mindlesschicca - Tumblr blog

mindlesschicca · 1 day ago

Text

Not Like That (Izou x Reader)

The crew’s always making comments.

You’re not surprised anymore, just half-annoyed, half-used to it. Marco smirks when he passes by you and Izou sitting shoulder to shoulder on the deck. Thatch makes little heart gestures behind your back. Even Ace, not the most observant when it comes to love, raises a brow now and then.

You laugh it all off. So does Izou.

“Not like that,” you always say, even though lately, it doesn’t come out as easily.

_____

~ 5.000 words

The sun’s sinking on the horizon, painting everything in warm colors, when you find Izou in your usual spot, the quiet corner of the upper deck tucked behind a row of crates. He must have been waiting for you for quite some time, legs folded beneath him, with a book in one hand.

He doesn’t look up when he speaks.

“You’re late,” he says, voice smooth as ever. “I nearly finished the chapter without you.”

You roll your eyes and drop down beside him, your shoulder knocking lightly into his. “You could’ve waited.”

“I could have,” he agrees, flipping to the next page. “But you’re always ten minutes late when you say you’ll be here shortly.”

You don’t bother denying it. You just lean sideways, peering over his arm. “What page are we on?”

He taps the line with one finger, and you nod. The spine of the book creaks as he shifts to make more room for you, and without a word, you settle in, thigh pressed lightly to his. The two of you read like this often, cramped in the same space, sharing a single copy, breathing in sync without realizing it.

You’ve been doing it for so long it barely feels unusual.

You read for another half hour like that, heads bent close together, voices brushing against the dusk. He lets you rest your head on his shoulder. At some point, he starts reading every line aloud, and you don’t stop him.

Then someone shouts across the deck.

“Oi, you two! Still pretending you’re just friends?”

You sit up. Groan. “God, Thatch, we’re reading.”

“So that’s what they’re calling it now,” he calls back, winking.

Izou sighs, not even lifting his head. “You know it’s not like that.”

“Oh, sure,” Thatch says, dramatically dragging out the words. “Completely innocent shoulder resting. Just textbook literature appreciation under the stars.”

You roll your eyes, and Izou mutters, “You’re impossible.”

Thatch just laughs and waves it all off. “Yeah, yeah. Come on, lovebirds. Drinks are flowing and we’re losing daylight. Get over here!”

Izou closes the book slowly, marking the page with a sliver of ribbon. “Sounds like chaos is about to start any moment.”

Thatch just grins. “Nah, sounds like a great way to spend the night. You two are always hiding in corners like some dramatic lovers from a romance novel.”

You throw a pebble at him, which you find right next to you. He ducks it easily.

“Come on,” he says again, stepping back. “Ace already started trying to outdrink himself, so we could use the adult supervision.”

Izou rises first, dusting off the back of his kimono. He offers you a hand—familiar, casual. He’s done it a hundred times before, and you’ve always taken it without thinking.

But this time your fingers tingle when they curl around his. His grip lingers a beat too long.

He lets go when you’re steady, and neither of you says a word about it.

_____________

The corner of the deck where the others have gathered is warm with lantern light and low laughter. Someone’s even lit a fire in a metal barrel, and of course, there’s sake and rum passed around in mismatched mugs.

Thatch has already claimed the best seat, a crate turned sideways, and is pouring drinks with clearly too much alcohol in them. One of those concoctions might be enough to make you blackout drunk.

Marco leans against a post, half-lidded gaze flicking to the two of you as you arrive, and Ace sits cross-legged on the deck, already pink-cheeked, grinning for no reason.

“Look who finally decided to grace us with their presence,” Marco says lazily.

Izou drops down beside you, elbow brushing yours as he tucks his legs under himself. “You act like we missed something.”

“You did,” Ace says. “Thatch tried to convince Marco to dance. It almost happened.”

“It absolutely did not,” Marco mutters, and Thatch winks.

“He was tempted.”

You snort as you accept a drink from Thatch, fingers brushing Izou’s briefly when you pass him his. You barely notice it, but they do.

Marco arches a brow at the exchange and Ace nudges Thatch and stage-whispers, “They do this all the time.”

“Do what?” you ask truly not knowing what they mean, but already guessing that it’ll be another comment on your and Izou’s friendship.

“The little touches. The looks. The looonging,” Ace says, drawing it out like it’s something scandalous.

“We’re friends,” Izou says smoothly, taking a sip of his drink.

“Yeah,” Thatch adds, grinning. “And I’m a virgin.”

You nearly choke on your drink. Even Izou coughs beside you and then smiles into his cup like he’s trying not to laugh.

“I don’t know what you’re all imagining,” you say after a beat. “We just read together.”

Marco hums. “It’s the just that’s doing a lot of work in that sentence.”

Ace leans back, tilting his head dramatically. “Honestly, if they don’t kiss by the end of the week, I’m filing an official complaint.”

“Do it,” Thatch says. “Make it formal.”

Izou raises a hand. “Do I get to review this complaint?”

“Denied in advance,” Marco mutters, then takes another sip.

You look over at Izou. He looks back, that same unreadable softness in his expression again—calm on the surface, like always, but there’s something else flickering behind his eyes. Something you can’t quite name.

Your legs are touching. Your hands brush again when you both reach for the same snack. Neither of you moves away and that’s okay. Friends are supposed to be comfortable around each other.

So, you try not to think about it too much, enjoying the evening drinking and laughing with your brothers instead.

And eventually, the night deepens as more and more stars are beginning to peek through and the buzz of Thatch’s drinks settles in your bones. You’re on your second cup of whatever Thatch poured, your skin already flush and your head pleasantly light.

Izou notices before you can say anything. He always does.

He shifts just slightly, his shoulder brushing yours more firmly, the motion steadying. His fingers graze your wrist, just once, and then again more deliberately.

“You alright?” he murmurs, low enough that the others won’t catch it.

You smile, just for him. “M’fine.”

He watches you a second longer, then pushes the small bowl of roasted chestnuts toward you. “Eat a little.”

“I already did.”

“You picked out the peanuts and left the rest.”

You laugh and nudge him with your knee. “And you know this how?”

He lifts a brow. “Because I know you.”

You go quiet for a second, not because you don’t have something to say, but because of how easy that sounded. Like a truth. Like something he didn’t mean to say out loud.

So, you take one of the chestnuts just to appease him, unaware of the fact that Ace’s watching you both from across the fire with his chin in his palm, grin pulling wide. “You know, I’m starting to get why you fell in love with Izou.”

“It’s the little things,” Thatch adds, grinning just as wide as Ace.

Marco sips his drink, and without looking up says, “I think they’re actually worse than any couple I’ve ever seen.”

“We’re not—” you start, but Izou calmly cuts in at the same time:

“—together,” he finishes, smooth as ever. But his eyes flick toward you with a softness that makes your stomach flip.

You open your mouth, maybe to echo it, maybe to say something else, but then Izou gently tugs your cup away from you.

“You’ve had enough,” he says, not unkindly, already pouring you a bit of water from a clay jug.

You wrinkle your nose. “I’m fine.”

“I know,” he says quietly. “But I’m still taking care of you.”

Ace makes an exaggerated gagging noise. “Can you not be sweet for one damn second?”

“Let them,” Marco mutters, hiding his smile behind the rim of his cup. “I think they’ll eventually admit it to each other.”

You snort, cheeks warm. Whether from the alcohol or Izou or both, you’re not sure anymore. Izou hands you the water without another word, the pads of his fingers brushing yours like always. Thoughtful, careful. Second nature.

And just like that, the night grows louder as the drinks keep flowing. Laughter comes easier, shoulders loosen, and Thatch breaks out into awful attempts at a sea shanty that has Ace howling with laughter and Marco visibly debating whether to walk overboard into the sea.

But you just lean against Izou’s side now without really thinking about it. He hasn’t moved away, hasn’t commented on it, just adjusted slightly to make it more comfortable, like he always does.

You don’t even notice that Ace’s attention has moved back toward you two until he speaks again, louder this time. “Seriously, how long are you two going to pretend?”

You blink. “Pretend what?”

“That you’re not in love.”

You laugh, too fast, too loud. “We’re not.”

“Right,” Thatch chimes in, pointing between you and Izou. “So if we dared you to kiss right now, it wouldn’t mean anything, huh?”

You sit up straighter. “It’d mean nothing.”

