Ouch.

Donnie x fem! Reader The little merturtle 4

Summary: Prince Donatello was the third of four brothers, the prince of an underwater yokai city, but he has always been searching for something else far more interesting than the mystic arts he is used to, he wants to know everything about the human world, their traditions, their creations... But when he finds himself entranced by a human princess it might just be the last push he needs to make his dream of exploring the land a reality.

“Do you hear that?” You wondered looking around curiously and Donnie just shrugged at you nervously, thank Poseidon he couldn’t speak, he was a terrible liar.

The change of ambiance seemed to be exactly what he had needed because when your gazes met again this time there was some charged energy in the air, very different from before.

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending, tooth-rotting fluff

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A month in writing

Donnie was on one of the castle’s towers, surrounded by huge windows with a beautiful view of the clouds and blue sky from where he sat inside a huge and luxurious bathtub; Sunita, your lady in waiting, whom you had introduced to him once reaching the castle, had taken him up there and sprinkled some sort of potion inside to make the bubbles appear.

“Washed up from a shipwreck,” Sunita said while making a signal to him, asking soundlessly if she could pour water on his head, Donnie was grateful for the warning and nodded, the water flowed and while it felt nice it also bothered him that his hair seemed to get in the way a lot, he tried to push it out of his face while Sunita continued talking.

“How horrible! But don’t worry, we’ll have you feeling better in no time, It might take a while for your long thick hair to dry but it will feel so much better!” She said; Donnie was mostly lost in his mind, excited to find out how the tub had been filled in the first place.

Leo was still somewhere on the sail that had covered Donnie, bored, he tried to get out when Sunita suddenly took hold of it, Leo was still tangled up there.

“I’ll send this to get washed! But we’ll get you some new clothes!”

As soon as Sunita said that Leo was suddenly pushed into some water, he scrambled up trying to get away from the cloth, but he was pulled roughly onto a metallic surface by the hands of a woman, he felt his carapace hitting pieces of metal repeatedly as he went up and down that thing over and over again, oh he felt like throwing up.

“Well, you must have at least heard about this boy” One of the ladies cleaning the clothes said.

“No!” Another answered, Leo was suddenly inside the water again, it tasted weird like someone had removed the salt and added something…sickly sweet?

“Gertrude says—”

The first woman scoffed interrupting “When has Gertrude ever gotten anything right?” Finally, Leo was pulled out of the water, he was hanging from the cloth and burped out…bubbles?!

He was thrown onto something firm “I mean really, he shows up in rags and doesn’t speak, not my idea of a prince.”

That tough thing started moving and Leo hid inside his carapace fast as he felt he was getting squished, he came out the other side and fell onto the rags, Leo moved wildly from one side to the other before the rags got hung from somewhere with him still in there.

The ignorant woman was still talking “If Y/N is looking for a boy I know a couple of highly available ones” While she said that, the rope holding Leo up started moving and then he fell on the floor somewhere else.

His legs felt wobbly, and he muttered angrily while standing on all fours “I have never been treated like this in my life, just wait until I’m back to my form, ugh”

His mumbling was stopped by what he saw next, Leo blanched at the sight, he could already hear his father’s voice telling him something among the lines of ‘I told you so’ and Leo felt his stomach that had been already unsettled enough twist again.

He saw the tail of a fish, cut in pieces by a sharp knife laying on the table, he could see an octopus’ legs pouring out of a boiling pot, and another fish was directly over the fire of the stove, was that a sailfish? He hoped it wasn’t a sailfish. Having seen enough, Leo wanted to get out of there immediately.

Yeah, he ate fish, it was the diet of most creatures down there in the hidden city, but the scene was grotesque, and he didn’t want to find a massacred turtle there somewhere, if he did THEN he would empty his stomach.

Somewhere else in the castle you were overlooking the sea from the dining room with a tall ceiling and windows just as large, Casey was trying to talk to you despite knowing that your mind was elsewhere.

“Your highness, be reasonable,” She said, she only called you that when speaking of royal duty, duty was of utmost importance to Cassandra who had been raised as your aid from a young age, and now she was repeating most of what she had already said for the past couple of days “Nice young men just don’t swim around rescuing people in the middle of the ocean and then flitter off into oblivion like some—”

You rolled your eyes finally looking back at her “I’m telling you, Casey, he was real, I couldn’t have made that up and I’m not going to stop looking for him” You concluded.

“And when you find him? Will you finally settle down?” she asked, almost hoping you were in fact right.

You just crossed your arms “That’d be too rushed, I may be infatuated with him but I’m not crazy” You said with a huff “Once I find him, I’ll get to know him, confirm what I felt is real, we can go from there, slowly” you emphasized the last word.

At that moment you heard Sunita close to the entrance of the room “Come on now, don’t be shy! You look great!”

It had taken a while for Donnie to be dressed, familiar with the human need to wear a cloth over themselves but uncomfortable with the texture of some of the ones he had received at first, he was silently thankful for Sunita who had seemed to catch onto that and got him something more comfortable.

And yet, showing up like that in front of you made him nervous now, but finally, Sunita got him to stand stiffly under the arch of the entrance, for a moment, he forgot he was meeting you as he examined the room like he had all the others, walking in completely in awe of the furniture and decorations inside.

As he got closer and was finally illuminated by the setting sun your eyes widened, you had found him handsome, of course, but still weren’t expecting him to clean up as well as he did.

You didn’t realize Casey had stepped close behind you, a smug grin on her face as she whispered in your ear, “Oh Y/N, what were you saying about your hero?” You turned to glare at her quickly before making your way over to your guest whose attention was back on you, he smiled tensely without knowing the proper etiquette.

“You look great, how are you feeling?” You asked, not one to forget your manners just because the sight of someone had made your traitorous heart glance away for a moment.

Donnie made a gesture to show he was better now and Casey guided him over to the table, speaking as firmly as ever “Come! It is important to get sustenance into your body after a horrible experience!”

You made your way to the table sitting next to your guest at the head of it, your mind wandered to the moment you found him at the beach, and you fought down the resurfacing disappointment from when you found out it wasn’t him you had been looking for.

The moment he sat on the table Donnie’s eyes drifted to the tableware, recognizing happily the instruments used for human eating traditions, he got excited, he would finally find out how a fork and spoon are used in practice! He was practically vibrating in his seat.

“Sunita, what’s for dinner?” You asked the moment your lady-in-waiting got close, hoping to divert your attention from the man at your left.

“Oh, you’ll love it, chef Swaggart is fixing his specialty, stuffed crab!”

Back in the kitchen Leo was trying to use his teleporting abilities to no avail, he huffed angrily “Really? I knew those two weren’t telling us something, why would the potion block our ninpo?” he asked himself before a singing voice interrupted him, Leo turned around to find the chef back in the kitchen.

It was his sign to run away, but his tiny turtle legs couldn’t get him far too fast, oh he hated being a regular turtle! He was so slow! His whole thing was to be fast!

So, lost in his mind as he was, the chef caught sight of him “What’s this? A red-eared slider?” The chef took Leo in his hand curiously “I didn’t ask for this, there’s just not enough meat on these tiny turtles” He hummed examining the turtle even closer “It’s also not flavorful enough…”

The chef was cut off, Leo had had enough and bit his nose the moment it was close enough, chef Swaggart yelled out in pain and Leo went out flying.

Not even Señor Hueso would treat him like this in the palace kitchen! Or well, he might have a couple of times, but at least Leo could defend himself then!

A battle began in the kitchen while Donnie was none the wiser.

Soon enough, the food was being served, and while it was, Casey was proposing that you take your guest over to see the sights of the kingdom.

You glanced up to look at her “Sorry, what was that?”

While Casey was scolding you about how you couldn’t keep moping about in the castle –Donnie wondered what you could have been moping about— a plate was served right in front of him.

Casey wasn’t looking at hers while lifting the cover, but Donnie was and he suddenly panicked at seeing his brother served next to a stuffed crab, Leo smiled sheepishly at Donnie who responded with an exasperated glare, how did he get there?!

Donnie lifted the covering of his own plate while you and Casey talked, signaling for Leo to hurry and hide in there, Leo didn’t have to be told twice, he rushed as fast as his tiny legs would take him and dove in, Donnie innocently closing the lid immediately and looking up as if he had been paying attention to the conversation.

“Well, what do you say?” You asked Donnie, smiling brightly at him and he nodded quickly, having no idea what he had agreed to.

Thankfully you explained right after he had already agreed “Great! We’ll go out tomorrow morning, is it Ok with you if we go by carriage for our tour of the kingdom?”

A tour of the kingdom, a tour of the kingdom! Donnie nodded ecstatic, not knowing how a carriage would be pulled on land and already wishing to find out, he was about to explore the human world like he had always wanted, in his immediate future! It was happening, and not only that, but you were going to be his guide, when he thought about it after saving you it had seemed like an impossible dream, and yet it was a reality now.

Casey herself seemed satisfied at your answer “Excellent, we shall start our dinner now before it gets cold, so you have energy tomorrow!” Casey looked at the crab on her plate, ignoring the empty space at the side of it.

Donnie observed your manners and use of utensils carefully throughout dinner, repeating motions the best he could and thanking April in his mind for telling him as much as she had about them, you got shy at seeing him pay attention to you so closely but continued eating and chatting like normal.

After dinner you guided Donnie over to the library, he looked curiously at the stacks of books that covered the walls when you reached a desk all by its lonesome on the far end of the library.

“I come here to read or work sometimes, when I don’t want to be cooped up in my office” you explained before pulling open a drawer on the dress and taking out something, a piece of parchment and what looked like a feather alongside a black container.

You looked shyly up at him before speaking up again “I, um, realized a moment ago that I never introduced myself, and was hoping we could do that now.”

Donnie faltered for a moment, it had started becoming infuriating not to talk, he ranted a lot, he liked doing that, and being unable to talk with you was becoming depressing.

You took him out of his thoughts by offering your hand to him with a small smile “My name’s Y/N” you said, and he smiled a bit, he grasped your hand shaking it firmly, instead of asking for his name though you offered the feather to him, he smiled, hoping really hard that the writing language was the same for humans as it was for yokai.

He leaned over the paper, and you watched attentively as the pen ran through the page.

Donatello.

You grinned while reading the name “Donatello” you said, taking him by surprise, he smiled sheepishly but was much more relieved now that you had a way to communicate even if it wasn’t ideal, with this realization he started writing again, your gaze following his hand again.

Or Donnie.

You realized he was giving you a nickname you could call him and nodded at him “It’s nice to meet you Donnie” you said smiling gently and he grinned while his heart fluttered.

Later that night Donnie was looking out the window of the room you had given him while Leo played around a table with a large mirror and jewelry that was left around.

“I hope you appreciate what I went through for you today, Donnie!” Leo exclaimed calling for his twin’s attention, Donnie just rolled his eyes, closing the window and walking over to the table, Leo kept rambling “It was humiliating, gosh, I miss Hueso, oh and just so you know the chef mentioned something about softshell turtle soup” Leo shivered and Donnie made a face of disgust.

Donnie took out a notebook you had given him to communicate and placed it on the table right next to Leo, he started writing and Leo rolled his eyes the moment he read the words.

‘No one asked you to come.’

“And leave you alone? Wandering around the human world all by yourself when your favorite brother could accompany you? Not a chance” Leo scoffed managing to hang a golden necklace over his neck.

Donnie thought for a moment before asking something he’d been wondering for a while, this could backfire on him easily and he’d never hear the end of it from Leo, but the curiosity was eating him up, so he just decided to roll with it, Leo was so tiny anyways, Donnie could just hide him in a drawer until everything was done if he bothered him, so he started writing and Leo only turned to read once he knew Donnie was done.

‘Why are you encouraging this now? Why did you go looking for her statue?’

“What? If you wanted the Leo special teasing you only had to ask, Oh I have been waiting to do this loverboy—” Leo had started with a grin but turned to look at Donnie’s serious face and faltered, Leo groaned loudly before continuing “Fine, It’s not fun if you can’t even complain about it.”

