Chapter 12: Discoveries

Things were tense on the Moby Dick and they had been for a while now. Renji continued to keep his distance from the rest of the commanders. He spent most of his time practicing with his swords or his water abilities. He had it down to a T, not that it was doing him any favors.

The stronger his control got over the sea, the stronger its control got over him. He was having a hard time processing all the information entering his head via the sea creatures. Headaches were his best friend now and sleep became his escape.

His eyes were constantly blood shot and his right one throbbed to the beat of his heart. Sometimes, the others swore that they saw markings coming from his eye but it was gone as soon as they saw it. Renji isolated himself as he didn’t want the others in danger. But that’s just what he wanted them to think.

He was actually isolating himself because he couldn’t stand the stench of fear that permeated from all of them. He still sent his division on missions, still gave their mission reports to Marco, still did his job as a division commander, but he wasn’t their friend, not anymore. And maybe not ever.

Renji knew what it was like to be isolated and discarded and he knew that the other pirates were doing it to him now. He thought many many time about calling Shanks and taking up his offer to help but then he looked at all the pirates from his spot on the main mast and decided against it. He hasn’t spoken to Shanks since he came to visit the Moby Dick all those months ago.

—

Vista sat anxiously in his seat around the table in the war room. He kept glancing at the door, they were all waiting for Renji to start the meeting. He was running late, something that has never happened before. Every second that passed felt like an hour and Vista’s leg began bouncing up and down.

“You okay there, Vista?”

He turned his head and looked at Thatch.

“Yeah. Actually, no. Have any of you spoken to Renji recently?”

Thatch shook his head in denial and the others followed suit. All of them except Whitebeard.

“Renji speaks to me constantly. Every other day, he’d come to my room and speak to me privately. Has something happened?”

Whitebeard leaned forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees. Before Vista could answer, the door opened and Renji walked in. His posture was relaxed but he seemed different. The way he was carrying his katanas were the first thing everyone noticed.

Renji used to keep them on either side of his waist with the hilt facing up, now they were on top of each other on the small of his back, hilts on opposite sides. He didn’t look at anyone as he sat down and waited for the meeting to start.

Everyone looked at him with various emotions but they didn’t register in Renji’s head. Their scents did register in his head though. Fear, anger, regret, envy, they all registered and Renji was already dreading the next couple of hours.

“Let’s get started. In two days we will be taking shore leave. I’m not going to tell you all to behave while we are on the island, you’re grown men. Don’t fight with the locals and stay out of trouble. We’ll restock our supplies and set sail after the log post has set. Any questions?”

Whitebeard started off the meeting, not wanting to dwell on the fact that Renji didn’t seem all there.

“Yeah, I have a question. Do we need to be in pairs? Or groups?”

Haruta asked but he was looking at Renji instead of Whitebeard.

“No. You can all go your separate ways. As long as we are restocked and everyone is accounted for after, do what you want.”

“Do we need to stay on the island?”

Renji asked finally. His voice was a bit hoarse.

“For restocking? Yes. If you have extracurricular activities you want to do, do it on your own time.”

“Why? You hiding something?”

The stench of anger from Haruta was burning Renji’s nose and he finally looked up at him.

“How is that any of your business?”

“What?”

“What I do is none of your business.”

“No, yeah, you’re right. Except you’ve been acting suspicious these last few months.”

“How would you know? You’ve been avoiding me. All of you have been avoiding me, so excuse me if I found something better to do with my time.”

That stunned everyone in the room even Whitebeard. In all the talks he and Renji had over the months he had never mentioned that the others were avoiding him.

“You ever think that the world doesn’t revolve around you?”

“Right back at you. I told you, you all had a choice and that I have one too. I was simply following your directive. Not my fault your feelings were hurt.”

“You pompous bastard.”

“Insults really show your intellect, Haruta.”

“And you wonder why we’ve been avoiding you.”

“I don’t.”

“What?”

“I don’t wonder. Nor do I care. You’re all free to do what you want, just like I am free to do what I want.”

“What?”

“Sorry, the results you were hoping for just isn’t happening.”

“Can the two of you stop it already? This is getting old.”

Thatch groaned and Vista nodded along with him. Izo and Marco were both looking at Renji. Marco being the closest saw the exhaustion in Renji’s eyes, the way his fingers twitched and the way his lips curled slightly.

“Just be on the ship by the time we have to leave, all of you.”

Whitebeard sighed. He too was tired of the two’s bickering everytime they saw each other. He looked at Renji again and saw the subtle changes in his right eye. The blue was darker but brighter and had what looked like purple veins on the iris.

“Renji, stay behind. The rest of you, check inventory and make lists.”

Renji stayed seated as the rest stood up and walked to the door. No one but Vista, Thatch, and Izo spared him a glance as they walked out of the room. Left with Whitebeard alone in the room allowed Renji to breathe. There was no overwhelming stench of emotions in the air anymore.

“You know, cutting them out isn’t going to help you.”

Whitebeard said after a moment of silence between the two.

“I know. It’s not that I’m cutting them out. More of a, avoiding the inevitable.”

“The inevitable?”

“Yeah. When the time comes, they will all look at me differently. I’m just speeding up the process. And if in the end I’m wrong, I’ll apologize but if I’m right, no harm done to me.”

“You have difficulty attaching yourself to others.”

“That obvious, huh?”

“To me it is. To your brothers it looks like you avoid them purposely.”

“I’m not avoiding them. They avoid me, I just don’t force interactions unless absolutely necessary. You can’t force love, Pops. It’s not healthy.”

“Do you want to be alone with no connections to anyone forever?”

“No. I don’t. I never thought I would live long enough to want to attach myself to someone.”

“You are a peculiar man, Renji. Very peculiar.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve been stressed lately.”

“How so?”

“Your haki bursts out of you as if you have no control over it whatsoever and you space out more than you think. The control you have acquired over the sea has disadvantages, doesn’t it?”

“You can tell?”

“Since you’ve started practicing more with your abilities, you’ve slowly been losing parts of yourself. You might not see it, Renji, but you’ve become more beast than man.”

“Yeah. I’ve noticed. It’s like the sea is calling to me and I don’t know if I should answer or not.”

“Answer, son. Before you lose more of yourself than can be recovered.”

“You want me to answer? We don’t know what that will do. We don’t know if it will help me or kill me.”

“You explained your plan to save this crew and you don’t know the outcome of that either. Why is this so different?”

Renji couldn’t answer because he had no answer. He fiddled with his thumbs and looked at the table. He could take the risk to get answers. But it was just that, a risk. With an outcome he has no idea of.

“Yeah. Okay. No risk, no reward.”

“Renji?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t shut everyone out. Some are really trying to help you.”

“Okay.”

Whitebeard nodded to the door and Renji stood up.

“Thanks, Pops.”

He left the room feeling a little lighter than he had in months. He walked to his room and placed his katanas on the bed before leaving again. He was going to answer the call of the sea, if it killed him, it killed him. If it didn’t he’d have more control of himself.

The deck had very few pirates on it and most were busy. Renji walked to the railing and stared at the sea over it for a moment before making the reckless decision of throwing himself into the ocean.

