Ae I Just Imagined Gojo Leaning Down To Hear Us Talk And Giggled

"It's raining."

You stick your hand out into the falling rain, cold drops plopping into your palm. the air smells fresh, a hint of musty wet leaves on the cool breeze. The sky is gray, the sun hiding behind the thick whirling clouds.

"Really?" Umemiya breathes, in a playfully incredulous tone. He cups your cheek gently, the warmth of his calloused hands radiating under your blushing cheeks. He turns your face to look into his eyes, and they soften, like like sinking into a soft bed at night.

You can smell the tea on his breath, minty, no doubt from the small mint plant he's been reviving in the garden out back. It calms you instantly, makes you fall out of the whirlwind of thoughts cascading through your mind to drive up your stress levels.

But with Ume, in this moment it's quiet, tranquil. The rain pools in your palm, washes away the doubt and insecurity you were previously reveling in, and Ume..stays by your side, engrossed in your beauty.

"I hardly noticed..." he replies bending down to touch the tip of his nose to yours," How could I when I'm standing next to the sun?"

“do you think we’re soulmates?”

“i don’t believe in that shit.” katsuki’s hand tangles in your messy hair sprawled against the pillow he fought you over and ultimately gave to you with a small roll of his eyes.

you huff against his chest, frowning at his words. “you don’t think we were meant to be?”

“hell no.” he grins almost a little mockingly

“why not..?” you mutter, thankful your face is out of his sight because your disappointed expression is really quite laughable.

it’s silent for a long moment, and in the dark room, you assume he fell asleep. you sigh, cautiously readjusting your position to be more comfortable as you shut your eyes, ready to sleep.

that is until his hand drops from your hair onto your arm, rubbing small circles. “i don’t think i’m meant to be with anyone.” he whispers, staring up at his ceiling, still covered in glow in the dark stars from when he was a kid. “i think i just got lucky.”

you keep your eyes closed, half asleep as you respond immediately, “well, i don’t believe in luck. everything happens for a reason, suki.”

“that’s your prerogative, i guess.” he hums, his motions slowing down against your arm, resting there lazily.

“mm,” you wrap your arms around his torso, your cheek smushing against his chest.

another long moment passes, and katsuki’s still staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

“you asleep?” he murmurs, careful not to wake you if you are.

“no, baby.”

he nods to himself, leaning down to plant a kiss on your head. “okay. i love you. thank you.” he whispers before resting back on his bed and shutting his eyes.

“thank you for what?” you reply, smiling softly at his affection.

he shrugs lightly before sleep takes over him, his arms engulfed around you without another word.

dandelion ──★ ˙🍓 ̟

katsuki’s lips intoxicated you instantly. his head filled with prayers of thanks to whoever planted you on this earth for him— at least he’d like to believe you’re here for him. simply because, you were absolutely perfect and katsuki couldn’t think of anything that would please him more than kissing you over and over again.

it was odd how utterly unromantic katsuki was, yet with you, his heart filled with so much love and care for a mere human being.

but you weren’t a mere human being, you were katsuki’s. his quiet sunrise over still water— soft, unhurried, and endless, making him pause, every time his gaze lands on you, just to soak in your presence. he thinks that’s why he’s so in love with you— you slow down time for him, you make him so much more peaceful and tranquil, to the point where it, absolutely, overwhelms him.

and kissing you only strengthened his hold onto you, both metaphorically and physically, his accustomed hands trailing under your blouse. the concept of someone being so special to him (and vice versa) was a foreign thought in his head— it fulfilled his unknown wish of being familiar with someone.

as your teeth grazes his lower lip, katsuki believes he'll never get bored of you— always catching him off guard at just the right moments, where it drove him, absolutely, insane.

because, yes, you were delicate and flimsy, which led him to, often, overlook your natural resilient nature, that he recalls as of now.

and, in what world, could katsuki ask for more?

he’s sure to keep you with him forever.

satoru playing into the whole super dad role, wearing a baby carrier everywhere and mindlessly letting your teething baby chew and slobber all over the tip of his finger to soothe her itty bitty aches. unable to keep his precious baby girl out of sight for a second, barely allowing you to lift a damn finger in the middle of the night as your daughter’s cries rouse the both of you from slumber. sure, satoru slacked off on plenty of things but never when it came to his princess. her diapers full? he was already changing it. breast milk was taking some time to come in? not a problem, he’ll feed her using formula. a sudden sneeze? she must have caught a cold. needless to say, he would do anything for his little girl. he was always alert, having conditioned himself to sleep only a few hours even before the baby was born due to his demanding work schedule. and although you appreciated his consistent efforts and the lengths at which he was willing to go to prove himself a good father — though you knew he would be from the start and he’d done just about enough even while you were pregnant — you would like to spend at least an hour with your baby before she inevitably got whisked away by your husband. but no matter how many times you tried to reason with him that you were completely capable of taking care of the child you birthed for just one night, he’d readily refuse. you’d spent nine months nourishing and caring for his little one in your tummy, and now it was his turn.

