i’m going to be really honest with you guys i think the tendency to read the absolute worst possible intentions into every action you don’t agree with is getting too automatic and it’s eating you from the inside out
"WHERE'S USAIDA?!?!" Screamed Taka, red-cheeked and enraged with his snot drippings waving with his screams; not wanting to wait for his caretaker's appearance.
"I'm not sure. He's usually here by now." Shizuka told her son while waiting in front of the daycare room.
Approaching the gaggle of mothers in front of the daycare, Usaida voiced his arrival "Sorry, I'm late!" He confessed with guilt and unease. He looked exhausted from both lack of sleep and the rush to arrive.
"It's alright, no harm done." Yukari assured gently to which he replied with a smile of gratitude.
Once inside the classroom, all of the children who impatiently waited for Usaida's arrival vulture in around his legs with red, puffed, and pouty cheeks ready to question and scold his actions. They were already tugging and jabbing at his legs. Their voices all overlapped each other's so no actual words were distinguishable.
Seeing the uproar he'd caused, Usaida let out a tired sigh before making his more direct apology. He bent down to their eye level and said with a slightly more gentle tone "I'm very sorry, it won't happen again. Let's go play now." He finished with a lazy smile.
"YAAAAY!!!" They all cheered
Usaida took Midori from her mother and went to his napping business after the mothers left.
~elsewhere~
"Ahh~, he left his house keys and phone here. How is he going to get into the house while I'm gone?" (Y/n) questioned herself with a small pout of worry. "We got a little 'held up' this morning, I hope he wasn't too late." She blushed and picked up the items and just looked at them while she thought of a solution. "Maybe I can leave work early and take them to him this afternoon? Would it be alright to just barge into his workplace like that?" She sighed with a small amount of stress but her attention was caught by her accidental glimpse of here watch. "I'll figure it out when the time comes. I have to open shop." She said to herself as she pranced out of the door.
You swiftly made your way to the front door of your flower shop and carefully unlocked it, flipping the "closed" sign to "open." As you opened the door fully, a burst of fresh flowers and other beautiful, earthy smells brushed over your body. It was a nice "good morning" from your beloved shop. You smiled at the pleasant, pretty smell. You stopped in thought for a moment remembering how Yoshihito compliments your perfume all of the time. You laughed at the thought because you never wear any. "I must just pick it up from the air here." You thought, walking to the front desk and getting everything ready for your customers.
~later~
"Hello, we'd like to buy a bouquet please." A strict foreign woman with an unflattering haircut, who you'd guessed to be British, declared with a haughty tone to her voice. She was accompanied by a short, round man who looked like he was totally overshadowed by his wife.
"What we're looking for is-" the man with a drab voice started but was interrupted by his taller, more dominant wife.
"-Peter, please! I'm talking!" She snapped, lightly scolding him and startling you.
"Sorry, Judith." The man droned a confession of guilt and fidgeted with his glasses, which matched his wife's.
"Well, I should hope so..." She retorted snobbishly, letting her eyes narrow and linger on her husband before continuing "What we're looking for is-"
"So sorry but I have to run. Here, (employee) will finish your order." You hastily apologized but you saw this as a good opportunity to leave for the afternoon to give Yoshihito his things and hopefully arrive at a time where you won't intrude too much.
As the employee taking your place understood that you were ditching, she bashed you on the head with a bundle of flowers. You only offered a smile as an apology and ran out the door with your belongings.
Standing outside of the front door, you looked in at the couple through the window and shivered "Dodged a bullet."
~~~
Arriving at the academy, you first went to the secretary to ask for information. "Hello?" You asked quietly to gain the woman's attention. She immediately looked over to you and smiled.
"Hello, what can I help you with?" She asked kindly.
"I was wondering if I could leave some things here for my husband. He works here but he left some of his belongings at home this morning." You admitted giving a light laugh at your embarrassing excuse for being here.
"Of course! Just tell me his name and I'll have someone let him know to pick them up." She chirped.
"Right, he's Usaida Yoshihito." You proudly gushed.
She halted and looked at you with brighter eyes and a big grin. "I didn't know Usaida had a wife! How about you go take him his things yourself, I'm sure he'd be happy to see you." She cheered and handed you a visitors pass. Why was she so interested in your husband's love-life?
"Are you sure?" You asked shyly.
"Of course! He takes such good care of my daughter! I'm happy to have met you! I'm Sawatori Yukari by the way." She chatted.
"Usaida (Y/n). It's nice to meet you and thanks again." You bid her goodbye and left after receiving directions to the daycare.
As you were walking down the hall you thought about the secretary's words and smiled to yourself with warmth. "He's takes good care of her child. I'm glad he's working hard."
Arriving at the daycare, you were about to knock but you stopped yourself letting a sneaky expression overtake your face. "I wonder what he's like with the other children." You thought giddily while peeking through the window in the door.
"Cuuuteee~" You whispered, fogging up the window. You silently fawned over your husband who was being bombarded with children. "They must like him if they want his attention so badly~." While this was happening you didn't see a quiet little brown haired child, who strayed from the rest, staring at you while opening the door.
"(Y-Y-Y/n)?!" Yoshihito yelled, surprised to see his wife in the open doorway. "What are you doing here?" He was slightly embarrassed being seen acting so goofy in front of his wife. At least she didn't catch him napping.
The young woman quietly stepped into the entryway of the room with a sweet smile but didn't proceed much farther into the space. As she looked towards her husband she spoke "Anata, you left your things at home when you rushed out." She shyly said to her husband being slightly intimidated by the unwavering attention of the occupants of the room. So many cute, tiny faces and they all had their eyes glued to you. "A-Aah! I just called him ‘anata’ in front of these kids! I'm so embarrassed!!" Her cheeks slightly flushed at her internal embarrassment.
"You're dumb, Usa!" Shouted Taka.
You giggled which got the kids shy as they moved to hide behind the adult they were familiar with and waited for an introduction. "Ah, thanks! I didn't even notice, thanks for bringing it." Yoshihito said gratefully. He blushed slightly from you having to go through so much trouble for him as he finally thought to introduce the kids to his wife. "Hey, kids! This is (Y/N)-chan, my wife! Come out and give an introduction!" His voice was somehow excited while still its usual sleepy, lazy tone.
"Alright, let's form the naming train for (Nickname)-chan." He instructed with a "thumbs up" towards (Y/n). The kids all rush out in front of the new party member into a line and started singing their names for her with Yoshihito leading them and holding that lazy grin of his.
After the song, you got down on a lower level to seem more approachable. "Wow~ That was so good! I'm happy to meet you all!" They all seemed excited at this a ran up to you and immediately started tugging at you and asking questions. Yoshihito sat back and watched, smiling at the site.
A cute little girl with black pigtails was the first to steal your attention. "You have flowers in your hair! Are you a fairy, (nickname) onee-chama?" Kirin gushed, patting her little fingers in your hair and knocking the tiny flowers loose, that must have been from the shop earlier. She suddenly stood up grasping at your hand and tugging you harshly over to her toys. "Let's play fairies!"
"A-Ah! I should probably get going. I'm sure Yoshihito needs to get back to work." You didn't want to intrude but Yoshihito insisted that you stay.
"No, stay and have fun~!" He teased.
The kids heard and cheered then repeatedly demanded, "Come play with us!"
Soon a loud boy named Taka snatched you away from Kirin while she wasn't looking and dragged you off to another side of the room while swinging his plastic sword. "Come over here! You'll be the princess!" He yelled putting you behind a small wall made of toys. "You stay here! I'll protect ya' 'cause I'm the good guy and I'm real' strong!" He continued to holler while taking a brave stance in front of you. He used his sword to point at Yoshihito. "USA!!! You be the monster! Try n' take her from me!"
Yoshihito pointed to himself with a confused look. "Huh?"
"CUMMON!!!"
