stormruff

[stormruff]

After the Flames

law x gn!reader

after losing your first love, ace, you spend two years with the heart pirates. somewhere along the way, you start to fall for law, but what happens if he doesn’t feel the same—or pretends not to?

words count: 4.5k

warning and tags: gender neutral reader, hurt/comfort/hurt, slow burn, adventure, grief, angst

law m.list || anime m.list || ao3 || ko-fi

The battlefield is full of screams and smoke. Your body feels heavy, like it doesn’t belong to you. You can’t move much, and your chest burns with pain.

You whisper, voice breaking, “Ace…”

But Ace is gone.

You can still hear Luffy screaming nearby. His voice is raw, broken. It hurts to listen.

Suddenly, footsteps come closer. A shadow falls over you.

“Still alive.” a calm voice says. You blink and see a man with dark eyes, wearing a spotted hat. He kneels down, checking your wounds. You didn’t even notice when you left the battlefield.

“Don’t… bother,” you mutter weakly “I’ll… be fine.”

He gives you a sharp look “You’re not fine. Neither is Straw Hat.”

“Luffy…” you whisper, trying to sit up. Pain shoots through your body, and you groan.

The man, Law, presses you back down “Stay still. If you move now, you’ll die.”

You glare at him weakly “Then… why save me?”

Law doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he calls out to his crew and orders them around, but your mind is too void to hear it.

You don’t understand why, but you can’t resist. Darkness pulls you in.

When you wake again, everything smells like medicine and metal. The room is small, moving like waves are carrying it. You realize you’re still on that ship.

A familiar voice makes you turn your head “Y/N… you’re awake.”

It’s Luffy. His eyes are red and tired, but he tries to smile.

“…Luffy.” you whisper, throat tight.

He nods, but you can see how broken he feels “Ace is gone.” His voice cracks, and you can’t stop the tears that come.

Neither of you speaks for a long time. The silence is heavy.

The door opens and Law steps inside “Good. You’re both conscious.”

Luffy frowns “Why did you save us?”

Law crosses his arms “Because I felt like it. Don’t think too hard about it.”

You look at him, confused “You… saved us for no reason?”

His lips twitch “Maybe I just didn’t want to watch two idiots throw their lives away.”

Days later, you overhear Luffy speaking with Rayleigh. His voice is stronger now.

“I need to get stronger. I’ll train with you” Luffy says.

Your chest tightens “Luffy… you’re leaving?”

He looks at you with sad eyes “I have to. I can’t lose anyone else. Not again.”

You try to stay brave, but your voice shakes “I… understand.”

Rayleigh puts a hand on his shoulder, and soon, they’re gone.

You stand alone on the deck, wind cold against your skin.

A voice speaks behind you “So Strawhat chose his path.”

You turn. Law leans against the railing, watching you with unreadable eyes.

“…Yes.” you whisper.

He studies you quietly, then says, “What about you?”

“What?”

“You’re weak. Grief is eating you alive. If you stay like this, you’ll die. But…” He tilts his head, eyes sharp “If you want, I’ll give you a place on my ship. I’ll make you stronger. Strong enough that no one can take from you again.”

Your eyes widen “You would… do that for me?”

Law shrugs “It benefits me too. A strong ally is always useful. So… what’s your answer?”

You take a deep breath. Your heart still aches, but something inside you whispers that maybe this is the chance you need.

“…I’ll go with you.”

Law smirks, faint but real this time “Good. Don’t regret it.”

The submarine/ship rocks gently, but it feels strange, almost unreal. You sit on a bench, staring at the water, remembering Ace’s smile, his laughter, the way he always made everything brighter.

Law comes up behind you, his hands in his pockets “You’re not dead, so that’s good. But you look like hell.”

You don’t turn.

“I feel like hell.” Your voice is quiet “I keep thinking… Ace should be here. He should’ve… saved us.”

Law sighs, leaning against the railing “There’s nothing I can do about him now. But I can make sure you don’t die too.”

“I don’t care if I die,” you whisper “It hurts too much… without him.”

He looks at you for a long moment “Then prove me wrong.”

“…What?”

“Train. Get stronger. Stay alive. Not for me, not for anyone, but for yourself. Otherwise, all this grief… it’ll kill you.”

You look down at your hands “I can’t forget him. I… I never will.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Law says simply “But I can’t help you survive if you don't want it for yourself to start with.”

A few days pass. The crew moves quietly around you. You can barely eat. Pain lingers everywhere, not just your wounds but your heart.

Law calls you to the training room “Come on. Sitting here crying isn’t going to help you.”

You shake your head “I’m not ready.”

“Then you’ll die the first time someone stronger than you shows up.”

You glare at him, but you follow anyway. You hate that he’s right.

The training is brutal. Law doesn’t go easy “Again!” he orders “Faster! Stronger!”

You collapse on the floor “I… can’t!”

He crouches next to you, tone sharp “I don’t care if you think you can’t. Do it. Push yourself. Your grief won’t help Ace anymore. You have to keep living.”

You close your eyes, remembering Ace’s face “I… I’m trying…” you whisper.

Law nods, standing “Then that’s all I can ask for right now.”

Later, you sit on the deck alone, the wind cold on your skin. You whisper to yourself, “I’ll never forget you, Ace. Never…”

Law appears beside you “You talk to him a lot.”

“…He was important to me.” you say softly.

“I can see that.” he says, voice low “Don’t let anyone take your life away while you mourn. That includes me.”

You glance at him, unsure why he says that. He just watches the horizon quietly, then turns and walks away.

And you realize… this ship, this man, they aren’t a replacement. But maybe… they can help you survive.

The sea breeze feels different now. Stronger. Sharper. Months have passed, but the ache in your chest never leaves. You know it won’t.

You stand on deck, holding your weapon, one Law helped you choose. It feels heavy, but not impossible.

“Your stance is sloppy” Law says behind you.

You groan “You always say that.”

“That’s because it’s always true.” He steps closer, adjusting your arms “Keep your balance. Or the first real fight will knock you down.”

You roll your eyes “You’re really bad at compliments, you know that?”

Law smirks faintly “I don’t give compliments. I give facts.”

Later, the crew gathers around. Bepo looks excited “Captain! The island is close. Are we really going on land this time?”

“Yeah.” Law answers. His eyes flick to you “And Y/N is coming too.”

Your stomach twists “Me? I’m… not ready.”

“You’ve been training for months. You’re coming.” His tone leaves no room for argument.

Shachi grins “Don’t worry, we’ll watch your back.”

Penguin nods “Yeah. You’re one of us now.”

Their words make your chest warm, even if guilt follows right after. You whisper to yourself, Ace… I hope you’d be okay with this.

The island is busy, full of voices and market stalls, but it’s not safe, Law warns you quickly.

“Keep close. Marines are hunting here.”

You nod, gripping your weapon tighter.

Then an ambush. Marines surround you. Your heart races, panic hitting hard.

“I can’t…” you whisper. Your hands shake. Memories of Ace’s last fight burn in your head.

“Y/N!” Law’s voice cuts sharp “Focus. You’re not him. You’re you. Fight.”

A Marine charges at you. Your body moves almost on instinct, swing, block, dodge. You’re clumsy, but alive.

Bepo cheers “You did it!”

Breathing hard, you stare at your hands. You can’t believe it.

Law’s eyes are calm but sharp “Not bad. But don’t let your mind wander next time. The dead don’t need you to follow them.”

You look away, voice low “I miss you Ace...”

Law doesn’t argue. He just says, “Missing him and dying for him are two different things. Choose the first.”

For the first time in months, you feel like maybe you can.

The ship rocks quietly in the night. Everyone else is asleep, but you sit alone on deck, staring at the stars. Ace always loved nights like this.

You whisper, “I wish you were here.”

A voice answers behind you “Talking to him again?”

You turn. Law is there, carrying two cups. He sets one in front of you “Tea. Don’t complain.”

You blink, surprised “You… made this?”

“Bepo did. I just brought it.”

You almost laugh, almost cry “Figures.” You sip anyway. Warmth spreads through you.

Law leans against the railing, silent for a while. Then, softly, he says, “You’re not the only one with ghosts.”

You look at him, startled. He never talks about himself “What do you mean?”

His eyes are on the sea, far away “I had a family. A home. Someone… who saved me. They’re all gone. I thought the pain would kill me, but… it didn’t.”

You swallow hard “So… how do you live with it?”

Law’s jaw tightens “You don’t ‘fix’ it. You carry it. Forever. But you learn to walk with it instead of letting it drag you under.”

His words hit something deep inside you. Your chest aches, but in a different way “You make it sound simple.”

“It’s not.” His gaze finally meets yours, steady and sharp “The void Ace left in you? Nothing and no one will fill it. Not me, not Straw Hat, not anyone. But that doesn’t mean you have to waste away.”

You don’t realize tears are falling until he looks away politely, giving you space.

“Why tell me this?” you whisper.

“Because you needed to hear it. And because…” He hesitates “I know what it’s like to drown in the past.”

Something in your heart shifts. You don’t want it to, you don’t want to betray Ace, but for the first time in months, you feel a hand pulling you out of the darkness.

You whisper, almost to yourself, “You’re breaking me apart, Trafalgar Law.”

He smirks faintly “Good. You can rebuild stronger.”

The night is quiet again, but your chest feels different. Heavy with grief… and something else you can’t name yet.

More months pass. Training, missions, laughter with the Heart Pirates, all becomes your new rhythm.

Bepo drags you into card games at night. Shachi and Penguin argue loudly about dumb things, making you laugh despite yourself. For the first time since Ace’s death, you don’t feel completely empty when you wake up.

But sometimes, the guilt creeps back.

On one quiet night, you and Law sit across from each other, a map spread between you. He explains a route, but you’re distracted by the scar on his hand.

You ask softly, “Does it hurt?”

He glances at you “What, this? No. Pain’s just another memory.”

“…You talk like someone twice your age.”

“I’ve lived enough for two lives.”

Your chest tightens. The way he says it, calm, unflinching, it chips at the walls you’ve built around yourself.

You look away quickly, mumbling, “You’re impossible.”

Law smirks faintly “I get that a lot.”

The crew bonds with you more as months pass. Shachi grins one day after a spar “You’re getting better! You almost hit me this time.”

“Almost?” you groan.

“Almost is still progress.” Bepo says with a smile.

Even Law admits, “You’re improving. Don’t let it go to your head.”

You roll your eyes, but secretly his words warm you more than you’d like.

One night, you wake from another nightmare, Ace’s face, his last moments. You stagger onto the deck for air.

Law is already there, leaning against the railing, moonlight on his face.

He glances at you “Dreams again?”

You nod, unable to speak.

He doesn’t push. Instead, he says, “I still have these dreams, too.”

Something breaks in you. He never shares much, but when he does, it’s like he’s peeling away your armor without even trying.

You whisper, “Sometimes I feel like… you’re the only one who really sees me now.”

Law doesn’t answer right away. His eyes are on the stars. Finally, he says, “Maybe because I know what it’s like.”

Your heart aches. And you hate it, because part of you realizes you’re falling, slowly, painfully, for him.

But you grip the railing tight and whisper to yourself, No. I can’t. I loved Ace. I still love him.

Law glances at you, but says nothing. Maybe he already knows.

Months. Missions. Training. Quiet nights.

And always, Law.

He doesn’t say much, but he’s there. Correcting your stance in battle. Handing you a cup of tea when he notices your hands shaking. Standing beside you on deck when nightmares won’t let you sleep.

Little things that dig into you more than you want them to.

One evening, you’re patching up a small cut on your arm. Law walks in without knocking.

“You’re doing it wrong.” he says flatly.

You glare at him “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”

He takes the bandage from your hand anyway “You’ll infect it if you keep fumbling.”

You open your mouth to argue, but when his fingers brush your skin, your breath stutters. You quickly look away, praying he didn’t notice.

He finishes wrapping the wound neatly “There. Try not to stab yourself next time.”

You mutter, “Thanks… I guess.”

His lips twitch like he’s holding back a smile “You’re welcome.”

Your heart betrays you with a flutter. You hate it. You love it. You hate that you love it.

Another time, after a tough spar, you collapse onto the floor, panting.

“Pathetic.” Law says, arms crossed.

You throw him a glare “Screw you, Captain.”

He raises an eyebrow “Careful. That’s insubordination.”

Shachi and Penguin laugh from the corner “Ooooh, Y/N’s gonna get punished~”

You roll your eyes “You guys are worse than him.”

But when Law offers a hand to pull you up, you hesitate. The calluses on his palm are rough, steady, real. For a moment, you imagine never letting go.

You quickly snatch your hand back once you’re standing “I… can walk on my own.”

Law gives you a long, unreadable look. But he doesn’t push.

That night, lying in your bunk, you whisper into the dark, Ace… I still love you. I always will. So why… why does he keep breaking through?

The guilt twists deep, but the feeling won’t go away.

You’re falling. Slowly. Quietly. Against your will.

And you refuse to admit it, at least not yet.

Two years. Almost.

It feels unreal.

When you look back, the person you were when Ace died feels like a ghost. You’re stronger now ,your body, your mind, your will. The Heart Pirates laugh when you joke, trust you in battle, and never treat you like dead weight anymore.

But the truth is, what changed you most wasn’t just the training. It was him.

Law.

One night, the crew celebrates a successful raid. Shachi and Penguin are drunk and loud. Bepo dances with a sailor from town. You laugh until your stomach hurts.

Then you notice Law isn’t here.

You find him on the deck, sitting alone, staring at the horizon. His hat sits beside him for once, his hair messy from the sea wind.

You hesitate before sitting down next to him “You always disappear when things get fun.”

He doesn’t look at you “Someone has to keep an eye on the ship.”

You snort “You just don’t like people.”

He smirks faintly “…Maybe.”

The silence that follows isn’t heavy like it used to be. It’s calm. Comfortable.

You whisper, “When I first came here, I thought I’d never stop hurting.”

Law finally looks at you. His gaze is steady, sharp, but softer than you’ve ever seen “And now?”

“I still hurt,” you admit, “But I can… breathe. Thanks to you… and the crew.”

For a moment, you think he might say something. But instead, he leans back, staring at the stars.

“…Don’t thank me. You did the work. You survived.”

His words should feel cold, but they don’t. They make you want to cry.

Later that night, you lie awake in your bunk.

Your heart is restless, torn in two.

Ace… I still love you. I always will. But… Law…

You press your hand to your chest, trembling.

He makes me feel alive again. He makes me want to live.

You bury your face into the pillow, whispering to yourself, “I can’t. I can’t tell him. Not yet.”

The truth is too heavy. The guilt is too sharp. But the feelings… they’re there. And they’re only growing.

One afternoon, you’re sparring with Bepo. You dodge, but stumble, almost hitting the ground, until a hand grabs your wrist.

Law.

He steadies you, grip strong.

“Clumsy.” he mutters.

Your cheeks burn “I was distracted.”

“Then stop getting distracted.” His tone is sharp, but his eyes soften for just a second before he lets go.

Shachi whispers loudly to Penguin, “If he stares at them any harder, he’s gonna drill holes.”

Penguin smirks “Nah. He’s gonna combust first.”

Bepo tilts his head “Do you think they know they like each other?”

The three snicker while you glare at them, face hot. Law pretends not to hear, but the tips of his ears turn red.

Another night, after dinner, you sit with a book you’re barely reading. Law is nearby, scribbling notes in his journal.

The silence is comfortable, but heavy.

You steal a glance at him. The way his hair falls into his face. The faint scar on his jaw. The way he frowns slightly when concentrating.

Your chest tightens, and you quickly look away.

At the same moment, Law glances at you. He catches the way your shoulders tense, the way you bite your lip when lost in thought.

He looks back at his journal, forcing his pen to move, but his hand shakes slightly.

Shachi strolls by, grinning “Wow, you two sure look busy not looking at each other.”

You throw a pillow at him. Law scowls “Shut up.”

As weeks pass, the tension only grows.

When you fight, he’s always at your side. When you’re tired, he wordlessly passes you water. When you can’t sleep, you find him awake, pretending it’s coincidence.

Neither of you admits anything. Not to each other. Not even to yourselves.

But the crew knows. Of course they know, and they’re just waiting for the moment when the two of you finally break.

The last week feels wrong.

At first, you can’t name it, but then you notice the pattern.

When Law hands you a book, or a drink, or a weapon, your fingers brush his and he yanks his hand away like your touch burns. Almost rude. Almost cold.

When you sit next to him during meals, he eats quickly and leaves, muttering something about “work”.

When you find him on deck to talk, he listens for only a moment before someone passes by, Shachi, Penguin, Bepo, and suddenly he remembers something urgent he has to tell them. He leaves you standing there, lips pressed tight.

It’s so unlike him. Law isn’t warm, but he’s steady. Reliable. Now he feels… unstable.

You lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, heart aching. He’s pushing me away. But why?

And yet, no matter how much it hurts, the truth inside you is louder.

I love him.

You whisper it into the dark, the same way you once whispered Ace’s name. It feels like a betrayal, and at the same time, like breathing after being underwater for too long.

Ace, I’ll always love you. Always. But… this heart won’t stop beating for him.

By the fourth night, you’ve made your decision. You can’t leave without saying it.

The final evening arrives. The crew celebrates below deck, loud voices, laughter, drinks. Shachi and Penguin argue over a card game. Bepo dances with two crewmates, tail swishing happily.

You laugh with them, but your chest is tight. Every second feels like a countdown.

Finally, when no one is paying attention, you slip away.

The night air is cool. On deck, you see him: Law, leaning on the railing, hat low over his eyes. As if he was waiting for this moment, yet you know he wasn’t.

Your voice shakes “Law… can I talk to you?”

He glances at you, unreadable “What is it?”

You stop a few feet away, fists clenched to stop the trembling “I need to say this before I go. If I don’t, I’ll regret it forever.”

His eyes sharpen slightly, but he doesn’t move “Go on.”

You inhale sharply, heart pounding “I… have feelings for you.”

The words hang in the air, heavier than cannons.

For the first time, Law looks stunned. His lips part. His eyes widen, raw and unguarded.

“…I… I wasn’t expecting that.” he says finally, his voice lower than usual.

You wait. The seconds stretch, unbearable “So… what do you feel?”

Silence.

His gaze shifts away. His jaw tightens. His fingers twitch against the railing, as if fighting words he refuses to say.

But nothing comes.

He doesn’t move closer. Doesn’t reach for you. Doesn’t say anything.

The rejection slices deeper than any wound you’ve ever taken.

You force a laugh, but it’s cracked and weak “Forget it. Just… forget I said anything. It’s okay, I didn’t want to make things embarrassing. I just to had say it, I… didn’t want to regret not saying it… again.”

Your throat burns as you turn, walking quickly before he can see the tears. You don’t look back. You can’t.

Behind you, Law stays frozen, staring at the sea, a storm raging in his eyes.

The morning is too quiet.

The crew stirs slowly, some hungover, some yawning, but your bunk is empty.

Bepo is the first to notice “Y/N?”

He checks the kitchen, the deck, and the training room. His voice grows sharper, panicked “Y/N! Where are you?!”

Law looks up from his notes, frowning “What’s going on?”

“I can’t find Y/N anywhere!” Bepo says, his tail puffed, ears flat “They’re nowhere on the ship!”

Law’s stomach twists, but before he can answer, another crewmate rushes in “Captain!”

“What is it?” Law snaps.

The man looks uneasy “Did you… send someone out on a mission? Urgently?”

Law narrows his eyes “No. Why?”

The crewmate swallows “Because… a boat is missing.”

The words hit harder than cannon fire, and for once, Law’s calm mask cracks.

“Y/N…” he whispers, voice heavy.

And for the first time in a long time, Trafalgar Law has no plan.

The crew gathers on deck, tense. Bepo paces back and forth, ears flat “Why would they just… leave? Without a word?”

Shachi frowns “Doesn’t make sense. Y/N never did stuff like this.”

Penguin mutters, “Yeah… they’re not the type to ditch us.”

Law stands at the railing, arms crossed, staring at the empty sea. His expression is stone. Too calm.

But inside, his pulse pounds. His chest feels tight. He tries to think logically: Where would you go? What would you do? His mind races faster than his body will show.

He remembers last night. Your eyes when you confessed. Your voice breaking when he stayed silent. The way you walked away from him, shoulders trembling.

He presses his fingers hard against the railing until his knuckles ache.

I screwed up.

“Captain,” Bepo says suddenly, his voice small, “Do you… know why Y/N left?”

The crew turns to him, eyes sharp, waiting.

Law doesn’t look back “No.”

It’s a lie, and it tastes like poison.

Penguin narrows his eyes “You’re hiding something.”

Shachi crosses his arms “Yeah. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. If you don’t know why they left, then I’m a Sea King’s uncle.”

Law’s jaw tightens, he doesn’t respond.

The silence says more than words ever could.

Bepo growls softly, tail twitching “If they don’t come back… I’ll never forgive you.”

That one cuts deep.

Later, alone in his quarters, Law drops the mask. His hands tremble as he stares at the empty map on his desk.

Why didn’t I say it? Why couldn’t I just…

He closes his eyes, remembering your voice. I have feelings for you.

He whispers into the silence, “I feel the same.”

But you’re not here to hear it.

The next day, the Heart Pirates set sail. Law orders it like his voice is steady, but the crew notices the sharpness in his tone, the way his eyes scan the horizon more than the map.

They don’t say it, but they know: the Captain is looking for you.

And Law knows he missed his chance and that he basically pushed you away.

Now all he can do is hope he can find you before the sea takes you somewhere he can’t reach.

The ship is quiet, too quiet. Everyone is tense, waiting for Law to say something.

Finally, Bepo breaks the silence, ears drooping “Captain… should we go to Sabaody? That’s where Y/N said they’d meet Luffy, right? Maybe they went there.”

Shachi’s eyes light up “Yeah, that makes sense! We could still catch them.”

Penguin nods quickly “Let’s just head there. Maybe they’re waiting.”

For a moment, hope flickers through the crew.

But Law shakes his head “No.”

The word drops like a weight.

Bepo blinks, stunned “No? Why not?”

Law keeps his eyes on the map, his voice steady, too steady “By the time we reach Sabaody, they’ll already be gone. They can’t sit still on that island after what happened there. If Y/N joined them, they’re already on the move.”

“But…” Bepo starts, desperate.

“No.” Law’s voice cuts sharper this time. He closes the map with finality “We’d lose time and risk exposing ourselves for nothing. Our only option now is to keep moving forward.”

The crew exchanges uneasy glances. They know he’s right. But it doesn’t make it easier.

Bepo’s fists clench. His voice cracks “Then what? We just… hope we bump into them again?”

Law’s hand tightens over the map until his knuckles turn white. He doesn’t look up when he answers.

“…Yes.”

That night, the crew talks quietly among themselves.

“We should’ve gone after them,” Penguin mutters “I hate this.”

Shachi sighs “Yeah. But the Captain… he’s beating himself up already. You can tell.”

Bepo hugs his knees, whispering, “They were happy here. We were family. Why would they leave without saying goodbye…? We were celebrating them the night before… Something happened and Captain doesn’t want to tell us…”

No one answers.

In his cabin, Law sits alone, hat on the table, shadows hiding his face. His hand rests on the map, tracing lines he isn’t seeing.

He whispers to the empty room, “I won’t lose you too.”

But the sea doesn’t answer, and for the first time in years, Trafalgar Law feels powerless.

[stormruff]

Cigarette

This takes place soon after the events of my story Boarding School for Giants. I wanted to write Mr. Henderson being a father to Eren, so have some parental g/t ig.

Word Count: 3k

CW: Smoking

Eren needed a cigarette, badly.

Yeah, she had quit months ago, sure. But it wasn’t by choice. She’d been forced to quit, when she’d been forcibly uprooted from her normal life to live among the giants. She couldn’t buy (or shoplift) cigarettes anymore, and after a certain unpleasant experience with a giant juvenile delinquent, she wasn’t too keen on bumming one off of any of her peers. Not to mention the challenge of smoking a cigarette bigger and thicker around than her entire body.

Her new adoptive father was a very kind man, but he just couldn’t understand. Joey, being the goody-goody two-shoes that he was, didn’t understand either. They kept telling her smoking was bad, would mess up her lungs, blah blah blah. They never smoked, so they didn’t get it.

They couldn’t possibly comprehend all the stress she’d encountered from such dramatic life changes. Yes, life had gotten much better since she’d been adopted by Mr. Henderson, and Joey was a wonderful, loyal, protective boyfriend, but Eren was still reeling from tremendous emotional whiplash. She was not adjusting to her new life as well as she hoped. She felt ground down, like an overused pencil. She still felt nervous and unsafe when Joey or Mr. Henderson wasn’t around. As much as she loved them, she had days when she seriously doubted her choice to stay. She knew even just one cigarette would help ease her suffering, even if the effect was temporary. She had cravings.

She felt like garbage when she woke up that particular morning. All she wanted to do was lay in bed and cry and blow puffs of smoke at the ceiling. Normally, she was able to rouse herself with the knowledge that her beloved Joey would be waiting for her at school, but today she just couldn’t do it. She silenced her alarm and rolled on her side.

A few minutes later, she felt earthquakes through the floor that vibrated the walls of her miniature bedroom. Her giant father was awake. Eren’s stomach did a small flip. He wouldn’t be happy about her refusing to go to school. She wasn’t sure how he would react to her disobedience; she had yet to be on the receiving end of his wrath as a disciplinarian.

“Eren? Are you up?” his deep, rich voice boomed. Eren froze. His footsteps stopped, and she could picture him in her mind’s eye checking the floor cautiously around his feet. He was always so mindful, even when he was groggy in the morning before his morning coffee.

“Eren?” he repeated. The tremendous thuds of an unfathomable mass approached. Eren sucked in a sharp breath. Just how angry would he get, if she defied him? She felt wrong, fearing him, when she knew him to be so kind and gentle—but she couldn’t help it. Her heart was pounding and she grew hot with sweat. Suddenly, she felt very queasy.

The lid to her tiny bedroom opened up, and the enormous, warm face of her new dad filled the sky above. He looked tired, with bags under his eyes and the faintest shadow of a beard along his unshaved chin. She didn’t detect any anger in those comforting coffee-colored irises, only sympathy and concern. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I… I feel sick,” she squeaked. It wasn’t entirely a lie.

