#death at victoria dock

[missfisherandjack]

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012-2015) ↳ 1x04 Death At Victoria Dock

[foxspirit1928]

Miss Fisher Snippets (185)

Meet a sweetheart whose name begins with “H”, the most adorable Constable Hugh Collins.

(Posted 30-Mar-2024)

[matchadobo]

I absolutely love how you write kidd sm!!! Can i request a scenario where kid and killer are cuddling with us? Appreciate it ^_^

KIDD & KILLER; cuddles

wc: 1453

warning/s: very sfw <3, gn reader

it happened one evening when it was awfully cold. the victoria had no choice to be docked by a wintry island given the exhaustion of supplies. you couldn't sleep because of the weather and the warmth of your skimpy blanket and sheer sheets were not enough to keep you warm.

the clock had already struck midnight and you felt restless. so you pulled yourself up from your bunk and dawdled at the kitchen, shivering. you intend to make yourself something hot, maybe reheat some soup or make tea.

stirring up some leftover soup from dinner on the stove, the heat of the forming smoke soothed you. you felt a rush of weariness in your system at the contact of warmth; you really are sleepy, it's just too cold. so it led to you almost falling asleep standing. if it weren't for kidd turning off the stove as his arm snaked beside you.

"is it that cold you'd wanna burn yourself?" kidd cleared his throat, reaching for a bowl from the cupboard above your head and placing it by the counter beside the stove. "it's done. if you plan on not burning the damn soup that is."

"sorry. why are you still awake?" you rubbed your eyes, pouring the soup on the bowl.

"could ask ya the same thing," he replied. kidd was garbed with his thick fur coat blanketing his huge frame. "smelled somethin' good 's why."

"i'm... it's too cold. i assumed this'll warm me up." you carried your bowl and sat by the chair surrounding the dining table. kidd was heating up a drink, probably some milk.

you started sipping on the soup before kidd stood beside the seat across from you, chugging on some milk. "that ain't enough to keep you warm."

"either i sleep somewhere warmer or eat something warm to keep myself from freezing to death. got no choice here, captain." you shrugged as you continue to fill your system with the warm soup.

"that ain't gonna cut it. don't want my crew members gettin' sick or some shit." he placed his empty glass down and leaned forward.

"what do you suggest me do then?" you answered a bit harshly this time, the weariness was driving you crazy and irritated.

"sleep with me. got a fireplace." he eyed you intently, his gaze inviting you into something that drove you even crazier than the momentary slips of his coat where his chiseled torso peaks.

"w-what?"

"you heard me. unless you wanna freeze your ass up, be my guest." he picked up his glass and placed it in the sink. "no time gettin' shy now. hurry up before i change my mind."

as the only shot of getting a shred of comfort, you took upon his offer after finishing your soup.

it isn't your first time being in his quarters, he invites you here all the time. to drink or do whatever you two do.

it smelled like the same metallic cologne he always wear, it was his usual dimly lit room painted in his favorites of red and black, his sizable bed was placed by the center of his room where his gargantuan frame would be perfect for, and the already lit fireplace that settled by the corner of his room.

you hummed a moan of relief upon entering, it already feels warm and its scent was comforting. the crackling of the fire can be heard even from the doorway. you sat before the fireplace, on his soft, raven bear rug. you hugged your knees and rubbed your hands haphazardly. shivering from the cold outside.

"the hell are you doing down there? bed's got a lotta space. " kidd shimmied from the middle to the side of the bed to make space for you. his fur coat was finally off and his body was full on display.

you looked behind you with cautious eyes. "if you try anything, eustass. i swear to god." you picked yourself up from the floor and dusted off your bottom.

"hey, i ain't the one needin' the damn fire." he raised his hands in surrender. "let's just wait and see who'll snuggle up for warmth as the night gets colder." his voice was coated with a cocky tone as your bodies finally touch.

he was really warm. aside from the fire in his room, his body temperature due to his large size was significantly higher than yours. he was the perfect, huggable body warmer.

little by little, your arms linked and your legs intertwined. it didn't take long for you to get tangled on his limbs and approach slumber.

until the door cracked ajar to reveal killer, who was embarrassed to have walked in. he raised his hands in defense and cleared his throat.

"sorry, didn't mean to barge in you two. just checking on you, kidd." killer started, trying to maintain a professional front even in your sleepy state. "it's awfully cold so... but it seems you're holding up well."

"what took ya so long, kil? been waitin' since an hour ago." kidd let go of you gently to face his best friend and to be able to talk clearly with him, a little to gentle for a pirate such as himself. you weren't used to it, not that you didn't like it.

"got ready for bed. dry off my hair and such." you could hear the chuckle behind the muffle of his helmet despite your back facing him. "y'all got room for one more or am i interrupting?"

"don't think shortcake over here has protests. matter of fact, they could use another source of warmth. poor thing's been shiverin', ain't ya?" his voice was soft against your skin, breath warm on your arm. kidd's loose arm held onto you closer but not firm enough to jolt you awake. he looked over his shoulder ar your sleepy state, admiring how peaceful you look as you drift off to sleep.

the door shut behind killer and he shortly crawled into kidd's bed. surprisingly enough, it fit these two big guys and even you in it just fine. there's even more space left.

as they cocooned you in between, snores started emanating from your slightly ajar lips. it wasn't long until you were deep in sleep and they started becoming drowsy too.

maybe it was the smell of your hair or the sight of your face. or the needy grip on their strong arms as you refuse to let go of them even in your sleep that helped them rest in this cold night. their guard was completely down and they relish on the warmth of one another.

shortly after, morning came.

"guys...! kil...! kidd...! i need to pee." you tried wiggling out of their strong grip, but their echoing snores were proof enough that they won't budge.

but killer was the first one to wake up and hear your protests. he moved over and even helped you escape kidd's grip who was still deep in sleep.

killer waited for you by sitting at the edge of the bed so you can crawl back without any struggle. he had his eyes shut and his luscious, blond hair disheveled. a clear sign of his sound slumber yet he still managed to sit up and wait for you so you won't have a hard time.

"thanks, kil. would've peed myself on the bed if it weren't for you." you laughed a little, nudging the blond. he waved his hand a bit and smiled at you as a response, although his eyes were half-lidded so you decided to hurry up and crawl back to where you were so you two could go back to sleep. it's still pretty early.

kidd was now in a starfish position, you ought to lay on his arm and snuggle close to him to make space for killer who later had a firm embrace on you.

"did you sleep well?" killer broke out, his low, hoarse voice tickling your ear.

you nodded and smiled, "i hope i wasn't much of a bother here."

"ah don't say that. it's not everyday you get to have cuddles like this." killer responded with a chuckle, his thumb rubbing circles on your skin.

"yeah, maybe we can change that. let's make it an everyday thing, hm?" you looked over to see killer's expression and giggled at how he blushed and hid his face under his hair.

and a comfortable silence blanketed the air of kidd's quarters. but for now, the three of you slept soundly in the four corners of this dimly lit room. the fire was already long dead, but the embers of the unsaid longings still remain strong amidst the warmth of your arms.

part 2 🔞 is fem reader coded (still welcome for whoever wants to read 🥰)

hello anon!! 🌷thanks for the kid & killer request i'm starting to enjoy writing for poly now whahahaha hope i did your request justice!

that was a long ass absence again huh ASJDAHDHDASJ very sorry a lot happened,a lot of personal stuff just came crashing in (ahem graduation ahem college next) and just when you thought it could get any worse i got fucking sick!! ain't that fun! but i'm recovering now and i hope it doesn't get worse

[takamimami]

Heya!! First of all, congratulations on 100 followers!! 🎉🎉🎉 Been reading your stories since day one!! Id love to request some fluff for Kid, “Sweet of you to think of me.” “I always think of you.” with f reader please

Hiya, anon!! Ty for the kind words, for the continued support, and tysm for submitting a prompt <3! I hope you enjoy this Kidd fluff I've prepared for you :3

Kidd x F!Reader - SFW - “Sweet of you to think of me.” “I always think of you.” - STORY UNDER THE CUT CW: FLUFF; reader is pms-ing, period woes, kidd is a sweetie pie and gladly acts as your punching bag for your mood swings, gentle kidd will be the death of me ---word count 1.3k

You were sitting at the bow of the Victoria Punk, leaning against the railing underneath the open mouth of the ship’s figurehead as you flipped through the pages of the book you’d been meaning to finish for far too long. The crew had docked late last night, and almost everyone had headed into the port village when they woke this morning. You, however, offered to stay and watch the ship - not wanting to trek through unfamiliar territory with period cramps. 

You groaned and rubbed at your stomach, the stabbing pains only intensifying as the day went on. At one point you hobbled your way to the kitchen to make yourself some tea, and you were surprised to see your captain, and lover, rummaging through the cabinets in search of something to snack on.

He greets you with a grunt, barely sparing you a glance as you walk past him and turn on the stove to heat up some water. The two of you stand in comfortable silence until a particularly aggressive cramp has you gripping the edge of the counter and groaning slightly. 

Kidd flicks an eyebrow up at you, noting the movement and sound, but not saying anything. You thought maybe he didn’t notice you, so you grab the tea from the cupboard and turn to walk away, holding your arm over your abdomen as you go to walk past him and back out the door. 

Kidd’s arm extends in front of you, stopping you and nearly spilling the hot water in your tea cup, to which you glare up at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, face stoic as he takes in your clammy skin and wrinkled forehead. 

“You mean besides the fact that you just almost made me burn myself?” you sneer at him, pushing past his arm and continuing back out onto the deck. You thought for a second he might follow you and demand you answer him, but he remains in the kitchen - and you’re not sure if you’re relieved or irritated by his lack of pursuit. 

You return to your previous spot and curl back up under the figurehead, flipping back into the pages of your books and trying to push Kidd from your mind. The sun peaks and begins to set in the distance by the time you stand again, the rest of your crew starting to filter back onto the ship just as darkness settles in. 

Their rowdiness usually doesn’t bother you, but with your heightened irritability, you rise from your spot and slip below deck before anyone can notice your absence. You saunter down the hall and enter your and Kidd’s shared quarters, setting the book down on the end table before curling up under the thick blanket and tucking your knees to your chest, groaning as you struggle to fall asleep.

The next morning you awake to an empty bed, irritation immediately settling in as you realize that there was no sign of Kidd even coming to bed last night.

Had he been upset at you for snapping at him? You knew your tongue could be extra sharp during your period, so maybe you had upset him more than you realized. Your previous irritation from the day before had dissolved, replaced by a feeling of vulnerability as you tugged the blanket tighter to you, missing the warmth of your lover as you lay in the bed and tried not to get emotional. 

You finally forced yourself out of bed when your stomach growled loud enough to echo through the room, realizing you hadn’t eaten much the prior day and it was already mid-day as you stepped out onto the bright deck. A few of your crewmates offered you sympathetic smiles and you ran your fingers through your hair, realizing you probably looked worse for wear as you pushed open the kitchen doors.

The smell of the food Killer was cooking wafted towards you, filling your nostrils and making your stomach grumble in response. Killer hears the sound and turns to glance at you, giving you a look over before chuckling lightly to himself.

“You look like shit,” he teases, to which you flip him your middle finger and pull up a stool to the counter space near him, leaning your elbow on the counter as you watch him sprinkle some cheese over the pasta he had prepared.

“Have you seen our captain?” You inquire, your mouth nearly salivating as Killer plates a bit of the food for you and slides the plate in your direction. He plates two more dishes and turns to you, and you swear you can see him crack a knowing smile behind his mask.

“Last I heard from him he had been in his workshop all night,” he says, keeping his response short as he gathers the plate and heads towards the door. “He asked me to make you and him some food, and said he’d be done with whatever he was working on by the time you woke up.”

“He asked you to make me food?” you counter, confusion laced in your tone. Killer just nods and walks back out onto the deck, and you turn back to the plate of food as you grab for the fork next to it and take a bite. You finish the food embarrassingly fast, your confusion still gnawing at your mind as you wash the dishes and head toward Kidd’s workshop.

As you reach for the handle of the door it swings open, Kidd’s wrist held in the air as he sits on his workbench, eyeing you from across the room with a smirk on his face.

“Good morning, grumpy,” he croons as you enter the room, flicking his wrist again to shut the door behind you. You stick your tongue out at him and cross the room, eyeing him wearily as you inspect him and the room around him.

“You’re chipper,” you muse, his arm reaching out to pull you into his lap as he nuzzles his face into your neck, peppering it a few with light kisses before pulling away and looking at you.

“Did you eat?” he questions, his finger tracing gentle circles in your back as you nod. He gives you an approving hum before pressing a gentle kiss to your lips, and your brows must have still been furrowed from the surprise at his pleasant mood because he lets out a laugh as his eyes meet yours again.

“Just because you were pissy yesterday doesn’t mean I have to be,” he says teasingly, reaching around to grab the thick belt that lay on the workbench behind him. “I made you something that might help with that, though.”

Your brow remains furrowed as you stare at the contraption in his hands, raising your arms as he leans you back so he can wrap it around your waist. He fastens it and adjusts it so it's sitting across the very bottom of your abdomen, the protrusions pressing into your skin as he tightens the band. Then with a press of a button, the protrusions begin to rotate, massaging the skin under them gently as the band begins to heat up, and you let out a satisfied hum at the relieving feeling it begins to offer.

“How does that feel?” he says softly, eyes softening as he sees the relief washing over your features.

“So nice,” you purr, and he smiles triumphantly as he tightens his arm back around your waist. Your heart swells at the way he gazes back at you, that familiar glint in his amber orbs peaking out at you as your smile widens.

“I know sometimes your back hurts too, so you can wear it the other way and it will massage your back too. The temperature is adjustable,” he murmurs, taking your hand and placing it over the buttons on the sides to show you how to operate it. 

“Thank you, Kidd,” you croon, pulling his goggles off his head and running your fingers through his tousled hair. “It was very sweet of you to think of me, ya big softy.” 

He chuckles as he nuzzles his face back into your neck, holding you tightly as your fingers continue to play with his hair.  “I’m always thinking of you, angel.”

100 Follower Event Masterlist ✨come say hai :3✨

[glassartpeasants]

Run Rabbit Run .10

Yandere!Eustass Kid x F!Reader

Warnings: Death, blood mentions, physical abuse, violence, implied non-con, slight non-con, not edited for shit cause it took too long to type in general

A/N: This part is all in the eyes of Kidd so enjoy. I'm so happy for this shit to be finally published cause it took me too fucking long to do. Also working on new writing styles cause i need to be a perfectionist

music playlist

pt.1 pt.2 pt.3 pt.4 pt.5 pt.6 pt.7 pt.8 pt.9 pt.10 pt.11

~~~

“Look at them run! This is gonna be a fun island to ransack.”

“We should find the mayor and ask him where he keeps the town's treasury.”

“Good thinking, Killer.”

Even with the conversation so short, it spoke volumes as the Victoria Punk docks on the island. The beautiful blue skies shone down on the new and upcoming worst-generation supernova. With only a few months under his belt, his name was still feared throughout the south blue. His bounty getting higher and higher with every new poster.

He has yet to lose to any marine or pirate ship. Every battle he wins only makes him all the more feared, and his crew is just as terrifying as himself. Being known for his bloodthirsty ways, people would usually give him their prized possessions just to make sure they stayed clear of his wraith. But even then, sometimes, it wasn’t enough.

“This island is smaller than I thought, but it’s still mostly populated. More people, more treasure.”

“I haven’t seen any marines since we’ve docked, no boats or anything. Do you think this island isn’t under the eye of the world government?”

“Don’t matter to me. If marines try to stop me, I’ll just crush them.” The sinister chuckle that left the man’s lips made even the strongest marine tremble. Now, with a rushing set of footsteps coming towards him, Kidd continues to smirk.

A man about his own age was running full speed at him. A look of rage crossed his features as he clutched a knife tightly in his hands. Compared to himself, the man was nothing more than a twig. No muscle or anything to back him up with the fight he was looking for.

“Oh, this outta be fun.”

“Damn pirates! Leave our island alone!” The man lifts his arm to strike the notorious captain, only to be stopped by a suffocating grip. Without a second thought, Kidd’s hand gripped the scrawny man’s neck as he lifted him up. The man drops the knife to try and pry off the hand, squeezing his throat.

“How pathetic! A string bean like you thinks he can tell me what to do?” Kidd squeezes the man's throat harder and lifts him so they're eye to eye.

“News flash, I don’t like when people tell me what to do. I’ll show you what happens to people who do.” Clawing at Kidd’s hand, the man begins to see black in his vision as he starts to gasp.

“Please let my son go! He’s the only family I have!” An old man shows up hobbling fast towards Kidd and his crew. A cane in his left hand as he struggles to stay up. 

“I don’t feel like it. Little fucker thinks he can try to attack me. Yet he didn’t even land a hit like the pathetic little thing he is.” Kidd laughs at the old man’s worried expression.

“I’ll do anything! Just please let my son go!” The old man gets on his hands and knees, begging the ruthless pirate for mercy. 

“Bring me your mayor, and I’ll think about it.”

“I am the mayor! I promise, Captain Kidd, as I have the key to City Hall and everything!” The old man pulls out a key from his pants and lifts it towards Kidd.

“Well, would you look at that? How convenient. I didn’t even have to waste time searching.” Using his devil fruit powers, Kidd gravitates the key to his open hand. Looking at the key in his hand, he looks to his friend.

“What ya think, Killer? Should I let the small fry go?”

“Might as well. We have the mayor right here.”

“Looks like it’s your lucky day. Now scram before I change my mind.” The man is dropped with a thud. Holding his throat, he coughs harshly, with tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. Air finally returns to his lungs.

“Run home, son. Everything will be fine! Just go home.”

“But father-”

“Go home!” Despite his pleas, the scrawny man follows his father's orders. His throat bruised as he struggles to walk. His head spinning as the lack of oxygen has taken its toll. A crippling fear plagues the son as he walks home with unstable legs. The safety of his father was all he could think about.

“Now that that little nuisance is out of the way, we can finally get what we came here for.” Turning his attention to the old man, Kidd looks down at him.

“You either give us all the treasure this town has in its treasury, or I go back and break your son's scrawny little neck.” The mayor looks in horror at the man before him.

“I can’t! We’ve been saving it to build a marine base on the island! It’s taken us years to save up that money!” Kidd only laughs in the old man’s face.

“Too bad, old man! Now, you either give us all the treasure this shit town has to offer, or you’ll see its ashes fall from the sky!”

“But! The people need that for-” Not letting the old man finish, Kidd kicked him backwards. His fragile body hits the ground and is knocked out cold.

“Wrong answer, old fool! Burn it down and take everything! Leave no stone unturned!” Kidd watched his crew scatter before starting to break into businesses, houses, and other structures. Glass shattering, and the newfound screams sounded like music to his ears.

“Heat!” Calling out to his crew, he watches the bluenette approach him.

“Yeah Captain?”

“I want you to go kill that brat while burning down buildings.”

“Sounds good.”

Turning around laughing, Kidd’s amber eyes catch the glance of a woman hiding behind a building. Her face full of fear as she shook in her place.  From where she stood, Kidd could see the way the light shone down on her. It gave her an almost angelic glow. For some reason, it ignited something inside him. Something that told him to ruin her. To rip off that halo and wings while he fucked her down to the second circle of hell. The image made him laugh as he began to move in her direction. Himmoving in the woman’s direction caused her to finally flee.

“Cat and mouse, aye?” Kidd snickers as he beckons the woman back; any metal she was wearing would drag her right back to him. He watches her stop in her tracks before being pulled back to him at full speed. Her shrieks of terror cause him to lick his lips.

The woman’s back collided with Kidd’s chest as he grabbed her wirst in an iron grip.

“Where do you think you're going?” The woman looked up at him, and he smiled at her. He watched her tremble in place.

“Y-Your Eustass Kidd…”

“Damn right. What? You afraid?” The way she uttered his name made the fire inside him only burn brighter. A delicate little thing like her screaming out his name as he left bruises on her skin had his mind running with wild thoughts.

“Please! Just let me go! I’ll give you all the money I have. Just please let me go!” He watched in amusement as the woman tried to twist and turn out of his grip. The hope dying in her eyes felt like an addictive drug. While taking in the woman's fear, he noticed a ring adorning her finger and a metal circle on your left wrist.

“Now, why would I let something I caught fair and square go?” Finally pulling her left arm closer to his view, he finds that the circle of metal adorning her wrist was, in fact, supposed to be a bracelet. A very shitty stainless steel bracelet that he could have easily made with his eyes closed. 

“Your shitty stainless steel bracelet betrayed you, princess.” The nickname fell off his tongue so smoothly that it was almost like honey. He could feel his heart quicken at the little nickname that he decided there and then.

“My fiance worked hard to make it for me!”

“Don’t make me laugh! This is the shittest piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen!” How horribly it was made felt like an insult to him. He swore a baby could make one better. Using his power, Kidd manages to contort the ugly bracelet off the woman's wrist. He brought it closer to his face just to look at it once more, and that’s when he saw the flaw in the metal. He sees the woman reach for it but simply lifts it up out of her reach to inspect it more.

“Give it back!”

“It’s ain’t even pure stainless steel. Pathetic. Not even detailed, just a circle of metal." Using his devil fruit, he crushes the bracelet into the form of a ball. Small enough to be a bullet.

“Repel.” A laugh escapes him as he watches the small ball shoot into a store window. It shatters the entire thing and breaks something inside. Now, turning back to the woman, he smirks.

“Now, c’mon. You’re coming with me.” The woman's nails dig into Kidd’s hand. Her desperate attempt at freedom only made his lust for her grow.

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be, princess. I’m not a very patient person.” The woman's mouth opens to say something, but a loud voice pulls his attention away.

“(Y/N)! Get your hands off of her, you filithy pirate!” So that was your name? It felt fitting for a little thing like yourself. A lovely little princess like you with such an angelic name.

Looking at the person in front of him, he sees a ring adorning their left hand. It added up to the fact that this must be your fiance. AN annoyed look plastered on Kidd’s face as he realized that what should have been a quick thing was now actually gonna be a pain in his ass. Looking the fiance up and down, Kidd knew that they stood no chance against him. A single punch could take them down, no doubt.

“Is this your pathetic fiance? Ugh, I don’t have time to deal with you. I’ve got to take this treasure I found back to the ship.”

“(Y/N)’s not going anywhere with you! Let her go pirate!” Rage filled Kidd as another small fry thinks they can tell him what to do.

“Run (....)! He’s going to kill you!” Kidd let go of your wrist for a second, only to wrap his arm around your torso. He pulled you close to his chest as he trapped your arms to your sides with his strong grip. While he’d love to turn your pathetic fiance into a bloody puddle, he just couldn’t wait to bring you back to the Victoria Punk for safekeeping.

“Killer!” Not even seconds pass before his best friend shows up next to him.

“Yeah, Kidd?”

“I need you to kill them. Little shit thinks they can tell me what I can and can’t do.” He watches his buddy look down at the horrified woman in his arms.

“Who’s she?”

“My new plaything, cutie, ain’t she?” Kidd laughs as he holds onto you tighter. Your smell was intoxicating with how close you were to him.

“No! Leave them alone!”

“Alright, let’s go.” Kidd turns around just in time so you don’t see Killer murdering your fiance. But the screams could still be heard. He looks down and sees tears slipping down your cheeks as you weep in his grasp. The pathetic fiance felt like a worthless thing to cry about, in his personal opinion. But seeing your tears had his pants growing tighter.

“What a pretty sight, don’t you think?” The look of horror on your face as you watched your town burn to the ground made Kidd feel like we were on cloud nine. He just knew that the little angel he plucked from gods hand would surely be a fuck to experience. 