—

The water was cold, colder than usual. I didn’t try swimming, just let the ocean drag me to wherever it wanted to. The human body has 2 minutes of oxygen in its lungs but I don’t know if that rule applies here. This was a reckless move but I was already doing it so I couldn’t complain about it.

I looked up as I sank the light from the sun reflecting on the surface of the ocean was decreasing. There were no creatures around. No fish, no sea kings, nothing. I finally made it to the bottom and I was surprised that I didn’t feel like I was suffocating.

I sat on the bed of the sea floor and closed my eyes. The water moved around me and I felt a massive presence behind me, then in front of me and then at my sides. I was completely surrounded by very large, very curious creatures.

I opened my eyes slowly and nearly choked as I perked back, staring directly at me was the shark. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.

“You finally answered our call.”

Okay. That was not what I was expecting. Mind link? Come on, man. I mean I always hear them in my head, but this sounded different, clearer.

“Yeah. I did.”

“We are glad.”

“Sorry. Quick question, how are you talking to me so clearly?”

“We could always communicate, you refused to listen to us.”

“I listened.”

“No, you heard us but you didn’t listen. But we are not here for that.”

“Then why are you here?”

“You have answered our call so that means you are no longer afraid of your powers.”

“Afraid?”

“Yes. The reason it felt like you were losing control was because of your fear. You have nothing to fear we will not harm you.”

“I don’t know if you remember, but you tried to kill me almost a year ago. If it wasn’t for the weird tentacle, I’d be dead.”

“You are mistaken. I did not try to kill you. The tentacle belongs to an eldritch being beneath the sea. It needs you to free it. I was trying to save you from it.”

“Yeah, right.”

“It is the truth. The eldritch being is very dangerous and has been imprisoned for nearly eight hundred years. The sea witches imprisoned it because it was uncontrollable. If it had succeeded in letting you free it, the world as you know it would no longer have existed.”

“I couldn’t have freed it anyway. I had no idea I had these powers.”

“It need not your powers to free it. It needs your fear.”

“Is that why you said that I no longer have fear?”

“Yes. With no fear in a sea witch, the eldritch being is weak. You are an excellent witch. Overcoming your fear so quickly.”

“I’m not a witch. I’m a guy, witches are girls.”

“The gender does not matter, for a hybrid you are certainly strong, resisting the control the sea had over you for so long is impressive.”

“Had? Past tense?”

“Yes. You are a free man.”

“Cool. Cool. Send me back up. I’m done here.”

“Of course. If you need any assistance from us, you need only ask. Trust your instincts when controlling the sea and its inhabitants. And please refrain from calling us creatures if you will.”

“Got it. Up. Surface. Me. Go.”

The sea king that looked like a dragon lifted me onto its head and swam up to the surface. We were right next to the Moby and everyone was looking over the railing worriedly. When they saw the sea king they all stepped back in fear.

The sea king ‘stood’ tall against the ship. It lowered its head and i got off and stepped onto the deck.

“Thanks, dude.”

“You are very welcome.”

It disappeared back into the ocean and everyone stared at me. I didn’t bother with them and just walked below deck to change out of my wet clothes.

—

“Did that just happen?”

Thatch asked as he watched Renji walk below deck without a word to any of them.

“He was on the thing’s head. What the hell?”

Haruta asked as he looked between the ocean and the door leading to the areas below the deck.

“I think I need a drink.”

Fossa stated.

“No kidding.”

It was a shock to everyone. Renji stepped onto the deck dressed in a dry pair of pants his boots and his katanas strapped to his back. He looked lighter, no longer stressed and the bloodshot eyes were gone as well. In the few minutes he had been gone, he looked like he slept well for hours.

Sharjah Bridi Park / Urko Sanchez Architects

Chapter 10: Renji and Shanks

Tw: mention of suicide and sexual assault on a minor

My name is Gol D Renji and I am the son of the pirate king Gol D Roger. Before my name was Matthias Conroy and I was the son of a bitch. Not literally but my father wasn’t the greatest. He was the worst, actually. And I wanted to kill him at one point in my life.

Instead, I killed myself at the ripe age of nineteen. My life was shit. I was beaten and raped by my father since I was five. Police did nothing because my father was a police officer himself. I had a brother, an older one. His name was Nathan and he was ten years older than me.

At one point he protected me the best he could. Until he didn’t. When he turned eighteen he left me to fend for myself. And at first I hated him for it, then I didn’t but, secretly I did, I just didn’t know it until it was pointed out to me.

I was bullied at school as well, not that anyone cared. The bullying wasn’t what caused me to throw myself off an eighty story building. No. I killed myself because I couldn’t take the abuse anymore. I’m sure no one even cared, I was just another statistic to them now.

I was reincarnated or rather transmigrated into an anime called One Piece but an alternate one, one where Roger had two sons instead of one. I am part of the Whitebeard pirates as the Second Division Commander. And my goal in this life is to kill Blackbeard and save the Whitebeard pirates.

Will I die trying? Probably. Do I care? Yes. Will I still do it? Also yes. I never had anything to live for but now, now I have a family, a big one and while we’re not on the best terms now, I will still save them. Even if it kills me.

I was no hero in my past life. Most would think I was a coward because none of them knew what I had to live through everyday. My father was my abuser and my mother was his enabler. If I could go back in time, I’d kill them both. Painfully.

The wind blew my hair into my face as I sat on the main mast, looking out into the vast ocean. It’s been a couple of days since the meeting and I’ve avoided the others. Mostly Haruta but that’s not the point.

I practiced more with the control I have on the ocean and its creatures but no luck so far. I’ve learned that my emotions play a big factor in my powers and I’ve been angry a lot these last few days. Marco stayed close when I practiced and the others stayed clear, especially Namur.

Not that I blamed him. If someone could mind control me, I’d also stay away from them. I meant what I said to them. I wouldn’t beg for their love but I wouldn’t love them either. Love… such a complicated thing. It either works with you or against you. It can strengthen you or weaken you. It can be the thing that saves you or the thing that dooms you.

Teach has also stayed clear of me but I’m grateful for that. I wanted nothing to do with him. All he needed to know was that I would kill him. It seems like I have spooked him a bit though. Everytime he saw me, he paled and left the room when I entered it. Everyone noticed and just assumes that he was afraid of me. Not that they were wrong.

“Renji!!”

I looked down and saw that another ship was next to the Moby. I looked at the Jolly Roger and saw that it was the Red Hair Pirates. I sighed and jumped down and landed next to Thatch. He was one of the few who didn’t avoid me.

“Visitors.”

He grinned and I looked at the other pirates. I nodded to them in greeting when we passed them and we stood with the others on the upper deck. Well, Thatch stood with them, I sat of the railing in front of them. I didn’t look at any of them as I watched Pops and Shanks sit in front of each other.

What surprised me was that Shanks had both arms. Didn’t he lose the left one saving Luffy? Does this mean Luffy is dead? Nah. No way. I seriously needed to get these memories back. Shit doesn’t make sense most of the time. Why was he even here? Was there something wrong?

“You’ll have to excuse Renji, he lost his memories and is still recovering.”