Izou doesn’t flinch. He just exhales a quiet breath, smooth as silk. “We kiss if it’ll shut you all up.”

Suddenly, everybody around you quiets. Then Marco snorts. “Don’t do it because we told you to yoi.”

“No. Actually, let’s do it,” you nod agreeing to the whole plan. “This might finally end the conversation.”

So, next Izou turns toward you slightly. His expression is unreadable again—gentle, careful. His hand rises, not to pull you close, but to steady your chin with a featherlight touch.

“They’re like children sometimes,” he murmurs, so low only you hear it.

“Absolutely,” you nod, chuckling, happy that he somehow managed to ease the tension with just one comment.

So, suddenly feeling more at ease, you lean in. Easy. Like breathing. And Izou meets you halfway, calm and certain.

The kiss is soft... softer than you expected. His lips press to yours, sharing its warmth in a slow and deliberate manner, not rushing anything or demanding more than you’re already giving.

It’s rather tender.

His lips move gently against yours like he’s memorizing the feel of your mouth in that one brief touch. And then it ends, just as simply as it began.

You both pull back slowly. Barely. Your noses are still close, breath mingling and neither of you speaks for a long time.

Until Ace breaks the silence with a whistle. “Holy shit!”

“That was not a ‘we’re just friends’ kiss,” Thatch points out, delighted.

You blink, still feeling dazed. “It was just to prove a point.”

Izou, voice barely audible and eyes not moving from yours, adds. “We told you that before we kissed…”

Then, finally, you sit back, suddenly very aware of the way your body is still leaning into his. You try to steady your hands and your thoughts. Everything inside you feels like it’s glowing.

Marco’s watching with narrowed eyes like he sees something neither of you are ready to admit.

“You two are exhausting yoi,” he says, tipping his drink toward you.

And finally, no one says anything else. They let it go – for now, even though Izou leans in slightly again, just enough that his shoulder touches yours again, grounding and familiar.

You don’t move away. You never do, so why should you now?

You’re still just friends.

And eventually, one by one, the crew retires to their beds until you and Izou are the only ones left. He hasn’t moved much since the kiss. And neither have you because the warmth between you feels comfortable still.

But somehow heavy in a way it wasn’t before.

Izou breaks the silence first, voice low. “They’ll be talking about that for weeks.”

You let out a soft huff. “They never needed a reason before.”

He hums, almost a laugh. “True.”

Another pause. But you don’t fill it with anything this time. Neither does he.

You glance at him. He’s watching the fire, jaw relaxed, eyes soft. But there’s tension in his hands, subtle, but you know him well enough to see it. He’s thinking too much. So are you.

You shift, just a little, brushing your shoulder against his again. Not enough to make a statement. Just enough to remind him you’re still there.

His voice is quieter this time when he says, “You didn’t have to go through with it.”

“I know.”

“You could’ve said no.”

“I know,” you say again, softer now.

Izou finally looks at you. There’s something hesitant in his expression like he’s waiting for you to take it back. Waiting for you to laugh it off. Waiting for you to tell him it meant nothing.

“It was just to prove a point,” you say.

His mouth lifts at one corner. “Right.”

“Just to shut them up.”

“Of course.”

Another long stretch of quiet passes. You should move. Stand up. Head below deck. But you don’t want to and neither does he. So, you two continue to sit by the fire, the taste of the kiss still lingering on your lips.

______________

The next morning you find yourself in the galley, claiming that the sunlight’s far too bright as you walk in, seeing that breakfast’s already laid out on the wooden tables. In front of everybody are bowls of rice, grilled fish, and something Thatch insists is soup but smells suspiciously like hangover remedy.

You shuffle past a few tables, hair a mess, eyelids heavy. Izou’s already there, seated at the end of your table. His cup of tea steams quietly in front of him. He doesn’t look tired. Of course, he doesn’t.

He glances up as you enter and offers you a small smile. Warm. Familiar. Safe.

Your stomach does something it has no business doing, so you push it down as you slide into the spot beside him like always.

And that’s when Thatch pounces. “Well, well, well. Look who decided to wake up late after her scandalous little kiss.”

You groan and drop your head to the table.

Marco, across from you, doesn’t even look up from his breakfast. “I was wondering how long it would take yoi.”

Ace grins around a mouthful of rice. “I give it three days before one of you breaks and confesses.”

You lift your head just enough to glare. “There’s nothing to confess.”

“That’s what makes it sadder,” Thatch says, mock-wounded. “You're already acting like a couple but too emotionally constipated to admit it.”

Izou calmly sips his tea. “She and I are friends.”

“Right,” Marco says, flicking his eyes between the two of you. “Friends who kiss.”

“Once,” you mutter. “To make you all shut up.”

“Didn’t work,” Ace points out cheerfully.

You grab a rice ball from the center plate and chuck it at him. He catches it with his mouth and nearly chokes from laughing.

Thatch leans forward on his elbows, his voice dropping like he’s about to start narrating a romance novel. “They were just two friends… sipping tea… sitting shoulder to shoulder in the quiet glow of firelight…”

“Thatch.”

He ignores the warning in Izou’s tone.

“…their lips met in a passionate attempt to end all speculation…”

“Thatch.” That one’s from you.

He’s grinning like a cat at you. “… but little did they know, that single kiss would awaken something forbidden. Something deep. Something—”

You whip a spoon at him. It clatters off his shoulder. “Finish that sentence and I’ll dump soup over your head.”

“Feisty,” Ace chuckles, while Marco’s chuckling into his coffee.

And just as the teasing has finally started to die down and you think you might finish the rest of your breakfast in peace (mostly because you’ve stopped reacting and Izou’s gone quiet in that way that makes people nervous), does Ace speak up again.

His voice is perfectly innocent. Too innocent. And his expression doesn’t match, because there’s a glint in his eyes, a smug little twist to his mouth that sets off alarm bells before he even finishes his thought.

“Well, I was thinking…” he begins, drawing the words out slowly like he’s savoring them. “If kissing friends is just something we do now…”

You pause, fork halfway to your mouth. “Don’t.”

“… and Izou and I have known each other longer than you two have…”

Izou doesn’t look up from his plate. “I’m warning you.”

“… then shouldn’t I get a turn too?”

The table goes silent for a second. Then Thatch immediately chokes on a mouthful of food, coughing into his fist, while Marco leans back with a faintly amused smirk like he’s settling in for the show.

“Don’t encourage him,” you mutter, though you can already feel a laugh building in your throat.

Ace, of course, only grins wider and starts sliding around the table, slow and exaggerated, like a cartoon villain with both hands raised in mock innocence. “C’mon, Izou. Just a little kiss between bros. For science.”

Izou doesn’t even flinch. He just sets his utensils down. “I will shoot you.”

There’s a beat.

Ace falters mid-step. “Wouldn’t be the first time a gun was involved in one of my dates,” he quips, though he’s definitely reconsidering his choices.

“You’re not helping yourself,” Izou says flatly, pushing his chair back with sudden purpose.

“Okay, okay, just a peck—!” Ace doesn’t get the chance to finish.

With a smooth, practiced motion, Izou draws his flintlock from his belt and levels it right at Ace’s head. The click of the hammer being pulled back is sharp and deadly in the morning air.

“Fuck!” Ace yelps and quickly dives behind Marco like a coward, knocking into the bench in the process.

Thatch loses it completely, doubling over, face red, laughing so hard he’s crying. “Oh my god! He was deadass serious!”

Even you can’t hold it in anymore. A laugh bubbles up and escapes, and you have to cover your mouth with one hand to stop yourself from completely losing composure.

Marco doesn’t even flinch as Ace huddles behind him. “You brought that one on yourself,” he says simply, sipping his coffee like this is all a routine part of breakfast.

From beneath the table, Ace’s voice pipes up again, wounded but still amused. “Hey! At least now we know Izou wouldn’t kiss any of his friends!”

Izou, ever the picture of calm, lowers his gun and sets it neatly back on the table. His face is unreadable, but the faintest pink stains the tips of his ears.

“Try it again,” he says, tone icy, “and I will make it count next time.”

Naturally, the laughter around the table doesn’t die down right away. Thatch is still wiping tears from his eyes, and Ace stays crouched behind Marco like a man in hiding, though even he’s grinning now. Moreover, someone makes a joke about how easily Izou’s gun comes out these days, and someone else starts taking bets on who’ll be the next target.