He frowned and gingerly touched the tip of his finger to her forehead. “Hmm… you are a little warm,” he observed.

Eren stifled a fake cough that she hoped sounded convincing. “I probably shouldn’t go to school,” she muttered through her palm.

Mr. Henderson brushed locks of messy black hair out of her face. “Alright,” he murmured. A slight furrow emerged between his brows. “I still need to go to work. Will you be okay here on your own?”

“Yes, I’ll be okay,” Eren coughed again. Mr. Henderson softened as he gazed down at her, the corner of his mouth turning up in a soothing smile.

“You can always call me if you need me,” he assured her. He lingered before pulling away, not wanting to overwhelm her with a pat or hug in her fragile state. He closed the top of her room gently and padded away.

Eren felt a flush of shame, not only for her lie but for her irrational fear. After all this time, she shouldn’t be scared of friendly giants anymore. Yet, her heart felt as if it had been turned inside out. She knew it was wrong to lie to him, especially when he trusted her unconditionally. She reasoned it was his fault for being such a sucker, to fall for her obvious fib.

She listened as he moved about the house, becoming more distant as he prepared for his day. She was amazed that such a gargantuan man could move so softly. Though she detected the tremors of his feet, she could tell he was making every effort to mute his movements for her sake. He returned later with a homemade lunch for her and placed it by her bed. She had to smile at the sloppiness of the human-sized sandwich, which must’ve been rather difficult to piece together with his oversized fingers.

“Is there anything else you need?” he asked.

“I should be fine,” Eren answered with a dramatic faux scratch in her throat. “I’ll just be sleeping anyway. Say hi to Joey for me.”

“Of course. I hope you feel better soon,” the giant said, patting her delicately on the head. “Remember to call me if you need anything. Anything at all. I’m here for you.”

Eren nodded solemnly. Mr. Henderson smiled down at her before closing the ceiling again and striding off. Eren waited until she heard the gigantic front door slam and the thundering of his footsteps faded. Once she was sure he was gone, she sprang out of bed and got dressed.

She had a plan—a risky plan—but Eren was no coward. She was going to go into town to get a cigarette. She wasn’t sure how, but she’d figure it out. She grabbed her backpack and threw in her lunch, water, and supplies she thought she might need. She hesitated as she reached for her smartwatch.

It would be sensible to bring it, in case of emergency. She could call her father if she was in danger. However, it also tracked her location and sent it to Mr. Henderson, for obvious safety reasons. He’d find out that she left the house, lied about being sick, and skipped school. She’d be in huge trouble, and he wouldn’t trust her anymore. She could turn off location share, but then he’d get worried and come looking for her.

She hopped from one foot to another, indecisive. Ultimately she decided to leave it. She’d be cautious; nothing bad would happen. She wasn’t that unlucky, right? Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she rolled her bike to the human-sized door and stepped outside.

Mr. Henderson had installed for her a wooden ramp that led down to the sidewalk. She mounted her bike and pedaled off. Her heart lifted as she swooped along the wide path, jumping the cracks in the pavement with practiced expertise. Despite how nervous she was about disobeying her dad and venturing out, she couldn’t help but get a thrill out of it too. The day was too fresh and sunny to be wasted in gloom.

The streets were ridiculously huge, miles and miles long that seemed to stretch into vast infinity, but Eren was able to make steady progress on her bike. She darted past towering giants with furious speed, hoping that nobody would question why a tiny teenager was out during school hours. Fortunately, none of the giant people above her seemed to notice or care about her presence.

Her journey brought her to a neighboring street lined with brick buildings and old-fashioned shops. Eren dodged the colossal passersby as she drank in the scenery, thinking hard about her next move. A cop car rolled around a corner and she ducked into a flowery shrub, panting fast. The cloying scent of mammoth flowers tickled her nose. A fat mustachioed cop got out and lumbered in her direction, towards the bakery. Eren struggled to hold in a sneeze until he went inside. Once the coast was clear, she kicked the dirt off her shoes and kept going.

She was so overwhelmed with all the giant people and incredible sights around her, that she almost forgot her original purpose. She was reminded as she stopped underneath an enormous metal bench alongside a trash pail and an overflowing ashtray. Cigarette butts, smashed and soiled, were scattered on the pavement under the bench.

Eren looked at the remains sadly. Was she really this desperate? Among the stubs, behind the trash can, she discovered a cigarette with a singed end that was mostly unused, broken in half and abandoned. She scooped out a hearty amount of tobacco shreds and stuffed them in her bag, keeping a wary eye out for any wandering gazes from the oblivious behemoths clomping around her.

A stab of anxiety and guilt hit her as she sped off on her bike again. Eren was a rebel by nature, but somehow this time breaking the rules felt very wrong, as if she had personally betrayed Mr. Henderson and Joey. The cop car was still parked at the curb, so she gave the bakery a wide berth as she raced past, ready to dive into the flowers at the first sign of trouble.

She felt compelled to go straight home, even though she still had plenty of time left before her father would be home from work. She was shaking by the time she reached the house. The distress from her troubled thoughts, along with the heavy burden of merely existing, was breaking her. A cigarette would calm her down, she just knew it.

The sun hovered at high noon, the hot rays beaming off the bright white pavement with blinding sharpness. Eren didn’t want to wait any longer, her cravings waxing to an unbearable degree. She abandoned her bike on the sidewalk, hastily retreated to the cool shade under the porch, and collected some dry leaves to insulate her bottom from the damp sediment.

She tore up a scrap of paper and rolled herself a crude joint with jittery fingers. Fishing a lighter out of her bag, she fired up the end and took a deep drag. The first hit made her cough roughly, the harsh effect only worsened by the lack of a filter. She allowed herself a moment to recover before inhaling a second puff, savoring the rush of nicotine straight into her lungs.

She closed her eyes and let the soothing effect calm her nerves. The smoke tasted and smelled so good, enough for her to space out and forget her woes, if only for a short while. The effect was apparently also enough for her to not notice the rapid approach of giant footfalls, until a massive thud on the porch above her head made her yelp in surprise and nearly drop her smoke.

Eren didn’t react fast enough as, to her horror, a giant body blocked out the sunlight and the face of her dad filled the open space above as he leaned down into a crouch. “Eren?” he questioned, spotting her among the dead leaves. “Are you… smoking?” His eyebrows turned down and his mouth pinched into a stern frown.

Eren panicked. She’d angered him. She’d angered a giant, a man big enough to squash her like a bug, and now… who knew what he would do? Her birth mother would’ve definitely chewed her out and slapped her, but if he did the same, she’d end up as nothing more than a jelly stain on his palm. She couldn’t fight him. She had to either defend herself or run.

Her mind racing with raw alarm, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “So what if I am? Y-y-y-you think I’m going to stop just because you said so?! You can’t control me! It’s my life, I can do whatever I want! So… so there!” Her voice crept into a piercing pitch as she strained her vocal cords.

“Why are you yelling like that? Come out so we can talk about this,” Mr. Henderson replied, his brows twitching with bafflement. He never raised his voice, keeping it steady and calm, yet the volume was still louder than hers due to his sheer size.

“NO!” Eren screeched back. “You can’t make me!”

Mr. Henderson sighed. “Come now, Eren… be reasonable. Give me the cigarette…” His hand, larger than the bed she slept on, materialized before her, his fingers curling over her head like the branches of a tree.

Eren experienced a flood of instinctive terror. She tried to bolt, but she was cornered, walled in by gargantuan planks of wood. She cried out in fear and balled herself into a fetal position. Her father instantly retracted his hand as if stung, his face reappearing in its place.

“Oh no… Eren… I didn’t mean to…” The hurt in his tone was palpable as he recognized the unintended consequences of his simple movement. Eren started to cry, overwhelmed. It was all too much. She was so stressed and scared and now she was likely to be punished in some horrible way that she couldn’t even imagine.

Mr. Henderson hesitated, unsure how to proceed. Eren sobbed, face in hands, her tiny body shivering. She couldn’t face him, knowing that he was sure to distrust and hate her now, just like her mother. She waited what felt like an eternity for him to do his worst. She bristled as the soft pads of his immense fingertips gently pressed into her. His fingers curled beneath her as he scooped her carefully into his hands and lifted her up.

She cringed in agony—expecting him to yell, to get angry, to hurt her, or outright crush her between his fingers in a savage pinch. Instead, he enveloped her in a paternal embrace, cupping his hands to his chest. Eren opened her eyes and blinked with confusion.

“Eren… are you okay?” he asked softly.

“W-what?” Eren sat up, squinting at his angled face looming above her.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you like that.”

“Aren’t you angry at me?” she whimpered.

“I’ll admit, I’m disappointed with your behavior. But no, I’m not angry.”

A fresh batch of tears welled up in her eyes. “I thought… I thought you’d be really mad at me, and start screaming at me like my mom used to do. She’d get mad, and hit me, and then she stopped loving me…”

“Oh, no, Eren! I would never do anything like that!” Mr. Henderson protested, offended that she would even suggest such a thing. “And I’m your father now. My love is unconditional. I would never abandon you.”

Eren collapsed against the wall of his chest, allowing her tears to flow freely. She realized, all at once, how wrong she had been. She was safe; he would never hurt her. She was loved and cared for; she was home.

“You need to understand, I only have your best interests at heart,” he explained. “When I tell you to go to school, or not to smoke—it’s for your benefit. I want you to flourish, to be healthy and happy, to have a positive future. It’s my responsibility to you, to take care of you and ensure you learn to make good decisions for yourself.”

“I know,” Eren admitted as she wiped her face on his shirt. “It’s just so hard! I feel so burned out and stressed.”

“I know things have been very difficult for you,” her father acknowledged.

“And the cigarettes… I know they’re bad for my health, but they make me feel better,” Eren continued. “You won’t get it unless you’ve smoked before.”

“Ah, well. I used to,” Mr. Henderson confessed.

“What? You?!”

“When I was a young man, yes. That was a long time ago. I smoked to control my… um… food cravings. But I made myself quit.” He smiled with a mild embarrassment at the remembrance.

“Food cravings?” Eren questioned, puzzled.

“Oh, you know… needed to watch my girlish figure,” he quipped with a chuckle. “But never mind that. I have much better self control now. And I’m here to support you. I’ll help you quit. We’ll get you some nicotine patches and gum. Okay?”

Eren nodded. “Okay.”

“And perhaps we can find some alternative ways to deal with all that stress, that are healthier and more productive. If you’d like, I’ll show you how to garden. That helps me relax and decompress, all the fresh air and the lovely flowers.”

“I guess.” Eren was skeptical—gardening sounded lame and boring—but she had to concede that spending some bonding time with her new father sounded… nice.

“I wanted to be considerate of your personal space, to allow you time to adjust to your new surroundings. But perhaps I was in error. It’s not good for you to hide in your room all the time and brood. We should do more fun things together, and go to interesting places.”

“Alright,” Eren agreed. Maybe he was right; what she was doing now to cope clearly wasn’t working. She preferred to hide away in her box, where she didn’t feel so small, where she didn’t have to perform or interact with anyone, but it also made her restless and depressed. She thought about her bike ride earlier, how exhilarating the experience had been despite her anxiety. She would feel less nervous, out in the giant world, with Mr. Henderson keeping watch over her.

Henderson raised a brow. “Joey can come with us too.”

Eren brightened. “Yes! Absolutely.”

“Sound good?”

“I’m… I’m willing to try.” Eren hugged his finger. She felt much better, being listened to and heard. She felt safe in the hands of her father, reassured that he wouldn’t flip out on her like her birth mom. She no longer felt so alone. As long as she had his support, she believed things would be okay… somehow.

“Thank you… Dad.”

[stormruff]

Storm in Disguise

law × fem!reader

you're kaido’s daughter, torn between your family’s shadow and your growing bond with trafalgar law.

a/n: forgive me for skipping the part about yamato calling himself oden etc but I needed to focus on the rest T.T it's also longer than I was planning lmao sorryyy

words count: 10k

tags: punk hazard + dressrosa + wano arc spoilers, reader is kaido’s daughter,  slow burn, found family

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

The rain is heavy, turning the harbor into a blur of gray and blue.

Your heart pounds as you run, boots splashing in the puddles. Behind you, the Marines shout.

"There she is!"

You keep your hood low, clutching the small bag with everything you own. You can’t let them catch you, not here, not now.

A gunshot cracks the air. You dive behind a stack of barrels.

And then a shadow falls over the dock.

A huge yellow submarine surfaces right in front of you. Its deck bursts with movement. Figures appear, some human, some… not?

"Oi, Captain!" a man with a shark grin calls out "Looks like trouble down there."

The one in the white fuzzy hat steps forward, calm even in the chaos. He glances at the Marines, then at you.

"She’s surrounded." the shark-man says.

"Yeah," the man in the hat answers "Deal with it."

It happens fast. The crew jumps down, weapons out. A white bear swings his paw, sending a Marine flying into the sea. Two others block the pier while gunfire is deflected or dodged.

You stare, frozen, as they clear a path to you.

"Come on!" the bear yells.

"I—" you hesitate, eyeing the hat-wearing man who’s still watching from the deck.

"No time!" the bear shouts again, grabbing your arm and pulling you toward the rope ladder.

You climb, still in shock. By the time you reach the deck, the crew is laughing, counting the Marines they knocked out.

"She’s cute." the shark-man says with a grin.

The blond one with glasses pushes up his frames "And she looks like she can handle herself. Right?"

"I… guess." you mumble, still catching your breath.

"She should stay!" the shark-man says.

"Yeah," the bear adds "We can’t just throw her back to those guys."

The man in the hat finally speaks. His voice is low, almost lazy "We don’t know who she is."

You keep your bangs over your left eye, hiding the faint golden mark that could ruin you.

"I’m nobody," you say quickly "Just… trying to get away."

The crew exchanges looks.

The bear turns to the captain "Come on, Law. Let her stay for now."

Law’s eyes meet yours for a long, silent moment. He looks like he’s trying to read your soul.

Finally, he shrugs "Fine. For now. Just know that if you try to do anything I don’t like I’ll stop you."

And just like that, you’re on a pirate ship.

It’s been a few years now and life on the Polar Tang feels almost normal. You laugh with the crew, spar on deck, even tease Bepo until he growls and chases you around. They don’t treat you like a stranger anymore. You’re one of them.

And still, no one knows the truth.

Not about the land you ran from. Not about the blood in your veins. Not about the name you buried. You started covering your eye with an eye patch, like a true cool pirate (yeah).

Today, the submarine surfaces near a small island for supplies. The crew spreads out, but somehow you and Law end up walking side by side.

You keep talking about the weather, about the weird-looking birds overhead, about anything to fill the silence.

He doesn’t say much, just listens with that unreadable face of his.

Finally, he glances at you "You’re loud today."

Your cheeks heat up "W-What’s that supposed to mean? I’m always loud… for your standards. "

A faint smirk tugs at his lips "Exactly."

You stop walking for a second, heart pounding. Did he just… tease you?

Back at the market stalls, you grab fruit, bread, and anything cheap, trying to focus. But every time you reach for something, you feel his presence behind you. Calm. Heavy. Too close.

When you turn, your hands almost touch as you both reach for the same basket.

You freeze.

So does he.

The world feels very small, like it’s only the two of you, your hand inches from his.

You snatch the basket too fast, nearly dropping it.

"I-I’ll carry it!" you stammer, voice higher than usual.

Law raises an eyebrow "You’re acting strange."

"I’m not!" You spin around, hiding your burning face.

Later, when you return to the Tang, the crew notices.

"Oi, Y/N, why’s your face so weird?" Penguin asks.

"Sunburn!" you shout, way too quickly.

Shachi smirks, "Sure it is."

Law passes by without a word, but you catch the corner of his mouth twitching.

And that’s when it hits you.

You’ve been part of this crew for years. You’ve fought with them, laughed with them, lived with them. But with him it’s different.

You don’t just want to be part of his crew. You want to be something more.

And from the way he keeps watching you when he thinks you’re not looking… maybe he feels the same.

All this but then the Polar Tang starts feeling different lately.

Law spends hours locked in his room, poring over maps and letters. Sometimes you hear him talking quietly with Penguin and Shachi, and when you walk in, they all shut up like kids caught stealing sweets.

You hate it.

But you hate something else even more: the way your stomach flips every time he walks past you.

Today, you’re sitting with Bepo, polishing your sword. He asks something about Wano, you’re shocked and scared at first but then notice it's just a random question with a random topic, so you laugh it off, the same way you always do, and somehow he lets it go. Then the door opens, and Law steps in.

Your laugh dies in your throat.

"Captain." you say, too quickly, too loud.

He blinks at you "What?"

"Nothing!" you nearly drop the sword on your foot.

Bepo tilts his head "Y/N, your face is red again."

"I’m fine! It’s just… hot in here!" you shout, though the submarine is freezing.

Law gives you a look, the kind that makes your knees weak "Don’t cut your foot off. We don’t have spare limbs lying around."

He leaves, coat swishing behind him.

You collapse back on the bench, groaning "Why is he like this?"

Bepo blinks again "Like what?"

"Never mind." you mutter, covering your face.

A few nights later, the crew is eating together. You’re telling some ridiculous story, arms waving, voice loud enough that Shachi nearly chokes on his drink from laughing.

Then you notice Law watching you from the other side of the table.

Your words die mid-sentence.

He raises one eyebrow, waiting for you to continue.

You slam your cup down "I-I forgot the rest of the story!"

Shachi snorts "What, you? Forget a story? Since when?"

The crew bursts into laughter, but you keep your eyes on your plate, trying not to melt into the floor.

The worst comes later, during training.

You spar with Shachi, wooden swords clashing. You’re grinning, cocky, about to win, until you catch Law leaning against the railing, watching.

Your face flames instantly.

Shachi takes the chance and whacks you hard in the ribs.

"Ow!" you yelp, dropping the sword.

"You okay?" Shachi laughs, helping you up.

You wave him off, muttering "I’m fine. Totally fine."

But Law’s eyes linger a second longer than usual, unreadable, before he turns away.

And that’s the problem.

He never says anything. He never shows anything. But every time he looks at you, your heart feels like it’s going to burst.

And you can’t shake the feeling he’s planning something without you.

Tonight the night feels heavier than usual. The Polar Tang is quiet, the crew already asleep, but you can’t.

When you step onto the deck for air, you almost bump right into him.

"Traf— uh, Captain." you stammer.

Law doesn’t snap at you for being awake. He doesn’t tell you to rest. Instead, he looks at you in a way that makes your chest tighten.

"You’re still up." he says softly.

"So are you." you reply, forcing a smile "Planning again?"

For once, he doesn’t answer. Instead, he gestures for you to sit with him on the railing. The sea glimmers under the moon, waves brushing against the submarine’s hull.

You talk about nothing at first just random little things but he’s quiet, almost… clingy. His shoulder brushes yours more than once. His gaze lingers. He even lets out a soft laugh at one of your stupid jokes.

Your heart races. Is this it? Is he finally…?

Then he says your name. Just your name. Low, serious.

You swallow hard "Y-Yeah?"

"You’ve been… important. To this crew." His voice is careful, too careful "And to me."

Your stomach flips "Really? I mean, I—I know, I’m great company and all, but—"

He cuts you off "You made this place feel… alive. I don’t say this often, but I’m grateful."

Your face burns but as he keeps talking, the words twist "You deserve better than this life. If anything happens… remember the crew will look after you. Don’t lose that smile, no matter what."

The warmth in your chest turns cold. Why does this sound like… goodbye?

You grab his sleeve, frowning "What are you talking about? What’s going to happen? Is this about all those plans you keep hiding from us? From me?"

He doesn’t answer.

"Then what’s this speech supposed to be? A confession? A farewell? Which is it?"

His eyes meet yours, and for a moment you swear you see everything he can’t say. The weight of secrets. The possibility of death.

Finally, he exhales and mutters only two words, "I’m sorry."

Before you can ask again, he pulls away, coat swaying as he disappears down the hall.

You’re left on the deck, heart pounding, mind spinning.

The next morning, the crew finds his room empty.

"Where’s the Captain?" Shachi mutters, confused.

Bepo holds a folded letter in his paws, ears drooping.

You snatch it, scanning the words. It isn’t instructions for a quick errand. It isn’t a mission for all of you.

It’s a way forward without him.

Your chest tightens "He… he left us?"

The room goes silent.

And all you can hear is his voice from last night. I’m sorry.

The letter crumples in your hands.

You stare at the crew, your voice trembling "You’re telling me none of you knew? Not one of you?"

Shachi frowns "We didn’t—"

"Don’t lie!" you snap "He’s been planning something for weeks, locking himself away, whispering to you guys. And you expect me to believe you knew nothing?"

Penguin raises his hands "Hey, calm down—"

"Don’t tell me to calm down!" Your throat tightens "He left. Alone. He left us!"

The words cut deep, like a blade you can’t pull out.

Bepo steps closer, ears low "If Captain doesn’t want to be found… we can’t find him."

You shake your head violently, tears blurring your vision "No. No, that’s not true. I’ll find him. I have to—"

Shachi grabs your arm gently "Y/N, stop. You know him. If he wanted us there, he’d have brought us."

You rip your arm away "Then I’ll go alone!"

Silence. Everyone just stares.

Your lip trembles "He… he gave me that stupid speech last night. I thought—" Your voice cracks "I thought it meant something else."

The tears spill before you can stop them. You turn on your heel and storm out, slamming the door behind you.

You don’t leave your room the whole day.

At first, the crew respects it. You hear footsteps outside, whispers, but no one knocks.

Then, little by little, food starts appearing. A tray left at the door. Tea, soup, bread. You push it away the first time. The second time too. But by the third, your stomach wins.

When you finally open the door, Shachi, Penguin, Bepo, even the quiet ones, are all there.

You sit with them, half-embarrassed, half-relieved. The submarine feels too empty without him, and you realize you aren’t the only one hurting.

"He’s our Captain," Bepo says softly "It’s hard for all of us too."

You nod, wiping your eyes "I know. It’s just… I'm sorry."

You hesitate. The words slip out before you can stop them "I… I love him."

The room goes dead silent.

Your eyes widen "Wait— I didn’t— I didn’t mean—"

Shachi smirks, "Oh, you meant it."

Bepo nods "We all knew."

Penguin blinks "Wait, what? You’re serious?"

The whole crew groans "Penguin, seriously?!"

You bury your burning face in your hands "Oh my god. I can’t believe I just said that out loud."

Shachi pats your back "Took you long enough."

For the first time since he left, you laugh through your tears.

But your chest still aches. Because no matter how much they know, or how much they comfort you, he’s not here. And you don’t know if you’ll ever see him again.

Since then, every morning you wake with the same thought.

Maybe today he’s back.

You stretch, rub your eyes, and glance at the empty spot on the ship where he always stands. Where he used to drink tea, or read, or quietly sketch maps.

But it’s never him… Just silence. Just the sea.

You smile for the crew, you’re always the loud one, the cheerful one. But inside, it eats at you. The waiting. The not knowing.

You cling to the newspapers, reading every scrap about the world, about pirates, about him. But words aren’t enough. They never tell you if he’s safe.

Time pass.

Then Bepo comes back with news. Zou. A reunion point.

Your heart races the whole journey. You laugh with the others, but your hands shake whenever you think of seeing him again. What if he’s changed? What if you have? What if he doesn’t even…

You push the thought away.

The moment arrives. You step onto Zou’s forest, the smell sharp and wet.

And then there he is.

Trafalgar Law stands at the clearing, tall, calm, like he never left.

Bepo runs first. He collides into Law with tears in his eyes, hugging tight "Captain! We’re all here! Everyone’s safe!"

The crew gathers around, voices overlapping "We missed you!", "About time, huh!", "Captain, you look alive!"

Law lets Bepo cling, a small smile tugging at his lips. His golden eyes sweep over his crew one by one.

Then they land on you.

You don’t rush forward. You don’t cry or shout. You just stand at the back, arms loose at your sides, face carefully blank. But your chest feels like it’s about to burst.

Law’s eyes linger on you longer than they should. The noise of the crew fades, and for a second it’s just silence, with his unreadable stare and your unreadable mask.

You want to smile. You want to run to him like the others.

Instead, you lower your eyes.

Because if you let everything show, he’d see too much. He might see the truth you’ve buried, the secrets you’ve kept from all of them and the feelings you can’t control anymore.

But when you look up again, his gaze is still locked on you.

Law’s eyes don’t leave yours. The crew cheers and laughs, but you only nod at him, quick, sharp, just enough to say I’m fine.

And then you turn away.

You walk until you’re deep in the woods, where no one follows. You press your back to a tree, slide down, and cover your chest with your hand.

Your heart is beating so fast it hurts.

"Idiot," you whisper to yourself "Why now? Why?"

You stay there until the storm inside you calms, then force yourself back. Your smile is gone, but you try to act normal.

The crew notices right away.

"Oi, Y/N, what’s with you?" Shachi asks "You left so fast."

"Yeah," Penguin adds, frowning "You don’t look happy at all. Shouldn’t you be overjoyed the captain’s back?"

Bepo tilts his head "Are you feeling sick?"

You shake your head, forcing a laugh "I’m fine."

But it’s weak. Everyone can tell.

And then someone jokes, too sharp, too true "What, you’re not happy to see your loved one?"

You stop walking.

The crew looks at you, confused "Oi, Y/N?"

But your face is frozen in horror.

Because standing just ahead, at the edge of the firelight, are Kinemon, Kiku, Raizo, and Kanjuro. And they are staring at you with the exact same expression.

The air goes cold. Silence falls.

Nami sets down her bowl, eyes darting between you and them "…What’s happening?"

Usopp swallows loudly "Why do they look like they’ve seen a ghost?"

Zoro’s hand drifts toward his swords, his one eye narrowing.

The Heart Pirates shift uneasily. Shachi and Penguin step closer to you, protective without even thinking.

Kinemon is the first to move. He steps into the firelight, hands on his katana. His voice cuts like a blade "It's you..."

Law’s brow furrows. He rises to his feet slowly, standing tall "You know her?"

Kin’emon’s glare doesn’t waver "Know her? How could I not? She is no ordinary woman. She is the blood of the Beast. The daughter of Kaido."

The words crash into the clearing like thunder.

"What?!" Usopp yelps, nearly dropping his bowl.

