"It's Captain Kid."

The sole mention of his name, the fact that he was so close, had your heart drum in your chest and the color drain from your cheeks. You tried to conceal your reaction by focusing on your arrows, letting the hair shielding your expression.

A warm, imposing presence settled beside you.

«It's fine.» Heat murmured, the one that noticed «Don't leave.»

Your brows curled at the floor before you took a deep breath and swallowed.

«We gotta fight our way out of here anyway.» you pushed your hair back and looked up at him «Do you know where the doc is? He's not here.»

«The doctor wasn't captured, as far as I know.» it was Wire who answered, stepping on the other side of you «I saw him sneaking away through the rubbles when we were attacked, back in the lair. He didn't stand and fight with the rest of us, and he's small enough, so there's good chances he escaped altogether.»

Okay, that's good news.

«I hope so.» you said, raising the bow.

Between the chaos of the enemy outside the room and the continuous metallic rumble above, the base was shaking.

«Time to go.»

Booka, Gig and Mosh knocked down the doors, and the others jumped ahead with vicious yells. Troupes of waiters, pleasurers, and even some gifters had rushed to the dungeons and were ready to fight. But the Kid Pirates had been prisoners for weeks. They had been bossed around, beaten and humiliated. And all that time, they had been waiting for the moment when they could return all that humiliation hundred folds.

The first wave of Beast Pirates could nothing against the raging crew, and the Kid Pirates cut through the enemy like knives into butter, except scarlet blood stilled from the slash.

You were nearly taken aback by their fury, almost as if you forgot whom you were dealing with. After a moment of loss, you ran behind them in the path they forcefully opened.

The Kid Pirates were mostly brawlers, and they came at the enemy with brute strength. Some of the women were shooters. Either way, even if they had mid to long range fighters, they lacked the means, so you had to take it into your hands.

You ran in between them, seeking the protection of the group against physical attacks, and using your Observation to spot the commanders in between the Beast Pirates. If you could maintain the position within the moving crew, you had enough time to make every arrow count. The biggest gifters started falling, beginning with the furthest ones, yelling orders to their men.

«BEWARE OF THE ARCHER!»

«STAY DOWN! GET THEM!»

«PUT OUT THE FIRE!»

Flames erupted in the gallery, courtesy of Heat.

Your rush to gain the upper level of the base had now slowed down against the multitude of enemies. The Beast Pirates temporarily retreated, and a wave of bullets came from both sides of the corridor. Among the Kid Pirates, the ones with best Armament haki jumped to the outer rim of the group, using their bodies and the bodies of fallen enemies to protect the others.

«Emma, Y/n, stay in the middle!» Reck yelled, pushing you unceremoniously in the center of the throng, just beside another girl, even shorter than you.

«I take it you're Emma?» you yelled over the chaos.

«Yes, and finally I'm not the only small one around.»

«Oh, yeah? Where were you when I was captive with these monsters then?»

But you didn't wait for her to reply, jumping ahead on the shoulders of one of the tall guys around – Bubblegum as it happened.

He jolted in feeling your sudden weight on his back, but you quickly climbed into ear-range.

«I need a high point!»

«What the fuck?!»

«Don't let me fall.»

You wrapped your legs around his neck for support and aimed at the shooters. With the right angle, an arrow took out three of them.

«Woha! Okay, stay there little one.» Bubblegum grinned, using a picked-up sword to protect you and himself from the blows around.

Finally the stairs came into view, but they were teeming with pirates. The first line fired again, pushing your crew back.

«Shit, that's--»

The ceiling above you shook terribly. A clangor of metal reverberated through the burning air of the corridor.

«EVERYONE BACK!!» Wire roared.

The ceiling exploded, smoke and dirt bursting through the hallway.

You were knocked off Bubblegum's shoulders and back against the hard floor, rolling away for several feet.

A pulsating chaos of yells and bullets expanded around you. The smoke made it hard to breathe and impossible to see a palm from your nose. The glares of fire reverberated somewhere behind you.