But then the noise finally begins to fade, the teasing shifting to other things.

And when you glance over at Izou, he’s sitting next to you again, cradling a fresh cup of tea that someone – probably Marco – slid in front of him while the commotion was still going. However, he hasn’t taken a sip yet.

You catch the tight line of his shoulders. The set of his mouth. The way he stares into the steam curling from his cup like it’s something he has to brace himself for.

Then you reach out quietly, slipping your hand over Izou’s, your fingers brushing against the side of his palm. He startles, just slightly, but doesn’t pull away. So, you lean in, your voice low. “I’ve got watch duty in ten. If you’re done threatening your brothers, you can come with me.”

His eyes finally meet yours.

You give his hand a gentle tug and add, “I’d like the company.”

Izou doesn’t answer, but he rises immediately, silent, composed, tea cup abandoned.

The moment you step away from the table, however…

“Oh no!” Thatch wails, dramatically clutching his chest. “They’re walking away together. What does it mean?”

“Ten-to-one they make out behind the cannon stacks,” Ace calls, peeking out from Marco’s side like a raccoon.

Marco barely glances up. “Put me down for five. They’ll just stare at the ocean and suffer in silence.”

You keep walking, tugging Izou along by the hand, pretending not to hear the rising laughter behind you.

But you do hear Izou mutter under his breath, “Next time I’m not hesitating. I’ll shoot them all.”

You glance sideways as you walk, your fingers still laced lightly with his. His grip isn’t tight, but it’s steady. Measured. Like everything with Izou. But there’s tension running up his arm, shoulders drawn a little too straight, jaw set just a little too firmly.

“They really do act like children,” you say, voice calm and dry. “Honestly, it’s impressive they haven’t all been court-martialed for emotional damage.”

That earns a faint huff beside you, almost a laugh. Almost.

You bump your shoulder gently into his. “You know they only tease because they’re jealous, right?”

“Jealous?” he echoes, glancing at you with a raised brow.

You nod, trying to keep a straight face. “Absolutely. You have it all: The looks, the aim, and the best friend on the ship, which is me, of course.”

Izou snorts under his breath, a sound you rarely get to hear, and the corner of his mouth twitches like he’s trying not to smile.

“You forgot humility,” he murmurs.

“Oh, I left that out on purpose. We can’t both be perfect.”

“Right,” he says, and now the smile breaks through, faint but real. “That would be unfair to the others.”

You grin. “Exactly. We’re doing them a favor by keeping our brilliance to just the two of us.”

Finally, his steps feel lighter and his shoulders have eased out of their rigid set. Moreover, the air between you softens again, returning to the familiar, comfortable rhythm that always seems to settle in when you’re alone together.

And maybe it’s your imagination—but his thumb brushes once, slow and deliberate, across your knuckles. Just once. Like a thank-you he doesn’t say out loud.

You don’t mention it. Just squeeze his hand in return and keep walking.

On deck, you settle into your usual spot by the railing, where the sea stretches endlessly in every direction. Izou stands beside you, arms folded neatly across his chest, one hip leaning against the balustrade.

You glance up at him. “Thanks for coming.”

His gaze stays on the horizon for a beat longer before he replies, voice quiet. “Didn’t need much convincing.”

That makes you smile, though you try to hide it by looking back out at the sea. The wind shifts, brushing a loose strand of hair across your cheek, and before you can move, Izou’s hand lifts gently, and tucks it behind your ear.

You turn to him slowly, your breath catching just a little.

He doesn’t pull his hand away immediately. His fingers linger at your temple, warm and steady, like he’s memorizing the shape of you.

“I really thought the kiss might shut them up, you know,” you eventually sigh, feeling the sudden need to fill the silence.

“Looks like it did more damage,” Izou adds, voice dry but softer now.

“They act like it meant something even though we tell them it didn’t,” you groan, putting your face in your hands. “We could kiss thousands of times and they wouldn’t stop teasing.”

There’s a pause, just long enough to notice it.

Then Izou says, low and careful, “Maybe we could try?”

You freeze. Your hands lower slowly from your face, and when you look at him, he’s watching the sea again, but there’s a tension in his jaw, in the line of his shoulders, like he’s bracing for something. Like he hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Or maybe he did and just wasn’t sure what you’d do with it.

“Try,” you echo, quietly. “You mean…”

“To kiss again,” he says, still not facing you. “No audience. No reason. Just to see.”

Just to see.

The wind picks up again, cool and salt-sweet, tugging at your sleeves, your hair, the fragile quiet stretched between you. And you realize you could make a joke. Shrug it off. Pretend the butterflies in your stomach are from the sea breeze and not from him.

But you don’t want to… Not this time.

So, you shift, turning to face him fully and nudge his arm with your own. “Okay.”

Izou finally looks at you. There’s surprise there, but it softens quickly—gives way to something steadier. Like relief. Like hope.

You don’t speak again. You just lean in, slow and certain, similar to how you did it last night. But like Izou already pointed out, there’s no audience. No pressure. No need to pretend anymore.

Izou meets you halfway, just as calm, just as deliberate. The kiss begins soft, barely there. A quiet question. A breath shared between mouths. His lips are warm against yours, steady and patient like he’s afraid to rush something that might shatter if handled too roughly.

But when you don’t pull away after some while… when you lean into it instead, fingers brushing lightly against the edge of his coat something shifts.

You feel it in the way his hand rises, finds your jaw, his thumb resting at the corner of your mouth. On the way, he draws in a slow breath through his nose like he’s trying to stay grounded like he didn’t expect this to happen, and now he’s afraid it might end too soon.

And so the kiss deepens. Bit by bit, like a tide coming in.

Your lips move together with growing confidence, not rushed, but more certain. There’s no hesitation in the way he tilts his head slightly, pulling you in just a little closer like he’s trying to memorize the shape of your mouth, the sound of your breath, the warmth of your body against his.

Like he’s pouring every unsaid feeling into this one moment, quiet longing, quiet wanting, all the things he hasn't dared to name.

And when the kiss finally breaks, it does so slowly… reluctantly. A few short parting touches. A final brush like he doesn’t quite want to let go. So, you stay close, foreheads nearly touching, hearts knocking a little too fast beneath the surface.

“Izou…” you whisper, not really sure what you mean to say.

He opens his eyes, gaze sweeping over your face like he’s trying to commit every inch of it to memory. His thumb strokes just once along your cheekbone, the faintest, reverent touch.

“You’re okay?” He whispers.

“Yeah,” you admit, unable to not smile softly at him. “I wouldn’t mind kissing you again.”

His breath catches, just faintly, but you feel it. Moreover, for a moment, Izou doesn’t speak. He just watches you, something softer and unguarded growing behind his eyes. And then, slowly, his lips curl into the barest smile.

“Good,” he murmurs. “Because I was thinking the same thing.”

His hand slides from your cheek to cradle the back of your neck, fingers slipping into your hair like he’s done it a hundred times in dreams he’d never admit to having. And when he kisses you again, it’s deeper from the start. No lingering uncertainty.

Just want.

Just the kind of aching sweetness that makes the world fall away.

You tilt into him, your hands finding his chest, his shoulder—anything to keep you close. His other arm slips around your waist, steadying you, grounding you, but not pulling you too close. He still handles you like something precious.

“Well, well, well,” Marco drawls, looking far too satisfied. “Looked like a pretty meaningful watch shift from up here.”

You jolt, just barely, and Izou sighs deep and from the soul, his forehead dropping to rest against yours for one last second before he straightens.

Up on the upper deck, Marco leans lazily over the railing, arms folded, a slow grin spreading across his face like he’s been waiting all morning for this exact moment.

“I swear to god,” Izou mutters under his breath.

But it’s too late. Because now Thatch pops up behind Marco, practically vibrating with excitement. “Did they kiss again?! Did I miss it?! Marco, you said you’d signal me!”

“I did signal you,” Marco replies blandly. “You just didn’t react yoi.”

“I thought the hand wave meant someone fell overboard!” Thatch wails. “You need a better system!”

“You two are disasters,” you hiss, face burning hot as you try to duck behind Izou’s shoulder… not that it helps.

“Oh, c’mon,” Thatch grins, leaning over the rail so far it looks unsafe. “We knew there was tension. We just didn’t know it was gonna burst into flames!”