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Pops talking to Shanks. He looked at me and I stared him down. Right! He and Renji knew each other. I wonder if he’s a bad guy in this universe. If he is then sorry Luffy but, I’ll have to kill your idol.

“What’s up with his eyes? Last time I saw him both were gray.”

Shanks asked as he stared at me. Neither of us wanted to look away first and I could tell it was making the others nervous. Pops laughed and beckoned me closer. I jumped from the railing and walked towards them. I was also doing a lot of jumping. Ironic considering that’s how I died.

“Red Haired Shanks.”

I greeted politely. He frowned but then grinned and greeted me as well.

“Sit down, kid. I don’t bite. Unless you ask me to.”

Huh? Right. The gray area between Renji and Shanks or is it me and Shanks? Man all this sucked. I looked at Pops and he nodded. I sat down next to Pops’ leg, facing Shanks.

“You’ve grown.”

He sounded sad somehow even with the smile on his face.

“That’s what happens as time passes.”

He looked surprised by the sound of my voice. Did it change from when he knew me? Probably.

“Sound different to. You look good. The eye is a bit creepy though.”

I subconsciously moved to cover my right eye. Years of bullying and yet I let such small things get to me.

“Don’t cover your eye, son. It’s part of you. If he doesn’t like it, he can stop looking.”

Count of Pops to make everything okay. I dropped my hand and looked at Shanks again.

“You an enemy or an ally?”

Shanks seemed shocked at my question.

“What?”

“You heard me. Are you an enemy of Pops or are you an ally? Because, if you’re an enemy get of this ship and never return or I’ll drown you and your crew.”

“Hahahahahahaha. You’ve got balls. Talking to an emperor of the sea like that. Either you’re stupidly brave or bravely stupid.”

“I am neither. I am merely a man trying to protect his family.”

Pops touched the top of my head lightly. I looked up and he was smiling at me. Seemed like we were good. Shanks wasn’t an enemy, yet.

“Is that right? You’ve changed. A lot. I’m not sure what to do with that.”

“There is nothing for you to do. I am how I am because of the experiences in my life. Like it or not, you’re entitled to your own opinion.”

“Got balls too. Never heard you speak in that tone.”

“What tone?”

“The one you’re using right now. You sound so sure of yourself. So confident. Where’s the kid that could only speak confidently when he was comfortable with people and avoided strangers?”

“Dead.”

“So it seems. You’re colder too.”

“Been hearing that a lot.”

“I wonder why.”

“Why are you here?”

“To see you.”

“Why?”

“Can’t I visit you?”

“What is the nature of our relationship?”

He looked at me and the smile vanished from his face. Over his head I saw his crew tense up at my question.

“It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it.”

“You sure you want your crew to know? It’s not something I think you want out in the open.”

I stood up and grabbed his wrist. I dragged him to my room much to the protest of both crews. None followed though and I pushed him into the room and slammed the door shut behind me.

“Talk.”

“Bossy.”

“I’m serious. Talk.”

He sat on the edge of my bed and looked at me for a moment.

“We used to sleep together.”

“Huh?”

“We had sex, okay?”

“Okay. Wait! What?!”

“You sound surprised. Is it that hard to imagine?”

“Yes! How old are you?!”

What the fuck? What the actual fuck is happening right now?

“Relax! I’m thirty two.”

That makes no sense. The time line is off. How old were Luffy and Ace right now. Fuck. I didn’t even know.

“When did we start sleeping together?”

“After you turned eighteen.”

Okay. Okay. Everything is fine. It’s great. Cool. Perfect. Not.

“How?”

“We were drunk.”

“Both of us?”

“Yes.”

“And we just kept doing it?”

“Yeah. By your panicked expression, I take it this isn’t what you expected.”

“Really? No shit.”

“Are you disappointed?”

What? Is this guy for real right now? Why in fucks name would I be disappointed? Oh. Oh!

“No. I’m not. Just surprised is all.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? I’m a guy. You’re a known playboy who only sleeps with women as far as I know.”

“As far as you know?”

I nodded.

“What else do you know? Whitebeard said you lost your memories, what have you recovered?”

“Not much. Just fragments. As for what I know… I was part of your crew until I was twenty.”

He stood up and walked towards me. I backed up until my back hit the wall. Despite being taller than him I felt like a caged animal.

“That’s all?”

“Yeah.”

“Nothing else?”

I shook my head and he looked disappointed and relieved at the same time.

“Why? Is there something I should know?”

“There’s a lot you should know but I think it’s best if you find out for yourself.”

“Why?”

“It’s some pretty heavy things, kid.”

“You know calling me kid after telling me we had sex makes you sound like a creep.”

“I suppose so, Ren Ren.”

Ren Ren?

“Were we a couple?”

“Yeah.”

“Did we break up?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I hurt you. And not a day goes by where I don’t regret it.”

“Did you cheat?”

“I wish it was that simple.”

“So what happened.”

Instead of answering he grabbed me by the nape of the neck and pressed his lips against mine. My dumbass kiss back. I mean who wouldn’t. It’s Shanks! It was like a dream come true. I mean who doesn’t want to kiss Shanks at one point? I placed my hands on his hips and pulled him closer as we made out.

He pulled away and just looked at me. His eyes were dark but not with rage. With lust.

“I’d never cheat on you.”

He pressed a hand on the scar on my chest. The one directly on my heart. He looked so broken as he rubbed the scar with his thumb.

“You know what happened?”

“I did it.”

“You stabbed me?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Why?” My hands gripped his hips tighter.

“You were out of control and we were fighting. Not like our usual spars and you lost it. I didn’t mean to stab you, you walked into my sword.”

“So I did this to myself.”

My right hand covered his hand on my chest. Was I suicidal in this world too?

“Yeah.”

“Then why are you sorry? It was my fault.”

“Still, I was supposed to protect you, not hurt you.”

“Is that why I left?”

He nodded and pressed his forehead against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight.

“I’m sorry, Shanks. I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

“Still.”

“Come back with us. Come back with me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

I sighed and picked him up and walked to my bed. I sat against the headboard with him in my lap.

“Since I’ve lost my memories I can see the future. Fragments mostly but sometimes I see more. I saw the Whitebeard Pirates dying over and over again in my head and someone on this ship is responsible for their deaths.”

It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the full truth either.

“You can tell the future?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me something then. Something that no one knows.”

“Is Luffy alive?”

“Yeah. As far as I know.”

Good. That’s great actually.

“Luffy’s fruit isn’t the Gum Gum fruit like everybody believes it to be. He will awaken his fruit but the journey that gets him their is not a pleasant one. Luffy loses a part of himself, a very important part of himself.”

He stared at me in disbelief.

“You’re positive?”

“Very. Dad, has another son. He’s name is Portgas D Ace and he dies. He’s Luffy’s sworn brother and when Luffy is seventeen Ace dies protecting Luffy. It breaks Luffy so much that he doubts himself for a while.”

He covered my mouth with his hands and tears fell from his eyes.

“I believe you. The Whitebeard Pirates, how do they die?”

I took his hands in mine.

“Teach, Blackbeard betrays them and steals Pops’ powers. Afterwards they go after him for revenge but he’s too powerful and he kills them. Marco is the only survivor.”

