#doodle anon

Paranoid.

That's the best word to describe your behavior at the current moment.

You weren't exactly a people person. Sure, you'd board on a couple subs with other Expendables here and there, but it hasn't really worked out for you much. Especially when some of them came in either without their vocal cords, or with a mouth muffler for reasons you didn't care to find out about.

It was their problem, not yours.

It only hindered your mission to collect the crystal in the end. So a lonely road is what you'll be on.

You whipped your head behind you after every couple doors. The sounds of rushing water, screams and turrets put you on edge.

What worried you most was the sound of Wall Dwellers. They reminded you too much of zombie apocalypse movies, and those freaked you out bad enough on their own.

The lights flickered above you and snapped you out of your thoughts, and you rushed into a side room right before an Angler came through the halls.

Hands on your knees, you panted hard, sweat cold on your back.

You hated this.

You hated it, so much.

Yes, you did sign up for this. But this, wasn't exactly made clear to you when you were first granted the opportunity of escaping your death sentence.

And as much as you wanted to stay couped up in this small office room, away from danger, you knew you'd sooner be killed by the guys at HQ than be granted a moment of rest.

So, with a sigh, you slowly stepped out.

"Forwards and onwards, I guess.."

Your feet dragged behind you, a hand on the wall next to you to guide you through the darkness. The number panel wouldn't even show what room you were in when you reached the door.

Not that you cared, getting out of the dark was a priority.

One that seemed to escape you as your hand slipped past where the door was supposed to be.

"What..?"

The next room's lights were blown out, but you knew you hadn't opened the door. So how was it already..?

You shook your head.

"Damn it.. The one time I needed a flashlight.."

Your words came out shaky, with a forced laugh at the end, as if that'd ease your worries.

It didn't.

Still, there was no point in staying idle. So with a deep breath, you continued onwards.

Into the dark.

"This sucks soo much.."

You felt the texture of the wall next to you. Rough, and slightly uneven, broken up by brief parts of metal and criss-crossed mesh that hid pipes of mystery substances.

A green door panel caught your attention, which you promptly ignored. You weren't about to fall for that trick again.

However the sound of a turret as it whirled to life froze you in place. The sound of it as emptied its mag muffled by concrete walls, followed by screams.

Before it all went quiet.

It wasn't until your feet started to numb, did you realize you'd pressed yourself against the wall, hands on it as though you could sleep on it.

"N–Navi..?" You called out, licked your dry lips with a shaky breath and a glance into the darkness. "Could you.. Guide me..?"

You waited for a response, but received nothing.

".. Great.. Wonderful, even.."

Your feet dragged further along with a small scoff. Maybe the HQ guy was right about how 'useful' the AI really was, even Painter would respond to you whenever you'd talk to him.

Usually with a taunt, yes, but that's at least something.

You reached a corner and followed it, your limited field of view too small to actually see if there was anything around you.

A gasp left your lips as you felt metal, a doorframe in front of you. With a relieved sigh, you reached for the doorhandle—

Only to go right through the door yet again.

"What—?" Your breath began to pick up, panic clear in the edge of your voice. "This one's open too—?!"

Your vision has just barely gotten used to the dark by now. With only an outline of the next room ahead as an indictor of its existance.

'The emergency lights should've come on by now– Why aren't they on?!'

One moment you were stood there by the door, the next you were gone.

You ran through the corridors, the beating of your heart pounding in your head.

A lightheadedness filled your head as you even passed through a couple Scquiddles. But you didn't care– You needed, needed to get to a lit room, or a closed door– Anything that would tell you that you weren't going to be shrouded in darkness for the rest of your time here.

Then you bumped into something solid and hard.

"Oof—"

You caught yourself before you could fall, felt blood pour down your no-doubt-broken nose. You held it with a wince as you stepped back, looked up, and very nearly passed out on the spot.

Clearly not of the facility's original structure, and just barely in your field of view, a Candlebearer stood in front of you. Unmoved by your intrusion.

In fact, it didn't seem to be phased by you at all. Like you didn't exist to it. They'd usually chase after you when you entered a room with them, you knew this for a fact. You'd have to shine your light on them just to make them stop.

'So why..?"

You heard a noise behind you then, which approached rapidly—

It sounded like footsteps.

"NO!"

Your feet moved faster than your brain, weaved past the glorified stone gnome. And past yet another door, no lights.

This had to be some kind of cruel joke. This wasn't normal, none of this was normal. There wasn't much time to think, You'd bumped your shoulder against a battered up locker, practically cut it open with how fast you were running.

And that's when you saw it.

