#if you don’t Eustass Kid will come NOT come to you’re house because I know that’s what you’re wishing for | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nightmareduringxmas · 7 years ago

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[ONE PIECE] [ZOSAN ADVENT CALENDAR, DAY 7] MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER KNOW

Pairings: Zoro/Sanji, Law/Sanji (mentioned: KidLaw, UsoppNami, FrankyRobin). Characters: Roronoa Zoro, (Vinsmoke) Sanji, Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, Nami, Nico Robin, Trafalgar Water D. Law, Franky, Brook, Tony Tony Chopper. Mentioned: Eustass Kid, all the time. Disclaimer: One Piece does not belong to me. Warnings: Title comes from the song “ All I want for Christmas is you ”, by Mariah Carey. This is an unrevised work, so I’m sorry for my mistakes. Summary: It’s a winter island they are in. The snow falls from the sky on a slow dance, and Zoro feels that if he stares at the snowflakes, they’ll stop in midair. The village they are is warm and homey. Lights adorn houses and markets, statues of a fat man wearing red clothes are everywhere. It’s part of a tradition at this time of the year, one of the men that greeted them at the port said. They are celebrating something and the Strawhats are in the middle of it. Not by their choice. The log pose takes thirty-one days to settle and so they are forced to be around these people and celebrate their Christmas thingy. Law doesn’t like it. It will take too long, why thirty-one days exactly, why people keep kissing me whenever I stand too long in a place. Questions, questions. Nami only shrugs. “We can’t do anything about it. And at least they aren’t trying to kill us.” “Yet.” Robin reminds them, smiling. “Maybe the main point of this celebration is to kill us and have a feast with our flesh.”

Read on: AO3

It’s a winter island they are in. The snow falls from the sky on a slow dance, and Zoro feels that if he stares at the snowflakes, they’ll stop in midair. Even he must admit it is beautiful, almost romantic, but he could live without Nami’s sighs every time she stares at the ice falling slowly from the sky.

The village they are is warm and homey. Lights adorn houses and markets, statues of a fat man wearing red clothes are everywhere and reindeers are treated like gods (Chopper loved it, even though many called him a raccoon when they saw him). It’s part of the tradition at this time of the year, one of the men that greeted them at the port said. His cheeks were red with something and when Zoro asked about what kind of drink, he answered Joy. So far he has not found this type of booze around, though every barkeeper he asks laugh and tells him he will find if he looks deep enough (deep where?).

They are celebrating something and the Strawhats are in the middle of it. Not by their choice. The log pose takes thirty-one days to settle and so they are forced to be around these people and celebrate their Christmas thingy. Something religious, apparently.

Law doesn’t like it. It will take too long, why thirty-one days exactly, why people keep kissing me whenever I stand too long in a place. Questions, questions. Nami, who is too intrigued by the number of days, only shrugs. “We can’t do anything about it. And at least they aren’t trying to kill us.”

“Yet.” Robin reminds them, smiling. “Maybe the main point of this celebration is to kill us and have a feast with our flesh.”

The eerie silence that would have settled on them for a few minutes is broken by Luffy screaming “MEAT!” and soon there is a discussion of who would be tastier.

They all vote on Chopper, who bursts crying in fear.

Day one

The Cook taps his shoes on the deck of Sunny slowly, every two seconds. They barely reached the place and he soon changed his usual black shoes for black boots with white fur adorning it. Once Zoro asked him why he changed his shoes on winter islands and not on summer islands and the Cook stared at him as if he was an idiot for about five seconds before answering that his shoes can take the heat quite well, but its sole are too slippery for iced ground. It made sense in that way many things the Cook did make sense to Zoro: almost none. When he told him this, the Cook attacked him and they soon were stopped by the Witch who became even better at aiming barrels at them.

Zoro stares at the boots and the rhythm they make, how the snow soon falls with the tapping and wonders if the weight of them make any difference on the Cook’s kicks. Before he got fully acquainted with his swords they too felt too heavy for some movements. The Cook barely uses those boots, does it not feel strange when he puts them for the first time? In a battle, would this make any difference?

“Well?” The Cook says and Zoro looks up, to stare at the Cook’s eyes, well, eye, the way the smoke from his cigarette disappears on this weather, on this whiteness. He has a small notebook in hand and his cheeks are a little red.

Did he find it? Joy?

“‘Well’ what?”

The Cook huffs annoyed. The tapping stops. “Do you want to eat anything special?”

“Booze.”

“That’s not food!”

“Says you.” Zoro answers and stares at the sky. Snow is coming down heavier, a sign of a storm. He should go to the crow’s nest and sleep there. The cold doesn’t affect him anymore.

“Says everyone that has a brain, you moss—” The Cook stops midsentence and inhales smokes, the tip of the cigarette becoming redder with the movement. “Do you want to eat anything special?” He repeats his question and grips the pencil harder.

“Booze.”

“BOOZE IS NOT— FINE!” He writes it down. “Anything else?”

Zoro frowns. “You really gonna make some booze? You know how?”

“Of course I know how, it’s not that hard.”

“Great, I expect it today.”

“YOU CAN’T MAKE ALCOHOL SO FAST!” The Cook screams again and Zoro just stares him hard enough, offended. That’s not true. It’s easy to make booze. It’s everywhere, on every island and in every bar. Can’t take so long.

“I don’t believe in you, shitty Cook. I want it today.”

“YOU’RE IMPOSSIBLE.” Sanji screams and throws the notebook on Zoro. It hits him on his chest and falls on his lap.

After the man leaves, fuming and stomping hard on the ground, Zoro picks the notebook and notices something odd: there is only his name on its pages as if he has only asked Zoro for food.

“Tch. He probably got this one for me after he filled three with the girl's requests.” He says to no one.

Day two

The Cook brings him soup when Zoro is training. It’s weird all in itself, because normally he would just scream food is ready and wait for everyone to show up. Zoro, who is kind of hungry but too busy doing weights, is pretty sure he didn’t hear anyone screaming.

“It’s pumpkin soup.” The Cook answers before Zoro— well, Zoro wasn’t going to ask. It’s food. It’s soup. He doesn’t need the receipt.

“Ok.” He says. He puts down the weights he had and walks over to the Cook, who holds a small spoon. “Thanks.”

The Cook smiles a little and his cheeks get red again. The wind must be very strong out there. “No problem.”

Silence settles in as Zoro takes the bowl and the spoon. He feels the Cook stare at him and doesn’t know what is going on. He looks at him, with his stupid smile and the way his fingers brush his golden hair out of his nose. There are some snowflakes melting on his fringe and Zoro wonders if he feels them touching his skin. If he shudders when they do.

Zoro suppresses himself a shudder and looks at the window. He can’t see anything with the snow and the wind.

“Cook.” Zoro whispers.

“Yes?” The Cook answers, expectantly.

“Is someone watching us?”

“JUST EAT YOUR DAMN FUCKING FOOD, YOU STUPID, BRAINLESS MARIMO, I CAN’T BELIEVE I—”

He leaves after that, his words growing lower as he walks away from the Crow’s nest.

It’s Pumpkin soup, Zoro finds out after he tastes it. The same receipt the Cook made on the last island. The same one Zoro liked so much he repeated over and over and almost had to fight the witch for more.

Day Three

“Do you want to go to the park with me?”

“What?” Zoro asks.

“The park. Where the big tree is being decorated. They said they’ll light it up today.”

Zoro frowns. He doesn’t know what he is talking about.

“Nevermind.” The Cook says after a moment, and his voice sounds a little dejected. “You wouldn’t find it not even if you tried.”

“HEY.”

Day four

“Here.”

Zoro stares at the cookies. They smile at him, small men all dressed like the so-called Santa Claus.

“I didn’t ask for cookies. I asked for booze.”

“I know. Be patient.”

“I don’t like sweet things.”

“I know. But I made these for you, so.” He puts the plate next to Zoro and leaves. “You better eat them.” The Cook threatens.

Zoro gives them to Luffy.

Day five

Hot cocoa is great before training. The Cook keeps talking to everyone how he found this place that has this amazing cocoa and how one of the women of the village gave him some receipts he wants to try and that he hopes they (the Witch and Robin, though he does stares at Zoro and Chopper when he says it) enjoy it as much as he did making them.

It’s good. Delicious. His have dark chocolate and Zoro likes to think of how much the Cook knows him. Even Law seems impressed and he finishes his beverage too quickly to be normal. The Cook sees this and his smile is so wild something ugly inside Zoro curls. He gives his own cocoa to Law and when he tries to refuse, the Cook says it would be a pleasure to share his food with Law, if he liked it so much.

Zoro tries to finish his own hot cocoa as fast as Law did, but all he gets is a burned tongue.

Day six

Zoro is awakened by music. Soft music, cheerful and entirely too Brook, even if that doesn’t make much sense. Before Brook, every music was just music played my a musician, but now he knows the differences as it is played, the same way he is capable of identifying the Cook’s kicks by intensity and even smell (they burn the air and the leather of the shoes when they are coming, even when his leg is not on fire).

“Morning.” Zoro says to nowhere in particular and the music changes for a moment, making him smile. He can hear Brook’s tone when the arc touches the string.

The songs Brook is learning are the ones he listens every night when he goes to sleep. In this island, it’s tradition that a group of people sings to others these songs and now that if he has been on this place only six days, he knows them all by heart. Sometimes Robin hums it when she is reading and Franky did new versions on his guitar. Chopper likes Jingle Bells specifically and Usopp is trying to record them for him, as a present — something else they do at the end of the month. Give presents to each other, something Zoro thinks is ridiculous, because he can show he loves his Nakama by getting strong to protect them, not by giving them some stupid object that will soon wither by time or be destroyed by an enemy.

The funniest thing? Law hates them. He loathes every song that is sung on this island and once he did threaten those villagers who came to sing for them in the ship. Luffy laughed too much and said something about telling a kid about this, but Zoro didn’t really get it.

He walks around the ship and the music follows him, almost if it was part of the wind, and in moments like this Zoro understands why Luffy wanted so badly a musician in this ship.

When he enters the galley unannounced, the image that greets him is of the Cook reading a book with his glasses falling on his nose, staring at the words very intently as something delicious smells on the background. Zoro tilts his head to read the cover and it has something to do with Christmas. Again.

“Cooking book?” Zoro wonders as he fetches himself a glass of water.

The cook mumbles something he does not hear. “What?”

“I said—” and his voice has that dangerous edge that always has when Zoro does not hear him the first time, almost as if he asked him to repeat what he said on purpose (only most of the times). “—it’s a short stories collection.”

“Oh.” Zoro comments and drinks his water.

“Law wanted my opinion on it.”

“Oh.” Zoro mentions and he fetches himself a second glass of water, because his mouth is suddenly dry.

The music outside changes for one much more cheerful that makes the Cook close the book and go scream at Brook to change the music. Something about not being able to read the mood.

It becomes his favorite song.