ᴘᴀɪɴᴛ & ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ

featuring: needy!gojosatoru, childhoodfriend!gojosatoru. precious. fluff!, minute jealousy synopsis: you put makeup on your childhood best friend. you learn that he is more than you anticipated. masterlist

you think you know everything about gojo satoru. you'd seen him as a child, two years younger than you, get scolded by his parents for sending a senile sorcerer to hospital. you were there when he first activated limitless and pummelled you accidentally in the face.

safe to say, nothing surprises you anymore. not even when he teleports into your room on the night of your date without even a knock and grabs you by the shoulders to turn you and your chair around.

"oi, stop that."

you strangle him off you. he only grins.

"sure thing." he shrugs, before bending down to inspect you more closely. "what have you got on your face?"

you put the bottle of setting spray down. "makeup."

he ruffles his tousled white hair, windblown. "ah? makeup. are you meeting someone?" he grins halfheartedly, scanning your room for any changes since you last met.

"i am."

"it's about time. i've already dated loads of people," he boasts, his eyes lingering on the powder and blush on the table.

you roll your eyes. "of course you have." you lay on the finishing touches to your face. you notice him watching.

rule one about gojo satoru, when he stares, he's interested. as you grew older, it became harder under those pitch black shades of his to detect where he's staring, but when he really wants something, it's obvious.

you lift a brush. "you want me to do makeup on you?"

he shakes his head.

rule two about satoru gojo, he never says what he's thinking.

you stand up, gesturing at the bed. "sit down." without a word, the boy listens to your command, ready to try something new.

you can't say you're unhappy to try doing makeup on him. you had some spare time left and that beautiful canvas of a face is nothing but to die for. putting makeup on him would be fun.

"i'll have to take off your glasses. may i?"

he sniffs.

rule three about gojo, he pretends to hate it when people ask to take his glasses off, but he secretly likes it. you know. it makes him feel seen, more human.

"do it yourself."

you nod.

taking his sunglasses off, you revel in the familiar ocean which faces you.

another two facts about satoru is that he can't keep still and he can't stop yapping. shaking his leg in tandem with the news from his mouth, the movement makes you shoot him a frustrated glare, distracted.

half to shut him up, the other half to make him pay attention, you grip his jaw in place. your eyes lock. soon enough, he'll probably look away to inspect some other object of interest; he's known you for years, after all. nothing new.

as you work, you think to yourself.

gojo... he's really grown up, hasn't he? in careful brushstrokes, you drag the eyeliner gently to form a wing with the tip of the pen. your eyes narrowed in concentration, you haven't noticed the shallow breath which tumbles from his mouth.

"pretty."

you blink.

gojo satoru scoots closer to you, so that his gorgeous azure eyes are inches from yours. they are widened in awe.

in all these years, you can count on one hand the number of times this genius has focused on anything longer than five-ten seconds. sure, going to jujutsu high has stretched that time out slightly, but it's nothing compared to this.

you know what rule one says about his behaviour, but you couldn't believe it.

he reaches up to brush the hair from your face. unblinking, unwavering, as though memorising everything, the outline of your nose to the singular dashes which form an eyelash, he stares at you.

it is the first step from a boy to a man.

"you are... really, really, pretty."

"says you," you say, almost pushing his hands away.

he sinks his fingers against yours, clasping them in a bone-tight grip.

"you are," he asserts. "how come i've never noticed?" he mutters, furious.

um. you turn to look the other way. the heat of his stare is scalding. nevertheless, the strongest refuses to back down.

"i should've noticed, shouldn't i? and now you're all dressed up with your make-up to meet some other guy." he pouts.

truth be told, you are silenced. this is not the gojo you recognise. in a swift move, he carries you from the vanity to the bed. the display of strength startles you.

"don't go," he whines into your shoulder, shifting you with his strong arms to nuzzle himself into your chest. you did so often when you were younger but-

"stay." he pauses, letting each syllable cascade from his beautiful lips like a bell, ringing crystal clear. "stay with me."

stay with him.

you think you know everything about gojo satoru. you remember the way he begged for a break amidst his pre-adolescent training sessions. you remember the empty hallways of the gojo estate and his silent footsteps, how they left him behind to carry the world on his shoulders.

awaiting your answer, gojo feels his heart beating out of his chest. what if you leave? what if you choose your date over him? what if-

"why?"

he stares up at you again. truly shameless.

