📼 angst lover, writes fluff occasionally
📼 all my works will be paired with a female reader unless requested or stated otherwise
📼 mainly one piece
📼 dms are always opened, feel free to start a convo with me
tag: #kuri's unopened journal
NG ❌:
. anything related to pregnancies
. unnecessary, non-issue criticisms of any kind
. smut requests
. reposting on other platforms
about requests:
only request 1 character at a time if you want an one shot
multiple characters are automatically headcanons, but please only request a maximum of 3 characters
if i never replied to your request, it's highly likely that i didn't feel inspired or didn't understand the prompt
synopsis: how does it feel, shanks, killing the one you love with your own hands?
author’s note: some people genuinely pmo sometimes but ykw i dont even gaf at this point (i do), one more time then mb i’ll crash out. anyways tune in for an epilogue if u want a happy ending (jk i lied im not writing an epilogue)
The wind howled and rain poured down as the Red Hair Pirates approached the government battleship.
“Shit, there’s not only CP9 agents,” Beckman cursed under his breath at the view in his monocular. “I see marines too, Shanks.” He warned.
You crouched just out of view, muscles tensed, ready to move. The plan was simple: wait for chaos, then slip away.
Shanks was the first to leap from the Red Force. Sword unsheathed, ready to fight. His officers weren’t far behind.
You watched him vanish into the haze of smoke and steel.
Then you jumped, landing on the battleship’s deck, careful and quiet. You moved fast, staying low, avoiding faces that might recognize you.
The sound of your real name, shouted over the chaos, made you snap your head around. It was your father. You began to jog over, relieved to see a family member after so long. But before you could even reach him, the pirates seemed to notice you. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Shanks bursting out from one of the cabins, wrapping up his plan.
“What are you doing here?!” The redhead yelled out your undercover name, “Get back on the ship! Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room?!” He began to rush over.
Fear took hold of you again, just like it had that night a few weeks ago. His hair was as red as the fire that nearly consumed you. The shouting of commands in the distance. The way he stormed toward you, voice raised. You couldn’t help but stumble back.
“Let’s go! We have to go!!” His voice cut through the storm, urgent. He reached for you, pulling you into a tight embrace, and then felt a sharp pain in his side.
Wow, so love really does hurt, people weren’t just saying it as a joke– he thought to himself as he looked down.
Oh.
There was a dagger stabbed into his abdomen, and the hands that were holding it belonged to you. He hissed as the sharp blade was pulled free then fell onto the deck with a clink.
His blood dyed your fingers red and it burned your skin, your hands trembled as you looked at him, shocked at what you'd just done. Rain blurred your vision, but so did the tears. You couldn’t tell one from the other. The wind howled, needling your face, making your skull pound.
“Boss!!!” His crewmates shouted, weapons raised, ready to shoot.
“Guns down, you guys!!” Shanks barked the command, his hand pressed to his wound. His eyes never left you. “Are you still mad at me?” he asked, breathless. “We can figure this out after we get out of here, yeah?”
You shook your head in disbelief, watching him slowly extend his hand out for you, with a bitter smile uglier than a frown.
Your father’s laughter rang in your ears, “That’s it! That’s my daughter!” He roared out your real name. “Kill him!” And you could see Shanks’ smile falter, just a little.
“You heard him!” you shouted, voice cracking. “I lied to you! Get out of here, get out of here now! I’m going to kill you!!” You pushed away his hand, grabbing the bloodied dagger on the ground before waving it at him, threatening. “I hate you, Shanks, I never liked you, just get out of here!” The tears burned too much, so you shut your eyes, shoving at his chest and feeling him stumble backwards, until eventually his right-hand caught him.
But his hand locked tight around your wrist and it made your skin turn red from the pressure, “I’ll listen!” he shouted. “You had a reason, right? Say something, say anything! I’ll believe you! Say something!”
You cried out from the pain on your wrist, as well as the sorrow in your chest. Your other hand clawed at his, hoping he’d let go, and maybe he did realize he was hurting you. He suddenly quieted down.
And then he let go.
A sharp slap landed across your cheek the moment you stepped into your father’s cabin. Thunder cracked overhead as your body hit the floor. You didn’t bother to move.
“What were you even thinking?!” Your father demanded, “If you killed him there, you could’ve at least been promoted to a commodore!” He slammed his fist down on his desk and the wood splintered beneath the blow.
The storm rattled against the windows and nothing else could be heard for a while. For a long moment, there was only silence. Tears and rain had long dried on your face, your father stood with his back to you, towering, unmoving.
“I’m sorry,” you finally whispered, your voice rough, hollow from shouting and crying.
“I’ll get stronger. I’ll hunt him down.” A pause. “I’ll kill him one day.”
Maybe you didn’t even know how much truth there was in those words, but there is no other choice. You chose your father– so you have to deal with the consequences, follow through until your last breath.
The next time you saw Shanks, nearly a decade had passed. He was sailing through the New World again, and you had just been promoted to a rear admiral. You never knew your long dead heart could beat this fast again, seeing his fleet approach yours, you ordered your men to get ready for battle.
Then, across the water, his voice rang out. “Hey! Long time no see!” He called, smiling, waving from the Red Force with his only arm left. “I still have your room saved for you! Wanna join us?”
You were shocked at his words, was this guy serious? You grit your teeth, “Don’t joke around! I’m–” A gunshot cracked through the air before you could finish. You gasped and whipped your head toward the marine who fired it.
“What the hell are you–?!”
“Boss,” the man sneered, cocking the rifle again, “we gotta catch them off guard. I wanna rank up too, y’know?”
All hell broke loose, it was a massacre, but there was no chance any of your men were going to win against the Red Hair Pirates. You dove into the fight, blade raised. And Shanks was right behind you. He moved fast, blocking one of your strikes meant for his crewmate. His sword clashed against yours, the impact numbing your arms.
