Well i just think he’s in some cool scenes. For example like the scene this image is from.
i just love the set design here the hanging mass of ropes behind tozer’s gorgeous broad shoulders and tousled head of luscious hair and the way h. Ahem. Umm. sorry waist a minute I mean wait a minute. sorry what were we talking about
the view in between - solomon tozer x gn!reader
— using this list with the prompt, "It has gotten under my skin."
word count: 1.5k words
a/n: sometimes i write things for fanfiction and i'm genuinely surprised by some of the lines i spit out. anyway, here's this.
How do you know when the very life you once guarded so carefully was over?
Was it when the ideals you once held so carefully had swept up into the swirling flurries of snow, off to the heavens with the rest of your hopes and dreams?
Or was it when you saw that able seaman’s blood spilt on the stark white ice, red melding with snow and the remnants of what once was alive?
It hadn’t registered to you—you had had a bit of hope left, and then… well, you can only avoid the truth for so long. And when it was staring you down from so far across the horizon, you knew to take it seriously.
The beast’s eyes seemed to be locked on yours. It was farther than the last it had ransacked the ships, and you could see the way it made its way slowly in your direction.
Your mouth moved quicker than your brain had realized, words tumbling out of your mouth: “There! It’s there!”
Had you a gun, you would’ve used it yourself. The creature seemed to react fully to your words, charging across the ice toward the ship.
You heard the Lieutenant call from behind you, ordering the lot of you to get below deck since it was so far away. Rushed and nearly tripping over your own feet, you made it into the ship only to hear as the beast ransacked the deck above.
You could have stayed. Someone could have shot at it. But orders were orders, and right now with Captain Crozier being out of commission, it was not a risk any of you were willing to take.
Soon, the ship settled down but you could not shake the fear that had started to eat away at your insides.
You find your way to a place you knew would be safe to pace back and forth, one of the storage areas that was frequented only when you needed to be alone (whether by yourself or with a companion in need). There, you crossed your arms over your chest, one elbow resting against your forearm while your hand pressed against your mouth.
The pacing was rhythmic—one, two, three, four, stop, turn, repeat.
One, two, three, four.
Stop, turn, repeat.
Each step only fueled the anxiety coursing within you.
There was no coming back from this. There would be no saving, no soul was coming to save you, nothing would fix itself, you were stuck in this damned Arctic, you would never get away from the sound of the damned creature who was surely away from the ship, but—
Tozer’s voice catches your racing mind, your name just having left his mouth.
The tall man stands by the entrance of the storage area, a soft cinch in his brow showing that he had watched you for a bit longer than you expected. He said nothing for a moment, eyeing you warily.
In all these months at sea, he had learned you well. The way your mind worked, the way your body reacted even when you were better off without his touch.
Oh, he knew you. More than anyone ever had.
More than anyone ever would.
His voice pulls you from your mind once more.
“What are you doing down here?” he asked, making no move to go to you.
You slowly shook your head, looking away from him.
“Don’t do that,” he chided, frowning a bit. He hated when you did that—act like it wasn't him talking to you. “Come, now, what’s going on?”
Your breath hitched in your throat at his question and you rubbed your face, palms digging into your skin, leaving behind that raw, clammy feeling that came from your frustrated touch. Warmth had spread through your insides, but most certainly not the good kind. Not the kind you wished to have.
This was one that crept up when you least expected it, rearing its ugly head when you wished it would be decapitated by its own volition.
“Nothing,” you said, though you both knew you were lying.
Tozer paused—he listened for something, anything, and when he decided he was safe, he walked over to you and gently grabbed your wrist. You looked up at him, frowning.
“Nothing,” you repeated. “I’m not doing anything. Nothing is happening."
”What are you thinking? Why’ve you come here to pace like this, hm?”
”No reason,” you said, though there was no conviction to your voice. Your eyes squeezed shut for a moment too long. “I’m just… tired.”
Tozer pursed his lips, grip tightening ever-so-slightly.
The touch alone drew you from yourself, eyes flickering up to his. His head was tilted downward as he kept his gaze focused on you. He hadn’t shaved recently—not as closely as he could have. Tired lines etched into his skin, carved by God Himself. Surely something so beautiful was heaven sent.
Surely.
For if this was hell then God would send a bit of respite for a wary traveler.
“What’s on your mind?” Tozer tried once more.
If it didn’t work this time, he would give up—the look on your face, though, showed him all he needed to know.
“I… well, I…”
Tozer waited expectantly, but he did not rush you. The two of you had time, no matter how fleeting.
“I do not know how to… how to say it,” you admitted.
“Is it a feeling?”
”I—kind of?” you questioned yourself, pulling your wrist away from his. You resorted to pacing once more which Tozer simply watched. “I do not know. It is… it is like I have… I haven’t been targeted by the creature, clearly, or else I would be dead, but I…”
”You…”
”It… it looked at me,” you said, stopping suddenly in your pacing. “I swear to you, Solomon—it—it looked at me. Dead in the eyes.”
He placed a hand on your shoulder, guiding you to look at him once more. “What?”
”It—it has gotten under my skin,” you said, the words hesitant but true. “I feel it, I feel something. I would say it is fear but I do not think it is enough.”
Tozer squeezed your shoulder, unable to help himself as he guided you to his arms. He embraced you, and while the touch was fleeting, it grounded you for the time being. You buried your face in his grasp, taking in a few deep breaths.
As he held onto you, your voice was muffled: "It is not enough."
”How did it look at you?” he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
”It…” It was a good question. One that stumped you. How had it looked at it? It did not look as if it wanted to flay you alive or send you down the fire hole after Sir Franklin. You couldn’t just say that, though.
”If I hadn’t known its true nature, I would have assumed it was just a bear,” you admitted. “But I… as I was on watch, I announced what I saw, and then…”
Tozer held you close, frowning deeply. He stared at the wooden walls, doing his best to think of any possibilities but coming up short. This creature—whatever it was—was one that he had yet to fully decipher.
Would he ever?
Or was he in the same position as you, only just waiting to see what would happen as the beast settled itself deep within him, skin and all?
The path to Hell was paved with good intentions, but what of those who were sent on behalf of Crown and County? Would the Devil grant them a pass as it was not of their own discernment that sent them so far away, farther than most of them had ever gone before?
The Marine said nothing more and slowly pulled back from you, hands on your shoulders. He would need to leave as to not cause suspicion, but he could not help in staying for a moment longer to watch you. Eyes searching yours, they said what he could not: Be careful.
And for a beast, a chill, a reprehensible belief that settled deep within you, deep within bone marrow and nerve endings, it was more than enough to change the awkward warmth within you to something worth feeling—that of a delicate care, a balance that had been months in the making.
A hand went to Tozer’s still on your shoulders and you squeezed it gently, watching as he gave you a weak smile. Had you known each other once upon a time, before these damned ships set sail, perhaps he could have showed you just how much he cared.
How he would have loved to show you the manner in which he could have loved you.
But alas, he would settle for unspoken words and lingering glances—the kind that God would have given blessings to know His children found the soul they were always meant to find.
The beast may have your fear but Tozer had all that was left, and what a gift that was—to know that even in the prospect of a terrible fate coming after you, you had a man who would care for you in the softest and shortest of moments.
The beast may have your future, but Tozer would have your present for as long as you could choose.
Very first draw posted in my entire life I think, and it's one from this Sergeant from The Terror. I can't get him out of my head (i don't want to). So here is my contribution to this fandom 🫡
It's barely a sketch and I want to improve in my drawing skill to make him even more gorgeous...
