#he is also told that he is a natural swordsman

[awkwardpossum0]

What are three things Spirit considers himself to be very good at, and three things he considers himself to be very bad at.

Not a LU Spirit

[ilycosy]

❝ YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL ❞ | LUKE CASTELLAN

pairing : luke castellan x reader (no parent mentioned)

summary — being the partner of luke castellan was a blessing and a curse, mostly a blessing— you had the best swordsman at camp and he was extremely loyal. a blessing really, but everyone always wanted him too. sometimes you forget that he could feel insecure too.

warnings : insecurities (relationship + scar) , petnames (baby, sweetheart, love) , hurt/comfort , luke is standoffish and implied to be mentally ill but reader loves him anyways , mentions of other ppl flirting w luke !!

aﾉn — i want to smother this man in the biggest kisses ever ... he didn't deserve anything that happened to him & he's innocent !!!! it's never said who readers parent is but they don't reside in hermes cabin :) ,,, also i made the scar worse !!!! i wish it was bigger & more gnarly everyday . enjoy !!!!

you felt burned by the sun everytime he was around, even with his stoic nature and go with the flow personality— he always seemed to burn so bright when you're around. his palms melted you everytime he pulled you into a kiss, his lips hot and slick with spit from his chewing.

his constant even tone (he'll deny when the sass slips through) never bothered you, in fact you quite enjoyed it whenever he spoke. his raspy voice telling you briefly about his day, or talking about a race him and chris had that day, even when he told you not to worry about him.

other people sure seemed to enjoy him too, boys and girls gathered around him like a moth to a flame. his glow always too bright for others not to be drawn, you always saw it— the way girls would giggle and fawn over him, whenever boys lingered around him during activities.

you never told him how it bothered you, because it wasn't really his fault— he was just too perfect.

which is why it shocked you when you began noticing the way he liked keeping the helmet on even after capture the flag, hiding his face until it was deemed inappropriate. the way he favored resting his scarred side in your neck compared to his other, even though he complained of neck pains the day before.

you can't recall when he began doing these little habits, maybe ever since he got the scar, maybe when a younger camper said it made him look scary. you didn't know, but you knew that it wasn't good for him— the way he allowed himself to ache just to hide it.

luke is a great boyfriend, he recognizes when people want something more from him— he's not afraid to distance himself from others when he notices the flirting. it doesn't make him feel good to have that spotlight when you were so much better than him, in every sense of the word.

he never knew how to tell you that he knew. how he knew that the obnoxious flirting hurt you, or how you always backed away when his friends came over.

he would always come in the morning to pick you up from your cabin, hoping that his searing kisses and warm arms could show you that he's yours— even with a disgusting face.

the scar taking up the side of his face made him curl away in disgust whenever he saw it, he completely avoided bathroom mirrors because of it. he hid away from your soft eyes at any chance he could, fearing that you'd realize just how scary it is to date something like him.

the praises eased in slowly, but surely, he almost felt winded the first time he heard it ("baby get your pretty face over here!" you had said, trying to wave him over to your table. he felt lightheaded and nauseous when he walked over.) he didn't know how to handle it.

whenever he tried to ask why you began getting so verbally affectionate, he was waved off with a small wave and shrug. "can't i compliment my boyfriend?" you had asked him with a teasing tone, he hid away under your shirt the rest of the night while he got teased.

you knew that he was confused, but you didn't really care to explain— he'd just shut down and ignore the problem if you did. and you liked complimenting him, especially when he gets flustered like he does.

calling him pretty made his cheeks go red, and he always seemed more spacey after. calling him handsome always got him smiling and hiding his face. cute? he was looking away and blushing. adorable? he scoffed and smiled. gorgeous, he rolled his eyes and flicked you with red ears.

you hadn't called him beautiful yet, waiting for the perfect moment— you'd think you were planning on proposing with how calculated you were with this.

luke hadn't been sleeping well for a while, mumbling in his sleep about nonsense you couldn't understand. stress had clearly taken its toll, and he's chewing again— his lips raw and almost always bloody from his teeth snagging at the skin.

you snuck into hermes' cabin during the night, hoping that he would be up to sneaking out or even finally getting a full night's rest. your boots made him shoot up, sweaty and eyes wide before he realizes its you.

"what're you doing here, love?" he asks in a hushed tone, not yet a whisper but close. you move closer, gently lacing your hand together with his sweaty one. "wanna sneak out?"

the question was whispered, barely audible even. but it made him stand up all the same, sweatpants and cream colored long-sleeved shirt bunched up at the arms, making him look ethereal.

"are you that needy, sweetheart?" he asks as a joke when you've successfully escaped the cabin without waking people. his eyebrows wiggling slightly, his usual stoic facade melting off him like you were a candle and he was wax.

you rolled your eyes, shaking your head as you told him no. tugging him along the camp grounds until you found the picnic blanket, the basket of food right next to it all neatly set up— it took you a whole week to convince people to help you find this stuff, a demeter kid had to weave the basket.

"ta-da!" you said, doing jazz hands as you showed him the comfortable blanket. he didn't say anything, only smiling wide as he laid down on it— he patiently waited for you to get the food out, not feeling any sort of rush as he allowed himself to relax.

you hand fed him strawberries, flicking his nose every time he tried to stick your fingers in his mouth. you admired him in the moonlight, he always looked the best at night. his radiating self was enough light for you anyways.

your fingertips gently brushed his face while he was eating, chewing a piece of cake when he felt them. your fingers making their way to his big scar, tracing the jagged edges of it along with the smooth, raised middle.

"what're you doing?" he says, his voice tight in his throat as he tried to ignore the building pit of fear in his stomach.

you hummed, caressing his face as you looked at him. his eyes focused on your nose to avoid eye contact, "you're beautiful," you whisper.

"extremely beautiful." and his face goes red, his eyes watery as his chest rises up and down in deep breaths. his hands are shaky and pulling you closer, desperate for you and your touch.

it makes you really wonder, how could he ever feel insecure when you're convinced he could be cursed by aphrodite herself, and you'd still see his face when camp visits the gods?

[hericaslibrary]

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 ?

featuring : gn!reader + Zoro, Mihawk and Ace

warning : none

masterlist

Roronoa Zoro

His heart suddenly beats more rapidly whenever he sees you smiling, laughing, or even doing the most random thing. On top of that, Sanji's overly complimentary remarks towards you make him want to reach for his swords. No, this can't be. He's stared death down a thousand times, cut through countless enemies. Yet, this new feeling blooming for you – it's terrifying.

Zoro coming to terms with his feelings for you? Buckle up, because it's going to be a hilarious journey. Denial will be his middle name for a while, trust me. This dense swordsman will be in for a wild ride before he finally connects the dots.

Thanks to Nami's interrogation skills (and a little sake), the whole crew knows Zoro has a thing for you. Now, expect endless teasing from Luffy and Usopp, who'll probably try to spill the beans before a certain mosshead gives them his best glare.

Zoro finally figuring out his feelings for you? Great! Now comes the real test: talking to you about them. Because let's be honest, under that tough-guy act, he is probably a nervous wreck, sweating bullets at the thought of rejection.

Zoro's not exactly the Romeo type. So expect a confession that's straightforward, maybe a bit awkward – but heartfelt nonetheless. If you feel the same, a weight will lift from his shoulders. But if not, he'll respect your decision and try to keep things smooth between you.

Dracule Mihawk

Don't be fooled by Mihawk's stoic facade – because he is quite aware of his feelings for you. Years have honed his instincts, and unlike his pupil, he has no time (and he is too old) for childish denial. His emotions are clear, even if unspoken.

That man has a very calculating mind. He'll dissect every interaction, every glance, searching for a sign that you love him as mush as he loves you. Despite his solitary nature, his mind might already be constructing a future by your side – a future dependent on your response.

Mihawk is probably one of the few men in One Piece who are very romantic (Oda told me so). His brand of romance is subtle yet charming. Imagine leisurely strolls through his gardens or watching the sunset with a glass of wine by his side. A subtle offer of his arm, a hint of a blush from you – that might be all the encouragement he needs to take things a step further.

Once confident your feelings mirror his own, Mihawk will approach things in an (VERY) old-fashioned way. Be prepared for a carefully crafted dinner invitation, where he can formally request the honor of courting you. His pride lies in being a gentleman, and rushing into things is simply not his style. He prefers to court you slowly and respectfully, allowing your relationship to develop naturally.

After a series of thoughtful dates, Mihawk will finally take the next step and ask you to be his partner (Perona and Zoro might have placed a bet on the timeline, of course). Like everything he does, Mihawk will approach this new chapter with utmost seriousness. Your well-being will always be his top priority.

Portgas D. Ace

Ace isn't the denial type. The ache when you're gone, the quiet competition with Marco and Izo for your laughter – these are the clues that tip him off. Ace falling for you? It's written all over his flustered face. He stutters and turns red like a tomato when speaking to you unexpectedly.

The entire crew is a nuisance and teases him constantly about his love for you. They have grilled him mercilessly – “When will you confess?” they ask, convinced you feel the same.

Denial ? Once again, not Ace's style. But baring his heart, admitting his love for you ? That's a terrifying vulnerability he fears more than anything. On top of that, I believe he is also afraid of losing your friendship by making things awkward if you don't feel the same about him.

Thankfully, Marco, ever the voice of reason, is there to guide this lovestruck dummy. And honestly, this old man is tired of watching you two pining from afar. A stern talk from Marco might be just what Ace needs to understand that silence could lead to a missed opportunity for a great relationship.

Ace's confession? A masterpiece in the making, at least in his head. Daily mirror pep talks and a meticulously planned romantic gesture – that's how he plans to declare his love. Just imagine the blushing, the stammering, the potential for minor explosions (caused by Ace's nervousness, of course).

Dinner over, Ace reaches for something hidden in his pocket. His nervousness is palpable, a sheen of sweat forming on his brow. But then, with a determined glint in his eye, he throws caution (and the letter) to the wind, ready to confess his true feelings directly from the heart.

[love-that-we-were-in]

indelible scars, pivotal marks

pairing: luke castellan x implied apollo!reader

summary: you might be the only person who actually knows luke castellan. you don't think anyone else is willing to try.

a/n: what if i told you i got yelled at a lot after writing this. enjoy! oh this is also my first x reader in the 5 years i've been writing who cheered. have fun !

Luke is fourteen the first time he can remember sleeping through the night. He’s barely been at Camp Half-Blood for three hours, skin still splotched purple and blue, Thalia’s yells echoing in his skull. There’s no silence, a steady hum of nature that’s leveled by the voices of people he doesn’t know, and he knows he shouldn’t sleep. They’ve lost Thalia, left her just beyond the borders of an unknown place, and it’s a risk to welcome the flimsy pillow they gave him. He does it anyway, eyes closing to the sound of Annabeth’s soft breaths. 

The respite lasts one night.

By morning, he’s recounted the last five years more than he ever wanted to. Annabeth clings to him then, a known comfort. She knows the broad strokes of the story, could recount them herself, but there’s gaps from before her time, and there’s things Thalia made him swear not to tell. If she notices, she doesn’t comment, just keeps her fingers close to her side. He knows that’s where she keeps her dagger - he wonders if Chiron can tell as well.

Chiron brings them to Thalia, explains what happened and how lucky it is. Luke looks at the tree, the first time Thalia has stood taller than him since they met - something she always swore she would do one day - and leans back against it as Annabeth sobs into his shoulder. 

Mr D sends Annabeth to the Athena cabin before lunch. Luke doesn’t need to be told to make his way to Cabin 11. He knows who his father is. His backpack is left at the base of a bed in the far corner of the room, a group of boys gathered around the area turning to watch him the second he walks in. They move away but they don’t stop their stares.

Sleep doesn’t come as easily to him that night.

*

You meet Luke Castellan when you’re fifteen, standing on the edge of the lake as a golden sun rises in the horizon. It’s your first morning at camp, your first morning admiring the sunrise in months, and you think you could find a home here. Within the hour, you’re sure the calm won’t be the same – too many kids in the same space, swords and satyrs and strawberries guiding the day along – but for now there’s sunlight. 

“Breakfast isn’t for two more hours,” someone says from behind you. It should be scarier than it is, put you on high alert with the way he creeps into the space without a sound. “Just in case someone forgot to mention that.”

He’s pretty. Strong chin, dark eyes. On most people you’ve met, that’s where pretty ends. Not him. There’s this way he stands in your periphery; comfortable in his worn camp t-shirt, like he was made to live in it, to have it define him for an eternity. Very few people are pretty in a way that speaks of forever.

“I like to watch the sunrise.” 

He hums. “I’m Luke.”

He waits, steps away, until you offer him a seat beside you on the grass. It was something you were told once, an eclectic art teacher draped in shawls and chunky jewelry, how the sun is only as beautiful as it is when shared with another. As Luke sits next to you, you enjoy the quiet you’re positive isn’t built to last.

*

Luke becomes a counselor that summer. Everyone saw it coming, the way he’s known to everyone and not just the Hermes kids. Whispers of a legacy, of a potential legend in the making, followed him already, two years at camp creating grand ideas for his future – counselor status just helps to further them. It’s not that big of a deal normally. It’s potentially defining when you’re the best swordsman in almost three hundred years.

You find him on his way back from the Big House that evening, heading in no particular direction but with a clear idea of where he doesn’t want to be. It’s something you’ve learnt to read in the last few weeks, the way Luke fluctuates. How he dips in and out of personas as if it’s possible to switch them out. It comes with renown, you suppose. 