Then comes Ace, swinging in from a rope like he’s auditioning for a different genre entirely. “Congrats! I give it three days before they start sneaking into each other’s rooms!”

“I’m literally going to kill all three of you,” Izou growls, voice low and dark.

“Oh no, he’s doing the voice,” Ace stage-whispers, already crab-walking backward toward the nearest rope. “He’s gonna get the gun. He’s gonna get the gun!”

“Izou…” you warn, but he exhales like a man preparing for battle.

Then he lets go of your hand slowly, carefully, almost reverently, and pulls his flintlock from his belt in one smooth motion, like he’s rehearsed it.

Instantly, Ace bolts up the rigging with alarming speed, practically leaping two steps at a time. Even Thatch lets out a shriek and dives behind Marco similar to how Ace did it today morning.

“Thatch, you said he wouldn't actually pull it!” Ace yells from halfway up the mast.

“I thought he’d hesitate!” Thatch howls from the floor. “He usually hesitates!”

“He didn’t hesitate this morning!”

You’re laughing now, absolutely breathless, wheezing as you grab Izou’s arm with both hands. “Don’t shoot them!”

“I’m just scaring them,” Izou replies calmly, flintlock raised with unnerving precision.

You eye the gun and the glitter of the hammer cocked back. “You cocked it.”

He sighs like you’re asking the impossible. “Fine. Scaring them a lot.”

57 notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 8 days ago

Text

Happy Pride 🫡 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️!

37K notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 9 days ago

Text

just got my nails done, where are the butches who like back scratches in exchange for kisses?

232 notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 20 days ago

Text

20 notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 23 days ago

Text

Lupita Nyong'o, Leticia Wright, and Danai Gurira for Elle Magazine, Nov 2022

7K notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 24 days ago

Text

Snow Fall, Part 4

18+ MDNI | On Ao3

The other parts

The heatening. I'm not 100% satisfied with this piece and I might edit it in the next few days.

Thank you to @tryingandfailingtowrite and @gouraminnow for helping me, beta-ing, and sharing thoughts and concerns ideas.

“ I don’t like this feeling ,” you panted at Izou, your heat making sweat bead on your forehead. Izou’s lips pursed into a frown - he wished he could bear all the pain of your heat for you instead of just alleviating it. You bit your lips and wrapped your arms around yourself as you hugged your knees to your stomach, likely experiencing severe cramping.

“It will pass, I’ll help you through it,” he replied, reaching for your burning body. “ I’m going to remove your garments. ” You nodded, already undoing the strings to your outer layer. Some of the nurses on board the ship had given you summer clothes but you’d been wearing some of Izou’s old kimonos that he’d given you. It made his pride swell to see you wearing his clothes, even if they were now altered to fit your smaller body. You parted the kimono on your body, revealing your heaving chest underneath. You smelled like a late winter snowstorm as your scent bloomed with your increasing heat.

You scrunched your face in pain as a small whine left your body, your head turning to the side as if to not have him look at you. Your body was covered in glistening sweat and before Izou could stop himself, he ran his tongue up your bare sternum. You jolted like he’d electrocuted you, your thighs parting and flopping open as he finished removing your clothes. Slotting himself between them, Izou leaned over you, his long black hair falling like a curtain dividing the two of you from the rest of the world.

“You are sure about this? That you want me to tend to you?” Izou asked, even as your fingers curled around the hems of his kimono and tugged him closer.

“I’ve never wanted another. Please, Alpha, it h-hurts,” you squinted your eyes shut again and shoved your nose into the crook of his neck, taking in his own rapidly increasing scent. Izou smiled into your skin, his canines already elongating for an event that wouldn’t be taking place.

During heat, Omegas became easily confused and unusually agreeable. This sometimes led to manipulation and falling prey to a mating claim that they didn’t want. Izou couldn’t contain his happiness that you chose him to help you through such a vulnerable time, that you trusted him so deeply. He knew you didn’t truly have many options - no one but himself and Whitebeard spoke Wanese - but even so, you could have your pick from the hundreds of Alphas on board.

“You’re not alone, Omega. Let me take care of you,” he husked, already slipping his arms out from within his own robe. Your fingers spread over his chest and back, seeking as much physical touch as you could manage. Izou undid the ties to his own robes, allowing them to fall off his skin and onto the bed below. He was already painfully hard, his body responding to yours before you could confirm your consent. Even so, no matter what you said, he wasn’t going to claim you during the heat since the two of you hadn’t had a conversation about it while you were still coherent and in your right mind.

“ So beautiful, so sweet, ” Izou groaned as you wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him as close to you as you could manage. Now that you were naked, he cupped your rib cage in his hands as he covered you with his body. Tears pooled on your lashes as you winced in pain; Izou didn’t want to wait any longer, he couldn’t bear to see you in pain.

“ I’m going to touch you, Omega. I need to check if you’re ready ,” he explained quietly as you began nibbling and licking his scent glands. The cramps you felt were releasing waves of slick from your body but he needed to ensure you’d be able to take his sizeable girth. He already felt your slick against his own thighs, but he wanted to double check to ease his own mind.

“I’m ready, please. Please Izou ,” you begged, your reddened cheeks now stained with a few errant tears. Izou let out a soft grunt as you started rolling your hips against his core, as he reached his hand between your legs. As anticipated, your thighs were drenched with slick as he danced his fingers through the thin fluid.

“Have you taken a knot before?” Izou asked, running his fingers up your thigh to your inner thigh. You shivered and tried to push yourself down further into Izou’s hand but he kept you in place, his protective side needing to hear your response. Pulling your head back from his neck, you opened your eyes a sliver, your pupils blown wide.

“No. I’ve had sex but not that,” you said, your head resuming its former position against his neck. Izou wanted to roar with the primitive feeling of first - that he’d be the first to knot you, that you’d had no other in that way but him, that you’d been kept safe from being hurt or injured during an Omega’s most vulnerable time. He had no doubt that if your shitty stepbrother had been an Alpha he would have tried it - just the thought made Izou’s blood burn with the desire to kill that louse. Maybe he’d take a detour from the main ship after your heat and finally get rid of that festering excuse for a beta…Izou’s attention snapped back to you as you sniffled in his arms, another splash of slick hitting his thighs.

“ Izou, I c-can’t, it h-hurts, please, ” you cried with a hiccup, tears now running down your face. Izou hushed your cries with a kiss as you writhed beneath him, needing your Alpha. There’d be a time for preparing you more, for dipping his head between your thighs, but you needed him immediately. Izou fisted his cock, pumping it a few times before positioning his weeping tip at your entrance. He entered you slowly, your panting breath a reverent hymn to his ears as he allowed you to adjust to his size. He gave a low hiss as your tight heat welcomed his thick cock, every inch a torturous delight. He kissed your neck as he slowly pushed himself to the hilt within you, stopping only at the massive knot at the base of his cock.

You bit your lip as he continued to nibble your neck, making his way down to your scent glands. Your gummy walls tightened around him as he began thrusting shallowly, trying to prepare you as best he could for the experience of your first knot. Even Omegas who’d been with many Alphas said the first knot of a heat was the most intense and needed the most preparation.

“ More, Alpha, more,” you begged, arching your back. Izou internally scolded himself for neglecting your lovely breasts. Izou put one of his forearms by your head, leaning his bodyweight down over you to capture one of your nipples in his mouth. Tugging harshly earned him a sharp intake of breath from you as you lurched forward in his arms bringing your breasts closer to his mouth. He repeated the action, rolling his tongue around the hardened bud. Izou switched to sucking, your shaking hands now raking through his hair, pulling harshly with every lap of his tongue.

Izou started fucking you in earnest, pushing himself as deep as he could within you before pulling himself nearly all of the way out. He wanted to rut into you, to fuck you into the matress like an animal, but you deserved more than that for your first time together. Your thighs quivered around him as you threw your head back, moaning loudly. Normally Izou wasn’t one for loud sex, wanting to keep his personal affairs private when he could. But now? He wanted the entire ship to know who was pleasing you, who kept you sated in your time of need.

Izou got onto his knees, grabbing your ankles and hoisting them onto his shoulders as he increased his pace, snapping his hips faster against your core. You closed your eyes as you mewled a small cry, likely to filter out some of the overwhelming sensations of your heat, but Izou couldn’t bear to be apart from you. He burned with the overwhelming base urge to drive his knot into you, to tie you to him and force you to keep his seed in your body.

