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bluesylveon2 · 1 year

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Frozen

Summary: The Kingdom of Marley is now open to everyone and it is Pieck's coronation day. However, tensions rise between her and her sister, Annie. Also, since when did Annie have ice powers?

Disclaimer: Frozen is a computer-animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Pictures. Attack on Titan is a manga/anime series written by Hajime Isayama and published by Kondasha.

A/N: I am back! Updates will be slow due to summer classes/externships. I hope yall enjoy the chapter!

Warnings: not beta read. Pieck is lowkey gonna be OOC so I apologize for that

Masterlist: Here

Chapter 2:

Annie was bored.

Scratch that; she was bored but mostly anxious.

The bishop's voice and the clinging choir felt like background noise to her. Here she was, for the first time in forever, standing in front of strangers like an animal behind a glass wall. Magath had given her a rundown about today and some breathing exercises to calm her down. Annie was thankful for it but could not contain the voice that taunted her with the idea of everyone waiting for her to mess up.

Although the crowd saw a quiet and regal princess standing near her sister, they could not see the tiny fidgets in her fingers or hear her tapping the toe of her heel against the rug. The princess prayed her sister's long cape was more eye-catching than hers. Annie could feel her fingertips grow cold, and her composed face quickly changed for a millisecond. It was a familiar sensation that the girl had known for years. Nobody noticed the change except for Magath, who had a concerned look. Annie gave him a small smile and slowly breathed in. Her nerves were calmed slightly, but the cold sensation remained.

“Sem hon heldr inum helgum eignum ok krýnd í þessum helga stað ek té fram fyrir yðr…Queen Pieck of Marley.”

Annie returned to reality once the crown was placed on Pieck's head. She joined the crowd in applauding the new queen. She was proud and happy for her. Now all of the eyes were focused on her sister and not her. She genuinely smiled when the cold sensation went away.

Pieck had many reasons why for being nervous.

One, she was about to enter a party not as the Princess of Marley but as the Queen of Marley. Two, the party was filled with many strangers (not counting Zeke, Magath, and the castle staff). Three, she will stand by side with her sister, who has not talked to her face-to-face in years. The last time Pieck could recall a moment was when they used to build a snowman together.

Her blue dress swooshed with each step she took to the door. Her purple cape felt heavy on her shoulders as it dragged against the floor. The lively music coming from the ballroom did little to ease her mood. A servant opened the door, and it was time for Pieck to show herself.

"Queen Pieck of Marley," Magath announced, and Pieck made her way to stand in front of the small throne. She maintained her composer while Magath announced her sister. "Princess Annie of Marley."

Pieck never got to look at her sister during her coronation, but now she could see how much Annie had changed. Annie was not a small child anymore; she was now a woman. She could only wish her sister smiled and did not have a stoic face for the party. Pieck thought that even a small smile, paired with her beauty and green dress, would attract a few suitors for her sister.

Annie stood beside Pieck, and the two watched the party resume their dancing. They sat in awkward silence until Pieck decided to break it.

"You look lovely," Pieck smiled, causing Annie to break out of her stoic look briefly.

"Me?" Annie bashfully asked and cleared her throat, "Thank you, Your Grace. Wait, I mean-" She was interrupted by Pieck trying to hide her laughter behind her gloved hand.

"Just Pieck is fine. We are sisters, after all, Annie."

Annie smiled, "Right," she said and turned to look at the crowd. "So this is what a party looks like," she said absentmindedly.

Pieck nodded in agreement. "It feels nice."

A sweet scent caught Annie's attention, "What is that smell?"

Pieck sniffed the air as well.

"Chocolate," they said at the same time and laughed.

Pieck stared at the dancing crowd and smiled sadly. She could not remember the last time the ballroom was filled with so many people. Everyone's smiles will be gone the next day. Pieck began to open her mouth to say something but was interrupted.

"Your Highness," A new voice called out, and the sisters turned their attention to the newcomer. The announcer called out before stepping away to reveal a man with long blonde hair, gray eyes, and a goatee. "Willy Tybur of Weaseltown."

"It's Weselton! Why does no one get that right?" The man complained before realizing who he was in front of. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Your Majesty, as your closest partner in trade, it only seems fitting that I offer your first dance as queen."

Pieck smiled. "Thank you. Only I don't dance," Her smile turned mischievous. "But my sister does."

Annie looked at her like she had grown another head. "What? I don't-" Suddenly, she felt her body move towards the dancefloor.

"Lucky you," Willy replied before bringing Annie to the crowd. Pieck hid back another laugh while Annie glared at her and disappeared into the crowd. She watched Willy almost step on Annie's toes and pretended not to notice her sister's glare. Her view was interrupted by another voice interrupted.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, would you like to dance?" A familiar voice asked, and Pieck smiled. She looked down to see Zeke Yeager extending a hand out to her.

"Of course," she let him take her hand and lead her to the dancefloor. "I don't think we can do much dancing," she gestured to the long cape behind her.

Zeke laughed, "I don't mind, as long as I am dancing with you." he said, leading her through a simple waltz. The two danced to multiple songs while getting to know each other. "So, what happened to your hair?" Zeke asked and pointed to the white strands woven in Pieck's updo.

"Oh, I got it when I was really young. My parents told me that I got really sick one day that it even went to my head."

"Well, it looks good on you."

Pieck smiled, "Thank you, Zeke." Her eyes spotted Annie twirling around by Willy, "So, does Eren host balls like this with you?."

Zeke shook his head, "Not really. He does his own thing and leaves me to run the country. Typically younger sibling things, and we are nothing alike."

"I understand. Annie and I are very different too. We used to be so close before, but then we drifted apart. I wish I knew why, but she would shut herself in her room for years."

Zeke twirled Pieck before replying. "Younger siblings, right?" He asked lightheartedly, but Pieck did not look amused. Zeke cleared his throat, "How about you and I go to the garden? We can talk about other things there."

Pieck smiled, "Gladly."

The two aimlessly wandered around the palace, discussing anything that came to mind. Pieck felt genuinely happy talking to Zeke; she could tell he felt the same way.

"Can I say something crazy?" Pieck asked in the middle of their walk.

Zeke smiled, "I love crazy."

"All of my life, it feels like a bunch of doors in my face until I ran into you."

"I was thinking the same thing because I've been searching my whole life to find my own place. Maybe it's the party talking or the chocolate fondue?"

Pieck laughed and grabbed Zeke's hands to drag him somewhere, "But with you, I feel something that I never felt before."

The two ran out to a remote part of the garden, where they lay on the grass, staring at the full moon.

Zeke hugged Pieck, "I feel the same way, like we are meant to be."

"All of the pain from the past goes away when I'm with you. I feel happy."

Zeke couldn't help but smile like a teenage boy. The two continued to lie on the grass, with the party music acting as background noise. "Can I say something crazy?"

"Hmm?" Pieck hummed and looked at the man she loved. She did not expect him to stand up, pull something out of his pocket, and get down on one knee.

"Will you marry me?"

"Can I say something crazier? Yes!"

Pieck and Zeke reentered the ballroom while giggling to themselves. Annie, upon noticing them, quickly made her way to her sister.