Leo removed the jewelry from his form and wandered off to the jewelry box to search for more things “At first, I just wanted you to forget it like Raph did, it was impossible and papa would have never approved, it was just a crush anyway, right? So, I thought you’d just move on.” Leo was throwing rings around, trying to find one that would fit his feet “But then I realized that you had never taken a real interest in anyone until now, it made me angry because why did you have to choose a human out of anyone? You just love making things hard for yourself don’t you Donton?”

Donnie made a face, but Leo was not looking at him yet, Donnie was about to write something else on the paper when Leo stopped his movements and continued talking “I just kept running scenarios in my mind of what would go wrong if you tried pursuing her, or the human world but…” Leo sighed with a frown “you were as insistent about her as you were about the human world and with just the tiny bit of hope that you had about meeting her, you just looked so happy.”

Donnie looked at his twin in surprise, but Leo kept ranting his tone immediately changing from the vulnerability that it held a second before to something easier “Don’t think I believe Big Mama and Draxum though, it’s just too easy, they’re definitely hiding something, but we’re here and you finally got a chance so why wouldn’t I help you?” Leo concluded by fitting a ring on his foot and looking satisfied about it.

Donnie turned his face the other way to hide his expression, Leo may not have been fully on board with him doing all of this, but it was obvious he had changed his mind for Donnie’s sake the moment he turned human.

Donnie smacked the side of Leo’s head with a finger “Hey!” Leo exclaimed but laughed while Donnie chuckled silently, he finally removed the jewelry and they both fell on the bed, Donnie jumped on it and bounced up slightly, and Leo bounced higher with a ‘Woah!’, almost falling off, Donnie looked surprised and then realized how comfortable the bed felt on his back, he could get used to that.

“Okay Casanova, tomorrow you start wooing her! I’m talking the whole nine yards Don, and with yours truly it would be impossible for you to not get your kiss before the month ends, better than that, you’ll get your kiss in a week, I guarantee.”

Leo didn’t realize Donnie had already fallen asleep, but the sea, even this late at night, was restless.

King Splinter was swimming in front of one of the castle’s windows when his messenger, the little seahorse showed up right in front of him in a hurry “Any sign of them?” King Splinter asked hopefully, but those hopes were crushed in a moment.

“No, your majesty” The seahorse reported “We’ve searched everywhere, we’ve found no trace of any of your sons, even with Shelldon’s reports.”

Splinter looked pained but continued firmly “Well, keep looking, leave no shell unturned, no coral unexplored, let no one in this kingdom sleep until they’re safe at home” he ordered before turning back towards his throne.

The seahorse sighed dejectedly “Yes, sire” they said before leaving with a bow.

Once alone, Splinter buried his face in his hands “Oh what have I done?” He lamented “What have I done?”

-

Night came and went, and soon in the morning, Donnie had dressed quickly with Sunita’s help, hiding Leo in his pocket without minding his brother’s grumbles and just chuckling at the poor turtle, Donnie then hurried to meet you near the doors where a carriage was waiting.

His gaze shifted into one of awe as he stared at the beasts that pulled the carriage, he neared them unconsciously before jumping a bit at the sound of your voice behind him.

“Do you like horses?” You asked, your head was tilted slightly to the side questioningly and your usual carefree smile was right there directed at him.

Horses? Like seahorses? He wondered; Donnie smiled sheepishly before nodding, you seemed to brighten up at his response “Me too! Have you ever ridden in one?”

Donnie shook his head negatively, even if you had been talking of seahorses, he had never been old enough and small enough at the same time to ride one of course, though these four-legged beasts were much bigger and different.

“Well maybe we can try that another day,” You said happily before walking over to the side of the carriage, Donnie looked at you in surprise before beaming at the realization that you were already planning the next time you both went out, he bumped the pocket where Leo was after hearing a small chuckle coming from him, receiving a small ‘ow’ he paid no attention to as he saw you opening the door of the carriage and offering him your hand.

Wait, you were offering him your hand! He stumbled to take it questioningly before realizing you were guiding him inside the carriage, he entered and sat on it, excited after the small burst of embarrassment had passed, you went in after and grinned at him “Also, good morning Donnie” You chirped before turning forwards and taking the ropes attached to the horses in your hands, thankfully fast enough to not see Donnie smile even wider at you.

You both turned to Cassandra and Sunita that were bidding you goodbye from inside the castle and waved before you pulled the reins and called out to the horses, the carriage quickly began to move on its way out of the doors being opened by guards.

Donnie looked around in awe, leaning slightly out of the vehicle to see how it moved without floating, he leaned down as much as he could and looked attentively at the wheels underneath the carriage wondering how they were attached, as he tried to figure it out he heard a light chuckle coming your way, he straightened up and turned around to look at you embarrassed when he realized the way he was acting, but halted when he noticed the soft expression on your face, and even though the expression left a dusted blush on his cheeks Donnie felt more confident after seeing it.

He got sidetracked when he saw some streetlights with intricate designs on the path you were following toward the town, when you realized what had grabbed his attention you started speaking.

“The lanterns are turned on when the sun starts setting, the design is Danish, actually most of our buildings—” You started talking about the town and the designs of most of its public services and buildings or the basic functioning of it, at some point you cringed at yourself, realizing you must be boring your guest with your rant, you turned your gaze from the road back to him to apologize but almost bit your tongue in surprise when you caught his gaze.

He had been paying you all his attention with an excited look on his face like he was truly interested in what you were saying, and though it was just basic knowledge you had about your kingdom as the princess it made you blush that he was so seemingly focused and happy to hear it.

You stuttered a bit before continuing your explanation with a bright smile on your face.

As the carriage walked over the water through a bridge, Leo, who had escaped the confines of Donnie’s pockets, leaned out after hearing some splashing, looking at the water he found Mikey swimming on the surface of the water, a spiky shell following him close behind.

“Has she kissed him yet?” Mikey asked with an excited smile and Leo rolled his eyes scoffing.

“No way, they’ve been talking about buildings or something, and he didn’t even listen to my plan to get him his kiss.” Leo knew Donnie had never flirted once in his life or been anything but curt to anyone he’d just met, his twin’s lack of experience made it so Leo could see his plans all going downhill.

“Aw,” Mikey whined still following from where he could reach in the water.

Leo looked back over to Donnie boredly, but his expression soon changed as he noticed the one on his twin’s face, Donnie was smiling more confidently at you while you explained something about the city and its architecture, holding every bit of his attention in your words, Leo was surprised at how his twin’s attitude had changed in just a moment, you both suddenly looked more comfortable around one another, like actual friends, a great contrast to yesterday when Donnie had seemed so sheepish at actually getting his wish and you both had only shared pleasantries.

Leo smiled a bit, realizing his brother might not be that much of a lost cause if the way you were smiling and speaking to him was anything to go by.

The day went by fast, with Donnie looking at everything with excitement and wonder that almost made your heart melt, everything new he found he looked back at you as if asking you what it was and you explained what the thing was or how it worked patiently, wondering more and more about the man that was hanging onto your every word like he was experiencing the whole world for the first time.

Where could someone as passionate and curious about learning as Donnie have come from? You asked yourself while seeing him grab onto a puppet happily before realizing he had taken the inanimate object from a hand, you laughed at his antics like you hadn’t laughed in a while.

Maybe his mutism had prevented him from learning about the world? You frowned at this thought, knowing there was a lot of bigoted people out there.

You realized after a moment that Donnie had stopped in front of a mural, you looked at it before humming and starting your explanations “This is one of my favorite stories, I used to love these murals as a child, they all speak of yokai and merfolk”

Donnie’s gaze never left the mural, but his eyes widened and his mouth parted in surprise at your words, you continued.

“Yokai were creatures that came from the sea many years ago, they could take many different forms, like birds, foxes, spiders, and most of all sea creatures, they all had tails when in the sea but were able to transform their tails into legs to walk alongside us and for a time they visited the land and co-existed with humans, helping them with the use of magic” you spoke while he looked at the beginning of the mural that showed various yokai coming from the sea.

You frowned again, remembering what you just had thought about how some people probably didn’t accept Donnie for his mutism, you continued your story “However there were some humans and yokai that didn’t accept each other at all, humans who feared yokai because of what they were capable of doing and yokai who thought of humans as a pest invading the seas” Donnie frowned at your words when he looked at a dark reddish figure in the mural, seemingly discussing with a human, there was something familiar about the figure, but he couldn’t pinpoint what.

“I don’t know what happened next exactly, but the tale says some humans started hunting yokai and the rest of the yokai returned to sea, furious at the humans and vowing to never return.” You finished your story before tracing the figure of a mermaid with your eyes “I’ve always loved the idea of yokai and merpeople, and never understood why the tale ended so tragically, wouldn’t it be amazing if a world like that existed?” You wondered softly, finally, Donnie’s gaze went back to you.

Just recently he had thought humans and yokai had never been able to interact and now, after what his father revealed, bits and pieces of the puzzle kept falling in place, while he was still angry at hi father, he could also understand why what Donnie could figure happened to him would make him have that attitude against humans, but watching you and this beautiful mural that had existed probably longer than the both of you, made it seem more unfair that because of a share of humans and yokai the rest had to avoid each other.

There were so many things he wished to tell you, but writing them down didn’t seem like the proper way to go about it, his heart felt calm though, realizing you longed for the same world he did.

He had an entire month and in that amount of time he was sure he’d be able to explain everything to you and how your fairytales were more real than you could think, he was the perfect proof of it, you both seemed to look at each other then, and smiled, like you had reached some sort of understanding.

The sound of music called his attention, and Donnie turned his head around to see a kiosk full of people dancing as a band played, Donnie grinned, studying the way the humans moved their legs to dance, he personally felt it was more of a show than just dancing while floating on a tail where you would depend much more on hand movement.

You, as you had been doing, noticed his gaze and smirked before walking right in front of him, Donnie looked at you curiously before his eyes widened, seeing you bow slightly and offer your hand, palm up to him.

“Would you honor me with this dance?” You asked, your eyes sparkling mischievously as you looked at him and Donnie took your hand in reflex with a confident smirk, it made your grin widen as you guided him through the crowd towards the kiosk, before Donnie’s confidence was hit by a blow.

While he had always considered himself the best dancer out of his brothers there was no way the same rules of dancing were applicable to this situation, he had barely learned how to walk, how would he go around on both feet without embarrassing himself? Donnie looked around at everyone else, studying the movement of their legs anxiously before you grabbed his attention, pulling one of his hands to your shoulder and holding the other one with yours.

“Relax, follow my lead Donnie, just one foot to the left like this…” You demonstrated and he followed “And follow with the other one like this.” You explained, and a couple of steps later you were repeating the part, you both were dancing.

Donnie relaxed into the movements as he got used to the rhythm, soon becoming second nature as he looked back up at you, his smile turned softer as he looked at you having fun with him, making his cheeks warm but the expression never leaving his face, he only got smugger the more you danced, adding his own flair to the steps much to your delight.

Feeling daring he tried to spin you and you naturally followed his lead before returning to your rightful place in front of him chuckling slightly, your bright laugh making him feel dizzy.

The day continued like that before you were back in the carriage on your way to the castle as the sun started setting.

As you reached the castle and got ready to go down you suddenly stopped, looking thoughtful “Donnie?” you called for his attention and he looked at you questioningly so you’d continue “Would you like me to get a sign language instructor for you?” You asked while he looked surprised “That way we’d be able to communicate better and you can tell me what you think about everything.”

Donnie realized you probably noticed his anxiousness when he couldn’t rant about the things he was seeing or make a tough question, he immediately agreed to your proposal, smiling happily at you and nodding, receiving a heart warming smile back “Great! I’ll see to it in the morning!” Your words were accompanied by you reaching down to step out but Donnie beat you to it, he got down before you and reached your side of the carriage, offering you his hand to step down this time and taking you by surprise, you smiled a bit more shyly before accepting his hand and stepping down the carriage, the nearby lanterns illuminating you both as the sun disappeared in the horizon “Well, you better go inside, I’ll see you in the morning Donnie” you said, finally letting go of his hand and waving goodbye to him.

He waved at you before you disappeared through the doors of the castle and he sighed, burying his smile on his hands giddily while Leo popped out of his pocket again, laughing at his brother happily, because he’d never seen Donnie smile so much in one day.

