Chapter 1
The bar near Emerald Town was rather small with a healthy flow of people. Some pirates, some Marines. Thalia found it surprising some of the faces she’d find passing through only to find they had vanished very soon after.
She was almost certain she saw some very high ranking pirates once or twice.
The quaint spot was surprisingly calm considering most of what was happening on the island. The large scale fights, the Straw Hats running amok. Thalia hummed to herself and rocked her glass of rum from side to side as she mulled over the bounty she was led to the island with. It honestly sounded far too good to be true. To see Kuzan here made it seem more legitimate. If only because it told her that he was alive. He talked about some of what he had seen on his ocean voyage, the reunions he had and their tragic ends. There were one or two familiar names in his stories. Thalia appreciated that he trusted her a little more now, talking about people in his past that he had never opened up about before.
Thalia frowned and looked aside at the thought.
“So, who’s the new liaison?” Kuzan asked nonchalantly. Thalia snickered and rolled her eyes, sipping her drink and setting the glass aside.
“Really?” she shook her head, ”I never took you for the jealous type.“ The faintest smile tugged on Kuzan’s lips.
”I’m just curious. I know you wouldn’t talk to Sakazuki personally,” he said, knocking back his drink and ordering another.
“You know you’re paying for yourself, right?” Thalia rested her cheek on her hand.
”What? Oh, come on. You know I’ve been unemployed for a couple years.“
”You’ll have to work off your tab then,” she shrugged. Kuzan huffed. It seemed she really was serious about that. Paying this bill won’t kill him, but he thought she’d have a little more compassion.
“My new liaison isn’t an admiral,” Thalia confessed, her gaze fixed on the bustling crowd as she scrutinized each entrant, hoping to spot the familiar face from her wanted poster. “Kizaru didn’t want to work with me and Akainu seems to distrust Fujitora, so reaching out to him was out of the question,” she explained, her voice tinged with frustration. “But Smoker was willing to work with me.”
“Oh?” Kuzan raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“Yep. Haha... exes around every corner,” Thalia remarked wryly, pushing her empty glass aside. Kuzan’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of Thalia’s past relationships. While it was inevitable for everyone to confront their past eventually, Thalia’s history was fraught with danger. It was only a matter of time before a more... volatile ex popped up to cause her trouble. A troubling thought for Kuzan.
Their unspoken concern lingered in the air, palpable yet unaddressed, as they both toyed nervously with their glasses, avoiding the topic that hung between them like a weight. Broaching the subject without being too blunt was proving to be a challenge. Thalia cleared her throat, her fingers tapping anxiously on the countertop, signaling a hesitant attempt to initiate the conversation. As they sat in the small bar, the unspoken tension between them seemed to thicken with each passing moment. Thalia hesitated, searching for the right words to break the silence, her mind swirling with uncertainty.
As the evening wore on and glasses started to stack in front of them, the tension between Thalia and Kuzan became increasingly palpable. The alcohol served as a catalyst, loosening inhibitions and emboldening them to delve deeper into personal territory. Finally willing to break the question they both were dreading.
With a hesitant laugh, Thalia finally mustered the courage to break the uneasy silence. “So, Kuzan,” she began, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness, “I think we both know you’re wanting to ask something, yeah?”
Kuzan’s gaze met hers, his features softened by the amber glow of the dimly lit tavern. “Well,” he replied, a playful twinkle in his eye, “there’s one question that’s been on my mind...” He trailed off, allowing the question to linger tantalizingly in the air.
Thalia’s heart skipped a beat as she braced herself for the inevitable inquiry. “Oh?” she prompted, feigning nonchalance while inwardly steeling herself for his response.
“Are you seeing anyone?” Kuzan asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and something else, something more difficult to define.
Thalia hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the unexpected question. “Well,” she began slowly, her mind racing as she weighed her response, “let’s just say my dance card isn’t exactly empty these days.”
A knowing smile tugged at the corners of Kuzan’s lips as he leaned in closer, the scent of his cologne mingling with the heady aroma of alcohol. “Is that so?” he murmured, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down Thalia’s spine. That wasn’t quite the response she was expecting. Maybe he was more tipsy than she thought. She couldn’t help the heat that rose to her cheeks. She nervously giggled and looked aside.
“No one tying you down this time?” he inquired, downing another shot. It appeared he relied on the liquid courage to broach the uncomfortable topic, though it also seemed to cloud his ability to set aside his own emotions.
“Just haven’t found someone worth sticking with. It’s been hard now that I’ve sworn off Marines,” Thalia replied with a shrug, her tone carrying a hint of resignation. Marines have proven to be something of a let down, especially since many of them are willing to disregard their duty to protect people. Not that pirates were much better. It was hard to find a person she’d make an exception for.
As Thalia’s words hung in the air, Kuzan leaned closer, his gaze meeting hers with a playful glint. A smirk danced on his lips. “So, does that mean I have a chance?”
