#I wanna see his room now. Surely they've given him a room to sleep in

[iamknicole]

Chapter Two

Warnings: Cursing, bit of smut, 18+ only

Masterlist

Chapter One

The day started almost normally for the couple except Moriah usually joined him when he went to workout or went to class but this time he left her sleeping peacefully in their bed. Being in the performance center felt surreal to him, a part of him felt like he shouldn't be there and he almost turned back around. He spent most of his day seeing doctors and a couple psychiatrists before he even got to look at workout equipment and the rings. 

"You look a lot different without Moriah on your hip," Booker called out with a smile as he approached him, "Lot less nice to look at too. What's going on man? You good? "

Zilla chuckled accepting the hand slap. "I'm good, just got done talkin to the docs and everything. Finally gettin out here to see all this."

"Yeah? And how you feel about all this?" Booker asked, gesturing with his hands. 

He took a moment trying to think through the question, that was the third or fourth time someone had asked but he still didn't have an answer. 

"Honestly," he started with a huff, "I don't know yet. Ask me again at the end of the week, big dog."

"Alright but I want my answer. How's Moriah and your mom? I'm sure they've called a few times already today."

"My mom called this morning and just been texting me. Fat ain't called surprisingly, probably stressing herself out about applying to hospitals and shit."

Booker grunted out a chuckle. "You probably right. I gotta do a few things but ima come back around to check on you. Don't hurt yourself."

After Booker left him, Zilla found a corner to sit in and pulled out his phone. He checked his messages, responding to a few then called his girlfriend. 

"Hey, baby. You okay?" Her voice flowed excitedly through the receiver putting a smile on his face. 

"Yeah, I'm good. Glad to hear your voice, Fat. Thought you would've called me by now."

"I wanted to but I didn't wanna bother you or mess anything up on your first day," she sighed softly, "Plus my mom and dad, mostly my mom, bought a living room set for us and it got delivered a lil bit after you left."

He scrunched his face up at her words. "Living room set?"

"Yup. Sofa, coffee table, TV stand and another TV. My dad said he was tryna talk her out of it because I'd already told him that we had it."

"But Ms. Nadine just couldn't help herself," he chuckled, biting at his low cut nails, "Shit that's alright though. We can call her and thank her later."

"Um, that's okay, Zay. I can just text her a thank you for the both of us. "

He glanced around the empty room as he spoke. "Naah, we can call her. I'd rather say what I gotta say to her than text it."

The line went silent for a moment. 

"What you gonna say?"

"Ima thank her for thinking enough about us to give us a spot to get busy till we get our bed cause that air mattress ain't gon hold up if I fuck you on it."

He laughed loudly at her choking and sputtering that followed his words. While he was laughing and said it jokingly, Moriah knew that given the chance Zilla would absolutely say that to her mother to get under her skin. 

"Isaiah!"

"What?" He laughed. "Can't nobody hear me but you."

She laughed. "You're not talkin to my mama ever cause I know you and you will say it."

"It's the least I can do after she bought us condoms and a sofa. She clearly wanna make sure I'm able to give you what you need so she want me to thank her."

"And what does Zilla think I need?"

"Zilla thinks, nah Zilla know you need some dick. Been what a week? Yeah, that's too long, you gon get all grumpy and shit."

"I hate you, I truly do."

"I see you ain't deny it though. You know Zilla right. Ain't I, Fat?"

Hearing footsteps, Zilla looked up seeing an unfamiliar man standing there with his hands up near his chest,  laughing a bit. 

"My bad, man. Ain't know nobody was in here."

"You straight," Zilla stood from his spot, "I can move around if you needa workout."

"Ion wanna interrupt your call. I know what its like sneaking to make phone calls, them coaches do not play when you supposed to be working out," he chuckled, "Edwin but everybody call me Bronco. It's easier. You Zilla, ain't it?"

The two men shook hands while Moriah cooed into the phone. 

"Yeah that's me. Good to meet you, you like the first actual wrestler I met since I been in this bitch." He chuckled. 

Bronco laughed, going to sit his water jug down. "Felt the same way my first day. All I saw was them damn doctors. You wanna lift with me? It's gon be a minute for somebody else come talk to you."

Zilla thought for a moment then nodded. "Yeah, that sounds cool. Ain't doin shit else. Fat," He called into the phone, taking a small step away, "Ima call you when I get a chance but call or text if you need me. Aight?"

"Awwwee my baby making friends. I'm so proud of your mean ass. You go head I'll be okay."

He laughed, "Doin way too much. Love you."

'Love you too," she giggled, "Go lift with your friend and be nice. Oh and get his number and gamer tag thingy."

"Man," he laughed, "Bye, Fat."

The two set up the weights they were comfortable with on their own leg extensions before starting. Being able to hold a conversation with someone who not too long ago went through the same process he's going through felt like a breath of fresh air. He had talked to plenty of veterans and current superstars but they were far removed from his current situation. It didn't hurt that he was close in age either.

"That was your girl?" Bronco asked, glancing over. 

He finished his rep before answering. "Yeah it was. Was checkin on her since she hadn't called."

"Long distance or she around here?"

"Around here," he chuckled, "Her mean ass wasn't gon let me be too far from her. She like to be up under me."

Bronco laughed a bit. "She mean and clingy? How that work?"

"Honestly hell if I know," he laughed, "She been that way since we was kids. Was mean as hell to me but cried or had a attitude if I left her."

"Oh yall been knowing each other? That's what's up. Yall been together for a minute?"

He shook his head as he did a few more reps. "Nah, it's been a year and a half. We just known each other since we was kids.."

"Damn that's a long ass time and she been mean as hell that whole time?" He joked.

Zilla stopped his reps to laugh. "Man, hell yeah. That's my Fat though." Unable to help himself, he pulled his phone out to show Bronco his lock screen which had a picture of him, her and his mom. "That's her."

"Respectfully, she's beautiful, man. Better hold on tight to her."

"Oh I plan on it. Already told her she ain't goin nowhere."

As he was putting his phone back into his pocket notifications started coming through. When he saw the notifications his smile dropped into a frown. He opened each one, took a screenshot then put his phone away. Although Bronco noticed his slight mood change, he said nothing not wanting to get in his business. 

"Which ones you think look better, Ma?"

Moriah propped her phone up on one of the shelves to hold up three sets of drapes.

"I think my son is gonna get you when he gets home," she laughed. "I'm starting to think he's right about you being hard headed."

After getting off the phone with her boyfriend, Moriah ubered to Target to get more things for their apartment and just like she would if she was still in Texas, Moriah brought Leata with her. Only this time it had to be virtually. 

"Ma," she laughed, "Don't do that. You're supposed to be on my side. Which ones? My arms getting tired."

Leata chuckled. "The sofa is gray so the gray and white ones. Black and red for the bedroom."

She put the selected ones into her buggy then grabbed her phone, continuing her trek through the store and her conversation. 

"And you couldn't do this when he got home, Rye?"

"I wanted to surprise him with a semi decorated apartment, Ma."

"Oh you're gonna surprise him alright. You and I both know he's gonna care about the fact that you did something he asked you not to do."

Moriah thought for a second as she came to a stop to look at dishes. "No, because this is gonna stay between me and you. I'll tell him I had it all delivered."

Leata stared at her trying not to laugh. She was honestly just glad the two of them wouldn't be arguing in her house and she didn't have to play referee. 

"I'm not gonna tell him but if he finds out, I'm not getting in trouble with you, Rye."

Moriah laughed louder than she intended, pressing on from the dishes. "You the mama though. You can just tell him that everything was okay."

"I am but none of my boys know that. Especially not Zilla."

"Well," she laughed, "At least we'll be in trouble together."

"What am I gonna do with you?" She laughed. "Get condoms while you're in there, Moriah. I don't care how many you have, you can always have more."

Moriah felt her skin heat up and she mumbled an 'okay'.

"Oh now she's quiet," Leata joked. "You act like I have no idea what you and my son do. Like the two of you weren't in my house doing it."

She laughed. "Yeah but remember I said we call it Bruno and don't talk about it. We just act like it doesn't happen."

It was Leata's turn to laugh. "Oh please, Rye. Get the condoms or we're really gonna have to talk about you expecting."

"Aht. No. We would just call that immaculate conception and leave it at that."

In the hours Moriah waited for the arrival of her boyfriend, she put away the groceries she had delivered, hung drapes in their bedroom and living room, hung up their pictures around their apartment and put the decorations she'd gotten around their living room. She had gotten him a gift for his first day at the PC, left it wrapped on their new sofa while she started on dinner. 

It was a little after 6 p.m. when Zilla came through the door. He dropped his bag near the door then headed to the breakfast bar where he dropped his keys. Stopping what she was doing, Moriah went to him with a big smile on his face and jumped on him excitedly. He offered no movement to hold onto her nor did he kiss her back when she placed her lips on his. Instead he stared at her. 

"I missed you, baby. How was your day? You tired?" She smiled, her arms and legs still wrapped around him. 

"It was straight. No, I'm not tired." 

He tapped her hip, letting her know he wanted her to get down and she did. After staring at him for a moment, she grabbed his hand turning him back to the living room. 

"So this is what my parents got. My dad said he picked the sofa because she tried to be funny again and pick a small one. Like it?" Moriah chuckled. "I decorated a little to make it feel like a home for us. I got us drapes for in here and our bedroom. Our pictures are up."

Zilla looked around, nodding as he did. His nostrils flared slightly. "I see. I'm finna take a shower. I'll be back," he informed as he pulled his hand away from hers. 

She laughed a little, "Oh you're not gonna ask if I need anything before you get in?"

He chuckled a bit, rubbing his hands together. "Nah, you pretty good at gettin what you need. You got it."

With that, he went to their bedroom, closing the door behind him. She thought to go behind him but decided against figuring being at the PC conjured up some deep feelings and he needed time to himself. She grabbed his bag from the floor, took it to their laundry closet and deposited most of it into the washer. Once the machine was running, she went back to cooking Zilla's actions were mostly forgotten. She knew eventually he would apologize and explain himself, she wasn't exactly worried. 

Thirty minutes later, he was back leaning against the breakfast bar watching his girlfriend quietly. His phone sat unlocked on the bar in front of him. She turned around to grab a paper towel and screamed, her hand clutched over her heart. 