“You know who Teach really is?”

“Yeah. I’ll kill him. Just not now. I need more strength. I know he’s not as weak as he claims to be. He fights dirty and will do anything he can to get what he wants.”

“You’re putting the lives of others on your shoulders and signing your death warrant.”

“I know.”

“I can help you.”

“I know that too but I don’t want you to be enemies with Pops. You need to keep the alliance between the two of you solid. I won’t actively try to kill myself but we both know it’s a possibility. I need you to kill Blackbeard if I fail.”

“No. No! Let me help you!”

He got up from my lap and paced in front of the bed.

“You will. I don’t have a plan yet, I’ll tell you as soon as I do. Shanks, listen to me! I’m just brainstorming, okay?! Nothing is set in stone yet.”

“You just told me that you’re basically committing suicide and you’re telling me to listen? Are you hearing yourself right now?!”

I got up and grabbed his coat, cape thing.

“Listen to me! Nothing is set in stone! Okay?! I just got powers I have no idea how it works properly, so I’m not gonna throw myself into a fight I can’t win. Okay?”

“Okay. Okay! What powers? You eat a devil fruit?”

“No. No devil fruit. I can control the sea and its creatures. From what I know so far, it depends on my emotions and how strongly I feel them.”

“You’re a witch?”

“No. But Pops suspects that my mother was one. How do you know about it?”

“He’s sure? A lot of sailors know the legend.”

“Yeah. You know my mother?”

“No. We never met her. Captain Roger said she died during childbirth.”

Just like Ace’s mom. We already have something in common.

“They ever talk about her?”

“No. If you want answers you should talk to Rayleigh.”

“He on Sabaody?”

“Yeah. He lives there.”

“No thanks. If I go there, I’ll kill all the Celestial Dragons there. I’m not strong enough to have an Admiral on my ass. Not yet anyway.”

“So what are you gonna do?”

“I’ll figure it out on my own. However long it takes. The safety of the Whitebeard Pirates come first and foremost. My mother can wait.”

“You serious?”

“Yeah. Dead serious. If I could go with you, I would. You know I would.”

“I don’t know what I know about you anymore. You’re different.”

“That may be so but, I’ll always be on your side. Except if you’re an enemy of Pops.”

He laughed at that and I liked the sound of his laugh. I smiled and pulled him into another hug.

“I’m on your side as well. Come on, I’m sure they think you killed me.”

He pulled away and grabbed my hand.

“Did we love each other?”

He paused for a second and turned his head back to look at me. His eyes were no longer dark with lust but they were filled with love. That look kind of scared me.

“Yeah. We did. I still love you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and let him lead me out the door.

“I love you too.”

He gripped my hand tighter as we walked back to the deck.

“You didn’t waken those powers you have now. You awakened it when Luffy and I were in danger. I think that’s why you lost control and stabbed yourself with my sword.”

Huh?

Chapter 7: Limbo

Trigger warnings ahead

I opened my eyes to complete darkness. I couldn’t even see my hands in front of me. I sat up and looked around me to find some source of light but, I saw none. I stood up and walked forward. I had no direction or destination but, I couldn’t sit still.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Matthias.”

“Hello?”

It was suddenly light and I covered my eyes momentarily. When I removed my hand from my eyes, I was in a different area or room.

“Hello?” I called out again.

“You’ve grown.”

I turned sharply and saw a young male, a teenager. Was this me?

“Matthias?”

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

My eyes widened. He looked so different from how I looked now. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. A smile that didn’t reach his eyes and a defeated look on his face.

“Am- am I dead?”

“No. You’re but you’re not alive, either.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. It’s either I’m dead or I’m not.”

“Matthias, or should I call you Renji, now?”

Something inside me snapped. Not rage. Not anger. Not fear. Realization. I finally realized something important.

“You’re Renji…”

“Oh! Damn! You are smart. Smarter than I thought.”

“Who is Gold D Renji?”

“He never existed. You know that. As for who he is, you’re in an alternate universe, kid. One where Roger had two sons, instead of one.”

“What- what happened to you?”

I needed to know. Being in an alternate universe already puts somethings into perspective, but i needed to know how alternate this universe was and how it differs from the original.

“I was sick. Same thing my father had. Just caught me earlier than it did him. You on the other hand, you committed suicide. Didn’t you?”

I clenched my fists.

“Yeah. I committed suicide. Do you wanna know why?”

“I already know why. See, unlike you, I got all your memories when we switch bodies, and unlike you, I stayed dead, while you came back to life.”

“What?”

My voice sounded small so unlike me, any me.

“Yeah. I switched our souls, kid. I wanted to live and you wanted to die. I died and you lived. I had a family, a great one. One that loved me. One that never betrayed me. You didn’t. We died on the same day, you were so happy you died. I was sad that I died.”

“Why the switch? Why let me live knowing I wanted to die? Why put me through this?! Why would you do that?!”

“Because I knew you would save them.”

“What? How?”

“You see, kid, I too am from your universe. Just a few years earlier. I watched One Piece, I knew what would happen. And I wanted to stop it. Unfortunately, I died before I could. We crossed paths here in the limbo, you and I. But you wouldn’t remember that. I saw your memories. I felt what you felt. And I pushed you back into the land of the living. Selfish, I know.”

“Selfish? Selfish?! You fucking asshole! You had no right! None!”

How could he do this to me? I never wanted to live. I welcomed death with open arms.

“You wanted to save them too, didn’t you?! You too felt the unjust of their deaths! Ace deserved to live! He still does now! Thatch too! He died for a fruit he wasn’t even sure he was gonna eat!”

“I know that! Okay?! I know! Yes, I wanted them to live! But, how did you think I would feel if I woke up in a world with no memories of you and partial memories of myself?! Knowing the hell I’ve been through! Didn’t you take my feelings into consideration?!”

I felt like crying. My throat was closed up and it was a bit difficult to swallow as I tried to hold my tears in.

“No. I didn’t.”

“What?”

The tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked at him stunned.

“I didn’t take your feeling into consideration. I wanted to save my family and you were my best bet.”

And I thought I was callous. Apparently not. I was angry. Very angry. But also sad. Deviatingly so.

“Clearly.”

“I get that you’re angry. Okay? I get it. But look at it from my point of view. If you could save the Whitebeards, wouldn’t you do whatever it took?”

“Yeah. I would.”

“See? You get it. You understand why I had to do what I did.”

“I never said that.” I choked out. “I said I would do whatever it took to save them but, I would never, never trade my life and someone else’s as callously as you did.”

“You wouldn’t understand. Your family besides your brother hated you.”

“Yeah. They did. That’s why I know, not to trade lives like Pokémon cards.” My voice was flat, done. “You grew up with a loving family, who would kill to protect you. From my point of view, you’re a spoiled brat.”

“What did you just say?”

“You’re a spoiled brat. Your father loved you and you grew up with the mindset that you can do whatever you wanted because you were a pirate.

"You have no idea what you’re talking about, kid.”

“Maybe not but, the two of us? We couldn’t be more different from each other if we tried. Life sucks. We push through or we give up. I chose to give up.”

