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dfortrafalgar · 7 hours

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I'm Losing You... (But We're Filling the Cracks)

Having a family isn't always as easy as fairy tales make it seem.

Warnings: read chapter 1 for warnings.

Taglist: @phsycochan | @mirillua | @augustanna | @chaixsherlock | @whore-of-many-hot-men

Chapter 22

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[RING RING]

[Hi! Sorry I can’t come to the phone right now. Please leave a message after the beep, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!]

[BEEP]

Law took a deep breath before speaking. “Hi, baby, I just wanted to check in. I know it’s really early there and you’re probably still sleeping, but good luck on your procedure today. I… really wish I could be there. I miss you a lot, I’m excited to come home in a few days. Call me back when you get the chance, just so that I know you’re okay. I love you.”

The solemn man tapped on the red disconnect button on his phone’s screen, hanging up on your voicemail box. Beside him, Dr. Tony took a long sip of his beer, anxiously eyeing the expression of his superior. Across the table from Law sat another older doctor from an institution a few cities away, one who had been a big fan of Law’s dissertation from medical school and insisted he treat the cardiac surgeon and his colleagues to a drink. As soon as they began actually drinking, though, it became clear to Law that the large, scruffy looking doctor treating him to booze was a bit harder to deal with than he initially thought. The more he drank, the more he ran his mouth.

“Aw, come on, man! You’ve been so uptight this whole week, I thought someone like you would be more than excited to attend this event and go drinking with some colleagues,” the man chided, his cheeks slightly flushed from his alcohol intake.

Law tossed a frustrated look at the man across from him, but it clearly didn’t land in the way he intended. “Just a bit tired, I suppose.”

“Tired of calling your wife?” the man sneered. “A man deserves to get away from the ole’ ball and chain every once in a while. You might as well enjoy your freedom while you’re out of the country.”

Law’s jaw involuntarily clenched. A million words of retaliation swirled through his head, but he didn’t have the gall to speak. The last thing he wanted to do was make a scene, surrounded by esteemed colleagues who were all looking forward to a night out drinking after a successful conference day. The black-haired man simply crossed his arms and uncomfortably eyed the barely-touched beer in front of him.

“That woman of your’s is probably sick of you calling her all the time, anyway. Is she making you do that?” he asked.

Chopper reached a hand out, nervously trying to stop the man across from them from talking. “Dr. Teach, let’s be civil, now.”

Another swig of beer slipped past the larger man’s chapped lips. He slammed down his glass with another snide remark. “Can’t be civil when you’ve got a man being held back by some woman at home. You can’t let her control you like that, you’ve got to be a man.”

Law’s fists clenched the fabric of his shirt as he felt his face heating up with humiliation. “I’m going to ask you one time to be quiet.”

The man, Dr. Marshall Teach, curled his lips in a sneer. “Aw, you getting defensive?”

“If you wanted to treat myself and my colleague to a round of drinks, I would appreciate it if you could keep your unnecessary comments to a minimum,” Law affirmed. He was inwardly impressed with how he managed to keep his voice so steady despite the rapid pounding of his heart. He felt his hands grow clammy with discomfort.

Teach shrugged. “Sorry that you’ve found yourself prey to a bitc–”

Law stood up with such ferocity that the sound of his chair scooting across the hard wooden floor alerted the tables around him, surprised and curious eyes darting in his direction. With a scowl, he grabbed his bag, stepping around the table to make a quick exit. Before he passed by Teach, however, he stopped dead in his tracks and leered down at the man. “Don’t expect any more cordial behavior from me this week. I never want to hear from you again.”

Before the rude older man was able to retort and get the last word, Law finally stepped away from the table and left the restaurant. His legs were shaking as he rounded the corner of the building and stepped into a dimly lit alleyway, the setting sun casting a large shadow over the structure and making the corridor appear darker than the rest of the world. A perfect shroud for Law to sink into a crouching position against the brick wall, his bag at his feet as he wrapped his hands around his knees.

Pathetic.

Law felt his stomach twist uncomfortably, his hands growing even more clammy as he fought with his heart rate to get it to settle. His mind was reeling with thoughts, insecurities. He felt like he was going to be sick. How was a man as esteemed as him having a panic attack in a back alley behind a bar?

“Law?” a soft voice called from around the corner.

The black-haired man picked his head up in surprise, facing the voice. A head of thick, bushy brown hair and gentle, black, doe-like eyes greeted him.

“Chopper… need something?” he asked, keeping his voice low to prevent it from trembling.

The younger doctor stepped closer, copying Law’s posture by crouching down himself so he could be at the same level as his superior. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay… do you want to head back to the hotel?”

“Is anyone else going?” Law asked, mild skepticism in his eyes.

“Nope, just me,” the brunette man responded. “I barely had anything to drink, anyway. Bars aren’t really my scene.”

Law slowly stood up along with his younger colleague, grabbing his bag from the cold ground and following Chopper out of the alley, rounding the corner and proceeding down the street. The two walked in silence for around 20 minutes before they finally reached their hotel, a very fine establishment that was selected by their employers for their week-long stay in the Flower Capital. The place was far more lavish than anything Law had stayed in before, but frankly, the expensive decor and fancy lights were nothing if not unsettling for him in his upset state. He followed Chopper into the elevator, the two ascending in silence to the 10th floor, watching as the numbers on the control panel slowly ticked upward. Their walk through the hall was so silent you could hear their footsteps slightly echoing off of the plaster walls around them. Chopper inserted his keycard into their room’s door, pushing the heavy entrance open and stepping inside, Law on his heels.

Once they were safely in their room, Law released the frustrated groan he had been holding in. He quickly undid the buttons of his dress shirt, ripping it off of him and falling backwards onto the bed that he designated as his. Chopper watched with concern on his soft features, sitting on his own mattress.

“I’m sorry about what Teach said to you,” the younger man said.

“Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault,” Law mumbled back, staring at the ceiling. The air of their hotel room was quite chilly and made goosebumps appear on his inked skin, but it was far better than his anxious perspiration that was going on under the stifling fabric of his dress shirt.

“I know it wasn’t, but I’m still sorry,” Chopper responded, awkwardly hugging his knees. “I think it’s sweet that you’re calling your wife so often. I’m sure she really appreciates it.”

Law bit the inside of his cheek. He had kept your infertility struggles a secret from the rest of his colleagues at the hospital, choosing instead to say that he was taking care of you through an acute illness whenever he used his personal time off. No one had ever questioned it, perhaps being too afraid to provoke the steely, constantly-focused doctor, but whatever the reason, Law was relieved that he never had to explain himself. His current behavior was far beyond the realm of what Chopper had ever seen of him, drastically out of character from the hard-working doctor the younger man was surely used to.

“Chopper, can I tell you something?” Law asked, feeling immensely awkward for divulging his problems to a colleague who seemed so much younger than him.

“Of course,” Chopper replied.

Law sat up on his elbows, gazing at his feet at the end of the bed. “My wife has been struggling with infertility. We’ve been trying for well over a year now to have a baby, with no success yet. She’s had two miscarriages, the second one at 12 weeks.” His voice was quiet as he spoke, clearly upset with reliving the memory of seeing you tied to the hospital bed in the emergency room, the way your face was scrunched up with agony, humiliation, and shame.

“I’m… I’m so sorry,” the younger man sympathized.

Law took a deep breath. “She’s been undergoing treatment to prepare for IVF, and today, back home anyway, is the day she gets her eggs harvested. I’ve been so, so fucking nervous for her. Excuse my language.”

“So that’s why you’ve been calling and texting her a bunch?” Chopper asked, slightly tilting his head as he listened to his older colleague.

“Yeah. And unlike that prick Teach, I like to think I have a much healthier relationship with her.” Law scoffed, relaying the words the older man had spoken to him over their drinks. “Ball and chain, my ass. The day I refer to my wife like that is the day I die by my own hand.”

Chopper sighed, wanting to apologize yet again for the older doctor’s behavior, but deciding against it. Law’s words sparked a hint of curiosity in the younger man, however, as he gazed at the ink covering his coworker’s hands, arms, chest, and back. “Law, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Not at all,” the black-haired surgeon responded.