Thalia’s lips curved into a smirk of her own, amusement sparkling in her eyes. “Maybe,” she teased, tilting her head slightly. “I don’t think we’ll be good together for the long term, but I certainly don’t mind a dance or two.”
“That’s all we need,” Kuzan replied, a soft chuckle escaping him as he gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his gloved hand tender against her cheek. Thalia’s heartbeat quickened at his touch, a subtle warmth spreading through her. Through her shudder and her momentary weakness she found the ability to pull away from him and focus. Though her mind swirled a little with all the alcohol in her system, she paid for their drinks and stood. Kuzan followed her lead, feeling a little wobbly on his feet.
Thalia led him out the doors and looked up and down the path to find that the nearest town was rather far away and pretty swamped with stuffy patrols. Walking all the way their seemed like a chore.
Before she could ask what they should do, Thalia’s arm was grabbed and she was yanked along by Kuzan behind the building. She stumbled and squeaked as he pushed her up against the wall and crashed his lips into hers. It was sudden and the overwhelming smell of alcohol made the spinning in her head worse.
He was much taller than she was. Pressing her against the wall practically took her off the ground too. Standing on her toes to reach him even as he was bent down to her level.
She gripped the collar of his overcoat and clung to him for balance. The kiss deepened, getting more desperate until they pulled away to breathe. Kuzan rested his forehead against hers.
”I’ve thought of this a lot, Thalia,“ he confessed softly. Thalia opened her mouth to respond but he captured her lips again and began running his hands up her sides. He grabbed the bodice of her dress and pulled it down, freeing her heavy breasts from the tight fabric.
”W-wait out h—”
Kuzan hushed her and kissed her neck, nipping at her flesh and making her gasp and shudder. Thalia bit her lip and her eyes fluttered shut.
”I need you,“ he growled deep in his throat, cupping and massaging her breasts as he kissed down from her neck to wrap his lips around her sensitive nipple. She whimpered softly and pressed her back against the wall.
“Y-y... Was I really on your mind a lot?” Thalia asked shyly, her face covered in a soft pink glow. Kuzan chuckled at the question, pulling away momentarily.
”Of course,“ he said with a playful smirk, “you’re a hard woman to forget.” Thalia blushed and smiled, flattered at his admission. He dropped to his knees and pushed her skirt up around her waist. She grabbed the fabric for him. While she held that, he took his sunglasses off and tucked them away.
Her panties already showed evidence of her arousal. Kuzan smirked, pulling the thin piece of fabric aside and dragging his tongue along her slit. She whimpered and closed her eyes. Her grip on her dress skirt tightening. He buried his tongue deep into her folds, sliding it against her clit and circling it before pushing a pair of fingers into her chasm.
His fingers thrust in tandem with his swirling tongue. Stroking her most sensitive spots as soon as he found them. Thalia panted and sighed, rocking her hips into his face for more friction.
He pressed and prodded at her, sucking on her bundle of nerves. Her moans grew louder, her hips rocking harder. More and more until she couldn’t take it anymore. Holding a hand over her mouth, she gave a muffled moan and her legs twitched. Her pussy clenching around his fingers as the wave of pleasure swept over her.
“Don’t cover your mouth. You sound amazing when you cum,“ Kuzan chuckled, rising to his feet. Thalia panted and shook her head.
“What if someone hears us out here?”
“Hm... so?” Kuzan hummed, shrugging, “I want to know I’m making you feel good, Tali.” It’d been a long time since anyone called her that. Thalia wanted to protest, but the nostalgic nickname gave her pause. And now that she was already so bothered, she didn’t want him to stop anyways.
“We should go somewhere else, then. Please?” Thalia pulled her dress back into place, feeling uncomfortable with the public setting. Kuzan thought it over a moment and hoisted her into his arms.
“Fair enough, let’s go.”
He carried her all the way to the inn at Emerald Town. She paid for their drinks, so he paid for the night. As they hurried to their room, a few well-meaning strangers offered their congratulations, eliciting a chuckle from Kuzan but flushing Thalia’s cheeks with embarrassment. At least once they had their privacy she could relax a little, breathing out a heavy sigh as the door shut behind them.
Kuzan tossed her into the bed and smirked down at her. She grinned in turn and started pulling her dress off. He tossed his overcoat onto a nearby chair before he unzipped his pants and lifted the hem of his shirt. His toned body, dark and rugged, carried the scars of countless battles before with the burn that covered his arm and shoulder being the most prominent. Thalia’s expression fell at the sight of the burn, her eyes clouding with a mixture of regret and guilt.
The source of their falling out. This was the first time she really looked at it. He refused to let her look at him before when it was fresh. All she could think about was how much pain he must have been in. And how she offered no comfort in her panic.
Kuzan followed her gaze and frowned.
“Is that all you see?” he asked, a bite of frustration in his voice. Thalia blinked in surprise, meeting his gaze uncertainly.
