thinking about fire lord zuko being jealous and insecure after finding out that his newly appointed general was his sweet wife’s first love and everything
LET IT ALL GO
Masterlist
Word count: 2.5k
Pairing: Zuko x fem!Reader
Synopsis: When Zuko finds out that his newly-appointed general–a man who has already garnered his respect–is your first love, he begins to feel insecure at how he compares. When you find out, you try your best to reassure him.
A/N: When I read this request I was like OOH, this is such a good idea!! I apologise that this took so long though, it was tricky to come up with an intro that I actually liked alongside how busy I’ve been </3
For Zuko, the Fire Nation has never had a solid image. He’s been its prince, its pawn, its enemy and now its ruler–the Fire Lord. He’s both supported the Nation’s tyranny and fought against it; been swayed by its propaganda and faced the brutal truth of its crimes. Hence, even as the most prominent figure in the Nation, Zuko can’t piece together what the Fire Nation is nor what it should be.
Which makes his current predicament particularly unsettling.
Beside you, he sits at the end of a long table filled with councillors, ambassadors and generals, all of whom are dressed in the dark rouge of the Fire Nation and the sharp edges of authority. The lanterns on the walls flicker under the tense atmosphere in the throne room though it’s the weight of the fire emblem atop Zuko’s head that feels most pressuring.
“What about the hostilities with the Water Tribes’ trade?! It undermines our authority if we give in!”
“The people will begin to doubt the strength of the Nation! We can’t allow it!”
“It opens us up to attack, my Lord! Is this what we want to portray?”
“What do we want to portray?”
It’s all too much.
When his fingers tremble under the table, your hand gently slides into his with a comforting squeeze. Firm, reassuring, present. Still, as his thumb brushes over your knuckles, his jaw clenches and his eyes stare firmly ahead, struck by the one question he doesn’t have the answer for.
“Well…” A new voice breaks through his thoughts. “The Fire Nation is built on strength and, currently, that strength has to come from love.”
There’s a snicker across the table though the voice continues regardless. “Think about it. Fire creates destruction, but it also connects to love and passion.” They’re articulate, so certain. “We’re not trying to tear everyone apart to succeed anymore. We’re trying to bring everyone together… and, as the most powerful kingdom on the planet, we have to be the ones who pioneer this. Correct, my Lord?”
Zuko can feel how wide his eyes are when he meets the general’s eyes and he has to suck in a deep breath to ground himself before he nods. “That’s correct. That’s what we’re striving for, not superiority nor the fear it causes.” His voice is surprisingly steady and he can’t help how his gaze lingers on the general even after he finishes speaking. He’s impressed.
Though, as his attention is called back to the table with an array of murmurs, he misses the glimmer of recognition that rings between you both.
-
Stepping out of the throne room feels like a breath of fresh air. Sunlight shines through the windows and drapes the hallway in a warm, calm glow while the regal pillars that decorate the walls glimmer in its light. It reflects a pretty ray over Zuko’s face, quickly relaxing the tense atmosphere lingering from the meeting.
“That was quite intense, huh?”
At the familiar sound of your voice, the heaviness in Zuko’s shoulders visibly drops with a weary sigh. “Yeah,” He mutters, his shoulder lightly brushing yours. “Tell me about it.”
A huff of amusement falls from your lips as your hand instinctively hooks into the crook of his elbow, holding him close. Though, despite the familiar warmth of his proximity, your eyes begin to wander.
Calmly standing across the space is the general from earlier, quietly chatting with another ambassador. From here, you can get a fuller look of him: the softer eyes, the petulant pout playing on his lips, even the unmistakable confidence in his posture.
“I haven’t seen that general around before.” You comment, tilting your head to the side as you curiously watch him.
“I believe he was recently voted in.” Zuko responds with an approving nod. “He seems like he fits right.”
When you remain silent, staring at the general, in hopes that it may reveal why he’s here, Zuko speaks up once more. “Why do you ask, my love? Do you not approve of him?”
“It’s not that…” You murmur. “I think I recognise him.”
Before Zuko gets a chance to ask any further questions, you gently pull him towards the general. He can see a spark of excitement brewing in your eyes and–true to his awkward nature–he already feels an opposing anxiety bubble up in his chest. After all, Zuko desperately wants to make a good impression on everyone you’re close with.
The general and the ambassador both straighten up when they spot you approaching, a professional smile crossing their faces although the former has an expectant glint in his eye.
“My Lord.” They both greet with a bow, then the general carefully reaches for your free hand and pulls it to kiss your knuckles as they turn to you. “My Lady.” Zuko feels a pang in his heart.
“Hello… um, excuse me, but…” You trail off for a moment, pointing at the general. “Aren’t you…?”
You ask his name and the general’s eyes immediately lighten up, nodding enthusiastically. “Yes!” He responds. “And you’re…”
A smile crosses your face at your own name and you nod in response, chuckling. “It is! It’s been so long! You’ve grown up so much.”
“Well, so have you.” He blurts out. “I mean, you’ve become royalty? How awesome!”
With a playful shrug, you brush it off before spotting the lost look on Zuko’s face. “Zuko, this is my first boyfriend. From when we were teenagers.” You turn back to the general. “And this is, obviously, my husband.”
“Nice to meet you.” The man greets and shakes Zuko’s hand politely. “So… how’s things going for you?”
As you continue chattering with him, Zuko feels his attention slip, his eyes shifting between you both. The awe that he initially felt towards the man slowly bleeds away at the enthusiasm and optimism, leaving an array of thoughts in its wake.
He’s calm, soft, yet still optimistic. Despite being a general, he inevitably comes from a humbler background than Zuko. Still, this man knows who he is and seemingly who he is meant to be. He’s confident, he knows you, perhaps more than Zuko does. Your first love. He doesn’t even have a scar. How can Zuko compare?