"You scared the shit outta me, Zay. You need a bell," she fussed, playfully. "Why you just standing there looking at me?"

He continued to stare at her, trying to carefully put his words together in his head. 

"Seriously, you're being weird. What's wrong with you?"

He took a moment before responding.

"How you got all that?" He asked gesturing towards the living room. 

She turned the pots down on low then gave him her attention. "My parents bought that, Zay. You don't remember me telling you that?"

"I ain't talkin about that. I'm talkin about everything else."

"Oh," she giggled, "Thought you had a concussion. I ordered it from Target this morning. And some stuff from Walmart when I ordered the groceries."

He stared at her. "Yeah?"

"Uuh yeah. The rest of the stuff was in the gifts we got before we left Texas."

Pulling up his earlier screenshots, he turned his phone around and slid it across the counter to her. He watched her look between him and his phone. 

"Swipe left," he requested calmly, "It's three of em." He chuckled watching her face go from confused to nervous as she swiped through the uber confirmation, her location notification, and the target transaction on their bank account. "Ima ask again. How you got that?"

She pouted. "I was tryna surprise you."

"Surprise me by doin some shit I asked you not to do, Moriah? That's a helluva surprise. If that's ya idea of a surprise then I don't want no more from you."

"But, Zay, it was quick and nobody bothered me. And I'm Fat."

He squinted at her. "You think I give a damn about that? I asked you not to fuckin do it and you did it anyway, Moriah. How you thought I wasn't gon know? You used our bank account not yours, we share the uber account and we share our locations." 

She played with her fingers as he fussed at her. She wanted to say something but didn't know what to say that wouldn't make things worse. 

"What if something happened to your ass and I was at the PC? Who was gonna come get you?" He asked, hitting the counter. "The fuck was I gon do and I wasn't with you?"

It finally clicked for Moriah. She had scared him. 

"I didn't mean to scare you, Zilla. I didn't think about it like that."

He stared at her, his jaw clenching and nose flaring. "I clearly said I ain't want you gettin in no strange ass car yet you did that shit anyway. Ain't no surprise worth ya life, Moriah."

"I know, I just," his voice cut her off.

"No!" He barked, making her take a step back. "You don't know cause you did it anyway! Your mom already think I can't fuckin take care of you and you go and do that shit! I ain't move us to the other side of the country to lose ya lil ass just cause you hard headed, Moriah!"

Taking a chance, she moved around the bar to hug him. She hugged him tight, her head laid on his chest but just as when he'd gotten home, he made no move to return the affection. He let her hug him for a minute then pulled her arms from around him. 

"Watch out," he said softly. 

She tried to hug him again, only to be stopped. "I'm sorry, Zay. Just let me hug you."

"Forreal, Moriah, watch out." He put her hands by her side then grabbed his phone and went to their bedroom, closing and locking the door behind him.

Lying across their air mattress, he facetimed his mother. He was pretty sure that she knew what Moriah had done but he still wanted to talk to her. She answered with a smile until she saw him glaring at her. 

"Well hello to you too, son."

"You knew she went?"

"Hey, mom. How was your day? That's what normal children say to their mamas."

He huffed. "Hey, Ma. How was your day?"

"It was good. Thank you for asking, son. How was yours?" She asked with a slight brow raise. 

"It was good till I found out your daughter can't follow directions."

She chucked. "I told her that you were gonna find out."

"So you did know she went."

"Of course I did. Who do you think she took with her?" She deadpanned. "I talked to her from the moment she started getting ready until she finished putting things up when she got back."

He felt somewhat relieved about that but he was still pretty upset. 

"I asked her not to do that, told her that she could just drop me off and take the car but no. Just had to be hard headed like always."

"So if you know she's always hard headed, which by the way so are you, then why are you upset?" She asked. 

"Because, Ma."

She stared at him. "Because what, son?"

"If something happened to her that would've been on me. What was I gon do without her mean ass?" He chuckled, starting to calm down. 

"Okay so when you asked her not to do it, did you tell her why you didn't want her to do it?"

"No but I shouldn't have to. Me askin her not to do it shoulda been enough."

Leata chuckled seeing the serious expression on his face. "Okay so knowing that she's hard headed, like you, you told her not to do something without giving her a reason. A reason that more than likely would've deterred her from doing it. I got that right?"

Huffing again, Zilla sat quietly thinking over her words. "When you put it like that, I get it but this ain't my fault, Ma. It's hers. She shouldn't have went."

"And that's true, she shouldn't have went but you also should've told her how you felt." She explained softly. "If you would've told her that you were afraid something would happen to her if she went, do you think she would've gone?"

"No."

"So then it sounds like you both have some fault in this, Zilla."

"I guess so, Mama."

"Now go talk to her and you're gonna apologize for yelling at her. You know better than that."

He frowned. "How you know I yelled at her?"

"Oh please, you think you're the only one who ran to me? She's been texting me this whole time," she laughed, "She knows her fault and now you know yours. Get in there and apologize."

"I'm goin, I'm goin," he said as he pushed himself up from the air mattress. 

"Thank God I'm not there. I love yall."

After hanging up with mom, Zilla took a second to get himself together before going back out to face his girlfriend. Seeing her curled up on the sofa in tears softened him up. He went to kneel in front of the sofa where she was, wiping the tears away from her face.

"Are you melting or are these tears?" He joked. 

She laughed a little through her tears as she sat up. "I'm melting. I'm also sorry. I should've respected your wishes and not done that."

He nodded, standing up from his position he pulled her up from the sofa and into his arms. He kissed her forehead, swaying them gently. 

"I accept your apology and I apologize for yelling and for my part." He spoke softly. "I should've told you how I felt. I can't lose you, I wouldn't know what the hell to do without your mean ass. I wanna keep you around for as long as I can, baby."

"I understand that now. Thank you for telling me."

He leaned down to capture her lips in a deep kiss. "You welcome. You still cookin'?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm finished. Hungry?"

He smirked as he lifted her up into his arms. "Yeah but not for that."

She gasped softly. "You don't wanna open your gift first?"

"If it ain't you inside that bag, it can wait." He responded, dropping her gently onto the sofa and climbing on top of her. "I'm more interested in breakin in this sofa Ms. Nadine got us."

Moriah squealed out a laugh as he buried his face in her neck. "You're still not talking to her. I didn't forget."

"Not yet I'm not," he responded biting her neck, "Gonna test this out first then give her a accurate review."

She giggled, "We need a condom, Zay."

Not stopping his kissing and biting on her neck, he pulled one from the pockets of his basketball shorts and held it up so she could see. 

"Always prepared," she joked softly. 

Moriah's moans mixed with the smacking of their skin and Zilla's groans and cursing echoed loudly throughout the apartment. He held a tight grip on her hip with one hand and the other landed smacks to her backside. 

"I can't hear you, Fat." He called out as he delivered deep strokes. "Say that shit louder."

With her face buried in the decor pillow, her voice came out muffled. He was sure of what she was saying but that was good enough for him. Keeping his hand on her waist the other traveled up her back to her neck and wrapped around her throat. He pulled her up, keeping the arch in her back, never slowing his stroke. 

"Say it again, Fat," he spoke softly into her ear as he squeezed her throat lightly, "And I might let you cum."

She groaned softly, meeting his thrusts as best she could. 

"Fuck, baby."

Slowing his strokes, he chuckled in her ear and held her hips steady to stop her own movements. "That's not it, baby. Try again."

"I'm sorry, Zay," she whined trying to move, "Fuck, I'm so sorry."

"That's my girl. Shit, there you go," he groaned. 

Quickening his strokes again, he reached down rubbing her clit to help push her over the edge. He spoke softly in her ear, talking her through her release. 

"After we eat, we can facetime Ms. Nadine." Zilla laughed, taking a bite of his taco.

"Isayah, I will knock that taco outta your hand," she laughed, "Stop that."

"What kind of son in law would I be if I ain't tell her how the sofa worked out for us? Enough room for both of us, enough room for you to run or try anyway. And this bitch ain't move at all and throw off my stroke. Shit, I give it a ten outta ten, Fat."

Laughing, he moved his plate when she tries to swipe it out of his hand. She pushed his shoulder playfully. 

"I really hate you, Fatu."

He laughed harder. "That ain't what you was sayin' ten minutes ago but I could be wrong. Maybe I should ask our neighbors cause I'm sure they heard you."

"Shut up talkin to me," she laughed going to grab his gift, "I shouldn't give your ass nothing since you like annoying me. But here, happy first day."

Sitting his plate on the coffee table, he took the gift from her and stole a kiss. He shook it playfully. 

"Mmm, my baby got me something," he said as he tore the paper off the box then opened it, "Damn … you ain't have to do this, Fat."

A proud smile spread across her face as she watched his face light up. Before they left Texas she got a blanket made for him with pictures of him and his family on one side and on the other pictures of him and her to give to him on his first day. 

"It's for when you're on the road and you miss us. We'll always be with you." She explained as she watched him go over each picture of him and his family, noticing he lingered on the pictures of him and his dad. "You like it, Zay?"

"Love it. I love it," he put it in his lap and pulled her into a tight hug, "I love you. Thank you, pretty girl. I appreciate this."

"You're welcome. So … can I know about your day now?" 

Chuckling, he held onto the blanket as he took her through his first day. He told her about the doctors he had to talk to, the tours and the talks he had with Hunter, Shawn and Booker.

"That sounds fun, like you had a good day, babe. Did you see your friend anymore?"

He laughed, "I just met em, he not my friend."

"But he will be, I already know. So did you see em or not?"

"You just gon make me be friends with em," he chuckled. "But nah I ain't seen em but he sent me his number on Instagram."

"Awwwe, see? Friends!"

"Anyway, you applied to any hospitals today?"

"I did. Three of them. There's one close to the performance center, I'm kinda hoping I get that one but they want at least 3 years experience."

He shrugged, "They want that but that don't mean they won't pick you. You got good references and shit. And if they don't pick you, I'll make em."

"Baby," she laughed, "You can't do that but thank you for offering."

"Of course. Don't worry about cleanin up, I got it tonight. You go get ready for bed."

She squinted, "You want something, what is it?"

He got up from the sofa, carefully placing the blanket on it then gathered their dishes. "Ion want nothin, fat head You just need to get some sleep."

"Why is that? I don't have nowhere to go tomorrow."