"because i want you to." he turns stern. "or else, i'll tell your friend that you didn't actually have work that day you decided to ditch her little meet-up and i'll-"

out of nowhere, a laugh breaks out of you. he frowns.

but then, you press a soft kiss on his cheek, another one on the slope of his nose, which -truth be told- didn't need the contour you'd gracefully put on it, and the strongest sorcerer in the world relaxes to your touch.

moments like these, satoru still manages to surprise you.

"i'll stay."

"promise?" he holds up a pinkie.

"come on, satoru, we're not children anymore."

his eyebrows scrunch together so you finally relent.

"ok."

you link your pinkie to his.

"promise."

getting comfortable, you shoot a text at your friend to move the date to another day.

"i knew you'd stay. you can't stand when i throw a tantrum," he suddenly begins to mumble against your skin. your eyes widen. "i know you... better than anyone..." his eyelids are dragging under the weight of sleepiness.

perhaps you didn't know everything about satoru after all.

gojo opens his eyes, seeing you fully. "i know you can't stand me being alone."

perhaps he knew more about you than you had thought possible.

on second thoughts, you grab your phone from your bedside table, typing up a message you send without a second thought.

sorry. something came up. i might not be able to meet with you next week either. thank you for your patience, but i think i've found someone who i want to stick by forever.

Typetober Day 2: warm on a cold night

(pls let this tide u over for now, new update coming soon!)

Hoku pressed her two hands together, rubbing her fingertips hard enough for it to feel raw from the pressure.

Her breath came out near solid in a puff of white cloud, trailing into wisps around her face. The frigid cold blanketing the entire ship was enough to send her running for the hills if there were any hills to begin with. She should’ve stuck to her originally intentions and holed up in the girls’ room with all the blankets she could find.

Everyone moved over the deck around her, peals of laughter filling the night, starry air. She tracked Luffy with her eyes, lunging around as Chopper and Usopp chased him with snowballs. Nami and Robin were curved over a freshly snow-brushed table, warm, steaming hot cups of cocoa in their hands as Sanji tended to their every need. Some ways away Zoro was up in the crow’s nest, the faint outline of his swords peeking over the rim.

It’s too cold for a night out. I don’t know why the all wouldn’t want to just stay in. Hoku bitterly eyed her frostbitten fingers. She’d long chugged the hot chocolate Sanji had gifted her and was too stubborn to ask for more. I can’t even draw in this weather. It’s too damn cold.

She should just go inside.

Why don’t you just go inside?

I’m only bad with the cold because I’m from Artopoki. Hoku thought. I just didn’t get the good genes to deal with the snow. I’m part of the majority.

She ran her fingers over each other, stuffing them into her jacket. That’s why I hate the cold.

“Why don’t we go somewhere for Christmas?”

Hoku paused.

“It’s been so long…”

“Just a nice get together…”

“You’ll be all alone again…”

“Just come…”

“Why are you always so busy when you don’t even have a real job–”

“Hokuuuuuuu! What are ya doin’ over here?”

She stared at the top of Luffy’s sandals. It was amazing how this guy couldn’t feel anything, heat or cold. Luffy was just indestructible. 

“Thinking,” Hoku said. Luffy made a face, squatting down in front of her with his arms wrapped over his knees. He stared drawing into a patch of snow beside her. “Go back and play. I’ll die if you toss any snowballs at me.”

“Shishishi, you’re too weak!” Luffy sang. He cocked his head. “You’re not drawing?”

“My hands are too cold,” Hoku said darkly. “Run back, I’m going to go down and just–”

“Hands.”

“Huh?”

Luffy pointedly held out his hands, looking at her with that stupidly open, stupidly unreadable face. The big, wide eyes and the expectancy of a guy who never knew how to take no for a god damn answer. Hoku stared at him, bewildered and confused until she grudgingly tugged her hands out of her pockets and set them on top of Luffy’s.

Hoku nearly shuddered at the warmth. Her eyes snapped down to where Luffy’s fingers slipped through hers, linking their hands together. Goddess, he’s so stupidly warm. Maybe he and Ace really are brothers.

“Shishishi,” Luffy grinned at her, peering up from beneath the rim of his hat. Snow caught on the edges. “Better you big baby?”

Hoku hesitated for a second before she tightened her hands around Luffy’s. Her captain didn’t protest, tightening his hands right back as though it were some sort of competition.

