***(Y/N) POV***

Several days passed after the attack on Pinbour Haven. The Victoria Punk was stocked with enough gold to keep us all comfortable for a long while, but I didn't care about that.

Kid wouldn't even look at me.

I wasn't sure whether he was angry at me, or if he felt some kind of guilt over what happened, but it was upsetting that he wouldn't even let me get within ten feet of him before leaving. Wire had relayed to me that he had given me permission to leave the ship, with as much gold as I wanted, but to hell with that. I was finally starting to get comfortable.

What happened had been horrific, that was true, but I didn't hold him to blame. Yes, he had been the one to steer me into the situation, but I had willingly gone along with it. Things happen, and circumstances change. That wasn't his fault.

Everyone had started to walk on eggshells around me, treating me like a small, pathetic little girl again, but I put as much of a stop to that as soon as I possibly could. Initially, I had been in shock. Of course I had looked pathetic, but I was dealing with it. Making me feel like a child wasn't going to help.

Swailes had touched me. The second his hand had engulfed my breast, I had gone for my pistol, but he had a genetic advantage over me when it came to strength. He'd hit me, and he'd touched me more, in places that still made me feel like throwing up and breaking down, but that was the extent of it. I had managed to get my hand on my pistol and shoot him clean through the skull before he had gotten any more from me.

Never before had I killed someone so close up with a bullet, and sometimes I could still taste his blood and grey matter in my mouth, spoiling my appetite and making me nauseous. Even so, I was alive, and I was alright. Not perfect, not great, but alright.

Unlike Kid, Killer was almost too attentive, as were Heat and a few of the other guys, but Killer was truly the worst culprit. I appreciated that he wanted to take care of me, but I had grown used to being on my own for so long that it began driving me insane.

I was perfectly fine with him hanging out in my room as I went to sleep, or cooking me food that I wanted, when I could shake my nausea, but I put my foot down when he started just hovering around me for no reason.

"Killer, I'm fine for tonight. Really. You have better things to do." I insisted, blocking my doorway so he couldn't follow me inside as he had done three nights in a row. He shifted from one foot to the other, obviously against the idea of giving me peace.

"Are you sure? I really don't mind keeping you company." He really was trying to help me, I knew that, but there was only so much help I could take before I went bat-shit crazy. Sighing, I offered him a small smile, leaning my head against the door frame.

"You're a saint, but please. I told you, what happened wasn't the worst thing in the world. I'm fine, so don't worry yourself over me." I assured him, but he still lingered, not quite convinced.
"If you're positive. You know where to find me if you change your mind."

He turned to leave, but I found myself reaching out for his speckled sleeve, one thought crossing my mind as he turned back expectantly.
"Kid...Do you think he'll talk to me any time soon? I kinda miss pissing him off..."

I really miss pissing him off.

Deflating a little, but trying not to make it obvious, Killer shrugged his shoulders, letting my hand remain on his sleeve.
"God only knows when it comes to him. Let him stew. He deserves it, the dumb bastard." He muttered, bitterness apparent.

"You don't mean that. Go easy on him, Killer. It wasn't entirely his fault. I'm a dumb bastard too, y'know. It's kind of my brand." I chuckled lightly, trying to ease his tension. Heaving a long sigh, Killer's shoulders slightly bounced up and down, though no sound of laughter came out.
"I suppose it is. Just...wait it out, and he'll start snapping at you again eventually. Goodnight, (Y/N). Sleep well."

He gave my hand a gentle pat before he left, and I closed my door once he was out of sight, trudging over to my bed and flopping down on top of the covers. Even though I had pleaded for silence, it was deafening, and I quickly found myself thinking back on several days beforehand.

"They really decided to spoil us this time. How old are you? Can't be over twenty-one..."

"I've been waiting months for this...I know exactly what I'm going to do to you...and what you're going to do for me..."

"Can you feel that? That's what you're going to be choking on very shortly..."

"Let's see just how ready you are for me, shall we, sweetheart..?"