Your saving grace, a light– An actual light source, aimed at the wall.

Sebastian's shop.

Safety.

The adrenaline in your veins pushed you forward, hurled yourself into the vent as its cover was pushed open. You couldn't even hear the fish shopkeep's beckoning words, much too preoccupied with the danger you were in. You winced at the light as it flooded the room you'd crawled into.

He was about to go on with his usual greeting, but stopped when you crawled back away from the vent, a fear-striken look on your sweaty face as you turned around and stared at it.

Soon after another figure entered the shop, gunned straight for—

BANG

Your chest heaved as the remains of a Wall Dweller was splattered against the wall, its head misshapen by the bullet Sebastian had just shot out.

His shotgun aimed at the creature, the barrel of which smoked. A scowl on his face, and his eyes, now blue dots that– If it weren't for the fact he'd already shot it– Would have burnt a hole into its head with how much he glared at it.

It felt tense, but..

Your thoughts were finally calm.

After what felt like forever, he lowered his shotgun, and glanced at you.

"Hey, you okay—"

He cut himself off when he saw how shaky you were, your back pressed against the cluttered desk as you held tightly onto your shoulder. He stashed away his shotgun then, a grimace on his face as he took in your appearance.

"Yikes, you look awful—" He shook his head, looked away from you for a moment. And let out a deep breath as he spoke again, gentler, quieter. "C'mon.. C'mere kid."

His arms spread open as he ushered you in, and you stared at him like a deer-in-headlights.

'He wasn't.. Was he..?'

but from the way he beckoned you to him, it seemed to be real.

You bit your lip as you gave another glance at the very dead Wall Dweller, before you clumsily pushed yourself off of the floor and rushed into his arms. Which surprisingly knocked him back, if only by a slight bit.

Your breath was heavy, and your heart pounded in your chest as your grasped fistfuls of his jacket. His hands gentle as they rested on your back.

"You're safe, I've got you.."

His arms tightened around you more when you breathed out a relieved sob.

"The rooms were all dark, I didn't even open the doors—" You shut your eyes tight, tried to ignore the crack in your voice while you rambled on. "I want to go home, I just want to go home..!"

"I know.." His hand, hesitant, hovered over your head for a moment, and pat down your frazzled hair. "We all do.."

He readjusted his hold on you, hands under your arms, before you were lifted up. Now face-to-face with those eyes you've come to expect with your many deaths, a frown on his face, as he spared you a mere glance before he brought you in for a proper hug.

One which you returned swiftly, your arms around his neck. His hair in your face, and while his body felt cold, you didn't care, you held on tighter.

The thought of him letting you go if you complained weighed heavily on your mind.

The rush of andrenaline in your system slowly died down as you melted into his arms, dizzy and exhausted from all that fear, all that paranoia. Sure, it turned out to be justified, but you'd wished it wasn't to this degree.

Eventually, to your dismay, he pulled back. His face screwed in a mix of disgruntled and slight concern as he stared at the side of your head– Your shoulder, you'd forgotten you'd hurt it earlier.

He held you against his chest with one arm, while he plucked out a medkit from his tail with the other. you sighed quietly as you reached for your bag, only to be set down on a desk on the platform next to Sebastian.

"Don't get ahead of yourself kid, when did I say to pay up?"

You opened your mouth, but stopped yourself when he narrowed his eyes at you.

Sebastian opened the medkit, set it down next to you, and gestured to your wounded shoulder.

"Ah right– Sorry."

You unzipped your EXR-P jumpsuit and slipped off your arm sleeve with a hiss.

To which Sebastian's head fins rose up alongside his head, but didn't comment as he took your arm gently, and injected it with a numbing agent.

It didn't take long for it to take effect as he began to clean up your arm. And while you flinched when the wet cotton touched your wound, you tried to stay still, eyes away from Sebastian's.

"I gotta say, you're really bad at this." He huffed out a sigh. "Everyone knows you're supposed to clean it before you wrap it up."

Your intact shoulder lagged in a half-shrug, while you fidgeted with the zipper line of your jumpsuit.

"I usually die after I use one of these, so there isn't much of a point to anyway.."

His frown quirked to the side, it was clear he'd wanted to argue, but stopped himself. "You said something was wrong with the rooms?"

"Y–Yeah– An angler came by and suddenly all the doors were open, and the rooms were, well–" You waved your hand in a lazy circle, while Sebastian readjusted your arm as he reached for the bandages. "Dark. I'm alone, I know they weren't open by me.."

His eyes narrowed with a hum, and threw a glance over his shoulder at the mangled remains of the Wall Dweller.

"And you couldn't help but bring that thing here..?"