Yoshihito chuckled and carefully placed Midori in a safe place before turning towards you and Taka. "Here I come, princess (Y/n)~" He said taking animated steps towards his cute bride who actually looked a little freaked out.
As he got closer to (Y/n), Taka sprang into action. "Stop! Monsters don't get princesses!!!" Taka proclaimed but Yoshihito just stepped over both him and the toy wall. "HEY! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO WIN!" Taka protested and started punching Yoshihito's legs while he picked (Y/n) up an threw her over his shoulder.
As Yoshihito walked off with (Y/n) the kids all gathered around his legs and started to weakly beat him up. "Ya' can't have her!"
"I want her too!" Takuma cheered.
"M-Me too." Kazuma muttered after his brother.
"She was playing with me first!" Kirin fought.
"Huh!" Kotaro grunted.
They all started yelling, getting greedy for the woman's attention. Yoshihito was starting to panic slightly. "O-Oi! Calm down. Don't crowd! Someone might get hurt." He was mostly worried that he'd trip and hurt them. He was suddenly saved by the door opening and drawing the kids to Ryuuichi immediately.
"Ryuuuuu!!"
"Thank goodness." He breathed out and set (Y/n) down. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Mm-hmm~!" She replied with blossoming cheeks from being held.
The rest of Yoshihito's hours at work were spent juggling between taking care of Midori, trying to get his own wife's attention, and waiting to go home with her. Though the day just seemed to drag on until, finally, it was time to leave. "You'll be okay, Ryuuichi?"
"Yes! Don't worry!"
With that Yoshihito handed over Midori and grunted with laziness as he stood up. "(Y/n)-chan~Let's go home~" He said as he took her hand.
She looked to him with exhaustion. "Sounds good!"
As they were crossing through the doorway he leaned to kiss his wife but was interrupted. "Your wife is too pretty for you, Usa!!" Kirin hollered to Usaida.
He rolled his eyes and shut the door behind him and muttered "I know." He turned to (Y/n), who had started walking ahead of him, and yelled, "princess (Y/n), wanna have kids yet~?!"
desc - summer has finally arrived in hawkins again! n what better way to spend the days than with your husband n kids sunbathing and swimming (+ water guns and fights about suncream)
val speaks - its a loooovely sunny day n week over here so i am feeling like myself again 😋 anyways enjoy this bc it matches the vibe im on (aside from the fact i dont have a steve harrington n i dont have kids)
word count: 3.1k
summer had always been steve’s favourite season, even when he was a teenager pretending not to care about things too much. back then, he thought summer meant late drives with the windows down, greasy fries at diners at midnight and maybe someday having a family big enough to fill every seat at the table.
now, years later, with sunlight pouring through the windows of the house the two of you had worked so hard for, he realised summer meant something entirely different.
it meant this.
the sound of little feet thundering through the hallway at seven in the morning, tiny voices yelling about swimsuits and popsicles before breakfast, the smell of sunscreen and chlorine drifting through the open patio doors, your laughter somewhere nearby. all the things he never thought he’d get to keep.
steve leaned against the kitchen counter with a sleepy grin as jane and ellie darted around the room like tiny hurricanes, both already wearing mismatched goggles around their necks.
“dad! hurry up!” jane complained dramatically, tugging on his hand. “you said we could swim all day!”
“it’s eight in the morning,” steve laughed, voice still rough with sleep. “the sun only just woke up.”
“well we’ve been awake forever” ellie informed him seriously.
“yeah,” jane nodded. “like… thirty years.”
you snorted softly from where you stood cutting fruit for the girls. “sounds exhausting.”
steve caught your eye over the top of mia’s head as she clung to his leg sleepily, still half asleep in her little pink swimsuit. your smile hit him the same way it always had, soft enough to calm every storm in him instantly.
sometimes he still couldn’t believe this was his life because for so long he thought he’d never even make it out of hawkins alive.
yet here he was. married to the love of his life with four daughters, a home with creaky wooden floors and a backyard pool that had basically become the centre of everyone’s universe every summer.
it wasn’t some giant mansion or anything extravagant. the house had taken years of saving, years of exhausting shifts between family video, scoops ahoy and eventually office jobs that neither of you particularly loved but endured together anyway. every inch of the place had been earned through hard work and tired nights and whispered promises that one day things would settle down.
and they had, better than either of you could’ve imagined.
outside, the backyard looked like something out of one of those family magazines your mom used to keep around. bright flowers lined the fence, pool toys floated lazily across the sparkling water, and there were tiny chalk drawings all over the patio from the girls’ latest masterpieces.
it was perfect.
messy and loud and lived in.
perfect.
“okay, sunscreen time” you announced.
immediately, four different groans filled the kitchen.
“do we haaave to?” jane whined.
“yes” you and steve answered together automatically.
“dad never burns” ellie argued.
steve puffed his chest out proudly. “that’s right, harrington skin.”
you rolled your eyes so hard it made him grin. “your dad's skin turns into a lobster every single july.”
“fake news.”
“last summer you asked me to rub aloe vera on your shoulders while pouting.”
“that was one time.”
“six times.”
the girls giggled as you sat them down one by one, carefully rubbing sunscreen across tiny noses and cheeks while they squirmed dramatically. lilah sat happily in your lap babbling nonsense while you smoothed sunscreen over her chubby little arms, occasionally clapping whenever someone made a funny face.
steve watched you quietly for a second while pretending not to.
he did that a lot.
watched the way you moved through life with your girls so naturally, like loving them was as easy as breathing. watched the way your face softened every time one of them reached for you. watched the home the two of you had somehow built from absolutely nothing.
he used to dream about six kids.
robin still never let him live that down.
but honestly? four felt perfect.
his girls.
all of them somehow completely different.
jane, fearless and dramatic, always leading every game like she was directing a movie.
ellie, clever and mischievous, forever whispering plans into jane’s ear that usually ended in chaos.
mia, sweet and cuddly, still reaching for him whenever she got sleepy.
and little lilah, the baby of the family, who had steve entirely wrapped around her tiny fingers.
people joked about him being the only man in the family constantly.
at grocery stores. neighbourhood barbeques. school events.
“poor guy.”
“all those girls?”
“you’re outnumbered, man.”
but steve only ever smiled wider because they had no idea. he’d take being outnumbered forever if it meant having this.
after finally wrestling everyone into sunscreen, the girls practically dragged the two of you outside.
the second jane and ellie hit the pool they transformed into full mermaids, splashing dramatically while shouting about underwater kingdoms and invisible sea monsters. steve played along immediately, obviously.
“there’s a shark!” jane shrieked.
steve gasped dramatically before diving underwater with enough commitment to deserve an oscar. both girls screamed with laughter as he emerged, slicking his hair back.
“don’t worry,” he announced proudly. “i saved the kingdom.”
“dad,” ellie sighed. “you are the shark.”
“oh.”
you sat in the shallow end with mia and lilah, legs stretched out while the younger girls splashed around with floating toys. mia kept trying to pour water into your hands from a tiny bucket while lilah kicked happily beside you, squealing every time steve made exaggerated shark noises nearby.
the sun shimmered across the water, warm and golden.
everything felt slow in the best possible way.
eventually the younger girls started getting fussy from the heat, so you carried them out wrapped in fluffy towels while steve stayed behind with jane and ellie for a little longer.
you settled beneath the shaded outdoor couch, lilah curled against your chest while mia sat beside you eating watermelon slices carefully.
for a little while, everything was peaceful.
then steve appeared a few minutes later, damp hair dripping onto his shoulders as he collapsed dramatically beside you.
“i’m exhausted” he groaned.
you laughed softly. “from pretending to be a shark?”
“it’s hard work”
he shifted closer until his head rested against your shoulder automatically. years later and he still gravitated toward you without thinking about it, like some invisible string constantly pulling him back.
“thought you hated sunbathing” you teased quietly.
“i do.”