“You’re a coward.”

Trigger warning ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ mention of rape.

“Yeah? Well, I’ve been tortured by my own father. Everything you could imagine, I’ve experienced it. Your father protected you and mine was the thing I needed protecting from. We lived very, very different lives. I’ll save your family, not because it’s what you put me there to do but, because I want them to live.”

“You’ve changed the story already, Matthias. For better or for worse, the story is now in your hands. Let’s see how well you fair.”

“I saved myself by committing suicide. I died an abused teenager in a world that will never know my story and I’ll be just another statistic. If I have to become a monster to save them, I will. Nothing and no one will take them from me.”

“Brave words from a coward.”

“Maybe in your next life, you get raped repeatedly by your own father while your mother watches. And see if you still want to be alive after that.”

“I’m sorry.”

His voice was soft and filled with regret, no longer the confident man who stood before me. Yeah, reality is a bitch sometimes.

“Save your pity.”

“It’s not-”

“Another thing, you and Shanks, were you lovers?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?”

“Shanks knows. And I’ll ask him, believe me. If I don’t mysteriously get your memories in my brain before I meet him. I will ask him.”

“There are somethings best left unknown.”

“That’s not how I function.”

“I know.”

“Then you also know that I will protect them and I will save Ace.”

“I know that too.”

“Coward I may be in your eyes, but I was never afraid to face my demons. If I have to die to save them, I will.”

“We’ll see how you fair when the pressure is too heavy for you, kid. Will you quit or will you go on? You’re in for struggles like never before. I hope you’re ready.”

“My powers. What are they?”

“You’ll see. I’ll be watching you, kid. Best of luck.”

It went black again before I could speak and I heard muffled voices near me but at the same time they sounded far. I got a headache and my right eye felt like there was pressure on it. I groaned and the voices got quiet.

I took a breath and opened my eyes slowly. The light was dimmed which was probably Marco’s doing. I blinked the blurriness from my vision and scared the room with my eyes. Marco, Thatch, Vista, Jozu, and Izo were surrounding the bed.

They looked tense as they stared at me. I went to speak but coughed and my throat felt like sandpaper. Vista was the first to move, he lifted my head and pressed a glass of water to my lips which I drank greedily.

Why was I so thirsty?

“Slow down, you’ll make yourself sick.”

Marco.

“You look better.”

Jozu.

“I’m glad you’re awake.”

Izo.

“Long time no see, Ren.”

Vista.

“You hungry?”

Thatch.

The cup moved from my lips and Vista helped me sit up properly. And I sighed and rubbed my eye.

“Yeah. I feel fine.”

“Renji, are you okay?”

I looked at Marco confused. He looked afraid, almost.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Your eyes. They’re different colors. Right eye so blue it looks like it’s glowing and left eye so dark it looks dull.”

“How long was I asleep?”

I didn’t comment on his observation. I still didn’t know what the hell was happening to me. All I knew was that the original Renji is dead and that he swapped our souls.

“A week.”

That’s long. No wonder I was thirsty.

“Mm hmm.”

“I don’t mean to be rude. But could I have a moment to myself?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

Vista pushed everyone else out as they started to protest. He must’ve seen something on my face to agree so quickly. I waited until I couldn’t hear their footsteps anymore before I cried.

I cried silently. For myself. For the original Renji. For all the times I never got to cry as a kid. As a teenager. For the pain I felt when I thought I was drowning. For the fear of failing. For the life i never got to have. For the second chance that I won’t waste. I just let everything out until I could no longer cry.

One Piece Valentine’s Day 14: Thatch

Despite widespread belief, clippings returned after mowing do not cause thatch. Clippings are extremely high in water and decompose rapidly, assuming lawns are mowed regularly, removing no more than one-third of leaf blades per mowing.

Wisconsin Yard & Garden: Thatch misunderstandings and management

So I’m rewatching Casper scare school, but mostly I’m sticking to my favourite episodes, one of them being “My Fair Harpy”

NOW: When we’re introduced to the mirror of “Clunderbunk” (I do not know how to spell it, I honestly thought I was mishearing things) Burns says the mirror splits anything into it’s two “essential selve” if it’s an object that’s dual in nature.

WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION

How did Thatch gain a mirror girl version of himself???

Like logically I know that “oh it’s because he’s so egotistical and magic and such” which sure, whatever BUT LIKE ALSO NO???? And don’t give me a “oh because XY chromosones” because unless Thatch LITTERALLY RIPPED HIS CHROMONES/DNA APART then that shouldn’t be possible so like????????

And like if he did do that then because (and don’t know enough about vampires but I’m like, fairly certain) he should still have DNA???!!! Why else would these monsters have explicit sex/gender otherwise if they didnt have it???? Ontop of that because the creators try to avoid the dark reality that all these students were children who were murdered/transformed, that means all of these monsters are born from parents like us, meaning he should have DNA like the rest of us, and dude should’ve like completey fallen apart in the most painful way after stepping out of that mirror

The other answer ofc is Thatch is a very closested bigender kid which considering he’s a bully, who hides stuff he likes for fear of how people will treat him, has equally arrogant/constsntly worried vampire parents (iirc??? I think they were mentioned in the movie not the show, but I watched the show more than the movie) and uses his cape to hide his tears (and even dresses/looks like the gay emo 8 year olds would’ve kill look like) honestly makes perfect sense and that is my theory from now on.

Sweet worm:

Blorbo overhears you listening to a specific song in your room and knows you only play it when you’re feeling overwhelmed/sad.

So they come back with a blanket they had just put in the dryer and get in bed with you to just hold you and let you feel your feelings out.

Giving you soft head scratches or back rubs or even just holding you snugly against them. They’re not gonna let you go through it alone.

<3

It’s possible, and it could be why Teach was so blase about having to kill Thatch. The way he saw it, he wasn’t taking Thatch’s life at all and more relocating it.

Although I don’t think Thatch’s soul is one of the ones occupying Teach’s body, because I feel like if it was Teach would have mentioned that outright as incentive for Whitebeard not to kill him; “Don’t take me out because Thatch is in here and you’ll lose what’s left of him”

I really do believe he was just trying anything to stay alive since Blackbeard is an opportunist with no qualms about switching sides or using pathos just so he can live to see another day.

Good news, babycakes. The Daddies are coming home.

Of course I am. I’m changing his fate too. No sads.

Pouty vampire kid

*Throws into trash* “There, now no one will ever know about this…”

“Late Night Snack?”

I let the thoughts win sorry lol

One Piece Christmas Day 24

12 Days of Ficmas 2025 Day 6: Too Many Cookies

Fandom: One Piece

Pairing: Thatch x Reader

CW/TW: None

Word Count: 258

Summary: Your neighbor claims to have made too many cookies while baking and offers you some.

You were spending your afternoon cleaning up your apartment when there was a knock at your door. You hadn’t been expecting anyone so you were a bit thrown off by the interruption. You were even more surprised to find the it was you neighbor from across the hall. The two of you had only ever shared words in passing, but he was always friendly and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t have a small crush.

“Hey, sorry for the surprise visit, but I was baking and accidentally made way too many. So, I thought I’d bring some over,” he says.