“It always struck me as interesting that you have the word ‘DEATH’ tattooed on your fingers. Have you ever been… told off for that?”

Chopper’s words prompted Law to gaze at the ink on his skin. He huffed through his nose at the memory, his friends as an 18-year-old undergraduate adamantly insisting that he shouldn’t get morbid tattoos if he was going to pursue a career in life-saving medical care, but clearly their words didn’t stick.

“All the time,” he replied. “I got my tattoos done over the course of a few years while I was an undergrad. I was going through a lot at that time, and funneled my frustrations into getting ink.”

“Is there a reason you chose ‘DEATH’?” Chopper had absolutely zero idea if he was crossing the line or not, but based on Law’s somewhat relaxed body language, he safely assumed that he was still in the clear with his questions.

Law pursed his lips. “I lost my family in a house fire when I was around 10, and the man who took me in and raised me was killed by his older brother when I was 13, so for the duration of my teenage years, death was all I thought about.”

Chopper’s eyebrows creased with melancholy. “I’m so sorry…”

Law relaxed his arms and fell back onto his mattress once more. “I kept going for my parents, they were both doctors and I grew up wanting to follow in their footsteps. And for most of my time in high school and then in college, I was convinced I was too hardened to be loved.”

The younger brunette felt a small smile tug on his lips. “But then you met your wife.”

The words made the black-haired man grin. “Yup… then I met my wife. But I already had the tattoos when I met her, so it was a bit too late for that.”

“I’m sorry you can’t be home with her… but I’m sure she really does appreciate the fact that you’re constantly checking in on her. If my husband was halfway across the world, I’d want to hear from him as often as I could, too,” Chopper stated, his voice light and airy.

Law stared at the ceiling. Chopper was the kind of kid whose presence made you relax. His openness and understanding of complex topics and issues was a quality that made Law gravitate towards taking him under his wing, endlessly impressed with the ease in which the boy sympathized and offered boundless support for patients, colleagues, and family who visited the hospital. Even the most upset patients were treated with the utmost respect from the young doctor, his very existence making any tension or unease flow from the body in waves.

“Thanks, Chopper, I appreciate it,” Law stated. “Sorry to spill all that on you.”

“It’s never a problem, Law, I’m always happy to talk about stuff that might be troubling you. As a friend, rather than strictly a coworker.” Chopper swung his legs off the side of his bed. “I’m going to take a shower, try to get some shut-eye, alright?” The younger colleague tossed a friendly smile to Law, who nodded graciously.

The bathroom door closed with a soft click, leaving Law alone on his bed in the warm light of the bedside lamp. He reached toward his phone intent on checking his text messages, but as soon as he picked it up in his hand, the screen lit up with an incoming call.

Wifey

A grin tugged on Law’s lips. “Hello?”

[Hi, baby! I’m sorry I missed your call…] Your voice was groggy with sleep, and some shuffling could be heard in the background. You must have still been in bed.

“It’s alright, you were sleeping,” Law replied, his voice soft. “I wouldn’t want you to wake up for me, especially not on such an important day. You need all the rest you can get.”

A soft hum echoed through the speakers. [You’re right… but I love hearing your voice.] Your words were silky smooth, making your husband smile even wider as he imagined the sleepy look on your face, your eyes half-lidded with exhaustion as a beautiful, fatigued smile pulled on your lips. He imagined curling closer to you, pulling your body into his own and inhaling the soft scent of your soap and moisturizer, wishing he could carry around your aroma in a bottle for whenever he wanted to think of you.

“How are you feeling about today?” he asked.

[Really, really nervous. But we all have a plan.] Your shaky response made Law’s heart clench, but he waited patiently for you to continue talking. [I go in at 9 AM for the procedure. Penguin is driving me, because I don’t trust Shachi’s car, but Shachi and Ikkaku are going to stay at the apartment with Bepo. The procedure is going to take only, like, ten or so minutes, so I requested to have local anesthesia so I don’t have to be all groggy for the day. So it’ll probably hurt a bit, but I’m tough. I can deal.]

Law chuckled. “You are tough.” He wanted to say something else, perhaps sing your praises even more, but his insecurities from earlier flooded back into his head. “Hey… can I ask you something?”

[Of course, baby. Anything.]

“Are you…” he searched the crevices of his mind for the proper words. “Are you annoyed with me when I call too often?”

The line was silent for a few moments too many. [Why would I be annoyed?]

The man rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “I don’t know… I had a weird conversation over drinks tonight and I’m overthinking it.”

He could hear you audibly sigh. [I absolutely, one hundred percent, do NOT think you’re annoying. I get so excited whenever you call. When you called me yesterday when I was at Nami’s, she poked fun at me for lighting up when you called. She said it looked like I was glowing.]

Law smiled at the thought. Before he could continue speaking, though, you took a breath.

[I would never be annoyed with you, ever. If anything, I wish you could call more, but I know you have your big important responsibilities while you’re over there.] Your voice was uplifting, encouraging. Law’s chest felt lighter simply by listening to you talk. Oh, the power you held. [When you come home, I’m going to smother you in so many kisses to make up for whatever asshole made you feel shitty.]

“I’d love that, baby,” Law sighed into the receiver. “I miss you… I don’t think I’m cut out for long business trips.”

[You only have three more days, you can do it!]

Law had an image in his head of you excitedly pumping the air with your fist, your eyes bright and shining as you encouraged him to keep his head up and continue pushing forward with the incredible reward of returning home to your arms.

[And hey, when you come home, we’ll have a bunch of microscopic eggs in a petri dish at the fertility clinic hopefully being fertilized.]

Law’s heart swelled at the mere thought of tiny embryos growing to hopefully be successfully implanted into you. The process of preparing for the procedure had been so long to him and he couldn’t even begin to comprehend how you must have felt in the weeks leading up, but the way you had managed to stay strong through the entire duration was profoundly inspirational to him. You were truly one special woman.

[I’m going to get up and take Bepo out, but I’ll text you throughout the day to tell you how things went! Oh, and Law?]

“Yes, baby?”

[Don’t lose sleep over me. I can somehow see those eyebags through the phone. I promise I’m going to be okay, so get some rest, alright?]

Law smirked. You knew him far too well. “No promises.”

[Law…]

He sighed, a chuckle escaping his lungs. “Okay, I promise I’ll get some sleep. My hotel roommate’s in the shower right now, but when he’s done I’m going to clean myself up and get some rest. I’ll talk to you later, baby.”

He could hear the smile on your voice as you responded. [I love you, Law.]

“I love you, too, beautiful.”

—

“Shachi and Penguin are pussies,” Ikkaku groaned, crossing her arms over her chest in the chair that sat across from your small pre-op bed. “Afraid of some women’s health matters…”

You giggled at her frustration. “Well, I’m really happy that you were able to take today off and help me out, I really appreciate it.”

“Of course!” Ikkaku flashed you a charming, toothy grin. “Anything for my bestie. Besides, from what I read online, you’re gonna need some support to help deal with the pain.”

“It shouldn’t hurt that bad… they’re giving me local anesthesia, so I’ll only feel a little bit. At least, I hope that’s the case,” you replied with a nervous shudder. “You won’t have to deal with a loopy post-op me. Last time I had a procedure done, Law told me I didn’t stop gushing over him for almost six hours.” Your head fell into your hands, embarrassment painting your face.

Ikkaku laughed at your shameful state. “You can still tell me how much you love me while completely sober, though, right?”

You flashed her a cheeky grin. “Don’t test your luck.”

You struggled to admit it, but you were wildly anxious. The last time you talked to Law was when you returned his call a few hours prior, and thinking about him halfway across the world, probably (hopefully) fast asleep in preparation for another day of conferences was reassuring, but you had a residual ache in your heart that yearned for him to be with you. The weeks of synchronizing your cycle and taking hormone injections to mature your eggs was a long, boring, and tedious process, but it was all leading up to this very moment.

Now you just had to hope that some of your eggs were mature enough to fertilize… if they would fertilize at all.