Your fingers clenched around the bow, and you rose to your four, coughing profusely. Your right forearm hurt.

Shit.

«IT'S CAPTAIN KID!»

«BOSS! BOSS! KILLER-SAN!»

«Fafafafafafa!»

Those yells triggered a surge of panic through your veins, and the moment of distraction cost you. You didn't notice a gifter coming at you until his boot hit you right in the stomach, sending you against the closest wall.

A yelp of pain left your lips, your hand immediately going for an arrow, eyelids blinking to get rid of the burning smoke and the tears.

«I found the fucking archer, huh?»

It was a rat-type gifter. He raised a big hammer over his head.

«Imma turn you into a stain on that wall, flea.»

You gritted your teeth and nocked an arrow in, rising on a shaking knee.

«Come and get me, rat.»

But before either of you could do or say anything more, a metal hand emerged from the smoke, grabbing the head of the rat-man and smashing it against the wall.

The first impact was enough for his nose and teeth to splatter, but the massive arm drove the pirate into the wall again and again, until his head was a pile of red mush.

You shut your eyes and turned your face away at the choked sounds he made before dying, crouching in a corner until the impacts stopped. Then you opened your eyes.

Despite the chaos, a strange silence was ringing in your ears.

You felt his presence before seeing him.

His height. The ample fur draped on his shoulders. The crimson hair.

It took all you had to gather your strength and look at him.

His face was so distorted in fury you couldn't see his pupils. A terrible snarl deformed his lips, still directed at the dead pirate. Screws, bolts, and scraps of metal were floating in the charged air around him. Blood stained his features, his chest, his hands.

A red demon.

Eustass "Captain" Kid.

He turned to you.

You forgot how to speak. How to do anything, in fact. Paralyzed on the floor, you could just stare at him and try to remember how to breathe.

The moment was short-lived because another wave of enemies came crashing onto Kid. Now that he came into play, he catalyzed all their attention.

But he was a beast, and he could go all out. The Beast pirates were crushed like flies, one after the other.

A group of pleasurers jumped on you, cackling, but they were cut in half before coming too close. Another laugh echoed among the flames, and you saw the Manslayer's silhouette flipping in the air above you.

«Fafafafafa!»

«Y/n!»

It was Heat's voice now, his big hands grabbing your shoulders and pulling you on your feet. Your arm gave out a surge of pain and you grunted.

«Are you hurt?»

«I'm fine.»

«LET'S GO MEN, FOLLOW THE CAPTAIN!»

«Come on.»

Heat dragged you through the smoke, and the two of you gained the clear part of the corridor.

The stairs were destroyed now, but the path to the ground floor was marked by a pile of rubbles. The crew was currently fighting its way up, until the fight became completely one-sided.

A giant monster of metal emerged from the ruins, killing the Beast Pirates left and right.

«GET UP!» Kid roared, leading his men.

Wait. Now that he's here, we can do it. Wake up, Y/n, do your fucking part!

You wiggled out of Heat's grip and scrambled ahead, between the Kid Pirates in front of you.

«Wait! Kid, wait!» you yelled.

And, despite the deafening noise, despite the distance and all the men in between, despite his untamed fury, Kid heard you.

He stopped and turned, the look of those amber eyes almost freezing you once more.

But you dug your nails in your palms and forced your mind to work.

«The Victoria Punk!» you shouted.

This had the rest of the Kid Pirates stop as well. Suddenly, the attention of the whole crew was on you.

«She's here.» you said, trying to ignore the fact that you were panting «I saw her. She's in the hidden port.»

Your eyes were locked together.

«With you, we can free her.» you murmured.

Kid stared at you for a few more seconds before turning to the crew.

«You heard her. Get your assess into the port, now! We're getting our ship back.»

The pirates raised their weapons and cheered loudly.

«It's down there, they brought us in from there!» one of the girls yelled, and they all dashed behind her toward the spec of dawn filtering through the destroyed base.

You staggered ahead and Heat picked you up, pressing you against his side as he moved with his comrades. You stiffened for a second, but then accepted his aid, abandoning your body against his.