“You’ve improved a lot, huh?” He says, “But do me a favor, don’t hurt my friends, won’t you?”
Your eyes landed once again on the gem tied to the hilt of his sword, time had dulled its shine, and a fine crack splintered from one corner. You tore your eyes away, breath ragged. “I’ll end you here today.”
Blood spilled from the both of you, he was still as strong as ever, even with one arm. You panted as you stared at him, the sadness in his eyes strangely made you want to cry. You grip onto your sword with both of your hands, coating it with haki.
One more strike, with everything you've got. Find an opening and strike as fast as you can, it’ll cost you your life, but as long as you land it, he’s going to die too.
He’s going to die.
Shanks raised his sword again, matching your energy.
The burning feel of his blood on your fingers that night, years ago, came rushing back to you.
He’s going to die.
You changed the trajectory of your sword last second. His eyes widened, but it was too late.
Gryphon stabbed into your chest and the world seemed to stop for the both of you, just like when the sunset poured into your crappy bar. You stared into his pretty eyes. It was the same as you first saw him– bright and youthful.
You fell into his embrace. Maybe this was the first time you laid on his chest like this, quiet and peaceful.
You opened your mouth, but only blood came out. Shanks quickly shifted your position so you could be laying in his arm instead.
“W-why didn’t you..” his voice trembled, “Why didn’t you strike?! You fool! Why didn’t you… I’ll call Hongo over, wait for me, I’ll–”
You cut him off by grabbing onto his shirt, staining it red, “I lied.” You whisper, and suddenly you felt that same wave of sadness wash over you again, but this time, it was mixed with relief. Tears started to fall but you had a smile on your lips, “I forgave you a long time ago.”
Shanks pulled you closer, tears dripping onto your face. He nodded frantically, clinging to every word.
“You were…” You panted. “The best to me.”
You looked at his tear-streaked face and raised a hand to the corner of his lips, pushing it upward with the little strength you had left. Your vision was blurring.
“Hey, Shanks.” You wanted to say you hoped he wouldn’t be a pirate in his next life, but the more you thought about it, the more you realized— you couldn’t imagine a world where he wasn’t out at sea.
So instead you smiled.
“Nevermind... If there’s a next life… I wish to be a normal civilian. Even if it means… never meeting you again.”
synopsis: you knew that you’ll say your goodbyes sooner or later
author’s note: i actually struggled so bad with this plot… pt. 2 will be posted tmr
Being an undercover marine on one of the islands in the New World was not an easy job, with tens and hundreds of pirates flooding the streets everyday, you sometimes wished you were never born here. It was your father’s decision to sign you up at the local navy base, he always wanted a successful soldier to carry on his vice admiral legacy. But for now, you’re just an ensign, staying undercover at a popular bar to gather any useful info from the pirates that come in each day. You never thought life was going to change anytime soon, until the day you met Shanks.
He wasn’t an emperor yet, just an infamous pirate roaming the seas. When he swung open the saloon doors to your bar, the sunset poured in behind him and it was the same color as his hair, blinding your eyes.
“Welcome,” you didn’t dare to look at him for long.
His crew barely paid attention to you, laughing and grabbing seats for themselves as Shanks walked in to sit at the bar, joking around with the rest.
“Bring out the booze, miss! Anything you have!” Multiple people chanted at you, clearly excited to party. You looked at their captain, who just flashed you a smile.
“Please and thanks, miss.” He said.
You turned around to prepare their drinks, sneaking a few glances at the redhead, the light glistening in his eyes were different than any pirates you have ever seen, it was fascinating, really. You focused on your task but still listened carefully to their conversations, in case they talked about anything important. But it was all idle talk— what to stock up on, what to have for breakfast, when to do laundry. Just useless crap. Eventually, you gave up on trying to listen too closely.
Days turned into weeks. Shanks stayed on this island for longer than you’d expected, visiting your bar almost daily, most of the time alone, and then dragged away by his right hand later for spending too much money. You know most of his crewmates at this point, but when he asked your name, you hesitated, and gave him your undercover name. That was the first lie you told him.
It’s not like you were going to see him again after he leaves, right? So it didn’t matter what name you gave him— he’d forget you eventually.
At least, that’s what you told yourself.
But your heart still skipped a beat when he held up a gem from a street stand at the island’s summer festival, “Do you like it? It’s the same color as your eyes.” He asks you who was standing to his left, and the emotions he stared at you with were something you were afraid to figure out. He held the gem up beside your temple.
“Buy it if you’d like,” you said, turning away as you gently lowered his hand. He stared at you for a moment longer, then smiled, and pulled out the last of his allowance from his pocket.
You didn’t know how long days like this would last. At some point, you even selfishly wished that he wasn’t a pirate… and you weren’t a marine.
The night was cold and windy when it happened. You were jolted awake by the ground shaking beneath you. Was it an earthquake? But the sound of weapons clashing could be heard, heart pounding, you rushed to the window. Some houses had already been destroyed, and fires seem to grow even more at the howling wind. Your face grew pale, and before you could even react, your house was torn in half, a plank of wood slammed into your head, and you collapsed to the floor.
The last thing you saw was a familiar redhead, his back turned to you, sword unsheathed and glinting in the firelight.
The heat of the flames eventually stirred you awake. Blood was smeared across your eyes and forehead, but the adrenaline numbed the pain. You shoved your leg free from the debris— it hadn’t pinned you too tightly, thank god.
The town was in ruins. Nothing could be heard except the crackle of fire and distant shouts, men barking commands into the chaos.
Blood stained the rubble, still fresh. Is anyone else even alive? Your heartbeat drummed in your ears, you’re breathing so fast that it hurts to take in more air.
You suddenly feel a large hand grab onto your wrist, you snap your head toward the man. It was Shanks. He, too, was covered in blood and bruises. But you staggered back, fear flashing across your face.
There was no doubt in it, he had destroyed the town, caught in a fight with another pirate crew.