“What kind of cookies?” you ask.

“Gingerbread and some Snickerdoodles,” he says. “I didn’t know if you liked them, but figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.”

“How did you accidentally make too much?” you ask.

“Just got the measurements wrong,” he says. “Simple mistake.”

“Uh-huh…” you say, voice full of skepticism, as you take the tin of cookies from him. You couldn’t help but notice he seemed a bit nervous. “Did you perhaps just make cookies?”

“I just… I was already making cookies and I thought you would like some,” he says.

“Well, thank you, I appreciate it,” you say with a smile. “Would you maybe want to come in and share some with me?”

“Really?” he asks.

“You went to the trouble of making cookies for me, figured we could hang out for a bit. If you want to, that is,” you say.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” he says and follows you inside your apartment.

The Protector

A/N: oh God this was seriously like balm to my soul, though I’m not that happy with the ending but thank you so much to the amazing and super sweet @ye-old-hermit-woman for requesting “Reader is a new recruit who’s exceptionally strong and can handle her own in battles, she’s constantly worried over by Thatch and the others since she’s the only lady on the ship and she’s had about enough.” I really really hope you like it and I didn’t mess up Thatch

Plot: after being constantly babysat by the crew and teased by Thatch for looking delicate you have had enough and a cleaning task with Thatch turns from banter to something more

Warnings: teasing, use of Y/N, oral, p in v (not to much described though), tickling, not proofread, MDNI⚠️🔞 (I originally wrote it in first person so if i forgot to change something please tell me)

Characters: Thatch x FReader

The Whitebeard Pirates’ gym was usually a cacophony of clanging weights, grunts and the rhythmic thump of sparring practice. Today, however, it was just the swish of brooms and the scrub of sponges. It was your and Thatch’s turn for cleaning duty.

You were the newest recruit and the only woman on the primary ship. A whirlwind of power that had surprised everyone. You could out-spar most of the division commanders and had a speed that made even some of the veterans sweat. Yet, you couldn’t escape the constant, smothering blanket of protective worry from your new family, especially Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander and chef.

“Careful there, sweetheart,” Thatch chirped, leaning against a dumbbell rack with his arms crossed, a smug, playful glint in his eyes. He watched you haul a massive stack of weight plates back onto the rack. “Wouldn’t want you to strain yourself. You’re a fragile flower, after all. Need your big, strong division commander protection, don’t you?” He teased.

You froze, the two plates in your hands feeling suddenly lighter than feathers. The words weren’t malicious you knew Thatch genuinely cared and was just teasing. But after a week of being told to ‘take it easy,’ 'let us carry that,’ and 'don’t overdo it, sweetie,’ you finally snapped.

You dropped the plates with a resounding CLANG.

“A fragile flower, you say?” you gritted out, spinning around. Your eyes were flashing with a mixture of annoyance and determination. “I’m not a fragile flower I’m at least a damn cactus with a temper, Thatch. And I’ve had enough of the tiptoeing and be treated like I might snap in two if I so much as look at a weight.”

You didn’t give him time to react. You launched yourself forward, a blur of muscle and righteous anger, tackling the commander mid-smirk.

“Let me show you how fragile I am!” you yelled, driving him back against a sparring mat.

Thatch grunted as he hit the padded floor, a genuine flash of surprise, which was immediately followed by pure, delighted mischief, crossing his face. He met your charge with his arms coming up instinctively, but he held back, letting you scramble on top, trying to pin his arms.

“Woah, simmer down, sweetheart! Didn’t know we were getting a bonus workout!” he chuckled, easily keeping your weight off his chest with one hand while still making you believe you were in control.

You pushed harder, your adrenaline spiking. You used your full strength, the strength that had fended off vicious pirates on the Grand Line, focusing it all into pinning this smug idiot down and not get distracted by his annoyingly charming smile or his damn handsome face. Nope definitely not. Not even by the way he smelled like cinnamon and something earthy and masculine, nope that was not distracting you.

But just as you forced yourself not to think too much about him or this situation right now, the air shifted.

Thatch’s smile didn’t falter, but the casual lightness in his eyes was replaced by a smooth, fluid intensity. In a move so quick and deceptively effortless you didn’t even register it until it was done, he shifted his hips, hooked his leg around yours and used your forward momentum against you.

In an instant, you were no longer on top. You were flat on your back, Thatch’s weight solid and inescapable over you. He had your arms pinned above your head in a vice-like grip, his movements precise and utterly unhurried. He was breathing easily, his chest barely rising while your own was heaving rapdily and that not just from the surpriseof the sudden repositioning.

“See now, sweetheart ” he said, his voice a low, tantalizing rumble, sounding like he was ordering an appetizer, not pinning a powerful opponent. “You’re strong, really strong. But I’m the division commander. And I just happen to be a little bit stronger.”

You blinked, still completely overwhelmed with what just happened. Your face was turning a spectacular shade of crimson. He was right. You had used everything and he had countered it like it was a minor inconvenience. His strength wasn’t just raw power, it was practiced, smooth and damnably impressive.

“L-Let go!” you pouted, struggling. “You cheated!”

Thatch’s grin widened. He leaned in close, his eyes gleaming with playful mischief.

“Cheated? Nah. I just proved my point, princess,” he purred. “And now… you gotta eat your words.”

His hands left your wrists, but you didn’t have a chance to move. One hand shot to your side, the other to your ribs and he started to tickle you. Hard. Relentlessly.

“A-AHAHA! NO! THATCH—STOP IT! I’M GO-AHAHAHAH! C-CURSE YOU! LET GO!” you shrieked, bucking and thrashing with genuine desperation, your speed utterly useless against the sheer assault of playful torment. Tears of laughter and frustration welled in your eyes.

Thatch, eating up your distress like a gourmet meal, pressed his advantage. “Say it, sweetheart! Say who’s stronger! Say you need your big, strong and utterly handsome division commander’s protection!”

“NEVER!”

He intensified his attack, his own deep, rumbling laugh filling the quiet gym.

“S-ST-OP! OKAY! OKAY! YOU’RE…… YOU’RE STRONGER! THE STRONGEST! LET ME GO, YOU MEAN TEDDY BEAR!”

He laughed hard at you calling him a teddybear and finally relented, pulling his hands away but he didn’t move immediately off you instead his eyes softened and he looked down at you as if memorizing every contour of your face, before finally getting off you and collapsing beside your panting, tear-streaked and red form. The room was silent save for your ragged breaths and his soft chuckles.

“See? Wasn’t that hard, was it?” he said lowly, unable to hide a triumphant smile.

You glared at him, or at least you tried to, catching your breath. “I hate you. I really, truly hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” he murmured, rolling onto his side to face you, his teasing gone, replaced by a deep, tender warmth that made your heart skip a beat.

You lay there, chest heaving, staring back. The truth was, you were completely, irrevocably head over heels for this infuriating, handsome, charming and strong man. You had been for quite some time now but always pushed it down.

Thatch lifted a hand, gently wiping a lingering tear from your cheek with his thumb. His eyes dropped to your mouth, and the air between you two went from playfully charged to deeply, undeniably electric.

