***KILLER POV***

"Has he eaten?"

I leaned my hip against the counter, watching Pomp place another newly cleaned dish into the rack before he turned around on the stool he was balanced on.
"Well, we left breakfast for him, like you asked, and the plate isn't in the hall anymore, so I'd take that as a win?"

I nodded once in agreement, folding my arms and drumming my fingers against my bicep. Usually, I was the one to serve food to each and every crew member, but I just couldn't deal with Kid right now. It was immature, but I could only cope with so much.

"Yeah, guess so. What about (Y/N)?" I saw the stocky man pause when hearing her name, so I already knew the answer.
"She picked at it, but pretty sure she gave the most of it to that naked blob she carts around. The only thing I've seen her consistently send down her gullet is booze lately..."

I'm too young to be taking care of people like this...

It had been two weeks since Kid had spoken to each of us in turn, and whilst I hadn't spoken to him, I had tried to be there for (Y/N) in ways I deemed appropriate for the situation.

Urging her to eat, asking our crew mates to ask to hear stories about her thieving escapades, returning her gurgling testicle-cat to her whenever I found it somewhat existing around the ship or base.

"Know where she is?" I asked Pomp, trying not to sound as worried as I really was.
"Last I saw her, she was wandering down to the Victoria. Probably climbed the crow's nest." He shrugged, and I set off in search for her. The last thing anybody needed was for her to fall to her death while drinking up there.

I could understand why she was acting out like that, and usually I wasn't one to refuse a person their choice of coping mechanism, but when it came with a risk, I wasn't going to just sit by.

Kid had hurt her. I knew what that felt like, though to a lesser, far different degree. He'd said some pretty messed up things to me too, that day, so I could only imagine what she was going through. However, he had made it increasingly more difficult to be there for her.

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***2 WEEKS PRIOR***

"You still have a thing for (Y/N), right?"

My brow furrowed as I looked down at Kid, having taken my helmet off in his presence. He looked colder, somehow. Not himself.
"I...wouldn't refer to it as a thing. Why? What's that got to do with anything?"

As Kid shifted, he rolled his shoulders, bringing unintentional attention to his amputation, wrapped in gauze and bandage.
"She's yours. I don't want her anymore."

What..?

My eyes narrowed, the words registering in my head. What was he on about? Had Wire given him the kind of pain meds that made him go loopy?
"Oi, listen to what you're sayin'. You're delusional." I scoffed, but felt more uneasy the longer he stared at me.

"I mean it. I'm sick of 'er, and you seem to genuinely give a fuck about 'er, so she's yours. What, not interested anymore?" I couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth. I knew when Kid was joking around, and this wasn't one of those times.

"S..Sick of her..? Kid, that's bullshit and you know it. Is this because of what happened? Do you really think throwing a tantrum and severing the relationship will help any?" He'd always been difficult, but whenever his pride had been hurt, it was always impossible to deal with. This had been the biggest strike to his pride thus far.

Rolling his eyes, Kid sat up a little more in the bed, still obviously in pain but not willing to announce it.
"This ain't a tantrum. I've had time to rethink shit, and I've sorted out my priorities. Sex and romantic crap doesn't fit in with my plans. I've always said you two were a better fit, anyway, so have at it."

Calm down, Killer. Don't punch him. Not right now.

"You haven't had time to rethink shit. You've barely had time to process what happened to you." I said through my teeth, my jaw too tense to allow me to hide my rising anger. "I know you, Kid. I know you, and I love you, and I know you're making a stupid mistake by even considering this."

No emotion. That was what struck me the hardest. Even in his childhood, Kid had always been extremely emotional, one way or another. Seeing him sitting there, staring back at me with dull eyes, felt so incredibly wrong.

"You can have whatever opinion you want, but those are the facts. She's not my problem anymore. I don't get why you're getting so pissy. You can finally have he-"

"SHE ISN'T JUST SOME POSSESSION YOU CAN GIVE AWAY, KID!" I didn't care that I was losing check of my emotions anymore. I was exhausted, I was in pain, and I was completely done with it all. "YEAH, I LOVE HER! OF COURSE I FUCKIN' LOVE HER! THAT'S WHY I'D RATHER DIE THAN SEE HER GET HURT LIKE THIS! BY YOU!"

I don't care who hears this. I'm done.

"I DIDN'T SPEND THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE TAKING CARE OF YOU, FEEDING YOU, KEEPING YOU ALIVE, FOR YOU TO ACT LIKE THIS! SHE LOVES YOU, SHE CHOSE YOU! THE FACT YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT HER MAKES THIS ALL THE MORE SICK! GROW UP AND BE A MAN! DON'T DO THIS SHIT!"

If I hadn't been so angry, I would have likely felt relieved, seeing that snarl twitch onto his face, and even more-so when he slammed his fist down onto the mattress.
"I'VE MADE UP MY FUCKING MIND! THIS IS ME GROWING UP, MANNING UP! IF YOU DON'T WANT HER, DON'T HAVE HER, BUT I'M FINISHED WITH IT!"

It took so much self control to not dive onto the bed and beat his face bloody, but I resisted, opting to dig my nails deep into the heels of my hands until the skin split.
"NO, THIS IS YOU SUITING YOUR FUCKING NAME, KID! IF YOU GO THROUGH WITH THIS, SO HELP ME, I'LL TAKE YOUR OTHER ARM MYSELF! DON'T DO THIS TO HER! SHE DESERVES BETTER!"