He leaned down to kiss her forehead then headed to their kitchen, throwing his answer over his shoulder. 

"Cause ima wake you up before I leave in the morning."

#AAO #zilla fatu #Zilla & Moriah #the samoan dynasty #zilla/oc

[elmundodeflor]

Levi and Hanji reunite one day, in the after-life...

Because softness is grazed to those who wait .

Waves crash against the shores, roll in a whisper that's as soft as the winds. Where is he?

He opens up his eyes. There's sand all around him, seeping through his clothes. It doesn't take long for him to recognize the widened coasts, golden and warm. The land where he had once been happy, free as the roaring of the seas.

But, how did he end up here? All he remembers was shutting his eyes close to sleep. Saying goodbye to Gabi and Falco, as he would on any other night.

Why aren't they here, then? They wouldn't let him wander off alone.

He stands, lets the breeze tug at his hair, hushed-down and tender. It seems, the sun shines with newfound sparkle. That the skies merge into one with the waters, and nothing can hurt him anymore.

Maybe, he thinks, it's that the ocean sings and there's only lullabies left to hear. That the air smells of sweet beginnings, and war is nothing but a distant memory, lit somewhere on his skin.

He walks, fast as his muscles allow him to. One. Two. Three. His legs move, swift and harmless as they've ever been. It feels, like he's learning how to do life again. That he's just a regular human who's been given a second chance at loving.

He guesses, it's why he doesn't appear surprised when he can take yet another step. There’re no more battles to be set. No more aching on his heart. And little there is of that once broken soldier.

Now, he can be a reckless spirit. Can paint himself all the colors of the sunset. He can choose a million different paths and hide in a million different planets.

He smiles. Something has bloomed from deep within, burns impatient at the idea of liberation. And, as he crouches down to touch the ground once more, he's certain: his time had come.

His soul has spread its wings, brighter than every sunrise.

"Levi!", a voice calls from the distance. And his heart stops, all of a sudden. Sinks at how his name sounds on their lips.

Hanji. Hanji Zoe. He would have known it was them, even at the ends of the world.

He runs. One. Two. Three. His breath falters, and his limbs are numb and the one thing that lingers is the trace of his footprints, fading on the shores. Perhaps, he promises, this time around he’ll leave everything behind. He'll seek the horizons and never look back. Here, where spring grows ever long, there's no room for tragedy. No place to mourn what once was.

"Hanji!"

He's going to see them again. After all these years. They are going to be together for good. Together at last.

They turn to him, and open up their arms, like he's been gone and this is a long-due call home. Like a lifetime's slipped between them and they wanna smash into him, ever so carefree.

"You came back for me...", they whisper, breathless. They're melded with the waters; their clothes melting into foam. A smile buzzes on their lips, broad as the seas below. And Levi thinks, sure enough, he'd trade until the last of his heartbeat to make this moment eternal. To stand the two of them, forever in their little scraps of heaven.

He nods, nuzzles in the comfort of their chest. Hanji's pulse is calm and warm and steady. A rhythmic melody that's turned to song. And he decides, maybe, he'll make a home out of its compass. Guard it a secret, forever safe within his fist.

Do they know, how many dreams he's ached just to hold them close? How many nights he's bled out their name?

"I had to...", he says, hushed against their skin. There's a tear that falls, followed by one and then another. He'd buried love more times than he'd seen it bloom. Had said goodbye with his tongue tied and his eyes wide-opened.

Still, this is his very first reunion. The sweetest of them all. The bare proof that there's a ray of illusion that parts through one's grief.

He steps back to look at Hanji. How their hair flows with the breeze, braided with golden and salt. The way their face glows with every certainty: wild, yet angelic all the same.

They have been the sunshine to his rain. His bindweed roots, in a universe that could only crumble into flames.

How could he not come back for them? It was the only wish his heart had flown for.

"I...", he cracks. His voice is shattered, a low rasp that blurs into the currents. Hanji wipes the sorrows away; their thumb catching off the drops that unravel, soft as the morning dew.

And he can see it clear. A realization that scars him deeper than the day they left:

They're crying, too.

"I've missed you, Levi.", they sob. They're so close, he can feel the pink of their blush. Count the pulse in every breath. "I've missed you so much."

He exhales, in and out. He had always been one to crave in silence. A lone spectator that yearned from the trenches. Truth was, fate had taken more than he could give. That he had to grow layers not to be left with just his soul to carry.

But none of it matters anymore.

Not when him and Hanji can have the skies all for themselves. That forever's a blank canvas, and they can go on adventures, like they're little kids again.

He leans in, tucks a strand of brown behind their ear. Words have never been his greatest virtue. And so, he guesses, he can finally start now, after all.

"I've missed you..."

Hanji smiles, cups his face before their lips meet. It’s a soft kiss. One that’s filled with a life-time of tenderness. Their mouths press, one over the other: warm and steady and fearless. And, it seems, years of repressed emotion come afloat. Like the perfume of a sunny day. Like the perching of a butterfly.

Levi hums into the kiss, tugs Hanji by the waist. Their hands are on his hair; his explore their back. He wants to paint and hug and discover each scrap that there’s to them. To run across the beach and jump to the moon; for he’s got happiness between his fingers, once. After all this hurting. After all this time.

He pulls away. His nose nudges against theirs, seeks constellations inside their irises. He has the feeling, that fortune shines on him, at last. That, maybe, everything will be just like before, when their eyes were filled with possibility and stars were new for them to catch.

Do they know, how many sunsets he’s prayed to? How many pieces had he been torn to, just to guard their memory?

He kisses them again and again, and again once more. Kisses them long and hard and tender, as if life could freeze in the traces of their touch. He kisses them sweet and sour, and broader than the skies. For all those other nights he couldn't kiss them while on Earth.

Hanji holds him dear, puts their arms around every crevice in his body. They can taste the salt in his tears, how they mingle with the flutter of their mouths. And they want to rock him to the waves, sail away from every scar.

"Have I ever told you...?", they whisper, like sugar on his lips. It's a promise that bares them whole, a confession meant just for him to savor. "How beautiful you are...?'

Levi stays still. He had been called many honors in the breathing world, but never this. It means more than he can claim to, really. That he's drawn in such delicate lights. That he's turned to a precious landscape, as if his vulnerable is something worth to keep.

Was Hanji aware, how long he'd waited for the words to slip? How bad he'd burnt, trapped in every aching fantasy?

He pulls them in again, squeezes so tight they might as well collapse. He can't remember when it was the last time someone had made him feel seen, unshielded of all that he is. The sleepless nights he'd yearned for anybody to discover the pretty to his broken.

He sighs. Hanji handles him with care. Like he's a fallen comet and they're scared they'll make him melt. It’s the brightest of comforts, really: how they stroke his cheeks, oh so gentle. How he can show his imperfect to someone who simply understands.

“Will you go again…?”, he asks. His voice falters, and he’s a kid all over. That same child who’d been once left to grow so quick.

Hanji shakes their head. Levi could be silly sometimes. But they love him so, even at that. After all, he had always been like this beneath the surface. The fissures on fine porcelain. The craters on the moon. The colors of the wind.

How could they not come back for him? It was the only wish their heart had ever starved for.

“I’m not going anywhere…”, they reassure, kissing the tears off his skin. It’s an oath that’s easy to make, this time around. That they can hold each other safe, where infinity meets the shores. That they can show themselves bare, play hide and seek.

Levi smiles, even through the rainfall. And he nods, throws himself into Hanji once more. After all, it had always been like this with them, too. In the end, they had always been one to keep their promises.

“We’ll be together, for a life-time and beyond.”

#levihan #levi ackerman #hange zoe #hanji zoe #levi #hange #hanji #fanfiction #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #fanfic #snk #aot #drabble #oneshot #levi and hange #levi and hanji #levi x hange #levi x hanji #fluff #angst #afterlife #post war levi #post canon #post chapter 132 #chapter 132 #snk season 4 #snk final season #beach scene #love

[delyth88]

A question - are we to assume a week passes between each episode or did ep2 follow on almost immediately from ep1?

How long has Loki been at the TVA?

Obviously long enough to have been given some new clothes, long enough to have been expected to watch all the propaganda training videos.

#I wanna see his room now. Surely they've given him a room to sleep in? Do TVA staff sleep? #loki #loki series #loki series speculation #loki episode 2 #spoilers #i guess

[imatechbummerliketomholland]

You are my world. you three are my world now - h.h

hello there! I'm back ! Sorry if it tooks so long, i have a lot of work during these holiday. I hope you like this little request. I didn't have time to be proofread (but a big thank you to@petersasteria who is always there to support me!). Remember that my native language is French, so don't be so mean if i made mistakes!

Feel free to like, share, comment and tell me what you think. Send me a message if you want to be added to the taglist for my next work!

Word count: 2300 Warning: angst, mention of pregnancy, small mention of blood, mention of placental abruption Pairing : harry holland Request: yes!

ღღღ

You didn't expect to be pregnant with twins at your age. The announcement of your pregnancy had also surprised more than one. Despite her support, Nikki Holland had still given the discourse on the importance of safe sex to her son. But Harry had given a more than mature speech in defense of both of you. He was able to prove to his family and to yours that you were ready and that the decision to continue the pregnancy was not rash.

You were now at the half of your eighth month and nothing could stand in the way of your happiness.

Nothing except maybe this.

Nikki had offered to have lunch with her this afternoon. Despite his work as a photographer, no longer having the company of his four children - since three of them left the family cocoon to live their own life as grown-up adults- weighed heavily on her. You accepted with pleasure. Harry, who was editing his third short film, had left you this morning to go to the edit suite, not without checking that you were okay. So, you joined Nikki at the restaurant. You shine in your long floral maternity dress. In the middle of the meal, you felt a violent contraction.

At almost eight months pregnant, it was no surprise that you could feel twins’ movements. You winced a little at the pain and your mother-in-law put a reassuring hand on your arm.

"Are you alright, darling?" she asking, a little bit worried.

"Yeah, yeah. They've just been in great shape for a few days now."

You apologized and went to the bathroom, struggling to cope with the pain of your contractions. When you noticed that your underwear was soaked with blood, your heart rate increased. You suddenly realized that a series of symptoms corresponded to what you had dreaded early in your pregnancy: the nausea that had occurred last night, the violent contractions since this morning and now the blood. Rather alerting signals that suggested a placental abruption. The obstetrician told you that this was a possible risk since you were having a twin pregnancy. You started to cry and panic for several minutes that Nikki ended up knocking on the bathroom door.