“Counselor Castellan, is it?” 

He smiles something bitter. “So they tell me.”

Without hesitation, you take hold of his hand. It’s warmer than yours and you feel the difference in your bloodstream. Luke doesn’t look at you, doesn’t comment, and you lead him away from the cabins and down to the lake. 

There’s maybe an hour until sunset. You’re almost attuned to it now, mornings spent watching it with rapt attention. Luke normally joins you, sword dropped between you. Some mornings, the thud of metal onto stone is the only reason you know he’s arrived, still so silent in his arrival that you wonder if it’s on purpose. 

“Does it make you anxious?” You ask when the silence stretches on for too long, when Luke stares unblinkingly at the horizon for longer than he should. He blinks, irises shifting from a glassy bronze and back to muted brown as the film clears. “Did they even ask if it was something you wanted?” 

He scoffs and you wonder if this is where everything changes. Luke always has things he wants to say, balancing on the tip of his tongue until he figures out how to swallow them down and burn them. It’s like you can see it play out in real time, his jaw shifting, arm tensing.

“Mr D told me it was a great honor. Chiron told me it was long overdue.” 

“You weren’t given a chance to say no.”

It’s a pattern you’ve noticed, not just within camp but with all the Gods. Clarisse was sent a spear with no note, but everyone knew who had sent it. Annabeth’s hat was exactly the same. Gifts. All gifts. No receipts or return addresses provided. Life at camp was something to be grateful for, always, considering the alternative most of you had already been forced to live. To comment on it would make you an enemy of those too powerful to consider.

Looking at the tense set of Luke’s shoulders, you kind of want to say it anyway.

“I’m about to have all the glory Camp Half-Blood could offer me,” Luke says and the sun begins to dip below the surface of the lake. His palm is warm in yours again. “Why would I complain?”

*

There’s a flurry of new arrivals no one anticipated the next summer They come in pairs, mostly, with the odd trio. Always one unclaimed within the group. Always one who gets marched to Cabin 11 in the middle of the night, sometimes after hours of questioning.

You know the nights that it’s happened, taking in the way Luke’s movements are less sharp, the way he breathes more shallowly. A conservation of energy. It doesn’t affect you much until it does, the sharp sting of Luke’s sword on your arm as he loses his footing, turns too suddenly at the sound of your footsteps. 

“This is insane,” you say as you press your shirt into the cut. It’s not bad, something that will heal quickly and fade into nothingness, but Luke locks his gaze on the red dotting your skin as if he doesn’t understand how it got there. “They can’t keep waking you up in the middle of the night for this.”

“The only other place they can go is the med bay and none of them have been beaten up badly enough to be worth waking an Apollo kid.”

“I’ve seen some of the kids when they’ve gotten here, Luke,” you mutter, shirt hem dropping as the wound stops bleeding. You glance up at him. “They could do with being patched up.” 

He sinks down to the floor. You stay on your feet. “This is what I signed up for when I took the position.”

There’s this way Luke’s voice gets sometimes, sharp and low and just a little spiteful. A build-up of years with little mercy granted. That’s how it is now, speaking through clenched teeth, completely biting back the vitriol and pretending there’s no heat to his words. 

He’s always been pretty in the sunrise, from the day you met, but you think he might be prettiest right now – lying to himself more than he can lie to you in the moments before there’s any sunlight at all. When you would let darkness spill into itself, Luke forces light to filter in. If you caught him at the darkest hour, you wonder if that would remain.

Taking in the way he digs his nail into the fabric of his pants, you doubt even he would know how to stop himself then. 

*

You aren’t chosen for Luke’s quest. He finds you after the ceremony, face pulled taut and bag thrown over his shoulder already. There’s no regret in his eyes, no determination either. You stand straighter when you hear him approach, grateful that he cared enough not to take you by surprise for once. 

“Don’t be mad at me.” 

“Why would I be mad?” You say. It’s disingenuous to your own ears, the way it pitches, so you fold your arms across your chest. “Chris and Ethan will be great questmates. A band of brothers.”

Luke swallows. “Is that really what you think this is? That I wanted to make my quest a guys trip?”

“I don’t think anything of it, Luke.” 

In the middle of the day, you can see him clearest. See the golden boy of Camp Half-Blood the way everyone else does. In broad daylight, there’s few things more noticeable on Luke Castellan. The slope of his nose, the straightness of his back, the comfortable weight of his sword on his hip – almost a tether to who he proclaims himself to be. It’s your least favorite version of him.

“I would’ve chosen you. In a heartbeat, I would’ve chosen you,” he says, brown eyes shifting from dim to desperate in moments. A plea to be heard. You know you’re the only one to ever truly listen when he speaks.

“Doesn’t really seem that way.”

“I just needed a reason to come back when it’s over.”

It stills the air around you. The words tangle themselves together in your brain, drown out the archers in the distance, the birds overhead. They echo and twist and they maintain their tone, the low pitch Luke uses when he’s decided to say something he doesn’t want to be heard. They bury themselves in the corner with the other times he’s used it, forever ingrained, and you don’t know what to make of them. How to define them at all.

He waits, gaze firm, until you nod slightly. You keep your chin low, determined to give little satisfaction to the situation. To Hermes giving Luke a reused quest, to the possibility of losing him because you aren’t there. It curdles deep in your gut, refusing to remain unknown.

There’s a moment where Luke hesitates, his hand twitching slightly, arm moving minutely higher from where it hangs down by his waist. Instead, his fist clenches and he exhales long and low. 

“Promise to be here when I get back?” 

“I’ll be really annoyed if you’re not the one knocking on my cabin door.”

He turns back to face you after he joins Chris and Ethan at the border. They’re all capable, with a history of working together. They’ll succeed, return to praise and glory and everything they deserve to have. The sun beats down on Luke as he nods goodbye and you wonder if it shines on anyone else at all.

*

The scar becomes a part of him. 

It fades into his skin with time, going from raised and rotten to a streak of pale across his cheek. You overhear some of the Ares kids praising it as symbolic of his win, a prize of sorts, and some of the Aphrodite kids saying it makes him more appealing, makes him look stronger. You’re not sure what you think of it, tracing it with gentle fingers as it heals. 

It becomes a habit, running a knuckle down Luke’s cheek each morning. Feeling where the skin tied itself back together. He never comments. You want to ask if he minds, that you’ll stop if it’s too much. The first few times you did it, in the days right after his return, he had flinched, features pinching together. Your hand had dropped, all too aware of the matted skin, how it probably still ached but Luke had taken your hand and placed it back where it had been. 

His scar becomes a statement, a badge of skill that everyone at camp can recognise. There had been little debate on the truth of his swordsmanship before but now it hardly existed, undeniable proof the first thing people noticed when introduced to him. 

Most people don’t bother to ask Luke about it. Percy Jackson isn’t most people.

“You got attacked by a dragon?” 

It’s the first time in years that anyone has joined you and Luke at the lake this early. Annabeth used to, on the rare occasions the worst of her nightmares returned. It’s different with Percy, like being close to the water rewires him completely. It makes sense days later when you watch him push open the door to the empty Cabin 3.

“Last year,” Luke hums, one hand resting softly in yours and the other keeping a loose grip on the sword handle in his lap. Percy had wanted to see him in action after hearing the stories, so you’d both obliged. “I made a wrong call and I paid for it.”

“At least it looks pretty cool.” 

The way Percy says it is different to everyone else. It’s not ingrained with this odd lust, whether for adventure or the story or Luke himself. It’s more muted, a fact of life. He’s not saying it to make anyone feel better – he’s saying it to disregard. A scar is just a scar to Percy Jackson, as if he’s known too many to care.

“I guess it kind of is,” Luke says and the three of you listen to the morning begin.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Capture the flag was coming up and your cabin was next to participate alongside the formidable Hermes cabin, but instead of being overjoyed at the opportunity to finally bring glory to your cabin like the rest of your siblings, you were off sulking elsewhere and busying yourself by plucking one blade of grass at a time; unaware that someone had notice your absense and decided to follow after.

‘Hey stranger.’ A voice came from beside said, making you flinch, only to relax when you saw that it was only Luke. ‘Why so sad, you normally love capture the flag.’ He adds, nudging your arm playfully as he flashed you a charming smile.

‘Yeah but after a string of repeat losses, you naturally begin to resent the game you once loved.’ You replied. There was no point denying the obvious fact that you cabin never had the best of luck when it came to capture the flag, it had always been that way even before you first arrived at camp, but at the time all you truly cared about was getting claimed by your godly parent.

You had only started truly resenting capture the flag after your second or third loss by the Ares cabin. Ever since then you hated the game because each time it ended the same, with your cabin loosing while the opposing cabin mocking you by rubbing their victory in your faces. Luke, much like everyone else, was well aware of this but didn’t feel it was necessary to keep bringing it up, especially not when he was trying to cheer you up somewhat and would try to divulge your attention elsewhere instead.

‘Well nows the chance to change all that.‘ he began. ‘To bring triumph to your cabin and be the one to revel in victory for once.’

You scoffed. ‘Yeah because we’ve had the great Luke Castellan, best swordsman in camp half blood, carry us on his back to our first ever win.’ You said bitterly, looking anywhere else than the boy with the dark, kind eyes. ‘What a joke.’

‘That’s not true.’ Luke tried to argue.

‘Yeah it is, you don’t need to lie in order to save my feelings Luke, I’m not stupid and neither is my cabin, why do you think we look our most happiest when any other cabin that’s not ours is up to play?’ You asked rhetorically, knowing that he very well knew the reason why. Luke, not wanting to wave the white flag of surrender then said, ‘even if that maybe the truth then they’ll also have to recognise that out of your entire cabin, you are the most determined and hardworking even in the most dire of circumstances.’ You could only look at him with an unreadable expression as Luke continued his speech.

‘Even when you know you’ve already lost, you still give it your all to make even the slightest bit of change. If it was anybody else, they would just give up but not you, not my y/n.’ Luke said fondly as he clasped one of his hands with your own, smiling softly when you squeezed his hand. ‘You’re too stubborn to accept defeat unless all other options were exhausted. An admirable trait to have if you ask me.’ You chuckled, feeling somewhat better from his words, not entirely but it was better than sulking the rest of the night and well into the next morning.

‘Some people would call that desperation to win.’ You told him as he shrugged his shoulders. ‘Then they’ve obviously never had to fight for something they always wanted but could never have.’ He replied oddly serious, looking at you intently as he said those words; which made you wonder if you were still talking about the same thing. ‘What do you mean by that-‘ before you could finish, Luke stood up abruptly, pulling you up with him as a result of your hands still being firmly clasped with one another. ‘Give me a warning before you pull that shit again, yeah?’ You said, smacking his arm lightly, causing him to laugh.

‘I’ll take that into consideration for next time, but we should probably try and get as much sleep as we can so we don’t look like the walking dead before the game even begins.’ He playfully chided and it felt more of an excuse as to avoid having a deeper conversation about something, but you were already staring to feel the effects from that mornings activities beginning to weigh on you as you tried to bite back a yawn.

‘I second that decision.’ You said, tugging your hand from his own, feeling Luke’s hesitance in letting go and thinking nothing of it other than something your mind made up as you began to depart for your cabin. ‘I shall see you bright and early tomorrow, will I?’ You questioned.

‘Yes but you better not try and wake me up earlier than necessary like last time.’ Luke replied as you made a face. ‘Me? Prank you? I would never.’ You said dramatically at the accusation being thrown your way, seeing you get back to your old self was enough to reassure Luke that you’d be more then ready for tomorrow as he crossed his arms over his chest, brow raised as he smirked. ‘Oh yeah? How do I know you and the Stoll brothers haven’t done something to my bed back at the Hermes cabin, hmmm?’

‘You’ll just have to take my word for it that I don’t have any connections in any one of their pranks that may happen tomorrow, and if they tell you otherwise, they’re dead wrong.’ You said before disappearing up the trail towards your cabin, leaving Luke to watch on as he chuckles to himself. ‘Guess we’ll have to wait and see.’

[soapsilly]

Betrayal - Roronoa Zoro Imagine

Pairing: Roronoa Zoro x reader

Spoilers for One Piece (?)

Summary: It's been two years since the straw hats got seperated by Bartholomew Kuma. Two years since (Y/N) and Zoro have last seen each other but when the day finally came to reunite things didn't quite play out like they had envisioned.

Requests are closed

Part 2 Part 3

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It wasn't love at first sight. Not at all. It wasn't like they disliked each other either - far from it actually. When the Straw Hats picked her up, it didn't take long for (Y/N) to make friends with almost the whole crew. When they arrived on her little autumn island it didn't take much convincing for them to make her part of the crew. She liked her little home outside of the village but she was never part of it. The Straw Hats found (Y/N) when they made a stop at the island for supplies. Whilst Nami and Sanji stormed to the market in the search for pretty things and food supplies respectively, Zoro and Luffy wandered into the next bar for drinks and meat - also respectively. That left Chopper and Usopp on the look out for medicinal herbs and whatever else was needed for Usopp's ammunition. When they asked the townspeople they told them about the witch that lived outside the village. The villagers usually avoided her unless they needed something - which made (Y/N) a rather lonely person. When Chopper and Usopp told their captain about what they've heard, Luffy was immediately excited. So the whole crew made their way up the hill to the hut where the alleged witch was located.