But on the outside, Zuko remains silent. He keeps his steady stance beside you, a neutral expression glued onto his face even as your laughter sends a mix of relaxation and anxiety bubbling up inside of his chest. The uncomfortable feeling simply festers internally.
-
Now, the sun has set and the moon drapes over the sky. The politicians left hours ago, leaving the servants working around the Palace as the only other people around besides you and Zuko.
He stands on the balcony of your shared room, his arms resting on the marble railings and his hair flowing in the wind behind him. From where you sit at your mirror, he looks almost picturesque. But your mind can’t focus on that.
The actual events of today were typical: a relaxing walk where you both consulted each other about various matters, separated for a couple of hours to fulfil your duties until dinner time where you sat side-by-side and enjoyed the delicacies of the Nation. Yet, the way Zuko had been acting had been off, almost… unattached.
To anything you asked, his answer would be logical and reasonable, perhaps something that would pass off as simply a Fire Lord’s persona to others, but rubbed you the wrong way. It lacked the usual passion that sparked in Zuko when he spoke to you, no indulgent compliments nor teasing comments. Something’s wrong, and you think you can guess what.
Brushing your hair back from your face, you stand and cross the room until you’re stood in the doorway.
“Hey,” You murmur gently.
No response.
You quietly step forward until you’re stood beside him, peering out at the gardens below. Under the moonlight, the topiary is painted in a mysterious, blue hue, occasionally bristled by a breeze passing through. It’s beautiful, of course, but nothing compares to the sight of Zuko beside you.
His scar looks like a painting in the dim light, a painting of a storm to be more specific. Alongside the darkened look in his eyes and slight downturn on the corners of his lips, it illustrates a troubled image, yet is neutral enough to not give anything away.
Words can’t come to mind to confront it, so you gently reach out instead. Your hand lands on his cheek, your thumb brushing over his skin in a soothing circle as your eyes remain on his face.
Almost instantly, he subtly leans into your touch, his eyes fluttering before glancing over at you. “Hi.” He finally speaks.
A small smile crosses your face now that he’s greeted you. “Hi.” Your voice is just as soft in response. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” He quietly dismisses although almost immediately looks away and back to the garden. Unluckily for him, you know him too well for that to work.
“I can tell it’s not nothing, Zuko.” You say plainly, your hand dropping from his face to land on the muscle of his bicep, gently squeezing. “You won’t even look at me.”
“That’s not true!” He exclaims as his eyes immediately snap to yours defensively, before the act speedily drops. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.”
You can’t help the quiet chuckle that falls from your lips. “You apologise as if you haven’t done this since I met you. It’s okay, I know what you’re like, darling.”
“It’s still an old habit that I’m getting past.”
“Well, you’ve done well thus far.”
“Then, what was that?”
You both silently gaze into each other’s eyes for a moment before you finally give in and shrug, another laugh escaping you. The familiar banter coaxes a small smile to Zuko’s lips, his shoulder gently nudging yours with much less tension than was present initially.
“Please talk to me, Zuko.”
The words make Zuko’s smile falter and his eyes dance around your face before he shyly turns away, gazing at the other end of the balcony. “It’s stupid.”
“If you’re this bothered, it’s not stupid.” You insist, your hand stroking up and down the length of his forearm.
“It is. I’m a grown man– No, the Fire Lord. This– this isn’t.” He stammers out.
You feel your face soften at his conflict and you shuffle closer until your arms press together and you can lean into his eye-line against the railing. “Please… just tell me.”
There’s silence for a few moments, the ambient rustle of the gardens, until he speaks up. “I didn’t know how to act when you introduced me to that general earlier.”
“You mean the one that I knew as a teenager.”
Zuko visibly winces at the reminder, though you’re unsure if it’s at the reminder of your history with the man or his own embarrassment.
“You don’t have to worry about making a good impression. He knows you as the Fire Lord first and foremost, he already respects you so you didn’t–”
“It’s not that.” He gently interrupts you, a shaky sigh falling from his lips. “It made me feel weird.”
“As in you felt anxious?” You ask sympathetically and squeeze his bicep against.
“No…” He shakes his head, his eyes falling to his arms on the railing. “It made me feel… bad.”
“How so?” You gently prompt.
You can feel the uncertainty in the air, lingering between you both even with the breeze trying to blow it away. It’s persistent in Zuko’s mind.
“I just… I don’t know… I don’t compare to that.”
His voice comes out so quietly, you can’t help but murmur: “What?”
“I don’t compare. He’s known you longer than I have, he’s– he’s softer than I am, even physically, he even did my job for me in that meeting today.” He finally blurts out. “I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I don’t understand it. But you loved him… when he’s nothing like me.”
For a moment, the words hang in the air, a vulnerability for only you both. By now, Zuko’s gaze is unwaveringly fixed on the railing, his jaw clenched with the typical discomfort he feels admitting things like this. But you can read him easily.
“You don’t think you compare?”
“No.”
You pause for a few seconds. “It worries you because you might not be who I love most?”
“I’m not doubting your love.” Zuko quietly clarifies. “But I might not be what’s best for you, what’s meant for you.”
He doesn’t elaborate, he doesn’t admit all of the deepest thoughts plaguing his mind, yet you know what he means. Zuko thinks he’s difficult, he believes he’s broken, he’s painfully aware that he truly doesn’t understand himself and, by extension, the Nation around him. He refuses to acknowledge that no one truly understands themselves either.
“I think you’re meant for me.”
His eyes finally land on yours, a furrow formed in his brow.
“Maybe you don’t have everything figured out, maybe you’re not entirely satisfied with that fact.” You continue. “But you’re true to yourself. When you believe in something, you truly fight for it, and you’ve done so much good.” You sigh fondly. “You’re determined, you’re kind, you’re so loving to me… you make me feel treasured, Zuko.”