Soon enough, a new troupe of Beast Pirates were on your heels.

«GET THEM BACK!»

«WHY AREN'T THE SMASHI WORKING?!»

«SOMEONE CONTACT THE HEADQUARTER!»

The Kid Pirates rushed down the gallery, the enemies multiplying behind you. From the back of the group, you noticed one of them throwing a small object towards you.

Explosives? Are they gonna bury us in the gallery?!

«Heat!»

«Fuck-- EVERYONE, DOWN!»

The small sphere cut the air above you, descending quickly. You buried your face into Heat's shoulder.

«Room.»

An instant later, you were enveloped into the flickering area of the Ope Ope no Mi.

«Shambles.»

The explosion occurred, but in the midst of the Beast Pirates troupe. The shockwave pushed the crew forward, out of the gallery and into the port.

You blinked, furiously wiping your hair from your face.

«Trafalgar?!»

Trafalgar Law had appeared beside you and Heat, nodachi leaning on his shoulder and tattooed fingers still positioned to attack.

«Hi, Y/n-ya.»

Then he disappeared again.

«Get on board!» Kid yelled while Killer pirouetted back to slash the survivors that tried to crawl into the port.

You were dragged on the Victoria Punk among the rest of the crew. Once on board, everyone knew what to do, and they immediately set the ship into motion.

«Fafafafafa! Faster! Fafafa!»

The noise of new enemies was already emerging from inside the base.

The Victoria Punk started moving toward the outer rim of the port.

«Ready the cannons!»

«...there are no cannons.»

You backed down against the taffrail, letting the Kid Pirates run around to rein in their own ship.

«Have you achieved your goals?»

Trafalgar popped up on the deck beside you, and you startled.

«Can you stop doing that?»

«I thought you were a marine.»

You looked up at him with a pout.

«What are you doing here, Trafalgar?»

«Having Eustass-ya rampaging around will help our cause against Kaido. We are attacking Onigashima the day of the Fire Festival. This is his chance too, you should tell him that.»

Your expression hardened and you turned your face away.

«Tell him yourself.»

«I did, but he will listen to you.»

You curled your nose and shook your head.

«You know nothing, Trafalgar.»

«I know that he freaked out when I told him you were here.»

Your eyes flicked on him again but the conversation was cut short by a new rumbling.

Eustass Kid had climbed to the stern of the ship, and he was driving a monster of metal to crush the gallery completely. Screams and shots fire helplessly until the Victoria Punk was out in the clear, and Kid's rage crushed the port to pieces, sealing off ships and people behind.

Once the Victoria Punk was sliding calmly along the shore, the Kid Pirates let themselves go to celebration. Some of them even teared up, some couldn't stop laughing, but all gathered on the main deck to hug each other and yell out their happiness. Law had retired into a corner, while Kid and Killer watched over the crew. Killer had pulled aside, his long hair fallen over his face and shoulders shaking silently from time to time, as he was attempting his best to suppress the laughter.

You tiredly climbed down the stairs from the upper deck and stopped at the taffrail, looking at the pirates cheering. The brushing of the sea onto the hull was soft as you leaned your arm and head onto the railing.

The agitated crew stood between you and Kid, a mild buffer for your tense heart. You had a storm inside and you didn't know how to navigate it.

«Y/n.»

Booka released Papas to turn to you. You smiled weakly.

«Yo.»

The crew paused their celebration and silence descended on the ship. One by one, they turned their heads to you.

You straightened yourself up, suddenly nervous under their intense gaze.

A strange moment traversed the deck, and for a second you considered grabbing your bow. Then all the men rushed towards you.

You took a step back, alarmed, but there was no time to do anything. Booka reached you in an instant, his muscular arms wrapping around you and pulling you brusquely against his chest.

«I thought I'd never see you again!» he cried out.

Suddenly there were arms everywhere, and hands grabbing you, pulling you in tight and tighter embraces; bruised, happy faces flashing around you as you were dragged here and there. Tears, laughter, and yells, prickly stubbles scratching your cheeks, huge chest pressing against your forehead, and then new hands grasping your arms and pulling you somewhere else again.

