«[L/n]-san?»

You raised your eyes from the gunsight, still lying on the ground of the training field.

A young marine soldier saluted you.

«The Admiral called for you. He's waiting in the central office of building A.»

You frowned lightly.

Aokiji was not supposed to be back for another three or four days. Well, he had probably completed his mission by that moment, it was just that he always came back later than expected because of his laziness.

Maybe there was another urgent mission waiting and you had to leave right away. That wasn't uncommon either.

«Thank you, soldier. I will go immediately.»

The man nodded and marched away, while you stood, adjusting the rifle on your shoulder.

Building A was not far.

It was a hot summer afternoon, and most of the offices were empty.

You didn't bother to knock before stepping inside the indicated room.

«Sensei, how come you're alrea–»

The words died in your mouth when the huge man turned to you.

His features were hard as always, his sharp eyes pierced your skull with his blazing contempt.

You shut up and automatically stood at attention.

«Soldier [L/n]. You're supposed to knock and speak when you're asked to. But yet again, you're Aokiji's underlying.»

Your lips pressed against each other for a second.

Akainu turned his back to you to pick up some files from the desk.

«I've been told you're one of our best snipers.»

«Yes sir.»

«I need your assistance for the upcoming mission. You can prepare your things, we leave in two hours.»

Your stomach clenched.

Not that you hadn't worked with anyone else aside from Aokiji, but not with such a short notice and not without his consent.

Akainu's eyes flicked on you.

«Why are you still here, soldier?»

«I...» you tried to swallow down the fear «Akainu-sama, does Admiral Aokiji know about this?»

You knew you did a wrong move when rage entered his face.

«I do not need his permission to take the men I consider necessary. Be at dock three in two hours and don't make me hear your voice again. Now go.»

Three days later, Akainu's warship docked back in Marineford.

You were leaning on the railing, empty eyes fixed in the void, mouth shut like it was for the whole mission.

The rifle felt so heavy on your shoulder you were almost tempted to drop it.

Among the soldiers working on the dock, there was a familiar figure, waiting.

One single heartbeat pumped the life in your veins again when your gaze met Aokiji's.

His frown deepened.

Once the warship stopped moving, you followed Akainu's down among the other marines.

Aokiji stepped in front of him, and the two faced each other.

Every other man on the dock froze and the silence fell on the shore.

«What is it, Kuzan?» the first Admiral barked, cigars in his mouth.

«Sakazuki.» Aokiji's voice was collected but cold «Next time you want to bring one of my subordinates with you, I would highly appreciate to be warned first.»

You held your breath, feeling a wave of heat flushing your face and neck.

«Are you talking about [L/n]?» Akainu tilted his head aggressively «I asked for a good sniper and she was recommended. So I took her. She's a marine like the others.»

Aokiji didn't reply. His gaze wandered beyond Akainu's shoulder, instead, landing on yours.

«[L/n].»

You gasped and stood at attention.

«Yes sir.»

«Come, we're leaving.»

Feeling everybody's eyes on you, you slipped away from the row of soldiers and reached him.

When you surpassed Akainu, your heart stopped beating for a few moments.

«Warn me, next time.» Aokiji repeated to the other Admiral, before turning and taking his leave.

You hurried by his side.

The dawn of a new day filtered through the porthole, lighting up the cabin.

A low grumble left Kid's chest, reverberating through your cheek.

Wait, what?

You rubbed your eyes before slowly opening them.

Oh, crap.

Yes, you were totally asleep on Kid's chest, and yes, his huge metallic arm was totally resting on your waist.

That's bad.

That's very, very bad.

Your forehead wrinkled as you slowly swallowed, eyes wondering on his sleeping features.

It was common to hear how brutal men looked almost harmless or innocent while sleeping.

Well, that was not the case of Eustass Kid.

With his pale skin marked by impressive scars, his dark lips and wild red hair, he looked ferocious. Like a quiet beast you don't want to wake up.

You felt your heartbeat accelerating.

Suddenly, his metallic grip closed up on your waist, making you squeal, and he pulled you on the other side of the bed.

With a brusque movement, he straddled you.

A curt gasp escaped your throat as his reptilian iris locked on yours and red locks brushed your face.

«Nobody likes to be stared in his sleep.» he said.

