I just read a question from a friend (not a Pompous Pep fan) who asked me if there was any fanfic or story in my ship with the theme of "Vlad is in love with Danny But Danny now sees him as a father", And the truth is I haven't seen anything with that relationship, but (besides trying to sound offensive) I started looking to see if it existed, What do you say??? 😭 (He said it was a theme that would probably have the pompous pep since they are like father and son)
That's quite a unique premise! I don't think I've ever come across a story like that before. It would definitely classify as Pompous Pep since one of them has romantic feelings for the other. AO3 is the only place I read fanfic, but I bet searching within the Danny Fenton/Vlad Masters tag and including a tag filter search for "One-Sided Attraction" or "Unrequited Love" might yield some results. (If no results are given, just try searching for one tag or the other.) But if nothing turns up, it sounds like you need to roll up your sleeves and start writing the first fic of its kind, anon!
Gotta love a beautiful and healthy toxic relationships :)
[ READ ON AO3 | KO-FI | COMM INFO ]
----------
King owed Kaido everything.
His name, his freedom… his life.
He would do anything to pay him back.
—————
“Catch the Lunarian! Don’t let him escape!!”
Pointless; the moment Alber was free of his shackles, there was no way these guards, who knew nothing but how to cause pain, could catch him. His capture in the first place was his own greatest mistake, one that he’d been paying for daily since.
Fire not of his own making had licked at him, burning, scalding, melting—without ever marring his skin. Needles stabbing, knives cutting, maces smashing, feathers plucked. Torture disguised as medical tests, each day a payment for Alber—too young, too naive—daring to step into the humans’ world.
But Kaido opened the door to his cage and let him out, killing everyone who stood in their way. Leading Alber to freedom and a new life.
As Alber—King, his name was King, Alber was dead—gazed up at his broad back, his heart raced in his chest. It wasn’t from the exertion or the adrenalin of their escape; it was something different, something that burned brighter than the flames that had engulfed him mere hours earlier, sharper than the blades carving into his flesh just yesterday.
Was it love or teenage adoration? Or was it simply gratefulness, twisted into something darker and more powerful than anything King had known until then?
It didn’t matter.
The reason didn’t matter; whatever the case, King would follow this man anywhere. He would fight for him until he drew his last breath, would support him until he came to rule the seas.
Whatever the cost.
—————
A shiver ran up King’s spine as Kaido’s rough hands stroked his sides, dancing over his naked skin. King arched his back, his wings spreading to their full size until they covered Kaido’s entire bed, as well as most of his room.
Finally, Kaido’s hands settled on King’s hips, gripping them so hard King thought the bones might break. Which would be fine with him, more than fine. Anything to satisfy his captain. Anything to keep Kaido from leaving.
He moaned when Kaido pulled him towards himself, burying himself even deeper inside.
Every time they did this, every time they had sex like this… Kaido was all King could feel. All that mattered. Their bodies fitting together, melting into one. Sweat mixing with blood that trickled down his back from where Kaido would bite into his neck or rip out fistfulls of feathers. Reminding him who he belonged to while filling the emptiness inside him again and again and again. Leaving him open and raw and content like no one else ever could.
Like no one else would ever be allowed to.
“Ka—Kaido… san…” King gasped, grasping at the sheets to keep a hold of himself.
Kaido didn’t say anything. He never did.
Never made so much as a sound.
Simply using King until he was spent and then some more, before leaving without a word.
King didn’t mind.
—————
The moment King walked into the room, he could feel Queen’s gaze on him; it was obvious the man was itching to ask something but decided to be as annoying about it as he could first. Which was about as much as King could expect from the irritating menace he was forced to call his crewmate.
Taking a deep breath, King rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He really didn’t have the patience for this today.
“What?” he snapped.
“The girl Kaido’s been sleeping with disappeared,” Queen said nonchalantly as if he was discussing the weather.
King paused for a moment. “Not the first time that’s happened.”
Queen hummed in agreement. “True. Which in itself is strange. Whoever might be so pissed about it that they make every woman Kaido spends more than five minutes with disappear?” He gave King a pointed look, eyebrow raised, and a knowing smirk on his lips.
“Are you saying it’s jealousy?” King asked flatly.
“Not really,” Queen replied with a careless shrug. “Just saying it’s funny.”
“I wouldn’t call this funny.” King made a face. It was hidden by his mask, but judging by the amused look Queen gave him, it was obvious anyway.
“Of course you wouldn’t.” His obnoxious laughter rang around the room, grating on King’s nerves. “Know anything about it?”
“Of course not,” King replied quickly, maybe a little too quickly.
“Uh-huh,” Queen hummed. “Just like you didn’t know anything when we found Yamato sobbing over her mom’s dead body last year?”
“What are you implying?” King asked, keeping his voice carefully measured.