You were in too much shock to resist any of that, but you felt the familiar sting in your eyes, the heat on your face, the trembling lips, and you shoved your head down to hide it.

«Y/N!!»

«I can't believe it's you!»

«How did you find us?!»

«You came here for us?»

«We missed you so much!»

«Y/n!»

«It wasn't the same without you!»

«How did you get here??»

«How--»

«ENOUGH.»

The pirates bristled, then went still. Hesitantly, you were released from the embraces and found yourself stumbling on the deck.

«Enough.»

Kid's voice cut through the crew again and they retreated like tides, opening the way between you and their captain.

Your heart was crumpling and you couldn't feel your limbs, but you stood there, returning his gaze. Your lips parted in a vain attempt to gain more oxygen.

Eustass Kid's ferocious eyes lay on you.

«What did you come here for, Y/n?»

He started walking toward you.

«We slew most of your squad and took you captive.»

The rest of the crew took another step back and dropped their gaze.

«I tortured you, used you for a month, before I threw you away.»

In his corner, unseen from anyone, Law's hand slowly descended on the hilt of his sword.

«We dumped you like garbage on a random island.»

Kid stopped in front of you, his imposing shadow engulfing your figure.

«And you came back to us? You really are fucked up beyond redemption, marine girl.»

His eyes burned in yours. You observed the tension in his features, the twitching of his brows, the jaw clenched beneath the skin. And all your fears melted away.

«Eustass Kid.»

He flinched and you smiled.

«Thank god you're alright.»

So Kid caved.

His expression crumbled, piece by piece, revealing all the pain and the longing he had struggled to bury somewhere inside him. He showed his gritted teeth, his trembling eyes.

Before you could react, he dropped on his knees in front of you, arms encircling you, flesh and metal yanking your body against him in an embrace so tight it hurt.

«Birdie.»

That choked whisper from his lips broke you.

Your fingers clenched at his vest, nails digging into his chest, your other hand finding his hair and pulling them in a shaking hold as you sobbed against his collarbone.

He's here, he's here, he's here.

You couldn't believe you were in his arms again. You never dared to imagine that you could have this again.

His scent invaded your nostrils and his warmth enveloped you, burning you alive, and you would have let the flames devour you whole.

God, when I die, please let it be in his arms.

You could barely register the warmth retreating for a second when he pulled you away slightly, just so his desperate lips could find yours and thrust new life into the flames.

Kid kissed you with frenzy, like you were the oxygen he had been missing, and your mind was in too much disarray to do anything but answer with the same craze. He pushed his tongue past your defenses and proceeded to make your mouth his.

Around you, the rest of the crew couldn't help but watch in awe and relief, swiftly wiping away tears from their faces, and grinning at each other.

From his position in the shadows, Law relaxed his hold at the sight.

A soft snicker reached his ears, and he finally noticed the Massacre Soldier had sneaked closer, his own hand to the scythe.

«You overstayed your welcome, Surgeon of Death.»

Law threw a last glance at you before turning to the blonde fully.

«Fafafa. You better keep away from Y/n from now on. She's safe here. Leave, Trafalgar.»

Law scoffed.

«Remember what I said.»

He swirled his fingers and disappeared.

You had run out of air when Kid finally released you, pulling away. You could hardly see anything through the blur in your eyes, and your legs were so wobbly you weren't sure they could hold you. But it wasn't an issue, because Kid stood and kept his flesh arm wrapped around your small frame, keeping your body pressed against his side. You hid your face into his vest and held onto him as he marched toward the door to the cabins.

«What are you idiots staring at? Get the ship cleaned up!» you could hear him bark above you «We gotta find weapons and stock up. Get your assess back to work!»

He guided you below deck and in the dim darkness of his cabin. By the time you were in, you had calmed down enough to stand on your own.

«I-It's fine.» you took a step back from him and he reluctantly let you, his arm dropping along his side.

Pull yourself together, Y/n.