"Pieck! Where have you been? All the guests were looking for you, and I was running out of things to entertain them."

Pieck laughed despite Annie having a frown on her face. "I'm sorry, Annie. First, let me introduce you to Prince Zeke. But I have some good news!"

Annie's face changed to confusion. "You do?"

Pieck grabbed Zeke's hands and brought him close. "Zeke and I are getting married!"

"WHAT?!" Annie exclaimed, her mouth gaping like a fish. "What?"

"I know. Ha-" Pieck turned to Zeke like she came up with a fantastic idea, "We can have the wedding here!"

"Absolutely," Zeke replied with love and adoration in his voice.

Annie cleared her throat. "Pieck, we need to talk," Her eyes slightly shift to Zeke. "Alone."

"Alright," Pieck reassuringly patted Zeke's arm and followed Annie. She could tell Annie was annoyed with just the look on her face.

"Pieck, are you crazy? Why are you engaged?"

Pieck sighed. "Annie, Zeke is a wonderful guy, and he is also a prince. Our marriage can help strengthen our kingdom."

"Our kingdom is fine, and you just met this man."

"It is true love."

Annie frowned. "Pieck, you can't marry a man you just met."

"I can if it is true love!" Pieck scoffed.

"Pieck, we have been stuck behind these doors for years, and you are a queen now. That is not true love!"

"You would not know what true love is because you shut everyone out!"

The sisters were too busy yelling at each other to notice the party stop and stare at them.

"Is everything alright?" Zeke asked, now joining the sisters. Annie glared at him before storming off.

"See, you're doing it again!" Pieck followed Annie and lunged forward to stop her but only managed to grab Annie's glove.

Annie's anger morphed into fear, and she stopped walking. "Give back my glove." she pleaded and held her ungloved hand with her gloved one. Her fingers began to feel like she had touched ice.

"Why do you keep shutting me out?" Pieck cried out while clutching Annie's glove.

Annie began to feel tears form. "Pieck, I need the glove back."

"Not until you explain whatever is going on." Pieck stepped forward, but Annie stepped back. Meanwhile, Magath noticed Annie's distress and walked to the sisters, who continued their walking.

Annie could feel a cold feeling crawling down her arms, "You need to stay away!"

"Annie!"

"I SAID TO STAY AWAY!" Annie yelled and waved her ungloved hand. Her eyes widened in horror as ice began to form and nearly hit Pieck in the face.

"Oh no," Annie whispered and used Pieck's shock to run out of the room. She let her feet carry her through the castle until she was outside in the courtyard. Unluckily for her, there were more people assembled there. Annie tried to run past them.

"Princess Annie?" A man asked.

"Princess?" Another person followed.

Annie stopped when a woman holding a baby stopped her, "Princess Annie, are you alright?" The baby's smile did not help Annie's fear. She began to step back towards the fountain.

"There she is!" Willy came to view and pointed at her accusingly. "Get her!"

Annie held her hands up before her, "Please just stay away. " Suddenly, a burst of ice appeared and landed right before Willy. An ice spike appeared and stopped before Willy's nose. Annie stepped back again until her hand landed on the fountain's edge. Her powers spread and froze the water in it, scaring the villagers. Annie looked at everyone's horrified faces. The baby from earlier was now crying all because of her.

"Annie!" Pieck cried out. Annie took everyone's shock as an advantage and ran for it. She had already ruined her sister's day enough already. This time, she was going to keep running despite Pieck's protests.

Annie ran through the castle until she ran into the fjord's edge.

"Annie!" Pieck's voice was closer this time, and Annie had nowhere to run. Annie gasped after she stepped back into the water, and ice began forming under her feet. She decided to make a break for it.

"Annie!" Pieck called out to her sister, who ran across the water, leaving ice in her wake.

"Pieck!" Zeke grabbed her before she could move any further and fell into the water.

"She is getting away!" Pieck cried while trying to get out of Zeke's grasp.

"You will get hurt if you slip on her ice." Zeke reasoned as he watched Annie run off further away from them. Pieck gave up and cried into Zeke's chest. His eyes shifted to the growing ice she left behind, "oh no."

"What?" Pieck asked and turned to where Zeke was looking at.

Pieck could only watch as her newly acquired kingdom was covered in ice.

©: This story belongs to bluesylveon2. Do not modify or republish

A/N: the line the bishop uses is actually from Frozen!

#pokkopikku #pokkopiku #pokkopiku fanfiction #porco x pieck #jikupiku #porco galliard #pieck finger #annie leonhart #marcel galliard #zeke yeager #attack on titan #aot #frozen #bluesylveon disney series

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joannaofarkham · 5 months

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God I swore when you first mentioned the downtown abbey au a long time ago that you’d make a lady Mary x Pamuk affair scandal type 👀👀👀👀

I wasn't really going to consider the Pamuk scandal but now that you've mentioned it 👀👀👀👀 I'm not gonna use this on eremika or jikupiku tho...okay maybe a bit in erepiku but like its not really like mary-pamuk incident.

I'm not sure if I've already told y'all but Historia will be here as well as Mikasa's cousin-in-law and....hmmmmmMMMMMmmm...I MIGHT dwell into the Pamuk incident to introduce yumihisu

#eremika #jikupiku #eren #mikasa #zeke #pieck #historia #attack on titan #aot fanfiction #answered asks #ask #aot x downton

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diazckerman · 3 years

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updated chapter five of I do, I don’t <3

#eremika #Reibert #jikupiku #attack on titan fanfiction #Eren Jaeger #Mikasa Ackerman #pieck finger #zeke x pieck #zeke yeager #modern au #idk im trynna cope against canon lol

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milowritesshit · 3 years

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MASTER POST OF MY STORIES

cause i dont use tumblr anymore haha follow me on twitter if you want to see my crap.

FANFICTIONS UNDER THE CUT

COME HOME TO MY HEART

AO3 TAGS: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Mikasa Ackerman/Eren Yeager, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, Zeke Yeager, Pieck Finger, Armin Arlert, Jean Kirstein, Krista Lenz | Historia Reiss, Ymir (Shingeki no Kyojin), Connie Springer, Reiner Braun, Sasha Blouse, Niccolo (Shingeki no Kyojin), Levi Ackerman, Gabi Braun, Falco Grice, Kenny Ackerman, Hange Zoë, Established Relationship, jikupiku jearmin yumihisu conirei nicosasha established relationship, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Aged-Up Character(s), Eremika Week 2021, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Other additional characters to be added, Domestic Fluff, Español | Spanish, link adentro, rivetra established relationship, ackerfamily curses a lot, Nonbinary Hange Zoë

SUMMARY: kind of a slice of life eremika.

WORDS: 12992.

CHAPTERS: 7/7 (complete).

Ive got lazy, so go take a look at the tags there. They’re seven stories, kinda auto-conclusive, but ends up tieing each other at the end. A lot of fluff and angst, specially angst.

ITAFUSHI WEEK 2021

SEVEN PARTS (complete).

WORDS: 6722.

SUMMARY: Gallirei, explicit and kinda sad? A lot of unsolved childhood issues.