Day seven

“Did you like it?” The Cook asks suddenly when they are once again alone in the galley. The song Brook played yesterday starts again, almost the moment they are left alone. The Cook’s ears became redder the moment it started. Is it a sexual one? Is that it?

“What?” Zoro asks.

“The cookies.” The Cooks supplies and stares at Zoro for a moment before looking at his feet. Zoro’s eyes follow his. He doesn’t get it. His boots are clean. There is no need to stare at his shoes if they are not dirting his precious kitchen.

“Oh. Yeah.” Zoro says. He meant that he knows about the cookies, not that he liked it, but Zoro finds himself unable to explain this for the other, who just smiles brightly and makes all sort of questions about the taste and other things. He comments on things Zoro doesn’t even know what is about. Cooking, probably.

Zoro doesn’t have the heart to tell him he didn’t, so he grunts and nods and hesitates on his response. It seems to be enough.

The music gets louder and louder and suddenly Franky starts singing about the fact that all he wants for Christmas is someone. The Cook keeps smiling when Zoro leaves the galley, his insides both warm and cold — the same way he gets when he finds a worthy adversary.

Later, when they are eating breakfast and the Cook mentions the cookies again, Zoro finds himself staring at Law, who glares at him as he eats his oatmeal.

Day eight

The little men stare at Zoro with a dumb smile. His brothers and sisters do the same and Zoro can’t hold their empty glares.

“You said you liked it.” The Cook comments, his voice tingling with an unsure tone.

“Uh, yeah, I did.” Zoro tries to explain himself. “I just didn’t think you would… Do more.”

Much more. Three times more.

The Cook stares at the window, eyes warm, cheeks flushing. “I thought it would be nice to practice a little more. Ginger men are not something I’m used to making.”

Could have me fooled, Zoro thinks.

He opens his mouth to thanks the Cook and take some and leave before the truth comes out, but it’s too late. Luffy barges in asking for meat. Zoro starts to sweat.

“LOOK ALL THESE COOKIES. THE SAME ONES YOU DID FOR ZORO! ARE YOU FINALLY MAKING FOR ME? THEY TASTE SO GOOD! YOU’LL GIVE ME YOURS AGAIN, RIGHT ZORO?”

There is silence.

“What.”

Usopp grimaces as his hair gets gradually wetter and wetter. Snow isn’t exactly good for it and he is taking extra care of his hair now that they are spending so much time on this island, but. But he might have to bring in the big guns just because of all these tears.

“It’s okay.” He says as he pats Sanji in the back. “I know. It’s okay. He’s an idiot, but you knew this when you decided to fall in love with him.”

“I DIDN’T DECIDE ANYTHING.” Sanji screams right at his ear. Usopp flinches. “IT JUST HAPPENED, I WAS FINE WITH NAMI-SWAN.”

“Right. I’m sorry.”

Usopp sighs again and curses Zoro.

Day nine

Robin comes at him in the morning and tells him the Cook will buy extra groceries for a special dinner on a special day, as it is a tradition on this island. “It would be wonderful if you helped him.”

Zoro narrows his eyes, sensing the small threat in her smile, in the way the warmth doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s not just offering advice.

Though Robin is Zoro’s favorite female companion, he prefers the Witch on these. Her threats aren’t veiled. They are also not as dangerous as Robin’s.

“Why would I do that?” He asks, analyzing her.

Robin’s grin widens. “Because then he would have to ask Law and I have a feeling he would not oppose.”

So here is Zoro, walking right next to the Cook and he feels like he was fooled into doing something. He doesn’t know what, exactly. The Cook at least isn’t bitching and seems glad Zoro so promptly offered himself to go.

“This is nice, isn’t it?” The Cook asks, looking around. The market is bursting with life, people smiling as they shop, smiling as they eat, smiling as they live. It’s very utopical and entirely unnerving if you ask Zoro, but not right now.

The Cook too is smiling like them.

Zoro smells his cigarette and it mixes with the smell of hot food, baked or fried, around them. It remembers him of the Cook on his own kitchen, preparing dish after dish and not expecting a eulogy after people eat — though their Nakama do tell him how much the food is delicious (most of them, anyway. All but Zoro, really). His hair shines with the lights around the place, changing color as they pass. Yellow is one of the primary colors, Zoro knows this much. It mixes easily with every other color, the beginning of thousand others.

“Yes.” Zoro says. “Yes, it’s great.” And his eyes never leave the Cook’s face, his shadow, his body.

Day ten

“Are you sure—” The Cook starts “—That Joy is the right name.”

“Yes.” Zoro hisses and they hop from bar to bar. “I asked what the guy was drunk on to be so red in the face. And he said Joy.”

The Cook stares at him for a long moment. They are still shopping for groceries, though today only the lighter stuff. They have time to wander from bar to bar and ask if they have Joy.

The barkeeper at the bar on the main street, a woman of huge bosom that winks too much at Sanji, leans suggestively at the table she just cleaned and says: “I sure do, honey. But it’s gonna cost ya.”

The Cook’s nose bleeds so much Zoro has to take him back to ship for a transfusion.

“I’M NEVER TAKING YOU TO A BAR AGAIN!” Zoro keeps screaming all the way back, disgusted.

Day eleven

Zoro wakes up and does what he normally does: he walks around the ship a little and then fetches himself a glass of water. Brook is already up, playing on his violin, and he nods at Zoro before changing the music halfway. It’s the same one he always plays when he sees Zoro, apparently. It is suspicious, sure, but if the Cook hates it, then he’s fine with it.

He always had more patience.

What he doesn’t have is enough intelligence to understand why, when he opens the door to the galley, Law is hanging weird plants all over the kitchen. He stares at Zoro as Luffy does sometimes when they catch him eating off the clock, but soon Law’s face becomes neutral again.

The Cook is nowhere to be found.

“Good morning, Zoro-ya.” Law says and moves on from another part of the ceiling to hang…

“What is that?”

“Mistletoe.”

“What?”

Law huffs. “I finally figured it out why people kept kissing me when I got out on the city. It’s a tradition, you see.” He hands another one and then moves closer to the sink. “When two people are underneath one, they must kiss. On the cheek or on the mouth. Now all I have to do is look up and avoid these things.”

“If you want to avoid, why are you hanging these in the galley?”

“Perhaps—” Law starts and looks at the ceiling, as if making sure all the mistletoes are in place. “I want two certain people to kiss.”

Zoro frowns. “Why?”

“It’s due. And I am not patient with those things.”

Oh. Oh. “So, who do you want to—”

“Why are you at the door of my kitchen—?” The Cook screams as he barges in, shoving Zoro inside the galley. Brook’s music becomes faster somehow, those apt fingers speeding up. “What is this?”

Zoro feels his heart break. Oh.

“Good morning, Sanji-ya.” Law says, his voice the same monotonous tone. “I’m just here for some coffee.”

Liar.

“Why is there mistletoe on my kitchen? All over it?”

Law’s eyes fall on Zoro. He arches an eyebrow, as if prompting him to say something. Anything.

Zoro can’t. “Law put them up.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

Oh.

The Cook sputters something, gets red-faced and stares at Zoro. Who stares at Law, glaring. Who stares at Zoro, challenging him.

Brook keeps playing the same song, but this time he changes the tone. It sounds like one of those songs used in public plays to show the audience they are nearing the cliffhanger or that something (usually really bad) is going to happen.

“Do it, then.” Zoro suddenly says and they all fall into silence.

Even Brook.

Law snaps. “Oh, for fuck’s sake— Fine! You think I’ll—? Fine! I’ll do it!”

“What?” The Cook asks and when he looks at Law, he is pulled into a kiss, on the mouth. With tongue.

Something in Zoro breaks and this is new. He leaves, mouth dry, eyes wet. All he hears is Brook barging in the galley seconds after he leaves. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING, THIS ISN’T THE PLAN!” Brook screams.

“THE PLAN DOESN’T WORK WITH IDIOTS!” Law screams back.

“THERE IS NO PLAN! ONLY YOU GUYS RUINING MY LIFE— WHERE IS USOPP!”

Zoro doesn’t hear anything anymore.

Doesn’t understand either.

Day twelve

To keep things normal between them, the Cook makes him onigiri. They taste bitter, nothing like what they tasted before Law kissed the Cook and Zoro hates himself for this. For being so jealous of something so frivolous. For letting this affect one of the things the Cook always loved — to feed people. Nakama. Them.

Zoro does his best to keep things cool between them. Normal.

He ignores the Cook. Eats and keeps quiet, even when Law isn’t around — he has been curiously absent from yesterday’s breakfast, lunch, supper, dinner and today is the same. Eats and keeps quiet even when Luffy stares at him, intently.

It’s fine. Everything is fine. Will be fine. Soon he’ll get over it and soon Law will leave them and soon the Cook will stop making these sad faces at Zoro and opening his mouth and closing, but not saying anything.

Zoro finishes eating as fast as he can and leaves without saying anything to anyone.

And if he trains harder, it’s because he knows he can use these feelings into making himself stronger. And if he hopes Law dies before he ever comes back to the ship, well, he still has a lot to learn.

Day thirteen

Usopp comes to him before Zoro manages to escape. Between training and miserably eating next to the Cook — who keeps trying to start a conversation, before shutting himself up and proceed to eat too — he is trying to find Joy, because now he could use a very good drink.

“Zoro, I want to talk to you about what you saw a few days ago.”

Zoro grunts. “There is nothing to talk about.”

“Are you sure…? Because I feel we should talk about whatever you thought you saw. I mean, Sanji and Law kissing? Pfff!” He waves a hand around and starts talking about all the possible ways to read into that, all of them unrelated with the possibility of Law and the Cook being in love with each other.

Zoro admires Usopp’s ability to lie to himself. He creates intrinsic readings of one moment that is quite clear and, well, they could fool Zoro had he not seen Law kiss the Cook in the mouth.

Why he is telling Zoro this is another mystery.

“Maybe Law was trying to get something out of it, you know?” Usopp says and he stares directly at Zoro. He looks serious. “Like… Make someone see something that is right in front of them…?”

Oh.

I’m such an idiot, Zoro thinks and smiles sadly. He puts a hand on one of Usopp’s shoulder and pats him a few times. “I understand.”

Usopp blinks. “You… You do?”

“You need to let him go.” Zoro says. “The Cook… He chose someone else, Usopp. It’s not healthy.”

“...Oh my God Law is right, you are an idiot!”

“What?”

Day fourteen

Chopper invites Zoro to walk with him around town to talk to the reindeers and Zoro is glad for it. Now that Law and the Cook are together and he knows Usopp too had feelings for him, Zoro feels as if he is a stranger on Sunny. That he doesn’t know what is going on there anymore. Things were fine two weeks ago… Now…

“Zoro, you don’t like Sanji?” Chopper asks during their walk. His expression is worried, almost sad.

“Uh…”

“Because he likes you, a lot.”

“Uh…”

“Robin told me you guys fight to show affection, like you’re mating animals—”

“What?”