~~~

“Oi Kidd.”

“What is it Killer?” Watching his friend approach him, Kidd simply took a hard drink of the alcohol in his hand. His eyes scanned the bar as he watched multiple women look at him with less-than-holy intentions.

“Do you want me to go unlock that chick on the ship now? She’s been on the ship since we took her from that island a week ago? Plus, you're at the bar getting plastered and beckoning other women over.” 

“Nah. Keep her there a little longer. Plus, where would she go? It’s not like she has a home to go back to. I could honestly keep her as long as I want!” Laughing, Kidd took another swing of his drink. Having a personal fleshlight aboard the ship at all times was an opportunity only a fool would pass up.

“If you say so.”

“Come get a drink, Killer! Unwind and enjoy the lack of Marines!” Chugging down the alcohol, Kidd slammed down the empty glass on the table. His eye scanned the room, and despite the multiple women that occupied the bar, none gave him that rush that you did when he first saw you. While there were women who looked at him with lust, the fear that was in your eyes made more of an impact on his sexual desires.

Sure, he’s taken women to the Victoria Punk, but they're always gone before sunrise. No woman he’s brought to bed has ever spent a full day on the ship. Until you came along. You’ve spent a full week under the deck of the Victoria with only him and Killer knowing. And it’ll stay that way if he could help it. Having a secret little place to relieve his stress and get his fill sounded perfect for when he was stuck on the seas without a bar to be seen.

A little wingless angel stuck in the dark.

~~~

Stumbling along the hallways, Kidd can’t help but chuckle as he makes his way to your room. He’s been drinking till the early before a sudden lust flooded his body. The image of you laying beneath him was too stong to ignore. He wanted to hear your cries and moans. Wanted to feel your nails dig into his skin and cause him too bleed. 

When he opened the door that kept you locked away, he saw you sleeping peacefully. Your face content as you lay on the tattered blankets that used to hold prisioners. The light giving him just enough to walk towards a crate to light up a lantern. Once he closed and locked the door again, the lantern was now the only sorce of light. 

He stumbled over to where your head lay before sitting down. The vibrations caused you to stir, yet you refused to awaken fully. It caused a scowl to appear on Kidd’s painted lips before he tugged on a strand of your hair. The shock of your hair being tugged made your hand go to soothe the throb that followed suit.

Rubbing your eyes, you look up.”Kidd? W-Why are you here? It’s late.” Your confusion was clear in your voice, but Kidd paid no mind.

“Mmm…gonna fuck ya. Wanna hear my princess cry out my name.” Slurring his speech, Kidd laughs as he grabs your wrist and drags you up to him. The chain attached to your ankle rattled as he had you face to face.

The fear that still swirled in your eyes got him drunker than any alcohol could ever do. Your soft skin against his rough, calloused hands felt as if he were touching something sacred.

Grabbing your chin, he pulls you in for a kiss. He could feel you try to pull away, but you were no match for his strength, and he loved that. How weak you were compared to him had his already hard cock throbbing. You were the defenseless little princess who relied on him for everything.

The kiss only got deeper as he spurred himself on in his head. He pushed his tongue past your lips and groaned when he felt your own. Your taste was sweet as he explored your mouth. No matter how many times he’s kissed you, it always felt just as electric as it did the day he first kissed you. Your lips are so soft as they smudged his lipstick with how harshly he was kissing you.

Wrapping his hands around your wrists, he slammed you down on the ground before climbing on top of your body. His lips were still locked with yours as your scent overwhelmed him. It sent a fire hot sensation in his abdomen as he started to press closer to you.

Bringing both wrists above his head, he holds them both with one hand. With his other hand now free, he runs his fingertips underneath your shirt. He feels you shiver against his touch, and it causes one to go down his own spine.

Pulling his lips away from yours, a thick strand of saliva connected his mouth to yours. Hearing you gasp and pant for breath makes him slightly grip your wrists harder as he stares down at you. Your lips were swollen from his harsh kiss and sporting the lipstick that once adorned his own lips.

“K-Kidd, you're drunk. Perhaps you should just sleep. You don’t want a hangover, do you?” The nervousness and pleas that slipped past your lips went unheard by him. All he could see was his princess lying under him. Even though you tried to squirm and wiggle away, all Kidd felt was you rubbing against him. 

“Fuck.” Kidd whispers under his breath as he begins to rub his clothed cock against you. His face is right above yours as he feels your breath fanning against his face. Through his lidded eyes, Kidd can see your eyes are closed, and you're biting your bottom lip.

Moving both your wrists to one hand, Kidd uses his free one to grab your chin. “Fucking look at me. I want you to look at me while I fuck you.” Kidd can feel his heart double in speed when he’s met with your eyes staring at him intensely yet glassy.

Kidd groans out before licking his lips. Letting go of your chin, Kidd reaches down to unbuckle his pants. His eyes still strained on you and he can’t help but notice all the bites and bruises he’s adorned on your body since you’ve been here. It only makes Kidd’s need for you higher.

“What if we do this tomorrow?” Your words break through Kidd’s lust-clouded mind. ”You won’t even remember this since you're drunk, right? We can do it tomorrow!” Beads of sweat dropped from your forehead as you talked to Kidd. Obviously hoping that he might fall for the bait.

Kidd’s eyes stare at you before letting out a yawn. He didn’t say anything for a few seconds before getting up and moving away from your body. Only to grab it seconds later and drag you to lay on the tattered blankets. He fell on top of you, making you let out an ‘oof’.

The warmth your body excluded made made Kidd’s eyes grow heavy as he let out another yawn. Placing his head onto of your breasts, he allowed his drunken self just an hour or two to sleep before going back into his own quarters. No harm in a measly two hours. 

~~~

The sky filled with smoke as Kidd angrily desetroyed anything he deemed mocked him. Living or not, his anger was his own fault as ahe had no one to blame but himself. Ever since that drunken night he slept by your side, he’s never been able to sleep normally again.

Before he used to sleep all throughout the night but now. He’d wake up every two hours reaching out for someoen that wasn’t there. He’s never slept with someone all night. Or at all. But now that he’s gotten a taste of what it felt like to sleep next to someone, it wans’t something his body could sleep without. And it pissed him off.

Sure, he loved fucking you whenever he wanted, but now, it’s like he can’t go even an hour without thinking about you. Working in his workshop became a pain in the ass as he could be working on his crew’s weapons only to see your eyes staring at him in his imagination. How blown over they are when he fucks you or how you looked at him when he even enters a room.

He couldn’t even sleep with other women anymore cause his mind kept going to you! All there was was you. It pissed him off to the point he didn’t bother seeking you out of your company for a week and counting. A small part of him begged to go below deck to see the angel he stole from god. Yet the other him spoke curses on how you’ve affected him. It felt as if his head was splitting from the battle going on inside him.

“You're scowling more than usual. What’s wrong?” His friend's voice broke through his thoughts as he stood next to him. 

Running a hand through his hair, Kidd hisses. “It’s not something you can help with, so buzz off.”

“Is it about that girl below deck?”

“(Y/N).”

“Yeah her?”

“No.”

“Liar.” Snapping his head towards the masked man, Kidd glared at him. 

“Something obviously happened, so stop trying to act like nothing did.” Killer crossed his arms as he looked at his stubborn friend.

“She’s invading my mind like a damn disease! Can’t even go an hour without her popping up in my mind! Not to mention, I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in a month!”

“Can’t even fuck another whore without imagining it’s her! It’s pissing me off! Is this some sort of devil fruit?!” A snort comes from behind Killer’s mask, making Kidd madder.

“Jesus christ, your so stupid.”

“I’m not fucking stupid! If you know what's wrong with me, then spit it out!”

“It’s called falling in love, you idiot.”

Kidd’s eyes widened as he felt his heart stop. “No shot! That’s the biggest load of shit I’ve ever heard! I’m not falling in love.”

“Oh really? Well then, let her go, it’s been six months-”

“-No.”

“You're not in love with her, but you refuse to let her go?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, Kidd. Whatever you say.”

~~~

Bursting open the door, Kidd stomps through his room. His rage fills the small space as his heart beats harshly. Once again, a marine ship ruined his supply trip to an island. While normally he wouldn’t care and go on and fight, Killer advised against it. Kidd had a good amount of sake a few hours earlier and wouldn’t be on his A game if they took charge.

While Killer was right, Kidd was still upset that he wouldn’t be able to get supplies for his crew for another day till they reached the next island.  His crew had to go hungry for a day simply because of some annoying marines.

“God fucking damnit! Those fucking marines keep getting in my way!” Kidd’s eyes scan the room as he tries to find something to throw. When his eyes landed on a metal butterfly he made for you, he grabbed it off the dresser in a quick movement.

“Fuck!” Throwing it as hard as he could, he aimed for the bedroom door, which was already covered in marks from the other times he'd thrown knives at the door. The sound of a sucked-in breath makes him snap his head in your direction.

“What the fuck are you staring at?!” He watches you scoot away from him, and it only fuels his drunken rage. Who did you think you were to run away from him? To look at him with that face? Do you think it's funny when shit doesn't go his way?

His anger only heightened even more as he wrapped his hand around your foot. Digging his nails into your skin as he pulled you from him.

As soon as you were close enough to him, he grabbed your neck and lifted you into the air. “I said, what the fuck are you staring at?!” He watched you try to pry off his fingers off your neck. The small sting your nails brought only served to piss him off more.

“You're happy, aren’t you?! Do you think the Marines are going to catch me, and you’ll be free?! Is that it?!”

“I-I can’t breathe…Kidd please…” He watched as tears streamed down your face and onto his hand. The tear felt like a needle poking into his heart.

“Stupid bitch!” Stumbling over his own feet, Kidd chucks you against the wall. He watched you hit the wall and onto the floor with a loud ‘thud’ before what sounded like a crack whispered in his ears. He examines your body, not moving, and it causes a hard scowl on his face.

“Get up, damnit! I barely threw you!” Growling, Kidd wobbles over to your body before falling to his knees. His sight is blurry as his head seems to pound. When he slid his fingers through your hair, his brain failed to register the wet substance that coated his hand. He pulls on your hair so he can look you in the eyes.

“Fucking pathetic! Why do I even keep you around when you're so fucking useless?!” Your silence had Kidd’s drunken self slightly coherent.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! Don’t ignore me!” He grabs your face and, through his drunken haze, starts to see a red liquid drip down your face. A red handprint of blood was left on your cheek when he slightly moved his hand.

Your eyes fluttering shut made him sober up as the blood running down your face finally set in.

“Oi! Keep your eyes open!” Moving his hand in front of your face back and forth, his heart rate peaks when he finally watches your eyes fully close. Pulling your body close to his own, he grabs your shoulders and shakes you harder. Worry sets in as you don’t respond.

Picking you up to carry you, he hastly stumbles out of his room and makes a dash to the infirmary. The sound of his footsteps echoed through out the halls. His mouth goes dry as your lack of movement sobers him up to accurately find the room.

To his luck, Killer was already in the infirmary, counting on what they needed to restock.

“Killer, I fucked up.”

~~~

His eyes stared at the carved door as he laid his head on your chest. Your heartbeat pounding in his ears as he tried to ignore the small blood splatter on the floor that he forgot to clean up after the incident.

Your fingers running through his hair did little to calm the thoughts in his head. Even though he laid against you, he felt it wasn’t close enough. Close seemed to not be close enough.

Lifting his body up, he laid down next to you before he pulled you to his chest, you hair slightly tickling his skin. He wrapped his arms around you all the way to the point you wouldn’t be able to leave. Moving his legs, he tangled his limbs with yours. Only then did he feel you were close enough. Your scent a silent lullaby as he raced with thoughts. What if’s ran rampant.

‘What if I just took a nap instead?’

‘What if you got hurt even worse then i thought?’

‘What if you didn’t wake up?’

The thought of you no longer sharing his bed caused a panic to settle in Kidd’s stomach. Your warmth had become the only thing that allowed him to sleep peacefully. Hearing you breathe managed to be the only stress reliever that worked.

It was obvious to him now, that no matter what he might say, he couldn’t live without you.

~~~

The sound of the waves crashing against the beach felt like laughter as Kidd watched you sailing away on a ship he’d never seen before. His scream out to you echoed across the water only to come back to him, mocking him for being too late. Now, he got to watch the only thing that made him calm leave him.

The sand below him showed muddy footprints before being washed away by the ocean. Thunder and harsh rain poured down on Kidd, his hair sticking to his face as the rain pelted down his hair. Whether it was rain or tears that slid down his cheeks was anyone's guess. It felt as if time stopped while he tried to piece together what now?

His goal to find the one piece and become King of the Pirates still ran strong through his veins, but now it felt different. Not even days before this, he began to dream of when he’d finally be called King of the Pirates, when you’d be clinging to his arm and congratulating him, kissing him, and telling him you loved him. But now, that’s what it’d only be—a dream.

~~~

It’s been months since Kidd watched you sail away. Each night was plagued with that image of you sailing farther and farther away from him, every time only seconds late. Not a night went by where he didn’t wake up in a cold sweat. He’d reach out for you and be hit with the painful reminder that it was real—that you were gone.

Yet no matter where he went, it always felt like he saw you out of the corner of his eye. Or how sometimes he’d hear your voice in his ear. But when he turned to check it out, there was nothing. It felt as if he was going insane without you. And while there was intense longing, there was rage.

How dare you leave him? Don’t you know how much you meant to him? Hasn’t he shown he’s learned his lesson? He’s told you he loved you and you still left him. You have no one other then him, he made sure of it. Yet you still left.

Killer tried to tell him to get over you, that there were plenty of other fish in the sea, but he knew what he meant. He shouldn’t be shocked. You weren't even supposed to be with him for as long as you were. It was only a matter of time before the ‘relationship’ Kidd built with you would burn before his eyes. Even if he refused Killer’s words, any sane person would have agreed.

But now here he was, missing you with fury boiling inside him as he stared out over the crowd in the auction house. Privileged entitled assholes as far as the eye can see. All waiting for the show to begin.

~~~

Emotions pumped through his veins as he stared at himself in the mirror. A small splatter of blood on his cheek as all he could think about was you. How happy he was that you were back where you belonged. That after months of sleeplessness not knowing where you were, you were finally back in his arms. Whether you liked it or not wasn't something he cared to hear. He had you first. Those damn Straw Hats took you away, but now, you were back.

But you came back with a price.

Whatever happened in those months you were away changed you. All you did was fight and yell, scream and punch. Instead of the quiet angel he stole, a venomous fallen angel stood before him. But despite missing his fearful princess, the fight you put up managed to also have his blood pumping hotter. Watching you try to fight him only to lose gave him a high that only your fear could compare to.

Seeing your eyes widen in fear when he threatened to cut off your legs made a shiver of pleasure shoot up his spine. Even after you spit venom, he could not help but want you even more. Having you so close to him again made his body go haywire. Hearing you scream out in pain reminded him of when you screamed out his name in such a different, lustful tone. Watching tears stream down your face when he threw punch after punch had him resisting the urge to fuck you bloody and bruised. 

While the image was tempting, he had things to do, and he couldn’t let you think you got away with it. So he’d just send Killer down to patch you up after you’d been drenched in your own blood for a while. Maybe it’ll give you some time to contemplate. But if not, that’s okay.

He kinda liked that taste of your blood.

~~~

His heart couldn’t help but leap when he felt your lips running smoothly against his own, your warm skin glowing underneath his fingertips as you cupped his face. A calm washed over him at the small gesture. He pulled you closer and kissed you deeper, never wanting to let you go. But when he pulled away for a breath, he saw the stains of his lipstick on your face, the sight making him smile.

Kidd couldn’t help but feel the shiver that ran down his spine when he felt your breath against his neck. The rigid, cold metal of the collar on your neck had him silently sick in a breath.

“If you're gonna make me a new collar, can it be one I can sleep in?” When you mumbled those words into his skin, flashbacks from that fateful day rushed back to him. How you got out of your collar, so he obviously had to make a bigger and better one. And now you're trying to get a different one?

“Do you know why you're in that collar?” He looked down and was met with your pleading eyes.

“I ran away.” Kidd grits his teeth and digs his fingers into his hips harshly. Anger starts to surface at the memories.

“Yeah, you did. How can I trust you not to do it again, hmm? This collar makes my devil fruit powers work even better than the last one. So why should I give rewards to bad girls?”

“Can I do something to make it up to you?” The idea Killer shut down a week ago comes back to his mind. He’s done a few good studies to understand how it works, and it sounds pretty easy—easy and a perfect way to show everyone who you belong to.

“Take off your shirt.”

“W-What?”

“You heard me. Take it off.” Kidd watches you with heat pooling in his abdomen as he takes longing glimpses at your bare chest.

“Back to me.” He watches you listen and can’t help but run his fingers along your skin. Tracing your spine causes a shiver to run down his.

Getting up, he placed you down on the chair before tying you to it with a piece of metal. The sight makes him bite the inside of his cheek.

“H-Hey! What the hell!” Kidd only laughed before turning away from you. 

“You know, Killer originally talked me out of this, but since you wanted to be rewarded for bad behavior, I think it’ll go nicely with your new collar.” A rush of power surges through Kidd’s bones as he collects everything he needs.

“It’ll also show anybody who tries to take you away from me that you belong to me.” With his hands finally full, Kidd turns back to you. Your face goes rigid as he walks in your direction, which in turn makes you try to scoot away. Grabbing the side of the chair, he brings you back to him.