He killed all these people.
You were practically kidnapped onto Shanks’ ship, at one point he had to knock you out to stop you from fighting him off. The next time you opened your eyes, you laid in the med bay of the Red Force, wounds bandaged neatly. The adrenaline had long worn off. Now, all you felt was pain. Ripping the IV needles out from your arms, you struggled to stand up.
The door flew open, probably because of the noise you were making. Shanks stepped in quickly. You turned your head instinctively toward him, only for sunlight to catch you straight in the eyes. Your knees buckled.
“Woah, easy there.” Shanks rushed forward to catch you, guiding back on the bed. You pulled yourself away from his touch, but he seemed to pay no mind. “Your head injury’s pretty bad, you need to rest.” He said quietly, but you didn’t answer. You didn’t want to talk to him.
The glint of a gem tied to his sword hilt caught your attention for a moment, it was the same one that he picked out at the festival. You decided to look away, laying back onto the bed, back turned against him.
He stood there for a moment, then let out a breath, “I’ll be outside if you need me.”
The next few weeks felt like a waking nightmare. The ship never docked. You barely ate, barely slept, barely spoke. Days bled into nights, and at some point, you lost track of what day or what month it was.
You secretly called into your father’s base using one of the transponder snails on the ship, informing him that you were still alive, and no need for him to worry.
“That’s good,” came your father’s steady reply. “Keep an eye on Red-Hair. Call me if he does anything suspicious.”
You froze.
It wasn’t a response you expected. Not concern. Not relief. An order.
“But–” You wanted to argue, “Dad I want to go ho–”
“There’s no buts,” he snapped, cutting you off. “This is your duty. As a marine, and as my child. Got it? You don’t have a choice.”
The line went dead.
The silence in your cabin is almost unbearable. A bitter mix of anger and frustration boiled in your chest. You clenched your jaw, your fists shaking. Then, without thinking, you swept everything off the worktable. The flower vase Shanks had found for you shattered on the wooden floor.
The door to your cabin swings open, it was Shanks, of course it was him. He takes in the mess you made, “Oh my, having a temper tantrum?”
He stepped into the room, over everything on the ground, the shards of the vase crunched under his sandals. He crouched down to look up at you, hand reaching for yours, “We wouldn’t want you accidentally hurting yourself, now would we?” he murmured, a faint smile on his lips. His eyes drifted to the transponder snail in your other hand… then back to your face. You avoided his eye contact.
There was nothing else you wanted other than to go home, but there’s nothing to return to. You could only rely on your father to get you out of here, in exchange for the small piece of information you overheard during a cool, peaceful night.
Hi, I was wondering, seeing as you're an angst lover, if you could do a Zoro x fem Reader, where the Reader has had feelings for Zoro for a long time, like since she joined the crew, and she thought he felt the same way, but he never says anything. One night, she goes to confess to him, but she gets shut down by him, saying coldly, “Don’t make things complicated.” Heartbroken by this, she pulls away from him and leaves him alone. Zoro, thinking he's only protecting her from him and his own pain so that they can both fulfill their own dreams, doesn't even realize he's already broken her heart. That was until after she's gone, either she leaves the crew or something like that, he looks through her things she left behind and finds a letter she had written, explaining everything. He starts to break down, realizing what he gave up, all the missed chances, and unspoken feelings? You can fill in the rest. You can also decide to either give it a happy ending or the most gut-wrenching, punch in the face, angsty ending.
Silent
zoro x fem!reader
synopsis: he’ll pick up after the third call, but your third call never came
author’s note: thanks for the request! i might’ve changed it up here and there, but i hope it’s still up to expectations ^^ there’s one more request in my inbox for now and i’ll get to it soon, but i might post a few of my own prompts before that :p
The cool night was filled by nothing but the sound of waves splashing against the shore, the Sunny lay safely behind a boulder away from town, hidden from view as the Straw Hats prepared for another clash against a powerful enemy. Most of the crew had already gone their separate ways, scattered across the island in search of information, and Zoro found himself alone in the townsquare, not sure where to go. Strange, he was just with Luffy a few minutes ago. Where did the fool run off to?
He sat on one of the benches near the water fountain, waiting for someone he knows to show up. He sighed, looking up at the night sky, although no stars could be seen. Zoro thought back to the other night, maybe just a day ago, in Sunny’s crow’s nest. It wasn’t a pleasant conversation for either of you, but things had to be said and there was nothing he could do about it.
You guys haven’t talked since, but it was all for the better– that was what he kept telling himself. As long as he can see you at the end of your dreams, it doesn’t matter if you hate him.
“Don’t make things complicated.” His own voice echoed again and again in his head, until the tiny dendenmushi in his haramaki started to ring, catching his attention.
He pulled it out, expecting a call from perhaps Luffy, only to find your signature expression morphed onto the snail’s face. His hands started to sweat and he gulped, nervous but he didn't even know why, Zoro stared at the snail as it stopped ringing. Before he could even let out a breath, it started again. As childish as it sounds, he didn’t want to answer it, he didn't want to face you again, he was scared of what might come out of your mouth.
It’s fine, if you ring another time, he’ll pick up. He thought to himself as he counted, and then no matter what you say to him, he’ll accept– whether it was to confess your feelings once again or tell him that you no longer liked him, he’ll listen to whatever you have to say without an objection.
He waited and waited, but your third call never came.
It wasn’t until half an hour later when Sanji called him, saying that it seems like the enemies struck first, targeting you, who was alone in the forest, kicking pebbles and thinking about that very same night.
Your first two calls for help reached no one. The third was never dialed.
The first thing Zoro was met of after finally rushing to the scene was a fierce kick from Sanji that sent him flying. But he didn’t dodge nor fight back.
For once, he just sat there, eyes locked on your bloodied, lifeless form. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t cry.
How could things have turned out like this? He didn't understand, and there was nothing that filled his mind other than rage and sorrow.