Hoku couldn’t bring the words to her lips. The voices in the back of her head faded away.

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Better.”

that bit of manu being the helicopter parent is so funny when you consider their lineage to the popoki goddess. if a feline cub is near u, the parent is definitely nearby watching u 😂 what i would give to see an au of manu and mahina living and manu is not so lowkey watching asl when the 4 become friends like a wild cat hiding behind the bushes, he did not let up the 🤨 expression even when hoku gotten older and there are more men than he like for them to be around hoku

Mahina stopped just short of bringing her hammer down onto the slab of metal sitting over her workbench.

A loud rustle from the front of the house caught her attention. The older woman blinked, tilting her head curiously as she set the metal aside and kept the hammer in her grip, twirling it around her fingers out of habit.

Her long white braid swung easily against her back. An ocean breeze tickled the ends, bringing Mahina's gaze outwards to the coast. Her workshop sat right beside their little house on the cliffside hill, looking right out to the ocean before them.

A short, familiar curse reached her ears and she grinned now, slinging the hammer lightly over her shoulder. "You moving the furniture again?"

Manu frowned. He'd been letting his hair grow out a bit this time, silken ends tied off just at the base of his neck with an old ribbon—one of Hoku's, she realized fondly. Their usual patio furniture sat in a cultish huddle around him, rocking chairs gazing back as Manu crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do you think they looked better where they used to be or how I had them yesterday?"

Mahina tipped her head to the side.

"How did they look yesterday again?"

Manu sighed, shaking his head. Mahina grinned cheekily, almost skipping over to her dearest friend as she came up to the steps of their home. "Are you going through your mid-life crisis now? Hoku won't mind them either way, you know."

Manu scowled, looking at her like a cat caught getting wet. Mahina laughed, coming over to help him move the chairs back into place as she set the hammer down. "What made you think she'd care if you moved them?"

"At first I wanted to move them to do something different," Manu explained slowly, evenly as he carefully polished off each chair and Mahina idly checked the wood for stray splinters. Not a single one to be found, of course, because the two of them were damn good at what they did. "But then I woke up last night—remember when I went down and started painting?"

"Of course I do, you almost gave me a heart attack."

"You? Right, Hina," Mahina laughed and Manu continued, "But then I woke up and realized, what if she's expecting everything to look the same way it did when she left? What if seeing it different will make her sad? Shouldn't I just leave it the way it was then?"

"But it's still the same chair," Mahina said, taking a seat in one of the rockers once it'd been moved. Manu immediately took up a seat beside her. "I don't think she'd mind how you moved it."

"You think?"

"Mmm, she's a funny one, that girl. I don't think she'd mind much at all unless you did something more drastic... like changing the paint or putting it on the roof?"

"Hina, why on earth would I ever—"

The sound of a car engine slowing to stop brought the two of them to a halt. Mahina and Manu froze, blinking in confusion at each other as they immediately shot their feet, rushing over to the pathway leading down their hill.

A car they did not recognize sat at the base of the hill, parked along the grassy edge. Mahina frowned in curiosity while Manu looked thoughtful, glancing to his watch. "Hoku's supposed to get picked up from the airport tomorrow—"

Both of them stopped as a familiar face appeared at the base of the hill, kicking the door to their rental car open. Manu caught a brief glimpse of a smooth hand reaching for her, as though in concern, but she was barreling out of the car before they could touch.

It was a face Mahina and Manu would know, in their dreams, every waking moment, and up to their last breath.

A happiness Manu had once never known and now could not fathom otherwise flooded his chest. Mahina's eyes sparkled, bright with mirth and love and the two of them began making their way down the hill as their daughter rushed to meet them.

"Mama! Papa!"

"Maka!"

Hoku's arms wrapped around her parents. Manu and Mahina embraced her in an instant, completing their circle of three. Snow white hair mingled with each other, a sense of perfect peace settling for a moment in unison as Manu shut his eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of their daughter, carding his fingers through her hair. Mahina's hand moved over her back, down the side of her arm—their daughter, theirs.

(Their beautiful baby girl.)

"Maka, it's been too long," Mahina murmured sweetly, eyes full of warmth as she pulled back, only an arm's length away to get a full view of their daughter. "You look good."

"You could afford to eat a bit more," Manu said, briefly pinching Hoku's arm to test for her weight. Hoku laughed, rocking back on her heels and almost taking her parents with her. "You're early! Why did you come without telling us? I would've gotten everything ready and—"

"He's had everything ready for weeks," Mahina said. Manu gaped at her. "He's still getting more ready. I haven't seen the fridge this full since—"

"I haven't heard you complain about it since you've been snacking plenty on the—"

"I wanted to surprise you guys!" Hoku said happily, positively glowing at her parents. Manu and Mahina quieted, hands still rubbing up and down their daughter, mapping the shape of her, how she looked now, her face full of life, content.