The chemistry between both of you was almost tangible, he could understand why Donnie had seemed so head over heels so fast.

-

The days went by like this, in the morning you would both have breakfast together, and then an instructor would teach Donnie sign language in the library for a couple of hours and tell you afterward that he was a really fast learner having already memorized most signs and started practicing them with sentences.

“Not like you were, your highness” The instructor teased, you blew a raspberry.

“I wasn’t that slow, Donnie is just kind of a genius” You stated, smiling unconsciously at your statement.

Then usually the day would go with either Donnie and you doing your own thing, exploring the library for you to answer any questions he had, or going out into town.

Leo, Raph, and Mikey however were getting a bit anxious as the days passed, and despite how much closer the two of you were getting there hadn’t been any attempts at being more physically affectionate.

“Do you want to ride a horse?” You asked during breakfast one morning, Donnie was a pro now at eating with a fork, knife, and spoon, he looked up at you with an excited grin, the one he had whenever you proposed something new for him to try, he nodded quickly and you started explaining what kind of clothes he should use or what he should be ready for.

Later, you both stood at the entrance of the castle, but the horses and carriage that were usually there when you were going out were nowhere in sight, instead there stood two horses, a white mare and a black one, with you holding the reins of both and waving at Donnie to come.

“These are Nero and Blanche, very original names, I know” You giggled as he deadpanned the moment you said their names “They’re both very docile, so you can choose which you want to ride.”

Donnie thought for a moment before reaching out carefully to Blanche, who rubbed their snout on his hand, you chuckled rolling your eyes “Of course, you would choose the white horse, like a prince” You chuckled without noticing how flustered you had just made him with your statement.

‘I’d love being your prince charming’ he thought to himself before hiding his embarrassment and walking over to Blanche’s side.

You taught him quickly how to get up on the horse and once he was up you guided them out of the castle by the reins, you kept telling him what to do to ride before getting up on your horse and guiding him from there, both horses attached to one another so one wouldn’t stray far.

After a while you were both riding through a meadow happily, Donnie still didn’t know enough sign language to hold a conversation but you had a lot of laughs trying and teasing each other with signs.

-

While the sun was finally setting and you reached a river close to the sea, Leo decided this was the perfect chance to finally get Donnie his kiss.

Wanting to give the horses some rest you tied them close to the river and pointed over to a canoe, both you and Donnie getting on it to explore the river, ignorant of the three brothers that had reunited in the water and watched you attentively.

“Move over, move your big shell, I can’t see anything” Leo whined behind Raph who huffed.

“Nothing is happening” He responded.

“There’s only four days left! What is Donnie waiting for?” Mikey asked worriedly, while Leo made his way on top of Raph’s shell.

“I keep telling Donnie time is running out, and at night he seems like he is listening to me and going to do something about it, but come day when her eyes are on his line of sight, and bam! He suddenly forgets we’re in a hurry in favor of getting lost in them” Leo huffed tiredly, and a bit worried, since he still couldn’t figure out what Big Mama and Draxum were planning if Donnie didn’t get that kiss.

“If Donnie doesn’t start puckering up soon, Raph is going to make his way over there and make him,” Raph said impatiently “Let’s see how he likes that.”

“If Piebald was here, she would be setting up the whole ambiance with music, it’d be so romantic” Mike gushed, and an idea came to Leo.

“Hey Mikey, how long have you been watching Piebald direct and compose for?”

“Like, my whole life, you know this” Mikey said looking curiously at his older brother before it hit him “Oh, oh yeah! I can do this baby!”

While Mikey disappeared into the waters for some animals to help him, Donnie and you were chatting calmly, you mostly spoke while Donnie shifted between writing in his notebook and showing you or trying to sign something with your help.

He was happy with just that when he started hearing music, he looked around trying to find out where the music was coming from but saw nothing, Donnie was confused until he noticed his little brother a little further away talking to some ducks and insects, imitating Piebald.

Oh gosh, his brothers were trying something, and while he was immediately embarrassed by the prospect, when he looked back at you under the light of the sunset he also realized he needed to take any chance he could, his infatuation only grew stronger every day so much so it wasn’t only a crush anymore, he was sure, and he wanted so badly for you to feel the same.

He was fascinated with the way you spoke of your kingdom, and how you were so willing to explain even the tiniest details to him and ready to wait patiently while he wrote something he was excited about sharing with you, always lighting up at his words and making his stomach flutter with your laugh.

But you were also so sarcastic and you never missed a chance to tease him with that smug look of yours, it drove him mad because despite the glare he would send your way most times he absolutely loved your attitude, you were so much more than the determined princess he had crushed on for her heroic acts, you were snarky and confident and yet would blush at the slightest hint of smoothness from him.

You were everything he’d already thought you were and so much more, so, while he was nervous about his brothers interfering, Donnie had to take the chance that you might be feeling the same way as him.

He was just glad his brothers had opted for only music and no singing; he didn’t know if he could have dealt with that embarrassment.

“Do you hear that?” You wondered looking around curiously and Donnie just shrugged at you nervously, thank Poseidon he couldn’t speak, he was a terrible liar.

The change of ambiance seemed to be exactly what he had needed because when your gazes met again this time there was some charged energy in the air, very different from before.

You cleared your throat shyly before looking away and continuing to row the boat, to Donnie’s dismay; but Raph seemed to have other plans, he’d managed to get some fireflies your way and their light grabbed your attention as they filled the late sky with their light surrounding the both of you, Donnie lit a lantern you had brought up on the boat as the sky darkened, it only served to make everything look even more beautiful and once again your attention was on him while he smiled softly at you, a warm smile that made your own heart hit your ribcage.

You returned his smile with one of your own but as his face grew closer to yours you looked away suddenly, feeling some sort of guilt in you.

You had spent so long looking for your savior, a man you might never even find again, and yet why did it feel like you were betraying him the further you fell for Donnie? It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair at all, the way you felt for Donnie ran much deeper than the way you felt for your savior, with Donnie you had actually talked and spent time together, laughing like you hadn’t in years.

“What would I give to know more of your world…of you.”

His words lingered in your mind, you felt like you had to give him that, you had wanted to show your savior your world.

And yet, hadn’t you done all of that for Donnie?

Your gaze lifted slowly back to your companion and your heart sank as you saw him looking far away into the water with a sad expression, you had never seen Donnie look like that and you couldn’t stand the fact that it was your fault.

Realizing this, you took a firm stance within yourself, your savior may have been a lightning bolt experience, but Donnie was here, and he was already the most incredible person you had ever met, incredibly smart, and funny in a way that allowed you to let go of all your dark humor, maybe mean at times and yet even that you found endearing.

You liked Donnie, maybe even more than that, you really did.

The thought of your savior was pushed to the far back of your mind for you to forget later, and your hand reached out towards Donnie’s face, he startled for a moment before turning to you and allowing your hand to rest on his cheek, his eyes suddenly hopeful when he saw the smile on your face directed solely at him.

Without you noticing, the boat went under a weeping willow, hiding you from the moon in its darkness, and yet the lights of the fireflies and lantern still enveloped you, coloring you with soft yellow hues under which you looked like a painting from the eyes of a lovesick artist.

Donnie reached out to your other hand with his and your fingers got intertwined together, you squeezed his fingers lightly, the hands resting on his knee while you looked at each other, there wouldn’t be any chance for him to write or sign something.

That was Ok, you didn’t feel like saying anything either, not with the way he was looking at you right now, like you were the only thing that mattered, like he wanted this just as much as you did, so you closed your eyes, feeling his breath near your face and wondering when you both had gotten so close.

The moment you were about to kiss, the boat shook underneath you and you both were thrown into the shallow water.

You sputtered out water and Donnie helped you up worriedly, you smiled at him, apologizing for having lost track of where the boat was going, it probably hit a rock or something. The moment was completely gone and you cursed your absentmindedness, but when you looked up at Donnie who was trying to help you dry and get back on the boat you smiled, looking at him dreamily, you had all the time in the world.

---

We're almost at the end guys! I'm so excited for this, once the fic is finished I will start working on the Leo x reader Anastasia AU and at the same time on some of the requests that are already on my inbox, no more than the ones that were there before I closed them though!

APPY SLICES

Bayverse turtles x fem reader

Turtle fluff, kinda petty jealousy, nothing sexual

Second Person, no Y/N.

Inspired by a pinterest post I saw about having an office turtle and the punch line was "does the big man want his appy slices?" and it just snowballed from there

Your first vacation in a year, and you were stuck with a house guest for part of it.

Well, sort of a house guest.

You stared at the blue, plastic kiddie pool taking up half of the living room, shoved between your TV and the L shaped desk you used as a work space. A sandy colored shell was moving slowly around as Romeo explored his temporary digs, the large tortoise taking everything in with long, slow blinks.

“Boy, does your mother owe me one,” You informed him lowly, shaking out tired arms that still ached from carrying the large cat carrier up the stairwell. “Though, I guess she should be worried you won’t wanna go home on Monday. After all,” you leaned down, watched as Romeo turned those large, multicolored eyes in your direction, “I seem to have a growing collection of turtles.”

He let out a loud huff, the air whistling through his nostrils, and you snorted. “Sorry, tortoise, though I’m pretty sure the rest are turtles.”

He turned back to ignoring you, making slow movement towards the heat lamp you had attached to the back of a stool and swung over a part of his pad.

You hummed, watching him, then glanced over at your phone when it dinged from the couch.

Orange Crush: Hey babycakes, we still good to come get you after patrol? Donnie got ahold of that movie you wanted to see.

Uh oh. You bit at your nail absently, thinking, then typed back:

You guys are welcome to stop by, but I might have put a snag in movie night. I’ve got a house guest I have no idea what to do with.

You hit send, waited a beat, then hit accept before it even rang, expecting Leo’s name.

“Everything good?”

You decided not to comment on the speed dial. “Yea, everything’s fine. I’ve just… got a house guest.”

A beat of silence, “are you in danger?”

You frowned, stared across the room at Romeo, then had a light bulb moment as you replayed what was said. “Oh, god, Leo, no I’m fine. This isn’t a ‘help, there’s someone in my apartment’ type of thing.”

“Well that’s good,” he breathed, and you could hear his dry humor creeping in, “Though you almost gave Raph a heart attack just now.”

“Spiders almost give Raph a heart attack,” you deadpanned back. “But seriously, I’m just babysitting a pet for a friend. Um… actually.” You squinted at the tortoise sunning himself. “Don’t- don’t be weird when you guys get here.”

A longer beat of silence. “O-kay.” The word was drawn out. “We’ll be over in ten.” He hung up before you could squawk about cutting their patrol short, and you was left holding the phone comically to your ear.

Romeo chose that moment to let out a questioning chirp, his beak opening and clicking shut, and you turned her attention back to him. “Hm? You hungry, big boy? Let me go get your food.”

You got Romeo his salad, watching with slight amusement as he once again slowly moved toward the plate of offerings next to his sunken water bowl, high pitched chirps coming from him as he started to eat.

A light tap at your window pulled your attention, and you crawled over the couch to unlock the window, letting Leo do the heavy lifting to actually get it open.

“Heeeyyy,” You said, smiling brightly, trying to block the view behind you while leaning against the frame.

Leo rolled his eyes, “hey yourself. You gonna let us in?”

You pursed your lips, looking over the four of them crammed onto the fire escape, Donnie half hanging off the railing as he avoided Raph’s shell. You held up a finger threateningly. “Don’t be weird.”

You heard Raph scoff as you moved to press against the couch cushions, letting them step in over the furniture. “‘Don’t be weird’ she says to the mutant turtles.”

“Uh.” Leo pulled up short, one foot still on the couch, letting Mikey bounce off his shell as he noticed the kiddie pool.

Romeo looked up from the salad, took in the towering turtles staring back, and let out a low grumble that somehow managed to thrum through the room.

“Wow. That’s impressive.” You popped up on the couch, leaned over the arm, watched as the four turtles spread out a little, all still watching the kiddie pool.

“Sheesh, that’s nothing, babycakes,” Mikey said over his shoulder as he backed to the side to perch on the couch next to you, baby blues fastened on the tortoise like he’d disappear if he blinked. “That little rumble ain’t got nothing on Raph in the morning.”

