Unfortunately while it’s fun to watch the World Cup and all the celebrations and good vibes going around. It is also important to remember that domestic violence rates in this country go up when England plays.
Research shows that when England loses a match domestic violence rates increase by 38% and 26% if they lose or draw. And given everything going on lately I’m sure racial hate crimes will also increase. Essex police are already putting up precautions in place.
People are gonna get pissed off their heads and that along with the us vs them mentality that football spurts on doesn’t exactly create a safe environment for others to be in.
So while this is a time for celebration we should all be mindful of what impact such an event has behind closed doors.
Linking to some resources:
National Domestic Abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247
Refuge (UK’s largest Domestic Abuse organisation)
Mankind (Supporting Male victims of Domestic Violence)
SARI (Stop Hate against Racism & Inequality)
Galop (LGBTQ+ anti abuse charity)
I hope everyone can have fun during all of this but that most importantly that people are safe.
NOTICE: As more and more fanfic writers are using generative AI for their works (you uncreative dweebs), I hereby swear on everything I hold dear that I have not and will NEVER use generative AI in ANY of my written work. Everything I post will be organically and creatively my own.
Signs of a heart attack are different for each gender yet we only really teach the male warning signs. Make sure you’re aware of both and spread it to as many other women as possible!
EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE TAKEN A CPR CLASS I have had to be that person who points out that the training videos ALWAYS frame the “male” symptoms as the default universal heart attack experience, while the “female” symptoms are framed as though they’re a deviation from the norm, rather than the primary symptom set that cis women experience.
ALSO: I just showed this post to my roommate, who is an MD at a clinic that specializes in care for the LGBT community in the Baltimore area. I asked her whether hormones were responsible for the difference in the “male/female” symptom arrays. I asked how that would apply to her trans patients (which, she treats a LOT of trans patients). She said, basically, that the longer you’ve taken testosterone the more likely you are to get the intense chest pressure and the arm pain, versus the upper back pressure and shortness of breath.
Obviously I am not a doctor myself, consult your own health care provider, etc.
Reblogging this comment because this is the FIRST TIME I’ve ever seen someone address what XYZ medical condition would look like in trans patients. Also this is partly why my great-grandma died: the (male) doctor dismissed her heart attack as basically indigestion, because she didn’t have the typical male symptoms.
you’re on the brink of death until zoro shows up and rescue you — or at least try, despite his terrible sense of direction.
reader's powers: ten shadows technique, inspired by megumi from jujutsu kaisen, allows you to summon shadowy spirit beasts through hand signs.
words count: 5.5k
warning and tags: blood, hurt/comfort, angst with fluff
zoro m.list || anime m.list || ao3 || ko-fi
The forest is thick. The air hangs heavy like it’s watching you bleed.
You lie in the dirt, your clothes soaked in red and sticky with sweat.
The sun filters weakly through the trees above, your vision blurring in and out of focus. Your limbs don’t answer anymore, not since the last fight. Not since they came for you.
“…Damn it,” you breathe out, lips cracked “Not yet…”
You don't want to die. Not here. Not alone.
Your fingers twitch.
You reach past the pain, past the fatigue, into your hand.
With your last bit of strength you pose your hands and whisper, “Come.”
The ground beneath you darkens unnaturally, a swirl of ink-black rising like mist.
From it steps a familiar shape: a hulking black dog with pale eyes and pointed ears, silent and alert.
“Shika…” you murmur “Find… someone. But not just anyone... Someone good... please.”
The dog tilts its head, as if to acknowledge your command, and then darts into the trees, a blur of shadow between trunks.
You exhale shakily. Then everything fades to black.
Somewhere else in the forest...
Zoro hates forests. Especially ones that all look the same in every direction.
“Left, I went left last time.” he mutters, turning right and ducking under a branch “...Or was that the other left?”
His swords shift at his hip as he walks, and his scowl deepens.
Nami’s gonna kill him if he’s not back by nightfall. Not that he cares much, he just hates the lecture.
Suddenly, the leaves rustle behind him. A low growl.
He whirls around, hand already on a blade and freezes.
A black dog stares at him from the shadows.
Not normal-black. This thing looks wrong, like it’s stitched out of smoke and silence.
Its eyes meet his.
Zoro tenses “What the hell are you?”
The dog doesn’t bark. It just turns and bolts into the trees, pausing once to glance back, like it’s expecting him to follow.
“…You want something?” Zoro mutters, narrowing his eyes “Tch. Great. Now I’m following a haunted mutt.”
Still, something gnaws at him. An instinct. A pull.
And against his better judgment, he follows.
Back at your location.
You don't know how long it’s been.
Your body feels like it’s part of the earth now... cold, numb, and heavy.
But then… footsteps. Crunching leaves. A shape above you, blocking the sun.
“…Hey. You alive?”
You groan weakly.
“Yeah, breathing." says a voice, rough, unimpressed “Barely.”
You manage to blink up.
A shadowed figure stands over you, green hair wild and spiked, swords glinting at his side.
