"Oh noooo the concert!!" You groan, feeling a sense of dread. You shove everything back into your bag and start scrambling away from the beach. "My dad's gonna kill us!"

"Us?" Yuji asks with a shocked expression.

"Bye Panda!"

"Take care, Miss! Hey, bring me a snack next time!"

"Will do!"

-----

You and Yuji high tail it back as quickly as you can, making a quick stop at your lair to stow your new treasures.

"We've had way too many close calls for one day." Yuji huffs, watching you as you sort your trinkets.

You smile as you pass by the large painting, the crowning jewel in the center before you stare longingly at its gorgeous subject.

You came upon it randomly one day after swimming near the neighboring kingdom. You don't know who he is, but staying without a name was the least of your worries.

Prince Kento stares back from his official portrait, clad in a traditional Faroese coat and white shirt. He's clean shaven with a sharp jaw, faintest crows feet around his eyes you wouldn't have guessed would show in someone with a naturally stoic disposition as his, but the warmth in his eyes suggests that a softer side of him very much existed, only shown to a very select few.

You would give up absolutely anything to be one of them.

"I still don't know why you have a picture of that guy." Yuji crosses his fins as he squints his eyes at the beautiful blonde man. "He looks boring."

"Yuji!"

"What? He's just sitting there. Doesn't smile, nothin."

"You don't know him, Yuji."

"Well, neither do you." Yuji mumbles but he softens as he sees your tender expression.

Okay, your fake boyfriend might be dryer than flour, but at least he makes you happy.

"Have you ever seen anyone so beautiful?" You murmur, gazing into his eyes. "His eyes are so brown, soft and golden."

"Yeah. He's real nice. Shouldn't we get back?"

You sigh, knowing Yuji's right. Sometimes you were the one who got yourself into trouble more often than you'd like to admit.

"See you soon." You murmur to your mystery prince, gazing longingly into his eyes once more before you swim to catch up with Yuji.

-----

Behind the shadows, two imposters lurk from afar, monitoring the situation closely.

The dark eels, Jogo and Mahito, slither along the ocean floor gleefully, eager to report on their latest findings of the naive mermaid princess to their vengeful mistress who awaited in exile amongst the depths that sunlight couldn't reach.

------

"I just don't know what I'm going to do with you." Yaga relents on his throne. "Once again, you're off shirking your responsibilities, failing your duties as part of the royal court's symphony, making me look like a laughing stock."

"Absolute humiliation!" Hiromi coughs next to him as he adjusts his tie, secretly pleased with Masamichi's scolding. Rightfully deserved, in his mind.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Your majesty, it's not her fault!" Yuji cuts in. "We were just swimming in the shallows, right? And then all of a sudden there was a shark, so we had to get out of there. But then there was a seagull-"

"Seagull?"

"Ooop-" Yuji shuts his mouth and swims behind your back in fear.

"Seagull. You went up to the surface again, didn't you? Didn't you, young lady?!"

"I'm an adult, I'm not a child!"

"You live in my kingdom, underneath my roof. "Yaga furrows his brow. "When I adopted you, I made a promise to keep you safe. And as you got older, I laid down very simple rules that I expect to be obeyed, and clearly, you haven't learned from them. Humans are dangerous fish eaters that kill merfolk like you and me."

"But Dad, I-"

"No buts. I'm not to hear of you going to the surface ever again. Is that clear?"

You swim away in tears and from that moment on, Yaga secretly assigns Hiromi to keep an eye on you.

-----

"I was made to compose life changing symphonies, not babysit other people's kids." Hiromi laments as he crawls along the ocean floor, wringing his claws.

He notices you and Yuji sneaking away into the shadows, and immediately suspects that it's for nefarious reasons.

"What is that girl up to?" Hiromi grumbles and his stomach twists in knots knowing that his new job as your guardian is going to be much more than he bargained for.

-----

"He just doesn't understand. How could a world that creates such beautiful things be bad?"

Every moment that you spent watching and scavenging after the humans, you observed that they were prone to folly, yes, but so were merfolk.

You knew that humans ate fish and while that fact bothered you in the back of your mind, you figured: doesn't everyone need to eat? You couldn't simply judge them morally based on the cycles of nature.

Being adopted also had something to do with it. Your whole life you yearned for a world that you were not born into, yet held onto that connection as though it was fate for you to wish to be a part of it.

You let silent tears fall as you stared at Kento's portrait. Despite what your father might say, the dealings of your heart were something none of them could touch.

For as long as you had Kento and your cave of treasures, they could tether you to the sea bottom all they wanted, but your dreams would still forever extend to that world up above.

*CLANG* *CRASH*

Hiromi trips and falls into a basket of makeup products, getting his little legs caught in a pearl necklace.

"Hiromi!"

"Pbbbtttttt!!" Hiromi is pissed off with his face all covered in women's eyeshadow.

"Young lady, if your father knew about this place he'd-"

"You're not gonna tell him are you??" Yuji asks nervously.

"Please Hiromi!! Don't tell father, he'll never understand. You don't know how long I've worked to collect all these things, they mean the world to me!"

Hiromi softens a little bit at your tearful expression and sighs. He's still not having it, but his plans to run and tell your father can wait.

"Your majesty, let's go. Let me escort you home, make you a seaweed salad, and pretend like this never happened."

Hiromi leads you with one of his claws outside the hideaway, beginning to head back towards Kuantica.

Suddenly, a ship's bottom casts a shadow over the seafloor. Human vessels sailed all the time though here, but something in your heart tells you this one was unlike any other.

"Miss?" Hiromi asks, realizing you and Yuji aren't following him anymore. A pit appears in his stomach when he sees both of you quickly and eagerly swimming towards it.

"Your highness!!!"

Oh shit.

Hiromi knows Yaga is going to turn him into crab meat, already failing as your guardian and it hadn't even been two hours as he does his best to swim after you.

----

It's nighttime above the surface. The sky is drowned in indigo with a pale moon looking over the oceanic horizon, almost like a perfect reflection of the sky above except for all the shimmering stars.

You duck back into the security of the water when the ship passes, only to discover it appears the entire deck is alight with celebrations.

The ship is buzzing with song and dance from sailors, subjects, and guests alike.

The crew is dressed in their royal uniforms while others are clad in evening gowns and coats in some of the finest and most exquisite fabrics you'd ever seen.

It looks to be a celebration. You recognize the vibe from several of the customs of your own kingdom. Many beautiful ladies and handsome gentleman leading them on their arms as they danced, drank, and ate.

You watch the scene from a nearby porthole keeping silent vigil, marveling over the unbelievable scene, that silent pull of longing to be among them.

You think of your own prince, of Kento Nanami.

To be any other human girl in a big ball gown, locking eyes with him across the room whose gaze doesn't depart you all evening, stealing just your name before taking you away to the gardens and trading secrets and declarations of love like whispers by moonlight until you both plan to run away together.