Once they arrived, Chopper immediately went for the flowers and herbs that grew in the garden infront of the little house.

"I wouldn't touch those. Most of them are poisonous", the girl that came out of the house didn't look like a witch at all. No warts, no hooked nose, not even a witchy hat or black boots. In fact, she was young and -

"Beautiful!", the tall, blond guy was at her side at an instant. He took her hand in his and starred deeply into her eyes, "my name is Sanji and you are?"

"(Y/N)", she giggled.

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It was easy for (Y/N) to make friends with the crew - well most of them. Luffy was a friendly guy by nature so no problem there, Sanji was swooned as soon as she stepped out of her house, Nami was just happy to have another girl on the ship and Chopper was happy about the few healing balms and herbs she could provide him with - even though he had hoped for more when he saw the densely vegetated garden in front of the witch's house. Much to his dismay most of them were poisonous plants, not because she planned something foul but rather just because she liked them the most. Usopp wasn't as easy to win over as he seemed to be rather sceptical of strangers, but as she handed him some ammunition for his sling shot she finally gained his sympathy. The first batch was a little too strong for Usopps liking - lethal to be specific - but after careful calibration, whoever was hit fell into a temporary paralysis, much to Zoro's dismay who quickly became Usopp's favourite victim for target practice.

The swordsman however was a different story. He wasn't outright mean to her but no matter how much she tried, how many smiles she sent his way or how many attempts at small talk she started, he just didn't seem to care. She didn't take offence to that though. She still enjoyed his company whilst the crew sat down for dinner or during their excursions to different islands. It was during those times that she noticed his abysmal sense of direction, his affinity for hard liquor and his dislike for a certain curly-eyebrowed cook. She always enjoyed the seemingly pointless fights that the two would get themselves into. It's not that she disliked either of them - quite the contrary in fact - she grew rather fond of both of the men even if one of them didn't want much to do with her and the other wanted a little too much. It was rather that entertainment on deck was scarce and they never really hurt each other in a serious way anyways - so no harm, no foul .

One night after dinner when most of the crew went on to do their separate things, (Y/N) decided to try it again with Zoro.

"Is it your turn to keep watch tonight?", she asked as she approached him on deck.

He looked at her for a few seconds but decided to answer her anyways. "No, I think it's Usopp and that shitty cook tonight"

That's just what the girl wanted to hear. "Great!"

He sent her a suspicious squint but let her continue.

"You like alcohol" - she stated and as if to confirm her statement he lifted his cup, which was already filled with some kind of liquor - "I got us some", she continued.

"I got my own", he grunted.

"This one's better. Believe me, I made it", she grinned.

"You made this?"

"Yep"

"Yourself?"

"Yep"

"With your poison plants? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Yep.... Well, no", she sighed, "it's really good. In a low dosage it has a euphoric effect. I usually drink it as a tea but I made it as a drink.. for us to share?"

The green haired man contemplated for a moment but then shrugged and held out his cup for her to fill.

After the first sip, he let the taste linger for a second and then decided to chug the whole thing before (Y/N) could protest.

"I like it. Give me another cup"

"What? No! This is stronger than normal sake. It's not supposed to be downed. You can't have another one so soon after the first"

"I don't feel a thing. I can handle it. Give me another"

She thought for a moment. What was the worst thing that could happen?

"Only if you drink this one slowly..."

He sent her a short nod, indicating his approval.

So for a while they sat there in silence sipping their drinks with the occasional question here and there.

"So, you're a witch, huh?"

"Me? Nah.. The townspeople liked to say that because I like to do tarot card readings and sold them potions and healing balms. There's nothing magical about it but rumours spread fast in such a little village"

"Why didn't you correct them?"

"I don't care. I made money off of it", she shrugged.

They both fell into silence again but it felt comfortable. She could feel the slight buzz already forming and by the glow on Zoro's cheeks, she could see that the drink started to have it's effect on him too.

"I wouldn't mind another drink, you know", he grinned at her mindlessly.

It was late already but (Y/N) didn't feel like cutting the time with Zoro short. Who would've thought that the way into a man's heart was freshly distilled alcohol?

Just as she was about to fill their cups yet another time, Sanji made his way patrolling around the ship. Only the sight of the cook was enough to make Zoro clench his jaw.

"What's your problem with Sanji?", she found the interaction hilarious.

"You wouldn't understand anyways. That talentless ero-cook..."

"Hey.. he might be a pervert, but his food is amazing!", she scolded the moss-head.

"You don't seem to mind the way he dances around you and Nami", he huffs.

"No, I think it's kinda nice actually but I wouldn't put too much thought into it", she shrugged, "he can't control himself around women. I wouldn't fall for a guy like that"

"Hah!", the swordsman seemed to like hearing that. One man's misfortune is another man's treasure. Especially if the first man happened to be a curly-browed cook.

The night went on and on and the more the two of them drank the more they opened up about their past, their dreams and aspirations. But since (Y/N)'s alcohol was indeed stronger than what Zoro was used to after a few more cups the deep conversations turned into silly jokes and stupid impressions, which was not unusual for (Y/N) at all but when Usopp told the others about what he saw in the morning neither wanted to believe Zoro had partaken aswell.

"I knew she was a real witch... She cast a spell on him", Chopper whispered.

************************************************************************

Since that night Zoro and (Y/N) would consider each other as friends. Neither would talk about it but during meal times they would sit by each other, during island walks they stayed with each other and during night patrol they kept each other company. And every now and again at night they would sit down on the deck with a bottle of (Y/N)'s liquor and repeat the first time they really talked to each other. And it was during those times that during a moonlit night they shared their first kiss. The next morning neither could say who it was, that initiated it but it didn't really matter anyways. For the most part nothing really changed between them and they never gave it a name but they never kept it a secret either.

************************************************************************

Zoro wasn't the same after Thriller Bark. He spent all his free time excercising and training without giving his body the time to properly heal.

"Zoro... please", she stood in the doorway of the crow's nest, "you need to heal"

He ignored her and just kept going.

"You heard what Chopper said. I'm worried about you"

Still no response.

"Damnit! Zoro, is your deathwish that big?", her voice was equal parts angry and sad, "how will you become the best swordsman in the world when you're dead?"

With a loud 'BANG' Zoro dropped his weight and turned to the girl in front of him, "I made a promise! Don't you understand I need to become stronger?"

(Y/N), of course knew about Zoro's past. She knew about Kuina and his promise to her but why did he have to be so stubborn?

"Is that promise more important than all of us? Your nakama?", she was on the verge of tears now.

"It's not just that", he yelled back. Why was she so stupid? "If I don't become stronger, I can't protect any of you"

"You can't protect us either if you're dead! And then you'll never be the world's best swordsman and I'll be alone again!", she screamed.

The Straw Hats could hear the fighting all the way down on deck. They were used to their fights being loud but this was different. Sanji was already half-way up the ladder to break up the fight, outraged that Zoro would dare to make (Y/N)-chan cry but Robin held him back telling him that there were some things that a couple needs to sort out themselves.

That night (Y/N) took the time to put a heap of pillows and blankets into the crow's nest to make it easier for him to relax a little. At first he refused to follow her at all but once she grabbed his hand and really stared into his eyes he realized how serious she was. Once she got him to settle in, she turned to leave but his voice stopped her.

"Stay", his voice was quiet, "please, stay"

She nodded and turned back to him. Usually she was the one to initiate closeness between the two, so moments like those were rare. Once she nestled into the mountains of pillows she heard his voice again.

"I'm sorry"

She was stunned. All the years and all the fights, she never heard him apologize to her before. She tried to say something but he continued.

"I know I'm stubborn, but the thought of not being strong enough to protect any of you kills me. I won't always have time to heal and when the time comes and we'll get attacked I will have to fight. And if anyone, especially you, gets hurt because I wasn't strong enough, I wouldn't be able to live with that"

The witch didn't know how to react to his confession. Instead she opted to brush her fingers to Zoro's green hair and soon after she could hear the deep snores of her lover.

************************************************************************

The Straw Hats were hopelessly at the mercy of marine admiral Kizaru. There was nothing they could do. All of them were battered and bruised already from the fight with the Kuma Androids and now (Y/N) had to witness Zoro collapse from one of the Admiral's attacks. In the distance she could hear Luffy scream his name. She knew it was too soon for a fight. Almost automatically she sprinted to the sprawled out form of her boyfriend. Once she reached him, there wasn't much time to spare. She grabbed his form and dragged his body away from the impending kick, that would kill him. Brook and Usopp tried to attack Kizaru while (Y/N) created some distance but in the blink of an eye the admiral stood above Zoro once again. One leg on his back, the other hovering above his head.

"I won't let you get away. It's no use", he said almost too calmly.

The thoughts inside of (Y/N)'s head were racing and before she knew what she was doing she threw herself over Zoro's exposed form.

"You fool. That won't save him. You'll die together", Kizaru laughed almost carelessly.

Her heart was racing and she felt the blood rushing in her ears, but she didn't dare to open her eyes.

"Get away!", she couldn't quite tell whose voice it was that reached her ears first but after the first exclamation another followed and another and another... but she only shook her head repeatedly tears streaming down her face.

"Go", Zoro's deep voice sounded raspy and like even that small little word hurt him immensely but (Y/N) only shook her head yet again not caring that the man beneath her could probably not even see it. But the deadly stomp never came. Instead, Rayleigh, Gol D. Roger's first mate, decided to come in and fight with admiral Kizaru himself.

"Grab Zoro and get out of there!", she heard Luffy yell. Usopp grabbed Zoro underneath his arm and dragged him out of the danger zone.

"You - You should have left", the swordsman tried to scold his girlfriend but his voice was weak.

"Can we fight about this once we're safely back on the Sunny, please?"

He tried to laugh, their bickering was one of his favourite things about their relationship but they never even got the chance to return to their home. Shortly after Kizaru, the real Kuma showed up and one after the other the Straw Hat Pirates disappeared.

************************************************************************

It's been two years since Kuma seperated the crew, two years since Luffy lost Ace, two years since Zoro has last seen (Y/N). But the time has finally come to reunite. Zoro was actually the first to arrive ten days ago. Shortly after the other Straw Hats arrived one after another. It was only the witch that was still missing. Zoro couldn't wait to tell her that not only did he arrive before her AND that shitty cook, he also arrived first overall. He decided to conveniently remain silent about the help of a certain Ghost Ghost Brat.

"Has anybody had any contact with (Y/N) in the last two years?", Nami asked the group but she only earned headshakes as a response. Zoro felt a touch of melancholy. He would never admit it infront of the crew but eventhough he had used every single day of those two years for training with Mihawk, he did miss her. And then just like that, there she was walking up the gangway.

Zoro felt like his heart skip a beat once he saw her fully. She didn't change much, she was still beautiful. So much infact, that the ero-cook almost bled out once she went to greet him. The only thing that changed were the many tattoos that littered her body - mostly her arms. Flowers, beetles, stars and moons.

She came up to him last but something was weird. He expected her to leap into his arms like she had done so often in the past. He never initiated PDA infront of others - or rather at all - but he never complain when she did it, but this time she just stood there.

"Zoro, your eye..."

For a second he felt insecure. He never paid the fresh scar that decorated his left eye any mind and he didn't think that (Y/N) would either.

"Are you okay?", she seemed worried.

He grunted as to confirm that he was fine.

"You look good", she sent him a reassuring smile.

For a while the two of them just stood there but then Luffy's loud voice pulled them out of the moment.

"So now that we're complete let's set sail!"

(Y/N) flinched and then looked panicked.

"Wait, no, no no. There's something I need to tell you guys"

The crew waited in silence for their friend to continue.

"I won't come be coming you"

It was quiet for a few secong before Luffy's booming laugh filled the space, clearly thinking she was joking but Zoro knew something was wrong. In all those years as a fighter he learned to observe high stress situations and this was one. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but something was very wrong.

"Luffy... I'm not - I'm not joking", her voice was quiet.

Luffy abruptly stopped laughing. She didn't dare look up into the faces of her former crew mates in fears of what she might see but her decision has been made. It's not like she had much of a choice anyways.

"What's going on? Who's making you say this? Is someone threatening you?", Sanji asked. Even he mellowed out considering the tense situation. As much as he disliked the cook, Zoro approved of the questions, he knew she wouldn't leave them on her own accord.

"Nobody is threatening me and nobody is making me say this. I just can't - I don't... I will not be coming with you"

"But why?", Nami tried to reason with her.

"You guys don't understand. I have a home, a little house with a garden..."

"You can have a garden here on the Sunny...", Franky interjected.

"Whatever you'll need from your home, we'll get it on the way. Don't you worry about it", Luffy laughed, still not understanding how serious the situation was. Everybody was talking, asking questions, yelling suggestions but (Y/N) just kept shaking her head vehemently.

"Don't be an idiot. Just tell us what's going on", that was the first time Zoro spoke up. He had enough of the excuses. His voice cut through the noise like a sword and now all eyes laid on him.

"I had a child!", she yelled.

For a few heartbeats nothing and nobody on deck made a sound.

"A little boy to be specific", she continued, "I have a family now"

Zoro could've sworn there was a ringing sound that filled the air but the truth was, it was probably just the blood rushing through his ears.

"What?", Nami's voice sounded cold, mechanic even.

"I-"

"Don't!", (Y/N) had never seen Nami so enraged, "You found someone else? How could you do that? To us? To Zoro?"

"It's been two years...", the witch pleaded.

