Heyyyy! Welcome to my blog. You can call me Em:) I accept requests for multiple characters and fandoms <3
Fandoms:
Demon Slayer
JJK
One Piece
Solo Leveling
Hunter x Hunter
Gachiakuta
Chainsaw Man
Sakamoto Days
Apothecary Diaries
Kaiju No. 8
Soul Eater
Spy x Family
My asks are always open, and I take requests in the comments, too. I'm down to write fluff, smut, AUs, poly!ships, angst, slow burn, you name it. However, there are some rules:
I will not write romantic fics for underage characters. I'm a 21 year old woman, and that makes me uncomfortable. I will absolutely write mentor/parental fics for underage characters like Tanjiro, Rudo, Denji, Killua or Gon, but no x readers :)
I will write smut, but I will NOT write about any of the following: non-con/dub con, underage/problematic age gaps, incest, defecation kinks or age play. Don't ask, I won't reconsider this. I'm all for hard-core kinks, but those are a no go for me. Additionally, see the above rule; I will not write smut for underage characters (Zanka, Riyo, Yuuji, etc)
Absolutely NO hate speech tolerated. I will block and report you faster than you can type out another slur.
Don't repost or translate any of my work without permission
I'm a patient advocate in Appalachia and write in my free time, so I typically post 3 or 4 fics a month (depending on my workload). I love prompts and ideas, so let me know what you want to read!
Masterlists:
Part 1:
💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 10 · Em's Masterlist P1: ·
Luffy x Fem! Marine Biologist Reader:
Part 1:
💬 4 🔁 0 ❤️ 42 · One Piece Luffy x Marine Biologi
Part 2:
💬 0 🔁 2 ❤️ 3 · Em's Master List P2: ·
Gojo x Fem! College Student Reader
Part 1:
💬 0 🔁 2 ❤️ 20 · College student! reader, self inser
One Shot Masterlist:
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 19 · One-Shot Masterlist ·
Enjin One Shot
💬 1 🔁 7 ❤️ 216 · Enjin x Fem! Doctor! Reader
One shot for funsies♡
Inspire
Lahan x Midwife! Reader
💬 1 🔁 0 ❤️ 14 · Post by @maniccrystalhippie · 1 image · Masterlist for Lahan x Midwife! Reader
Summary:
Lahan
When Kan Lahan first hear
Enjin x Reader Masterlists
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 25 · Post by @maniccrystalhippie · Enjin x Fem! Doctor! Reader Masterlist
Part 1❤️
Chapter 1
💬 6 🔁 13 ❤️ 294 · Enjin never
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 18 · Post by @maniccrystalhippie · 1 image · Enjin x Fem! Doctor Reader Masterlist
Part 2❤️
Chapter 10
💬 0 🔁 2 ❤️ 46 · P
Would you guys read it if I wrote a smut chapter??👀
If so, which fic should I write for? If Lahan wins, it will be a one shot that's a fast forward into the future (not revelant to the current plot line). Commenters on Ao3 have been begging for a smutty part 3 of my Choso x Reader one shot
Pairing: Enjin x Pregnant! Fem! Reader, Various x Fem! Den Mother! Reader
Summ: A month has passed since the wonderful news, things have changed and it sinks in for everyone the moment your belly begins to show.
The news of your miracle pregnancy leaves a blissful energy around HQ, nothing seems different at first and your changes are so subtle almost nobody notices until a small impression of your belly starts to show through your clothes. Riyo is the first to notice it, she was humming to herself while she styled your hair during a rare moment of downtime. She was observant, always had been, so when she look into the large vanity mirror and noticed how much fuller your face looked her eyes couldn’t help but peer down over your shoulder and noticed the bump beginning to show through your shirt.
“Looks like your little bundle of sunshine is starting to show.”, Riyo smiled.
You looked down and noticed what she meant, “Oh would you look at that, I hadn’t even noticed yet.”, you beamed, laying a soft hand over your stomach.
“Are you excited?”
“I am Bubbles, scared but excited. This’ll be the first baby in the whole building, even when Bro brought Dear home he was still a toddler not a little infant. At least I know the baby will be safe.”, you giggled.
Riyo nodded her head in agreement, once your hair was finished she let you go but not before stealing a big hug from you. “You’re gonna do great, you’ll be an amazing mother just don’t forget about your rest of us when the real deal shows up okay?”, she whispered softly against your chest.
It was a rare moment of insecurity for Riyo but you knew of her past and how much the situation with her own parents had hurt her. Riyo sighed as your embrace became tighter, like it was grounding her back to reality. You pulled back, still holding her in your arms, and smiled at her with a loving fondness she almost couldn’t believe was meant for her.
“Riyo you will always be my first baby girl, even if you came to me as a full grown teen. Your smile and laughter bring me immense joy and when I see that big bright head of hair I know I’m safe with you. You’ve fought all your life Riyo but you don’t have to fight for your space in my heart, that’ll always be yours even when the baby arrives.”, you promised watching the light and fresh tears begin to shimmer in her emerald green eyes.
“I don’t deserve you.”, she admitted in a broken voice.
You pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and pulled he back into your chest squeezing her tight, “But you have me and that’s all that matters, d’ya wanna know something? I told Enjin if we ever divorced I’d be taking all the kids in the divorce, he’s gonna owe me major child support.”, you teased pulling the most unhinged laugh from her body.
Riyo forgot she was upset thanks to you and that’s why she decided in that moment that she’d protect both you and the baby until her dying breath. Lunch was called throughout the building and Riyo dragged you along insisting that you needed to have a healthy diet to maintain the baby’s growth, the rest of your pack of kids were already downstairs when you arrived. Amo and Fu quickly filled your arms and greeted you with warm smiles, you flashed them both a loving smile and looked over at the tables to count the heads of each of your favorite people. Sadly Enjin, Rudo, and Zanka were missing.
“Did Akuta get dispatched?”, you asked Bro nearby.
“Small mission in the next town over, Enjin decided it was best to leave Riyo and Eishia here with you while him and the boys took the job.”, he explained offering to get your plate for you.
You waved him off and insisted you were still fully capable of providing for yourself, a trait your family would soon come to hate. Soon you sat down with a plate of food and shared lunch with the others while, you went about your day like normal. August bothered you with dramatic baby clothes ideas, Fu awaited your command for anything if you needed it, Amo baked pastries and treats for you while you worked, and even Semiu came to share a chat with you while you waited for your boys to come home.
Amo was cooing over the baby clothes you’d already made when her sweet orange eyes caught sight of your bump while you were reaching for something. She gasped quietly before letting out an excited squeal, “Mama you’re beginning to show.”, she cheered running up to you to help with the box you were reaching for.
“Just barely, Riyo noticed it before I did.”, you laughed.
Amo smiled at your words, “I hope when I’m bigger that I’ll be a great mama just like you.”
“And you will be but much much farther in the future and only with someone I approve of. No terrible men for my little princess!”, you huffed.
Amo’s cheeks flushed red with an intense blush, she adored how protective you were of her. “Mum I’m back with snacks, I even brought the cream cheese you wanted for your spicy chips.”, Fu announced his arrival.
“You’re my hero Fu, thank goodness for both you and Hii!”, you drooled snatching the snacks from him.
Fu beamed at your praise, soon the room filled with the sounds of your munching while the others helped you clean and organize the sewing room. Eventually just before nightfall Akuta had returned, Rudo hopped out of the jeep before it was even parked and booked it to find you. He called you on the blood chokers and asked for your location, thankfully you were close by in the living room downstairs.
“We’re back Mom!”, he cheered lunging at you for a hug.
Instinctively you opened your arms to welcome his hug but your shirt lifted a bit and his ruby eyes caught sight of your growing belly. Rudo stomped his foot back down into the ground and allowed himself to fall back onto the floor.
“Oh Rudo your head!”, you worried already activating your powers to heal him.
He sat up quickly and apologized, “My bad, I’m okay!”, he promised slowly taking a seat next to you and hugging you.
A confused look flashed on your face but you decided not to push the subject, “Welcome back Rudo, how was the mission?”, you inquired offering him a piece of cake.