Your hand leaves his skin as you properly turn to face him, your hands cupping his cheek as your gazes stick on each other’s. “I regret nothing so long as it means I’m with you.” You murmur. “To be with such an honourable, adoring man is truly a privilege.”
As you trail off, you see the anxiety in Zuko’s eyes soften. “He’s still known you longer.” A last ditch attempt to undermine himself that you instantly shake your head at.
“You listen to enough of my stories to make up for it, darling.” You murmur lightheartedly, drawing a quiet chuckle from his lips. “But, seriously, don’t compare yourself, Zuko. You may not entirely know what is to come but I’m here to navigate it with you.”
Under the moon’s rays, a watery glimmer is present in his eyes that instantly melts your heart, but he quickly pulls you close before you can comment on it. “I love you.” He mumbles into your shoulder as his arms wrap around your waist, his large frame seemingly shrinking to hold onto yours.
Your arms naturally snake around his neck, your nose brushing against his hair to soak up his familiar scent. “I love you too.” You murmur. “My beautiful husband.”
“My sweet wife.” He practically coos in response, his arms tightening around you with a relaxed sigh. “I will always be grateful that you chose me.”
“It goes both ways, my dear.” You murmur. “It will always be you.”
The confessions dance in the air for a few, long seconds as you continue to hold each other until you speak up once more. “Will you come to bed with me now?”
synopsis: your neighbours who don’t even live close to you absolutely hate you.
the neighbors hate you.
well—technically, they hate both of you.
but only one of you is loud enough to wake the whole mountainside.
and it’s not giyuu.
he’s the one who barely speaks above a whisper, whose footsteps barely disturb the floorboards, whose presence is so still and quiet that birds don’t fly away when he walks through the forest.
you, on the other hand, are… spirited.
“you’re too loud,” he murmurs one evening, slipping your kimono back over your shoulder after dragging it down himself not five minutes ago.
you glare at him, breath uneven, face still hot. “you started it.”
he looks at you. expression unreadable.
“you kicked the door.”
“that wasn’t on purpose.”
“you scared the crows out of the trees.”
you groan, dropping your face into your hands. “they’ll recover.”
---
you’ve been staying at giyuu’s estate for about a month.
a “temporary arrangement,” you told yourself.
your own home was under repairs after a demon attack. your injuries—though not severe—meant traveling wasn’t easy. and giyuu, silent and unreadable as he was, had offered you a place to rest without hesitation.
“you can stay as long as you need,” he said.
simple. quiet. kind.
you did not expect the nights to go the way they did.
---
“you received another letter,” giyuu says one morning, sliding a small folded parchment across the table.
you pick it up, breaking the seal with a sigh.
we can hear you through the trees. please consider your volume in the future.
you blink. “who is this even from?”
“the neighbor down the slope. they farm millet.”
“they should be asleep at that hour,” you mutter.
giyuu sips his tea. “they aren’t.”
you squint at him. “you’re too calm about this.”
“i’m not the one shouting,” he says softly. “you said my name three times.”
you blush. hard.
“that’s because you—”
he glances at you. “i know.”
he knows. and he says it like he’s proud.
you throw a dumpling at him. he catches it without blinking.
of course he does.
---
the thing about giyuu is that he never breaks character.
even when he has you pinned beneath him, even when your legs are shaking and your voice is echoing through the entire estate, he stays composed.
“quiet,” he whispers against your ear. “you’ll wake the birds again.”
“then stop doing that,” you hiss back.
“you asked me to,” he says calmly.
you dig your nails into his back. he doesn’t flinch.
“you’re the one making me act like this,” you gasp.
he presses his mouth to your jaw. “then let me fix it.”
he does not fix it.
you scream into his shoulder again.
and later, when you’re catching your breath, he lies beside you with one arm beneath his head and says—
“you’re going to get another letter.”
you kick him.
---
the next day, a messenger brings you a basket of herbs from a village elder with a note tucked inside:
for throat strain. and common sense.
you nearly die of embarrassment.
giyuu just hums. “kind of them.”
you glare. “you could at least pretend to be remorseful.”
he doesn’t look up from sweeping the porch. “i’m not.”
---
some nights you try to be quiet.
you really do.
you press your hand over your mouth. bite down on your knuckles. bury your face into his chest.
but giyuu knows what he’s doing. worse—he knows what you like. knows exactly where to touch. where to press. where to lean in and whisper something like:
“if you can’t stay quiet, i’ll have to stop.”
you grab him harder.
“don’t you dare.”
he never does.
and when you collapse against him later, dazed and blinking and ruined, he brushes the sweat from your temple and murmurs—
“it’s peaceful when you’re tired like this.”
“you’re a menace,” you mumble, voice hoarse.
he pulls the blanket over your bare shoulders.
“rest,” he says softly.
---
you’re loud.
he’s not.
you both know it.
the entire village knows it.
but when he cups your face with one gentle hand and looks at you like you’re something breakable, when he doesn’t even flinch as your voice echoes through the pine trees and the crows scatter—
୭ Synopsis: Giyu’s back hurts. You fix it—with candles, oil, and a whole lot of intimacy.
୭ Features: The best back massage on the planet. Giyu whimpering, shirtless, a bit suggestive, sensual. (Established relationship) wc: 860
That's the first thing Giyu mentioned when he got home. He had just barely mumbled it, but you perked up instantly at the opportunity.
How could he say no? When you kissed him so passionately, twirling your fingers on his chest. All with that tantalising flutter of your eyelashes.
"Let me take care of you, okay?" you say
So, he lets you nudge him into the steaming bath. Listening to you move things around in the other room. After drying himself, he strolls out, to-shirtless-to be welcomed by a warm glow. He knows that smell. Because he spent two hours finding you the perfect scented candles.
"Lie down for me" you order, pulling him onto the bed before he can get a good look at the room.