AGAINST THE TIDE

WORDS: 10017.

CHAPTERS: 1 (complete).

SUMMARY: au modern setting jearmin. they flirt and are gay together.

PERFECT PLACES

WORDS: 8476.

CHAPTERS: 1 (in process).

SUMMARY: another au settling jearmin. were they also flirt and are gay together. light-hearted and funny.

IMPOSSIBLE TO GO AGAINST THOSE WISHES

WORDS: 1417.

CHAPTERS: 1 (complete).

SUMMARY: canon verse side story aruani. mild spoilers of the final chapters of the manga.

THEN, TO ME, YOU ARE A BAD PERSON

WORDS: 1048.

CHAPTERS: 1 (complete).

SUMMARY: Eren centered, waaaay before the final chapter haha snk 136 spoilers i guess. hurt/confort i guess.

FINALLY

WORDS: 773

CHAPTERS: 1 (complete)

the rest of my stories are kinda shitty, gotta edit them. follow me on twitter boys, girls and nonbinary peers.

#eremika #itafushi #fushiita #gallirei #jearmin #aruani #shingeki no kyojin #jujutsu kaisen

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yaboylevi · 7 years

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11 questions tag game

I was tagged by my two lovely angels @sanspert and @softymir <3

1. favourite album: AM - Arctic Monkeys

2. favourite time of day: the moment I can take off my make-up and bra and put some super comfy clothes on lol also when there's a really wild storm outside but you don't have to go out

3. a song you could listen on repeat and never get tired of: Do me a favour - Arctic Monkeys

4. favourite rare pair/s: right now the only rarepair I'm (almost) shipping is zevi (zeke x levi)...WAIT ARE MIKASASHA AND JIKUPIKU RAREPAIRS? because i love them.

5. a song that never fails to make you happy: DIGITAL LOVE by Daft Punk and Border by Years & Years

6. if you had to cosplay anyone who would it be? I would like to cosplay anyone from love live! because their outfits are gorgeous! also rei or asuka from Evangelion. and fem!Eren!!!

7. what would you say your ‘style’ is? it varies. I did a 180 degree from the past (I used to be pretty dark...) now I love flowers, cute stamps and bright colours, dresses, skirts, shirts and big sweaters, but still minimal in their designs + cute hairstyles. I also like to dress in a sort of street style sometimes? baggy jeans, sneakers and big t-shirts, it's really comfy and I love it.

8. if you had to get a tattoo what would it be? I'd like to get a tattoo with white ink, don't know about the design though, maybe a stylised cat

9. favourite video game: persona 3 & super danganronpa 2

10. a ship that is similar to your relationship goals: oh my god this is super difficult?? kanamari from love live (I know you dont know about them buuut). basically they had problems caused by miscommunication (and thats something that would happen to me lmao) but in the end they solved those problems and became a really affectionate couple. they also make fun of each other but in a really endearing way and thats what I would like from my partner: love, good communication and fun times. and lots of hands holding.

11. what was your first plushie/soft toy/teddy’s name? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAX And it was a small teddy bear with a hat! aaaaa I'm soft now!!

---

1. Most (and least) favourite fanfiction trope? most favourite: pining Levi bc yes, he hasn't suffered enough!!! no, I think I don't have an absolute fave, I like a lot of tropes honestly, but also smitten Levi who can't take his eyes off of his loved one and ends up saying stupid things bc he's nervous is always good (you: DID YOU MEAN CANON? me: yes). also fake daTING THAT BECOMES REAL DATING IM ALWAYS HERE FOR THIS SHIT (if theres not too much miscommunication, that is); least fave: uke-seme trope and friends-to-lovers, sometimes it makes me really uncomfortable for reasons, but it depends I guess.

2. What do you like about your fave the most? their determination and kind hearts even after all the shit they went through

3. Three songs you’d recommend to anyone:

Girls like Girls - Hayley Kiyoko

Hold On We're Going Home - ASTR

Real - Years & Years

4. Songs that best describe your fave: EREN: Stronger than ever by Raleigh Ritchie; Dark by Sir Jakobsten (the Martin remix is better); Control by Halsey

5. Do you believe in soulmates? yes, I like to believe some people share more...affinity? than others on a really instinctual level, it doesn't even have to be something romantic. I believe there is someone out there that understands us more than anyone else could.

6. Sun, rain or snow? SNOW bc it rarely snowed where I used to live and it's not much better where I'm living now, and I only have nice memories of snowy days (the best one is when my cat saw the snow for the first time...she went crazy bc the snow didn't immediately wet her and the snowy ground crunched under her little paws...wow fun times ahah)

7. Dream vacation? Maldives? yes.

8. Movies you’ve watched once and will never ever ever watch again ever not even if i paid you: Guardian of the Galaxy

9. Fave domestic hc for your ship of choice? ereri: whoever wakes up first makes breakfast for the other, also can I have Eren convincing Levi now and then to eat&cuddle in bed (this always happens after a rough "night" spent together). Eren likes to spoil Levi rotten and Levi loves it. Also Levi smiling softly when Eren plays with their cat (even though Eren really wanted a dog and said he would never ever get along with a self-righteous cat! turns out their cat is really affectionate and always purrs and answers Eren's stupid questions with little meows. Eren is smitten.)

10. Punk or pastel? pastel!

11. 11 things you’d tell your fave char if you could:

1 you've been through a lot but you're still kind-hearted and that's beautiful; 2 it's okay to be selfish and lose your cool sometimes, you don't have to be always in control; 3 I love your eyes; 4 forgive yourself; 5 treasure your friends, they love you; 6 you are loved, really; 7 it's okay to doubt yourself sometimes; 8 you're only human so rest a bit and take care of yourself, please; 9 ask others for help, they would gladly lend you a hand, you don't have to be alone; 10 you are strong; 11 you would have value even if you hadn't been saving lives all your life, you still have worth even if you caused some deaths.

#aaaaaaaaa wow this took so long but I loved every question! thanks!#vivitalks #tag game

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jujutsubaby · 3 months

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chemical reactions (part 3)

☆ pairing: zeke jaeger x pieck finger ☆ summary: when pieck traveled to faraway trost for a prestigious research position, she expected to feel lonely. what she last expected was to find a bit of home in her supervisor. ☆ warnings: chronic illness and parental death discussed ☆ tags: modern AU, academia AU, slow-burn, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers ☆ a/n: another slower setup chapter, but we get to see more of pieck and her dad's relationship (and more of that sweet sweet angst) in this one. side note, i can't believe isayama just straight up named her dad "finger"? lol. i'm gonna hc his name as "pieter" in this since i think it'd be cute for it to kinda match pieck :3 masterlist

After her meeting with Zeke, Pieck had just enough time to return to her apartment, get her suitcase, and head to the airport for her afternoon flight back to Marley. She was excited to see her father and friends — Pieck had not realized it, but these few months had been the longest she had been away from Liberio. For all its flaws, it still was her home.

Pieck could not imagine someone like Zeke, who had been so far from home for over a decade. She was usually able to tell if people were from Marley, but it had been difficult for her to tell with Zeke. She supposed that living in Paradis for so long had estranged him from Liberio. Would the same happen to her eventually?