“Mrs. Trafalgar?” A nurse stepped into your room with a clipboard, a few sheets of paper attached to the metal clamp. “I just need to have you sign a few forms and then we’ll take you in!”

You took the board and the pen from her grasp, wiping your hands on your hospital gown to rid your palms of your nervous sweat. You signed the release forms with a few quick strokes of your pen before handing the papers back to the nurse who happily took them from you.

“Alright, you’re all set! The doctor will be in shortly to take you back,” she explained before cordially nodding towards you and exiting the room.

Your foot was bouncing off the mattress. “Ahh… Ika… I’m so nervous.”

Ikkaku stood from her chair, crossing the room to be at your side. She rubbed her hand over your shoulder, her expression sympathetic yet encouraging. “You’re gonna do great, you’ll be in and out! 10 minutes, just like you said!”

“But what if my eggs aren’t mature? I’ll hear if they are before we leave…” You could feel your heart rate increase at the prospect of all your hard work in the past few weeks being for nothing.

“Hey, look at me,” Ikkaku demanded, her voice soft. She took your cheeks in her hands, turning your head to face her. “No negative thinking. Your eggs are probably more mature than an elderly person!”

You snorted, making her pull her hands away quickly and wipe them on her shirt. “That’s the comparison you make?”

“Geriatric eggs,” she confirmed, smirking at you. “But seriously, you’re going to be fine. I have a good feeling. And after you’re back here and the anesthesia is wearing off and we find out that your eggs are nice and mature, we’ll go and celebrate with some ice cream.”

Your mouth began watering at the prospect. “That does sound pretty good…”

“Exactly! So keep your chin up!” Ikkaku excitedly pumped her fists in the air, a sight that made your lips crack into a smile as you absorbed the excited, optimistic energy from your best friend.

“Knock, knock, Mrs. Trafalgar, are you ready?” The doctor overseeing your egg extraction peeked his head in.

You swung your legs over the side of your bed, holding the back of your gown closed with one of your hands. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good luck!” Ikkaku called as you followed the doctor into the small outpatient operating room.

You were starting to really dislike the feeling of paper and polyester clinic gowns, they way they were completely shapeless and stiff on your skin made you feel particularly vulnerable. You would much rather be naked to the open air than don a hospital gown, but you also quite liked not being locked up in jail. You bit down your discomfort and entered the small outpatient procedure room where you were instructed to lay back on the table and put your feet in the stirrups. You stared emotionless at the tiled ceiling, the bright white LED lights making your pupils constrict. You simply nodded through the nurses’ instructions and comments, quietly letting them insert an IV needle into your arm for fluids.

“We’re going to be using a local anesthetic that will be injected near the top of your vagina, and an ultrasound will be running to assist with locating your ovarian follicles,” the doctor explained, displaying the capped needle in his hand. “This procedure will only be around 10 to 15 minutes, but throughout the duration we will be injecting additional small doses of a low-level narcotic pain reliever so make sure you don’t experience any discomfort. Does that sound good?”

You gave a curt nod. “Yes it does.”

“Perfect. Please inform us if you feel any large amounts of pain, or any discomfort outside of your pelvic region.” The doctor turned his back on you, and your eyes resumed staring at the ceiling, your hands over your chest resting directly above your heart.

You felt a small pinch near your core that made you wince, but you kept your body still and tried to focus on your breathing. It didn’t take long for sensation in your hips and pelvis to dull, a strange, numb tingling sensation replacing any contact from the hospital gown pushed up around your waist. It certainly felt… strange. An additional small pinch was felt in the junction of your inner thigh, and a technician spread a generous amount of the familiar, cold ultrasound gel over your lower abdomen before placing the wand firmly against your belly and locating your ovaries through your layers of skin and muscle.

“We’re inserting the speculum now,” the doctor explained, making sure to keep you in the know of what exactly they were doing to you.

You kept quiet. A tugging sensation was felt in your lower body as the cold, metal speculum spread you open, but the anesthesia and pain relievers made it much more tolerable than any pap smear you had ever received. You kept your hands placed over your chest, linking your fingers together as if to secure yourself to the table.

“You might feel a sharper pain, we’re inserting the suction cannula and needle into your vagina.”

“Alright,” you replied, feeling too awkward to stay silent.

Sure enough, a much sharper yet still manageable cramping pain was felt as the suction tube and needle were inserted. You cringed as you felt them press sharply against the wall of your vagina, a sudden, stinging sensation radiating through your body as the needle punctured your inner walls and located your ovarian follicles with the help of the ultrasound machine. You sucked in a sharp breath, alerting one of the nurses.

“Doing alright, hun?” she asked, approaching your side. She was a much older woman, clearly a seasoned nurse, with a few small decorative enamel pins around the collar of her cotton uniform scrubs. She had a soft, motherly face as she gazed at you, her eyes assessing your condition.

“Y-Yeah… just a bit painful,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

“We’ll give you another small dose of pain medication,” she confirmed, tossing you a sweet smile that melted any insecurity in your heart. “You’re doing amazing, sweetheart.”

You couldn’t help but smile back. Something about her seemed to fill the room with a sense of comfort despite having only known her for a mere few seconds. You barely felt the second injection of painkillers in your other thigh, your body slowly growing numb to the sensation of the cannula pressing harshly against your vaginal walls. The nurse came around the table again and rubbed your shoulder reassuringly.

“Still hanging in there, dear?”

“Yes, I am,” you nodded, speaking in a tired tone. “Thank you.”

Her response to your gratuity was another pat on your shoulder. You closed your eyes and tried to focus on your breathing to distract from the dull cramping that radiated throughout your lower body. It felt eerily similar to your miscarriages, with the only comfort in the thought being that you were in a supervised medical environment. Your thoughts shifted to your husband across the world from you. It was an understatement to say that you couldn’t wait for him to get home. You two had barely been without each other since you started dating, and while some have said that your shared lifestyle is only a recipe for relationship burnout, the two of you would adamantly disagree with that sentiment. Law was a rock, a stable sanctuary for your deepest and darkest fears, whereas you were a shining light in his life, bringing him hope when his days seemed to be at their bleakest. What some would call extreme codependency, you would simply call a healthy and mutually respectful relationship with your beloved husband.

God, you missed him.

“And we’re all done!” the doctor announced, ripping you from your thoughts.

“Already?” you asked, picking your head up as the nurse helped your partially numb feet down from your stirrups.

“Yup! We’re sending your samples to the lab to count how many eggs we were able to harvest, so while you wait for a bit in recovery we’ll get to counting,” he explained, taking off his gloves and washing his hands in the sink placed across the room.

The friendly nurse from earlier gave you a gentle pat on your shoulder once more. “You did so well, dear!” She assisted with helping you stand from the table. A pair of disposable panties were handed to you, lined with a thick pad. “You’re probably going to have some light spotting for a few days, you can take these off and replace them with your normal underwear and pads when you get home. Don’t use tampons for about two weeks while your vagina recovers, alright?”

You graciously accepted her help with stepping into the uncomfortable clothing. “Understood.”

You were more than wobbly on your feet, the localized anesthesia making you somewhat dizzy, so you were helped into a foldable wheelchair to push you back to the small outpatient recovery room where Ikkaku was still waiting for you. She stood enthusiastically from her seat when you and the nurse approached, a look of sheer anticipation in her eyes.

“How did it go?” she asked, helping you stand to lay down on the small, stiff mattress.

“I think it went pretty well,” you replied, finally getting to rest your head on a pillow with a content sigh.

The nurse turned toward your friend. “I take it, you're her ride?”

“Yes, ma’am!” the curly-haired brunette nodded. “Is there anything I should be aware of for home?”

“Make sure she’s drinking plenty of water and getting as much rest as she can. It might take a few hours for the feeling to come back in her legs.” She turned to you. “You’ll probably experience a few days of cramping, ibuprofen is more than enough to get you through it! If you experience any significant complications or issues, though, please call us back right away.”

You gave her a polite smile. “Thank you for everything.”