His eye seem sharp and skeptical while he scan you like he's trying to solve a puzzle he didn't ask for.
The dog sits beside him, tail thumping once in satisfaction.
“Did you summon this thing or what?” he asks, jerking a thumb at the dog.
You swallow thickly “Yeah.”
“Huh.” Zoro scratches his head “Guess it found me instead of lunch.”
You almost laugh, but it turns into a cough.
“Don’t move,” he says, kneeling “You’re bleeding too much.”
“Thanks… for the observation…”
He snorts “You’re welcome. Anyway I didn't come here for this, I'm gonna leave now."
You try to move to stop him but fail "Wait, please help me. I... I'll give you my treasure once I'll get back on my ship."
He doesn't seem to care about the offer but he stops anyway, "...I could use that to distract Nami."
Then he turns to look at you and say "Deal. Now shut up and stop moving before you bleed out trying to be clever.”
You don’t fight him as he pulls off his coat and presses it against your wound.
You wince, biting your tongue, but his hands are steady. Rough, but careful.
“Name.” he says after a beat.
“…Y/N.”
“I’m Zoro. Swordsman. Not a nurse, so don’t expect miracles.”
“I wasn’t.” you mutter “Just… didn’t want to die alone.”
There’s silence.
Then “Well… tough luck. You found someone.”
The world sways, warm and rough and jostling.
You blink slowly, the trees overhead blurring with each step. Your body’s too heavy to move, but you feel arms holding you firm, steady, scarred.
“Hey. No sleeping.” Zoro’s voice grumbles near your ear “I didn’t drag your half-dead ass off the forest floor just for you to die on me now.”
You grunt softly, lips dry “Didn’t… drag. You’re carrying me.”
“Yeah, bridal style’s for fairy tales. You’re on my back. You bleed on my shirt, I’m dumping you in a river.”
You feel the muscles in his back flex as he hikes over a slope. His voice is casual, but there’s tension in it. Alert. Watching you too closely.
“I’ve lost a lot of blood,” you murmur “You think you can talk me out of dying?”
“I can try,” he says “I’m stubborn.”
“…You’re also lost.”
He trips slightly.
“I am not—”
“You’re moving in circles,” you croak “I’ve seen that mossy tree three times.”
There’s a pause.
Then, reluctantly “Shitty trees all look the same.”
You chuckle weakly, but wince as pain lances through your ribs. Zoro slows a little. His voice dips lower.
“…Who did that to you?” he asks “That wound wasn’t from some fall.”
You hesitate. The forest rustles around you, the only sound for a few heartbeats.
“People with uniforms,” you say finally “World Government dogs. They don’t like what I can do.”
“The shadows?”
You nod against his back.
“I didn’t attack anyone. I just exist. That’s enough for them.”
Zoro exhales through his nose “Tch. Bastards.”
He walks for a bit, stepping carefully over a log.
“You got a crew?” he asks suddenly.
You shake your head “No. Just the shadows.”
“…That’s a sad answer.”
“It’s true.”
“Still sad.”
You smirk a little, even if it hurts “What, you offering to adopt me?”
“Hah.” He shifts you a bit higher “I’ve got my hands full already. Speaking of which…”
He glances over his shoulder.
“We need to find Chopper.”
“Who?”
“Little guy. Big eyes. Blue nose. Reindeer. Wears a hat.”
“…Are you okay?”
“He’s our doctor,” Zoro explains, as if this makes it all perfectly reasonable “And the only one I know who can stop you from dying.”
You blink, taking this in “So… you’re with a crew.”
“Straw Hats.”
You’ve heard the name. Even in the darkest corners, they whisper about Monkey D. Luffy and his bizarre, unstoppable crew.
“Your captain’s the hat guy with the smile.” you mumble.
Zoro smirks faintly “That’s the one.”
There’s a pause. You watch the trees pass, the same ones you’ve seen before. It clicks.
“You were already lost when my dog found you...” you say flatly.
Zoro doesn’t respond.
“Seriously?”
“I had a plan.” he mutters.
“Omg, my dog was actually doing you a favor.”
“You want me to drop you?”
You laugh, hoarse and weak “Do it. Then you’ll never find your crew.”
Zoro grumbles, but you feel his grip tighten just a bit more, like maybe, he’s starting to care if you fall.
You don’t mean to fall asleep.
You fight it with everything you've got, every ragged breath, every heartbeat that still remembers how to be stubborn.
But the edges of your vision go soft, and the warmth of Zoro’s back lulls you like waves on the shore. It’s the first time you’ve felt something solid beneath you since you collapsed. Maybe that's the danger.
Because then nothing. No pain. No noise. Just dark.
“Oi.”
Zoro shifts your weight suddenly, jolting you, but you don’t react.
“...Hey.”
Your head lolls against his shoulder.
Zoro’s heartbeat kicks up, and he mutters a sharp curse.
“Don’t you dare.” He crouches, lowering you carefully to the ground “You don’t get to drop dead after dragging me into this haunted forest. I carried you, damn it.”