Rudo happily snacked away at the piece like a glutton as Enjin and Zanka arrived. Zanka lifted Rudo away from you by his collar and filled the gap, “Zanka I will fight you.”, Rudo growled.
Zanka glared at him before flashing him a smug smile, “As long as (Y/n)’s here you wouldn’t dare.”
You giggled at his response and stood up to give them space, Rudo was on him before Zanka could even blink. While the two of them tussled on the ground a warm kiss was pressed to your cheek.
“Missed ya gorgeous, how was your day?”
“Perfectly fine, Riyo did my hair today and then I spent the rest of the day with everyone else. Did some reading, did some sewing, argued with August, normal stuff.”, Enjin chuckled softly at your eventful day. He wrapped an arm around your waist, his thumb just brushing over your stomach. He felt it, the new roundness that wasn’t there before, he couldn’t help but smile. Everyday was a reminder of how lucky he was to love you, his baby was growing inside of you and he was happy.
Soon it was bed time and everyone began going their separate ways, Enjin sat at the edge of the bed watching you change. Golden eyes noticed the changes in your body and it made him sigh dreamily, you were tossing one of his large shirts over your frame when you finally noticed the way he was looking at you.
“What?”, you giggled.
“Nothing I’m just so lucky to have you.”, he admitted.
You smile at his lovesick confession and look away trying to hide your flushed face, “Oh shut up you stupid flirt.”, you groan trying to remain levelheaded.
You get closer to him ready to join him in bed and sleep for the night but not before he gets the chance to do something. Enjin falls to his knees right in front of you and presses a sweet kiss to your belly, “Goodnight sweet sunshine, grow up big and strong for us.”, he whispered softly.
“Enjin you’re gonna make me cry.”
Enjin looked up at you with eyes that shimmered so brightly, “Only happy tears Wifey.”, he teased standing up to steal a peck from your lips.
Enjin adored you and he would adore you until the end of time. This pregnancy would be an experience but at least you’d both have each other through it all.
Based on his research and calculations, Lahan has estimated that your courtship will last 6 months or longer, and the young man plans to use this time to his advantage. The heir to the La Clan has a well-crafted plan on how to win over your family and secure a successful union between your clans. With the help of Sanfan, he has gathered much intel for his preparations, spurring Lahan's unwavering confidence in his mission. With a plan this perfect, nothing can go wrong!
“Sir, I have the report you requested,” Sanfan spoke quietly. “Ah yes! Bring it over here,” Lahan called out while he carefully jotted down notes on a piece of paper. The servant placed the stack of papers on Lahan's desk as she observed her master's eccentric (even for him) behavior. “Is there anything else you need, sir?” Lahan shook his head no. “Not at this time Sanfan, thank you.” The young man bowed upon being excused and turned on his heel to exit the room when he was interrupted. “Actually- I do have a request if you don't mind,” Lahan spoke suddenly. Sanfan had to contain the smirk pulling at her lips. When Lahan had first mentioned his plan to marry you, Sanfan had a feeling she would eventually get pulled into it. She wasn't a fan of Lahan's plans to make you the lady of the house, however the young woman had decided that she loved him enough to let him go. For now. She was well aware that Lahan viewed her as nothing more than a servant girl with an unrequited crush, but she hoped with time he would see her as more.
“What is it, sir?” Lahan sighed as his shoulders dropped, “I need you to find out whatever you can in regards to my fiancee. I want to know everything; her favorite food, her hobbies, her likes and dislikes. I need to know everything.” Lahan spoke, nearly breathless. Although Sanfan wasn't a fan of assisting her (one-sided) romantic rival, she decided to agree anyway. Sanfan believed that if she could prove her worth, Lahan would notice her more. ‘Maybe if I help him, he'll notice me..’ the young woman thought to herself.
“How should I go about this? You want me to gossip?” Sanfan asked, a bit skeptical. “I know you have contacts. Try and talk to her maids or anyone that might know my [Name].” The servant sighed and agreed; this was far from the weirdest request her master had made. The young woman almost hoped she would hear something scandalous about you; a piece of gossip that would make Lahan call off the wedding. “Thank you Sanfan, I'm counting on you.” Lahan wore a foxy grin, already foreseeing victory on the horizon. The young man returned to his writing, recording every step of his plan to woo you and convince your father to say yes. Step one was to invite you and your Clan to a formal tea ceremony to officially request to court you. Lahan was already planning to tell the cooks to stock up on jasmine tea just for you. The young man was in the beginning stages of budget planning for your wedding; it would have to be a grand event fitting for you. He would accept no less for his wife to be. Many people owed him favors, and Lahan planned to call in every single one. He started with the guards stationed at the Rear Palace, asking them to keep a close eye on you and ensure your safety at all times. He had made sure to order the eunuchs to take note of everything about you and report back. There were 4 eunuchs in the Rear Palace that were under the La Clan's influence, and in Lahan's humble opinion it was time to put them to good use.
When they confirmed you had been wearing his hair stick, Lahan was giddy. One of them had already sent a letter reporting your usual daily activities and listing who your friends were. Lahan intended on making a good impression on these people, even if he had to orchestrate a few “random” interactions. Currently, your brother and father are his biggest obstacle. Your grandfather had a good relationship with Lakan, and the two men had a mutual respect for each other. Since your grandfather is the head of your clan, Lahan planned to encourage this relationship and weasel his way into it. Appealing to your grandfather seemed to be the easiest route to gaining approval based on your lover's calculations.
Unfortunately, your brother and father seemed skeptical. Lahan had spent hours trying to figure out how to get the two men to like him, yet he scrapped every idea. None of his plans seemed plausible in reality. He briefly considered convincing a young soldier that was friends with Basen to talk him up and improve Lahan's reputation; alas the young man couldn't help but feel pathetic as soon as the thought entered his brain. He immediately pushed it away, deciding to turn his focus back to budgeting. It calmed his mind as he calculated household expenses and managed assets; this was something he was familiar with and in control of. Math was far less complicated than navigating the social circles of the court.
Traditionally married couples have separate bedrooms, however Lahan found that sharing a room was more economical. He had never imagined himself as living in some mega mansion, rather he saw himself residing in a cozy home that was just big enough for his family. A 4 bedroom home on the estate would do just fine, and Lahan decided that 3 servants would be sufficient for now. He set aside a portion of the budget for you to decorate your shared home however you please. Lahan had little interest in interior decorating and your future husband has faith that you can turn your house into a home. The heir to the La Clan continued to work late into the night after he got lost in his abacus. “Sir?” Sanfan called out as she knocked on the door. Lahan's concentration was interrupted by his servant's voice, “yes? What is it?” Sanfan took that as his cue to enter and pushed open the door softly. “It's getting quite late, Master Lahan. You should go to bed. I can draw you a bath if you'd like,” the young woman offered. “I suppose you're right,” the young heir sighed and pushed away the papers on his desk. He declined her offer for a bath with a wave of his hand. Sanfan watched as Lahan began to prepare for bed. “I'll take my leave now, goodnight,” she bowed and quickly left the room, making a bee line for her own bedroom. Lahan flopped on his mattress after blowing out his candle. Sleep came fast and your fiance drifted off to dream land.
DAY TWO
As soon as Lahan woke up, he went back to work. He continued to scribble down his calculations like his life depended on it. He worked diligently, ignoring all distractions until Sanfan entered. The servant placed a breakfast tray in front of the young man before sharing the Rear Palace's latest gossip. “You look happy. Do you have any updates?” Lahan asked bluntly. “I do sir, and I think you'll be pleased with the news. Lady (Y/N) has not only been wearing your hair stick but she is actively working to convince her father to approve of your court ship. Apparently she threatened to take a vow of silence if he refused. Not only that, but it sounds like Basen may be warming up to the idea of you.” Sanfan spoke with a pleased smile, practically beaming with pride. “Is that so? How well is she doing with her negotiations? I planned on inviting the Ma Clan to tea next month, but I suppose we can move that up. I will have to send invitations right away. Two weeks should be enough time to plan a tea ceremony, right? I mean, how hard can it be?” Lahan continued to mutter to himself, jotting down more notes and crossing out others. “Sir?” Lahan looked up briefly, “what?” Sanfan cleared her throat before responding. “That's not all. Your fiancé has convinced her brother to support your marriage, but apparently he's demanding you ‘prove yourself’ to him as a man before he gives an official endorsement. I'm not sure exactly what it is he wants you to do, and from what I've heard, Basen himself doesn't even know yet.”