“Of course, sweetheart, it's my pleasure. The doctor will come back when your eggs are counted, and you should be good to leave then, but he’ll give you the discharge paperwork himself when he feels you’re ready.” With a friendly nod, she exited the room and closed the door slightly behind her, leaving it cracked open enough to give you and Ikkaku privacy until the doctor came back.

“So…” she asked. “Did it hurt?”

You laughed at her willingness to know the details. “A little, they stuck this suction tube up inside of me and a needle was pushed through that tube into my vaginal wall.”

Ikkaku held her hand out, a grimace on her face making her eyebrows crease in discomfort. “Alright, that’s enough talking from you.”

You shared a giggle at her weary expression. Once your conversation had simmered, you asked her for your phone so you could send a text to Law and let him know that you were in the recovery room waiting for your eggs to be counted. You tapped the send button and put your phone to sleep mode, knowing that he most likely wouldn’t respond to you for another few hours while he was sleeping. But the thought of him waking up to a positive text from you made your heart flutter. You knew he probably needed it, his voice sounded so tired when you called him back earlier that morning. An entire week of medical conferences and meetings with high-ranking colleagues from across the world would be enough to send anyone into an exhaustion coma, and the first thing you wanted to do when he arrived home was run him a nice bath, maybe light a nice candle, and cuddle him until he suffocated. With love, of course.

Almost 30 minutes of you and Ikkaku sitting in silence on your phones passed by before the doctor came back into your room with your discharge papers and a smile on his face. “Mrs. Trafalgar, we successfully extracted 12 eggs. 7 of them are mature enough for fertilization, which will begin as soon as we get your samples to the lab.”

Ikkaku beamed at you. “That’s amazing!”

You stood from your bed, your legs still fairly wobbly from the anesthesia, and signed the discharge papers that the doctor held. You gave him a fond smile. “Thank you so much.”

“Never a problem, I wish you all the best. Remember to call your usual clinic or us if you have any issues in recovery. Have an amazing day, ladies!” He held the clipboard with your papers firmly under his arm before nodding his head and leaving, keeping the door held open so you could leave whenever.

You took one step forward and almost immediately stumbled to the ground, Ikkaku scrambling for your arms to hold you upright. She looked panicked.

“Are you alright?” she asked, helping you lean against the end of the table.

You laughed under your breath. “I think my legs are still weak from the numbing stuff they gave me… might need to bring me to your car in a wheelchair.”

She gave you a mock salute and ran to a nurse’s station, returning with a small foldable wheelchair similar to the one you were put in immediately after your procedure. She wheeled you out to her car to take you home, cracking ‘grandma’ jokes along the way as if you were a nursing home patient being wheeled to the park.

For the first time in what felt like a millennia, your chest felt light.

A dozen eggs in a basket… or in your case, a petri dish.

#x reader #reader insert #fem reader #law x reader #one piece x reader #trafalgar law x reader #op x reader #trafalgar d water law x reader #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar law #i'm losing you

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catladyoftheyr · 2 days

Text

Too Sweet (Ch 3)

Harvey x Reader

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2

Summary: picking up off last chapters cliffhanger and diving straight into Harvey’s 4 heart event. You resolve the conflict after the incident with George, Harvey gives you a checkup, and you two share a jar of pickles in his apartment. 💘🥒

Authors note: I know nothing about the Air Force I’m so sorry. It’s just for the plot and vibes. He needed a backstory!!

Word count: 1.7k! A longer chapter as a treat

“Harvey! Oh my god why are you here? Wait, no, I don’t mean it like that” the surprise visit from the doctor had you stumbling over your words. “You scared me. And I don’t actually think your mustache is stupid. I just… I was really embarrassed about what happened earlier.”

“I actually stopped by to thank you for backing me up earlier. George can be stubborn, so I’m glad you got him to listen to you.” The doctor averted eye contact and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Do you mind if I join you?”

“Oh uhhh, sure. How much of what I said did you hear by the way?” You hoped silently that he hadn’t heard you call him cute, especially since you’d been talking to a chicken.Harvey slid down and sat next to you on the floor of the coop.

“Just the part where you insulted my mustache,” he replied, stroking his own facial hair. “The farm is coming along nicely. You must be very dedicated to make such a turn around in such a short time.”

Oh thank Yoba you thought to yourself. “Thank you. I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time; I want to honor Grandpa’s memory because he loved this farm and the community. I used to spend a couple weeks here in the summer when I was growing up. I haven’t been back to the valley since I was a teenager. I didn’t think Lewis would recognize me when I came back.” You laughed quietly, an image of you as a gawky adolescent with braces coming back to you

“About earlier, we can put that behind us if you’d like. I didn’t mean to be short with you either. I was startled so I apologize for being curt.” Harvey looked at you with a kind expression before rising from the floor. “I’d like for us to be on good terms going forward.” He extended his hand and helped you up.

———————————————————————————

The bell on the door chimed as you walked in and Harvey’s head poked up from his paperwork. “Hey! Just the person I wanted to see today actually.”

“Oh?”

“I was about to write you a letter recommending that you schedule your annual checkup. If you don’t mind, I’ve got time today actually for a cursory exam.” Truthfully you weren’t very fond of hospitals, or doctor’s appointments. But you were also a terrible liar and had no time to think of an excuse. Better just to get it over with, you supposed.

“I can make it work.” You set the jar of pickles aside temporarily and followed Harvey to an exam room. You sat down on the paper, uncomfortable with the sudden formal shift in your dynamic. You’d gone from friend to patient in a matter of minutes. Harvey placed his stethoscope just under the collar of your shirt and you flinched at the touch of the cold metal.

“Sorry it’s chilly,” Harvey said. “Your heart rate is a little high. Do hospitals make you nervous?” He asked with a slight furrow in his brow.

“A little bit” you admitted. It certainly didn’t help that this was the most physical contact the two of you had shared since you met. He placed his hand on your shoulder and your eyes met. You felt your palms start sweating.

“Take a deep breath for me please” you did as instructed and tried to focus on anything else but the feeling of his hand on you. “Your lungs sound strong.” Harvey was in his element as he checked off the boxes of a routine checkup. He tested your reflexes, examined your ears and eyes, writing down his observations on his clipboard. “So far you seem to be in good health. I just have a few more questions about your lifestyle”

“Ask away, Doc.” Harvey seemed slightly flustered at the nickname but made a quick recovery. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and stood up straighter, clearing his throat

“As I was saying. Working on the farm involves a fair amount of physical labor I assume, so I’m sure you get enough exercise. What do you usually eat in a day?”

“Oh I usually just eat the foragables I find around the valley. There’s a lot of leeks and wild onions out now. I saw a weird looking berry the other day and I ate a couple of those. Sometimes I eat eggs from the chickens, or buy something from Gus for dinner.” Harvey was visibly stressed as he absorbed the information you gave him.

“I would highly advise that you eat a more balanced diet. Foraging is fine as a snack but it won’t provide enough energy for your activity levels. Eggs are good, but I’d implore you to try and eat from all the food groups”

“So this probably isn’t a great time to say I also eat the algae I find in the mines?” You’d never seen the poor doctor so stressed; you imagined most of his patients weren’t quite as odd as you.

“Let’s move on. How much sleep do you get at night?”

“6ish, sometimes less, sometimes more”

“Well, 8 hours a night is recommended but 6 isn’t terrible I suppose. But I’d encourage you to try and find a healthier routine. Farming is labor intensive and if you don’t give your body the care it needs you won’t be able to keep up sooner or later.” He had a look of genuine worry in his eyes and it pulled at your heartstrings. You’d only known each other for several months, but you sensed the beginning of a deep connection.

“I’ll try to be better,” you replied softly. You weren’t used to being chastised, but you understood he meant well.

“Thank you. You’re free to go and have an official clean bill of health from me”

“Well I stopped by to ask a favor actually”

“Oh?”

“I was wondering if you’d do me the honors of being the very first taste tester of my first batch of farm fresh pickles” you grinned and gestured toward the door “I left them on the counter.” Harvey smiled back and held the door open for you.

“I’d be honored. I’m actually about to close up for the day, would you like to come upstairs?”