A Broholmer (Danish Mastiff) with floppy ears speeds across the deck, chasing after a turkey leg some of the attendees were so kind to gift him.

"Rug!" (Pronounced like Roog, short for Rugbrød). The voice belonging to it is commanding and rich and you can't help but turn your attention to the direction it's coming from.

The man of your dreams is standing on deck.

Sweeping blonde hair tousled by the wind of the sea he loved so much. He's shed his formal Faroese coat, letting the warm maritime air wash over his skin that was tanned from the time he spent in the sun, stray freckles blooming here and there on his chest and shoulders as the evidence.

And those eyes, those beautiful melty brown eyes with a hue you'd recognize in a crowd of thousands could lock you in the deepest reverie with no way out but the soothing tone of his voice, calling you with such care like you were already important to him.

"Good boy. Nope, that's enough for one night. Don't give me that. You've had three." Kento sternly addresses his furry friend.

Rug pulls his signature puppy dog look that he knows will work on Kento without fail.

"Alright, alright. One more." Kento sighs and Rug jumps in delight as he makes off with his successful haul for the other side of the deck.

"Hey!" *whistle* Rug, come away from there."

You go wide eyed and almost fall off the side of the ship when Rug bolts for where you're hiding, sniffing with a curious nose. You hold your breath, even though you don't have to, praying that the dog won't give away your position.

"Quite the celebration, eh?" Ijichi inadvertently saves the day and Rug decides to focus on him instead, sniffing for any trace of treats in his pockets.

"It's lovely." Kento states curtly, doing his best to be polite while also not trying to allude that he's not particularly enjoying this birthday party that he didn't even want to have. "Thank you for organizing it."

"I know birthday celebrations were never quite your favorite." Ijichi starts.

Kento doesn't try to hold back the immediate exhaustion that paints his expression, knowing Ijichi was going to bring up the marriage ordeal again.

"I know what you're going to say, Ijichi, and I'm well aware."

"The people need a ruler."

"They have one." Kento replies calmly. "But a ruler with a partner isn't necessary."

"But-"

"I know you're disappointed I didn't fall for the duchess. But the more you set up these....meetings, the less interested I'll become."

Your ears perk up at this news. Immediately you're jealous of this mystery duchess. Who are you kidding? This guy doesn't even know you exist, or that you've been harboring a sunken portrait of him for months for that matter.

"If love is out there. It will find me." Kento looks towards the sea and it feels like a swell to your chest.

I'm right here, Kento... I've been waiting for you for so long...

"It will come when it's meant to. Unexpectedly, sort of like..."

"A hurricane!!!"

Kento and Ijichi whip around at the sailor's warning. Sure enough, the stars have become obscured by dark clouds that descend on the ship like an omen. The wind picks up, and the boat begins to rock more relentlessly.

"To stations!!!"

The music stops and the festivities come to an abrupt end.

It's not long before waves almost as big as the side of the ship begin to beat it relentlessly into the tides that loved to claim unfortunate vessels just like it back to its treacherous depths.

You leap off the side of the boat, back into the water with Yuji and Hiromi.

"There you are!!! We've got to get out of here, princess!" Hiromi uses his claws to pull on your tail fin with all his might.

"No! He needs me!"

"Your majesty!! WAIT!" Hiromi groans as you swim off.

The ship has erupted into flames, wood splinters with every violent crash of the waves against the weakening structure of the vessel.

Rowboats with the crew and passengers begin to paddle away from the impending wreck, and luckily Prince Kento is on one of them.

"RUG!!" Kento calls for his dog, realizing he's still stuck on board.

Without even a second thought, Kento jumps onto the rowboat closest to the ship, using it to leap back onboard.

"Your highness, please!!!" Ijichi and the survivors look on in horror as Kento charges directly into the wildfire to save his pet.

Kento emerges, badly burned and weak but doesn't collapse until he throws Rug overboard, where a nearby rowboat pulls him to safety.

At that moment, the ship practically explodes as all of the scaffolds collapse, splitting it in half.

You dive into the heart of the wreckage, searching wildly for your beloved amidst the rubble, fearing the worst. You find him clinging to a piece of debris, before all his strength gives out and he slips under.

You speed after him, grabbing him around the shoulders. He's heavier than you thought, but the pure adrenaline allows you to pull him to safety, swimming frantically for the closest beach you can think of.

-----

The rain has subsided, the sea slowly calms its anger as the waves churn less incessantly. Panda heard your cry for help as you pulled Kento to shore, flying to your rescue.

Now you, Hiromi, and Yuji watch with anxious hearts as Panda performs his examination, waiting for a diagnosis.

Kento is in pretty rough shape. The entire left side of his body is badly burned, and he's missing his left eye.

You quickly scoot back to the water, gathering seaweed and grinding it into a medicinal balm that you learned as a young mermaid could soothe injuries. You've never tested it on a human, however.

While Panda performs chest compressions and checks for a pulse, you gently peel back his shirt and apply the seaweed balm, layering it with more seaweed on top as a bandage.

The magic elixir works quickly, healing and seeping into his skin, making the skin more pink and scarred versus the bloody red it was moments before.

You try to ignore the way his lean muscles twitch softly in his subconscious, the rhythm of the rise and fall of his chest while he's at peace despite his injuries, his vitality. Living, breathing, here...yours.

"He's so beautiful..." You murmur, and the statement holds absolutely true, even with his dramatic physical changes. Maybe even more so, knowing the selfless way he earned them.

It gave you more insight into how incredible of a man he really was, his true beauty extended even deeper than his face.

But still, your heart hurts as you imagine what his reaction might be when he awakens, wishing you could stay to comfort him.

You curse yourself when you remember your mermaid tail. The fact that you were from completely separate worlds didn't compute this entire time you're here with him, holding him.

"I don't know, missy..." Panda shakes his head at his first medical patient who might already be a lost cause.

"You're doing it wrong." Hiromi huffs and jumps on Kento's chest, pushing down on his sternum with his large claws with all the strength in his little body.

Kento coughs up a bunch of saltwater and begins to awake.

"Guys! Look!"

The sun begins to glimmer in the distance as it breaches past the receding clouds. The hazy state between sleep and awake makes Kento feel like he's in something much more pleasant than a dream. The seaweed balm magically absolves him of any pain.

His eye opens, ever so slowly until the faint visage of an angel stares back at him, glow of the sun at your back as though it was bending to hear the sweet song pouring from your lips.

A dog barks in the distance, and the angel looks up in alarm. Before Kento can seize back any words you stole from him, you disappear into the sanctity of the tides, Yuji and Hiromi already at your side.

Ijichi and some of the sailors find Kento, exhaling a sigh of relief.

"Your highness!!!"

They gasp in alarm at his physical state, which is miraculously almost healed and not bleeding, leaving a forest of pink scars and a hollow for his missing eye.

"We must get him to the palace, immediately." Ijichi helps steady Kento on his shoulders while another sailor helps with the other side.