“—but now you seem so distant.” Chopper sniffs and looks so sad a small girl that passes by them moans at this. Her companion holds her hand, pushing her away from Chopper. By the looks of it, she was going to grab him and hug him. Not that Zoro can judge her for this.

“We— Hm— I don’t— Uh— Uhhh— Look! Candy!”

“WHERE?!”

Day fifteen

Zoro stares at the Beli given by the Witch with suspicion.

“What?” She says, smiling too much. “I’m not going to charge you for this.”

“Yeah, right.” He says, snorting. “Don’t think you can fool me, witch.”

The Witch rolls her eyes. “I promise. I won’t. This is for you to buy presents to everyone.”

“What.”

“Presents.” The Witch says again, slowly. “You know. As it’s tradition. I figured it out you weren’t buying because you had no money, so, because I am an angel, I decided to lend you some.”

Zoro snorts again.

“Just get the money, Zoro.” The Witch hisses and slams her hand on the table.

“I’m not going to buy anyone anything.” Zoro mumbles. He won’t stay out in the cold looking for presents that mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Buying a book to Robin means nothing if compared to what he can give her if he gets stronger. What he can give them all. Their dreams. This means more than ephemeral gifts.

The Witch doesn’t think like him, however. “Yes, you will.” She smiles and Zoro is not afraid all of sudden. He is not. “Because if you don’t, I’ll start charging 300% interest on what you own me.”

“You can’t do—”

“—But if you buy me a good gift, maybe it’ll be enough to forget this idea…”

“I don’t even know what you like.” Besides treasure. Maybe he can give her more treasure?

“But you know someone who does.”

Zoro freezes. “No.”

The Witch smile widens.

The Cook almost drops the plate when Zoro barges in. Seconds later, Brook starts playing that goddamned song again and, okay, Zoro knows why the Cook doesn’t like it.

“Yes?” He asks, sounding too hopeful. Zoro’s heart clenches.

“The Witch—”

“DON’T CALL NAMI-SWAN THAT”

“—is forcing me to buy a gift for everyone. And I need help with that.”

“Oh. Sure. When do you want to go?”

“Tomorrow.” Zoro says and the pained expression on the Cook’s face makes his stomach churn. “What.”

“I— Um— I’m going with Law. Tomorrow.” He explains. “He asked me a few days ago before—”

Before the kiss is what he means.

“No problem.” Zoro says and stares at the window. The snow falls outside. Behind her, the village’s lights shine as bright as when they first arrived. Things were easier, better then.

He hates this island. Hates what it did to him, to them.

Zoro looks back at the Cook, who does not look at him. “The day after?”

The Cook smiles. “Sure.”

Day sixteen

“Zoro,” Luffy says, face still serious. “I’m your captain. You should do everything I say!”

Zoro huffs. “I already told you” He looks around. Fuck, where is the Cook? Can’t be that hard to find the man around all these people, where is— Oh, there he is! “I’m not going to spend the money the Witch gave me with meat.”

“WHY?”

“SHUT UP, I’M TRYING TO FOLLOW SOMEONE HERE!”

The woman walking past them jumps when Zoro screams and narrows his eyes, protecting her shopping bags, as if they were following her. Why would he follow her anyway? He’s a pirate, not a thief and, anyway, she’s not the Cook, who is seemingly on a date with his—

—His Law? What are then in this moment? Are they boyfriends? Lovers? Fuck buddies? Zoro hates all possibilities and yet every time the Cook smiled at Law as they talked, he wanted to ask are you happy? Are you happy with him? I want you to. To be happy. You deserve it.

His heart hurts so much Zoro could stab it to see if it would stop for just a moment. What if he died? Better than feeling this for(ever) god knows how long.

“No, you’re not. You’re lost again.” Luffy points it out and smiles. “Shishishi you lost Torao and Sanji three stores ago.”

“No, I didn’t.” Zoro says. “They’re right there.”

He points to the blonde man he just found as if to make a point, but when he turns, it’s an Okama. She stares at them and blushes, winking.

“Shit.”

Day seventeen

It’s the day after tomorrow and Zoro is nervous. So nervous Robin sat with him and told him that everything would be fine. That the Cook’s feelings for him wouldn’t change if Zoro did something stupid because he always does something stupid and it didn’t help. Zoro wants the Cook to feel something else. Something close to what he feels right now, for him.

Hell, he could do with just a mild attraction. He can do all the loving; he just needs the Cook.

“Oh.” Robin says after a moment. “Call Cook-san by his name.” She smiles. “I’m sure he would like that.”

And here they are. Zoro looking around necklaces with such intensity they could melt. Truth is, he doesn’t — can’t — look at the Cook right now. Not when he is dressed in a black overcoat that looks new and expensive. Underneath it, the grey sweater keeps him warm and covers his tie and white shirt. The wool pants he is using hug his thighs so perfectly even some women stopped to admire. And yet the Cook barely looked at them, all the time talking to Zoro, showing him where he bought his presents for each of their Nakama.

Zoro wants to ask him what he bought Law.

“You must really love her, huh?” A saleswoman says and Zoro laughs out loud. “Nah, I just don’t want her bitching to me and saying I bought her something ugly on purpose.”

“You—” The Cook appears out of nowhere, as if he knew Zoro was trash talking the witch. “—Nami-swan is a goddess! You don’t deserve to buy her anything!”

“Tell her that, then.”

They start arguing about the witch and suddenly the saleswoman laughs. “Oh. I see how it is. My mistake, then.” When Zoro opens his mouth to ask what she is talking about, she shows him a ring so shiny he flinches a little. “What about these?”

“Nami-swan likes necklaces better.” The Cook comments.

The saleswoman looks at Zoro. “Do you have anything like this for a necklace?”

“I have cute pendants.”

The look at each other and Zoro smiles. “Do you have anything that looks like an orange?”

When they are done and all the gifts are bought — and Zoro must confess he feels a little nervous, not knowing if they will like what he bought them — and they are going back to the ship, Zoro remembers what Robin told him. About calling the Cook his name. His original one.

“So— Hm.” He starts and his mouth feel suddenly dry.

“Yes?” The Cook — Sanji — answers and looks at him. There are snowflakes in his hair and Zoro really wants to brush them away. Touch those golden locks and kiss them and—

“Nevermind.”

Coward, he thinks and he sounds like Mihawk.

Day eighteen

Law is drinking tea inside the galley and so Zoro goes again in the city. He bought a present for him after the Cook reminded Zoro he had to, but that doesn’t change anything. Law doesn’t deserve the Cook. He isn’t even going to stay around them much longer. It will end in heartbreak and one of them wears his heart on his sleeve — always shows it around, to girls, most of the time.

Zoro thinks he could take care of it. He would be careful. He could be kind.

His steps lead him to the same place he bought the Witch’s orange pendant. Before he even recognizes him, the saleswoman from the day before comes out, smiling. “You!” She says.

“Yeah?”

“I thought you wouldn’t come around here anymore, but here you are! I recognized you because of your hair—”

“What do you want?”

If the Cook was here, Zoro would be kicked by his gruff tone and unkind words. However, the girl only laughs and shoves him inside the shop again.

“I have something to give you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Her smile widens before she starts searching for something inside her pockets. “You know, when saw you yesterday I knew it had to be you.”

Zoro freezes at that. Of course. His hair. She must have recognized him from his wanted poster. He looks at her, really looks. If she is a pirate hunter, she surely doesn’t look like. She poses no threat, and maybe that is her biggest advantage. However, when she exclaims like Chopper sometimes does when someone gives him candy, Zoro relaxes. Nah, she’s just some dumb woman.

“This is for you.” She says and gives him two rings made of wood.

Zoro frowns. “I don’t have any money.”

“It’s on the house.”

“Ha?”

“It’s a family tradition. My great grandpa was very poor, but he was so very in love with my great grandma he became a jewelry maker himself to make a wedding ring out of wood for her. He was quite talented and soon he found work in this jewelry shop. The owner, when he died, passed it away to him since he had no kids himself. He taught his daughter, who taught my dad, who taught me!” She laughs again. “He always said his love for his wife saved him and because of that, every year on this month, he would give a couple wedding rings made of wood as a good luck charm. My grandma said he always knew who to give — because you can feel true love when you see in front of you. So—” She places the two rings on his palm. “—I want to give you this.”

Zoro frowns again. “Nice story, but as I said, I’m not in love with the witch.”

“But you are in love with that blonde man, aren’t you?”

He blushes. “What? No—”

“Everyone with two eyes can see.” She says and giggles a little. “You’ll be very happy with him.”

“He doesn’t love me.”

“As I said.” The saleswoman leads him out of the shop. The rings on the palm of his hand are already warm. “Everyone with two eyes can see.”

Before he can ask what that means, she slams the door on his face. Rude.

Day nineteen

“Strawhat-ya.” Law says, voice very serious. “Stop eating the decorations. They are not edible.”

“They look so yummy, though! Shishishi”

“...No, they look like plastic, which is exactly what it is.”

“You’re no fun, Torao!” Luffy whines as Law takes away from him the wreaths they are supposed to hang on every door. Law looks at Zoro as he passes by the Aquarium and narrows his eyes at his direction.

Zoro looks back at his job — decorating the Christmas tree — and tilts his head. It looks like shit. He can feel Law’s judgment from the other room, by the way he hits the nail on the door.

“It looks like shit.” The witch says, staring from her place on the seats of the Aquarium, book open in her lap and hot tea on her hands.

“IT LOOKS FINE TO ME!”

“Do it again, Zoro.” She orders him before looking back to her book.

“Why don’t you do something besides boss everyone around.” Zoro grumbles as he dismantles the tree once again.

“I heard that. You own me twice as much as you did before.”

“YOU WITCH, I’LL KILL YOU.”

“Ten times as much as it did before, is that it?”

“WHAT KIND OF MATH IS—”

“Did I hear twenty times as much—”

“...”

The Witch hums something and Zoro wishes they never saved her from Arlong. He doesn’t even know how much he owns her now. Not that he did before, since the amount always changes at least three times a week.

“Nami-swan, you look beautiful today~” The Cook’s voice breaks the silence and Zoro almost drops the tree on the ground. The Cook and the witch stare at him for a few seconds and he politely ignores them. “I see you are busy.”

“Oi, what does that—”

“Never for you, Sanji!” She says sweetly and as the Cook melts because of this (why it had to be him? Of all the men on this ship, why it had to be the pathetic one?) she asks: “Are you asking around already?”

Asking for what?, Zoro wonders as he places the star at the top of the tree, first and foremost. It’s said to be last thing on the tree, but Zoro didn’t want to decorate the Christmas tree. He didn’t want to decorate anything, really. The villagers, however, gave lots of decorations for them and since it was free, the Witch gave everyone something to hang around the Sunny. Since Zoro refused many tasks, she said he would join her on decorating the most important thing: the tree.

That fucking Witch.

“Yes!” He says. “I’ll start the cooking tomorrow. Have you decided yet, my dear?”