“Huh. Really?” You glanced at the red turtle, but he shrugged, moving towards the kitchen counter and the cans of soda you’d set out while waiting for them.

“It ain't nothin special, sweetheart. How long you watchin mr. grumpy pants?”

Leo still hadn’t moved from his spot half on the couch, and with a huff Donnie pushed past him, the only one to take a step closer to the kiddie pool and crouch down to get a closer look.

“I have Romeo until Monday morning.” You tried not to sound too intrigued with what was happening, or not happening, but you probably failed judging by the quick look Raph threw your way, slight smirk curling his mouth as he watched you peer between Romeo and Donnie.

The tortoise had one eye on Donnie and the other on Leo, his head swiveled to the side to keep them both in sight as the ominous grumble sounded once more.

“Oh, goodness.” Donnie chuckled, perched as close to the plastic lip as he could get without touching the tortoise’s turf.

Raph whistled, long and low, as the noise lowered deeper until it was a threatening burr. Romeo snapped his beak at the sudden noise from Raph.

“Ok. What’s happening?” You asked, looking from Mikey to Raph for answers.

Mikey winced, fingers drumming out a fast staccato on his bent knees, so you turned your question to Raph, who simply shrugged.

“Donnie,” you whined, and heard him hum in answer. “What’s with the weirdness?”

“Oh, well, I suppose we’re making him a little uncomfortable.” He supplied, twisting around to address you from over Leo’s hip. Romeo let out an angry hiss, and Donnie swayed back out of sight. “Oops.”

“Now you done it,” Raph joked. “Touched the big man’s pool.”

“So I should have coached him instead of you guys?” You smirked, the notion that the bigger turtles were all being trash talked by Romeo amusing.

“Eh, probably wouldn’t have changed much,” Donnie chirped back at you, pulling another threatening beak snap from Romeo.

Raph chuckled. “Careful, Don. He might think you’re after his girl.”

“Oh so now I’m part of the problem?” You put as much sarcasm into the query as you could, moving to sit up on the couch, swaying into Leo’s space.

“Sure.” Leo answered, finally moving his foot off the couch as you brushed against him. “Bunch of big ugly rivals come into his place, touch his home, chirp at his girl. I’d be pissed too.”

“Would you?” You tried not to sound too amused, hand coming up to press against your mouth at the uptick in Leo’s cheek even as his gaze was kept on the tortoise. “So is he gonna get even more cranky if I leave with his ‘rivals’?”

“I’m sure he’ll live,” Raph pushed away from the counter, snapped his fingers under Donnie’s glasses. “Genius, quit harassing the poor dude. He’s stuck in a pool, we get to go watch a movie with his girl. Don’t rub it in.”

“Pretty sure I’ve known you guys longer than him,” You kicked out at Raph playfully as he passed close, connecting with his thigh and making him sway to avoid the pressure. “Think that makes him the interloper.”

“Ah, ok, I see how it is, you’re our girl. You want us to avenge your honor, teach this creep a lesson?” He jerked his head toward Romeo, grabbing your foot with ease as you went to kick at him again. You let out a quick giggle, jerked your foot away from his grip, leaning towards Mikey for protection as Raph made a grab for your retreating foot again.

“Hey, it’s all good babycakes, I’ll hide you from your loverboy’s rival.” Mikey lifted his arm, flashing the charm as he let you wedge yourself between his shell and the couch, feet tucked in the cushions where the larger brother couldn’t reach.

“We better get going before we rile your house guest up even more,” Leo commented, ignoring the playful banter as he stepped sideways out of Raph’s way. “You have everything you need?”

You hummed, twitching further behind Mikey as you felt the youngest brother’s fingers reach back and ghost your far side. “My bag’s in my room. Obviously, I’m gonna have to come check on Romeo tomorrow, but I think he’ll be ok for the night.”

“Especially if he doesn’t have to deal with us,” Donnie added, straightening and stepping around the pool to head down the short hallway leading to your room.

“Oh, shoot, hold on. Can’t forget.” You popped out from behind Mikey, wildly grabbing onto Leo’s arm to steady yourself as you overcorrected on the couch cushion. His forearm tensed under your hand, giving you something steady to push off of as you headed for the counter.

As you turned around with an apple and a knife, Mikey gasped. “He gets appy slices?”

“Yup, every Friday.” You responded, not looking up as you carefully started cubing the fruit.

“He’s get a treat after being an ass?” Raph sounded incredulous, and you blinked, looking up finally to find all three staring at the apple in your hand.

You took in the various looks of envy and mild offense, and reached behind you for the bag with the rest of the apples. “Do… do you guys want some?”

Donnie rounded the corner at that moment, stopped so hard his shoe squeaked on the floor. “He gets appy slices?”

“O-kay.” You pulled the word out long and slow, conscious as they tracked you and the dish of apple cubes across the room to the kiddie pool. It had to be your imagination, but Romeo almost looked smug as he hurried over for the treat you set down.

Behind you, Raph made a noise of disgust deep in his throat, and you fought to keep the smile from your face as Mikey echoed the sentiment.

“I promise,” You rose and turned to face them, “I will bring the whole bag and make you guys as many appy slices as you want tonight.”

Raph took the few steps to the kitchen, grabbed the bag of apples, and crossed back over to the couch and window. His brow raised as though daring you to laugh as Mikey opened the glass and hopped out onto the fire escape.

You fought it successfully until Leo purposely bumped into you, a gentle reminder to get moving, and you followed Donnie out into the chilly air, careful as you pulled yourself over the edge of the window.

Donnie offered you a hand, grip cool and firm as he tugged you up the flight of stairs and passed you off to Raph, whose arms you curled into as he picked you up effortlessly.

“Where’s Fearless?” He asked, stepping up to glance back over the edge, and you gripped tighter as the buildings swelled down to meet the street.

Leo stuck his head out of your window as though summoned, taking a moment to close the latch before he scaled up to where the others were waiting. At Raph’s questioning look, he huffed, the lights catching briefly on his teeth.

“Just reminding Romeo down there that he’s only a house guest.”

You blinked, your face going loose with shock, “Leonardo, did you growl at that poor tortoise?”

The only answer you got was a smug smirk, and Mikey’s bright belt of laughter.

Much later, in the lair, you sat slumped in the middle of the couch, fingers sticky as you peeled yet another apple. You didn’t even bother to lean forward as you offered a slice over the edge. You weren’t sure how they knew it was there, the only light coming from the soft jewel tones of the older movie on the big screen, but the slice was always accepted, much larger fingers grazing your palm the only indication.

You smiled, and cut off another slice.

Much later, in the lair, you sat slumped in the middle of the couch, fingers sticky as you peeled yet another apple. You didn’t even bother to lean forward as you offered a slice over the edge. You weren’t sure how they knew it was there, the only light coming from the soft jewel tones of the older movie on the big screen, but the slice was always accepted, the much larger fingers grazing your palm the only indication.

You smiled, and cut off another slice.

here’s your damn fish

Kiss, Marry, Kill: Part 1/2 (LA!Buggy the Clown x F!Reader)

Summary: In which Buggy overhears a private conversation and uses that knowledge against you. Pairing: LA!Buggy the Clown x F!Reader Rating: Semi-explicit. Word Count: ~3k (of 5.3k) Warnings: Clown abuse, strong language, incorrect use of a straight razor.

Never had you on my mind Now you're there all the time Never knew what I missed until I kissed ya

---

By all accounts, Buggy should be having a great time. There's food, alcohol, gambling... hell, there's even a swimming pool. Not that he can partake, but he can live vicariously.

Instead, he's got a whole school of shark eyes trained on him as he sits on a stool next to Arlong's throne. This water park sucks.

He's not chained up or anything. The threat of a couple dozen sets of teeth ripping into him is reason enough to sit perfectly still, keep his mouth shut, and try to look as small as possible. No sudden movements, no change in expression, no—

"Kiss the clown, marry the waiter, kill Pink Hair."

Buggy sits bolt upright and looks around. Who the hell said that?

Arlong doesn't even deign to look at him. "Hear something?"

Clear. Crisp. With a little bit of an accent, maybe. He's heard it somewhere recently, but where?

Certainly not here. It was a woman's voice, and Arlong Park is a bit of a sausage party at the moment. Not that he can tell on sight with fishpeople.

"Answer me, clown," Arlong rumbles.

He forgets who he's talking to for a moment. "Eavesdropping's an art," he snaps. "You can't rush art."

Big mistake. Arlong responds with a low, wet growl. "It's been three days. My patience is running thin."

Quiet chatter. The clinking of silverware. Someone chewing with their mouth open. The little pirates are at a restaurant, it seems.

He relays this to Arlong. He's less than pleased. He enunciates every word to show his teeth. "Care to be more specific?"

A shudder crawls up the back of Buggy's neck. He takes a swig of his drink to cover it. He places his fingers over his remaining ear, straining.

"You're shitting me." That voice he recognizes. The redhead. The one who ruined his show. The one Arlong's so interested in. Nadi? Nani? Noni?

The other woman speaks. "Nami, you rejected him," she says. "Girl Code only applies if you were dating."

Nami. That's her, the conniving little bitch. "No, not the waiter. I mean you'd seriously kiss the clown? He nearly killed us."

He'd recognize Rubber Boy's voice anywhere, the little shitheel. "And his nose would get in the way."

The mystery woman speaks up again. "That's nothing new. I’ve smacked noses with plenty of guys."

Okay, that narrows it down. It’s not the redhead, it can't be Rubber Boy or the bounty hunter, so that leaves...

...you. Of course it's you. How could he forget you? You're the only one who laughed at Axe-Hand Moron. Granted, it was more like a snnrrrk and you immediately clapped your hand over your mouth, eyes wide with horror, but it was a laugh all the same.

And in that moment, he knew he liked you. Bad sense of humor. Cute smile. A little bashful. He appreciates that. Sure, you helped humiliate him not an hour after the fact, but all's fair in love and piracy.

"Look, I'm not saying it’s a good idea," you continue, "but sometimes you gotta live dangerously."

The bounty hunter speaks, dry and droll. "Storms are dangerous. Bar fights are dangerous. You're just insane."

"Oh, c'mon, you're not seriously gonna hold Fu..." You pause. "Kiss Marry Kill answers against me."

So that's what's going on. "They're just chattering like they always are," he says to Arlong.

Arlong does not like that answer. He snatches Buggy up by the neck, lifting him clear off the ground with only one hand.

"Wait! Wait wait wait! They're still talking! I might have something!" He kicks and struggles, but it's no use.

You speak. "You think everything pops off? ‘Cause a gal could really— hyurk.”

Laughter all around as you’re cut off by something. Sounds like you choked.

“Thank you, Usopp,” Nami says. “I am not having that conversation.”

Arlong saunters over to the pool, carrying Buggy like a ragdoll. He has precious few seconds now. C'mon, he wills them, say something useful!

A slap, a spit, then a couple of hard coughs. “Nice shot,” you wheeze. “Use the unspicy peanut next time. I think I burned my windpipe.”

The new guy — Usopp — scoffs. “Spicy? Please. This isn’t spicy. Baratie spicy is barely a zip. Now, you want spicy, you gotta hit up the Great Pepper Isles. Their chilis are so hot, I had an out-of-body experience.”

And boom, there it is. Right as he's about to be dropped into the water, his ticket to life.

“Baratie! They're at Baratie," he chokes out. "That floating restaurant. That really nice one I got thrown out of, the pricks."

It was Cabaji's fault. Turns out whipping a unicycle out at the bar is frowned upon. Who'd've thunk.

Arlong 'smiles.' All teeth and gums and no mirth at all. "Consult our charts," he says to the nearest fishman. "I'll prepare our compass."

He grabs Buggy by the hair and yanks. In the interest of not getting his neck broken, he separates his head from his body. Unfortunately, gravity takes over and his body plunges into the pool.

Weakness swamps him like a rogue wave. He can't say a word as he's stuffed into a cloth sack and everything goes dark.

In both ears, all he can hear are the sounds of laughter.

---

Someday, Buggy will learn not to run his fat mouth. That day is not today.