The two of you headed upstairs to the small apartment above the clinic. Furniture was sparse and well loved, and there was a small kitchenette off the main room. The back wall held a large bookshelf that boasted an assortment of books and some small trinkets. Another shelf was lined carefully with model planes. There was a radio station in the corner by the window. “It’s not much, but it’s home,” Harvey said sheepishly.

“It’s great” you replied, eyes scanning the room with eagerness. You were itching to learn more about him. You took a seat on his small sofa, your heart nearly skipping a beat when he sat next to you, his knee inches away from yours. “You can have the first one” you offered, extending the open pickle jar toward Harvey.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Harvey reached in and plucked out a particularly large pickle before biting into it. His eyes lit up as he tasted it. “This is delicious! You’ve really never made pickles before?” You shook your head. “Well you certainly have a knack for it.” You grabbed a pickle for yourself and were pleasantly surprised at how good they were. You were glad he wasn’t lying to spare your feelings.

“What’s with the planes?” You saw Harvey get a far off look on his face while he thought about his response

“I’ve always been fascinated by aviation. I did a stint in the Air Force years ago. I wanted to become a pilot but it didn’t pan out. It ended up paying for my med school tuition though. The model planes are something I like to do in my free time. I find them relaxing, and they remind me of my time in service.”

“I would have never guessed that. Pilots and doctors are pretty different. What led you down this path?”

“I think I’ve always had an affinity for helping people. I joined the Air Force to serve my country; this feels like a way to serve the community in a different way.”

“That’s actually really selfless.” You toyed with images of Harvey in uniform as you reached for another pickle, not realizing that Harvey had the same idea. Your hands met in the rim of the jar and you flinched back instinctively. The small touch left you wanting more. You adjusted your legs slightly, tentatively letting one fall against his. Harvey made no effort to break contact.

“Tell me more about yourself. You said you explore the mines. Are there really monsters in there?”

“There are! I haven’t made it down very far but there’s all kinds of creatures down there.” You animatedly described the things you’d encountered on your adventures: colorful slimes, stealthy rock crabs, large buzzing insects, agile bats and more. Harvey looked on with a mixture of awe and fear.

His voice grew soft as he spoke “please be careful in the mines. I’d hate to see you get hurt.” Suddenly it was as if a switch had gone off in his mind and he got up from the couch. “Wait here one second!” He bolted across the studio and down the stairs. You heard rummaging from below before Harvey emerged again holding an armful of various medicines and first aid supplies. “Take these.” He thrusted the bundle of supplies into your arms.

“Harvey I can’t just take these from you. These are expensive” you insisted, trying to hand them back to him. A roll of gauze unraveled on the floor. Harvey plucked it from the ground and placed it on a table.

“Nonsense. Consider it part of your checkup.” He looked you in the eyes with a pleading expression. “Please take them. And promise me you’ll keep them with you in the mines”

“I promise.”

#my writing #harvey fluff #harvey x farmer #sdv fanfic #stardew fanfiction #stardew valley fanfic #harvey stardew valley #stardew valley fanfiction #harvey x reader

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bellacatt-art · 1 day

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This might be one of my favourite pieces to date, damn I surprised myself with this one 🤧

Also the algorithm hasn't been treating me very nicely lately, so any interaction at all will be greatly appreciated, thank you!! ^-^

I've been wanting to draw some Classic Who fanart for ages, and since Tom Baker's Doctor is one of my favourites, I thought I'd go with him :3

I'm sort of getting a spring vibe from this one, which is quite fitting considering what time of year it is ♡♡

Anyways, I'm actually really proud of this, and I hope you all like it too! :)

#fourth doctor #tom baker #doctor who fanart #artists on tumblr #springtime #tardis #k9 doctor who #classic who #classic who fanart #support small artists #im very proud of this #:)

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elliepoems · 2 days

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if ellie died in the hospital, she wouldn't have known about the cure.

One of the craziest things to me about the firefly hospital is how they did not wait for ellie to wake up. They were about to use a little girl to attempt to make a vaccine and didn't even have the decency to tell her the news. Ellie crossed the fucking contry for that. She would not fight against it, Marlene fucking knew that.

At the very end of the first game, Marlene confronts Joel in the garage and he goes “That ain't for you to decide” to which she replies with “It’s what she'd want”. She was right, it is what Ellie wanted, so why not let the girl wake up? Why not let her know that her efforts for a cure were worth it? Why not let her know that the loss of Riley, Tess, and Sam was not in vain? It makes no sense to me. It's cruel, even.

On the second game, during the lookout flashback, Ellie says to Joel:

"We traveled across the entire country to bring me to the Fireflies...I had so many questions for them. Why did you pull me out of there while I still unconscious?"

This drives me CRAZY because even if joel did nothing, she still would've had no answers. Ellie would've died for the supposed cure without knowing.

When Abby told her dad that if she was immune she would want to be sacrificed... okay, does that mean Ellie didn't deserve to wake up and at least express her choice? Get her last moments? Do something she really wants to do before dying? No closure at all? God, lets take out the morality of it all if we must... no background check on her health state? What if something happened during the trip? No questions at all.

And I could go on and on about this doctor. When talking to Marlene he referred to Ellie as "the host". He was really reluctant about treating her for what she is, a child. The way Ellie was treated by the fireflies showcases their lack of decency. And I’m not even getting into the details of how rushing into a surgery that way was a product of a heavy conscience.

I am certain they were gonna use the vaccine to save themselves, not humanity. But that’s just me though.. By the way, this post is not about the Fireflies X Joel discourse.

#ellie williams #tlou #tlou2 #ellie the last of us #the last of us #lesbian #ellie tlou #joel miller #abby the last of us #abby tlou #abby anderson #firefly

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bugs1nmybrain · 2 days

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Bipolar!Shigaraki Tomura Headcanons

I'm writing it. Because I CAN

Before I start, I am writing these headcanons as someone who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 for almost three years now. I frankly could not care less if people don't think he has Bipolar Disorder, I'm writing this for my comfort and that of others who either have Bipolar disorder or just resonate with the idea that Tomura does.

and I'm also very aware of Bipolar Disorder being stigmatized as something that affects "bad" people. I'm not trying to suggest this, but that Tomura is someone who is neglected of treatment.

Warning: Bipolar disorder as title suggests (Tomura's symptoms relate to type 1 more), talks of depression, mania, psychosis, suicidality, etc, angst?

Tomura has never been given a formal diagnosis and likely has no clue that he has bipolar disorder himself. He doesn't know much about it, either, other then the stereotype that people with general mood swings are "so bipolar."

The doctor knows, AFO does too, but for them, they see it as more ammo for their arsenal to make sure Tomura's life is nothing but agony. He's never been treated with medications or therapy. Nothing.

Because he isn't medicated, his episodes are pretty strong. His manic episodes sort of blend in with his everyday behavior to a lot of people.

It's during this time that he finds himself planning out grand operations against the heroes. Some of his ideas seem unrealistic and not well thought out. They're more just ideas thrown around, and he jumps to gather people and means to carry out his goal before actually having a calculated plan.

He's up all night doing this. But if he's not, he's likely gaming. He huddles up in his room with multiple cans of energy drinks (as if he didn't already have way too much energy).

(semi-canon) will text his comrades at godforsaken hours either asking, demanding, or just rambling about stuff. If he gets an answer, the recipient often finds themself confused because Tomura just talks and talks and talks, and when he's in the heat of some plan or project he doesn't really stop to compose his sentences or even take a damn breath.

He impulsively buys things, like copious amounts of in-game purchases. Or DoorDash. If he's feeling reeeaaal bold he'll go for a whole-ass gaming console if he can, even if his current one is perfectly fine. Or assembling as many thugs as he can and feeling generous enough to overpay them when they definitely don't need the amount of money he's giving them.

You can see how when AFO was arrested, his lifestyle shifted in this regard.

Tomura is already an irritable guy, and so his mania can make it worse. He gets very overstimulated with all of his sensations that little things, like accidentally stubbing his toe, can make him mad as fuck for a good thirty minutes.