The skin of his back glows under the soft light, muscles casting shadows in all the right crevices. Bruises spot his gentle skin, some a deep purple, the others a fading green. His hair cascades down his neck, in its silky-smooth nature.
It should be illegal to look this good.
You straddle his lower back. Lowering yourself comfortably against the hem of his pants. He stiffens, breath hitching.
You lift your hips, angling toward his head. He's face down, brows resting comfortably against his folded arms.
Your tone is silky against the nook of his ear. "Relax for me, m'kay?"
He listens, and you smile when the protrusions in his limbs loosen.
The body oil drips against his back, and his eyelashes flutter closed at the cool sensation.
Heaven. That's the word Giyu would use to describe the feeling of your hands. He's held them, kissed them, felt them wrap around his torso after a long day. Now they press into him with purpose. Firm.
Is it bad that he wants to turn around? He wonders what expression you have on your face. Your thighs tighten around him, and you sigh. He'd love to see the expression on your face. How you look like pressing into him like this.
His breath is shaky upon release. He can't tell if this is torture or paradise, your grunts, fingers, weaving through him so passionately he might melt.
And your voice?
"Does this feel good?"
"Tell me if it hurts, okay?"
He's been rendered speechless under you. Humming inaudible sounds. He could listen to you whispering sweet things to him all night.
Your thumbs press into each knot. It's tender, gliding against his glistening skin.
He whimpers, so soft and airy you almost miss it.
That must be his sweet spot.
You knead into the area, harder this time, deliberate.
His back curls, shoulder blades tensing at the sensation. You do it again.
"Hah ~" he hisses through his teeth, head threatening to fall back. You place all five fingers against his scalp. His strands are dangerously fluffy as you push him down.
His eyes widen at the action, panning to the side in hope of a glimpse. He wants to turn, to watch the concentration on your face, to memorize how you look when you’re this close. But he stays still, afraid he’ll ruin it,
Your hands steal the breath from his lungs with every press. He's stuck between gasping, sighing, and making sure not to allow his body to tense up.
If it didn't feel so good, he'd be embarrassed by the whiny breaths pouring from his lips. His mouth stays parted, nose scrunching at the deep drag against his spine.
He already feels so much looser, like the built-up muscle strain is disintegrating right there and then.
He doesn't know how long it's been, only that there isn't a single part of his back you haven't touched.
"That's enough," the words barely slip past his lips. At this rate, he's going to fall asleep.
"Are you sure?" You pause.
He nods, arms hiking to position himself upright.
You rise onto your knees, readying yourself to get off, but a hand on your thigh stops you. Before you can ask, he tugs you forward with an ease that makes your breath stutter. In a blink, you’re on his lap, his chest flush against yours, heartbeats mingling together.
"Thank you."
It's even better than he imagined. The candles show your sleek skin. The thin layer of sweat you worked up while taking care of him. Your breathing is heavy, even though you're trying to hide it. He's memorised your breathing. Just like how he's memorised the soft crease your forehead makes when you're spent. So pretty.
You spent all that energy...so you could massage his back. His fingers weave between yours. He massages the skin with his thumbs, planting sweet feathery kisses against your shoulders. He wonders what he's done to deserve such softness, such devotion.
How sweet of you.
He feels a bit greedy. Because all he's thinking about is how he can't wait to ask you for another one. But first:
He turns you over. Planting you down in the same position he was in. Stomach against the mat, head resting on your arms. His huffs are low.
do you know a magic trick that’s cool enough to amaze people? if you do, you should show it to Levi
the moment you catch his attention, he sits there with a cup of tea in hand, watching closely with no expectations. but his eyes go wide as you pull it off, completely dumbfounded, trying to figure out how the hell you did that
“…Do it again,” he demands, setting his cup aside and leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees. When you laugh at his serious face, he scowls. “Did you hear me or is your ears not working? Do it again.”
“Okay, okay—geez.” Mischief sparks in your eyes. “Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.”
And he doesn’t blink. Not once. It’s almost unsettling, but the amusement outweighs it. You flash him a cheeky grin as you pull a card from behind his ear. His eyes widen again as he pats the spot himself, finding nothing.
The scowl deepens. “Do it again. Slower.” He’s so intent you can’t help laughing. He doesn’t even look this focused in meetings, yet here he is, completely invested.
“Alright, but, uh…” You squint at his hair. He gives you a puzzled look. “I think you’ve got a bug in there. Hold still.”
You reach in, ruffling his hair a little before pulling your hand back. A coin glints between your fingers. “Whoops. My mistake. It’s just a coin.”
His mouth opens, then shuts again. “Fuck you,” he mutters without heat, the corner of his lips twitching as he fights a smirk. Truth be told, the trick only makes you hotter in his eyes. He’s left in the dark, frustrated yet entertained, and it drives him a little crazy not knowing how you pulled it off.
and maybe, or maybe not, he'll learn another different trick in retaliation
giyū’s voice is so meek, it makes you want to laugh—because the way he says it, so deadpan, is at complete odds with the wreck he looks like, lying beside you on the futon.
"what'd you mean you can’t move?" you sit up and swing one leg over him, palms planted against the pale muscle of his chest. the alarmed look that flashes across his face makes you laugh out loud this time. "you were just moving. a lot."
"that was before," he answers, ocean eyes fixed on you dolefully. "before my back started… hurting." you lean down, poke at the tip of his nose. "so now you're blaming me? you're the one who wouldn’t stop. i was ready to tap out after the third round."
"you said one more," he reminds you weakly, face blushing pink. "yeah, well. don't say it like a chore…" you murmur, pushing aside the strands of raven hair sticking to his forehead. "you fucked me so good you threw your back out. that's an achievement."
"i didn't mean—ugh." he groans when you accidentally jostle his half-hard dick in the process of poking and prodding at his face. "wha– what are you doing?"
"checking for your mark," you reply, tilting his face toward the light so you can examine him more closely. "i want to see what it looks like."
he groans, covers his face with one hand. "please don't."