«Sorry, your heavy arm got me stuck.» despite the droplet of sweat lining your cheek, you offered him a sneer «Didn't know you were a cuddler.»

Your cockiness was cut short by his fingers pinching your nipple. You had to bite down your lip to restrain the moan.

«I'm starting to think that you crave to be punished, birdie.» he whispered in your ear.

Before the action could evolve, though, knocks resounded in the cabin.

«Kid! You have to decide the route, now.»

Killer.

The captain groaned in frustration, but rolled over and left the bed.

«Yeah, yeah.»

He threw some clothes on while you stood as well.

Once at the door, he turned to you.

«We're not done.»

«Yeah, I got the feeling.» you retorted, heading to the bathroom.

When you came back in the cabin, Kid was gone.

You dressed up quickly. There was something you felt the need to do.

Some of the high-ranking pirates waved at you or yelled some greetings.

Mornings like these were starting to feel too normal.

The more I stay, the more I get far from who I am.

Or who I was?

The rain had stopped, but the weather was still grey. A thin, cold wind blew from the sea, taking the smell of the waves on the deck.

You passed a small group of recruits busy cleaning some barrels, and your haki suddenly tingled.

You slowed your steps down, your gaze trailing the cabin boys.

Most of them were focused on their work, one attempted an uncertain smile, another lowered his eyes immediately.

Your attention landed on a purple-haired guy. He was doing his job, not at all looking at you.

But there was rage in his young features as he rubbed the wood with sharp movements.

Gotcha.

It was definitely a murderous hate that warned you.

You lingered a few more seconds, trying to impress his face and his clothes in your memory, just in case. Then you resumed your path to the infirmary.

«Please, don't tell me you're injured. Not again.» the doctor groaned when you got in.

«I'm not.» you smirked «I'm just borrowing a razor.»

«Technically you are not allowed to do that.»

«Well, stop me then.» you replied, opening the drawers of his desk and rummaging inside.

He snorted.

«As if!»

The doctor sat and dived into a big book of medicine.

When you found what you were looking for, you grabbed a bucket and poured in some hot water and soap.

«Don't turn, okay?» you huffed, dragging it on the floor behind him.

«Girl.» he sighed «I've already seen too much of you.»

You chuckled.

«True. But still.»

«Fine, fine.»

You quickly lost your pants and began your work.

«Hey, doc. What can you tell me about the recruits on the ship? They are all very young.»

«Hmm, I guess. Why?»

«Nothing, it's just... they don't look integrated with the rest of the crew. The others just ignore them, don't they?»

«They are basically cabin boys, and they are on rotation. Most of them are angered orphan who wanted to join a pirate crew. You know the Kid Pirates are a fleet now, right? The hatchlings get to be on this ship in turns to see if they are capable enough to stay, and strong enough to survive under captain's thumb.»

«I see. That's why they are barely considered.»

Halfway trough your operation you decided that, since you were doing it, you might as well doing it well. So you shaved everything away.

A light blush spread on your cheeks when you saw yourself completely naked.

I wonder what Eustass will think.

That didn't help with the blush.

«You done already?»

«Yep.»

You put your clothes back on and cleaned up.

«Leave the razor here.»

«Yeah, because I'm gonna cut your captain's throat with it.» you grumbled, but dropped the blade in the bin.

The doctor shrugged.

«You never know. I wouldn't blame you.»

«Hey, [Y/n].»

Booka approached you outside of the infirmary.

«Hey, big guy.»

«Killer says you're on the lookout till lunch, then you're in the kitchen.»

«In the kitchen? Do I look like a freaking cabin girl to you?»

«First of all, Killer himself is in the kitchen.»

«One more reason not to go there.»

«Second of all, we're having a big banquet tonight. Half of the crew is helping with the food.»

You sighed.

«What are we celebrating?»

He scoffed.

«The victory against the Charlottes, obviously.»

You frowned.

«What? Haven't you guys celebrated that already?»

He lifted an eyebrow at you.

«We weren't exactly in the party mood.»

You were confused for a second, then you realized.

Right after the battle, you were hanging between life and death, and apparently the whole crew kept watch on you the entire time.

«Okay, okay.» you waved your hand dismissively «I'll be good and help you.»

«Oh, and the captain says that you should go see him in his workshop before taking on the lookout.»

You tilted your head.

«Hm? Sure.»

Was that for the boots again?