“Hmm… how interesting. Well I can't say I wasn't expecting this, but I would like to know what he’s expecting from me. I want you to keep an ear out for any more details regarding this, Sanfan. If you hear anything in relation to Basen's demands, tell me. This is a high priority,” Lahan demanded. He turned back to his desk and began to examine his meticulous notes. He knows you seem to favor blue and your favorite flowers are dahlias. Lahan had ordered the gardeners to start growing dahlias and the blooms were nearly the size of dinner plates. Lahan couldn't wait to see your face when you come to visit his gardens in a few weeks. He immediately began to write up a list of items for the servants to buy at the market.
The heir to the La Clan ended up ordering enough jasmine and oolong tea to serve the Emperor's Imperial Army. Lahan ensured only the finest chefs could cook for his fiancee and her family, arranging for the most talented culinary artists to cater your engagement ceremony. The kitchen had been ordered to stock up on oranges after Lahan remembered you like them. The young man had several pages of notes dedicated to you, writing down every little detail. Lahan took note of how you wore your hair, the route you walk every day and knows the name and rank of all your friends. He had already made a list of people he believed may pose some sort of risk towards you, an unforgivable sin to your fiancé. When a eunuch reported that one of the guards stationed at the gates had been asking around about you and implied the soldier was interested in courting you, Lahan ensured he was immediately demoted. Throughout the east wing of the estate, Lakan could be heard laughing in his office when he heard about it. Sanfan could only sigh and shake her head in mock disappointment.
She'd be lying if she said she didn't expect this. Sanfan found it difficult to cope with the idea of being “demoted" in Lahan's life, but knowing that Yao’s efforts were unsuccessful is enough to lift her spirits. Lahan was clearly infatuated with you; it was obvious to everyone who knew him. The young man had confined himself to his study and was spending all of his time planning. Your fiancé intended to give you the best life he could and spent several hours ensuring he would. At this moment, nothing mattered except you.
DAY THREE
After thoroughly inspecting the kitchens and ensuring they're well stocked, Lahan made his way down to the gardens. Your dahlias were on full display. The young heir was already arranging for a plot of land to be tilled for your own personal garden. Lahan wrote a letter to Luomen the night before, asking him what plants he should order. After all, this is a medicinal garden for his future wife, and Lahan must be prepared! He eagerly awaited his great uncle's response. Lahan would have visited his relative in person, but upon hearing about Gaoshun's request he decided a letter would suffice. He refused to take any risks when it came to your father's decision. Lahan can hardly wait until he sees you again; his head was only full of thoughts of you and mathematics. Lahan finally understood his Uncle Lakan's infatuation with Fengxian, and found himself to be mimicking this behavior recently. He spoke about you often, verbally detailing his plans for the future (they all involve you). Although Lahan didn't interact with his brother often, even he was forced to listen to Lahan’s musings. The young man was held hostage by his older brother- enduring hours of lovestruck muttering as his brother spoke of you. “Okay I get it, she's your potato,” he sighed. Lahan suddenly stopped and looked at his little brother in confusion, “what did you just say?”
“Nothing. It's just- I get it dude. I understood what you said the first time. Can I go now? I still have to start tilling up that plot for your fiancé ya know,” the young man sighed. “Oh yes, of course! She'll be here in a week and a half, so I must make sure all the preparations are ready,” Lahan said over his shoulder as he rushed off, mind set on nothing but you. As he returned to his room, the young heir beckoned for Sanfan to follow. “Yes?” The young woman asked as she stepped into his room. Lahan pulled out a giant piece of paper filled with sketches, diagrams and scribbled notes- all pertaining to you.
“What the-?” Sanfan stopped in her tracks at the sight. “Now that I've brought you into Operation Marriage, I'll need to brief you on the latest information. Two eunuchs have been identified as possible obstacles and will be reassigned to another post. The status of marital engagement remains the same; we are still awaiting Master Gaoshun's final decision. We shall begin negotiations between the clans immediately, thus I have arranged for a formal tea ceremony in two weeks. The Ma Clan should be receiving these invitations soon, so keep an eye out for any pertinent correspondence.” “... Is that all?” Lahan looked at Sanfan with a foxy smile, and that was all the answer she needed. The young woman sighed and accepted her fate. “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to infiltrate the Rear Palace.” “Wait- WHAT?!” Lahan waved off Sanfan's concern, “it will only be for a day, and don't worry I have the perfect disguise for you! You'll be undercover as one of the court ladies named Mingzhu. Your robes are in your room. I need you to find out whatever you can in regards to my fiancé. Try and get close to her,” Lahan instructed. “Wait- when am I supposed to start this? And where am I supposed to sleep? What do I-?” Lahan shushed the girl and pointed to a diagram he had sketched earlier. “I have a plan, so don't worry! Step 1 is infiltrating the Rear Palace, where you'll arrive in a carriage and be escorted inside by one of our allied eunuchs. The Crystal Pavillion is inviting a few servants and young ladies to help prepare the place for the baby. You will be one of those ladies. I want you to help them around the Crystal Pavillion, but remember your main objective is getting closer to (Name). Offer to help her and make sure you take note of anything important. Most importantly, don't raise suspicion. I'm counting on you, Sanfan. I need you to do this for me,” Lahan pleaded, purposefully playing with the girl's feelings. While Lahan saw her as a young girl, he was aware that Sanfan was harboring a crush. Your fiancé was willing and ready to use any advantage he could.
After Sanfan eagerly agreed, Lahan continued to outline his plan. “You will be staying there for 2 days, starting tomorrow. I need you to listen very carefully- do not engage with the other ladies of the court. Greet them and be polite, but do not waste conversation on them. If you talk too much they'll get suspicious; Mingzhu is known for being as quiet as a mouse and keeping her head down. Do not forget that,” Lahan spoke seriously. He accentuated each word with a wag of his finger. “I'll do it, but don't expect any miracles Master Lahan. I've heard your fiancè is quite protective of the pregnant consorts and I highly doubt she'll let a stranger approach them,” Sanfan sighed with brows furrowed in worry. “Oh I'm well aware, but don't you worry. I'm sure you'll catch her at some point. Like I said, offer to help and get as close as possible. Talk with her, learn everything you can. If she talks about me, you must report back every.single.word.”
DAY FOUR
Sanfan sighed as she smoothed out her blue skirt. The carriage was waiting outside and the young eunuch who would be escorting her just arrived. “My lady? Are you ready?” The young man asked, offering a hand to guide her. Sanfan ignored the kind gesture and walked right up to the carriage door. “Hey! Don't forget what I told you!” Lahan shouted to Sanfan, sitting on his personal balcony. The young woman rolled her eyes before turning and looking at him with a firm nod. The silent gesture was enough to reassure Lahan, and Sanfan continued on her way. The eunuch helped her into the carriage and soon they were off.
The journey to the palace was uneventful and throughout the entire 45 minute ride Sanfan never spoke a word. She was filled with a mixture of anxiety and amusement; she never imagined she would be in a position like this, going on a secret mission like some sort of spy. Yet here she was, adopting another woman's identity as she walked through the front gates of the Rear Palace. The young eunuch led Sanfan, now known as Mingzhu, towards the Crystal Pavillion where several women were bustling around. They all wore blue and purple robes with the finest silks and satin. Lady Lihua could be seen sitting in the courtyard, happily holding her baby bump. Sanfan spotted you beside her, writing something down on a pad of paper. The young woman began to walk towards the pregnant consort but was stopped by Lihua's head lady in waiting. The short woman stood in front of Sanfan with her hands on her hips and a cold expression. “What exactly do you think you're doing?” She asked with an accusatory tone. Mingzhu bowed before the older woman, “my apologies miss, my name is Mingzhu, I have come to help today. I was going to greet the consort and ask if she needed any help.”