The things left unsaid felt heavier than any sword he has ever carried, and the moonlight was so bright that it turned your futures into a frostbitten path. So that every strike he made afterwards was wrapped in a silence that no sun could break, and no warmth could reach.
hii sorry to ask this, but i would be curious about some hcs with sanji/luffy and a reader who has trouble eating. my bsf who really loves op has been having trouble with food lately and i wanted to surprise her with some hcs to lighten up her mood, since i don't know how to help her. sorry if this makes you uncomfortable! bye and take care <3
author’s note: thanks for the request! i probably wouldn’t have written this but you were so sweet and i would feel bad turning you down TT sorry if this is a little below expectations, it’s my first time writing something like this :( i hope your friend is doing ok btw!
Luffy:
Forgive him, but he find himself scratching his head at the idea of being hesitant on eating… food
Are you sick? Is that why you don’t want to eat? He would pace around the ship, cold sweat dripping down his forehead, and he would eventually go to Chopper for help
He might’ve shed a tear or two after learning medicines don’t necessarily help with your case, but he makes sure that you know he and the crew is always here for you no matter what
Luffy might not be the brightest person, but he can catch onto your emotions fast. If anyone decides to spew some bs that makes you upset, you bet his fist would meet their face before anything else
Sanji:
He would think it’s his fault that you don’t want to eat, that the food he cooked didn’t fit your appetite
It’s okay, he’ll work hard to find something that you would like. No matter how many hours he stays in the kitchen, or how many cuisine books he reads. It’s his mission to make you feel better about eating, no matter how long it’ll take. He’s a patient man
Sanji is a great listener by the way, if you would like a conversation with him, he’d be more than happy to sit down somewhere and listen to whatever you want to say
He’ll definitely be pissed off if someone wants to say something rude or ignorant, even if it’s not in front of you, he’d be the one to cut them off with a diable jambe
Can you do Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy where they meet their lover but from the future. Their future spouse gets sent back in time and chaose and fluff happens
Soon in the Future
[luffy, zoro, sanji]
synopsis: going back in time to meet your lover from the past
author’s note: thanks for the request! i wasn't too sure if you meant that they already know the reader or they didn’t and it was their first time meeting them, so i went with the latter. hope you enjoy!
Luffy:
He sure was surprised when a random person appeared right next to him when he woke up in the morning, maybe pushing you off the bunk bed accidentally, alerting the crew
After getting everything sorted out, he would laugh, saying things like: “Oh, is that so? That’s really cool!”
Luffy isn’t the type to be bothered by things like this, he wouldn’t even question a single thing. He would probably just treat you as a friend for now, maybe just a little special than everyone else
He does whatever he feels like is right, if he feels comfortable around you, then he wouldn’t keep distance. You did say you were his spouse anyways, so your personal space would be his space too
Zoro:
Zoro never thought about the possibility of meeting his lover before he reached the end of his goal. But you who’s standing right in front of him doesn’t seem to be lying
He recognizes one of the earrings on your ears that belonged to him, and his heart that was beating fast seemed to be confirming his thoughts
This is weird, he would think to himself, and then hide in the crow’s nest, trying to calm himself down. You should go sit next to him and spark up a little conversation, it would help him feel better and get used to you
You’re the love of his life no matter what era of time he met you in, so don’t worry if time’s up for now. He’s definitely looking forward to the day he actually meets you
Sanji:
Ho-ly shit. There’s just no way this is happening right now. Sanji could possibly die from happiness. You’re telling him his future spouse is standing right in front of him?
He thinks you’re the most gorgeous person he’s ever seen, and you’re so sweet, oh, the way you’re talking to him right now. He might just start crying
But he’ll still be super respectful, not doing anything he shouldn’t be doing even if he knows that you’re his lover. But you should accompany him a little, watch him cook in the kitchen, talk about him in the future
Let him know that you’re proud of him, and you’ll be waiting for him in the near future
Hi! I don’t know if u make requests or no, but can you have othe headcanon of Kitty! But with Sanji (and u can choose the others two), plss
(I don’t know if i write this correct, English isn’t my native language 😓)
Kitty! pt. 2
[sanji, katakuri, mihawk]
synopsis: how to take care of them if they were cats (last post was pt.1)
author’s note: thanks for the request!! i was running out of ideas 😞
Sanji:
Sanji kitty is an introvert, he tends to stay out of trouble, or tries to, for you. But unfortunately sometimes things happen, such as getting into group fights with his friends, or tearing up that garden while bickering with that one-eyed cat next door
He likes reading magazines, especially food magazines, or sometimes beauty magazines, he really do admire the beauty of women
He’s sometimes a little bit shy, and a little bit insecure. Please don’t raise your voice at him or ignore him when he does something wrong, he didn’t mean to!
Sanji kitty also likes to keep everything to himself no matter how much it is affecting him, he just doesn’t want you to worry. So make sure to check on him regularly
Loves rubbing his head on you by the way, give him a little pat while he’s at it, it’ll make him really happy
Katakuri:
Katakuri kitty is larger than any regular cat, appearing to be more intimidating. But he’s a sweetheart, really
Has sharper and larger fangs that protrude out of his mouth, which he seems to be insecure about. You heard that he had a hard time getting adopted due to this reason :(
He likes eating alone without any sort of company, but you’re an exception to that rule. He enjoys the time he spends with you, including meals and afternoon snacks
Very tidy and organized, will not ever mess up your house. If you’re off to work or school, he’d wait in front of the door around the time you usually come back, so when you do, the first thing you see would be him
If anyone messes with you, oh naw, next time they see you they’d be on their knees begging for mercy
Mihawk:
If he were to be a sin it would be sloth. Well, but it’s not like he’s lazy, he’s just really chill— nonchalant, if you will. So he would usually give off lazy vibes
Mihawk kitty doesn’t really have a lot of friends, nor does he like hanging out with anyone. You tried to play with him by buying him toys, but he doesn’t really care
Typical sunbathing and napping during daytime. He’s more active during the night, but he’s not noisy either. You could barely hear him ever
Mihawk doesn’t really like getting pets, but he could tolerate to some extent, if he really wasn’t feeling it, he’d walk away
But you know he cares about you. If you were feeling upset, stressed, anxious, or anything similar. He would come to you willingly and reassure that he’s here for you
synopsis: how to take care of them if they were cats
author’s note: should i make this a small series? if so, who should i do next >_< (my requests are also opened atm! go visit my pinned!!)