After boarding the airplane and hauling her suitcase into the overhead bin, Pieck settled into her seat. The flight was several hours long, but she was still grateful for that — until recently, the only way to reach Paradis from Liberio had been through a weeklong sea voyage. Still tired from her late night, early morning, and general jitters, she was looking forward to using the empty hours ahead of her to catch up on sleep.

Sleep did not arrive as quickly as Pieck anticipated, and she found her mind continually wandering to her childhood acquaintance-turned-research advisor. What a bizarre turn of events.

What was curious to Pieck was that Liberio was a relatively small city, tiny when one considered just the Eldian community. Like many tiny communities, one individual's news always became everybody's news. Pieck had at least heard of most of the Eldians from her hometown, and what they were doing now. But she had heard so little of Zeke — little enough that she had even been able to forget him, as shameful as it was to admit. The silence surrounding Zeke's name in Liberio was enigmatic, bordering on suspicious.

Eventually, the low hum of the airplane lulled Pieck to sleep, and she drifted off with vague memories of a mysterious former classmate in the back of her mind.

When Pieck disembarked, feeling significantly better rested, she was surprised to find her father waiting for her at the arrivals gate of Liberio International Airport. Unable to help herself, she ran like a child into his arms, her suitcase clattering about precariously.

"You didn't have to come, Dad! I could have caught the bus back home!" She chided unconvincingly; in truth, she was overjoyed to see him, even if she knew the trek to the airport might have exhausted him.

Ever since her mother had passed longer ago than she could remember, it had always been just Pieck and her father. The past few months without him had been difficult and alien, but she was pleased to see a little more weight on his frame and color in his cheeks. The medical care he received must have been helping.

On the drive home, Pieck talked her father's ear off about the first semester of her program, and he listened eagerly. She was especially excited to tell him about her new position with TITANLab. As Pieck explained more about the project to him, she noticed that she was avoiding naming Zeke, for some reason. Why does it feel strange to bring him up? She wondered, but not for long; soon enough, the conversation rotated to its next topic, and she and her father chatted about anything and everything they could think about. This was always how it was with them; Pieck had missed this dynamic sorely.

Soon, Pieck's father pulled into an unfamiliar driveway, and she recalled that he had moved to a new place. Rather than the rundown apartment she was used to, her father now lived in a small, comfortable bungalow. As she walked in (empty-handed, in spite of her efforts to wrest her suitcase from her father, who insisted on carrying it in for her), she noted resplendent, well-tended rosebushes that lined the entryway.

"Taken up gardening?" She asked with a soft smile.

Pieck's father chuckled.

"I have to pass the time somehow."

His response was tongue-in-cheek, but Pieck still couldn't help feeling guilty for leaving him alone. Her father must have sensed this, adding,

"It's nice to live somewhere with room for plants; I've always wanted them but never got the chance. I wouldn't have been able to come here without your help, Pieck. You understand that, don't you?"

Pieck just smiled back and went into the house, afraid her voice would shake if she responded. She knew it was true; she suspected that her stubborn sense of guilt was just a different manifestation of homesickness. Sooner or later, though, she knew she had to overcome these feelings, especially at her age.

After they both had settled in a bit more, and Pieck quickly got the lay of the new bungalow, Pieck's father put on a kettle of tea and poured out two mugs for them.

Pieck cooled the tea and raised it to her lips. The flavor that hit her tongue was gorgeous, a symphony of flowers and herbs. She had never tasted anything like it before.

"This is delicious! What is it?"

"Nothing special, just some mint, lemon balm, and rosehips," her father shrugged and responded.

"Nothing special?! Where did you get all of that? This must have cost a fortune..." Pieck murmured thoughtfully.

"I actually got it from right out there," he said, gesturing vaguely towards an array of pots in the small backyard. "I started growing plants to make tea blends. I share them with the neighbors now, and one of them said she'd stock them at her market stall, in fact. I'm just glad anybody likes them!"

Pieck fondly noted the pride in his voice. "That's amazing, Dad! How did you choose to make tea blends, of all things?"

"Well, I actually always dreamt of doing that kind of thing, but never got the chance til now. You probably don't remember, but your mother and I used to be great tea enthusiasts."

"I didn't know that about you," Pieck said softly.

"You never got a chance to, sweetheart. When did we ever have time for our hobbies before?"

It was true, and Pieck was happy to see her father rediscovering his old interests, but it was still bittersweet. It was becoming increasingly clear that, with the right resources, her father could thrive independently of her. She hoped that she could find her own path and do the same.

She thought again about Zeke, who felt like her polar opposite in this area. Where she was afraid to disappear from her life in Liberio, it seemed he had done just that. But why? Pieck resolved to find out more.

Taking a sip of tea and steadying her voice, Pieck spoke up.

"Hey, Dad? You know that research project I was telling you about?"

"Yes, with Titans Corp!"

"Right, TITANLab. I forgot to mention earlier, but one interesting thing is that it's actually run by someone from Liberio."

Pieck's father hummed thoughtfully. "That is interesting. Who is it? Maybe someone I was friends with? But I don't remember anyone I knew going off and becoming a professor in Trost..."

"Well, he's actually a bit younger, I guess, more like me." Why was her heart beating so quickly suddenly? "He actually went to school with me for a bit!" Pieck said, her voice going too high for her to maintain her false casualness. Why was asking perfectly normal questions getting her so flustered?! "Maybe you remember him? Zeke Jaeger?"

"Jaeger...oh." Pieck's father put his mug down. "Oh yes, I remember him now. Vaguely, I suppose. The name does sound familiar." He sounded suddenly serious, almost disapproving. But that wouldn't make much sense. She must have been overthinking his tone.

"Well, isn't that interesting? Nobody's talked about him in so long. It's almost like we all forgot about him, isn't it?" She persisted, trying in vain to sound lighthearted. Pieck knew she would not win any accolades with her acting skills.

"Yes, I suppose so." He said with a tone of finality. Pieck recognized that tone, and she knew he only used it when she kept asking questions about a topic that brokered no further discussion.

An unexpected dead end...she would just have to continue her fact-finding mission elsewhere. Luckily for her, she was planning to get drinks with some friends the next evening. Reiner and Porco were unabashed gossips, while Annie and Bertholt could usually serve as a reliable sounding board for when they exaggerated too many details. Marcel would luckily be there as well to moderate; Pieck knew that some of her friends could get quite heated in discussions for no good reason. Between the lot of them, Pieck was sure she could get at least some answers.

Later that evening, Pieck and her father got to work preparing a stew for dinner. As she chopped carrots, he spoke up.

"Piecky, I know you just started, but have you given any thought to what you want to do after you finish your program?"

Pieck nearly took her finger off at that (given her surname, the irony was not lost on her).

"Not really...why do you ask? I guess a few people continue the part-time Paradis Labs work full-time, or otherwise go full on into the whole academia gig. I was thinking of just coming back, though. I could probably get a job that pays well enough here at that point. Wouldn't that be best?" She asked, setting down the knife before she caused any accidental injury.