Still nothing.
Zoro runs a hand through his hair, eyes darting through the trees. No voices, no footsteps, no idea where he is. Again. This time with a dying stranger who has shadow monsters and no crew.
“Shit.”
He kneels beside you, slaps your cheek gently “Wake up. I’m not about to explain this to a crew full of idiots. Come on.”
Your breathing is shallow, almost fading.
Zoro growls under his breath, fists clenching.
Then, suddenly your lips twitch.
“…You really don’t shut up, huh…” you murmur hoarsely.
Zoro lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding “Took you long enough.”
You blink slowly, eyes barely open “Still lost?”
“Don’t push it.”
You chuckle, it’s weak and breaks into a cough, but you lift one shaking hand. Your fingers curl, knuckles popping, and Zoro watches as you position your hands into a bird shape.
Zoro steps back instinctively, hand hovering near his sword.
The air chills.
A deep, inky spiral blooms at your feet like a puddle of ink swallowing the light. Your breathing grows rough, your arms trembling.
“Don’t,” Zoro says quickly “You’re too weak—”
“I’m not dying in this forest,” you whisper, voice shaking but firm “Not before you admit you were lost.”
And from the shadows, it comes rising in jagged, fluid motion.
A black heron, long-legged and eerie, with wings made of rippling darkness and talons sharp as blades. Its eyes glow dimly, its beak clicking once like a signal.
Zoro stares, eyes narrowing “…You’re full of surprises.”
The heron takes off into the sky, a silent arc over the canopy. A beat of tense silence passes.
Then, it circles once, twice and swoops low, gliding back to you. Its beak points north, head jerking in a clear direction.
“That’s the way.” you mutter.
Zoro grunts “How do you know it’s not leading us into a trap?”
You smirk faintly “Because I told it not to act like you.”
Zoro stares at you, deadpan “You’re lucky you’re half-dead, or I’d make you walk the rest of the way.”
You lean your head back with a raspy sigh “Yeah, yeah. Just follow the spooky bird, swordsman.”
Zoro lifts you onto his back again, muttering under his breath “Next time I get lost, I’m not stopping for creepy dogs.”
“I heard that.” you mumble, already dozing again.
“Good.”
And with a shadow-heron overhead and your fading warmth on his back, he starts walking, this time, in the right direction.
You’re not sure how long you’ve been walking.
Or well, Zoro’s been walking. You’ve just been on his back, fading in and out, letting your summoned shadow heron glide ahead and lead the way. But the pressure behind your eyes is building. A deep, dragging ache in your chest. Your limbs have gone colder again.
“…Hey.” you rasp.
Zoro glances over his shoulder, just barely “What?”
“I can’t… keep it up anymore.”
“What?”
“The bird. My power. It takes energy to maintain. I’m almost out.”
The second those words leave your lips, the heron wavers in the sky like smoke blown sideways. Then it disperses, feathers evaporating into the dark. Gone.
Zoro swears “No. No, no—damn it. You can’t pass out now.”
“I’m trying.” you mumble.
“You fall asleep, you die. That’s the deal. You remember the deal?”
“I… don’t remember making a deal.”
“Well, we’re making one now,” he snaps “You talk. You don’t shut up. Keep your brain going, or I will drop you in a lake.”
You let out a weak little huff “Okay. Talking. Talking’s good…”
He adjusts his grip on you slightly. You shift in his arms, cheek pressed against his shoulder.
“…You like swords?” you mumble.
“…Seriously?”
“You seem like a sword guy.”
“No shit. I’ve got three of them.”
“That’s a lot. Compensating?”
Zoro glances back with a flat stare “You wanna die today?”
You snort softly and keep mumbling.
“You smell like trees… and aggression.”
“Sure. That’s the cologne.”
“And… your arms are very comfortable.”
“Great.”
You go quiet for a second. Then “…You’re kinda cute, y’know?”
Zoro nearly misses a step.
“…What?”
“You’re cute,” you repeat with a lazy smile “For a grumpy, directionally-challenged swordsman.”
He stiffens “…You’re delirious.”
You just smile more “Still true.”
There’s a pause.
“…Tch.”
He doesn’t respond beyond that, but you do notice the tips of his ears go a little red. He tightens his grip on you again, just a touch more careful. His chest rises and falls a little faster than before.
And just as you’re about to say something else…
Rustling.
Branches shift ahead of you. Zoro stops, instantly tense.
His hand moves toward his sword hilt “Stay down. I’ll—”
But before he can finish, two figures step into view.
One is a small reindeer in a pink hat. The other, a tall blond man with his shirt open like he’s auditioning for a romance novel cover.
“Zoro!” the reindeer exclaims, voice high and worried “There you are! I knew you were lost again!”
You snort, barely holding in a laugh “So you do always get lost, huh?”
Zoro groans “Oh my god, you’re never gonna let that go.”
“Never.” you say, grinning despite yourself.
Then the blond man steps forward, blue eyes widening as he spots you in Zoro’s arms.