“Don’t worry, princess, I did my research.” A major rush of power flowed through Kidd's veins as he watched you struggle to escape.

“This is completely unreasonable! You can’t be serious!”

“You wanted to make it up to me? Well, here's your chance.” Kidd could see the panic in your eyes as he started to heat up the metal pole in his hands.

“There has to be something else, please, Kidd!” In a swift and rash motion, Kidd threw his hand towards you and felt your cheek collide with his knuckles.

“Be fucking grateful that I’m even giving you this chance! Those damn Straw Hats taught you that you can be a brat! I’m going to kill each one of those fuckers! I’ll do it in front of you so you can see what happens when you leave me!”

“You’ll never beat them! They’re gonna come for me and kick your ass!” Red clouded Kidd’s vision hearing your words. Grabbing your hair, he tugs it back so you face him. The tears in your eyes go ignored as Kidd’s grip on the metal pole tightens. He didn’t give you a second to speak before pushing the burning hot pole on your chest.

The scream you let out when the metal was fully pushed onto your skin swiped him out of his rage. The red that once blinded him was now gone as he quickly pulled away from you. He’d never heard something so ear-piercing and painful in his life. It echoed all throughout his workshop, and he felt a panic set in when he noticed he skipped a step in his rage and how you’ve now passed out.

“Shit! Shit! Oi, princess!” Grabbing your chin, his eyes studied your face to see any sign of consciousness, yet he was met with none. His heart rate spiked as he ripped away the metal he tied you with before carrying you bridal style. He rushed to the infirmary and cursed himself internally for not following all the steps as he tried to ignore the graphic third-degree burn on your chest.

~~~

All he could feel was numb, yet a pain that was indescribable when you moved his head to look at his arm. What once used to be a full limb was now nothing more than a stump. He could see his body covered in bandages as the memory of what happened came back to him. Words couldn’t seem to form as he felt his dreams crash down around him. 

“You should lay down and make sure everything heals properly.” Using the arm he had left, Kidd pulled you onto his lap. Burying his head into your scarred chest, it's then that he feels the tears on his own cheeks.

He doesn’t know how long it’s been since he’s cried like this, or if he’s ever cried like this. Crying so hard that he struggled to breathe and began to shake. It felt like the walls were closing in on him as he cried into your chest. All he could think of was how would he become King of the Pirates with one arm? It set him back so  much that he felt hopeless.

But when you wrapped your arms around him and slid your fingers through his hair, he pulled you closer despite his bandaged torso. The slight pain he felt was nothing compared to the pain he felt inside. 

“Just breathe, okay? In and out.” Following your command, Kidd tries to copy your breathing despite continuing to cry. Your now-soaked shirt rubbed against his face, and it only worsened the pain in his heart.

The small and gentle tune you began to hum made his hold tighter. He never wanted to let you go as you comforted him when he needed you the most.

~~~

Kidd sat on a chair next to you in the hospital bed as worry and fear took over him. His anger once again took charge and caused him to hurt you horrifically. Seeing you laying there with bandages covering your head caused a guilt he’s never felt before. He remembered the amount of blood you lost when he ran you to the hospital. It dripped from your head all the way to the hospital.

He managed to nab a doctor right away and have him work on you. Every second you were in the surgery room felt like hell. And what the doctor told him what the diagnosis was made Kidd’s heart clench.

“Since she fell off your ship, there's no doubt she has a sort of head/brain trauma. Long-lasting effects could stem from this injury. Here’s a list of some effects that you can read while I go grab another IV bag.”

Which is where Kidd sat now. Watching you breathe. Watching you breathe with the crumbled up list in hand. Your eyes closed as you sleep, unaware of the wreck he is. Grabbing your hand, Kidd brought it close to his lips and kissed your knuckles before holding it against his forehead.

Caressing your face, Kidd looks at you, sleeping peacefully. The moonlight shining off you gave you that same angelic glow he saw you with all those years ago. Despite the scars that covered your body, you were still so beautiful. Rubbing your cheek, Kidd looked down at you lovingly.

“I’m sorry, princess. You can pull through this. You have to.”

~~~

“This is how it should be, sleeping next to me.” With your legs tangled in his, Kidd scoots his body closer to yours before kissing your forehead. A wicked smile slithers along Kidd’s face.

“All those memories gone. No more talking about home. No more flinching, no more Straw Hats.”

“Those bastards, trying to play hero and stole you from me. Thinking your up for grabs when you obviously belong to me. Meant for me. You were meant to be mine and stay by my side. Why else would I have gotten a second chance?”

“Now, I’ll always have you. You look up at me with loving eyes instead of hatred. Instead of hitting me, you run up to hug me. You kiss me passionately like I’ll disappear any moment. I love it when you run up to me and jump so I can catch you. I love it when you sit next to me while I work in my workshop, giving me praise. If I had known you hit your head harder, I would have you in my arms willingly…”

“Then I would’ve thrown you against the wall harder.”

~~~

‘That selfish prick! After everything I’ve done to keep her in the dark, he comes around and fucks it up! Everything was going great! She loved me yet-’

“Fuck!” Slamming his metal hand against the bench in his workshop, Kidd begins to tear it apart. Weapons were thrown to unknown corners of the room, pieces of metal scattered across the floor, and a dent in the bench.

Kidd gritted his teeth as his whole body uncontrollably shook. The dried blood staining his hand only continued to serve his rage. Because even if Heat was already dead, the damage had been done.  The day of you holding him tight and kissing him was over. He’ll never be able to feel you close to him again. At least, not without a fight.

Hot tears began to stream down his face as he gripped the dented bench with an iron grip. His tears felt like an acid against his skin as his vision blurred. The smirk the bastard wore while he bled out behind you burned into Kidd’s memory.

Giving you a devil fruit, a logia type at that was infuriating. How the hell did he manage to get it on the boat and have you eat it? You were always by his side, so how could Heat have given it to you? The day of the fight? Or when he caught you and Heat talking to each other alone? How could he not see the signs earlier? Why did it take the busting open of your old cell door twice for him to finally understand what he needed to do?

Yet it was too late.

“God damnit.” Kidd swallowed the lump in his throat before letting out a sniffle. “This is bad. How am I gonna fix this? There’s gotta be a way-”

“Kidd.” The workshop door opens, and Killer stands in the doorway. Quickly wiping his tears, Kidd tries to regain steady breathing, hoping Killer doesn’t see his moment of weakness.

“What Killer?”

“You better have a good plan. Explain where Heat went and where (Y/N) went.” Kidd stays silent, which is all Killer needs.

“Did you-”

“I saw everything from the shadows. This could be a sign, you know?”

“What kind of fucking sign?”

“You know what kind of sign I’m talking about.” Silence covers the workshop.

“Maybe it’s time to let her-”

“No!” Kidd slams his metal hand on the bench with enough force to cause another dent.

“Well, what do you think you should do then?” Once again, the workshop goes silent.

“Giving you a week to decide for (Y/N). As for Heat, better pull something good out of your ass.” Just as soon as Killer entered, he left. Leaving Kidd to wallow in his predicament.

~~~

“Do you really think she’s on this island, Kidd? It’s been a week since the paper came out.”

“She will be on this island. If she isn’t, I’ll kill anyone I need to to figure out where she went. I don’t want a single civilian to go unquestioned. If they refuse to tell you, don’t be afraid to use violence.”

The bustling port of Haylard Island has Kidd’s eyes scanning every inch of movement. If you were on that dock, he wanted to make sure he saw you. There was no room for him to be making mistakes. He’s already made enough.

“Burn down buildings, steal supplies, and anything you think is worth something. Do not stop until the ashes block out the sun.”

“Yes, captain!” Hearing his own crew leave, Kidd finally let out a shaky inhale while looking down. The sea stared back at him, once again mocking him for losing you.

“Laugh all you want, but take my word. I’ll burn and kill my way back to her. And nothing will stop me until she’s in my arms.”

~~~

Despite the night once being full of cheers, the marine group of G-5 now found themselves fighting for their lives. What should have been a celebration was now a fight to the death as they were ambushed in the dark of the night. The once-empty sky was now covered in flaming arrows heading directly toward them.

“Everyone, man, your stations! We’re under attack, so get ready for a fight!” The captain's commands echo throughout the ship, and no one wastes a second. Running up and down the ship, Captain Tashigi checks to see if everything is in order to ensure supreme safety.

“Captain!” the sound of a terrified marine rings through her ears as she runs to the voice. Coming up from below the deck, she’s met with fire and smoke. It felt as if her heart was going to explode as all she could hear was marines yelling and the flickering of flames.

The flames only got higher as she tried to figure out what to do. Before she went below deck, they were able to contain the fires, but now, it’s almost consumed the entire deck. With how fast the flames were spreading, there was no doubt that the ship would be at the bottom of the sea before sunrise. 

Grabbing a transponder snail she kept in her pocket, she began to call the nearest marine base to help with the attack. She realized this wasn’t a battle they could fight on their own. 

“Hello! This is Captain Tashigi of G-5. We need backup right away! We’re under attack, and the ship is engrossed in flames!”

“G-5, this is (....)! We will send you back up right away! What are your locations, and can you see the attackers?”

“Our coordinates are (-------)! I don’t know, as the flames are so tall and the smoke is-” The whole ship shook as something hit the deck, causing Tashigi to drop the transponder snail and fall backward.

“-Oof!”

“Captain are you okay?”

“Something just hit the boat! I’m unaware of what it is!” Quickly getting back on her feet, Tashigi grabs her sword along with the transponder snail.

“I’m going to go check it out.”

“Keep us on the line.”

“Will do.” Putting the snail away for safekeeping, Tashigi grips her sword with both hands as she starts to walk carefully through the flames.

As soon as she stepped in, the sound of a marine screaming echoed across the deck. Panic set in the captain's stomach as her hands began to shake. The screams of pain and terror only caused more panic to set in. But she’s the captain. She has to be strong. She can’t back down.

“G-5, what’s going on?!” The screams of pain and agony continue before a loud audible SNAP rings in Tashigi’s ears. Assuming the worst, she feels all the color drain from her face.

And just like that, it was quiet.

“G-5?” With her voice trembling, Tashigi couldn’t help but be frozen in place.

“Tashigi.” Before she could scream, a rough, calloused hand covered her mouth. Looking in her peripheral vision, she saw Vice Admiral Smoker motioning her to shush. Nodding her head, Smoker lowered his hand.

“What’s going on, Vice Admiral?”

“Almost the entire deck has been engulfed in flames. We need to go to the other side of the ship.”

“But what about-”

“It’s silent over those flames, Tashigi.” With tears prickling in her eyes, she understands what he’s saying despite wishing it not to be true. Grabbing her hand, Smoker runs to the end of the ship, where there are fewer flames. Their footsteps echo, giving away their position to the attackers.

As she was running, Tashigi’s sword started vibrating before being completely pulled from her hands. She watched it fly backward and into the flames. A metal thunk rang across the deck, making her eyes widen. When she looked into the flames, she felt her heart stop.

Walking through the flames was no other than the man who had the whole new world in the palm of his hand.

“V-Vice Admiral…it’s-”

“Go hide, Tashigi. I’ll handle this.” Putting himself in front of her, Smoker points towards the darkness.

“But-”

“I’ll be fine. Go hide. Don’t come out until I come to get you.”

With a tremble in her voice, she responds. “Okay.”

Running into the darkness, Tashigi searches around with a racing heart, desperate to find a hiding spot. The sound of unintelligible yelling and metal clanking only makes her search more frantic. She should be fighting, but if Smoker says to hide…

“Killer! Go after the girl. She ran straight ahead.”

“You’ll have to get past me first. Both of you.”

“Vice Admiral.” Whispering to herself, Tashigi runs around some more before spotting an empty barrel. With no more time to spend, she jumps in.

As she gets as comfortable as she can, she puts the barrel lid over her head, leaving her in complete darkness. Her knees pressed against her chest as she struggles to take deep breaths. She tries to prevent herself from shivering.

‘This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.’ She thinks to herself as tears slip down her cheeks. She knew the stakes there were to bring you to Sabaody, but they were so careful about not giving away. It was then taking care of you. How did Kidd figure out it was them?

A loud thud can be heard throughout the deck before silence. No words were spoken, and the fear was only intensified. Tashigi felt her throat grow dry as she started to hear boots shuffling along the deck.

Sounds of things being searched causes her heart to beat out of her chest. Her body begins to shake as she hears the boots walking towards her hiding spot. 

The moonlight soon shines down on her as the barrel's lid pops open. She looks up and sees no one. The moonlight shone down on her as she feared who had opened the lid, but she soon gets her answer.