(Happy.)

"I always had the flight booked a day early, just wanted to make it a fun trip," Hoku said. She turned over her shoulder, grinning down at the base of the hill. "And well... maybe introduce you to a few new faces?"

Mahina raised a curious brow, slipping her arm through Hoku's as they made their way down the hill. Manu looked skeptical, walking right at their side and absently nudging Hoku away from any dips and rocks.

"HEEEEEYYYY MAMA HOKU!! PAPA HOKU!!!"

Mahina looked amused while Manu snorted in disbelief. Luffy appeared around the other side of the car, almost leaping into the air as he jumped up and down to wave to them. "LONG TIME NO SEE!"

"That boy isn't a new face," Manu said, watching Luffy run around to the trunk now. "I didn't know he was coming. I would've doubled the fridge—"

Mahina noticed the two men stepping out of the car before Manu, her raised brow raising even higher as an amused whistle sat on her lips. She turned now to where Manu had frozen stiff, staring in cold, incredulous silence at the two men standing at the base of their hill.

Two dashing young men stood beside the rental car, watching the three make their way down the hill. Mahina realized who they were in an instant, as she was sure Manu did as well, despite his cool silence. She could hear the judgement in his gaze as he skimmed the more tan one up and down, from his sandaled feet and board shorts to his open chest and unbuttoned shirt. Mahina like the wild way the wind tousled his black hair—this one was Ace.

The more respectable blonde man was Sabo, she realized. He stood instead of leaning against the car like his brother, hands clasped politely in front of him, a small smile already on his lips, but Mahina noticed his eyes never left her daughter, watching and tracking her steps down the hill with practiced ease. A sort of softness.

"I wanted to introduce the two of you!" Hoku said as they drew nearer to the car. "I know I always talk about Ace and Sabs, but you've only ever known them in photos and stuff... so when they mentioned they were able to get some time off work..."

"I think the photos are fine enough," Manu said simply. Hoku laughed and Mahina grinned. Her daughter was sharp, but she wasn't Mahina's sharpest creation in certain aspects, that much she was sure.

"I know it's sudden, and they don't want to bother," Hoku said. "But they've always wanted to meet you guys, they almost beg me to be honest. I thought, eh, might as well, right?"

"They seem fun," Mahina managed.

"That one doesn't know how to button his shirt," Manu said.

Hoku grinned, tugging her parents down the rest of the way. Up close Mahina could see clearly just how handsome these two young men were—fit, chiseled, matching better than the strange, blurred photos her daughter would send from time to time. They both straightened in unison at the sight of Manu and Mahina, rushing forward with outstretched hands.

"Mama, Papa, this is Ace and Sabo!" Hoku introduced proudly, nose somewhat thrusted in the air with a bright grin. "Ace, Sabo—my parents!"

"Hoku's mom and dad it's nice—"

"Miss Mahina, Mister Manu—"

Ace and Sabo stopped, looking at each other with round eyes. Sabo's expression instantly schooled into a cooler one, motioning quickly with his eyes while Ace gaped until his brother blinked, nodding.

"Miss Mahina! Mister Manu!" Ace and Sabo said in unison this time, beaming politely and widely at the two of them. "It's a pleasure and an honor to finally meet you!"

Mahina decided slyly to follow in Manu's steps, glancing sideways as her friend's face became one of quiet politeness—she knew this expression of his like the back of her hand, a frigid sort of coolness beneath its quiet.

"...It's good to meet the both of you as well," Manu said simply. Hoku positively beamed between her mother and father. Ace and Sabo continued to smile, a crooked grin and a polite upturn of lips respectively. Mahina took that as her cue and shook their hands first, both their gazes flying to her.

Mahina watched Ace do a double take, a soft redness coloring the tips of his ears at the sight of her. He bowed especially deep when she took his hand, "Mama—Miss Mahina, thank you for leaving Hoku in our care."

"Well, she's always got some fun stories to tell thanks to you lot," Mahina said slowly, a bit of a tease to her tone. She turned to Sabo next, considering this upstanding looking young man and wondering what little thoughts he kept hidden behind those quiet eyes. "Thank you for looking after our daughter."

"Hoku's very dear to us," Sabo said sincerely. Hoku made a face, looking at him. Dramatic, Mahina heard her think without saying. "She's always speaking so much about the both of you, it's a pleasure to finally—"

"What were your names again?"