You crossed the deck to knock on his door.

«Kid?»

«Get in.»

You slid inside.

The room was strangely dark, and the redhead was not at his desk.

«What the–»

Something cold and powerful grabbed you from behind and tackled you to the floor.

«WAH!»

Suddenly, the red beast was towering over you.

«I told you we were not done.»

He smiled, with that devilish, sadistic smile of his.

You were panting from your gasp.

«You damn...»

With a brusque tug, you realized your wrists were blocked over your head.

Glancing at them, you saw the handcuffs.

His smile widened like your eyes did.

«When... you used your powers, didn't you?» you hissed.

«You think you can act all cheeky and get away with it, birdie?»

His hands crawled under your shirt and you bit down your lips before feeling his fingers on your breasts.

«Aww, wanna play it tough? Fine by me.» he blew in your ear, before his mouth trailed down your neck, nibbling at your hot skin.

His cold metallic fingers started to play with your nipples, while the other hand made his way in your pants.

Oh god.

No matter how hard you tried to press your lips together, tormented sounds were escaping your mouth.

Your chest fluttered when you remembered what you just did.

His touch slid under your panties, where bare skin was not so bare just the night before.

Kid paused his ministration on your neck to lift his head and look at you.

His firstly surprised expression soon transitioned in a victorious grin.

«Someone wanted to be more naked, hm?» he teasingly said.

You opened your mouth to snap something back, and he chose that exact moment to trace your entrance with his thumb, which then rested on your clit.

The action caused your words to mashed up in a choked moan.

«Excuse me, were you saying something?»

You shot him a glare, but this time you knew better than try to speak again.

He started to roll his finger in sloppy circles on your core, and you had to shut your eyes too.

«I wonder if you're more sensitive now.»

He placed a light bite on your areola from over the shirt, making you gasp.

«Let's find out.»

With no further ceremonies, he tugged down your pants and panties.

He took his time to stare at your naked body and you swallowed, feeling the heat invading your face.

«W-What?»

Instead of answering, he threw your legs over his shoulders and you gasped again.

Kid explored your nudity, nibbling at your inner thigh, rolling his tongue over your mound and finally around your wet folds.

You did your best to resist, but you were not able to contain all your ragged vocalizations.

Yes, definitely you were more sensitive now.

The pirate brought you close to the edge before pulling back.

You let out an involuntary whine of protest.

He chuckled.

«Sorry birdie, I want my part.»

You watched him quickly grabbing a condom from his pocket and letting his slacks fall.

A new wave of heat flew inside you when you saw his hard member.

«Wait.» you muttered after he adjusted the condom and took a step towards you.

Kid frowned and you hinted at your restrains.

«Free me.»

A mischievous sneer entered his face.

«Why should I?»

You fixed your humid eyes on his amber ones.

«Because I want to touch you.»

The smile disappeared from his features.

He seemed to ponder your words for a few seconds, then he slowly move his hand.

The cuffs clicked open before he actually touched them.

You took advantage of the timing and jumped on him that very second, lacing your arms around his solid neck and capturing his lips with yours, pushing your tongue past his.

Kid was taken aback for an instant, but answered immediately after.

His fingers dug in your back as he grabbed and lifted you.

With his metallic arm he wiped away all the tools and objects on his working table, just to smash you on it not-so-gently.

You moaned and his burning tongue invaded your mouth.

The sound of the fabric being ragged reached your ears, and soon you had lost both your shirt and your bra.

Your sweated bodies rubbed against each other, greedy hands crawling everywhere in frenzy.

«Kid» you whimpered in his ear when he dived his face in the crook of your neck, then between your breasts «Kid, come on»

He wanted to taunt you, he wanted to tease you, to make you beg, to make you cry for it.

But he couldn't.

Not now.

Kid himself wanted you with an urgency he wasn't familiar with.

He parted your legs and entered you with a resolute movement and you let out a scream.

He grunted before starting to thrust in and out your entrance.

Your legs encircled his waist and you closed your teeth on his shoulder, trying to muffle your desperate pleasure.

No pain.

You asked for more, instead.

For the first time, Kid got probably closer to use all his physical strength, hitting hard all the spots inside you.

Soon enough, the bite wasn't enough to cut your voice.

And who cares if all the pirates outside would hear.

Let them. Let them hear.

Kid was restless, trying to feel you completely, furiously.