".. I was scared, and you wouldn't.." You trailed off, and pushed the idea of him caring about you to the back of your mind. ".. Let potential research go to waste."

Sebastian paused for a moment, before he gave another hum as he began to wrap up your arm.

"How many times did those things get you anyway..?"

"Like over 25 times, or something.."

Sebastian clicked his tongue and sucked in a breath with a grimace. As if he wasn't the one that would personally hand you a document of whatever killed you each time you died in this accursed place.

With a pull and a quick movement of his hands, he finished with your bandages.

He moved back as you tested it, your hand on your arm under the bandaging as you rolled your shoulder a little. And soon relaxed on the desk with a relieved huff and a small awkward smile as you looked up at him.

Only for him to take hold of your face, dabbing cotton under your nose.

"Ah, forgot about that.."

Sebastian gave a hum as he pulled it back, bloodied as he threw it away. And applied a bandaid over the bridge of your nose. Your hand hovered over it, surprised but also grateful.

Then, and only then did he actually put the medkit away.

You patted down the edges of the bandaid, bashful now of how.. Caring, he has been toward you.

"Thanks.. Guess I owe you extra now, huh..?"

He didn't give much of a response, just stared at you before he held his chin in thought, and shook his head with a sigh.

"You're staying here." He wagged a finger at you before you could refute. "You're still shaking like a leaf, you'll just get yourself killed again if I let you go."

"No I'm.."

Confused, you glanced down and saw he was right, you weren't exactly the best example of stability. Hands so shaky, that if you were asked to draw a line, it'd be mistaken for a messy attempt of cursive writing.

Your shoulders dropped with a sigh, and turned your head away to avoid your tired smile from being seen.

".. Fine.."

Barely another second passed before he reached out and brought you into his arms again.

And you didn't fight it.

Instead your arms found themselves around his shoulders again, over his scarf without as much as a word from either of you. You did shift a little in the embrace until you were comfortable, but Sebastian didn't complain.

Claws that could easily rip chunks of your skin off, gently played with your hair, and even pushed your head to lean on his shoulder.

The light of his esca, usually bright enough to blind you if you stared straight at it, was dimmer, almost like a nightlight.

His body even started to feel warm to you— Even if it was because of your body warmth being transferred to him.

Still, it was nice. Soothing, even.

It almost felt normal.

"Sebastian..?"

You started, a hint of exhaustion in your voice.

The movement of his hand stilled for a moment, as if to hear you better.

"Yeah?"

"The next door.." You gripped onto the back of his scarf, and hid your face in his shoulder. "It isn't open, is it..?"

"No, it isn't, I checked it myself." He pulled back to look at you, a tease to his words. "What, do you want to go over and make sure of it?"

"No.." Voice just above a whisper as you visibly relaxed in his arms. "I trust your word.."

You couldn't see it then, but Sebastian's grin fell at your response. It didn't take long for him to start playing with your hair again, which relaxed you even further.

And eventually, your breathing slowed down as sleep took you.

After he was sure you'd fallen asleep, Sebastian brushed the hair from your face with a sigh. He gave a glance at his radio as it spat out garbled noise, then to the dead Wall Dweller. His frown deeper as he readjusted his hold on you once more, his head dipped lower, closer to yours as he held you tighter in his arms.

".. Maybe things could've been different.."

He knew he'd have to let you go when you woke up again. And more than that, he knew you'd die soon after.

Or worse, you'd survive, and escape.

Sebastian let out a low chuckle, a bad taste in his mouth at the thought.

He knew he can't take you with him and PAinter when it's time to escape— Urbanshade would sooner find the three of you before you could come up to shore. It's too dangerous, but so was getting attached.

You're still an Expendable.

But even then, he couldn't help but indulge himself.

He'll just.. Enjoy this moment, a little longer.

God Usopp / Sniper King

I match you up with our mighty god, Usopp!

Now, for starters to him, you remind him a little of Kaya. Your health isn’t all too great and you can be a little motherly, hence being the mom friend, but knows that you are completely different from her, having your own charm.

I think his favorite aspect of you is that, even with your abnormal health, you still continue to stay strong, energetic and positive! He thinks it’s incredible how strong willed / passionate you can be even in that state.

Usopp may believe your sensitivity to be a good thing, it shows you have true emotions that you’re willing to let out and share your feelings.

And the fact that you are a natural lover of both animals and children leads him to believe you’d truly make a great mother,

which if you two start dating, I know he eventually starts thinking about both of yours’ future together with children and maybe a pet. :)

Okay, constant doodling? I’ve stated this before but Usopp would LOVE someone who’s into drawing as well! Usopp takes pride in his crafts, whether they’re inventing creations like Franky or artwork, like drawing the Jolly Roger. He truly enjoys someone who shares this hobby and passion like him!