“You’re beautiful when you’re mad,” he whispered, his voice suddenly husky his hand tracing from your cheek down to your jawline and stopping to gently grip your chin.

You swallowed hard, your heart slamming against your ribs and your lips parted slightly. Before you knew it though he tilted your chin and leaned in, closing the small gap between you and pressed his lips to yours. It wasn’t a demanding kiss, but a soft, almost reverent touch, a silent confession of all the worried glances, the playful jabs and the mean crush he had been nursing since you had stepped onto the deck.

You felt the shock, the heat and the sudden, overwhelming relief of shared desire and butterflies in your stomach. You moved, not to fight, but to lean in, your hands coming up to cup his jaw, deepening the kiss into an answer.

When you finally broke apart, your foreheads rested together, the cleaning forgotten.

“I was beginning to think I imagined the electric tension between us,” you breathed, your eyes fluttering open as you felt your cheeks heat up and you smiled almost shyly.

“Me too,” Thatch admitted, his own heart practically slamming against his ribs. He gave you a final, sweet peck. “Come on, princess. I know a better place to recover from that very necessary wrestling match.”

He stood up, offering you a hand. You took it, letting him pull you up. Without giving you a chance to respond further, he grabbed you, hurled you over his shoulder with an ease that was almost insulting and carried you through the corridors of the Moby Dick.

“Thatch what are you doing? Put me down.” Your arms flailed, but it was no use and laughter slipped past your lips while you were completely at his mercy.

“Can’t do that pretty girl, you’re going to learn the hard (😏) way how I really treat someone under my protection, someone who admitted that they needed me,” he teased and you grumbled. “Don’t worry love, I’m gonna show you how to worship someone as stubborn… and strong as you,” he murmured into your ear as you reached his room, the door closing softly behind you both and suddenly the teasing, public energy of the gym was replaced by the heat of Thatch’s private room. “And you’re going to like it, trust me.”

Thatch’s quarters smelled faintly of something earthy, spices and the sea, a comforting blend that was uniquely him. Thatch moved like a man ready to worship the woman who could handle her own and who, finally, felt truly handled by him, the residual adrenaline from the wrestling match mixing with the frantic, heady desire that had been simmering between you for weeks.

He gently pushed the door closed with his foot. The moment the latch clicked, he set you down gently but firmly, his hands still holding you close, you could feel him pressing against you his hands tracing over your sides and back. His eyes roamed over you with that same teasing, possessive gleam. You could feel the heat rising in your chest.

Your hands moved on their own threading fiercely through the soft, brown strands of his hair.

“You’ve been so stubborn all day,” he murmured, his lips brushing your neck making you shiver under his touch. “Talking about how strong you are… how independent… and yet, look at you now. You admitted that you needed my protection, that I’m stronger than you and who would I be to not reward such insight.” He rumbled before kissing you again and you met it with a hungry fervor, a blend of relief and long-suppressed need.

“You’re such a damn tease,” you mumbled, your words heavy with adoration.

“Only for you, sweetheart,” he promised, his voice low and ragged. He lifted you easily, setting you on the edge of his large bunk and took a step back, his hands resting on your thighs, his eyes sweeping over your face.

He looked at you with utter affection, his chest heaving slightly, the playful mask completely gone, replaced by an intense, consuming admiration.

“You have no idea how hard it’s been,” Thatch confessed, his thumbs tracing circles on your skin. “Watching you lift everything, fight everyone, wanting to be the one to worry about you and knowing I couldn’t cross that line.”

“You crossed it pretty spectacularly back there,” you teased, your own breathing evening out, though the heat in your cheeks remained.

He grinned, the familiar mischief returning just for a moment. “I told you, I’m stronger. And you admitted it.”

“I admitted you’re a fiend with a finger-pinch, Thatch,” you corrected, but the fondness in your eyes belied the sharpness.

He chuckled, then grew serious again. He took your hands, bringing them to his mouth and kissing the knuckles one by one.

“You are the strongest person I know, [Y/N],” he said, his gaze locked on yours, full of deep, honest respect. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be taken care of. You deserve to be seen, to be appreciated, to be protected and to be absolutely adored.”

He knelt before you, sinking onto one knee, turning the moment into something sacred and profound. He began to worship you not with grand declarations, but with the focused, tender attention that you had been missing for quite some time now.

He pulled off your heavy boots, his large hands careful and gentle as he traced his hands over your tired feet before he got up and pushed you softly back down onto the matress and hovered over you.

You gasped, heart pounding, but there was no fear just a shiver of anticipation. “T-Take care of me… huh?” You whispered back, your voice trembling, craving more of that smug, dominant energy he radiated.

His grin spread wickedly as his hands roamed deliberately and began to slip teasingly under your shirt, feeling every inch of you. “Yes. Worship. That’s exactly what you deserve, [Y/N]. Someone to show you exactly what it means to take care of you and how much I want you.”

You moaned, tilting your head back as his lips trailed down your collarbone, each kiss leaving a mark, a warm imprint of possession. You could feel him pressing you further into the mattress, every movement controlled yet smooth, his power effortless and your body reacting instinctively. You wanted him just as much as he wanted you.

He caught your hands in his, kissing each knuckle again before he pinned them above your head with one strong arm, his body trapping yours. “You’re going to feel every inch of me,” he whispered, voice low, commanding. “Every touch, every kiss, every mark I leave… will make you feel good and show you that you’re mine.”

You trembled under his control, hips pressing into him and he let out a low chuckle at your reaction. “God, you’re perfect. Strong, stubborn… and yet so desperate for me.” His words made you shiver all over, sending heat pooling between your legs.

Before you could even respond he captured your lips in a deep, demanding kiss. His tongue teased yours, exploring, asserting and you kissed him back with the same intensity. Tongues tangled and fought for dominance. Every part of you wanted him, wanted to feel his strength against yours, wanted to surrender and fight at the same time.

When he finally broke the kiss, just enough to smirk down at you, you could see the unmistakable glint of care and love in his eyes. “And now,” he said smoothly, “you’re going to understand why I’ve been holding back. I’m going to worship you… the way you deserve.”

With that everything else faded into the heat of the moment. Every touch, every whisper, every low growl from him told you he had been imagining this for a long time. And you? You were ready to let him take control completely, to show him just how much you wanted him in return.

He moved quickly yet smoothly to undress you, leaving you exposed to him in ways that made your cheeks burn hotter with each passing second.

Thatch’s hands never stopped moving, gliding over every curve of you, exploring, teasing, while keeping you completely pinned under his strength. You moaned into his neck as he nipped and kissed along your collarbone, each bite leaving a mark, each kiss a claim.

“You feel that?” he murmured, voice low and possessive. “Every shiver, every gasp… it’s because of me. Because I’m yours and you’re mine.”

Your hands instinctively reached up and started to unbutton his shirt while the mixture of his dominance and teasing words had your mind swimming. “Thatch… please… haaa… don’t stop…” you gasped, body trembling under him.