He slammed you against the desk, against the closet, against the wall.

The orgasm mounted inside you, boosting your screams, sending shivers on you, nails digging in the steel muscles of his back.

When you knew it was imminent, you held him tighter and buried your face in his neck, so he knew as well.

His next hits were even more powerful, if possible, and burst the knot in your lower abdomen.

Your insane twitching triggered his own climax.

After a few more sloppy pushes, he pulled out and you both slid on the floor, trying to regain your breaths.

«Look at what we did.»

Your voice sounded weak in the dim light of the messy workshop.

You were resting on Kid's lap, back against his torso, breath not yet completely steady. He sat on the floor, leaning on the wall. His fur covered both your naked bodies.

«Nah, I can fix it quickly.»

His thick arm slid out from the fur and stretched.

Purple little beams danced between his fingers as the metallic objects moved around the room, from the ground to the desk.

You blinked at the action and he glanced at you.

«What?»

«That's fucking hot.»

After two seconds of silence he burst in laughter and you bit your stupid tongue.

«Shut up.»

«Speaking of which»

Kid groped at your breasts making you jump in his grip.

«HEY!»

«Is it my impression, or they got a little bigger?»

«It's not your impression,» you grumbled «I'm getting closer to my period. It's normal.»

He huffed.

«I will fuck you anyway, right?»

«Oh, so you're also a poet.» you scoffed, pushing his face away.

He rolled his amber eyes, then rested his chin on your shoulder.

You felt your body relaxing against his.

«Birdie.»

«Hm?»

When the silence fell in the room again, you tilted your head to look at him.

His intense gaze was fixed somewhere in the darkness.

You didn't know why, but your heartbeat slightly increased, like you knew he was about to say something important, something permanent.

But he didn't.

He shook his crazy locks, instead.

«Nothing.»

You spent a few more seconds observing him, then nodded lightly.

«I should go to the craw's nest. Killer will start to think that I ignore his orders.»

«I'm the captain of this ship. My orders come first.»

«Well, technically you're not my captain. I'm your prisoner, and therefore I have the right to try to resist your ordNAHAHAHAHAHAH, OKAY OKAY!»

You cried out, fighting to get his torturous fingers away from your inner thigh.

«Your resistance didn't last very long.» he sneered in your ear.

«Yes, because you play unfair!»

You had to sneak in Kid's cabin to get a change of clothes (something that was not destroyed).

The sneaking failed, and you ended up hurrying across the deck under a rain of whistles and laughter, gaze glued to the floor and chewed curses in your mouth.

Stupid pirates!

When you finally came out again, your shift on the mast was basically over.

«Well then» Killer observed with a sigh «I suppose you can start directly helping with the preparations. You'll be the lookout tomorrow.»

«Whatever, blondie.»

Killer crossed his arms.

«You know, you have to be really really thankful that you screw with Kid.»

Despite his words, a grin spread on your lips.

Believe me, I am.

«By the way, can you stop limping? It's annoying.»

He managed to turn off the smile from your face.

«Screw you, Massacre Soldier.»

«Maybe some other day. Now go to work.»

It was true, most of the crew was employed to cook, carry things around and set the deck for the banquet.

You helped out here and there, preparing food, dragging tables and stuff.

However, you couldn't shut down the thin but continuous tingling of your observation haki in the back of your head.

Someone's eyes were trailing your steps.

«[Y/n]!»

You turned to see Wire peering from the galley.

«Can you go fetch the trunk with the beer from Water 7? We need it to cook.»

«Where is it?»

«In the basement.»

You lifted and eyebrow.

«The basement?»

«Oh, yeah, don't steal a lifeboat. We can sink you easily.»

You rolled your eyes. They were not even trying to treat you like a prisoner anymore.

«Fine.»

You walked down the hall, to the door you longed so desperately just a few days before.

Behind that door there were the stairs to the basement.

The sounds from the deck were muffled there, the light was scarce.

You reached the basement and gave just a quick glance at the tenders, telling yourself that there was no point in attempting to escape now. With the calm sea and all the men on the deck, they were going to take you back in no time.

You started to look through the various chests and trunks, then you sighed.

«I know you're there. Stop hiding already.»

As a reply, a whip darted towards you from the darkness, and you jumped aside just in time.

«HEY!»