I think you constantly looking forward to new things would be similar to having adventures and as much as Usopp may be fearful from straying away from his ordinary lifestyle, he also feels the same to experiencing new things, so he’ll gladly join you with that! ☺️

So overall, Usopp really appreciates you and truly adores you and your little self. A great pair for sure! :))

HONORABLE MENTION : Marco The Phoenix

If Usopp wasn’t a great option, I believe Marco would be a great match as well!

Marco tends to act motherly to his brothers, so you being the ‘mom’ friend is a nice relating but also endearing moment for him and he could talk with you about the crew members and how stressful it can be to constantly watch over them and handle them.

He’s a doctor and though you are often with a low health, he finds it kinda adorable and he’ll be able to take care of you and nurse you better. He’ll always be by your side and make sure that he gets you better no matter what it takes. :)

Marco adores children as well, as seen in the anime, and you being a lover of children would make his heart swell with warmth. He would always want one child of his own and part of him believes you’d be the perfect wife for him to have a child with—

So yes, Marco would also be a great match for you, if Usopp wasn’t an available option.

You winced when you stretched, your back hurt, a lot. 1x1x1x1 never was one to go easy on you, or anyone for that matter.

Even if the slash and stab wounds were gone, the pain would still persist on those hurt most recently.

Your eye twitched.

'These rounds are starting to become a little repetitive.'

But even then, you couldn't say it was something to get used to so easily. Not when there's pain involved— Unless you were a masochist— But even if you were one, you'd rather that pain come from someone you trusted.

"Would you like to join me, my darling?"

Speaking of.

You turned and saw your partner, Two Time, sat at the edge of the bed, having long changed into comfortable sleepwear, much like yourself. Their eyes trailed every part of you that they could, eyes lidded with that smile you've always seen them with.

While any normal person would be creeped out by this, by how much they liked to stare, you weren't. You could say you found it endearing, and even flattering in a way. That you were something they admired, regardless of any faults you may find within yourself.

You returned the smile, albeit yours looked tired, and made your way over to their bed. The mattress dipped under your weight. And although they remained seated, you could see from how their hands twitched that they itched to touch you, but wouldn't allow themself to do so.

It was almost like they were scared of hurting you.

So you took initiative, and snaked your arms around their waist, to which they returned the gesture happily with only a small shake of the hands. Their cheek moshed against yours as they pulled you into the warm comfort of blankets, and their embrace.

You reached up to play with their hair, and you could feel them melt and relax into your arms at the touch. You gave them a peck on the cheek, And already you felt a little more relaxed.

Two Time shifted in your arms, their face now lowered to your jaw. Which earned them a chuckle from you as they nuzzled against it, and seemed quite intent to bury their head straight into your neck.

And you were about to let them, when you noticed something stashed just beside the pillow.

Your brows furrowed while you eyed the thing in the dark, the hand in their hair slowed down. "Is.. Is that my hoodie?"

A small sound came out from Two Time, as though caught in a trap. They glanced away, guilt in their eyes despite the smile they wore on their face. Though eventually they nodded, fingers gently traced the curves of your back.

"Y.. Yes, apologies, I.. Missed you and.. It smelled like you.." They sheepishly admitted, head leaned against your shoulder. "It helps me sleep, like you're here with me."

You blinked with a small chuckle. "I was looking for that for a while.. My, uh.. Smell, can't have stayed on it that long.."

"Unfortunately no, it hasn't. It's been replaced by mine.." they paused, their voice a mutter as they hugged you more tightly. "I'm unsure if I like that change.."

Your face became warm, a touch flustered as the idea of Two Time in your clothes invaded your mind.

You glanced back at where the hoodie was, before you pressed your face into their hair with a sigh, and patted their back.

"Uhm.. Well, if you want, I–I can.. Lend you my sweater for my hoodie.." Your voice grew smaller the more you spoke. "And swap it back when my.. Smell, starts to fade from it.."

You could swear your face was warmer than the sun, especially when Two Time didn't respond right away.

The silence almost made you backtrack on your offer when you felt them move, and press a kiss at your jaw.

"Oh thank the Spawn, your understanding is ever so beautiful."

The way they sighed in relief, and the small grateful kisses they planted on your jaw, told you all you needed to know. The both of you were too nervous of the other's reaction over such a thing, it almost made you laugh.

'At least it wasn't something bad. It's just a hoodie.'