“I’ll have a lobster frittata. I never had it before!”

“Oh, it will be my pleasure to prepare it, then! I’ll make the best one I have ever done in my life!”

“What’s that?” Zoro asks, suddenly curious. He never heard of lobster batata.

“It’s a special dish I will make to my mellorine because she deserves everything~” The Cook answers and that’s not even the response he wanted.

“What about you, Zoro? Did you chose already?”

“Choose what?”

“He did, already, Nami-swan.” The Cook answers and Zoro glares at him. “Marimo chose alcohol.”

The Witch laughs. “That’s not even food!”

“I know!”

“Oi, what are you talking about?”

The Cook tilts his head to one side. The fringe covering one eye falls out of place and shows the blue iris. Zoro loses his breath for a moment. What a rarity, to see both his eyes like this.

“Don’t you remember? I asked if you wanted anything special dish and you kept telling me you wanted booze.”

It feels like years ago, but the memory comes. “Oh. That. Right.”

“Do you want something else, Zoro?” The Witch asks, voice soft. “I’m sure Sanji will do it, since you asked for booze and, well, it’s not food.”

“Pumpkin soup.” Zoro says suddenly.

The Cook’s smile is so beautiful Zoro hurts just by looking at it. The rings he kept in his pocket suddenly feel heavier than all of this weights. He should throw them at the see and stop hoping.

“Pumpkin soup it is.”

Day twenty

The kitchen becomes off limits and Zoro pretends he doesn’t care. Well, he really doesn’t, except when he notices he has not seen the Cook all day. It’s weird to not see one of his nakama for a whole day when they live together and as soon as he notices he is wandering near the galley for no reason but to catch a glimpse of the Cook, Zoro decides it’s his great chance to forget him.

He can use these days to forget the Cook, to force his heart to give up on him.

He spends the whole day at the crow’s nest, meditating.

Day twenty-one

In a bar, he finds not Joy, but this man that looks a lot like the Cook. The same eyes and almost the same face and he seems interested, so.

He kisses him and he feels wrong. Zoro tastes booze, but not cigarettes. His fingers are calloused and ill kept. His legs are weak.

“No.” Zoro says suddenly. Steps away from the man and leaves.

Day twenty-two

Franky and Usopp are doing something for the Cook. Robin and the Witch comment this to him as they eat on the aquarium, both looking a little bit angry at the Cook.

Weird.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.” Robin says. “They were excited, however. Could not even go to sleep.”

“Yeah.” The Witch nods and she looks particularly resentful at that. “Assholes.”

“How do you know they didn’t go to bed?”

“Just eat your oatmeal, dear.” They both say at once. And, well, he does.

Day twenty-three

“Have you seen him today?”

Law looks up from his book to stare at Zoro. “What?”

“The Cook. Have you seen him today?”

“No.” Law says slowly and stares at his book for a moment before he closes it, securing the page he was one with a withered leaf. Zoro wonders where did he get it or from who.

(can’t be the Cook, that is for sure)

“We should talk.”

“We are.” Zoro tries and smirks as Law rolls his eyes.

“Funny. Look, I’m not—”

“TORAO, THE BIRD IS HERE!” Luffy screeches from the deck.

Law gets up so fast that Zoro is pretty sure he forgot his shadow in his haste.

Day twenty-four

The first nakama Zoro sees when he wakes up and leaves the crow’s nest are Franky and Usopp. They seem tired, but are restless as they talk about whatever they build to Sanji. When they see him, they exchange giddy — yes, giddy — looks and try to look as if they didn’t know something Zoro doesn’t.

They fail.

“What.”

“Nothing! You’re just in for a SUPER SURPRISE!” Franky screams and then starts to cry a little. “Love is beautiful, bro!”

Usopp just shrugs, but he is smiling, and Zoro narrows his eyes at him. He gulps. “Nothing! Nothing bad is going to happen! You’re just— You’ll see.”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“We wouldn’t need to do this if you weren’t an idiot.”

“What?”

“Eep!”

The Cook is still cooking and Zoro knows what that means. It means tons of food, great food, food he made thinking of the others when the point of this whole island tradition is to spend time together.

Or so he was told.

At least he’s not the only one who didn’t like all this. Luffy seems moodier and because of that Law is too unsettled. He stops asking for meat and just starts screaming for the Cook. “Sanji this and Sanji that”, silly things that he never really gets answers, before he annoys Law into doing something with him. Chopper asks Usopp and Franky every ten minutes if the Cook is alright. If he is eating, if he is sleeping, if he is tired. Usopp says he is fine, he is okay, but doesn’t disagree when the Witch mumbles that the Cook is working too hard. Franky tries to cheer them by saying how super the food is going and that the Cook will be seen after today.

Robin and Brook just offer to help the Cook in something and when they disappear too, it’s obvious they won the argument and are keeping an eye out for their shitty Cook.

Zoro waits.

Zoro waits and Zoro thinks and Zoro feels like he is losing a battle, because the Cook is there when he closes his eyes and when he opens and when he listens to the others or when he listens to himself. It’s overwhelming to have every sense filled with the Cook, even more now that he hasLaw, and yet it’s not enough.

He hasn’t seen the Cook in almost a week.

And when it’s near midnight and the Cook opens the door with a smile and tells them it’s ready, the smiles he receives are not because they are grateful he cooked to them, but because they missed him so much.

It’s glorious, delicious, perfect, as always. And the Cook eats and the Cook laughs and Zoro closes his eyes and thinks of the wooden ring (still) on his pocket and understands now why love is enough for some people to live.

Day twenty-five

Midnight comes with fireworks and Merry Christmas echoing in every household of the village, in every ship docked, and in Sunny. When they are satisfied with the food and with talking on deck, watching the stars and the fireworks, listening to songs sung by Brook and Franky — and Usopp and Luffy when they get shitfaced —, Robin remembers it’s the day to exchange gifts.

Usopp, Chopper, Luffy and even the Witch are not able to not open their presents, and they race to the aquarium the moment it is mentioned. Robin stares at Franky for a moment before he excuses himself and leaves, that demon woman following him, his shadow almost hiding her completely.

Zoro finally gets it. He stares at the two before his eyes fall on the Coo— on Sanji and he is suddenly not there either. Near Zoro, Law stares at the sky, as if expecting to see some bird carrying letters and gifts coming for them. He wonders if he is thinking of his nakama. He must miss them more than he lets on.

Brook, who was following some songs echoing through the village with his violin, stretches and mentions something about a cup of tea. “I’ll join you.” Zoro says even though he doesn’t drink tea, but Brook doesn’t comment on that, only nods.

They enter the kitchen, only to find it empty and Zoro tries his best not to look disappointed. He was better at schooling his emotions before, but this island and it’s stupid traditions have ruined this.

(or was it you?, his mind supplies and it sounds like Perona)

“You’re in the way.” Zoro jumps when he hears the voice near him and when he looks back, there is the— there is Sanji, holding something in his hand.

“Tch.” He answers and moves to let him enter the galley. His eyes follow Sanji’s back and when he turns, Zoro is forced to look away. That is when he notices Brook has slipped away and they are alone.

“Here.” Sanji says and extends a package for him.

Zoro knows that form.

“Did you find Joy?” He asks, surprised, but when he tears the thin material open, he stares at a bottle of something that doesn’t look like a strong drink.

“Nope. I think you got conned on that, Marimo.” Sanji says and Zoro can hear the smile in his voice. “This is something I promised, though.”

“You—?” And then it hits him. He looks at the drink and opens it. The smell of apples are very distinguished and his heart aches. He brings the bottle to his lips and tastes it, only to find it is as perfect as the pumpkin soup, or the tender, or the potatoes or anything he ate a few hours ago, in the company of their nakama.

“This is what you were making all these days?”

Sanji huffs a laughter. “Of course. It was hard, but Usopp and Franky are awesome like that. Don’t worry. There are more. I just wrapped it in as a symbolic gesture.”

“Thanks.”

Sanji shrugs, but he is smiling too much, his eye is sparkling with something warm. Zoro looks at the ceiling, sees the mistletoe — dried and dying — and remembers what Law said about the tradition surrounding this small plant. A kiss.

He stares at Sanji and how he doesn’t have a cigarette in his mouth. How he too stares at Zoro and—

Zoro drinks some more apple cider. Tries to drown that desire with something made by Sanji, by his hands and his mind and his knowledge, because it has to be enough.

Be enough, he asks all the gods he never believed in, knowing it won’t be answered.

Day twenty-six

Law is smiling. It’s weirdly unsettling and when Zoro asks Luffy about it, he just laughs and says he received some good news and hey, is Zoro gonna eat that? And of course Zoro is going to eat that, stop trying to steal his food.

Anyway, it makes Zoro wonder what could've be. It makes him wonder if Sanji would be able to make a man smile like that after a night — after his voice lowers and he finds something else to occupy his mouth with — and he shivers at the idea. Zoro also feels something akin to jealousy (real, poisonous jealousy) and decides it's time to cool his head off as he searches for something else that also seems impossible for him.

Joy.

Before he can leave by himself, however, Sanji decides to join him, saying he wants to buy some more potatoes. “You'll cook soon?” Zoro wonders, a little suspicious and Sanji scoffs.

“Of course I will! Not right now, but soon.”

“We have food to feed— " he stops his observation as he remembers Luffy and his will to eat the entire ship. “Right.”

“Yeah.” Sanji says and they soon fall into a comfortable silence.

As if.

Zoro's comfortable silence is for those he has finished a conversation, have sorted everything out with. With Sanji, there's always something else to be said when they are not fighting — each other and strangers.

Now the silence is worse than poison because holds the promise of unfinished business and unrequited emotions.

“Why are you looking for it?” Sanji breaks it first. He never liked the quietness, being raised in a loud environment, stressful and dangerous. A kitchen of a former pirate doesn't sound as calm as a kendo dojo. “Joy, is it?”

Zoro shrugs “I want to taste it. And it keeps me busy.”

Sanji snorts. “And here I thought you liked laziness.”

“Not these days.” He confesses and his voice sounds too sincere, he bites the inside of his cheek when Sanji stares at him. “If I sleep too much, I freeze to death.” He explains.

Sanji laughs, and Zoro thinks of Law's smile.

Fuck.

“Are you happy?” He asks suddenly and Sanji tilts his head or at least seems to do by the corner of his eyes. Zoro keeps his head straight, eyes staring at where he is walking. In his head, he wishes for an enemy.

“What do you mean?” Sanji asks after a moment. His voice is hesitant and small.

“I hope you are. Law seems to be a nice man.” Zoro explains and flinches at the way he says Law. There is some bitterness in his tone. Some angry resignation.

Sanji stops walking. Zoro doesn’t.

“I don't understand.” Sanji confesses, holding a lit cigarette in one hand and an unlit one on the other. “Why is he still talking about Law?”

Usopp sighs at the same time Nami-swan does. If Sanji wasn’t so confused and distracted, he would wonder why those seem to be in symmetry with the other.