Zoro:
Zoro kitty has a weirdly bad sense of direction, and no one knows how to fix that. Maybe you should install a tracking system on his collar just in case if he gets lost (he will)
Has a strange obsession with swords and alcohol. Will force you to switch on the TV every night to watch swordsmen competition shows
He likes to hang out with his friends a lot, but every time they meet up for a play date somebody starts a fight with another group of kitties
Zoro’s arch enemy seems to be this blond cat named Sanji that lives next door. Last time they were together alone they tore the neighborhood garden into shambles (4% of the time they’re nice to each other, but you shouldn’t risk it)
Isn’t too affectionate, but he does protect you when it comes to it, and you know he loves you
Shanks:
Shanks kitty likes to go out a lot. So don’t worry if you came back home to find him gone one day, he’ll return by himself when he’s done partying!
Likes to drink alcohol for some reason, you better lock up your liquor cabinet before he gets to it
Loud, and loves attention. Don’t ignore him for too long, he’ll tear the house down
He’s friendly too, anyone can give him a pet, but his stomach is reserved for you only.
Rarely hisses at anyone, unless they show threat to you or his other friends, then you better watch out, he might get in a fight
Ace:
Stray kitty you found on the streets. Very quiet and vigilant at first, but as long as you’re kind to him, he’ll show his clingy side. Just be patient
Ace has a naturally warmer temperature, so don’t worry, he’s not sick!
It may not look like it but he is very sensitive emotionally, so do give him a lot of attention before he thinks he did something wrong that made you upset
He will isolate himself if he overthinks or if he’s upset. A pet on the head and some kind words would definitely help in times like this
synopsis: “but i always knew that in the end, no one was coming to save me”
author's note: i've been so busy these past few days TT, im trying to write as much as i can. also warning: this fic has some made up religious stuff
Winter on the island of Guanhao was always dry and cold, and walking to school was every kid’s nightmare. You and Lucci first met on a fine morning, three days after a snowstorm. The leftover snow that refused to melt soon turned into slick sheets of ice, and schools wouldn’t allow another snow day. You clutched the straps of your backpack, your face buried in your scarf in a desperate attempt to hide from the cold wind. Your eyes stayed fixed on each step, carefully watching your footing so you wouldn’t slip and fall. But unfortunately, not looking ahead of you means bumping into someone else, and your butt ultimately ended on the cold hard ground regardless.
“Ouch!” You exclaimed, looking up at the boy you just bumped into, “I’m sorry.”
He looked just as surprised, almost slipping himself. But he quickly regained his balance and composure, peering down at you. It was then you noticed how little he was wearing compared to you, and those funny eyebrows of his, furrowed in mild irritation.
There was a brief silence before he spoke.
“It’s okay.” He replied, holding out a hand for you, which made you realize you were still sitting on the freezing ground. You blushed in embarrassment, not that anyone could tell the difference, as your face was already red from the cold.
“Thank you,” you said, taking his hand and standing up. “Sorry…” You glanced at him, hoping he wasn’t too annoyed.
You soon found out the boy went to the same school. His name was Rob Lucci. Lucci was a distant person, but you liked him, totally not because you were interested in his eyebrows. Walking to school became fun, with you talking and him listening. If he hadn’t waited for you at the intersection every day, you might’ve thought he hated you.
Things changed when you reached middle school. The island’s church was once again searching for a vessel for their Goddess, they do it every 50 years. Maybe that was the first time you wished your family wasn’t so devoted to the church, because when the priest’s hand landed on your shoulder, you felt nothing but fear.
You were pulled out of school, now focused entirely on the church’s endless tests and ceremonies.
“You must bring honor to our family, this is a once-in-a-billion chance!” Your mother’s warm hands cupped your cheeks. “Stop meeting with that boy down the block. He’s been selected to be a government agent.” She looked into your eyes, and goosebumps spread across your skin. Cold sweat trickled down your back. You could only nod.
The consecration took place in spring. It was simple, but it caged you to the church forever, becoming the embodiment of the Goddess they worship. Many people came to the ceremony, in hopes to receive blessings. You carried yourself with the manners the priests had taught you, but your eyes still landed on the boy staring at you in the crowd.
Bandages wrapped around his body, and he grew a little taller than the last time you saw him, although it has only been a month or so. Something tells you that he wasn’t supposed to be here, you lock eyes with him, forgetting all the etiquettes that were drilled into you, until the priest by your side called you. You snapped out of it.
After the ceremony, you made an excuse and snuck out of the church. You found Lucci in the yard, about to walk away.
“Lucci!” You called, grabbing his arm. But when he turned around, words caught in your throat. Your mouth opened, then closed, until finally, you managed to squeeze something out. “How are you?”
He looked at you, placed his hand over yours, and gently removed it from his arm. “You’re not supposed to be here,” he said, his voice as emotionless as always. “I have to go.”
You could only watch as he hurried away. Behind you, the priests had rushed out of the church, calling your sacred title.
Flowers had already begun to bud in the yards, the plants stirring back to life, and animals ended hibernation. Spring was supposed to be the season of beginnings. But for you, it felt like the end.
It was another winter when you saw Lucci again. Years have passed since your first goodbye. You heard he was a remarkable soldier, going on solo missions and defeating pirate fleets. While you remained in the church, your life repeated in a steady rhythm of lessons, rituals, and ceremonies. Slowly, you lost track time.