Pieck felt her father seize her shoulders and turn her to face him, his expression suddenly serious. She couldn't help but note that his treatments must have been working well if he had the strength to spin her around like that.

"Listen to me, sweetie. I know you've always thought of me and my needs first. As your father, it's difficult for me to see you taking care of me the way I should be taking care of you." Pieck opened her mouth to object to his unfair appraisal of himself, but he silenced her with a look. "But I'm so proud of the young woman you've grown up to be. It's time for you to put yourself first, now. Imagine I didn't need you anymore. What would you do then?"

If he hadn't brushed a thumb across her face right then, Pieck would not have noticed that her eyes had filled with tears. She didn't like when he talked like this — it usually meant he was asking her to plan her life after his.

"I— I don't know, dad. I...what if I still need you?" Her voice was steady, but the tears started streaming down her cheeks, catching on her lips and salting her tongue.

While it was true that Pieck made her father's health her priority, it had never felt like self-sacrifice to her. Regardless of his opinion on the matter, Pieck knew that he had raised her as carefully and attentively as he had his herb garden, and she was well aware of how challenging that had been for him to do on his own. To her, putting herself first did mean putting him first too, as she knew it did to him.

Pieck tried to stifle a sob by pressing her hand to her throat, but a strangled sound still escaped.

Her father hugged her tightly.

"I'll always be there for you, no matter where you are, no matter where I go. It's just that the last thing I want is for you to limit yourself."

Feeling her beginning to sob, he hushed her as he did when she was a baby, patting her back consolingly.

Once she calmed down, they both resumed the dinner preparation, and it was as though the discussion had never happened.

That night, however, Pieck lay awake in her old bed in the unfamiliar new bedroom. What was she even planning? She had gone to college on her father's recommendation, and she had applied for this program on Professor Magath's. She had accepted the offer for the money she could send home.

If she lived in a vacuum, what would she do?

People did not live in vacuums, however; it was an impossible scenario to imagine.

After Pieck's mother had died, her father had raised her largely singlehandedly. But hadn't the Galliards delivered meals from their family restaurant when Pieck's father was paralyzed by his grief? And hadn't Reiner's mother taken Pieck aside to help prepare her for her first period when she would not have a mother to turn to? And hadn't Annie's father picked her up from school on the days her father was bedridden?

This had always been the way of the Eldians in Liberio; they banded together, partly out of necessity, and partly out of loyalty to one another. Asking Pieck to be selfish was asking her to forsake a part of herself that all her forebears had taught her by example. An Eldian leaving Liberio for good was very rare.

But she did know one notable exception now.

What had made him leave the way he did?

As sleep finally claimed her, Pieck wondered if she would ever feel brave enough to ask.

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jujutsubaby · 3 months

Text

chemical reactions (part 2)

☆ pairing: zeke jaeger x pieck finger ☆ summary: when pieck traveled to faraway trost for a prestigious research position, she expected to feel lonely. what she last expected was to find a bit of home in her supervisor. ☆ warnings: chronic illness mentioned ☆ tags: modern AU, academia AU, slow-burn, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers ☆ a/n: zeke and pieck meet properly this chapter aaaa ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰ i had a lot of fun writing their dialogue (esp one part in particular hehe) and can't wait to build this relationship out more >:) masterlist

Once she got over the initial surprise of Dr. Jaeger's youth, Pieck was pleased that she was able to get back on her feet and into her professional mode reasonably well. Trying not to feel flustered at how attentively he was watching her, Pieck began her prepared opening.

"Well, Dr. Jaeger, thank you for meeting with me," she said, doing her best not to speak too quickly. "I find your research genuinely interesting, so it truly is an honor to be considered." Pieck internally winced; she had been counseled time and time again by Magath to be less obsequious. You know at least twice as much as those morons you're always cowering before, he would say to her with all his trademark bluntness. You deserve to be where you are, and you deserve just as much as respect anybody else. But old habits died hard, and Pieck was just too used to bowing low before authority figures.

Luckily, Dr. Jaeger did not seem to change his demeanor. "I am pleased to hear that my work intrigues you so, Miss Finger, and I can see why you reached out to me," he replied with a polite smile. Something about the crows feet that appeared at the corners of his eyes put Pieck a bit more at ease.

"I saw from your CV that your research interests lie in nonaddictive drug therapies for chronic illness," he continued. "Your experience is certainly pertinent to the work we do at TITANLab. Theo had nothing but praise for you, I should add."

Pieck did not have time to shroud the confusion from her face. Theo? Then it hit her.

"Oh, do you know Professor Magath?"

Zeke gave her a sidelong glance, for some reason.

"Well, perhaps it was a bit before your time. He did work briefly as the chemistry teacher at the local school before becoming a professor full time. He and I first became acquainted there, in fact, but have encountered each other professionally since."

Pieck was embarrassed at how slowly the cogs in her mind were turning that morning, but she truly had no idea what Dr. Jaeger was talking about.

"Professor Magath lived in Trost? I don't remember that, I thought he was in Liberio all along."

Dr. Jaeger now looked lost as well; Pieck's panic rose. Oh God, does he think I'm an idiot? What's going on?

"Trost? When was Theo in Trost?"

"Well, you had said that Professor Magath had taught you in secondary school, so I just assumed...I thought you were from Trost, I apologize for making that assumption. And I am sorry for the confusion, Dr. Jaeger," Pieck stammered out. Usually in situations like these, she found that if she apologized enough, misunderstandings were easier to smooth over. This certainly was one of the more opaque misunderstandings she had encountered, though.

Dr. Jaeger just looked at her for a long time. The longer he looked, the more Pieck felt any semblance of hope leach out of her. All at once, the confusion dissipated from his face. It was replaced, mystifyingly, with a bashful smile.

"Pieck, do you perhaps...not remember me?"

At the familiarity of her first name in his voice, Pieck felt the color rise embarrassingly in her cheeks. He addressed her as though they were well acquainted already. When he called her Pieck, they almost sounded like equals, rather than a student researcher out of her depth and a prodigy of a professor.

Pieck imagined how amusing it might be if she also dropped formality and addressed him as Zeke. Zeke. Why does that name feel familiar?

Pieck clapped her hands over her mouth.

"Oh my goodness! Yes, I'm so sorry! Zeke! It's been so long, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you with your — " she gestured weakly at her chin, unable to even complete the sentence.

This was certainly one interview scenario she had not prepared for.

When she focused on Dr. Jaeger's — Zeke's — face, when she erased his beard and glasses, when she mussed his hair up a bit (purely in her imagination, of course), she saw him. The tall, pale, sullen boy who had been in some of her classes in spite of being four to five years her senior, as she recalled. The talk in her class was that he had to retake a few courses due to his poor performance; the secondary school in Liberio had been small enough that remedial classes for older students meant sitting in with younger students. Socially, it was a potential pressure cooker, but Pieck recalled that he had gotten on reasonably well with his younger classmates. He had even broken up fights with her more tempestuous peers, now that she thought about it. And he had always been polite to her.

Pieck was overwhelmed with surprise. She had never expected that quiet boy, who seemed so apathetic about school, to become an illustrious and well-known professor like this. Then again, she had never expected herself to rise even to the level she had. They all had their own paths to tread; some were just more circuitous than others.