Usopp barges into the galley and lobs his head through the air, a low slow toss. He only has a moment to appreciate not being overhand pitched before landing on the floor. Not on his nose, fortunately, but it still hurts.

He points at the blonde guy — Sanji? Sanji. "I can't take it anymore. He's your problem now. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

He tramps off as Buggy flips himself upright. “What’s his problem?” he asks no one in particular. “Sheesh, you make one ‘your mom’ joke and—“

A decidedly unmanly yelp escapes him as he's popped up into the air. The world spins and turns and he braces himself to hit the ground again, only to be caught in soft hands. He's spun around...

...and comes face to face with you, regarding him with curious, contemptuous eyes.

Oh, you're even prettier up close. The redhead's a looker, but she's still a kid. Soft. Pale. Set like a mousetrap, ready to spring and break some poor chump's neck at the slightest provocation.

But you? You're a grown-ass woman. Comfortable in your sun-kissed skin. A twinkle of experience in your eye and the ease of someone who's been sailing her ship for years.

He can't help but smile. "Well, well, well. Fancy meeting you here, gorgeous," he says with a wink.

From the corner of his eye, he sees Sanji shoot him a glare. Your expression remains cool and uninterested. Shifting his head to your side, you hold him against your hip like a laundry basket. Even through your trousers, the soft swell of flesh warms his cheek.

“Weren't you just on buggysitting duty?” you ask Sanji.

Buggysitting? Really? "I'm right here, y'know," he grumbles.

He's ignored, as per usual. Sanji straightens up and huffs. “New guy always gets the shit jobs.”

“Let’s trade,” you say. “You take my watch and I’ll mind our chatty compass.”

Rude. “I’m still right here.”

Sanji shakes his head. “Go get your beauty sleep. Not that you need it, of course."

Wow, that was a bad line. Buggy makes his displeasure known with a retch.

“Sleep is for people who don’t have coffee.” You flap your hand toward the door. "Shoo.”

Sanji glances between you and Buggy, but heads for the door. "Any trouble at all, love, and I’m a shout away."

A little smile colors your voice. "If he starts gnawing my ankles, you’ll be the first to know."

Sanji returns the smile, sickeningly sweet. As he leaves, you sit at the table, placing Buggy across from you.

He wants nothing more than to plant his leg on a stool, lean in on his knee, and give you a toothy grin. But alas, he must settle for the grin. "Alone at last. Come here often?"

You don't even bother to look at him, too preoccupied with picking up a very shiny straight razor and a strip of leather. Muscle ripples under your skin as you slide the blade back and forth.

"So you're the barber," he says. You don't respond. "Can't imagine you're too busy on a ship with a bunch of babyfaces." Still nothing. "Don't suppose I could get a shave, then? Last time I used a straight razor, I ended up like this!"

"Barber surgeon," you say as you inspect the blade. Dissatisfied with some invisible blemish, you continue stropping.

He shrugs, only to remember he can’t. "Say, doc, I can't feel anything below my neck. Could you take a look?”

Irritation tints your voice. “Not a doctor,” you say. You’ve clearly had to explain this countless times before. “Doctors treat the inside. I fix up the outside.”

“Splitting hairs, Miss Sawbones.”

Shiff shiff shiff goes the razor. "If you don't stop talking, we’re gonna see if cutting off the nose really does spite the face. Might be an improvement for you.”

That’s just low. “Keep talking shit and this bark is gonna turn into bite.”

You finally look up. You level the razor at him, glaring down the blade. “You’re the only one talking, clown.”

Damn. Your eyes are pretty. Warm as the first sunbeam of a summer morning, but dark as the blotches he gets in his eyes when he looks into a spotlight by accident. Hot like one, too. Heat lurks below the dark surface, like warm charcoal about to catch fire.

Nerves ball up in his absent chest. He swallows them and summons his bravado. “Can ya blame me? I’ve got shit else to do. I’ve met parrots with more to say than you.”

"Count the cracks in the ceiling."

"One, two, three—“ He gives an exaggerated groan. “Didn't you say you were gonna make coffee? Can I get in on that?"

You scoff, but you do stand. "Last thing you need is caffeine.”

“The last thing I need is to be held hostage by a bunch of greenhorn nobodies,” he says, "and yet here I am."

“Sucks to suck,” you say. You pull a pot out of a cupboard and fill it with water. “How do you take it? Sugar? Cream?”

“Black. Like my heart.”

You let out that snnnrrrrk of a suppressed laugh again. What a nice sound. “Something we got in common.”

“Black heart or black coffee?”

“Yes.”

Such a simple, easy response. Not even particularly clever. But the delivery with no hesitation, no intonation, no second guessing the punchline. He laughs. “I knew I liked you!”

You glance over your shoulder at him. “You try to kill everyone you like? No wonder you have no friends.”

He hops to the edge of the table. Not an easy feat with only a stump. “C’mon, babe. All’s fair in love and piracy.”

Calling you babe was a blindfolded over-the-shoulder shot in the dark, but it lands. You add a smile to your glance. “I’ll give you that and nothing more.”

Somewhere, miles away, his heart flutters. He lets it. “Will you still give me coffee?”

“Only if you shut up ‘til this water boils.”

In this state, he’ll take any scrap of stimulus he can get. He bites his tongue and bites it hard, willing himself not to speak.

Silence creeps in. Silence leads to stewing, and stewing leads to bad thoughts. Bad feelings. Lonely feelings. Like how long it’s been since he’s had a friendly cuppa joe with someone. Or had someone honestly laugh at his stupid jokes.

Especially not someone as quick as you. Or as pretty. Or with such a nice ass. Or who maybe-sorta-kinda-might-possibly be interested in him. Potentially. Hypothetically.

There’s no damn way, he tells himself. You’re humoring him. You’re definitely shacking up with that cook — young, charming, handsome. Or the bounty hunter, maybe — tall, dark, broody.

You wouldn’t give him a second glance. Him, a pathetic, painted, big-nosed weirdo. Who is currently a severed head. A temporary state, but still not a good first impression. Even though his actual first impression was trying to kill you and your buddies. This second first impression is just as bad.

A sharp groan escapes him before he can stop it. He eyes you, expecting you to snap at him or worse.

But you don’t. You pause in your pouring to peer over your shoulder at him, gaze soft. “Y’alright?”

There goes his heart again. Ugh. “Peachy. That coffee done yet?”

You curl your lip. “What’s got your panties in a knot?”

“Just realized I’m gonna need a straw or some shit.”

Still sneering, you set a shallow mug in front of him. “I’ll see what I can find.”

See? You definitely don’t like him. Stupid fucking jackass, letting his hopes get up. This is what he gets.

…A nice, warm cup of coffee. If you really hated him, you wouldn’t have given him coffee, right? Or be looking for a straw?

You’re just humoring him. You just want to save your friend. Catch more flies with honey and all that. He’ll be more agreeable if you’re friendly.

Across the room, you open a drawer. “Hey, bendy straws. Perfect.”

You’re breaking out bendy straws for him? There’s gotta be something there! At least a little something!

No. No way. Coincidence.

You place an oddly long straw into the mug. He realizes it’s three normal ones jammed end-to-end, creating a pipe ending just about level with his mouth.

You just pulled some engineering shit so he can drink coffee with you. There’s definitely something.

An ice cube plops into the mug and you slide back into the booth with your own cup. “Might dilute it a bit, but can’t have you burning your mouth.”

His distant heart flips again. He has to say something. Before he can convince himself otherwise. He says the first thing that comes to mind.

“So,” he says, “‘kiss the clown,’ eh?”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. That’s the first thing he thought of? Seriously? He braces himself for boiling coffee thrown in his face.

You freeze mid-sip, brows raised. “Excuse me?”

Okay, you don’t look mad. “Don’t deny it, babe. I heard everything. Kiss Marry Kill? Nice job keeping it kid-friendly, wink wink."

You stare at him with those dark eyes. "No idea what you're on about."

"I know you know. And I know you know I know." He waggles his eyebrows, hoping for a laugh, but he gets nothing.

You watch the steam swirling up from your mug. "What do you want me to say, exactly? That I chose you to kiss?"

"I just wanna know what possesses a woman to make her want to shack up with the guy who tried to kill her and her friends." He lips the straw into his mouth and takes a test sip. Still quite hot.

"Circumstance. Process of elimination. Being put on the spot." You pick up the razor. Your fiddling with it belies your agitation.

"Don't lie to me, babe," he croons. "I can see right through you."

You stare at him. "And what is it that you see?"

What does he see? "A woman on a knife's edge of self-satisfaction and self-destruction. Once bitten, twice shy, but when he comes around the third time, you just can't help yourself."

Your fiddling becomes more insistent. You break eye contact to look at the razor. He's hitting on something. Time to push some buttons.

"You bet on the wrong horse every time. You think it'll be different this time. But it never is." He smiles bitterly. "Something else we got in common. Birds of one ugly feather."

Your gaze softens as you return your gaze to him. "So you found the problem, Doctor Headshrink. What’s the prescription?"

Shoot your shot, Buggy. "Kiss the clown and maybe we'll find out."

You're still for a few moments. Then slowly, carefully, you slide your hand across the table. You pull him closer as you lean lower in your seat to eye level with him.

He can't help the way his breath quickens. It's been so, so long since he had any kind of intimacy. Your reedy fingers trace his jaw down to his chin. Your thumb comes up to pull at his bottom lip, and he lets out a satin-soft whimper as he opens his mouth to you.

You strike like a snake, yanking his tongue out with one hand and readying your razor with the other. His choke turns into a scream as you bring it down, severing his tongue clean at the root.

It's one thing to disconnect body parts. Pop a leg off, drop an ear — he’s used to it. But it's a different story when said part is supposed to be inside of him. His tongue waggles like a fish as he tries to return it to his mouth, but you keep a firm grip.

"You can have this back in the morning," you say.

He wants to cuss you out, but what comes out is ew bihck, whadda fuhck iss won wif ew, gif ih bahck.

You laugh. And lord, what a laugh you've got. Loud, like a party gone late into the hours of the night. Clattery, like a dozen plates shattering on the floor. Full of mirth, like a drunk on payday.

And, for the briefest of moments, his rage is forgotten. He wants to make you laugh like that.

But it returns with a vengeance, replaced with a desire to see you squirm.

---

<<< | mastahpost | >>>

Unintentional couple behaviour

you two acts like a loving couple all the time, so what happens when someone points it out?

characters: luffy, kidd, katakuri, shanks and mihawk

(zoro, sanji, law, ace and sabo)

a/n: since a loooot asked for more, here I am eheh

words count: around 0.4k - 1.1k each

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Monkey D. Luffy:

You don’t know when it started.

Maybe it was the way Luffy always stole food from your plate, but make sure to never let anyone else touch it.

Maybe it was how he always grabbed your hand first whenever the crew split up.

Maybe it was how he insisted on napping with you, his head always finding your lap, his arms always looping around you like a makeshift pillow.

Whatever it was, it had been going on for way too long. And the worst part is that you never questioned it.

Until now.

It starts with Sanji.

You’re sitting at the dinner table, picking at your food, when Sanji suddenly snorts “You two should just date already.”

You blink “…What?”

Sanji gestures between you and Luffy “You’re basically a couple anyway.”

You choke on your drink.

Luffy just tilts his head, mid-bite “Huh?”

Sanji raises an eyebrow “Seriously? You guys act like a couple all the time.”

You open your mouth to argue, to deny everything, but then Nami nods “He’s right, you know.”

Usopp grins “Yeah, I mean, have you even seen yourselves?”

Franky chuckles “Super obvious, bro.”

You stare. And then Zoro, of all people, grunts “They’re not wrong.”

Your brain short-circuits. Luffy just blinks at all of them, then turns to you “Wait… are we a couple?”

Your face burns “No!”

The crew groans.

“Oh, come on.”

“You’re in denial.”

“This is painful to watch.”

You glare “We’re just friends!”

Luffy nods “Yeah! Just friends!”

The crew stares. Then Brook smiles “Oh? Then you wouldn’t mind if I asked y/n out on a date?”

Silence.

Then Luffy’s fork snaps in half and the table goes dead quiet.