"Ijichi..." Kento murmurs.

"Yes, sire. I'm here, we're here."

"Where is she?" Kento almost falls again as he tries to look out at the ocean where he swears he saw you disappear into.

"Who, Kento?"

"The most gorgeous voice I've ever heard..."

"Alright. Erm. Let's get you inside, your majesty..."

You watch Kento walk away with his life he barely scraped by thanks to your help, vowing to him, along with his rescue, that somehow you'd find a way back to him.

Part 2 🐚💕

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insignificant457 · 1 year ago

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There is a nebulous jordie lives au which lives entirely in my head in which jordie recovers from the plague while Kaz is still sick. He gets up to find them food and water only to return and discover Kaz is nowhere to be found. Still recovering from the fever, he searches the barrel for days before he finally sees Kaz wandering down the staves in a sort of fugue state, soaked to the bone with a haunted look in his eyes.

Kaz won’t tell him what happened, but jordie knows it’s bad because his baby brother flinches every time he touches him, and soon enough he’s started wearing gloves, even in the height of summer.

Soon, they discover kazs gift for cards, and it keeps them fed and clothed, if not much else. Kaz is angry at jordie for losing the money, refuses to let him make any decisions. Jordie is beholden to his angry traumatized little brother because he can’t deny that he failed them the first time around.

Kaz is offered a place in his pick of the gangs, but the only one willing to take both him and his tag along older brother is the dregs. Jordie dies a little bit inside when they join up, when they take the tattoo side by side, but he’s not sure they’ll survive another winter on the streets.

And the plot of SoC generally goes on from there. Jordie tags along on the ice court, he and Jesper test kazs patience at every turn, he’s constantly offering unsolicited annoying older brother advice about Inej.

This lends itself to a really interesting exploration of Kaz and jordies relationship, what holds brothers together in the face of incredible trauma, the skewed power dynamic of Kaz becoming the breadwinner for them both at the age of nine, etc etc. But mostly, this au is a vessel for the sailing of the ultimate crack ship, which is of course, jordie/alys Van Eck.

#grishaverse #six of crows #jordie rietveld #kaz brekker #sorry. but I must speak my truth.#idk I’m hugely compelled by the idea of barrel boy jordie and sheltered housewife alys falling madly in love.#Kaz is trying to scheme them out of this whole mess and jordies like hey. do you think it would be okay to kidnap her again. like morally.#it’s just that I’ve thought of some really good jokes that I think she’d like. and Kaz (who has had negative sleep) just glares at him #also Kaz becoming uncle Kaz to Van Ecks new heir? truly the comeuppance Van Eck deserves #also yeah obviously the kaz jordie angst of this au compels me but make no mistake. it’s about jordie/alys #again. sorry.

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thetidesthatturn · 2 months ago

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Tides of Fire and Gold

Pairing: Pirate OT8, Captain Kim Hongjoong x freader

Warnings: violence, graphic descriptions, eventual sexual content/references, abuse, alcohol use - list is not exhaustive, read at own risk

18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI

This is a work of fiction and all characters are not based on reality

Masterlist

CHAPTER TWO >>

CHAPTER ONE - THE CAPTURE

The night blazes, storm-churned and ghastly, sea roiling with fury as The Halcyon closes in on it’s target under the cover of darkness. The unforgiving waves are perilous, a far cry from the ideal state for a battle such as this would be. Lightning cracks across the sky, revealing the gleam of cutlasses and the shadows of pirates swinging from ropes onto the enemy deck. The clash is brutal and swift—Captain Hongjoong fights like a man possessed, his movements a dance of deadly precision.

Below deck, you crouch behind crates of stolen gunpowder, clutching a dagger that feels far too light in your trembling hands. This is your first real battle, a true test as a pirate-in-training under the banner of your clan, the Serpent Fang.

The Serpent Fang are feared across the seven seas for their ability to strike without warning or mercy, vanishing without a trace but leaving nothing but chaos and ruin in their wake. Less of a crew and more a cult, bound by ancient oaths and led by a secretive, cruel high Captain known only as The Viper. No one has ever seen their face; rumour has it not even the crew aboard their vessel knows the true identity of the cold being behind the veil of darkness. The rivalry between the crew of the Halcyon and the Serpent Fang runs deep, fuelled by betrayal and a shared history that neither side dares speak aloud.

The metallic scent of blood fills the air, marring every sense. A cold sweat seeps across your body, the shrieks of comrades nearby chilling your very core. You begin to strategise, your mind racing through your memory of the ship, with it’s maze of winding corridors. You still your breath, it’s now or never. Just as you begin to propel yourself forward, your mentor lands in front of you, a gash spanning the width of their throat, spurting mercilessly.

“Run”

You can only watch in horror as the command comes out, gurgled as fresh blood spills from their lips.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

Smoke coils thick in the air below deck, lit in flashes by the licks of fire that is steadily engulfing the ship. The creak of scorched wood and the distant clash of steel echo like a dirge. Mingi, the crew’s Master Gunner, moves through the chaos with the strange calm of someone born for it, broad-shouldered, soot-smeared, and carrying the scent of gunpowder like a second skin. His boots crunch over shattered glass and charred rope as he scans the dim hold.

Then – the faintest of movement, so small that only someone with highly trained ears could pick up on.

His eyes flick to a stack of crates, one just slightly out of line. He cocks his head, one hand already lowering to the flintlock at his hip, but he doesn’t draw. Instead, he takes a step closer, his voice low and terrifyingly calm.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” he muses, kneeling beside the crates.

A flash of silver – quick as a blink. You lunge from the shadows, dagger clutched tight, swinging it with all the desperation of someone who knows they’ve already lost.

Mingi doesn’t flinch. He catches your wrist mid-strike, strong fingers closing around it like an iron shackle. His other hand pins your shoulder back, forcing you down. His grin flickers in the firelight, a cat that’s caught a mouse.

“Well, damn,” he says with a low laugh. “Didn’t think they trained pups to bite like that.”

You snarl, spitting in his face, eyes blazing despite the ash streaking your features. Mingi let’s out a bitter laugh, then narrows his eyes. His grip on your hand tightens as he yanks it back, twisting until you’re sure he’s dislocated your elbow. The pain sears through your body, but you’ll be damned if you show him a whisper of weakness.

“Might’ve offered you a quick and painless death, but you’ve just bought yourself a one-way ticket to fucking hell, you little bit—”

“I see I’m interrupting you playing with your prey, Mingi.”

From the smoke, a man appears. It’s as if the sea itself carved him out of shadow and fire. He’s dressed similarly to the man currently twisting your arm out of it’s socket, but the longline tailored black coat with it’s silver embroidery tells you who you are now looking at, the captain. Beneath his coat, he’s clad in a dark crimson waistcoat, layered on top of a black linen shirt with open lacing at the collar, revealing glimpses of inked symbols. A wide leather belt wraps his waist, lined with various daggers, and a worn, golden compass, bearing some kind of emblem carved intricately into it’s casing. His trousers are fitted, tucked into polished boots. His salt and wind tousled hair – half ebony, half ivory, is clipped at the sides and left longer on top.