Chopper squeaks, eyes wide, "D-Daughter of Kaido?!"

Nami gasps, hands flying to her mouth.

Even Luffy stops chewing, staring blankly "…Kaido?"

Penguin shakes his head hard "No, that’s impossible!"

Shachi growls "You’re lying! Don’t you dare throw that name at her!"

Bepo steps forward, ears flat, teeth bared "She’s not Kaido’s anything. She’s one of us."

Kinemon’s voice rises, sharp and angry "Fools. You don’t know who you’ve sheltered all this time. Remove her patch, and you will see the truth written in her eye."

All eyes snap to you.

Your body goes stiff. Your hand shoots up, covering the black bandage wrapped around your left eye.

"No…" you whisper.

Penguin takes a step toward you, voice trembling "Y/N… show them it’s not true."

"Yeah," Shachi presses, desperate "Say something! Say he’s wrong!"

Your throat closes. No words come out.

Law steps forward slowly, putting himself between you and Kinemon. His voice is calm, but his golden eyes burn "She’s my crew. That’s all that matters."

Kinemon’s glare sharpens "You’ve hidden Kaido's bloodline aboard your ship…"

The clearing holds its breath.

Finally, Law turns his head, his gaze locking on you. His voice drops low, quiet, almost unreadable "…Y/N. Is it true?"

Your lips part, but nothing comes out. You can only shake your head wildly, tears threatening to spill "No—please—don’t listen to them."

Kinemon steps forward, blade half-drawn "Then let him look. Let Trafalgar Law look beneath the bandage."

The Strawhats watch, tense and silent. Zoro’s hand rests on his swords. Nami’s knuckles are white around her cup. Luffy frowns deeply, unusually quiet.

Law doesn’t move at first. His eyes stay locked on yours. Then, slowly, his hand rises.

You stagger back, shaking your head violently "No. Please. Don’t, Law. Believe me. Please just—believe me."

But his hand is still reaching.

The firelight flickers between you, the truth pressing down heavy as stone.

And for the first time since you joined the Heart Pirates, you feel everything crumbling.

The fire crackles, loud in the silence.

Law’s hand lifts, fingertips brushing against the bandage on your face. Your breath catches.

The world holds still.

But then… he stops. His eyes lock on your again, trembling, and instead of pulling, he drops his hand.

He steps back, turning toward the stunned group. His voice is calm, firm, unshaken "She’s been in my crew for years. I don’t care what her past is."

The words drop like a stone.

The Heart Pirates stare at him, wide-eyed. The Strawhats glance between you all, unsure. The samurai bristle with rage.

And then, from behind Kinemon, a small voice cuts through the tension.

Momonosuke steps forward, fists shaking but his chin held high. His voice cracks, but he forces it out anyway "She lied to you all this time and you don’t care? She’s the daughter of the man who killed my family and took over our home!"

Gasps ripple through the group.

Law glances back at you, then turns to the boy. His face is unreadable, his voice even "If she left and lied, then there must be reasons."

The words hit you harder than any sword could.

Your throat tightens. You can’t hold it anymore. You lower your head, whispering so softly that only he can hear "I’m sorry."

His eyes flicker, but he says nothing.

The samurai don’t stop.

Kinemon steps forward, fury in every movement "Don’t let her fool you! She carries Kaido’s blood. She is Kaido’s daughter!"

The title sears through you.

You stumble back, shaking your head "No… no… I’m not—"

But their eyes burn holes through you. Everyone’s eyes. The firelight feels like it’s exposing every secret you buried.

And you can’t breathe.

So you run.

You turn on your heel and bolt into the trees, branches whipping against your arms.

No one stops you.

The Heart Pirates are too stunned. The Strawhats too shocked. The samurai too bitter.

All except one.

There’s a flash of blue light and suddenly, he’s there in front of you, stopping your run in the middle of the forest.

Law.

You crash right into him, your breath knocked out. You try to step back, to spin and run again, but you can’t.

Because his arms are around you.

He’s holding you tight, firm, unshakable.

You hit his chest weakly with your fists "Let me go!"

But your body betrays you. The fight drains out. Tears blur your vision.

"I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…" you whisper, again and again, voice breaking with each word.

Law doesn’t answer. He just holds you.

Then he lets go and your knees give out, the strength leaving you all at once. You collapse to the ground, trembling, broken, the words spilling from your lips in sobs.

"I’m sorry…"

The night swallows the sound.

And for the first time since you joined the crew, you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to stand back up.

Law stands over you, his shadow tall, his voice low but sharp.

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

You flinch.

His eyes cut into you, demanding answers "You’ve been with me for years, Y/N. You had time. So why keep this a secret?"

You shake your head, tears slipping free "Because… this is exactly what I was afraid of."

His brow furrows.

"I didn’t want you, or anyone, to see me as her. As Kaido’s daughter. I wanted you to see me as… just me. As Y/N. Not his blood. Not his shadow."

Your voice cracks, louder now, trembling "I wasn’t as brave as my brother or as the samurai. I was never brave enough to fight him. I stood by him like a coward, because I was too afraid. And when I finally saw a chance… I ran."

The silence after your words is heavy. Law doesn’t speak, he just stares, unreadable.

Slowly, with trembling hands, you reach for the bandage and peel it away.

The firelight from the clearing glints off your left eye… golden, sharp, unmistakable. A mark of Kaido’s bloodline.

You grip at it with shaking fingers, nails almost digging into your skin "I hate it… I hate this eye. It’s the eye of someone I don’t want to be. His eye. Not mine."

Law’s gaze doesn’t waver. He doesn’t flinch.

You finally look up at him, broken, desperate "Can you understand now? Why I lied? Why I never told you?"

The words pour out faster, your chest heaving "But being… with you, with Bepo, with Shachi, Penguin… with all of you, I finally… I finally felt like I was alive. Like I wasn’t chained to him anymore. You gave me that, Law. All of you did."

The night you told yourself you wouldn’t run anymore, you also knew you couldn’t stay.

Not with them. Not when facing Kaido was the only way forward.

So you run again and this time Law doesn’t stop you. And then you disappear without a word. No note. No goodbye.

You return to Wano not as the girl who laughed too loud on the Polar Tang, but as Kaido’s daughter, the role you always hated, but now wear like armor.

Days later.

The streets of the Flower Capital are crowded. Drums beat somewhere in the distance, children run barefoot through the dust, and the smell of cheap dango fills the air.

You walk down the main road with soldiers at your side. Subordinates, Kaido’s men. Their eyes on you, you know they’re all testing you, even Kaido is.

"That hag was whispering about the great Kaido-sama." one sneers, pointing at a trembling old woman behind a market stall "Shall we take her tongue?"

The crowd shifts uneasily. The woman shakes her head, stammering "N-no, I said nothing—"

You lift your hand. Silence falls.

Then, coldly, you give the order "Demolish the stall."

The soldiers grin and move at once, overturning crates of vegetables, snapping wooden planks, scattering the old woman’s things across the dirt. She cries out, falling to her knees.

Gasps ripple through the street. Parents drag children away. Nobody dares intervene.

But from a distance, hidden in the shadows of a narrow street, Law watches.

Shachi bristles beside him "Tch—Captain, we can’t just stand here! That’s Y/N, isn’t it? She’s letting them bully an old woman!"

Penguin’s fists clench "We should stop this—"

"Wait."

Law’s voice cuts through their anger. His eyes don’t leave you.

Because just as the soldiers jeer and scatter, you crouch down beside the old woman.

Your voice drops so only she can hear "I’m sorry."

She stares at you, wide-eyed, too stunned to speak.

Quickly, discreetly, you slip a pouch of coins into her pocket and close her fingers around it.

"Stay quiet. Endure. Just a little longer." you whisper.

And then you rise again, face unreadable, mask back in place before any soldier notices "We move."

The subordinates cheer as if you’d done something cruel. The crowd cowers. And you walk on, every step heavier than iron.

From the shadows, Law doesn’t move. His men still fume, whispering questions, confusion burning in their voices.

But Law just watches your back as you disappear down the street. His jaw tightens, and for the first time in years… he can’t tell what you’re thinking.

The next day you have to go monitor the streets again and so you keep walking, soldiers trailing close behind, pretending not to care.

But then you stop.

Right in front of you, there’s a little stall. Colorful masks, odd trinkets, cheap charms. And behind it, a very familiar long nose.

Your heart almost drops.

Usopp.

You blink, frozen. He looks up and nearly chokes on his spit when your eyes meet.

"Y-y-you—!" He stutters, grabbing at the counter like it’ll protect him "What are you—Kaido’s—why are you—?!"

"Quiet." you hiss quickly.

Your soldiers glance your way. You wave them off with a lazy hand, voice cold "I’ll check this stall myself. You guys check over there."

They obey at once, stepping back. You crouch down by the counter, leaning in.

"What are you doing here?" you whisper, eyes sharp but pleading.

He gulps, still shaking. Then he lowers his voice "We’re… we’re waiting. For Luffy. He’s getting Sanji back from Big Mom. When they come, we’ll all move."

Your chest tightens. You glance at the ground, then back at him "The Heart Pirates. Are they here too?"

Usopp studies you, nervous "Yeah. They’re hiding out around the northern port."

Your throat feels dry. Still, you push the words out "Can you… tell me exactly where Law is?"

He blinks "I—I can’t."

Your eyes harden, but your voice betrays you, softer than you mean it to be "Please."

For a long moment, Usopp hesitates. Then, sighing, he digs under the counter, pulls out a scrap of paper, and starts sketching a crude map with charcoal. His hand trembles, but the lines are clear enough.

When he pushes it toward you, his gaze meets yours "Don’t make me regret this."

You tuck the map into your sleeve, then stand tall again, slipping your mask of authority back on. Soldiers glance your way, and you bark, "We’re leaving."

That night, when the capital sleeps, you slip out in silence. No guards. No eyes. Just the map in your hand and your heart beating like thunder.

Every step brings you closer. To him.

The shack is warm with lantern light when you step in. Voices fall silent.

Penguin’s jaw drops "Y/N…?"

Shachi pushes up from his chair, eyes wide "You—dammit, do you have any idea what you put us through?!"

Bepo jumps to his feet next, tears shining in his eyes as he blurts, "We thought we lost you!"

Your chest aches at their voices, at the way they look at you. anger, relief, pain all twisted together.

And then you hear Law "Enough."

He sits at the back, arms crossed, eyes shadowed. The crew quiets instantly.

You take a step forward "Law…"

Slowly, he stands. Everyone falls quiet, waiting.

"You left." he says, flat and low.

Your heart clenches. You lift your chin, meeting his gaze "So did you."

For a second, his expression cracks. His lips press into a thin line, and he doesn’t answer.

Penguin mutters, "She’s got you there, Captain."

Law ignores him, his attention locked on you "Why?"

You swallow "Because if you knew who I was, if you saw me as Kaido’s daughter… you’d never see me as Y/N. As part of the crew. And I—" Your voice falters "I couldn’t stand that."

Shachi exhales hard, anger fading into something tired "Idiot. We already saw you as Y/N."

Penguin shakes his head, softer now "Doesn’t matter who your blood is. You’re one of us."

Bepo steps closer, eyes glistening "We’re family, Y/N."

The words nearly break you.

You turn back to Law. He hasn’t moved, but his eyes flick briefly to your eye that is now fully exposed "That’s what you’ve been hiding."

Your voice drops "I hate it. I hate that it ties me to him. But it’s mine, too. And I won’t keep running from it."

For a long moment, Law just studies you. Cold, unreadable, but something softer buried in the way his gaze lingers.

Finally, he speaks, quiet enough that only you hear "You should’ve trusted us." A beat passes "But… you came back."

You choke back a sob "I’m sorry."

There’s a shuffle, then Shachi claps his hands together loudly "Okay, enough heavy stuff. Let’s… let’s give them some space."

Penguin elbows him, muttering, "You just don’t wanna cry in front of them."

Bepo nods solemnly "She should talk with the captain. Alone."

Law shoots them a sharp glare, but doesn’t stop them as they file out one by one.

The door shuts. Silence settles.

It’s just you and him now. Law moves first, crossing the room to a low table. He sits, gestures faintly at the cushion beside him "Sit."

You hesitate, then obey. He pours two small cups from a bottle of sake, sliding one toward you. The porcelain feels too light in your hands, and you stare at the pale liquid instead of drinking.

Silence stretches. He doesn’t look at you when he finally speaks.

"I know I don’t have the right to be angry you left." His voice is steady, clipped "I did the same."

Your head lifts, surprised.

He exhales, fingers drumming once against his own cup before he stills them "But… I hoped you’d be stronger than me."

The words hang there, confusing, sharp. You frown "Stronger than you?"

Law’s jaw tightens. He keeps his gaze fixed on the table, not you "That night. When we talked… I almost told you something." His fingers curl slightly around the cup "But… saying things like that isn’t easy for me."

Your breath hitches. He doesn’t notice or he pretends not to.

"My plan for Dressrosa included death." he continues, quiet but firm "My death. I thought… you didn’t deserve to carry that weight. So I kept it to myself. I just walked away." He finally lifts his eyes, meeting yours, steady and unflinching "I thought if someone had to hurt, it should be me."

The ache in your chest twists deeper.

"But watching you disappear to face Kaido alone…" He trails off, staring down at his drink as if it can anchor him "It made me realize how wrong I was. Keeping quiet didn’t stop anyone from hurting. It just… made it worse."

You whisper his name, but he doesn’t let you interrupt.

"I have a lot of regrets, Y/N." His voice drops, rough around the edges. Then, after a beat "But not you. Not having you in my crew. Not… what I feel."

The air between you feels different now… thick, trembling, alive.

You can’t breathe. He’s not looking at you, but the words sink in, settle like fire in your chest.

Your hands tighten around the little cup. The words in your chest feel too heavy, but if you don’t say them now, you’ll never forgive yourself.

"I know it’s not your style," you begin softly, eyes on him, "to say things like this. But… I’m glad you did. Now."

Law’s gaze flickers, unreadable.

You swallow hard, cheeks warming "Because… I like you. A lot. Not just as a captain. I mean—yes, that too—but…" your words tangle, spilling out clumsy and rushed, "but as you. As Law. As a man."

For a second, silence. His lips twitch, then, unexpectedly, a soft laugh escapes him. Quiet, rough, but real.

Your eyes widen. You’ve never heard him laugh like that before. It startles you so much you almost forget to breathe.

Before you can overthink, you reach out and slip your hand into his.

He freezes. The laughter fades, his expression stunned, like he never imagined you’d dare to touch him so simply, but you just beam at him, eyes squeezed shut with that smile that always reaches them.

And in that instant, something shifts in him. His chest tightens, heartbeat tripping over itself.

You squeeze his hand gently, your voice steady this time "No more secrets, okay?"

Law doesn’t answer right away. His thumb twitches slightly against your hand, almost uncertain. Then, after a long pause, he exhales.

"…Okay."

The silence stretches, warm but heavy, until you shift uncomfortably and set the empty cup down.

"I should leave," you whisper "I should go back before they notice I’m gone."

Law’s eyes flick to you immediately.

"Why?" His tone is calm, but there’s an edge beneath it "Just stay here at this point. You don’t have to go back there. You don’t have to prove anything to us, Y/N."

Your throat tightens. You shake your head "No… it’s not about proving anything. I can still get information. Things that could help your mission, Luffy’s too."

His jaw tightens "It’s too risky. You’ve done enough. It’s going to be fine even if you stay out of it."

But you meet his eyes, firm "I need this, Law. Not just for the crew, but… for me. For closure. With Kaido."

He goes quiet, watching you like he’s weighing whether to argue again, but he doesn’t, and his gaze softens slightly, and somehow that’s worse than his scolding.

You stand, heart racing, trying to convince yourself to turn away, but something gnaws at you, something you can’t leave unsaid. You stop halfway to the door, turning back to him with a conflicted look.

"We said no more secrets, right?"

He nods once.

You take a shaky breath "Then… I should tell you. I really want to kiss you. Can I?"

Law freezes. His eyes widen, the air between you snapping taut. He doesn’t answer, doesn’t move, just stares at you like you’ve short-circuited his brain.

The silence eats at you, panic bubbling up.

You wave your hands quickly "Ah, forget I said that. That was dumb. Sorry. I’m leaving now, I’ll get the infos and I’ll give them to you when—"

"You can."

Your words choke off. You blink at him, stunned "…Really? For real?"

Law exhales slowly, almost like he regrets letting it slip, but then he pushes himself to his feet and steps closer. No hesitation this time.

Before you can overthink, his hand ghosts against your jaw and his lips press to yours. It’s brief, a little clumsy, but firm. Real.

When he pulls back, his hand lingers just a second longer before dropping. His voice is low, rough, like he’s forcing it out.

"…Please. Stay safe."

Your heart feels like it could break free from your chest.

You swallow down the lump in your throat, trying to hold onto the feel of his lips against yours. Then you manage a smile, not your usual too-loud, too-bright grin, but a soft one, small and honest.

"Don’t worry, Law," you whisper, voice steady for once "I’ll be fine. I promise."

He studies your face like he wants to argue again, but something in your smile stops him. He just nods, slow, silent.

You take a deep breath, reach for the door, and push it open, when three bodies tumble forward at your feet: Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo, all piled together in a heap, groaning.

"Ow!"

"Idiot, you leaned too hard!"

"You were the one pushing!!"

 Bepo whines, "I told you this was a bad idea…"

Your eyes widen as heat rushes to your face. They scramble to untangle themselves, each throwing out excuses that sound worse than the last.

"We were just—uh—guard duty!"

 "Yeah! Guard duty, super serious!"

 Bepo, deadpan "We were listening."

"BEPO!!" Shachi and Penguin yell in unison, smacking him.

You cover your face with your hands, your cheeks burning hot enough to catch fire.

"You idiots!!" you squeak, before bolting past them, practically running away, your heart racing faster than ever.

Behind you, the crew’s voices echo "I told you she’d confess first!"

"No way, it totally sounded like the captain kissed her!"

"Shut up, both of you!"

Law’s sigh, sharp and weary, cuts through it all, and you can’t stop smiling.

For nights, it becomes a rhythm.

You slip out under the cover of darkness, cross the streets of Wano with careful steps, and find him waiting. Sometimes it’s just a glance at each other before trading information. Sometimes you stay longer, sharing whispers and soft touches until the world fades. And every time, when you leave, you feel stronger. Lighter.

Until tonight.

You’re halfway back to your room when shadows move in front of you. Two of your father’s men step out from the dark, smirks sharp, eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

"Out late again, princess?" one sneers, crossing his arms.

The other leans close enough for you to smell the sake on his breath "You think no one noticed your little nightly walks?"

Your heart slams against your ribs. You force a cold glare "Move."

They laugh "Or what? You’ll go cry to daddy?"

The word daddy makes your stomach twist. You grip your fists so tight your nails dig into your palms.

"You wouldn’t want Kaido to know where you’ve been sneaking off to," the first says, tilting his head "Imagine his face if he learned his precious daughter was meeting… outsiders."

Your chest freezes.

"You won’t." you snap, but your voice is too thin, too desperate.

"Oh, we will. Unless…"

The other one grins, teeth sharp "Unless you do something for us."

You narrow your eyes "What?"

"There’s a shipment, heavily guarded, moving in two days. Something only Kaido’s daughter could get close to. We want you to… misplace it. Just a little. An accident. No one has to know."

You stare at them, fury boiling inside you, but the blade of their threat presses too close. If they tell Kaido about Law, about the crew, everything’s over.

You clench your jaw "Fine."

"Good girl." one says, patting your shoulder before they vanish back into the dark.

You stand there alone, breathing hard, your chest heavy with a single thought…

You promised him no more secrets.

Two nights later, Law’s waiting, arms crossed, amber eyes sharp as you step into the clearing.

"You skipped last night." he says, tone flat.

You force a smile, holding up the paper with fresh intel "I had… trouble. It’s fine now."

He doesn’t take it. His gaze doesn’t leave your face "You’re lying."

The words cut straight through you. Your stomach drops.

You look away, clutching the paper tighter "It’s nothing important."

"Y/N." His voice is low, edged with warning. He takes a step closer, searching your expression, trying to read what you won’t say.

Your throat tightens. The memory of your promise no more secrets, burns inside you. You want to tell him. Gods, you want to. But if you do… he’ll stop you. He’ll stop everything. And he’ll worry.

So you force your voice steady "I’m fine."

For a moment, you think he’ll push. His brows knit together, his jaw tense. But then he exhales, sharp and frustrated, and looks away.

"Fine." he mutters.

The silence between you feels heavier than ever.

You turn and leave before your face crumbles, before he sees the truth written in your eyes. Each step back to your room feels like betrayal.

And for the first time, the lie hurts worse than the fear of Kaido.

You did it.

You slipped into the shipment unnoticed, just as your subordinates demanded. The crates were smashed, the contents “misplaced”, and you walked away with shaking hands, your stomach churning with disgust.

But it wasn’t enough.

Because the very next day, Kaido’s men dragged you into the main hall, the floor cold against your knees as you were forced down before him.

Kaido’s eyes bore into you, sharp and unyielding.

“They tell me,” he growled, “you’ve been sneaking around with Trafalgar Law. That you’ve been feeding him scraps of information like a traitor.”

Your blood froze. They know more…?

You tried to steady your voice “They’re lying.”

Kaido leaned forward on his throne, shadow swallowing your form “Are they? Then explain why my shipment was destroyed under your watch.”

“They forced me!” you blurt, whipping around to glare at your so-called subordinates “They threatened me if I didn’t—!”

The men smirked, feigning offense “She’s desperate, Kaido-sama. Making excuses. She betrayed you, just like before.”

Your chest tightened, panic clawing at your throat “I didn’t—!”

“Enough.” Kaido’s voice rumbled through the hall, final and merciless “You disappeared for years, came crawling back, and now you cause me nothing but trouble.”

“Father!”

“Lock her up.”

Guards grabbed your arms, wrenching you to your feet. You fought against their grip, your voice breaking “You’re wrong! They’re lying to you! I didn’t betray you!”

Kaido’s gaze was cold as stone “I won’t waste my men chasing down a worthless pirate doctor. I have way bigger things to prepare. You are nothing but a distraction.”

The word worthless stabbed through you sharper than any blade.

Your voice cracked into a hiss as they dragged you away “He’s not worthless!”

But your words echoed into silence, swallowed by the walls as the iron bars closed on you.

The first night, Law waits.

Sitting in the shadows of the clearing, arms crossed, his crew nearby. They whisper among themselves.

“She’s late.” Shachi mutters. Penguin frowns “Maybe she isn’t coming today.” Bepo’s ears droop “…Something’s wrong.”

Law says nothing, though his jaw clenches tighter with every passing second.

The second night, he’s already there before the others. And when you still don’t come, his crew exchange worried glances.

By the third day, when you don’t appear for your usual “guard rounds” in the market, panic settles in.

“She wouldn’t just stop like this.” Penguin insists.

“Is she okay?” Bepo adds, voice quiet.

Law stays silent, but the storm in his eyes says everything.

And then, as if fate chose its timing, Luffy and Zoro unleash chaos in town.

Undercover is no longer an option.

Law pulls his hood over his head, sharp gaze flicking toward the chaos. “Good. Let them make noise. Just in time. Our mission changes.”

Law’s hand grips Kikoku’s handle, knuckles white “She’s our main mission.”

Meanwhile, in your cage, the days blur together. Your wrists ache from pulling at the bars, your throat dry from shouting until no sound comes.

And then, light. The sound of chains rattling.

“Y/N.”

You look up to see Yamato kneeling by your cage, arms full of food and water.

“Brother…” Your voice cracks, relief flooding you.

“Keep your voice down,” Yamato hisses, sliding the tray through the gap “I’ve been sneaking food here. If they catch me—”

“They’ll kill you.”

“Better me than you.” His expression hardens, fire in his eyes “I’ve tried everything, but these bars… they’re sealed. I can’t break them.”

You swallow hard, tears pricking your eyes “I don’t… I don’t know how much longer I can stay here.”

Yamato grips the bars, leaning close “Don’t worry. Because I’m not leaving you. And someone is coming for you. I can feel it.”

Your chest tightens, his words burning into you. You want to believe him. You want to believe Law.

You press your forehead to the cold iron, whispering the only thing you can “…Please.”

The war has already begun. Onigashima shakes with the sound of clashing steel, roars of Beast Pirates, explosions from Straw Hat chaos. Smoke and fire eat through the air as the battle spreads like wildfire.

Law is in the thick of it, appearing and disappearing across the battlefield in blurs of Shambles, cutting down enemies, supporting allies, already stretched thin by the madness around him.

But he’s not fighting like usual. His eyes keep darting toward the castle, his movements sharper, more frantic.

“Captain,” Penguin pants, catching up, blood on his cheek “You’re distracted—”

“I’m fine.” Law cuts, voice harder than Kikoku’s edge, but his crew exchange looks because they know why.

“TRAFALGAR LAW!!”

The shout cuts through the chaos like thunder. Everyone pauses, heads snapping toward the towering figure charging straight at them.

Bepo bristles, ready to defend. Shachi and Penguin tense.

But instead of attacking, the massive figure skids to a stop before Law, eyes wild and focused.

“You’re Law, right?” Yamato demands, scanning him head to toe. He tilts his head, frowning as if making a judgment “Huh. You’re… smaller than I expected.”

Law’s brow twitches “...And you are?”

“Yamato. Kaido’s son.”

The crew tense immediately, hands on weapons.

Law narrows his eyes, Kikoku half-drawn “Then we’re… enemies?”

But Yamato waves his hands frantically “Wait, wait, I’m not with him! I’m not with Kaido—I’m against him! Just listen!” His voice softens, desperate “I don’t have time to explain everything but, are you… the man my sister keeps talking about?”

Law stiffens “...Your sister?”

Yamato scans him again, eyes narrowing “…You’re not that impressive. She really has weird taste.”

Shachi sputters, choking on air “W-what—?!”

Penguin almost laughs. Bepo tilts his head.

Law’s jaw tightens, a faint red at his ears “…Get to the point.”

Yamato leans in, urgency blazing “She’s locked up. In the east tower, sealed cages Kaido had made years ago. He found out about her meeting you.” He grits his teeth “She kept talking about you and told me you could help.”

