#zenobi

[obizenyukii]

an obizen reminder

[stardvstbby]

this panel is so so so important as a marker of Obi’s growth.

he starts by saying he wants to support Zen and Shirayuki. in his past he only ever focused on survival, but now he’s found people who make life genuinely worth living, and he wants to use his abilities to work towards a sustainable future with them.

he then adds on that he wants to do this for his own sake. Shirayuki and Zen both have impressed upon him that his desires and needs matter. he’s still working on accepting that at this point, but he can see how his wellbeing is important to them, and treats caring for himself as an extension of supporting Zen and Shirayuki.

finally he expresses his wish to stay, asks Shirayuki if that is also something she wants. up until now he has spoken on his previous inclination to flee once he feels like he’s being tied down to one place or people. however, now he feels lighter! this is because Zen and Shirayuki are allowing him this choice to stay, and supporting him through that decision. this is something he actually wants and isn’t doing so out of obligation or to get a paycheck. but he’s also keeping in mind what Shirayuki desires too; it’s only fair, and she and Zen have provided him the safety and space to explore his own autonomy without confinement or reproach. Zen has already shown that he wants for Obi to be with Shirayuki during her endeavor to make a place and name for herself in this career, and he even allowed room for Obi to choose this for himself.

seeing the way Shirayuki, Zen, and Obi support one another through their transitionary periods in life is so very heartwarming

[otomiyaa]

Day 3: Suspense

Tickletober2022 | Obi & Zen (Akagami no Shirayuki Hime)

Word Count: 920

The suspense was real. Zen was trying hard to go through his big pile of paperwork, but it was hard to concentrate. Everytime he heard a sound behind him he quickly turned his head, only to see Obi was still lounging on the couch.

The reason for the suspense? Obi’s casual comment about forty minutes earlier (yes, Zen counted).

“Hmmmm. With Little Miss gone, I have no one to tickle~! Now what should I dooo? I really feel like tickling someone,” was what Obi had said while flexing his fingers. 

Shirayuki was visiting Tanbarun to meet with Raji, both for business and personal affairs - a friendship Zen encouraged by letting her go alone, even though it had been Obi’s intention to go with her.

“You can stay with me,” Zen had told him to give Shirayuki some space. Something he regretted since thanks to Obi he could hardly concentrate on his work. No one to tickle, really? Zen was squirming in his seat and hoped Obi was going to stay put. 

Of course he didn’t literally say he was going to tickle Zen, but after hearing that it was all Zen could think of!

Normally Obi would only tickle Zen when they were training and sparring playfully, even though he was the castle’s well-known tickle monster and famous for it. He would tickle Shirayuki all the time, tease her and make her blush. He would sneak up on Ryuu and make him shriek. Obi even tickled Mitsuhide every once in a while, and Kiki (even when she would kick his ass). In the end, no one really minded it.

But right now… Zen blushed and turned his head slightly so he could peek at Obi from the corner of his eye. 

He was looking bored, not really doing anything while he relaxed. Despite looking bored he did look comfortable though. Zen couldn’t stop glancing at him every once in a while. 

“Uh, Obi?….You don’t have to stay here. I meant, staying with me as in… In the castle. I grant you permission to leave, to anywhere you wish, in the castle,” Zen muttered shyly. Obi looked at him, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“You want me gone? But why, Master? I am guarding you quietly as I should, right? Does it bother my prince to be with me?” he asked in this overly sweet tone. If it was Obi’s idea to make him feel guilty, it worked, and Zen quickly shook his head.

“No no, I mean…” Zen murmured, and he sighed. How could he say that he was squirming in his seat because he thought Obi could tickle him any moment? 

“I eh, never mind. You can stay,” Zen eventually said, blushing as he returned to his work. Ugh, if he was going to fail at it, he shouldn’t have opened his mouth in the first place.

But it really wasn’t ideal. All this time Zen was reading the same piece over and over without actually making progress. He slowly turned his head to look at Obi again and jolted in his seat at the sound of a soft chuckle. 

“Alright then~ Perhaps if I do this first, Master would feel more at ease?” Obi finally said as he got up from where he was sitting and approached Zen. Zen turned around and squeaked.

“Do wha- AHhh Obinaahahah!” he yelled when Obi was all of a sudden right by his side, both hands latching onto his sides and not letting go.

“Stah- thahhat’s - nohohoho!” Zen laughed, and he tried to get up but fell back in his seat as Obi continued to tickle him playfully.

“Ah, as I thought. It is just as fun to tickle Master once in a while~!” Obi chirped as if he didn’t tickle Zen just a few days ago during one of their trainings. 

“Ehehe- Obehehe I’m trying to wohohork!” Zen cackled, lowering his hands to grab Obi’s so he could take them off his sides, but Obi only dug his fingers more firmly into his twitching body and caused him to jerk heavily, nearly falling from his seat. 

“Ah, careful,” Obi said gently as he kept a steady grip on Zen so he didn’t fall, but at the same time he continued wiggling his fingers.

“Ohohobi! Hahahave mehehercy!” he laughed, and he threw his head back when Obi’s dancing fingers traveled further towards his middle and poked at his stomach. He curled forward, trapping Obi’s hands and he let out a few of the most embarrassing squeals.

“I cahahan’t wohohork like thiihihis!” Zen laughed. Obi finally stopped tickling him and Zen leaned tiredly against him while Obi caressed his back.

“Hehe. Was it as bad as you anticipated?” Obi asked. Zen froze and looked up at him. Obi showed him a cheeky grin that made him blush.

“I saw you squirm. You totally saw this attack coming,” Obi said, lowering his hands and squeezing Zen’s lower sides again. Zen jumped slightly and let out a soft squeak.

“O-of course I did! When you say things like that…” Zen said, pouting. Obi’s hands on his sides finally released him, leaving his body tingling, and he wandered back to where he was sitting earlier.

“Right, hehe. Sorry for the distraction. Do continue your work, Master,” Obi said, and Zen nervously turned back to look over his papers. 

Obi had finally tickled him. The suspense was gone, but… He wriggled his seat and sighed. He still couldn’t concentrate on his work! 

[na-nossa]

Zen & Obi ✨

Akagami no Shirayukihime – S1E9

[zenouji]

I’m living for these ZenObi panels 💖

[what-plant-metaphor-am-i]

When that girl you like and your boss who you also kinda like are snowed-in alone together in a cosy room and you’re secretly in the room across the hall and you basically set it all up but didn’t expect them to have to spend the night together and now you’re just a little concerned but it’s FINE LOOK you’ve got a cosy blankie and it’s ALL GOOD ✨✌️✨

[nokaru]

Obi's feelings towards Zen being removed from ans wiki should be considered a hate crime ✋😔

[rebelliousroyal]