“then why are you here?”
he peeked one eye open lazily. “because you’re here.”
your heart still did stupid little flips whenever he said things like that.
even after all this time. especially after all this time.
mia climbed into his lap sleepily and steve kissed the top of her damp curls without missing a beat. lilah reached over immediately wanting attention too, tiny hands grabbing at him until he scooped her up as well.
for a moment, you just watched him.
watched the way he balanced both girls effortlessly while half asleep himself. watched how gentle he’d become over the years. how soft.
this was the same boy who once swung a nail bat at monsters without hesitation.
now he carried spare hair ties around his wrist and knew exactly which stuffed animals belonged to which daughter.
you loved him so much it almost hurt sometimes.
peace lasted approximately seven more minutes.
“uh oh” steve muttered suddenly.
you looked up just in time to see jane and ellie standing near the pool with matching evil grins and brightly coloured water guns in their hands.
“absolutely not” you warned immediately.
they attacked anyway.
cold water smacked directly into steve’s chest while another spray hit your legs.
the girls dissolved into hysterical laughter before taking off across the backyard.
“oh you’re done for now” steve gasped dramatically.
chaos erupted instantly.
you barely had time to put lilah safely beneath the umbrella before steve grabbed another water gun from the toy basket and sprinted after the older girls with mia toddling after him enthusiastically.
“dad! no fair!” jane shrieked between giggles.
you laughed so hard your stomach hurt as mia attempted to chase everyone with a tiny bucket instead, mostly splashing herself in the process.
the backyard filled with noise.
little shrieks, splashing water, uncontrollable laughter.
steve scooped jane over his shoulder while she squealed dramatically, only for ellie to spray him directly in the face in revenge.
“traitor!” he coughed.
“mermaids stick together!” she declared proudly.
mia eventually crashed into your legs giggling breathlessly while steve stumbled over dramatically onto the grass like he’d been mortally wounded.
“tell my family i loved them” he groaned.
“we are your family” jane informed him.
he blinked up at her. “oh yeah.”
you laughed again, unable not to.
beneath the umbrella, lilah clapped her tiny hands excitedly at all the chaos unfolding around her, her little laugh carrying across the yard like music.
and steve, steve looked around at all of you with that same soft expression he got sometimes when he thought nobody noticed.
but you always noticed.
the look that said he still couldn’t quite believe this was real.
that after everything, every monster, every nightmare, every loss, somehow he’d ended up here.
alive, loved, surrounded by laughter.
his girls racing through the garden beneath golden sunlight while you stood nearby smiling at him like he hung the stars themselves.
steve harrington had once dreamed about a future that felt impossible now he was living inside it.
and honestly, he wouldn’t have traded a single second of it for the world.
-
eventually, after what steve dramatically referred to as “the great backyard war part three” all of you ended up back inside the house dripping water across the kitchen tiles.
the air conditioning hit your warm skin instantly, making all the girls sigh in relief as they shuffled through the house wrapped up in fluffy towels. jane and ellie were still bickering quietly under their breath after one of them had sprayed the other directly in the eye during the water gun fight.
“you did it on purpose” ellie accused while climbing onto one of the kitchen stools.
“did not.”
“did too.”
“did not.”
“girls” you warned gently, placing plates down on the table.
steve, meanwhile, was trying not to laugh while carrying lilah on his hip. “okay, okay. nobody committed any crimes. let’s all relax before i have to call the pool police.”
that earned a few reluctant giggles.
jane crossed her arms dramatically. “well she called me a cheating mermaid.”
“because you are one” ellie muttered.
“am not!”
steve gasped loudly. “whoa. hey. we do not accuse fellow mermaids in this household.”
you snorted as steve sat lilah into her booster seat before leaning over to whisper loudly to the older girls, “for the record, i think both of you are highly respectable mermaids.”
that finally broke the tension completely.
within seconds they were both laughing again like the argument had never happened in the first place.
kids really were funny like that. one minute the world was ending, the next they were giggling over sandwich crusts.
you and steve had thankfully made lunch the night before, so all you had to do was pull the sandwiches from the fridge while the girls practically inhaled them.
mia sat happily swinging her legs under the chair while eating her sandwich with absolute concentration, somehow managing to get mayonnaise on her cheek almost immediately.
lilah mostly picked at hers before stealing bits of everyone else’s instead.
steve looked personally offended when she reached for his.
“wow,” he whispered dramatically. “betrayed by my own child.”
lilah simply shoved half his sandwich into her mouth anyway.
“yeah, okay,” he sighed. “that’s fair.”
for a few blissfully calm minutes, the kitchen quieted.
you leaned against the counter sipping your drink while steve sat beside the girls still damp from the pool, hair curling slightly at the ends from the water. he looked exhausted in the best way possible.
happy exhausted.
the kind that came from a full life.
then suddenly, music.
faint at first.
then unmistakable.
every single head snapped up instantly.
the ice cream truck.
“ice cream!” jane practically screamed.
“oh my god, shoes, shoes!” ellie yelled.
chaos exploded again immediately.
steve nearly knocked his chair over standing up so fast. “wallet. where’s my wallet?”
“by the fruit bowl!” you laughed.
the girls scrambled around trying to shove slides onto wet feet while steve darted around the kitchen searching dramatically despite you literally telling him exactly where his wallet was.
“dad, hurry!” jane whined from the front door.
“i’m moving as fast as i can!”
“you’re moving old!”
“excuse me?” steve gasped.
you could barely stop laughing as you scooped mia into your arms while steve grabbed lilah against his chest, all six of you rushing out of the house like the ice cream truck might disappear forever if you weren’t fast enough.
the summer air wrapped around all of you again instantly, warm and golden as the familiar tune echoed down the street.
the girls were practically bouncing.
when you finally reached the truck, steve immediately folded under the pressure of four very excited daughters staring up at him hopefully.
“get whatever you want” he declared grandly.
you raised an eyebrow. “whatever?”
“we survived combat today. we earned this.”
“you mean the water guns?”
“war changes people.”
you laughed softly while jane and ellie immediately ordered the most ridiculous oversized ice creams imaginable, both nearly bigger than their faces.
mia and lilah shared a little tub together, mostly because they still didn’t quite understand the importance ice cream seemed to hold for the rest of the family yet.
though judging by the way mia’s eyes widened after her first bite, she was getting there quickly.
steve got some giant chocolate monstrosity covered in whipped cream that immediately started melting all over his hands.
“terrible choice” you informed him.
“excellent choice” he corrected before offering you a bite anyway.
you all wandered back home sticky and smiling, settling onto the outdoor couches beneath the shade while the girls happily devoured their treats.
jane somehow managed to get ice cream all over her nose, ellie had chocolate on her chin, mia looked like she'd been ambushed by melting strawberry syrup.
and steve, you stared at him in disbelief.
“how do you even get ice cream in your hair?”
he blinked innocently while lilah giggled beside him.
“natural talent.”
“you’re unbelievable.”
you eventually disappeared into the kitchen searching for wipes while everyone complained dramatically about being sticky.
“mom!” jane yelled. “dad touched me with ice cream hands!”
“because you sprayed me earlier!” steve defended.
your laughter echoed through the house as you returned with wipes, immediately getting to work cleaning tiny faces and sticky fingers while steve attempted, and failed, to wipe whipped cream out of his own hair.
you reached over with a fond sigh. “come here, disaster man.”
he leaned toward you obediently while you cleaned his hair carefully, his grin softening as he looked at you.
there was so much love in moments like these.
the rest of the day passed slowly and perfectly.
more swimming, more splashing, more sunlight shimmering across the pool while the girls invented increasingly dramatic mermaid storylines.
eventually mia and lilah crashed hard from exhaustion, both falling asleep curled up beside you for their naps while steve carried jane and ellie upstairs after they started arguing again.
dinner that night was steve’s pasta, the one all the girls swore tasted better than restaurants even though steve insisted he was “just boilied noodles.”
the kitchen filled with warmth and chatter while the girls talked over each other excitedly about absolutely everything.
then came movie night. which apparently, according to your daughters, could only ever mean one thing.