Ace and Sabo blinked, looking back at Manu. Hoku didn't even seem the slightest bit bothered, swaying happily on her feet until she noticed Luffy by the trunk. Hoku quickly scampered off, shouting something about not eating the gifts.

"A-Ace," Ace said quickly, offering his hand. Manu considered it for a second longer than most and shook it silently. "Ace, uh, Mister Manu."

"I'm Sabo," Sabo repeated as well, extending his hand. Manu considered it just as long before shaking it briefly. "Thank you again for—"

"That's... polite of you to drop Hoku off," Manu said. He pulled his hand away, facing both Ace and Sabo. "What time is your flight home?"

Ace looked dumbfounded, blinking repeatedly. Sabo looked a bit perplexed, blinking at a slower pace at Manu as his lips parted to respond. Mahina withheld her grin, offering instead and politely curious expression.

Maybe she was being a bit mean, but she didn't get to see Manu like this often—it'd be too fun to tease him later.

"Uh, well," Ace started. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his brow. "Tuesday... when Hoku leaves..."

"I see, quite some time then," Manu said smoothly. "Where will you two be staying? Somewhere close? We're quite a ways away from the nearest hotel where most have to stay."

"Oh, well," Sabo began gracefully, an easy, polite smile settled over his lips. Mahina understood the situation instantly and had to give it to the young man for recovering as quick as he did. "Yes, we were planning on booking over by—"

Ace looked confused, snapping his head to Sabo. "But we're supposed to be—"

Sabo's heel smacked into Ace's shin, a quick, efficient kick. Mahina did her best not to laugh when his eyes bulged. "Excuse me, we're booking by—"

"I told them they could stay with us!" Hoku called over, appearing over the popped lid of the trunk, her arms wrapped around one of the suitcases while Luffy hauled a box over the top of his head. "There's the spare bedroom in mama's workshop if that's okay?"

Manu quietly tipped his head to the side, considering the new development in silence. Ace shifted unsteadily on his feet, looking quite a bit out of his element while Mahina simply allowed her lips to curl into a grin, lightly touching Manu's elbow. He glanced to her, meeting her gaze for a moment before he looked back at the two men.

"Yes," Manu said, clipped. "I think that'll be fine. Luffy can stay in the guest room in the house."

"Thanks Papa Hoku!" Luffy shouted, racing past them and up the hill toward the house with the box over his head.

"Thank you so much for your generosity," Sabo said quickly, smiling brightly at Manu. His expression remained unchanging and Sabo continued, "We don't mean to impose, we'll make sure we handle everything on our side and—"

"That's fine," Manu said.

Sabo's words fell to a quiet, polite silence. He continued to smile, a bit strained at the corners as he lightly adjusted the cuff of his sleeves.

"Oh, maka!" Mahina called, deciding to throw the two a bone. "Wait, let us help you with that."

Ace and Sabo turned on their heels in an instant. Mahina almost choked on a snort. Hoku looked up from where she was wrestling with one of the suitcases to get the handle up. "It's alright! We brought a ton of souvenirs over! It'll be a few trips."

"Aw, come on, let me get that for ya," Ace said, stepping over to the trunk. Hoku made a face and Mahina watched an easy grin slide across his face, expression suddenly far more confident than it'd been second ago, teasing. "You'll take the entire trip to get it up the hill if we let you."

"You're exaggerating that isn't gonna—"

"You almost broke your nose pulling it off the carousel," Sabo added, easily lifting one of the suitcases up with one hand while Ace grabbed the other. Mahina watched this interaction with curious eyes. Sabo's hand dropped and lightly touched Hoku's lower back, guiding her with practiced fingers to the side of the car. "Could you grab—"

"I can get this for her."

Mahina pressed her fingertips to her lips, hiding her expression. Sabo and Ace looked startled, blinking like deer in headlights as Manu easily took Hoku's bags from the two of them, one in either hand—and promptly began to make his way up the hill to the house. "It's my daughter's things after all."

Ace opened his mouth, closing it abruptly. Sabo looked momentarily stunned, staring after Manu—

"Thanks, Papa!" Hoku said sweetly, running around the side of the car and almost tripping over the lip of the hill. Ace and Sabo's arms shot out, a practiced move to Mahina's gaze, but Hoku easily rightened herself, almost skipping over to Manu's side.

Mahina watched with fond eyes as they shared the weight of the larger suitcase together, Manu turning to Hoku with affection in his gaze.

She glanced back to the two young men looking lost at the base of the hill.