“Found you.”

~~~

Haven't been able to draw for shit so no picture

@rebeccawinters @iggy5055 @dairygrrl @childconnoisseur @menifire1092 @nerdgeekandeverysweet-blog @tremendoushorsepatrolgoth @lovemesomefanfic846 @ryuv1i @carpinchootaku @misoxramen @pinkfoxmusic @mizzhellsingsstuff

[bluegalaxygirl]

Amnesia (KidKiller X Reader) P3

Plot: After an explosion reader wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past few years, her parents want to take her home so she can recover and get back to a normal life while the Kid pirates want her back on the ship where she belongs.

Warning: Bad language, Violence, Blood, Drugs, mentions of torture and Death.

Reader is Female, Poly Relationship, established relationship, Kid X Reader X Killer, Reader is a member of the Kid pirates and is in charge of the money, Budgeting and negotiating the best price.

< Previous part ….. Next Part >

The afternoon sun burned bright in the sky, the white soft clouds slowly floating through the clear sky as birds happy let the light wind take them across the sea. It would have been so peaceful if it weren't for the cannon fire, yelling and metal banging against brick, The Victoria Punk quickly docked at the side of the prison letting the crew off to rampage and free their crew mates while others stayed behind to fire at the prison walls with the cannons. Kid had already left the ship before it even docked and Killer wasn't too far behind, the captain busted open the gates sending shock waves though the floating prison startling everyone inside. Marines run to protect the prison but are either shot, cut or punched hardly standing a chance against the Kid pirates, Kid had no idea where he was going, he just hit and gathered mental as he runs through the base, Killer following behind slicing up anyone who came after them. Wire and Heat know that Kid and Killer would be doing their own thing so the two split up taking a few crew members with them to search the cell area for their crew, it wasn't long until Wire came across the missing crew members. Boogie waves his hand threw the bars seeing his tall crew mate and a few others running down the hall "Wire" The four call out with happy smile's glad to be getting out of this place, the tall man simply nods before using his trident to slice open the bars to each cell letting them out.

The crew around him cheer as they reunite with each other but Wire raises an eyebrow at only seeing the four of them, before he can ask though Bubblegum runs up to him in slight panic "They took Y/n to the infirmary but The Commodore recognized her, he said her father would he furious and to keep her off the records." He quickly explains knowing Wire didn't have the time for long stories, the other three nod confirming what Bubblegum just said. "Get them out of here, I'll check the infirmary , if you see Heat on the way make sure to inform him of all this" The tall man commands the crew he brought with him before heading off to find the medical ward alone, Its true the crew don't know anything about your past, but they never thought to ask and you never brought it up. You had a few strange quirks but then again so did the rest of the crew who come from all over the South blue and some even from the Grand line. Walking into the infirmary Wire looks around seeing several patients in their beds, some tied down while the others seem to be passed out but none of them were you. A whimper catches his attention turning to look at the desk's down the other end of the room, walking over the tall man steps around the main desk to see a young woman wearing a nurses outfit cowering under it, she freezes with a squeak when seeing Wire staring down at her. "Where's Y/N, she was brought in last night or this morning" He asks not making a move towards her yet, he had no reason to hurt her unless she refused to answer his question.

Despite her seeming to know that he had no intention to harm her if she answered, she gave him a response the tall man didn't like "w-we've had no n-new patients" She stutters while trying to move further back in fear but her back is already pressed firmly against the wood, Wire lets out a sigh before bending down to look right at her "My crew said she was brought here so don't lie, where is she?" He asks again becoming impatient his eyes burning into her's making the young girl gulp in fear "I-i'm not lying, I-I can show y-you the records" She pants hoping not to get killed by the tall man. Wire thinks for a second while looking her over, something told him she was telling the truth, but he needed to be sure so using one hand he shoves the heavy wooden desk away causing her to let out a scream, but she makes no move to get up and run, it seems her body chose freeze this time. "Hurry up, i don't have time" Wire gestures towards the file cabinets while gripping his trident in his other hand ready to kill her if she tried to run, with a nod the young woman stands to her shaky feet and makes her way over to the file cabinets taking out the patient records for the past couple of days. Her hands are shaky at best but manages to take them out without dropping them and places them on the other wooden desk thats still standing, Wire steps closer causing the woman to back up to the wall as to not be in his way. Looking over the files it seems she was telling the truth, there isn't any records of any new additions but there were records of the four crew members being patched up then shoved in a cell. So its true that they didn't put you on record but there has to be a trace of you somewhere at least someone who saw you here, the nurse would have told him if she saw you, she's too scared not too.

The young nurse watches the pirate's every move until he shoves the files off the desk and turn to her, thinking she's going to die the young woman closes her eyes and bases for a painful death but instead she hears footsteps walking away. Peeking open her eyes she watches Wire walk towards the door after stepping over the wooden desk that he shoved to the floor and heads down the hall to inform his captain about all this, surprisingly leaving the nurse alive. Killer slices through yet another Marine that thought he could take the masked man on in a sword fight as he follows Kid's mess of destruction, he know's that if he lost sight of his captain all he had to do was follow the trail of bodies and broken walls to find him again. A few marines tried to take on Kid but their weapons where ripped out of their hands as the red head uses his devil fruit to pull them, along with other piece of metal over to him covering his already metal arm making it much bigger and stronger. With a laugh Kid swings the giant arm hitting the marines and the walls around him as Killer finally catches up and stops next to his captain looking around at the mess. Just as they were about to keep going footsteps run up behind them causing the two to turn ready for a fight only to see Wire run around the corner and over to the two. "You find everyone?" Killer asks as the tall man stops in front of them, his breathing is heavy from running, but he also seemed very annoyed or even angry.

Wire nods at the masked man before trying to inform the two of what he's just learned "The others are heading back to the ship, Y/n was taken to the infirmary when she got here but-" Before he can continue Kid groans and walks past his tall friend while rolling his eyes "Well what the hell you waiting for?" The captain yells staring to head to the infirmary but is stopped by Killer "Kid wait.. what were you going to say?" The masked man asks knowing something is wrong since Wire would have looked in the infirmary so why was he here without you. "She's not there, there's no record of her ever being here, th-" Wire's interrupted again this time by both Kid and Killer who yell loud enough he swears that everyone back on the Victoria can hear them "What?" Wire takes a breath mainly to clam his own anger and frustration of being interrupted again before turning to the captain. With his arms crosses over his chest Wire finally managed to explain what the others told him while not being interrupted by the two, he also explained how the young nurse had no idea who you were and that the files showed the four others but not you. The only person who might know where you are is the Commodore, but he hasn't been seen anywhere, Kid growls as he grits his teeth not understanding how things can go this wrong. Killer sighs trying to calm himself before thinking how to go about things but it isn't really working "We should find him, if he won't tell us then we'll just have to beat it out of him" The first mate states getting Kid to snap out of his hate filled gaze on his clenched metal hand.

Kid gives a big grin and a quick nod showing a clear liking towards the idea before heading off to find the Commodore's office with Killer and Wire following behind, the Commodore may not be in his office with all the fighting, but they've met marines of higher ranks that would rather cower away and let their lower ranked officers do the work than fight. The three sprint down the hall gradually feeling the aura change as they get closer to a much stronger person, soon enough a white coated marine appears coming out of his office while holding a small yellow bottle. Kid growls, anger boiling through him as he jumps up bringing his fist down on the Commodore who only managed to dodge at the last second, his cheek getting cut by the splintered wood that fly's through the air due to the force of Kid's metal arm hitting the wooden floor. Using the distraction Killer runs in swinging his blades at the white coated man who gasp as it slices his hand off, Wire runs in next bringing his trident down on the man aiming for his shoulder since they need him alive. Despite the situation the Commodore smirks popping the yellow bottle and quickly tipping it into his mouth before Wire can hit him, a burst of energy sends the three flying back, yellow lightning like power causes out of the man who screams in agony. Killer manages to get to his feet quickly stopping himself from sliding too far away as Wire tumbles a little more but uses his hand to push himself up stopping his body from continuing to roll. Kid shield's his face with his metal arm as his feet skid across the floor managing to stop himself before passing Killer.

The blinding yellow lightning and screams soon stops revealing the Commodore who pants while looking very different, the hand that was cut off has healed into a stump already and the mans already large frame was even bigger, his muscles bulging and almost pulsing as thick raised veins run across his whole body, even his face, the clothes he's wearing is ripped to shreds except or a bit around his groin area and the white coat hanging off his back by a string wrapped around his neck. "What the fuck?" Kid asks standing to his full height as the now large man throws his head back in laughter before looking at the three "I know your rash but i thought you'd at least ask me a question first" The Commodore smirks bringing a leg behind him to get into a fighting stance, Kid takes a step forwards with a smirk of his own knowing it's going to be a good fight but doesn't jump in just yet since Killer lightly placing his hand on the captains arm "Where's Y/n?" The masked man calls out even though he knows he's not going to get a straight answer from this man. "I don't know who your talking about" It was a obvious lie since the man clearly rolled his eyes that smirk never fading from his face. Kid rushes in gathering metal around him to make his metal arm large again before punching the marine who uses both of his arms to stop the punch, the captain didn't bother to ask questions instead focusing on the fight. Pulling his hand back the captain continues to punch and grapple with the large marine while Killer and Wire wait on the side lines knowing not to jump in just yet. "Sneak into the office, see what you can find" The masked man glances at the tall man who nods heading of to sneak into the Commodore's office.

Once Wire's out of view Killer joins the fight running over with his blade's spinning and going for the Marines legs, sliding past the masked man turns back only to see the commodore's leg's unharmed even though his blade differently cut though skin since there's blood on his blade. "Answer the fucking question" Kid yells as he blocks the Commodore's punch with his metal arm, some of the metal denting under the force making the captain grunt in annoyance, Killer runs back into the fight, jumping into the air and bringing his blades down on the marines back letting them dig in. The Commodore yells in pain and anger as his wounds try to heal even though there are blades stuck in his back. "Where is she" The masked man yells as the marine tries to reach back and grab him only to be punched in the face by Kid's large arm, thinking quickly the commodore runs backwards hoping to crush the blonde between him and the wall only for Killer to quickly catch on and brings his blades out, jumps off the marines back just before being crushes. Panting slightly the white coated marine swipes as Killer lands about to hit him when a chunk of metal hits his chest forcing the large back back into the brick wall making it crack under the pressure. Metal continues to swarm over pinning the man to the wall while Kid Chuckles walking up to his partners side "Tell us where she is and I'll make your death quick" Kid smirks looking at the struggling and panting marine who seems to have given up,the Commodore slowly looks up at the two letting a sick joyful smile from on his face. "i'm sorry to inform you but she's dead, her wounds were just too much for her" The captain extends his arm purple strings of light flowing from his hand as his eyes burn with anger.

Kid starts closing his fist making the metal around the commodore compress the pain of even thinking your dead makes it hard for him not to kill this guy "Liar" The captain yells but the marine shakes his head while struggling to get free "She's dead deal with it" The commodore yells managing to get one of his arms free, Killer's quick to act running over and stabbing his arm forcing the blades through and into the wall, the marine yells in pain trying to pull his arm away but their combined strength was too much even with what ever drugs he took. "We know she's alive, tell us where she is" The masked man growls using all his strength to keep the commodore's arm in place while Kid continues to try and squeeze the life out of him, before the commodore can answer Wire runs out of the office with an angry look "She's not here" their crew mate yells out causing the two to look over at him in surprise and confusion "There's no record of her but a ship left last night with a bunch of medial supply's and an extra passenger. It didn't say where it was heading though" The tall man explains before turning to the Commodore "But you were the one to order it" Kid growls while squeezing tighter making the marine caught up blood, Killer removes his blades from the mans arms watching as the wound starts to close shut leaving no scar behind. "Where are they taking her?" Kid yells out stepping closer to the large man who's still struggling, but he can tell the marine is getting weaker, the drugs must be wearing off with all the healing its having to do, when the Commodore refused to answer Kid grips harder causing the man to scream out in pain, his ribs cracking and organs being crushed "We can still follow her Vivre card but I'd like to keep him alive, so we can get information" Killer sighs looking to his partner.

The captain thinks for a second before nodding and loosens his grip, the sound of bones cracking back into place echos threw the hall along with a slight yellow glow coming out from under the metal arm holding him in place. "Shit not now" The commodore groans feeling his strength fade away, the yellow light causing through his veins making his large body start to shrink and muscles deflate. With a laugh Kid lets the marine go watching him fall to the floor, his skin turning gray and his lest over clothes hang loosely around his now skinny body, much skinnier than when he was normal. "Looks like you took those drugs for nothing, they couldn't even help you take us down and made you even weaker. Pathetic" The captain smirks before bringing his foot down on the crouched man forcing him to lay on his stomach with little effort. "Well at least it'll be a lot easier to get him to the ship" Wire states walking over to the two and looking down at the weak looking Commodore who's struggling to try and lift his own head up, its clear what ever drug he took has bad side effects but they have no time to think about that now so Killer grabs a nearby cable and hog ties the marine as the captain steps aside starting to head back the way they came. Wire follows close behind as Killer throws the commodore over his shoulder carrying him back to the ship.

----- The Victoria Punk-----

Things had stetted down now that the Victoria is far away from the destroyed and burning prison but what they hoped would a simple job as now turned into a longer and more complicated one. Wire went back to steering the ship using your Vivre card to show him which direction to go in while Heat and Reck where keeping an eye on the Commodore who's currently chained up in a dark room bellow deck. Kid and Killer make their way into the med bay seeing House just finishing up taking care of the crew mate's wounds, there wasn't much to do since the medical staff at the prison did a, ok job but the doctor could tell it was more of a rush job. "Boss" Boogie yells with a smile happy to see his captain again, the other three crew mates turn and smile too slightly cheering for their captain and first mate, Kid grins for a second before becoming serious "Tell me what happened" The captain states walking into the room as Killer closes the door behind them, The four start talking all at once causing the masked man to sigh "One at a time" Killer states as the four look at each other before nodding silently agreeing that Bubblegum and Boogie should be the ones to say what happened. It took a while of explaining since Killer kept asking for more details and what exactly the marines said about you word for word. "So you didn't get anything on her farther?" Killer asks as he leans against the wall with his arms crossed, Bubblegum shakes his head but Emma sits up from the bed she's laying on "we'll we had a talk about it all in the cell, and we all agree that he's not a marine since the Lieutenant mentioned that her farther has no power to fire them."

The other three nod but Kid turns to House who's washing her equipment her back facing them "House… You know anything? She must have told you something" The captain asks making the crazy haired girl jump a little at her name being call, you and her are best friends so it's only right to assume she'll know something about your family but unfortunately she didn't know much. Turning to face her captain and his first mate she wipes her hands clean while looking down at the floor "Only that she ran way because they did something unforgivable and that she renounced her last name" She states but Killer and Kid look at her surprised, they knew you ran away because of your parents but your last name was fake? "What?" The two ask causing the girl to jump again as Killer pushes off the wall to walk over to her, he wasn't trying to be intimidating but House shrunk away, backing up into the counter with wide eyes "I-i thought she would have told you" House tries to defend herself making the masked man realizes his actions, with a sigh Killer places a light hand on her shoulder to reassure her "Just tell us everything she told you, even if you think we know" Relaxing a little House nods as Kid walks over to the two crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for the doctor to talk "She never told me what her real last name was because if she told me then… I'd know too much. She was drunk at the time so i though maybe she was just being paranoid or drunkenly rambling. She said a lot of other random stuff that still don't make sense really" She sighs but the two stay quiet wanting her to go on.

House gathers her courage while trying to remember what you said years ago while drunk out of your mind, you confided in her and told her not to tell a soul, House promised she wouldn't but now she had to break that promise and spill your random and incoherent rambling to your partners. "She said her parents were disappointed she wasn't a boy, that she used to tutor kids even though she didn't go to school. She won a bunch of contests that she's not proud off, She has sibling that she lived with but didn't know anything about them and that leaving was the best destitution she ever made." Kid sighs pinching his nose, it didn't give them much to go on other than your family is most likely stuck up and important in some way, Killer removes his hand from House's shoulder and gives her a nod, it did sound like drunken rambling but it did give him a few hints and maybe something to use in order to make the Commodore slip up while questioning him. "Thanks guy's, get some sleep before dinner, Papa's is cooking tonight since I've got another job to do" Killer states earning groans from around the room that he tries to hold a laugh back at "Papa's is the best out of a bad bunch, so they'll have to put up with it until Killer's free enough to cook again." Kid snaps even though he knows how bad the man's food is, Killer grips onto the captain's while gesturing to the door earning a gruff hum from the red head. Walking out the two hear the yelling of their crew behind them calling out their goodbyes and thanking them before the door is shut "What are you thinking?" Killer asks as the two walk side by side down the hall heading to the dark room where the marine is. "Just… Rich pricks" Kid huffs getting the masked man to let out a low chuckle in agreement.

[panderp123]

Cornelius Pendragon

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Name: Admiral Cornelius Edward Pendragon

Gender: Male

Born: 1799

Knighted: 1859

Death: 1869 (Scarlett Fever, aged 70)

Sexuality: Straight

🔹Species: King Cobra 🐍

🔹Height: 6ft 4”

🔹 Relations: Ellie (Wife) ,Sir Pentious (son)

🔹Personality: Stoic, Regal, Strict, Authoritarian, Chivalrous & Kind

🔹Hobbies: Building Ships in a bottle, Reading, Chess & fencing ⚔️.

🔹Likes: Tea, Cakes, Art Galleries, Park walks.

🔹 Dislikes: Disrespectful people, Laziness, Failure, dishonesty, liars, secrets (surprises don’t count)

🔹Backstory:

Born in the peek of the Pirate era, Cornelius was a very happy and energetic child. His parents were wealthy Bankers and owned many of the establishments of London. By the time he was 18 in 1817 he had enlisted in the British Royal Navy.

Cornelius didn’t want his fortune handed to him from his family. He wanted to be a man of his own making. Training with the Navy made him appreciate structure, rules and discipline. Over his years of experience in the Navy he had reached Admiral by the time he was 30.

Driven to rid of Pirates and being sent to other territories a close call during a naval battle made Cornelius take some much needed leave to visit home. Where he asked his mother to find an eligible woman to be his bride. Beatrice was more than delighted to assist!

Lo and behold he was introduced to a lovely woman called Elizabeth Hastings. She was merely 21 going on 22 at the time of their courtship but the Admiral was smitten. Elizabeth or Ellie as she preferred was so sweet, kind and a hopeless romantic for a man in uniform. However, she helped Cornelius bring down those walls to be more himself rather than the Admiral all the time.

The couple were to marry that Spring but due to Cornelius being summoned to sea he proposed they get married during their Christmas holiday with all their family. So after Christmas Mass, the pair went up and became husband and wife.

Once the festivities had died down the nerve wracking moment of their Wedding Night came to being. Cornelius knew this was a big step but he comforted Ellie and understood if she wasn’t ready they could wait. They did go through with it that night and it was very special to both of them.

Ellie saw Cornelius off at the docks, she would write to him at the Port he was stationed at. Even telling him she was expecting their first child, Cornelius was over the moon to become a father. He postponed his annual leave to have time to be there for Ellie at the end of the pregnancy.

Then on that faithful day when Ellie was whisked into the chambers to birth their first child, Cornelius was called in as Ellie had complications during birth. The doctor advised she couldn’t have more children due to risk of her life. Cornelius was understanding but he didn’t leave her side or their son’s while she recovered.

Duties were put aside for his little family as he cradled his son, Arthur. Once Ellie was better she was able to nurse and care for Arthur. Cornelius was overjoyed his little family was ok.

Over the years the trips to the Caribbean became more demanding and it caused a distance between him and Ellie. Sure they did have their marital duties to satisfy each other’s loneliness but it felt like they were becoming different people.

In 1859, Cornelius was invited to Hanover in England from none other than Queen Victoria herself. Due to his bravery and significant contribution to England he was Knighted at 60 years old. (Pen was approximately 11)

A Decade on and Cornelius had heard a rumour about his wife being unfaithful with the gardener whilst he was away. At first, he didn’t believe it yet understood…he wasn’t there but then the doubts started to creep in. Was Arthur even his? Confronting Ellie was the hardest thing he had to do because he knew his Admiral mannerisms would arise. Ellie did admit to it but as she was younger at the time she didn’t know what she wanted. Due to her indecisiveness, Cornelius wasn’t sure what Ellie wanted. So Cornelius distanced himself from both his son and wife.

Even going as far as to stop making ships in a bottle for Arthur…

By the time Arthur was a young man of science and invention both he and his father were more civil and respectful towards one another. Rather than this openly lovely relationship he had with his mother, Ellie.

Cornelius passed away from Scarlet fever in 1869 at 70 but he wished he had fixed things with his family. (Pentious approx 21)

Art by me and @gabendselarom & me

Voice sample claim: Patrick Stewart.

Alternative hood colours depending on mood

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[ohdearlingwhathappened]

Failed Plans

A/n: Merry Christmas, @quinloki !! I was your Secret Santa this year. Sorry this is a little late, but I hope your Christmas has been wonderful, and I hope you enjoy this fic!

This is not what you had planned.

Well, not entirely.

The plan was simple- sneak off the Victoria Punk, raid the assholes who shot at the ship and damaged her hull, and get back to the ship before Kid or Killer notice you were ever missing; thus far, you have been able to get about two thirds of the way through the plan, but you may or may not have forgotten to calculate how to get off the enemy’s ship.

Perhaps calling this a plan may have been giving you a little too much credit because now here you sat with a bag full of gold, maps, and anything else that looked marginally valuable- in a dark, damp corner hiding from the pirates who managed to shoot a hole through your thigh only minutes prior. Thankfully, your pant leg soaked up the immediate blood pretty well, but now that you’re sitting, the blood seeping out of the wound is beginning to drip down to the floor. And when feeling around your thigh, you come to the realization that the exit wound you were hoping for, is nowhere to be found. Meaning Hip was most likely going to be scolding you while fishing around for the bullet stuck in your leg.

“Damn it.”

This is definitely not going at all how you planned. 

Any minute now, it is going to become very apparent to both Kid and Killer that a small yet usually persistent presence is unusually quiet- leading them to discovering you left the ship when they docked for repairs. Meaning it won’t be very long before Killer figures out where you are and even less time before Kid starts tearing through whatever is in his way to find you. The red-head is caring- just in his own chaotic, violent ways. 

Footsteps racing down the hall outside of the ship going just past the room you have hidden yourself in. The shuffle of their boots could be heard once and then after a pause, twice- giving the imagery of an indecisive mind trying to determine where the thief has possibly gone. A couple of more cautious steps going this way and that sound out before the footsteps go down the hall once more. 

One problem gone, the primary problem still resides. Knocking your head against the wall behind you, you take the hem where the sleeve meets the rest of your shirt and yank hard, splitting the fabrics away from each other. While your sleeve may not be the best tourniquet, it’ll do in a pinch. Wrapping it around your thigh, you test its stability and after determining it stable enough to run with- or at least hobble- you grab the bag and make your way out into the hallway, keeping an ear and eye out for any suspicious movement or sounds.

“This was stupid and they are totally going to kill me if I survive this.”

Heading towards the stairs leading to the main deck, you look into any room you pass, hoping to find one with a porthole you might be able to squeeze through, but from what you’ve seen here, all this ship was built with was holes so small you could barely see the snow falling outside. It wasn’t long before reaching the bottom of the stairs and after letting out a muted groan, you steel yourself before slowly and quietly creeping up the steps. But before making it even halfway up, the entire ship shakes and sways to one side, a loud booming noise accompanying the movement. 

Looks like they figured it out a little sooner than you expected. 

Finishing the trek up the stairs, you poke your head out of the door that separates you from the underside of the ship and the nippy temperatures outside where you see a frankly shitty patch job on the Victoria Punk and what anyone can tell to be a pissed of Eustass Kid on the bow, slinging large pieces of scrap metal at anyone he can see. If you weren’t in the dire situation of being at risk of death from not only the people on this ship, but also one of your temperamental lovers flinging metal around, you might laugh at his ridiculous hair standing out so proudly in the falling snow. Like your own little, angry lighthouse leading you back home. But now was hardly the time. 

Running as best as you can, you make your way to the side of the ship, dodging any strikes thrown your way by those who aren’t busy dealing with Kid’s barrage of attacks as he gets closer. Of course, due to your decreased mobility, courtesy of the bullet stuck in your leg, more attacks were landing than they normally would. By the time you reach the railing, you were feeling and looking worse for wear- there seems to be no limb that has gone unscathed.

Thankfully, at that point, your crew begins making their advance and you’re quickly picked up from your place leaning heavily on the railing. Before throwing your elbow into whoever’s chin, you see the familiar blue and white striped mask and messy mane of blond hair and immediately relax and lean into his chest. 

“Thank you… I’m sorry.” Your speech is slightly slurred, the exhaustion from your wounds and the adrenaline running throughout your body makes your eyelids flutter. Killer says nothing, but he squeezes you ever so slightly closer to him, trying to be conscious of your wounds. Lifting your arm, you cup where his cheek would be, “Even with that mask, you look so pretty in the snow, Kil.”

And then it goes black.

* * * * *

“I’m going to kill them. How could they have been so fucking stupid?”

“Like you haven’t rushed into situations where your ass needed saving?”

“Shut it, Killer. I’m not the one lying knocked out in the med bay with a countless number of cuts, bruises, and bullet wounds. They are!”

What a wonderful way to wake up- to both of your boyfriends arguing. Granted, it was because you went to an enemy ship, robbed them, got caught while robbing them, and needed to be saved because you had been well in over your head.

“I reckon I’m still better looking than you, Kid.” It didn’t come out as strong as you may have wanted- more of a croak than anything- but both Kid and Killer whip around to look at you as you sit up with a wince. You expect Kid to start yelling, shouting at you for not thinking, or even Killer to say something- ask how you were feeling maybe. But they were just silent. The crooked grin on your face falls, and the shame starts to build. 

“Do you have any idea…” Kid starts. He’s not yelling, and that makes it all that much more humiliating. You feel like a child and you can feel the tears begin to well in your eyes, so you move your head to look away from both of them. Resulting in hearing Kid’s thundering footsteps approach the bed and for his hand to grab your chin to pull your face back to him, “...how worried we were?”

And so the dams break- large tears roll down your cheeks as you take a hold of the hand that held your chin and move it to your cheek to relax into his hold. Killer sits on the bed behind you and rubs your back, pressing his mask into your hair.

“I’m sorry!” Your breath is stuttered, nose sniffling and body trembling. “I didn’t- I didn’t mean for all of this to happen.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Kid.”

Despite everything, they’re talking as if you hadn't just caused a bunch of chaos with your silly decision. It left you confused, to say the least. Why aren't they scolding you? Why Is your usually fiery captain so quiet?

“Why aren't you angry with me?”

Kid snorts, “Oh, I'm furious.”

“We're more happy that you're here with us alive.” Killer takes a shuttering breath- one of the only signs that he was shaken by any of thjs- you feel it escaping through the holes in his mask. “We'll talk about things later.”

You nod, leaning back against him and looking up at Kid, “Could we go back to our room? I don't want to stay in the medbay alone.”

“Not a chance in Hell. You're staying in this bed until you're all healed up, mouse.” With that, he gets up, dropping his hand from your cheek and heading for the door. The drop in your shoulders was visible and you couldn't quite believe he was just going to leave.

Kid gets to the door and shoves a cart of medical supplies out into the hallway before closing the door, locking it, turning off the light before going back to the bed. Gently lifting your body, Kid lies down with you comfortably on his chest and after settling the both of you, he pulls Killer down to join you both. It was a bit of a squeeze between Killer and Kid, but once Killer adjusted to be on his side and wrapped his arm around you, it was quite comfortable.

“Thank you both.” And even though you had woken up just a little while ago, it was easy to fall back asleep in your lovers’ arms.

[lunaloveskpop23]

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Summary: The reader is running away and goes on a boat. What happens when she goes overboard during a storm and wake up on a island with.....sirens?

Warning: death of a character. angst. a story that is told that has a bit of violence, but death in it. a sad ending. a kiss without consent.

Genre: angst.

*PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK*

*THIS IS PURELY FICTION*

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Y/N's POV:

As a daughter of the most powerful general in the world, life can be hectic. I have to stay at home while worrying about my father. I would wait for him, and my maids would take care of me.

As I grew up, things started becoming more dangerous for me. I tried getting a job, but nobody would hire me because my father wouldn't allow me, so he threatened everyone to never hire me. Now I am 23 still living in the house my father raised me in with no way out.

I got bored and so I started reading. Reading became a way to escape from life. I read about anything and everything. My favorite book is about pirates. Which had sword fighting, monsters, sirens, treasure, love, and, more importantly, freedom for the main character. Something I always dreamed of. So I made the big decision of running away from home.

I packed everything I needed and put on a dress.

"Ms. L/N. You know what you'll father say about this. He'll be furious about this!" My maid Victoria tells me.

I pack my books and I close my suitcase. I look at her.

"I know, I just am sick of being here. I feel like Rapunzel stuck in a castle all my life. I'm sorry for leaving, but I can't stay here forever."

She sighs sadly and takes my hand.

"I guess I can't change your mind, but promise me you will be careful." She tells me in a soft tone. I felt bad leaving, but I wanted to leave.

"I promise, also.." I give her an envelope. It has money. I wanted to pay her back with everything she had to deal with this family.

"Ms. L/N!" She gasps.

"Take this, and don't be stuck here. Do more with your life. I know you told me you wanted to run a bakery," I tell her.

She smiles with tears in her eyes. She gives me a hug and I hug her tightly.

"Take care of yourself, my lady." She whispers and I nod. I pull away and look at her. I grab my suitcase and I smile at her. I leave and walk to the dock.

-------------------------------------------------------

"Ms. L/N! Over here!" I look and see the man Alexander. I talked to him earlier about me joining his crew and sail with them. I run up to him and set my stuff down.

"You are early, Ms."

"I know, I just couldn't wait." I say happily. I see two men coming to grab my stuff.

"Set her stuff in the extra room." He says to them.

"Wait, I could carry my stuff." I say

"It's ok! They got it." He tells me.

They take my stuff on the boat and I get on the boat. I look around and I smile.

"So what do you think of her?" I turn and see a man.

"Her?"

"The ship. The Golden Jewel."

"I say, she is very beautiful. Oh, I'm Y/N." I say holding out my hand to shake.

"Nice to meet you, Y/N. I'm Benjamin." He smiles at me. He shakes my hand.

"Well, Ms. L/N. Your room is set." Alex tells me.

I get happy and go look at my room. I look around and smile.

"It's not much, bu-" Alex's right-hand man Archer tries to tell me.

"I love it! Thank you!" I smile.

He smiles back and Alex comes in.

"So, dinner is at 6. Our chef Willy and his right-hand Jackson will tell us when it is ready." He tells me. I nod.

"CAPTIAN!" A crew member says.

"We must be almost ready to set sail." Archer says.

"Alright, we will leave you alone, my lady." They leave and I look around happily.

It's a step towards a new life....

"Y/N~~" I hear a voice. I look around.

"Hello?" I ask. Who said that?.....

------------------------------------------------------

Jackson sets a plate of food in front of me.

"Here you go, my lady." I smile and start eating.

"My you are hungry." Benjamin says.

"Eat up, my lady. We have plenty." Willy tells me with a Scottish accent.

I blush and eat. They chat and laugh. I sit in silence and eat.

"I hate ask, but why did you leave, my lady?" Jackson asks.

"Oh um......well, my father he kept me in the house I was raised in for my entire life. I cooked, cleaned, and taught myself many things like speaking three different languages, but I got tired of staying there. So I left."

"Ah, so a father who couldn't let his baby girl leave. I know the feeling, but that father sounds overbearing." Willy says.

I nod and finish.

"I saw a book that you had. It was about sirens." Archer says.

The room got quiet.

"The singing demons," Willy whispers.

"Oh yeah, I got intrigued by them." I say.

"Well, don't. They are monsters who suck your soul and life out of you." Willy says with anger in his voice.

I get quiet.

"Willy.....what happened to you?" Alex asks.

Willy sighs.

"My old crew......The Red Diamond......all of them were captured by sirens and killed. I was the only survivor and I ran away like a coward."

We all look at him as he tells us his story.

"Miss. I would be extremely careful about sirens. They are dangerous." He tells me.

"Well, it's mostly women who are sirens, so she is ok." Ben says.

"No, you don't understand. There are men sirens. They are rare, but I saw three. They got the wife of my old captain. Bless her heart. So either way, it's still dangerous."

I started getting nervous. Men sirens? My books never told me about this.

"I'm sure, sirens are nowhere near us." Alex says.

I nod and get up.

"I'm going to get some sleep." I tell them. They nod and tell me goodnight.

I go to bed and I fall asleep hoping I never meet a siren.

"We will meet soon, darling~" I sit up and look around. That's the same voice I heard not to long ago.....who is that?

-------------------------------------------------------

As the days passed, I got along with everyone and they became a new family to me. I have heard a set of five voices who speak to me and call out my name. I do not know who they are, but I don't worry about it.

Everything was going right.....until....

"CAPTAIN!" We run outside and see the clouds rolling in.

"Oh no." We scramble to try to beat the storm.

I tried to hold onto the ship, but I was slipping. As the storm went on, my grip became loose. I let go......

"AHHHHHHHH!" I yell and the boat tipped a little and I landed in the ocean. I try to swim up to the surface. But I couldn't swim. Everything became blurry and everything became black. Then someone grabbed me.

-------------------------------------------------------

I coughed hard and woke up. I look around. Wait......I'm not on the ship anymore. I looked around and noticed I am on an island.

I started to walk and look around.

"Where am I?" I say out loud. I felt alone....until I hear a noise. I look up and run to the noise.

"HELLO?! WHO'S THERE?!" I run and see no one.

I get worried and walk more. I come to a waterfall. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I run and try to drink the water. As I drink, I started to hear singing.

"Who's singing?" I ask and get up. I looked around and a hand grabs my ankle. I scream and see three men in the water. I blush.

I then see two more near the waterfall.

"A beautiful woman." A man with black hair and full lips say.

"My and she looks frightened." The one with redish hair says.

"It's alright, my lady." A man with black tells me.

The two near the waterfall gets closer to me.

The one with blonde hair grabs my hand.

"Such pretty hands." He says.

The other plays with my hair. Who are these men? Wait.....their voices....the ones I kept hearing.....

"Why don't you stay with us, my lady?" The red hair one says.

They pull me in the water. I scream and go into the water. The one with full lips wraps his arms around my waist. He grabs my chin and looks into my eyes. His eyes turn purple and smiles.

He starts singing softly and the one with blonde hair comes up behind me.

The other three circle around us. I don't pay attention and I become hypnotized by his singing voice. He finishes singing.

"Now, you ours my darling." The blonde whispers.

The one who sang drew me closer to him and kisses me. I started feeling dizzy and weak. I pass out in their arms. They laugh and smile.

"Poor princess..." The red-haired one laughs.

-------------------------------------------------------

"Sir!" A man runs up to the father of Y/N. Hector L/N.

"Have you found her?" Hector asks.

"Sir, the ship lost a handful of people....and....she was one of them.....but we can not find her..."

Hector gets quiet and sits down.

"I'm sorry, sir..."

Hector sighs sadly. He wonders what happened and where is his daughter.....

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Hi, my pookies!!! My TXT story is out! I hope you guys enjoyed it! If there is a Halloween story you guys want a part 2 of please let me know! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

- Luna 💜🩷

[paper-mache-socks]

A/N: Late to posting this but its alr. First time writing an actual fic so yeah

Warnings: swearing, small bits of sexual content on Kid's part, death threats, Kid actively trying to kill you, reader is lowkey kind of a stalker but its okay its just simp behavior

Kid x F!Reader