“barbie!” they all cheered together.
even lilah clapped despite definitely not understanding what was happening.
you built a giant blanket nest in the living room while steve carried bowls of popcorn in dramatically like he was a waiter at some fancy cinema.
by the end of the movie, mia had fallen asleep sprawled across your lap, lilah was snoring softly against steve’s chest, and even jane and ellie were starting to droop sleepily against the cushions.
getting everyone into bed afterwards took forever.
extra water, extra hugs, one more story, checking for monsters even though there hadn’t been monsters in years.
finally though, the house quieted.
the kind of quiet only parents really understood. earned quiet.
you and steve showered together quickly, mostly just washing chlorine and sunscreen from your skin while trying not to wake yourselves up again completely.
and now steve sat shirtless on the edge of the bed while you rubbed aloe vera carefully across the bright red burn stretching over his shoulders and back.
“i warned you” you murmured knowingly.
“mm” he hummed.
“multiple times.”
“you did.”
“and yet.”
“i got distracted.”
you laughed softly. “by what exactly?”
“you.”
your hands slowed slightly against his skin. he’d said it so simply, like it was obvious.
steve still had that ridiculous grin on his face too, the one he’d been wearing almost all evening.
you narrowed your eyes playfully. “why are you smiling like that?”
instead of answering immediately, steve turned slightly and leaned to kiss you softly.
your heart melted exactly the same way it always did.
when he pulled back, he rested his forehead lightly against yours.
“thank you” he murmured quietly.
you smiled a little. “for the aloe?”
he shook his head immediately, eyes softer than summer rain.
“not for that” he whispered.
your chest tightened.
“then what?”
his smile turned almost shy somehow despite all these years together.
“for everything.”
your hand slid gently up to cup his cheek and steve immediately leaned into your touch, eyes closing for a brief second like he’d done a thousand times before.
you kissed the tip of his nose softly.
“i love you, harrington.”
his eyes opened again, full of warmth so deep it nearly stole your breath.
“love you more.”
later, curled together beneath the blankets with the air conditioning blasting cold through the room, steve wrapped himself around you despite complaining every single night about being too warm.
you laughed quietly when he pulled you closer anyway.
“thought you were hot.”
“i am” he mumbled sleepily against your shoulder.
“steve.”
“temperature wise too.”
you snorted softly.
outside, crickets chirped somewhere in the warm summer dark while the house settled around all of you peacefully.
four daughters asleep down the hallway, sunburn on steve’s shoulders, the faint smell of chlorine still lingering in the air and the overwhelming feeling that somehow, against all odds, life had turned out beautifully.
before sleep finally pulled him under, steve pressed one last kiss against your shoulder and murmured quietly into the dark,
childhood friends, angst, oblivious(?) steve, one-sided love
part one • part two • part three • part four • part five
—
“You know what Robin said to me today?” Steve asked, sprawled across the foot of your bed like he owned it. You were flipping through a magazine, only half listening to him, so you gave a weak hum that he took as his cue to continue. “She said, and I quote, ‘You go through girls faster than Eddie goes through guitar strings.’ And she was so serious, too!”
Steve seemed genuinely offended by her words, so it probably didn’t help that you nodded and scoffed in agreement. “I mean, is she wrong?”
“Of course she’s wrong!” He sat up abruptly and threw himself closer to you on the bed, plucking the magazine out of your hands. “He buys, like, 2 packs of strings a week.”
“How many dates did you go on last week?” You gave up on trying to get your magazine back and leaned against your headboard, arms crossed as you looked at Steve.
“Like 2?”
“And … the week prior?”
Steve glared at you, seeing where this was going.
“Another 2, but that’s not the point.”
“That’s exactly the point, Steve. The first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem.” The teasing in your voice was clear but your best friend had a knack for dramatics, so he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms like a little kid.
It was always like this.
Steve showing up at your window or front door at impossible hours with another story about another almost-relationship that collapsed before it started. Another night spent trying too hard to be charming because if he stopped talking for long enough, people tended to leave.
Right now he was staring at the ceiling with that familiar restless look in his eyes.
“You ever think,” he started carefully, “there’s maybe just something wrong with me?”
Your chest tightened instantly as the two of you finally got to the real reason he came over tonight.
“Steve—”
“No, seriously.” He sat up straighter now, elbows on his knees. “Like, what if people meet me and after a while they realize I’m actually kind of a disaster?”
“You are a disaster,” you said lightly.
He pointed at you. “See? Exactly.”
“But not in the way you mean.”
Steve laughed once, quiet and humorless, gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t know. Nancy left. Half the girls I take out look bored halfway through dinner. The other half just want…” He cut himself off, the implications settling in the air.
“You know what the worst part is?” he asked after a second. “I keep thinking if I can just get somebody to stay long enough, maybe they’ll finally tell me what’s wrong with me so I can fix it.”
Your heart ached so violently it almost made you angry.
The way he said things like that so casually now, like he genuinely believed love was something people earned by becoming easier to tolerate. It affected you more than it should.
“There’s nothing wrong with you.”
Steve immediately rolled his eyes.
“There she is.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You always say stuff like that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Because you’re biased.”
Your jaw tightened slightly. “I’m not biased.”
Steve looked over at you then, giving you that familiar smile that somehow made everything worse.
“You’ve known me since we were six,” he said. “You kinda have to love me.”
The words hit like a slap because you’d heard them before. You know he didn’t mean them cruelly, but they still sat heavy in your chest. He said it so easily. With so much certainty. Like your love for him wasn’t a choice you made every single day despite how badly it hurt sometimes.
You tried to laugh it off anyway.
“That’s not how that works.”
“It kinda is,” he teased, bumping your socked foot with his. “You’re like genetically programmed to be on my side.”
You stared at him for a second too long. Steve didn’t notice, and honestly, he never did.
Instead he stood, wandering toward your bedroom window restlessly before pushing it open. Summer air drifted in warm and thick.
“You know what I think?” he said. “I think maybe I missed my chance.”
“With what?”
“With all of it.” He shrugged one shoulder. “The whole love thing.”
You let out a soft incredulous laugh. “Steve, you’re twenty.”
“Yeah, I’m ancient.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He leaned against the window frame now, face softer in the moonlight. “I mean, maybe some people are just the temporary person, y’know?”
You hated when he talked like this. The worst part was that everyone else only saw the version of Steve that performed confidence so well it almost looked real.
They didn’t see this side of him. The boy who stayed awake until three in the morning wondering why nobody chose him. The boy who looked genuinely startled anytime someone was kind to him. The boy who wanted love so badly it was practically bleeding out of him.
The boy you’d fallen in love with 10 years ago, before you really even knew what love was.
And maybe that was why it hurt so much to sit here and love him while he searched for it everywhere except the one place it had always been.
“You’re not temporary,” you said quietly.
Steve smiled again, dismissively.
“See?” he said gently. “That’s what I mean. You don’t count.”
Something inside you cracked so quietly you weren’t even sure he heard it.
Steve kept talking after that.
You answered where you could, but the words kept echoing anyway.
You don’t count.
In his head, your love wasn’t real because it had always existed. To him, you were just another part of Hawkins he took for granted that would still be there tomorrow.
Eventually Steve glanced toward the clock on your nightstand and sighed.
“I should probably go before your mom starts thinking I live here.”
You forced a smile. “Pretty sure she already does.”
“Fair.”
He grabbed his jacket from your desk chair before pausing in front of you.
For a second, his expression softened and you thought maybe he was finally going to see you.
Instead he reached down and squeezed your shoulder affectionately.
“Thanks for listening to me spiral again.”
Anytime, you almost said automatically. But suddenly the thought exhausted you.
So instead, you just nodded.
Steve frowned slightly at your wordless reply.
“You okay?”
The terrifying thing was that he sounded genuinely concerned.
You swallowed hard and looked away first.
“Yeah,” you lied softly. “Just tired.”