“ Open your eyes, Omega,” he commanded you softly, hoping he didn’t have to order you harshly. He’d imagined your first time together a few times and given your more timid nature, he didn’t think you’d appreciate an overbearing Alpha. Your eyes blinked open as you focused in on his face. “It is selfish, but I wish to see you,” Izou said, leaning down to brush his lips over yours. You bit your lip as he watched his cock disappear into your body, your hips gyrating in a rhythm matching his own.

“I’m c-close, Alpha,” you whined, your fingers tightening on his biceps. Izou wasn’t surprised, Omegas in heat were known to come often and easily with little stimulation. He parted your lips and began rubbing your clit gingerly with the pad of his thumb. You tried to squirm away from the sensation but Izou kept you in place to accept the outlet that you needed, not necessarily only what you wanted.

“Come, little Omega,” Izou cooed at you. You dug your fingernails into his muscular arms, the sting barely registering as Izou watched your face contort with pleasure. “Come for me, I want to see your beautiful face as you come on my cock,” Izou husked. He felt you pulsing around him before your eyebrows pinched together and you let out a loud wail. You shut your eyes as your muscles constricted but he didn’t stop you this time, allowing you to ride your pleasure within your own mind. Izou was now pounding into you relentlessly, his narrow hips thrusting against you as his own pleasure was riding him on razor’s edge.

Your chest was still heaving with exertion when he pulled out of you completely. Your whine turned into a squeak as Izou flipped you onto your hands and knees in front of him and re-entered you in one fell swoop. One of his hands stayed on your hip while the other snaked back between your legs. Izou grabbed and kneaded your ass as it bounced against his thighs, stopping only to smack it lightly.

“It’s t-too soon, I - I don’t think-” Izou ignored your weak cries, he already felt your body preparing for another orgasm. Your fingers were curling in his sheets, your feet seeking purchase against the bed as he continued to rub your clit.

“Trust me, Omega. Let me guide you,” he said, his long hair brushing against your bare back. You turned to look at his face, your eyes shining bright. You gave him a small nod before putting your elbows on the bed, laying your head flat against the mattress. Your submissive pose triggered something in Izou, something he’d never felt before with any bedmate he’d had - the desire to knot you. Despite his assurances that you should trust him, he’d never actually given an Omega his knot before either. He’d never wanted to remain connected to an Omega more than just for a tumble in bed, their harsh scents irritating his nose.

Until now.

He rubbed your clit in small circles as you trembled beneath him, barely able to hold up your own bodyweight as Izou’s tempo increased. “ I’m going to knot you, don’t be afraid,” Izou managed to grit out as he pushed his knot past your swollen lips against your entrance. You tensed so Izou increased his attention to your clit as he continued to piston into your tight channel, his other hand leaving your hip to rest against the middle of your back.

You arched your hips and choked out a harsh groan as slick gushed from you, your second orgasm hitting you faster than the first. Seeing you undone beneath him had Izou growling and snarling as his felt his own orgasm creeping over him. Fire spread through his veins as he continued to pump into you, his vision blurring into white.

He threw his head back and roared as he pushed his knot into your cunt. Your breath hitched as your drenched pussy readily accepted him, your entire body growing taut. The pressure from your tight heat on his knot had him grunting his orgasm, his pace stalling as he came deep within you. You smelled heavenly, like the purest crisp night of winter and it was all Izou could do to keep himself from claiming you. Izou gritted his teeth and used his immense self control to prevent himself from biting down in the spot between your shoulder and neck.

As your orgasm receded, you were panting with your eyes shut, your chest heaving as Izou leaned down and kissed between your shoulderblades. The two of you would be joined together for at least half an hour or more, depending on how fast his knot receded.

“ You’re doing so well, taking my knot like the perfect Omega you are,” Izou purred at you. A faint blush spread across your cheekbones as you averted your gaze. “ Let me show you the pleasures of knotting an Alpha,” he breathed against your hot skin. Izou slowly began rocking his hips against you, using the knot inside you to put additional pressure on your gspot. You squirmed and whined, thrashing your head against the mattress. The sensation was intense for him as well, making him groan as you tightened against him.

“Do you want me to stop?” Izou asked, concern ringing in his voice. He wanted to give you the best possible experience and had heard of the delights of thrusting while knotted. However, if you wanted a break, he’d provide that to you instead.

“N-no, it feels good,” you whispered. Izou smiled and placed his hand between you and the mattress to press on your lower belly where his knot was inflated.

“ Does my little Omega like that? Do you like being knotted by my fat cock?” Izou whispered into your ear. The blush that had previously been on your cheeks now returned tenfold, spreading down your chest. You didn’t reply verbally but nodded your head. Izou continued rocking and pressing, finding the spot on your lower stomach that had your toes curling into the sheets. After a few moments, your voice shook as you came with a cry, your tight cunt further milking Izou’s cock within you.

Your limbs were shaking and threatening to collapse so Izou quickly pushed the two of you to your sides and laid you down on the bed, spooning together as you came down from your high. You threw your forearm over your face, but Izou gently removed it. He opened your loose fist and brought your hand to his face to kiss your palm. You looked back to him and cupped his cheek, pulling him forward for a slow kiss as Izou continued to grind into you. Your small whine was captured by his mouth as he wound his hand under your cheek and lifted your head towards his own. Your neck was exposed, which renewed Izou’s animalistic urge to claim you.

“Be careful, Omega. It is…challenging not to claim you,” Izou said, flashing you his teeth. You gave him an inscrutable look before shifting yourself to cover more of your neck once more. Izou reached down for the blanket, covering both of your bodies before wrapping an arm around your middle. You were joined together by his knot but even so Izou pulled your torso as close to him as you could be. The room fell silent for a few minutes as your breathing evened out. Izou spent that time running his fingertips up and down your skin, admiring the goosebumps left in his wake.

“Can we stay like this for a while longer?” you asked, as you bit your lip and clenched down on Izou’s knot once more. You were watching for his reaction, to see if you could affect him the way he affected you.

“Naughty little Omega ,” Izou hissed with a smile, moving your hair to kiss your temple. He’d have to find a book on Omega anatomy and physiology in the ship’s library and translate it for you. He should have anticipated that you wouldn’t know much about your designation and would need additional information. Wanese culture wasn’t particularly forthcoming about sexual matters and given the language barrier you’d been living with since you were a child he should have deduced you wouldn’t know common facts about heats with Alphas.

“We have to remain this way until my knot recedes. If I pull away from you now it will cause extreme pain and perhaps damage you,” he explained as you ran your fingers through his hair. You gave a satisfied hum as you wrapped his arms around your breasts, your nipples still puckered. There’d be plenty more time for pleasure over the coming hours, and you needed your rest for what was to come shortly.

A few hours later you were sleeping while lying on Izou’s chest. As he had expected there had been several more rounds of sex, all ending in you being knotted. This particular time his knot had already receded but you’d fallen asleep before he could attend to you further. Watching your chest rise and fall against his own, Izou felt himself relaxing in a way he’d never been before, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Izou wished he could remain like this with you for eternity, but he needed to get you water and food before the next wave of heat hit you.

As your Alpha, he was responsible for tending to you for both your sexual needs as well as your base physical ones. He had to make sure you drank water and ate food as well as bathing you in between sessions. Izou personally hadn’t attended any Omegas in heat due to their overly pungent smells, but tending to Omegas in heat was something his brothers took very seriously. Thatch had practically castrated the last Alpha who let his Omega get a UTI from lack of bathing during their heat, and Marco had assigned a crew member to changing bedpans for a month for the same crime. Izou didn’t need to be warned though - even without their rules, Izou’s own personal dedication to hygiene would have him bathing you at least twice a day.

You’d be in heat for at least another day or two and he needed to ensure you remained healthy for the duration without intervention. The last person he wanted around you right now was another Alpha like Marco. He’d have you see Marco after your heat was entirely over just to ensure you were in top condition but the longer he could keep you to himself the better.

Izou gave you one last glance over to ensure you were still asleep before leaving for the kitchens - he didn’t want to miss a single moment when you were awake. Closing the door softly, his pace down the hall quickened at the thought of you waking and finding him missing, crying out for him in your confused state. Normally Izou was always completely dressed, in full makeup, and without a hair out of place. However, he was currently barefoot and padding down to the kitchens dressed only in the bottom half of his robes, his top half completely exposed.