"Darling, is everything good in there?" she asked you with her sweet and worried voice.

"Could you come in please" you sobbed.

"Sure, darling. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

She stepped carefully into the disabled cabin that you had used for space reasons. Nikki immediately noticed your state of stress. And you just told her everything in strangled sobs. She put a hand behind your back and gave you a very serious look.

"We have to go to the ER. We're going right away."

"I want Harry"

"Don't worry, I'll call him on the way"

And you haven't wasted a minute. Nikki simply left her phone number and table number at the counter before you got into your car. Dom will retrieve Nikki one's later. Holland family been known from the restaurant, the staff were comprehensive about your leaving without paid the bill. When you arrived at the hospital, the nurses greeted you directly and wasted no time either. You were taken to the operating room without being able to get your boyfriend's support.

☙♥❧

Harry arrived within fifteen minutes of receiving the call from his mother. No doubt he would receive a speeding penalty ticket later. He looked like a madman, mortified by worry. He was a bundle of nerves and sarcasm. Her mother was standing by the reception desk, waiting for her. She looked anxious. Tom was there too, trying to contact their father on his phone. When Dom finally picked up, the oldest Holland brother announced the urgency. Harry was shaking with worry.

"What happened mom?"

"I don't really know, baby. We were at the restaurant and the babies kicked. She went to the bathroom and when she didn't come back, I went after her. That's where she asked me to come into the bathroom and you know the rest. I called you straight after that. " Nikki explained, trying to get the stress out of her.

"Oh my god… where is she now?"

"The medical staff took her for surgery. I had to wait here. I couldn't go with her, baby. I’m so sorry."

"Ok ... Ok, I guess I have to wait here. Hope she's okay. God, please make her be alright."

They all made their way to the operating theater hallway for the public to wait for more information. Tom was still on the phone with his father, explaining that it would be better if he stayed at home with Paddy so as not to overcrowd the waiting room. He promised his father that they would all give news as soon as possible. A nurse in a surgical gown entered ten minutes later.

“Who's the father of miss y/l/n's babies?”

“I am. Harry Holland, I’m the father!” he almost screamed and cried at the same time.

“Come with me”

Nikki stood up cautiously and walked over to the nurse. Harry was ready to follow the nurse without giving any further information to his family.

"Excuse me. Can you give us more information on her condition?" Nikki asked

"Sure. We had an emergency caesarean. The babies are fine but there seem to be some complications with the mother. The surgeon is taking care of her."

"Is she going to be okay?" Harry asked hastily.

"She's losing a lot of blood but we're doing our best. Now please follow me." She said to curly one.

☙♥❧

Harry followed her to the nursery. His heart was pounding in mixed emotions. He was so impatient to meet his babies but at the same time he was worried about you. What if you don't survive from the complications? What was to become of him? Would he be able to live without you? Would he be a good father?

His last question vanished when he saw his two little babies in the incubator. Your twins had arrived about fifteen, almost a month earlier than expected, it was normal that they were in an incubator. Harry was going to have to make sure they put on weight. After filling out a few papers, one of the nurses offered to do some skin-to-skin contact with the twins so that they could get to know the three of them. Harry could not but be impatient with this and once prepared he settled into a seat. He was overcome with emotion, understanding how his parents had felt when Sam and him were born. He completely forgets the time, spending several minutes with his sons, one after the other. Harry knew he would place all his love in the two little beings he had taken turns holding in his arms. He was ready to lift mountains, cross the tides. Part of his mind was on you and he truly hoped he could go through life's trials with you. May your family experience all the times they deserve.

The nurse who had brought him to the nursery go up to him with a half-smile. She was sorry to disturb him during this privileged father-son moment.

"Your ... hm ... miss (y/l/n) is in the recovery room. You can go see her now"

Harry's heart burst with relief. He let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding back. The very new father nodded before placing his son in the nurse's arms so that she could put him back in the incubator. He decided to go find his family who had been waiting too long now. When he entered the waiting room, his mother and brother were still seated. Tom had his elbows on his knees, the phone in his hand. He seemed to be talking to someone. When the actor noticed his brother's presence, he spoke to him.

"Hey mate, Sam's here. Wanna talk to him? What's up? Does y/n's alright? And the twins?"

"Too much question. Give me Sam first!"

But the result was exactly the same. Sam asked the same questions as Tom and Harry winced as he tried to answer consensually.

"Hello to you too, brother. The twins are fine. I swear to God Sam, they look like a mini version of us. Two sons by the way ... y/n is fine, she's in the recovery room, I'm going see her right after that. I wanted to talk to mom and Tom first. "

"Glad to know I'm the last to know." Sam informed sarcastically.

"Hey, I was going to call you but I had to, you know ... go meet my sons. Father's job, it seems."

Sam chuckled behind his phone screen as Harry smirked in a mischievous and petty manner. He ended the call with his twin and turned to his mother and Tom. Nikki made her understand that she had heard, she seemed relieved that you were okay.

"Hey, before I go see y/n ... you want to see your grandsons ... and you, your nephew and godson, asshole."

"Harry, language" said Nikki.

"Of course I want to see my godson, stupid"

"Tom!"

The two brothers smile at each other. Just because one became a father and the other was a movie star, didn't mean they were going to change their ways. It was also their way, both of them, to decompress events. Nikki sighed in annoyance but kept quiet, too happy to meet, even only through a window, her first grandchildren. After a brief walk in front of the nursery, Harry announced that he was going to find you, leaving his family to admire your twins. They seemed so impatient to meet them in person but knew they were going to have to wait while you woke up.

☙♥❧

Harry entered the recovery room and walked over to your bed. You seemed to have already woken up from your artificial sleep. He grabbed your hand to give you the support you needed. A feeling of emptiness was felt in you, your gaze landed on your stomach, flatter than you had seen in recent months. Your eyes widened in panic but the reassuring pressure of Harry's hand drew your attention to him.

"They are fine, my love. They are fine. They are in an incubator in the nursery."

You burst into tears. The emotions being so strong.

"I'm so sorry Harry. I'm sorry ..."

“Hey… hey… you don't have to. You're okay… the twins are okay. And I still love you, I love you more than ever."

"Have you seen them?"

"Yes ... ugly like their father" he joked

You chuckled with a few more tears in your voice. You knew he didn't mean it, but humor was Harry's best way to decompress, and it worked on you too.

"My family is here. You scared the hell out of them. I think Sam was about to order a flight to kick your ass."

You chuckled again. It was so impressive to see the love that reigned in this family. You could never have asked for a better way to build your own family. Harry leaned over to kiss you.

"I love you, y/n. You are my world. you three are my world now"

"I love you more, Harry."

You stayed a few more days before you could get out of the hospital. You had decided to introduce the twins after their own discharge from the hospital. That's why, after almost a month of going back and forth to the nursery, you could finally bring your twins home. So you organized a little visit to Harry's parents.

☙♥❧

The sun was shining on London and you squeezed the doorknob of one of the maxi-cozy, Harry carrying your second son as you opened the door to the Holland family home. You were amazed at the ease with which Harry assumed his role as father. He was doing so well that you fell in love with him again.

"Is there anyone here?" He asked

"We're all in the garden, buddy!" Tom said

"You are obviously in the kitchen, dummy"

"For god's sake, Harry. Come into this fucking garden and let us see the twins!"

You let out a frank laugh as you mentally noted that you were going to have to have a conversation with Harry and his brothers about the vocabulary they were using.

You are therefore entering the garden. You noticed right away that Sam had come all the way from Scotland. Harry must have organized this with him too. You smiled, Nikki rushed over to help you with the change bags and you thanked him.

"So where is my godson?" Tom asked in the same way he did at the FFH premiere when he was looking for Jake Gyllenhal.

"Where's mine?" Sam asked too.

You approached Sam, putting the maxycosy on the table to unbuckle the seat belt and take your son in your arms. Harry was doing the same with your second baby.

"I'm happy to introduce you y/s/n"

"And there's y/s/n(2)." Harry added, so proud.

Everyone raved about the twins as you wipe away a tear, happy and proud. You were so moved by the love that reigned. Harry came to kiss you on the forehead, you closed your eyes, appeased by his gesture. The world could only turn better in his company.

"It's family portrait time!" Nikki said, her camera in her hands. "Tom, please get closer to your brother. Sam, stand next to y / n"

You all followed Nikki's instructions, who couldn't be more than happy to capture this important moment, bringing her work and family life together. You all smiled as you and Harry were in the center of the photo, carrying your twins in your arms. And at that moment, you were sure that your life could not be more beautiful than at this moment.

#harry holland #harry holland blurb #harry holland x reader #harry holland request #harry holland x y/n #holland family x reader

[digitalcomfortspot]

(All artwork accompanying this fic was doodled by the amazing @mxgumshoe! Go commission them!!!)

"Come on, Stone...! Hang in there!"

Zenigata sat over his partner as they writhed and whimpered under the heat of the fever. Their entire body was burning to the the touch, and they had lost consciousness an hour ago. The poison that fiend had given him was working far faster than anticipated, and Zenigata was getting worried that Lupin and the gang might be too late.

The antidote to the poison they'd been shot with was used as a ransom for Interpol, the monsters who concocted the poison holding it for a whopping 2.7 billion euros. If they wanted Stone- and several other downed civilians- to live, they'd have to fork over the cash or steal it themselves.

Koichi had practically begged Lupin and the gang on his knees, even if it was just a telephone call. He was close to tears when he asked them to steal it for him, and once they heard his partner in crime catching was involved, they agreed readily.

Now, it was just a waiting game.

Koichi paces, hands holding his hat against his chest. Worried thoughts raced through his head, as he waits. And waits. And waits.

Eventually, he practically wears a track in the carpet, and decides to sit.

When he hears Stone stir, he practically jumps to their side. "Stone-!!!"

"Hh... hey, Zeni...ga..." They try to say, but it turns into a flurry of wheezing, harsh gasps as they try to sit up.

"Don't strain yourself, partner! Lay back down, Lupin and the gang should be here any minute now...! Come on, now, lay back down!" He says, gently leading them back against the mattress with a hand on their head.