“Mon dieu! Who is this cutie?” he gasps, dramatic and scandalized “Zoro, what did you do to them?! You brute!”
“I didn’t—” Zoro looks like he’s going to explode “I didn’t do anything!”
Chopper’s already scurrying over, climbing up to check your pulse “They’re bleeding too much! We need to get them back to the ship now!”
Zoro grumbles, half to himself, “First I save their life, and now I’m getting accused of murder.”
You manage to lift a hand weakly and poke his chest “Murder with a side of charm…”
“Stop flirting when you're dying.” Zoro mutters, ears still red.
The forest thins out as the four of you head toward the coast, Chopper leading the way, bouncing on small hooves with urgency, and Sanji at his side, glancing back every ten seconds like he’s ready to yank you off Zoro’s back and carry you properly. Zoro keeps shooting him warning looks. You’ve never seen two people passive-aggressively walk so hard.
You, meanwhile, are still clinging to Zoro’s back, barely awake, aching, and somehow still in the mood for mischief.
“…Do I have to keep talking now too?” you murmur near his ear.
“Yes!” Chopper squeaks without turning around.
“Absolutely,” Sanji adds, cigarette bouncing between his lips “You go quiet and we panic.”
Zoro sighs “Apparently it’s a group decision now.”
You smirk, eyes half-lidded but sharp “You’re all very demanding to someone who bleed out in a ditch today.”
“You flirted through it.” Zoro mutters.
“And I stand by it.” You nudge his shoulder weakly “So… what now? I keep whispering sweet nothings in your ear until we reach your floating house?”
Zoro makes a face “Sweet nothings, huh?”
“You’d prefer dirty nothings?”
He falters half a step.
Sanji nearly chokes on his cigarette behind you. Chopper lets out a confused little “huh?”
You grin.
Zoro groans “Damn. Is death making you horny or something?”
You laugh, voice raspy but full of life “Maybe.”
“You’re impossible…” he mutters, adjusting you higher on his back but more gently now. His arms tighten a little, like he’s afraid you’ll fall even now.
You hum contentedly “Yeah. But you’re still carrying me.”
“You’re light. Like a sack of haunted flour.”
“Such poetry. I see why you’re single.”
Behind you, Sanji shouts, “I’m single too, just for the record!” and you can hear him turning to flash you his best wink, even without looking.
Zoro huffs “No one asked you, curlybrow.”
“I heard that!”
Chopper breaks in, hurrying ahead “The ship’s just past the clearing! We’re almost there!”
You let your eyes flutter closed for a second. Safe. Maybe. A warm body under you, familiar voices around you. Even if you’re dying this isn’t the worst way to go.
But you're not going. Not yet.
“…Hey, Zoro.” you whisper.
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad it was you my dog found.”
Zoro pauses a beat.
Then “Tch. Told you I had a plan.”
You don’t remember passing out.
All you remember is the wooden creak of the Sunny’s deck under Zoro’s boots, the sea breeze hitting your face and then nothing. Just the deep, dark warmth of unconsciousness. No pain. No sound. No shadows.
But now you blink awake.
Everything is dim, filtered through the soft glow of a porthole window. The air smells like sea salt, tea, and something vaguely antiseptic. You’re in bed. Your chest is tightly wrapped, your limbs heavy but… intact. You’re not alone.
A shape slouched beside your bed comes into focus.
Zoro.
His head is resting on his forearm, breath deep and steady. One hand still on the edge of your blanket, like he forgot to let go while waiting.
You stare at him for a moment. There’s a quiet pull in your chest, and it’s not just the stitches.
“…Aw,” you whisper, voice hoarse but teasing “Were you this worried for me, swordsman?”
Zoro stirs. A low, almost growled breath as he jerks upright, his eyes wide for a split second before narrowing again. He blinks hard, then focuses on you.
“…You’re awake.”
You smile faintly “No, this is a ghost. You’re dreaming.”
He exhales sharp and subtle and rubs his face. For just a heartbeat, his relief shows. But then he leans back, crossing his arms like the world's most defensive wall.
“Don’t think too much into it,” he grumbles “It just happens to be my turn to guard you.”
You raise a brow “Mhm. And you guard people by napping next to them?”
Zoro glares, then slowly leans forward. His face hovers close… closer than it should. You can see the way his eyes catch the light, green and unreadable.
“We’re both alive and good, aren’t we?” he says, voice low.
You don’t move. You don’t have to. The warmth of his presence is heavy in the air between you.
“…Good enough for me.”
Your lips twitch upward “You sure you’re not too good at this bedside flirting thing?”
He smirks just slightly, then leans back with a small snort “You’re the one who said I was cute, remember?”
“Oh, I absolutely stand by that.”
Zoro rolls his eyes and gets up, mumbling something about telling Chopper you're awake but not before he adjusts your blanket again.
Like he didn't mean to. Like he always meant to.
Five months later.
You’ve healed.