Reaching the kitchens, Izou rummaged around gathering foods that would be easy for you to eat and digest during your heat. Many Omegas lost their appetites for the duration, their bodies putting all their energy into sexual functions. Still, he wanted to offer you some and encourage you to eat so that your recovery would be a little easier. Izou wanted to make the excursion as brief as possible and get back to you but unfortunately there were always others in the kitchens no matter the hour.

“How’s the little lady?” Thatch asked mildly, working on the stovetop as Izou located some dried fruit in a nearby cupboard. Thatch was cooking some kind of chicken dish and plating a few wings and breasts on top of some steaming rice while Ace waited off to the side.

“Ha, you look like shit,” Ace said, pointing his finger at Izou while he kicked his legs while sitting on the counter. “Undressed and no makeup too,” he teased, his eyes flicking over Izou’s seldomly exposed skin. Ace’s usual teasing was far too familiar for Izou’s liking and he hadn’t appreciated Thatch’s comment about you either. A rumble came unbidden from his chest, his eyes flashing as he turned to face his brother.

“Ace, don’t torment him,” Thatch reprimanded lightly, handing over the prepared plate of meat to Izou. Though his own hunger hadn’t been on his mind, Izou suddenly found himself ravenous as he set down the plate of food he’d been making for you. Izou leaned over the counter and ate with both hands with uncharacteristic haste in his desire to refuel his body as fast as possible.

“Whoa, is that what I look like when I eat? Wish Tasuke could see you now. Wonder how she’s doin’ if you look like this,” Ace continued with a laugh. Izou’s head snapped up like he’d heard an alarm bell ringing. His eyes narrowed in focus until all he saw was Ace’s smiling face. Izou felt his muscles tensing, his whole body burning now with the desire to shed his brother’s blood. Izou threw down the food in his hands and pushed his plate away, the sound echoing in the nearly empty kitchen. Izou took the few steps to Ace and grabbed him by the jaw, his long claws digging into the freckled skin of Ace’s neck.

“Don’t you dare speak of her,” Izou snarled, snapping his long canines in Ace’s face. Thatch’s eyebrows hiked in surprise as he pried Izou’s hand off of Ace and placed his larger body in between Ace and Izou.

“Alright, alright. He didn’t mean anything by it,” Thatch said, glancing between Izou and Ace. Izou closed his eyes and took a deep breath to try and recalibrate himself. He’d heard of Alphas getting overly aggressive during an Omega’s heat but he hadn’t thought it would be so instantaneous. His brief calming session didn’t work as a waft of Ace’s fiery scent hit his nose, reigniting his anger. Would you like the other Alpha’s scent? Or did you want someone younger, like Ace? An Alpha who was already making moves to take his place?

Izou snarled and snapped while lunging for Ace, his focus only now on Ace’s unsure and confused face. Thatch grabbed Izou by the shoulders and held him back, signaling for Ace to leave with a toss of his head. Ace took another unsure glance at Izou before nodding, practically running out of the kitchen.

“We don’t need all this. Ace is just being a shithead, he doesn’t know better yet. Calm down,” Thatch demanded roughly, bobbing his head to try to catch Izou’s eyes as he tracked Ace’s movements.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Thatch thundered, shaking Izou roughly. Izou snapped out of his trance as Thatch’s words finally registered. He looked at his brother, a Commander he’d been serving with for decades and felt the rage seep out of him, his anger deflating.

“You good?” Thatch asked, his massive hands squeezing Izou’s shoulders. Izou nodded and Thatch removed his hands.

“I am sorry, Thatch. I don’t know what came over me. I will apologize to Ace,” he said, consciously relaxing his shoulders from their aggressive stance.

“Nah, do that later. Ace’s comments were over the line and shouldn’t’ve mentioned her name. Don’t think this situation has come up for him before, I’ll have Marco give him the whole birds-and-bees talk. Raised by wolves, that one,” Thatch said with a sigh. He flicked his eyes over Izou, giving him a frown.

“Don’t let others see you get that aggressive, especially Pops. There’s a reason unclaimed Omegas aren’t allowed to remain onboard, no matter what their scents are like,” Thatch said, passing Izou back his plate of food. Izou nodded, thankful it was Thatch who’d caught him at his worst. Izou ate in silence, quickly clearing the plate. Izou barely tasted the food, his mind bouncing between his shameful actions and the thought of you alone in his chambers. Thatch piled some fresh fruit on the plate Izou had started for you and handed it back to him.

“Don’t worry too much about it. Me ‘n Ace aren’t going to snitch. Go back to your rooms, I’ll see you in a few days,” Thatch said, clapping Izou on his shoulder. Izou cringed away from Thatch’s harsh scent of mint and lemons but it didn’t trigger anger like Ace’s had.

“Thank you, Thatch,” Izou said with a low bow. Grabbing the plate, he hurried back to his quarters to remove Thatch’s faint lingering scent before you woke up.

Taglist: @mfreedomstuff @extremely-ashtridic @sunnyferr @animefreak818 @epochal-oracle @sparks0918 @rebeccawinters @one-piecelover

124 notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 24 days ago

Note

Hii :) could i request Sanji getting his face peppered with kisses by his partner but they have lipstick on so he's full of kiss stains?

Vinsmoke Sanji ~ !! Peppered in Kisses.

warnings: none. zoro is mentioned

masterlist and rules || have fun reading!

Sanji was doomed the moment you walked in.

You had that glint in your eye.

Mischievous,

Loving,

Dangerous.

And he barely had time to say your name before you pounced.

“Wha—darling—!?”

You grabbed his face with both hands,

Fingers curling around his jaw,

You began pressing rapid-fire kisses all over his cheeks,

Nose,

Forehead,

And anywhere you could reach.

“Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!”

Each kiss came with a dramatic,

Exaggerated sound,

Making it impossible not to laugh in between.

Sanji was already red in the face by the third kiss, sputtering,

“W-Wait, sweetheart—! I—hngh—!”

But he made zero effort to stop you.

In fact,

He leaned into it,

Heart thudding against his ribs like a runaway train.

Unbeknownst to him,

Your lipstick,

A vibrant pinkish-red.

Was not exactly smudge-proof.

So by the time you were finished,

Standing back with a proud grin,

Sanji looked like he’d been attacked by a particularly affectionate paintbrush.

“Ta-da!”

You said proudly,

Admiring your handiwork.

“Now everyone knows you’re mine.”

Sanji blinked.

Then turned to a nearby mirror.

“…Oh my god,”

He gasped.

“I—I look like I’ve been blessed by Aphrodite herself.”

He spun to face you,

Totally starry-eyed,

Cupping his face like a giddy teenager.

“You made me your canvas! Mon amour, this is art. This is romance. This is—”

He sniffled dramatically,

“—the happiest day of my life.”

Cue the door creaking open.

Zoro paused in the doorway.

“...The hell happened to your face?”

“JEALOUS, MARIMO?”

581 notes · View notes

mindlesschicca · 27 days ago

Text

Hey Princess pt.4

zoro x fem!reader

part 3 - part 5 (end)

you find freedom, love, and a true family among pirates—only to risk everything, even your life, to protect them from the chains of your past.

words count: 3.4k

tags: slow burn, enemies to lovers, banter, mystery backstory, angst and fluff

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

Below the palace — Zoro’s whole body locks up mid-step. He stumbles into a wall, sword clattering to the stone floor. Pain sears through his chest, sharp and sudden.

“Zoro!” Usopp catches him before he collapses.

And then Chopper cries out too, hands shaking as he falls to one knee.

“Chopper?! What the hell is happening now?!”

Sanji rushes to both of them, panic barely masked in anger “They’re both burning up, something’s wrong with the chips!”

“They activated them” Robin says through gritted teeth.

Zoro can barely breathe. His teeth grind. Not from pain.

From fury.

And through the agony, one thought pulses clear in his mind.

They’re using me to get to her.

Back in the dining room — You freeze as Zoro’s pained voice echoes in your memory. The way his grip always steadied you. The way he looked at you like you were never a burden, never too much.

“Stop it” you whisper.

Your father raises an eyebrow “Then sit down, Your Highness.”

You do. Slowly.

Your fists clench in your lap.

“Please” you say.

He lets go of the button.

In the corridors — Zoro gasps in air like it’s fire.

The pain fades, but not the burn under his skin.

Chopper lifts his head, panting “It’s… gone. For now.”