Looking you up and down with sharp, calculating eyes, he lets out a short puff of air.

“Bring her,” his voice rings out, cold, and decisive.

Mingi smirks, retrieving a pair of steel cuffs from his belt, his grip rough as he yanks your hands behind your back. “Aye, Captain.”

The captain snaps his leather-bound fingers. “I will communicate to the crew, find Jongho and San, take her to the brig. I will be expecting a report from Seonghwa within the hour, once our guest has settled in her quarters, proceed to the cabin for de-brief.”

Defeat settles in your bones, but one thing you know for sure – they may have won this round, but you would not be going down without a fight.

As the storm finally breaks and the defeated ship burns in the distance, you are locked in the brig below decks. Two men had joined Mingi once you had boarded their ship, one taller than the other, but neither reaching the stature of your captor. You had made a mental note to catalogue their names, absorbing every facet of information they had given since your capture. You kept your eyes sharpened, noting every detail of your surroundings as you moved through the levels of the vessel.

“Captains orders are to keep her alive, for now.” Mingi addressed the two other men who you had come to know as San and Jongho, the crew’s Master-at-Arms and Helmsman. They reached the brig, unlocking a holding cell and throwing you inside. As you hit the floor, a bitter laugh bubbled up from your chest, leaving all eyes on you.

“And what, exactly, is so funny?” Mingi raised an eyebrow, his expression cold.

“You’re fucked.” You spit, teeth gritted.

The three men erupt into vicious snarls of laughter, the sound of the deepest pits of hell.

Mingi steps towards you, his hand whipping out to deliver a bone-shattering blow to your face. The sheer force behind it sends your vision spiralling into darkness, the last thing your senses pick up on before you hit the floor is the sound of a voice, rattling like rust-bitten chains in your ears.

“You must be mistaken sweetheart, for it is you who is fucked.”

Tucked near the stern of The Halcyon, The War Cabin serves as both a strategy room and a sanctum. Dimly lit by lanterns swinging with the rhythm of the sea, the room is lined with old maps, some inked in languages long dead, others marked with blood-red symbols and routes known only to the captain and his most trusted. A massive, scarred oak table dominates the centre, its surface carved with navigational charts, battle plans, and notes from past raids.

Shelves bristle with nautical instruments, glass jars of strange artefacts, and ledgers bound in cracked leather. A compass rose is etched into the floor beneath the table—a reminder that every decision made here changes the course of someone’s fate.

Only the senior crew is permitted in The War Cabin, and only when summoned. It is not just a place of strategy – it is where oaths are made, punishments are decided, and secrets too dangerous for the open sea are spoken aloud.

Sat at the head of the table, Captain Hongjoong confers with his First Mate and Quartermaster, receiving a thorough report of the raid completed.

Seonghwa stands at the edge of the table, posture rigid, every word clipped and precise. A line of soot runs along his jaw, but his uniform remains immaculate.

“Captain. Crew accounted for – no casualties, but we have minor wounded. Our efforts prove successful, executing the breach cleanly by boarding before the enemy had time to fully man the upper deck.”

He gestures to the weathered map at the centre of the table, red ink marking the path of the Halcyon, curving like a predator around the flank of the rival vessel.

“We struck port side under cover of the storm. Gunner Mingi’s barrage disabled their aft cannon array within the first volley. San led the charge over the rail with minimal resistance until we reached below deck.”

He pauses, glancing at the captain, then down at the smaller scroll in his hand.

“Cargo hold yielded standard loot: iron, silks, minor trade spices. But no gold. No sign of the Isle’s seal, either.”

He slides over a parchment listing the inventory. At the bottom, one line has been hastily added: ‘Prisoner – female, approx. 18-21. Serpent Fang insignia. Combat capable.’

“The most interesting find was her.”

Seonghwa’s eyes flick to Hongjoong. Not judgmental – just watchful.

“She was not listed on the manifest. Likely being groomed for rank. Possibly a blood heir. She fought, but not like the trained ones – they have been hiding her. Training her. For what purpose, I cannot say.”

A beat of silence. Then, flatly:

“They scuttled their own ship after we left. That was not standard retreat. That was cleanup.”

He steps back, folding his hands behind his back.

“Conclusion: The Serpent Fang was not protecting cargo. They were protecting her.”

A moment passes. Outside, the storm eases, but in The War Cabin, tension only thickens. Seonghwa lifts his gaze to the captain once more.

“Orders, sir?”

Hongjoong twirls a dagger between his fingers, his steely yet unwavering gazed fixed solely on the parchment before him.

“Why do you suppose I brought her upon the Halcyon, Quartermaster?

Seonghwa hesitates for a beat, then folds his arms neatly across his chest. “It is unlikely for you to keep captors unless you see value in them. But as for your exact reasoning, I cannot be sure, Captain.”

It was true, this was out of character for the captain. He had expected the usual order, for her death. Quick, clean. Just another loose thread from the Serpent Fang cut short. But this time was different. Seonghwa knew Hongjoong, better than anyone. This was not just strategy, it was not even curiosity. The flicker in Hongjoong’s eyes, one that only the Quartermaster would ever be savvy enough to notice, spoke a thousand words. Not instinct – no, this was intuition that tasted like prophecy.

Hongjoong leaned back in his seat, the same expression etched onto his stoic features. She was the missing piece of the puzzle; he was sure of it.

“Thank you, Quartermaster. The rest of the crew should be arriving momentarily, please brief them. I have something to tend to.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Darkness weighs heavy in the ship’s underbelly, thick with the scent of salt, rust, and rotting wood. Chains creak gently with the sway of the sea, and somewhere nearby, water drips rhythmically – a cold, ceaseless reminder of the depths pressing in on all sides.

A splash.

Then a sharp inhale.

You jolt awake as a bucket of freezing seawater crashes over you, dragging you back from the black void of unconsciousness. Your limbs are sluggish, clothes soaked and clinging uncomfortably to your skin. The stone floor beneath you is as cold as the grimy water that just baptised you back into awareness.

You cough hard, blinking against the stinging salt, then slowly push yourself upright, wrists chained but not tightly. Your fingers are numb. Your head pounds, the metallic taste of your own blood overwhelming your senses. The last thing you remember is lunging at a giant with laughing eyes – and then, nothing.

Then you hear it. Boots. Measured. Controlled. Approaching.

You look up, and there he is.

The captain.

He stands just beyond the bars of your cell, flanked by shadows and the faint flicker of lantern-light. No guards. No weapons drawn. Just him. Coat still damp from rain, dark eyes steady, unreadable. He’s not smiling. But he isn’t scowling, either.

He studies you like a riddle – one he has half-solved, but refuses to guess until he is sure.