Well… mostly. There’s still a scar on your shoulder where the blade cut deepest, and your stamina takes a bit longer to bounce back after summoning your shadows. But it’s fine. You’re fine.
Because now you’re one of them.
It didn’t happen all at once. The Straw Hats don’t do things the “normal” way. They just… start handing you plates at dinner. Chopper makes check-ins part of his routine. Luffy shoves random snacks into your hands like you’ve always been there. Nami asks if you’ve updated the crew roster. Brook sings about you at least twice a week. And Sanji makes you custom meals shaped like little animals.
But the one who made it official?
Zoro.
Three months in, after you helped him fight off a bunch of bounty hunters on a rainy island, you slumped down beside him and asked, “So, am I part of the crew yet?”
He looked at you like you were dense “You’ve been part of it.”
You didn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day.
Now, you’re sitting cross-legged on the Sunny’s deck, casually summoning a shadow crow between your palms. It flickers into shape with a familiar ripple, your hands forming the gesture in the air, fingers locking like a frame, shadows bleeding upward and folding into wings.
“You’re getting faster with that.” Zoro says from nearby.
He’s leaning against the railing, one eye closed, arms crossed. Definitely not watching you, except he absolutely is.
You let the crow flap lazily to his side and perch on his shoulder.
“Maybe you’re just impressed,” you say, grinning “That happens a lot around me.”
Zoro opens his eye. Flicks the crow’s beak. It vanishes into smoke.
“Tch. Delusional.”
You stretch your arms over your head “C’mon. Admit it. You’d miss me if I left.”
“…And now I miss the quiet.”
You throw a small stone at him. He deflects it without even looking.
“You still haven’t stopped flirting.” he mutters.
“You haven’t told me to stop.”
Zoro shifts, gaze flicking sideways, trying to hide the faint curve at the corner of his mouth “Yeah, well. I know you won’t listen anyway.”
“You like it,” you say, leaning toward him just slightly, like it’s a secret “You like the attention.”
He doesn’t answer. Just stares out at the sea for a long moment.
“…It’s not bad.”
You blink “Wow. Was that… a compliment?”
He rolls his eye “Don’t make it weird.”
“Oh, I make it weird? Mister I-guard-you-by-sleeping?”
That gets a tiny huff of laughter out of him. Barely there. But real.
You grin “You know, for someone so grumpy, you’re terrible at hiding your soft side.”
Zoro turns his head toward you. Slow. Steady.
“We’re all soft around people we care about.”
Your breath catches for a beat. He says it like it’s nothing. Like it’s obvious.
You blink, then smirk “So… you care about me?”
He lifts an eyebrow “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”
You laugh, head tipped back, eyes warm. Yeah. This? This feels like home.
A more few months later.
The moon is full and quiet above the Sunny.
The waves roll soft and rhythmic against the hull, and most of the crew is asleep, even Luffy, finally, thanks to Chopper’s “sleep juice” tea. The only sounds are the creak of wood and the occasional flutter of sails above.
You sit on the deck rail, legs dangling over the open sea. Beside you, Zoro stands with arms crossed, keeping watch like usual. Not that there’s anything threatening around. It’s peaceful. Still.
You look at him and damn if he's beautiful. So your mouth opens before you can even connect it to your brain.
“Hey,” you say, your voice just above a whisper “Did I ever thank you properly for saving my life back then?”
Zoro doesn’t look at you. But you see his jaw twitch “You thanked me enough. Don’t worry about it anymore.”
You lean toward him, nudging his arm with your elbow “So you don’t want a thank-you kiss?”
He finally glances at you. Blinks. And… blushes.
Like, full-on pink dusting his cheeks. He tries to scoff but it comes out awkward, caught in his throat.
“N-No. Ew.”
You grin “You are so bad at pretending.”
He rubs the back of his neck, gaze fixed on a spot somewhere very far away on the ocean. Then…
“Do…” he starts, voice rough “Do you mean the flirting?”
You blink. The tone shift is quiet, but it hits. He’s not joking now. He doesn’t even sound like he knows how to joke right now.
You tilt your head slightly “What do you mean?”
Zoro exhales. He doesn’t move closer, but something in him shifts. He’s there, vulnerable in a way you rarely get from him. Even when bleeding, he keeps a wall up. But not now.
“I mean… is it just a game to you?” he asks “Just a joke, or something you say to get a rise out of me? Or do you actually… mean it?”
You stare at him for a second. Caught off guard, not by the question, but by the way he says it like he’s been holding onto that thought for a while. Too long.
So you answer with another question “Do you take it as a joke… or as something meaningful to you?”
Zoro’s expression doesn’t change. But something in his eyes does.
“…I don’t think I ever laughed at it.” he says.
Your breath catches in your throat. He’s not grinning. Not smirking. He’s just looking at you, with that focused intensity he usually saves for swordsmanship and getting under Sanji’s skin.
You lean a little closer “Then maybe it’s not a joke.”
Silence.
The kind of silence that feels like it’s about to break.