Shaking my head, I reached up to grip at my hair, giving it a harsh yank to force Swailes' voice out of my mind.
"Fucking hell...and I thought pageants were traumatic..." I muttered to myself, rolling so I was face down on my bed to try and get some sleep.

I don't know how long I laid there for, but sleep refused to come. Only that filthy bastard's voice, telling me just how perfect my body was for all the disgusting things he wanted to do to me, and how his brain sounded when they splattered against the floor.

Well, time to roam the halls like a spooky ghost bitch...

On my way out the door, I glanced to the transponder snail linked to Paulie, sighing when I realised it was far too late to give him a call. I had been wanting to call him since the moment I had regained consciousness, but I knew it was better that I hadn't. If he had sensed any pain or distress in my voice he would have tracked me down and gotten himself killed in the process.

Barefoot and padding down the hall, I found myself subconsciously drawn to Kid's door, standing in front of it in silence for the longest time. I could hear a faint patter of rain outside, and considered going out to sit in it, letting every thought and concern wash away, but I knew with my luck I'd end up with a pneumonia.

Screw waiting for him.

The vibration of my knock travelled all the way up my arm, and I held my breath as I waited for a response.
"Fuck off." There it was. Kid's voice was heavy with recent sleep, and even though I felt bad for waking him, I knocked again. This time, I could hear the heavy thud of his footsteps before the door flew open, the shirtless man looming over me. "I said fuck o...ff..."

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I raised my hand, giving him a meek little wave.
"Uh...hi. Can I come in?" I asked hopefully, watching the crease between his eyes deepen.
"No." He went to slam the door shut in my face, but I quickly threw my arm out to block it, flinching before he caught it just in time so it wouldn't snap it off.

He was paying attention. He does care.

He glared at me, in a darker manner than he normally did, but I didn't let that deter me as I pushed the door open again and slipped in, shutting it behind me with a light click. Back to wood, I looked up at him again, watching him scrunch his features before heading back towards his bed.

"I, uh, can't sleep, so I decided I'd come bug you instead." I chuckled, nervousness in my tone, but he didn't smirk, or glare this time. He just climbed back into his bed and rolled onto his side, facing away from me.
"I told you to fuck off."

Something's really getting to him.

Puffing out a breath of mild frustration, I took a few steps deeper into the room, ready familiar with it from my stay when I had been sick.
"Never thought I'd say this, but I miss when you were a jerk to me. At least you paid me some attention." I joked, kind of, but he didn't budge.

"Why do I even bother when you don't listen?" He muttered, mostly to himself, flipping the covers over his entire head. He was acting like a child, but he didn't realise who he was dealing with. I was the Queen of childish, so it didn't bother me one bit.

"Listen, Kid, whatever the reason is for you blatantly avoiding me, it's gotta stop. You said I had a choice to go, but I chose to stay, so you're gonna have to deal with me eventually." I explained, moving to stand at the end of the bed, hands resting upon the frame. "It was a stupid plan, yeah, but I went along with it. If you're feeling guilty, you better stop, or we're gonna have a problem."

I could hear his teeth grinding together, and watched him closely as he shifted slightly under the covers.
"Who the fuck's been sayin' I feel guilty? I'll kill 'em..." He grumbled, the coarseness to his voice a nice new sound to my ears.

"Nobody, but I just wanted you to know that, if you were, I don't hate you. Doubt I ever could. You're too fun to banter with. I'd miss it way too much. Like I am now..." I admitted, straightening up from my lean when he sat up a bit, finally meeting my eyes.

He looked incredibly tired, and I bit at my lip, realising that maybe I shouldn't have opted to wake him up. He obviously needed a lot more sleep.
"You're an absolute idiot for staying, you know that, right?"

I'm always an idiot.

Smiling, relieved that he was finally being somewhat open with me, I let my shoulders loosely shrug.
"Yeah, well, you're the one that gave me the choice, aren't you? Gonna have to deal with it, Kiddo." That wasn't the only thing that made me an idiot.