“You’re not what I expected to find in the belly of a Serpent Fang ship,” he says calmly, his voice low and smooth, like velvet over steel.

You glare, shivering but defiant. “Then you should’ve left me to drown with the rest.”

A corner of his mouth twitches, not quite amusement, not quite irritance. “And miss this wonderful conversation we are about to have? That would have been a tragedy.”

He steps closer, fingers brushing the iron bars. You bare your teeth.

“Name.”

“Go to hell.”

He chuckles – quiet, almost to himself. “Already been. The decor was familiar.” He crouches slightly, bringing himself to your eye level through the bars. His gaze sharpens, and something shifts in his tone – just a shade colder.

“I’ll ask you again. Name.”

“Go. To. Hell”

“The Serpent Fang tried to erase you. They burned their ship to the waterline. That was not to cover cargo. That was to cover you.”

You don’t flinch. But your throat tightens ever so slightly.

He sees it.

“I don’t know what you are yet,” the captain says, voice like a whisper against the sea’s endless growl. “A spy. A sacrifice. A mistake they were desperate to bury. But I know you are valuable. And if you are valuable to them, then you are useful to me.”

He rises, turning to leave, the echo of his boots already fading.

“But remember this,” he calls back over his shoulder, “if you want to survive aboard The Halcyon, you’ll have to decide who you hate more: them… or me.”

The brig door closes with a low, ominous click. You’re left alone once more – soaked, shaking, and for the first time, you aren’t sure how to navigate a way forward.

The candlelight dances wildly across the maps and relics scattered across the war table, casting jagged shadows over the faces of The Halcyon’s senior crew. Following the Quartermaster’s briefing, the room is silent for a heartbeat – too silent.

Then

SLAM

Mingi’s palm crashes down onto the old oak table, rattling compass tools and ink pots. His eyes blaze, the heat in him not just from frustration, but from the underlying fear no one wants to name.

“If she’s not talking,” he growls, voice rough and low, “why is she not dead yet?”

The room shifts, breath held collectively.

San looks up from where he’s been sharpening his blade, gaze honed but unreadable. Wooyoung, the crew’s Infiltration Specialist, straightens from his casual lean in the corner, coin paused mid-flip. Jongho narrows his eyes but says nothing yet. Yunho, the loyal Boatswain, frowns, jaw tense.

But Seonghwa doesn’t flinch. His voice is even as ever.

“Because corpses do not give answers. And neither does fear – not when it is the only thing they’ve ever known.”

Mingi scoffs. “We’ve broken tougher ones. Fang-blooded or not, she’s just a runt with a dagger and too much pride. If she’s stalling, she’s buying time – for them. You know they’re coming.”

Seonghwa tilts his head slightly. “And that’s exactly why she is worth more alive. If they’re coming, they’re coming for her. Let them.”

Yeosang, the Navigator, finally speaks, calm but edged with warning.

“If you kill the bait, the trap is worthless.”

Another tense silence.

Then, from a quiet corner of the room, veiled in shadows, Hongjoong stalks forward.

Slowly. Deliberately.

His eyes meet Mingi’s – calm, but unmistakably cold.

“Because I said so.”

Mingi opens his mouth, then shuts it, swallowing whatever fire he has left. “When… when did-”

Hongjoong rests his hands lightly on the table. “She is not just a message. She is a map. Maybe not to treasure, but to them. And we don’t slit the throat of a map just because it hasn’t led us anywhere yet.”

He glances around the room, voice lowering.

“If the Serpent Fang wants her badly enough to burn their own down to ash, then whatever she is…” He pauses, his gaze dark. “…she is more dangerous than we can imagine. And I would rather have her here, under my eye, than out there, used against us.”

He steps back.

“Dismissed.”

The crew hesitates, then slowly files out – most silently. Mingi lingers for a moment longer, jaw clenched, before storming out.

Seonghwa stays behind, catching Hongjoong’s eye.

“You are gambling with the whole ship.”

Hongjoong doesn’t deny it. He just says, quietly, “Only way to win a war no one admits we are in.”

The pair stand silently for a moment, the weight of Hongjoong’s choices settling heavy among them.

“I believe I said you were dismissed, Quartermaster.”

Seonghwa blinks, as if momentarily losing composure, but pulls it back immediately with a curt nod. “Captain.”

Once the door clicks in place, signalling his First Mate’s departure, Hongjoong let’s his mask slip briefly as his hands slide over his face. Speaking to no one but the shadows that lurk in the far corners, he whispers.

“Who are you, girl?”

#pirate ateez #ateez atiny #ateez fic #ateez fanfic #ateez #ateez x reader #ateez x you #ateez x y/n #ateez x female reader #ateez hongjoong #ateez seonghwa #ateez yunho #ateez yeosang #ateez san #ateez mingi #ateez wooyoung #ateez jongho #pirate hongjoong #ateez ot8

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drewswife · 2 months ago

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title — washed at sea series intro | 1 | 2|

pairings — mermaid!reader x sea!captain!rafe

a/n — first part will be in 3rd then the second 1st i think your pov i'm so excited for this hope yall like it :)

The salt spray stung Rafe’s face, a cold kiss against the exhilaration coursing through him. The Sea Serpent sliced through the turquoise water, her sails billowing like proud chests. The sun, a molten coin in the vast blue expanse, warmed his back. This was it. This was living. Away from the stifling expectations, the endless demands. Just him and the sea, a boundless realm of freedom.

He gripped the helm, his knuckles white, a grin stretching across his face. The familiar creak of the timbers, the rhythmic slap of waves against the hull it was a symphony he never tired of. He’d been sailing these waters since he was a boy, the ocean an extension of his own restless spirit. Today felt different, though. A lightness he hadn’t experienced in years buoyed his mood.

Then, the sky began to bruise. The vibrant blue deepened to a menacing indigo, the cheerful sun swallowed by thick, angry clouds that rolled in with surprising speed. The wind, which had been a playful companion, turned into a furious assailant, tearing at the sails with violent intent.

The Sea Serpent bucked and groaned, tossed about like a child’s toy. Rafe fought the helm, his muscles screaming in protest. He reefed the sails, battling the snapping canvas, his heart pounding in sync with the crashing waves. He’d weathered storms before, squalls that had tested his mettle, but this… this felt different. Malevolent.

The rain began, a stinging deluge that blurred his vision. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the churning water in stark, terrifying flashes. The roar of the thunder was deafening, and the waves grew into monstrous peaks, threatening to swallow the small vessel whole.

He clung to the helm, his hope dwindling with each violent lurch of the boat. He shouted into the wind, a desperate cry lost in the tempest’s fury. He was losing the fight. The sea, which had always felt like a friend, had turned into an implacable enemy.

Suddenly, a rogue wave, larger than any before, slammed into the Sea Serpent broadside. The mast cracked with a sickening groan, and the boat capsized, throwing Rafe into the icy, churning water.