"Yes," Zeke replied with a small smile, "I suppose I would look somewhat different now, what with my," and he mimed pointing at his beard the same way she had. Is he...making fun of me?

It was more than the beard that had rendered him unrecognizable; Pieck was certain he understood this too. It was strange seeing him so confident, when she remembered him being anything but. Most of his classmates treated Pieck and the other younger students with gleeful disdain, glad to have children below them in the pecking order as only teenagers could be. Zeke had been so different; he had been kind to them, but with a thirst to be accepted. Even Pieck's younger self could detect this; she recalled wondering why he cared so deeply about the opinions of her snotnosed and annoying little peers. More than anything, he had seemed so desperately lonely.

If there was one thing Pieck understood, it was loneliness.

Once she realized he was her old classmate, Pieck was blessed with the ability to interact with Zeke (Dr. Jaeger, she corrected herself) with much more ease and comfort. She suspected that the breakdown of the barrier benefited him as well, as he spoke to her much less stiffly (albeit still formally, as he always had even as a child).

At the end of the interview, Pieck dared to hope that it had gone well. Zeke's research specialty and pet project had to do with using existing hormones to inform medication courses. What was especially unique was his interest in the hormonal secretions found much more frequently in Eldians. Pieck understood now why he had come to Paradis to do his research; such a project would have an uphill battle securing funding in Marley. Even the academic medical texts in Marley frequently omitted Eldians altogether. Pieck, having combed through medical books and journals with her limited expertise for any possible source of succor for her father, was intimately aware of the unfortunate consequences of this omission.

The idea of someone, anyone, conducting research on how to help Eldians find proper treatments and medications brought a bone-deep sense of relief to Pieck.

Between their shared interests and shared past, Pieck felt remarkably at ease with Zeke now. Enough so that she chanced asking,

"What do you think? Do you think I'd be able to work with you? I understand you must be busy, and that you must have so many applicants, but —"

Zeke must have felt equally at ease, for he actually laughed. (Pieck had never heard him laugh before; she was unsure if he ever had even smiled during their short acquaintance in school, let alone laughed).

"Oh, I hope you were not anxious about that! I was already intending to bring you on after seeing your resume and Theo's recommendation. I apologize if I was unclear, this was more of an informal interview for me to know more about you. Finding out more about your research interests just confirmed for me that this is the right decision."

He then rose from his chair, heading to the door to open it for her. Pieck felt her tense shoulders sag; she was giddy with relief and excitement, and attempted in vain to steady her voice.

"Thank you so much Dr. Jaeger, I truly appreciate this!"

Zeke turned back over his shoulder at her with a conspiratorial grin that made her cheeks and ears grow hot.

"Anything for an old school chum," he replied. "And do call me Zeke, please. Hearing you say Dr. Jaeger makes me feel even older."

Pieck's combination of adrenaline and sleep deprivation made her unable to fully trust what she saw, but she could have sworn that Zeke winked at her after saying that.

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jujutsubaby · 3 months

Text

chemical reactions (part 1)

☆ pairing: zeke jaeger x pieck finger ☆ summary: when pieck traveled to faraway trost for a prestigious research position, she expected to feel lonely. what she last expected was to find a bit of home in her supervisor. ☆ warnings: chronic illness mentioned ☆ tags: modern AU, academia AU, slow-burn, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers ☆ a/n: when i say slow-burn, i MEAN slow burn. be patient please little ducklings...i hope it'll all be worth it ( ˃̣̣̥﹏˂̣̣̥ ✿) this first part is just mostly setting things up, but i promise things'll start moving next chapter~ masterlist | part 2 >>

It was on icy mornings like these that Pieck Finger felt the most homesick. True to its name, Paradis saw ample sunshine through the year, but its winters could have some bite. The bitterest days, while still nowhere close to the depths of the Marleyan winters, reminded her of her childhood on the mainland. On those cold mornings, she recalled exploring the winter markets with Reiner and Annie and Bertholt. The festively decorated storefronts reminded her of buying little Gabi and her friends candies (often with poor Reiner's limited funds, Pieck thought with a wry internal grin).

But life was cruel to Eldians on the mainland. Pieck's fond memories were always colored with the visceral tensions she had felt about keeping her father alive. Spending time with her younger peers had made her feel young too, but Pieck could not help but feel that she had always been a spectator to childhood. How could one be a child while wading through the mire that was the Marleyan healthcare system?

Cold winters reminded her of carefree times with friends, but they equally reminded her of those terrifying times when her father's condition would worsen, when his coughs would keep him awake all night. And no matter how skilled Pieck got at navigating bureaucracy, the silver bullet the pair of them were always missing was simple: money. And Marleyans had a way of keeping it out of the hands of Eldians.

That's why, as much as it had hurt her to leave, Pieck couldn't just look away from the Eldian work-study initiative Paradis Labs offered in conjunction with Trost University. Pieck hated to be seen as a charity case, and she hated leaving her father alone even more. But what she hated the most was being turned away by pretentious Marleyan doctors who looked at her and her father like clods of dirt on their impossibly shiny shoes. The money would be good, and a Master's degree from Trost U certainly wouldn't hurt either. Pieck's father had long insisted that an education was the sharpest weapon in their arsenal, after all. Pieck had always bitten back the retort asking where his higher education had gotten him; in Marley, Eldians could only climb so high.

Despite her misgivings, Pieck had still dutifully completed her undergraduate degree at the tiny local college. She had always been a mediocre student, but she found that her years of helping her father measure out his medications with their rusty kitchen supplies gave her some gifts in the chemistry lab. In any case, her efforts had earned her a spot as an undergraduate research intern with Professor Magath — Professor Magath who, for all his outward sternness, had decided to take her under his wing. Even Pieck was unsure of what potential he saw in her, but she was grateful nonetheless.

Five years after graduating and working as an assistant at the local apothecary (the title, shop, hours, and pay were all equally unglamorous), when Magath told her about the Paradis-Trost scholarship program, she took his recommendation at face value. He had not yet steered her wrong; as much as she complained about her current job, it was leagues better than what she could have ended up doing, and she knew that he had put in a good word for her with the shop owner.

Pieck had still applied in secret; she felt guilty for even entertaining the idea of leaving her father. But secrets only ran so far in the Finger household, and he had soon discovered a pamphlet in the wastepaper bin. Pieck's father had been overjoyed, of course, that his daughter was being considered for such a prestigious role. He was relentless in his encouragement and embraced her with so much pride that she could feel his arms and voice tremble.

That night, however, she had heard him on the phone searching for live-in carers that might be able to squeeze into his budget, and she had cried herself to sleep with guilt. In the cold light of the next morning, she realized that the pay and research stipend she would receive would be more than double her current take-home pay. With room and board covered, she would be able to send considerably more money home than she had ever dreamt of. In the end, Pieck felt, that mattered more than her company or any meager assistance she could provide.