~Before you, Giyu’s goal was to make it to the dawn after a night of slaying demons. But now, the Water Hashira has a new one. To make it home for breakfast.
Prompt- 🍳+ Morning
Warnings: A bit of hurt/comfort, mention of slight injuries, Giyu having the mindset that he does not deserve happiness (which he does).
a/n: Writer's block has been hitting hard lately. Thank you guys for your patience.
The crow came early this morning, its shrill song waking you from your pathetic excuse for slumber. The emptiness of your cold bed makes sleep a near-impossible feat when he’s gone.
Worry gnaws at your chest as you untangle yourself from the twisted sheets as talons perch on the window ledge. Kanzaburo’s dark eyes stare at you. Holding your breath, you anxiously wait for the bird to deliver his master's message.
Despite the silence, the old bird does not speak, he simply blinks up at you as if he were the one awaiting instructions.
Unable to take the suspenseful silence any longer, you clear your throat and fight to keep your voice steady “Kanzaburo, do you have a message for me?”
He cocks his head to the side in confusion. “Forgotten.” he croaks. “I have forgotten the message I am meant to deliver. I shall return to The Water Hashira.” He turns to fly away, as you hold out a hand to stop him.
“Wait, return to him?” you breathe as the implications of the crow’s words hit you. “Does that mean Giyu is okay?”
Kanzaburo sends you an expressive look that anyone with a thimble's worth of common sense would read as ‘duh’ before he turns and steps off the ledge. Racing to the window, you watch as his dark form flies over the forest and descends into a nearby cluster of trees.
You watch the spot intently, your eyes straining against the dawn, but you do not see the forgetful crow rise up again. Hope pulls at your heartstrings as the realization that he doesn't need to fly far to deliver his message because the Water Hashira, your Water Hashira is so close.
Despite the sun having risen just moments ago, you find yourself wide awake, your body trembling with emotion as you scurry about the home you share, tidying up the mess you have created in your loneliness.
~
Emerging from the shade of the forest, Giyu can’t tell what feels heavier, his jelly legs or his eyelids. Although home is just over the sun-soaked ridge, each step is slow as the Demon Slayer recovers from his most recent mission that had him tracking a small cluster of demons down to the depths of an underground ravine.
A place where the sun did not shine for him
The smell down there was nauseating and he is sure that the damp odor clings to his haori and socks. His original plan was to bathe before seeing you, he had tried to send Kanzaburo ahead simply to see if you were awake or not, but judging from the thin stream of smoke that has begun to stream from the chimney, the forgetful bird clearly forgot to do so.
With bated breath, he pushes open the thin wooden door. Hinges welcome him home with a slight squeak and he makes a note to fix that for you when he has the chance.
Removing his shoes, he places them next to your much cleaner ones and follows his nose to the kitchen.
Your back it to the door as you lean over the countertop chopping up some fresh-looking fruit as a kettle of tea seeps over the mantle.
Although the smell is faint, he catches the faint aroma of his favorite blend. His weary heart feels tender when he realizes that he had never told you explicitly how much he loves it, but you still managed to figure it out.
The other components of the meal resting on the counter add to that soft, mushy feeling that makes this experienced demon slayer feel as wobbly as a newborn fawn. Not trusting himself to move without breaking the spell, he just stands frozen in place.
He isn't sure how long he was watching you in your own little world until you spin around and meet his eyes.
“Giyu,” you breathe. A soft utterance of his name is enough to have his knees threatening to buckle.
“I’m sorry,” the apology flies from his mouth before you have a chance to stop it. “Kazoburo was only meant to check in on you, I never meant to wake you up.”
“I’m glad he did,” you shake your head as a tender smile plays on your lips. The corner of your mouth is slightly purple from a berry you had sampled earlier. But the sight of your sleep-tousled hair and silly grin makes him smile. “You’re home.”
“I am,” he murmurs tiredly, kissing the crown of your head. He doesn’t miss the ones over you give him, no doubt checking for any sign of injury.
He’s fine of course, but there are a few angry bruises marring his skin that weren’t there last week he’d rather not think about. Hesitantly, he reaches out and pulls you into his weary frame. Soft, warm, arms latch around his neck as your fingers play with strands of his hair carefully pulling the tight tie keeping the dark locks pulled back. The soothing motion makes his eyelids droop.
At this moment, being fussed over by your soothing touch, Giyu has never felt closer to heaven. Until your fingers make contact with a dried leaf that had been hiding in his ebony stands for god knows how long.
The slight crunch breaks the spell, filling him with shame once again.
He’s disgusting
You shouldn't have to deal with this.
With him.
“I didn't know that was back there,” he admits taking a step away from the best thing in his life. “I should go and wash off,”
You drop the leaf and grab his wrist to keep him from leaving. The strength in your grip at that moment rivals that of any Hashira. “You should, But first you should have something to eat.”
He gives in under the weight of your loving gaze. “Okay,” a question heavy in his dry throat. “But after, would you rest with me, just for a while?”
“There is nothing else I’d rather do.” your eyes are warm with genuine love so much so that he believes you.
The light of the dawn hits the small window in the kitchen just right, bathing the two of you in a golden glow. Your face in this light, while breathtaking, looks just as exhausted as he feels. It’s clear that you haven't had a good night's rest in a while.
“I think we both need to catch up on some sleep,” he murmurs as you lead him to the table and set your lovingly made breakfast down in front of him.
“Thank you for the meal,” he says softly, admiring the level of care you put into each component of the breakfast you lovingly prepared for the two of you to share. Before you, his ‘breakfasts’ after missions like the one he just had were laughable, pathetic even. You have made such an impact in his life, and he will spend every day trying to do the same for you.
“Hey, where did you go?” you ask, your voice cutting through his thoughts as you brush away a few strands of his dark hair that have fallen in his face.