~~~

You were following him. There’s no way you weren't. Every island he docked at, you were there. Somehow, always before him, and it drove him insane.

It didn’t help that you were always looking at him. He could feel your eyes staring into his soul even if you were always across the room. It pissed him off to no end. Even when he told you to fuck off and stop staring at him, it didn’t stop you. Even when he’s actively told you that he’d kill you, you still gave him those eyes that made his body feel hot. He’d never admit it, though.

~~~

The air was tense in the bar as the sheer presence of the Kid pirates had the entire place sweating. All the civilians tried to avoid looking at the ruthless pirates, knowing how impulsive the infamous captain was. Everyone feared the crew that drank any booze the bar had.

Everyone but you.

The feeling of eyes staring at him burned his already thin patience. He moved his eyes and scoured across the entire bar until his eyes caught yours. A frown appeared on his face as he saw you smile and wave at him. He could never catch a break no matter how far he sailed from the last island he saw you at. You were always one step ahead of him. 

“What the fuck are you staring at?!” His voice echoed in the bar as some customers jumped from their seats and left. You simply put your head in your hand as your eyes never left his.

“I’m staring at you. Your still so much more handsome in person. Your wanted poster doesn’t do enough justice.” Kid grits his teeth at your words. You were teasing him. Trying to gain something from him, he wasn’t stupid.

“Your a little red captain. What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Your tiny giggles finally pissed him off enough to repeal a metal sign hanging on the wall in your direction.

“Kid! What the hell?!” A smirk appeared on his face as a cloud of smoke covered the area you once occupied. He’d like to see you get out of that one this time. Finally, you were out of sight and out of mind. Now, he can drink without being disturbed.

“Nice try, hot stuff. You should know it will take a lot more to kill me than that.” his head snapped back to the now disappearing smoke cloud. Instead of what should be lifeless bodies, was you standing there with your crew and that familiar stupid smile on your face. You and your entire crew were wearing a tattoo visible through the cloud.

“Ah, it’s the (....) pirates. I didn’t even see them dock on the island.” Kid wouldn’t even call you a pirate. All you did was follow him around! Not to mention how sometimes you managed to grab loot before he could! It was unbelievable how easily you made his blood boil.

“I’m disappointed, Captain. I’ve heard so many things about you and I was excited to see how strong you were, and yet all I get is a piece of metal? I guess your strength was simply rumors.” A pout appeared on your face as the crew around you giggled.

“What the hell did you just say?!” Kid jumped from his seat and dashed towards you, Killer’s voice in the background. 

Your crew dispersed as you soon turned to run from him with a smile on your face. It’s like you thought that this was a game. There was no way you were going to get away with calling him weak. Killer saved your ass from his rage one too many times, and now his mission was to finally kill you. Just to make an example to everyone who dares to call him weak again.

“Let’s see if you can catch me pretty boy.”

~~~

How DARE you embarrass him like that! How DARE you make him chase you until sunset, where Killer had to physically drag him back to the Victoria Punk. How DARE you blow him a kiss and tell him you’ll “see him soon.” Not if he can do anything about it. You’ve already plagued his life enough; just thinking about you made him see red.

“Trying to kill someone isn’t a good way to flirt kid.” The urge to strangle his best friend has never been stronger.

“Hey, what’s this?” Killer had let go of him and picked up something that was left on the ramp onto the ship. Kid turned around to see what he was talking about, only to see a box wrapped in wrapping paper.  He couldn’t see what was written, but Killer’s laughter only heightened his curiosity.

“Looks like you got an admirer Kid.” Killer handed him the wrapped box before walking away. With a frown on his face, he looked down at the box with his name written on it and the symbol of your pirate crew on it as well. 

Despite his annoyance at your existence, he still wanted to know what could be inside it. So he ripped it apart without caring for the paper thrown around. He opened the box and saw an assortment of chocolates and a few tools that he was looking at on the island. 

“How the hell?” How did you know he was looking at those specific tools? There was no way you could have guessed it. 

Despite the fact he wanted to throw it into the ocean with it simply being from you, he actually needed the tools, so he took them before dropping the chocolates into the salty water below him.

~~~

Kid’s hands were covered in oil as metal scraps and tools surrounded him as he slaved away in his workshop. It always managed to calm him down after his rage had it’s turn. And it most certainly did after he met you. He’s never hated someone more in his entire life. It didn’t help that he kept dreaming of you after leaving the previous island. It was always the same. He would chase you and chase you, yet never being close enough. Even his dreams taunted him with his hatred for you. He couldn’t escape you even if you weren’t physically here.

Thankfully, he was docked on a new island. Killer said there wasn’t a trace of you on the island, and Kid’s never been happier. Heat, Killer, and Wire went to grab supplies for the trip to the next island. If he wanted to go to the Grand Line, he had to go to the Sabaody Archipelago. The place where those dumb Celestial Dragons spent their time at-

“Fuck!” Kid looked at his hand and saw a newly burnt patch of skin. Guess that’s what he gets for not paying attention.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite pretty boy. I was starting to miss you.” Great, just what he needed. Your nagging voice playing in his head. It had to be in his head. He was on a completely different island, and you weren’t seen anywhere on the current island. There was no way you were actually here.

“You look so tense. What's wrong, pretty boy?” The feeling of someone's breath fanning against his exposed neck made him freeze for a second. His eyes turned to his right, and he saw your smiling face looking at him as you gently played with the fur of his coat. You were actually here in HIS boat and in HIS workshop.

The familiar anger boiled up again as he quickly grabbed a wrench before swinging his body around to hit you with the metal tool. Your sickening smile, looking him in the eyes.

“Your too slow, Captain.” Your voice appeared behind him making his eyes widen as he felt time slow down. His eyes switched to behind him, and he saw your form standing on the other side of his workbench.

“What-” A loud crash erupted from the Victoria Punk as Kid went crashing into the wall, Once again failing to get a hit on you. But just as quick as he crashed into the wall, he got up and took after you, who was already out the door, and made your way to the island.

There was no way you were getting away again. You ran into a crowd of people to try and block him from going after you. Well tried.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” The way his voice boomed across the town had all the civilians running to the safety of their homes, praying that the infamous man wouldn’t harm them. All the doors locking as they hid in their homes, only looking out the window to see who was the poor soul that had fallen victim to Eustass Kid’s wraith.

“You gotta run faster than that captain.” The streets that were now empty gave him the perfect view of your movements. 

All the metal surrounding the streets were ripped from their posts as Kid gathered as much as he could before setting his sights on you and repealing all the loose metal in your direction. There was no way you wouldn’t get hit! It was the perfect plan!

Until you turned a sharp corner.

“Fucking bitch!” nothing from that swarm of metal hot you. Not a single scratch. His blood boiled as he heard your laughter before turning the same corner you did. A vast forest stood before him that hid behind the town as he saw you run in between the trees. He might now have much metal to work with,  but the overly crowded forest should slow you down.

“Come on, Captain, I want to see you pin me down. It’s a view I could get used to.” Your sultry voice made his heart skip a beat as he tried to run even faster.

“Don’t be stupid! It’s not going to be like that!” His face turned red as his hands grew slightly sweaty. No! He wouldn’t let you plague your mind while he was so close to finally catching up to you.

“Not even if I beg? I promise to be good.” Your words flashed images in his head, begging him to play your game. 

Your body managed to avoid the tree branches and roots gracefully, making it look like a toddler could do it. Looking behind you, you see the red-faced captain still hot on your tail. You knew he’d never catch you, not when you had the power of the Speed Speed fruit on your side. It was cute to see him try, though.

Too busy to ignore the unholy images you spoke about, Kid failed to see the big tree root that protruded from the earth. Without remorse, the root caught his foot and stopped him from going forward. Instead, he went straight to the ground with a loud “FUCK”. Blacking out as soon as his head hit the ground.

~~~

Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar walls of his ship's infirmary.

“Ugh my head…” Sitting up from the uncomfortable bed, he reached to touch his pounding head. The feeling of bandages touched his fingertips. How the hell did he get hurt? Oh. Now he remembered. He chased you, and his foot got caught on that stupid tree root. But that didn’t explain how he got back to the ship though. There was no way you could have carried him back.

The familiar shade of red wrapping paper caught his eye as he saw another box sitting on the chair near the bed. Did you get on the ship AGAIN?! And leave him another one of your stupid gifts? It only served as another reminder of why he disliked you. But once again, his curiosity got the better of him. He ripped off the paper, and inside the box laid a small trinket in the shape of a heart, along with his favorite type of candy. How did you know that he liked it? Only Killer knew what kind of candy he enjoyed. Did Killer sell him out?

“Ah, your finally awake.” The infirmary door opened, and out popped Killer from behind it. 

“How did I get here, and where is that damn woman?!”

“Well, that ‘damn woman’ carried you all the way back from wherever you ate shit to the ship. She said you hit your head on a rock really hard. She cleaned up that nasty cut you got and bandaged you up.”

“Why did you let her on the ship?!”

“I was too shocked to see our captain being pushed towards the ship in a wheelbarrow knocked out with the woman he hated steering it.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could he let something like this happen?! His pride/ego could possibly get more damaged!

“Personally, I think you should thank her. She could have left your dumbass for the Marines to find and catch you.”

“I'd rather drown.” the sound of footsteps made both Kid and Killer’s eyes look towards the open door. Seeing if Heat or Wire would appear, but they didn’t.

You did.

“How is he-oh your awake. That's good to see. Worried you gave yourself brain damage.” This time, instead of your teasing smile, you looked genuinely worried and relieved. Why? Why would you help him after he’s actively tried to kill you? Twice? Were you an idiot?

“Good to see you (Y/N). Thanks again for bringing him back.” So that was your name? Huh, guess he never cared to learn it before.

“My pleasure. It was worth seeing how cute he looked sleeping. It was like a reward.” his body went hot with rage and something else. Whatever it was, it made him not want to hit you with a wrench. And he hated it.

“Well, I best be off. I simply came to see if sleeping was beauty was okay, and thankfully, he’s still himself. My crew is probably wondering where I am, so I'd best be off. See you later, Killer.” With that, you turned around to leave before sending Kid a small smile. 

“And see you soon as well, Captain.”

~~~

It’s not his fault his eyes kept looking at your tits. You were the one practically showing them to the world with how low-cut your shirt was. It screamed slut, and all the men at the bar had their eyes on you. Hopefully, you wouldn’t see him and bother someone else. He lost count of how many islands you followed him to. And yes, you followed him even if you made it to the island before him. You came into the bar after him, so technically, you followed him. All he wanted to do was drink some booze, yet he was given the misfortune of seeing you again.

Turning his head again, his eyes immediately went over to you and looked up and down your body before stopping at your chest again. They looked so soft and -no! What was he thinking?! He couldn’t think such lewd thoughts about an enemy, especially about you. He just won't look at you anymore. He can do it easily. Your tits have no control over him.

“What are you doing here all alone, pretty boy? I can give you some company if you want.” The feeling of arms draping down his shoulders to his chest had him freeze up. Soft fingertips brushed against his chest as he felt someone's head rest on his shoulder. 

“Fucking slut,. Go bother someone else. You’ll find some desperate bastard to fuck a whore like you.”

“No thanks. I have my sights set on being someone else whore.” Your fingers barely drew shapes on his chest as he felt you breathe against his neck. He could feel your chest pressed against his back. 

“I have my sights set on being your whore.” He could feel his face burn at your words. His eyes widen as you render him speechless. He grits his teeth together as his hands go into fists.

“Come on, Captain. Won’t you play with me?” He turned his eyes to yours, and how you looked at him made his chest swell with emotions he couldn’t name.

“Captian (Y/N)! Some marines and an admiral have been spotted! We should leave the island as soon as possible!” A crew member ran up to you, panting as they tried to regain air.

“Damn. Stupid marines. Always ruining the fun! Guess I’ll see you soon, pretty boy.” Your arms left his chest as the warmth they once provided left. Kids eyes couldn’t help but follow your body as you walked away from him. His heart finally slowed down when you left the bar. 

~~~

The night was dark, and the sky was clear, so the stars showed beautifully on the Victoria Punk. Everyone sleeping and waiting for the sun to rise. Everyone except Kid.

You gifted him another present, and this time it was a letter. A love letter, to be exact. He almost didn’t read it, but the thought of what it could say nagged at his mind. He finally gave in and read the letter. He could feel his face burn from the words of your letter. It fed into his ego and told him everything you liked about him and how you wished you could always be with him. All of it was filled with loving words and admiration. 

It didn’t help that ever since the bar, you’ve wormed your way into his head, and when he closed his eyes, all he could think about was you. And he hated it. The feeling of your body against his lingered even days later. The way your fingers brushed against his chest had him craving the feeling even though he’d never admit it. And instead of his dreams chasing you down in rage. It turned into something much more sinful.

Dream where you're on your knees with his cock down your throat. Tears in your eyes as you gagged against him. The way you coughed after, he pushed your head down so you’d swallow everything he had to offer. A small bit of cum would dribble off the side of your mouth. Dreams where you were crying under him, telling him how he was too big for your body. Your nails digging into his back. The way you’d scream his name as you cried from pleasure. Telling him that you belong to him and that you’d do anything for him.