You could barely distinguish the pirate in the shadows, while the whip darted again.

«What the fuck are you doing?!» you yelled, dodging another blow.

The whip hit a chest with a crack, breaking it.

«What the fuck am I doing?»

God, his voice was so young.

«I'm fucking slaughtering you, bitch!»

«Boy, I strongly advice you to stop!» you hissed, jumping away from his restless weapon.

«Not before your corpse is in the sea to feed the seakings.»

Okaaaaay.

You grabbed a mop with a grunt, using it to parry a swing.

The whip rolled over the stick, and you pulled it out from his hand with a sharp tug.

He grit his teeth, and you could see the sparks of hatred in his eyes.

«What the hell did I ever do to you?» you growled.

He closed his hands in fists.

«You're a filthy marine. I don't fucking care what the captain says. You slut must burn in hell.»

Thanks.

«You hate the marines?» you asked, trying to keep your voice somewhat soft.

He couldn't be older than fourteen years old, maybe less.

«They killed my parents.»

Classic.

«And you killed my older brother.»

Ugh.

«The night you took me captive, I assume.» you grumbled «Well, you're older brother killed my comrades, and probably tried to kill me as well. Any chance we can call this even?»

The hate was physically shaking him.

«I'll tore your guts from your belly and strangle you with it.»

«...I'll take it as a no.» you grimaced «Try to reason, stupid boy! Even if you succeed and you kill me, which is fairly improbable, what will you do afterwards? Do you think they will let you get away with it? Can you imagine... can you imagine what Kid will do to you?»

Now that you mentioned it, you realized it.

You realized that Gordo was nothing compared to what Kid would have done now.

You were not being over confident or delusional about it. You just felt it, and you knew you were right.

«I DON'T CARE!» he barked «You killed Yorin! My Oniisan!»

Tears appeared in his eyes.

«I will avenge him!»

«Please, don't be so stupid.»

But he charged towards you with a wild scream.

You dodged, but dropped the whip.

«You killed him!» he cried again, grabbing it.

For a second, that cry resounded distorted in your ears, like a cry you heard in the past and tore your chest apart.

Your heart missed a beat at the memory you buried deep in the darkness of your mind.

You blinked just in time to see the blow.

There was no margin to avoid it now.

Instinctively, you turned, taking it on your back.

The pain exploded in the long cut you received, skin torn apart.

Enough.

Muffling your scream, you grabbed the whip, pulling it towards you, and the boy with it.

He slipped forward and you hit his head with the stick, knocking him out and letting him fall on the dusty floor.

The movement sent another surge of pain up to your spine.

Hesitantly, you ran your fingers on the wound and cringed, finding the T-shirt shredded. When you looked at it, your hand was stained with blood. You could feel it pouring down your back.

Fuck.

Your eyes lowered on the boy.

What do I do with you now?

Hissing curses from the pain, you spotted some cordage and began to tie his arms to the tenders' hooks. The knots turned out a bit loose, but the stinging pain prevented you to do a better job. You hit him hard anyway, he was probably going to sleep for a few hours. Enough time for you to think about something.

First of all I need to take care of this new wound before someone finds out.

The deck was teeming with pirates at the moment. Your T-shirt was torn and soaked with blood, not to mention how worse your limping surely got.

Nervously looking around, you noticed the stains of blood you had already left on the wooden floor.

«Screw this.»

You kneeled beside the boy and took away his two knives, using one of them to cut his shirt away, arranging it around your torso to conceal as much as possible.

Before leaving, your focus lingered on his sleeping form.

«Everything was going fine...» you whispered «Sparing you will cause me a lot of trouble.»

But I'm a marine, I'm part of the good guys. I can't just kill you. You're just a boy.

You closed your eyes as another memory traversed your mind, uninvited.

Another boy, another time.

«I hate you and all the World Government!»

«She was my sister.»

«Do what you must.»

«Please. He's the only son I have left.»

«Please.»

«Don't listen to my mother. Do what you must.»

You took a deep breath and massaged your temples, trying to reduce the headache.

«Stay here. Be a good boy.»

You limped up the stairs, brain working feverishly.

If you hid in the basement or somewhere else, someone would have soon come to look for you, and you couldn't allow it.

There were two options: the infirmary or Kid's cabin.