Luffy grins at Brook, but it’s not his usual happy-go-lucky grin. It’s the grin he wears before picking a fight.

“Yohoho,” Brook laughs nervously “Just kidding.”

Luffy hums, still smiling “Good.”

Your stomach flips because holy shit. That was jealousy. Luffy was jealous... Over you.

The realization haunts you for the rest of the night. Because if Luffy was jealous then what did that mean?

Did he actually—?

No.

No, this is Luffy. He’s just protective. That’s just who he is.

…Right?

You barely sleep, and the next morning you wake up to Luffy in your bed.

Sprawled across your mattress. Arms locked around your waist. Face buried in your shoulder.

Like it’s completely normal.

Like he always does this.

Your heart pounds.

Because—wait!

He does always do this. Every night. Every time you’re on the Sunny, he sneaks into your bed without even asking. And you never questioned it.

Because it was just Luffy.

But now everything feels different.

You slowly try to move, but his grip tightens.

“Mm… don’t go” he mumbles sleepily, lips brushing against your skin.

And that’s it. You lose it.

“LUFFY, WHAT ARE WE?!”

Luffy jerks awake “Huh—?”

“What are we?!” you repeat, flustered as hell.

Luffy rubs his eyes, confused “We’re us.”

You groan “That’s not an answer!”

He tilts his head “What do you mean?”

You gesture wildly “This! Us! The sleeping together! The hand-holding! The food-sharing!”

Luffy suddenly grins “Oh.”

Your heart stops “What do you mean, oh?”

Luffy laughs. And then, without hesitation, he leans in and kisses you.

Soft. Certain.

Like he’s been waiting to do it forever.

You freeze. Your brain short-circuits.

He pulls back, grinning “So? Are we a couple now?”

You gape “…WHAT?!”

Luffy just laughs “Well, we’ve basically been dating this whole time, right?”

Your eye twitches “AND YOU KNEW?!”

Luffy shrugs “I just thought you knew too.”

You sputter, because what the hell. What the actual hell. Luffy just decided you were dating. And you never even noticed.

You flop back onto the bed.

Luffy just grins, tugging you closer “You’re thinking too much” he mumbles, nuzzling against you.

Your heart races.

Your face is burning.

But… maybe the crew was right. Maybe you and Luffy were always meant to be.

Even if you were the last person to realize it.

── .✦ Eustass Kidd:

You’ve always known Kid was the stubborn type. He was gruff, intense, and always had that tough guy act. But lately, you’ve noticed something strange. The more you were around him, the more he didn’t seem to mind you being there. In fact, he almost seemed to expect it.

It starts with those small things, things he doesn’t think twice about. Like when you’re both sitting on the deck, and a gust of wind hits just as you’re about to stand. Before you can catch your balance, Kid’s hand shoots out, steadying you. He doesn’t say anything, but his grip lingers just long enough for you to notice.

“Watch it” he mutters, his usual gruff tone, but there’s something softer behind his eyes. You smile but say nothing. Killer, standing nearby, simply raises an eyebrow before looking away, smirking under his mask.

A few days later, when the crew is at port, you notice Kid keeping an eye on you more than usual. Every time someone gets too close or even bumps into you, his sharp gaze zeroes in, and he doesn’t hesitate to step in between you and whoever’s too close. At one point, a shady pirate from a different crew tries to flirt with you. Before you can even respond, Kid steps forward, pushing the pirate away with a low growl.

“Get lost.”

You blink, surprised at his intensity, but he doesn’t look at you, just at the pirate who’s now backing off.

“Kid, I can handle myself” you say, rolling your eyes.

“Doesn’t mean you should have to” he grumbles under his breath, clearly annoyed by something. He turns away before you can say anything else, muttering about how annoying it is to babysit you. But you know it’s not just that.

The crew knows it too.

Heat lets out a low whistle as he passes by “Damn, Captain, didn’t know you were the protective boyfriend type.”

Kid turns on him with a glare “Shut the hell up.”

Heat just laughs, walking away. You shake your head, but the warmth in your chest lingers.

Then, it all comes to a head one evening. The crew’s just finished a round of celebrations, the ship rocking gently in the quiet of the night. You’re leaning against the rail, enjoying the peace when you feel him behind you.

“Can’t sleep?” Kid asks, his voice low as usual.

You turn around, finding him standing there, arms crossed, the moonlight casting a soft glow over his scowling face.

“I could ask you the same thing” you reply.

There’s a quiet moment as you both stand there, not speaking. His eyes never leave yours, and the tension between you both seems to grow with every passing second.

Suddenly, you hear footsteps approaching. Instinctively, you move closer to Kid. You don’t even think about it, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, his hand shifts from where it was casually resting at his side to just hovering near your waist.

The ship creaks, the quiet atmosphere making you both more aware of each other’s presence. He doesn’t speak. Neither do you. His fingers are so close, just barely grazing your side as if to assure himself you’re right there.

The closeness feels… different. Intimate.

You glance up at him “Kid?” you ask softly, your heart beating a little faster.

He doesn’t answer immediately, instead, his eyes flicker over your face, and you can see the internal struggle within him. It’s a battle, and for a second, you think he might just ignore it, keep up the stubborn front.

But then, his hand finally rests against your side. His touch isn’t harsh, but gentle. You don’t pull away.

“I don’t know why I keep doing this shit” he admits, his voice low but clear “But when it comes to you… I don’t want to risk something happening.”

You blink, surprised “Risk what?”

His gaze softens, and the gruffness in his tone fades away. He looks straight at you, the usual deflective annoyance replaced with something more vulnerable.

“I don’t want anyone else near you. Not after I saw that idiot trying to hit on you.”

You smile, your heart fluttering in your chest “Kid, I’m not a damsel in distress.”

“I know,” he replies quickly, but there’s no hiding the quiet affection in his voice now “I just… I don’t want to lose you.”

His words hit you harder than you expected, and before you can even respond, something unspoken passes between you both. In a split second, his lips are near yours, and the kiss is soft, almost hesitant, like he’s still not sure if he’s allowed to show this side of himself.

But you kiss him back, your hand gently resting against his chest. The kiss lingers for a moment longer than either of you anticipated, but it feels like the world has paused, like this is the only thing that matters in that moment.

When you pull away, you both stand there in silence, but this time, it’s not awkward. It’s comfortable.

And then the moment is completely shattered by the sound of someone clearing their throat. You both snap your heads toward the entrance to the deck, where Killer and Wire are standing, watching with amused expressions.

“So,” Wire says, smirking, “you two finally gonna admit you’re basically married, or should we keep pretending this isn’t happening?”

Your face heats up immediately, but Kid just groans, rubbing a hand down his face.

“Go to hell” he grumbles.

Killer just shakes his head “Too late, Captain. Everyone’s been taking bets on when you’d figure it out.”

You gape “What?”

Wire grins “Yeah. Heat won. He said you’d kiss before the next port. Guess we owe him a round of drinks.”

Kid looks absolutely done. You, on the other hand, can’t help but laugh. Because honestly? It’s not surprising.

You look back up at Kid, who’s still scowling but isn’t pulling away from you. You squeeze his hand briefly before grinning.

“Guess we were the last ones to know, huh?”

He exhales sharply, shaking his head, but there’s no real annoyance in his expression anymore. Just acceptance. And maybe, just maybe, the start of something real.

── .✦ Red-Haired Shanks:

Being part of the Red Hair Pirates meant living in a constant mess of drinking, laughing, and reckless adventures.

And somehow you ended up being the most responsible one. Which was probably why everyone assumed you and Shanks were together.

The problem?

You weren’t.

But apparently, no one got the memo.

It starts with Yasopp.

You’re in the middle of patching up Shanks’ arm because, once again, he got into a bar fight for fun, when Yasopp smirks at you from across the deck.

“You know,” he says casually, “you’re basically married to him at this point.”

You nearly stab Shanks with the needle.

“What?!”

Shanks, meanwhile, just laughs.

And the worst part? He doesn’t even deny it.

“C’mon,” Yasopp continues, “you take care of him, clean up after him, yell at him when he’s reckless...”

“I yell at all of you.”

“Yeah, but you baby him.”

Shanks grins “It’s true. You do.”

You glare “I do not.”

Shanks just shrugs “If you say so.”

And that should be the end of it. But it’s not.

Because after that the whole crew starts treating you like... ugh.

“Oi, Y/N! Can you grab Shanks another drink?”

“Y/N, tell the captain to stop picking fights with Marines again.”

“Hey, Y/N, Shanks says he wants something spicy, maybe you could help... and it's not about food”

You want to scream.

But Shanks?

Shanks just goes along with it. Smiling. Laughing. Letting everyone assume you’re his.

And the worst part is that you let them, because deep down you don’t hate the idea.

And that’s dangerous.

Then one night, it all clicks.

You’re sitting at a bonfire, surrounded by the crew, listening to them sing and drink and bicker over who can hold their liquor best.

You’re not paying attention until you hear your name.

“So, Captain,” Lucky Roux says, “when’s the wedding?”

You choke on your drink. But before you can argue, Shanks just grins.

“Oh, give it time.”

The crew erupts into laughter.

You just stare at him.

Because... what????

Shanks turns to you, smiling like he didn’t just casually imply he plans on marrying you.

And something in his expression—

Something warm. Something knowing.

It hits you all at once.

The hand-holding. The lingering touches. The way he always pulls you onto his lap when there’s no room to sit.

The way he lets you fuss over him when he gets hurt, the way he only ever listens to you.

The way he looks at you like you’re something precious.

Your heart pounds.

And Shanks just grins against your lips.

“Took you long enough” he murmurs.

And when you pull back, breathless, flustered, you realize that maybe you’ve been his this whole time.

You blink, heart still racing as the weight of his words settles in. The laughter of the crew fades into background noise, the warmth of the bonfire casting flickering shadows over Shanks’ face. He’s watching you, waiting, like he already knows the answer, like he’s known it for years.

And maybe he has.

Maybe he’s been waiting for you to catch up.

Your throat is dry. You open your mouth, but no words come out, just a strangled sound of disbelief.

Shanks chuckles, eyes crinkling at the corners “You alright there, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like he hasn’t just upended everything you thought you knew.

Your hands tighten in his shirt, and you can’t tell if it’s to ground yourself or to pull him closer “You...” you swallow, voice quieter now, meant just for him “You should’ve said something...”

He tilts his head, considering “I thought I did. Plenty of times.”

You scowl, smacking his chest lightly, which only makes him laugh “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Oh, I know.” His fingers brush your jaw, featherlight, reverent “I just like seeing you all flustered.”

You groan, but you don’t pull away. And well, that says everything, doesn’t it?

And Shanks knows it too, because his grin softens, something unreadable flickering in his gaze “So,” he murmurs, close enough that his breath tickles your lips, “now that you’ve finally figured it out, what do you plan to do about it?”

The challenge is there, teasing, but there’s something raw beneath it, something real.

You take a breath. Then, before you can overthink it, you grab the front of his coat and pull him in, kissing him again, firmer this time.

The crew erupts in cheers. Someone whistles. Someone else yells about winning a bet.

But all you can focus on is the way Shanks smiles against your lips, like he’s just won something far more important.

And maybe you have too.

── .✦ Charlotte Katakuri:

The first time someone calls you Katakuri’s spouse, you nearly drop your mochi donut.

“Excuse me, what?”

The Big Mom Pirates stare at you like you’re stupid.

“Well, yeah,” Oven says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world “You take care of him, he lets you into his tea time, you’re the only one who sees his face—”

Brûlée smirks “And you always defend him when people talk behind his back.”

Daifuku nods “Might as well be married already.”

You sputter “That doesn’t mean—! We’re not—! He’s just my commander!”

Oven raises an eyebrow “You ever see Katakuri treat anyone else the way he treats you?”

You freeze.

Because... okay.

That’s a good point.

Katakuri isn’t exactly warm with people. He’s respected, feared, distant. A perfectionist. The strongest Sweet Commander.

And yet, with you?

He lets you tease him. Lets you see him.

Lets you in.

Your stomach flips.

And you don’t know what to do with that.

You try to forget about it.

But after that you start noticing things.

The way Katakuri always saves you the best snacks at tea time.