"So? So? None of us had any issues keeping it in our pants but you had to go and play house with the next best guy ?"

Nami's words hurt but (Y/N) knew that she deserved them. It was never her intention to hurt anybody - especially Zoro - but two years were a long time and a lot has changed.

(Y/N) looked around but the other Straw Hats avoided looking at her. Once her gaze landed on the spot where Zoro was leaning against the railing, she noticed that he was missing. She didn't know at what point he had left but she didn't blame him.

(Y/N) tried to say something but as soon as she opened her mouth Nami interrupted her.

"You should leave"

The other woman nodded and turned to say her goodbyes to the rest of the crew.

"So... Fish-Man Island, huh?", she sent Robin a little smile. The older woman was always so understanding even when the other person didn't really deserve it.

"Yes.. but first we'll have to make a stop at the next island over. Sabaody is full of marines, we didn't get all the supplies we needed, soooo if you change your mind ...", she suggested.

"I don't think Nami would let me live if I'll ever show my face around here again", she answered, "not that I could blame her"

"Give it some time", Robin hugged the younger woman as a farewell.

For a moment (Y/N) just stood there staring at the ladder to the crow's nest. But before she could even make an attempt to say her good-byes to Zoro Nami interjected.

"Don't you even dare. Don't think about it. Just leave."

(Y/N) was happy that Zoro had his friends that cared so much about him. Nami really cared about every single one of them - even if they sometimes drove her crazy. And if somebody hurt them, may it be their own nakama or anybody else, her mama-bear instinct kicked in. The boys always acted like the strongest, toughest warriors of the sea but deep down she knew they were idiots at heart. Her idiots.

"Nami-", the witch decided to try it a last time but the navigator only turned away from her former friend, signaling her that she doesn't have anything to say to her anymore.

As (Y/N) was walking down the gangway Usopp climbed up the crow's nest.

"Zoro... (Y/N) is leaving..."

But Zoro did not make a move. In fact, he didn't even react to Usopp at all. He just kept on exercising the way he usually does whenever anything is on his mind. In times like these, it was (Y/N), who would calm him down and get him to eat and even relax a little but now it was her that caused his isolation. He never felt the need to open up to anybody. Love was more of the ero-cook's thing even if he never actually had any success with the women he made his feeble attempts at. Zoro remembered how him and (Y/N) used to make fun of how much he was doing with so little payoff. He put some more weights on to get his mind away from the hurtful memory.

He would've never thought that she'd do something like that. Zoro wasn't the jealous type - never has been. Even when they were together the cook wouldn't stop flirting with (Y/N) but the swordsman was never worried. And whenever a slimey fool in the bars during their island journeys got a little too close for comfort, his girlfriend would easily send them away.

"I'd keep my hands to myself if I were you", she'd say, "Do you see that mosshead over there? He'll be the strongest swordsman in the world. You reeaally shouldn't bother his girlfriend"

His girlfriend...

Zoro shook his head. He was a fool. Of course, she'd find someone else. She basically always told him that she wasn't a person that could deal with being alone easily. That was probably the only reason she was ever with him to begin with. He put yet another set of weights on the barbell. She already said she wouldn't fall for Sanji. So was he just the next best option? But a whole family? A child? If it was just a new boyfriend, she could've surely left him after the two years. She could've come back to him. Zoro was so hopelessly in love with her, he wouldn't even care. But now she had a family. A family that she would never leave alone. She knew how much Robin suffered from losing her mother early. She wouldn't do that. Zoro let the weights drop to the floor with a loud 'BANG'. With all that thinking the swordsman however never once stopped to consider that his former partner made her choice not only out of obligation but rather because the truly was happier now...

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Epilogue

(Y/N) never felt as lost as the moment when she stepped off the Thousand Sunny. Within just a matter of moments she lost her family, her friends, her nakama. And even worse, she hurt someone, that she very deeply cared about. For a while she just stood there, thoughts rushing through her head. But whatever scenario she made up, there wasn't any other way. So after a few deep breaths she made her way back to her new home - back to the moss-headed boy, that reminded her so much of his father already.

[grandline-fics]

Ohhhh i really really really like your writing, it’s so very good!! Could i request some fluff with zoro? I was thinking about the reader being an artist, and he finds her sketchbook and is impressed by her art, and then he finds drawings of the crew and him. Or something like that, you can definitely change the idea. Thank you very much, i hope you have a good day/night!

DESCRIPTION: You’re an artist and he asks to see your sketchbook

WARNINGS:  none

CHARACTERS: Zoro

WORDS: 680

A/N: Thank you for the request! I've been feeling a bit of writer's block creeping up but hopefully you like what I came up with.

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

MASTERLIST

———————

“You’re going to hurt your back if you keep hunching over like that.” Zoro told you as he looked over his shoulder to fix you with a meaningful look, amused to see you snap out of your trance to look up in surprise. It didn’t matter how many times he reminded you to sit up properly, you still ended up in this kind of position when you were intensely set on drawing in the sketchbook that was rarely far from your reach. He didn’t miss how your hand instinctively curled over the pages currently being worked on, protecting them from view but also using practiced care to avoid smudging the drawings. 

Zoro couldn’t help but note you were more protective of your sketchbook around him than you would be with the rest of the crew. Yes, you still would shield it initially from view but if asked you would reveal what you were currently working on. With him? You never showed it unless it was finished products on a canvas. Silently he wondered why he was different. Though he supposed he wasn’t one to ask outright compared to the likes of Luffy who was impulsive and excitable, Sanji, who gushed over the slightest thing, and even Robin who was naturally curious about art and anything intellectual. Compared to them, Zoro never felt the need to ask even when he did want to see your talent. “Can I see?” he asked.

You tensed in surprise and quickly let your gaze flicker to the sketchbook and back to his face. It wasn’t that you didn’t want him to see, it was just you weren’t sure how he would react. Hesitantly you pulled your hand away and let the pages be revealed to him. Zoro stepped closer and lifted the book into his hands, he’d seen how you held it enough times to know the proper way to treat it without ruining any of your hard work. Slowly he started at the beginning, taking in scenes you’d drawn from previous adventures on different islands. 

Some pages held detailed studies of plants and landscapes, each bringing out a memory for him, whether it of a vague feeling of relaxation or a stronger emotion as he recalled the hard won fights they’d engaged on. Most of the pages however he knew had been taken from some place on the Sunny, the focus being some, if not all of the crew. It didn’t take him long to notice that he seemed to feature more heavily than the others. He would be lying if he didn’t feel some sort of satisfaction at that. 

For the first time since you’d let him look at the very thing you were most precious about he lifted his gaze to see you were purposely looking away from him. “It’s not like you to be insecure, you’re talented. Why are you so nervous?” He asked, pretending to be oblivious. Part of him hoped you’d give him an answer he’d been hoping on. Zoro watched you lightly chew on your bottom lip as you tried to form an answer. Finally you cleared your throat.

“I’m not insecure about my skill…” You began simply, slowly building the nerve to look at the swordsman while also trying to stop the growing blush on your face. “It’s just I don’t want you to think I’m stalking you or anything, I know I’ve drawn you a lot.”

“You have?” Zoro couldn’t help the teasing tone creeping into his voice as he looked down at one page in particular that was a study of him training with his swords. “Hadn’t noticed.”

”Oh shut up!” You grumbled lightly, taking the sketchbook back into your hold. “It’s not my fault I can only draw things that interest me. It’s just how I am.” Quickly you clamped your mouth shut, the blush burning on your skin stronger now as Zoro grinned down at you, looking even more pleased with himself. He only wished he’d asked to see your sketchbook sooner had he known this was what he was going to get.

[bluegalaxygirl]

Obsession's Grip (Zosan X Reader) P6

Plot: After saving some of the straw hat crew from a prison, the crew help takes a young man away so he can have a fresh start in life. He's shy but seems to grow attached to Reader in an unhealthy way.

Warning: Bad language, Violence and Making out.

Reader is Female (Sorry), Zoro X Sanji X Reader, Poly relationship, established relationship. Reader has the ability to control the snake tattoos on her arms that come alive when she commands, they can change size and are connected to her emotions.

P1 - P2 - P3 - P4 - P5 - P7 - P8 - P9 - P10 - P11 - P12 - P13 - P14

Unfortunately the island the sunny docks at is uninhabited according to Nami's map, its called Gurōberī also known as glow berry island, the forest overflowing the island is dark and dense the top of the trees so thick that no light can get inside and yet the dark forest has spots of blue, yellow and pink lights all from Berry's that hang from the tree's ready to be picked. Its scary but beautiful so you have no problem going when Usopp dragged you aside begging for you to go, find seeds and gather food instead of him. You told him yes as long as he finishes your chores from yesterday which he happily agreed too since it was that or the dark forest. Luffy had already run off to explore so that just left you and Robin standing on the small patch of free ground where the Sunny's ramp could lay down letting the crew off, when ever you brushed up again a bush or flower it would suddenly start glowing making the two of you even more fascinated with the forest. "Y/n my love" Sanji yells out from the ship running over to the railing and almost slamming into it with slight panic thinking you had already left, but he relaxes when seeing you still standing there with Robin. Zoro sighs and places a hand on the cooks shoulder "Calm down, you know she wouldn't leave without us" the swordsman shakes his head while making his way down the ramp. You managed to clear things up with Nami and Robin so the two girls aren't mad at the boys but you still needed to talk to your lovers. It was deiced that the three of you would go off together and talk while they helped you pick food and Robin goes with Nami to map out the island.

Sanji quickly follows grabbing a large empty backpack and slinging it over his shoulder while throwing another one at the back of Zoro's head who growls spinning around to yell at the blonde but stops when seeing the stressed out look on his face. The two have been anxious to know what's going on but while Zoro is calm on the outside Sanji isn't, deciding not to pick a fight the swordsman picks up the backpack and slings it over his shoulder making his way over to you with the cook close behind. "You three head off, I'll wait for Nami. Don't stay out too late" Robin giggles patting you on the shoulder before nodding at the two boys who join you, with your empty backpack already on your back you head towards the forest pushing past leaves and bushes that glow different colors at any kind of touch. After a short while of pushing past the dense forest the three of you make it to a natural path, Its quiet but not a bad quiet, more like peaceful as if your in a silent comforting dream. "Its beautiful" You whisper to yourself seeing darkness all around and yet the glowing fruit above too high to reach look almost like stars while the fruit on the ground light up the way down the path. Zoro pulls a bright red cloth out of his backpack and ties it around the branch of tree you just passed through marking their way back for later. "My love… can we talk now?" Sanji asks stepping next to you and taking your hand snapping you out of your amazement, turning you give him a smile hoping to ease that worried look on his face "Sorry to keep you waiting, I'll do my best to explain."

Zoro holds onto your belt as you walk down the path, Sanji still gripping onto your hand as you explain what happened yesterday. "Percy wanted to know about our relationship, he just seemed confused and curious since he hasn't heard of anything like this before but then his questions started getting quicker, i didn't really have much time to answer or set things straight" Gripping onto the cooks hand you let out a breath trying to calm yourself not wanting to become emotional like yesterday, luckily the two give you time to calm yourself but offer caring glances and reassuring touches. "He started asking, what if you or I fall in love with someone else? i told he i would talk to you two before anything, but he just started to rephrase the same question over and over again. I don't know why but it made me panic a little… He started asking about cheating" Sanji flinches at the thought alone, he would never even dream of cheating on you or Zoro, it hurt that someone would accuse him of such. Zoro grits his teeth already knowing where this was going, he didn't blame you for being upset, but he's mad you didn't talk to them about it sooner and at Percy for even bringing it up. "I know you two would never, but he wouldn't stop talking, my mind couldn't catch up, he.. Just talked so fast" Tears well up in your eyes just thinking back to what he said and how it made you feel, stopping in your tracks you grip your teeth trying to stop yourself from crying again. Sanji's quick to pull you into a hug his hand stoking your hair to comfort you, Zoro rubs your back while trying to see your face that is buried in the cook's chest "We would never cheat on you" The two say in unison slightly surprising each other but at the same time it conformed their thinking the same way.

Sniffling, your hands grip onto Sanji's jacket starting to relax a little "I-i know you wouldn't but i felt my heart shatter, he came up with all these ways you'd hide it, how you'd cheat and who you would cheat with. He made it sound like its already happened and I felt like it already happened, like i was just finding out, the pain was excruciating… i couldn't take it, i tried to think i really tired but… i don't know how he did it but everything he said at the time made sense, its like he was specking the truth. I'm so sorry" Tears stream down your face as you cling onto the cook both of their eyes widening at your words, the cook holds you tight while placing a kiss on your head trying to sooth your cry's "Its alright Mi amour, i understand now… We would never hurt you, you did well to take time to think and come to us after" The blonde tries to stop himself from crying not wanting to make things worse but a tear slips out of his eye seeing you like this, Zoro stares down at you with anger but its not directed at you, he hates that Percy made you feel this way and put ideas into your head. Hearing the cook sniffle the swordsman looks over seeing the blonde holding back tears, sighing he wipes away a stray tear falling down Sanji's cheek before wrapping his arms around the two of you and placing a kiss on your head. "We're not mad at you, like Sanji said you did the right thing by tacking time to think on your own… None of this is your fault, ok?" The swordsman asks placing another kiss on your head, managing to calm down you wipe your eyes on your closed fist still gripping the cooks coat and nod while moving to look up at the two. "Y/n.. I need you to understand something" Zoro states looking down at you with a serous look.