The words freeze Law in place “…What?”

“You need to go to her.” Yamato insists, gripping his shoulder “Now. There’s chaos everywhere, this is the only chance you’ll get to slip past the guards. I’ll help you.”

Law’s heart pounds, though his face remains hard as stone. He doesn’t answer immediately, doesn’t trust himself to.

Penguin finally speaks up, urgent “Captain. If she’s really—”

“I know.” Law snaps, already moving. His hand clenches around Kikoku, his other around his nodachi’s sheath. His voice is low, cold, but beneath it burns fire “Take me to her.”

The battlefield is madness. The Strawhats cause chaos in every direction, Luffy’s laugh echoes like a battle drum somewhere above, Zoro’s blades glint through the smoke, Kid and Killer carve a path of their own.

But Law isn’t looking at any of that. His focus is razor-sharp, locked only on Yamato.

“East tower,” Yamato growls, pointing through the smoke and fire “That’s where Kaido has her locked up. He prepared those cages to keep people like me from escaping. Strong, reinforced. I tried to break them myself but… I couldn’t.”

Bepo bares his teeth “Then we’ll rip it apart together.”

“Quiet.” Law orders. His tone is cold, but his grip on Kikoku is too tight, the veins in his hand standing out “We don’t draw attention.”

Yamato nods “Fine. Follow me.”

They move fast through the corridors of Onigashima, Yamato clearing the way with brutal swings of his kanabo. Every time a Beast Pirate falls, Law Shambles them further down the hall, clearing their path. Shachi and Penguin watch each other, grim but determined, as if silently agreeing they’ll make sure Law gets through this alive.

At one point, a squad blocks their path, armed and loud. Yamato lifts his club, ready to swing, but Law steps past him.

“Room.”

The air distorts, blue light expanding in a sphere. With a flick of his hand, weapons vanish from their enemies’ grips, replaced with rubble from the broken walls. Another flick, and the pirates collapse, gasping, unconscious.

Yamato blinks “…Okay. You’re cooler than I thought.”

Law ignores him, voice flat “Keep moving.”

Finally, they reach the east tower. It’s quieter here, the battle hasn’t spilled into these halls yet. The air is damp, heavy, filled with the stench of old iron and mold.

Yamato leads them down a long staircase, his footsteps heavy. His voice is lower now, softer “She tried to hide it from me at first… but I could tell. The way she talked about you. The way her eyes lit up, even when everything was hopeless. I’ve never seen her like that, not once. Even if it’s been a lot since I last saw her…” He glances at Law “Don’t let her break more than she already has.”

Law says nothing, but his jaw clenches.

At the bottom of the stairs, the prison cells stretch in rows. Guards are slumped unconscious, Yamato’s work from earlier. And at the very end, in a reinforced cage of sea-stone and iron.

There you are.

Your knees pulled to your chest, head resting on them. Clothes torn from struggling, your face pale in the torchlight. You don’t stir at their footsteps, too exhausted, or too hopeless, to notice.

“…Y/N.”

Your head lifts slowly, sluggishly, as if you’d dreamed his voice and don’t believe it. Your eyes widen, blinking against the light “...Law?”

He’s already moving, faster than his usual measured pace, Kikoku clattering against his side as he kneels before the bars. The crew hangs back, giving space. Yamato stands like a sentinel, arms crossed, as if guarding the moment.

You crawl closer, weak but desperate, pressing your hands against the cold iron. Tears blur your vision “…You… why are you here—”

“Idiot.” His voice cracks sharper than Kikoku’s blade, but his hands cover yours through the bars, firm and trembling “What the hell do you think? You think I’d let you stay here?”

Your lips tremble “But… Kaido—”

“Forget Kaido.” His eyes burn into yours, raw and fierce “I don’t give a damn. We were here to defeat him anyway.” His voice falters, his grip tightening.

For the first time in forever, Law looks almost broken in front of you.

You choke on a sob, pressing harder against his hands “I’m sorry. I lied… I broke our promise, I—”

“Stop.” His tone is sharp, but not cold, more like he’s cutting the guilt away himself “We’ll deal with that later. Right now, I’m getting you out.”

He stands, hand raised, energy crackling “Room.”

The space distorts, and with a sharp motion the cage shatters apart, iron bars warping away in a blur of blue light. He teleports you outside, catching you as your legs give out.

You collapse into him, trembling, your face buried in his chest. For once, he doesn’t hesitate, his arms wrap around you, firm and steady, holding you up.

“…Thank you.” you whisper against him, voice shaking but teasing through the tears.

And for the briefest second, just for you, Law lets out the smallest, softest smile “Shut up.”

Law says, eyes steady on yours “I’ll join the rooftop fight now. You stay with Bepo and them.”

You nod “Be careful.”

He squeezes your shoulder once “You too.”

Then he vanishes in blue light.

Bepo tucks a blanket around you “Please stay, Y/N.”

“I will.” you lie.

You close your eyes. You count to ten. Then you stand.

“Y/N!” Penguin hisses.

“I’ll only look.” you whisper “I won’t fight. I just… I need to make sure he’s okay.”

They stare, worried, but the battle shakes the walls. You slip into the dark.

You climb broken stairs and crawl behind a torn wall on the rooftop. Wind whips your hair. The sky is black with smoke. It took you a while to arrive and so you see Luffy, Zoro, Kid, Killer  and Law stand in a rough line, panting.

Big Mom laughs on her cloud “Maamaamaa! Done already?”

Kaido twirls his kanabo “Fall.”

He swings. The shockwave rips tiles free.

You press yourself into the shadow, heart pounding.

Don’t move. Don’t be a burden. Just watch. Just breathe.

Kaido lifts the kanabo again, muscles bunching.

“Stop..” you breathe… too soft for anyone to hear.

He steps forward to finish his attack.

“KAIDO!”

Your voice cuts the air. He turns his head and you move fast.

You sprint from the shadow and drive your blade into his back, right below the shoulder.

Steel bites. Not deep. But enough.

“Tch.” Kaido’s face twitches. He turns, slow, angry.

“Now!” Kid barks.

Luffy roars, “Gomu Gomu no!” Zoro and Killer slash in at once.

“Room.” Law appears in a blink, grabs your arm, and Shambles you to his side.

He faces you, eyes sharp and scared at the same time “The hell are you doing here?! I told you to stay put.”

You don’t look at him. Your whole body shakes, but not from fear. From rage. You stare at Kaido like you could burn a hole through him.

Big Mom grins “Oho? The little princess shows up.”

Kaido’s lips curl “So the rat leaves her cage to squeak.”

You finally breathe out, never taking your eyes off him “Hey, Law… I’ve got one last secret.”

Law’s jaw tightens “Y/N…”

You don’t explain. You show.

Your dragon eye starts to release gold burns to electric blue lightning, from your iris like a storm breaking glass. The air hums. Your hair lifts.

A shape rises behind you, half wind, half lightning. A long, spectral dragon coils over your shoulders, its mane a storm, its claws made of light. It opens its mouth and the sky rumbles with it.

Luffy’s eyes shine “WHOA! That’s awesome!”

Zoro squints “So this is why the samurai freaked out…”

Kid smirks “Now we’re talking.”

Killer laughs under his mask.

Law doesn’t move. His voice drops, tight “What did he do to you?”

Your throat is dry, but your answer is steady “He forced an artificial fruit on me. Unlike Momonosuke I’m not a full dragon. More like a dragon spirit. Lightning and wind.”

Kaido snorts “A failed model.”

Your glare cuts him “No. A curse you gave me.” You step forward, the spirit moving with you “And I’m using it to end you.”

The dragon snaps its jaws. A bolt of blue lightning slams Kaido’s chest. He skids half a step, surprised, not hurt, but it’s enough to break his rhythm.

“Move!” Law barks “Luffy, Kid—press!”

“Got it!” Luffy rockets in.

Kid’s metal twists back together “Magnet punk—load!”

Zoro shoulder-checks beside you “Don’t overdo it.” he mutters.

You nod once, eyes never leaving Kaido. The spirit wraps your arms with spectral claws flare over your hands. You lash out, wind and lightning slice the air, forcing Kaido to guard for the first time all night.

Big Mom cackles “Maamaamaa! Look at you spark! Show me more!”

“Stay back.” Law snaps at her, then to you, lower “Y/N. Your body.”

You feel the cost. Nerves screaming, muscles shaking, the fruit eating at your strength. You grit your teeth.

“I can hold more.” you say.

Kaido grins wide “Then hold this… daughter.” He inhales Boro Breath building hot and bright.

“NOW!” you shout. The spirit rears up, and you unleash a Dragon’s Roar, a shockwave of thunder that slams into his jaw and kicks the flame upward. The blast fires high, not forward, tearing the clouds instead of your friends.

“Thanks!” Luffy laughs, rubber feet skidding as he charges “Gear—!”

“Room.” Law expands space, swapping Luffy into perfect range.

Zoro and Killer crash in off the opening. Kid hurls metal like a comet.

Kaido staggers, teeth bared.

You sway. The lightning around your eye flickers.

Law catches your elbow before you fall “That’s enough.”

You don’t answer him. You lift your head and stare at Kaido like you’ll never blink again “I’m not your daughter.”

His gaze hardens “Blood is blood.”

“Then watch what mine chooses.” You drag in air. The spirit coils tight, then spears forward as a bolt that shatters the tiles at Kaido’s feet, forcing him to step back… right into Luffy’s punch.

“Gomu Gomu no… Elephant Gun!”

Kaido slides, boots carving lines in the stone.

Big Mom snarls “Brats.”

Law keeps you upright, voice a rough whisper only you hear “Stay alive.”

You nod, breath ragged “You too, Captain.”

He almost smiles “Tch.”

Kaido rolls his shoulders, eyes locked on you now, amused and angry “So the little storm finally bites.”

You lift your chin, lightning still dancing across your skin “I’m not done.”

Law squeezes your hand once, quick and hidden. Then, louder “Formation! I’ll set the openings. Luffy, Kid, take them. Swordsmen, cover.”

You plant your feet beside him, the dragon spirit hissing above your head like thunder ready to break.

“No more secrets.” you whisper.

“Good,” he says, eyes cutting to Kaido “Then let’s finish this.”

The storm answers for you both.

The war is over.

Kaido and Big Mom are gone, the Beast Pirates scattered. Wano is finally free.

For the first time in forever, the country is alive with colour, lanterns lighting every street, kites fluttering above the Flower Capital, laughter spilling out of every door. Music, drums, shamisen… all of it weaving into a celebration that feels endless.

Children run with sparklers. Old samurai drink sake with teary eyes. Food stalls overflow with skewers, dango, and steaming ramen bowls.

You stand on a bridge, a yukata tied loosely around your shoulders, watching lanterns drift into the sky. The reflection of their golden glow dances across the river, like tiny suns floating away.

Law finds you there. Of course he does.

“You should be resting.” His voice is the same as ever, flat and scolding, but softer now.

You glance at him, smiling “Says the one who hasn’t slept in days.”

He doesn’t deny it. Just moves to stand beside you, hands in his pockets. His yukata is dark, plain, but somehow it makes him stand out more than anyone else. The lantern light flickers in his eyes.

For a moment, you two just… exist. No secrets, no cages, no war.

Then you say, “Wano looks different like this.”

“Mm.” He follows your gaze over the festival “Almost peaceful.”

You lean against the railing, staring at your reflection. The faint glow in your storm eye flickers once, then calms, like the power itself is finally at rest.

“You know,” you murmur, “I thought… after Kaido, after everything… maybe I’d feel empty.”

“And?”

“I don’t.” You smile softly “I feel… free.”

He doesn’t answer right away, he just shifts slightly closer, his shoulder brushing yours “Good.”

The quiet stretches. Then you turn, teasing “Not going to give me a lecture for stabbing a Yonko?”

His lips twitch in almost a smile “If you hadn’t, Luffy wouldn’t have gotten his opening. So no.”

“Oh wow,” you laugh, “Trafalgar Law admitting someone else’s recklessness paid off. I should write that down.”

That gets him. A low, rare chuckle slips out, soft, real. The sound makes your chest warm.

“You’re impossible.” he mutters.

“You like me, though.”

“…Tch.” He looks away, but the tips of his ears burn red.

That’s when Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin come barreling over the bridge, all clearly tipsy.

“Y/N, Captain!” Shachi slams into Law’s back.

Penguin points dramatically at the sky “Fireworks!”

Bepo is already holding three sticks of dango “Come watch with us!”

Law pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing “Idiots.”

You laugh, tugging lightly on his sleeve “Come on. Just this once. No captain, no war. Just us.”

He looks at you, at the smile you give him, honest and open, and he exhales like he’s giving in to something inevitable.

“…Fine.”

When the crew is distracted by the explosions in the sky, you lean closer and press your lips against his, quick, soft, but burning all the same.

He freezes at first, surprised, but then he kisses you back, steady and certain, before pulling away just enough to whisper “Stay safe. Always.”

Your cheeks flush hotter than the fireworks.

Later, you find yourself surrounded by the samurai.

You bow deeply “I’m sorry. For being Kaido’s daughter. For… all the pain he caused you.”

But to your shock, they bow back.

“No, we’re sorry,” Kinemon says “For doubting you. For not protecting Wano sooner.”

Raizo nods “For letting you bear that weight alone.”

It turns into a ridiculous circle of apologies, your voices overlapping, all of you trying to out-apologize the other until you’re laughing through the tears.

Then comes the hardest goodbye.

Your brother Yamato is at the port, arms crossed, smiling with pride.

“I should be mad at you, you know,” he says “For leaving me here all those years ago.”

Your throat tightens “I’m sorry, Yamato. Truly.”

He shakes his head, pulling you into a hug so tight you can barely breathe “Idiot. You’re here now. That’s enough.”

When he lets go, his sharp eyes slide immediately to Law at your side “So this is officially the guy, huh?”

“Yamato!” you start, mortified.

He squints at Law, tilting his head “…Huh. My sister’s taste is still weird.”

“Yamato!”

Law’s eye twitches, but he stays stoic “…Tch.”

Your brother grins wider, clearly enjoying himself “You’d better take care of her, Captain Trafalgar. If you don’t, I’ll come hunting you down.”

Law doesn’t flinch “I don’t need threats to do that.”

That, strangely enough, seems to satisfy Yamato.

The Polar Tang hums as the crew prepares to set sail.

You stand at the rail, Law at your side, watching as Yamato waves from the shore until the island grows small in the distance.

Wano has colour again. Wano has freedom.

And you have a new journey waiting, hand in hand with the man who finally knows all of your secrets.

Another adventure has already begun.

[stormruff]

Which them?

Manifesting....

Credit: drakiexoxo on TikTok

[stormruff]

Hiya! Came from Kofi to send the request! (lmk if this is too late tho!)

So for it, could it be a few characters w conquerors Haki (shanks, Luffy, Law and zoro in particular) x reader who also has conquerors but has kept it hidden from them until a certain scenario that puts them at great risk, but their Conquerors is uncontrollable, like it comes out in strong, violent but exhausting bursts? (Like, for example a battle that’s gone extremely wrong) Sorry if this request is too detailed, feel free to change it if you want to!

Rap1d <3

Conqueror's Haki

gn!reader

characters: shanks, luffy, law and zoro

a/n: I tried to make them all different and I got a bit creative with the haki so it might not be 100% canon, butI hope you'll like them all anyway. also, thank you for your request on my ko-fi aw

words count: around 1.5k - 2.5k each

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Shanks:

tags: action romance, angst with comfort, haki awakening, slow burn

The island is quiet… too quiet.

You step off the ship last, keeping your hood up and eyes down. The Red Force creaks behind you as the crew spreads out on the broken, overgrown shore. Huge stone ruins stretch beyond the trees, half-swallowed by moss and time.

“Spread out!” Shanks calls to everyone, voice light, but sharp with command “Don’t wander too far. This place gives me the creeps.”

He’s smiling, but his eyes scan the jungle ruins like they’re hiding something.

You don’t answer, you never do more than you need to. They think you’re shy, maybe even strange, but that’s fine. It’s better than them knowing the truth.

Benn nods at you as he passes. You just nod back and slip into the shadows of the trees.

You're always careful, even now, with something thrumming in your chest, a familiar itch under your skin. It’s like the air is buzzing. Not with danger exactly, but something.

Then you hear a bell. One, deep, echoing sound, as if it’s inside your skull.

Your knees buckle.

BOOM.

Your head snaps back and pain cracks through your mind like lightning. You gasp, hands clutching your head. You fall.

Then everything goes black.

When your eyes finally open again, everything is wrong.

The forest is melting. The ground shifts. You see the crew running, some screaming, others swinging their swords at air. Their eyes are wide, wild.

Illusions.

No… you are doing this.

Your Haki is loose, too strong. You can feel it pouring out of you like blood. You hear voices whispering, screaming, some crying.

You try to hold it back.

“Stop, please stop,” you whisper, grabbing your head “No, no, not again!”

Then you see him.

Shanks stands in front of you. Calm. Red hair glowing in the haze. His mouth moves, but you can’t hear him over the noise. Everything is too loud.

You scream and blast out more Haki without meaning to. A wave slams into the forest, and the ground cracks. Trees split.

He doesn’t move.

You snarl “GET AWAY FROM ME!”

Your arm moves on its own. A strike. Laced with deadly will.

Shanks dodges. Barely.

But he doesn’t look angry, just… sad and worried.

“Y/N,” he says your real name. The one you never told anyone.

You freeze “How do you…?”

“I know who you are,” he says, taking one slow step forward “I always did.”

You blink “You… why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you’re not the monster you think you are.”

Your knees shake.

Your power lashes out again, like it’s trying to protect you from him and from the truth. You don’t want to hurt him but it seems like your “powers” want to and now you’re afraid you can.

You scream again, this time with words “I CAN’T STOP IT!”

“I can,” he says, voice low and gentle, “But you have to let me.”

The storm in your head won’t stop.

You're still on your knees. The world is bent, twisted. The crew is somewhere behind Shanks, most of them unconscious or curled on the ground, barely breathing under the weight of your unleashed Haki.

But Shanks stands firm, calm as always calm, and watching as always.

“You knew?” you whisper, voice hoarse.

He nods once “I felt it the day you stepped on my ship.”

You look down, shame crawling up your throat like bile.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you were scared,” he says simply “and because I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”

You laugh dry and broke, “I was never gonna be ready.”

“I know.” He takes another step closer “But now you have to be.”

The air between you flickers. Your Haki crackles again, out of control. His coat flutters from the force of it, but he doesn’t flinch.

“I tried so hard to keep it hidden,” you say “Ever since—”

Your throat closes. The memory flashes… the faces, the silence, the bodies on the ground. You squeeze your eyes shut.

“I killed people, Shanks,” you whisper “Back then. Friends. I didn’t mean to. But it still happened.”

“I know…” he says again. No judgment. Just understanding.

“And now look at what I’ve done. I could’ve killed your crew. You.”

“You didn’t,” he says “And I wouldn’t let you.”

“I can’t even find a way to control it.” you say, voice cracking.

“Then I’ll help you.” His voice sharpens “Starting now.”

You blink “What?”

“I’m not letting you keep poisoning yourself like this.” Shanks says “Holding it in. Pretending to be small. You’re a Conqueror, Y/N. Hiding it won’t make it go away.”

“You don’t get it!”

“I do.” he interrupts, stepping close enough that his shadow falls over you “I lived with it too. I saw what it could do. And I nearly lost myself once.”

You look up. His face is serious, but not angry at you, more like furious for you.

“I’m not mad that you lied,” he says “I’m mad that you thought you had to carry this alone. That you thought no one would stay if they saw who you really are.”

Your lips tremble.

“I’m still here,” he says “And I’m not leaving.”

You look away “And if I hurt you again?”

“Then I’ll get back up,” he says “And we try again. I’m not that easy to hurt, you know?”

He crouches in front of you. His voice lowers, almost a whisper.

“But if you keep suppressing this power… it’ll tear you apart. I won’t let that happen.”

“…Why?” you ask.

He gives you a tired, crooked smile.

“Because you’re family now,” he says “And maybe… maybe something more… aren’t we?”

Your heart stutters.

You stare at him and then, for the first time since the bell rang, everything bad begins to fade.

The world dims too fast.

You stand there, still trembling from the chaos you caused, breath ragged. The last pieces of your illusions dissolve into nothing. And then your knees give out, but you don’t hit the ground.

One strong arm catches you, wrapping around your back just before your body falls. It’s warm and steady. The smell of sea salt and wind and something sharp like steel fills your nose.

Shanks.

You feel him lower you gently to the forest floor, cradling your head with care you didn’t expect.

His voice is low, like barely above a whisper, and comes from right beside your temple.

You feel something soft and warm against your skin. A kiss.

Then, he says softly “…I’ve got you now.”

You’re not sure if you’re dreaming, but you don’t have the strength to ask him to repeat it.

The world fades once more, and for the first time in a long time, you feel safe when you fall.

The days after that change everything.

You wake up in your hammock on the Red Force, aching all over but alive. Shanks keeps his promise. No more hiding.

Every day, he trains with you. No excuses. No delays.

At dawn, he knocks on your door.

“You ready?” he grins, sword on his back, hair a mess “The ocean’s not gonna wait.”

You groan every time “I hate you.”

“No you don’t,” he chuckles “Get up.”

It’s hell.

Haki training with someone like him? Brutal.

You break things. You nearly knock yourself out three times. Shanks doesn’t flinch. He blocks every wild burst, redirects it, makes you feel what it’s supposed to do.

It’s exhausting, every bone in your body aches, but you’re getting stronger, you can feel it, little by little, as your power listens to you more and more.

You’re also getting used to the way he watches you. Not just as a captain.

You catch the way his eyes soften when you pass him water. The way his hand lingers a second longer on your shoulder. The way he smiles a little more when it’s you who says something stupid.

A week later, the sun is setting red across the deck. You drop to the floor, sweating, gasping, eyes half-open.

“I give up…” you wheeze “That’s it. I’m dying. Tell the crew I went out fighting.”

Shanks laughs “That was only round four.”

You roll onto your back “ONLY? Please, Shanks. I’m begging you. My soul has left my body.”

He walks over, casting a long shadow over you.

You blink up at him “Have mercy, o Great One.”

There’s a long pause and then he sighs loudly and dramatically “…Fine. You win.”

You stare “Wait. Really?”

He shrugs “You’re too cute when you’re pathetic.”

You flush “Shanks!”

He grins “You looked like you were gonna cry. I’m not that heartless.”

You sit up slowly, still catching your breath “You kind of are.”

“Not with you. It’s obvious.”

That makes you pause.

Your eyes meet.

For a moment, you don’t say anything and he doesn’t either.

Then he reaches out and ruffles your hair in a lazy, warm and soft way.

“Come on,” he says “Dinner’s waiting. You earned it.”

“…You’re paying me in soup?”

“Best deal on the sea.” he says with a grin.

You narrow your eyes “What? No gold, no praise, no back rubs?”

He smirks “What? You prefer a kiss?”

You blink once, then shrug and nod, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world “Yeah. Why not? It’s not an offer I receive often.”

He stares at you for a second, then he laughs in a low, surprised sound coming from his chest.

“You’re serious?” he says, voice amused.

You tilt your head “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He steps closer, slow and still smiling, but now there’s something softer in his eyes. A little heat. A little fondness.

“Careful,” he says “Keep asking like that, and I’ll think you like me.”

“Maybe I do, who knows.”

He leans in, tilting his head, face just inches from yours.. his breath brushes your lips “You’re playing with fire.”

You shrug again, eyes half-lidded “You started it.”

There’s a pause. His smile fades, not in a bad way, but into something more real. His eyes search yours.

Then he does it.

No hesitation.

Just a soft, warm kiss.

A small one. Barely more than a breath. But it’s gentle, certain… like it’s not your first, like it’s not a surprise to either of you.

When he pulls back, his voice is low and a little rough “Better than soup?”

You nod again, lips tingling “Way better.”

He laughs, ruffles your hair again like he’s trying to play it cool, but you feel the tension in his hand “Alright, soup and a kiss. Don’t say I never spoil you.”

You roll your eyes, still blushing “Guess I’ll survive another training session.”

He walks beside you, bumping your shoulder with his, and says quietly, “You’re doing better than you think, y’know.”

And for the first time in a long time, you believe it.

── .✦ Luffy:

warning and tags: wano arc but not everything is canon, blood, protective luffy, action, established relationship

The ground is shaking.

Smoke curls through the broken halls of Kaido’s fortress. Screams echo. Fire burns overhead. Onigashima is falling apart.

You slice down another Beast Pirate with quick, clean precision. Jinbe is at your side, holding the line. Chopper is behind you, patching up wounded civilians. You’re tired. Blood clings to your arms and your lungs ache, but that’s not the problem.

The problem is the pressure in your chest and your skull, like something inside you is waking up, and it hurts.

You keep moving.

“Keep going! Down the right tunnel!” Jinbe shouts, ushering the last few kids through.

A flash of movement catches your eye.

Nami turns, eyes wide “Behind you!”

You pivot just in time… actually, too late.

A hulking figure crashes through the rubble, one of Kaido’s commanders, tall like a mountain, with black Haki curling off his fists like fire. He charges toward the children and toward Nami, and here something in you snaps.

You don’t think. You don’t scream. You just move.

You shove Nami out of the way and take the hit head-on. His punch is like a cannon. Your ribs scream as your knees hit the stone floor. Blood spits from your mouth.

You can’t breathe.

The world rings but it’s not just from the hit.

It’s a sound like a bell, deep and hollow and ancient. Not real. Not actually here. You hear it inside.

A voice slips from your throat, raw, torn “Stay away from them—!”

The air shatters and a wave explodes out from your chest. The sky outside splits. The berserker’s eyes roll back as he drops like dead weight.

Jinbe staggers. Chopper screams your name. Even Zoro, far off on another rooftop, pauses mid-swing, brow furrowing as the pressure hits him.

It keeps coming…

The Haki doesn’t stop, you can’t stop it. It surges out in violent, wild waves, like thunder rolling from a broken dam.

You feel it leave you, piece by piece. Each pulse is a part of you being torn out.

You’re trembling, drenched in sweat and barely conscious.

Your vision swims, your fingers twitch and you fall to your knees.

Somewhere above, midair Luffy freezes.

His punch stops mid-swing. Kaido growls, confused but Luffy isn’t listening.

He feels a Haki that is not Kaido’s, not his… but yours.

Wild. Bleeding. Crashing into his soul like a scream “...Y/N?”

He doesn’t think, he just moves.

Gear Fifth blurs. His form stretches and streaks down the battlefield like lightning. He crashes down where he feels you are.

And there you are, collapsed on the ground with blood on your lip. Shaking like a leaf, eyes barely open but still trying to push yourself up… even now.

Luffy lands beside you, fast “Hey! Oi Y/N!”

You try to smile even if it’s weak. There’s blood in your teeth as well “Sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

“Shut up.” He grabs you before your head hits the stone. Bringing you close to him even if his arms are shaking, but not from fear, from rage.

Not at you.

At himself. At Kaido. At whoever made you think you had to do all this. And alone.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he says. His voice is low, not his usual bark. Gentle, but fierce “Why didn’t you say you could do all this? Did you know?”

You blink. It’s getting hard to see “I knew… I just didn’t want you to look at me like a weapon…”

Luffy stares and for a second, the battlefield disappears.

Then he presses his forehead to yours “Why would you even think I’d think of you as a weapon.”

His voice is shaking “I never will.”

You feel it in his Haki being calm, steady, his. It wraps around you like a promise.

“We’re nakama. That means you don’t have to carry stuff alone.”

Then, quieter, more serious than you’ve ever heard him “Next time you’re scared… tell me, okay?”

You nod, weakly. The last thing you feel before you pass out is his hand squeezing yours “I’m here. Don’t worry.”

Later you wake up to noise. Not chaos. Not screams or thunder or crumbling stone.

But music, laughter and fireworks crackling far away, soft and bright.

Your eyes flutter open, slow and heavy. Your body feels like it’s been wrung out and stitched back together… sore, but whole. You’re warm, tucked under light blankets, and the bed sways gently under you.

And you’re not alone.

Luffy is there, slumped forward with his upper body leaned over the edge of your bed. He’s sitting on a chair, arms folded under his head, fast asleep. His hand is holding yours tightly, like even in sleep, he refuses to let go.

His hat is resting on the bed, near your legs. His hair is messy, sticking out in all directions. His face looks peaceful in a way you rarely get to see.

You smile soft and small. You reach out slowly with your free hand and brush his hair back from his forehead “Luffy…”

His eyes snap open instantly. His head jerks up, groggy for half a second… then wide, panicked eyes meet yours.

“Y/N?! You’re awake?! You’re awake! Oh crap, are you okay?! How do you feel?! Is anything hurting?! Can you breathe okay?! Wait, don’t move! I’ll get Chopper right now—!!”

He starts to scramble up, already shouting.

You grab his wrist before he can bolt “Luffy. Hey. Breathe, okay?”

He freezes, blinking at you.

You squeeze his hand gently “I’m fine. I can move, I can talk, I’m not dead. You don’t have to yell.”

His mouth opens, but then he huffs out a breath and slumps, like all the tension leaks out at once “You scared me so bad…”

“I could say the same, you know,” you murmur “You were fighting Kaido. I didn’t know if…”

You trail off. You don’t need to say it.

Outside, the crew is still celebrating. People are laughing, yelling, singing in the distance. The drums of Wano’s freedom still beat.

“You won.” you say softly.

Luffy grins, tired, but proud “Yeah. We won.”

“Then what are we doing here?” You sit up slowly “Let’s go outside and eat something already. I’m starving. My stomach’s been screaming since I woke up.”

Luffy blinks at you and then he laughs “You always say that.”

“You’re the one judging?” you say, pushing the blankets off.

But just as you’re about to swing your legs over the side of the bed, Luffy stops you with a hand on your shoulder “Wait.”

You glance at him, confused.

His face is serious now, not panicked, not scared. Just... steady.

“After all this… and once you’re really better… I’m gonna help you train your Haki.”

You blink “Luffy—”

“No hiding it anymore,” he says, voice low but firm “I don’t care how messy it is. You don’t have to go through that alone. I wanna help. So promise me you’ll let me.”

Your heart squeezes.

You hold up your pinky “Okay. I promise.”

He lights up as his pinky links with yours. firm, warm, unbreakable.

“Good!” he says.

Outside, someone calls for more dango. Brook starts playing again. Sanji yells something about skewers.

Luffy grins at you, helping you stand “C’mon. Let’s eat everything they’ve got.”

You laugh “You read my mind.”

Luffy’s hand is in yours as you weave through the crowd, his grin wide enough to split the sky. He’s already juggling three skewers of dango in his free hand, two of them obviously meant for you.

“First we eat,” he says between bites, “then you can rest a little, then tomorrow—no, the day after, we can start your Haki training. I’ve got so many ideas, like, we can fight on the Sunny’s mast, and Chopper can—”

You lean into him, warm and close, bumping your shoulder against his “Luffy…”

He keeps going “—and Zoro can also help, like he can show you that thing with his swords, and—”

You stop walking just long enough to tip your head up and plant a quick peck on his lips.

He blinks “Huh?”

You do it again and again. Little, fast kisses that make his voice trip over itself.

“Wha—hey, wait—” He starts laughing, the words falling apart into a grin.

You grin back “You were talking too much.”

“But I—” Another kiss and he snorts “Oi, I was—” KISS “Okay, okay!” He’s full-on laughing now, head tilting toward you like he can’t help it.

You wrap your arm around his middle as you start walking again, pulling him close into a comfortable side hug.

“I like that you want to train me, captain,” you murmur, “but right now… just stay here with me. Eat. Celebrate. Be happy. That’s all I want tonight.”

Luffy hums, mouth already full again “Fine. But I’m still making that training plan.”

You press your forehead against his shoulder, smiling “You can make it tomorrow.”

Outside a food stall, Usopp is bragging loudly to a group of kids, and Sanji is arguing with Zoro over the best skewers and drinks. The night feels endless and for once, it’s even, finally, peaceful.

Luffy squeezes your hand “Okay. But when we start training… I’m not holding back.”

“Good,” you say “Neither will I.”

And then you take the dango from his hand and pop the first one in your mouth before he can stop you.

── .✦ Law:

tags: dressrosa arc (not 100% canon), slow burn, tension, banter, strawhat allies, reader is friend with usopp

The sun is brutal in Dressrosa. You tug your hood lower, walking close to the wall’s shadow.

“Why are we sneaking around?” you whisper.

Usopp glances back, whispering fast “Because this place is crawling with bad guys, and I’d rather not get stabbed before lunch.”

You grin “You always were a coward.”

“I call it strategic survival,” he says, puffing his chest a little “But hey, I’m glad you came. Been a long time since Syrup Village.”

You shrug “You asked for help, so I’m staying as long as it takes.”

Before Usopp can reply, a cold voice cuts through the street “You’re late.”

You turn. A tall man stands there in a spotted hat and long black coat. Dark eyes sweep over you like he’s already judged you in one glance.

Usopp gestures quickly “Law, this is my old friend. They’re here to help.”

Law doesn’t move, doesn’t smile “I didn’t ask for help.”

You cross your arms “And I didn’t ask for your opinion. I’m here to help my friend, not you, asshole.”

Usopp looks between you, sweating “Let’s… maybe not fight each other before the enemy shows up?”

Too late. A loud crash echoes nearby. People scream, running past you. A group of armed men appear, charging straight toward you.

Law steps forward, drawing his nodachi “Stay out of my way.”

You smirk, pulling your own weapon “You wish.”

You both lunge at the same time, his blade slicing clean, your strike knocking one man into the wall.

“Not bad.” you say, kicking another away.

Law says nothing, but you catch the small, almost invisible curl at the edge of his mouth.

A sword whistles past your head. You duck, slash, pivot.

“Watch it!” you shout.

“Then don’t stand there.” Law snaps, kicking an enemy into your line.

You grab the man’s collar and throw him back at Law, he cuts him down without looking.

“Nice pass.” you say, smirking.

Law doesn’t look at you “Keep moving.”

Another wave charges in. You and Law split without speaking, he goes high, you go low. You sweep legs, he cuts throats.

Usopp shouts from behind, “Could you guys stop flirting and just win already?!”

You almost choke “How is this flirting to you?”

Law’s mouth twitches “You’d know if it was.”

You glare but don’t miss the man sneaking up on him and so your blade flashes, blocking the strike inches from his neck.

He glances sideways “…Thanks.”

You grin “Don’t mention it.”

The street clears fast, bodies down, dust in the air. You wipe sweat from your brow, heart still pounding.

Law sheaths his sword “Not bad.”

You raise a brow “Is that your version of a compliment?”

He starts walking away “Don’t get used to it.”

Usopp runs to catch up, whispering, “You two are so going to kill each other or kiss.”

You watch Law’s back and mutter, “Maybe both.”

The three of you slip into a narrow alley. The street noise fades, replaced by the sound of Usopp panting.

You lean against the wall “Okay… so who is he, exactly?”

Usopp blinks “Who?”

You give him a flat look “The guy in the hat who fights like a weirdo and talks like I don’t exist.”

Usopp glances toward the corner where Law is standing, silent, scanning the street. He lowers his voice “You really never heard of him?” You shake your head so he continues “He’s Trafalgar Law. Captain of the Heart Pirates.”

“Then why is he here with you?” you ask “I mean, where’s his crew?”

Usopp fidgets “It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

“I’m not sure I can—”

“Usopp.” You cross your arms “We’ve known each other for years. You can tell me.”

He winces “It’s not that I don’t trust you… it’s just… he’s not exactly chatty about his business.”

You glance at Law “Yeah, I noticed. I asked him a simple question earlier and he acted like I’d asked for his blood type.”

Usopp shrugs helplessly “That’s just him. He’s like… a big wall with a sword.”

You mutter, “A rude wall.”

Law turns his head slightly, as if he heard you, but doesn’t say a word, he just walks toward the street again.

You push off the wall, irritated “Fine. Don’t tell me anything. But I will find out.”

Usopp sighs “You’re gonna get yourself in trouble.”

You follow after Law anyway, your steps are a little too loud on purpose. If he’s going to keep acting like you don’t exist, you’re going to make damn sure he notices you.

The air in Dressrosa feels heavier as minutes or even hours pass, like the whole island is holding its breath. From the rooftop, you can see the chaos starting to boil in the streets below.

You spot Law, standing at the edge, eyes locked on the palace. He’s already planning a hundred moves ahead.

You walk up beside him “So, what’s the plan?”

He doesn’t look at you “You don’t need to know.”

You bite back a scoff “You realize I’m going into the fight too, right? I’d rather not be swinging in the wrong direction while you’re doing… whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Stay out of my way and you won’t be a problem.” he says flatly.

That’s it.

You step in front of him “Listen, Captain Iceberg, I’m not here to babysit myself while you play secret warlord games. Usopp trusts me. And so do the Strawhats. I’ve fought beside you already. You can either tell me what’s going on, or I’ll make my own plan, and it might not fit yours.”

For the first time, his gaze snaps to yours. Cold. Sharp. Measuring.

“You’d risk ruining everything just to make a point?”

You smirk “Only if you keep treating me like I’m useless.”

A long, tense silence. Then “Fine.”

He glances back toward the palace “We’re going after Doflamingo. My crew isn’t here because I left them out of this part of the plan. The Strawhats are… useful, but unpredictable. Which means I need someone who can keep up without being a liability.”

“Is that supposed to be you complimenting me again?”

“It’s me telling you I expect you to survive. Just that.” he says simply.

That hits harder than you expect.

From behind, Usopp calls, “Are we going or what?!”

Law turns to leave, brushing past you “Stay close to me.”

You grin to yourself before following “Guess I’m not useless after all.”

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

The palace gates loom ahead, guarded by a wall of Doflamingo’s men.

Law’s voice is low “We hit fast. You follow my lead.”

You smirk “You sure you don’t want to follow mine for once?”

His lips twitch “You’d get us killed.”

“Or win faster.”

You don’t wait for permission, you sprint forward, sliding under the first soldier’s swing and slashing his leg. Law appears beside you in a blink, cutting down two more before they can touch you.

“Show-off.” you mutter.

“You started it.” he says, eyes scanning for the next target.

The fight turns into a blur, your movements syncing without thinking. You kick an enemy into Law’s blade and he pulls another straight into your strike with a flick of his sword.

At one point, he steps close, his coat brushing your arm as he blocks an attack meant for you “You’re distracted.”

“You’re in my space.”

“It’s keeping you alive.” he says, voice low.

Your heart jumps, but you shove another enemy back “If you wanted me close, you could’ve just said so.”

For a split second, his eyes lock with yours, dark, unreadable, but lingering just a little too long. Then he turns, slicing down the last guard.

The palace doors are clear. He gestures forward “After you.”

You raise a brow “Gentleman all of a sudden?”

His mouth curves slightly “Don’t get used to it.”

You grin and push the doors open, the sound of battle still pounding in your chest, and not all of it from the fight.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Dressrosa shakes with the sounds of battle.

You’re in the streets below the palace, cutting through wave after wave of Doflamingo’s men. Your chest is already tight, not from the fight, but from the flashes you catch above.

Up there, Luffy and Law are facing Doflamingo.

Your eyes keep flicking upward between strikes. Every time Doflamingo’s strings lash toward Law, your stomach knots. Every time Law stumbles, you feel your heart drop.

“Focus!” someone yells as a blade scrapes your arm.

You grit your teeth, shove the man back, but your gaze still finds Law. He’s bleeding, moving slower. You can understand that look, he’s near his limit.

Then it happens… Doflamingo darts in fast, leg cocked back, about to slam a kick right into Law’s head.

“No!” Your voice rips out, raw. You sprint toward the palace wall, ready to climb, fight, something, but Doflamingo’s crew blocks you.

“Stay down.” one sneers, shoving you back.

“MOVE!”

A massive wave bursts out of you, raw and violent, it’s your Conqueror’s Haki spilling out uncontrolled. The air bends, the ground shakes, dozens of enemies collapse instantly. Even those still standing freeze, their eyes wide.

Above, the fight actually stops. Luffy’s head snaps toward you. Law’s eyes widen. Even Doflamingo pauses mid-kick, stepping back from Law with a slow, amused smile.

“Well, well,” Doflamingo laughs, voice dripping with mockery “And here I thought you were just the surgeon’s little shadow.”

Your knees give out, you didn’t mean to release that much. Your body feels hollow, your vision blurred. Suddenly, you’re in the middle of their battlefield, unarmed, barely able to stand.

Doflamingo tilts his head “Interesting. Looks like you’ve got more bite than I thought… and judging by that look… ” his smirk flicks toward Law “...you’ve got a thing for him. I could end you first to see if it’s mutual… But you’ll never know.”

You try to answer, but you can’t even breathe right.

Law’s voice cuts through, low but fierce “Shut up.”

Doflamingo chuckles darkly, but you don’t hear the rest. Law’s arm is suddenly around you, pulling you close. His other hand moves in a practiced gesture.

“Shambles.”

The world spins and in a blink, you’re somewhere else, far from the battlefield, lying on the cold floor of a half-ruined house.

Law sways, blood dripping from his chin, but his eyes stay locked on yours.

“You shouldn’t be there,” he mutters, breath ragged “You’ve done enough.”

Your voice is barely a whisper “I wasn’t going to let you die.”

He stares at you for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his gaze, before leaving back to the battle.

Your eyes flutter open and the first thing you see is Law… alive, well enough to stand, crouched beside you with bandages in his hands.

The relief slams into you so hard you sit up faster than you thought possible “You’re alive!”

Before you think, you bring your arms wrapping tight around his neck. He stiffens instantly, but you don’t care, your face is pressed into his shoulder, hot tears blurring your vision.

“I’m so, so happy you’re okay.” you say, voice breaking.

Then you lean back enough to look at him, and in that moment of adrenaline and raw relief, you kiss him. Quick, unthinking, desperate.

He goes utterly still, not even breathing.

The frozen reaction hits you like a punch. You pull back fast “I—sorry! I didn’t mean—” You bow so low your forehead nearly hits your knees “Please forgive me!”

For a second, the silence feels like it’s going to crush you.

“…Stand up.” His voice is quieter than usual.

You look up hesitantly. He’s still a little stiff, but there’s a faint red flush on his face. He clears his throat “I have a question.”

Your heart is in your throat “Y-yeah?”

He meets your eyes “Do you want to join my crew?”

For a moment, your brain just… stops. Then the words click.

You shoot up straight, eyes bright “You mean…? You’re serious?!”

He looks away, mumbling, “You’d be… useful.” The tips of his ears are scarlet.

Your grin spreads wide as you nod so fast you might get dizzy “Yes! Absolutely, yes!”

When you see how flustered he is, trying very hard to look calm, you’re pretty sure he didn’t hate the kiss after all.

── .✦ Zoro:

tags: humor, established relationship, competitive couple, protective zoro

The streets of the port town are loud with chatter and clanging bells. Colorful banners wave overhead, advertising food stalls, games… and something that catches Usopp’s eye instantly.

“Hey… HEY, look at that!”

He stops so suddenly that Chopper almost bumps into him. The sniper points to a massive poster plastered on the side of a tall building. In bold letters:

“ANNUAL SWORDSMEN’S TOURNAMENT — PROVE YOUR SKILL, WIN THE LEGENDARY BLADE!”

You follow his finger and grin “Oh?”

Beside you, Zoro is still reading so you say “Can’t even read?”

His arms cross. His smirk is slow, dangerous “Legendary blade, huh…”

Your fingers curl around the hilt of your own sword “Guess we’ll see who deserves it more, huh?”

Zoro turns his head toward you, a spark in his eye “You think you can take me?”

You tilt your chin up, returning the smirk “I know I can.”

For a second, it’s just the two of you staring each other down… lovers, sure, but also rivals at heart. Then, without a word, you both break into a run toward the registration tent.

Behind you, the crew watches.

Sanji groans, already lighting a cigarette “Great. Here we go.”

Nami puts a hand to her face “This is going to be a disaster.”

Usopp sighs dramatically “A match from hell…”

Brook laughs, his bony jaw clacking “Yohoho! I can’t decide who to bet on!”

Luffy, meanwhile, is just bouncing excitedly “Two of us in the same tournament?! This is gonna be AWESOME!”

By the time you and Zoro reach the sign-up table, you’re both slightly out of breath, but neither of you will admit it. You slam your name down right after his on the registration sheet.

Zoro glances at you sideways “Hope you don’t cry when you lose.”

You flash him a sharp grin “Hope you don’t.”

Somewhere behind you, a vendor mutters to another, “Oh no. They both signed up? The arena might not survive…”

The tournament ring isn’t what you expected.

Instead of one-on-one matches, the organizers have gathered all contestants into a massive, sand-filled arena surrounded by roaring spectators. Nearly thirty swordsmen of every shape, size, and fighting style crowd the space, blades drawn, eyes scanning for their first target.

You frown, adjusting your grip on your sword “Seriously? I thought this was gonna be by turns.”

Zoro stands beside you, unbothered “Guess not.”

Across the arena, a man with two massive cleavers spits into the dirt. Another contestant spins their twin blades theatrically. Somewhere, someone’s already yelling a battle cry.

Zoro smirks, tilting his head toward you “Let’s finish them all and clear the ring. Then we can fight.”

You glance at him, your mouth tugging into a slow grin “Yeah. They’re too weak anyway. No fun.”

The announcer’s voice booms from the stands “READY, SET… BEGIN!”

It’s chaos immediately. Blades clash. Dust flies. Someone screams as they’re knocked into the barrier.

You and Zoro don’t rush. You just move fluidly, efficiently. He cuts through the first wave with a single swing of his katana, sending three men sprawling unconscious. You sidestep an incoming strike and knock your attacker’s sword clean from his hands before booting him out of the ring.

“That’s one.” you say.

Zoro parries a wild slash without even looking, his eyes still on you “You’re behind. I’m at five.”

You snort and kick off the ground, darting past him to slice a spear’s shaft clean in half, your blade stopping just shy of the wielder’s neck. The man drops to his knees, trembling.

“Tied now.” you say, stepping over him.

From the stands, the Straw Hats cheer like they’re watching a game. Luffy is on his feet, waving wildly “YEAH! GET ‘EM!”

Usopp is already taking bets with random strangers. Nami calculates potential winnings in her head.

Within minutes, the arena is littered with groaning, unconscious contestants. Those still standing keep glancing between you and Zoro, and then at the growing pile of bodies, before making the smart choice to run straight out of the ring.

The crowd erupts in disbelief.

You spin your sword once in your grip, planting the tip lightly into the sand “Well… that was boring.”

Zoro rests one katana on his shoulder, looking around at the empty ring “Guess it’s just us now.”

Your smile sharpens “Finally.”

The announcer stammers something about “unexpected efficiency” and “two finalists”, but you’re already stepping toward each other, the heat of the fight finally sparking in your veins.

The arena has gone quiet.

Every other contestant is down or has fled. Only you and Zoro remain, standing a few paces apart in the center of the ring. The sand is scuffed with footprints and sword marks, the air heavy with the scent of dust and steel.

From the stands, the Straw Hats are suddenly less loud.

“...Should we be worried?” Usopp mutters, clutching his knees.

“Yes.” Nami says flatly.

Brook lets out a low whistle “I have the feeling this is going to be… intense.”

You adjust your stance, your sword gleaming in the sunlight. Zoro’s gaze never leaves yours. The crowd is already holding its breath.

You tilt your head slightly, smirking “Want a good-luck kiss before the fight?”

Zoro’s mouth twitches upward into that sharp, cocky grin you know too well “I prefer a good-work kiss after the fight.”

Your grin widens “Fine. Earn it.”

The announcer barely gets the word start out before you move.

Steel clashes in a burst of sparks. The first exchange is so fast that the crowd gasps, heads whipping side to side to follow the blur of movement. Zoro meets your strike head-on, the force rattling up your arms, but you push harder, forcing him back a step.

He laughs “Not bad.”

You pivot, your blade arcing in a tight slash. He dodges just enough for the tip to graze his sleeve, then spins and counters with a low sweep that you parry at the last moment. The sound of metal on metal rings out like thunder.

From the stands, Chopper’s ears are flat against his head “They’re so scary…”

Sanji exhales smoke “Scary? That’s an understatement.”

The fight doesn’t slow. Every swing, block, and dodge is sharper, faster. Neither of you holds back, because you both know the other can take it. Sparks light the air again as your blades lock, your faces just inches apart.

You smirk through the strain “Getting tired yet?”

Zoro’s eyes flash “Not even close.”

Then you both push off, break apart, and go at it again, a perfect storm of speed and precision that has the crowd on its feet, roaring, even as half of them look like they might faint.

The final clash rings out like a gunshot. Your blade slides just past Zoro’s guard, but his second katana is already there, knocking your strike aside and twisting you off balance. Before you can recover, the flat of his blade presses against your neck.

“Gotcha.” he says, breathing hard, sweat beading along his temple.

You click your tongue, but you’re smiling “Fine. You win. I knew it was impossible for me.”

The crowd roars, the announcer declaring him the champion.

You sheath your sword and step forward, still catching your breath “Guess you get that ‘good-work’ kiss now.”

Zoro instantly tenses “Oi, oi, I was joking about it… We’re in the middle of the arena—”

You don’t let him finish. You grab his collar and plant a quick but firm kiss on his lips. He stiffens at first, then grumbles under his breath, trying to look anywhere but at the cheering crowd.

Before you can tease him, slow, sarcastic clapping echoes from the edge of the ring.

“Well, well… impressive show.” a voice drawls.

You both turn. A group of tall, heavily armed Marines in pristine white coats steps forward, their boots crunching against the sand. The one in front is broad-shouldered, with a scar running down his jaw and smirks like he’s already decided how this will end.

“Two Strawhats in the open, putting your little skills on display? Saves us the trouble of hunting you down.” His eyes flick between you and Zoro “Surrender now, or we’ll make you.”

Your grip on your sword tightens “And you are?”

The smirk widens “Vice Admiral Harker. And these are my men.” He gestures to the squad fanning out behind him “Your bounty posters don’t do you justice.”

By now, the commotion has reached the stands.

“What the hell’s going on?” Sanji’s voice cuts through the din.

“Marines…” Nami says sharply, already moving.

Luffy’s grin turns feral “Ohhh… so it’s a fight you want?”

Within seconds, the Strawhats are in the arena, surrounding you and Zoro. The Marines don’t wait.

The clash is immediate and brutal. Blades against sabers, gunfire ringing out, the crowd scattering in panic. You fight back-to-back with Zoro, cutting through the first wave easily.

Then you hear the hiss of steel, the wrong angle of movement and Zoro’s suddenly in front of you, blocking a blow meant for your side. It’s strong enough to push him back, hard.

Your chest tightens.

The pressure builds before you even realize what’s happening. Your pulse is in your ears, in your hands, in the hilt of your sword.

“Hey, stop!”

It bursts out of you.

A violent, raw wave of Conqueror’s Haki tears through the arena. The air itself ripples. Marines drop instantly, eyes rolling white. The ground cracks under your feet. Even some civilians far from the ring collapse where they stand.

It doesn’t stop.

The pulses keep coming, heavy and wild. Each one drags more strength from you, your vision blurring, your knees threatening to buckle. You can hear someone yelling your name, it’s Zoro… or maybe Luffy… but it’s muffled, like you’re underwater.

The last thing you see before darkness creeps in is Zoro’s face, angry, worried, and still standing guard over you even as the dust settles.

Later on, the first thing you notice is the sound of waves. Gentle. Familiar. Safe.

Then, voices.

“…They’re gonna be fine.” Chopper is saying, somewhere near your head.

“Yeah, but that was still scary…” Nami adds “They didn’t even look like they meant to use it.”

You blink against the light, your body heavy. The infirmary ceiling comes into focus, and you realize you’re on the Sunny.

Most of the crew is here. Nami’s leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. Chopper is perched on a stool beside you, holding a clipboard. Usopp and Sanji are arguing quietly in the corner. Even Luffy is there, hanging over the back of a chair.

And Zoro is sitting right beside you, arms resting on his knees, head tilted slightly like he’d been dozing. The moment your eyes open, his one visible eye snaps to yours.

“Finally awake, huh?” His voice is low, but there’s a hint of relief he doesn’t bother to hide.

You try to sit up, but he puts a hand on your shoulder “Don’t. You drained yourself completely. Chopper says you need a lot of rest.”

Chopper nods, flipping a page on his clipboard “That Conqueror’s Haki burst took a lot out of you. It was… honestly one of the most violent I’ve ever seen. You have to be careful—”

“I didn’t mean to…” you murmur “I just… saw him about to hit you, and…”

Zoro exhales slowly through his nose, like he’s trying not to say something sharp “You think I can’t handle myself?”

Your lips twitch into a small smile “That’s why I said I didn’t even mean to use it, idiot.”

He shakes his head, but you can tell he’s not actually annoyed. His hand is still on your shoulder, warm and steady.

Luffy leans forward suddenly “It was awesome, though!”

Nami smacks him on the arm “Not helping.”

Zoro looks at you again “When you’re better, we’re going to work on controlling it. Can’t have you burning yourself out like that in the middle of a fight again.”

You raise an eyebrow “You’re volunteering to train me?”

“Someone has to make sure you don’t collapse every time you use it.” he mutters.

The corner of your mouth lifts “Then I guess I’ll have to keep up with the great Roronoa Zoro.”

He huffs, leaning back in his chair, but not before giving your shoulder one last squeeze.

“Just get better first,” he says “Then we’ll see if you can keep up.”

You catch yourself staring at him a little too long. His steady gaze, the faint smirk on his lips… you almost lean forward.

Almost.

Instead, you force yourself to look away, coughing lightly “Maybe Luffy should train me if I don’t want to get distracted…”

Zoro’s eye narrows instantly “Not happening.”

Luffy blinks, tilting his head “Huh? I didn’t even say—”

“You weren’t gonna say yes.” Zoro cuts in, his tone flat but decisive.

You can’t help but laugh “You’re ridiculous.”

Then you crook your finger at him “Come here. I need to tell you something… private.”

He hesitates, frowning “Why?”

“Just come here, idiot."

With a quiet sigh, he leans forward until his face is close enough that you can feel the warmth of his breath. His expression is suspicious, but he’s listening.

You lower your voice to a whisper “Will you give me a good-work kiss every time I manage to train with you?”

His brows twitch upward. For a moment you think he might actually say something smart back, but instead he pulls away, shaking his head. Still… there’s a small smile on his face as he sits back down.

Chopper mumbles “What did you just tell Zoro?”

Your ears go red immediately “I… I asked if the tournament’s prize, the legendary sword, was actually real.”

You close your eyes to avoid looking at anyone.

Chopper tilts his head “So… what’s the answer?”

“Yes.” Zoro says simply.

“For real?” Usopp’s jaw drops.

“Where is it now?” Sanji asks, suspicious.

Zoro snorts “No, they obviously didn’t have any legendary sword.”

Luffy tilts his head “Then why’d you just say yes?”

Another snort from Zoro “That was the answer to her real question.”

Your whole body goes hot. Your eyes snap open, staring at him in shock, but he’s already looking away like it’s nothing.

Before anyone can make another comment, you throw your hands up “Alright! Everyone out! I need rest, got it? Not because I’m about to strangle someone, nope, definitely not—”

Sanji smirks knowingly. Usopp is trying not to laugh. Nami just raises an eyebrow as they shuffle out, one by one, leaving you fuming and Zoro smug in his chair.

You glare at him “You too. Out.”

He doesn’t move right away, just waits until he’s sure the door has shut behind the last crewmate. Then he stands, steps closer, and leans over you with that infuriating calm.

“Okay, okay. I’m going,” he says quietly “Calm down now.”

But instead of turning toward the door, he leans even closer, close enough that his shadow falls over you. His lips brush yours in a quick, deliberate kiss that leaves your chest warm and your brain fuzzy.

He straightens, already walking away, tossing a smirk over his shoulder.

“Good work.”

And then he’s gone, leaving you staring at the ceiling with a heartbeat you can’t slow down no matter how hard you try.

[stormruff]

Sugar Rush (Buddha x Reader)

Wrote this on a whim. I quit my corporate job and now I'm a teacher? Crazy life out here. Also my age is looking a little too adulty(22) so I'm doing things that connect me to my inner horny teen because why not? Whimsical women write smut. Incorrect use of a lollipop & overuse of the word "lollipop", hey, this is for orgasms and giggles. Please don't try this in real life. In which he makes us cum with his lollipop, not the one in his pants T^T My works: enjoy Bye now - Mars ♡

“You’re practically purring, heh” he whispered, lips ghosting over yours in a teasing manner. The blue lollipop usually in his mouth, now between his fingers as he maneuvered the candy over your erect nipples.

He leaned down and sucked on the nipple coated with the sweet sticky taste. His tongue swirling around the bud and then closing in around the bud with a suction motion whilst he rubbed the lollipop around the other nipple. 

A soft sweet moan escaped your lip as you arched against him, only pushing your breasts further against his face. He hummed in contentment, biting down softly against the soft mound, a laugh slipping out him.

How the bastard loved to tease. 

Buddha dragged the lollipop down your belly, swirling it around your belly button, kissing his way down the sticky trail, a smile on his lips. 

“Buddha, please” you whined, hand going to his hair to loosen his bun, allowing his hair to fall free and frame his face. He smiled up at you, only moving the lollipop further down your body.

“Do you think I could make you cum with this?” he questions with a smirk on that pretty face, biting your inner thigh for funsies, because he is Buddha.

“Please," you pleaded, tossing your head back against the pillow. 

With his index and middle finger, Buddha spread your lips apart, leaning down and pressing a kiss to your clit. The action caused you to jolt, bucking against his face. 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, behave now, baby” He coos, taking the lollipop and rubbing circles with it on your clit.

You moan out his name, legs twitching around his head as he continues his ministrations on your poor bud. He pressed the lollipop down on your clit, then he lowers his head and suck on the candy, lips stretching into a wicked smile.

“My sweet coming from a sweet, look at that”, he whispers, dragging the lollipop down between your folds. Buddha traces your slit with the lollipop, softly pressing the candy into you.

“Come on, baby, you know you want it” he speaks in a hushed sweet voice that has you shivering, hole clenching around the lollipop.

“Buddha, I can’t” you rasps, desperate to come, the god only chuckled lowly, pulling the lollipop out of you, and popping it into his mouth. Taking his time tasting you on the lollipop. 

He pulled the lollipop out of his mouth with a pop and pushed the candy into your mouth, “suck on that for me, pretty lady”

The god moved down and sucked your clit once again, moving down and tracing the tip of his tongue around your slit, shoving his tongue into your hole. His grip tightened on your thighs, keeping you still. The lollipop in your mouth did little to stop the moans and groans slipping out of you. 

Buddha devoured you like a hungry man, soon enough you were cumming in his mouth, on his face. His nose giving your clit the attention she needed whilst his tongue tortured your gushing hole as you came. 

When the god had his fair share of you, he pulled back, chin wet with your slick. He smiled and came over you, pulling the lollipop out of your mouth and kissing you softly, letting you taste yourself on his tongue. 

His eyes soften as he assesses you and takes in your blissed state. He kissed your forehead and whispered sweet praises, stealing his lollipop from you with a cocky smirk. 

“I believe this is mine, sweets”

[stormruff]

Can I have Heracles Apollo and Buddha x human reader who loves cute things use cute clothes and have a bunny plushie with them all the time too and that convince them to fight for the humanity side and say then ragnarok is over they ask if they can get marry and have they own little family with a cute precious smile of theys headcanons please

Aww, that’s hella cute! Boys who’d actually liked humans— besides Apollo. Especially Heracles, Heracles be the best lover amongst these three! I like Buddha but goddamn. I’d marry Heracles, ideal husband! Meg, I’ll take your place if you don’t want him. But anyway, thanks! Here it is! I tried really hard, Hope it’s okay

Heracles

Heracles finds all humans adorable and desirable, no matter the gender or lifestyle. Delicate, pretty, small. He is like four times your size but that doesn’t stop him from being fascinated by you. You’re triple adorable since you like cute pastel toys and soft pastel colours and frilly clothing and all the more

Heracles has never met a human like you before, very unique, but he’d happily give you back your big black bunny plushie when it ended up being lobbed into his training dojo, so he finds you upon passing through the Valhalla halls a bit aimlessly. It’s covered in stickers and little clips and the way you happily coddle it, his heart leaped

Heracles is your doting gentle giant, a mighty bear but he’ll never hurt you, he’s incredibly cuddly, instead. He deeply loves you, he’ll take care of, protect your honour, fight for yours and humanity’s justice and rights and he’ll make sure the Godly world knows you are to get respect at his request

Hope you don’t mind a very passionate yet stubborn lover like Heracles, he is very emotionally-in tune and very sweet, despite his stubbornness. He’ll embrace you through your cheesy emotional movies and all the more

Heracles is the affectionate loving partner, he is delicate and fragile with you. He loves carrying you around, letting you see the wonder of Valhalla and of Earth. He always encourages your cute little hobbies and likes, he’ll even let you dress his long majestic hair in clips of hearts and stars if it means you’re happy. To him, those touches are a sign of the love he shares with you

Please, you don’t need to ask Heracles to fight for Humanity at all. He already is, long before you came into his life and lightened it up with your cuteness so don’t waste your breath. Not on the humanity side, he must fight for the Gods but he is with you. He would never abandon you nor justice. Just trust him and his abilities, even if it’s scary. He’ll come back to you

Heracles is shocked when you proclaim to him, almost a few hours before his match. That all these months you’ve been with him has been wonderful and after the tournament, you want to start a family with him— he is honoured, he is scared of families after what happened to his first ones but

Damn. Even the all-mighty God of Fortitude cannot coldly reject that adorable beautiful soft smile and soft beautiful adorable heart of yours. It’s being considered as the days pass by

Apollo

Apollo is quite easily persuaded by pure looks, even if he has a preference for Godly deities. He can excuse this little cute plush pastel human being human, for now, since he is interested in your attitude, how you’re mainly just adorable and how you do actually meld to his views on beauty. But, of course, he is mainly interested in your beauty

Apollo actually purposefully takes your favourite big brown bunny plush and throws it into his palace’s big fountain to make it seem like it just got lost here. All, so you’ll go looking around for it then come to him. He refuses to chase a lover, he needs his lover to chase him, it’s scummy but he’ll change his ways… soon

Apollo does eventually get what he wants and the entire time he looks at you, everyday, all day. He just thinks about how cute your silly almost childish little interests and style is. You look like a child with all the pastel colours and ruffles… and he thrives off that preciousness. More, keep it up. He’ll enable you and he doesn’t regret it

Apollo is a complicated type of lover. He does not treat you bad, no. You’re just… uh… kinda there, an accessory to his narcissism but you’re a beautiful accessory. A pampered spoiled pretty little face he likes to have around to flaunter about as his property. This is not toxic… it’s just, a bit weird, a little unhealthy at worst. He does care about you so don’t think for a second he doesn’t

Apollo is loving in rather odd ways, he’s protective and possessive like Buddha. Not as bad because he believes he has marked you already but it’s how he shows he loves you. Like him being pushy and having you do minor things like bath with him or do hair together, to him. It’s building trust and it’s making sure you truly do like him as he likes you. It’s improving and he is pleased

Not fight for the Gods you say? Apollo has no interest in saving humans, especially after what they did to his beloved Artemis. You’re lucky he even likes you so he thinks you’re pushing boundaries and at first, he rejects the request. It’s only when he’s in the ring for his round and looks at how heartbroken you are from the stands on the Humanity section. He decides, in those few seconds, he is in the Gods’ ring but when he wins, he’ll fight for humanity’s salvation

Yes, Apollo is not monogamous. He’s a big player, always hitting and quitting but he’s trying hard to stay loyal and he’s succeeding! Zeus’s sake, praise and encourage him. He needs it

Apollo, for once, is jaw dropped by you opening up about a thought you’ve been having. Children, with him after this whole event?! A God! Such a thing doesn’t exist! He almost choked on the wine he already spat out at Mach five speed. At the end, he doesn’t outright reject the idea of a family once humanity is saved but… he doesn’t know if he’s ready so now, it’s on pause

He will have to think a lot quicker with the way you’re looking at him. You and your soft pretty glossy smile is relying on him! He must be a man and provide

Buddha

Buddha is the hardest of these three to catch the attention of since he only really does himself but trust me, he will give you back you big white bunny plush… when he wants to, so. It took like two days but once he comes around. He’s genuinely floored by how pastel and little you are. Not a type of human he’s use to

Buddha does end up peacing out right after… as he always does but he eventually cannot stop thinking and wondering about you, even when still following his own road. So, he ends up stomping right up to you almost like a week later, and dragging you with him by force

As the God of Enlightenment soaks in the sun, almost napping, leant against the tree you’re cuddling all your cute little nicknacks with your giant oversized starry hoodie… Buddha can’t help but take a peek and find you precious. Nothing more, nothing less. Just precious

Buddha is the very chill laidback best friend-type of lover. He is a man who listens mainly to himself so he almost doesn’t get coddly and touchy and doting but do not forget, he is possessive. Worse than Apollo, he will not let anybody touch you so he has your hand in his 24/7. Touching means attempting to steal what’s his. He is more chatty, more trusting and him being so casual shows that his love for you is strong

Buddha doesn’t let you, his partner, tell him what to do so don’t really bother trying to convince him… he won’t confide. He only listens to himself and he only follows himself but don’t worry, he does listen to your concerns. He, due to some miracle, changes his mind and suddenly decides to fight for humanity… that’s him showing that he cares for you. He listens, just in his own way that seems kinda dismissive

Please give Buddha a break. He absolutely loves and cares for you, even more than he did for Yashodhara. He just shows it much more different than usual men do and whilst he is a bit of a prick, he never truly pushes past your desires

Buddha is significantly more blunt than his fellow Gods, he will listen to you as you speak on your new dream post this tournament; a family… that goes against his own lifestyle as the Enlightened One. He requires zero attachments— then again, he already has you, an earthly attachment. He is a Monk who rejected sexual contact and producing offspring, he already rejected his first family and he expresses all this to you; no punches pulled

Well. He— could potentially make an one-time exception about no sex and no children for you, your fragile little heart and your rosy plush little smile. He wants to protect that smile

[stormruff]

Scalpel Hearts. pt. 2 [Trafalgar Law x pirate doctor! gn! reader]

Law met you again, but you were different from last time you two saw each other. When the rumors were about you with a devil fruit inside you that could heal anything, he didn't let the chance slip again as he wanted you to stay with him in the Polar Tang.

tags: hurt/comfort, devil fruit reveal, slow-burn tension turned yearning, reunion, friends to something more?

[part 1] [part 2]

It started with a rumour. A whisper along the Grand Line that was passed from port to port. It was about a pirate doctor who performed an impossible surgery. Healed a dying child with just a touch and left behind nothing but an empty bottle of rum and a very confused Marine outpost.

The stories said this mystery doctor used no tools. No scalpel. No needle. It was the work of hands that glowed briefly, and then nothing but clean flesh and healed wounds.

Law heard it from a bartender in Spider Miles. He didn't react at first. He was swirling the ice in his glass as he muttered "Idiots will believe anything".

But that night, he stayed awake and stared at the ceiling of the Polar Tang. Because the bartender had ended the story with five words that hit Law like a kick to the chest:

"They had your old friend's smile".

He found you in a seaside town two weeks later as he noticed you bartering medical supplies from a sketchy vendor who tried (and failed) to shortchange you on bandages.

You didn't see him at first. You were too busy threatening the vendor with a mercury-based rash cream to the face.

But he knew it was you. Not just from your voice or the way you moved, but from the soft glow that briefly coated your fingers as you checked the expiration dates on vials.

That light. That same light the bartender described. A Devil Fruit user. A medical one.

He stepped forward. "Didn't think you were the type to eat a mystery fruit", he said. You froze and looked up slowly. And there he was, leaning against the post of the stall with his arms crossed, hood down and a face unreadable except for the slightest quirk in his lip.

Your breath got caught. "Law".

"Hey", he said like he was talking to you yesterday.

"...I thought you were off raiding government bases", you said as you put some bandages in your bag.

"I was", he shrugged. "Got bored".

You smiled, unsure. "So you tracked me down?"

"No", he lied. "I was just lucky".

You laughed this time, soft and disbelieving, and Law felt like maybe you missed him as much as he missed you.

You ended up walking together along the coast. Neither of you said anything for a while. Eventually Law broke the silence.

"You ate a Devil Fruit". You glanced at your hands as you nodded at him. "Why?"

Your mouth pressed into a line. "Because someone was dying and I couldn't save them fast enough. Because I needed more time. More precision", you said.

He looked at you sideways. "It worked?"

You nodded. "The Medi-Medi no Mi. Medical-Medical Fruit. It enhances everything. From diagnosis, cell regeneration and surgical control to even anesthesia".

Law whistled low. "Dangerous".

"Effective", you said. He looked at your face. Quiet. Thinking. "You could cure things the rest of us can't", he said.

"Funny. I was gonna say the same about you", you said with a small snort.

Later, you patched up a wounded dockworker. Law watched from a bench, pretending not to stare. Your fingers were glowing gain as you mended the torn muscles, your expression tight with focus. You didn't use any tools, nor gauzes. Just your touch.

When you were done, the man stood limping but he was very much alive thanks to you. You shrugged his thanking off like it was nothing. But Law saw the slight tremble in your fingers after. The way your jaw clenched.

"It takes something out of you, doesn't it?" You sat beside him, tired but proud. "Not always, depends how deep the wound is. How hard I decide to push", you said as you were stretching your tired wrists.

"And you keep doing it anyway", he said. You glanced at him with eyes soft. "Yeah", you said. "Like someone I know".

You ended up at an inn. One room, two beds because Law said: "I'm not leaving you unsupervised with a Fruit like that". You replied back with: "You're just afraid I'll outperform you", and he said nothing but paid the innkeeper anyway.

The room was quiet. A small window that let in the sea breeze. The moonlight stretched across the wooden floor. Law was sitting on the edge of the bed, absently reading to a journal.

You sat on yours, watching him.

"Law", you said finally. "Why are you really here?"

He didn't look up. "Told you. Just passing through". You shook your head since you didn't believe any of his words. "No, you came looking for me".

Silence.

Then-

"I thought I could let you go", he said quietly. "But then I started hearing stories. About a doctor doing miracles. About someone healing without tools. And I knew it had to be you". Your chest tightened.

"I didn't eat the fruit to impress you", you said quietly.

"I know", he said. "But it still pissed me off".

You blinked in confusion. "Why?"

"Because you left", he said, voice flat. "And got better. And didn't come back". You stared at him.

"Law...". He finally looked at you. And you realised with a jolt that he wasn't angry. He was hurt.

"You never asked me to stay".

"I didn't think I needed to".

"Well, you did".

He looked away. "I should have", he said. "I should've said something". You crossed the space between the beds and sat beside him. "Why didn't you?"

He swallowed. "Because I don't ask people to stay. They don't. Not with me". You reached over, hand glowing faintly and touched the scar on his shoulder. The one you stitched long ago on that rainy island.

"I stayed until I had to go", you started to say, "But I didn't stop thinking about you". He didn't move, neither did you.

"I kept your scarf", you admitted. "The one you left behind by accident".

He breathed out slowly as if he held his breath for hours. "I knew you had it", he muttered. "I left it on purpose".

You laughed. "You romantic bastard". He looked at you. He finally really looked at you. "I want you to stay now", Law said as your eyes locked in.

Your breath hitched. "I don't care how good your crew is", he continued, words low and fast, "I don't care how far you've gone. You're the only one who can match me in the OR. The only one who understands what it's like to cut someone open and want to do it right. And you're the only person I've ever-".

He stopped himself.

You waited.

He didn't finish, yet you smiled anyway. "You don't have to say it", you said softly.

"I want to". You took his hand. You let your fingers glow faintly against his pulse.

"Then say it when you're ready".

The next morning, you boarded the Polar Tang again. Shachi and Penguin cheered at the sight of you coming back. Bepo hugged you. Law pretended not to smile when you took your old bunk.

You settled back in like you never left. Only now... you were different. Your power hummed beneath your skin. And this time, you were not running. You were not hiding. This time, you were choosing to stay.

A week later, you and Law were operating together again. A gunshot wound. Internal bleeding. A mess of a man who would have died without both of you working in sync.

You let your power guide your hands. Law cut with precision. Together, you were unstoppable.

When it was over and the patient was stable, Law caught your wrist before you walked out. "I've been thinking", he said.

"Dangerous", you arched a brow at him. He glared at you lightly. "I meant what I said about staying".

You squeezed his hand. "I know, Law".

He hesitated for a couple seconds. "This isn't temporary, is it?" You looked at him softly. "No", you replied. "It's not".

He let out a long breath again. Then finally, finally, he pulled you close with his forehead resting against yours.

"I've missed you", he whispered. "I'm here now", you smiled softly.

And for the first time in a long time, Law believed it. You were not a fleeting miracle.

You were the cure he didn't know he needed.

@/2025 ave

[stormruff]

I reached the page limit NOOOOO. Y'all were spared. I'll post the last little bit after this.

[stormruff]

ᴛɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜᴀᴏꜱ | 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴 𝘹 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: You and Gale had never gotten along. You, a chaotic sorcerer, and he, a proud wizard, had never meshed well. He found your Wild Magic a liability and was never shy about showing it. However, with the coming battles against the Cult of the Absolute, you are forced to confront the reality that you may not be as prepared as you thought, and who better to console you than the one you hate most?

Enemies to lovers (or enemies to tolerant, more like), hurt/comfort, Gale being a sorcerer hater 

Gale of Waterdeep, the ex-chosen of Mystra; he went by many names. But your personal favorite was a thorn in your side.

Ever since the moment you willed him from the depths of that portal, he had been nothing but a nuisance. From the lectures to the condescending glances, the pair of you had built a relationship based only on the withering threads of tolerance. 

Tolerance, yes, thats all you could offer him. He couldn’t say the same for you. He found a problem with everything you did. Especially the way you cast spells—or rather the way the spells cast you, seeing as the wild magic that coursed through your veins had more plans for you than you had for it. 

He found a way to worm the fact that he was a wizard into every conversation. A ‘well-studied, pinnacle of pure excellence’ was what you’d imagine him saying while preening at the duplicate he occasionally made of himself.  

It seemed that all it took for him to turn his nose up at you was the fact that you were a sorcerer. At this point, you were ok with that. You were well aware you could do nothing about it, and as much as you hated to admit it, he had his uses. Having another magic user around was begrudgingly helpful. Especially since everything around you was growing more dangerous with every night you lay your worm-ridden head on your pillow. 

A well-aimed fire bolt was always useful, just like the one he’d used earlier that week to singe a group of unfortunate goblins who’d been standing near a horde of fire wine. 

This was the only reason you kept him around (not to mention the fact that he’d incinerated them just as an arrow was about to be fired at your skull). However, you’d never admit that to yourself. 

It was an unfortunate truth you were faced with as the words you’d shared with Lae’zel moments ago rang fresh in your mind. 

You and your companions had crafted a simple plan, one that would garner the help of the Druid Halsin in looking for a cure for your affliction. It involved killing the leaders of the nearby goblin camp, which, especially in your current state, would be no easy task. That was exactly what Lae’zel had discussed with you. The tragic fact that you would need another spell caster to fulfill the details of the battle strategy she and you had scraped together. 

For this unfortunate reason, you found yourself trudging over to a particularly frivolous tent. The object of your loathing was nestled inside the extravagant purple silk, undoubtedly curled up with a book. That’s how you imagined all wizards, to tell the truth, pondering a text with utmost focus. 

You were hardly disappointed upon seeing your theory proven right. To make it all the better, he held a quill in one hand as he leafed through the pages. He had been annotating. It was almost annoying how predictable he was. 

His brown eyes flicked up from their place on the page, the irises glinting in the dim candlelight. His lips subtly pulled down at the revelation that it was you. You’d grown so used to it that you hardly noticed the difference anymore.

“Come to grace me with your presence, I see.” The fancy words were laced with a bite he saved especially for you.

He set his quill down, although it wasn’t like he expected you to stay long. Your conversations had gotten shorter and shorter as time went on.

“If you’ve come to demonstrate any more of your spells, I’m going to have to ask you to refrain. Enough of us have been turned into cats for the day, I’m sure you agree.” He offered you an incredulous smile.

You scoffed.

 It had only been one time you’d done it; surely he couldn’t be that stuck on the subject. You’d turned yourself into various creatures and objects in your lifetime. He should hardly be complaining about mere minutes of being a feline. 

“I know we don’t see eye to eye on my methods—“ You were cut off by a curt laugh.

“Method is a generous label.” He noted with a humorous edge. 

It was unbelievable how quickly he made you want to smack him. You’d given him more than enough chances by now, surely he could hear you out?

“Would you just let me talk for one second?” You sighed, shooting him a glare that even Astarion would be proud of.

He considered your request with an equally annoyed expression. 

“Fine, what’s on your mind?” He slammed his book shut with a delicate flick of his wrist.

You took a small breath as you prepared yourself for his inevitable unsolicited feedback. You talked to goblins all day, for the gods' sake, surely he could be more palatable company. 

Yet he always seemed to prove you wrong.

“I need you to travel with us tomorrow. If we are to have the best chance at taking on the goblin camp, we are going to need all the help we can get.” You managed to keep an even tone.

You could practically feel the waves of pride rolling off him. 

You were coming to him for help. If there was one thing that every wizard craved, it was a little old-fashioned ego fluffing, and you had provided him with a generous gourmet helping.

“Well, we can agree on that, at least,” he smiled victoriously, “I would be more than happy to pick up the spell slack. To do that, however, I will be needing my rest.”

His eyes flicked to the exit of his tent expectantly. While normally you would have gladly retired to your bedroll, you could never allow him such a victory.

“My plan has nothing to do with a lack of faith in my own competency, I’ll have you know.” You began, your lips pursing together in a desperate act to save face.

Gale, however, looked less than convinced. The wisps of a smug look behind his typical placid grin only fueled your fire more.

“This mission requires utmost precision. Only a fool goes into battle without a strategy. And you, unfortunately, are a part of that strategy. Although it would go a lot smoother if you were a team player.” You adorned your words with an accusatory finger in his direction.

His face instantly fell, “A bit ignorant to say I’m not a team player, especially considering I go out of my way to tolerate your disastrous grasp on the weave. Which, I may say, is growing harder to entertain.”

His eyes narrowed into dark slits of disdain.

You felt your body congeal in frustration. A hurricane of emotion fluttered inside your chest; the last of your patience for his belittlement had long evaporated. A familiar spark of energy crackled within you, as it often did when you were upset. 

“Everything I do is in the interest of the party! We would have never gotten this far if we hadn’t worked together.” You defended, feeling your cheeks warm in exasperation.

“Bold of you to call us a party when you’ve polymorphed us all.” He muttered, not entirely realizing he’d let it slip.

Although you hardly noticed his semblance of regret. 

At the rate your chest was burning, you were bristling with energy. You were sick with the way he’d treated you, especially since you’d been the one to allow him to consume your hard-earned magical objects. You’d be the first to admit you weren’t nearly as skilled at combat as the rest of your companions, but feeling the consequences of your incompetence was beginning to weigh on you. 

“Well, maybe if you landed a spell once in a while, we could get things done a lot faster. That way I wouldn’t have to do everything.” You crossed your arms incredulously.

Gale’s lips formed a thin line, a swarm of thoughts pulsing behind his gaze. He was well aware he’d taken it a touch too far, but your presence caused a certain itch inside him that always compelled him to open his mouth. It was one of the many things he despised about you—but then again, he couldn’t deny the surge of pleasure that filled him whenever he saw that signature furrow of your nose.

Still, he was ever a practical wizard.

“Well, seeing where this conversation is going, I think the best course of action would be for us to part ways for the night.” He declared with his greatest attempt at an even tone.

You scoffed, which happened so much at this point that it was starting to cause a tickle in your throat. 

You hated it when he tried to flaunt that pragmatic nature of his. You wanted to say that it was all an act, but that would be giving him too much credit. 

He really was just that boring.

“Oh no, don’t pretend like you’re all mature now. Save that behavior for tomorrow because you’ve already made your point tonight.” You seethed, hating the hurt your voice betrayed.

There was only one thing worse than Gale’s wizardly ego, and that was him knowing he had any semblance of an effect on you.

“Don’t act like you’re above all this.” He was beyond stopping the venom from returning to his tone, “An argument takes two parties to be effective. You aren’t exactly helping in making things even a bit civil.” 

Another surge of energy sparked in your chest as you felt the scrutiny of his stare. Your cheeks instantly heated with a deep flush, your nose scrunching in the way he ever so enjoyed. 

“Then I’m done acting.” You groaned in defeat.

You didn’t give him time to retort as you stormed out of his tent. Since you couldn’t seem to get it together, you would have to step away. 

As much as you hated it, the reality of the fey wilds coursing through your veins was how it constantly wanted to burst to life. Your emotions only fueled it more. 

As much as you wanted to unleash it on Gale, however, you needed all the allies you could get if you were to survive. Besides, it was never your wish to affect others with your magic in a way you didn’t intend. 

While most casters could speak their weave to life with the eloquent words on their tongue, your magic spoke for you without your consent. 

In times like these, you recalled the harrowing memories of disasters that manifested before your fingertips. At first, it was an amusing quirk—something your tutors had praised as a large capacity for powerful spell-work. Although that quickly disappeared when all you could muster was inconvenience after inconvenience

Perhaps if you were someone more like Wyll, with a level head, you could have the opportunity for good. A leader, even. Sure, that was the role you were thrust into, but a leader requires a certain level of decisiveness you could never promise. 

You found yourself outside of camp with your fingers pressed to your face, an occurrence that was becoming too frequent with your bouts of emotion. 

The trees used to calm you, especially on the first few days of the tadpole debacle, but tonight, it was hopeless.

Bursts of rapid breaths heaved through your fingers, a fruitless effort to quell the tightening feeling consuming your body. Your mind sifted through the various solutions you could reason in that moment.

How could you control your fate without being able to know what would burst from your palms? Perhaps if you could get a better hold on your emotions, you may stand a chance.

Your anxieties would have to wait.

You took a deep breath and stared into the expanse of leaves and branches before you. You turned your attention to the increasing thump of your heart. You imagined that each breath would swell your chest and constrict your heart to stop the rapid beating. As you did so, you extended your arm, instantly feeling the wild magic pawing at your palms as if begging to escape. Although with each breath, the flurry would begin to slow to a dim throb. You could now, at the very least, attempt your practice. 

You would start with a simple cantrip, surely that couldn’t cause much issue. 

You twiddled your fingers and uttered the phrase, “Maior et Fortior.”

As promised, your body swirled with flakes of golden weave. Blade Ward was an easy cantrip, and cantrips were never responsible for surges of your wild magic. It came as no surprise that it had gone according to plan.

You felt more confident now, easily moving through more spells. You had just enough mana left for various levels of casting, so you reasoned it best to continue to prepare in any way you could.

After a while of this, you were faced with your final challenge. Many sorcerers would hesitate to call it a challenge, but a Fireball for you was an almost certain guarantee of disaster. 

For whatever reason, fire spells seemed particularly aggravating to your Wild Magic affliction. Perhaps it was because of your fragile line of patience or because you were naturally inclined towards destruction, but either way, it always posed a problem.

You raised your hand back, tendrils of flame beginning to lap at your fingers as you prepared the spell.

“Ardē.” The command trilled from the back of your throat.

A blaze of scorching embers blasted forth from the words like a dog freed from a leash. The brilliant inferno soared over the forest as if it were a blistering comet from The Tears above. You watched as it harmlessly planted itself into the lake ahead, just as you planned; the flames feeding into the water with a dying cough. 

As you watched the light fade away, you felt your taut muscles release. It felt silly to have built up the spell that way you had. You felt like you often made issues to be a far greater beast in your mind than they truly were, and that was all this had been. 

Nothing had gone wrong. You felt a sense of pride swell inside you.

That was until you felt the festering surge of wild magic spark from skin. Inside its mouth of chaos lay a fate that would soon be revealed. 

The magic curled around your feet, and from the ground emerged a translucent maw that engulfed you. You watched hopelessly as you were surrounded by an iridescent shield. Presently, you pressed your fingers to it, trying to discern what mess you’d created this time.

You appeared to be in some kind of orb, and it was holding fast. 

At first, you tried to burst it by smacking it fruitlessly with your staff. Then you figured to try a spell of some kind, but as you opened your mouth to speak, you found that no words came out. So even as you tried to scream and pound your hands on the surface, not a lick of sound was produced.

No hope of getting yourself out, no hope of alerting your allies.

All at once, you felt your emotions crash down on you. How could you let this happen? You’d come to terms with the fact that your magic was unpredictable long ago. Except that was back when you had the comforts of home, with a bed to go back to instead of a sack of fabric on the forest floor. 

Now, your magic was all you had to stand between you and a goblin's arrow. You knew the truth: without your magic, you were a liability. 

You went from pounding against the orb to slumped into such a miserable pile of distress that you might as well be a lemure oozing in the hells. This cycle of thoughts played out in your head over and over with no discernible signs of stopping. That was until the sound of your labored breaths was replaced by the echo of a voice.

You thought anything was better in comparison to the symphony in your head, except the owner of the sound was everything but what you associated with comfort.

You looked up from your tight bundle of emotions to behold none other than Gale gazing down upon you. His face was sheathed in a milky fog through the shell of the orb. You felt a bit like an animal on display as he tapped a finger to the surface. 

You almost winced as he repeated your name, sounding like he was underwater.

“Just what in the hells happened to you?” He asked, although he seemed to think better of his words after he spoke them.

He shook his head, knowing you couldn’t respond—or at least if you tried, he wasn’t very good at reading lips. He hissed a breath through his teeth and turned back to you.

“Now you know you’re going to have to be the one to get yourself out of there, so just listen to me?” He spoke with the same dictation expected of a teacher in front of a lecture.

You instantly frowned at the notion. You weren’t accepting help from Gale. You’d never live it down.

He seemed to take note of your apprehension and returned his foggy gaze to the floor. You could see he was debating something through the curtain of his feathery hair.

“I know we did not end our previous conversation on the best of terms, and I am sorry if that is the reason you are upset. But I need you to follow my instructions.” He paused, his tone a bit more defeated now, “I feel it is partially my fault that you are in this position, if that should be the case.”

You felt your body go rigid as each soft syllable fell from his tongue. Had Gale just apologized? Not only that, he was taking accountability. The subject seemed so foreign to you that you barely registered his words. 

Despite this, you found yourself rising to your feet, hands pressed against the crest of the orb to meet him. You gave him a curt nod, and you watched his face morph into a satisfied expression.

“Right then, I need you to take some slow breaths for me.” He instructed, and upon seeing your compliance, continued, “Just like that. Now focus on the weave inside you. I want you to picture that chaos like tides in a stormy sea. That’s all it is, just a simple storm. Now imagine those waters calming, slowing down to gentle waves.”

His voice was strangely hypnotic as you followed his every word. The metaphor was uncanny, as you truly felt like there was a storm constantly brewing in your chest. Each spell you cast was like a vessel for it, channeling into destruction when it burst from your fingertips. 

Each breath you took soothed the tides, turning the twisting waves into a gentle flow, warming your insides. You felt the tension instantly released from your limbs, and as you sighed in relief, the orb around you dissipated. 

Its absence left you and Gale standing there with only the moonlight for company. You couldn’t meet his eye, casting your gaze to the forest floor. All previous peace was replaced with lingering shame. 

Perhaps Gale spoke to fill the silence, or perhaps he was just that nosy, but he began to prattle on with useless questions anyway.

“Might I ask what you were doing out here, by yourself, might I add?” 

You scoffed. Did he not have the slightest ounce of faith in you that he doubted your ability to wander on your own?

“Spare me the lecture, Gale.” You snapped, looking off at the lake in the distance.

Upon realizing he was giving you space to think, you felt comfortable continuing.

“I was training, if you must know.” You admitted quietly.

You already regretted opening up by the way his eyebrows furrowed. It may be a misunderstood judgment, but you could have sworn you saw pity in his eyes. Somehow, that was worse. 

“Don’t look at me like that.” You said incredulously, “You don’t know what it’s like to feel that you can’t even control your own magic.”

Your chest filled with a deep pool of shame at the confession, “I was simply trying to do damage control, so don’t you dare mock me.”

Instead of the instant retort you expected, Gale simply stared at you. His soft brown eyes shimmered under the moonlight as he considered your words. You were frozen under his gaze, waiting in horrible anticipation of his next berate.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t mock you.” He said finally.

You looked back up at him, unable to contain your expression from furrowing in confusion.

“There was a time I, too, didn’t have a grasp over my magic.”

Your lips turned down at the notion. The last thing you wanted to hear about was the glory of wizardly study.

“I’m not in the mood to hear you preach your textbooks—“ You were cut off by an annoyed sigh.

“I mean, I was like you. There was plenty-a-time where I summoned a disaster without trying, or spontaneously sprouted fur, for that matter.” He relented.

This, however, caused you to pause. Gale was never good at relating to others. You couldn’t tell if this was an intervention or empathy.

“It’s a bit hard to imagine the studious Gale of Waterdeep to have ever experienced trouble with spell casting of all things.” You said in an almost accusatory tone.

“Well, I am serious. I’ll have you know I’ve summoned quite a few beasts in my time.” Against all odds, Gale smiled.

You studied his expression for any further traces of mockery.

“Really?” 

He gave a good-humored chuckle, “On one occasion, I summoned a magma mephit. Quite the nice fellow, I might add.” 

You laughed softly. The vision of Gale having a pleasant conversation with a mephit was comedic. It filled your chest up with a welcome warmth.

“Sadly, none of the mephits I’ve summoned have been up for conversation. Mostly I just get singed.” You offered him a smile back.

Gale laughed along with you, shaking his head. His brown hair fell around his face in a sweeping motion.

“Well, my point remains. I understand what it’s like to feel out of control when it comes to magic. Sometimes the weave is unpredictable if you slacken your hold.” He spoke uncharacteristically softly.

You felt the cramp of shame in your chest unclench. The wild magic in your heart seemed to calm, and because of Gale, of all people.

“I only wish it were less uncertain. We can’t afford any accidents tomorrow. I cannot allow our downfall to be because of me.” Your voice nearly cracked, betraying more weakness than you were comfortable with. 

Gale paused for a moment. His eyes seemed to swirl in contemplation, the light dancing off his pupils with a subtle glint. 

“If you will allow me, I may be able to assist in that regard.” He hesitated, garnering your reaction, “With your mild magic, that is.”

You considered it, clenching your jaw at the thought. Something within his gaze made you reconsider your initial rejection. 

You nodded slowly. 

The corners of Gale’s lips turned up subtly. He couldn’t help the excitement coursing through him. After all, he was a teacher at heart.

“How are you feeling? No magical surges brewing?” He wiggled his fingers as he gestured towards you.

You considered the thought, although it seemed that the fae wilds were dormant for the time being. 

“No.” You muttered.

He straightened out, “Well then, you recall what I had you do before, yes? That is an excellent method for holding it back. But say you want a little power behind your spells, a little kick if you will.” 

You sighed, “And why would I want to let loose the tides of chaos?”

He grimaced, a signal for you to be patient, “An extra bit of power could do wonders against a horde of goblins running at your face.

“I’m listening.”

“A wise decision,” He continued.

“Focus back on the tides within yourself. That surge is always reachable. Luck for you, the weave is inherently a part of you as a sorcerer.” He spoke with a tinge of envy, “When you take a deep breath, you want to let out the air slowly, yes? It’s much the same, except you want to let out only a small portion of the tides as you do. That way, when you cast your spell, there is a far lesser chance that there will be any consequences.” 

You looked down at your hands uncertainly. You had only just begun to get a grasp on your wild magic, how could you trust yourself to purposefully let it out?

“I’m not sure about this. It’s too big of a risk to be trying so soon, not with what’s at stake tomorrow.” You gave him a defeated look.

“Please, trust me.” He urged, “Or at the very least, trust yourself.”

His words caused your stomach to twirl uncertainly. You wanted to be able to trust yourself—your magic, but it had been far outside your control for so long that the feeling was unnatural. However, your survival was on the line. And as much as you loathed it, you did trust the expertise of the wizard before you.

“Fine.” You agreed suddenly, “But stand back, I wouldn’t want you to get accidentally singed, or worse.” 

He tossed up his hands in defeat and took a few steps away. 

You looked back at your hands, wiggling your fingers nervously. You didn’t have much mana remaining now. A low-level spell would have to do. 

You closed your eyes and did as Gale instructed. You harnessed the weave inside yourself, the wild magic tossing and turning like an uncertain sleeper. You allowed it a small gateway as you prepared the evocation.

“Ardē.” Your tongue clicked to the roof of your mouth as you willed the magic to life.

The flames burst from your hands in a dazzling cone. Its potency for damage was far greater than a non-wild spell, that was certain. This was proven by the blaze lapping at the branches of the foliage all around you. The flame was mild enough as not to cause a disaster, but they still crackled with great enthusiasm.

“There, and with no fur in sight on either of us.” He teased.

You looked around in amazement, turning back to Gale to see him smiling at you, proudly. Embers flaked off the trees around you, dappling you both in flickers of warm light. The golden hues reflected in his eyes as he gazed at you. 

It was an odd sight, but not an unwelcome one. 

You smiled back.

“I feel the need to apologize.” He began slowly, “I believe I haven’t been fair to you. You have been considerate of me, with the orb business and all.”

You watched him shuffle uncomfortably in the low light. From the way he swallowed, he was not particularly eager to open up. 

Despite this, you found it endearing.

“It would be ignorant of me to say I never did the same. I could have been kinder, and for that I am sorry.” You spoke softly, matching the intensity of his gaze.

Gale considered your words, his lips turning up imperceptibly. He stood quietly for a moment, the embers beginning to die out around you.

“I am wondering if we could start over?” He finally relented.

Your gaze flicked down to see that he had extended his hand. This time, you found yourself laughing eagerly.

“That will do, Gale of Waterdeep.” You spoke through your grin.

You placed your hand in his gently. His skin was cold against your fire-licked palm. The warmth seemed to pulse against him, causing you both to shiver.

“I think we have a deal.”

For the first time since you’d met, you and Gale finally agreed on something. So you stood in the dimming firelight, soaking up the feeling, hands pressed together. 

And for once, not a single word was exchanged.

[stormruff]

his pregnant girl.

synopsis: A little slice of life scenes where his significant other is pregnant.

# tags: headcanons; current marriage relationships; slice of life; soft romance; mostly fluff; maybe a bit of comedy; pregnancy; mention of faint and vomit; sfw

includes: female reader ft. qin shi huang, adam, jack the ripper & nikola tesla {ror}

author’s note: i just woke up, thought about it and wrote it. enjoy :)

— QIN SHI

↘ When Ying Zheng saw you for the first time, he thought you were the most beautiful woman he had ever seen; you had a lovely and gentle smile, your eyes sparkled in the sun like the most pretty gemstones, your skin looked healthy and tidy, and you were wearing a flowery dress that was perfect for the current weather in the city. That day, the Emperor went for a walk to the capital to see how his people were doing. However, the moment he saw you – when you were buying fresh fruit from one of the sellers – his thoughts were only focused on you and your blushes. On the same day you were brought to the palace as the first concubine, although you quickly felt something more for the King of China and he also felt the same in a very short time.

↘ Qin Shi Huang never had any more concubines; you completely occupied his mind and heart by being by his side until the very end. In the meantime, however, you began to spend private time with each other: talking, eating together and walking around the gardens in the huge palace. Those were really beautiful and memorable years for you.

↘ A few long months after your first meeting, after you moved into the palace, and after becoming the country’s first empress, a huge, loving smile lit up your face. The trusted doctor that day gave you very important information and as it turned out – you were pregnant. You almost cried at the news, thanking the doctor for his help. At first, you suspected food poisoning because of the morning sickness, but the information of having a small child under your heart, the fruit of your and the Emperor’s love, was the best thing that could have happened to you.

↘ As soon as your beloved returned to the mansion, you asked him for a private conversation. He instantly sent all the gathered guards away and took your hand. For a moment he was afraid that you were sick, that you didn’t love him, that you wanted to leave, but the truth turned out to be completely different.

↘ “…I’m pregnant.” You whispered a simple sentence, touching your slightly swollen tummy, and the man frowned. “The baby is doing well at the moment, but I was recommended daily visits because this will be our first kid.” You added quietly. After a short while, you felt a warm touch of fingers on your cheeks, and then a light kiss in the middle of your lips.

↘ “I am very happy, my Queen. I hope he or she will be born healthy.” He whispered and you nodded shyly. “Now you have to take care of yourself more than before. I’ll ask the maids to fill the tubs with warm water. If you want, I can join you. I want to see you.” He added directly to your ear and you blushed instantly on the cheeks. Even if Zheng was the Emperor, he was your husband in the first place… a bit of a playful and provocative husband.

— ADAM

↘ You realized something was wrong when your tummy was bigger than it should have been – of course you could have blamed it on eating too much fruit or drinking too much water, but that wasn’t it. You felt different; a little insecure, a little weird. For the next few days you were looking for answers to your ailments, stomach pains, swollen fingers and ankles, slightly aching spine.

↘ “… Are you okay, Y/N?” A calm voice reached your ears and you looked up at the fair-haired, handsome man who was lying on his back in the grass and looking up at the night sky. You hesitantly touched your stomach, shaking your head. You already knew the answer to your question yesterday, but you were still getting ready to confess the truth to your partner. “Tell me what is going on.” He said, this time looking straight at your face. His eyes were calm, slightly tired, but still full of warmth.

↘ “I have… a child in me, Adam.” You spoke softly, almost inaudibly, but the man understood your words perfectly. He lifted his head a bit and then the whole body. A second later he walked over to you sitting on a flat rock. He touched your face hesitantly, looking for a bit of a joke in you, but when he couldn’t find one, he just smiled. “You are mad at me?”

↘ “Where did this idea come from?” He asked surprised as he sat down next to your person. His arm wrapped around your waist and his hand touched your swollen belly. “It’s mine, so I love it. I love you too.” He said confidently and you sighed in relief. “When will I be able to see her? Or him?”

↘ “Oh, I don’t know.” You admitted slightly amused, then touched your tummy as well. “Sometimes I feel it moving. I think it’s healthy.” You said, nodding your head and your lover hugged your body tighter to his. You looked definitely different than a few weeks ago, but still the most beautiful in Adam’s eyes. Your eyes were feisty, your hair got a beautiful golden flash, your complexion definitely improved.

↘ The state of blessedness was a time full of worries, but also assurances that you two will be fine.

Continuar lendo

[stormruff]

⌕ one piece • law.

♡ like or reblog if you save/use.

[stormruff]

1000 curtidas!

[stormruff]

suguru x tired (implied depressed, but can be read as just tired from work) reader

suguru is calmly sitting on the couch, reading a book, when you get home from work. he perks up, about to greet you only to be met by your immediate disappearance as you head straight to you and suguru's shared bedroom before he can say a word.

if you were anyone else, suguru would've brushed it off. but you weren't just anyone. you're his beloved, his one and only. he knows you. he knows you're not okay.

so he sets his book down on the couch beside him before heading straight to the bedroom.

he opens the door and finds you curled up on the bed like a neglected puppy.

he doesn't say anything. he simply sits beside you on the bed and scoops you into his arms. he rocks you back and forth while gently rubbing your back. he kisses your forehead every so often until you inevitably pass out in his arms.

he knows you had a rough day, and he'd love to let you sleep, but you need food. so he sets you down and bed and heads off to the kitchen to make your favorite meal.

he takes his time, making everything from scratch with love.

he heads back to your bedroom with a plate of food for you once he's finished and gently shakes your shoulder to wake you up.

when you wake up, you still feel the same dread as when you fell asleep, but somehow, seeing suguru's face and the food he made for you softens the dread into a background thought, at least for now.

everything stays silent. neither of you two say anything, but it's a comfortable silence. one where you feel safe, like you can feel everything he feels without needing him to say it. you can feel how much he cares about you and loves you as you eat your food.

once you're done, he carries you bridal style to the bathroom and bathes you. he starts the water then gently places you into the bathtub. he washes your whole body, not allowing you to lift a finger and gently massages the shampoo into your scalp.

afterwards, he dries you, extremely gentle as if he's dealing with fine china. he carries you back to the bedroom and dresses you in soft, comfortable pajamas before pulling you into bed and falling asleep with you in his arms.

a/n: idc what the pole said i cant help it i need to write for him

[stormruff]

Apex Encounter

This is a fic of one of @verefex's characters. This is a little different from what I'm used to posting, and I am honestly a little nervous to share this. Hope you enjoy and let me know if y'all want more of this story.

If it were up to her, she would have remained in her tent for the whole day, hell, for the whole trip. Dread slowly seeped into her as she watched the sun’s light brighten the tent up more and more. She hadn’t been able to sleep much, not with the smallest of noises in the night causing her heart rate to spike.   

She fiddled with her spoon, stirring the can of peaches she was supposed to be eating. The others were starting to pack their gear, discussing routes, and going over safety protocols. She’d memorized the safety instructions a week in advance, though it had been little to quell her nerves. How was anybody supposed to feel safe in a place like this?  

The click of a magazine being popped into a rifle made her jump. Officer Jones held up his rifle and practiced aiming it, nodding to himself and putting the gun away once he was satisfied.  

Oakley gulped, looking back down at the peaches. If only they all had guns. Even if she didn’t know how to use one, it would still make her feel better to have one.  

The five soldiers that had accompanied the team were surprisingly relaxed, most of them still sitting outside their tent half-dressed and laughing. Though, at least that maybe meant there was no reason to be on guard.  

“Here”   

She nearly jumped out of her skin as something tapped her on the shoulder and turned, face to face with a machete. Lewis smirked down at her, all dressed up and ready to go, his camera dangling from his neck.  

Oakley slowly took the blade from him, “Thanks.”  

“Hopefully you’ll only have to use that on plants” called Yuri, flipping through a zoology book, “But you never know. Also, remember your bug spray, if it’ll even work on the beasts down here. I saw a centipede as thick as my arm.”  

A shiver ran down her spine, her grip tightening around the machete. Lewis patted her on the back, “Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to get under your skin.”  

“Yeah, like those mosquitos last night. Get under your skin to suck you dry.”  

Oakley ignored both of them, staring back at her reflection in the blade.   

“Attention! Everyone gather round!”  

Professor Ignatious stepped out of his tent, fully dressed with everything from his safari hat to the unknown vials of fluid strapped to his belt. Everyone began to meander over to him, her included. They all formed a circle around him, the soldiers, and the researchers.   

He clapped his hands together, “Right, let’s go over the plans.”  

“Again?” whined a sandy-haired soldier.   

“Yes again. It is of the utmost importance that you all know it by heart and stick to it. So” he checked his watch, “In no less than ten minutes, I want you all back here, dressed and ready to go.” his gaze lingered on the soldiers, “Now, do you all remember who your buddy is?”  

They all mumbled yes. Oakley glanced at Lewis, her buddy. He was currently fiddling with his camera.  

“Right. Once we are all back here and accounted for, you, your buddy, and your bodyguards will set out in the direction assigned to you, all holding onto your rope.” he pointed to four trees, all in different directions and all with long ropes tied to their trunks, “You do not let go of that rope unless you are in full view of your team. Backup rope will be at camp if you are to run out and feel confident about continuing forward.”  

He pulled from his belt a radio, “Between the three of you will be one radio. You are to check back in every five to ten minutes, let us at camp know you’re alright. Now, I want you all back before dark with any samples, pictures, or specimens you find. Am I clear?”  

Everyone nodded.  

“Alright then. Be back here in ten ready to go.”  

Everyone dispersed, heading for their own tents. Oakley followed suit, ducking into her own tent. Her outfit and gear were laid out on her sleeping bag, all folded and lined up neatly. She quickly pulled on her outfit that made her look like she drove the Jungle Cruise and began piling all her gear into her pockets, belt, and backpack. Halfway through, she grabbed her can of bug spray and covered herself from head to toe, even lifting up her clothes to spray it beneath them. 

Five minutes later she was slipping her small pack on and walking out of the tent. Half a dozen others, (mainly the researchers) were outside and ready to go. A quick look around and there was no sign of Lewis. She sighed and took her place in the circle reforming around the professor.  

Another five minutes passed and the soldiers appeared, dressed in their military fatigues and all armed with a rifle. The sandy-haired one who had complained waltzed over to her, standing at least a foot taller than her and probably weighing twice as much.  

“Guess you’re with me,” he said, smirking, his eyes looking her up and down. She averted her gaze and further zipped up her vest.  

Finally, Lewis appeared, stumbling out of his tent with a satchel and his camera. He took his place beside her and the soldier right as radios were being handed out. Oakley reached out to take her team's radio only for the soldier to beat her to it.     

“Alright. You three take the north.” he pointed to one group, “You six, east and west."He turned to Oakley’s group, “You guys take the south.”  

She gulped as she stiffly turned towards the south tree and began to follow Lewis and the soldier over to it. The soldier gathered up the massive bunch of rope and positioned himself at the front, leaving another loose behind him for the other two to grab on.  

Oakley took the back, glancing from the bright yellow rope to the thick greenery around her. Plants and shrubs with leaves several times bigger than her hung above, casting green light down upon them.   

The soldier started forward, prompting the other two to follow. Her knuckles went white along the line as she slid her hands across it, not even daring to take one of them off. As they approached the jungle’s entrance, she looked back at camp, at the people who got to stay behind. Lucky bastards. 

Before long, the grass at their feet was now up to their shoulders. Lewis held up his camera and began snapping photos. She looked around herself, peering through the thick blades for any sign of a sample or noteworthy plant.  

Why couldn’t she have just stayed back at the camp and had samples brought to her? Why couldn’t she just have stayed behind entirely, back in Germany? In the lab?   

All of her colleagues had been stoked when they had gotten the summons as if this was just a simple research expedition to Hawaii and not inner Earth. Not a place where the bugs were the size of your arm and every flower was as big as a tree. Why couldn’t this just have been a research trip to Hawaii? Or Australia? Peru even?  

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Lewis came to a stop, pointing his camera up to the sky, “You hear that?”  

Oakley looked up. The color drained from her face. A bird, a bird the size of a small airplane soared overhead. Its feathers were all sorts of bright colors and its call was something she’d never heard before, almost like a barking whistle.  

She gasped and immediately ducked down to the ground, shielding her head. Oh god, oh god. We must look like bugs! Birds eat bugs! What if it spots us and-  

The soldier broke into laughter, “Afraid of a little ol’ tweety bird?”  

Oakley opened her eyes and gave the man a horrified look, “Little?!”  

He blew her off, “Ah come on, they’re not all bad once you get used to them. Besides, they can’t see us. Now if you’re done hiding, can we move forward?”  

Lewis offered his hand and Oakley took it, glaring at the soldier as she stood. Had he no idea the dangers of this place? Sure, he’d been here before she and the researchers arrived, but his laid-back demeanor was still preposterous to her.  

The three continued forward, following the soldier who radioed their first check and soon their second and third, the team had walked for a good half an hour through the dense jungle. 

After their fourth check-in, Lewis suddenly stopped. Oakley immediately whipped her head around, listening for any signs of danger as her heart began to race. He pointed through the grass at something, his eyes wide in awe. She followed his gaze and her own eyes widened. 

A couple hundred yards away was a flower. It was massive, at least thirty feet tall with vibrant purple and blue petals arranged similarly to a hibiscus only with no yellow stem poking out between the petals. Instead was another arrangement of petals, bright pink and looking like a closed rose.    

“Woah,” whispered Lewis. Her eyes widened when he let go of the rope and began trudging towards the flower, raising his camera.  

“W-wait a minute!” she whipped around and looked for the soldier. He had gone a little further but had stopped just before he went too far to be seen. His hand idly tapped on his rifle as he waved them off.  

“Go ahead! Get those samples or whatever you came here for.”  

“Oakley, you’ve got to see this!” called Lewis.  

She looked between the two of them and then down at her hands clutching the rope. Slowly, her hands uncurled from around it and it fell to the ground. She breathed, grounding herself before turning and following after Lewis.  

The blades of grass were tougher to get through than she had thought. It threatened to slice up her limbs like paper so she was quick to pull out her machete and started chopping her way forward.   

Lewis, seemingly transfixed by the plant, just ran and stumbled right through the grass, unbothered by the paper-cut-like scratches appearing on his arms and legs. She struggled to keep up and was thankful when she reached the massive flower.  

She stared up at it, transfixed. In all her years as a botanist, she’d never seen anything like this. The variety of colors and formations was mind-boggling, not to mention its gargantuan size. 

Lewis began snapping pictures left and right, circling the plant as if to catch it at every angle  

possible, “Hey, Oakley, stand over there.” he pointed over to the plant's stem.  

“Um… you want a photo with me in it?”  

“Yeah, for uh… to show off its size.”  

A small smile played across her lips. Lewis wasn’t as much of a researcher as he was an artist, even if he specialized in taking photos that would often end up in science magazines. He probably just wanted to get a good picture.  

She walked over to the stem and turned to face Lewis, the flower’s shadow casting down upon her. He began to back away, trying to get the whole thing and her in one shot, “Smile.”  

Oakley awkwardly looked at the camera, not sure what to do with her body and face to make it look less awkward.  

Right as the camera flashed, an ear-piercing sound filled their ears, gunshots. She yelped and covered her ears as the rapid-fire continued, the bullets firing nearly as fast as her heart was beating now.   

When it stopped, she slowly rose, every cell in her body on high alert. Lewis had his back to her, peering back at the rope. Before she could say anything, he began creeping back over to it. Her throat went dry, and she looked around, afraid to move and afraid to be left behind. She trailed behind him, keeping her distance as he reached the rope.  

He looked to his left, then to his right. He froze, eyes widening. Oakley tentatively stepped closer, following his line of sight.  

Her stomach dropped.  

As the rope got closer to where the soldier had been, its color went from yellow to red. At the end of it, lying on the ground was the soldier, or at least… what was left of him. Where his legs should have been there was nothing but a growing pool of blood. He was barely conscious, moaning in pain as he stared up in horror at the creature nearly on top of him.  

It was a lizard, similar in appearance to a gaia monster only instead of orange and black, it was grey and green, and it was the size of a bus. One of its clawed feet moved and rested on the soldier’s torso. It jerked its head and swallowed something. Judging by its blood-stained lips, that something had been the soldier’s lower half.  

Oakley slapped a hand over her mouth, bile rising in her throat. Oh god. Oh my fucking god.  

It lowered its head, peering down at what remained of the soldier. By now, with his airways crushed, he was no longer breathing. The lizard opened its mouth.  

Lewis screamed, unable to handle the sight any longer. Oakley’s heart practically stopped when the creature stilled. It raised its head, its eyes landing directly on Lewis.    

He ran for it, turning tails and booking it in the opposite direction. The moment he started moving, the beast lunged forward after him, letting out a harsh hiss. Its long tail and claws tore the plant life around it to bits as it began its pursuit.  

She turned and like Lewis ran for it, running head-on into the jungle. The long and sharp blades of grass sliced into her hands and arms as she pushed them aside. Leaves and vines hit her face and tangled around her but she ripped through them, her breathing growing hoarse and ragged.  

With no idea where she was going, she kept running. Her vision tunneled and all she could make out was the path forward and away from death.  

Feeling like she was on the verge of fainting, she stopped, her knees buckling. She closed her eyes and gasped for air, blindly stumbling in search of something to rest against.  

Fuck! I knew this was a horrible idea, I should have never agreed to this! I should never have left the lab!   

She fell against something that felt a bit like a tree, what with its rough texture. Her mind spiraled, hanging her head and still panting for breath. Did… did that thing get Lewis? Should I go back? I don’t want to go back! What if it's waiting for me?! What if it's already following me?! 

Her eyes snapped open and she raised her head to look around only to pause. Everything seemed much… darker, like a stormcloud had drifted overhead only… darker. Were there storms here? Bad storms?  

She looked up, expecting to see clouds but instead saw something much different. Above her was what looked to be… scales. Whitish scaly skin. Her eyes widened as they stared up at the thing above her. It stretched at least twenty feet above her and seemed to be moving ever so slightly as if it was-  

As if it was breathing.  

Slowly, she turned her head, seeing what she had been leaning on. A foot. A massive, reptilian foot almost like a dinosaur with long toes and claws bigger than she was tall. She hurriedly pushed away from the thing and whipped around, spotting three more feet holding up the long body above her as well as a long, thick crocodile tail.    

Her hand came up to cover her mouth once more to stop her from screaming. Trembling all over, she began to back away, giving the foot a wide berth as she at a snail’s pace stepped out from under the gargantuan creature.   

She let out a shaky breath as she looked it over, from its massive tail to-  

This time, she couldn’t stop the horrified yelp that came out of her.  

Where she had been expecting to see some sort of reptilian head was a torso, a human-like muscular torso. Her eyes continued upwards until they landed on a head… a face.   

It… it looked just like a man, with a nose, lips, hair, eyes, everything!   

It was looking at her. Right at her.  

One of its brows rose, as if confused… or maybe intrigued.   

Oakley stumbled back a few steps, her legs turned to jelly.   

It all but twitched, shifted its weight, and that was all it took to send her running. 

She spun around and scrambled away from that… that thing! Her mind struggled to comprehend it even. That didn’t matter now though, just getting away from it did.  

Her boots pounded against the ground as her legs worked to move faster than they ever had before. A cramp burned in her side but she couldn't care less, all that mattered was the fleeting possibility that she’d outrun that thing. That she’d make it. That she’d survive-  

The next time her foot came down, it fell onto nothing. Her stomach plummeted as she stumbled and began to fall. A scream escaped her when a second later she slammed against the ground and her world began to spin as she began to tumble downwards. Every bump sent a shock of pain through her. Another scream tore through her lungs when one of her legs smashed against something and she heard a sickening crack.  

Finally, the ground evened out and her body came to a stop.   

She lay there, wheezing and staring blindly at the ground. As everything settled, a burning pain in her leg began to blossom. She gritted her teeth as she attempted to move it, the action sending a wave of agony over her. Wet hot tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to move it again.    

No… no no no no no!   

At the snap of a branch, her head shot up. She looked up, her blood running cold. The lizard, the same one that had gotten the soldier, stood at the top of the steep hillside, its yellow eyes centered on her.   

Adrenaline filled her veins and numbed the pain. She rolled onto her stomach and began frantically crawling away, fingers clawing into the dirt to try and move faster. Behind her, she could hear movement that only propelled her forward.  

As her eyes frantically searched for something, anything that might help, they landed on a hollow log, one the size of a house. She scrambled over to it, getting to her feet, placing most of her weight on her good leg while the other dragged behind her. The moment she was close enough she collapsed into the log, grabbing fistfuls of moss to drag herself deeper.  

Oakley rolled onto her back, her throat burning. The little light coming from the log’s entrance was dimmed as the lizard crept through the opening. It let out a low hiss when it spotted her, going dead still, preparing to land a lethal blow. She whimpered and patted her belt for her machete, coming up with nothing. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked back at the lizard, the muscles in its legs tensing.  

It lunged.   

As it was midair, something massive burst through the top of the log, sending splinters of wood flying. It was a hand, greyish and clawed. In an instant, it snatched up the lizard, which let out a shrill growl as the air was squeezed from its lungs. It flailed in the hand’s fist as it was raised up out of the hole it had come from.  

Oakley’s blood ran cold when she heard a sickening crunch and the lizard’s noises seized. The sound of amplified chewing made her stomach squirm and when she heard the sound of a loud gulp, she felt as if she might throw up.  

Everything fell silent, save for the sound of her hammering heart.   

The light coming from the new hole was snuffed out. She slowly looked up, her throat tightening as if trying to choke itself.  

An eye. A large yellowish-grey eye peered through the hole, slowly flicking from place to place until it landed on her. Its pupil dilated.   

Light flowed back in as it pulled away, leaving Oakley staring at the hole in horror. What the- 

She yelped when the ground beneath her began to move. Before she knew it, the entire log was moving, her seat becoming more and more vertical until she began to slide. She gritted her teeth from the pain of her leg, strongly objecting to any sort of movement.   

A scream ripped through her dry throat as she began rapidly sliding through the log until she flew out of its opening and landed in a crumpled heap in the dirt. Fresh tears formed in her eyes both from pain and fear, an unnatural shadow falling over her. She shoved herself up on her elbows and looked up, immediately wishing she hadn’t.  

Standing over her was the same gargantuan, half-man reptilian creature she had run into. It was standing at its full height, muscular torso straightened and blocking out the sun. For a moment, it simply stared at her, before its mouth formed into a small smile.  

The entire jungle seemed to quake as it plopped itself down on its scaled belly, bouncing Oakley where she sat. She let out a low whimper as it came closer, its face filling more and more of her vision.   

A chill ran down her spine as warm air blew from its nostrils and sent her black hair flying back. It was slow close now, it had gone cross-eyed to keep its sights on her.  

Her eyes darted from its eyes to its mouth, a faint red tint surrounding it. Oh god… oh god I’m next… it’s gonna-  

“Hello there, little lady.”  

Everything froze within her. She gaped back at this thing, still trying to comprehend the fact that the deep, rumbling voice she had just heard had come from it.    

It… it talks?  

She flinched as it leaned in even closer. It stopped, its brows furrowing.  

“D’aww, it’s alright. I ain’t gonna hurt ya.”  

It inhaled sharply, pulling her hair towards it. The smile on its lips faded. It squinted down at her leg, bloodied and bent out of shape.  

Its eyes flicked back to hers, continuing to stare at her. She saw movement out the corner of her eye and before she could move to get away, one of its fingers came down and prodded at her leg. She couldn’t stop the pained cry she let out, wincing and flinching away.  

The creature let out a pitiful hum, “Poor thing.”   

Its eyes drifted off as it seemed to think for a moment before returning to her. It let out a rumbling groan before to her horror, its jaws opened wide.  

Sharp teeth the size of her torso headed towards her. She screamed, flipping onto her stomach and desperately trying to crawl away. No! Oh god please no!   

Something wet and squishy slithered its way beneath her. She looked down just in time to see the massive tongue slide completely beneath her, curling and carrying her backward.  

Oakley began to kick and claw at it, still trying to get away, but it just kept dragging her in. Her heart dropped as she passed the creature’s lips and teeth. No! No no no! It's gonna swallow me… it's going to let me die slowly… oh god please-  

Her world went dark as the mouth carefully closed around her, the jagged teeth coming down mere inches from her face.   

She was frozen, frozen in fear and anticipation. Any moment now, it's going to swallow. There’s nothing I can do. The air around her was humid, seeping away at her resolve. She let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes.  

Go on. Do it. Get it over with.  

The tongue beneath her shifted and for a moment, she was sure this was it, but it didn’t rear back, didn’t push her to the back of its throat. Another groan rumbled around her and the enter chamber rocked slightly. She could hear the thing getting to its feet.   

Suddenly, she began to slide back. Her eyes widened in horror as she became dangerously close to the entrance of this thing's throat.   

Suddenly, the chamber shifted once more and she slid back forward, bumping right into the wall of teeth. She froze, her heart murmuring as she stared for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.  

She wasn’t dead. She hadn’t been swallowed.   

Her surroundings lurched. She could hear and feel the thing moving. What was it doing?    

She whipped her head around when its teeth slightly parted, letting light flow in.   

Oakley hugged herself as she watched the little sliver of jungle go by. The creature lumbered onward, taking her who knows where. 

[stormruff]

A Place in a Giant’s World

After a grueling journey, you find solace in the curve of Loki's massive horn, discovering a softer side to the enigmatic giant.

yall when i tell u ds man is sooo damnn fineee~

loki x gn!reader | ONE SHOT tags: fluff, sfw, size difference, loki being a little shit, wholesome, ooc(?) a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only, so expect this ff cringe, and akward © dollywons for divider word count: 2.2k

masterlist | ko-fi

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden haze over the jagged cliffs of Elbaf. The island’s terrain was as unforgiving as its reputation, with rocky paths winding through towering forests and steep inclines that seemed to mock your stamina. At just over five feet tall, you felt like an ant trudging through a world built for giants. Your legs ached, your boots were caked in mud, and every step sent a dull throb through your calves. Hours of walking had left you teetering on the edge of collapse, and the weight of your pack seemed to grow heavier with every passing minute.

Ahead of you loomed Loki, the infamous giant prince of Elbaf, his colossal frame dominating the landscape. At sixty-seven meters tall, he was a walking mountain, his presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating. His long, magenta hair swayed in the breeze, the twin braids framing his face neatly while the rest spilled messily down his back. Bandages wrapped tightly over his eyes, giving him an air of mystery, though you’d learned by now that he didn’t need sight to navigate the world with unnerving precision. His massive steps shook the ground, yet he moved with a grace that belied his size, each stride deliberate, almost performative.

Loki’s personality was as towering as his stature. Arrogance dripped from his every word, his sharp tongue weaving taunts and clever quips with ease. He reveled in trickery, delighting in outsmarting anyone who dared cross his path. There was a cruelty to him, too—a penchant for toying with others, pushing their limits just to see how far they’d bend before breaking. Yet, in the weeks you’d traveled with him, you’d glimpsed something else beneath the surface: a flicker of compassion, rare and fleeting, like a star obscured by storm clouds.

“Keep up, little mouse,” Loki called, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. He didn’t turn to look at you, but you could hear the smirk in his tone. “Or do you plan to collapse and make me carry you like some fragile trinket?”

You gritted your teeth, forcing your legs to keep moving. “I’m fine,” you huffed, though your voice betrayed your exhaustion. “And I’m not that small.”

Loki chuckled, a low, resonant sound that vibrated through the air. “Oh, but you are. A speck, really. I could flick you into the next island with a twitch of my finger.”

You rolled your eyes, too tired to muster a proper retort. The banter was familiar by now, a strange rhythm you’d fallen into during your journey. You weren’t entirely sure why Loki had agreed to let you tag along—or why you’d chosen to follow a giant with a reputation for chaos. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was the way his rare moments of kindness caught you off guard, like finding a warm ember in a pile of ash.

The path steepened, and you stumbled over a loose rock, catching yourself just before you faceplanted. A frustrated groan escaped your lips. Loki’s steps slowed, and for a moment, you thought he might turn back, but he only tilted his head slightly, as if listening to your struggle.

“Pathetic,” he drawled, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Do humans tire so easily? Or is it just you?”

You glared at the back of his massive head. “I’ve been walking for hours, Loki. Not all of us have legs the size of trees.”

He snorted, a sound that sent a flock of birds scattering from a nearby tree. “Excuses, excuses. Perhaps I should leave you here to become bird food. They’d probably find you tastier than you look.”

Despite your exhaustion, you managed a weak laugh. “You’d miss me too much.”

Loki’s steps faltered, just for a fraction of a second, and you wondered if you’d imagined it. He didn’t respond, which was unusual. Normally, he’d fire back with some biting remark, but this time, he just kept walking, his massive hands swinging casually at his sides.

The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The air grew cooler, and your energy was fading fast. You’d been traveling since dawn, searching for a rumored artifact said to be hidden deep in Elbaf’s mountains. Loki had his own reasons for seeking it—something about proving his cunning to the other giants—but you suspected he was also chasing the thrill of the hunt. For you, it was a chance to see more of the world, to step out of your small life and into something grander.

But right now, grandeur was the last thing on your mind. All you wanted was to stop moving.

“Loki...” you called, your voice weaker than you’d intended. “Can we… rest? Just for a bit?”

He stopped abruptly, and you nearly collided with the back of his massive boot. He turned his head slightly, the bandages over his eyes making it impossible to read his expression. “Rest?” he repeated, as if the word was foreign to him. “You’ve barely made it halfway up this pathetic hill.”

You gestured at the steep incline ahead. “That’s not a hill. It’s a mountain, and I’m not built for this.”

Loki’s lips twitched, and you could tell he was fighting a smile. “Weak,” he muttered, but there was no real venom in it. He crouched down, the ground shaking as his knees hit the earth. Even crouched, he towered over you, his face level with the treetops. “Fine. Five minutes. Don’t expect me to coddle you.”

You didn’t have the energy to argue. Dropping your pack, you sank to the ground, leaning against a boulder. The cool stone felt like heaven against your aching back. You closed your eyes, letting out a long sigh. The sound of Loki shifting nearby was like the creaking of a ship, his massive form settling onto the ground with a low rumble.

For a few minutes, neither of you spoke. The only sounds were the rustle of leaves and the distant cry of some unknown creature. You peeked one eye open, watching Loki as he sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees. His head was tilted slightly, as if he were listening to the world around him. The bandages over his eyes gave him an almost serene appearance, though you knew better than to trust that illusion.

“You’re staring,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.

You flushed, quickly looking away. “I’m not.”

“Liar.” He smirked, leaning forward slightly. “What’s so fascinating, hmm? My stunning good looks? My overwhelming charm?”

You snorted, despite yourself. “More like your overwhelming ego.”

He laughed, a genuine sound that made your chest feel oddly warm. “You wound me, little mouse. And here I thought we were becoming friends.”

“Friends?” you echoed, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve threatened to flick me into the sea at least three times today.”

“Details,” he said, waving a massive hand dismissively. “I threaten everyone. It’s part of my charm.”

You shook your head, a smile tugging at your lips. Despite his arrogance, there was something about Loki that made it hard to stay mad at him. Maybe it was the way he always seemed to know when you were struggling, even if he hid his concern behind a barrage of insults.

Your eyelids grew heavy, and you stifled a yawn. The boulder was comfortable enough, but the thought of lying down somewhere softer was tempting. Your gaze drifted to Loki’s massive form, specifically to the curved horns protruding from his head. They were enormous, each one thicker than your entire body, curling gracefully like the branches of an ancient tree. An idea sparked in your mind, born of exhaustion and a touch of delirium.

“Loki,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “Can I… try something?”

He tilted his head, the movement sending his braids swaying. “Try what? Don’t tell me you’re planning to climb me like some ambitious squirrel.”

You laughed weakly. “Not exactly. Just… trust me?”

He raised an eyebrow—or at least, you assumed he did beneath the bandages. “Trust you? That’s a bold request, coming from someone who can barely walk straight.”

“Please?” you pressed, giving him your best pleading look.

He sighed dramatically, the sound like a gust of wind. “Fine. But if you fall and break something, don’t expect me to play nursemaid.”

You stood, wobbling slightly, and approached his massive form. Up close, he was even more intimidating, his presence overwhelming in a way that made your heart race. You reached out, placing a hand on the smooth surface of his horn. It was cool to the touch, polished by years of wind and weather. The curve was gentle, almost inviting, like a natural hammock.

With a deep breath, you began to climb. It wasn’t easy—your arms trembled with fatigue, and the horn’s surface was slicker than you’d expected—but determination kept you going. Loki remained still, though you could feel his curiosity radiating like heat. After a few precarious moments, you reached the curve of his horn and settled into it, your body fitting snugly against the smooth, cool surface. It was surprisingly comfortable, the gentle slope cradling you like a bed.

“Well,” Loki said, his voice quieter than usual. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

You grinned, letting your head rest against the horn. “It’s perfect. Like a giant hammock.”

He huffed, but there was no malice in it. “A hammock. You’ve reduced the mighty Loki, prince of Elbaf, to furniture.”

“Comfy furniture,” you corrected, closing your eyes. The exhaustion was catching up to you, and the gentle sway of Loki’s horn as he adjusted his position was oddly soothing.

For a moment, he was silent. Then, you felt a subtle change in his breathing. It slowed, becoming deep and measured, the rise and fall of his chest like the tide. You realized he was doing it on purpose, keeping his movements steady to avoid jostling you. The thought made your heart skip a beat.

“Loki?” you murmured, your voice heavy with sleep.

“Hmm?”

“Thanks”

He didn’t respond right away, and you thought he might ignore you. But then, softly, he said, “...Don’t get used to it.”

You smiled, letting the warmth of his words wrap around you like a blanket. The world faded, and you drifted into a peaceful sleep, cradled in the curve of a giant’s horn.

When you woke, the sky was dark, speckled with stars. The air was crisp, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and earth. You blinked, disoriented, until you remembered where you were. Loki’s horn was still beneath you, steady and unmoving. You shifted slightly, peering over the edge to see his face.

He was awake, his head tilted slightly as if listening to the night. The bandages over his eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, giving him an ethereal quality. His expression was unreadable, but there was a softness to it, a quiet contemplation you hadn’t seen before.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low. “I was beginning to think you’d sleep through the entire journey.”

You yawned, stretching carefully to avoid slipping. “How long was I out?”

“Long enough,” he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. “You drool, by the way.”

“I do not!” you protested, though you wiped your mouth just to be sure.

He chuckled, the sound reverberating through his horn and sending a pleasant vibration through you. “Whatever you say, little mouse.”

You sat up, hugging your knees as you looked out at the starlit landscape. The mountains of Elbaf stretched endlessly before you, their peaks shrouded in mist. It was beautiful, in a wild, untamed way, and for a moment, you felt small but not insignificant. Loki’s presence grounded you, his massive form a reminder that even the smallest things could find a place in a world of giants.

“...Why do you let me stick around?” you asked suddenly, the question slipping out before you could stop it. “I’m just… me. I’m not a warrior or a genius. I slow you down.”

Loki was quiet for a long time, long enough that you thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, he spoke, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “You’re… persistent. Annoyingly so. And you see things others don’t.”

You frowned, unsure what he meant. “Like what?”

He tilted his head, as if choosing his words carefully. “You see me...Not the prince, not the trickster. Just… me.”

The admission caught you off guard, and you felt a warmth spread through your chest. For all his arrogance and cruelty, Loki was letting you glimpse something real, something vulnerable. It was a gift, one you didn’t take lightly.

“I think you’re more than just a trickster,” you said quietly. “You’re… complicated. And maybe a little kind, when you want to be.”

He snorted, but there was no edge to it. “Careful, little mouse. You’ll ruin my reputation.”

You laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet night. For a moment, the world felt perfect—just you, Loki, and the stars. You leaned back against his horn, content to stay there a little longer, and he didn’t protest. His breathing slowed again, steady and calm, lulling you into a sense of peace.

The artifact could wait until morning. For now, you were exactly where you wanted to be.

[stormruff]

(This is not related to the plot, just a random situation)