Exhausted and disoriented, Rafe lay on the sand, the rain washing over him. The storm began to subside, its fury spent. The clouds gradually parted, revealing a sliver of moon, casting a pale, ethereal glow on the deserted beach.

He shivered, not just from the cold, but from the sheer improbability of what had just happened. He had been drowning, certain of his demise, and then a mermaid.

Slowly, painstakingly, he pushed himself up. His head throbbed, his limbs ached, but he was alive. He scanned the empty expanse of the ocean, the waves now gentler, lapping softly at the shore. There was no sign of her.

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, Rafe found the strength to stand. He recognized the island. It was a small, uninhabited speck of land a few days’ sail from his home port. He had sought shelter here once before during a storm, years ago.

Years ago a memory flickered at the edge of his consciousness. A younger version of himself, exploring the shallow waters near this very island. And then a glimpse. A flash of blue scales with a dash of pink, a swirl of long, wavy dark hair. He had dismissed it as a trick of the light, a figment of his youthful imagination.

But now, now he knew it wasn’t. He had seen her before. Years ago. And she had saved him again.

A profound sense of longing washed over him. He had to find her. He had to understand. This wasn’t just about gratitude. It was something deeper, a connection he couldn’t explain.

He spent the next few days on the island, salvaging what he could from the wreckage of the Sea Serpent. He built a makeshift shelter, his mind constantly replaying the events of the storm, the image of the mermaid burned into his memory.

When a passing fishing vessel finally spotted his signal fire and took him back to port, the first thing he did was begin his search. He scoured old maps, spoke to grizzled fishermen, anyone who might have tales or knowledge of merfolk in these waters. He was met with skepticism, with amused smiles and knowing glances. But he persisted.

He bought a new, smaller vessel, christening her the Siren’s Call. He spent weeks at sea, retracing his route, anchoring near the island, his eyes constantly scanning the waves. He learned to listen to the whispers of the ocean, to watch for any unusual movement, any hint of the creature who had saved his life.

He told himself it was about gratitude, about needing to thank her. But deep down, he knew it was more. It was the memory of her luminous eyes, the feel of her strong hand pulling him from the depths, the undeniable sense of wonder she had awakened within him.

Years passed. The search became his life’s pursuit. He became known as the “mermaid chaser,” a figure of both ridicule and fascination in the port towns. Some pitied him, some mocked him, but he didn’t care. The image of the mermaid, the echo of her silent grace, kept him going.

He learned the currents, the tides, the migratory patterns of the sea creatures. He became an even more skilled sailor, his connection to the ocean deepening with each passing year. He felt her presence in the rhythm of the waves, in the cries of the seabirds.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues, he anchored the Siren’s Call near the familiar island. He sat on the deck, the gentle rocking of the boat a soothing lullaby. He closed his eyes, the memories flooding back the storm, the cold water, the blue tail.

Then, he heard it. A song. Faint at first, carried on the evening breeze, but growing clearer, more melodic with each passing moment. It was unlike any sound he had ever heard, a hauntingly beautiful melody that seemed to rise from the depths of the ocean itself.

He stood up, his heart pounding in his chest. He leaned over the railing, peering into the darkening water. And then, he saw her.

She emerged slowly from the depths, the moonlight catching the iridescent scales of her tail. Her long, dark hair flowed around her like seaweed in a gentle current. Her eyes, the same luminous eyes he remembered, met his.

"you" he said shocked walking closer.

"me" she said.

🏷, @spencerreid66 @zenithsturniolo @starrii-sturns @sevslover @daddyrafeslittleslut

#mermaid!reader₊₊‧ ଳ ‧₊⋅˚#Rafe masterlist⭑.ᐟ #rafe fanfiction #rafe cameron fluff #rafe cameron smut #rafe cameron #rafe x reader #rafe imagine #rafe fic #rafe smut #rafe cameron imagine #outerbanks rafe #rafe obx #rafe outer banks #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe au

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bubbles-for-all-of-us · 9 months ago

Note

hiii I love your writing so much!!

could I request a reader x sleep token where they comfort her about being on her period?

hope you have a good day!! <3

Vessel

This man notices the smallest of shifts in your body language. So you best believe he’s going to notice how your breasts look and feel fuller, or how you grunt but not in a way that signs pleasure when he has his long needy fingers all over them. Your sleep also turns less calm. With early waves of cramps, you’re finding it hard to get comfortable.

So with that information waving red flags all over his mind, Vessel would press into you. Letting his body heat slowly seep into your back, while his palms press onto your stomach. The sigh that leaves your lips even in your sleep would be enough to make him crack a little smile, as he nuzzles closer to you.

You’re walking up next morning with a warm pouch on your stomach, the smell of sausage rolls and waffles filling the room. And your shirtless boyfriend smiling down at you as he holds a tray in his hands. “What are you doing?”, you frown slightly, pushing to sit up. Vessel only smiles at you, “Your period is due”, he states as if it’s the most self-explanatory thing.

“Did I…”, you quickly push your palm beneath the blanket to feel for potential damage. “I don’t think so but you’re having cramps”, Vessel is quick to reassure you as he sets the food down. “How do you…”, you ask slightly baffled before waving your hand at him, “Never mind, it’s too early for this”. Vessel chuckles softly, brushing his hand over your arm, “I just pay attention to you”, he shrugs. The innocent look on his face turned into a smirk, “Told you I would learn every single part of you”.

You shake your head at him, “You’re not real”. “I believe I am, sweetheart, but we can always test that theory”, Vessel wiggles his eyebrows at you, before plopping down next to you. “Tummy kisses?”, he asks so casually that it makes you want to scream internally. “No, you seriously are not real”, you clasp his face between your palms before leaning in to kiss him.

III

Your food patterns would be what would have him frowning. Firstly, because he’s the one getting groceries. He just loves it. Loves to zone out. Second of all, the bag would be filled with so much crap and pretty much no proper food. Abandoning your finds in the kitchen he would slowly make his way to you.

“Love”, his voice would find you in your shared bedroom. Only for you to hum in return. “I’m saying this with love but… where there no fresh produce in the grocery store?”, he leans against the doorframe watching you change. You don’t even turn to him as you wave him over your head.“There was but I was hungry and just… sidetracked?”, your voice dies down into a question. “And bought half the store of frozen shit and lots of snacks”, iii finishes for you, crossing his arms over his chest. “Rude”, you gasp, pulling his shirt over your head. Frowning as if he had seriously offended you.

“Come here”, he reaches out for you but you bat his hand away, “No”, you grunt, turning away from him. “Love”, he says sweetly, stepping closer to you. “No, no, go eat you raw paprika”, you sass back at him, only making him throw his head back with a laugh. “Stop being rude”, you whine, crossing your arms over your chest. “Come here you little demon”, taking hold of your hand, iii pulls you closer to his chest before wrapping his arms around you.