Zoro doesn’t move for a second.

Then he grabs his sword, pushing off the wall.

“She’s still fighting them,” he mutters “That’s the only reason we’re still breathing.”

Usopp stares “She did that?”

Zoro nods once and with a dark edge to his voice, he adds “She won’t have to much longer.”

Back at the table — The prince is still smirking. Your parents look pleased. You feel like vomiting.

But inside you, something sharp and alive refuses to die.

Because this time, you’re not alone. And you know they’re coming for you.

You just have to hold on a little longer... And you also got an idea.

The moment dessert is cleared, you push back your chair.

“I think I’ll go rest. It’s been a long day” you say, already rising, not even glancing at the prince.

He frowns, confused and disappointed “But we haven’t even gotten to know each other yet.”

You smile tightly “Guess we’ll have years for that.”

He laughs, thinking you’re joking. You are not.

Your father’s gaze lingers on you like he knows something’s shifting, but he says nothing.

“Goodnight” you say sweetly, then walk off quickly before they can stop you.

You reach your room, shut the door, and lean against it. Your hands are shaking. But your mind is racing.

The remote. You saw it. Small, clunky, but powerful.

If they need it to activate the chip…

Then maybe if you steal it, they’ll be helpless.

Maybe Zoro and Chopper will finally be safe.

You change out of the heavy gown into something quiet and dark, easy to move in. You tie your hair up, and your heart pounds in your chest like a war drum.

You’re not a spy. But Luffy wanted you as one. Maybe it’s time you act like it.

The corridors are empty. You know the guards’ patrol routes by heart, you used to sneak sweets as a kid.

Now you’re sneaking something far more dangerous.

You slip into your father’s chamber.

The room is dark. Lavish. Cold. But there, on the desk, is the device.

You rush forward, fingers closing around it. You don’t even breathe.

Got it.

But before you can turn “Did you really think it would be that easy?”

You freeze.

His voice is calm. Disappointed.

Slowly, you look up. Your father stands in the shadows of the room, arms folded.

He steps closer.

“You’re clever. But not clever enough.”

Your grip tightens “If I keep this or if I destroy this—”

He cuts you off, lips curling into a quiet, cruel smile.

“We have more remotes, Y/N. Take that one. I’ll deactivate it. Then use another. Or another. Or another.”

Your stomach sinks.

“There’s no freedom,” he says “Not for you. And not for them.”

You stare at the device in your hand. It suddenly feels very, very useless.

Meanwhile – Zoro stands at the edge of the hallway, back pressed against the stone wall. The chip’s pain is gone, but his jaw is still locked tight.

“She’s buying us time” he mutters.

Robin and Franky emerge from a secret passage they discovered behind a rusted painting.

“We found the medical lab” Robin says “But it’s worse than we thought.”

Franky adds, “There’s tech in there even I can’t read right away. Whoever’s running this place? They ain’t amateurs.”

Chopper stands beside them, weak but steady “I need time. If I can just study it…”

Nami’s eyes narrow “Then we give you time.”

Zoro’s fingers twitch near his sword hilt.

Hold on, Princess.

Just a little longer.

You throw the remote on the floor.

It doesn’t shatter. You wish it did.

You sit on the edge of the bed, back hunched, elbows on your knees. You’re trying to breathe. Trying not to scream.

They have more.

There’s always something else keeping you here.

You curl your fingers into fists, staring at the floor like it might give you answers.

And then…

An idea.

A stupid one.

A dangerous one.

But maybe the only one.

They need the chips to control people… Which means they must store them somewhere. Manufacture them. Distribute them... They must have more.

You lift your head slowly.

What if you get your hands on one? Not the remote... The chip.

If they had one in them, then they’d understand. Then they’d be forced to talk, to tell you how to remove it. You could even… put one in yourself. You’d control the rules. Flip the game.

It’s insane yeah, but it’s someting.

You slip out of your room again.

This time not to steal. But to gamble everything.

Straw Hats – All crammed in the dim lower level of the palace, half-hidden behind crates of medical tech, glowing tubes, and unmarked boxes.

Chopper mutters, “These are way more advanced than I thought…”

Robin runs her fingers across a small glass case “This must be where they store the chips. But it’s heavily protected.”

Zoro scans the shadows. He hasn’t said much, just clutching his swords like they might keep the guilt away.

Luffy’s serious now “We get one. Figure it out. Fix this. Then we go get her.”

Nami nods “We won’t leave without her.”

And then footsteps. Fast.

Everyone tenses.

You round the corner into the chamber with eyes wild, determination written across your face—and freeze.

They freeze too.

Ten pairs of eyes widen in shock.

“…Y/N?” Nami says first, confused “How did—?”

You don’t answer.

You don’t even think.

You run right toward him.

Zoro’s too stunned to move, until you leap forward and he instinctively catches you mid-air.

His arms wrap tightly around your waist. Your arms lock around his neck.

You bury your face into his shoulder, trembling, but laughing in relief, a breathless kind of joy.

“You’re here,” you whisper “You’re all here.”

Zoro breathes into your hair, his voice low, rough with emotion he doesn’t show often.

“Yeah” he mutters, holding you like he’ll never let go again.

“You idiot,” you mumble into his neck “Why’d you come?”

“Could ask you the same thing” he says. But his grip only tightens.

The rest of the crew gathers around, all at once full of emotion, relief, joy, disbelief.

Sanji clears his throat loudly “I would like to point out I also would have caught you. Perfectly. With grace.”

You laugh, still in Zoro’s arms, not even looking up “Sorry, love. My legs just knew where to go.”

Zoro smirks “Damn right they did.”

Luffy grins wide “We missed you, Y/N!”

But then your expression sobers, and you finally pull back just enough to look around.

“There’s something I need to do,” you say, “and you’re gonna help me do it.”

Zoro raises a brow “We were already planning to. What are you thinking?”

You glance at the crates “The chips. I need one.”

Everyone freezes again.

You explain you need one to see but not what you actually want to do with it.

And slowly, a knowing look forms between all of them.

Zoro’s eyes never leave yours.

Later in the labs, the air is thick.

Not just with the glow of the machines or the stale scent of old metal, but with tension. Emotions. Arguments just on the edge of spilling.

You’re standing with your hands on a glass case that probably holds your only shot at ending this nightmare.

But before you can even think of reaching for a chip, Zoro’s hand is on yours.

Firm. Unmoving.

“No” he says.

His voice isn’t raised, but it’s low. Sharp. Unshakable.

You look up at him, confused “Zoro...”

“No. You’re not using it on yourself.”

Around you, the crew slowly freezes, watching.

Luffy tilts his head “Wait… on yourself?”

Sanji narrows his eyes “That’s your plan?”

Robin frowns “You’re thinking of turning yourself into a hostage to negotiate information.”

You nod once “If they think I’d risk my own body, they might believe I’m serious. It’d force them to reveal how these things work.”

But Zoro’s hand is still gripping yours.

Tight.

“No,” he repeats “Hell no.”

You try to pull back, but he doesn’t let go “I thought you wanted to have the chip. Not become the threat.”

You meet his eyes, unflinching “If it gives us a chance—”

“Then we find another one.” His voice rises now “We find a way without you turning yourself into a damn target.”

Chopper steps forward, ears drooping “Y/N… please don’t. These things… they’re dangerous. I’ve never seen tech like this. If they activate it even once, it could—”

“I know,” you cut in “I know the risks. But they did it to him. To you, Chopper.”

Zoro’s jaw clenches “And you think that means you should join us in that pain? Hell no.”

Silence again, until Nami, ever the mood-shifter, lifts a brow and says flatly “So… did you meet the prince?”

You blink.

Zoro’s hand finally lets go of yours.

But his eyes stay locked on your face.

Your jaw twitches “Yeah.”

Nami smirks “And?”

You roll your eyes “He’s annoying. Like… deeply annoying.”

Zoro scoffs under his breath “Huh.”

You glance sideways “What?”

He shrugs “Nothing. You just… call me annoying, too.”

You squint “And?”

He crosses his arms, voice laced with irritation now “Just wondering if that’s your type or something.”

You blink “Are you serious?”

He looks off “You kiss me. You call me annoying. Now you call him annoying. Just wondering if I should be worried.”

You stare at him, dumbfounded “Zoro.”

“What?”

You step forward “You’re an annoying cute… okay? ...Sexy even. He’s just an annoying asshole.”