“Don't bother the Wise Consort! I will be giving the orders around here. Now, I want you to go help the servant girls gather the linens,” the woman demanded, pointing a finger towards a group of 3 young girls gathering curtains and rugs. Sanfan stared at her feet as she walked over. Without speaking a word she began picking up the heavy fabrics and placing them in the laundry cart. After several minutes one of the younger girls tapped her on the shoulder, “excuse me miss, would you mind helping me carry this to the wash basins?” Sanfan nodded and wordlessly started to assist. “So… what's your name? My name is Shisui,” the girl said cheerfully. “Hello Shisui, my name is Mingzhu. I assume you're also here to assist the wise consort?” The younger girl nodded with a cat-like smile. Sanfan helped the servant girl haul the linens to the laundry area, setting down the basket with a huff. After the task was done, she immediately turned on her heel and began walking back to the Crystal Pavillion. “Wait up! I'm coming with you!” Shisui's voice rang out and Sanfan looked over her shoulder to see the girl making a beeline towards her. “What are we going to do next?” The servant girl asked, happily strolling beside Sanfan.
“I'm going to check in with the midwife, I'm sure she'll need help with something.” The young girl lit up, “she works with Mao Mao! C'mon, I know where to find her.” Shisui grabbed Sanfan's hand and began dragging her towards the apothecary clinic. The young woman had to run to keep up with the servant girl who was currently tugging her along. Sanfan blinked in surprise as she saw that you were, in fact, with Mao Mao in the clinic. “Mao Mao! We're here to help you,” the purple haired girl exclaimed, bounding towards the apothecary. “With what?” Mao Mao asked. “We're here to help Lady Lihua; her head lady in waiting suggested we provide any assistance you may need Miss (Name).” Sanfan bowed slightly in greeting, attempting to stay in character as she covered her face with a fan. “Oh how sweet! Here, take this,” you handed a small mortar and pestle to Sanfan with a smile. “You do know how to use a mortar and pestle, right?” Sanfan nodded in response to your question. “Perfect! I need you to grind up that Dong Quai.”
You immediately turned your attention to the younger girl. “You're one of Mao Mao's friends- Shisui, right?” The servant girl nodded with a cheery smile. “I want you to go with Mao Mao to the temple gardens. She'll need help harvesting all kinds of stuff.” Mao Mao just shrugged and went along with your directions, handing a small basket to Shisui. “Oo! What are we gonna pick?” The servant girl asked the apothecary, her buns bouncing as she moved. “Mostly Ren Shen and white peony roots, but we'll probably harvest some honeysuckle flowers as well.” Mao Mao spoke dryly, wearing her usual deadpan expression. “Lead the way!” Shisui cheered, following Mao Mao with a skip in her step.
“My apologies, I never asked your name. I'm (Name), the midwife here. I probably should have introduced myself before putting you to work.” You wore a bashful expression and began to apologize again before you were interrupted. “My name is Mingzhu, it's lovely to meet you Lady (Name),” Sanfan said with a polite bow of her head. “Well Mingzhu, thank you for your help. When you're done, would you mind placing the ground ginseng in this bottle?” You handed a small glass bottle to the younger woman, who nodded and set it beside her. “Come, sit. Here's a spare stool,” you offered. The young woman took you up on your offer, smoothing her skirts after she sat down. The two of you worked in silence, preparing herbs for various uses. You were stringing mint stalks in twine and hanging them from the ceiling to dry out.
When Sanfan finished her task, she turned to you, silently asking what you wanted her to do next. “Thank you, Mingzhu! Would you mind slicing these garlic cloves for me? I need to dry it out,” you explained, handing the vegetable to the young woman. “You can use the knife and cutting board over there,” you gestured towards a table in the back. The younger woman nodded and made her way towards the table. Sanfan's mind was racing as she tried to think of ways she could strike up a conversation with you without breaking character. ‘What am I supposed to say? Lahan is counting on me! C'mon think of something,’ Sanfan thought to herself. Luckily, the gods seemed to smile on her as you approached the young woman on your own accord. “Thanks for your help. I know that you have an administrative role, so I really appreciate you doing hands-on work like this,” you smiled. “It's no trouble at all. I am here to help.”
“I suppose that's true. You should stay for lunch- I'm sure Gwen will make tea soon. He always does,” you giggled. Sanfan felt a genuine smile stretched across her face. She suddenly understood Lahan's infatuation; unlike the other ladies of the court you seemed to approach everything with a gentle kindness. You had a sort of calming effect with the comfortable atmosphere you curated. The smell of herbs filled the air and the sun rays warmed the stone floor in the late morning. The quiet atmosphere nearly pulled Sanfan to sleep as she perched on her stool. The young woman rubbed her eyes with a yawn before returning to her task, mincing the garlic as you directed. The two of you worked in silence, organizing the dried herbs into small jars and putting them away. You gathered some of the dried ginseng, jasmine and butterfly pea flowers, placing them in a tea spoon. You took the herbs and a small pot of honey and placed them on an ornate tray. You then turned to Sanfan, “we're almost done, I promise. Do you want to help me make some tea to help with morning sickness?” The young woman nodded, interest piqued at your offer.
“Bring me some ginger and that little yellow jar.” Sanfan brought you the items and you smiled gratefully. “These are dried tangerine peels,” you explained as you collected the fruit out of the jar. You placed the dried ginger, ginger roots and tangerine peels in a small tea pot that you set on the ornate tray. “Come on, we'll boil the water in the kitchen of the Crystal Pavillion. Lady Lihua and Lady Gyoukuyou are having tea together in the gardens this afternoon,” you explained as you picked up the tray and swiftly carried it out. “Do you need me to carry anything?” Sanfan asked as she hurried after you. “Oh no, this is all I need. Thank you so much for your help today, Mingzhu. When we're done with this, we can have our own little tea party in the clinic.” Sanfan could only smile and nod in response; how were you this friendly?? Shouldn't you be suspicious of other ladies of the court? Yet here you were, letting a stranger tag along while you care for the heavily pregnant concubines.
The younger woman followed behind you as you kicked open the kitchen door and got right to work. You filled a small ceramic cauldron with water and heated it over a charcoal fire. As soon as the water began to boil you removed it from the heat and poured the hot water into the tea pot. The rest of the water was poured into a small ceramic water pitcher. You arranged the cutlery and ceramics on the ornate tray until you were satisfied. Your meticulous nature reminded Sanfan of Lahan. She had to cover her amused smile behind her sleeves as she watched you. “Is there anything I can do to help you?” You looked up from your work, “take that tray over there and follow me.” The young woman silently obeyed, picking up a silver tray full of tea cakes and snacks.
You led Sanfan into the gardens where a small table and chairs were set up. The wise consort could be seen approaching as you set the table. “Bring that over here,” you directed Sanfan before turning your attention to a group of Lihua's ladies in waiting. “I need you to make sure that no one else enters the gardens and interrupts the consorts. It's absolutely crucial that you ensure Lady Gyoukuyou and Lady Lihua are able to enjoy this time together uninterrupted, and I don't want to hear about any eunuchs trying to ‘come say hello’, understood?” The young ladies of the court nodded and immediately spread out across the garden plaza, falling into place like well trained guard dogs. Sanfan was mildly impressed by your authority. The women here listened to you without asking questions and you had clearly drilled them hard on your policies and procedures. There were very few people who had that power in the Rear Palace, and even fewer women; yet here you were, ordering ladies of the court around like they were your soldiers.
When you were satisfied with your work you brushed your hands against your skirt and made your way back to the clinic. Sanfan followed you silently, unsure what to do next. “There you are, Lady (Name)! I was wondering where you were,” Gwen greeted. “I was helping out at the Crystal Pavillion. Mingzhu here helped me; Mingzhu this is Dr. Gwen, Dr. Gwen this is Lady Mingzhu,” you introduced the two with a smile. The quack doctor welcomed your guest with his usual enthusiasm, insisting the two of you sit and rest while he makes tea. “So, tell me more about yourself. What exactly do you do here at the Rear Palace? If you don't mind me asking of course,” you asked, resting your chin on your hand. Sanfan had to think back to the day before when Lahan had drilled the young woman on the details of her undercover alias. “I mostly assist with the accounting and do administrative tasks. It's a lot of basic mathematic calculations and transcription work with some record keeping here and there. My job is certainly not as exciting as yours,” Sanfan joked, hiding her face behind her sleeves. “Oh! You must know Lahan then. Do you work with him often?”