“Just tired,” he sighs with warm cheeks. “It’s been a long night.”
“I know. But thank you for coming home safe,” you say softly, nudging the warm teacup closer to him. Gratefully he takes the warm porcelain in his hands and takes a long sip.
“It’s good.”
“I hope so,” you tease, looking very proud of yourself. “I boiled the water myself.”
Despite his fatigue, your little quip has him spitting out his tea.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, wiping the herb-scented mist with his sleeve. “I just got home and I am already making a mess of things.
You look like sunshine itself, the look of joy on your face is so brilliant that it burns away that shadow of uncertainty that lurks within him. You take his hand and press a soft kiss to his scraped knuckles. “And I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Male pillars x reader - bringing them their favourite food.
author's note: due to a comment I've received on an earlier post, i'll not write for Muichiro anymore. i've stated before that i do not write sexual content for minors, nor do i engage in writing romantic relationships including them. everything i've written for him was seen as a platonic relationship between him and the reader. since my statement fell in deaf ears, i've decided to leave him out completely. i do not feel comfortable mentioning him in my posts anymore, my deepest apologies.
request: how would the pillars react to receiving their favourite food from you?
pairing: Tengen x reader, Obanai x reader, Rengoku x reader, Sanemi x reader, Giyuu x reader, Gyomei x reader
Tengen:
you were standing in the kitchen, whistling to yourself. today had been good so you decided to make your husband a little treat.
the market had been rather full, but you walked through the crowd and bought the ingredients you needed for his favourite dish.
seaweed. rice. and already prepared fugu. it had taken quite some time to find it, but you did it nonetheless.
standing in the kitchen, you had already made a plate of fugu sushi. at least that's what you thought. when you turned around to place another piece on the plate, it looked like there was one missing. have you forgotten one?
placing your finished piece on the plate, you turned around to make more. finally, you would be finished-
and another one was gone.
"Tengen! stop stealing the fugu sushi!" you scolded, not surprised when you heard quiet footsteps behind you. he wasn't a shinobi for nothing.
"sorry, darling. you looked so flamboyant, i didn't want to interrupt you!" he answered, wrapping muscular arms around you. a laugh escaped you, feeling him place his chin on the top of your hair.
"have i ever told you that you're the best?" he teased, finally freeing you from his embrace.
"i already know, that's why we're married."
Obanai:
you placed a bowl of tororo konbu right in front of him, telling him that you tried your best. naturally, he thanked you, but he didn't dive in like you would've expected him to do.
"what's wrong?" you asked, wondering if you had messed up the dish. it was your first time making it, perhaps you had missed a step or overcooked something.
"i.. could you maybe..?" Obanai asked, he appeared much more timid than usual. you tried understanding what was wrong.
seeing his finger brush against his mask, you understood, he still felt insecure about his face. you hadn't been in a relationship for long, he probably needed time to get used to this. "of course."
"just know that i would never judge you for what i see." you added, placing a kiss on his temple. truthfully, you were saddened about his request, but you wanted to give him the time he needed.
Obanai, on the other hand, was touched by your words. his meal long forgotten, he stood up, taking your hands in his.
"we should marry."
you looked at him, first shocked, and then you started laughing. perhaps he overreacted just a bit, but who could blame him?
Rengoku:
sweet potatoes. so many sweet potatoes.
when you've told Rengoku you could cook his favourite dish in the near future, he had been incredibely happy about it.
he came back with a load of sweet potatoes the next day, his whole head nearly dissapearing behind the amounts of the root vegetable he had bought.
now, another day later, you put miso soup and sweet potatoes for two on the table, smiling at your enthusiastic husband. he had offered to help you the whole time, which eventually led you to ban him from the kitchen.
he nearly devoured the dish as soon as you were sat on the opposite side of the table. it made you chuckle, seeing him swallow the huge bite he took down.
"umai!"
"you've outdone yourself, i'm glad i brought some sweet potatoes home!" he brightly smiled, earning another laugh from you. some sweet potatoes?
"Kyojuro, you brought a ton of them home." you countered, pointing at the rest of the potatoes you've put on the counter for now. "that will probably be enough for a month worth of miso soup with sweet potatoes!"
"sounds good, don't you think?"
Sanemi:
Sanemi plopped down on the engawa, letting out a heavy sigh. training had been rather hard, but he needed to stay fit. nevertheless, his muscles ached and he could really take a break.
he debated over going inside, he trained enough. a shower wouldn't hurt, he was sweating, dampened hair was sticking to his forehead. the man sighed, standing up to finally move inside.
however, when he saw you standing right behind him, he froze. you were looking up at him with wide eyes, as if you tried surpising him. he looked down at your hands - you were holding something - only now realizing that he had been right. you did try to surpise him.
he looked at the plate in your hands, it was filled with ohagi. his favourite food. his eyes moved back to your face, watching you tilt your head.
"it's for you." you told him, tilting your head to the side. "let's go inside, you've trained enough." you smiled, nodding towards the door. he nodded, following you into the kitchen. you placed the ohagi down on the counter, watching him slowly take one.
"you didn't have to." he said, already having bitten into the one in his hand. you chuckled at his words, he had nearly eaten the ohagi with one bite, yet he claimed he didn't need any.
"i needed a reason to get you away from training." you admitted, a sly smile on your face. but both of you knew he would've listened to you no matter what.
"i would've stopped anyways." he answered, placing the ohagi he had picked up to the side. he came closer, watching your eyebrows furrow in confusion.
"what? why?" you asked, not questioning why he came closer. in a matter of seconds, you were in his arms, your eyes squeezing shut in disbelief.
"i wanted to shower." he smirked, basically squishing his sweaty body against yours. you let out a whine, trying to free yourself from his hug, but only managing to do so when he let go.
"great, now i can shower too!" you scolded, seeing him laugh to himself. he walked towards the bathroom, seemingly wanting to wash himself.