“Nothing,” Queen sang, taking a long drag of his cigar.
They didn’t say anything after that.
—————
King sighed as he watched Yamato gulp down an entire onigiri in one go. He had to wonder how long it had been since the teenager had eaten—days, most definitely. It was ridiculous; if only he would stop yelling about Oden, then he wouldn’t have to sneak around like this, surviving on scraps. But then again, he was Kaido’s son. Stubborn and headstrong and refusing to bend to anyone’s opinions, no matter the cost—in Kaido’s case, it was cost that had to be paid by others. While Yamato… Yamato had to pay the price himself.
“I don’t know what the deal is between you and dad but it’s completely fucked up. Just so you know,” Yamato noted as he bit hungrily into the raw salmon King had brought him.
Raising an eyebrow, King gave the young boy a once-over. Of all people, he’d have thought Yamato would be the last one to find an issue with that. “Are two men in a close relationship that strange to you?”
“What?” Yamato tilted his head to the side, his face scrunched up into a confused frown. “No! That’s not what I mean! I’m just saying you’re completely fucked in the head. Like seriously insane.”
King snorted. He couldn’t help it; Yamato was so blunt and rude while sounding so sincere about it. It was… adorable.
“Thanks for the concern,” King said with a chuckle as he handed Yamato a napkin. “Wipe your face, you have fish everywhere. And drink some water.”
Yamato didn’t respond; he simply stared at the napkin blankly, before he raised his eyes to look at King and suddenly, King felt like he was the salmon and Yamato was about to sink his teeth into him.
“You know, no matter how hard you try, you won’t become my mom.”
King flinched at Yamato’s words. They stung, right in his heart, his soul. It should have been obvious, it was obvious, but hearing it was crushing regardless.
But Yamato wasn’t done. He kept talking, his next words feeling even more like a knife in his gut; like the torture he had lived through so many years ago. “Neither will dad make you his ‘till death do us part’. He’s incapable of that. He’ll sooner kill you himself. You’ll make a squish, like a bug.”
King was silent for a long while, studying the honest, almost concerned look in Yamato’s large eyes. Eyes that looked nothing like his father’s—warmer, kinder, softer. And yet, King still preferred Kaido’s.
Finally, King opened his mouth to speak, his words quiet and simple. “I know.”
Yamato heaved a sigh, then turned back to his half eaten fish. “As I said, fucked in the head.”
King huffed in amusement at Yamato’s frustration. But what could he say? What could he do?
After all, ‘till death do us part’ didn’t necessarily need two people. It was a promise that only one party needed to make to create a bond so powerful nothing could break it—and King had made that vow long ago.
—————
Kaido would never lose. He was the man who would stand at the top of the world, ruling over all. He was the strongest creature in all five seas; there was no one else, no one better fitted to be the one.
To be the Pirate King.
To be Joy Boy.
He was everything… and he was worth everything to King.
Fire roared in King’s ears, almost like the dragon he had created with it in Kaido’s image came alive—angry, thirsty, hungry. Ready to swallow the entirety of Onigashima’s Rightbrain Tower whole, along with the swordsman who had dared challenge King.
How long had it been since King was pushed to this point, forced to draw out his full power? Stripped off his mask, both literally and figuratively, all pretences thrown away; commanding fire like he was born to, his lunarian blood singing with satisfaction. For but a moment… he was Alber again.
But Kaido didn’t need Alber. He needed King, and King needed Kaido.
Neither of them needed Alber.
And so, Alber died once again, as fast as he came alive.
And Roronoa Zoro would soon follow him.
—————
King owed Kaido everything.
His name, his freedom… his life.
He would do anything to pay him back—even if it meant meeting the king of hell himself.
Luigi didn’t dare to turn around to the voice that spoke. His head was spinning too fast for him to comprehend anything around him, much less know and decide on how to react. His hands gripped against the edge of the Clown Car, the only thing able to keep him standing in that moment as he felt like his knees could buckle under him at any second. His lungs burned, but whether it was caused by the ash in the air or his own breath getting caught in his throat, he couldn’t tell. It didn’t much matter anyway. His shoulders bounced as he quickly, silently, pushed a breath past his lips.
“I just can’t bring myself to look away.”
That was something Luigi could agree with. His hands trembled from the force of his own grip and the fear pervading him. He stared, eyes wide and trembling, as he watched the fire slowly creep from the edge of one house and hop to the other, leaving behind flames to burn the house it had started with while it began its horrible descent onto its new victim. People were running through the streets frantically, ducking in and out of buildings as they tried to find their loved ones amongst the carnage and retreat with those they had.
There was screaming, there had to be, Luigi knew that. But from the height that they had above the village, the sounds were soft on their ears. A chuckle came from behind him.