Both you and Sanji raise an eyebrow at this but stay quiet knowing Zoro isn't joking around "What he did is manipulation, he attacked you mentally and emotionally to get what he wanted. You need to stay away from him, ok?" It sounded more like an order but you didn't protest instead you nod, Sanji sighs hating that this happened, but he's glad your back with them and ok, placing a kiss on your head the cook loosens his grip on you. "Do you think he meant to do it?" You ask thinking back to this morning, Percy's apology really seemed off but you still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt in case he didn't mean too. Zoro growls thinking back to this morning and that look in the young man's eye, he was ready to kill Sanji just for kissing your cheek. "Why would you say that love? i don't think you can un-continuously do that" Sanji asks moving some hair out of your face and cupping your cheek, leaning into his touch you place your hand over his "Percy talked to me this morning before breakfast, he apologized for upsetting me and said that because of my Kind and understanding nature people would take advantage of that, he didn't want me to end up like his farther, he wanted to protect me… I half accept his apology since he wasn't sorry for what he said about you two and i told him to just stay away from us three for a while. I-i just" Stopping yourself you look up at Zoro seeing him shake his head while Sanji glances away from you, the two know Percy's right about people wanting to take advantage but your smart when it comes to people, you read people quite well so for you to miss this must mean you relate to him in someway.

Looking between the two you start to worry, they know something you don't and it makes your heart drop "I fucked up, didn't it?" You whisper while looking down at your feet feeling stupid for letting Percy manipulate you a second time, Sanji pulls you into him again rubbing your back but not knowing what to say. Zoro shakes his head running his hand over your cheek and too your chin getting you to look up at him "Half fucked up.. Let me guess, Mother abandoned him, he has no family left, he trusts you and only you, he asks for your help, he feels safe around you. He pulls at your heart strings, making you feel for him, making you feel like you need to be there for him. Weather he's doing it on purpose of not it doesn't matter, he hurt you, half arsed an apology while continuing to manipulate you and then thinks he has the right to own you" The swordsman gets angrier and angrier with each word his mind going back to this morning and how Percy looked at the cook, your eyes widen at his tone but his grip on you doesn't tighten despite his anger. Taking his hand off your chin you bring it to your lips placing a firm kiss on it while Sanji places his hand on Zoro's arm rubbing it up and down to try and calm him "What happened this morning? Did Percy do something?" The blonde asks starting to get a little angry, he knew something was off with the young man, but he just put it down to the fact that it's a new guy on the ship. Zoro lets out a sigh trying to relax from his outburst while pulling the both of you into him holding you close to his chest, wrapping an arm around him you lean up and kiss the swordsman's cheek as the cook keeps his eyes on the green haired man's face.

Its clear there's still anger in Zoro's eyes but there's also worry, Sanji runs his hand up the swordsman's arm and to his cheek keeping eye contact "Yea… When you kissed Y/n this morning Percy tensed up, he had this murders look in his eyes while glaring at you and then he grabbed a knife holding it in a death grip. He watched you and i thought he was going to kill you but he relaxed and put it down" Sanji's eyes widen at this, his heart stopping in his chest as Zoro looks down at the cook, how could he not have noticed someone staring at him like that? he should have sensed it so why didn't he. "I don't understand, Why would he be acting like this? You've done nothing to him" You speak up with concern in your voice, Zoro shrugs unsure of the real answer, but he has a few guesses while Sanji shakes his head "I don't know but what ever the reason we should stay away from him and tell Nami and Robin later, just in case he's doing the same to them" The cook pulls away from the two of you but takes your hand giving a smile "Lets forget about him for now" Pulling the two of you along Sanji walks down the path wanting to enjoy some time with his partners, a smile appears on your face as you pick up your pace happily joining the two, the swordsman squeezes the cooks hand following behind. The time away from the ship is much calmer, the three of you pick fruit, herbs and flowers placing them in your backpacks to be sorted out later, you find a few glowing flowers that have seeds in them so make sure to pick them up as well.

Zoro leans against a tree keeping an ear out for any danger while watching his two partners work, Sanji picks up a small daisy like flower that glows your favorite color when he brushes the petals with his fingers, while your holding down a branch picking the fruit that easily comes away and placing it in your backpack. The cook walks over to you waiting until your done and let go of the branch to get your attention "My love" He whispers behind you his eyes soft as you hum in a questioning tone turning to face the cook. Sanji tucks your hair behind your ear before placing the flower neatly in your hair, a smile forms on his face as his fingers brush over the petals the glow string enough to to reflect on some of your face. "Perfect" He whispers making your heart melt at his actions, who need heart eyes when you have this. Stepping closer you run your hands up his chest and to his shoulders while placing a soft kiss on his lips "Your too sweet" You whisper against his lips as his hand rests on your hip the other still lightly touching the petals to keep them lighting up your hair and face in your favorite color. The swordsman can't help but smirk at the two of you while biting his tongue, he so badly wants to comment on how much of a sap the cook is and how cute you look, but he doesn't want to ruin the moment for the two of you, although once its over its fair game. Sanji leans down lightly kissing your lips while his thumb strokes your hip, happily kissing back you bring your hands around his neck holding him close to you letting a small hum leave your lips.

Pulling away the cook he takes your hand starting to walk back down the path again "Zo, belt" Sanji calls out earning a groan from the swordsman who follows behind the two of you and grabs your belt as to not get lost, trying to hold you laughs back becomes harder and harder every time you look back to see him either groan, pout or mumble under his breath in annoyance. "Stop it" Zoro walks right up behind you to growl in your ear making you jump slightly but keep walking trying to speed up a bit to give you some space but the green haired man grins following close behind "Stop what?" You ask feigning innocence as his hand tightens on your belt stopping you from walking so fast "Laughing at me, this is yours and the cooks stupid idea so don't make fun of me" Zoro growls a light blush spreading across his cheeks out of embarrassment, Sanji snickers under his breath while turning his head away trying not to laugh but the swordsman shoots him a glare "We'll if you didn't get lost all the time we wouldn't have to put measures in place" The cook shrugs letting out a few little laughs "I don't get lost" Zoro yells letting go of your belt and balling his fist up at his sides, you stop in your tracks to face him fully giving the swordsman a deadpan looks "Zoro… Which is left?" You ask seeing him raise an eyebrow at you before pointing the wrong way, a smile forms on your face as you grab his hand and attach it back onto your belt "Point. Made" You state turning on your heals and walking again forcing Zoro to follow.

Sanji bends over holding his stomach as he laughs but tries to follow the best he can "What? that.. that wasn't left?" Zoro gulps looking over at the cook with a fully red face, Sanji pats the swordsman on the back finally managing to control his laughter and shake his head, growing overly embarrassed Zoro yells into his hand in frustration before cursing out making you and Sanji laugh again, you feel sorry for him but you hope he knows your doing this for his own good. A few hours later the three of you make it back onto the Sunny with full bags, the first person you see is Usopp laying on the grassy deck sweat pouring down his face "I'll see you in the kitchen" You sigh placing a kiss on Sanji's cheek before turning to Zoro and doing the same but the swordsman wraps an arm around your waist not wanting to leave you alone but you place another kiss on his cheek "I'm just going to check on him and then i'm heading straight to the kitchen, i promise" You pat his chest trying to reassure the man, it seems to work since he lets out a sigh while squeezing your waist before letting you go and taking your backpack full of food off you "Usopp, then Kitchen nothing else, if Percy comes by you call" Zoro firmly states placing a kiss on your forehead, Sanji rubs your back placing a kiss on your cheek "I'll make you something cold to drink my love" The cook smiles at you walking off with Zoro close behind, giving him a small wave you head over to Usopp and stop next to him seeing his tired eyes.

Letting out a small laugh at his state you lean over him blocking the sun from hitting his burning face "You ok there bud?" You ask starting to get a little worried for him, the sniper groans looking up at you his chest heaving slightly "How?… How do you do it all?" He asks making you tilt your head in confusion, it takes a short while for it to hit you that he's talking about your chores from yesterday but you shake your head and help him sit up putting his arm around your shoulder "You didn't have to do them all in one go, don't tell me you did your own at the same time" Hoisting the long nosed man to his feet you walk him to the stairs knowing he needs something to drink "I wasn't supposed too?" Sighing at Usopp's words you shake your head helping him up the stairs and into the kitchen, Sanji smiles wide rushing to greet you only to stop at seeing Usopp's burning face, the cook gives you a hand taking the long nosed man to the sofa and laying him down. "I'll make you a drink… my love, your drink is ready" Sanji sighs shaking his head at the sniper before turning to you with a smile walking you over to the counter where you take a seat next to Zoro who's sipping on his own drink. The cook slides your cold drink over to you before starting to make another but keeps his eyes on you as you take a drink feeling the cold liquid run down your throat. Humming in delight your eyes meet Sanji's who's waiting for your verdict on the drink "Perfect as always darling" You comment making his heart thumb faster in his chest.

Taking the new drink he walks around the counter and places a light kiss on your lips "My love, it warms my heart to hear your praise" Sanji whispers against your lips his eyes full of love for you, reluctantly he pulls away from you to bring Usopp his drink and help the poor tired sniper drink it. Watching him leave you happily sigh feeling your chest warm up despite the cold drink, you let out a small squeak as your stool is pulled across the floor by Zoro who makes sure your pressed up next to him before wrapping an arm around your waist and letting his thumb rub your hip "Any trouble?" The swordsman asks looking you over while his hand taps his now empty glass, you can tell he's still a little anxious so to reassure him you place your hand on his cheek placing your lips on his. "None at all, other than Usopp overworking himself" you giggle placing another kiss on his lips, the swordsman hums into you placing more kisses on your lips before nipping at your lower lip wanting more, opening your mouth for him Zoro pushes his tongue into your mouth being surprisingly gentle. Enjoying his touch you don't notice Sanji coming back over his smile still bright while watching his partners, pulling away from his kiss you try and catch your breath as Zoro gives you a smirk. The cook places his head in between the two of you laying his chin on your touching shoulders, a chuckle leaves the swordsman before placing a kiss on the blondes cheek "Will you come back to us tonight?" Sanji reluctantly asks, but he needed to know, with a smile you lean into the cook while taking Zoro's hand "Of course, i love you both"

[seneon]

月光 ݁ ˖ MOONLIGHT ── CHAPTER TWO. BROKEN BLADES THAT CANNOT CUT THROUGH MOUNTAIN MIST AND FOGS.

CONTENTS. swordplay, a little bit of insulting and teasing, and sparring under the moonlight. wc of nine hundred.

moonlight series masterlist ₊ 𓂃 previous ₊ 𓂃 next

𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆, two swings, three swings. later on a hundreds of other swings that mean nothing if the blade you held is broken. the blade that you used to fought in the war, cutting down the souls of hundreds of innocent soldiers that were probably promised to get riches and wanders if they came back alive and conquering.

however, those promises do not matter now, for they are as broken as the tip and edges of your sword which was given to you by one of the lieutenants before you succeeded and became the next division lieutenant.

all the hardwork and effort into putting the sword to good use has crumbled somewhere along the war. the lieutenant would be sad, or disappointed, perhaps even angry— if he ever finds out what the sword he has given his successor has done to hundreds of innocent souls.

you continued swinging, even if the broken blade is stained by the only memories left by the soldiers of the battlefield. sweat raced down your forehead to your neck. your breath is heavy, arms already so sore from swinging it the same amount of times where you backed out during the war in terms of cutting through and also the same amount where you did cut through.

the honey-like void eyes watched as you kept swinging your sword, aware at the fact that your blade might crumble at any moment, at any more swing that could just stop you from swinging and swinging so much. rayne is intrigued by how you could swing for such a long time despite your wounds still being sore and in the process of healing from rayne's herbs and medicines.

"any more swings and your sword won't even cut through the mist of this mountain, let alone allow the fog to run through your blades," the mountain god commented, walking out with his arms held out. "i want to test your skills. spar with me, y/n."

sometimes you forget that he is a divine being, and that he has magical powers. he controls and rules over a whole mountain, hence the elemental ability to control wind, fire, earth, wood, water. but before he harboured the five elements of nature, rayne is also a swordsman whom is good with the sharpest swords ever forged.

rayne summoned a sword out from thin air, handing it to you before taking out a similar sword for the spar. "hand me your deceased sword. i will fix it and bring it back to life for you." you did as he told and took a few swings at your new temporary sword. "i didn't know you have magical abilities to summon swords. is there somewhere you keep weapons?"

"it is my ability. i am not only a mountain god, but also the god of blades. every single sword in existence are my creation."

you definitely had no idea he held such a huge responsibility as both mountain god and the inventor of swords. imagine how busy he must've been with two huge responsibilities. just how could an individual do both at once? rayne must be incredibly talented and hardworking to achieve the highest for both titles.

"let's spar, shall we?"