"let's eat the ohagi after you're finished."
Giyuu:
Giyuu didn't know what he had expected when he came home today, but he certainly didn't think it would be the smell of freshly cooked food.
no, scrap that. he was often greeted by the nice smell of a promising meal. this was different. it wasn't just any meal.
"welcome home, Giyuu." you greeted, watching him step into the kitchen. you looked content, already knowing that you would make him happy.
"are you hungry? i prepared something for you." you smiled, seeing him nod slowly. when you moved away from the table, his gaze wandered towards the bowls full of food.
your gaze was fixed on him, wanting to catch his reaction. he wasn't the type to voice his happiness, but you certainly caught the way he looked at the salmon daikon you made.
the lightest twitch of his eyebrows and the way his eyes narrowed showed his interest. he stared at the food for a moment, the quiet grumble of his stomach revealing how hungry he truly was.
but he didn't immediately start eating. instead he looked back at you, his gaze softening.
"i've got you this" he muttered, extending his hand towards you. you stared in awe, a small bag of your favourite sweets being placed in your hands.
"let's eat them for dessert, Giyuu."
Gyomei:
when you brought home the ingredients for takikomi gohan. you have wanted to surprise Gyomei with his favourite dish.
you stood in the kitchen, cutting the vegetables into small pieces, as you hummed to yourself. Gyomei should've been home in an hour, at least that's what you've thought.
"i'm home." you heard his deep voice call from the hallway. your head snapped up, looking at the ingredients and then towards the door. you wouldn't have enough time to put everything away. before you even had the chance to react, he already came through the door.
"..are those?" he stopped in the doorway, his head turning towards you. you knew he was blind, but his ability to detect your exact location surpised you ever so often.
the smell of his favourite food hung in the air, almost as if the world had wanted to ruin your surprise.
"i wanted to surprise you." you admitted, lowering your head. you knew he wouldn't be disappointed, but you've planned this since last week. he must've sensed your sadness, walking towards you and putting his hand over yours.
"i can help you, let's cook together." he offered, carefully taking the knife out of your hand. truthfully, you nearly objected, not wanting him to hurt himself, however, you nearly chuckled thinking of the large weapon he was wielding.
"let's call it a cooking date then." you smiled, opening the drawer to get a second knife.
It’s actually killing me how canonically kind and sensitive Giyuu is.
He stitched the haori’s of his two loved ones together and wore it for years. He remembered Murata’s name after all this time. He felt so strongly about Sabito’s death he had to repress his feelings entirely to function again. He gave two siblings a chance to try to find a way to cure becoming a demon despite his duty to do otherwise. In the manga he helped Mitsuri up when Tengen accidentally knocked her over at the first pillar meeting we see. He wanted to try and befriend Sanemi by giving him his favorite snack.
The fact that he went from smiling so wide and tearing up over his friend slapping him to showing hardly any emotions at all–just so he wouldn’t succumb to the despair and hopelessness of his grief, just so he could keep living–it’s so heartbreaking.
ᢉ𐭩 gn!reader, bathing and combing giyuu’s hair after a hard day
giyuu’s tired, battered, and bruised. he single-handedly took on about a dozen demons, and although he always acts like it isn’t a big deal, he’s come home with darker bags under his eyes after fighting demons. the guilt he feels when he can’t save someone is self-destructive, and this job has been wearing him out.
he never knows when or if he’ll be able to come back to your safe, warm embrace again.
but when he comes back to your estate, which has become a habit instead of going to his own, you’ve already drawn him a warm bath, and you stand in the bathroom with a shy smile on your face.
you’ve always known about giyuu’s feelings, about his past, especially with his childhood best friend. he’s never felt like he deserves to be the water hashira, or even a hashira itself for that matter. even with all of your reassurance, he still doesn’t believe that he is deserving of the ‘lord’ title.
but intimate moments like these tell him enough. the way you bathe him so gently makes him feel delicate, though not in a negative way. your touch makes him feel like he’s worth something, like he isn’t just an unfortunate source of power.
so as soon as he silently gets into the bath, and you begin rubbing soap on his bare chest, he lets out a sigh. he knows it’s an intimate moment, and he wouldn’t rather have anyone else but you with him. you run your hands over his scars and new bruises, treating him like a masterpiece, a piece of art.
and when you’re done scrubbing his entire body, you bring some clean water up to his hair, and he willingly tilts his head back, something you’ve told him to do so water doesn’t run into his eyes. once you’ve rinsed it, you place a gentle kiss on his wet cheek, and although he’s had a stoic expression for most of the time, he gives you a small smile.
you hand him a towel and stand up, leaving and closing the door behind you so he can dry himself off and get dressed for bed.
a couple of minutes pass, and before you know it, he’s opening the door to your bedroom and closing it behind you. he kneels in front of you, back facing you so you can comb through his hair.
you untangle his long hair and brush through it. a soft sigh of pleasure leaves him, and you smile at his relief. he sits through the session with no complaints.
when you’re done, you place a kiss on his neck and watch him shudder at the unexpected touch. you giggle at his sensitivity, and he grumbles at your teasing.
but you tap his back, a movement you do so he knows you’re getting up to climb into bed, and he follows you.
he bends down and crawls into bed next to you, quickly finding comfort in your warmth.
though something’s missing, and you’re not cuddling him how you normally do.
he begins to feel frustrated until your lips are soft and pressing against his, giving him plush, comforting kisses.
he feels the bed shift underneath him, and he places a hand on your back, rubbing it up and down. when you try to pull away, he quietly chases your lips, and you reluctantly come back to kissing him.
you’re practically on top of him, legs and arms caging him in, but your kisses slow down, and eventually, you give him one more kiss before lying back down.
giyuu lets out a small, almost inaudible huff. he’ll never admit it, but he already misses your lips on his, and he misses your touch too.