He also gets very paranoid about others. When he talks to people, he's already convinced that they are tricking him somehow and he'll read every cue he can to confirm it, even if the proof isn't even there.

Even when he's out in public and by himself, he thinks everyone is mocking, judging, and looking at him. That also comes with being the most wanted villain around, but that's beside the point.

When something finally goes his way, he is HAPPY. Sometimes the League will catch Tomura smiling his face off for no apparent reason (odd for him), and will ask what's up, only for Tomura to CACKLE back with, "ehehAHAH NOTHING!! THAT's just IT!"

They look at each other like, but just let him go about his day. They'll later hear him giggling to himself in his room, and sometimes talking to himself. He'll deny and just tell them he was on chat (his devices are not open and he is standing in the middle of his room).

Because he's not medicated, his mania can trickle into psychotic symptoms. Especially if he's going through more stress than typical. He hears voices that tell him mean things. Sometimes they're the voices of his dead family.

And because he doesn't sleep much, he sees detailed shadows and things moving that aren't. It disturbs him, but he accepts it and tries to just push on. But sometimes if he hears voices more than he'd like, he gets sad and has to grip his head and whisper "shut up shut up shut up" to negate them.

He's delusional, too. AFO's grooming and constant monitoring of his whole life have definitely emphasized his distrust of everything around him. Sometimes he'll think that the people he's gaming with online are secret hero spies trying to get him to reveal himself. He also has a fear that someone is watching him in every location, and he'll think that even the silliest things are cameras or microphones, or that those around him are also spies. Later on, it becomes paranoia that his master is everywhere.

Then comes the doom of depression

For Tomura, he's technically always depressed. But when he goes into a depressive episode, he's pretty lifeless.

He's complacent about his goals. Sometimes he'll get a tiny idea that makes his brain go !, but then he thinks of all the planning behind it and immediately slouches down on any nearby furniture

He'll lay in bed for a long period of time doing nothing. Sometimes he'll try to play a game on his phone but he gets bored quick.

Tends to eat more during this time because it's the only joy he can get. And he gets bored. He is SO BORED

Anhedonia is a bitch

His brain dwells and rambles, yet his thoughts don't make sense to him? He's constantly thinking about how fucked up his life is, how better other villains are, and how much he hates All Might and heroes altogether. He tells himself that if it wasn't for all of that he wouldn't feel this way (relating to the depressive episode).

It overwhelms him and he tries to sleep it off, but he's somehow so depressed that he's UNCOMFORTABLE. His itching gets bad.

He is very suicidal during this time and hurts himself to try and subside it. If you asked him his reason for living, he'd tell you "to see this world crumble." But he's too busy crumbling in his bed.

Psychotic symptoms can occur during his depression, too. Especially if he hasn't slept.

His lack of medication usually causes him to swap back to mania somewhat soon (2 months or so). He definitely has rapid cycles.

Because his condition isn't managed, his brain is sort of in an in-an-out stance when it comes to his literal sanity. He has moments where he can definitely be level-headed (he gets rrly confident when he notices it) but when his anger and stress fuel him more than usual, he spirals and quite literally sees red. Sometimes he can't even tell if he's dreaming or not. Often mistakes the date and day of the week.

I might write a fic of the reader comforting bipolar tomura. I don't think I've ever seen a fic like that for any character.

#shigaraki tomura #shigaraki tomura headcanons #tomura shigaraki #tenko shimura #shigaraki headcanons #bipolar shigaraki #the league of villains #shiggy #shigaraki x reader

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zillasvilla · 2 days

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Chapter 2: Danger Zone

Rebellion in The Shadows: Chapter one

Warnings: abortion, choking, medical racism, death Explicit 18 plus only. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Pairings: Joseph Anoa’i x Original Character.

Summary: What Joseph thought would be a normal first day as chief quickly turned south. Can he get it under control?

I would suggest listening to this while reading the chapter. It’s very calming. Especially if you’re a slow reader like me.

Joe was seething in anger at the thought of the girl not having eaten. He specifically told..no..ordered Solo to make sure she was cleaned up and fed. Now here she was, scarfing down the several fruits he offered her for breakfast. What he thought would be enough to satisfy her hunger while he waited for the village doctor.

”Slow down.” He reaches over to grab her hand. A tinge of pain in his eyes when she flinched away from him. Guarding the food like some wild animal. If it wasn’t for his cousin’s spouses cleaning her up, she would’ve looked like one.

Her hair still in the two braids from the night before, and a new set of clothes that swallowed her tiny frame. He steps back and passes her another bowl of fruit, holding his hand up when she tries to gather a bunch at once. “Eat what’s in your hand first.”

She scarfs down what’s left in her hand, and grabs a fruit in both hands. Juices running down her chin, eyes rolling at the sweet flavor of whatever she was eating. He shakes his head with a smile, using his own hand to clean her chin. He ignores the way she flinches, determined to get to the root of the problem sooner or later.

“Is it good?” She nods, not looking at him, digging in the bowl. He grabs her hands gently, feeling his own hands warm up. “Don’t eat too much, too fast, save some for later.” Her mouth moves slowly, letting the now chewed fruit slide down her throat. The hunger in her belly sated for the moment.

”Good girl.”He mutters, grabbing a rag to wipe her mouth.

“My tribal chief. Is everything alright?”

He hums standing to straighten his back and tosses the rag somewhere in the small hut. “No Rafi. Everything is not alright.” He claps his hands in front of him, turning slightly, “I need to see if she can be healed.”

Rafi turns his gaze from his chief to the young girl sitting on the brown wood carved table. Her darker-skinned complexion let him know she was an outsider. Her brown eyes looked back at him in wonder. Her childlike demeanor made him wonder who she was. Although curious, he would have to refuse.

”No, I can’t not heal her.” Rafi stands his ground.

Joe lets out a deep sigh, rolling his shoulders back, before looking down at the shorter man. “Why.”

“She is an outsider. During your father’s time as chief. He specifically ordered me to not treat any ou-“

”Bullshit.” He couldn’t believe Rafi was going to stand there and lie on his father’s name. If his father was really like that; his cousins’ spouses would not be here. His head slowly tilts, with the crossing of his arms over his now puffed out chest. Daring him to lie again. “Try that again.”

The fomai didn’t want whatever he said to bite him in the ass, but he stood firm on his beliefs. “During the rise of your father as Matai, He opened the island to visitors. It was nice for a while, until we were invaded.”

Joe knew the story of how they were almost overrun by foreigners. He didn’t blame his dad for that. Rafi continues the story, explaining how the foreigners were destroying their land, their crops and their homes. He could remember his uncles talking about this attack. all the time. As he got older Matai Sika would drill it into his head to never let it happen again, knowing he would be the next Chief.

”It was a horrible massacre of our people that we had surrendered. It took years to get Samuelu back and I refuse to watch it happen again.”

Joseph let’s a smiling chuckle, pinching the bridge of his nose. Opting to keep his cool, not wanting to scare the girl who was now looking between the two. Still, laughing to himself, he looks at a confused Rafi. “So you’re a racist.”

“No chief.”

“You’re standing here refusing to help a defenseless woman. It makes me seem like you are.”

“I’m not Matai! We don’t help her kind on this island.”

Joe looks up to the sky, nodding while his hand scratches under his beard. Slightly agitated as realization set in. Trinity, Valentina, and Tiana, look just like the girl on the table. He’s wondered how long he refused his family because of them. He turns to the girl then back to Rafi. He wasn’t in the mood for the back and forth. He had things to do. “Where’s your wife? Is he here?”

Rafi nods “She’s here chief.”

He forms a small smirk at the corner of his mouth, eyes glancing at Rafi’s own, seeing the fear in them. “Go get her.” He nods to the door.

“My chief..” Rafi protests. He didn’t want his wife touching this filth. But, the menacingly glint behind the son of Sika’s eyes, froze his further movements to protest.

”That’s right. Your CHIEF.” Joe steps closer, towering over the shorter man. He would hate to have to make an example out of him. At least not on his first day as Matai Joseph Anoa’i. “I hate repeating myself, Rafi.”