The doctor was likely to be in the infirmary, though. It was possible he could endorse your wish to keep it quiet, but that would have meant lying to his captain. You didn't want to put him in such a position, and the same went for the other recruits.

Kid was no man to forgive a liar in his crew.

No, you were on your own in this.

But Kid was going to see the wound, and sooner rather than later, there were no doubts about it. You had to come up with a really good excuse.

Thankfully it was possible to reach Kid's cabin without crossing the deck.

Relying on your observation haki, you avoided the few pirates walking around and managed to sneak inside.

Once the door was closed behind your back, you let out a sigh of relief.

«What are you doing here?»

You jumped, heart going crazy instantly.

Kid was going through some blueprints on his desk. Due to some miracle, he didn't turn to the door, and you quickly hid your back.

Why the fuck my Observation never work decently with him?!

«I, huh, need to use the bathroom.»

He just hummed.

You slid in the little room, grabbing a shirt from the foot of the bed, and closed the door.

In the following minutes, with your heart pounding, you did your best to stop the blood and clean your skin, hiding the soaked T-shirt. You didn't dare to use the shower, too afraid that Kid would join if he heard the water flowing.

You grimaced and hissed for the pain.

There were no bandages in the bathroom, but the new shirt was black, so with a little luck and a lot of acting you could get away with it. Maybe you could come back later to properly medicate the wound.

After doing everything you could think of, the blood wasn't dripping anymore. At least not too much.

With another deep breath, you got out the room.

The big cut was burning and stinging.

Kid was still bent over his desk, deeply focused on whatever he was reading.

You cleared your voice.

«So... see you later at the party.»

«Yeah, yeah.»

Okay, let's get out of here real quick.

You had just grabbed the doorknob when a metallic grip closed on your other arm, forcing you back.

«Wha–»

Kid didn't speak.

He held your shoulders, preventing you to turn, and lifted the shirt with his flesh hand.

«Wait, no!» you cried, trying to wiggle out.

But it was too late and you knew it.

Your irregular movements caused the wound to bleed again.

«Let me go!»

He didn't. He turned you to face him instead, steel grip on your arms now.

You were about to yell something at him, but the words choked in your throat when you saw his face.

It was the furious wild face you saw when he was about to torture you.

You fell silent and stopped moving immediately.

«Who?»

His question was as cold as a corpse.

You were unable to move your eyes from his.

«N-no one. I fell on something... sharp.»

His grip tightened on your biceps, and a pained squeak escaped your mouth.

He didn't say anything.

The wound started pulsating, enhancing the torment. More than anything, his eyes were freezing you inside.

You felt your skin becoming a mess of blood and sweat.

«It's no big deal, really.»

No answer.

Please let me go.

Kid finally nodded.

«Very well then.»

He kicked the door open, keeping the metallic grasp on one of your arms and dragging you out.

«What the fuck are you doing?!» you yelled, trying to pull back. But the more you pulled, the worse the pain.

He was far too strong anyway.

«Let me go! KID!»

He dragged you on the deck, were the rest of the crew was busy setting the long tables, carrying stuff around.

«EVERYBODY GETS HERE.»

His furious roar made all the pirates freeze instantly.

They knew their captain. They knew when shit was about to go down.

Everyone dropped what he was doing and gathered around. The ones in the galley or anywhere else were called as well.

Eustass Kid waited until the entire crew was there.

You fought the whole time to get free from his metallic lock, you were exhausted, though, and he didn't even notice your efforts.

You tried to hit him, but he was keeping you at a fair distance, and physical pain wasn't a thing on his artificial limb.

Soon, all the eyes were on you.

«Letmegoletmegoletmegoletmego!» you growled, desperately tugging at your own arm.

You didn't want to look at the other pirates. You didn't want them to witness that pitiful scene.

Kid stared at the crew. When he spoke, his voice was strangely calm.

«I ask the responsible of this to step forward.»

He pulled you closer, manoeuvring your body so your back was facing the crowd, then he lifted your shirt.

You heard a tense bustle spreading behind you.

«Stop this shit! I told you I fucking fell!»

Killer merged from the crew to step beside his captain and took a closer look at your jagged cut.

«It's a lash.»

You felt Kid's fingers digging into your skin.

«WHO DID THIS?»

His bark startled the pirates.

His voice was not calm anymore.

They started looking and whispering at each other.

«Who the fuck has the courage to attack [Y/n]?» someone said.