Zoro looks at your mouth for a fraction of a second too long. You catch it. He knows you do. He looks away, muttering something under his breath that sounds dangerously close to your name.
But then he sighs “Tch… You’re gonna make this complicated, aren’t you?”
You smirk “Isn’t that why you like me?”
He doesn’t deny it.
He just stays beside you, silent and warm in the moonlight, until the moment passes.
But it doesn’t really pass. It just waits.
The training deck of the Sunny is quiet.
You're kneeling in the center, fingers bent into familiar signs, pulling the shadow from beneath your feet, summoning it upward into two familiar shapes.
With a subtle flick, your two black hounds rise: one lean and swift like a wolf, the other stocky and strong like a mastiff. Both shimmer with shifting smoke and black light, their eyes glowing faintly.
“Okay, no distractions today,” you say firmly “We're practicing coordination. No chaos. No running off like last time—HEY!”
Too late.
Your first summon, the one who found Zoro in the forest five months ago, immediately bolts. Not at an enemy. No, it heads straight for…
“ZORO!” you call, already scrambling to your feet.
The swordsman had been mid-kata on the far side of the deck when the blur of shadow dog slammed into his legs. You hear a familiar, irritated grunt.
“The hell?” Zoro glares down as the hound latches gently but firmly onto his pants leg, tugging.
You sprint over “I told him not to do that again, I swear—”
Zoro frowns “Is this the same mutt that dragged me into the woods?”
“Technically led. You weren’t exactly resisting.”
He raises an eyebrow “You were bleeding out.”
“...Details.”
Before Zoro can roll his eyes, the second hound appears, the bulkier one, and it shoves you. Like, full-body charge to the back.
“Wait, wait, what are you two doing!?”
You stumble forward. Zoro catches you, barely, but your hands land on his chest, and you freeze.
The world stops for half a second.
His chest is warm. Solid. Your fingers spread across taut muscle. Zoro blinks down at you, stunned, heat prickling faintly at his cheeks.
You immediately step back “Sorry! That was… I didn’t mean… They’re being weird—”
But before you can recover, the hounds strike again.
The big one slams into you from behind a second time, harder this time, you yelp, lose your footing, trip forward and Zoro catches you again, arms wrapping around your waist on instinct.
This time, you're practically against him. Your breath stutters. His does too.
“…Seriously?” Zoro mutters, glancing down at the shadow dogs, who are now sitting obediently a few feet away like they’ve done nothing wrong.
You manage a breathless laugh “I think they ship us.”
Zoro doesn’t answer right away. You feel the press of his fingers against your back, firm and real.
“…They’re not the only ones.”
You blink. Look up.
“What?”
His eyes meet yours. Calm, steady… but not guarded.
“Nothing,” he says quickly, voice lower. He releases you and takes a small step back “Just tell them to stop tackling people before I turn ‘em into shadow stew.”
Your dogs let out ghostly ruffs. Unrepentant.
You brush your hands down your sides, flustered but smiling “Honestly, that’s on me. I probably shouldn’t summon them when I’m thinking about kissing you.”
Zoro’s jaw drops slightly, his ears visibly reddening “You—”
You smirk “What? Just a joke, right?”
Zoro narrows his eyes “One of these days, you're not gonna be joking.”
You shrug “Maybe I already half don't.”
The dogs wag their ghostly tails in agreement.
Now it’s late.
The kind of quiet that settles deep into your chest, where the air feels cooler, the ship gently rocking under the stars. Everyone else is asleep, even Sanji has finally shut up for the night.
You’re lying on the upper deck, arms folded under your head, just watching the constellations above. You like it up here. It’s peaceful. No chaos, no flirting (unless you talk to yourself). Just space to think.
And then you hear boots.
Slow. Steady. Familiar.
You don’t look up right away. You already know who it is.
“…Can't sleep either?” you ask casually, voice low.
Zoro doesn’t answer at first. Just walks until he’s standing next to where you’re lying, then lowers himself down beside you, arms resting over his knees.
He’s quiet. Too quiet.
You finally glance over “What’s up?”
“…About earlier.” he says.
You smirk “You’re gonna have to be more specific. A lot happens on this ship.”
Zoro gives you a look, dry and unamused, but he doesn’t rise to the bait. Not this time.
“You said…” he starts, then trails off. You wait.
He tries again “You said maybe it wasn’t a joke.”
Your smile fades just a little. He’s serious. Like really serious. You shift to sit up, leaning on your hands, eyes on him.
“Yeah,” you say softly “I did.”
He stares at the ocean like it’ll help him out, then says, “It’s not a joke to me either.”
Your breath catches.
Then, before you can say anything, he moves.
Not fast. Not suddenly. But sure. He shifts closer, a hand lifting to your cheek, calloused fingers brushing your jaw.
And then he kisses you.
Firm. Warm. A little rough at the edges, like him, but so full of tension finally released it almost knocks the breath out of you. It’s not long, not dramatic, just the truth, pressed against your lips.
When he pulls back, your heart’s pounding.
“…Whoa.” you murmur, dazed.