Your expression brightened as soon as his name left your lips and Sanfan felt a small twinge in her chest at the sight. “I do, but I don't work with him very often. He usually works at home.” It was a half lie, as the young woman couldn't reveal her actual relation to your lover. “He's a genius, isn't he? I don’t understand how he manages to keep track of all of those numbers and equations,” you giggled. “Oh no, don't tell him that. His ego is big enough as it is,” Sanfan joked before freezing. Shit. Her gut churned with anxiety as she waited for your reaction. Much to her surprise, you laughed out loud. She wasn't sure how exactly she was expecting you to react, but it certainly wasn't this. “Maybe so, but I like his confidence! I think it's cute.” Sanfam had to hide the smirk tugging at her lips; she couldn't wait to see Lahan's face. His expression was going to be priceless.
Gwen interrupted your conversation as he set down the tea pot. “So ladies, is there any new gossip?” He asked eagerly. You shrugged your shoulders, “I don't really keep up with all of that. I'm not trying to get involved with social politics.” Sanfan nodded in agreement, “it's best practice to just keep your head down.” Gwen sighed dramatically, “oh you two are no fun!” You laughed in response while Sanfan hid her expression behind her tea cup. She sipped her tea quietly while you talked with the palace physician. The young woman observed your interaction, making note of your conversation topics and anything that may be of note to Lahan. She could already tell her oral report was going to take a while.
DAY FIVE
“She said I was cute?!” Lahan asked, slamming his hands down on the table in excitement. “Yep. That's what she said,” Sanfan sighed as she repeated herself for the third time. “And she thinks I'm a genius?! She said that?? Out loud?” The young heir was behaving like an excited puppy, practically bouncing with joy. “Yes. I already told you this,” Sanfan sighed, dragging a hand across her face in annoyance. “Don't get snippy with me! This is important information, Sanfan. What else did she say about me?”
“She just said you that you were smart and cute and she likes your confidence. I didn't want to weird her out by asking too many questions.” Lahan nodded in understanding, “smart. You did well yesterday. Now tell me, is there anything else that you haven't mentioned?” Sanfan rolled her eyes. “I've already told you everything. After we had tea, she went to check on the consorts and I was ordered to re-hang all the curtains. I didn't get to see her after that, but I did see Mao Mao and Jinshi standing rather close to one another and whispering back and forth.” The young heir leaned back in his chair with a sigh, “my dear (Name) thinks I'm cute…” He was so lost in his own world that Lahan completely disregarded the gossip about his little sister. He returned to his scribbled notes and began adding to it. “Do you need anything else? Master Lakan wants me to deliver some reports for him,” Sanfan asked, fiddling with her fingers as she waited to be dismissed. “Oh, yeah! You can go now,” The young heir dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand. He continued to hyper focus on his written plan, checking off the boxes he had already completed. Your dahlias were in full bloom and Lahan couldn’t wait to show them to you. The kitchens had already stocked up on your favorite food and snacks in preparation for your visit next week; the young man had spared no expense when it came to you. A beautiful silver hairbrush was packaged neatly on his desk, a gift he planned to present you with the next time he saw you.
All that was left to do was to convince your family to approve of the courtship. Based on the intel that had been reported back, it sounded like your father was slowly coming around to the idea. The soldiers who reported to Lakan confirmed that Basen was supportive, a major win in Lahan’s book. While it seemed impossible to go two weeks without talking to you, he would endure if it meant that you would become his wife. If Lahan had learned anything from his uncle, it was how to shower a woman with gifts and praise. After watching Lakan and Fengxian’s interactions, Lahan became determined to find someone he could love like that, and then you came along. You were one of the few people whose face he could actually see, and the young man was hooked on you as soon as you locked eyes that day. He had never imagined he would fall in love with the new midwife, but after knowing you, he would choose to love you in every lifetime. If you wanted the world, he would give it to you. His new mindset was simple, really; making sure his future bride is happy is the most important thing! After all, deep devotion to your one true love seemed to run in his blood.
“adults should be mindful of minors online” is a perfectly reasonable statement!
however. “being mindful” means:
adequately tagging/warning for non-child-friendly content to ensure that minors are able to avoid it
not discussing inappropriate topics with minors or in spaces that are supposed to be safe for minors
“being mindful” does NOT actually mean:
never ever creating content rated higher than PG even if it’s all properly tagged and warned for because it’s still possible that a minor might potentially see it
Sorry for the long wait y'all, but I promise it will be worth it. The next chapter of my Lahan x Midwife! Reader series will be coming out some time next week and it's going to be a long one. I hope you all enjoy the fluffy shenanigans coming up🫶
Chapter 7: Calculating the Future
Overview:
Based on his research and calculations, Lahan has estimated that your courtship will last 6 months or longer, and the young man plans to use this time to his advantage. The heir to the La Clan has a well-crafted plan on how to win over your family and secure a successful union between your clans. With the help of Sanfan, he has gathered much intel for his preparations, spurring Lahan's unwavering confidence in his mission. With a plan this perfect, nothing can go wrong!
apologies to anyone who ever thought i was cool and reached out to me only to discover i am just a weird little hermit who can't carry on a conversation to save my life
Today is Saturday, the day you're supposed to work for Alice at her clinic. You must leave your sister behind and face your fear of being captured again, but luckily you have Enjin. With your lover's reassurance and protection, you start to believe that you can get through today. Let's hope you survive!
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You have been home for 5 days now, settling into your old routine. However, upon waking this morning your stomach sank when you realized today is Saturday. Alice had demanded you work at her clinic every Saturday since she assisted the Cleaners in your rescue, and while you didn't mind helping the woman, you were terrified the Raiders would come to the clinic to take revenge. You wondered if they had been staking out the Stilza Clinic, or maybe they were biding their time until you dropped your defenses and they would take you again. Deep down, you knew if the Raiders ever got ahold of you again, they wouldn't be as nice as they were before. The thought of ever coming across any of them again sent shivers down your spine.
Your dog could sense your anxiety and flopped herself into your lap, wagging her tail as her tongue lolled out. Maggie looked like she was smiling as she began barking at you, as if she was trying to say ‘mom, get up!’ You pet her black and white fur before sitting up with a groan. Maggie wagged her tail and jumped off the bed before scampering to the door. “I'll let you out soon, let me get dressed first.” You put on your scrubs quickly before clipping Maggie's leash to her collar. Your sister began to stir in your bed, making you pause; you went over to tuck Rae in and kissed her forehead before you left. Maggie happily trotted down the hall but you noticed she kept looking over her shoulder as if to make sure you were still there. It tugged on your heart strings; your poor pup had no idea why you suddenly disappeared and came back days later carrying your deathly ill sister. The next time Maggie looked over her shoulder you tried to reassure her, “I'm right here, I promise I'm not going anywhere.”
“You better not,” Enjin's voice rang from behind you. You turned around and saw your lover was watching you while he leaned against Semiu’s desk, which was surprisingly left empty by the woman. “I promise I'll always come back,” you whispered, reaching out your pinky. Enjin approached and linked his pinky with yours. “You can't break a pinky promise baby,” he reminded you before leaning down and kissing you softly. Before either one of you could deepen the kiss, Maggie whined behind you causing you to pull away. Your boyfriend groaned, making you giggle. “Wanna come with? I gotta take Maggie on her morning walk,” you explained. Enjin agreed, taking your free hand in his. You walked side by side in comfortable silence, fingers intertwined. You dropped your dog's leash and Maggie happily scampered off to her preferred spots to do her business. “It's crazy how you can just let go of her and she'll come right back,” Enjin murmured. “She's well trained; recall is the most important skill for dogs ya know. Maggie has been in training her whole life; sometimes we practice her commands outside when we walk at night.” Your boyfriend laughed lightly, “Ofcourse you do.”