The way he steps in front of you during battles without thinking.

The way he lets you touch him, his arm, his back, his face.

His unguarded moments are always with you.

And suddenly you can’t ignore it.

Neither can the crew.

It all comes to a head one evening.

You’re sitting with Katakuri in his usual spot, tea cooling beside him, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his sharp features. He’s eating, as usual, but his guard is down because you’re here.

And then the words slip out.

“…Katakuri.”

He glances at you, chewing “Hm?”

You hesitate. Then screw it.

“Are we… something?”

Katakuri pauses.

Slowly, he sets his cup down. Then he exhales, like he’s been waiting for this.

“You tell me,” he says, voice steady “Would it bother you if we were?”

Your heart pounds. Because no, it wouldn’t.

You swallow “No.”

Katakuri watches you for a long moment. Then, he smirks.

“Then I suppose we are.”

Your brain short-circuits.

“Wait—WHAT?!”

Katakuri chuckles, low and deep “Did you really think I’d let just anyone this close to me?”

You gasp, because hold on. Has he known this whole time?!

Your face burns “You could’ve said something sooner, you jerk!”

Katakuri just leans closer, his presence overwhelming.

“…Would you have been ready to hear it?”

You freeze, because damn it.

He’s right.

── .✦ Dracule Mihawk:

Living on Kuraigana Island with Mihawk isn’t easy, but somehow, you get used to it.

You get used to the silence. The way he watches you over the rim of his wine glass. The way he corrects your sword stance with the barest touch of his fingers.

You get used to the way he does things for you without asking, bringing you an extra plate at meals, fixing your sword when it’s damaged, moving his coat so you don’t sit on the cold stone steps.

It’s just how he is... Or so you think.

Until one day Perona stares at the two of you across the dining table and snorts.

“You guys act like a married couple.”

You choke on your drink. Mihawk just raises an eyebrow.

Perona grins “Oh, come on! You live together, train together, eat together—hell, you even drink out of each other’s cups sometimes!”

You freeze.

Because—wait. When did that start happening?!

You sneak a glance at Mihawk, expecting him to argue.

But instead, he just takes a sip of wine and says, “And?”

Your brain short-circuits.

Because what does he mean, ‘and’?!

Perona cackles “Oh, this is gold.”

Meanwhile, you’re too busy spiraling to notice the small, knowing smirk on Mihawk’s lips.

Because the truth is, he knew all along.

The next few days pass in a strange haze. Every time you’re near Mihawk, you’re hyper-aware of his actions. The way he hands you your sword when it’s too heavy for you to lift properly, the way he adjusts your stance when you’re practicing, even the way he leaves his wine glass half-filled so you can sip it without asking.

You can’t help but start noticing the little things. And it makes your stomach do these strange little flips you can’t quite explain.

You try to convince yourself that you’re just overthinking it. After all, you’ve spent so much time together, working side-by-side, that it’s only natural for him to be a bit… attentive. But you can’t help but feel that there’s more to it than that.

One evening, you’re training in the yard. Mihawk is watching from the porch, as usual, but today there’s something different in the air. Maybe it’s the cool breeze, or the strange feeling of him staring at you.

“Focus” he calls out when you fumble with your sword.

You grit your teeth and refocus, sweat already beading on your forehead. Your movements become sharper, more determined, but you can’t quite shake the feeling that something is… off.

When you finish the routine, Mihawk’s still leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. He doesn’t say anything at first, but you can feel his gaze. You give him a quick, sideways glance, noticing the faint hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Something wrong?” you ask, trying to sound casual.

His response comes as a slow, deliberate drawl “You still aren’t quite in sync with your sword. I’ve been waiting for you to catch up.”

You feel your face flush, but you push through it “Yeah? Well, I’m not some grandmaster swordsman like you, Mihawk.”

He steps closer, his presence almost overwhelming, but his gaze softens for a moment “You’re getting better. I’m simply making sure you don’t lose track of your progress.”

The softness in his voice catches you off-guard, and for a split second, you feel as if you’re standing on the edge of something, something new.

But you quickly push it aside, shaking it off as just another passing thought. You turn to grab your sword again, determined to change the subject.

“Thanks for the help,” you mutter, trying to keep your voice steady “But I think I need a break. My arms are sore.”

Mihawk doesn’t respond at first. Instead, he merely watches you for a moment before he speaks again, his tone unusually gentle.

“Are you sure you’re fine? You’ve been training for hours without rest.”

You give him a small, appreciative nod “I’ll be fine. You’re too used to looking out for me, Mihawk.”

He lets out a faint chuckle, but you notice that there’s a strange intensity in his gaze now “I suppose I am.”

Before you can react, you feel something slightly off, a flicker of tension between you two.

It’s subtle, but it’s there. And you feel it in the way he looks at you, the way he almost seems to be waiting for you to say something.

But, just like that, the moment passes. He steps back, motioning for you to take a rest.

“I’ll prepare dinner,” he says quietly, as if nothing had happened “I’m sure you’re hungry.”

You blink “You cook?”

“Of course,” he says with a slight, almost invisible smirk “It’s not difficult, and you’ve been working hard all day. You deserve a proper meal.”

You feel your heart race at his words, but you manage to keep it together “Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”

But as Mihawk turns to walk away, you pause.

For just a second, you wonder... has this always been a normal interaction between you two? Or has it grown into something more without you even realizing it?

The unease gnaws at you as you sit down on the steps, watching him disappear into the house.

You’re overthinking it. You’re just friends.

...Right?

Later that evening, you’re sitting across from Mihawk, your meal already finished. The conversation is easy, but there’s still that lingering, unspoken tension hanging in the air.

Finally, Mihawk breaks the silence, his voice low and casual “You’ve been avoiding the subject.”

Your brow furrows in confusion “What subject?”

“The subject of us.”

You choke on your drink, sputtering “What—us?!”

His expression remains unreadable, but there’s a faint glimmer in his eyes “You think I haven’t noticed? You’ve been acting strange around me lately. Ever since Perona made her comment.”

You freeze “I—uh—”

“Let’s stop pretending,” he continues “We’ve been behaving like a couple, whether we admit it or not.”

Your heart starts to race. You open your mouth to deny it, but the words get stuck. Instead, you just stare at him, trying to make sense of what he’s saying.

And that’s when Mihawk leans forward just slightly, his voice dropping lower “I don’t know what you’re feeling, but I do know that I don’t want you to leave.”

The bluntness of his words takes your breath away.

“I never planned to leave” you manage to say, the words barely leaving your lips.

Mihawk gives you a rare, genuine smile, one that’s so small and almost imperceptible that you’re not sure you saw it at all. But something in his eyes shifts.

“Good.”

And just like that, the tension finally breaks.

You’re not sure where this will go. But for now, you’re content to just be here with him, uncertain, but sure of one thing: neither of you are going anywhere.

😡

Your sixth most recent emoji is how your guardian angel feels about you

one of these is not like the rest

Dangerously Stupid Part 2

Continuation of Part 1

Donatello felt he was in a daze. He had checked himself top to bottom and found no concussion (thankfully) and nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises. So that ruled out brain injury as the source for why he couldn’t focus on any of his work in the full day since. He kept getting distracted by…. You. 

Donnie has a device that picks up the signal from any cell phone or smart device he comes within 30 feet of while out on patrol, and automatically registers the information of that device into his system. This comes in handy when the need arises to erase any photos or data that may come up on these phones involving him or his brothers, and to monitor the whereabouts of any thugs or civilians they may come in close contact with. Meaning, he had your phone number, right on his screen in front of him. He knew this may seem creepy but it was for security purposes, and Leo said he always needed to monitor any civilians that got close to them for safety. That was his job. And also his job to find your current location registered on your phone in your apartment. …..And your wifi network, and your laptop currently hooked up to said wifi network. It showed you were actively using it. He wrestled with himself for a moment about respecting your privacy, but curiosity got the better of him, and he quickly took a peek at what you were currently looking at on your screen. ……It was a google search on how to give yourself stitches from home. What??? Surely you weren’t- were you scrolling through poorly drawn reference pictures on a wiki-how page?!?! You then switched to another tab and googled ‘can I use a sewing needle and thread to give myself stitches’. Donnie paled. The next search: ‘how to disinfect thread’. 

He put his face in his hands and groaned. Did you not go to the hospital last night?!?! What were you thinking? He looked back up and noticed the screen had been idle for a few minutes and he was getting really worried. He quickly hacked your laptop camera, privacy be damned- to take a look to see if you were okay. The image that was brought up was an empty chair, and in the background was a cozy warm looking apartment. But there was no movement. You hadn’t fainted out of your chair had you?! He was starting to panic when you suddenly came back into screen, moving slowly and almost falling back into your chair wearing the same pants you wore last night. You had on a small tank top with the strap down, and a bloodied white towel slung over your injured shoulder, carrying armfuls of supplies that you set down on your desk by your computer with shaking hands. You looked far more pale than you had last night.

“Alright let's see…. Next it says to soak the thread and needle in the disinfectant for about 10 minutes…. I hope the thread is long enough. Hmmm… I don’t have sterile gloves so hopefully washing my hands well is good enough…” You thought out loud to yourself. Donnie was about to smash his head on his desk from your careless words. He couldn’t take it anymore. 

“What the SHELL do you think you’re DOING?!?!” After a few quickly typed commands he was patched into your laptop’s audio and yelling into his microphone, causing you to jump- startled from where you were about to reach into the bowl of disinfectant to grab the needle after only 5 minutes. You instinctually started to lower the volume on your laptop, cursing about ads on these websites always popping up and surprising you. 

“No no no! I’m not an ad- wait a minute-” Donatello quickly typed in some more buttons and your screen froze to allow his webcam feed to pop up and take over your screen, making you gasp and almost fall out of your chair. “Stop that! You’re doing to hurt yourself- well, more than you already are. You’re going to give yourself an infection!! What were you thinking-”

“IT’S YOU!!!” You shouted in surprise, holding onto your desk so you didn’t fall. If not for the deep cut still oozing from your shoulder and the attempted robbery from last night rerunning on the 6 o’clock news, you would have assumed you had dreamed of your fated meeting with the large turtle men. After waking up in a cold sweat on your couch late that afternoon, you had instead decided to focus on giving yourself first aid. “How did you- what?” You babbled trying to figure out why the purple masked man’s face was currently lecturing you from your computer screen. A worrying wave of lightheadedness made you grip your desk tighter.

“I hacked your computer. Anyways, WHY AREN’T YOU AT THE HOSPITAL?!!!” Donnie shouted in exasperation. He barely registered the sound of his lab door opening as his shouting probably attracted the attention of one of his brothers. 

You stared at him blankly for a moment, waiting for your brain to restart and register his questions after the shock of getting to see him again. “I… I don’t have health insurance.” You said a bit bluntly, settling back into your chair heavily, and bracing your good arm against your desk as a new wave of nausea overtook you from your racing heartbeat. 

“....what was that?” Donnie quickly turned around to acknowledge Leo, who had entered the door and taken up a spot leaning against the back of Donnie’s chair watching the interaction play out. At least of all his family, his most level headed brother had come in. 

You still heard the faint question and continued. “My new job… I just moved to New York two months ago for my new job. They promised me a good starting salary and a full time position, but after only 3 weeks they started cutting back on my hours. They don’t pay benefits to part timers, so I’ve already lost access to my health insurance. ….They really screwed me over, so I’m just working for them until I find a new job. I really, really, can’t afford a hospital visit after this expensive move, so….” You gently motioned to the white towel on your shoulder, a startling spot of red starting to seep through. Leo recognized the location of the wound from last night. The two brothers felt their gut clench remembering how you had gotten it. In defense of Donnie’s life. 

You were starting to slouch more over your desk, your head spinning, and your laptop’s microphone now picking up your labored breathing. Leo could see the red flush drain from your face, and Donnie recognized the symptoms. Most likely, you were about to lose consciousness. 

“Wait wait wait, hold on stay with me.” Donnie quickly ordered you through his mic, his tone becoming more serious. He quickly typed into his keyboard, now understanding the situation a bit more, and the gravity of your condition. “Do you have any roommates, anyone staying with you right now?” With a level tone he asked you some standard questions to keep you conscious as he robotically pulled up your current address. Leo had already left the room to rally their brothers and gather the first aid kit, clearly already on the same page.