“Look at that one,” The King laughed as he pointed down, just at the edge of Luigi’s vision, “Can’t decide between his bread or his wife. Poor fool,” He sighed and leaned slightly over the edge of the Clown Car, “Calm yourself,” he spoke softly down to the frantic man that couldn’t hear him, “It’ll all be over soon,” he said, comforting.
Luigi saw the toad he was talking about. An apron was tied around his waist and his chef hat was crooked on his head, leaning down and slightly obscuring his vision. He whipped his head to the side and off it came, landing in a small, smouldering pile of ash where it would no doubt burn to a crisp. The man had 2 bags of what Luigi could only assume to be some type of flour or wheat. One he had easily slung over his shoulder and was hanging onto it effortlessly. The other he frantically was fumbling with in his other arm. At his feet was an unconscious woman; the wife Bowser had spoken about. He tried to tuck the second bag of flour under his arm and grab his wife’s wrist to pull her along with him, but the bag slipped out from under and toppled to the ground. He tried to lift up his wife with his free hand and pull her over his shoulder, but she proved too heavy for him. He dropped both bags to the ground and hastily tried to hold his wife’s frame against his and support her, but again he frantically looked down at the bags of flour on the ground. He couldn’t take both, but he desperately tried to figure out a way to do so. The fire around him was not waiting, and if he continued his track of indecisiveness, he would get both him and his wife killed. There were no good options. He either had to lose the person he loved the most and live the rest of his life knowing he made that decision, or lose all their livelihood and risk starving to death together anyway.
All Luigi could do was stare. If he could have helped he would have - in a heartbeat, he would have - but his life was on the line just as much as theirs were. He shuddered. Bowser noticed.
“Are you cold, my love?” The King asked, his hulking form moving closer to Luigi’s as he asked, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think about how the air up here might have a chill to it. I thought the show below would be enough to warm us.”
Luigi felt Bowser’s chest press against his back and continue to push forward until Luigi was pinned against the wall of the Clown Car, trapped. Luigi’s mouth opened and he let out a shaky, fearful breath. It hung open still as Luigi had to force his breathing through him.
“Oh, but it is quite a show, isn’t it?” Bowser asked, low, leaning down next to Luigi’s ear. Luigi couldn’t have answered if he wanted to. His throat was bone dry from fear, and he was sure he could feel it close around itself. He felt sick. Bowser clicked his tongue and shook his head gently, “Awful it was, the way they treated you,” he growled, “Treating you like you’re only ever second best. How dare they,” he spat before he chuckled, “That’s why I started here, y’know? If we’re going to build a new kingdom together, some of the old has got to go. It just makes sense that it’d be them that go first, right?” He asked, rhetorical.
Luigi wanted to scream, to cry out as loud of an apology he could. If he had known that his light venting, his passing pleasantries towards the King would have led to this he wouldn’t have uttered a single word.
He didn’t want to think it was true at first. When he had initially grown close to the King and had begun to see his soft side he brushed aside every warning. He firmly had believed in his heart that people could change. He had believed that Bowser could change. He saw good in him and thought he would be able to draw it out if he tried hard enough. He spent months arranging visits, initiating peace talks, and exchanging friendly words with the King. He had felt friendship, and when he shared his deeper thoughts with the King and the King shared his own in return with him he felt deeper emotions. They had a connection, they could have been great together.
When he had first told Bowser of the Mushroom Kingdom people’s slights against him, it was passing and harmless. Complaining of being called ‘Green Mario’ on a frequent basis. The King had laughed it off, as had Luigi. Friendly, passing, as you do with someone you don’t know very well. One would assume that after that the conversations against the Mushroom Kingdom people spiralled, but they hadn’t. Nothing had spiralled out of control, nothing had been said that would indicate Luigi hated any of these strangers. All his comments, all his complaints had been passive. ‘I wish they would remember my name,’ ‘It kind of hurts my feelings,’ ‘It’s annoying that people give Mario discounts but not me.’ None of the comments made sense to send Bowser deep into a frenzy, talking of revenge… All except for one.
Luigi had mentioned off-handedly that he wished the people noticed him as a person and not just a sidekick. He meant it as passive venting, and it was in a way. He never expected it to make him emotional, but few people rarely ever plan to get emotional when talking of small frustrations. In the moment, Bowser had replied that he saw Luigi as his own person and that he liked the person he saw. That comment had struck Luigi, as he had never felt so listened to and heard in that moment. He had looked up at the King, and the tears in his eyes moved the Koopa. Their first real embrace had followed that moment, with the King gently assuring Luigi again that he saw him, and he cared about him. Bowser had mumbled something under his breath about wanting the people to see Luigi the way Bowser saw him. It had been sweet. It was supposed to be sweet.
Bowser’s arms wrapped around Luigi’s stiff frame and he came down to sigh sweetly beside Luigi’s ear.