Luffy, who is a little bit of an idiot but knows his nakama enough to understand what is happening between them, only turns to Sanji and says: “Maybe he didn't understand Law has a boyfriend.”

“HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND.” A voice screeches from somewhere and Sanji, Usopp and Nami-swan jump. Luffy only giggles as he hears Franky screaming “STOP TALKING TO THE WALLS, BRO, IT'S SUPER WEIRD.”

“How did he hear that?” Nami-swan asks Usopp, voice low and he just shrugs.

“I guess this is part of Things We’ll Never Truly Know or Understand About This Wolrd.” Usopp says, shrugging. “Together if How Zoro Can Be So Blind.”

Sanji mutters something and then hugs Luffy who only pats his back and tells him about all the kinds of meat he wants to eat tomorrow. Now would be awesome, too.

Day twenty-seven

The Witch follows Zoro after breakfast to remember they are going to leave the island soon. “We left some orders to be collected after Christmas and Chopper is going to get them today. Go with him.” It’s not a request.

“I don't remember Luffy dying and you becoming the captain, Witch.”

“Luffy, Zoro doesn't want to go get meat!” She speaks louder and Zoro flinches.

“ZORO, GO GET MY MEAT, IT’S CAPTAIN’S ORDERS!”

The Witch’s smile is so pleasant that Zoro wants to drop her on the freezing ocean.

Turns out, there is a lot they ordered on this island during the month. Medicines and food, yes, but also ink, notebooks, paper, some instruments, wood... Things that would take Chopper a long time to collect and bring to the ship.

All the while, Chopper is talking about animal's different mating rituals that he has read in a book recently and Zoro just wants a distraction, really.

This is when he looks around and sees Franky and Robin on a date.

It's a date alright. Zoro knows that because Franky is wearing pants and Robin's hair is done in a different way. Her clothes seem nicer than usual, too.

“And then the morse stands on his mate's body and looks like he is actually standing on a dead body, but the books said it was still alive, even with all the blood and— ROBIN! I got the books you ordered from the bookstore! Do you want them now?” Chopper screams and runs to her before Zoro can stop him. She turns to look at him and though her smile is kind, her eyes show she is surprised. Franky chokes on his coffee the moment Chopper comments he has pants on. “ARE YOU OKAY? SOMEONE CALL A DOCTOR!”

“You're the doctor.” Zoro comments casually.

“IT’S TRUE! HANG ON, FRANKY, I’LL COLLECT SOME BLOOD!”

“There is no need for that, Doctor-san.” Robin says and pats one of Franky’s arms. They cling a little, being metal and all and Franky gives them a weak smile. “Yeah. I’m super! Just... Choked on my drink.”

“And you don't even have blood, right?” Zoro says, but then he gets genuinely curious. “You don't, right?”

They all stare at Franky, and Chopper slowly takes a syringe from his pocket, eyes shining.

Later that day, when Franky is avoiding Chopper and Chopper is looking for Franky, Law in tow because he too never wondered about this, Robin sits near Zoro on the Crow's nest and asks: “When did you learn you liked Cook-san?”

“Uh…”

“It can't be this month.” She goes on and maybe this is revenge for earlier. “I have the impression you already knew, just didn't realize the depth.”

“Thriller's bark.” He answers.

“Oh.” She says. For a moment Zoro wonders she will ask the context, but she doesn't. He narrows his eyes and wonders if she already knows.

This woman.

“What about you? When did you realize you liked Franky?”

She turns to smile at him. Her eyes are cold. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Swordsman-san.”

The Crow's nest temperature drops three degrees and Zoro fears.

This woman.

Day twenty-eight

“Let’s fight.” Sanji says and Zoro stares at him. They were on deck, cleaning out the snow that has poured during the night.

“What?”

“I said—” And suddenly he is just there, feet against an unsheathed Kitetsu. “—Let’s fight!”

Sanji throws another kick, right at Zoro’s stomach and he skids through the deck, wet and slippery because of the ice. Zoro grits his teeth as he charges towards the Cook (Sanji, but he is never Sanji when they are fighting, is he? Sanji cooks and Sanji smiles and Sanji shines during the day and even during the night. In a fight, he is all Cook, dangerous feet and dangerous hands, even if he doesn’t use them — have you seen he using a knife? He would be just as dangerous with a sword, if he wasn’t so afraid — and this glint on his eyes that promise death and blood), unsheathes Kitetsu and watches him dodge easily, as if he was dancing instead of fighting.

It makes Zoro angrier somehow. Angry because he doesn’t seem to take Zoro seriously and angry that he lost him to Law, Law, who isn’t even nakama. I should have been faster, he think. And stronger. And kissed him instead of telling Law to do it.

When the Cook starts to hit again, Zoro slips and suddenly his back is against the main mast and the Cook is just there, ankle pressuring Kitetsu. Their faces are so close that Zoro can taste the cigarette on the Cook’s breath. Something falls near them and Zoro glances down — something dangerous, yes, but.

Mistletoe.

It’s tradition, Law voice tells him inside his head. He sounds as if he is smirking at Zoro.

Zoro kisses the Cook.

Kisses him like he is going to bite him, angry and bitter, and the Cook — Sanji — is so surprised he slips and falls.

They stare at each other for what feels like hours instead of seconds.

And then Zoro leaves.

Day twenty-nine

He doesn’t go back to the ship until it’s morning of the next day. He wanders around the village, still annoyingly cheerful, and drinks on bars and gets into fights. Zoro expects the anger to simmer down, but it doesn’t. It just keeps coming and coming, like lava coming out of a volcano in eruption. He wishes it had happened before, not when they are ready to leave and stay in close proximity — Zoro, Sanji and Law — for gods know how long.

Still, there is nothing he can do and they can’t afford to waste more days around here, so—

So he comes back when the sun is rising.

The first person he sees is Law.

“Not now.” Zoro grunts as he passes the man.

“When, then?” Law asks and he sounds almost sarcastic. “When? Because we need to talk, Zoro-ya.”

“Not. Now.” Zoro warns.

“You’re mistaken.” Law says and Zoro turns his body to stare at him.

“Just—” Zoro sighs. “Just make him happy. Don’t ruin him.”

Law tilts his head, smirking as if he is delighted with something. “You really are mistaken, Zoro-ya.” Zoro opens his mouth to snap at this smug motherfucker when Law just continues. “There is nothing between Cook-ya and me.”

A pause.

“What?”

“I have no intentions or feelings for him. And he feels nothing for me either.”

“You kissed—”

“—Because you didn’t. I thought you would do something then, not— Not plan our wedding, but alas.”

Zoro narrows his eyes, angrier now. And not even he knew he could be this angry at someone he trusted. Kind of. A little bit. Enough to fight alongside him. “You didn’t tell me.”

Law laughs. He just throws his head back and laughs as if it was the funniest joke he had ever heard.

Probably was.

He leaves again and heads to a bar.

Day thirty

To say that he always wanted to spend two days just drinking and brooding over Sanji is a far stretch, but life is surprising like that. At least he hasn’t started complaining to anyone who sits next to him. Not like the man sitting next to him that is complaining something about—

About Joy.

“What?” Zoro says suddenly and turns to see the man who is drinking because the Joy of Christmas is gone. “It’s gone?”

“Sure is.” The man says and sniffs a little. “It’s gone now.”

Zoro curses and the man nods and drinks some more.

“I spend the whole month looking for it.” And all I found was a headache. And heartache.

“That’s the thing about Joy. You may look for it, but it only comes when you stop searching.”

“Yeah— What?”

“Joy is a state of mind, my lady always said to me.”

“It isn’t a drink?”

The man bursts out laughing.

“Let me tell you this, young— What’s your name?” His voice is slurred and he points out not to Zoro, but to the space next to him. Zoro only directs his finger in the right direction.

“Zoro”

“Let me tell you this, young Zoro. You think you can find joy at the bottom of a bottle, but you can’t. You can’t. Joy is a state of mind. Is when your more than happy, more than— More than—”

“Happy?”

“Yes. Your happy and then your joyful and your thankful and your—” He drinks some more. “You can’t find it at the bottom of a bottle.”

“You’re doing this right now.”

“I’M MOURNING IT.” He says and slams his glass of sake on the table. “Joy is easy to find in Christmas because everyone is happy and cheerful and there are lights and children and—”

“And joy.”

“Yes! Now go find yours!”

“I—”

“GO FIND IT WHILE YOUR STILL YOUNG!”

Zoro just goes. This isn’t the only bar at the village anyway.

Day thirty-one

On his way back to the Sunny, a little drunk and less confused, Zoro finds some people putting some decorations. "More celebration?" He asks, half curious and half amazing. How many things do they celebrate?

“It's New Year's Eve!” One of the women say. “Don't you celebrate the beginning of a new year?”

“No. There is no point celebrating something like that.”

“Well, here we celebrate. We have gatherings and we kiss at midnight for good luck.”

Zoro snorts. “Mistletoe?”

“Oh no. That is just for fun.” The woman laughs. “We kiss our loved ones on New Year's Eve.” She sighs dreamily. “I kiss my wife every time one year ends and the other begins so we can have a good year together and make all our dreams come true.”

“Does it work?” He asks.

“That depends on what you're aiming for.” She says and their eyes meet. She smiles knowingly.

He reaches the Sunny and is greeted by everyone.

Well, not everyone.

Sanji is nowhere to be seen and the Witch and Usopp ignore him and, yeah, he guesses he deserves that. “You look terrible, Swordsman-san.” Robin says instead of hello. “You should sleep a little.”

Zoro came back wanting to talk to Sanji and sort things out, but, yeah, sleep sounds great too.

He wakes up and it's night already. He looks out of the Crow's nest and sees darkness.

(we kiss our loved ones on New Year's Eve)

Zoro runs. He barely knows how he left the Crow's nest so fast but he runs towards the deck and runs and runs and—

“What the hell!” Sanji screams as Zoro barges in the kitchen. He opens his mouth to scream again but is muffled by Zoro's mouth on his.

He doesn't let go this time. Zoro wraps his arm around Sanji's hips and holds him there. Slips his tongue inside Sanji's mouth and that seems to wake the Cook up because his hands wrap around his neck. All the places his fingers touch becomes warm, hot even and something in Zoro spreads as he finds himself unable to hold back a smile. He has been an idiot all this time, the way Sanji kisses him keep telling him this, but it’s ok. They have time now. They have this now. And they will have this tomorrow and the other day and for the next year and beyond.

Oh, that's it, isn't it?

Joy.

“Bastard.” Sanji mutters against his mouth and breaks the kiss. “I should kick you right now.”

“I know.”

“You just bring me headaches.”

“I do.”

“I love you.” Sanji whispers and before Zoro can say it back, he kisses him. “Go take a shower, you smell of death.”

“You don’t seem to mind.”

“I do, very much.”

“Come with me.”

Sanji kisses him again. Moans against his lips and Zoro brushes his hard-on against his. “I have to cook.” He remembers.