Zoro’s eye half-lidded, like he’s trying to decide if he regrets it “Too much?”
You shake your head slowly “Not even close.”
He exhales, like he’s been holding his breath this whole time. His hand lingers for a second longer, then drops.
You grin, just slightly “So. Was that a thank-you kiss?”
He huffs “That was a shut-you-up kiss.”
“You failed. I’m gonna talk about this forever.”
Zoro groans, tips his head back, but he’s smiling “I know.”
You lean on his shoulder, heartbeat steadying as the stars swirl above you both.
No jokes now. No teasing.
Just truth.
The silence after the kiss stretches, but it doesn’t feel awkward.
Zoro hasn’t moved much, his shoulder still brushes yours, steady and warm under the stars. Your head leans against him, and neither of you says anything for a moment.
It’s quiet. Safe.
So you speak.
“…I’m really, really happy it was you who found me that day in the forest.”
Zoro doesn’t respond right away. But you feel the subtle shift in his posture. The slight intake of breath. He’s listening.
You let the words come, slow and honest.
“I’ve thought about it a lot. How different things might’ve gone if it had been someone else. If I’d passed out before summoning anything. If no one had come at all.” You glance up at him “But it was you. You were the one the hound found. You carried me. You talked to me to keep me awake. You—”
“Y/N.” he says, gently interrupting.
Your voice falters “…Yeah?”
Zoro doesn’t look at you when he says it, but his voice is so sure it settles deep in your chest.
“You found me, too.”
You blink.
“What?”
“I was lost. Not just in that forest. I mean—literally, yeah, I had no idea where the hell I was,” he adds, earning a small laugh from you, “but also... something changed. After I met you.”
You watch his profile, the way his jaw tightens like he’s not used to saying this kind of thing. But he pushes through anyway.
“I don’t let people get close. You probably noticed.”
“Oh yeah.” you mutter with a tiny smirk.
“But you kept pushing. Teasing. Showing up. Making your creepy shadow dogs tackle me.” That gets a laugh from you, and his eyes flick to yours, a small smile forming “You made it hard to ignore you.”
“…Was I annoying?”
He shakes his head “You were alive. And I didn’t know how much I needed that until you were suddenly part of the crew. Part of us.”
You stare at him, heart so full it aches.
You whisper, “So… you’re glad I didn’t die, huh?”
He rolls his eyes “Obviously. Don’t make me say cheesy stuff.”
“You just did.”
“I’ll take it back.”
You laugh again, and the sound is soft, almost surprised by itself.
Then you say it, the words you’ve been holding since you woke up on this ship “Thanks for not giving up on me.”
Zoro looks at you fully now, and you swear there’s something shining in his eye that he won’t let fall.
“…Not in me to give up on people like you.”
You lean in and kiss him again. Slower. Deeper. Like a thank you, like a promise.
And this time, he kisses you back like he means it.
I’m actually going to reblog a thing just because this is really important.
As someone who has epilepsy and used to have several grand mal seizures a day, I’d also like to add that “offer help” can range anywhere from keeping the person calm to explaining to them where they are and what they were doing to even just telling them they should sit and rest for a while longer (lack or coordination is common, and it can be hard to walk straight or see clearly).
It’s okay for them to take up to a half hour to fully regain their bearings and sort out what they were doing prior to the seizure. Just answer any questions calmly and be there for support.
If they come around and you start to panic or shake them or ask them what the heck is wrong with them they are going to freak out and panic too.
I cannot stress it enough that this is bad.
If someone has a seizure and they come out of it, please. please stay calm.
They are likely disoriented and confused, even if it’s only for a minute or two, and you don’t want them panicking on top of that because they can have another seizure as a result.
These dudes are fucking legit. They don’t just show up one day in court, either, they actually make friends with the kids and let them know they have a support system and that there are people in the world who care about them and will always have their back. And less important, but also cool, is that the few times a couple of them have come into my cafe, they’ve been super friendly and polite and when I told one of the guys that I noticed his Bikers Against Child Abuse patch and wanted him to know how awesome I thought he was because of it, he got kind of shy and blushed and said, “The kids are the awesome ones, we just let them know they’re allowed to be brave.”
The source is long, but so, so good. These men and women are available in 36 states, 24 hours a day to stand guard at home, in court, at school, even if the child has a nightmare. Many of them are survivors of childhood abuse as well, and know what it’s like to feel scared and alone.
In court that day, the judge asked the boy, “Are you afraid?” No, the boy said.
Pipes says the judge seemed surprised, and asked, “Why not?”
The boy glanced at Pipes and the other bikers sitting in the front row, two more standing on each side of the courtroom door, and told the judge, “Because my friends are scarier than he is.”
Bikers Against Child Abuse was founded in 1995 by a Native American child psychologist whose ride name is Chief, when he came across a young boy who had been subjected to extreme abuse and was too afraid to leave his house. He called the boy to reach out to him, but the only thing that seemed to interest the child was Chief’s bike. Soon, some 20 bikers went to the boy’s neighborhood and were able to draw him out of his house for the first time in weeks.