"Ze... zenigata... please..." They try to speak.

"What? What is it?" Worry paints his face, as he runs a hand gently theough their fading hair. With all the work, they hadn't been able to re-dye it, and it was fading to brown again.

It was funny how he noticed those tiny details more than ever in times of danger... like Laura's eyes in the sunlight. He blinks away the burning sensation of tears.

It won't be like Laura. It can't be like Laura. He won't let it be.

Not again.

"... i-in case I don't... make it-" They try to say, looking up at his with cloudy, tired eyes, but he interrupts them.

"Yer gonna make it! Don't say that like you're dying on me...!!" His eyes fill with tears, and he holds their hand tightly, his other hand still brushing back their sweat slicked hair out of their face.

They give him a pained, soft smile. "I... heh... a-always stubborn... hh...." They grimace, feeling pain flare into them again, before they try again. "Just... l-let me say this... please..."

He nods, leaning forward. "What is it, Magnus...?" He sounds like he's breaking, voice crackling with emotion and sorrow. Not like this... not like this, please, whatever powers that be, he thinks. Not like this.

"I-I..." They look up at him, with a soft expression pushing througu the agony.

".... K-Koichi, I... I lo-"

Just then, the door bursts open, and in clambers the gang all at once. Lupin holds out the bottle of pulls he'd swiped, he and Jigen covered in bruises. Goemon was mostly unscathed, and Fujiko seemed to be checking behind them to make sure no one followed. No smiles were to be found this time, just panicked expressions.

"Pops-!! I got it!"

Magnus' words are forgotten momentarily, as the inspector springs forward, teary eyed as he shakes out two pills and rushes back.

"Take these...! Please!" He begs, and helps them tilt their head back. "Easy, now, that's the way..." He's strong for them as he helps administer the medicine.

They smile weakly, as they lean into the hand under their head. "Th.. thank you..." Glassy eyes look around the room, and they sigh in relief as they pass out finally, less anxious and in much less pain as sleep takes them.

Zenigata nearly has a conniption. "-!!! Stone?! Stone, no!!!"

"Easy, Pops! You'll wake 'em up!" Jigen gently rests a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down. The inspector blinks, looking confused.

"Bwuh?"

"One of the ingredients in here is melatonin, Pops! They need rest before the meds get into their system. They'll be okay." Lupin gives him a reassuring smile.

He takes a moment to process, and then nods resolutely, pulling up a chair beside his bed and just... waiting.

"... you gonna wait there all night, huh?" Fujiko asks, smiling a bit as she saunters up.

"Of course I am! He's my partner! I'm not gonna let them sit through this alone!" He exclaims, steadfast in his decision.

The femme fatale laughs a little, grinning. "Wow... you've got it worse than I thought! I've only seen you act like this when you think one of us is dead!"

Despite his tears, Zenigata's face turns bright crimson."Wh- hey!!! What's that supposed to mean?!"

Lupin puts a finger to his lips, shushing him with a grin. "Shhh, don't wanna wake up the sleeping angel! We left the rest of the antidote with your boss man downstairs, and they've given us a 24 hour amnesty in return! So long, Pops!" And with that, the gang takes their leave.

He sighs, almost going after them, but...

Stopping when he sees them sleeping so soundly. He has to wait.

He would always wait for him, he thinks, much to his own surprise.

- - -

It's dawn by the time Stone stirs again, Zenigata having been asleep for only a little while now. He'd stayed up all night watching over them, and when the sound of rustling blankets shifts against their body, he gasps and jolts awake again.

"BWUH!!! Huh-?" The inspector blinks, and then breaks into a massive grin when Stone sits up, looking nowhere near as pained anymore.

"Ugh.. God, my head... it worked, I think, but my head hurts something fi-" Stone pauses when they see the inspector's eyes brimming with tears. "Zenigata-?"

"MAGNUS-!!!" He yelps, not caring who might hear, as he leaps forward and practically bowls them over in a big hug.

He bawls, head buried in his chest as he shakes and mutters over and over again, "You're alive, you're alive-!!! Lupin did it, you're alive!!!"

Stone looks surprised for a moment, still weak, but much less in pain. Then... his expression melts into softness, and they wrap his arms around Zenigata's back. "Y-Yeah, I'm okay...!" They smile right back, as he looks up with big, watery eyes and a wobbly smile.

"I don't know what I woulda done if you...!!!" He mutters, holding their gaze before hugging them again.

Stone smiles right back, gently helping to wipe away his partner in crime catching's tears. "Hey... hey, easy, I'm okay...! I'm okay..."

"I promise it won't happen again! I'll always protect you, okay?" Zenigata swears, giving them a squeeze. They wheeze a little, and he eases up.

"Yeah... I'm j-just glad I'm alive." Stone curls into him, and together... They stay like that for a long, long while. They don't wanna let go.

So, neither of them do.

Stone's unsaid words in the haze of near death are forgotten, at least for now. But as Lupin smiles and watches the two curled up together in relief through the window, he knows it's not long now.

Once those two got together, it was just a matter of asking them into the gang...

And then they could all finally have a happy ending. One where this was all just a bad dream. One where Zenigata was treated fairly, and Stone could be with him without worrying too much about being the only one who truly believed in ol' Pops.

Once they got together, the plan would be set into action. Lupin grins at that.

Now, if only those two would stop dancing around the damn subject.

#f/os: koichi zenigata #i HAD TO #I HAD TO!!! #f/o fanfiction #mxgumshoe #not my art #also #alluding to Stone/Lupin Gang shenanigans >:3 #even Fujiko bc shes written off a lit

[eryiss]

Ship: Freed x Laxus

Rating: Matrue [Guns, Violence, Unnamed Character Deaths]

Prompt: Savage, Deadly

Summary: Perhaps having an affair with Russian spy in the middle of the cold war wasn't a good idea, particularly when Freed worked for the American Secret Service. But it was fine, America and Russia were never going to actually fight. Killing those they saw as traitors, however, was apparently a different story.

Notes: This is the forth Fraxus Week submission, hosted by @fuckyeahfraxus. This story has gunshots, death and description of blood, so be careful if those might affect you. If that's not something you worry about, I hope you enjoy it.

Links: Event Masterlist ||| Archive of Our Own, Fanfiction

A War to Be Ridiculed

Year: 1963

Location: Moscow, Russia

When their affair had started, Freed had been paranoid. He'd picked up the habit of looking over his shoulder, trying to see if another American agent might have discovered his behaviour and was trailing him to get evidence against him. At the time, the paranoia had seemed justified: an American secret service operative sleeping with a Russian secret service operative in the middle of an international stalemate between nuclear superpowers was hardly something that would be celebrated.

The paranoia had died out fairly quickly. Now Freed's main concern was how he'd spin his meeting in the quaint little café as a business expense.

Russian pasties were divine, but pricey.

His bosses would have a fit if they knew what he was doing. Hell: half of America would brand him a traitor if they knew he'd even thought about Laxus in that way. But America seemed to throw a fit over anything for the past few years. A Russian so much as coughing unexpectedly seemed to be enough provocation for an international incident.

Ridiculous, the lot of them. Freed was just thankful that he'd found a way to profit from them.

"What can I get for you, sir?" A waiter asked.

"Just a tea," Freed requested, leaning back in his chair. His Russian was perfect both in accent and in syntax. "I'm waiting for a guest; I expect we'll be eating when he arrives. He'll have a coffee when he gets here."

"Of course."

The man left, and Freed spared a glance towards the door. He had gotten there early, he knew that, but he was starting to get impatient. His job – when he chose to do it – was a stressful one. It was what he had signed up for, of course, and the thrill of it was truly exhilarating. But sometimes the pressure of it all got on top of him, and he had come to grown fond of these meetings in their infrequency.

It was a twisted situation, he supposed. He was sent to Russia on a two-year undercover operation, trying to uncover all information that the enemy forces had on their attack plans. For the first few months, Freed had been diligent in his actions, only to find that Russia had as much on them as they had on Russia. Nothing.

Propaganda was a fascinating thing. Everyone back home seemed to think the bombs would be dropping any moment. They wouldn't. Both sides were shit-scared of doing anything.

Once Freed had discovered this, he had reported back to his commanders and had been told to remain there for the rest of the mission and continue gathering intel. Three more months of gaining the respect and trust of Russian diplomats and governmental workers had led to nothing of interest. Both countries were entirely focused on their defensive measures in case the other country attacked, so nobody had any intention on actually attacking. It was a big, boring stalemate that would never actually come to blows.

It was getting rather tedious, and then Laxus came along. A thrilling, beautiful enemy with stunningly blue eyes and a sense of menace and distrust that drove Freed wild.

Their meeting had been a setup, it was obvious. Freed's rise in Russian society had been suspicious, and so the Russian government had wanted to better understand him and the threat he posed. Freed's alias had been a businessman wanting to help the government and in return get investments, Laxus' alias was that of a rich man wanting to invest money and get a return. Freed had known what Laxus was doing, and Laxus had known what Freed was doing.

Still, pretending he was in the dark about Laxus' true intentions was fun. They both spun lies, tried to catch the other out, and there was the constant reminder that they both had weapons concealed, and the person who slipped up first would end up dead where he stood.

The thrill was brilliant.

Their third meeting had been where Laxus had taken things further. He'd worn a suit so snug nothing could be hidden if you were determined to see it. Freed had gotten chills from the sight of it, and he couldn't remember if he was more excited by the curve of the man's ass or the outline of his gun against his chest. Laxus was silently proposing advancement in their roleplay: increase the danger and increase the pleasure.

Freed almost thought it might be an interrogation tactic, a way for Freed to spill his guts once sated. After their night together it was clear Laxus saw the war in the same way Freed did. Pointless, without risk, and something that should be mocked. He wanted Freed; he didn't want information.

You went submissive if you wanted intel. That night, Laxus had been anything but.

And so, their affair had begun. At first it was just sex, with the occasional meeting of their businessman and investor character to keep up their charade. Then, as time went on and they got more comfortable, their meetings became more public, and their facades dropped slightly. They could only meet once a month or so – they had to do their jobs, of course – but it was the most fun Freed had had in years.

Eventually, the quaint little bell above the door rang, and Freed looked to see the object of his affections walking in. Say what you want about Russia; they knew how to breed a handsome man. Broad shoulders, stern features, trim waists, and large thighs. What more could a man ask for?