“And here I thought it was past midnight.”

“What? No, it’s seven— Oh, the kissing thing.”

“Yeah. I thought I had lost my chance.”

Sanji steps away, cheeks red and eyes malicious. This man. “Don’t worry, if you did, I’m pretty sure Law would kindly step in.”

“You little shit—” And Zoro brings him close again.

In the end, Zoro manages to have Sanji take a shower with him. A long one. And when midnight arrived, they decided they could move past kissing and onto more meaningful, hotter ways to celebrate the New Year.

Law and Luffy stare at the Crow’s nest. “Shishishi, finally!”

“I’m never setting foot there again.” Law complains.

“Did Kid write back?” Luffy asks suddenly.

“Yeah. He’s going after Kaido.”

“Shishishi so we’re gonna rescue him after defeating Doflamingo?”

Law huffs. “Probably.”

Day one

“You are leaving already?” The same man who greeted them when they docked on this island asks, curious. “Most people tend to stay longer.”

“We have places to be!” Luffy says, expression serious and unwavering. “Boyfriend’s to save—”

“‘HE’S NOT MY BOYFRIEND.” Law screeches.

“— And people to defeat!”

“Alright.” The old man says. “I understand. Well, but first, take this.” He extends a box of wine bottles to them. Luffy takes it, nodding, and passes to Zoro, who runs one of the bottles to read the label.

It reads Joy.

“For good luck!” The man says at the same time Zoro screeches: “SO IT WAS A DRINK AFTER ALL?!”

“Why, yes.”

“I looked everywhere.” Zoro explains. All his nakama nod, even Robin and Chopper. “We looked everywhere.”

“The only person who produces and sells is Nancy. Her grandmother, Joyce, was the one who created this drink.” He explains, smiling. “You know, the woman with a big bosom that has a bar downtown.”

There is silence on the Sunny.

And then.

“IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT, YOU SHITTY COOK!”

“MY FAULT? HOW IS IT MY FAULT?”

“YOU HAD NOSEBLEEDS AFTER SHE ANSWERED MY QUESTION!”

Nami sighs as Sanji kicks Zoro and he defends the attack with Shusui. “It’s good that things are back to normal.”

“Yeah.” Usopp says. “‘Normal’”.

A/N.: So I decided to join the advent calendar even if I didn't know what to write. I chose day 7 because it's my sister's birthday and felt symbolic (she doesn't read OP, jokes on her).

I kept thinking of what to write and all that, but nothing would come. No idea, no nothing.Until three days ago this came and I obviously lost control, but there it is.For those who are wondering what song is Brook is playing all the fucking time, click here.Anyway, I hope you guys like it and Merry Christmas <3

No, I didn’t forget the rings. Zoro did, tho.

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firefistlaw · 7 years ago

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Ok, so headcanons on eustass kid and how he would feel and just to have had an s/o but due to an argument she left him and she died later on and he encounters her little son who she had with ace ? Lmao I know this is super specific but I was just thinking about like things and I’m like why not my two favs ? I really love your blog! My fav one piece imagine blog!

S/O leaves Kid, dies after some time and has a child with Ace

A/N: Thank you so much! My blog really loves you back!

Kid wasn’t normally the one to feel much regret

Even after you both had an heated argument and you left him, he didn’t feel much regret afterwards

He felt like, if you couldn’t handle him and his opinions, maybe you should have left earlier

That’s what he thinks at first

It takes him a few weeks to fully understand that you left and not just pout somewhere

A hurricane of emotions hit him then, no one notices, but his insides are being crashed by doubts and the feeling he never knew he would be able to feel;

regret

He sends Killer to see you and maybe bring you back to him, but when his friend comes back alone, Kid isn’t sure what to do next

Killer tells him that you have no interest in coming back to him, which makes the red haired man angry, but he can’t change it

Instead, he swears to be the most powerful pirate so you can see him, admire him and maybe come back.. that’s the thing that keeps him motivated

A few years pass

Kid stops thinking about you, but he can’t help but be reminded of a person he was caring for whenever he lays in his bed all alone or when he comes back from a fight and no one stands in the room, scolding him for being reckless

He doesn’t think about you, but he thinks about all of the things you did

Then, after they sail around the sea for a long time, they randomly see an island pop up

Killer instantly calls Kid and when the captain comes and sees the island, he feels his heart jump in his chest for a short time- not that he would ever admit that

This was your island, this was where you’re from and Kid was sure, you must have been here too

So they stop and he practically marches up to your house, where he met you for the first time, only to find nothing but silence and a little boy

He has dark hair, dark eyes and a few freckles on his face

He reminds Kid of someone, but he can’t exactly tell who it is, so he ignores it

“Who lives here?” He asks the child, that isn’t older than 4

“I do.” He just mumbles and stares into the eyes of Kid

The captain was sure, they must have been scary to look at, full of scars and weapons, but the little brat had the guts to stare into his eyes like he didn’t care?

“What do you mean, brat?” Kid spits and is about to pull out his weapon to scare him some more, when the little boy starts to smile and just like that, everything makes sense

The whole crew starts to tense at the sight-

It was as if you were smiling at them- those were your lips, your smile and now Kid noticed, it was your fearless stare staring at him…

“Where is Y/N?” Kid asks, the air in his lungs starting to clog up slowly

“Mama?” The little boy asks and crosses his arms “Papa said I shouldn’t tell someone where she lays.”

“Papa?” The crew takes a step back, but Killer steps forward and somehow protects the little child from what was about to come, “Who the fuck is your dad, brat?”

“It’s Portgas D. Ace! My Papa is one of the strongest pirates on the sea!”

Oh, Kid absolutely hates this boy

Just like that, he hates the child looking at him and he hates the famous Fire Fist Ace even more

“Where the fuck is your mother? Tell me right now, or-” Only now the little boy starts to feel a bit scared and his lower lip starts to tremble, but instead of talking, he almost cries

“We are old friends of your mother. Can you show us where she is?” Killer interrupts and crouches down.

The boy nods his head and walks away, behind the house into the garden and sniffles quietly

Kid is trying his best to follow him without making a scene, but when they stop on a hill, he can’t help but let everything fall down he has held in his hands

There was a tombstone with your name on it, your birthday and another date- four years ago

“Papa said mama was an angel and was here to bring me to the world, but she had to go back to heaven.” The child explains and looks at Killer, who thankfully had a mask on- otherwise it would be clear what he was feeling

It’s ironic how the father of the child was able to control flames, because Kid felt himself being eaten up by flames of regret, of sadness and mostly- anger

He didn’t hate the boy anymore- he despised him, he couldn’t even look at him any longer, thus, he turned around and left everyone as he took a walk to calm the flame inside his heart

After a while, a few hours to be exact, Kid comes back with dirty clothes and dried blood on his fingers, no one dares to ask what has happened as they all sit in your old house

Heat is playing with your son as Killer and Kid go out again

“The little boy said Ace comes every few months to visit him, besides that he lives alone. I don’t think he knows Fire Fist is captured by the marine yet.” Killer takes a glance at the dark haired boy on the ground, laughing loudly at the face Heat gives him and this time too, his smile reminds everyone of you. “If the marine finds out Y/N has a son with him, they will capture the boy and most likely kill him.”

“What are you trying to say?” Kid spits bitterly

“Let’s take him with us.” Killer says, voice strong “You’d be surprised with how much he resembles her. “

They discuss for a long time, Kid doesn’t lie- he still hates this child, but what Killer said was true

So, after they stay two more days at your house, they decide to take the child with them, to make him strong, to make you proud and to mostly make sure he stays alive

Before they leave for the sea, Kid visits you one more time,

“Y/N, I never had the chance to apologise for everything I have ever done to you… Your little brat- uh, I mean, your son… I don’t like him, but we will take him with us and take care of him. It’s the least we- no, I can do. You can trust us, we will make sure he becomes strong. Y/N, I still-… nevermind.”

And then he leaves

#shrugs #kinda bittersweet #my stuff #one piece #one piece kid #one piece headcanons #eustass kid #portgas d ace #one piece hcs

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kaizokunohime · 7 years ago

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Black Lines of Distraction

This fanfic is a collaboration between myself and @lululawlawlu-fanfics. It is also posted on AO3. Let us know what you think!

Chapter 2

*☆*:.｡. ✧.｡.:*☆*:.｡. ✧.｡.:*☆*

Pairing: LawLu

Rating: Explicit (for future chapters)

*☆*:.｡. ✧.｡.:*☆*:.｡. ✧.｡.:*☆*

Law’s POV:

Fate was a funny thing. Law didn’t like to believe in something as preposterous as fate but sometimes he had to wonder. His life had always seemed to be a series of one bad instance after another, although somehow he always came out on top.

Law had come to the auction house in Sabaody Grove One to investigate ties between the business and Doflamingo. He’d planned to simply observe the proceedings to take note of anything that may provide him with useful information while a specialized team of his trusted crew members snuck into the back to tap the phone lines. He hadn’t planned to draw too much unnecessary attention to himself. Unfortunately fate seemed to have thrown his plans out the window with the arrival of one Monkey D. Luffy and his apparent propensity for making a scene.

The young, straw hat wearing captain’s reputation truly did precede him. He had proved that he was indeed a madman among pirates. If Law didn’t know better, he might think that he had ties to the revolutionary army, as much as he seemed to like picking fights with the government. And speaking of the government, the navy was already gathering its forces outside.

“Release the hostages,” a marine officer demanded through a loudspeaker. “We've got the building surrounded. An admiral is on the way. There is no chance of escape for you pirates.”

“I don’t really want to stick around to fight an admiral. As an added bonus I’ll do you guys a favour and save your asses. Just let me take care of the marines on my way out,” Eustass Kid offered, turning to walk out and face them. “I don't have a bounty of 315 million for no reason.”

“Having a high bounty is hardly an indication of strength or ability, but more so a measure of how reckless you've probably been,” Law scoffed, rising to follow him out. He found this kind of egotism annoying at best.

“They're here because of me,” Luffy protested, catching up to the other two. “They're mine to fight.”

“I said I'd take care of it. Just relax.”

“Don't order me around, Eustass-ya. There’s no way I’m letting myself become indebted to you over something so trivial.”

“Shut up, you two. I told you, they're mine. Don’t try to hog all the fun.”

“I told you to leave it to me.”

“God, you’re both so noisy.”

“All three captains are coming out at once!” shouted one of the marines.

Eustass Kid’s smile grew wide. “Just stand back and let me handle it,” he demanded, putting his arm out in front of Law to stop him.

Law was taken aback by the aggressive gesture. He was not about to tolerate much more. One more order and he was going to turn on the red haired captain and show him just why a higher bounty was no indication of real power.

“Eustass-ya if you order me around one more time-”

“Here I go!” Luffy shouted, charging out in front of them.

The look of shock on Eustass Kid’s face was priceless. Law caught himself subconsciously grinning from ear to ear. Mugiwara just never stopped surprising him.