He left with a quickness, not wanting to anger the chief further. He finds his wife mixing different plants together. “Sevia. Come now.” He urges. Sevia drops what she;s doing, drying her hands on her apron. Rafi rushes her into the room. Joe was standing there, arms crossed as he looked between them two.

”My chief....” Sevia starts.

“She needs medical assistance.”

The wooden table felt cold to her skin as she laid back. Sevia removed her shirt, a soft gasp of shock leaving her lips. Joe’s body flexes, breathing through his nose, he calms himself down, only for it to dissipate at the removal of her pants and too big shoes. The dark bruises slowly fading, but still very prominent. The cuts on her legs scabbing over. Sevia wasn’t sure on how to treat this.

”My chief..If I may..what happened to her?”

That was something he couldn’t answer, but he had a feeling he knew where she came from. He watches Sevia examine her body closely, noticing the wince on the girl's face when she grabbed her wrists a little too rough.

”I’d be careful if I were you.” His tone startled them both. He had noticed the way Sevia was looking at her. He noted the lace of disgust behind her curious gaze. He was itching for her to say something out of pocket.

”It’s just. I have never seen anything like it.” She grabs the girl’s leg, once again being too rough with her.

Joe stares at her, understanding the hidden meaning in her statement. An irritated scratch to the area under his beard, he grabs Sevia’s arm in a tight grip. The woman groans in pain, reaching to pry his fingers off, but the glare he pointed at her had her paralyzed in place.

”I didn’t ask you what you’ve seen.” He speaks slowly in her ear. His grip tightening around the cuff of her bicep. “ I ordered you to help her. Don’t test my patience.”

“Yes..my chief.”

He roughly lets her go, making her stumble. Sevia catches her footing, moving around the tight space to gather the necessary items she needed. The young girl laid there, oblivious to what was going on. Joe had noticed she fell asleep, an amused smile on his face. He chuckles when he notices her hand moving around the table, before dipping into the bowl of fruit. The peeled Moli (oranges) touching her lips. He keeps a watchful eye on Sevia. Her nervous stature hunched over her body, applying several different herbal remedies to her bruised skin.

“How often should she do that.?”

”Uhm, every other day. Best to do it before bed. I need to check down below, mind giving us somâ€”“

‘No.” He cuts her off, moving to the opposite side of the table, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “Hurry it up.”

”Yes sir.”

The young girl frowns at her legs being pushed open. She draws her legs back and tries to sit up. Joe notices her discomfort, and places a hand on her shoulder. the warm sensation filling his body yet again. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” He whispers, using the fruit to distract her from him laying her down again. “Just want to make sure you’re okay.”

The fruit did little to distract her from Sevia, pushing her fingers inside of her vagina. The discomfort was unbearable while Sevia prodded her fingers around her insides, before pulling them out. Sevia’s look of concern had him alert.

”What is it.?” He looks at Sevia.

”She’s uh..pregnant.”

His eyes flicker between the two of them, before he stares at nothing. Joe’s mind is running a mile a minute; contemplating on what he’s about to say next.

“Abort it.”

“Chief! that is her decision to make!” Sevia shouts. He may be the new chief and has finally say so on things, but this was still her body. It was still her choice. She noticed the slight head tilt, and rolling of his shoulders. The anger visible in his eyebrows. She really had the audacity to yell at him.

“I hate repeating myself, Sevia.” His eyes close while scratching his head. “I would hate to tell your husband why you have two broken hands.”

“I don't....“ she closes her mouth, looking between him and the girl. Who wasn’t phased at Joe’s threat. She couldn’t. “I just think we should ask her.”

”Okay. I’ll humor you.” He turns to the girl, a hand on her back as he leaned down, their eyes locked on each other as he spoke. “You’re pregnant. Do you want it.” The girl knew what he was asking, a baby is growing in her. Something she remembers her mom talking about. She had begun to remember her name. Averi. She wanted to talk, but her body and mind was telling her not to. She couldn't tell whether or not she was ever here.

The only thing she could do was shake her head no, turning back to the last of the fruit. The sweet juicy fruit soothing her throat. They thought she would put up a fight. to her she wasn’t ready to have a baby. Joseph, as she learned, would keep her safe. She wasn’t scared.

“I won’t tell you again, so do what you gotta do.” He gains their attention again, grabbing her clothes, to redress her. The jacket he was wearing now enveloping her frame. Flicking his fingers at her “Use your feet.” A blank expression behind his eyes.

Sevia frowns, but does as told. He watches her shift around, grabbing certain herbs, and fruits, using a mortar to grind it down to a spice like texture. Grabbing a wooden cup, she fills it with fire boiled water, mixing the ground up ingredients.

“Take a sip.” He demands.

’What-“

He puts the cup to Sevia’s lip. “Drink some and swallow.” She probably thought he was crazy for asking, but he couldn’t be too safe. Joseph made sure she took a sip, watching the liquid go down her throat. He waits for any sort of reaction, before placing the cup to her lips.

”Here doll. Take a sip.” He holds the cup to her mouth, his left hand resting on the back of her head. She places her lips around the rim, letting him tilt her head back. The luke-warm liquid, soothing her aching throat.

”Good girl.” He whispers. “What happens now?” He looks at Sevia, breaking her from a curious daze.

”In the next couple of days it will end the pregnancy and clean out her system. her bruises and wrists will take time, but they already started the process of fading.”

Joe, holding her hand while letting her get down from the table. “You and your husband will be stepping down from the village doctor position.”

’Chief!.” She goes to protest. The intense glare in his eyes shuts her up.

“It’s either that or death, your choice.” He hoped she picked the latter, but her reluctant nod, and shuffling of feet said otherwise. First day as chief and it’s already some shit.

The smell of wood burning, and fish frying filled her nose. She was salivating at the mouth, as Joe guided her back into her temporary home. The aching pain in her legs, subsiding the more she walked.

”Doll.” She looks at him, knowing he was talking to her. He hadn’t thought to ask for her name. He wasn’t sure she had one. He settled on Doll, That’s what she was. A pretty little thing with doll-like features, that were sure to fill out once she got real food in her stomach. Jey comes into view, a goofy grin on his face as he opens the door. Solo behind him, carefully watching Doll.

She’s looking up at him, figuring he was talking to her. He looks down at the smaller woman. “Are you hungry?”

She nods eagerly, a throaty laugh leaves his lips. Looking back at Jey and Solo, he zeroes in on the laughing Jey ,wondering where the other one was.

"Go find your brother, and meet me out back.” He orders, pushing him to the side to let Doll through. Her nose follows the scent, joining the women in the kitchen who were in the kitchen. Valentina instantly greets her with a smile. Joe turns to back to Jey, closing the door.

”He’s outside Uce. something about wild animals eating the crops.”

He watches her in the kitchen with the women, tasting the lunch for today. Calmly he looks between Jey and Solo “Why didn’t she eat?

“She fell asleep after the girls cleaned her up-."Jey begins.

”I told them to let her sleep.” Solo interrupts. Joe points his eyes at him and nods, walking past him. A reassuring pat on Solo’s shoulders confuses the brothers.

“Next, time I tell you an order, I expect it to be followed through.” He peeks into the kitchen, seeing the girls showing her how to cook whatever it is they were making. “Let’s go.”

The power and presence of his walk could be felt from miles away. His new position as Matai, made his aura dominating. It was hard to not fall in line when he commanded. They look on as Jimmy works on a fence to keep wild animals out of the crop garden. Solo and Jey grab their own tools to help. Jimmy, finally looking up, wipes the sweat off his face with the ends of his shirt. He glances briefly at Joe, seeing the furrowed crease in his eyes and the tight tension in his jaw.

”You good Uce?”

“Zilla and a few others found a crashed military plane out by the light house.” He lets out a frustrated sigh. “Second one this month.”

Solo, now intrigued by the new found information looks to his stressed out chief. “I can go check it out.” Joe appreciated his eagerness to snuff out potential dangers.

“As much as I appreciate that Solo..The twins will do it.”

The sounds of teeth kissing and lips smacking causes him to look in their direction. “Is there a problem?”

