Could I request some fluffy Meruem x fem!reader who has chronic pain? Maybe chronic headaches or something... I'd love to see how you imagine him being with someone who's always in violent pain hehe.
Painkiller
Characters: Meruem x fem!Reader
Notes: Funny thing—I actually suffer from chronic migraines myself, so that’s what I used as the basis for the chronic pain in this! Thank you so much for the request, and I really hope it’s what you were hoping for :)
Meruem didn’t know how you were still alive.
You were delicate—so painfully human, and even your own body seemed to betray you at every turn.
You had once told him, in a quiet voice and with tired eyes, that you struggled with migraines. He’d only nodded, brow creased, thinking it was just another human quirk he didn’t understand.
But then he started noticing.
How often you seemed drained.
How you winced at light, complaining that it was too bright, too sharp.
How nausea would strike you suddenly, leaving you pale and trembling.
At first, he’d been… irritated.
You were unpredictable—fragile, moody, overly sensitive. He hated the feeling of walking on eggshells around you. And yet—he found himself doing it anyway.
But what shifted him was the expression you wore when you thought no one was watching. The way your face crumpled into quiet pain. How your shoulders curled inward, trying to shrink away from the world. How your normally warm voice dulled when the pain overtook you.
He hated it.
He hated seeing that pain—etched into your body, your posture, your spirit.
You had learned to hide it well. Years of practice had made you graceful even in agony. But there were days when the mask slipped.
Today was one of those days.
Everything was too loud.
Too bright.
Too much.
Your head was splitting. Your eyes burned with every flicker of light.
It hurt.
You hadn’t asked for this kind of life.
You’d curled up in a dark corner of Meruem’s castle, the way you often did when your chronic pain flared. Tucked into yourself like a wounded bird.
You had already taken painkillers. They didn’t help.
Tears blurred your vision, not from sadness—but from sheer, stubborn, gnawing pain.
Pitou had come to find you earlier, hoping to share something. You’d snapped. You hadn’t meant to—you were just overwhelmed, raw. They’d left silently. Even they didn’t push.
Then Meruem came.
You didn’t need to see him to know it was him. His aura was unmistakable.
Still, you didn’t speak. You didn’t have the strength.
He didn’t press.
Instead, he sat beside you, silent and still, his gaze on your curled frame.
For the first time in his existence, he felt powerless. There was nothing he could fight. Nothing he knew how to fix.
He could see your pain—feel the weight of it.
But he had no idea how to ease it.
And then—he reached out.
His hand, which was usually firm and commanding, now trembled slightly as he gently stroked your head.
You flinched at the touch, then looked up at him from your cocoon—lashes damp, cheeks flushed, eyes glassy.
“It usually helps me when you do this…” he said, his voice low, definitely embarrassed. “I thought… maybe it might help you too.”
He looked away, a faint blush creeping up his neck.
And for the first time today you smiled. A small, real smile.
No, it didn’t fix the pain.
But the fact that he cared—that he tried—was enough.
You shifted, soft and slow, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your head gently in his lap.
He paused only for a second before continuing the motion—fingers threading gently through your hair.
The thought of you being in constant pain broke something inside him. How could someone as sweet as you be tormented like this.
He wouldn’t let you hurt alone anymore. He swore that to himself.
The migraine didn’t magically vanish.
But wrapped in the quiet warmth of his presence, you finally felt like you could breathe.
Dan Heng isn't one for grand gestures. Instead, his affection shows in subtle ways—like remembering small details about you, leaving you little things he thinks you might need, or giving you a silent but meaningful look. It’s a quiet but deep kind of love, where actions speak louder than words.
He is naturally protective and often keeps a watchful eye on you, especially when you’re exploring new or dangerous places together. Although he may try to keep his emotions hidden, his protective nature often slips through, especially when he senses any threat toward you.
Given his introverted nature, Dan Heng values personal space, both his own and yours. He is sensitive to your need for solitude or personal time and appreciates it when you offer him the same. He views it as a mutual understanding, a respect for each other's boundaries that strengthens your connection.
Dan Heng rarely opens up about his past, but over time, he’ll let you in on small fragments. If you encourage him, he finds comfort in your presence, and he may gradually reveal his vulnerabilities. Your unwavering support and understanding become a source of strength for him, even if he doesn't always express it directly.
You learn to enjoy comfortable silences together, finding peace in just being by each other’s side. He doesn't feel the need to fill the quiet with words, and with you, he can finally let his guard down without worrying about being judged or misunderstood.
With you, he starts to open up emotionally in ways he never thought possible. You manage to draw out a rare smile from him now and then, which makes him feel slightly embarrassed but happier than he’ll admit. These moments are rare, but they become treasured memories for both of you.
Dan Heng respects your abilities, whether it’s in combat or otherwise. He might offer to spar or train with you, and these sessions become a way for you to bond. His combat tips are often delivered with a calm demeanor, and he occasionally slips into a protective role if he thinks you’re getting too close to danger.
Dan Heng isn’t naturally physically affectionate, but he’ll occasionally reach for your hand or brush a stray strand of hair from your face, usually when words aren’t enough to convey his feelings. These gestures feel almost sacred, as he rarely shares such intimate contact with anyone else.
When he does open up, it’s usually in the quiet hours of the night. You’ll find him sitting by a window on the Astral Express, lost in thought, and he’ll invite you to join him. These rare conversations often reveal the depths of his thoughts and fears, allowing you to understand him on a much deeper level.
With his tumultuous past, Dan Heng sometimes struggles with self-doubt. Your presence becomes a calming influence, anchoring him whenever he feels overwhelmed. Knowing he has you by his side gives him a newfound sense of purpose and a small but powerful hope for a better future.