“No. I just... I wish you trusted me,” Thalia admitted, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on the scarred flesh. Kuzan paused, his gaze softening and his arms snaking around her waist as he absorbed her words. “You never told me what happened. You don’t have to, I just- I can’t stop thinking about that day.” Her touch traced the edges of the scar, deliberate and cautious, as Kuzan’s breathing steadied, his chest rising and falling in a rhythm of calm.
With a gentle urging, Thalia guided him to the bed, helping him remove his shirt until it lay discarded on the floor. Their eyes met, emotions swirling between them in a silent exchange fraught with unspoken words. Thalia’s fingers continued their reverent exploration of Kuzan’s scars. Each touch was gentle, as if tracing the lines of a map that told the story of his battles, his triumphs, and his pain. Her touch was a balm to his soul, soothing the lingering ache of old memories and fractured trust.
Without a word, Thalia leaned in closer, her lips brushing against the rugged terrain of his scars. She placed delicate kisses along the length of his burn, as if she could somehow make up for every day apart.
Kuzan’s breath hitched at the tender gesture, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to cup her cheeks and lift her head. He guided her lips to his, the kiss hesitant and delicate, unlike any they had shared before. It felt like a moment suspended in time, tinged with a vulnerability that neither had dared to express until now. As Thalia pulled away to trail kisses down his jaw and neck, her touch tracing the contours of his scar, Kuzan’s breath caught in his throat.
With each tender caress, Thalia’s whispered words washed over him like a soothing balm. “I love every inch of you, Kuzan,” she murmured, her lips brushing against his wrist as she gazed up at him with half-lidded eyes. Slowly, she pulled his glove off as well. “Every mark... every cut... they’re a testament to your strength.”
“You don’t have to say that, Tali,” Kuzan murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. Thalia’s smile was gentle as she intertwined her fingers with his, her touch reassuring.
“I mean it. Honestly,” she straddled his lap and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. “I think you’re incredibly handsome, possibly even more so now,” she giggled and nipped lightly at his flesh. He shuddered and trailed his hands down to her hips. She was a beautiful sight on top of him. Her cape of shimmering hair trailing behind her, her light blue nipples perked in the cold of the room, her soft curves complimenting his solid form. And god, the way her ass hugged his cock. As nice as her teasing was, he was starting to get pent up with all this waiting.
“Do you want to take the lead, then?” Kuzan asked with an amused smirk. Thalia paused a moment.
“...No...” she muttered, a little embarrassed.
He chuckled and rolled them over so he was on top, returning her gentle and sweet pecks over her face and chest. Thalia giggled softly, resting her hands on his shoulders as he felt her soft curves. Her plush stomach earned a lingering touch before he grabbed her hips and pulled her down until they were flush against each other. He rubbed himself against her soaked lips, softly grunting as he pushed into her folds. Thalia’s breath hitched and her face reflected a slight wince of pain as his large member settled inside her.
“You’re not used to it anymore, huh?” Kuzan asked, slowly rocking his hips. “Sorry, Tali. Maybe I should have eaten you out again,” he winked down at her, eliciting an eye roll. He loved playfully poking her buttons even as they were entangled.
“Yes, sadly a lot of the guys I’ve been with aren’t nine feet tall.”
He chuckled at that, keeping the pace slow and steady to keep from hurting her too much. Until her slight winces became pleased sighs, he was gentle and careful. And when she started to purr and kiss at whatever she could reach, he reeled further back and bucked sharply. Thalia gasped as his pace hastened, her grip tightening on his shoulders. Her thick thighs hugged his waist, closer and closer as the heat in her core began to build.
The room was filled with the lascivious sounds of pleasure. Their bodies colliding, the creak of the bed, the moans they breathed into each other’s ears. Each thrust pushed them closer to their climax. In a single motion he pulled out of her to flip her onto her stomach, plunging in again and gripping her plush, pillow-y ass as he bucked. His cock pushed deep into her, knocking on her farthest wall and making her claw at the sheets. They could barely say more than quick curses at this point.
Thalia buried her face into the pillows as her body tightened, her pussy clenching around his cock. The heat inside her burned, finally hitting it’s peak, and the pleasure that took her over made her squeal, muffled by the pillows. Kuzan groaned, his hips stuttering as he forced himself to pull out completely and came on her backside, the low, throaty noise that escaped his lips making Thalia shudder. They panted heavily, enjoying the bliss in silence for a moment.
“We should clean up,” Kuzan sighed, moving to slide off the bed. Thalia grabbed his arm and pulled him down beside her, wrapping her arms around him.
“In a minute...” she grumbled, hiding her face in his chest. He shrugged and held her close, petting her thighs and nestling his nose in her hair. Everything about Thalia was soft. Her body, her hair, her lips, the sweet way she smiled, the way she held him, and how she looked at the people she loved. He knew this would probably be the last time they were intimate. And probably for the better if they ever hoped of moving on. But he didn’t really mind. He hadn’t felt this relaxed in years. It was nice.