“Fire the mortars,” a Lieutenant called from the front line, grabbing Law’s attention.

He was about to shamble the explosives away from them when the rubber captain jumped in to stretch his fingers into a net to catch them all, the momentum of the catch propelling him into swinging them around. One of the explosives slipped from his makeshift net falling to right where Law and Kid were standing.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” Eustass Kid growled at him, jumping out of the way.

“Sorry,” Luffy excused nonchalantly, and Law felt himself smiling again.

The young captain’s lack of regard for anyone else’s instruction was amusing to say the least- especially when it was that increasingly annoying Eustass Kid who’s instruction he was defying. Mugiwara was a madman, he decided- a rash, idiotic, albeit powerful madman. The more Law saw the more he was sure that he’d prefer to have him as an ally rather than an enemy. If Law was able to endear himself to this madman, he may be able to use him to his advantage in the ruthless new world.

Law still wasn’t sure what Dofalmingo had up his sleeve and the way he saw it, Mugiwara kind of owed it to him to help him take down Doflamingo if possible. It was pretty much his fault that Law’s plan for gaining information at the auction house had been interrupted by him in the first place. Luffy’s strength and reckless abandon, coupled with his dedication to his companions could make him a useful ally. This was a person who was willing go so far as to challenge the celestial dragons for his friend, right?

Law had no more time to think of it. Marines were flanking them on all sides- now was the time to fight. Besides, what were the chances of Law actually needing to ally himself with this crazy teen?

… … … … …

Monkey D. Luffy is a menace Law decides. He always gets them deeper into trouble, doesn’t follow the plan, always invades Law’s personal space; the young pirate is driving him mad.

He had not expected to see Mugiwara again so soon, especially when he was on an island forbidden to marine and pirate alike, but after some deliberation decided that an alliance with the teen would be beneficial to his plan. He did not admit to himself how readily he had come to this conclusion. It certainly had nothing to do with the dazzling smile he had been greeted with, nor any lingering affection he held for the boy. He hadn’t expected the other captain to agree so readily, but he was coming realize how little he knew about him.

Law had witnessed how far Mugiwara was willing to go in order to save a friend or loved one (pretty darn far), as well as his disregard for the rules set by the World Government. He had witnessed just how far Luffy had pushed himself in order to save his brother (he had been amazed that the boy was still alive) and had comforted him as he was swallowed up by grief over the loss of the very brother he had been trying to save.

But he had never seen this childish and selfish side of Luffy, demanding he help save the children, insisting on throwing a party after their victory, and now prancing across the deck when he was bored. It was completely unexpected and he definitely did not think it was cute - it was annoying and detrimental to further plans. Who knew what kind of trouble he could get up to at Dressrosa?

Now, time to make sure the idiotic captain understood the plan for Dressrosa. He did not want to deal with Mugiwara ignoring the plan again.

#LawLu #Fanfiction #Law x Luffy #op

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words-and-fangirling-wonder · 7 years ago

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K is for Kids

The next installment of this story is here! And in a somewhat timely manner, too! Fair warning, it’s pretty long for me, and there’s a lot of kid-speak. The twins are also my own characters, and I’m really nervous posting something that focuses so heavily on them because OCs are scary aaaaahhhhhh.

Also, interesting fact. Did you know that 8 out of 10 three-year-olds can say “Eustass” perfectly, yet only 3 out of 10 can say “Law” clearly? (Who would’ve thought working with kids would help me write fanfic, huh?)

Anyway, here it is!

Author: fangirlwonder (wordsandwonder on AO3)

Pairing: Kid/Law

Prompt: Kids

Rating: Teen?

Unbeta’d, so please excuse and/or point out any glaring mistakes!

“Mr. Eustass, do you know why I chose not to specialize in pediatric medicine?” Law asked in the quiet, even voice that Kid had come to realize meant he was in deep shit.

“Well, considering your bedside manner I’m guessing they wouldn’t let you?” Kid snarked, hoping that a joke might lessen the tension currently thick in the air between them.

He was an idiot. He knew Law wasn’t exactly crazy about children, but he’d gone and agreed to babysitting at their apartment without even consulting the other man, and now it was painfully clear that Law was pissed.

“Hilarious though I’m sure you find yourself, Eustass, I am in no mood for your attempts at humor right now,” the definitely-not-less-tense surgeon warned. “I did not pursue pediatrics because I find children rather … difficult. And while I don’t exactly mind spending time with your brothers at your family functions and such, I’m not sure at all why you agreed to babysit them here rather than at your mother’s house where they live.”

“Aw, c’mon, Law –“

“Without discussing it with me,” Law interrupted.

Kid stared dumbly at his seething boyfriend and tried to decide if it would be better or worse to tell him the truth. Which was that he liked seeing Law interact with children and wanted the chance to see how he handled it when he had a more active, caregiver-type role. But only because it was funny, and not for any other heart-fluttery reason at all. Obviously.

“Well? Please, Eustass, I cannot wait to hear your reasoning on this.”

Yeah, the truth definitely wasn’t an option right now. “Well, just … you were good with them at Christmas and my birthday dinner so, I dunno, I thought it’d be okay,” he finally replied lamely.

“Both events which were held at your mother’s house, and at which I was not expected to provide any level of care. I assume since you scheduled this for my day off, my only day off for a week and a half, that you are expecting assistance with them?”

“I mean, it’d be nice,” Kid agreed sheepishly. “But you don’t have to.”

Law scanned the living room he had been obsessively cleaning and reorganizing all afternoon in an attempt to make it more “child friendly” and ran a hand through his hair. “Well obviously I’ll help, I know they’re a handful,” he muttered. “And it’s not as though I’d just hide in the bedroom all night. They’ll be in bed by nine, right?”

Kid nodded eagerly. “Probably before. And they sleep like the dead, so it’ll be like they aren’t even here. And I’ll owe you one.”

“Oh, Mr. Eustass, you will owe me so much more than one,” Law growled.

“Whatever you want, doc. I’ll even do that thing you’ve been wanting.”

That got Law’s attention. “Really?” he narrowed his eyes. “You’ll really wear it?”

“Yeah, I’ll wear it,” Kid promised. “I’ll wear it and do whatever you want me to in it, I swear. All you have to do is kinda help me herd them and act like you like them, and I’ll do it all without a single complaint.”

Law considered that for a moment, but then had to shake his head to clear his mind of the images of Eustass that were popping up and putting him in a less than babysitting-ready mood. “Fine, fine,” he snapped eventually. “When will they be arriving?”

The buzzer sounding answered Law’s question before Kid could, but it wasn’t like the doctor didn’t know when they were coming anyway. He’d been anxiously counting down since Kid had told him the plan at breakfast.

“Shit. I mean shoot,” Law corrected under his breath (which Kid found hilarious considering the twins were still downstairs) before hitting the talk button. “Hello?”

“Law! How are you, honey? Thanks so much for taking the boys!”

“Uh, not a problem, Annie. The door should be open, please come on up. Unless you need assistance?”

“No, no, I’ve got it. C’mon boys, let’s go play with your brother and Law!”

Releasing the talk button, Law rounded on Kid with wide eyes. “Toys!” he whisper shouted, clearly panicked at the sudden realization that his apartment was completely devoid of child-appropriate entertainment. “Children require toys. We don’t have anything for them to play with. Damnit, Eustass, if you had told me earlier I could have purchased them some toys!”

“Law, relax. They’re three. If you bought them a toy they’d probably play more with the box it came in.”

Law lit up at that. “I have a box! It has some old photo albums in it, but I could empty it and then they would have a box.”

Laughing at Law right now would be a very big mistake, Kid knew. But the temptation was overwhelming, especially as Law looked at him with such sincere, if slightly freaked out, eyes. “Nah, mom probably brought some with her. Worst case scenario we give them a spoon and a pot to bang it on and both suffer through a headache. They’ll be fine.”

“Helloooooo!” Annie called cheerfully from the hallway. “A little help, please? My hands are full out here, boys!”

Kid gave Law one last reassuring smile and opened the door, only to immediately stumble back as two energetic toddlers collided with his legs.

“Bubba!” they cried in unison, hugging tightly to his thighs.

“Hey Austin. Hey Kyler. How’s it going?”

“We – we gonna stay with you! An’ play!” Austin replied enthusiastically.

“We saw a old person,” Kyler informed him solemnly.

“Let me help you with that, Annie,” Law offered, bypassing Kid, who was trying and failing to keep up with all the information his brothers were trying to share with him at once.

By the time Kid looked back up from his extremely jumbled conversation with the boys, his mom had slipped back out and Law was staring, perplexed, at a small rock with googly eyes glued onto it.

“That’s Dig,” Kid answered Law’s unspoken question. “Kyler won’t go anywhere without him.”

Kyler detached himself from Kid’s leg and went to the pile of things his mother had left behind, rummaging around until he found a step stool, which he then brought over to Law. He climbed up, which still didn’t put him anywhere near Law’s eye level, and reached a hand out for his rock.

“Dig not a person,” he assured Law. “Only pretend. He jus’ a rock.” With Dig safely tucked into the palm of his hand, Kyler jumped down from his stool and carried it dutifully off to the side of the room where it wouldn’t be tripped over.

“I … I see,” Law replied, though his face showed very plainly that he did not see. Turning to Kid, he asked, “Your mother brought him a step stool?”

Kid shrugged. “He likes to be tall. He climbs on stuff that isn’t sturdy if he doesn’t have it. The stool is a hassle, but it’s safer.” The redhead clapped his hands together. “Okay! So, what d’you hooligans wanna do?”

“We not!” Austin protested indignantly.

“Only Austin a hooligan. I not,” Kyler insisted.

“Oh, I think you both are hooligans. Do you know what we do to hooligans in this house?” Kid asked, slowly crouching down and raising his hands with his fingers splayed apart like claws.

Both boys started giggling, watching Kid creep slowly closer and closer. When he was almost close enough to touch them Kid let out a playful growl and both boys scampered away, shrieking with laughter as Kid chased them around the room.

Law stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, watching his boyfriend chase the squealing three-year-olds around and around, and tried to ignore the warmth spreading in his chest. Because he was mad at Eustass, and that man was absolutely, by no stretch of the imagination, completely adorable.

A loud thunk followed by deafening silence drew Law sharply out of his denial. The silence lasted only a moment before being replaced by an ear-piercing wail and Kid’s hurried sounds of comfort.

“Shit, Austin, it’s okay, buddy. You’re okay. Can I see it?”

“N-N-N-NOOOOOOO!” the boy screamed into Kid’s chest, refusing to move so the mechanic could inspect where he’d hit his head.

“What happened, Eustass?”

“He tripped and bashed his head right into the corner of the coffee table,” Kid replied, not looking away from his brother and trying hard not to let his panic creep into his voice. Shit, what if the kid was really hurt? Fuck.

He was too busy trying to coax Austin into letting him get a look at the injured area to notice Law step out of the room, but when a cool hand replaced his on Austin’s head he glanced up. Law had on his doctor face, and had laid out a first aid kit next to him where he knelt by the boy.