“Nah. No problem.” Jey mutters, smacking his twin on the back. “We’ll go after lunch.”

A knowing smirk forms on Joe’s face, content with their answers. “Then let’s go eat boys.”

Jimmy was the first to drop his tools, clapping his hands together to rub them in circles to get off excess dirt. “Bout time. Starvin’.”

Joseph enjoyed having his family at the table for all the meals. He preferred it that way. It made him feel normal. He sat at the head of the table. Doll to his right side, with Trinity next to her. Valentina had placed the last of the vegetables on the table, sitting next to Jey who was on his left. Everyone grabs hands, Averi, not as dumb as she looks, places her hands in Trinity and Joe’s. Their eyes closed and heads bowed, Joe leads the prayer.

“Dear heavenly gracious father, let us thank you for this food that has been prepared by the hands of the blessed women in our lives. Let it nourish our mind and our bodies, in your name we pray, amene”

”amene”.

Joe, being the head, would have served himself first, instead he served Doll first, putting heaping portions on her plate. Everyone doing the same while going into side conversations. The clinking of forks hitting the plate gained his attention. He looks to his right. Doll was shoveling heaps of food in her mouth; cheeks filling to the brim like a chipmunk. He chews his own food, taking her plate pushing it out of reach. She panics, thinking it was about to be all over, but it got worse when a sharp object went down sideways in her throat. A strangled cry and gagging sound leave her mouth.

“Oh shit.” Everyone scrambles around the table. Joe grabs her face with one hand, squeezing her cheeks, forcing her to spit out the remainder of the food into his hand. Her gagging sounds more audible.

He tossed it in the bin Jey grabbed and stood behind her, patting her back. Valentine had already boiled some water over the fire. She used certain plants and made a warm tea for her to drink. Once the last of the food came out into the bin, she managed to stop choking. The excruciating pain in her throat had her still crying. Every time she swallowed, the bone would pierce into her throat.

”Here, try this.” Solo places a bowl of bread in front of her, figuring that a bone could be sucked in her throat. Jimmy had done a sloppy job into deboning the fish.

“Slowly.” Joseph reminds her, sitting back down and placing the cup of warm tea in front of her.

She chewed on the bread, an approving smile on his face when she listened. The mushed bread slid down her throat, the lodged fish bone mixed with it. A look of relief on her face when she can finally swallow without pain .

“Damn girl.” Jey grumbles, sitting back down next to Valentina. “Bout gave me a heart attack.

“Not her fault somebody didn’t debone the fish correctly.” Tiana looks to Jimmy.

”Whatchu lookin at me?” He scoffs, stuffing some vegetables in his mouth. “I don’t see you out there catching and fileting fish like some farmhand.”

”Jon!.’ Trinity hits him.

“I don’t have to, your big ass mouth catches them all,.” Tiana snorts, a gentle nudge for Solo, who covered his laugh by feeding himself fish.

While the two of them bickered back and forth. Jey watched the girl closely, intrigued, he grabbed a notepad and some lead. The sudden moment gains Joe’s attention watching Jey, pass her the materials. She looks at the items, then at him.

“You got a name?” He asks, gaining everyone’s attention. Finally asking the question Joseph should have asked. He watches her take the lead, scribbling letters on the page.

He leans closer, a surprised expression on his face. The writing wasn’t readable, but he could make out some of the letters. “Averi?” He says aloud, looking at her, seeing an appreciative smile on her face when she nods.

“Fitting,” He mutters. He would thank Jey later for doing that. The clinking of utensils picks back up, small conversations here and there. He keeps a watchful eye on her as she eats.

“What are we doing here Uce?” Jey asks after their eventful lunch, Joe had dragged Jey along with him to the tribal combat circle. Hands stuffed into the pockets of his dark tan pants. He turns to Jey.

”You think death is an adequate consequence for being racist. Or am I crazy?” He looks off spotting two of his newly appointed enforcers.

“Depends. I mean, did it harm others?”

“Could have.” He shrugs, walking to the center of the circle. A sinister smirk on his face when Rafa and Sevia were thrown at his feet. Their eyes pleading for mercy. “Thank you Zilla, Sarona.”

They nod, stepping off to the side. Joe looks down, the two of them groveling at his feet, tears streaming down his face. Amused he stuck his foot out to see what they would do, immediately they began kissing it.

”You know. Never understood why people like getting their feet kissed.” He directs to Jey, who’s watching in shock. He turns his mouth up, yanking it back, circling around them slowly. “But seeing them grovel, beg for my mercy. It just does something to me.” He stops behind them, inhaling deeply, closing his eyes.

“Joe.” Jey starts.

”It’s Chief.” He snaps, pupils blown, shoulders squared back. Jey noticed a different side of Joe come out, watching his foot push at Rafi’s back, making him eat dirt. Sevia looks on; tears streaming down her red-flushed face.

”See, my father was an easy going chief.” He motions his enforcers over. “However, I’m not.” He digs his heel into Rafi’s neck, a satisfied groan leaving his lips at the sounds of choking.

“Uce-“ Jey steps forward, the intense glare in Joe’s eyes stops him. He corrects himself.

”I won’t tolerate disrespect.” He presses harder, a cracking sound making Jey wince. His enforcers looked on, not daring to be the next victims under his awaiting foot. “Or the backtalk. I’m the chief now. My word is law.” He pulls his foot back, watching Rafi go limp in the sand.

“Everyone deserves a second chance.” Jey tells him.

”Sounds like my father. You hang out around him too much.’ He mutters. He catches the gaze of a young girl. Her facial features are similar to Averi’s. He lets out a curious hum. He tilts his head at Zilla and Sarona. They see the girl. Sarona nods, understanding what he wanted done before he could ask, yet he told them anyway.

“Take 'em’ to the mountains. Keep it clean.” Quickly doing as told, Jey glances at them before going up to his side.

”What are they going to do to them?”

“Death.” He said that so smoothly, catching Jey off guard. This new side of Joe kind of intrigued him. He just wasn’t sure how the island would react. Joe’s long fast strides made it hard to keep up. “Go find the girl that was hiding. I have shit to do.”

”What do I do with her?” He questions.

“You have until Sarona is back to find out who she is.” He starts. “If Sarona gets to her before you then you’ll be out there with Jimmy catching fish.”

Jey stands there stunned as Joe walks away, disappearing through the trees. It takes him a minute, but Joe finds his way to the lighthouse, making his way to the top where a set up of chairs were strategically placed around the area. He grabs a set of binoculars, turning in the direction of the mountain. The binoculars were placed on his eyes. He scans the mountains. Zilla and Sarona finally come into view, watching them strip the couple down, before their hands wrapped around their head. He grins, watching their necks snap and, bodies go limp.

Their bodies were tossed into a nearby cave. Satisfied with his enforcers, he searches for Jey. He wanted to find him before the sunset. He knows he could’ve just asked Sarona. He wanted to see what Jey would do if he found a foreigner. He searches the island, spotting Jey near the fale faafiafia (town hall) . He hums in approval, at Jey finding the young girl, carrying her to the house. He tosses the binoculars on the chairs, leaning forward on the railing inside the spacious room. He scans the entire island slowly with the nod of his head. Realization sets in.

“ 'ou te tamo'e i le mea lea” (i run this shit)

A/N: Uhm. So here’s that. Actually one of my favorite chapters I have written for any of my stories. (Including wips waiting to be thought out.) I’m gonna drag this one out.

Like the knew set up?

Zilla’s Villagers:

@justazzi @yana3sworld @wrestlingprincess80 @abadbitchblogs @courtninacole @kill-the-artiste @destinio1 @kill-the-artiste @reci1996 @mindairy @jatriciablog @alichesmi @jstarr86 @minsheyaish @wonderingfashion @whatdoeseverybodywant @empressdede @jeysbvck @jeysbaby

#roman reigns x black!reader #roman reigns x oc #original character #roman reigns #black oc #black tumblr #fanfic #mature audiences only #jey uso x black!oc #jey uso x oc #solo sikoa #jimmy uso #the tribal chief #myislandbabies #Spotify

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