Freed watched as Laxus spoke to the host of the café, before being guided to sit opposite him. Freed stood and shook his hand as if they were colleagues, and they underwent their normal childishly competitive hand squeezing ritual. Laxus relented first this time, taking a seat at the table after Freed motioned for him to do so. The host left them alone, and it took a moment for Laxus to break the silence.

"So," Laxus rumbled in his beautifully accented, deep voice. "You've not been murdered."

"I'm afraid so," Freed smirked. "Nor you, it seems. We should congratulate ourselves."

"We should," Laxus agreed, mirroring Freed's expression. "How so?"

"I'm sure we're both creative enough to think of something," Freed purred as he saw the waiter approaching with their drinks.

Under the cover of the tablecloth, he brought his foot to slowly glide against Laxus' calf. He raised it higher as the man placed the two drinks on the table and asked if they wanted anything else. Freed allowed Laxus to answer, putting pressure on the part of his thigh his foot found rested at. Laxus didn't stammer or blush at the action – he was a professional, after all – but Freed knew he was just a little bit more tense. He spoke calmly and dismissed the waiter, glaring at Freed once he was gone.

"You wanna get us caught?" He growled.

"If we got caught, it would be entirely your fault," Freed hummed. "Keeping a straight face is rather standard for what we do."

"I'll get you back for it," Laxus promised.

"I certainly hope so."

Freed raised his teacup to his lips, then halted.

He sniffed as subtly as he could, then slowly brought the teacup back down to the saucer.

Arsenic.

Someone wanted to poison him.

Instincts took over, and a list of questions needed to be answered. Who wanted to kill him? Who in the café was behind the attempt? Who outside of the café might be involved? Who had noticed he hadn't actually drunk anything? Where was the quickest way to safety? How quickly could he leave the country without anyone noticing? Was this anything to do with Laxus? Had Laxus been an informant, or was he in as much danger as Freed was?

As he watched Laxus raise his own drink to his lips, Freed quickly took a chance on the latter question. Before the drink could touch his lips, Freed pressed his foot firmly against Laxus'. The flirtatious teasing was now overpowered by strength, and Laxus paused. Freed glanced to the drink with only his eyes, then gave Laxus a meaningful look.

Laxus sniffed his own drink, then brought it back to the table without drinking.

Fuck. This was a setup for them both.

They had to assume everyone around them was involved. Freed had absently noticed how there was nobody younger than twenty in the café despite families milling around the square. He'd been placed at a table in the centre of the room as well, secluded and in the centre of attention. Likely everyone was an agent of some kind, and they all had been watching them from the moment he arrived. This was manageable.

"You must tell me about your sister's birthday," Laxus said, as if the revelation hadn't happened. "She's turning twelve, correct?"

Twelve. There were twelve agents in the room. That was passable, given some luck. But they needed to know the situation outside of the café as well.

"She is," Freed nodded, leaning back in his chair, casually glancing out of the window. He caught a glimpse of something reflective from atop the town hall, and sighed. "Her cousin is getting rather angry about it, apparently her mother couldn't afford the gift she wanted, and so they've been fighting. But you know how young girls are, always sniping at one another."

"I suppose so," Laxus agreed, body tensing slightly. "I don't know how I'd deal with them. I'd want to just leave the situation behind me, but sometimes even doing that means you'll get caught in the crossfire."

They agreed then. They couldn't just walk out.

"It is rather an impossible situation," Freed chuckled, idly toying with the teaspoon as if uncaring. "Sometimes it feels like you can't escape family, doesn't it?"

"Well I don't see any of my family here," Laxus laughed. He didn't recognise any agents.

"Nor do I," Freed agreed. "Thank heavens for small mercies."

They could be facing either Russian or American forces. They had to assume that, as they'd set up their assassination attempts when the two were meeting up, either side had come to know about the situation and saw them both as too big of a risk. Whoever wanted them dead, it would end up with them both on a most wanted list. This was bad.

Conversation without drinking could only last them so long. Eventually, any agents in the café would know their attempt had been discovered, and they'd act. No doubt they'd be armed to the teeth. A bloodbath was inevitable, they just needed to be smart, and they'd survive it.

"The food here is divine," Laxus commented, picking up his menu again. "The last time I ate here, I nearly congratulated the chef."

"Perhaps this time you will."

They'd be leaving through the kitchen then. The sniper was positioned so that he could shoot through the window, so probably they'd not be prepared for any kind of escape, certainly not one through the back alleys. So long as they could fight their way to the back, they should be able to outrun them and get somewhere safer. If even for a few moments, it was better than being in the jaws of their trap.

Just as Freed was about to continue the conversation, he caught something in the reflection of the window. A man tucked around the corner of the café's counter was looking directly at them both, hand scratching at his thigh where a gun most likely was hidden. Damn.

They hadn't finished a plan, and they were suspicious. But it was avoidable.

Freed, very slowly, wrapped a hand around his teacup and brought it up. Laxus watched, face unmoving but arms tensing. Freed tried to make his movements look loose and uncaring as he brought the teacup to his lips. He tipped it upwards, clenching his lips shut as tight as they could be. The hot tea bumped against his lips and stung – either from the arsenic of just the heat of the drink – and he swallowed as if drinking. He could only hope that had sated them.

"Good?" Laxus asked, voice a little stilted.

"Enough," Freed dismissed. "I do wish I'd ordered something a little stronger. Though I suppose it's a little early in the day for that." He casually looked over his shoulder to the clock, to see it was eleven fifty-eight. Perfect. "To think, in two minutes it would have been perfectly fine."

"It's a bastard, for sure," Laxus grinned, gently tapping his knuckle against the table in a sign of acknowledgement.

When the clock struck twelve, they'd go.

What followed was a tense minute and a half, where they attempted to fill the silence with general conversation. Neither man touched their drinks, but it seemed Freed pretending to drink his tea had been enough to convince them that their plan was working. They talked about nothing, though their eyes darted from place to place to make sure they wouldn't be attacked before they could move. The seconds seemed to stretch into an eternity.

Eventually, the bells of the grandfather clock rung, and they both spurted into movements.

They stood, chairs flying back as they reached for their weapons. Freed felt the wind of a bullet passing past him as he shunted himself to the left, and the back cushion of the chair exploded into feathers and dust. Nobody in the café screamed nor jolted; they'd been expecting it, meaning they were all agents sent to kill them. Good, no civilians made things simple.

Freed shot the man opposite him in the chest, a little to the left of his heart. The man staggered back, dropping his own gun as the sound filled the room. Freed quickly emptied another bullet into the man's skull. One down.

Laxus grabbed Freed's shoulders and shoved him back, banging him into a table. Freed watched slightly dazed as Laxus raised his own gun and emptied some shells into an elderly man and a young woman, who had been acting as a father and daughter. The man lurched back, falling against the window that had now been splattered in blood. The woman, who had been shot in the side rather than anywhere vital, tried to rush forward. She was holding a steak knife rather than a gun, and Freed quickly picked up a serving tray and struck her in the neck with it. He did so multiple times, before she stumbled to the ground, where Freed kicked her in the head enough times to knock her out. Either that or kill her.

Nine left.

When the window shattered again from another shot from the sniper's gun, both Freed and Laxus took refuse behind the counter. Wood splintered above them, and they could hear the sound of the other agents getting closer. Gunshots were near constant, blocking off their route to the kitchen and back entrance.

A lull in the shooting came, and Freed rose above the counter with his own gun in hand. He had expected that, with the number of agents involved, they wouldn't be as well trained as Freed and Laxus, and as such had to reload at the same time. Freed quickly shot the nearest agent, a woman in her fifties who was quickly spinning the barrel of her pistol. Freed's bullet landed between her eyes, and she staggered her final movements before falling to the ground in a lifeless pile.

Laxus, in an attempt to save bullets, picked up a sharp knife that had been put aside for cleaning, and threw it through the air. It struck a nearby agent in the cheek, and he stumbled back and grabbed at the deep, bleeding gash in his jaw. Not dead, nor incapacitated, but distracted.

Another agent shoved the bleeding man forward to get a better shot at Laxus and Freed, but Laxus acted faster. This time he did use his gun, and Freed almost winced as he saw the bullet slam into his face, eyeball exploding as the man screamed in pain. He fell to the ground, crumpling up and screaming as he rolled around the floor. Freed might have felt sorry for him, but he was an assassin, so mercy was the last thing on his mind.

An explosion of glass shattered behind Freed, and he winced as glass cut into his cheek. He grabbed Laxus' shoulder and dragged him down again.

There were seven agents unharmed and two badly injured. Feasibly they could kill them all, but it was a miracle they hadn't been hurt yet and their luck would run out. They had limited bullets available, and their impromptu weapons would progressively get less and less effective. They needed to leave and run, because if they didn't then logic dictated they would be killed. The kitchen staff seemed to have fled, so they were clearly not agents, meaning they had a clear escape route. They just needed to get across to the other side of the café without being killed.

"You go first," Laxus demanded. "I'll cover."

Freed nodded, and waited for another lull in the fighting. Knowing he needed to trust Laxus, he ran across the empty café without protection, ducking down to avoid the bullets flying towards him. He heard yelling and Laxus shooting, and hoped that Laxus was the cause rather than the victim. As he ran, he picked up the eyeball-less man's gun.

Once he was ducked behind the kitchen door, he tucked the agent's gun into his belt for later use and brandished his own gun. It was his turn to provide cover for Laxus, and he started by shooting at a woman with a pistol. She yelled and clutched her shoulder, though screamed when a bullet hit her forehead.

Freed shot as best he could as Laxus ran across the room and towards the kitchen. Freed only stopped when Laxus was inside, and the door had been slammed shut. Freed went to run, but Laxus placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What?"

"They'll pursue," Laxus grunted, moving a cabinet against the door.

"Yes, that's why we're running," Freed hissed.

"We need 'em dead. It's safer."

Rather than arguing, Freed decided that Laxus was right. They might not be top agents, but anyone left alive was a hazard to them. Three of them were completely unharmed and could track them. They needed to take any advantage they could get. Freed thought for a moment, before an idea hit him.