"Don't worry," Mahina offered, almost sang as she took another suitcase from the two of them. Ace and Sabo watched her almost robotically as she hefted it over her shoulder with ease. "I think you two did just fine."

the entirety of this trip is Ace and Sabo trying to win Manu and Mahina over, only to find themselves at the constant mercy of Manu's scrutiny

Manu's never too mean to them, but he sure does make them sweat

Sabo's a bit hurt because he can normally charm most parents and Hoku's won't even give him an inch

Ace starts to think that maybe he did do something wrong, he tries not to show it but starts to freak at the thought of Hoku's parents actually hating him—what the hell is he supposed to do if that happens?

He starts to limit physical contact with Hoku—which is nowhere near normal for him, Ace holds back bear hugs and noogies and chokeholds because he grabbed Hoku, swinging her up and Manu had looked at him as though he'd just thrown up all over his hand-embroidered rug

Even Sabo gets caught, an arm around Hoku's waist when he helps her down the steps to the beach—he respectfully keeps it hovered over Hoku's lower back instead when Manu stares him down from the top of the hill

Manu and Mahina treat Luffy normally, and Luffy does the same to them—they've become acquainted with Luffy and like him quite fine, after all

Hoku's just happy to have a good time with everyone

It's Luffy who gets Manu to act just a liiiiitttttlllleeee bit nicer when he notices Manu and Mahina standing by the hill, watching and talking about Hoku and he says:

"Shishishi, Ace and Sabo can handle it, they're tough!" Luffy promptly spit out a mouthful of watermelon seeds. Manu and Mahina watched them scatter to the ground. "Besides, they know Hoku loves it."

"Loves it?" Manu repeated.

"Sure," Luffy said, unbothered. "You guys havin' a say. I dunno. She's probably just happy she gets to grow up with ya this time."

Manu and Mahina look at each other, expressions soft and full of love for their daughter as Luffy walks off, sandals slapping in the sand. It takes them a moment before Manu suddenly looks a bit confused, glancing to Luffy's swaying straw hat in the wind.

"Did he say this time? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Who knows," Mahina says, looking curious, maybe a bit mystified. "He's always been a curious one, hasn't he?"

Luffy eats the entire watermelon rind in front of them and Hoku's parents decide to just have fun the rest of the weekend

-i decided to do a modern au for this one because an au where mahina and manu live in the memos storyline... :'( they'd probably want to hear all the news possible about their daughter, so an interaction of them scrutinizing all the boys would probably go something like them sitting around the table talking about their wanted posters and making judgements based on that

I personnally have a soft spot for Ace/Hoku, why ? Because i'm used to see him being described as kinda a womanizer but he sounded so innocent when he talked about Hoku but the funniest is how easily we understand they're not on the same pages (and Ace should get his mind together !) But like my point is : Hoku endlessly teasing him for the way he took their "promise"

*In another time, post time-skip, somewhere along the Strawhat's journey*

"Vahahaha!"

"Stop laughing," Ace growled, slamming his cup of grog onto the counter. He whirled around on Hoku, ears almost catching fire as the woman beside him continued to laugh, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. He was torn between smacking her off the stool or watching her laugh, chest swelling in pride at the sight of her smile. "Don't you think you've laughed enough?"

"No!" Hoku hollered, clutching her stomach, gasping for breath. Her cheeks were dark red from the alcohol, skin warm, but never warm enough for Ace. Never too hot.

She was drunk.

Hoku didn't get drunk often. Rarely, it seemed, if she could help it. She'd always complained it made her drawings unreliable and her blood wonky, but Ace just figured Pokians took to being drunk a bit differently from the rest. It was only on this particular night because he'd weaseled her into it to make telling her the truth about his misunderstanding that much easier.

Which, admittedly, might have been a mistake on his part.

"I can't—I can't," Hoku wheezed. She was sitting on a bar stool while Ace stood beside her, leaning his back against the counter as he continued to pout. "Oh, oh... my stomach... I'm going to throw up."

"You could've made it clearer," Ace grumbled darkly. Hoku still laughed, unable to help herself. At least now Hoku would forget this whole night happened and Ace could pretend he'd never misunderstood in the first place.

"I never thought—" Hoku chortled. "Never. Repopulate? With me? Hah!"

Hoku almost spilled her drink. Ace moved aside, dodging the splash and refusing to admit he was pouting at Hoku as he crossed his arms over his bare chest.

"It was a reasonable mistake!"

"No, it's crazy!" Hoku laughed. She held her face in her hands, laughing uncontrollably. "Oh, Ace... you... dumbass! Vahahaha!"