"yeah alright."

the both of you clashed your swords against each other for a few good minutes, steel hitting against each other and echoing throughout the night. although your arms hurt a lot, exchanging blows with rayne gave you serotonin to keep continuing. the sudden electricity that run from your blade up to your hilt then to your fingers and finally the electricity spreads throughout your entire body made you feel fired up.

right here in this mountain, you are sparring with a god who knows everything about swordsmanship. from the designs on the hilt to the hardest technique to inflict a conflict. rayne ames knows everything.

you didn't see him as a mere god that looks after a mountain. you saw him as a person who has more than what it takes to be trapped in a mountain where he has nobody but the elements of nature to keep him company. and now, you are here, serving as a new elemental nature that he has to look after.

everything of this mountain belongs to me, you remembered rayne saying and you yourself, with nothing left, no family or friends, not even a history or a story to tell the world. you gave yourself up to rayne, agreeing to be his so he could give you a safe space and you would serve him for life. even if you are to die and reincarnate, you would still serve the mountain god.

for the first time in a few centuries, rayne ames found it pleasing in those few minutes to spar against a human after such a long time of secluded solitary. he could feel something sparking in him everytime single time he hears the blades singing against each clash. there was a flash of determination in your eyes everytime he gazes into them too.

what could those flashes in your eyes mean?

rayne ames grew a little more curious every single time he exchanges blows with a warrior who has seen hell in person. his solitary was also plucked away very slowly but your filling presence in this mountain. rayne does not feel lonely anymore.

TAGS ݁ ˖ @kyoghurts @anqelically @caelivir @bbladie @ansbobcar @rjasmines @lunareclipses-moments

© SENEON￤MOONLIGHT 2024. do not alter or repost.

[akutasoda]

Hello. I saw a request open, please disregard this if you deem inappropriate for you but I want to request a platonic sibling with Yanqing, reader is older than him but not the same age physically as JY, reader has a Ganyu-esque demeanor and is a rather gentle and polite person in contrast to the feisty Cloud Knight lieutenant. So, this reader is comforting Yanqing after the events with Blade/IL. Telling him he's doing his best and it's not his fault and he's simply doing his job helping the general's in a way. Idk how to word but after that scene I can't help but feel sorry for Yanqing

lotus blooms and swallows

synopsis - he always saw you as an older sibling, so would seek out comfort in confusion and tough times

includes - yanqing

warnings - gn!reader, fluff, slight angst to comfort, wc - 918

a/n: hello! i really liked this idea and i did also feel bad for him :(

yanqing had no family lineage. that much was clear from the day that jing yuan had taken him in. so it became ever so natural for jing yuan to become not only a mentor but a sort of family figure for the young boy. although jing yuan's title as general could more than likely lead to him being busy and unable to help yanqing. and that was the duty entrusted to you.

you had been working alongside jing yuan for a while, despite being nearer to yanqing's age. you were also some sort of leader among the cloud knights although your more gentle and anxiety prone personality meant you requested to hold back on some roles. but jing yuan was reluctant to completely limit your talent, so had deemed that if you and yanqing worked together it would work.

it was an unusual circumstance for sure, but for yanqing to truly work alongside you jing yuan had thought you'd be more than qualified to teach him and help him whenever the general would be busy. thus began your relationship with the young swordsman. from the very start, yanqing admired your skills and while they may of been with a bow instead of a sword it still left him in awe.

he also admired your calm and collected demeanor even in battle, contrary to his more fiery spirit. and very quickly, almost like second nature, he started viewing you as an older sibling. you became someone that he looked up to as much as he did to the general. you may of had some things in common such as both of you weilding ice and being lieutenants in the cloud knights, some would also note the differences in your personalities.

they were quite obvious as you were always attentive, polite and gentle, yanqing however was more feisty, outgoing and more dedicated to become stronger. in spite of these differences you both got along like no others. he would quickly pick up on your habits of becoming anxious anywhere and would often not hesitate to speak up for you if you wanted.

and similarly you became the first person he turned to in wake of any issues plaguing him. for example, whenever he had yet again failed to prove himself worthy of becoming sword champion he would turn to you and your calming words to assure him with anything.

you were well aware of any habits yanqing had, and even more aware of how the general viewed him. you did strongly dislike how often the general would keep yanqing in the dark about many situations, just to tell him off for doing his job later on. so it came as no surprise to you about the newest scenario going on in the xianzhou luofu.

you were quickly made aware of the intruders and why the astral express were present and willing to help. but made unaware of the generals actions so you could correctly assume that yanqing had less of a clue than you did. but you could not track him down, unaware of his current whereabouts and condition. however you would not be wrong to assume he was fulfilling his role as lieutenant.

and your assumption was proved correct when fu xuan had told you yanqing had returned after the general rudely dismissed him for doing his job. you were asked and required to help out with fu xuan and other affairs that required your expertise in leadership and combat. naturally you would know how he was feeling and needed to go find him.

upon finding him, he was relieved to see you as he had also been seeking out the comfort of one he saw as an older sibling. he had recounted the events word for word to you. from his fight with the stellaron hunter blade to his fight against blade and imbibitor lunae. after you got over the initial shock, you reminded him that he did nothing wrong.

you told him that even though the general meant well, it was still no excuse for keeping him in the dark and then reprimanding him for doing his duty. you appluaded his bravery, dedication and skills for what he did in sake of his job. this did indeed lift yanqing's spirit's. and in that moment he looked up to you even more, truly admiring your skill to remain level headed and in turn what you had done in his absence for your duties.

your gentle reminders that he only did his job and in no way was his fault helped him gain confidence back. and as he was still feeling a bit bad so you gladly stayed with him to help him get back to his best.

he knew it may be slightly cruel to smile and slightly laugh at the comical scene of you gaining the confidence to give jing yuan a piece of your mind. you had indeed made him promise to stop treating yanqing as such a child and inform him of situations so he could act accordingly. yanqing thanked you profusely. some may even say you two truly were actual siblings, not just people who saw each other as that.

[gethoce]

The third Meta Knight reference I did in one year somehow. It's some sort of bad habit by now!

Anyway, random headcanons about the guy below.

Not only is he shorter than the average Dark Matterborn, since he refused to use Dark Magic for most of his life, it also took him unusually long to grow horns for the same reason.

Having been raised by a Halcandran he knows a lot more about this rare species than most. Upon meeting Magolor he occasionally would make casual comments using his unique knowledge which originally caused the mage to be very suspicious of him.

His secretive nature is at least partially something he picked up from his adoptive father, who created the Master Crown and didn't even drop a single hint about his past until after the events of RTDL, when Meta Knight told him about the crown.

The Galaxia has always been in his possession, as far as he can tell, yet his father didn't allow him to wield her properly until he was certain that his swordsman skills were high enough as to not risk another disaster related to the blade.

He gets along with Marx surprisingly well and the two appear to have a lot of mutual respect for one another. The jester will still dunk on the knight whenever an opportunity reveals itself, yet Meta Knight doesn't turn hostile whenever this happens since they are friends.

The events of Revenge of Meta Knight were partially triggered by Marx asking Meta Knight for help, after the King of Dreamland had repeatedly failed to keep Popstar safe.

It took Meta Knight a while to warm up to Dedede. He didn't take him seriously until he realised that they have a lot in common. For instance they both didn't know where they originally came from and were raised by adoptive parents.

Meta Knight has a brotherly relationship to Kirby more than a fatherly one, though doesn't really put labels on their relationship at all. If asked he'd call them a close friend.

He first saw the Dimensional Mirror when his father acquired it in exchange for a sword from the mirror's deceased creator's brother-in-law. It was broken and painstakingly repaired by him and Meta Knight soon after got to meet his reflection for the first time. They were close friends until the events of KATAM.

Meta Knight was asked to join the GSA at one point but refused not wishing to serve under anyone but himself.

Galaxia often speaks to him and offers him advice and comfort, yet is very secretive about their shared past which greatly frustrates him.

He idolised Galacta Knight for the longest time, much to the frustration of his father. Upon meeting Galacta Knight for the first time and witnessing his sealing he attempted to break him free, yet failed. He spent a long time trying to find out how to undo the seal.

It was Marx who told him how to summon the Clockwork Star Galactic Nova and he and Magolor joined him on his quest to do so.

His original name was Metachiroptera, shortened to Chiro. He'll turn hostile upon being called by that name.

He knew Captain Vul since he was a child. The then pirate attempted to steal the Galaxia and failed miserably. They've been friends ever since.

He's terrible at piloting space ships and most other vehicles and overall doesn't have a vast knowledge of technology. He got his crew for that. Instead he knows quite a lot about magic. The opposite applies to King Dedede, who knows little of magic but a lot about creating and piloting machines.

He knew Daroach since before he made a name for himself as Meta Knight.

His primary ability is his weapon ability, sword, yet he as an adult he began to learn the magical abilities ESP and Tornado.

His Dimensional Cape was created and enchanted by his father when his wings began to grow in.

Meta Knight was raised on a planet called Silverstar, which is known for its thick fog.

[leportraitducadavre]

How do you feel about Haku and Zabuza, and what was introduced in the Land of Waves that contained elements of genocide and the purging of the Hidden Mist? I'm just curious to know your thoughts on them and the structure the first arc provided

Haku introduced something that was later deepened with Sasuke's character and story. While Haku's experience is similar to Sasuke's, both contexts differ in that Haku knew from a young age the persecution of people like him (and his mother), while the discrimination of the Uchiha clan was much more specific as it was focused on one particular family.

The first arc introduces such matters, yet it does little to bring light to Konoha's particular case, which will become the plot's main focus later on. While it's established that Tobirama was the one that created the bureaucratic system that Konoha follows and which was used as a model for the rest,

Source

each village's relationship with kekkei genkai users varies, although every single one persecuted or discriminated against those with such techniques.

Kekkei Genkai are feared -therefore, those who possess them are persecuted/killed. While what he says is solely linked to Mist, the weariness towards those with such bloodlines is clearly universal as these individuals possessed the most "natural advantages" for combat out of most (likely, hidden techniques were created for a similar purpose).

Tobirama’s reason for discriminating against the Uchiha was because of how their doujutsu developed and evolved, and nothing of his weariness was overcome by those who came after him, as we see Haku, from another village and generation, suffering the consequences of a fear born on the Warring State Era. Kakashi is particularly accepted because he has the Sharingan but not the blood/chakra of a Uchiha as he’s not part of the bloodline.

Furthermore, Sasuke is directly mentioned in the exchange, Naruto even links Haku’s words to Sasuke’s goal: To kill someone (Itachi who killed his clan because of the fear they installed in the power-ups: they were accused and punished for controlling the Kyuubi without a shred of single evidence, Itachi even canonically states later on that there’s “no hope for this clan” meaning, those who carry the bloodline).

Haku's admission of feeling lonely and unwanted can be directly reflected in Sasuke's character and it's a comparison that Naruto makes for himself; all three children were shunned and abandoned for something they had no control over nor chose to have, and there's a system that not only turns a deaf ear to such issues but also encourages it.

There’s an interaction between Tazuna and Kakashi, where Kakashi mentions that a previous Hokage (we aren’t told whom) taught his people to “fight for what is right”, selling the idea to the civilian in front of him that his hidden village (specifically) is the “good” side against the “evil” side (Zabuza, Gato -even other hidden villages). However, this particular speech of Kakashi, which he gives solely to Tazuna and not to his subordinates (who, by Tazuna’s standards are children), clashes with the prior idea that “missions’ feuds are high and we do what we are paid to do” (assassinations or babysitting). Meaning: there’s a narrative to be told to civilians to shape their view of shinobi (particularly Konoha’s), and the actual reality that only Team 7 (as ninjas), gets to see.  In addition, during Kakashi’s second fight against Zabuza (CH 30), Kakashi states that Konoha (therefore, he), knows about the swordsman’s attempt to coup and kill the current Mizukage -alongside his wish to raise funds to attempt another coup after his failure. We learned previously thanks to Haku’s background that there’s a bloodline cleansing currently happening in Mist; a genocide on such a large scale can’t be kept secret that long -furthermore, there’s no indication that the murders are happening quietly either since those who possessed Kekkei Genkai were pushed to hide their bloodline; and if Konoha knows about Zabuza and his attempt to take over the government, then they surely know about the reasons behind it.  What I mean by this is what follows: Kakashi and Konoha claim that they fight for “the right thing” to those civilians they encounter, but do nothing -neither military nor diplomatically, to stop those massacres from occurring (nor do they take a stance against them either, as it reduces Mist numbers and weakens their military power). They’re still pretty much in touch with the Mizukage that carried out/ordered such killings, for his government was the one that told Konoha about Zabuza’s attempted coup when declaring him rogue. 

Source

The first arc is a great introductory arc; it establishes the notion of blood cleansing, discrimination, how shinobi fight for whoever pays their feeds, how uncomfortable many are with the idea of being tools, who the main characters in the dispute are (Naruto and Sasuke) and upon which ground they stand to carry out their respective actions against the system that aggravated them.

Naruto, even by the end of the arc, never disputed the idea of moving to reach his goal outside Konoha's system, as he never stated he wanted to stop being a ninja:

We are also shown how shinobi who go against the system are considered rogue (Zabuza), so Naruto stating that he'll create his own ninja path (fighting alongside the system) automatically puts Sasuke, who'll become the antagonist, outside that political bubble, turning him into a missing-nin.

I really like this arc and I'm glad it's the first one, I don't think it's the best one in the manga as many inside the fandom claim.

[nrhshm]

Heyy! Idk if this is where you’re supposed to request so I apologize if it isn’t. I was wondering if you could write something about Zoro and a pregnant s/o??? Only if you’re comfortable with that ofc! Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Sup anon. Ask are open yeah~ I'll get with it quickly🤭🤭

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Zoro with a pregnant S/o

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○ S/o taken female

● Spoiler free

○ Sfw

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A heartless beast of a swordsman? Not till his s/o shows him the positive pregnancy test... oh boy-

° You will be his one and only priority at the moment, postpone the swordsman dream for a bit, he needs to make sure you're safe at all times. Piercing eyes will follow you at all times, the moment you trip over something, he'd race to keep you away from the harsh impact. Some good ol' scolding will happen soon after, one smile from you and this tsundere's face will never get colder. He can't stay mad at you for too long, and you know that pretty well.