His arms fall to his sides “…Oh.”

The crew snorts, Usopp nearly chokes.

Sanji flips his cigarette in his mouth and mutters, “Still don’t know how you chose that mosshead over me.”

“Because she likes charm. It's time you accept it.” Zoro retorts.

“She just said you’re annoying.”

“She also said sexy.”

“You’re lucky she’s got weird taste.”

Nami rolls her eyes “Boys, please.”

You turn to Zoro, leaning close enough that your breath brushes his cheek.

“For the record,” you whisper, voice low, “I kissed you because you get me. Because I can be me with you.”

He doesn’t move and doesn’t speak. But his ears are red, and he shifts slightly, like he wants to pull you back into his arms right here.

You smirk and step back.

“Anyway,” you say, turning to the case again “We still need to find out how these chips work. And I have a feeling this room isn’t the only place storing secrets.”

Robin nods, serious again “Then let’s split. Cover more ground. But carefully.”

You exhale, trying to steady the rush in your chest, not just from the plan, but from him.

Zoro moves beside you again, his voice low in your ear “You’re never putting one of those in you. I’ll fight your whole kingdom before I let that happen.”

You turn your head toward him, smile soft but stubborn “We’ll see who fights harder.”

He grunts “Annoying.”

You grin “Sexy.”

He groans, but doesn’t stop you from reaching for the map Robin found. Because no matter how dangerous this next step is, you’re not walking it alone.

You’d just discovered the hidden files. Robin was flipping through them, Nami covering the hallway, Chopper checking the strange instruments, and Zoro never left your side.

Then, without warning the sirens screech through the stone corridors.

Bright red lights flash across the metal surfaces, drowning you in crimson warnings.

Zoro curses “Shit.”

A door slams behind you, another crashes down ahead.

Thick iron barriers.

Seastone bars.

It all happens in seconds.

You’re shoved away from the others as an invisible force pulls open a path, just for you. Like the walls are obeying your family’s command.

You try to resist “No—no, wait—I’m not going—”

But they’re already there.

Your father, cold as ever.

Your mother, arms crossed, looking through you.

And the prince, already smirking like he’s won.

“Hello my Princess” he coos, stepping forward to brush a hand against your cheek like he’s earned it “Didn’t think we’d find you again sneaking around, hm?”

Zoro SLAMS against the cage bars from inside “Don’t touch her.”

The prince doesn’t even flinch “Relax, green head. You’re in no place to bark.”

He lifts a hand and one of the guards shows the remote. The one you hate. The one that has hurt them both.

Your blood runs cold.

Zoro’s voice drops, deadly now “If you try that again—”

Your father smiles like he’s holding all the cards “If you try anything, I’ll kill you from the inside out.”

He lifts the remote slightly.

Zoro twitches already bracing.

And in that moment you make your move.

Silently, smoothly, you pull the chip from your pocket. The small vial glints in the red alarm light.

Your parents freeze.

The prince stares “What…?”

You meet their eyes. Then lift your chin “I have one.”

Gasps ripple through the room.

Zoro’s eyes widen “What are you doing?!”

Your father narrows his eyes “You wouldn’t...”

“Wouldn’t I?” you reply coldly.

You raise the injector and aim it at yourself. Press the tip to your upper arm.

Your mother scoffs “You don’t even know how it works.”

You jab it in hard.

The crew yell your name.

Chopper grips the bars “No—stop—Y/N, don’t!”

But you don’t flinch.

You feel the sting… but that’s it.

Silence follows.

Then… nothing. No pain. No pulse. No agony like the one Zoro and Chopper had when they were tagged.

Your parents look confused.

That’s when you smile.

You reach into your cloak, slowly pulling out a second item.

A remote. And you hold it up.

Right next to the chip now in your arm.

“That’s why,” you say softly, dangerously, “there was a remote labeled with the same serial number as this chip. I watched you show it off. You wanted me to believe you had power over one remote.”

You lift your thumb over the red button “And now I have power over myself.”

The prince actually stumbles back.

You step closer.

“You want to push your little button to hurt them?” you hiss, voice shaking with fire “Fine, do it. Then I’ll push mine. I’ll feel it too. Every time you hurt them, I’ll hurt myself.”

“You’re bluffing” your father hisses.

“Try me.”

Your grip tightens on the remote.

Zoro, inside the cage, looks wrecked, heart pounding against the bars, fists clenched.

“Y/N,” he growls “Don’t do this.”

But you don’t look away from your parents.

“I’m not scared of pain,” you say “Not anymore. Not if it means you never get to own me again. Not if it means saving my friends, my real family.”

You flick the switch to active mode on the remote, its light glows red “Make your move.”

No one breathes.

Even the prince’s smug face finally falls.

They’re beginning to understand that they’ve lost control... And you’re just getting started.

The room is still gripped by silence, the tension pressing on every breath. You’re standing there, thumb hovering over the red button on the remote now linked to your own chip, injected into your own body.

You’re not backing down.

Your father speaks first, voice razor-sharp.

“You’d really risk your own life… for these pirates?”

You take one slow breath in and then you smile. Not cold. Not fake. But raw. True. You.

“Yes.”

Luffy grabs the bars again, straining “Stop—Y/N, don’t—”

But the seastone drains his strength instantly, and he stumbles, gritting his teeth, his skin going pale.

Robin and Nami are yelling. Franky slams his fists against the cage. Usopp’s trying to fire something, but the walls are too thick. Jinbe is trying to analyze, trying to think, but his eyes are on you. On your resolve.

And Zoro…

Zoro is watching you like he’s losing you in real time.

“Y/N—don’t be stupid!” he roars.

You laugh once, breathless “This isn’t stupid, Zoro.”

You look at your family, bloodline only in name.

“You want to know why I’m doing this?” Your voice wavers, but you stand.

“It’s because they’re my family. The only real one I’ve ever had.”

Your eyes brim with tears, but you don’t blink them away. Not this time.

“They didn’t try to shape me. Or trap me. Or sell me off to some smug, pathetic prince.”

You throw a glance at the man beside your parents who immediately scowls at being called out.

“They treated me like a person. Like me.”

You glance at each of your crew through the cage.

"Sanji, who cooks me warm food and reminds me to eat when I'm sad. Nami, who always pulls me into her room when I'm feeling low and braids my hair in silence. Chopper, who patches me up, and always offers a hug even when he’s scared himself. Robin, who reads me stories of princesses who ran and ruled their own lives. Usopp, who never stopped telling me I'd be brave enough to save myself. Franky, Jinbe, Brook—each of them, arms and hearts wide open since day one.... And Luffy, my captain, who never once told me who I had to be, only who I wanted to be."

Then finally… Zoro.

"Zoro, who has always called me Princess but never made me feel like one in chains. Zoro, who holds my hand when I'm trembling, even if he never says much. Zoro, who wants me exactly as I am, even if we still didn't have the time to explore our feelings more yet."

Some of them are crying, some are smiling proudly at you.

“I’m doing this,” you say, now shaking, “because they are my family. They made me feel human. They made me feel seen. They made me…”

Your voice breaks.

You meet Zoro’s eyes. He’s frozen. Wide-eyed. Fists clenched white.

“…they made me feel love.”

Everything goes still.

Zoro blinks once. Like he wasn’t ready for it. Like he heard the word but his heart stuttered too hard to accept it.

You smile, eyes full of tears.

“Yeah. Love.”

And you press the button.

Zoro SCREAMS your name, it's the first time anyone ever heard him yell like that. Worried.

The world shatters.

Your body stiffens instantly, pain rips through you like lightning. Like fire. But you stay standing. Gritting your teeth, you hold the button down. You hold it.

Your parents yell. The prince steps back. The guards panic.

But you don’t stop.

You don’t stop until your legs give out.

Until the pain finally takes you to the ground.

“Y/N!!” Zoro is losing his mind, roaring, slamming his shoulder into the bars over and over, tearing his skin open. Still, he doesn’t stop.

“She—she said love,” Sanji whispers “She loves us.”

“We are family” Robin says quietly.

“She… is sacrificing herself” Chopper cries.

Luffy growls like a wild beast, standing back up “Let. Us. OUT!”

But the power shifts in that instant.

You broke the chain of fear and something changes in the air.

Zoro goes quiet... too quiet, as he watches your still form on the floor, and then he whispers, “You didn’t have to love me like that…”