With that thought out of the way, you focused back on Two Time. A hand in their hair, while the other made sure to hold them close to you.

Though, a frown formed on your lips as you recalled something that caught your eye, and worried you.

"Hey, dear..?"

"Yes, my darling?"

You absentmindly twirled a piece of their hair. "You.. Looked like you were in pain last round.." You readjusted your grip on them to look them in the face. "Does it hurt when you get on.. Your second life?"

Two Time didn't respond, no longer had their smile on either. They wouldn't even look at you.

Your hand moved from their hair, and slowly traced the spot where their wings would come out whenever they were on their second life. It earned you a shiver from them and a squeeze, but they didn't object. Instead buried their face in the crook of your neck.

".. I won't lie to you.." They muttered, their breath slow and warm against your skin. "It hurts, but it's what the Spawn gave me. And I shan't complain about their gift."

The only response they got from you was a hum. And they gave your neck a peck with a wistful sigh, quiet, and sentimental.

"I would not have met you if not for the Spawn.."

Those words made you shiver, but you managed to not let that slip into your voice, instead you kissed their head. ".. I know, I know.."

It went quiet then, your lips pursed as the two of you let a silence blanket you both.

While you didn't approve of the Spawn, or what they've done to Two Time, there was a sliver of truth to it. You two having met here, in this realm, wasn't something that could've happened naturally.

The reason for your own presence here, being something that you'd rather not think about. Not that Two Time ever asked about it, so you never asked about their reason either.

But you knew it had to do with that Spawn thing they always talked about.

"Dear..? Could you look at me..?"

Two Time sighed with a slight grumble, before leaned their head back to do as you asked. Their smile small, but fond.

You reached up to hold their cheek, before you leaned in and pressed a kiss against their lips. Their eyes stayed open for a moment before they closed and nervously returned the kiss as they pulled you closer.

You pulled back a few seconds later, and caressed their cheek. A smile on your face.

"I love you.."

Arms wrapped around them more, as you settled into their hair with another kiss.

"I love you too.."

Came a mutter from them against your neck. And a comfortable silence fell upon you two once more. The only sounds out of either of you being your breathing, and the shuffling of fabric whenever either one of you moved.

Soon, a yawn escaped your lips. And as you felt another kiss, sleep took you. The last words you heard faded, but sweet nonetheless.

Pre-Forsaken

The first time he saw you doodling, was with you curled up on the couch with a stickynote up to your face. He thought you were writing something at first, but when he looked over, it was filled to the brim with doodles.

To cut that story short, he admires the things you draw, though he wishes they were on bigger canvases

He winces whenever you stretch and pop a couple bones after a particularly long doodle session

He'd often stash paper scraps he'd usually throw away to give to you to doodle on

Shedletsky definitely bought you a sketchbook to draw in after a while of knowing you

He would offer to pose for a drawing if you were ever stuck, though most of his poses would be attack stances with his sword

Would absolutely get an ego boost if you gave him any drawings you made

Especially if they were of him, I think he'd blush and do that "Oh you shouldn't have" pose when he takes them

He'd definitely paste them onto the edges of his computer instead of work notes, so that he can "have something pretty to look at"

If you offered to let him watch, he'd hold his breath while he watches, as if breathing on it would make your art disappear

Although he likes your art, he wouldn't consider learning how to draw, "I'll leave that to you, little painter!"

During-Forsaken

(Half of the Pre-Forsaken headcanons do carry over here, I just don't want to repeat myself)

Assuming you two haven't met before being Forsaken, he'd find it nice that even in all this chaos, you still try to find solace in the little things

Very little

"Your drawings need to be bigger DAMN IT" <--- Type thoughts

The first time he saw you doodle was during one of the rounds when you weren't being chased, he found you crouched on the ground while doodling a cat on the dirt with a stick.

He was confused, but also impressed at your skill, it was just, there's a time and place for this kind of stuff

Not like he stopped you from drawing on the walls during rounds

Much like in pre-Forsaken, any scraps of paper that he finds would automatically be stashed away to be given to you the next time he sees you

One of the cabin walls is just full of drawings you made and gave to people

He would brag about it anytime you gave him a doodle you made, even more if it was of him too

Would often try to get you to draw on the black board in the dining area. Might draw hearts next to whatever you drew when no one's looking

Unlike in pre–Forsaken (Or his real life counterpart pfft), he'd heavily consider learning to draw so he could impress you

Whenever you stretch after a long drawing session and pop a few bones, Shedletsky would tense up and ask if you're okay

He'd offer you a massage right after you answer that first question, which quickly becomes a running habit if you do accept his offer