“Just think of it,” Bowser said dreamily, “A whole new world, just for the two of us,” Luigi could feel Bowser’s smile grow, their cheeks gently brushing together, “Do you like it?” He asked, “I did this for you.”
Finally, Luigi choked out a sob, his frame beginning to tremble as tears welled into his eyes, his initial shock subsiding as his real emotions took over. He was afraid. He was so afraid. As quickly as it had come out, his next sob got caught in his throat, his mouth closing as he attempted to keep his emotions in. Bowser squeezed tighter.
“I know, I know,” He cooed gently, “It’s a lot to take in, just thinking of it,” Bowser trailed off, “Just think of it,” He repeated quieter, under his breath.
Luigi felt Bowser push a shaky breath out, the grin on his face widening. Luigi yelped as Bowser spun him around, his back now pressed against the wall of the Clown Car as Bowser gripped at his biceps, a look of manic joy on his face.
“Just think of it!” Bowser whispered happily, his own high emotions catching in his throat and softening his voice, “Isn’t this so great?” He giggled, completely unaware of how deeply upsetting his actions were, “Soon, we won’t have to worry about anyone bothering us ever again! It’ll just be you and me,” He cooed as he brought a hand up to Luigi’s cheek and gently caressed it, his other hand still maintaining a death grip on Luigi’s arm, “You and me,” He repeated lovingly. Suddenly, it seemed that an idea struck Bowser, his expression lighting up again. He tilted his head back and stared up at the blackened sky filled with ash and soot, “The possibilities are endless,” He beamed. He brought his horrifying, joyful gaze back down to Luigi, “Where do you want our home to be?” He asked, “Sure, a castle on the ground is as good as any, but imagine a sprawling mansion in space. Or on a different planet!” He said excitedly, “Whatever you want, my love, is yours,” He said sweetly, “So long as you’re mine.”
A large piece of ash flew by Bowser’s head at that moment and Luigi watched it go, a horrifying symbol of what his future with Bowser and Bowser alone would hold. Fire. Destruction. Death. If Bowser hadn’t had such a tight grip on him Luigi would’ve jumped out of the Car at that moment. Even death was better than this. Bowser closed his eyes and sighed in bliss before shaking his head as he opened them again.
“Ah, but enough of that,” He said. He gripped at Luigi with both hands again and spun him back around, pinning Luigi’s chest against the edge of the Clown Car as Bowser brought his own hands down to hold at the edge of the Car on either side of Luigi’s frame, “I wouldn’t want to miss this.”
Luigi didn’t want to look back down at the horrors below but he could barely move away as it was and he didn’t dare try to struggle against Bowser’s frame for fear of what he would do to him, what he was capable of doing. Luigi looked down amongst the fire and ash. Off to the side, he noticed a toad standing stock still, holding her baby against her chest as groups of citizens fled around her. She was looking up at him. She could see him. She looked… Confused. Horrified and confused. In her eyes, Luigi wasn’t a victim. She wasn’t close enough to see the horror on his face or the tears streaming down his cheeks. All she saw was the hero’s brother standing tall alongside the enemy, watching over the devastation. From what she saw, Luigi was just as much at fault for the fire as Bowser was. And in a way, she was right. If Luigi had managed to keep his talks with Bowser strictly professional, if he could’ve just had half a brain to tread carefully alongside their long-time enemy, none of this would’ve happened. Bowser did this for him, and Luigi did nothing but stand aside and let it happen.
Luigi cried silently. He cried for himself, for his lost friendship, for the people, for the mother and her child, and for the baker and his wife.
He watched you walk down the stairs in that pretty f/c dress. His eyes seemed to sparkle, when you took each step down the stairs. Though you weren't looking at him. You were looking at Jack (Jackie), Jackie's twin brother. He frowned when watching you both linked. But when you waved to him, he sadly smiled, not wanting to ruin your night, thinking of him.
But he could hear you laugh. Jack must have said something humorous, much to Marco's dismay. He frowned, yet again, to his despair. Soon, you both disappeared into the night. Marco slowly shut the door, taking a deep breath and heading into his room. He knew you had liked him at some point, but his feelings came to late.
If only he could tell you how he feels. But to not ruin the friendship you both have, since he would never want that. His frown deepened, seeing a picture of you, Comet (Star), and him. You were all so happy. When did he become so alone?
This article is for educational purposes and is based on personal opinions. This article is not a substitute for professional advice, but general guidance. We advise you to always listen to your intuition and always do what is right for you.
Every now and then, do you feel like your relationship is not going as well as you hoped it would when you fell in love with your partner? Does it sometimes feel like they’re not even trying… like you’re the one doing all the work?
This can be quite confusing sometimes, and you may wonder if it’s really happening or if it’s just your mind creating scenarios. If you’re not sure, feel free to keep reading and see if you relate to any of the 6 signs your relationship is one sided.