It took him a few seconds of routing through the kitchen to find what he needed: a gas canister for the kitchen's oven, and a blowtorch for their deserts. It was nasty and cheap, but it was a bomb. He removed his tie and quickly wrapped it around the handle of the blowtorch, holding down the trigger so that the flame would be constantly ignited. He then placed the gas canister against the barricaded door, which was being banged against by the other agents.

"The torch powerful enough?" Laxus asked.

"In time, it will be," Freed nodded, resting the lit blowtorch against the metal canister. "We need to go."

They did. They ran through the winding back alleys, utilising their maze-like qualities as best they could. They couldn't be sure who was following them and how close they were, so their paces didn't waver, and their determination kept firm. Freed felt his body aching but couldn't stop, not when stopping might mean their lives were over.

Faster than expected, they reached the edge of Moskva River. They couldn't see any bridges to cross it, and running along the river to find one was practically advertising their location. Going back into the alleys wasn't a possibility, and as such they could only do one thing. They climbed the barricade and jumped in.

The water was freeing cold, and it took Freed a moment for his muscles to acclimatise. He brought himself to the surface and saw Laxus had done the same. If nothing else, the quick submersion in the water had washed most of the blood off them both. They both began to swim to the other side of the river, Freed silently plotting how they'd hide now that they were both soaking wet. No plans came to mind, and Freed found himself hoping that Laxus had an idea.

"Boat," Laxus rasped, and nodded his head. "Look like yer struggling."

Freed didn't question the demand, and his practices swimming gave way to thrashing and panicking. He put on a façade of dread, deciding to yell when he knew the boat was getting closer. Laxus wrapped his arms around him as if trying and failing to save him. The two men in the boat noticed, and were rediverting their trajectory immediately.

When the boat was close, they climbed aboard it. The men peppered them with questions, asking what had happened and if they were alright. It took them a moment to see the injuries the two men had sustained, and their weapons.

Freed raised his gun and pointed it at them. It wouldn't work, but he felt like they didn't know that.

"We're going to need your boat I'm afraid," He demanded. Laxus raised his own weapon.

"And yer clothes," Laxus added; always thinking ahead. Two men in drenched suits might be somewhat conspicuous as they traversed the waterways. Two men in fishing apparel would be less so. "Quickly."

The men, fools that they were, took the threat at face value. With stumbling hands they began to strip and hand over their clothes. Within moments, Freed and Laxus looked like any fishermen that you might see on a river, and they'd given the poor men their suits in an act of mercy. They looked absurd and cold, of course, but it was better than finding themselves naked in the streets. Not once did Laxus or Freed remove their guns from their targets.

"You will tell the authorities you were drunk, fell into the river by mistake, and that you're incredibly sorry for causing a ruckus," Freed demanded, voice icy.

"And if you mention us, we'll kill ya," Laxus threatened.

Just as one of the men went to argue, an ear-splitting explosion shook the city. A plume of smoke burst upwards behind them, and the men watched in horror and fear. Freed and Laxus didn't react, and instead nudged their guns forward and looked at the men with feral grins as screams and shouting filled the city.

---

Year: 1970 Location: UNKNOWN

Freed woke to the sound of grunting, and the now familiar sound of an axe meeting wood. He padded to the window of the small cabin, opened it, and looked down to watch as Laxus split the firewood. The man really was a sight to behold; unbridled masculinity in all of its glory. His muscles flexed and the axe splintered the wood spectacularly, and even now Freed felt a twisted thrill at the knowledge of what that man could do when called upon.

He bathed himself in the cold tin bath, and dressed quickly. He attached his gun to his belt and walked to their shared kitchen. He placed a kettle over the fire and began boiling it, walking outside and into the forest where they now called home.

The gun was pointless, in reality. They were nowhere near either of their home countries, where no doubt they had been touted as traitors and been deemed as instant kill targets. They weren't on the same damn continent, but Freed had learned his lesson about becoming complacent. It didn't matter that they were tucked away in a Scandinavian Forest, with only a small town of people knowing of their existence; he would remain armed as to best protect himself and his lover.

Also, the gun was useful in killing the dear.

Laxus grinned at him as he approached, placing the axe down and running a hand over his sweat drenched face. Freed was undeterred, kissing the man he called husband slowly and smoothly. Laxus wrapped an arm around his waist and grinned.

"Sleepin' in again, huh?" Laxus teased, still speaking his mother-tongue in his beautifully harsh accent. "Because it was your turn to cut wood today, I think."

"It was," Freed agreed. "And yet you seem to be doing it."

"Maybe I'll find a way to make you do it."

"Maybe you'll have to."

Both men smirked, tight hand's grasped tighter, and Laxus pulled Freed into a brutally incredible kiss, one he greedily returned.

#Fraxus Week #Fraxus #Freed Justine #Laxus Dreyar #Fairy Tail #Fanfic #Writing #One Shot #1960's AU #Cold War AU #Word Count 4.1k

[broadwaytheanimatedseries]

Once Upon A Time, In A Far Away Land... - AU:

The legend says that King Raymond, then still a Prince and an adventurer, went to find the terrible threat known as the dragon witch, that has been rumored to have hurt innocent people and was the cause of great distress for a long time. What he found was a lovely, beautiful woman with charm and wit and a heart of gold, who's reputation had been tainted by those who tried to steal from her and payed the price when she defended herself.

It was then and there that the king decided he would do anything to make her happy.

Many years later, and the two married and had a family together. Three beautiful boys. Two of them ordinary looking twins, and the younger one seemingly half dragon and half human.

Now of course not everyone in the kingdom was immediately on board with their new queen, not did they all approve of the princes, especially the young one. But eventually, most of them came around, or at the very least knew better than to voice their negative opinions.

The years pass and the children grow up. Roman and Remus learn magic and swordsmanship, both being more talented in the latter, and they go on lots of adventures, both together and separately.

while Drake learns all that and more, doing his best to perfect all his skills but being especially talented in magic. he wants to be able to always have the right answers, to never be caught unprepared.

Unfortunately, he is caught very unprepared.

One day, while adventuring in a part of the woods rumored to be overtaken by the misfits and rebels of the kingdom, Roman and Remus are caught in one of their traps.

"well well well, a couple of trespassers." A hooded figure teased, eyes lighting up in amusement.

"those are no ordinary trespassers! It seems we're in the company of royalty!" Replied a man with glasses who didn't seem that mean compared to the hooded figure.

"Vee did good job with those traps, I gotta hand it to him." Said the woman among them, sounding pleasantly surprised.

The twins were too weak from their previous fight to do much, and they could only stare angrily as they waited for one of the rebels to speak.

Finally, the woman gave an order.

"R, Em, escort our guests. I'll go tell boss the wonderful news."

Hours later, as Drake was pacing in his room and his parents were sitting in the throne room patiently waiting for news on the whereabouts of their sons, all knowing it isn't like them to disappear for this long without giving a proper warning.

Finally, a message came, from the leader of the forest dwellers.

"if you wish to see your sons, there are matters to discuss. I will come to the forest's entrance every night for the next three days. Send a representative, they must come alone. We shall see if we can come to an agreement that's favorable for both sides. Should you fail to accept this offer, we will have no choice but to keep the princes as our prisoners. Their transgressions can not go unpunished, but perhaps theit unfortunate mistake can bring about a new era, for all those who deserve a better life.

Sincerely, P. Sanders"

Drake couldn't sleep that night, knowing that his parents had no intention listening to the rebels' wishes. He couldn't help but worry what his life would be like without his brothers. He didn't like the idea of it, not one bit.

So that night, after tossing and turning in his bed for hours, he decided to do something he never thought he'd do in his life.

He snuck out of the castle to disobey his parents.

He went to the entrance of the forest to speak to the leader of the rebels. The man he saw before him, however, was not at all what he expected.

Patton Sanders has been fighting ever since he could remember himself. He was hardly the first rebel to find shelter in these woods, but with all the elders that had raised him having passed away, he became the new leader. It wasn't an easy job, but it was rewarding, and someone has to do it. He couldn't let all these poor people go without any help, not when he knew from personal experience how hard it was to survive in the kingdom for anyone who couldn't be born or marry into nobility, and who couldn't fit into whatever narrow path was set up for them.

So to see that the king and queen sent their youngest son to negotiate was... puzzling, to say the least. After all, you'd think at least one of them would want to show up to discuss a way to get their sons back.

But when he saw the prince's nervous body language, he suspected he knew what was really going on.

"greetings, Mr Sanders." the young prince gave a small bow.

~at least he cares enough to show up and be formal about it.~ Patton thinks and decides that he can allow himself to be a little nice.

"please, Mr Sanders was my father. You can just call me Patton, your highness."

"oh, alright. Well then I suppose you can address me as Drake, if you wish."

There was a moment of uneasy silence before Drake decided he'll cut to the point.

"so what is it that you want in exchange for my brothers' safe return?"

"simply put? Justice."

Drake raised an eyebrow, not in judgement or mockery but in confusion. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be a bit more specific."

"why is it, you think, that generations of outcasts and misfits have sought shelter in these woods? Have you considered why we'd need to seek shelter from our own kingdom?"

Drake had a few ideas, but by the look on his face they troubled him too much to express.

Patton sighed in sympathy and decided to say it himself, as he had many times before, to save the young prince (who actually was about Patton's age, although the leader looked older due to all that he's had to endure) the embarrassment.

"the kingdom is under attack from within itself. The rich and powerful are attacking the poor and helpless, by not extending to them the aid they need in order to just barely survive, let alone thrive as the nobles do. And your parents have been complacent, content to let the broken system that benefits them go on as it always had. All I want is equality. To be provided with what we need to survive and to be allowed to exist however we choose, be given the same freedom the nobles have that we had to escape from the kingdom into the forest to find. That is all the rebels have ever wanted, and it is all I ask."

Drake listens carefully, studying Patton's face for any deception or insincerity, and finds none. He sighs, tiredly, heavily.

"you know my parents didn't send me, don't you?"

"I figured as much, yes."

"so you understand this is gonna be hell on earth for me, trying to accomplish what you're asking of me, against their wishes, right?"

"indeed, but considering your choice of words, it sounds to me like you've already joined the cause."

"...unfortunately, yes." Drake couldn't help but agree. He knew it was dangerous, and would take expert planning, and would be downright impossible to achieve, but besides the fact that it was the only way to get his brothers back without starting an unnecessary war with the peaceful forest dwellers, it was also the right thing to do. And besides, Patton was very cute- convincing! Drake had meant convincing, he insisted to himself, unconvincingly. Yes the irony of that is not lost on him.