Chief’s thesis was that a child who has been abused by an adult can benefit psychologically from the presence of even more intimidating adults that they know are on their side. “When we tell a child they don’t have to be afraid, they believe us,” Arizona biker Pipes told azcentral.com. “When we tell them we will be there for them, they believe us.”
( Article)
My parents are a part of this organization and they are metal af
They go on runs to protect the child if they feel even the slightest threatened no matter where. If the child needs them to go on vacation with them, they do. Bikers come from across the nation to watch over and take shifts for these kids. And the best part is once you’re adopted into this family as a BACA kid, you’re always one. Even when you’re 40 and the perp gets released from jail, they’ll come meet with you and find your best options for avoiding the person and maintaining the life you’ve built for yourself. Once a BACA child, always a BACA child. In Florida, there’s 100% rate for identifying the perp based on the child’s testimony. Why? Because BACA stands with the child and supports the child so they feel comfortable enough to point out their attacker.
What’s better than a badass biker gang being on your side???
NATIVE AMERICAN CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS A BIKER AND NAMED HIMSELF CHIEF HELL YES I’M HERE FOR THAT AND BIKERS BEING BAD ASS TO PROTECT KIDS. HELL YEAH.
Guys? This post changed my life. I saw this post. Forever ago. And thought it was only in america… and wished desperately that they could help me. But then I saw it again, during a bad episode, and checked their site. They aren’t just in the USA
They’re in Canada as well and probably other countries. I met and talked with a native guy who runs the place near me. His name is Shaman. I got in, and I’m considered a BACA child now. Despite being 17, turning 18 when I talked to them. They spent time with me when my abuser was over, they gave me therapy resources. They give you something called a ‘level 1′ where they go to your house with as many bikers as they can, i shit you not a solid 20-40 bikers came from even out of province, and met me. I got to choose my biker name and I got a vest with patches on it and my name on it. They all hugged a Teddybear before giving it to me, and told me if I ever felt the BACA bear was running out of love, to give them a call and they’d refill it for me, and then I got a ride on one of their bikes. Just a day or so ago I went to an annual party with them and they we ate food one of them cooked and had a lot of laughs.
I’ve never felt as loved as I did being a part of the BACA family. They also gave me dog tags with the names, and phone numbers of my 2 workers. So I can call them whenever I feel scared.
BACA is an absolutely wonderful group that will do everything in it’s power to help any child whos been abused.
And it doesn’t end when you’re 18 either. As long as you get in contact/get your level 1 before you’re 18? you’re ALWAYS a BACA kid. I’m 18 now and they still invite me to parties, ask me if I’m okay, and are there for me. They’re still trying to find me resources for therapy.
BACA has changed my fucking life.
I hope you all can read this, and reblog it knowing from someone who fucking been with them, that they are absolutely amazing.
Had seen this before, but never realised that this is on an international level - there’s even a contact address close to where I live (in Germany), very cool (though hoping the only use I’ll ever have to make of it is for donations) ❤
Frankie had his surgery this Tuesday (11/26/24). It went well and he is doing ok. It's been a lot for the poor guy. He was brought in on Monday afternoon then taken to the vet the on Tuesday and had surgery,so he's had a lot to adjust to. We did have some unexpected experiences for is visit. Not only was the IV not covered but two days before we brought him in he got into one last fight. He had not one but three bites on his are and one in his ear. They had to clean out the bites and put antibiotic cream in them. So we knew we had to pay for the pain pill be he had to buy additional antibiotics for him. If you could please continue to share or consider donating it would be really appreciated. It would help with the extra experiences as well as the thing we still need to buy like a microchip
Let me be the miserable wretch to whom the caring lead the disbelieving, that they might see the wounds and know how much of a human being's humanity three furry boys can take with them.
This video, by an ER vet, reaffirms what the therapist above is saying from the veterinary side. I rewatch it, and her video on euthanasia, whenever the grief over Sully and Alphi gets too bad.
HELP ME FUND A GIFT FOR MY CHRONICALLY ILL PARTNER
Hello, I'm Sow, and both my partner and I are chronically ill. My partner, moth, has POTS and Fibromyalgia, and they currently work a full-time job where they recently fainted unexpectedly and got a concussion. I want to get them a gift for them that would help them function and would warm them when they are about to faint.
I unfortunately don't work currently, as with my chronic agoraphobia, I am unfortunately extremely housebound. But!! I am an artist! And I am willing to draw next to anything to help fund this gift!
So I'm opening commissions!
The general goal of these commissions is to reach 500$
I have a short list of things I won't draw:
-proships
-problematic art
-extreme gore
-extreme nsfw
Aside from these three things, I can and will draw anything.
Here's some examples of my art:
Rendered Headshot:
Rendered Halfbody:
Rendered Fullbody:
These are more basic examples, for more complex examples I will post later or you can DM me.
ellievsbear
baratheonpilled
blakekathryn
yousharknotpass
areudirty