Now, just a few months into the program, Pieck knew that coming had been the right decision objectively. With her money and his combined, Pieck's father had already been able to move into a more spacious apartment, and one that did not have heating cuts or spring leaks. They had even found a nurse to visit him, help administer his medications, and check his overall health. Pieck knew that none of these options would have been open to them had she not accepted her new position in the prosperous Trost. Her brain was certain of it. So why did her heart still feel so empty?

I am selfish to want to be back home, Pieck knew. I am doing so much more good working here than I would have been moping back there.

Part of it was guilt, of course. Pieck was still not entirely used to being in the majority on Paradis. Her whole cohort was full of subjects of Ymir, just like her. Her professors, her bosses at work, even the president of Paradis Labs, were all just like her.

When Pieck first realized she had gone a whole day without someone curling their lip at her in contempt, she was suddenly seized with the need to call her father. Hearing his warm, gentle greeting that always reminded her of a babbling brook, she sobbed until concern leaked into his voice. Back then, Pieck could not properly express why she was crying, but she now understood that she cried for her father, and her late mother, and all her ancestors, all of whom had lived lifetimes without a fraction of the respect she had gotten in one day.

Slowly, with the encouragement of her father, Pieck learned to enjoy her new life with less and less guilt. She even began to befriend some of her peers in the program — at least, as much as she could, given that she had a good five years on most of them. Besides, her experience growing up had been so unique that it made it difficult for her to relate to the ones who were closer in age to her. They were all kind and amenable, however, and that was the most she could ask for.

Life was busy, between courses, research, and work, but it was fulfilling. She was pleased to find that, given the time and space, she did have a passion for learning. She loved unraveling the mysteries held within the atoms and molecules that made up her life, and her loved ones, and even her thoughts.

Pharmaceutical chemistry still held her heart, though; to Pieck, nothing compared to the rush of finally understanding what the Marleyan doctors back home would prescribe, and why. It felt like magic within her fingers. It felt like power, and power had been something sorely missing from her life.

Anyone even remotely interested in any aspect of pharmaceuticals had heard of Professor Zeke Jaeger's lab, TITANLab. A collaboration between Trost U's chemistry department and the Paradis Research Hospital, TITANLab was new, but it was a hot topic among peers, coworkers, and faculty alike. The professor himself already had quite a laundry list of publications to his name (Pieck was not above doing some rigorous Internet stalking). Even Magath had heard of him, and he sounded impressed enough that Pieck knew she had to apply for a position.

One thing led to another, and that was how, this frosty Trost morning, Pieck found herself trudging to campus. It was technically the first day of winter break, but Professor Jaeger had emailed her at 3 in the morning asking her to meet that morning to conduct an "informal interview." Luckily, she had been up already to videochat Annie, Bertholt, and Reiner, and for the first time in her life, she was grateful for Trost and Liberio's vast time difference.

With just under four hours between seeing the email and their unilaterally decided meeting time, Pieck decided she could forego makeup (and a hairbrush) in favor of an extra few minutes of sleep. Jaeger was probably just some eccentric old man, anyway, what with his objectively insane sleep habits; who was she trying to impress? Still, she tried to avoid looking in the mirror before leaving the apartment; she knew she must look a fright — that finals week had really taken it out of her. She just hoped Jaeger wasn't one of those sticklers who prattled on and on about how people in the good old days used to wear cummerbunds and suspenders all over the place and how kids these days just didn't care about making good impressions. She had encountered enough of those types back home, and she was concerned her sleep deprivation might incline her to respond with five fingers.

Enough about my appearance now. Pieck clapped her face with her hands to regain some focus, and reviewed her talking points. Her life, research, and work experience, while probably unorthodox to a well-off Trostian, really did make her a unique asset to the Jaeger lab. She just needed to convince him of that, too.

Soon, Pieck found herself standing outside a door whose brazen placard read "DR. Z. JAEGER." She knocked twice on the door, cringing briefly as she caught a glimpse of her appearance in the window to his office. With her messy hair, haggard eyes, and nose and ears bitten bright red from the morning chill, she certainly looked...distinctive. She sighed and tried to at least smooth down the flyaways that had escaped from her haphazard ponytail.

"Come in," boomed a sonorous voice. Pieck rolled her eyes, a little more contrary than usual in her tired state. What, too good to get the door?

Pieck's life up to that point had, she felt, prepared her for the unexpected. She had never taken anything for granted, and many of the major events in her life occurred by complete chance. As such, she was well accustomed to surprises. She considered them old friends, even.

Opening the door, Pieck felt winded by shock for the first time in years. The images she had of an elderly, balding man with mismatched clothes as varied as his publications disappeared in one fell swoop. The very last thing she had expected, even in her "expect the unexpected" way of life, was to be greeted by someone who was perhaps only five years her senior.

Pieck instantly felt self-conscious about her own age, unable to stop thinking about Zeke Jaeger's many accomplishments she had encountered online. His appearance, impeccably put together, did little to allay her self-consciousness. From his perfectly coiffed blonde locks, to his perfectly pressed cream button-down, to his perfectly pleated tan trousers, to his perfectly plush argyle cashmere sweater vest, everything about him just screamed perfect.

For some reason, this irritated Pieck.

How dare this man look this impeccable at 7:30 in the morning!

She knew, of course, that this knee-jerk reaction stemmed from her own personal insecurities. Being so close in age, it was hard not to notice how strikingly different they seemed in every other way.

Pieck wondered if Dr. Jaeger represented some form of herself that could never possibly exist. If she had not grown up in Liberio, would she be as accomplished and put together as he? She knew little about his background, but she was certain he was from the area; his stylish yet stuffy fashion sense and formal affectation just exuded Trost. Truth be told, Dr. Jaeger's perfect CV and perfect appearance intimidated Pieck. For the moment, however, it was much simpler to feel annoyed.

"Well, Miss...Finger...let's get started." Jaeger's halting way of speech made Pieck realize she had been staring, and she squeaked in embarrassment and sat down in front of his desk abruptly.

Just crush the rest of the interview. You can do it. Think of Dad. Think of Professor Magath. Do NOT, under any circumstances, think about how Jaeger's arms would look if he rolled up his sleeves.

Pieck took a deep breath, composed her thoughts (refusing to even acknowledge that last one), and prepared for the inevitably long interview that lay ahead.

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jujutsubaby · 3 months

Note

Hewwooooo i love your first blurb so far!! do you have any more fics you're writing about that you can talk about?? I'm just feeling too excited heh 😆

omggg tysm!! 💖💖 i do have a few things in the works, as it so happens (¬‿¬)

one is a cheeky oneshot about babysitting for toji, when things take a turn for the....nsfw ;) i kind of fell in love w writing the characters tho so it'll probably turn into a multipart series too lmao xD

i'm also working on a longform jikupiku (sorry for the niche ship but i'm just a BELIEVER.!!!) that takes place in the final round universe! if you're interested in hurt/comfort and academia settings, this one will be for you! (✿◕‿◕)

last but not least, get hype for final round part 2!! what will working with eren be like, especially after his revelations during the interview?! find out next time~

#jikupiku #toji x reader #eren yaeger x reader #ask #anon #aot #aot fanfiction #jujutsu kaisen #jjk fanfic

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bluesylveon2 · 1 year

Text

Frozen

Summary: The Kingdom of Marley is now open to everyone and it is Pieck's coronation day. However, tensions rise between her and her sister, Annie. Also, since when did Annie have ice powers?