° Zoro will stand against his s/o wanting to leave the ship,

"I told you no! Anything you want I'll get it for you."

"You think I can rely on your sense of direction?"

"Oi!! I said I'll do it!"

"But the things I wanna buy are uh... personal."

"So? Just list them for me and I'll be off. Bandits are everywhere, I can't let you and our child get hurt."

° He will also be your self-employed bodyguard next to you, smaking Luffy to the head whenever he steals food from you, and his captain grumbly obliges.

° Sounds pretty uptight no? Wait till you hear the actual fluff.

° Napping will most definitely shoot up, there's just something about wraping his bulky hands around your overgrown belly that gives him comfort, he instantly relaxes and gets intune with the embryo's movements. Soon enough, a smile sneaks onto his lips, feeling a sense of protectiveness over his soon-to-become family. The moment you came into his life was something he recalls fondly, as clear as the day. And now, he has a new upcoming set of memories to add to his album.

° During nap times, Zoro's thoughts will drift off to baby names. What should they be called? Whether it's a boy or a girl, he knows that they'll take on the name of Roronoa, and the pride of a swordsman, they'll grow up under his care and influence.

'How far-fetched...' Zoro's smile grows. The baby's not even born and he's already thinking about their future! No. He doesn't want to ruin their childhood like that, he'll try to help them naturally grow, learn and live their life to the fullest.

° Pirates and Marines are sworn enemies, so expect Marines to be tracking the Strawhats and attacking them on the spot. Once the first cannon hits the Sunny, Zoro's attention whips to you. You fall with a hard impact on the ground, a nasty marine approaching you, Zoro's eyes widen in rage, and at this point he gets all yandere and instantly slaughters that asshole daring to lay a hand on you. Soon after all is said and done, the strawhats race towards your figure. Chopper takes the lead and immediately checks your body for injuries, then drags you to his infirmary for pregnancy checkups. The marimo, guilt and anger overwhelming him, leans on the door of that same room, patiently waiting for the said results. He'd refrain from eating, a dumbell in hand as he brings you a well cooked palate Sanji has made, swallowing in his heating rivalry with the cook and asking him for more.

° Zoro will NEVER leave your side. The moment you went into labor, he immediately rushed to find Chopper. You were in pain, and all that Zoro could do was hold your hand and whisper reassuring words to ease off the pain.

"You're strong, you're strong Y/n. You can pull through, come on-"

Of course, count on the ship's doctor to get things perfectly done, a wailing baby held gently in his arms. Chopper grins proudly at his achievement and hands the baby over to you, the crying mother as you hold you new bundle of joy as close as you can. Chopper cleans up and leaves to call in the others, Zoro on the other hand, was bewildered. You watch his widened eyes, his parted lips and rigid figure. It's his first time going through such an experience and let me say, he's a total mess of emotions.

You hold the child towards him, through your fatigue you manage to smile weakly. And he immediately rushes to your side, a hand holding yours, and the other carefully cradling the newest addition to the strawhats. The baby is instantly pacified in his fathers arms, clinging onto his shirt tighter. And almost reflexively, Zoro's other arm holds the baby closer to him, the feeling of protectiveness washing over him.

Flashbacks kick back in, that time you got injured by the marines, that time he failed to protect you both. His family, his new reason to fight and live. He grips the bed railings tighter, fist shaking and breaths getting deeper. A new resolve pinned to his billboard of thoughts, a new alteration to his mighty goal of his journey.

"I will become the world's greatest swordsman, to protect my family."

[run-me-through-but-not-like-that]

The Lovability of Israel Hands

Summary: Izzy doesn't understand what you see in him and can't bring himself to believe it until he overhears you speaking with Lucius.

Word Count: 2942

The sun was high in the sky and all the morning chores had been completed, so Izzy didn’t feel the need to scream himself hoarse at the lazy crew. They could rest during the peak heat and tend to anything else once it begins to cool down again. 

In the midday lull, Izzy couldn’t stop himself from searching for you, couldn��t help but let his gaze find you. You were sitting in the shade with Lucius, not too far from where he stood. 

Neither of you were talking, Lucius was sketching something and you were keeping him company, occasionally peaking in on his work. Every now and again you would smile at whatever he was working on, that smile that Izzy loved so much, that always made his stomach flutter when it was directed at him.

You were…you were radiant. You were just…you’re just good. A good person, a brilliant and loving partner. He always tried his best to be the kind of partner you deserve and most of the time it felt completely natural to him. Izzy knew that he was lucky to have you, to even have you look his way twice. He had no idea what you saw in him, though.

Izzy sighed, knowing that he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering, from spiralling. You were always so good at quieting those thoughts, at soothing and comforting him even when he didn’t realise he needed it. He leant forward against the railing, looking out over the water as his mind ran wild with all the reasons you should leave him behind.

To put it simply, he’s old and used up, past his prime. He was under no delusions about that. He was a damn good first mate, an excellent swordsman but he knew it was only a matter of time before somebody could best him, before he really was no use to anyone.

He never had been vain but he thought he used to be rather attractive. He was never good with people but he saw the looks he sometimes got from strangers, before he had a chance to scare them off. He knew he had been attractive, he also knew that those looks faded with age. 

Izzy thought that was just a part of life, except Edward still looked as radiant as ever, even with his greys and laugh lines. Life was not so kind to Izzy, apparently. His scars were gnarled and ugly, a lot of them didn’t get the chance to heal properly. His hair was streaked through with grey, he didn’t think it made him look dashing, just old, and the lines on his face had become prominent. He hadn’t thought much about how he had aged, about how his appearance had changed, until you came along. All bright and gorgeous and perfect. What could you see in an old sea dog like him?

Appearances aside, Izzy still couldn’t fathom why you spent any time and energy on him.

He’s a grumpy bastard, everyone told him so, could tell just from looking at his face apparently. He’s never known how to have fun, Jack always told him that he was a bore, and Ed has always said it’s like pulling teeth with him. 

He was boring while the rest of the crew was so eccentric. Not only that, the crew were friendly and open with their feelings, one of them would be able to tell you everything they felt for you, just like you deserved. 

What did he have to offer you?

You relaxed back against the mask, basking in the shade and listening to the scratch of Lucius’ pencil. Your gaze had locked onto the first mate, still clad in full black and leather despite the recent peak in temperature. He committed to his aesthetic, you had to give him that. 

Izzy was leaning against the ship’s railing,enjoying the breeze and clear view of the ocean, with the slight wind in his hair. He looked peaceful, which you loved to see, but also like he was deep in thought. He did that sometimes, just disappeared into his own head. You always wondered what he was thinking about, always loved when he shared those thoughts with you.

“Ew,” Lucius huffed beside you, lowering his sketchbook, “you two are so gross.”

Izzy found himself tensing immediately, the scribe’s voice breaking through his self deprecation spiral. He was certain that Lucius was talking about the two of you, even if it was just paranoia egging him on. Of course he thought it was gross, that anyone would pay Izzy Hands some attention, that somebody might find him attractive or pleasant in any way.

“What?” you asked innocently, like you couldn’t see exactly where this conversation was going like Izzy could.

Izzy forced himself not to stalk off, clearly neither of you knew he could hear you and he needed to know what the boy had to say. He didn’t want this to come as a surprise later, best to be prepared for it all.

“You’re all gooey eyed over him. He was literally just staring at you and now you’re staring at him. Like, you literally share a cabin, get over yourselves!” Lucius complained. 

“I can’t help it, Luce…he’s just so easy to stare at,” you sighed wistfully, mostly just to wind Lucius up further.

“I don’t get it,” Lucius confessed, closing his book in his lap.

Fuck, this is it. Lucius was going to talk you out of whatever delusion you were in, point out exactly why you shouldn’t look at him in that fond way you do. Lucius would knock some sense into you and the relationship you had would be over by nightfall. Izzy missed it already. Missed you already.

“He’s gorgeous,” you simply shrugged. Like it was that simple. Izzy was gorgeous, and you didn’t understand how anyone couldn’t see that.

“Okay, I get like the hot older guy thing, and the grumpy repressed thing, kinda, but…I guess I don’t get it like you do.”

Izzy could feel Lucius’ gaze as he looked him up and down, like he was evaluating him for something.

“Alright, Lucius. Listen up, I’m going to give you a little lesson about Israel Hands,” you pushed yourself up into a less reclined position, getting serious. “Let’s start with appearances.” 

“Christ, we’re going to be here all day,” Lucius groaned but he didn’t actually protest or try to leave. In all honesty, he really was curious about what you saw in Izzy, how the first mate won you over.

“Is that a promise?” you teased

“Just get on with it so I can go throw up already.”

You rolled your eyes at his dramaticness but then turned serious. “Okay, but seriously…you know he’s hot, right?”

“Yeah, duh. He’s hot but like…everything else kind of overshadows it. He’s got a broad chest, strong arms. Got, like, a ruggedly handsome look, but…the risk of being bit isn’t really worth it,” Lucius assessed. Izzy felt his hands curling into fists against the railing. 

“Okay, firstly, it’s totally worth it,” you scoffed, as if personally offended. Anyway, the biting was half the fun. “Secondly, clean out your mind. I mean his eyes, his smile, stuff like that.”

Izzy tensed a little, unsure of how to feel. For some reason it made more sense to him for you to speak about his chest or arms, what made you physically attracted to him like Lucius had suggested. There was something more intimate about thinking about his smile and his eyes. It wasn’t like they were anything special anyway. His eyes were just eyes and his smile was awkward, made people uncomfortable more than anything.

“Don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile,” Lucius admitted.

“Yeah, because you do nothing but piss him off,” you chastised, quickly continuing on before the scribe could protest. “If you could see one of his real smiles, you would understand. They’re beautiful. He has great teeth, honestly impressive considering he spent his whole life at sea. He had the cutest dimples and his eyes crinkle when he’s really smiling. His eyes are just…I don’t even know where to start. They’re so expressive, it’s like I can read every thought and emotion just from his eyes when he lets his guard down. And when he looks at me like I’m something special…I swear to God that they actually sparkle.” 

Lucius resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was sweet that you were so infatuated with your partner but if you started making him write shitty poetry about it like Stede did, he might actually get over his uneasiness around blood just to stab you.

“God, please don’t start waxing poetic about him. You should hear some of the things Stede says about Ed.” 

“Well…those leather pants make him easy on the eyes too,” you added with a smirk.

Over at the railing, Izzy was blushing wildly now. He should leave, he shouldn’t be listening in on a conversation, but he found his feet stuck to the deck. His body wouldn’t let him move. 

“Pervert,” Lucius laughed. He didn’t sound as confused or disgusted anymore, just amused. “Are you done?” 

“I suppose,” you huffed. You could easily continue, talk about how soft his hair is and how well groomed he keeps his facial hair, or how adorable he is when he flushes, but you could take a hint. “Moving on to personality.”

There was a small thud as Lucius dropped his head back against the mast. “Okay, you’re taking the piss now.” Fine, yes, Izzy was attractive but an endearing personality? Lucius didn’t believe it for a second. 

You glanced back over at Izzy. He had his back to you both but the sight of him still put a smile on your face.

“I’ll start with the obvious. He’s hardworking, has an insane work ethic, which is admirable but I have to force him into taking breaks. His devotion is…it can’t be beat. How devoted he is to Edward, to the ship, the crew, to me.”

Now, that made sense. Izzy relaxed a little. He was useful when it came to his devotion, he would commit himself wholly to things, he knew that. Of course that’s what you saw in him. 

“To you and Ed? Sure. The crew? Now I know you’re messing with me,” Lucius pulled a face, folding his arms over his chest.

“He really does care about the crew, Luce. It’s one of the things I love so much about him. Sure, he doesn’t show it like you do or even how Stede does, but he really does only stress so much with you all because he wants to keep everyone safe. Ensures you all know how to defend yourself so you don’t die on a raid, gets so worked up before storms to make sure nobody goes overboard. It’s self preservation, sure, but he doesn’t want to see anything bad happen to any of you. Even if you don’t like each other, Izzy devotes himself to his crew. It’s responsibility to look out for us all and he takes it seriously,” you informed him, seeming genuinely surprised that Lucius had no idea. 

And he didn’t. Lucius didn’t know that at all, that Izzy actually cares in some way. “Never thought about it like that,” Lucius admitted.

“And he really is different when he feels safe and he’s off duty. When it’s just the two of us, he’s just the sweetest. Would do anything for me, not that I’d ever ask anything of him. He can actually be a little shy, but he can be a proper gentleman as well.”

Lucius hummed thoughtfully. “Shy? I believe that, always did get repressed vibes from him.” 

“He’s not repressed, Lucius. Not in whatever way you’re thinking anyway,” your nose scrunched up slightly, wishing that the others could see the sides of Izzy that you did. “And he’s funny,” you added, brushing your slight annoyance off. 

“Fuck off. No he’s not. Not on purpose anyway,” Lucius snorted. 

Izzy sneered to himself, watching the steady waves moving against the Revenge. Just because Spriggs thought he was so fucking funny didn’t mean that other people weren’t. 