And because Steve Harrington had never once believed he could be the reason someone was hurting, he accepted the answer immediately.
—
this is just gonna be a short lil fic, maybe 3-5 parts, that i’ll update in between Off the Record updates (:
i miss my 80s boyfriend, steve harrington, and will do all i can to keep his presence alive🙂↕️
SO HIGH SCHOOL MASTERLIST
steve harrington x fem!reader
summary: you’re jonathan byers’s best friend. you live in hawkins, indiana, and you know everyone in the small town. you work two jobs to help your mom with bills while also managing to be the top of your classes. everything is normal until the day will byers goes missing, and the world as you know it is flipped upside down. and because of that, you form an unlikely friendship with the ‘king’ of your high school, steve harrington.
tags/warnings: steve harrington x fem!reader, use of y/n, mostly canon-compliant reader insert (maybe a few minor changes here or there), swearing, fluff, angst, eventual smut, slow burn, enemies to friends to ??? to lovers, seasons 1-5, mentions of child abandonment/neglect, mentions of dead parents, minor eddie munson x fem!reader, reader lowkey has attachment/abandonment issues, minor miscommunication, i hate murray bauman, writing might be shit idk.
masterlist !
wattpad link , ao3 link
–
PART ONE – tell me ‘bout the first time you saw me
chapter one
chapter two
chapter three
PART TWO – you know how to ball, i know aristotle
chapter four
chapter five
chapter six
chapter seven
chapter eight
PART THREE – are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me?
chapter nine
chapter ten
chapter eleven
chapter twelve
chapter thirteen
PART FOUR – i want to find you in a crowd just to hide from you
chapter fourteen
chapter fifteen
chapter sixteen
chapter seventeen
chapter eighteen
chapter nineteen
chapter twenty
PART FIVE – no one’s ever had me, not like you
EPILOGUE – you knew what you wanted and, boy, you got her
–
a/n: this series was originally posted on wattpad on christmas 2025, and i’m writing the last few chapters right now so i thought this was the best time to start posting it on here + ao3! idk i hope you guys like it. and don't worry, this series is basically completely written so i will still be focusing on writing other fics while posting this! more spidey steve is coming i promise you all.
⭒ ❪ ⩇⩇:⩇⩇ ❫ ﹕ your future child ends up in your timeline and cause chaos.
𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 pre relationship, f!reader. kind of enemies to lovers (zoro) slight angst (usopp) ノ 5,711 words
⤳ kazuki is 4, koro is 11, nala is 7, heaven is 14
₍^. .^₎⟆ ﹕ if you have the feeling you've read this one before, it's because you probably did... i "revamped" this one from my old account (lolasky)
MONKEY D. LUFFY
he’d be beyond confused when he saw the little boy—not just in appearance, but in the same restless energy he carried. it was like looking at a younger, softer reflection of himself. when he realized, truly accepted, that the boy was his son, the crew didn’t even need confirmation—the resemblance was undeniable, he couldn’t let him go. no logic, no warnings, nothing could convince him to return the boy to his timeline.
the straw hat crew had just docked at an island to grab some supplies before getting back to sailing.
“okay, so, sanji and i are going to get some food,” you said, waiting as sanji emerged from the kitchen, a crumpled list in hand and a cigarette dangling lazily between his fingers.
“robin and i are going shopping!” nami exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. “are you sure you don’t wanna come with us instead… with him…?” she said, nodding toward the blonde cook, who was busy lighting up another cigarette, his sharp focus somehow making him even more impossible to ignore.
“i wanna go too!” luffy came charging up the stairs and across the deck, bare feet pounding against the wood, hat tilted dangerously as if the sheer speed of his enthusiasm might fling it into the sea. his eyes glittered with the promise of an adventure, mouth already open wide enough to call dibs on the best food at the market.
“you. stay.” nami snapped, her patience wearing thin. “we’ll be quick and don’t need any trouble. you stay with zoro and watch the ship.”
luffy’s lip wobbled into a pout so dramatic it almost seemed rehearsed, his arms flopping to his sides like he’d been betrayed by the very world. his eyes slid toward the swordsman, silently plotting ways to irritate him until boredom broke.
“don’t even think about it.” zoro’s voice rumbled low, already half-asleep as he stretched against the mast. one eye cracked open to send a glare in luffy’s direction. “i’m sleeping. you make noise, i slice you in three.”
luffy simply slumped, grumbling to himself, realizing zoro’s patience was not something he could push today.
nami and robin strolled out of another shop, arms weighed down by bulging bags, their voices light as they discussed fabrics, books, and the other treasures tucked away in their loot.
neither noticed the small shadow weaving through the crowd until it collided with them.
the boy stumbled backward, hitting the ground with a small gasp.
“oh, i’m sorry, little one…” robin murmured, dropping her bags and kneeling in front of the boy, offering her hand. but the sight of his quivering lips and the wet sheen forming in his eyes made her stomach tighten with worry.
without hesitation, he lifted his arms, asking silently to be picked up. the vulnerability in the gesture made her chest tighten, and she scooped him into her embrace with gentle ease.
“where are your parents, little boy?” nami asked softly, watching as he settled against robin’s chest, his small body relaxing a little.
“and… what’s your name?” the archaeologist added, her voice calm, trying to ease him.
but the boy’s lower lip trembled harder now, and when he finally spoke, his voice cracked into something fragile and aching.
“you… you don’t rwemember my name, aunt lobin?”
nami blinked, her brow knitting in confusion. robin froze, staring down at the boy in her arms, feeling a strange tug of recognition. up close, the resemblance was unavoidable. the tousled black hair, the wide, round eyes too large for his face, the exact shape of his pout. nami’s chest squeezed in horror as recognition struck like lightning. why the hell does this kid look so much like luffy?
“okay… so… how about we look for your parents, huh? and you can tell me your name, ‘cause i love hearing you say it!” robin suggested, her voice soft but playful. the boy’s expression brightened instantly, and the grin that split across his face was so achingly familiar that nami had to cough into her fist to cover her shock.
“can we go to the shwip? mama and dada thewe!” he exclaimed, grabbing both women’s hands and tugging them along with surprising strength.
nami and robin exchanged glances, baffled. how did he even know they had a ship? and why would his parents be there?
“so, sweetheart, tell me your name?” robin asked again, trying to keep her voice gentle.
he stopped suddenly in his tracks, puffing out his chest as if to declare himself to the world. “i’m kazuki! monkey d. kazuki!”
nami’s bag nearly slipped from her fingers. both women stared at him, mouths agape, eyes wide, disbelief written all over their faces.
“you’re who?!” they blurted almost simultaneously, panic threading through their voices.
as soon as the girls got back to the sunny, they were met by the rest of the crew—all except for sanji and you, who apparently hadn’t returned yet.
“who’s that kid?” usopp demanded, his voice teetering between irritation and panic as he tried—and failed—to pry the boy’s tiny hands off his face. kazuki had latched onto his nose like it was a lifeline, giggling with the kind of glee that sent the sniper into full dramatics. “seriously—get him off me before he rips it off!”
“where the hell did this brat even come from?” zoro grumbled from where he leaned against the railing, arms crossed. his glare deepened as the boy turned on him next, wide eyes shining with something suspiciously affectionate.
“uncle zoro,” kazuki chirped, voice wobbling with a hint of sadness, “whewe is dada?”
zoro’s scowl faltered for just a second. “...how would i know, kid?” he muttered, but his tone was rougher than usual, less biting.
before anyone could press him further, footsteps thundered across the deck, and luffy appeared, scratching the back of his head. “i’m so hungry! when’s sanji—” he stopped dead.
it wasn’t just the messy hair, the big round eyes, the pout, or even the wide, innocent grin kazuki offered—it was the energy, the very way he moved. he was luffy through and through, just quieter, shaped by his mother’s calm influence.
once the crew saw the two together, the pieces clicked, one by one. three blinks later, jaws collectively dropped.