“Why don’t I make you a nice nibble board hmm?”, he hums, leaning in to kiss your forehead. But you still frown at him. “And then cuddle you all evening?”, he crocks his head to the side. “Hand on my stomach for an hour, no moving”, you narrow your eyes at him playfully. “Can I at least rub circles?”, he asks softly. “Yes”, nodding you shake his hand as if you two were indeed making a deal. “Good, pop into a shower, I’ll sort it all out and report to duty shortly”, with one kiss to your lips and a tap on your bum, iii walks out towards the kitchen.

Don’t get me wrong, he is an angel and would be super supportive. But tiny things do slip past him, especially if he’s tired. So when your mood wavers and he’s already on the edge arguments do appear. Like today over a stupid trash can. Could you have let it go? Sure. But your cramps had been killing you all day and while you don’t have an issue with cleaning around the house for most days, today just wasn’t cutting it for you.

“Why are you so grumpy, dammit”, he grunts flicking his phone onto the couch. Where you had been sitting, casually ignoring him for the past hour. “Talk”, he grunts, voice raising. But it’s enough for you to bite the inside of your cheek. Enough for you to close your eyes for him to see that this isn’t your usual bickering session, that you aren’t putting him into his place. No, there are tears in your eyes.

“Darling…”, he sighs, stepping closer to the sofa, “I'm sorry that I raised my voice”, his tattooed palms brush over your thighs as he kneels in front of you trying to catch your eyes. “You’re mad at me”, you crock out, tears slipping down your cheek. “Not true, I’m mad at myself for not controlling my emotions”, he reassures you, whipping away your tears. You both just stay there looking at each other for a while before you sigh, throwing your head back.

“I started my period, I didn’t mean to nag…”, you start but ii is quick to cut in, “You weren’t nagging”, his voice firm, leaving no room for you to argue, “Are you having cramps?” A part of you wants to shake your head but then where would lying get you? So you let yourself nod. “And you’ve been on your feet all day, we can’t have that”, ii shakes his head, bringing your palms to his lips. “It’s whatever”, you shrug. “Nope, treating you like a princess for the rest of the night”, he states. You open your mouth to argue back for him but he beats you to it, “No arguing back, it’s long overdue”. So you simply smile at him, muttering a quiet, “I love you”, one that he chases with a kiss. “Do you want donuts?”, he asks after pulling away, “I will just order you donuts”.

He knows. Has a period tracking app. The boy is not playing games. So your hygiene boxes get regularly stocked up alongside your favorite snacks. You had argued with him that he doesn’t have to but he stood his ground. “You’re suffering every month so you could carry our baby eventually. I can buy you pads, that’s the smallest price I could pay”.

He’s sprawled on the sofa when you finally walk through the bedroom door, a blanket wrapped around you. “Morning, sleepy head”, Ivy smiles at you only to be met with a frown on your face. “What’s got my baby grumpy first thing in the morning?”, he mutters, making room for you to sit on his lap. “Started my period”, you grunt against his neck, melting into his embrace. “And my boyfriend decided to leave me to freeze in bed”, you fake cry, making Ivy chuckle. “What an asshole, are you looking for a new one?”, he asks brushing a strand of hair away from your face. “Are you applying?”, you shoot back a question, making him shake his head. “For you always”, “Good, you’re accepted”, you nod, before nuzzling into him.

“How bad is it?”, Ivy pushes his hand beneath your shirt, letting his palm press against your tender lower stomach. “Heavenly now”, you nearly moan, pushing his palm further into your skin. “Did you take painkillers?”, he starts to move only for you to grip his wrist, “If you’ll move I swear you will need painkillers more”, you grunt, adding a quick, “sorry”, immediately.

“I would be out for blood too if I was in so much pain every month”, Ivy was quick to reassure you before adding “What can I do?”, “Just sit with me for a bit, till the meds kick in”, you pull away to meet his eyes. “Anything my baby needs”, he cups your face before bringing you closer to his chest.

#sleep token imagine #sleep token x reader #sleep token x you #sleep token fanfiction #sleep token iv imagine #sleep token iv x reader #sleep token ii imagine #sleep token ii x reader #sleep token iii imagine #sleep token iii x reader #sleep token vessel imagine #sleep token vessel x reader

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worldume · 1 year ago

Text

TWO DEMONS AND AN ANGEL….

˖┊ spotlight: yamato endo & chika takiishi.

˖┊ synopsis: (name) is endo and chika's favorite coloring book! they love to bully their sweet little lamb into doing things she’s not comfortable with. why? because they can & its fun!

˖┊ content: dark content, power imbalance relationship, bullying, themes of humiliation, implied polygamy, toxic relationship, coerced piercing, christina piercing, needles, alcohol transfer from mouth to mouth, afab reader, she/her pronouns, canonverse but endo and chika own a sleazy tattoo shop, tattoo artist endo, piercer chika for lore purposes, all characters are adults/aged up, endo and chika are awful!

˖┊ word count: 2k.

“you scared?”

“n—no but—” (name) stammered under his gaze, her voice cracking as she struggled to find her words. she averted her gaze from him, finding a sudden interest at chika moving about through the room as he gathered a few things around their shop. it was tucked away in a narrow sketchy alley in japan that looked like the kind of place only those in the know would visit— covered in graffiti and old posters with a flickering neon sign. the place had the vibe of a dive bar.

there was a small furrow in her brows and her lips tugged slightly in a glossy pout. no fair.. no fair!

looking at endo was so.. difficult for a couple reasons. number one: he was so fucking attractive. the kind of attractive that made her shy away from his gaze because she started to feel self conscious about everything little thing. did he like her hair? her makeup? the outfit she wore today? but more importantly, he could be just so mean if someone caught him on a bad day— he was finicky with his moods. and sometimes he didn’t want anyone looking him directly in the eye.

she’s witnessed first hand how brutally yamato beats people into a shell of themselves— weak people who he believes test who’s a poser and who’s not. endo is a pretty laid back guys for the most part, but, he has very little respect and tolerance for those who are weak. he thinks they’re boring, a drag and a complete waste of his fucking time. weak people get under his skin. weak people disgust him. weak people don’t deserve to call themselves human. and he couldn’t stand when weak people paraded around as though they weren’t.

but (name) was weak. so it makes her wonder why he keeps her around— why the both of them keep her around.. they’re not laughing at her behind her back right? she helps around.. sure she wasn’t the strongest person physically but she has uses.. or at least that’s what she tells herself.

you see, (name) is a pushover. a people pleaser. and a pathetic excuse for a spine. which is precisely why endo initially took such an interest to the girl— the irony, right? endo was just.. so tickled by it he giggled like a little kid who was told their first joke. he’s never seen anyone quite as pitiful as her. but he supposes women were an exception, right? endo almost found it.. cute? (name)’s looks were really the cherry on top of it all— a pretty little bow to wrap his present. just how could someone as pretty as her be such a.. disappointment. endo almost found it to be a waste of a perfectly good vessel, but.. he found that he gained some sort of sick gratification from bullying (name).

it was fun for him. and something to help pass the time when there’s nothing interesting going on. it was sad really— some of the things they made her do were nothing more than mere humiliation tactics that served no real purpose other than to see her actually do everything she’s told. no questions asked. like controlling when she use the bathroom, a “dress code” that usually consisted of micro mini skirts and the requirement of no panties, making her call herself awful things when she fails (bitch, slut and whore are some of noroshi’s favorites), her mouth being used as an ashtray— the list can go on.