“Hey! What's that supposed to mean?” You asked, lightly smacking his arm. “Nothing, you're just cute. That's all,” he smiled and leaned down to give you another kiss. Enjin cupped your jaw as he deepened the kiss. You nipped his lower lip softly before tilting your head, succumbing to your lover's embrace. Enjin rested his hands along your waist and pulled you closer. “There you are!” August's voice rang out suddenly, scaring the shit out of you both. You physically jumped at the audible intrusion, nearly biting your own tongue. “August! You scared me,” you complained as Maggie trotted over, returning to your side. She sat down in between you and Enjin and wagged her tail cheerfully, looking up at you two as if to say ‘okay, what now?’ The man laughed in response, throwing his head back. “Hey there, puppy dog!” August ruffled Maggie's fur and she leaned into it, seeking out any attention she could get. “You ready to go or what? The old lady is waiting on us,” the blonde man asked, voice loud and proud. “I've gotta put Maggie back in my room and say goodbye to Rae, then I'll be ready,” you spoke reluctantly. Your palms were sweaty and your stomach was doing flips as your anxiety consumed you. “You're not taking Maggie?” Enjin asked, a bit shocked. “No, I'm going to leave Mags with Rae. This will be her first day without me,” you explained, frowning when you remembered you would have to leave your sister behind today. “I think it will be the first day for both of them. Are you sure?” Your lover asked, taking your hand in his.
“I'm sure. I can't risk it,” you sighed. “Risk what?” Enjin asked, cocking his head. “I can't risk losing them. If the Raiders come back-” “They won't. “ Your lover interrupted, stonefaced and serious. “You don't know that, Enjin. None of us do. They already know about Alice, and they're probably going to find out I work there. What happens then?” You asked, staring at your feet as you felt the weight of your worries settle over your shoulders. You were nearly suffocating in anxiety, drowning in your own thoughts. “Do you want me to come with?” Enjin asked, surprising you. “Are you sure? I don't think it will be much fun for you,” you explained, not wanting to bore your boyfriend. “Yeah of course, anything for my girl,” Enjin smirked before ruffling your hair. You batted his hands away, “Hey! Don't mess up my hair,” you complained. “Alright, love birds! Let's get a move on,” August shouted, clapping his hands together for emphasis. You sighed and rolled your eyes as you pulled away from your boyfriend.
Enjin pouted and you kissed his cheek before making your way back to your room. Maggie trotted beside you and as soon as you opened the door, your dog jumped on your bed, jostling your sleeping sister. “Mags! Lay down, don't wake up Rhea,” you whisper-shouted. Your dog instantly obeyed and curled up on the covers, laying at your sister's feet. After peeking over your shoulder to ensure nobody was watching, you quietly tucked Cliff's gun in your waistband. The cool metal rested against your abdomen as a silent reminder of its presence. You kissed your sister's forehead and wrote her a note letting her know where you were. You had already told Rae where you were going, but you felt the sisterly urge to remind your baby sister. Luckily, Bro had volunteered to keep an eye on her today, easing your nerves.
Rae
I know I told you last night, but I wanted to remind you that I'll be working at Alice’s clinic today. I'll probably be home around 6. Enjin is coming with me, and so is August (the crazy guy with overalls). Bro Santa will be around if you need anything. Team Child said they'd save you a seat at breakfast, so make sure you eat. Love you lots and give Maggie a pet for me♡
-Sissy
You placed the paper on your nightstand and tucked your sister in before leaving again. Enjin and August were waiting for you outside, leaning against the Jeep’s exterior. “Ayy there you are! Are you ready to rock n roll?!” August cheered as you approached. “Alright, so basically I'm going to drive myself on my super sweet motorcycle, and you two are riding in Enjin's car. You'll meet me there.” You cocked your head to the side in confusion, “Don't you mean you will meet us there, August?” The eccentric man laughed in response. “Nah, there's no way y'all are beating me to the old lady's!” He quickly hopped on his red motorcycle and drove away, leaving you in his dust.
Enjin opened your car door for you, ushering you into the passenger seat. “What a gentleman,” you teased, making your boyfriend's cheeks flush. “Yeah yeah, just get in already,” he huffed, trying (and failing) to mask his flustered expression. Enjin would always get all bashful every time you compliment him or tease him for his tenderness and care for you. His blush would spread from the apples of his cheeks to the tips of his ears, and he always fiddled with his rings when he didn't know how to respond. You thought it was adorable every time. You couldn't help but admire your boyfriend's side profile as he drove. “You're really hot y'know,” you murmured from the passenger seat. Enjin chuckled at your words, “oh I know, pretty girl. You tell me all the time.” Your lover grinned at you and placed his palm against your thigh. You interlaced your fingers with his as you rode in comfortable silence. Music blasted from the car's speakers as you traveled to the Stilza Clinic.”Have you figured out what you're going to do with your sister?” Enjin asked, voice low and cautious. “Do what? Are you asking if I'm going to let her join the Cleaners?” Your lover nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I… I think so… but I don't want her involved in combat. Not yet. She's too little and absolutely inexperienced. I have to protect Rae, and I can't do that if she's out there risking her life fighting trash beasts. I don't know what she can do, but I know that I want her to be part of Team Child.” Your lover slammed on the brakes, “say WHAT?! Why not Akuta?! You know you're part of Team Akuta too, right?” You giggled at your boyfriend; his overdramatic flare lightened up your somber mood. “Team Child is consistently assigned less dangerous missions, and I think Bro would do really well with her. Rae knows some basic self defense, my father made sure of it. But- if I'm being honest, we babied her. Little Rhea has grown up very sheltered, and a lot of it is my fault. I thought that if I protected her, nothing bad would happen…. but well,” you gestured vaguely, “look at where we are now.”
“Okay, I can understand that. Are you going to let her work in the clinic?” Enjin asked, briefly taking his eyes off the road to look at you. “I think so, maybe she can help Semiu at the front desk too. She would hang out at the clinic after school, and I taught her how to make a few salves and she would help me take inventory so I think it will work out okay. I just hope she makes friends,” you sighed. “I'm not sure what I should do about her education either. I've been thinking about creating some kind of study group for the kids at HQ; I don't want my sister to fall behind and the kids have a right to learn.” Enjin hummed in agreement, giving your thigh a reassuring squeeze. “You should make some kind of presentation and show it to the boss man. I'm sure he'll agree with ya,” your lover advised. “Yeah but now I have to make a whole proposal for Corvus and convince the kids to go to school. I highly doubt that'll be easy.” You looked out the window with a forlorn expression. You recognized the scenery outside, you were about 10 minutes away from Alice's place. Your stomach flipped and you tried to contain your anxiety induced nausea, but Enjin noticed how pale you suddenly became and the way you fidgeted with your sleeves when you were nervous. “I'm right here baby, don't worry about it. I'll make sure you're safe, so don't worry your pretty little head babydoll. I've got this!” Your lover squeezed your palm in his before placing a kiss on the back of your hand. You appreciated his reassurance but your mind was still racing with all the possibilities of how today could go wrong.
As Enjin pulled into the parking lot of the clinic, you let out a breath you didn't know you had been holding. Your lungs were screaming for oxygen and forced you to take a deep breath. “You okay over there?” Your lover asked, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah… I'll be fine. Let's get this over with,” you sighed as you unbuckled your seat belt and flung upon your car door. You nearly hit another car with your exasperation, cringing when you realized your door was 2 inches away from slamming into another. “Easy there, I don't wanna explain to Semiu why there's a new dent in the car,” Enjin mused. “Sorry,” you mumbled as you adjusted the stethoscope around your neck. “HIYA! Ooooover here!" August called out, waving you over emphatically. Alice was standing beside her grandson, hands on her hips and wearing her signature scowl.
“You're late.” The old woman complained, wagging a finger at you. “Sorry Alice, I didn't know there was a start time,” you apologized with a sheepish grin. She only scoffed in response and turned on her heel, silently beckoning you to follow her. You looked over to Enjin who just shrugged his shoulders and began walking behind Alice. When you entered the clinic, you immediately noticed the waiting room was full. Patients from ages 2 - 82 were waiting to be seen, and a young pregnant woman was already sitting in the exam room. “You know I'm not an obstetrician, right?” You asked, side-eyeing the old lady in front of you. “Well you're a doctor ain't ya?” You nodded in response. “Well then get in there and do your damn job! We don't have any special doctors here on the Ground, so get used to it.”