“oh, hey kid!” luffy greeted, entirely casual, completely unaware of the shock around him.
“dada!” kazuki squealed, wriggling out of usopp’s grasp and hurtling across the deck. he crashed into luffy’s chest with enough force to nearly knock the hat off his head.
luffy caught him easily, still blinking in confusion. “eh? dada?”
the deck erupted. nami’s shriek mingled with usopp’s wail of disbelief, zoro cursed under his breath, brook nearly fainted, franky shouted “suuuper?!” as if that could explain anything, and chopper was running in circles squealing in a high-pitched panic.
and through it all, luffy just laughed, hugging the boy closer as if the word “dada” were the funniest, most wonderful sound he’d ever heard.
a few minutes passed, and luffy and his son were already running around the sunny, playing tag and laughing. zoro, chopper, usopp, brook, and franky stayed frozen, still processing what they were seeing.
“you know, kazuki is too old to be in this… uhm… timeline…” nami whispered to robin, trying to wrap her head around it.
“i know. how can luffy even have a son?” robin murmured, eyes following the two as they tumbled and giggled across the deck.
“robin!” nami’s voice snapped her back to reality. “i’m seriously worried! and we don’t even know who his mother is.” one luffy was enough trouble—two? a mini version of him running loose? nightmare material.
“we don’t even know how he got here in the first place,” robin sighed, watching the chaos with a calm exterior that barely masked her concern.
“we’re back!” you announced, setting some bags down and trying to sound casual, though the yelling and laughter made it impossible to ignore the scene.
“wow! you took longer than us,” nami said, stepping closer. “what happened?”
“well… sanji decided to pick a fight over a fish…” you replied casually, though your eyes immediately went to the scene unfolding. at first, the chaos seemed… normal, well, for the straw hats. but then you saw a small child running across the deck, chasing your captain, and reality hit. “who’s that kid?”
“long story…” nami said, smiling innocently, though her eyes twinkled with amusement.
“did you kidnap a kid?”
“what? no! it’s not—it isn’t—”
“mama!” a childlike voice called from deeper inside the sunny, and before you could react, kazuki came running toward you, arms outstretched, grinning like the happiest little whirlwind.
and at that moment, you realized: okay, this had officially gone way too far.
“so, this kid, kazuki, is luffy’s son with… you?!” usopp tried to piece it all together, eyes wide and panicked. you hummed an innocent “yes,” and his brain seemed to combust on the spot. “too much information, too much information!” he groaned, clutching his head dramatically as he collapsed to the floor.
“when did you and luffy… make a baby?” zoro asked, perpetually confused as ever, his brows furrowed.
“don’t be stupid, mosshead. this kid is clearly from the future,” sanji said, flicking smoke into the wind like it explained everything.
“thanks, sanji.” you smiled at him, and he looked at you helplessly, as if love itself had frozen him in place.
a tiny tug on your shirt pulled your attention down to kazuki. “is something wrong, little one?”
“mama, i wanna sleep…” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, blinking slowly, and stretching his arms toward you. even zoro’s hard exterior seemed to soften, hearts across the crew melting in an instant.
“then let’s sleep, huh?” you whispered, scooping him up gently. your hand caressed his cheek and tangled in his hair as he nuzzled into your chest.
luffy bolted forward, eyes wide at the sight of his child in your arms. “what? don’t tell me you’re sleepy already, kid!” he pouted, watching kazuki yawn. “no, let’s play more!” he bounced with boundless excitement.
“luffy, he’s tired,” you hissed, keeping your voice low, hoping to calm the tiny whirlwind in your arms.
“but i wanna play more with my son!” the captain insisted, stomping his feet like a child himself.
“you played enough, don’t you think?” you murmured, starting toward the sunny’s quarters, luffy trailing you, pleading for more playtime. “now he wants to sleep with his mama.”
“but—”
“mama, dada, let’s sleep, pwease?” kazuki’s sleepy voice cut through, soft and irresistible. luffy’s shoulders slumped, finally giving in.
“sure, baby.” you pecked his forehead gently. “but your dada isn’t joining us until he baths.”
luffy gasped, clutching his chest. “how can you betray the dada of your child like that?” he whined, reluctantly following you down the hall.
“yeah, i guess they settled pretty quickly into this whole life of mama and dada,” nami commented, grinning at the scene with amusement.
“i can’t believe this idiot became a father before me,” usopp muttered, still sprawled on the floor, shaking his head.
“how do you know that?” chopper asked, curious.
“well… maybe all of you are already parents in the future…” the simple sentence was enough to spark a flurry of reactions from zoro, usopp, and sanji, each silently calculating and panicking.
“hey, kazuki! don’t sleep right now!” zoro barked, suddenly protective in his own way.
“yeah! tell me if your great-uncle usopp gave you little friends to play with, huh?” usopp shouted, scrambling toward the tiny family with all the frantic energy he could muster.
“surely i’m the only one qualified enough to even get a spouse!” sanji yelled at zoro, punching him lightly in frustration as he tried to extract the precious information only zoro could provide.
RORONOA ZORO
he’d be as confused as luffy, stubbornly denying every word that kid said. i mean, just because a child had green hair, an almost unhealthy obsession with swords, the guts to insult him, and the sassiest attitude he’d ever encountered—that automatically made him his son? no way. and yet… slowly, almost reluctantly, he could feel himself growing accustomed to the child’s presence. to the little whirlwind of defiance, courage, and mischief. and beneath it all, to the undeniable truth that this tiny human… was a part of him, made with you.
another island came into view for the straw hats, promising a chance to dock and stock up on supplies. franky’s excitement was palpable; he practically vibrated with anticipation. on the way, a few pirates foolishly tried to challenge the crew—never a smart decision. the sunny took a few minor hits, and both usopp and franky were busy patching things up, trying to keep their home afloat.
chopper and you didn’t need anything; the medical supplies were plenty for the moment, though he still wanted to step out. nami went off to see if she could snag something she liked, and luffy wandered off in search of a nice restaurant. zoro, robin, brook, and you stayed on the ship.
zoro and you had a love-hate dynamic. friend, yes, but the sassiest, most infuriating man you’d ever met. he got under your skin in ways you didn’t always want to admit—and sometimes you just wanted to throttle him.
some time passed. the crew returned, but you remained on deck, head resting on robin’s legs as she soaked up the sun while you lost yourself in your book.
“hey… uhm… i didn’t know zoro and you were… together…” usopp said awkwardly, stepping toward you. robin coughed in disbelief beside you.
“we’re not,” you snapped, standing up with irritation. “what is that stupid vegetable slicer saying now?”
“no! nothing! it’s just… franky and i found a kid… and he’s… claiming to be your son…” usopp gagged on the words.
“MY WHAT?!” zoro yelled, followed by a violent coughing fit.
“where is he?” you demanded, and usopp pointed toward the ship’s entrance. the green-haired boy stood there timidly, eyes scanning the ship with quiet curiosity. you bent down slightly to meet him at eye level. “hey, kid,” you said softly, offering a smile. the boy relaxed almost immediately.
“hi, mom…” he whispered, still shy.
“why don’t you tell us your name so we can meet the others? then you can explain what’s going on. do you know what’s going on?” you asked gently, watching him avert his gaze.
“something like that…” he mumbled, fidgeting with his fingers. “my name is roronoa koro.” your eyes widened, surprise slipping through your composure.
“so you’re really the kid of that… stupid man,” you murmured, and he nodded solemnly.
“i swear, he gets more likeable in the future,” koro added, earning a soft, warm giggle from you. just seeing his mother calmed him.
“i’d rather see it myself,” you said, offering your hand. he took it instinctively, and together you walked toward the rest of the crew.
as you approached, disbelief rippled through everyone. zoro’s jaw dropped—how could he even have a child? with… you?
the boy gasped, eyes locking on the swords at zoro’s side. he ran forward, trying to touch them, but the swordsman held him back firmly.