“Austin,” he said calmly. “This is very important. I need you to do something for me, do you think you can try?”

Austin shook his head violently and tried to bury his face further into Kid’s chest. “I don’t think that’s gonna –“

“Hush, Eustass. Austin, I know it hurts, and it was probably quite startling, but it’s very important that you take a deep breath and let me look at your head, understand?”

Austin did take a deep, stuttering breath, which reduced his sobs to quieter, hiccuped whimpers. But he still refused to turn fully toward Law, instead only peeking at him with one watery eye.

“C’mon, big guy, you can do it. Law’s a doctor, y’know. He’ll take really good care of you.”

Austin still wasn’t convinced. He’d always been warier of Law than Kyler, and now that he was hurt he was naturally being extra clingy toward Kid.

“Do you know how I met Eustass, Austin?” Law asked in that same unshakably calm voice. Austin shook his head slightly. “He hit his head, just like you. And he came to my hospital to get fixed up. Do you think I did a good job fixing his head?”

Kid tried to hide a smile as Austin very seriously examined his face, as if looking for any indication that Kid’s head was damaged. After a moment he seemed to decide that Kid was okay, so he nodded and finally turned to face the doctor.

“Good. Do you think I could do a good job fixing your head too?”

The boy nodded slowly and walked a step closer so that Law could look at his wound. There was a shallow cut on his forehead, but it wasn’t really bleeding. There would definitely be a bump there, though. Law took out a small flashlight and gently talked Austin through the steps of checking for a concussion. Kid suspected Law was adding in a few extra things, because he was pretty sure he’d remember if he’d had to pull a face and waggle his fingers at a nurse or something like Law was having Austin do to him, but it made the boy giggle, so he really didn’t mind.

“Alright, Austin. Thank you for helping me with that. You did very well. Now I just need to get a band-aid on you, and then we need to put some ice on your head for a bit, okay?”

Austin nodded and leaned his head forward to receive his band-aid like it was a medal of honor. “I brave?” he asked earnestly.

“Very brave,” Law confirmed. “Eustass, if you could get the ice?”

Once Austin was situated comfortably on the couch with an ice pack and Wallykazam streaming on Law’s smart TV, Kid pulled the surgeon to the side.

“How the hell did you do that? Last time Austin got hurt he cried for two hours, and that was with my mom comforting him.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “It is literally my job, Eustass.”

“Yeah, but you said you weren’t good with kids.”

“I’m not,” Law agreed. “But when I work in the ER I do come across quite a few highly intoxicated individuals. They’re remarkably similar, wouldn’t you say?”

“You … You used drunk people techniques on my three-year-old brother?” Kid asked incredulously.

Law frowned. “Well, it worked, didn’t it? And I did make some modifications that I felt fit the situation.”

“Like having him make faces at me?”

Law’s smirk was all the answer Kid needed. “It seemed appropriate. He did get hurt because of your roughhousing, after all.”

“He got hurt because he’s three and uncoordinated!” Kid defended hotly.

Law chuckled and nudged his boyfriend fondly. “I know that, Eustass. You’re a good brother.”

The praise caught Kid off guard, but he quickly schooled his expression into one of disinterest. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “I’m gonna make dinner. Watch them, huh?”

The smirk fell off Law’s fast so fast it was comical. “By myself?”

“What, can’t handle that, Trafalgar?” Kid challenged. “Just keep pretending they’re drunk people.”

The death glare that got him was totally worth it, and Kid just grinned in return as he backed toward the kitchen. “Oh, by the way,” he added, “we’re having spaghetti.”

“I am going to actually murder you, Eustass Kid, and they will never find your body,” Law hissed quietly.

“Love you too, babe.”

Law turned on his heel to storm back into the living room, but was immediately stopped in his tracks so abruptly that he nearly fell backwards. Because standing behind him, he hoped not for very long, was Kyler, on his step stool, looking quite proud of himself.

“Oh, uh … pardon me, Kyler.”

The boy simply looked up at the surgeon with wide, unreadable eyes.

“Did you – uh, do you need something?” he asked after an uncomfortable silence had stretched between them.

Instead of answering, Kyler leaned forward, his expression so solemn that Law felt himself starting to panic a little. “Did you know …” the boy asked lowly, “I very fast?”

“I …” Law knew he was blinking like an idiot right now, but he really had no idea how to respond to this child. “Uh … I suppose … I do now?” he finally managed to sputter.

Kyler gave a nod, got down off his stool, and raced in a circle around Law. “See?”

“Yes, uh … very fast, Kyler. Why don’t we, uh … go join your brother?”

“He hiding,” the boy informed with a shrug.

“He’s … hiding?” Law asked stupidly.

“Yup! Him hide sometimes. But it okay! Him come out for food.” The boy paused and looked at Law calculatingly for a moment. “Waw?”

“Yes?”

“Why Bubba say “wuve you too, babe?”

Law felt the heated blush spread across his face and added several more things to the long list he’d already made of what exactly Eustass was going to do to make this up to him. He really shouldn’t have been surprised by the question. If anything it was probably overdue. The twins had surely noticed by now that he and Eustass were more than friends, though they were careful to keep displays of affection to a minimum when the children were present. But Law had attended enough family functions and holidays for them to realize he was different from, say, Killer, or any of Kid’s other friends.

“Uh, well, because … uh … because he loves me?” Law offered somewhat lamely. He had no idea how much the boys knew about relationships, especially same-sex relationships, and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds with them. Not that he thought Annie and Al would really care. They were nothing but supportive, after all. But still. He did not sign up to educate a three-year-old about his sexuality.

“Like mommy wuves daddy?”

“Yes, something like that,” Law agreed gratefully.

Kyler cocked his head to the side and grabbed Law’s hands, inspecting them closely. “Where you wing?”

“My … wing?”

“Mommy and daddy has wings,” Kyler explained, pointing to Law’s tattooed but otherwise unadorned fingers.

“Ohh,” Law breathed, understanding. “Ring.”

Kid, hearing voices still in the hallway, took that moment to pop his head out of the kitchen to investigate. A choice he almost immediately regretted as he heard Kyler repeat slowly, as if what he was saying was completely obvious, “Yeah, wing. Where you wing?”

“Ah, Kyler do you want to, uh-“ Kid fumbled from the doorway, trying to redirect the conversation to something he, and no doubt Law, would be more comfortable with.

But Law, being the devious little fuck that he was, smirked evilly up at his boyfriend. “Yeah, Eustass, where’s my ring?”

It was meant as a joke. Kid knew it was meant as a joke. But he still felt all the blood drain from his face as he choked on his own spit. “Uh, I mean,” he coughed. “Do you … do you want one?”

Now it was Law’s turn to go pale. “I … well, we haven’t really discussed it.”

“Waw, you wuve Bubba too?”

Both men turned their attention back to the boy, who continued to stare at them critically.

“I … yes, of course,” Law replied quietly.

“Where Bubba wing?”

“Look, this is silly-“ Kid began.

“Really more complicated than that,” Law muttered.

“But you in wuve?”

“Yeah,” the now highly embarrassed couple agreed simultaneously.

“Then you get wings,” the boy said decisively. “Just wike mommy and daddy.”

Kid and Law exchanged a look before both smiling somewhat awkwardly.

“Well, we’ll get right on that, Kyler. Why don’t you go show Law what toys your brought while I finish dinner, okay?”

“’kay! Come, Waw.”

Law dutifully followed the three-year-old into the living room, only to remember what Kyler had said about his brother.

“Uh, Kyler? Where exactly is Austin hiding?” he asked, trying to mask his apprehension. There were a lot of things around this apartment that were dangerous for children to get in to, and Law knew he hadn’t been able to put all of them out of reach, and probably forgot some of them entirely.

The boy shrugged. “He jus hiding.”

“Yes, but … where?”

“We find him?”

“Uh, yes, I think that would be good,” Law agreed, already scanning the room for any sign of the child. “Eustass, your brother is hiding somewhere!”

Kid stuck his head out of the kitchen again. “Look in cabinets. He likes cabinets.”

“Does he do this often?” Law demanded, kneeling down to check under the couch.

“Yeah, sorry. Forgot to warn you.”

Thinking about several things that he would “forget” to warn Eustass about when the redhead was paying him back for this absurd evening helped Law to calm his frustration enough to search for the missing boy. His stomach dropped when it became clear that Austin was not in the living room. If he’d gone into Kid and Law’s bedroom … into the closet …

“If he’s found any of our toys I really will kill Eustass,” he seethed under his breath as he raced to their room.

“You has toys too?” Kyler asked.

Law choked on air and cursed himself for forgetting that Kyler was there. “Uh, yes, but they are only for Eustass and me,” he explained.

“You gotta learn share, Waw,” the boy reprimanded. “Or you not make fwiends.”

“Austin!” the surgeon called a little too loudly. “Uh, dinner’s ready!”

“Yay!” a small voice cried happily from the bathroom. Law nearly collapsed in relief. Until the boy emerged from his hiding place carrying several … balloons?

“Look! I find balloons!” he announced proudly, holding them up for Law to inspect. “They slippery.”

“EUSTASS!”

Kid rushed out of the kitchen upon hearing his boyfriend’s distress, but the sight that greeted him in the hallway had him nearly choking trying to hold back his laughter. There was Law, blushing furiously and pointing at Austin, who was excitedly showing his brother the “balloons” he’d found and blown up (all by himself!) in the bathroom.

“This is not funny, Eustass!” Law hissed.

“Oh come on, Law, we barely use them anymore. At least someone is getting some use out of them.”

“Your brother has blown up our condoms like balloons and you are making jokes?! He’s playing with them! Look at him, he’s covered in lube! What would your mother say?”

“She’d probably laugh and tell you about the time Bonney wore her anal beads like a necklace.”

“Oh my god.”

“C’mon, guys, lets wash hands for dinner. I made spaghetti, how’s that sound?”

The twins cheered and rushed back into the bathroom to wash their hands while Law grudgingly helped Kid set the table.

“I made you a salad,” Kid offered cautiously, holding the plate out like an olive branch.

Law glared at him and didn’t reply, but he did take the salad, which Kid figured was a good sign.

Kid got the boys situated at the table, placed between him and Law so that Kid could help Kyler and Law could help Austin as needed. Kid couldn’t help but smile as he watched Law relax a little in the familiar territory to eating with the twins. He’d shared plenty of meals with them, starting way back when Kid was still in the hospital, so he was more comfortable passing them things and encouraging them to eat veggies and such. Kyler excitedly told them more about the old person he saw in the hallway coming up to the apartment, but Austin was uncharacteristically quiet, staring intently at Law’s salad.

“Waw, you not eat?” he finally blurted out.

Law looked confused. “What? Yes, I’m eating. I have salad.”

“No, you not eat bascetti?”

“Ah. No, I not – ah – I don’t eat spaghetti.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not fond of pasta,” Law explained gently. