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mementomoriifics · 3 years

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Red Hot - Kirishima x Reader (NSFW)

Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics, alpha!Kiri, omega!reader, mating cycles, mating bites, some blood, unprotexted sex (don't do this kids), knotting

Wordcount: 2475

Author's Note: Kirishima is 18+ in this fic. it's also a rework of an old fic from a deleted account so if you recognize this, shhh no you don't

AO3 link

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Living with Kirishima Eijiro currently felt like the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your life.

Not because he was a bad roommate or anything, no, far from it. Kirishima was nothing if not courteous. He always paid his share of the rent and utilities on time, he gave you your space, gave you heads up about when he would be out of town and such. In short, a model roommate.

You’d even been eager as hell to move in with the man you’d called your best friend ever since high school. (And your crush but that’s a part you were very much denying)

In your eagerness, however, you’d overlooked two key factors.

One, you were an omega, he an alpha

Two, you would inevitably go into heat. In your shared living space. While the alpha was just in the other room, smelling like leather and strawberries and driving you absolutely mad.

When the inevitable happened, you’d ignored the red flags at first. Like how Kirishima smelled even better than he usually did. Or how it felt like someone had been dicking around with the thermostat. Or why you had started to hoard everything soft and comfortable in the apartment.

And as luck would have it, it didn’t dawn on you that your heat had started until it was much too late.

You woke up one morning, your head feeling like it was stuffed full of cotton balls. The next thing you noticed was how absolutely warm you felt, kicking off the blankets to get some fresh air. You were confused, until you felt how wet you were. Your thighs were coated in slick and panic rose in you.

You cast a glance at your alarm clock and shot a prayer to whatever deity was listening that Kirishima had already left for his shift two hours ago. Your worrying wasn’t over, though, as you fumbled with your phone while you were still coherent and called out of work.

Your boss, a beta you got along with decently well, was thankfully extremely understanding about the situation. Not that it made the entire ordeal less embarrassing.

The rest of the day you seemed to float by solely on your instincts. With the fuzzy feeling in your head persisting, you made a nest for a mate you didn’t have, piling together whatever clothes, pillows and blankets you could find. You’d even swiped Kirishima’s Crimson Riot branded blanket, one of his most prized possessions.

That made you feel guilty, just a little.

Said blanket, however, proved to be the anchor still keeping you grounded as your heat worsened. You would bury your face into it, Kiri’s scent filling your senses. It made you feel safe, protected in a way. Just like how Kirishima had always been that for you, like a rock for you to lean on, pun intended. So selfless and strong and handsome…

You had long foregone any sort of modesty, your hand having found its home between your trembling thighs as you kept pressing your face into the blanket you stole.

You felt guilty about doing so, but your instincts overpowered your rational thinking.

Kirishima hadn’t asked for this, for you to defile his stuff, for you to masturbate to the thought of him, and you were eighty percent sure your friend was pining after Bakugo. He had to be, with the awe he carried in his voice whenever the blond was brought up in conversation.

There was no way in hell he’d mate with you, or mark you, and you felt something akin to heartbreak at the thought of it all.

But your heat riddled thoughts were quick to dismiss your hurt, wanting nothing more than for Kiri to come home, find you a dripping wet mess and fuck pups into you. For those sharp teeth to sink into your shoulder to mark you, for his hands to grip your hips so hard he’d leave behind bruises. For him to wreck you completely. Your feelings were something you could sort through later. The only thing relevant now was the burning need that made itself your master.

Your fantasies about Kirishima were running rampant as you fingered yourself, three fingers knuckle deep inside yourself as you pictured them being his instead. You needed relief, you needed-

“Eijirou!”

You all but screamed as your climax washed over you, making your whole body shake at the intensity of it. Your face was dug into the blanket, taking in every bit of Kirishima’s scent still lingering on it. You were drooling, feeling achingly empty as your body contracted to milk a cock that wasn’t there.

You were panting, coming down from your high as you looked towards the door briefly, a vague part of you thinking of getting some water. That thought was quickly flung out the window as to your absolute horror, Kirishima stood in your doorway, gym bag falling from his hand.

Tears of embarrassment welled up in your eyes as you pulled the nearest object - that fucking blanket - over yourself to hide. To safe at least a little of your modesty, though you were pretty sure Kirishima now got an eyeful of all of you.

“Kiri, I’m sorry. I didn’t- I’m-”

You were properly crying at this point, dread and embarrassment coiling inside of your head. Your roommate and best friend had just caught you fucking yourself to the idea of him. How long had he stood there? How much had he seen?

God, if the earth could swallow you whole, you’d be grateful.

A sudden calming wave of Kirishima’s scent filled the room, forcing your shaking body to relax. You heard him come closer, the bed dipping as he sat down on it.

You refused to leave your self-made cocoon of shame, not wanting to face Kirishima right now. But it seemed he had different plans.

He carefully peeled the blanket away, his face almost matching his long, spiky hair as he looked at you. There was a look of concern etched on his face that took you entirely off guard.

“Are… Are you okay?”

You blinked a few times, a little baffled by his reaction to the situation. You nodded, biting your bottom lip and ignoring a fresh wave of tears.

“You were… You’re in-”

“-heat, yeah.” you finished his sentence, looking away and wanting nothing more than to hide under the blanket again.

Kirishima cleared his throat, shifting in place. Sweat started to appear on his forehead, his scent more potent. It was obvious you were getting to him. Or rather, your heat was doing things to him. But sweet, sweet Kiri was too much of a gentleman to act on it. The feeling of guilt got worse and the tears finally spilled.

“Can I… Help?” He asked, his voice soft. You cast a sideways glance at him and he seemed to be giving you puppy eyes you didn’t think alpha’s were capable of.

Your heart both melted and broke a little bit. Kirishima was too kind for his own good, too caring. You didn’t deserve-

“What about Bakugo?” You blurted out, Kirishima looking very confused.

“What about-? What do you mean?” He asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Aren’t you,” you swallowed, looking down and second guessing your assumptions. “Aren’t you… In love with-”

You couldn’t even finish your sentence, the redhead laughing loudly. His shoulders shook with mirth as he doubled over, one hand on his stomach. Your face turned even redder, something you didn’t think possible at this point.

“What? No! Bakubro is bonded to Uraraka. He’s just my best buddy.” Kirishima snickered, still shaking with laughter. “I mean, sure he's kinda cute in a manly way but like,... He's taken, dude. Besides, I have a giant crush on you! I thought it was obvious.”

You froze, your heart skipping a beat. Your eyes widened as they darted to Kiri again, who’s face now definitely matched his hair, his smile fading.

“It wasn’t..?”

You shook your head, opening your mouth to say something but your heat thought otherwise. You crumpled forward, hand gripping Kiri’s bicep tightly as you moaned.

“Hey, easy!” Kirishima spoke, broad hands taking a hold of your upper arms to keep you steady. “I got you.”

The words were meant as reassuring but instead only fanned the flames that were in your lower stomach. It felt like you were burning up and it only got worse when you looked up at him.

Kiri’s pupils were dilated with desire, his mouth parted slightly as his breath came out in soft pants. His tongue darted out briefly to wet those kissable lips. You felt pinned in place by this stare and it made you feel so small and so fucking horny.

“Ei-chan. I need you, please.” You whined, using an old nickname you knew would get him. Eijirou growled, all but ripping his tank top off his body in his hurry to get undressed.

“Don’t worry, Omega. Your Alpha’s got you.”

You moaned loudly at the statement, back arching off the bed. Your hand found itself between your thighs again on instinct earning a soft "fuck." fron the alpha. Kirishima got up for a moment, ridding himself of his shorts and boxers, the seams of the garments protesting at his rough movements.

The scent radiating off of Eijirou grew more potent, more overwhelming. Your head swam with it and one instinctual thought came to the forefront of your lust-addled mind: He was going into a rut.

“Ei-chan. Please.” You moaned again, spreading your thighs for him in an attempt to coax him between them.

You eyed his length shamelessly as he stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of you. Your mouth started to water. It was bigger than you'd imagined, curving up deliciously. A black happy trail leading from Kiri's belly button down to the hard dick you wanted in you so damn bad it almost hurt.

The pro hero growled, having had enough of waiting and finally climbed between your legs. He pressed needy kissed against your neck and shoulders, taking in the smell of you.

“Patience. I’ll make you feel better soon.” He mumbled, one hand gripping your thigh and hiking it over his hip. You felt his length grind against you, gasping as the underside rubbed against your oversensitive clit.

“You made such a good nest for us.” He praised you, a warm feeling blooming in your chest. You wrapped your arms around Kirishima’s shoulders, digging your fingers in his waist length hair as he kept talking. “You will be such a good mom for our pups.”

“Give me- I need-” you whimpered, hands now gripping fistfuls of his hair, making the hero growl low in his chest.

“I will, Omega. I’ll give you exactly what you need.” He spoke, a hand reaching down so he could line his dick up with your entrance. With one, smooth thrust, he was knot deep in you, your head tipping back and exposing your neck in a quiet show of submission. Kirishima pressed kisses up and down the column of your throat, sharp teeth grazing the delicate skin there. He seemed to revel in the feeling of you around him but you wanted - no, needed - more.

You whimpered, moving your hips in an attempt to get him to fuck you. Kirishima, seemingly hellbent on drawing things out, nipped at your throat, a non verbal warning.

His senses seemed to return for a moment.

“Are you okay? Can I-?”

You nodded, wrapping your legs around Eijirou’s thick waist.

“Please, I’ve been ready since you caught me.” you half whined, half complained.

That was all the pro hero needed, dragging his length out of you at a painfully slow pace before thrusting back in so hard he almost knocked the wind out of you.

The pace he set was hard and a little rough, his hands and mouth gentle as he held you close, pressing kisses against any part of exposed skin he could reach.

“You smell so good, Omega. And you feel like heaven. So good. So… So… I want to-”

Kiri was lost for words, all the blood in his brain having vacated and moved south. His teeth gently scraped over the junction between your neck and shoulder, the place he could mark you. Where you wanted him to bite down badly.

He seemed to hesitate, his mouth parting and teeth nipping but never committing to a bite. It drove you to the brink of madness. You both wanted each other, right? Why was he hesitating?

After the so manieth nip of pointed teeth, one of your hands flew to the back of his head, trying to force him down. His pace slowed, fucking you gentle and deep. It made your head spin.

“Please, Ei-chan. Do it. Please.”

“Are you sure?” He asked. “Do you want me?”

“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.” You spoke with more clarity than you had since you woke up.

Something in him seemed to snap and Kirishima pressed a quick kiss on the sensitive patch of skin before his lips parted, sharp teeth sinking into your skin. You cursed, holding onto Kirishima, your Alpha, for dear life.

Every fiber of your body seemed to sizzle with pleasure as the redhead pushed his knot into you. It took only a few, slow grinds of the alpha’s hips into yours for you to plummet over the edge, Eijirou groaning into the bite as he followed shortly after, knot swelling impossibly fat inside of you. The burning in your gut slowly faded, Kiri pulling back from your neck to look at you.

He looked borderline feral, hair a mess and blood staining his mouth. You smiled, gently smoothing down the unruly locks with shaky hands. He grinned at you.

“My Omega.” he said, smiling before he leaned down, nuzzling his nose against yours.

“My Alpha.” You echoed, leaning in and stealing a soft kiss for your… Boyfriend? Yes. Boyfriend. You liked how that sounded.

“’m tired.” You mumbled, hissing as Kirishima slowly withdrew his knot for you with an almost cartoonishly wet pop that made your face burn. The pro hero pressed a soft kiss on your forehead, gathering you up in his arms and sinking back into the nest. You felt wonderfully small and safe, cocooned in an embrace of muscle and red hair.

“Then rest up a bit. Then we’ll get cleaned up and we’ll get some food in you.” Eijirou said, smiling to himself as you snuggled into his pec.

“I want omurice.” You mumbled, already drifting off as fatigue set in. Kiri chuckled, pressing a kiss onto the crown of your head.

“Then I’ll make you omurice. Anything for my Omega.”

You grinned like an idiot as you quietly drifted off, safe in the arms of your Alpha.

#kirishima x reader #kirishima eijirou x reader #mha imagine #mha x reader #bnha imagine #bnha x reader #my hero academia x reader #boku no hero academia x reader #not sfw #morii's fics #omegaverse #abo fic #whoop there it is

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morgana-ren · 4 years

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A Little Respect (Shigaraki x Reader)

Summary: Life is hard for a outlaw down on their luck. Especially hard when you're cold, starving, and desperate. As fate would have it, the League of Villains just might take you in. If you can survive their temperamental leader, that is.

Rating: This particular chapter is E for everyone but Shig is rated R for Real Fuckin’ Rude. Mild cursing and sexual innuendo from Dabi. Will advance in rating as the chapters come out.

A03 mirror if you prefer to read it there

Sorry guys, it’s not the Filthy Smut™ I promised earlier but I got an idea at like 3am and wanted to get it out.

Tomura Shigaraki does not like you.

Wait, that’s an understatement.

Tomura Shigaraki does not like you at all. It might even be fair to say he hates you.

From the moment he first saw you, he was decidedly unimpressed. Beady, vermillion eyes narrowing in irritation, lip twitching almost indiscernibly behind the shadow of his hand-mask. He’d only looked you over for a brief moment before casting down his judgement, deeming you unworthy of his attention.

It didn’t matter to him that you had taken time out of your day to be here. Seems a bit ungrateful, if you were honest. After all, he was the one looking for new recruits, not you. That was why you were standing awkwardly in the middle of this dingy bar that smelled like cheap liquor and ashes, prostrating yourself before this man-child in hopes of a job. Yeah, you’d seen him on TV and heard of his exploits, but nothing could quite capture the sheer arrogance of the real thing.

He had turned his nose up at you so easily, ripping his focus from you without a second thought. When he spoke, he didn’t even bother addressing you. You were a waste of his time. He instead turned to Giran who stood nearby, sucking down his cigarette as if the acrid smoke filling the bar didn’t add unnecessary drama to the already tense atmosphere.

“Where do you find this trash?” Shigaraki waved you off, mind already made up that you were nothing but a nuisance. “This NPC is really bottom of the barrel.”

His uneven, scratchy voice only served to spike your agitation. Admittedly, you were a proud one on occasion, but this was outright ridiculous. This low budget comic-book-villain-reject looking fuck was calling you trash? Now that was funny.

Giran had moved to speak up on your behalf, but you just couldn’t help yourself. You’d always had a hot temper and an even bigger mouth. It had gotten you into trouble quite a bit, and it was probably responsible for the current financial predicament and various bruises you found yourself saddled with now. Despite that, you had a really hard time controlling the venomous thoughts that came out of you. Sometimes, it just tumbled out before you could consider stopping it.

“What’s with all the hands? Compensating for something? Or is it just a fetish?”

Giran flinched as the words left your lips, mouth closed in a grimace as he exhaled the smoke from the most recent inhale through his nose. You knew you were making his job difficult, but this second-rate walking lotion commercial had already made up his mind, right? You didn’t feel you had much to lose.

Shigaraki visibly stiffened, fist clenching into itself as he held his thumb out to the side. You’d made him mad. What a bitch.

“Rude and bratty with no manners. I’m starting to think you just dumpster dive and bring whatever you find at the bottom to me.”

Even though his tone was sharp and held an edge that hadn’t been there previously, he still refused to look at you, even as he flared at your disrespect. Your antics hadn’t been entirely unappreciated, however. There had been a slight chuckle from the figure standing beside him. A man with charred skin and striking blue eyes with wild black hair was looking you over, eyes glimmering with amusement.

“I like her.”

“You would. You’re just as annoying as she is. But at least you can be useful on occasion.” Tomura scoffed, visibly irritated now as he tapped a long, pale finger on the wooden surface of the bar.

“I really think you ought to give her a chance, Shigaraki. I honestly believe she could be beneficial to your organization.” Giran gestured to you, maintaining a nonchalant smile. You knew he got paid either way, but he did consider himself a professional. He’d work his magic until this breathing temperamental tantrum decided he’d had enough, and then it would be back out on the streets for you.

“We don’t need another loser in our party.” Shigaraki crossed his arms over each other, pointer fingers carefully hovering above the fabric of his black shirt. You knew what he could do, what those fingers were capable of. One grip on your bare flesh and calling you fish food would be generous.

You found it unfair that kind of power had been given to such an impudent dick.

Giran motioned for you to step forward. “Go on, show him.”

You rolled your eyes but obliged, moving into the forefront of the room. You felt like a dancing monkey, but if it would put money in your pocket and food in your mouth, you’d play along. Even if it meant kneeling for one of the biggest jerkoffs the underworld had to offer.

You closed your eyes, focusing for a moment before releasing a breath and bringing your hands together. Light began to shimmer in front of you, swirls of color blending, stitching and intertwining. Bright flashes of blues, reds, and yellows formed a pattern and came together, slowly taking form. Seconds later, a perfect recreation of All Might was standing directly in front of the bar, mimicking his stereotypical pose. The mirage turned its head to the toward the villainous duo seated nearby, legendary smile gleaming in the dim bar lights. It raised an arm, giving a thumbs up.

“I am here!”

The voice was so loud and lifelike that Shigaraki recoiled, looking absolutely feral. His eyes shot open, widened in a mixture of confusion and rage. He had lurched himself half-way out of his chair, posed to lunge at the imposter before him, hands at the ready and poised to attack. “What is this shit?”

A small smile cracked on your face. You focused again, summoning another illusion from the air, this one comprised of mainly blacks, whites, and reds. It wasn’t long before a flawless imitation of Shigaraki himself appeared behind the illusory hero, creeping up behind it, hand outstretched and reaching. It made eye contact with the authentic Shigaraki, grin spreading past the boundaries of the decomposing hand placed over his face.

“Not anymore you’re not.”

The duplicate’s hand made contact with the All Might mimicry, all five fingers pressed against the blade of its shoulder. As the spindly fingers dug in, All Might’s uniform and skin began to decay, spreading and unweaving the flesh and muscle until bare bone was visible beneath as the body began to decompose rapidly. Tendons snapped and plasma leaked to the floor, sending the usually impervious hero to the floor in a whimpering, grimy mess. Soon enough, All Might’s likeness was nothing but a whimpering pile of dying, ashy viscera beneath fabricated Shigaraki’s red sneakers.

Eventually the illusion faded, and not one person spoke. It took effort for you to hold back a triumphant sneer. Your little production had been no Hamlet, but it garnered the desired result no less. The real Shigaraki was paralyzed in place, eyes still glued to the spot on the floor where the fake All Might had perished, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

And he was right, he couldn’t.

Real All Might was still out there, traipsing around and being a massive pain in someone’s ass, but Giran had hinted to you that something like this might get Shigaraki’s dick hard. His hatred of All Might was all encompassing and exploiting it might give you a fighting chance. Apparently, he had been right. You had a feeling that if you let him, Shigaraki would just keep staring in disbelief until someone actively shook him from his stupor.

“I couldn’t get your voice quite right but it’s the best I could do on short notice. I’ve never met you before today.”

You were the first to break the silence, since everyone else with the exception of Giran was dumbfounded. Might as well get the ball rolling. Either you were in or you weren’t, and if you weren’t, you had a corner store to rob before it got too late.

Achingly slow, Shigaraki turned his head back to you. You couldn’t quite get a read on him, not with that giant hand on his face, but judging by the fact that his hands were shaking, and he looked murderous, the prognosis didn’t look too good.

“What is it?” He hissed, copper eyes narrowing on you. “Your quirk. What the hell is it?”

“Illusion. Tricks of light and sound. Basically, I can mess with light and sound waves temporarily to create whatever vision I desire.” It sounded way cooler than you explained it like that. “I can’t do it on a large scale, and I have to understand the exact representation and mannerisms of whatever it is I’m creating if I want it to be accurate, hence your voice. Also, they’re incorporeal. I can’t create a physical form.”

Shigaraki was staring at you blankly. You’re losing them. Play it up.

“Other than that, I can create whatever I want. As long as it’s not too exhausting, I can hold it for a while too. As you can see, there’s not a whole lot else I can really do with it since the visions can’t actually touch or be touched, but it’s great as a distraction.” You shrugged, letting your shoulders slump as you realized just how ridiculous this entire situation really was. “I figured maybe you could use it for subterfuge or something.”

“Doll, you have got no imagination at all.” The blistered one spoke up again, simpering mischievously. “I can think of plenty- “

“Shut up!” Shigaraki growled, flexing his hands by his sides and clearly not in the mood for either one of you. His invasive stare was studying you again, eyes resting a little too long on your face to make you comfortable. You wanted to make another smart-ass remark, but Giran smelled that a mile away like a dumb-shit detecting bloodhound and opted to speak first to keep you from ruining your chances.

“So? What do you say?” He leaned over, smashing the butt of his cigarette into a nearby ash tray, waving away the excess smoke that rose. “You think that’ll be helpful?”

You could see deep frown lines and the shadow of a scowl on Shigaraki’s face. He didn’t answer immediately, choosing to glare you down instead. You weren’t sure you wanted to be a part of the League anymore, anyway. Not if it meant working under this broody, angsty little-

“She can stay.” He turned, storming out the doors without sparing you a second glance. “But if she gets on my nerves, I’ll dust her.”

Well, a job is a job, even if your new boss is the world’s biggest blowhole. If it meant a warm place to sleep and clothes on your back, you’d take it.

“Guess we’ll be working together. See you around, doll face.” The scarred guy gave a slight indifferent wave in your direction before heading out through the exit. You weren’t quite sure how to feel at the moment. It wasn’t exactly the definition of a warm welcome, but then again, you were working with a criminal organization that was currently at the top of Japan’s most wanted list. You couldn’t really expect a hug and a welcome tour.

Giran, on the other hand, seemed ecstatic. He slapped you on the back, grinning wide and no doubt pleased at the bonus commission he’d be ringing in. “See? I think that went great!”

“That was great to you?” Your brows furrowed in confusion. That had to have been one of the single most awkward experiences of your life. The infamous Shigaraki had the charismatic presence of a flaming pile of dog shit.

“Definitely. He didn’t even try to kill you.”

Your mouth dropped. “That’s a thing that happened? That’s a fuckin’ thing that happened and you didn’t tell me?”

“Oh yeah. The last two I brought his way didn’t sit well with him either. About 2 minutes into the meeting and he tried to kill them both. Would have been a real mess if it hadn’t been for Kurogiri stepping in.”

You rolled your eyes, huffing out an exaggerated breath. “Thanks, man. A warning would have been nice. I know he’s temperamental and all, but it would have been good to get a little bit of notice if I had to get my affairs in order.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not so bad. He’s an alright guy. A little rough around the edges but he’ll grow on you. Just try to keep that mouth of yours in check?” He smiled nervously, reaching in his pocket for another cigarette.

“Yeah, ‘cause that’s worked out so well for me in the past.”

“You’re a smart girl. You’ve can do it. Just do your job and stay out of his way if you can.” He flicked his lighter, inhaling the smoke deeply before turning to you again. “The last people I introduced to the League worked out well for him, and while he talks a lot, they seem to get on just fine. I know Shigaraki can be difficult, but maybe you’ll find some comfort in the others.”

“They’re villains, Giran. How amicable can they really be?”

He laughed, giving a small shrug. “I don’t know. You’re technically a villain, and you seem fine to me.”

You opened your mouth to speak but stopped short when you realized you didn’t exactly have a retaliation to that. “Fair.”

“Come on, let’s get your stuff and get you settled in here. No sense in keeping anyone waiting.”

“Your paycheck, you mean.” You side-eyed him, following him out through the bar doors.

“Yes.”

#shigaraki x reader #tomura shigaraki #Shigaraki #bnha

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travelworldnetwork · 6 years

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Gina DeCaprio Vercesi

The strains of island-infused top 40 hits floated across the bay as my husband mixed a batch of piña coladas and the sun dipped below the horizon, spinning the clouds into cotton candy. Two of our three daughters skimmed by on a paddleboard, delighting in losing their balance and splashing into the clear, blue sea. Cocktails in hand, we watched as a few stragglers motored into the peaceful anchorage, laying claim to the last remaining mooring balls.

“Do you know what this is?” I asked our oldest daughter, who had joined my husband and me on our catamaran’s flybridge. It was a question I’d asked repeatedly over the past couple of days and the girls had come to understand that the requisite answer was simply, “the life.”

“The life, Mom,” she obliged, smiling.

Yup. This was the life.

Gina DeCaprio Vercesi

Related: The Caribbean Island That's Quietly Luring Americans Away From the 50 States

My family and I were on the second night of a weeklong boating adventure in the British Virgin Islands with the Moorings, the region’s first, and most established, charter company. By luck, the trip coincided with the April full moon and I’d finagled our itinerary to include an overnight stop in Trellis Bay, a popular live-aboard artists’ community on Beef Island near the easternmost tip of Tortola. The bay has long played host to a well-loved full moon celebration and as night fell, the beach in front of us became illuminated by the glow of floating fireballs, hand-cut steel spheres crafted by local artist Aragorn Dick-Read.

On shore, the crescent of sand along the bay was full of revelers — locals and boaters, families and couples — the spicy scent of roti in the air. Brightly costumed Moko Jumbies whirled high above the crowd, bending and swaying rhythmically while balancing on impressively tall stilts. Friends gathered around beachfront bonfires, kids scampered by in the sand, and visitors flowed in and out of Aragorn’s shop, admiring sculpture, pottery, and silk-screened t-shirts — artwork that barely escaped annihilation by the large sailboat launched onto the beach last September during Hurricane Irma’s violent wrath.

The water is the first thing you notice when coming in for a landing at Tortola’s Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport — deep indigo seas that lighten to lapis, turquoise, and finally ultramarine as they near the shore. But after that, you notice the boats, one after the other, wrecked on the beach of neighboring Trellis Bay. Tipped on their sides in an unnatural fashion, there they lie, heavy on the sand, unable to move. Hulls smashed, masts broken, sails ripped.

Related: As the Caribbean Rebuilds, Now Is an Important Time to Visit

With paint and a brush, Aragorn had transformed the boat that crashed just feet from his studio’s walls into a sort-of temporary installation piece, but he prefers the beach sans shipwreck. “There’s only so much art you can do with fiberglass and crappy aluminum,” he joked, when I asked him about the green swirls decorating the boat’s hull. “I painted on it for a while but then I tired of it. I’ve been living in hope that it will go. It’s a bit of a grim reminder, really, and I think we have enough grim reminders around here.”

Nearly six months to the day after a double-header of record setting, category five hurricanes tore through the Caribbean, vestiges of the storms — "Irmaria," as the two are now called locally — were visible everywhere. Cars sport makeshift windows fashioned from thick plastic and duct tape. Island hillsides, while beginning to robe themselves in fresh, verdant foliage, remain covered in a gnarled tangle of twisted limbs. Once-lush palm trees stick out like telephone poles, stripped of their shady fronds by the hurricanes’ savage winds.

It’s heartbreaking to imagine what people endured during the storms and the hardships they continue to deal with in the aftermath. Most lost everything they own. Still, travelers shouldn’t think twice about returning to the idyllic tropical archipelago. Power has been restored throughout the islands and clean up and recovery efforts are in full swing everywhere you look. And as BV-Islanders love to say, the water is just as blue, the sand is just as white, and the rum is just as strong — they don’t call them Painkillers for nothing.

Those infamous nutmeg-dusted cocktails aren’t the only things making a comeback. The British Virgin Islands have long been celebrated as being the sailing capital of the Caribbean and the territory’s loyal yachting community has begun returning in droves, indicated by the flotillas of gleaming white monohulls and catamarans dotting the turquoise waters when we were there this past spring.

In early April, colorful sails billowed in the islands’ famed tradewinds during the 47th-annual BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, the first international event to be held after the hurricanes. Throughout the week, guests lounged on the decks of catamarans, mooring balls at popular anchorages were full of boats, and the rum flowed liberally at everyone’s favorite beach bars. “The marine industry was without a doubt the first to make a comeback,” Judy Petz, the Regatta’s director, told Travel + Leisure. “Holding the event gave the whole community purpose. People kept signing up to race — even people who had never come down here before.”

Though a handful of hotels and guesthouses have reopened recently, the best way to visit the region sooner rather than later is on board a charter yacht. Earlier this year, the Moorings, which continues to be the islands’ biggest charter company, added 130 new boats to their fleet, an investment of $66.5 million. On top of that, the Moorings’ boat resuscitation efforts continue to move forward at full steam. A big team of fiberglass experts is hard at work getting vessels back on the water and soon the entire fleet will be at or very near pre-hurricane numbers.

Local restaurants, shops, markets, and well-loved watering holes have been revived as well and the entire industry desperately needs the support of tourist dollars to help continue rebuilding both infrastructure and their livelihood. Fortunately, island hopping through the archipelago offers an easy and gorgeous way to spread the love — and the wealth.

“It’s like coming back to the old days,” Petz said of sailing in the BVI right now. “The waters are as pristine as ever but there are far fewer boats out there. It’s almost like you have the islands to yourself. The beauty that surrounds you — that’s what it’s all about.”

Here’s our guide to what’s happening in the best-loved anchorages of the British Virgin Islands.

Gina DeCaprio Vercesi

Getting There

Several U.S. cities offer direct flights into Cyril E. King airport on neighboring St. Thomas. The Road Town Fast Ferry travels between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Road Town, Tortola (where the Moorings is based) three times a day — twice a day on Sundays. Since it is one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to fly into St. Thomas, but a valid passport is required for entry into the British Virgin Islands.