“what do you think you’re doing?” zoro demanded, keeping the kid at bay.
“do you use them often?” the boy asked, curiosity shining in his wide eyes.
“of course i do. why wouldn’t i?”
“well… currently, the three swords are untouched, held by a support in the living room’s wall…” little roronoa said, reaching for them desperately. “let me see it!”
“no, you won’t touch it!” zoro insisted, holding his ground.
a loud crash echoed across the deck as a tray of snacks splattered on the floor. sanji stood frozen, staring at the green-haired whirlwind in front of him.
“am i seeing this right?” the blond cook’s eyes went wide. “why the hell is there a little mosshead?”
“uncle sanji!” the boy ran into the cook’s arms, grinning.
“you like him? he’s a stupid cook!” zoro muttered, momentarily lost for words.
“and so are you,” koro snapped instantly as sanji laughed, eyes glossy with happy tears.
apparently—as ironic as it may sound—the perverted cook was his favourite uncle.
“seriously… i can’t believe you had—well, you’re gonna have kids with this idiot,” he said, glancing at you.
“trust me… i have no reason to,” you replied with a smirk.
“my favorite boy! tell me, kid, what do you want to eat? i can make anything for you!” sanji said, leading koro toward the kitchen. luffy followed quietly, until sanji shouted at him, and he scurried away.
trying to know more about him and where he came from, zoro and you sat down with koro. you were leaning against the wall, koro perched by your side, and zoro sat across from you, arms crossed but eyes curious.
“so, how did you come here?” you asked gently, tilting your head toward your son.
“i don’t know. last thing i remember, i was sleeping… and then i ended up in that weird place,” your son explained, frowning. “the weirdest thing is… my sister was next to me… why isn’t she here too?” confusion colored his voice.
“wait… not only one, but two kids with the mosshead? what did i do to deserve such punishment?” you muttered, rubbing your temples.
“ha ha, like it’s my dream to have kids with you,” zoro hissed, smirking in that infuriating way he always did.
“not only two, but three. you’re pregnant,” you gagged, staring at him.
“three…” you whispered, disbelief lacing every word. “oi, what’s your thing? three earrings, three swords, three kids… are you obsessed or something?” you snapped at zoro, who only kept that smug, eat-shitting grin.
“might be my lucky number,” he replied, that infuriating grin still in place, while you died internally. “wait, you have a sister… what’s her… name?”
“the one you fought mom to name her. kuina.” koro’s face lit up instantly at the mention of his sister, love and pride shining in his little eyes. he really adored his family.
that annoying grin zoro usually wore softened into a genuine smile, and somehow, it made you smile too. seeing koro know and cherish the past of both his parents filled you with warmth.
“lord, please give me strength…” you sighed, glancing at your son. “well, i know it can be confusing not to call me mom, so you can keep it if you want…”
“and you like it…” your son’s knowing eyes twinkled, understanding you too well. no matter what timeline he was in, you’d always be his favorite person.
“and i like it…” you said softly, ruffling his short green hair. “okay, i’ll try to find a way to send you back to your life. future me and… zoro… might be worried.” you pecked his forehead gently and walked away.
“pleeease, let me see it! mom never lets me…” the little boy pouted, reaching out toward his father as soon as you were out of sight. “please, dad!”
that word. that kid.
“fine. but only if you tell me some things. it’ll be our… little dad-and-son secret,” zoro suggested, knowing exactly that koro wouldn’t refuse.
“deal!” the boy said excitedly, eyes sparkling as he watched his father draw wado ichimonji from its sheath. it was the safest out of the three.
koro inspected the sword carefully, his green eyes wide and bright like a starry sky. he was just like his father—a born swordsman, even though his mother had forbidden him from using one. zoro watched him with amusement, secretly proud of the little swordsman in front of him.
“so… did i become the greatest swordsman?” zoro asked, practicing a stance with the tiny swordwatching his son practice with his sword.
“yes. you defeated mihawk,” koro replied simply due to his concentration to something else.
zoro muttered to himself a few things, celebrating quietly, feeling like the strongest man alive.
“did future me teach you well how to use a sword?” he asked.
“sure thing! even though mom’s rule says i can’t touch a sword until sixteen, you started teaching me two years ago,” the boy replied, smiling proudly.
“and… last thing… uhm… did future me ever tell you how i got your mom?” the swordsman asked, hesitation creeping into his voice as he caught the knowing look koro shot at him.
“hate her my ass,” the roronoa kid muttered.
“hey!” zoro barked, flustered, a mix of amusement and exasperation flashing across his face.
GOD USOPP
the moment he spotted you coming back with a child, his first thought was that you’d kidnapped her. but as soon as his eyes met the little girl’s, something softened inside him—she was too precious, too genuine to be part of some cruel joke. when she shyly introduced herself, he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. a warmth settled in his chest, and for the first time, he allowed himself to imagine it: the idea of being the father to a little girl this sweet, this full of life, was… perfect. he welcomed her with open arms, silently promising to protect her and savor every moment of being her dad.
the crew was preparing to set sail. the island they had docked at was tiny, offering little more than a few stalls and a handful of locals. as soon as they had gathered everything they could—or that the island could provide—they’d be back to the open sea.
yet, you wandered through the place, letting your eyes linger over anything that caught your interest. if something struck your fancy, you’d keep it; if not, you moved on.
you were standing at a fruit stall, listening half-heartedly to the seller babbling about some rare golden fruit he had supposedly brought from a distant island. you knew it was all sales talk, and your attention had drifted entirely to your favorite fruit, its vibrant colors and perfect shape making your mouth water. you didn’t notice the little girl running past, screaming.
“dada? dada!” the girl cried, her voice sharp with fear and panic.
you turned, catching sight of her. tears streaked her face, small fists flailing as some passersby hesitated to help while others ignored her entirely. but the moment she saw you, her eyes lit up like she’d found a lifeline. she ran toward you with desperate speed.
“mama!” she clutched at you, refusing to let go.
“oh! uhm… hey, baby… i-i’m not your mother, kid…” you tried gently to pry her arms off, but her grip was iron-strong.
“yes, you are! you’re my mama! dada always talks about you and shows pictures of you both! you are my mama!” she yelled, voice trembling but insistent, giving you no space to argue.
“okay, okay… let me see you, alright?” you murmured softly, coaxing her. slowly, she loosened her hold, tilting her face up to meet yours. she was beautiful, with wide, sparkling eyes, and somehow she reminded you of someone familiar.
“first, tell me your name, huh?” you knelt down, cradling her tiny face in your hands.
“nala…” the girl whispered, looking at you with awe and trust that made your chest ache.
“and where are your parents?” you asked gently, concern threading through your voice.
“you’re here!” she insisted, pouting when you shook your head. “you’ve met me! and dada might… be on the ship?”
“what?”
“the ship, mommy! can we go there, please?” her eyes sparkled, full of hope and longing.
“fine…” you sighed, unable to resist her earnestness. she stretched her arms up to you, pressing as close as she could. you scooped her up, holding her securely as you headed toward the sunny, the little girl’s small weight warm against you.as she could. you scooped her up, holding her securely as you headed toward the sunny, the little girl’s small weight waras she could. you scooped her up, holding her securely as you headed toward the sunny, the little girl’s small weight warm against you.
“uhm… who’s… that girl?” usopp asked, the first to notice you carrying a child in your arms.
“dada!” nala’s tiny voice rang out, and before you could react, she wriggled free and ran straight into her father’s arms. he just stood there, frozen, eyes wide with shock.
“he’s your father?!” you yelled, just as stunned as usopp.
“yes! and you’re my mama! and i’m so happy to be here!” nala exclaimed, then spun around to hug usopp, who quickly wrapped his arms around her, caught between surprise and delight.
nami appeared on deck, frowning in confusion. “who—”
“our daughter,” you said simply, almost too casually. it was confusing, messy, and complicated—but somehow, in that moment, you just accepted it.
late at night, nala wanted her father to sleep with both of you. when you explained that usopp had to sleep in the boy’s quarters, she sulked for a moment, but eventually accepted. it was easy to see how attached she was to you—like a shadow, or an extension of yourself.