Until one morning, a request arrived from the training tower. The newly formed CP9 is going on a secret mission, and the higher-ups had requested a blessing ritual to send them off.
You stared out the window as snow drifted softly from the tree branches, and for the first time in a long while, your heart began to beat again.
When the men stepped into the church, your eyes drew to his figure almost immediately. Lucci was much taller than you now, his muscles hidden beneath his new suit, he stood in front of you, and you could smell the wooden scent of his cologne. You smile a little, not permitted to speak out of line, you could only start the ritual without a word.
You didn’t know it then, but a man like him, who never believed in gods, truly thought you were one that day. Sunlight filtered through the window panes, casting a soft glow around you. Your smiling eyes met his, and for a brief, impossible moment, nothing else seemed to matter.
“I will pray for you. Be safe,” you whispered quietly in his ear, just before he had to leave. He looked at you for a long time, then straightened his back and gave you a single, wordless nod before turning away.
You stood there long after he was gone. The church doors now closed, and it made the room feel painfully small. Just like that spring day years ago, the day you officially lost your freedom.
You can’t remember how many years has passed since Lucci went on that mission. No news ever reached you, it was government business, you guessed. Seasons came and went outside the church windows, and you no longer needed assistance from priests to do your duties. Life was colorless, You prayed to the Gods for Lucci’s safety, and you also prayed— quietly, secretly— for your own freedom.
You began to fall sick often. People whispered it was a bad omen. Crowds flooded the church, praying and demanding for a statement. You could only drag your tired body to work, offering comfort to the townspeople.
It was a quiet night when he returned, failed from his mission and kicked out of St. Poplar. He stood silently at your bedside, the clock a little past midnight. The finger he once used to kill now gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
But, of course, you didn’t know this. You were already fast asleep. After a final glance, he opened the window and disappeared into the night.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later that you heard, the training tower was in use again. The old CP9 was back.
This winter felt colder than most, but still, you wanted to see him. After reasoning with the priests, your wish was granted. you entered the tower, the sharp scent of dust and blood hit you immediately. You coughed, your chest tightening. There’s definitely a fever waiting for you tomorrow, but you didn’t want to care.
Lucci was the first to rush out, his wounds no longer covered in bandages. “What are you doing here?” He demanded, veins rising in his neck and forehead. Was he mad at you? “Go back to the church. You’re going to catch a cold.”
His voice was sharp, but you couldn’t help smiling.
“I wanted to see you.”
That winter lasted longer than anyone expected, maybe the longest in decades, and the waves of sadness seemed to linger just as long. Lucci didn’t visit you often, but when he did, you were happy. Tracing against his new scars, you wondered if they still hurt. He only shook his head. Of course he would say no. You smiled bitterly.
“I wish I was just a normal civilian. Or a government agent, like you.” You laid your head on his broad shoulder in the dark, empty church, “Maybe then… we could have been something. Anything.”
He didn’t answer at first, his gaze fixed on the cold stone walls. “The Marines are on my tail. I’m leaving soon,” he said after a long silence.
He was leaving again, of course he was. You stood when he did, tilting your head up to look at him. He was taller than he’d been five years ago, when he first left for that mission, and he grew a funny beard to match his eyebrows. You couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at the sight.
“Can I at least get a hug before you disappear again?” You asked jokingly.
Lucci frowned upon your words, “that’s against the rules.”
You sighed, your shoulders sinking, “don’t regret your words~ it will be a long time until we can meet again, knowing you.”
He said nothing, but this time, he smiled. It was a soft, almost tender smile. Maybe one you could’ve seen every day in another life. But in this one, he turned his back on you once more, leaving you in the dark.
And suddenly you fell to your knees, hands covering your face, and you sobbed.
There was no one beside you.
No one to care for you.
No one to love you.
No one to save you.
The next time Rob Lucci opened the side door to the church was a few hours later, carrying a small bag of pastries.
But you no longer liked pastries, and your favorite bakery no longer existed.
You lay on the floor, a wooden cross shaved sharp on one end buried in your chest. The tear tracks, long since dried, still marked your cheeks. Blood pooled beneath you, soaking into the red carpet.
Lucci was silent, He let the bag drop from his hand as he approached you, his jaw tightening. Slowly, he sat beside you and lifted your upper body into his arms. He stared at your closed eyes, it was like you were just asleep. His hand made its way to caress your cheek, trying to wipe away the marks that was left by your dried tears. He brought you closer to him, and leaned down to engulf you into a painful, bone-crushing hug.
Spring began to bud on the island of Guanhao just around a week after he left. But none of you were there to witness it anymore.
+ You laid in the med bay, silent, as Hongo tended to your severe wounds from the raid earlier. Beckman sat next to the bed, staring at you. Noticing his gaze, you turn your head to look at him
+ The loss of blood and the pain of getting stitched up made you paler than ever, cold sweat wetting the bed sheets, but no sounds of complaint came out of your mouth
+ “Why did you block that attack for me?” He finally asks.
+ “Was I not supposed to? You were gonna get hurt.” You replied, looking away, “I don’t want you to get hurt, because that’s what love is, right? I love you.”
+ Beckman stayed quiet and sighed, a hand over his eyes. He sat for another few minutes, then stood up and ruffled your hair gently. “It seems like you have a lot more to learn,” he says, walking out the room, relighting his cigarette. “That’s fine. We have all the time in the world.”