Then, he’d wake up so painfully hard that he’d grit his teeth. Angry at himself for giving in to your games. Angry that not even a cold shower can save him. The only thing that could was the thought of you and your smile. 

~~~

After finally reaching the Sabaody Archipelago, fate led him once again to you as he saw you from across the restaurant. He left to grab something he forgot on the ship, and when he came back, you were sitting in HIS seat. Sitting in his chair and talking to his second-in-command. His crewmates laughing at something you must have said.

A feeling rose in his gut as he furrowed his brows, watching you and his crew get along so well. It felt like a venom that burned in his chest as he watched how chummy you had gotten in the ten minutes he was gone. But then. Your eyes moved around the room before connecting to his. You sent him that familiar lustful look that pissed him off, but now, it only made his cock rock hard.

You kept eye contact as you curled your toes in your shoes. After what seemed like forever, he finally came back. The restaurant did him justice as he just looked so handsome under the lights. His eyes bore into yours, and you feel your body heat up. All it took was a simple look that made you so weak.

“I’ll be back, guys. I forgot I have to meet my crew in a few minutes. I’ll come back since it won’t be long.” It was a lie, but they didn’t need to know that. 

“Alright, see you soon then!” They all waved you goodbye as you made your way to the door and towards Kid. You never broke eye contact with him as you walked past him. Your hands, slightly grazing his own before leaving through the door. His warm skin still lingered on your fingertips, which made your cheeks burn as the sunshine bore down on you.

You weren’t really gonna meet your crew. You were simply throwing a bone that maybe, just maybe, you finally managed to invade Kid’s mind. Perhaps he might follow you out of the restaurant before dragging you back to his ship to do whatever sinful fantasies his mind came up with.

“Grab her!” The voice of a random man yelled, and before you knew it, multiple men jumped out from where they hid. Nets, ropes, and weapons filled their hands as they surrounded you. Ah, this must be the bounty hunters for which Sabaody was also famous. 

“Your coming with us, Captain (Y/N).” The same male voice commented.

“No thanks. You smell like sweat, and I don’t really like the smell.” Faces of anger surrounded you as all you could do was snicker. Truly pathetic. You're offended that they think that some measly men would stop you-

“Got her!”

“What-” The feeling of what felt like a rope wrapped around your neck and pulled tight enough that you almost flew back. You go to run away only to stop when you realize that your devil fruit powers weren’t working, and you feel yourself get weaker.

“Sea stone infused rope. Pretty nifty, huh?” You felt your hands/arms being grabbed roughly, limiting your ability to move more.

“Let me go, you bastards!” The rope around your neck only got tighter as what you guessed was the leader walking towards you. A knife shining from the sunlight gripped tightly in his hand.

“Your worth a lot of berries Captain (Y/N). I can only imagine what we could do with them when we bring your head as a trophy. You felt your heart beat faster as your life flashed before your eyes. You close your eyes as you try to imagine yourself anywhere but here.

“Holy shit!” Just then, the rope that was being pulled tightly against your neck went loose. The same was said for your arms as the men that held them violently let go. It all happened so fast that you didn’t know what happened. You finally opened your eyes and saw three men knocked out before you.

“What? How?” Sounds of metal crackling behind you had your body turning violently. To your shock, Kid stood there looking at you without words.

“You…” Your voice raspy from the rope being pulled so tightly. Pulling the rope from around your neck, you felt tears rim your eyes. Not spending another moment, you ran towards the man in front of you. Your arms not even wrapping around his exposed torso all the way. His warm chest brought comfort compared to the cold rope.

“You look pathetic, idiot.” You said no words as you just cried into his chest.

“Thank you, Kid! Thank you so much…” You sobbed as you held onto him tighter. You didn’t expect him to hug you back, but the feeling of an arm wrapping around you had your heart skipping. 

“How can you be a captain when your so weak?” His words no doubt insults, but his voice was softer than you’ve ever heard.

“Let's go. Tthose idiots might bring reinforcements, and I’m too tired to deal with something so stupid.” Nodding into his chest, you forced yourself to let him go. You moved to his side and started walking back to the restaurant. You needed water and booze to forget how close to death you were.

You both walked side by side until the restaurant was in sight. Just then, the feeling of Kids hand grabbing your own made your eyes widen. You look up at him in shock, but he only looked forward with a familiar frown. Not wasting a second, you held his hand tight and walked closer to him. Feeling safety in his presence. A smile appeared on your face, and even though you didn’t see it, his did as well.

[phrynefishersfrocks]

Phryne Fisher's Frocks Season Comparison

Number of Outfits Per Episode

While Season 1 outmatches Season 2 with nearly a dozen more costume changes, we can see a similar trend between the two. The premieres always start with a well-dressed bang, containing the highest number of ensembles of the season. A spike occurs towards the middle (episodes 4/5), but tends to taper off near the end when the focus shifts more toward the seasonal arc. With outfits reaching triple digits in both seasons, Phryne continues to shine with both intellectual and sartorial brilliance throughout.

Episode 1: Season 1, Episode 1 - “Cocaine Blues” (13 total) Season 2, Episode 1 - “Murder Most Scandalous” (12 total)

Episode 2: Season 1, Episode 2 - “Murder on the Ballarat Train” (8 total) Season 2, Episode 2 - “Death Comes Knocking” (10 total)

Episode 3: Season 1, Episode 3 - “The Green Mill Murder” (9 total) Season 2, Episode 3 - “Dead Man’s Chest” (9 total)

Episode 4: Season 1, Episode 4 - “Death at Victoria Docks” (12 total) Season 2, Episode 4 - “Deadweight” (7 total)

Episode 5: Season 1, Episode 5 - “Raisins and Almonds” (9 total) Season 2, Episode 5 - “Murder à la Mode” (11 total)

Episode 6: Season 1, Episode 6 - “Ruddy Gore” (9 total) Season 2, Episode 6 - “Marked for Murder” (4 total)

Episode 7: Season 1, Episode 7 - “Murder in Montparnasse” (8 total) Season 2, Episode 7 - “Blood at the Wheel” (9 total)

Episode 8: Season 1, Episode 8 - “Away With the Fairies” (10 total) Season 2, Episode 8 - “The Blood of Juana the Mad” (8 total)

Episode 9: Season 1, Episode 9 - “Queen of the Flowers” (9 total) Season 2, Episode 9 - “Framed for Murder” (7 total)

Episode 10: Season 1, Episode 10 - “Death By Miss Adventure” (7 total) Season 2, Episode 10 - “Death on the Vine” (4 total)

Episode 11: Season 1, Episode 11 - “Blood and Circuses” (8 total) Season 2, Episode 11 - “Dead Air” (6 total)

Episode 12: Season 1. Episode 12 - “Murder in the Dark” (5 total) Season 2, Episode 12 - “Unnatural Habits” (8 total)

Episode 13: Season 1, Episode 13 - “King Memses’ Curse” (5 total) Season 2, Episode 13 - “Murder Under the Mistletoe” (6 total)

Season One Outfit Recaps (112 Total)

Season Two Outfit Recaps (101 Total)

[missfisherandjack]

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012-2015) ↳ 1x04 Death At Victoria Dock

[foxspirit1928]

Miss Fisher Snippets (132)

I believe the verdict is unanimous.

(Posted 26-Apr-2023)

[georgi-girl]

The Corpse Groom (Corpse Bride recast)

original meme belongs to Blaze-On-Fire. I've learned some disappointing things about Tim Burtan. But my sister tells me it's still okay to like his movie since he's not really the creative mind behind them. So with that in mind, I give you my polyamorous retelling of The Corpse Bride with characters from the Dreamworks Trolls franchise (inspired by the Tangled/Corpse Bride crossover "Live For You" on AO3) starring... Hickory in the role of Victor Van Dort. Princess Poppy in the role of Victoria Everglot. Delta Dawn in the role of Nell (she's Hickorys' sister-in-law) Cybil in the role of Maudeline (until the third movie comes out, I'm casting her as Poppy's mother) King Peppy in the role of Finis. Dickory in the role of William (Hickorys' brother, Delta's husband) Branch in the of Emily (why is the title character so far down? this is not a well-designed meme) Creek in the role of Lord Barkus. DJ Suki in the role of Hildagard (she's Poppys' lady in waiting) King Gristle Senior in the role of Pastor Galswells. Biggie in the role of Mayhew (Don't worry, he's not going to die) Grandma Rosie Puff in the role of Grandfather Everglot (she's Poppys' ancestor in this story)   King Thrash in the role of Elder Gutknecht. He and the other Rock Trolls are psychopomps (death angels) who watch over Troll souls in Purgatory. Riff in the role of the Black Widow. Chaz in the role of the flirtatious Miss Plum. Barb in the role of the Maggot (I thought about casting her as Bonejangles, but she's more like the sassy Maggot)   Conductor Trollzart in the role of the General (I wanted to us the Country Troll who SPOILER: dies onscreen, but I couldn't find any picture of him) King Trollex in the role of Bonejangles (specializing in Horrorcore Techno) And Fuzzbert in the role of Emil. 

The story is this... Princess Poppy is betrothed to Lord Creek. But she's in love with the handsome trans man Hickory Dock. They decide to elope, and while passing through the woods, they practice their wedding vows, accidently summoning Brance, a corpse who's still holding his last breath. He approaches his "beloveds" who explain that they're already an item. He tells them that he's "willing to share". He then sprits them away to Purgatory, where the dead spend their time before they're ready to move on. They're greeted by the Barb the psychopomp who shows them around, and Trollex who sings about the tragic Corpse Groom that was betrayed and murdered by his lover. The trio has a good time together, until Hickory remembers his family is still waiting for him. They go to Thrash, who gives them a haunting spell that sends them to the world of the living. They go (with Branch in disguise) to the home of Hickory's brother and in-laws. The next day, they sneak into the castle, where they overhear Creek blackmailing King Peppy for Poppys' hand. Poppy chooses to stay and help her father, while Branch and Hickory escape back to Purgatory. Poppy and Suki do some investigating and discover that Creek stole a royal family relic ~ a harp said to restore life to the freshly dead. (wink wink) Meanwhile, Branch is distraught, but Hickory comforts him with a romantic ballad. Right when they're ready to start again, Thrash reveals that the dead and the living are forbidden to marry. If they want to be a couple Hickory will have to go back to the world of the living and take his own life. Hickory agrees, and the whole dead community goes up to perform the wedding. Poppy sees the procession and joins them, thinking that her death will make her wedding to Creek null and void. But during the ceremony, Branch sees Poppy and Hickorys' families watching and can't go through with it. Poppy tries to tell him about the harp, but Creek interrupts. Branch recognizes his murderer, and a fight breaks out. Creek escapes but trips and impales himself on a thorn. And before he can use the harp on himself, he's dragged off to face judgement. Poppy and Hickory use the harp to restore Branch to life, and then destroy it. A new life is waiting for all three of them.

[scribbleseas]

The Indignant Pawn, Chapter XVIII: The Eternal Promise

Description: You are Y/n Y/l/n- formerly known as Princess Helena, the runaway princess.

You're an assassin for hire who only agrees to find the worst of London's criminals at the business end of your knife; until a mysterious woman hires you to end the likes of Ciel Phantomhive, the King of the Underworld. You find yourself trading your weapons for your abandoned family crest in order to infiltrate his home as none other than Princess Marie-Louise, your twin sister. What's to happen when you find that the young Earl is more than a callous businessman?

OVERALL STORY WARNINGS: sexual assault (once in the prologue), objectification, misogyny, death, detailed description of blood/gore, detailed description of murder, lying, impersonation, theft, weapons, detailed panic attacks, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, kissing

Author’s Note: Hi everyone! This is the last chapter of The Indignant Pawn! Thank you so much for reading and following along on this story! It means the world to me and I’m so happy that I was able to complete this for you, and so soon. I ended up having more time than I thought, and I was so inspired. I couldn’t start to study for finals without completing this, unfortunately. Please let me know how you feel about the ending. It’s been years in the making. 

One more thing, I opened commissions! If you're remotely interested, please check out this post!

Happy Reading!

- Dan

⇠ PREVIOUS CHAPTER

MASTERLIST  

. . .

MAY 12TH, 1892

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, GERMANY

It was early noon and you were already exhausted. 

Last night, the Glücksburg Castle staff separated you and Ciel the moment your steamship docked at the port. They pulled you apart before you could share much of a goodbye; taking you to the castle in different carriages and in separate routes before showing you to separate quarters. In accordance with common wedding superstition, you weren’t to see Ciel until the wedding ceremony, the next day. 

Instead, your company was the bridal party, handpicked by Queen Victoria. The Hesse sisters occupied the full length of the brunch table’s left side, talking amongst themselves.  

Despite being married across the continent, they still came in a set of four, the beautiful and elegant daughters of your late Aunt Alice. The eldest, Victoria, was about ten years your senior, married to Louis of Battenberg, the adventurous one. She was engaged in some emphatic discussion with her sister, Elisabeth, one of the most beautiful women in Europe, the papers liked to say.

Elisabeth turned down numerous dukes and princes before Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich captured her heart. 

The other two sisters were Irene and Alix, both were shy and withdrawn, at least by comparison to their siblings. Irene was content to let her elder sisters engage the European press, enjoying her serene marriage with Prussian Prince Henry. Meanwhile, Alix was still engaged to Nicholas II of Russia. She was unpopular with the Russian public, but a noted beauty.

“I believe our gowns are soft blue or some shade of periwinkle, are they not?” Victoria of Hesse said ponderously, adding a half-spoonful of sugar into her tea. She had your deceased aunt’s pleasant smile and joking eyes-- at least from what you remembered of Aunt Alice.

“I’m sure I don’t know,” Elisabeth replied, “Gangan had our modiste send over my measurements and that was all. Do you know, Marie?” she asked, turning the table’s attention back to you. 

“No; Gangan handled all of the wedding planning,” you hoped your tone was light enough to portray amusement. “I haven’t so much as seen my gown, much less yours.” It was true. Nina merely sent your measurements to your Matron of Honor, Aunt Beatrice, and that was all. You were even unsure if the wedding was going to take place at the castle or a traditional church. 

“We should hope it is a more vibrant color than blue, no?” Grand Duchess Maria chimed in, seated at the right of the table by Lizzie. You managed to convince your grandmother to allow the Midfords to attend the wedding, so long as you strictly referred to their familial relationship, rather than past engagement. Not to mention, Ciel needed stand-ins in the wedding procession for his parents.

She seemed well-suited to the royal table, easily carrying conversations with the Hesse sisters, and winning over the Grand Duchess. Maria was advertising her and your Uncle Alfred’s son, Alfred II, for Lizzie to consider marrying. They were the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and they were looking for a bride for their second son. Lizzie would make a better duchess than you did a princess.

“If it’s a baby blue, I think it could look quite elegant,” Irene said. “Especially if the gentlemen wear deep navy and with chartreuse accents.”

“That’s exactly what I thought!” Lizzie smiled. “That color scheme is perfect for the spring.” Her word of agreement seemed to encourage shy Irene. Lizzie navigated these situations flawlessly, engaging the outspoken, and encouraging the quiet. You respected her ability to infuse cheerful care into every conversation she was a part of, even if it was these sort of superfluous topics.

After all, this was the sort of aimless conversation you had been entertaining all morning. It was endless torture with a side of tea and miniature pastries and finger sandwiches that the other women hardly touched. You would’ve taken the pain that came after Mey-Rin’s grazing bullet over entertaining this group of frivolous women. 

“Good morning, everyone!” Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom entered, carrying a wooden box with both hands. By the tension in her shoulders, it seemed heavy.

Beatrice was your youngest aunt; Queen Victoria’s youngest child. She was Victoria’s known confidante; living with her for years as her secretary. Beatrice and her husband, Henry of Battenberg, made home with Victoria since their early marriage.

And for the next several days, she was to serve as your Matron of Honor.

You were satisfied with that choice, as well. Out of all your grandmother’s daughters, Aunt Beatrice was the most motherly. Marie was fond of her — she was a bridesmaid at her wedding in 1885. You were always most partial to your Aunt Louise, the Duchess of Argyll, but much to your silent chagrin, she was not a part of the wedding party. 

The table rose, everyone dropping into a shallow curtsey, though Duchess Maria’s was too quick to be genuinely respectful. Your aunt was too humble to comment on it and make an unnecessary scene. Instead, Beatrice took measured strides towards you, exchanging knowing smiles with the rest of the table.

“Good morning, Aunt Beatrice,” you greeted, swiftly kissing one another on the cheek. “Thank you for being here,” you said, though you doubted the queen gave her the option.

“Of course,” she smiled fondly, setting the heavy box on the table. 

“Marie, Aunt Beatrice had to secure your ‘something borrowed’ as it were,,” Victoria of Hesse explained. She gestured to the guard behind Beatrice with the slightest chin tilt. Of course, all traveling jewels from the royal vault needed to be accompanied by a guard and a gun.

“Go on, Marie,” your aunt encouraged, setting the thick wooden box down. “We all spent ages in the vault picking the right one for you.” 

You smiled. You hoped it looked more grateful than nauseous as you unclasped the box. Crimson velvet insulated the box’s interior, cushioning the imposing tiara that sat inside. The diamonds sparkled, cut into long, pointed off spikes. Small circle-cut diamonds lined each spike.

This tiara was a piece your grandmother obtained as a gift at the beginning of her reign in 1837, originally commissioned by her uncle, King William IV for his wife. 

“Queen Adelaide’s Diamond Fringe,” Aunt Beatrice said, though you knew the name. It was one of the oldest installments in the Royal Collection. Likely sensing your surprise, your aunt chuckled, “it did not take much convincing on the Queen’s part. Not after I insisted it would look best with your wedding gown.”

Reluctantly, you used the cloth included in the box to pick up the tiara, inspecting it more closely. The diamonds sat on the heads of two generations of royal women: Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria…and now, you. An imposter. Royalty by blood, but of course, not by private association.  

“It’s lovely—” you began to say, until your cousin interrupted you.

Elisabeth of Hesse gasped, “Aunt Bea! You’ve seen her dress!” The rest of the table expressed their overlapping speculations, was it lace or tulle? Was the neckline straight across or Queen Anne?

“Elisabeth, Victoria, she would never hint at such a secret, there’s no point in accosting the woman,” Grand Duchess Maria scoffed, taking a cavalier sip out of her tea. She was jealous. 

“You will see it tomorrow!” Beatrice replied, laughing. The reminder of tomorrow forced another jolt of anxiety down your spine, but you used the energy to laugh as well. “In the meantime, I was also tasked with escorting you to your fitting, Marie. I do apologize for cutting your breakfast short, ladies.”

“That’s all right,” you smiled, carefully putting the priceless tiara back into its box. The moment you clasped the box, Beatrice’s guard took hold of it. After a reverent bow to the room, he took his leave, likely going to put the tiara into Glücksburg vault.

 At least you could escape this useless chatter. 

. . .

Given that your day was nothing short of exhausting, you should have had an easier time falling asleep. Yet, you paced Marie’s quarters, restless. It was unsettling to be around all of her recent belongings; letters, left behind clothing, books, her violin. It was as if she was truly on a short vacation in England.

A new lump of guilt rose in your throat.

But more importantly, you wanted to see Ciel. Strangely, after only a day of separation, you missed him.

Having lived together for the past several months, you were accustomed to being around him. Even if some of the time you spent together was quiet, and you only felt his presence at your side.

“I was sent to escort you to my Lord’s room, Miss Y/n,” Sebastian’s voice came from behind you. 

Instinctively, you turned on your heel and reached for the closest weapon possible, a small pair of scissors off your vanity. They were hardly big enough to cut thread with. You brandished the scissors in Sebastian’s general direction, but failed to find the voice’s source at first glance. The butler blended with the shadows, wearing nearly all black. He chuckled mirthlessly.

His red eyes were certainly glowing in the dark. 

“Yes, Sebastian?” You asked impatiently, putting the scissors back on the table. They wouldn’t be of much help to you, anyway. Nothing would be— not against some… being… that caught bullets. 

“My Lord requests your presence in his quarters. Unfortunately, you’ve made him care for you. Considerably,” he said. You hated his smile, the light tone his voice took. You would prefer he yell, or scowl, or frown. Anything to replace the patrronizing look that you knew so well. 

“Made him?” You questioned. Your eyebrows knitted together indignantly as you crossed your arms. What was he insinuating?

“Yes,” the butler said bluntly. “You’ve become an unfortunate distraction. A scourge to his soul.” His… soul?

“Thankfully, that is not for you to decide. Any opinion you have is irrelevant to us, Sebastian.” You said, turning your back to him to find flats to slip on. You never knew Sebastian to lie; he certainly wasn’t holding back at that moment.

“I simply want you to be aware that my loyalties will always fall with my master,” Sebastian replied, the undertones in his voice clear enough. If there is a life and death situation tomorrow, I will let you die, if I can.