“okay, so… i can stay just until you fall asleep, or else your mother throws me outta the ship,” usopp said casually, smiling as he climbed into the bed.
“right! i want mommy anyways!” nala nuzzled her face into the crook of your neck, hugging you tightly.
“see! i’m the favorite, hah!” you teased, earning a small sulk and crossed arms from the sniper.
“that’s not fair, nala!” he whined, voice half-hearted and defeated.
right after, you felt something wet on your neck and heard soft sniffles.
“nala, baby, why are you crying?” you gently prodded her to see her face. her eyes were red and glossy, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“dada… are you mad at me?” the little girl asked, voice small and trembling. her father’s eyes widened in surprise.
“no, no, i could never, love,” he whispered, rushing to scoop her into his arms and calm her.
“i just wanna spend more time with mama…” her voice was muffled against his chest.
“why is that? i’ll always be with you, huh?” you tried to soothe her, but she only sobbed harder.
“i just have my dada now, mama. you’re not there. i wanna spend more time with you because… when i get back, you won’t be there…” she whimpered. you glanced at usopp, whose panic mirrored your own.
“hey, come to mama…” you called softly. nala’s little arms shot around you, hugging you fiercely. “don’t think about that, okay? i’m here for you right now.” you pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, brushing away her tears. “and i won’t leave your side until it’s your time to go back to your life.”
she stared into your eyes, memorizing every inch of your face as if to hold onto it forever. “now, let’s sleep so tomorrow we can enjoy more!” she listened with a small, hopeful smile.
“night, momma. night, dada!” nala pecked both your cheeks in turn, then closed her eyes, waiting for her nightly kisses.
you and usopp chuckled softly, leaning in to press your lips to her cheeks, and she giggled happily, snuggling closer.
“night, baby girl,” usopp sang softly, caressing her hair.
you closed your eyes, settling comfortably to sleep, while usopp stayed true to his word. though he knew sleep would be fleeting tonight, the thought of having a daughter with the woman of his dreams—while she wasn’t here—kept his heart racing.
BLACK LEG SANJI
the moment he saw a little girl searching frantically for her parents, he froze. her wide eyes, the way she scanned the crowd, the little quirks in her expressions—he could see pieces of you in her, especially that smile… the one he adored more than anything. but confusion hit him like a wave. but then, she introduced herself. he… he fainted. had his dream… really just come true?
you were in the kitchen with sanji. since the others had gone to explore the new island, someone had to stay and watch the ship, and you’d offered. the cook, of course, hadn’t let the opportunity slip by. “i’ll be with you,” he said, bowing slightly, “after all, i can’t let a delicate flower like you wander alone in an unfamiliar place, can i?”
at that moment, sanji was in his element, cooking as always. he was preparing some kind of dessert he refused to reveal, only grinning whenever you peeked over his shoulder.
“sanji, are you sure this doesn’t have anything i’m allergic to?” you asked cautiously, trying to glimpse some of the ingredients.
“please, my swan,” he replied smoothly, without missing a beat, “i’m not some inexperienced chef, am i? i would never cook anything that could harm you. now, please, take a seat and prepare yourself—i’m almost done.”
you sat, anticipation bubbling in your chest. a moment later, sanji turned and placed a plate before you, the dessert a riot of colors and delicate shapes. “et voilà! hope you like it!”
“i always appreciate your cooking,” you said sincerely, taking a small bite. your eyes rolled back in pleasure, the flavors perfect and comforting. having a sous chef like him in your crew was a blessing.
sanji, meanwhile, was frozen in awe. he could move mountains, face any danger, if it meant seeing that smile on your lips.
“excuse me!” an unfamiliar voice rang from the deck. instinctively, you and sanji both looked up.
“can’t believe i’m being interrupted…” you murmured, savoring another bite before following the cook to the deck.
there, a little girl awaited you. her blue dress was smudged with dirt, and you couldn’t help but wonder if she had fallen.
“can we help you?” sanji asked softly, crouching to meet her eyes.
“uhmm… yes…” she hesitated, voice barely above a whisper. “i know it might sound… unusual, but… my name is heaven, and… i’m your daughter…” she avoided your gaze, shuffling her feet.
a loud thump echoed beside you, and you turned just in time to see sanji collapse—fainted, utterly overwhelmed.
caught by a sudden headache, sanji slowly woke up. he found himself lying on a hammock… but wait, hadn’t he been on the deck? he rubbed his temple, trying to shake off the lingering fog. must’ve been a dream. not just any dream, though—a perfect one. probably the reason for this throbbing headache.
hearing faint voices echoing from the deck, he stumbled through the sunny, curiosity guiding him, until he reached the kitchen. and there they were—both you and the girl from his dream.
“what?” he mumbled, bewildered. heaven noticed him immediately and waved subtly to get your attention.
“oh, sanji, dear, come here!” you called, excitement bubbling in your voice. he couldn’t resist, though really… he never could. you always had that effect on him. “do you remember what heaven said?” you asked gently, leaning forward.
“uhm… she’s… our daughter…?” he said hesitantly, unsure if he was still dreaming or if reality had just become absurdly sweet.
“yess!” you squealed.
the girl watched, clearly amused. meeting her parents before they were even together, seeing her mother a little clueless, her father a little too flustered… in her timeline, they were completely in love, but here? it was chaotic and unpredictable, and she found it all rather entertaining.
“so it’s true! hah! i thought it was just a dream, but it’s real!” sanji’s eyes lit up as he squealed in delight, earning a bright smile from heaven.
“it’s… different to see you like that…” the girl pointed out, tilting her head. “you know… with your hair hiding one eye.”
“uhm…” he cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck. “it’s just… part of my style.”
“i like your curly brows, dad!” she said with a grin, and just hearing her call him that made his chest warm in a way only she could.
“okay, sanji, we’ve got—you're excited enough about knowing you have a daughter—” you started, but he cut you off immediately.
“with you! the most amazing woman i’ve ever had the pleasure to know!” he batted his lashes, flashing that signature wide smile.
“yeah… with me… but we need to figure out how to send her back to her timeline. she can’t stay here. future you and i might be worried… mainly you,” you explained, watching as he crouched to hug the girl. heaven’s face lit up at the gesture, clinging to him tightly.
“but she’s… our daughter! would you really do that?!” he sounded desperate, and you couldn’t help but groan.
“yeah… but only in the future! messing with time now could ruin everything. maybe we don’t even get together anymore,” you reminded him.
“okay, kid! see you in the future,” he said, turning to walk away—but then spun back instantly, running to cling to her again. “but… can we keep her for now until we find a way?”
“yeah! can i?” she asked, pouting and batting her lashes.
“fine! you didn’t even need to beg. what would i do if i didn’t keep you—throw you into the sea?” you said, incredulous.
“he’s the one more likely to get thrown…” heaven teased, pointing at sanji.
“hey!” he yelled, half laughing, half offended.
“let’s just wait for the crew and give them some good news,” you said, smiling softly, watching father and daughter start their own little chaotic bond right there on deck.
since you reached the end, i wanna ask your help... please? 🤕
i'm thinking of doing a 'freakcember' that'll start, well, in december! during the whole month, i'll write some fics based off kinks (since i couldn't prepare for kinktober)
i wanna ask you to drop some kinks and characters (or maybe if you wanna help some girl out a little more, other ideas for an event in december)
stating that i write for: one piece, jujutsu kaisen (not the students tho), kpop demon hunters, dc, marvel and now that i'm playing again, love and deepspace!
and since my requests are open, please tell if it's a request or idea for freakcember!
areudirty
theartofmadeline
pixelskylines
prguitarman
germansingergirl
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
romaincrisis
dailybridgerton