“He is. His humour is dry and bitchy most of the time but he can be really fucking funny,” you insisted, your smile returning. “And he’s clever. Like, obviously, he has to be competent to be Blackbeard’s first mate and everything but you don’t actually realise how clever he is until he explains his methods to you.” 

“Alright, I’ll buy clever, I never thought he was stupid, but I’m not buying that he’s funny,” Lucius stood firm, huffing petulantly. 

“He tells a lot of great jokes about you,” you smirked.

“Hey!” Lucius' eyes widened in offence, dropping his arms from his chest.

You just laughed. You knew he would want more details, to know what jokes the first mate made at his expense and declare you a traitor for finding them amusing, so you didn’t give him the chance to question you about it. 

“But my favourite feature of his?” 

Lucius groaned. “You’re going to tell me whether I want to know or not.” He definitely did want to know, he was curious and nosy if nothing else. 

“His voice,” you declared, smile turning from teasing to fond. “It’s beautiful and unique. It’s even deeper and raspier in the mornings, his chest vibrates with it. And his laugh…” 

“He laughs?” Lucius gasped, scandalised. You just rolled your eyes and elbowed him in the ribs, though your smile didn’t fade. 

“His laugh is like fucking music, Luce! It’s just…just perfect. He’s perfect, Lucius,” you sighed, leaning back against the mast comfortably as your gaze turned back to Izzy.

“Well…you clearly love him a lot, so there must be something good about him,” Lucius shrugged, accepting his defeat. He didn’t see what you were seeing, but you clearly believed everything you said.

“I do, Luce…I really do.” 

Izzy tightened his grip on the railing, grounding himself. You love him. You love him, said it yourself, pretty damn clearly. 

You thought these things about him were wonderful, were perfect, and deserving of love. You loved him and he had no idea what he did to deserve that. To deserve somebody as wonderful as you. He didn’t know what you saw in him or how you could adore him so much but you did, you said you did with nothing but adoration and devotion in your voice. You said it, and he knew you weren’t a liar, not when it came to stuff like this.

“Have you told him yet?” Lucius asked. His tone wasn’t as teasing this time, it was more sincere.

“Not yet. I will. Just don’t know if he’s there yet, y’know?” 

Izzy felt hyper focused on your voice, on everything you said. He had to make sure he wasn’t mishearing anything.

“Oh, babe, he’s definitely there. He’s in love with you. No, he’s like…obsessed with you. He’s there,” Lucius scoffed but something about it sounded fond. “Don’t know if he’s ready to hear it and say it, but he’s definitely there.”

“And when he’s ready to hear it, I’m going to tell him over and over again,” you vowed, dedication thick in your voice. Once you felt it wouldn’t scare the man away, you would never let him question how much you love him. 

“I didn’t realise you were so romantic,” Lucius smiled, knocking his shoulder against yours. 

“I guess he just brings it out of me,” you joke. 

“Right well…” Lucius groaned as he pushed himself up onto his feet, “off to be sick.

“Don’t choke!” you called after him, laughing.

Lucius pulled a face at you before heading off to find Pete and Fang. You stood as well, stretching your arms over your head to loosen up your muscles, before practically skipping over to where Izzy still stood.

Izzy tensed slightly at the sound of your approach, hoping it hadn’t been too obvious that he was listening in to your conversation. You had certainly spoken as if you didn’t know he could hear. 

“Hey, Iz,” you took your place right by his side, as close as you could stand without pressing our arm right up against his. 

“Hey,” he greeted you as normally as he could manage, rolling his shoulders slightly. 

Your smile never faded as you examined him. His face was flushed pink, along with his neck and the tops of his ears. “You okay? You’re all red.” 

“Probably just the wind,” Izzy mumbled but you both knew that he was blushing about something. 

“Relax,” you comforted, brushing your arm against his. “I think it’s cute that I can still get you so flustered.” 

When you placed your hands on the railing, Izzy unclenched his bare hand and placed it over one of yours. Izzy wasn’t a huge fan of PDA, at least not yet, but you knew he enjoyed having some sort of physical contact when you were around. You just smiled at the subtle gesture, parting your fingers to let him slip his through yours. 

Izzy opened his mouth to say something but the words got stuck in his throat, you didn’t seem to notice, just enjoying spending some time with him. He closed his mouth again and just smiled to himself. 

He would tell you. He’d tell you that he loved you, tell you just how perfect you were and how undeserving he was. And you would stay, you would even say it back, because you loved him too, for whatever reasons you saw. He would do it. Izzy promised himself.

[wolf-in-a-trenchcoat]

A little one-shot I tried to write and probably failed. I had motivation to write this, but most of it was at like, 3-4 am? I just wanted to write Izzy getting his ass handed to him by a bard (Frenchie) with very little swordsman skills. That's a lie, I have a headcanon Frenchie is actually really good with a sword, just prefers more... manipulative tactics or close combat tools, and by extension likes to make opponents think he's a clumsy idiot who can't hold a sword. (Turns out, he can and will rip you a new one)

Same rules go for this one, btw! Critique- both good and bad- is invited and urged. I want to better my skills.

Inspiration: conversation regarding server members and how they got together ❤️ also me wanting Izzy's ass whooped (an Izzy enabler, apologist, and lover)

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Israel Hands doesn't lose duels.

That's what he had been thinking as he stepped up on deck with his rapier drawn and twirling languidly as he let the weight become an extension of him again. It was a part of him, his identity and his being- "born to wield a blade" he had been told many a time in his life.

It was how he lived as long as he did, how his captain used him. A sword, right hand man, the like. First mate. Izzy's near permanent scowl remained as he heard the shuffle of feet and a small mumbled curse as the sharp clatter of metal on wood made him turn to face his opponent- the damn bard that resided with the Revenge crew.

Izzy scoffed in appallment. He didn't know how this crew lived as long as they have. He had previously assumed the deft fingerwork this man had while playing a mandolin would extend into holding a sword, but he was proven wrong.

"Pick up your fuckin' sword."

"Right... yeah. Sorry."

Izzy's eyes follow the bard's hands as they reach for the sword, lifting it up and testing its weight in his grip before giving a couple aimless swings. Another scoff leaves Izzy, a look of disgruntled judgement on his face now. He couldn't believe he would have to duel this atrocious example of an opponent.

As they took their places, Izzy a few paces from the bard, they get into their stances. The one thing that caught Izzy off guard slightly was how firm the man's posture became, the excitement glimmering in the warm chocolate depths of his eyes. Like he was preparing for this moment. Like he was waiting forever just to have this chance.

It was the bard that moved first. Their swords meet, Izzy easily parrying then slipping aside and taking his own offense. The opponent blocked, and the clash of metal on metal sounded like angels singing in his ears.

Izzy relished the song, and lived the dance that came along. How the bard kept up was beyond Izzy, but the effort brought savage focus to his face. Well, what Izzy had thought it looked and felt. His heart raced, the singing of the metal cacophony nothing more than music as the men viciously danced around the deck.

°°°°°°°°°

Frenchie wasn't exactly sure what had let the idea of challenging Izzy to a duel into his mind.

When he had initially approached the first mate of Blackbeard, Frenchie was sure that he'd have his head bit off by the man. Based on his experiences with people like that, he couldn't let them off the hook. An odd interaction where Frenchie had gotten irritated at Izzy being a petty asshole while the bard was trying to do daily care for his mandolin had lead to an aggressive "I challenge you to a duel, you spiteful ship goblin" and a very calm and very ominous "Challenge accepted".

Now here they were, on deck and Frenchie basically fighting for his life.

He hasn't picked up a sword since some time before Stede, to which he laid down arms and settled for his original plan- playing music to keep the time. Though, this duel wasn't much different than any other song and dance, he learned quickly. Each step was specific, him returning blows almost like it was second nature. He didn't know how he had been able to fend off Izzy for so long- he was sure his demise was imminent.

Unless Izzy was going easy on him?

The look on the man's face said otherwise- he looked thoroughly pissed, but that was an constant thing and any change from it was most likely the end of the world. Frenchie's arm came up to block the overhead swing Izzy tried to land, and the taller man ducked lower and shoves Izzy back with a pretty heavy shoulder hit to the torso. The shorter man stumbled back, Frenchie following up with a slash towards Izzy's abdomen.

It was blocked easily.

Another back and forth ensues, sweat beading on Frenchie's brow as the adrenaline wore off and he began to falter. Izzy came in hot, like a blazing fire as anger fueled each movement. It honestly had Frenchie enthralled and how fluid the older man moved.

Dancing, is what the bard akinned it to. An idea sparks, and his own offense became more focused on keeping Izzy's blade with his own. Each step was like the makings of a dance when Frenchie moved, as did Izzy in kind. Swords met, feet step into another mirrored position, the noise of clashing metal like their own tune.

°°°°°°°°°°

It was glorious.

The bard has clearly impressed Izzy, and the older man could feel his lips pull into a genuinely entertained grin. That was, until Izzy let the realization that this fucking bard could've done so much more than sit and play music this entire time during raids.

Their dance was broken when Izzy attempts a punishing slash to Frenchie's abdomen as a comeback to his previous attempt towards Izzy, the bard bringing his sword up in response and pushing Izzy's blade up and over in a strained arch, then to a clattering slide across the deck. The look on the bard's face was that of surprise, yet it was returned with Izzy's own- then clearly spiteful anger.

Before it changed to... pride?

Izzy was proud of this man, even as Frenchie raised an ever-so-subtly shaking sword tip to the first mate's throat. Izzy could easily continue this fight, but something in his being tingled with anticipation, like he could get something more from this. A small smirk settled on his lips as he heard the unsure tone in Frenchie's voice.

"Do you yield?"

"I... yield."

The look on the bard's face was near priceless. It almost made Izzy bark out a laugh at how seriously shocked Frenchie was to have bested Izzy Hands.  He actually enjoyed this look on his face. While he'd usually be more than furious someone had beaten him in a single round, this was an odd exception. His eyes meet Frenchie's, and for a moment, he felt a flutter in his chest.

"Best two out of three?" Frenchie offered, breathing coming in slightly labored. His hand had steadied slightly more in the pregnant pause of the victory, a cheeky smile now gracing his face. Another flutter.

Izzy accepted as the bard lowered his sword. His gaze follow the man as he went to retrieve Izzy's rapier, handing it to him. Izzy returned the smile with one of his own- and he took note of the subtle flush of pink across Frenchie's face.

"Two out of three, then. Don't expect to have the same luck this round. I won't go easy on you now that I know your level of experience."

He raised his rapier to Frenchie's blade, the sharp shink of metal on metal signifying his further acceptance. And with that, another round began.

To say Frenchie lost would've been a lie- it had appeared to the crew Izzy was talking out of his ass when the bard won the next two duels, albeit with more difficulty each round than the last.

[niishi]

Can I ask about your Kuina theory? Youve mentioned it once or twice but I havent seen it laid out in full

I have it laid out better in a post I'll have to find, and be warned there's lots of speculation but it's a theory for a reason(one i will die by) but basically I think she was killed by order of the 5 elders. The dawn and joy boys return was prophesied even before oden, when the kozuki clan made the poneglyphs and told zou to hide theirs until the "dawn"(meaning the prophecy of joy boys return(Luffy))

Anyways... ryuma as zoros ancestor, was a very famous and revered swordsman and dubbed a king to the ppl of wano. His existence is so important to them that hiyori gave Zoro the one precious momento she had from Oden in order to get shusui back. So ryuma holds a lot of importance in the world. And then them touching on ushimaru being locked up by kaido (seems like there was somewhat of an orchestrated suppression of the samurai)(also that odas making a point to tie in the shimotsukis)..

Lol gosh I know I explained this better in my other post but... okay, kuina is a shimotsuki. If this prophecy mentioned "great swordsman that is a descendant of ryuma shimotsuki" then, in the worst gen, if the World gov was trying to track these prophesized individuals down, then, observing kuina, with the last name shimotsuki, being an incredible swordsman with natural talent, they'd target her. I have a lot of speculation around this bc it seemed her father discouraging her swordsmanship mightve been a way to protect her from following this "fate" and being targeted. Also it'd make sense that Zoro wasn't targeted bc his parents are dead and he has no attachment to the shimotsuki name anymore and also? He's losing to this girl. So to them, It's obviously this girl who was prophesized, right? Her dad's energy throughout the whole thing was weird to me too. Somber and somewhat angry?

I feel it even more given, the only others who were specifically attacked &targeted by the military were Robin and Franky. Robin who has connections w the poneglyphs, Franky who has connections with Pluton. And then we have Luffy, who was purposefully hidden away from the world, in the mountains, with a grandpa that BEGGED him not to follow his destiny. A grandpa who knew Roger. Who knows more than we know he knows. These specific ppl being targeted, Franky and Robin, garp knowing things and hiding away Luffy, is what makes me believe kuina was targeted and was the only one successfully stamped out, even though they got the wrong guy. Chopper nami sanji and usopp probably didn't seem as much of a threat so they weren't targeted or maybe weren't even prophesized bc they have no super big connects to the void century. (Although I am suspicious of brook)

I also think this will be a great moment for zoro if it becomes reality bc he'll have a moment where he realizes it should've been him instead of kuina and I can only imagine the emotions the would stir in him.

ANYWAYS I know I have this written down better somewhere bc I took notes on it lol but this is my scatter brained answer trying to remember all my points. Sorry it isn't eloquent.