Alternately, several smaller airlines along with private charters operate flights into Tortola’s Terrance B. Lettsome (Beef Island) airport from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Where to Stay

Right now (and even after the territory’s full recovery), chartering a sailing or power yacht is the absolute best way to visit the British Virgin Islands. Your accommodations are covered, you’re positively guaranteed a 360-degree water view, and there’s no shortage of services available to boaters. Mooring balls remain plentiful in every anchorage — and fewer boats for the time being means less jockeying for space — dingy docks are solid in most bays, and provisions, which are abundant in Road Town, are becoming more readily available at smaller island outposts in Trellis Bay, Scrub Island, Leverick Bay, and Cane Garden Bay.

If terra-firma is more your style, options expand daily. Cooper Island Beach Club, an eco-resort with its own on-site nano-brewery, reopened with aplomb on April 1 and guests would be hard-pressed to find any evidence of the devastation that existed just a few months earlier. Settle into one of 10 beachy-chic cottages overlooking picturesque Manchioneel Bay, which is especially popular with sea turtles.

Although Virgin Gorda’s much-loved North Sound suffered some of the storms’ most devastating destruction, luxurious Oil Nut Bay, tucked into a pristine cove in Eustatia Sound, has both private villas and ocean view suites ready to receive guests. Meanwhile, just across the water from Trellis Bay, Scrub Island Resort and Marina has several rooms in their Marina Village available along with a newly refurbished, multi-tiered pool, and a diverse menu of watersports.

Gina DeCaprio Vercesi

Where to Drink (and Eat)

Bars and restaurants throughout the BVI exude the ultimate in laid-back island vibes and many of the territory’s favorites are open for business. Standing at the helm of the post-hurricane recovery ship is the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke — the infamous White Bay watering hole was one of the first in the region to reopen after the September storms, inspiring plenty of others to do the same.

In Jost’s Great Harbor, island icon Foxy Callwood’s namesake Foxy's Tamarind Bar is serving up their famous barbecue once again and the Calypsonian crooner himself will likely be there singing his now-famous post-Irma ditty.

Meanwhile, on Norman Island, Pirates Bight is in full swing, delivering cold beers and delicious roti. And though the recently announced (and quite controversial) relocation of the legendary Willy T from the Bight to Peter Island may redirect diehard loyalists across the way to the barge’s new home in Great Harbor, Norman will likely remain a popular first night stop on the charter circuit.

It will be quite some time before the Bitter End Yacht Club — which is near and dear to pretty much everyone’s hearts — rises from Virgin Gorda’s North Sound wreckage, but Leverick Bay has been doing a great job of bringing boaters to the area. The resort’s open-air restaurant on the second floor overlooks the entire bay, which twinkles after the sun sets. Kick off the evening with a cocktail of rum and laughter at Michael Beans’ popular Happy Arrr show by the shoreline.

For a bit of glamour, island style, Restaurant (yes, that’s its name) at the Cooper Island Beach Club serves a gorgeous menu featuring a bounty of local produce, fresh fish, and innovative cocktails by the sea. After dinner, spend some time sipping spirits sourced from the Caribbean and beyond in the resort’s new Rum Bar, where over 100 varieties are on hand for tasting and mixing.

On Land and Sea

Snorkeling and diving the prolific reef systems spread around the 60 islands, islets, and cays that make up the British Virgin Island archipelago remain one of visitors’ favorite activities and in early April, the majority of the popular reefs we explored were in sound shape. Beyond the best-known spots — Monkey Point on Guana Island, Norman Islands Caves, The Indians, Cistern Point on Cooper Island, The Dogs — your charter captain will be able to take you to all sorts of hidden coral gardens teeming with colorful marine life.

Beaches throughout the territory continue to inspire expat dreams, despite the absence of the lush, jungle-like setting provided by abundant palms and sea grapes. Still new trees are being planted all the time; even Sandy Spit, which has been reduced to a true spit of sand, has a tiny grove of baby coconut trees in its center. Secluded swaths of shore await, some of the most sublime, even with a bit of storm detritus, being Deadman’s Bay (Peter Island), Devil’s Bay (Virgin Gorda), Prickly Pear Island (across from Leverick Bay), and White Bay (Jost Van Dyke).

from travelandleisure.com

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