I knew I had already said more than my fair share of things I'd regret later on, so I snatched my helmet, slammed it onto my head and walked away. I couldn't deal with him anymore. Not now. Not if he was about to make the most idiotic mistake of his life.

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***PRESENT DAY***

I need to lock the alcohol up.

I had barely even peeked my head over the edge of the crow's nest when I spotted (Y/N), sitting in what looked like a very uncomfortable position with her back against the wood, her glob of a pet on its back beside her as she knocked back what looked like a nearly empty bottle of gin.

"It's not even nine in the morning." I sighed, making my presence known as I swung my legs over the edge, setting them down near where her boots tapped together.
"It is sssomewhere. Probably." She replied, voice drawling.

There was no questioning that she was already well and truly drunk, and I wanted to scold her, but something inside me just couldn't bear to do that.
"That's true, but not here. At least tell me you've been drinking water as well?" Her messy blow of a raspberry gave me my answer.

I really need to keep a better eye on her right now...

"Alright," I grunted a little as I moved to sit down beside her, internally cursing when Missy reanimated and plodded over to curl up against my leg. "I can shirk my duties until lunch, so I wanna hear about the time you locked Paulie's bitchy date in the water shed."

I wanted to get her talking, thinking about anything else, and honestly, I needed the distraction as well.
"Oh, shit, I need to call him! Fuuuuuuck..." (Y/N) swore as she began to pat herself down, realising she didn't have her transponder snail with her. "Ugh, I gotta go get it-"

Instinctively, my arm flew out to block her from standing, and I tensed a little when she flopped her arms over the top of it.
"How about we wait until you've sobered up a little, huh? The last thing Paulie needs is an aneurysm brought on by worrying about you." I mumbled, not impressed by seeing her raise the bottle back to her lips.

"God, he's gonna lose his shit...I mean, he always does, but man, he's gonna freeeeeeak his way into an asylum..." She took a hearty swig, and it was almost impressive how she didn't wince or gag. "How're youuuu doin' anyway? You don't look all shitty-titty anymore."

Oh, believe me, I am...

Sighing, I plucked the bottle from her hand before she could go back in for more, holding it well out of her reach, even though I caused another issue with her climbing all over me.
"Let's take a break from the booze for now. You stink. How long has it been since you bathed?"

Puffing out her cheeks, the woman glared at me for a few moments before deflating, her face smooshing up far too close against my helmet.
"A while...but that's effort, and alas, I shall likely drown and go blublublibblobblerghhhhhhh..."

She ragdolled completely, and I had to quickly catch her face before she crushed my crotch when she fell. She never made things easy for me, so I wasn't sure why I was having a much harder time of it than usual.

Yes you do. It's because of what Kid said. Don't lie to yourself, man. You're tempted.

I was, but I wasn't a bad person. There was no way I was going to try anything with her, no matter how difficult it became. She was grieving the loss of her relationship, and all messed up on alcohol all day every day. I would never even consider it.

"Okay, stinker, get up. You're having a bath, whether you like it or not." I climbed to my feet, having to drag her up with me, but she refused to use her bones.
"Nooooooooooooo..." She complained, chin flat against my chest and legs jello beneath her.

Nobody should have the audacity to act this cute. It's messed up.

"Yesssssssssssss." I matched her whining tone, again trying to set her on her feet, but she was just not having it.
"I'll consider retracterating my no if you take your helmet offfffffff." She bargained, attempting to poke her finger through one of the holes.

I almost brushed off her request on instinct, but what was the point? She'd seen me without it now, and at my lowest, too. I trusted her, even if she was blind drunk. Muttering to myself, I pulled my helmet off, having to spit out some of my hair that whipped around my face along with the wind.

"Is this what you wanted?" I looked down at her, regretting my decision immediately. She was smiling at me, her (E/C) eyes almost glittering in the sunlight.
"I love your face, Killz. It makes me happy."

Don't you dare, man. Don't. You. Fucking. Dare.

Swallowing forbidden words that tried to bubble up from my chest, I slapped my helmet back on and threw her over my shoulder, starting towards the edge of the crow's nest.
"Waiiiit! I need my Missy-Moo Magoo! My son!"

Rolling my eyes, I turned back and made sure she had her blasted cat before carrying her down, hyper aware of her every movement. Keeping a safe distance wasn't going to work anymore. She needed somebody to keep a close eye on her when she was in such a state, and of course that job automatically fell to me.

Kid's words swam about my head. I was only human, so I could admit that, no matter how horrible and selfish it was, the thought of being with her in such a way set my chest ablaze, but I wasn't going to act on any impulses. Not like I had back on Water 7. I was a disciplined man. I wasn't going to take advantage of her.

She loved Kid, and he would hopefully come to his senses sooner or later. Whether it would be too late to fix things, that was another thing, but even if that was the case, my childish fantasy could never be an option.

"Hey, hey hey hey, did...he ...say anything to you? About me..?" It was the most sober I had heard (Y/N) in well over a week, but I didn't want to tell her the truth. That Kid had spoken about her as though she were a possession, offering her to me like some worn out toy.

Planting my feet on the floor of the deck, I turned to head towards the docking ramp, my fingers slightly bunching the material of her shirt as I tightened my grip, looking up to the castle in the distance.

"Nope. He did say a thing about you at all..."

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***I mean, y'all did beg for Killer, right?

Next Time: What The Fuck?***