‘how did such a sweet girl like (name) get caught up in this crowd?’ is what all the sweet townspeople of makochi ask amongst themselves when they see her on an off chance visiting her mom. but no one would be able to guess that she devoted herself to these men by choice. (name) felt as though she were indebted to endo and chika. that she owed the both of them all of herself because they saved her.

there had been a night where she had found herself walking alone after a night out with her friends, she was a little bit more than tipsy and stumbled across an alley she shouldn’t have. (name) remembers it well— stopping to pull out her phone for her gps. (name) hadn’t have been familiar with the area so she hadn’t been quite sure where she was. there was a voice behind her and all she knows is that she was being grabbed— she remembers screaming for help and thinking that it was her end. but that’s when they came to help her.

she remembers endo’s eyes that night when he got on one knee to match her level— her eyes drifting to chika who stood behind him. (name) couldn’t have been more thankful, they were her saviors..

that was then but now (name) felt as though she were walking on a pit of eggshells and thin ice— something seemingly so simple as holding the eye contact he was so insistent on made her feel uneasy sometimes which was so unfortunate because he has such pretty eyes. as much as she admired him, endo often used eye contact as a tool for intimidation— borderline a threat specifically for her alone. probably because he knew the only real thing he had to do was give her a look and she would submit— cowering like a scared little lamb so scared of getting gobbled right up by the big, bad wolf.

endo followed her gaze, tilting his head as his eyes bored into her own. he could admit that she was more than a looker— that sad, kicked puppy look really does something for him.

“but? but but but? but what.” it was a nasty sneer that left from endo’s lips as he mocked her. his lip curling in a way that screamed he was becoming more and more agitated by her hesitation— her lack of immediate compliance. this wasn’t their obedient little love— she was starting to piss him off.

“nothing— i just..” she trailed off. “will it hurt..? what if i cry?” she asked, looking up at him with the sweetest look. (name) were so naive it hurt. god— he could skull fuck her right now and he knew she’d absolutely love every single moment of it.

“sweetpea, you said you’d do anything for us. you didn’t lie to me did you?” he asked, brows furrowed as though he were actually hurt at the implication he just pulled from his book of manipulation.

“no..! of course not..!” she shook her head quickly.

“then a little pain shouldn’t be an issue, right? all the fights and trouble we get in for you isn’t even comparable.” there is was— he always did this. make her feel like she didn’t appreciate all that they’ve done for her which was her biggest fear.

“yeah, you’re right.. o–okay.. okay.” she let out a shaky breath as she nodded, a small smile growing on her lips as she felt endo’s hand pat her head.

“takiishi~ our little love’s all done bein’ a crybaby. c’mon.” he said.

chika sits down onto the roller stool, scooting over smoothly while the wheels squeaked over the cracked floor tiles so that he’s nestled in between her legs now. he spreads her lips apart, his eyes low as he watches how she clenches around nothing. hm. was she scared or was this arousal? it wouldn’t be the first time chika’s suspected she gets off on that kind of thing..

“wait— please!” panic rose in her chest, her cheeks heating up as she captured chika’s eyes. her pussy was completely bare before him, her thighs raided with tattoos that were more like brands as they stated slogans like ‘property of noroshi,’ ‘endo was here :),’ chika’s initials, and other dehumanizing phrases tattooed on her. to anyone else these could be perceived as insulting and degrading but for (name), she wore each proudly. of course the first time endo talked her into she had her reservations but she really just couldn’t say no, could she?

“will it hurt?” chika hadn’t responded, only opting in for a stare before endo spoke up once again.

“how about this? we’ll give you somethin’ that’ll take the edge off, alright?” he clasped his hands together before spinning on his heel to walk over to a counter where he snagged a bottle of vodka. “some old fashioned anesthesia.” endo smiled as he turned back around, walking back over to her where she laid.

she eyed the bottle with a look of hesitation on her face— it’s contents half full as the clear liquid sloshed around in the thick glass container. “yamato.. i don’t like to drink..”

“what?” he raised his brow as he twisted off the cap. “you know, you really shouldn’t mumble, sweetheart. i can’t hear a damn word you say.” but endo knew good and well that heard her as clear as day.

“n—nothing.. ‘m sorry. let’s do it..”

“no shot glasses or anything fancy like that but— i like doing it like this.” his hand finds its way to the crown of her head to tilt her head at an angle. he takes a swig of the vodka, holding it in his mouth for a moment before leaning in close to her and pressing his lips to her own. endo transfers the liquid in a slow controlled flow, the alcohol passing from one mouth to the other.

“mmf..!” the taste is awful and (name) told herself she’d never be able to get used to it but the warmth she was starting to feel a few seconds later seemed to help with her anxiety just a bit.

endo crouched down a bit to her level on piercing bed, an obnoxious smile on his lips as he watches on.

chika’s gloved hands aligned the needle, hovering just above the skin as the sharp tip gleamed under the light. his moment is skillfully controlled, fingers firm but gentle— the cold metal of the needle presses lightly against the flesh, the sensation a mix of cool steel and the warmth of skin contact. just before the needle penetrates, there’s a brief pause..

(name) let out a shriek as she felt the needle pierce through her flesh— the initial sensation was sharp, a pain unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. her toes curled and her hand flew to endo’s dark locks, involuntarily pulling his head back as her body started to writhe and lift at the pain. but it had been over as soon as it happened— chika’s fingers were nimble and worked quickly as he threaded the dainty jewelry through. the pain shifted into a dull ache and a sense of relief washed over her when chika spoke: “it’s finished.”

“fuck yeah— let’s see it.” endo said as he reached for the hand mirror sitting on the tray stand beside chika. (name) couldn’t help the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, a sniffle or two escaping from her lips.

there was slight throb where the jewelry laid as she sat up to look down at the mirror. the gem was her favorite color— she had to admit that it looked pretty good.

“she’s gonna be outta commission for a while, baby.” endo cooed at her. “you like?”

“yeah.. it’s cute.” she giggled breathlessly. “i did.. i did good, right?” (name) asked, her eyes screaming for approval.

“so good— let’s take a picture and show the guys, yeah?”

#wind breaker #wind breaker (satoru nii)#wind breaker x reader #wind breaker x you #wind breaker x y/n #wind breaker smut #wind breaker (satoru nii) x reader #yamato endo #yamato endo x reader #chika takiishi #chika takiishi x reader #endo x reader #chika x reader #satoru nii wind breaker #cw needles #cw toxic relationship #cw dark content

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