“…. no. Just me.” You said quietly, now focusing entirely too much on staying upright. You really felt like you were going to throw up now. But you were too busy wracking your dizzy brain for what his name was…. D…. Donna… Donnie…. “Donatello?” You said out loud, trying to focus.

“Yes, (y/n?)” He quickly answered as he continued to quickly type something on his keyboard, he was glancing between you and another screen at his desk every other second. You smiled. He remembered your name. “We are coming to see you. If you can, try to leave your window unlocked, and go lie down on your couch or your bed. What is your apartment number?” He was quick and clear with his orders, speaking like a true doctor, you thought blearily. But you were too out of it to question how or why he was coming over.

“Mmm… Room 517, 6th floor.” Gosh why did you ever think you could do this on your own. You suddenly felt really stupid. You were trying to take care of yourself so you wouldn’t have to rely on your family for help with medical bills, but now you were just causing problems for the kind hero you met last night. “I’m sorry Donnie… I think I’m gonna pass out.” You said apologetically, head going to rest tiredly on your table next to your computer. You could distinctly hear the sound of the city filtering in through your cracked open window behind you in the living room. Your dizzy spell gripping you much stronger than it had earlier when you had first moved to stand after sleeping all night on the couch. The next thing you hear is the rattle of plastic wheels scooting as presumably Donatello was standing from his desk.

“Don’t be sorry. We’re coming to help you now, okay? Just try to stay awake.” There was a whoop and some excited chattering in the background now and some more keys being hit from his consol. “I’ll see you soon.” Came the quick but warm reply from the purple masked turtle as his webcam feed disappeared from your laptop. 

A silence hung in the room. As if it had never happened. You shifted to look up at the screen detailing a poorly drawn cartoon image of a needle poking at the edge of a wound looking back at you, and groaned audibly. Burying your dizzy head back into your good arm for a moment, you tried to sit up to go move to the couch to wait, careful not to bump into the bowl of antiseptic holding your good sewing needle and black thread. Only moments earlier you were about to try and sew up your shoulder like you were hemming a new pair of pants, only to be caught by one of this city’s apparent mutant super heroes you had met only just last night. And now he was coming here. To help you. 

Feeling another huge wash of dizziness pass over you, almost making your knees buckle as you stumbled over to the couch, you felt a larger twinge of pain in your shoulder again. Taking a seat on the cheap couch cushion, you reached up to move the towel you had soaked in the antiseptic aside to inspect the wound. You must’ve stretched the skin when you were startled earlier, because the wound was leaking deep red again as a small trail started to escape down your arm before you could stop it. Must’ve been deeper than you thought. 

That was your last thought before you passed out, head lightly falling against the couch.

“Are we almost there yet?? Ow!” Mikey called out ahead to Donnie before getting the back of his head smacked by Raphael. They were racing across rooftops making a beeline for your apartment building. Donatello, who usually gave sassy directions from the rear, was silent and serious leading the charge with Leo close behind carrying their largest portable first aid kit. 

Leo was keeping a close eye on his younger brother. When he walked by Don’s lab earlier, attracted by the shouting, he was startled to find his younger brother was talking to the person who had saved him the night before. Before he could question why, or get into his lecture about the dangers of contacting a human they only just met, he saw the look on his brother’s face. Donnie’s expression was beyond distressed. His usually level headed brother was shouting and worried because a civilian who was kind enough to step in and take a hit for him while he was down was- from what it looked like- still bleeding, almost 18 hours after the attack. And even worse from what he heard walking in, had no means of access to medical attention. He could understand Donnie’s frustration, but he was still surprised his brother had gotten this worked up.

“Hey…. Donnie,” Leo called out. “Everything alright…?” He said just low enough that it wouldn’t draw the attention of their brothers.

Donnie knew what he was getting at, so he cut right to the point. “I caught them before they could try and suture their own wound. With a sewing needle.” Donnie took a very very deep sigh. “By following a wiki-how tutorial.” Leo almost tripped off the building.

“….what?” He responded smartly. 

There was a loud snort from behind them. “Sounds badass.” Raph deadpanned and Mikey wore an expression of surprise followed by a quietly muttered ‘dude…’

Donnie groaned audibly. Thankfully your apartment building was now in sight. “I need to make sure their wound is properly disinfected before stitching it up. It’s the least I can do…” He thought back to last night. The long stare you two shared, and the concern and lack of fear you held for him in your eyes. He longed to see those eyes again… 

The building next to yours was at just the perfect height to leap across from the roof to your room’s fire escape. Leo was the first to land and give the all clear for his brothers to follow. Leo opened the window and stepped in just barely before Donnie practically toppled him over pushing past him to get inside. Snatching the first aid kit off Leo’s shoulder, Donnie quickly found your still form on the couch. 

“Right… we’ll stand guard. You’ll let us know if you need any help, okay Don?” Leo offered. Mikey pushed in through the window and made a beeline for the fridge, and Raph took a seat on the windowsill peaking in curiously.

“Yeah, Leo.” Donnie knelt quietly next to your form on the couch. All his attention was already on you.

 Leo went to stand around the living room trying to find the walls interesting while occasionally glancing at Donnie’s work, trying to stay out of the way.

Don checked you over, breath taken seeing your face again up close in the warm light of your apartment. Your breathing was deep and steady. Good. A little sweat on your brow, he looked down to see angry inflamed red skin peaking over your bare shoulder. He carefully moved the towel, stained in dried blood, and winced as the fabric pulled unstuck from the sticky bloody wound. 

You flinched, and Donnie felt his breath catch in his throat. But you did not awake, so he swallowed and signed, reaching down to open his medkit and take out a disinfecting wipe. The little damp pad unfolded and he carefully began to clean away the dried and sticky blood from around your cut so he could get a better look at the damage. There was definitely irritation but he hoped that no infection had taken hold yet. Next he disinfected his hands and pulled out his suture kit, and with practiced ease began to stitch up your shoulder. 

About 15 minutes later, and about 10 stitches into fixing you up, your eyelids fluttered open. The poking and pulling around your painfully sensitive cut had finally woken you up. You still felt dizzy and light headed, so made no sudden movements. Glancing down you saw the light reflecting off of a large polished shell. That’s right, Donnie. You still had a hard time grasping your current situation. Maybe you were in a fever dream. But there was the strangely handsome face of a mutant turtle sewing up your shoulder with his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth in focus. His large goggles down over his eyes and a portable lamp light over his shoulder illuminating his work. 

You felt the poke of a new stitch and this time flinched with a little muttered “Ouch!” and suddenly you were blinded by the light hitting your face as Donnie startled and turned to face you. 

“Oh! You’re awake! Um… Sorry I’m uh… not quite done yet. I hope this is okay-” He quickly mumbled. His free hand that braced your shoulder gave an encouraging squeeze. 

You blinked a moment as your eyes adjusted to the light. He glanced back at his work and back to you and you nodded twice. 

“I need you to hold still for just a few more minutes, I’m just about finished. Okay? It’s going to sting a little.”

“...yeah. Got it.” You nodded, feeling your head quickly clear up as you felt the pinch and sting of the needle again, bracing yourself to hold still while your brows tensed from the discomfort.

You looked around your room to distract yourself from the pain. Looking across your coffee table you saw one of the other turtle mutants, the one wearing the blue bandana and caught his eyes for a moment before he quickly averted them to pretend he wasn’t staring. But after a moment he looked back at you and offered a quick nod in greeting. You supposed he might be a little shy and was trying to hide it. By your window you also caught the large cracked shell of another one. He glanced over his shoulder and met your eyes, studying you for a moment as you also took in the scar on his lips and the toothpick, before he also nodded at you with a little ‘hey’ in greeting. 

“Yo, is dudette awake? Morning sleeping beauty!” An energetic orange masked turtle man, holding a half full can of your soda, practically jumped into your line of sight, startling you a bit with a gasp. “You remember me? I’m Mik- Ouch! Leo!!” The blue masked turtle called Leo smacked him on the back of his head to quiet him with a shush.

“Mikey, I’m still working. Don’t freak them out.” Donnie quickly added, making sure you weren’t gonna move again before continuing.

“Yeah genius, your ugly mug almost made em’ pull a stitch. Save the dramatic introductions for later.” The red masked turtle sneered at Mikey. You vaguely recalled him being named ‘Raph’.

Leo, Raph, Mikey, and… “Donnie?”

You caught yourself saying out loud, making said turtle jump a little.

“Y-Yes, (y/n)?” He stuttered as he helped carefully pull you into a sitting position. The stitches were finished and it was time to wrap the wound. He reached into his bag and pulled out a package of fresh gauze.

You carefully watched him unwrap the gauze, his hands slightly shaking. “How do you know each other?” You asked him, meeting his eyes, then looking over to the others spread out in your living room.

“Brothers. We’re brothers.” Leo answered helpfully. 

“Brothers… that makes sense…” You considered how they all acted around each other and smiled warmly, looking back to meet Donnie’s eyes.

He was lifting up his goggles back to the top of his head and his eyes widened at your expression. He turned away to put his tortoiseshell glasses back in place, clearing his throat. 

“Yes, they’re… my brothers.” He tentatively smiled back at you, and began to wrap up your shoulder. 

You watched him thoughtfully for a moment, and glanced over at his brothers now quietly arguing about something over by the window. Mikey quickly looked back over at you with a bright smile before turning back to the conversation animatedly and shushing his brothers a little, earning him a smack as Raph and Leo both also shared a look with you briefly. You raised a curious brow at the antics. They were like gossiping school kids… definitely brothers.

“Hey Donnie… Sorry for causing you all trouble like this. …I didn’t want to involve anyone and thought I could handle it myself.” You said looking down. “....Thank you for coming to my rescue.” You looked up to meet his gaze and smiled at him.

“No no, this is…. It’s the least I could do. After all, I should be the one thanking you. You got this injury from coming to my rescue, I…. Thank you.” His hands stilled a moment in the midst of his wrapping and gave you a shy smile. He looked kind. 

Donnie finished the rest of the wrapping slowly, fastening the end in place carefully. 

“Um… You should change the wrapping every other day. Call me if there’s any trouble, like puffy redness around the stitches or if it starts bleeding or starts to show signs of infection-”

“Hey-” Leo suddenly cuts Donnie off, making you both look over to him where he was emerging from the group huddle. 

“How about, we come back- *ahem* Donnie, comes back again to check on you in a few days. Does… that sound good?” He asked carefully. Mikey jumping around excitedly in the background and getting a playful push from a grinning Raph. You turned with a raised eyebrow to Donatello. He was currently gawking at his older brother, glancing back between you and the blue leader. You couldn’t help but giggle a little at the antics.

“...Sure. I’d love that. If… you don’t mind, that is?” You asked the flustered purple masked mutant.

“I- I- Yes. Yes, of course. It would be my pleasure. Um. S- Next Saturday then? If you’re free?” He gathered himself and asked you kindly.

“That would be perfect.” You smiled widely, taking his hand in both of yours. “It would be nice to see you when neither of us are in danger for a change.” 

Donnie’s eyes seemed to soften as he looked at you warmly. “I would like that. Very much.” He held your hands back softly as he rose from his seat beside you. His brothers were already starting to filter out through the window, except for Mikey who was hooting and hollering quietly before getting bodily pulled through the window by his two older brothers. 

“So… next Saturday night? 9pm?”

“I’ll be here.” You responded, following him to the window. He carefully climbed out onto your balcony. He waved a final goodbye to you as he perched on the railing, and with a mighty jump, he leapt out of sight. You lunged for the railing where he just stood, looking out above you hearing whoops and cheers from the brothers as you caught a final sight of them running over the city skyline. And with a deep breath of the cool night air, you sighed in relief that you weren’t dreaming. 

Leo, Raph, Mikey, and

Donatello. You’ll have to remember that. You thought with a grin.

To the people who wanted to be updated when part 2 was released. Sorry for the long wait!! Thanks for the support!

@saspas-corner @misfortunekeep @valen-yamyam16 @genesis378

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