She abruptly shuffled off to the next exam room with a huff. You could faintly hear her mumbling curses under her breath as she walked away. “So what do you want me to do?” Your boyfriend asked, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. You pulled a spare chair into the hallway and leaned it against the wall before gesturing to your boyfriend to sit. “You'll be my guard dog. Wait out here and keep an eye out, ‘kay?” Enjin offered you a smirk and a mock salute in response. You turned to close the door before you heard the distinct *flick* of a lighter; you spun around on your heels and snatched the little cigarette out of your boyfriend's mouth. “What the hell are you doing?! You can't smoke in here Enjin!” You scolded before stubbing out the cancer stick in your hand. “There's no signs that say I can't smoke in here! Besides, the old hag doesn't care if I light up,” your lover complained. “Just because Alice doesn't care, it doesn't mean that I don't. No smoking in patient areas!” You handed the smashed cigarette to your boyfriend before closing the office door behind you. You walked over to the sink and began washing your hands before you greeted your patient. “Good morning, I'm Dr. [Name] and I'll be taking care of you today. What's your name?” You spoke in a cheerful tone, attempting to make the sterile environment less scary for the young woman seated in front of you.
She appeared to be young, maybe in her late teens or early twenties. Her gaunt frame twisted your heart; she looked to be in her second trimester but she was obviously malnourished. When she introduced herself, the woman's voice was just above a whisper. “Are you getting enough to eat?” You asked, concern etched across your face. The girl hesitated before answering, “not really..” You nodded with a firm expression. “What about sleep?” She shook her head no again in response. “About how much sleep do you get every night?” The young woman only shrugged. You sighed and took a seat on the stool beside the sink. “Tell me what's going on. I want to help you,” you spoke softly. Your heart wrenched at the sight of the young woman in front of you. Her thin frame shrunk into the gurney and her hair appeared to be brittle and unkempt.
“I- I lied about my name earlier," she admitted, voice weak and shaky. “That's okay. Will you tell me your real name?” You asked, scooting closer to the bed. “My name is Semele. I've been working any job I can find, and well.. one of them got me pregnant.” She sighed, playing with her fingers nervously. “What do you mean by that?” You asked, a bit oblivious to her context clues. “I work at the brothel, doc. I'm in a contract with a Madam but I don't have any way out. I don't want my baby to live this kind of life, but the orphanages aren't much better. I should know, I just left mine 2 years ago.” You let out a sympathetic gasp. “How old are you?” Semele sighed, “I'm 19.” You nearly fell out of your chair from shock. There were brothels on the Sphere, but at least the girls up there had some rights. If a brothel was found to have underage working girls they would be shut down and fined. “So you've been doing this since you were 17?” Semele nodded with a glum expression. “Oh sweet girl.. let's get you some food and then I'll start the physical examination. Is that okay?” You asked your young patient, who nodded with a grateful smile.
When you set down the turkey sandwich, chips and chocolate chip cookie in front of Semele, her eyes widened with glee. You placed a bottle of water and some juice on the bedside table before updating your SOAP note. “What's that for?” Semele asked through a mouth full of food. “I'm taking notes so I can update your chart. This will help me keep track of your medical history, and next time you come in I have something to reference. Speaking of which, do you have any allergies?” You asked, pencil poised over your clip board. Semele shrugged as she drank her juice. “Alright, we'll put ‘no known allergies’ on here. Have you received any vaccines before?” Your patient looked at you with confusion. “Shots? Have you ever had someone put a shot in your arm with a needle?” Semele shook her head no, “I don't do any of that stuff. I may live in the slums but that doesn't make me a druggie.”
“No no no! That's not what I meant! Vaccines are a type of medicine that prevents certain illnesses!” You panicked and attempted to reassure the young girl. Semele laughed in response, “No I know, I'm just messing with ya. But to answer your question, no. We only had a nurse at the orphanage and she wasn't allowed to use any needles. Ya know, just in case..” You nodded in understanding, “I see. Well we can get you started on a few series today and next month you'll get your second dose. Does that sound good?” Semele shrugged again, “sure I guess.” You sighed with a fond expression, “I'm trying to involve you with your care. I don't believe in ordering patients to get something unless it's imperative for their safety. I don't have any access to a lab, so I can't do any blood work, but I would still like to get your maintenance vaccines done. So tell me, what are your thoughts?”
“Do whatever you think is best Doc, I trust you.” You nodded and smiled, jotting down a few more notes. “I want you to finish drinking your juice and eating your food before I give you any shots. I don't want you passing out of me. Is there anything else you think I should know?” Semele sighed and stared at the rest of her sandwich, a shameful expression painted across her face. “I don't know who my baby's father is. I don't think I can do this alone, but what choice do I have?” You looked at your patient with a sympathetic expression, “you're not alone. You have me now, and I'll be here every Saturday. If you need anything let me know. I'm going to bring you some groceries every week, okay? And if you need anything, just tell me. I will do my best to help you in any way I can. Pink promise,” you held out your little finger to Semele. The young girl raised a curious eyebrow, “pinky promise?” You laughed, “just lock your pinkie with mine and I'll explain.” The young woman linked pinkies and you shook on it. “It's a spherite tradition. It basically means that if I break my promise, you can ‘break’ my pinkie. Well not actually, it's metaphorical. I kinda need all my fingers.”
Semele smiled, “I'll hold ya to it.” The young woman went back to eating her food, seemingly content with your reassurance. You turned around and began prepping your sterile field, prepping your needles and grabbing the necessary vials. By the time you grabbed the antiseptic, cotton balls and bandages, Semele was already done eating. “Are you ready?” You asked as you brought the small tray over to her bedside table. “Ready as I'll ever be,” your patient responded. You worked quickly and tried to make the experience as pleasant as possible. “Alright girl, you're all done. Here's a bag with some food and snacks and such. Nutrition is very important for a baby's development. I'll try to bring you some toiletries and baby stuff next week,” you spoke, handing the canvas tote over to the soon to be mother. Semele thanked you profusely before she left.
Your next patient was a young boy, only 8 years old. He had a broken arm that you were able to splint and place in a sling quickly. You gave his mother a bottle of Ibuprofen, “he should take 3 of these every 4-6 hours as needed. Icing his arm may help too. Is there anything else I can do for you?” The mother shook her head no with a grateful smile. After you gave the little boy a lollipop he was on his way, practically skipping out the door. “Damn you really worked your magic, huh?” Your boyfriend drawled with a lazy grin. “What? Like it's hard?” You teased, leaning down and placing a chaste kiss on Enjin's cheek. He was rather unsatisfied with this and pulled you by your hips onto his lap, kissing you properly on the lips. “That's how you do it. Don't give me no half ass cheek kiss,” your lover grumbled, half joking half not. You giggled and stood back up, brushing imaginary dust off your scrubs. “Alright, who's next?” You called out, and this time an elderly couple shuffled into your exam room.
You noticed the old man appeared to be waddling, piqueing your interest. When he refused to sit down, you already had an idea what was going on. You shut the door and pulled the curtain, already mentally preparing for the story you were going to hear. Your male patient could hardly look you in the eye while his wife had to stifle her giggles. “Janet, will you please stop laughing at me?! You're the reason we're here in the first place,” he grumbled. “Don't blame me! This was your idea,” the old woman stated plainly. “So… what can I do for you folks today?” You asked, already dreading the answer. “Well… we were experimenting…” You sighed and took a seat after hearing that. “Just tell me already; what's in your rectum?” You asked, already done with today. His face flushed red, “H-how did you know?” You gave the old man a look that said ‘seriously dude??’ “Sir, I've been doing this for years. You're not the first patient who's shoved something up there, and you certainly won't be the last. So, what is it? No judgement here.” This time his wife answered you, “a shampoo bottle.” She spoke so nonchalantly you had to contain your amused grin, biting back a laugh. The stark difference between the couple's reactions were hilarious, and it took every ounce of professionalism in your body to not react.