“Well, you’ve been such an obedient servant, thus far,” you mirrored his obsequious tone, pairing it with your own reprimanding smile. “You ought to keep your Lord’s best interests in mind. Not to worry, Sebastian, I can handle myself.”

“Happy to hear it, Miss Y/n,” Sebastian replied, bowing with a hand over his heart. The gesture was as genuine as Duchess Maria’s greeting to your aunt had been.  

“My Lord ordered me to escort you. There are guards in the hallway,” the butler explained. His eyes brightened, daring you to decline him. 

You scoffered in disbelief, shaking your head. It was precaution from Diego’s warning, you assumed. “Fine.”

You left the room first, surprised that there was no guard fixed outside your door. Though you knew where you were going, Sebastian led you to the guest wing. Instinctively, you remembered where to step so as not to cause the wooden floor to complain.

Every few paces, Sebastian would have you pause to let a guard pass. Apparently, he sensed them much sooner than you did. 

Do some reading about the supernatural after all of this is over with, you reminded yourself. The thought was ridiculous, but there was no harm in investigating. Besides, Sebastian was becoming too unmistakable to continue ignoring. 

The moment you knocked on Ciel’s door, Sebastian disappeared. Your fiancé opened the door. Before he could speak, you hugged him tightly, hiding your face in his nightshirt. You breathed in his familiar scent, letting your eyes flutter closed. Your fingers grabbed fistfulls of his shirt, bunching the material around his back. Ciel hardly managed to close the door behind you, locking it to be safe.

“I waited to see you all day,” Ciel said simply, brushing strands of your hair behind your ear when you looked up at him. He pressed a greeting kiss on your cheek. “My groomsmen insisted we explore the city. It was quite a hindrance.”

“Well, I was stuck in a flock of blushing bridesmaids,” you laughed humorlessly. “If I so much as started saying your name, they would throw some fit— something about bad luck.”

“If simply saying my name is bad luck, seeing me must be absolutely damning,” Ciel quipped smugly. He guided you to sit on the edge of his bed, shamelessly regarding you. You returned the favor, your gaze catching on the way his collar bones protruded under his loose nightshirt.

You thought about the last time he sat on the edge of his bed with you present, climbing into his lap, pleasuring yourself against the hardness in his trousers. Technically, you wore more that evening than in this current moment. All you wore was a white nightgown. Nothing under it, nothing over it. It was made of satin, as sheer as a curtain.

Ciel made a respectable effort to look at your face only. 

“Tomorrow night, we will be wed,” you said meaningfully, feeling your face flush. 

“Yes,” Ciel’s response was impatient, “we will be.” He hated to wait, but he was never one to do something so significant haphazardly. If you were to consummate, you had to be married. But this time tomorrow, you would be. 

An amused smile tugged at your lips, “my Aunt Beatrice was giving me…anecdotes about her wedding night.” The interaction had been excruciating during your gown fitting, but now you thought it was rather humorous. Beatrice was a few years past 30— she had three children, another on the way, so it was rumored.

Ciel cringed at the thought of your relative telling you about what takes place behind a couple’s locked door. As if he had no clue, and didn’t want to know. You knew he knew. “And I thought nothing could be worse than my own cousin.”

While your eyebrows knit, initially figuring he was referring to Lizzie, but you took a sigh of relief upon realizing that he was speaking of Edward Midford, her brother. He was Ciel’s best man.

“Better than Sebastian,” you quipped. However, your smile faltered at the thought of the butler. Marrying Ciel meant you were resigning yourself to a life with a powerful, supernatural servant who wanted you dead. If given the chance, he would kill you. 

“Y/n?” Ciel frowned, mirroring your disheartened expression. 

“It’s nothing. I just…I suppose I’m tired,” you said unconvincingly. 

You rested your head on the side of his arm. “Being here…seeing my aunt and cousins. Living in my sister’s room....” It wasn’t the full truth, but certainly wasn’t a lie. There was an unwavering pit in your stomach. A premonition that something was about to go terribly amiss. 

“We’re taking the first steamship tomorrow night,” Ciel replied, running his thumb over your knuckles. It was a habit he picked up from you, the way you liked to ground yourself through small, repetitive motions. “I assumed being here would be difficult for you.”

“Where are we going?” The destination of your honeymoon was supposed to be a surprise, one left to Ciel’s careful planning. However, you were never one for surprises, and you would be away for about a month. You deserved to know where you were going to be for such a long span of time.

Ciel replied in French, “Quelque part où il y a du vin, des champs de lavande et une grande tour, ma chère.” He rarely used his second language, considering you couldn’t understand it and he was in the midst of perfecting his German, but it was attractive. You flushed at his graceful accent, the way the complex language suited his voice. 

“Ciel…” you started, chuckling fondly. 

“Et quand nous y serons, nous ferons des choses innommables les uns avec les autres,” Ciel continued, gauging your reaction. He kissed your cheek and slightly below your jaw before moving your hair out of the way to press a peck on the nape of your neck. The more you were intimate, the more you noticed his fixation with your neck. 

As Ciel turned to face you completely, his hand released yours to settle on your bare thigh. You moved further up the bed to make space.

His voice dropped to a whisper, “nous avons tous deux attendu si longtemps.” Your arms erupted with goosebumps as you pulled him closer, his lips centimeters from your own. 

For all you knew, he could be stringing nonsense into sentences, but it didn’t matter. It sounded perfect, his tender touch giving way for a new warmth to spread in your stomach.

Your fingers tangled into his hair as you pulled him down against the bedspread with you. The kiss was breathless and all-consuming. It ignited every nerve— down to your toes. You could feel Ciel’s warmth through his shirt, and you were consciously aware of everywhere your skin touched his. His legs bracketed yours. 

Giving you a moment to catch your breath, he kissed the center of your throat, your drumming pulse point. He paused, an amused grin playing at his lips. 

“What is it?” You managed. 

“Do you recall the last time we were in a position like this?”

After a beat of silence, you laughed. “Our dispute! When I nearly broke your nose and ran away.” Even when you hated Ciel, you couldn’t bring yourself to meaningfully injure him. 

Ciel hummed in confirmation, though his dubious look suggested he thought your recollection of the altercation was self-serving. “And you still looked like you wanted to kiss me. Even when I held a knife right here,” his fingers grazed over the scar on your throat— a superficial wound above your left carotid. 

“Yes… just like this,” you smarted, pulling him close to steal an innocent peck from his lips.

“Yes, I suppose just like that,” Ciel conceded, rolling his eye. 

“What’s more, you couldn’t bring yourself to press harder,” you added teasingly, pulling him back in for a long kiss, treating this opportunity to be intimate with your fiancé as if it was your last.

. . .

MAY 13TH, 1892

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, GERMANY

You didn’t recognize yourself in the mirror. 

Mey-Rin and Nina made elegant work with your makeup; darkening your eyebrows, painting on a blush that made your cheeks look flushed, a lipstick that made your lips appear bitten. After all, obvious makeup was considered fraudulent and deceptive; the work of women who worked street corners, Queen Victoria would say. 

Nina twisted your hair into a French twist updo, leaving curled strands out in the front. Queen Adelaide’s Fringe Tiara felt heavy on your head, fastened to your hair with pins. It dug into your scalp, the pain made it impossible for you to forget that it sat there.

Your gown was surprisingly simplistic; it was whiter than snow, free of any lace or bead detailing. Instead of was a sheen of satin, the lustrous fabric beautiful without being flamboyant. Your sleeves, controversially, were off the shoulder, meeting in a seam in the middle of your chest. 

To hide the gruesome scar on your arm, you wore matching white gloves that reached your elbows. They were out of season, but there was no way for you to hide the old wound otherwise. 

Under such a heavy dress and tiara, you were ready to collapse. Your preparation team had you awake before the sun rose, giving you a small breakfast before stuffing you into a carriage and taking you to the church to get dressed. It was a prayer room made into a makeshift dressing areafor your purposes; security did not want to risk the wedding party arriving at the ceremony in carriages, per tradition.  Instead, everyone in the wedding had to get to the church at inane hours to let the guards watch every doorway and window for intruders, once again taking separate carriages in different routes.  

You took a deep breath in, trying to settle your nerves. You were marrying the man you loved, someone who understood you in a way that no one since Baxter did. Only…now your life was to belong to the monarchy once more. This wedding ceremony was more symbolic and full of circumstance than romance. It wasn’t yours and Ciel’s. It was Europe’s. 

Not to mention, Diego warned you that Mariana had a plan. Mariana…it was still strange to have a real name for the woman. A reason why she was determined to kill you both, but more importantly, Ciel. You couldn’t allow that, even if he did kill her husband.

No matter how security prepared, she was still a threat. She would try to kill the both of you until either she succeeded, or you killed her first. Still, you knew that every possible measure was made. Sebastian would protect Ciel to the bitter end, regardless. That was what mattered. 

There was nothing more for you to do besides having the wedding. You laughed at your reflection. You looked like a princess, but what raced through your mind — murder, death threats, the leader of a foreign drug empire — were not regal bride concerns in the least. 

And you looked much more calm than you felt. At least you could contain your inner turmoil; stuff it down, sort your worries into neat categories. Impending doom, a death threat, a potentially supernatural butler. Hide it all behind the image of a jubilant princess who balanced the weight of a diamond tiara and a dagger all the same. 

Besides, there was no other option. Ciel had an earldom to run, a business to support, an Underworld to terrorize. He was too proud to live in middle class America. He would detest waking up every morning, and that would soon become a hatred for waking up with you. All you could do was marry, and support each other in your new royal family role. Dispel evil together. Dispel Mariana if she attempted to challenge you. Maybe even have a child or two. 

You squeezed your eyes closed, thinking about last night. All you needed to do was complete the day, and you would be together. In every way a couple could be together.

There was a stiff knock at the door, forcing you to open your eyes and paint a pleasant expression on your face. “Come in.”

“Marie,” Christian, your eldest brother, entered. You figured he would be walking you down the aisle — giving you away — instead of your father. No one told you, but you had the good sense to expect it. It was well-known that Queen Victoria disliked your father. She didn’t care for Prince Christian I, matching your mother, Princess Helena, with him because she couldn’t find a proper European house to marry her middle child into. 

Meanwhile, it was no secret that Victoria favored your brother. The Queen adored him for studying at Wellington College as she wanted, and she found nothing more befitting of a prince than serving in the military. Christian recently returned from an expedition in Isazi as an officer in the British Army. His skin was still lightly tanned from being in South Africa for so long. He wore his uniform and full officer decorations. Other men in the service were likely doing the same; Edward Midford and his father, Lord Scotany.

“Christian,” you were unsure how Marie greeted him, and your hesitance showed. There was a beat of silence as he regarded you.

Christian raised his eyebrow, “why did you do away with Christle?” He was referring to that puerile nickname you both used for him as children. 

Marie still referred to him as Christle at this age? He was a military official!

“You’ve been acting differently lately, Marie. Are you sure you love Phantomhive? Is this what you want to do?” Christian asked, worry furrowing his eyebrows. He looked like you when you were apprehensive, the same level stare, pursed lips. 

“How am I different?” You asked. It was easy to act around Queen Victoria and your mother— anyone who spent more time worrying about themselves or their positions to really understand the difference between you and your sister. But Christian was more complicated. He was your authority figure while your mother was opening hospitals abroad and your father worked. Christian spent plenty of time playing with Marie, admonishing you for being lax in your duties as a child. As the eldest, he was 16 the second time you ran away, 15 the first. 

You felt like you were nine years old again, getting admonished for refusing to ride a horse side saddle, or for getting mud all over your dress before the family portrait. 

“You’re…acting quite like Thora,” Christian said, his militant eyes practically staring into your soul. You tried not to grimace at your old nickname. 

He wasn’t accusing you; his voice was thoughtful or concerned, if anything. “Aunt Beatrice was worried, too. I only…” he paused. “I only want to ensure that this marriage is what you want. You will always be my younger sister, even if I’m supposed to be giving you away.”

The honorable Prince Christian never changed.

“If I’ve been somber…I don’t mean to be,” you replied. “I…the past few months of my life have been terrifying. I know you were away in Africa but there was a death threat sent to court. On my life. The Phantomhive manor was even attacked, months ago,” you rolled down your glove to show him the injury. If you could persuade your brother, no one would question you. 

Christian sighed, his face unchanging. The military seemed to desensitize him to these sorts of wounds. He inspected the healed scar, and nodded once. “It healed well. Phantomhive’s medic is rather talented,” he admitted gruffly. The irony being, that the medic was Sebastian, a monster who wanted you dead. 

You pulled the glove back over your forearm. Christian didn’t argue with you, but you knew he was unconvinced. Before he could speak, the quick notes of Mendelsson’s Wedding March reverberated throughout the church, preceded by soul-shattering chords. That was your cue to join the procession. 

Christian glanced at the clock to confirm the time was right. “We have to join the others,” he offered his arm. You laced yours with his, and two servants you didn’t know picked up your gown’s long train. 

When you joined the procession from behind, the first of the wedding party was already walking down the aisle. First was Queen Victoria, accompanied by her secretary and two guards; the Officiant; Lord and Lady Scotany as they filled in for Ciel’s deceased parents; your parents; Ciel and his groomsmen. You and Christian joined from the hall behind the doors to the Sanctuary, so you didn’t see any of them before they walked. 

Instead, you saw the middle of the procession: your bridesmaids, the Hesse sisters, Cornelia, and Aunt Beatrice. Cornelia was one of your bridesmaids because her husband, Edward, was Ciel’s best man. It was more of a formality, than a show of closeness between you. 

After them was the ring bearer and the flower girl, respectively. While you expected Victoria to insist the roles be fulfilled by your younger cousins, she allowed Ciel to fill those positions from his own friends and family. He asked little Beatrice Moore and her betrothed, Theodore Ambrose, the next Earl of Granard. Beatrice was still giggling at the fact that she shared a name with a real princess, your Aunt Beatrice.

You settled behind the children. Little Beatrice nearly missed her cue because her eyes were locked on your tiara and seemingly endless gown. Beatrice waved at you vigorously, causing you to smile. “Marie! You look so beautiful!” She exclaimed, shooting Theodore an irritated look when he tapped her shoulder and reminded her to walk with him. 

One of the servants handed you a bouquet of flowers, alstroemerias with white roses, and baby's breath incorporated. It was your turn to walk down the aisle with your brother, but you couldn’t help but wish it was Baxter at your side. That this wedding had less people, a tiara that didn’t weigh more than your brain…

Smile. You urged yourself not to buckle under the weight of everyone’s states. Everyone stood for the entire wedding procession, given that Queen Victoria was standing as well. No one sat while the highest-ranking royal stood. 

First, you passed the servants and guards in the furthest pews from the altar. Mey-Rin dabbed at her tears from under her glasses, Finny waved, Baldroy nodded once. Nina smiled at you, gesturing for you to keep walking in time with the music. You had paused for a half second, attempting to find Sebastian. The awkward timing forced Christian to stop his stride to let you catch up. 

You didn’t see Sebastian, and you were unsure if that caused you more anxiety, or alleviated it.

Strictly-screened journalists and press members were in the pews in front of the servants. Their cameras clicked, lenses immortalizing the moment. You smiled for them, struggling to find a place to look.

The music echoed throughout the Sanctuary, overly cheerful. It was the same chords repeating on the grand organ behind the altar. 

Closer to the altar were the aristocratic and the royal guests. Several faces stuck out to you— your Aunt Victoria, the Queen’s eldest child; brother, Albert; Aunt Louise; Mateo and Valentina Bianchi ; the heirs to the English throne, Uncle Edward and Alexandra of Denmark. 

You caught Lizzie’s emerald gaze; she was in the front row, to the side. She looked at you before pointedly looking ahead of her. Look at the man you love. The rest of the world will simply fall away. She was too empathetic for her own good, sometimes. 

As you took your concluding steps towards the altar, you finally looked at Ciel. She was right. Your heart flipped immediately, taking in his deep navy suit. He had a white rose tucked pinned over his chest, his signature flower. The tie tucked into his jacket was a soft pink; pale enough that you thought it was white at first glance. The rest of the wedding party coordinated with him, the bridesmaids wearing the same pink, and the groomsmen the same blue.

Ciel didn’t smile broadly, but you knew better than to fixate on that. Instead, the corners of his lips turned upwards. He took in your appearance slowly, as if he were fixating on a painting. Inspecting every detail with the intensity of someone trying to commit each brush stroke to memory.

At the altar, you took your place across from Ciel. Christian stood behind you, to the officiant’s side. Aunt Beatrice took your bouquet for you.

All you needed to do was finish the ceremony, and you would have the man across from you all to yourself for the next month. Just you, him, Carl, and the servants abroad in some beautiful place. There was no royal tour— all you needed to do was attend Alix of Hesse and Nicholas II’s wedding in Russia as guests.

The thought of such solitude was elating. It helped your smile widen naturally, though your cheeks were beginning to sting.

The music quieted into a small, soothing tune that the officiant could speak over. 

“Welcome, everyone,” the officiant said. He was an agind man with kind blue eyes and a thoughtful smile. There was a gold wedding band on his left ring finger, matching his red and gold robes. “Please be seated. Thank you all for joining us on this joyous day and cloudless afternoon.” 

“Every one of you today has been invited today because you, in one way or another, shaped the lives of these lovely individuals standing before me, Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein and Lord Ciel Phantomhive.”

Not hearing your name hurt you more than you thought it would have. 

“For those of you I have not had the chance to meet, my name is Reverend Arthur Green. I have officiated the past…six… royal weddings,” he said with a flourish, making a show of counting. There were scattered laughs in the audience in response. Green was close with the Queen, who sat in a distinguished throne to the side of the author with her Munshi, Abdul Karim. Notably, not all of her children were present— likely for security reasons. 

Reverend Green continued, “we were all taken by surprise by this sweeping love connection, but seeing the way these two beautiful souls regard one another, their love is strong and true.” 

You felt your face redden, matching the new flush over Ciel’s cheeks. 

“I have vows prepared for both the bride and groom,” Green announced. Neither of you expressed a desire to write your own vows, and you doubted the Queen would have let you. She was reluctant with royalty expressing such passionate feelings in public, preferring to preserve the dignified appearance her Royal Mob upheld. 

“Please repeat my words, Your Highness,” he requested, forcing you to refocus. 

You repeated. “I, Marie, take thee, Ciel Phantomhive, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.”

Ciel repeated the same vow, having the same reluctance with saying your name. No, Marie’s name. 

This is just the beginning, Y/n.

Ciel broke into a broader smile, yours matching his. His blue eye seemed even darker in the sunset. When you looked at him, you saw your honeymoon, your future, your husband. Your closest friend and confidante. Your heart fluttered, your mouth was dry. More than anything, you wanted to kiss him.

When you looked at him, you forgot about the weight of the tiara on your head.

“Your Highness, do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Lord Phantomhive, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him forever?” Reverend Green asked.

“Yes!” You said more enthusiastically than you meant to. The guests laughed, and out of the corner of your eye, you caught Lizzie’s amused grin. You cleared your throat, “yes, I do.”

“And Lord Phantomhive, do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Her Highness, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her forever?”

“Indeed, I do,” Ciel’s reply was much calmer than yours, but his face was full of love. It made your eyes sting, as if you could cry. You tried to blink the forming tears away. You thought about what his lips feel like, how his arms feel when they wrapped around you to combat your surfacing feelings.

The both of you already loved, honored, cherished, and protected each other. You’d do it forever, if that’s what the Fates had in store for you.

Reverend Green nodded at Theodore, preparing the child to get ready for his cue to bring your wedding rings up to the altar. 