Meanwhile, At the rebels' campsite, the twin princes were surprised to find that aside from the occasional jab or tease, they were being treated rather respectfully. Sure their hands were tied to ensure they couldn't escape but they were treated more like guests rather than prisoners. In fact, they were treated like equals, which has never happened to them before. Their parents treated them like kids and, although they tried to be subtle about it, so did a lot of the older nobles, and everyone else treated them like royalty, which they were. But this was the first time they've ever had a normal conversation with people who saw them as equals.

Roman was a bit huffy at first, insisting he be treated with the respect worthy of a prince, only to be met with laughter and eye rolls. "there aren't any classes here, you're no better than anyone else. Better get used to it, Princey." said a figure standing completely in shadow, though his eyes almost glistened in the darkness, the fire reflecting off them. "let him whine, Vee. It's all he's got now." the woman he now knew as Valerie teased, and the only reason he let her get away with it is because she had bested him in combat earlier that day, when he made a daring escape attempt. Seeing as she proved herself a fierce warrior, she had his begrudging respect. But then he heard the shadowed figure chuckle in response, and the sound evoked many different emotions in him, so he decided to focus on annoyance and anger. "so, you're the Vee in charge of the cowardly contraption that ensnared my brother and I." Roman could see the eyes squint as they looked him up and down, and then a smug smirk spread across the shadow's face. "the very same. Pretty neat trick, isn't it?" "I don't know what you think is so impressive about a machine made by a man too weak and scared to best his enemies face to face." "it's efficient, and it takes a hell of a lot more wit and talent than waving a sword around like a reckless idiot." the shadow bit back, sounding very defensive. Roman would have been prouder to have gotten him riled up if it were for Valerie looking very mad at him for insulting who he now had to assume is a friend of hers. He really didn't wanna anger Valerie. "I wouldn't expect a ruffian like you to understand anything about the fine art of sword fighting." at that, the shadow growled. Well and fully growled, sending a shiver down Roman's spine, filling him with fear and... Well he was going to ignore that other feeling for now and hopefully it would go away. "okay, fuck this. Val, can you untie his hands?" Valerie's eyes went wide. "Vee, you don't have to-" "no, I want to. It's worth it to get this asshole to shut up and show some respect." Roman would have said something if he weren't intrigued by the conversation. "alright, but I don't like this." "no one's gonna get hurt. I promise." as Valerie untied his hands she glared at him. "what? How was I supposed to know he'd react this way? Also what the hell is going on?" "you'll see in a second, just don't see this as a chance to try escaping again or I'll personally knock you unconscious." "noted." as the bindings were fully removed from his hands and Valerie backed away, Vee stepped out of the shadows, allowing Roman to see him for the first time. This was already a very big problem for Roman, as he was not prepared for how hot the rebel was. To make matters worse, Roman wasn't done checking him out sizing him up, when Vee pulled a sword from where it was resting on his hip, and he held it directly at Roman's throat, just inches away from grazing his skin. And that really should not have made the blood rush to the direction it did for Roman, but his body just had the worst timing. Luckily, somehow, he still managed to focus on Vee's next words.

"you wanted to fight face to face? Fine. I, Virgil Fabre, challenge you to a duel."

And that is when Roman realized his big mistake. Well, too late to back out now.

"I accept your challenge."

Remus was ecstatic, though. He immediately started feeling more at ease and free to be himself. He didn't even mind being tied up all that much, and he made sure to get that point across with a bunch of inappropriate humor that made everyone uncomfortable. Well all except for the two men who brought them to the camp, and a third, much cuter nerd, resembling the rebel in glasses but seemingly more stoic, but even he was clearly smiling at one of Remus's crass jokes. Their eyes locked and the serious rebel blushed and turned back to resume his conversation with the men he now knew as Remy and Emile. Fuck. Finding a way to enjoy being kidnapped while waiting to be rescued or until he found a way to escape? That was one thing. But crushing on one of the rebels who was holding him prisoner? Remus would have to be a fool to act on these emotions. He glanced the other way to check on his brother and asked why he was sword fighting with one of the rebels. After being updated on what happened, he sighs heavily. Well you know what? If Roman was allowed to be stupid, and they were truly equals in this forest, then dang it Remus can do whatever Roman can do if he damn well pleases. With this new conviction, he boldly strutted over to the handsome nerd, only for Emile to give him a death glare that immediately makes him turn around.

But he's far from giving up. They all are.

Anyway thats it for this au, for now (;

Let me know what you think and as always -

Stay Tuned!

#dee writes #sanders sides #sanders sides au #dee's aus #kingdom au #fantasy au #dragon witch #king creativity #creativitwins #and lil bro deceit #moceit #working together #but still on opposite sides #of what could become a war #if they're not careful #prinxeity #intrulogical #siblings! lomile #haven't decided yet #but #established remile #probably #tension #gay #gay tension #if at any point it seems like I'm talking out of my ass it's because this wasn't #supposed to be a commentary or anything #the salt just spilled out of me and I like it now fight me #I need to stop doing this to the tags

[onepiece-imagines-bartoloclub]

(Decided to work on a different headcannon while I fix the first one, been getting writer's block with that one and I don't wanna leave yall empty handed. Still trying to figure out how to write these headcannons so bare with me if this one seems like a weird mix of a headcannon and scenario. Thank you @bootyshakerkegrimm for the request, I hope you enjoy! 💖❤💖❤💖❤💖❤)

~ How Brook would propose to his fem s.o ~

•The day, a year beforehand, when his s.o asked him "Hey Brook, how do you feel about marriage?", his response may have consisted of a skeleton joke and a tiny bit of denial in his mind about the possibility, the numbers of months afterwards left him pondering and considering the question. Now, he knows that now is the right time and he wants to make it great.

•It would start off as a long and strenuous set of days planning and coming up with ideas in his room. He'd spend most of his days there, except for when he wants to play something for his crew to ease his nerves, with his floor full of balls of paper with unfinished sheets.

•An idea comes to his mind and he asks Robin for help, since she can keep a secret much better than the rest of the crew. She goes and talks to Nami and Jinbei about the the specific location they're at and their responses left Brook much more hopeful about how well his plan will be executed.

•A few weeks pass by an Brook's confidence skyrockets as he Sanji and Franky's help. Nami finds out and surprisingly offers him her assistance with keeping Luffy, Zoro, Chopper and his s.o busy, but while the service may be free there are some future "fees" that he'll have to repay.

•Robin takes her to the main deck while having her wear a blindfold. With slight confusion, she goes along with this since she knows not to question the archeologist. When they reach the grassy deck, it was unsually quiet, save for some idle chattering she can hear; Robin unties the blindfold and his s.o was confused by the sight that greeted her.

•The lights Franky installed made it easy to see the crew during the night as the strawhats were scattered around the deck, with Usopp, Luffy and Chopper sitting on the floor and talking to each other with Robin reading a book next to them. Sanji was nowhere to be seen and Jinbe and Franky were near the helm on top of Robin and Brook's s.o and Zoro was sleeping near the door.

•But in the middle of the deck stood Brook, clad in a white suit and hat, his violin was in one of his hands while his other arm was behind his back, he stood tall and proud as the chatter quieted down when they notice his s.o walk onto the grassy deck. She goes to Brook, confused about what the suprise was.

•He puts his violin down and grabs one of her hands in his, while keeping his other arm behind him.

"Y/N, having been a guard of a royal family, I know this occasion should've been much more formal, but I know these standards don't apply to pirates. But, for years you've made me feel like I'm worth more even with my... physical limits. In all of those years with you, I've never felt more alive, even though I died! You stayed with me for so long, and I just want to stay with you for as long as my old bones stay active and play music for you, so.... I wanted to ask you this." He kneels on one leg, lowering to their height, and removes his arm from his back.

•She gasps when he pulls out a gold ring, his gaze never leaving hers. "Y/N, will you give this skeleton the honor of--" "YES!" She tackles him with a hug, almost knocking him to the ground and the audience chuckles, give it a strawhat credit for breaking the moment. He hugs her close while giving Franky a nod.

•Even while covered in tears, Franky presses a button and a lot of speakers come out and more lights turn on. She looks around and at Brook, whose hair is covering their view. He slowly stands up while hugging them and lead them to the railing of the deck.

"With Nami and Jinbe's help, I knew this would be the perfect moment to ask. Look." She looks out into the ocean and see large bodies sprout from the water, loud droaning can be heard as she sees the backs of large whales around the ship. The speakers turn on and out comes a slower version of Bink's Sake, a version that she recognizes was done by Brook.

•He places the ring into her finger and steps away from her and offers her his hand, she grabs it and they interlock as their feet move automatically while the music plays. They slowly dance in each other's arms while the whales harmonize, enjoying the music. The moment was perfect, they didn't even notice that they've been in each other's arms and dancing even after Sanji brought out a large cake for the crew.

•Nobody thought to disturb them as they hugged each other close. It took until the deck was only occupied with a few sleeping crewmembers and the song to end for them to stop slow dancing. They look around at the nearly empty deck and laugh.

"It seems we got too caught up in our little world. Though I wouldn't mind if that were the cause, ain't that right Brook?"

"I might agree with you, but how would I play music for my crew?"

"Speaking of playing, why did you bring your violin if you weren't going to play it?"

"Presentation, I wanted to dance with you AND play a special song, but I can only do so much. I'm a skeleton but not as handy as Robin, yohoho!"

"What about the whales?"

"They sing beautifully, and it reminds me of Laboon. It made me feel like I was with my the two most important people in my life."

"What did I ever do to get someone like you?"

"Yohohoho! I should be the one to ask you that! You've given this old man so much, it just makes my heart soar out of my ribcage, and I don't have a heart! Yohoho! No amount of paper in the world can fit a song about everything that I love about you."

"Thank you Brook, for everything."

"No, thank you giving me life."

•Their night is sealed with a kiss, his proposal might not be as extravagant or traditional, but she loved it regardless and still chose to be with him of all people. If they decide to make a proper wedding, he hopes they get to Laboon or have it be live so that Crocus and Laboon can see it. He's just happy that starting now and onwards, it'll be the best second chance he's been given and he'll make sure to keep it that way.

#one piece #one piece headcannons #brook