“Ookay then. I'll go get a chaperone so I can remove the bottle. Please change into a gown and get on all 4 fours,” you ordered before turning to leave. “Wait! Why do you need a chaperone?! I don't want anyone else to see me like this,” your patient panicked. “I need a chaperone for ethical reasons. It's how clinicians prevent inappropriate situations, and holds everyone accountable. I promise this will only take a few minutes and it will be all over. I'm going to grab the nurse,” you explained, trying to reassure the older man. He sighed and picked up the gown, silently permitting you to go do what you needed.
You returned quickly with Alice's nurse in tow, gloved up and prepared for the bedside procedure. With the help of lube and forceps you were able to safely remove the shampoo bottle and dispose of it in a biohazard bag. After giving the couple a bottle of NSAIDs, you wished them well and sent them on their way. Your patient was able to walk out of the clinic normally, no longer waddling. For the next 6 hours you continued to work, seeing patient after patient. By the end of the day, you were absolutely done. Your patience with the human race was running thin and you couldn't wait to go back home. “You ready to go babygirl?” Enjin called out, slinging Umbreaker over his shoulder as he stood by the doors. You nodded and trudged over, exhaustion weighing heavily upon you. “You okay?” Your lover asked with concern. “Yeah I'm fine, let's just get the fuck out of here. If I have to see one more patient today I'm going to lobotomize myself,” you sighed. “Uh okay, don't really know what that means but it doesn't sound good so let's avoid that. C'mon, let's get you some dinner. Food makes everything better,” Enjin smiled and offered you his hand, which you happily took. You followed your boyfriend back to the car silently, only speaking up to thank him for opening your door for you.
Enjin drove you to the restaurant where you had your first date. It was a cute cafe in Hole Town that specialized in serving comfort food. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming and the whole place smelled like vanilla candles and home cooked meals. Your waitress sat you at a table in the corner, a place that was quiet and intimate. Candles provided the majority of the lighting in the dining room, creating a soft ambiance. Enjin pulled out your chair for you with a flourish, a silly grin on his face as he tried to lift your spirits. He placed a kiss on the crown of your head after he pushed in your chair and you couldn't help but melt at his affection. Your boyfriend wasn't the romantic type and he wasn't the type to act “soft”, but when it came to you it didn't matter. You managed to bring out a different side of Enjin; one that was softer, openly affectionate and unafraid to declare his love for you. Since you started dating, everyone around you noticed the change in Enjin. Whenever you're around he becomes more compassionate and is generally in a better mood.
One time Team Akuta had to go on a 4 day mission, and according to Riyo and Rudo, your boyfriend was a sourpuss the entire time. After day two, he was described as unbearable. He was grouchy and seemed to be rushing to go back home. Most importantly, back to you. Seeing Enjin act all soft and romantic towards you warmed your heart, knowing this was all for you. It was obvious to anyone who was around; Enjin's heart belongs to you and you alone. Your boyfriend ordered your favorite drink when she stopped by and he also ordered an appetizer he knew you favored. “You're too good to me En,” you sighed with a soft smile. “Nah this is nothing baby, you deserve the best. Now let's get some food into you so my happy girl will come back,” Enjin grinned. You giggled and nodded as your stomach grumbled in agreement.
When the waitress set down your appetizer, you immediately began to dig in. You didn't have time to eat earlier today, and the fried food in front of you was your first meal of the day. Enjin laughed heartily as you scarfed down the food like you were starved. “What?” You asked through a mouth full of food. “Nothing baby, you're just cute. Keep eating, I don't want you hangry.” You happily returned to your starter, munching on the food and sipping your drink. When your entrée finally came out, you had already finished the appetizer (mostly by yourself). As you ate dinner, conversation flowed easily between you. You filled in your boyfriend on your patient's antics and told him about Semele and your plans to help the young mother. “You could probably ask August to make some baby blankets or somethin’, I'm sure he'd be happy to help,” Enjin suggested. “Wait, that's a great idea! I don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, so we'll have to keep the theme gender neutral. I need to find some formula too, just in case.”
Your boyfriend offered to drive you to the local market next Thursday so you could pick some up. “Maybe we can take your sister too. If she's anything like you, she loves shopping.” Enjin teased with a grin. You laughed, “oh she does. Retail therapy is the best therapy.” The two of you continued to plan your outing, discussing which shops you wanted to go to. Enjin was set on buying the baby an umbrella, arguing that the kid needed to be prepared for the rain. You agreed to make the purchase with a laugh after explaining that an infant would have no idea how to use it. “Well then the kid can use it when they're older,” Enjin said all matter-of-fact. “Okay okay, I get it. We can even get them a matching rain coat if you want.” Your lover nodded with satisfaction before he returned to eating his food.
When dinner ended, Enjin paid the tab quickly and led you back to the car. Sleep was calling your name and you couldn't wait to return to your bed. Enjin placed kisses on the back of your hand as he drove back home, carefully trying to avoid potholes with mild success. When you began to drift off to sleep in the passenger seat, your choker began to ring. It startled you awake and you answered the call with an exasperated sigh. “Hey [Name], when you get home can you help me with something? I was training with Zanka today and I think I hurt my ribs,” Rudo's voice rang out, oblivious to your rapidly souring mood. “What the hell did you two do this time?” Enjin asked, already annoyed on your behalf. “Well we were sparring and I accidentally hit Zanka too hard so he whacked me with his stick,” Rudo explained. You sighed again as you pinched your brow, “put an ice pack on it and I'll look at your ribs when I get home.” You hung up and turned to your boyfriend, “is this what you deal with every day?” Enjin huffed out a laugh, “pretty much, yeah.” You took the bundled up jacket you had been using as a makeshift pillow and began to scream your frustration out. Enjin jumped at the noise but kept driving. When you were done, you calmly placed the jacket-pillow into your lap. “Okay, I'm done now,” you calmly announced. “Did you get it all out of your system?” Enjin asked, a bit afraid you were going to start screaming again. “Yep! I'm fine now,” you said and calmly sunk into your seat, ready to go back to sleep. “Night baby, wake me up when we get home,” you chirped before rolling over, falling asleep almost immediately. Your boyfriend sighed quietly and murmured under his breath, “women..”
A/N: sorry for the long wait y'all, work has been kicking my ass. My patient list nearly doubled this month and I've been fighting like hell with Medicare to cover services for my patients. Not to sound like a millennial, but the struggle is real. On a brighter note, the next chapter will be super fluffy and features Team Child! Next chapter of my Lahan fic should be coming out sometime within the next 2 weeks and Chapter 15 of this Enjin x Reader fic will be uploaded shortly after ♡
Toji Zen'in, who doesn't get down on one knee or has a ring hidden in his pocket waiting for the perfect moment.
Instead, he's lying on your bed with you, the sheets still tangled around your legs, his calloused fingers tracing lazy patterns on your hip- gentler now than the bruising grip they'd held just moments ago.
Toji Zen'in, who's never planned a damn thing in his life, living by pure instinct and impulse. Whose love language is leaving bruised fingerprints on your skin and possessive bite marks. The same man who makes decisions in the spaces between heartbeats.
When he pulls you back against his chest you feel his chin rest atop your head. His breathing deep and even.
“Marry me.”
Toji Zen'in, whose “marry me” isn’t a question at all- just say two quiet, unguarded words slipping from his lips, like a confession he’s carried for far too long. The words falling so softly you almost miss them.
You turn in his embrace so that you can face him, the sheet sliding off your shoulder, and what you see makes your breath catch. He isn't smiling when your eyes meet- his expression stripped bare of its usual sharp edges and smirk.
Toji Zen'in, whose eyes tell stories of a man who's never had anything permanent, never wanted anything to last.
Until you.
Who traces your cheek with calloused fingers like you're something precious, something that could slip away if he doesn't hold on tight enough.
Toji Zen'in doesn't smile nor whoops in triumph or pull you into a passionate kiss. He simply pulls you closer to him after you whisper "yes," tucking you under his chin where you've always fit perfectly.
Whose heartbeat is steady against your cheek- the rhythm of home, of belonging, of a man who has finally found his harbor after a lifetime at sea. No grand gestures needed, no flowery declarations.
This is all Toji Zen'in needed- his arms around you, his breath in your hair, and the absolute certainty that he has finally found something worth keeping... Worth staying with forever.