Theodore nodded aggressively in response, tightening his grip on the small cushion with your rings. The audience laughed, but you couldn’t make yourself look away from Ciel to survey their responses any longer.

Green grinned, his eyes brimming with tears as well. At least you weren’t alone in your tragically sentimental feelings. “Now, if there is anyone present, who can show just cause why these two persons may not be joined in matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace,” he declared, naturally assuming that no one in the audience would protest. 

The gasps and screams forced you to look away from Ciel and into the audience as it rippled, devolving into chaos. They dove away from a singular woman who stood, aiming a small purse gun at the altar. 

Guards sprang into action, their guns unlocking, but they couldn’t shoot with terrified guests fleeing and hiding. Mey-Rin argued with a soldier, likely in an effort to take his weapon and fire. She was the best shot there, but you assumed the guards refused to let her bring a weapon in.

You didn’t need to look longer to know what was about to happen. You refused to let it. 

Before you knew what you were doing, you moved. You pulled yourself out of Christian’s restrictive grip, and pushed Ciel to the ground, just as the woman shot. The shot sounded throughout the Sanctuary, amongst the course of screaming guests, shouting guards and crying guests. 

You remained standing, merely feeling a searing warmth rip through your left chest. It was nothing like Mey-Rin’s grazing bullet. In fact, it hurt less. It was hot like nothing you’ve ever touched, but it didn’t hurt. Not even the hot stove you touched by accident as a child compared to the sensation in your chest. 

Ciel managed to pull himself off the ground, startled by your hard shove. He’d tripped down the short steps and hit his head, but otherwise, he seemed unharmed. You would have been relieved, had he not been staring at you in panic.

“Y/n,” he managed, horrified. 

But you name was lost amid the chaos. Before you dared look down, you took a quick survey of the rest of the Sanctuary. Queen Victoria and most of the guests fled or hid, guards shielding their escape. Edward sprung in front of Cornelia, the Reverend, Theodore, and Beatrice. The children cried for their parents, who were likely forced to leave with the guards. 

Reverend Green trembled behind the altar, bear hugging young Beatrice and Theodore, the Hesse sisters and Aunt Beatrice fell to the floor, covering their heads. Your brother stood before them, gun drawn. Royalty received crisis training for situations like this. 

Mariana was gone, having used the chaos to make her escape.

“Edward, take the kids!” Cornelia demanded, “get them to their parents.”

“I will not leave you,” Edward Midford insisted, his voice trained to be steady in the face of danger. He was a soldier, like Christian. 

“I-I can,” Reverend Green said, trembling. “Come on, children. We must— we must, go.” He tried to let go of them, but Beatrice held on, hiding her face in the man’s robes. 

“I’ll make sure nothing happens to them,” Green assured Cornelia, but neither child seemed interested in leaving.

“Y/n!” Ciel shouted, his face red as if he’s been trying to capture your attention. He put his hand on your shoulder, but he was trembling. His gaze alternated between your chest and your face, and you made the mistake of looking down at your fresh wound. At the fresh crimson blood that blossomed on the left side of your dress’s bodice. It was in the middle of your left breast— the third or fourth rib you assumed. 

“Oh,” you managed. Your legs buckled, but Ciel caught you and carefully helped you to the floor. He tore his jacket off and pressed it against the wound, hard enough for you to cry out in pain. The ease that he pressed indicated that the bullet fractured your ribs. Ciel sensed that the wound gave way too easily and paled. 

You took a difficult breath in, shivering despite the warm bullet in your chest. Your teeth chattered.

Pain, tenderness, difficulty breathing, you told yourself. Baxter always said that self-assessment came first. It was a small gun. The best you could hope for was a fractured rib, but the way your chest gave way to Ciel’s pressure suggested it was shattered. 

“Why can a shattered rib be dangerous, Y/n?” Baxter asked.

Massive bleeding from ruptured blood vessels, bone fragments from the rib can puncture a lung… or my heart.

Air could build around the lung and cause a tension pneumothorax… assuming the bullet didn’t puncture the lung and do that already.

“Ciel, keep the pressure steady,” Cornelia said. You forgot she was a nurse. Maybe you had a chance, if it wasn't a tension pneumothorax. But you never had that kind of luck. “Help me check for an exit wound,” she said to someone on your right side. The three of them lifted your torso up, and confirmed that you were also bleeding out from the back. They ripped the satin from your gown and used another man’s jacket to slow that bleeding while Ciel held pressure on your front. 

“We need a carriage to get her to a hospital,” Cornelia declared, checking your pulse.

“I-I think the guests took them all,” Lady Scotany said, “Alexis— go check. For a guard, a doctor, a commoner with a carriage, anyone.” With a grim nod, Alexis Midford ran with Baldroy and Mey-Rin. 

“Marie, I know it hurts but I need you to do your best to breathe. And wiggle your fingers,” Cornelia said, but you were more concerned with Ciel. His hands were soaked with your blood, despite Aunt Beatrice continuously giving him new material to help stop the bleeding with. 

“Marie!” Cornelia repeated. When you didn’t respond, she turned to Ciel. “Ciel, you need to tell her to breathe,” she said, “she will listen to you.”

You were Marie, even when you had a bullet in your chest. It was a cruel joke.

Were you not breathing? Was that why your lungs were aflame? Was that why your throat was constricting? Was that why your vision coated in white, and your ears rang like church bells?

Ciel trembled, but he nodded. “Look at me,” he ordered, “breathe. You need to breathe.” Breathing hurt. It hurt more than any pain you ever experienced in your life. It hurt more than your arm. Inhaling hurt more than the bullet itself hurt. 

“T-trying…” you managed.

“You’re doing well, Marie, it’s okay,” Lizzie said, sniffling. Your head was in her lap, though you were unsure when she showed up. “J-just focus on breathing.”

My ribs are broken. I probably have a tension pneumothorax, you wanted to cry out. But your voice wasn’t cooperating. You could feel your rationality slipping out with the same urgency blood bubbled from your wound.

Cornelia cut your bodice open, cutting through the dress and corset. Finny gave his jacket to Lady Scotany to drape over the right side of your chest, for your modesty. As if that was the most concerning part of the situation. 

“Take a deep breath in,” Ciel said, repeating Cornelia’s words. You shivered, struggling to do as told. Your lungs were already full— as if you took an inhale prior, held it, and tried to inhale again, all without exhaling. 

“Abnormal lung sounds,” Cornelia drew back to watch your chest as you struggled to breathe. “Asymmetrical expansion of the chest,” she mumbled gravely.

The problem with being right all the time, meant that you had also diagnosed yourself correctly. And this diagnosis was fatal without near-immediate treatment.

“What does that mean?” Ciel insisted. “Cornelia!” He shouted, but the nurse didn’t meet his gaze. 

“It probably means it’s a…tension pneumothorax,” Cornelia admitted.

“She got away,” you heard Baldroy say from a distance, returning with Lord Scotany. He shouldered his coat off to let Lady Scotany put it beneath the exit wound on your back. “Guards were too concerned with gettin’ the royals to safety. Took all the carriages, too.”

“What does that mean, Cornelia?” Ciel shouted.

“Where is Sebastian?” Lizzie asked, trying to keep her voice level. She removed the heavy tiara from your head and gently smoothed her fingers over your hair.

“Sebastian?” Lady Scotany asked. “He’s getting another carriage. We need to get her to the hospital.” 

You wanted to laugh. With Sebastian getting the carriage, you were surely going to bleed out— or die of hypoxia— whichever came first. You were going to die in front of an altar. In a church. At your own wedding.

“Cornelia!” Ciel yelled. 

“Ciel, shut up and let me work!” Cornelia put her ear to your chest again. 

“Air is building around the outside of her lungs, rather than inside because the bullet— or a bone fragment punctured it,” Christian said, pitying your…husband? Fiancé? 

“The air puts pressure around the punctured lung, and that strains that lung and her heart. Since the lung is punctured, air keeps getting stuck when she inhales, so there is no room for it to expand when she breathes,” your brother explained.

Your lung definitely collapsed. The well-meaning pressure Ciel put on the wound couldn’t be helping, either.

“Hyperresonant chest percussion,” Cornelia noted under her breath. Her concerned frown deepened.

“Cornelia, her neck,” Christian added calmly. He kneeled at your other side, across from Ciel, light fingers touching your throat, feeling for your trachea. “Tracheal deviation to the right and distended neck veins.”

“Tension pneumothorax,” they said in synchrony, sharing a look. 

“So what can we do?” Lizzie cried out. 

“Dying,” you mumbled, fully believing that these were your final moments. The procedure you needed was impossible on the floor of the church. If Sebastian was tasked with the carriage, you weren’t going to get there in time. And he was why you were shot, in the first place. 

He caught bullets. He wanted you dead…it was simple. Bloody demon.

That’s what he was, wasn't he?

“We need a large bore needle!” Christian exclaimed.

“A needle? Whatever for?” Lizzie cried out.

“To evacuate the air,” Cornelia said, “but we don’t have the right kind here.”

“So what do we do?”

“You are not dying, you utter imbecile,” Ciel insisted, steady tears streaming down his face. You weren’t sure if he noticed that his forehead was bleeding, much less the salty tears streaming down his cheeks. “She was bloody aiming at me.” 

You wanted to reach out and wipe the tears off of his face, but your arm was limp at your side, refusing to obey. You could wiggle your fingers, but you couldn’t quite muster the strength to lift the limb. You tried again, but your arm fell to your side uselessly.

You could hear your heartbeat in your ears, pounding in your brain. It was a welcome change from the terrible ringing.

“I’m s-..sorry,” you managed, but it was a lie. If you hadn’t pushed Ciel, it might have hit him. If the man you loved died from your inaction, you wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself for it.

You felt there was a constrictive corset around your brain, tightening and tightening. Your breathing was rapid, in out, in out, in out. You could feel your head throb in time with your heart. With every inhale you managed, you got less air. 

But even so, you would do it again. 

“They’re not going to have the right needle here, we have to burp the wound.” Cornelia said. “Otherwise, she’ll suffocate before the carriage gets here.”

“Burp the wound?” Ciel asked incredulously. 

“The air caught in the pleural space won’t come out safely and she’ll suffocate if we don’t let air escape the opening that’s already there. Ciel, you need to step aside for a moment,” Cornelia explained.

“But— but, she’s still bleeding! I’m…stopping the bleeding! She will bleed out if I stop!” Ciel argued, looking from his bloody hands on the wound to your paling face. Back and forth once more.

“She’s going to die of hypoxia if you don’t let the air out of the lung cavity, Ciel.” Christian said. “You need to move, or I will move you.” Christian was much taller than Ciel. It would’ve been as simple as moving a chess piece.

Ciel moved reluctantly, and switched spots at your side with Christian. 

Cornelia moved the blood-soaked dressing from the wound, and you caught a quiet rush of air before she put fresh dress fabric over it once more. It was only a little easier for you to breathe before it grew difficult again. However, she quickly  removed the dressing when she noticed you beginning to strain. The nurse repeated the process in tandem with your discomfort. 

You shivered, watching the world above you— Ciel’s face, Lizzie’s, your brother’s. The world was brighter, it was blurry. And then it was refined. It was vibrant, and then it wasn’t. Vibrant, clear, blurry, bright…

Was this what Baxter saw? you wondered.

“No, Y/n. It’s not your time, yet.” Baxter said. “You need to wait. You need to try to live. The doc’s comin’ in a carriage with his supplies. He will be there. Just hold on. We’re all here for you every step of the way. You will not die.”

Earnest Baxter.

You refocused on Ciel. His face was clear, and vibrant. And then it was blurry. It was bright. He was still bleeding. He was still handsome.

You put all of your focus into your next words. “I love you,” you managed. Your eyes fluttered closed, it was getting too hard to concentrate and keep them open. 

“No, don’t you dare say that!” Ciel demanded. “You will not die. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” his fingers felt warm on your face, they smelled like blood. Your eyes fluttered open again. You smiled weakly. 

You weren’t sure what you would do without Ciel, either. 

“It’s…not my intent to but…” that might be out of my hands.

This was supposed to be the day you eternally promised yourselves to one another, but apparently, plans sometimes went awry. Sometimes, the determined widow got her happy ending.

But you won too. All because the last face you were going to see was the face of the man you loved.

“Surgeon’s here! He’s got supplies!” 

Hold on, Y/n.

. . .

Acknowledgements:

First of all, I want to thank everyone on Amino (who I unfortunately, didn’t keep in contact with) for telling me that the first 2 chapters of this fic were worthwhile. Without motivation from them, I never would have felt inspired enough to keep developing this idea. 

I also want to thank my best friend for listening to me rant about this piece. About the hours and hours of research about historical figures, laundry in the 1890s, makeup in the 1890s, speech, Victorian slang terms, hair, names, German breakfast food, types of tea, Victorian wedding traditions, serial killers, post-traumatic stress disorder, bilingualism, travel, everything. Even anatomy, dangerous chemicals, ages of me studying self-defense, waltz, and harp tutorials on YouTube. I even did the math-- Cornelia really is an 8th-generation New Yorker! I sat down and put a half hour into making a very preliminary family tree for her. Don’t even get me started on how many times I watched the anime and took notes on the cast’s speech and mannerisms. I even scoured Pinterest for reference pictures, outfit inspiration…everything you could ever want. It all amounted to 300+ pins to my TIP board, and exactly 127,411 words.

I digress. My best friend is so motivating, and without her telling me not to force myself to write when I don’t feel it, you guys wouldn’t have gotten anything close to this quality of work. In fact, she’s also a bit responsible for a scene in this chapter.

I also want to thank Sweet Anon, mylostleftfootsock, katherine101, for consistently reaching out to me in asks, DMs, and commenting. You all motivate me so much, and there’s nothing quite like knowing that the story I write touches you. Without knowing people were really engaging with what I put out, writing would have taken a lot longer, if it happened at all. 

Thank you all, so much. I’m so grateful for every single read.

I can't wait to share my next projects with you. I'll even give you a few hints to make up for this ending: Ciel Phantomhive, ballerina!reader, fake courtship, serial killer. Do with this what you will <3

Love, Dan

[xiaoluclair]

6

6. eyelid kisses // lestappen // [ rating: G ]

[First Class, 3.6kg] Package for:

STADSOMVERT 16 4500 HASSELT BELGIUM EARTH

[First Class, 0.01kg] Accompanying letter: Salvation.

Max Verstappen goes missing on April 1st 2026. It is not an April Fool's joke. Still, it doesn't stop Charles checking his shower every evening, the undersides of hotel-brand soap bars, just in case. Maybe it's all a bad dream.

(It isn't.)

On March 31st 2026, they have an argument. Charles hardly remembers how it started. He remembers Max though: smell sour, there in the apartment but not There. He remembers how it ends: grabbing his keys, the glow of Jimmy's eyes from the end of the hallway, the door slamming.

He remembers after:

Just come home, Max texted.

Charles didn't.

No one questions the fact that Charles is the one who first reports him gone. Mainly because only a few people know he did: Christian Horner, the Kumpen-Verstappens, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris.

Christian is unavoidable. He calls Victoria first. Pierre is his best friend. Lando dreams it.

Christian exercises 'ignorance is bliss' for the most part. How do you know? he asked.

He didn't come home, answered Charles.

He could've Died, offered Christian after another moment. Charles can just about hear his heartbeat over the line. It's too fast for the truth — besides, they both know April is not anywhere near September.

They'd been fighting. The people who know: Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen.

(The people who know: Charles Leclerc.)

It was over inconsequential things, mainly. His therapist, when he asked her a hypothetical — say two people kept getting annoyed over silly things — said, Often, it can be a deeper problem.

How would they know that? said Charles, worrying over his claws.

Usually by asking about it. By talking about it.

They don't though. Maybe that's the problem.

"If you still could, pizza or pasta?" Carlos asks him.

"Pasta," says Charles automatically. It must be the eighth time he has been asked this year.

"Monaco or Italy?"

"Monaco, of course."

"Sunset or sunrise?" Carlos asks him. That's a new one. For this year, anyway.

Charles says, "Neither."

"Neither," repeats Carlos, grinning. "Not even sunset?"

Charles shakes his head.

"Then what is your favorite time of day?"

Smiling, chest caving in on itself, Charles looks out at the docks at the bright blue sky. "Right now."

Charles goes through motions:

Racing, because he loves it. (Supposedly if you go fast enough, you can travel through time.)

Hunting, because he has to feed. (There Earth is not limitless; the hiding places are not endless.)

Reading, because it is good to pass the time. (Mysterious Disappearances of the Nineteenth Century.)

He finds multiple accounts of people disappearing on their Death day or within the few days prior.

Maybe it is far-fetched. April 1st is 182 days before Max's Birthday. 182 is not a significant number on any of the solar, lunar or beluar calendars.

Still. Before, he would stay up, kiss the skin over Max's blue eyes as they dreamt.

Then he would go for walks, think about kissing the skin over Max's blue eyes as they dreamt.

Now he collates excerpts, photocopied library documentation, Wikipedia articles. Soon he'll have enough to write his own dissertation probably. Why The Love Of Your Life Randomly Disappeared: The 143 Possibilities.

[First Class, 4.2kg] Package for:

CHARLES LECLERC 15BD PRINCESSE REYMOND 98000 MONACO

[First Class, 0.01kg] Accompanying letter: Find my son.

Do you think he's just pissy because he hasn't Changed yet? Pierre pondered.

Charles, pacing and unable to find the solace he'd hoped for, shook his head. Max would not be like that.

Have you asked him?

No, was the answer. He hadn't. I do not need to.

Pierre's nose wrinkles. Charles remembers that Fae hate being lied to.

Two days into Summer Break, he flies to Switzerland.

"Charles," says Sebastian when he opens the door. "Nice hat."

"Thank you," smiles Charles, touching the finishing sun hat to his shoulder-to-ankle dungarees. "I wanted to ask you a favor." And, before he has pried off his shoes, reaches into the bag on his back and pulls out the 2021 WDC trophy. The replica, anyway.

Sebastian takes it carefully. "Come on," he says. "This could take a while."

They come up empty.

"Maybe," starts Sebastian, stops. "Go in with it."

Charles steps into the Ponogan immediately. He's beyond questioning things now. If Sebastian asks him to cut off a leg, he will. He sits, curling his legs around the trophy, fingers finding the row of MAX VERSTAPPEN, MAX VERSTAPPEN, MAX VERSTAPPEN.

Sebastian closes his eyes. The runes on his chest glow louder than before. A large beating fills Charles's ears.

It quietens down after a minute.

Sebastian blinks. He looks at Charles; he smells apologetic. "He is not Gone," he says.

Which is better than he had before, so. "Thank you," says Charles.

In Suzuka, Charles meets Victoria Verstappen. Meets again.

"He said he was having dreams," she says after she has ushered them back into Charles's Driver Room. "He just did not want to worry anyone."

"Dreams?" asks Charles. Of course he didn't.

Victoria nods. "Weird ones, every night. He never told me what they were about, but. He mentioned God one time."

"Max does not believe in God," says Charles, because he cannot think of much else.

"I know," says Victoria. "And he was still Human. I think he thought he was going crazy, Charles."

Why didn't he tell me?

Because it's Max. His brick-headed, independent Max who bulldozers through it all in bright spaces. Because it's Charles. Brick-headed, independent Charles who shoves it all down in dark corners. Because Pierre said have you asked and his therapist said have you asked and Charles said why would I.

Max had been worried about not Changing. Just not for any of the reasons Pierre considered.

Max, who had been having dreams.

Max, who had been having Dreams.

Unsurprisingly, Lando does not take kindly to Charles turning up at his hotel room after the race in the middle of the night.

"I need your help," he says. "Please."

Lando stares at him, nose buttoned up at his soggy clothes. He replies, at last, "Come grab a towel first."

Max does not believe in God; neither does Charles. Let this work, he prays as he steps across the doorway. Let this work.

Lando finds him still at the hotel three days later, slightly wet with rain. Yuki's signature takes up the front of his hoodie. "I got a thing," he says. "Woke up with it in my hand."

He shoves a flimsy notebook tear-off into his hands. One edge is tentacled; it came off a ring-binder. Charles unfolds it, "Thank you, thank you—" please, please—

On September 30th 2026, Charles has nothing more than dreams. Almost. Not quite though, not anymore.

Come Home, the note says.

The dining room light is on. He should have more on him than apartment keys and a phone, but that only occurs after he walks through the door. Max looks up from the far seat, a ring of light around his head.

Charles doesn't remember the distance from the entrance to the table being so long.

"I am home," he whispers into Max’s whitened hair. It is soft on his cheek. His nose bumps against the light stapled to Max's skull, his forehead. "You are home." Max clutches at his back.

He pulls away, points to his mouth. Opens it. A hoarse sound comes out. Charles thinks, okay, nods. And then Max points to his face, to the side of his nose-bridge. Charles blinks away his own surprise, leans down and Max's lashes flutter.

"We will figure it out," he promises. "Together."

He kisses the skin over Max's golden eyes.