I should just put her to bed. Ace ran a hand through his hair, ignoring the little embers on the tips of his ears. And make sure she forgets about this entire thing.

"Alright," Ace said, making appeasing motions with his hands. Hoku blubbered over the rim of her drink, smiling stupidly at him. She's so gone. "I think you've had enough. I don't want your crew gettin' mad at me for bringing you back piss drunk..."

It was a bit nice though, Ace had to admit, taking Hoku's cup and ignoring her drunk whining and the smell of alcohol in the air. Something sweet. Hoku'd brought some special mix with those berries she was so obsessed with. Hoku always seemed wound up in her own way, and drunk she seemed to forget about anything or everything that was bothering her when she was sober.

Happier.

I want to make you happier.

"Still can't believe it," Hoku giggled. Ace rolled his eyes. "Ya were actually gonna have kids? With me?"

Ace growled, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "Well how else were you gonna—"

"Hmm," Hoku mused, looking as thoughtful as she could while drunk. "Kids with you, huh?"

Ace froze, blinking at her.

Hoku scratched her head, as if trying to imagine it. She blew through her lips, tipping her head to the side with her eyes closed. Ace suddenly felt a bit of chill run down his spine, not unpleasant. Different. Definitely different. His fingertips felt warm. a coiling in his stomach and a little flicker in his chest. Just the thought of Hoku, his shooting star, thinking about the two of them with kids—

He watched the way Hoku's brows furrowed a bit in thought, how her glazed, doey eyes seemed to have found an image she liked and then she turned that drunk, dopey smile his way, cheeks flushed.

"Think we'd be good parents?"

In a split second Ace's own buzzed, overactive imagination saw it too. Boy or girl? Girl. He'd want a daughter for sure. She'd be adorable and rowdy and he'd do anything for her. He'd let her ride on his shoulders, laughing as Hoku called for them from her spot somewhere else, sketchbook discarded to the side. She'd looked just like her mother, Hoku's hair, her eyes and her sneaky little grin—but she'd have his freckles. Something that undeniably said his, him, and Hoku. Them. The two of them. Undeniable proof of the two of them together—here, and—

"Just crazy," Hoku sighed, shaking her head. Ace jolted, reeling himself immediately back to the present and pretending he'd never seen a single thing. "Vahaha..."

"Yeah," Ace said, running a hand through his hair again, unable to get the little image of an adorable little girl with white hair and freckles running to his arms. "Crazy—"

Hoku moved her hand and Ace followed it, he frowned—

"You were gonna put a baby in this?" Hoku pressed a hand to her stomach. "Vahahaha!"

Ace stared.

"Ah," Hoku sighed, leaning back. "That was a good laugh." She hiccupped.

Hoku's cup slipped from Ace's loose fingers, clanking to the floor. She blinked, turning down to look at it. "Hey, ya dropped—woah!"

Hoku pressed a hand to her mouth, making sure she didn't throw up as Ace suddenly hauled her over his shoulder, moving with purpose to the stairs of the inn. "Hey! Where we—hic—goin?"

"To bed," Ace bit out. Hoku let out a shriek of surprise when his opposite shoulder turned to flames, grabbing at the ends of Ace's smoldering hair. "Putting you to bed. That's enough out of you."

I won't be able to handle hearing anything else. Ace bit his lip, flooding his head with thoughts of Dadan. Dadan showering—yup, that did it.

In the morning the only thing he was going to tell Hoku was that in her drunk stupor she suggested he put a baby in her and then he was going to have the last laugh out of that.

- that little girl would sure have a lot of uncles

(and potential half-siblings)

My Hero Academia - Chapter 431 [2/3]

gojo is met with a small slap to his face. one that wakes him up from his stupor, head swiveling around with barely open eyes. his first instinct is to grab for you, but the only thing he feels is a tiny, plump stomach.

when he opens his eyes wider, his infant daughter is laid next to him, sucking on her favorite binkie. her tiny hand is raised in the air.

you’re laying on the other side of her, passed out and face barely visible from beneath the pillow. he sighs and turns his body towards his daughter. “why are you hitting daddy, hm?” he asks, voice groggy and quiet so he won’t wake you. he knows how you are when you get woken up. “am i snoring again?”

his daughter simply blinks.

he can’t help but smile, pulling her close and laying her on his chest. “fine, fine. i’ll be quiet. it’s too late for you though, little munchkin. go to sleep so daddy can put you to bed.”

his daughter nuzzles her small face into his neck, causing her father to sigh wistfully. he feels himself going back to dreamland, face relaxing.

not even two minutes later, he’s snoring like a hog.

he’s awoken by another smack, harder this time.