your arm, however, finds its way to his stomach and lies across it. you cuddle up more to him, and although his hands aren’t all over you like yours are to him, he places a reassuring, large hand on your back.
right before you drift off to sleep, you feel a soft kiss on your forehead, and giyuu feels you cling on tighter to him.
when the day ends, giyuu realizes that all of his hardships are worth it if he’s able to come home to you.
first demon slayer writing, hope that whoever finds this enjoys it!! i forgot to post last night, sorry
tried to keep in mind what people had access to during the taisho era. thats why this may have been written a little weirdly
Additional shit: Swearing, Sanemi fighting said neighbor, Rengoku being blunt, mentions of sex, ooc mot likely :p
Tengen
He couldn't care less
His whole thing is being flashy and loud so he wants you to be loud
Like it's not his fault that dick is magical
After he shoos your neighbor away he makes sure to be as loud as possible that night
He's pounding into your cunt and you swear your gonna break when he whispers "okay now scream exactly how big my dick is. Don't forget the tip color-"
He gets cut off by you hitting him with the pillow
Way to ruin the mood
But that doesn't stop him and instead he goes harder, making sure the bed creaks loud ASF for your neighbor
"Not my fault he doesn't know how to please a woman." Is his main reason for doing so
He really wants you to scream his name so it's imbedded in your neighbors head
"Morning N/N!" Him to your neighbor from the balcony while your trying to get out of bed and failing
"Actually die." Both you and your neighbor to Tengen
Sanemi
Cares alot
Why the fuck is that limp dick biscuit talking to you and him? Who does he think he is?
You were the one who broke the news to him thankfully cause if Sanemi was the one who opened the door then you'd have to see your husband through glass in a prison
Just kidding. The Slayer corp would get him out of trouble if he didn't do it himself.
Anyways
Sanemi made it his goal to piss your neighbor off as much as possible
Your under him, practically creaming on his cock, and he's slamming the wall yelling "This loud enough yet?! Huh!?"
Not kidding I can see him doing that
He quite literally had you against a window where your neighbors could see him destroying you just to make them mad or uncomfortable, hopefully both.
But then he'd get pissed someone else would see you all naked and fucked out so he settled for the wall next to the window
One day your neighbor, finally having enough, bangs on your door yelling and guess who opens it...Sanemi!!
Good Lord was he waiting for this
It took one punch and the guy was out
Kinda what happens when you put a normal dude against a guy who kills demons for a living
Rengoku
He's a good neutral between caring and not caring
Like he doesn't wanna make your neighbors mad but he also loves hearing your screams
So he tries to keep you quiet during sex but fails since he gets to into it to give a fuck
The next days his loud ass voice wakes you up
"IM SORRY FOR MAKING INCREDIBLE LOVE TO MY WIFE!" He's not being sarcastic thats his genuine apology
Your facepalming and you want to die when you see your neighbor and she can't look at you
"PERHAPS SHES MAD BECAUSE HER HUSBAND CANNOT PLEASE HER!" Rengoku says casually and you know she can hear you from outside in her garden
"Inside voices!" You place your hands over his mouth to try and shut him up.
It works for a bit before he's yelling again
You love your husband but holy shit you wish he would speak normally sometimes
He's actually quiet in bed though
So your the problem (real)
Obanai
I'm not an Obanai fan so forgive me for how bad his section will be
Obanai is a quiet mf, and you're not even that loud
It's your neighbor who was the problem
A little old man whose hearing aids apparently had the power of 67 suns
You and Obanai found this out when he was outside training and your neighbor came over
He was so sweet and polite and even chuckled at Obanai's redness
Obanai cared at first but got over it
You? You make sure to not make a PEEP in bed
Okay that pisses Obanai off but he understands your reasons
At least make a gasp or sum cause he's over here like "Wait does this feel good? Can she feel it? Did I forget where the clit is?"
Brother is STRESSING
Then you cum and he's like "ah"
Then he's like "Did you take it?"
You have to keep yourself from murdering him cause how tf would you fake squirting
Gyomei
Babe I'm not gonna lie, you're a screamer
Gyomei is built like a house and your telling me your just gonna whine and whimper?
NO
Your over here crying and screaming into his chest, neck, the pillow, anything.
And Gyomei loves it!
He can't see your reactions so hearing and feeling them let's him know he's doing good
Gyomei isn't loud but he's not quiet
He'll grunt and moan and praise you, but he's not gonna cry out.
Well he'll cry but you can never tell from what
When the pussy so good you start crying 😭🙏
When your neighbor politely asked you to be a tad bit quieter Gyomei actually laughed
Not in a 'nah we'll keep being loud' way but more of a 'sorry we'll be quiet' way. He also found it hilarious how you actually died of embarrassment.
Don't worry he thinks its endearing
Yet it was kinda hard for him since he enjoyed hearing you
But your touches and now quieter moans made that better
And then there's also you literally drawing blood from his back you were scratching so hard
Giyuu
Holy shit you have never seen him so embarrassed
Like you could shade match his Haori to him and get the exact same color
He was the one your neighbor told and he stopped working when 'loud' and 'moaning' left their lips
If a demon doesn't kill him then his own actions will
Giyuu isn't loud, and he loves that he can make you feel so good that your loud for him.
But he didn't want your neighbor back over at your house so he tried to keep you quiet
You were super confused when he held his hand over your mouth in bed and he just pointed to your neighbors house. Then you got it.
So you nod and try to keep quiet.
You know in school when the teacher tells you and a friend to shut up but they look at you funny and you break?
Yeah that was you
You were riding Giyuu one night and you were loud so he was like "holy shit I love you but please- I can't look our neighbor in the eyes anymore."
And you couldn't help but laugh
Like howling
You calmed down obviously but sex was very giggle filled after that
gummygunk
vaporwave
theartofmadeline
izzy806
kaledo-art
blakekathryn
jacobvanloon