He chuckled, savoring your reaction as you frantically pulled his shirt off. “Don’t stop? Oh, you’re going to remember this,” he whispered helping you remove his shirt discarding it to the side, before he began trailing his lips from your jaw downwards, teasing your neck brushing over the top of your chest, then teasing the swell of your breasts. “Every inch of you belongs to me. Every gasp, every moan… mine.”

You arched into him instinctively, desperate for more, wanting to feel every bit of him against you. And he responded immediately, his hands sliding down to glide over your sides and stomach down to your waist, leaving lines of fire and electricity in it’s wake.

Another gasp left your lips as you felt your skin prickle, his strength both firm and fluid and so damn thrilling and consuming.

“You’re the most stubborn and at the same time beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” he murmured as he leaned down, capturing your lips again. “You have no idea how many nights I’ve spent dreaming of this, love. How many times I’ve been thinking about you, needing you” he breathed lowly.

“I… I… did too!” you onfessed with a gasp, your voice breaking as the kiss deepened. Your hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, pressing your body fully against his. Every inch of you screamed for him, craved him, his touch, the way he had effortlessly overpowered you earlier and the way he always treated you like you were someone special.

Thatch’s grin was wide, maybe a bit possessive, as he broke the kiss to whisper teasingly against your ear, “That’s it. Admit it… admit I’m stronger, admit you need my protection. And then… I’ll worship you the way you deserve.”

His lips traced every inch of your skin, leaving little kisses along your neck, shoulders and down your arms, teasing lightly as his fingers danced across your sensitive spots.

“Yes! Hah! I—I need you! You’re stronger… and I… I need your protection!” You gasped, shivering under him, completely flushed, completely his.

Satisfied, he didn’t stop. He nibbled and sucked lightly on your neck, chest, every inch of skin he could reach, hands roaming freely, teasing, worshiping, marking you in ways that left you breathless. Every touch was a mixture of dominance and adoration, he was cherishing you like no one else had before. You shivered beneath him, heart racing, every nerve alight from anticipation and arousal.

“You drive me insane princess,” he whispered, voice low and rough, “so strong, so beautiful and so willing to let me take control. You’re mine… completely.”

You moaned as his lips trailed down teasing your nipple, giving it a flick of his tongue before he trailed down kissing a path lower and lower till he reached your bellybutton, smirking up at you, savoring your needy face and the whine you made when he stopped. “You’re so damn perfect” he murmered.

Then, without warning, he moved between your legs, and your breath hitched as his lips found your most sensitive spot. A sharp gasp escaped you and you instinctively tried to close your legs but Thatch was already in control. His large, strong hands pressed firmly but gently against your thighs, holding them open. “No,” he groaned, voice low, teasing and obsessed. “Not yet. You belong to me now princess, let me show you how much I crave this, you.”

Your body instinctively reacted to the sensation. Back arching and head tilting slightly backwards a deep moan escaping your lips. You were utterly lost in the heat of the moment. Every part of you was melted away, leaving only desire and surrender. And Thatch? He soaked it up, grinning like a child in a candystore as he continued to kiss your core before sucking teasingly on your clit.

You trembled, heat pooling between your legs as his tongue teased and flicked against you, expertly finding every sensitive spot. Every lick, every suck and every move deliberate, every touch a reminder of his strength and claim over you.

You reached down to him, your fingers tangling in his hair. “Haaaah don’t — Thatch don’t — fuck —don’t sto-op” you moaned.

Your hands clawed at his hair and shoulders, your breath coming in ragged, desperate gasps, but he only hummed, clearly enjoying every reaction. “You’re so perfect,” he whispered against you, his pompadour brushing softly against your thighs, his goatee grazing your skin as he kissed and licked. “So stubborn… so strong… and yet, look at you. Completely mine. Every gasp, every shiver—it’s all for me.”

“Thatch… p-please… I—ah—can’t…” you gasped, each word cut off by another flick of his tongue, another teasing kiss that left you writhing.

“Shh,” he whispered, voice low and commanding, hands holding you firm. “You can love. You’re mine to worship, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it and you will too.”

And you did under the combination of his caress and worshipful attention, leaving you trembling and gasping, totally at his mercy but for the first time in your life you didn'tmind being at someone else’s mercy.

You were trembling, breathless, your body arching up into his mouth with every teasing stroke, your skin prickling. Your hands twisted in the sheets, your thighs shaking against his iron grip.

You were close, so close as Thatch sucked harder “Thatch… please…” your voice broke, high and desperate.

“Not yet sweetheart” he teased as he felt your body quivering under his ministrations.

“I can’t take it anymore. I need you—inside me—please…”

He froze for a moment, lifting his head to look up at you. His eyes were dark now, the teasing grin softening into something hotter, hungrier. He let out a low, satisfied sound and dragged his thumb slowly along your hip, a silent promise.

“Oh, sweetheart…” he murmured, his voice low and rough with restraint. “You don’t know how much I wanted to hear you say that.”

He moved upward, kissing a trail up your stomach, over your chest, up your throat, until he hovered over you again. The heat of his body pressed against yours, his weight and warmth surrounding you. His face was close to yours now, breath mingling with yours as his forehead pressed to yours.

“I’m going to take you,” he whispered, his tone a mix of command and worship. “The way you’ve been begging for. The way I’ve been dying to.”

You whimpered, trembling under him, hands clutching at his arms for purchase. Every part of you was on fire, desperate for him.

He kissed you then, deep and hungry, one hand gripping your hip while the other cradled your cheek as you felt him slowly enter you making you gasp into the kiss. He rolled his hips slowly, deliberately, teasing you with the weight and heat of him pressed right where you wanted it most but not yet giving in. He pulled back just enough to look down at you, his grin returning, a little smug but nonetheless soft and full of affection.

“Say it again,” he murmured as he picked up the pace deliberately not rushing anything, savoring the moment. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want you,” you breathed, eyes half-lidded and pleading. “Please, Thatch. Make me cum.”

He groaned, eyes fluttering shut for a second and then leaned down to kiss you again, his hands sliding up to lace with yours, holding you, anchoring you. “That’s my beautiful girl…” he rumbled and then he moved, slow but sure, finally enough to give you what you had been begging for, his strength and heat wrapping around you as his mouth found yours again, swallowing your gasp.

You felt him hit that sweet spot over and over, making your heart race as hus grunts became more feral. You were both so close your grip on his hand tightening as you felt the orgasm built up and Thacth began moving faster and a little rougher.

“Thatch — haaa — gonna,” you moaned as you felt yourself cum hard and with a deep feral grunt he followed you, filling you up.

You were both panting by now while Thatch didn’t pull out immediately instead he just looked down at you breathing heavily his face slightly flush and small droplets of sweat on his chest.

“I love you my little cactus,” he whispered voice a little raspy now, yet still carrying that teasing undertone.

“I love you too, my big strong protector.”

Taglist: @jintaka-hane@fleetadmiralsoffice@hakiofdreams@welcome-to-the-grandline@sailing-to-laugh-tale@legends-of-the-grandline@devilfruitdiaries@waannty@luna-the-moon-guardian (once again I’m just reminding you that if you want me to stop tagging you please tell me or if someone wants to get added)

Oooo these look great!! Keep up the good work! <3

a select few!

And now a Baby…here’s Thatch!