I knew I was quickly catching feelings for the brutish man before me. No matter what he had done to me before, there was something about him that drew me in, much like his ability to attract metal. It was foolish, but it wasn't something I was in control of.

Raking a hand down his face, Kid mumbled a few sluggish curses, leaning back into his headboard.
"Is that all you wanted? To tell me that? I've got a whole lot of shit to do tomorrow and I need t'sleep..."

I know I wanted to be alone, but...

"Actually, one more thing..." I announced, vaulting myself over the frame and into the bed next to him, tilting my head in question. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" It was a bold, bold action on my part, and I hoped he wouldn't rip my head off when his eyes grew wider.

"Don't even joke about that..." He warned, his growl much raspier than it normally was. I had to consciously calm myself from the sheer thrill of it. Snorting, I batted in his general direction, looking down at his crinkled sheets.
"You know I don't mean it like that...I just...I think being beside you right now might be the ticket to shut my head up, so...what say you? Permission to stay aboard, Captain?"

Please don't kick me out.

Kid studied me with his harsh, critical eyes, but the longer he did, the more they softened.
"I don't like sharing beds with people." He stated bluntly, but I held firm, jutting out my lower lip.
"Aw, come on, Kiddo! This bed is huge, and I'm little compared to you. Just a little baby. You won't even notice I'm here."

Groaning, and flopping back down into his pillow, Kid gave me my sign of victory, limply waving his hand towards the rest of the bed.
"Suit your fucking self, dumbass. If you invade my personal bubble though, I'll kick you out. Got it?" He was really trying to sound threatening, but it was empty.

"Got it! Yay, sleepover!" I probably put a little too much forced excitement into my voice when I cheered, but I quickly settled down, slipping under the covers beside him as he turned off his lamp.

Laying in bed next to him, I could really tell just how vast our size difference was. Even in the few weeks that I had known him, he had bulked up, and he showed no signs of stopping any time soon. I felt so small next to him, and he felt...safe.

Rolling to my side, I tried to get a good look at him, but all I could really see was the faint, bloody red of his hair, still upon his pillow.
"You're staring." He hissed quietly, making it known that he was very much still awake.

"Sorry..." I murmured my apology, inching ever so slightly closer. "Hey, uh, Kid..?" He started to sigh in annoyance when I called to him again, but when he realised I wasn't using any of his poorly imagined nicknames, he seemed to stop himself.
"Wha'd'ya want?"

Swallowing the stupid emotion that tried to crawl out of my throat, I cautiously reached out and touched his arm, closing my hand around the air around it when he flinched at the contact.
"I was really happy...when you and Killer showed up the other day...For a minute there, I actually thought that maybe you weren't going to..."

But you did.

Kid didn't respond. I wasn't even sure if he was breathing or not, it was so quiet.
"I knew I could trust you, though. Even if things got a...little out of hand, you didn't abandon me, so...yeah, anyway, yadda yadda yadda, thanks for that, uh, I'll shut up now. G'night..."

Just as I was about to pull my hand away, Kid grabbed it and yanked me closer to him, flush into his side, and his arm curled around my much smaller shoulders. To say I was startled was an understatement, and I stared wide eyed into the darkness where his face could barely be seen.

"If you ever thank me for that day again, I'll cut your tongue out. I screwed up, and there's nothing to be thankful for. Now, quit talking and let me shut up that empty head of yours..." His growl rumbled deep in his chest, and I could feel every syllable pass through his body and into me, like some kind of morse code.

My heart skipped once, maybe twice, but once I got over the shock of his words, I relaxed into his warmth and allowed my arm to rest over his torso.
"Okay...Quitting talking starting....now."

This is...nice. I'm glad he's at least talking to me again...

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"...Have you even showered since we left the island..?"

"Get out."

"Wait, no, I'm sorry! I'll shut up now!"

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***She did not, in fact, shut up.

Soft Kid hours (and soft Killer cuz I'm a sucker for him as usual)

The next chapter might be Paulie call filler so I don't have to use my brain after work tomorrow. We'll see how I go.

Next Time: Stress***