Ace:
- You stare at the boy in front of you, covered in bandages. The Marineford War just occurred a few days ago. He came to visit you the moment he woke up from his coma
- Tears stained his face as he hugged the cold grave stone in front of him, you reached out to wipe it away for him, but your hand went right through his face
- You didn’t understand his sadness, if love was protecting someone even if it meant death, shouldn’t he be happy that you died for him? It wasn’t like you stopped loving him
- Maybe it sounded good in your head when you thought he was going to remember you forever, but looking at his tears, and the dark circles under his eyes, you started to regret your decision a little
synopsis: there must’ve been a past life where he drove his beloved sword into your heart— and the blood that spilled from your chest became the red thread that binds you both in this one.
author's note: lowkey don't know where i was going with this one oops
It always seemed cold and windy on Onigashima, contrary to the spirit of the Beast Pirates: loud, cruel, and high-spirited. Playing the shamisen in one of the highest rooms of the Skull, the windows open, you patiently wait for King to return from his patrol. Fingers turning red and numb from the cold, yet you cannot complain. Being a geisha only means being bound by silks instead of chains, even if you were his favorite.
You weren’t supposed to let your eyes wander around, but you couldn’t help but to stare at the window, into the distance, a few pirates would pass by during patrols on the island, and then it was endless amounts of water. You wished you could look back at your hometown again, but it was impossible. A sharp snap had brought you back from your trance, you gaze down at your shamisen. A string had snapped, and a drop of blood was oozing out of the small cut from the broken string, which you could have avoided if you paid more attention. Just as you were going to stand up and change out the string, a strong gust of wind blew past the window. You turned your head the other way so the cold wind wouldn’t hurt your face, but your hairpin couldn’t withstand it and rolled to the ground, your hair fell in front of your face. You heard the familiar sound of leather boots on the floor, and you know he was back.
You lower your head, looking like a graceful mess. “... I’m sorry.” You apologized for your current situation.
King stared at you for a moment, before picking up your floral hairpin from the floor. “Let your hair down for today.” Not saying another word, he exited the room.
You knew he went to clean himself up, so you waited until he fully walked away, before raising your head again. By the time he was back, you were fully composed, with your finger wrapped in band-aid and a new shamisen in hand, the only difference was your hair being fully down. He walks towards you, fingers brushing a strand of hair away from your face, before sitting down in front of you, elbow on the tea table, and head resting on his own fist. You paused for a second, eyelash flattering, you didn’t dare to look in his eyes. Maybe he knew that about you, so he decided to close his eyes, resting for a bit as his favorite melody played.
What were your feelings towards King? You can’t even answer yourself. It’s moments like these where you think that you truly did love him. But you will never forget the day where his magenta eyes first looked into yours. There was fire all around him, people were screaming, blood trails under the rumbles of collapsed houses. The country you loved fell into the hands of a tyrant, yet you found yourself lost in the eyes of his right-hand. The night you realized you no longer flinch at King’s touch, you laughed at yourself, yet tears stained the bed sheets. Unfortunately, love and hate don’t cancel each other out. Even if you could have a knife at his throat, you’d still think his eyes are beautiful.
When King’s unconscious body was fished out from the ocean after the War of Onigashima, you went to see him. You bet he didn’t expect you to stay on the island despite him telling you to leave a few days before. You stare at his face, water still dripping down his shirt and hair. This is the first time you’ve seen his face, he looked prettier than you imagined, your finger traced against his tattoo. The dagger hidden in your sleeve burned against your skin, but you didn’t bother to acknowledge it. One of your hands pressed against his chest to find the hairpin he took from you broken, you let out a bitter smile. Your other hand sneaked up to caress his face, his heartbeat pounding in your left palm and his cold flesh in your right, your single teardrop fell as you leaned down, dripping onto his left cheekbone at the same time you landed your first kiss on his lips.
A lack of affection during one’s childhood could lead to a certain amount of emotional numbness, so when confronted with love, their first response is often avoidance.
+ Komugi Island seemed especially quiet today. The dark clouds circling above the city and the harsh waves crashing against the shore indicated an approaching storm
+ Katakuri should’ve been happy. You whom he loved so carefully had told him you felt the same just a few moments ago
+ His heart skipped a beat and soared, but only for a moment. The joy that should’ve erupted instead folded in on itself. He should’ve pulled you into his arms. He should’ve told you, without hesitation, that he loved you too. He should’ve kissed you, and he should’ve called his siblings and told them about the good news
+ Katakuri should’ve been more than happy
+ But here he is, in his own room, alone. It has started to rain, the wind outside rattles his window panes, but he doesn’t move. His scarf is off in front of the mirror, and he stood there– rigid, silent– for a long, long time
Law:
It’s hard to carry hatred for someone as kind as you.
- Do you hate Law? That was a question you’ve been wondering for a long time. He once saved your life but you didn’t feel bad about it, since he was the one responsible for causing these feelings anyways
- You hated how he always shows the same cold demeanor to everyone he knows, and you hated how he lets the presents you gifted eat dust in a random drawer in his room
- But you loved him, too. You loved the way, when he looked at you, you could see the softness behind his barriers. You have been following him since the beginning of the Heart Pirates. He’s your savior, you cannot leave his crew, you were binded– that’s what you often said to yourself, but only you knew how much truth that really held
- You decided you hate Law. You hate that he doesn’t love you enough
- But Law… When Mom died, Dad didn’t care to stay by her side. When I died, you were right here.
synopsis: reuniting with your high school crush while looking for a summer job in town wasn’t something you expected. but it seems like he also holds a secret within himself, something similar to yours.
*college au
author’s note: this is the first time i’ve written something in a good few months!! my writing skills might’ve declined but i swear i’ll get back at it soon! >_<
Summer break for college starts much earlier than it does for high school, even so, finding a summer job was always a challenge. No stores would want to hire a worker that’s going to leave in two months, maybe besides the ice cream stores that only open during summer. You learned that the hard way.
This being your first summer back as a college student, your mom had been nagging you to get a job or an internship, but no matter how many cover letters or resumes you have submitted online, nobody would give a response. So here you are, walking on the streets of your town, fingers picking and scratching at the new mosquito bite on your arm that grew swollen and red, going store to store in hopes you could at least get a part-time. But barely any stores needed more workers, and you just know the ones that accepted your resume would never contact you back.