«This makes no sense.»

Time was passing and you could notice Kid's rage getting deeper.

«Please, Kid, if you could just listen to me...»

«I did.»

You froze.

The silence fell on the deck.

Light irregular steps approached, then stopped.

You turned your head enough to fix your widened eyes on the boy.

Fuck me and my loose knots.

The crew opened up at his path and he came forward, limping, a visible bump on his head and a grimace on his young face.

But his eyes were dark with fury.

You saw him opening his mouth again and frantically shook your head, in a desperate attempt of stopping him.

«I hit the bitch.»

Your chest sunk and your limbs grew weak in Kid's hands.

The captain tilted his head, amber eyes sharpening.

«So you did it.»

You felt his weight shifting.

«Okay, okay, okay, Kid, listen to me, please. Nothing serious happened, just stop for a second and–»

«Heat.»

The blue-haired pirate left the gathered men to reach you, securing his grasp on your arms before Kid let you go.

It took merely a second to realize he was also too strong for you to wiggle out.

Killer stood nearby, arms crossed on his chest, while Kid walked towards the boy.

Oh, no.

«Kid, come on!» you growled, pushing out as much as possible «It was not him!»

You grimaced, as your words sounded ridiculous even to yourself.

The look on the boys face was resolute, at first, but you watched him paling as Kid got closer.

He moved a step back, only to bump into Wire's solid body.

The pirate had positioned behind him to prevent him from running.

Your mouth dried when the memory of Gordo suddenly flashed in your head.

«Kid, please!» you cried, still trying to get free «It's just a boy!»

The recruit started shaking.

Eustass Kid was towering over him now.

«I killed his brother!» you screamed «The night you attacked my ship! I killed his brother and a lot of your men!»

Your words had no effect on the crew, but the boy closed his fists, despite his sweat-soaked body.

He tried to raise his eyes on the captain, but it took an instant for him to turn completely white and drop his gaze immediately.

His trembling became uncontrollable.

The beast looked down at him.

«Is that true?»

The boy swallowed.

The answer came after multiple attempts to talk and was barely audible.

«Yes.»

«Okay then.»

Kid pulled out a knife from his belt.

Your guts crumbled.

Then, to your surprise, he offered the recruit the handle, not the blade.

The boy looked confused too.

What the...

«Take this and kill yourself.»

The recruit's eyes sprang open and the air was sucked away from your lungs.

No way.

«Take it.» Kid lowly ordered when the boy didn't move.

He obeyed, hand shaking violently.

«Kid, stop this nonsense!» you screamed.

The blood had soaked your shirt from your efforts to move, but you didn't care.

Slowly, the boy brought the blade closer to his neck.

«Killer!» your desperate eyes darted on the blond beside you «Please, stop him.»

Killer didn't move nor looked at you, standing on the deck, arms crossed.

«Heat.» you whined, turning up to the man who was holding you «Let me go. He's just a boy.»

Heat's eyes lowered on yours for a second, before fixing back on the scene.

«You're too slow.»

The captain's words got your attention again.

The boy was openly cry now, a pool of sweat and whimpers.

You watched in horror Kid's hand stretching over him.

«Kid, don't do this, please.»

His fingers rested on the handle of the knife, over the boy's grip.

Then he slowly pushed the blade in his throat.

The recruit clumsily tried to back off, but Wire held him.

Blood gushed out the cut along with gurgled sounds.

He desperately tried to breathe, but he was chocking in his own blood.

Your knees ceded. Heat kept you up.

He fell, terrified eyes wandering around, maybe looking for someone to say goodbye to.

His hand squirmed around, grasping the air.

It took a while for him to die.

When everything was over, Heat let you go.

You ran to the railing and puked your lunch in the sea.

«Feed the seakings with the remains.» Kid ordered.

Slowly, the crew started to disperse.

Your feverish fingers grasped the railing when you heard the captain passing behind you.

«Boss...»

«Let her be. Apparently, [Y/n] was confused about who we are.»

Were you?

You turned abruptly, fury on your pale face.

Kid glanced at you, while Heat looked worried. As always, it was impossible to guess Killer's expression.

«You're a monster.» you whispered, livid eyes glued on amber ones.

His face didn't waver.

«I've always been. You can blame yourself alone for forgetting it.»

Then he headed to his workshop without another word.