«Fuck, what a mess.»

You took a couple of deep breaths and wiped your soaked face as he looked around the room.

Kid's eyes slid across the ruins of his cabin before returning to you. It was just for a second though, because he averted his gaze as soon as yours flicked on him.

An awkward silence settled between the two of you. You turned your back to him and leaned against the desk to gain a few more seconds.

«So... how did you get here?» he asked.

You watched your fingers curled against the wood of his desk.

«No...» you murmured «No, I'm asking the questions now.»

You turned to him. He almost (almost) retreated at the look in your eyes.

«Why did you drop me on that island and left?»

Your words hit him like bullets, you could see it, but you didn't falter. And it was painful, because all you wanted was to get back into that warmth, all you wanted was to curl into his arms until you disappeared into nothingness, but... but that was not entirely true, because there was also anger inside you. It had been numb for some time, but now it had awakened, and it was stirring, its tentacles spreading in your chest and down your veins, deeper and deeper until your blood started to boil.

You took a step forward.

«Why did you dump me like that? Without a word? An explanation? Didn't you hear me, calling for you?»

This time, Kid did back down. It was just for a second, a moment that caught him off guard before he remembered himself, so he stood again, baring his teeth.

«I set you free.»

Your eyes sharpened.

«You what?»

«I set you free!» his flesh hand ran through his messy hair «You said you wanted freedom. I gave it to you.»

You stared at him for a second. The mounting rage burst into flames.

«You... you gave it to me?!» you shouted, hands balling into fists, muscles tensing «How... how fucking dare you say this? So you didn't hear me when I desperately asked you for an explanation? You couldn't spare a word for me? Because, let me tell you, that did NOT feel like freedom to me!»

Kid gritted his teeth and brusquely turned from you, pacing around the destroyed cabin, electricity darting in the air.

«I did what I had to!»

«Then EXPLAIN TO ME what you had to do, Eustass Kid!» you yelled «You owe me this. You made me believe that I...! You...! And then you threw me away like it was nothing!»

«Y/n--»

«No, tell me! Tell me why I was thrown away like that! Tell me why you couldn't even TALK to me! Tell me--»

«BECAUSE YOU WERE FUCKED UP!»

His snarl shut you up, your eyes widening at his raging face. Kid towered over you with all his imposing height.

«I DIDN'T TALK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T TELL APART STUFF IN YOUR HEAD! You freaked out for being called a pirate, then were happy about me putting a cuff on your wrist?! You were so obviously messed up it was useless talking to you!»

Silence dropped in the cabin.

Kid seemed to regret his outburst a second later, jaws snapping closed and eyes darting aside, but it was too late.

«You're right.»

Your murmur had him bristle. You raised your wrist between the two of you. The turquoise bracelet caught a glimpse of sun through the partially covered porthole.

«Take this off.»

Kid's eyes flicked back to you.

«What?»

«You want to know why I came all this way?» you stared at him, face empty «It's for this. I could have done it, but I'd damage my hand, and I'm done hurting myself for you, Eustass Kid.»

«Y/n, wai--»

«TAKE. This. Off.»

It made no sense, of course it made no sense, it was the rage talking. There was a part of you writhing in pain, a part struggling to take control and stop that bullshit, but it was suffocating under the weight of all that rage and pain.

Kid's expression changed. The anger disappeared to leave room to something like... defeat?

He stretched his hand, flicked his fingers, and the bracelet snapped open from your wrist.

You braced yourself to hear the thump on the floor, but it didn't come. The bracelet floated slowly into Kid's hand, and he slid it into his pocket.

The moment your wrist was free from the familiar weight, you wanted to cry. A tremendous loss dug a hole into your heart.

You wanted it back, now, immediately, but you didn't move, nor let your emotions rise to your face.

«I'd like to be alone, please.»

It was all you managed to say, your voice only partially crackled.

Kid turned to the door.

«You can stay here.»

He stepped out and closed the door behind him.

You waited for his steps to disappear toward the deck before falling onto the mattress and bursting into tears.