A/N: Here is pt 3 of my Happily Ever After series starring Porco x Pieck! I already have half of it written out so it should be updated soon before spring break ends (I will also clean up the masterlist too lol). Enjoy!

Masterlist: Here

Chapter 1:

Knock knock

"Princess Pieck, it's time to wake up!"

A jet black-haired princess let out a groan and buried her head under her pillows. She was too tired from yesterday that she could not tell you today’s date.

"Five more minutes." She mumbled, letting sleep come to take her again. She could feel herself going back into dreamland.

The maid sighed. "Princess Pieck. It's your coronation day."

"My coronation day…." Pieck mumbled to herself. Suddenly, everything hit her like a switch on a lightbulb. "IT'S MY CORONATION DAY!" she exclaimed and rushed out of bed….not before she tripped from her sheets and fell face down on the floor.

"Princess? Is everything alright?"

"I’m peachy." She replied as she picked her head up. Pieck immediately got up and slammed the door open, revealing her “I just got out of bed look” to her maid. The maid immediately grabbed Pieck’s hand and brought her back to the room to get ready.

Meanwhile, another princess was already ready for the coronation in another part of the castle. This princess looked nothing like Pieck. She had blonde hair and icey blue eyes in contrast to Pieck’s black hair (with a few white strands) and grey eyes. She was busy staring at herself in the vanity mirror when a knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in.” She called out, and the door opened to reveal the royal advisor, Magath.

“You look nervous.” He said as he took a seat on the foot of the princess’s bed.

The princess rolled her eyes. “No, I have a big smile on my face.” She replied sarcastically before turning to Magath and letting out a sigh. “I just don't want to ruin Pieck’s day.”

Magath smiled solemnly. “I know but I know that you will not mess it up, Annie.”

“How?” Annie replied. “There are people from all over here to watch my sister become queen, and what if they realize that she has a monster for a sister? No one will want to trade with the country, we will lose money, and it will collapse because of me.”

“I know, but you remember what your father said to you before.”

“Conceal, don't feel. Don’t let it show.” Annie replied automatically.

Magath smiled, got up, and ruffled Annie’s hair a bit before the princess swatted his hand away. “Remember to have fun, okay? It may be your sister’s day, but nobody is stopping you from meeting new people and eating lots of sweets.”

Annie chuckled, her mouth moving up into a small smile. “It was only one time. I was a kid, and I didn’t think anyone was awake at that time.”

Magath laughed at the memory. “And you ended up with a stomach ache that night.” He stood up and started heading for the door. “Now I have to get going to check up on your sister.”

“Is she finally awake?”

“I hope so,” Magath replied and opened the door. “Oh, and Annie.” Annie looked at him with her utmost attention. “Don’t forget to smile.”

---

It was times like this when Magath questioned if Pieck really was the eldest child. The princess was already dressed in her gown, but now she insisted on meeting the guests. Why couldn’t she be like Annie, who stayed inside until it was time for the coronation?

“Pieck, you need to finish getting ready.”

“But Magath, it's been 15 years since I got to go outside and meet new people who are not here to discuss treaties! I'm not a little girl anymore.” Pieck argued.

“You're not, but you're about to be queen. You still need to prepare.”

“Magath, I have prepared enough. I know what to do, what to say, and how to react to everything today.” Magath stared at her sternly, not breaking his stance. “Please, Magath. I at least want to get some air.”

His stern look remained, but his facade began to break.

“Fine.” Magath sighed. “You have thirty minutes and can only go to the garden. There should be some guests in there-oof”

Pieck runs over to him for a hug. “Thank you, thank you!” She cheered and ran off immediately.

Magath sighed for the hundredth time that day. He glanced over at the wall where the portrait of the late king and queen stood. “Please make sure your daughters do not have any incidents today.”

---

Pieck gracefully weaved through the countless servants preparing for her coronation. Pieck looked like a kid who got candy to any outsider, but the servants knew better.

“It seems like Magath let the Princess explore.” A maid wearing glasses chuckled as the Pieck passed by her.

“He always had a soft spot for her.” Another maid, who was holding a stack of salad plates, added.

Pieck continued running until she reached the garden. The normally quiet place was filled with new faces. They were most likely some foreign guests who came early to get a glimpse at the new queen.

The princess was unsure about where to begin. Should she start with the old couple near the pond looking at water lilies or the young man in the corner speaking to his retainers? Pieck shook her head. It was best not to waste time pondering over it and just meet somebody. She let her feet guide her through the garden. The garden itself was large and full of different flowers. Her mother, the late queen, would take care of it with her and Annie’s help, but now it was Pieck who did the work. If Annie did help out, then Pieck was unaware of it. She rarely sees her sister nowadays.

“Oof,” Pieck was lost in thought that she did not notice the newcomer walking up to her. “I am so sorry, sir!” she stepped back and apologized. She looked up at the man she ran into was very handsome and tall, had blonde hair, a beard, and wore glasses.

He chuckled, “No need to apologize, Your Highness. I should have looked at where I was going.”

Pieck gave him a confused look. “You know who I am?”

“You may not have shown your face in years, but figuring out who you are is not difficult. Also, you indirectly confirmed my suspicions just now.”

Pieck lightly blushed. “Okay, you know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.”

“Prince Zeke Yeager. The Crowned Prince of Paradis.” He said while picking up Pieck’s hand to kiss the back of it. “I came here because of my father. He wanted me to expand my horizons, but I know it is his way of telling me to strengthen relationships with other nations.”

“That does not sound like fun.”

Zeke nodded. “Especially when the diplomats have a stick up their ass.”

Pieck laughed loudly, causing some nearby people to look at her. She cleared her throat and attempted to change the subject. “I don’t think you got to explore much of Marley, have you?” Zeke shook his head. “What about I give you a tour before the coronation? It can be your excuse to ‘expand your horizons,’” She grinned.

Zeke chuckled and extended an arm out to Pieck. “Lead the way.”

The two talked for what felt like hours. The topics ranged from Marley culture to siblings (Pieck was curious about Zeke’s younger brother, Eren.) and to their favorite foods (Pieck went on a long rant about sandwiches). Pieck was laughing at one of Zeke’s jokes when the church bell rang, signaling that thirty minutes had passed.

“Shit!” Pieck said and stood up. “Magath is going to kill me if I am late!”

Zeke chuckled. “I guess it is time to go?”

“I’m sorry. We can pick up our conversation after the coronation.”

“You might be busy. I think everyone is going to want to get a glimpse of the new queen.”

“Well, the queen will save some time for you.”

“How about a dance?” Zeke asked with a hopeful look in his eyes.

Pieck smiled. “I would like that. See you then?”

“See you then,” Zeke confirmed, and Pieck ran off to get ready. His hand automatically dug inside his pocket for the small box, and he genuinely smiled. He could not wait to meet the new Queen tonight.

A/N: So Annie and Pieck basically switch roles...bear with me yall lol. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! See you all at the next one!

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