Cicadas screaming in your ears just seemed to make everything worse. You walk towards the last store you had in mind— the ice cream store in town that only opened during summers, people say they’re always hiring.
Ding.
The bell on the door rang as you walked into the small shop. The cool air from the AC washed over you and you swear this is the first time you’ve felt this relieved since you got your college acceptance letter a year ago. But that feeling quickly went away when you spotted a certain redhead behind the counters, working with another man.
Shanks.
Your upstairs neighbor, classmate, as well as…
Despite the AC being on, you felt like it was as hot as the weather outside. Fingers wrinkling the resume they’re holding, and heart pounding in your ears, perhaps nothing else could be more embarrassing than this moment.
You forced your legs to move forward.
“Hello, I was wondering if you are hiring by any chance?” You spoke up to the middle-aged man, presumably the person in charge of the shift.
In the corner of your eyes, you see Shanks staring at you, and you bet your whole face was red right now.
“Ah, sorry. Our last spot was just taken not long ago.” The man gave an apologetic smile, his head subconsciously gesturing to the redhead that was working next to him, wrapping up for an online order.
No way… your mouth agape, you slowly turned to Shanks. Maybe he felt a little guilty, his head snapped away immediately, focusing on his current task. Despite the store being cool, you could see the few drops of sweat on his forehead.
“Okay…” You sighed with defeat, “Thank you.” Thanking the man, you turned away to leave.
Stepping back into the summer heat, you genuinely felt like jumping off a bridge at the thought of walking back home. You sighed again, giving it a thought, before turning back into the ice cream store. Surprisingly, this time, only Shanks was seen behind the counters. Did his manager seriously go on lunch break 2 seconds after you left?
“Hey,” Shanks was the one who spoke first, flashing you a big grin like he always does. “What can I get for ya?”
You looked at him, he hasn’t changed much since the last time you saw him at graduation. “Uh, I’ll take 2 scoops of the strawberry flavor… please.” You requested, smiling awkwardly, gazing down at the ice creams below the display glass. You and Shanks have known each other for a long time, going to the same school district basically all of your life. However, as time went on, people got sorted into different classes and found their own friend groups. Most people started distancing from their original friends, you and Shanks were one of the examples. But it was funny how you still liked him anyways, despite going from friends to acquaintances, you’ve always liked him more than anyone else.
“Cone or cup?” His question brought you out of your trance. You look back at him, accidentally making eye contact. Your heart skipped a beat.
“Cone would be fine.” You say.
After paying at the register, you watched as Shanks picked up a cone from the stack and grabbed the ice cream scoop. You came outside today to find a job, but ended up spending money, what the hell is wrong with you. You cursed at yourself in your mind. But you had to admit, the sight of Shanks’ biceps were indeed a treat to the eyes.
“I didn’t expect to see you around town.” He spoke as he handed you your cone. “How was college?”
You paused for a second, and then smiled a little, “Yeah, my mom was nagging me to find a summer job. College was fine, by the way, I made some new friends. What about you?”
Maybe you spent a little way too long having a conversation with him, you only left when his manager came back from lunch break, and he somehow tricked you into saying that you’d come visit often during the break as you said your goodbye. You scratched your head after stepping out of the store.
Even though you couldn’t get a job from any of the private business owners in town, you successfully secured a position at the park district, for a whopping $13 per hour pay. At least your mom would stop nagging at you, you thought as you read the employment text they sent you, the spark gone from your eyes (joke). Summer seemed to be going well, you occasionally visited Shanks’ shifts and would sometimes see him at the park too. Until one night, you received a call from the redhead. He asked you if you would want to go see a summer musical the high school was hosting, and there was no reason for you to decline.
The date came faster than expected, you sat in the audience next to Shanks as you watched some familiar faces of underclassmen perform on stage. The loud music rang in your ears, but Shanks would occasionally whisper to you about the singers, you would feel his hot breath fanning your ear, and his strong arm that was pressed against yours. As the show ended, you both left the building, he stopped you on the front stairs of the school, and brought you to the side entrance so you guys wouldn’t block people from leaving. You look at him, confused. He seemed a little fidgety during the musical too. You wonder what could be bothering him.
This place sure brought back some memories though, you thought to yourself. It was the last day of school last year, the front schoolyard was filled with seniors, signing each other’s yearbooks and hugging each other goodbye. You stood in this exact spot, reading the messages written on your yearbook and crying like a baby, because you genuinely thought you were never going to see your friends again. You thought you were never going to see Shanks again. You remember him jogging over to you when he spotted you a few feet away, and when you realized it, you were already in his warm embrace. That was the first time he hugged you since elementary school, his scent rushed into your nose and you couldn’t care about anything else at that moment, you gripped onto his white shirt and sobbed into his chest. You should’ve told him your feelings back then, and you wonder if he still remembers that day. You laugh a little, thinking back at your stupid behavior. The words came out of your mouth before you could stop yourself. You saw Shanks pause for a second, and then his shoulders relaxed, accompanied by his laughter. He says of course he remembers, and you laughed with him.
“But that isn't the reason why I brought you here.” He tells you. You stare at him as he pulls out 2 tickets from his pockets, he’s gripping onto them so hard you can see his fingers turning white, wrinkling the corners of the papers. You gave him a look of confusion before taking the tickets and reading the words on them. It was for a pop star you’ve always wanted to see live. Your eyes widened as you snapped your head back up at him. His hand subconsciously went up to scratch at his nape, “I always see you posting about this… sorry for taking the last spot at the ice cream store, but I was so close to saving enough money.” He explained, the tip of his ears bright red. “I mean, I just wanted to ask you if you’re free to go to this concert with me.”
You look at him in shock as he continues to talk.
“But maybe not as friends,” He stared into your eyes, “maybe as… lovers?”
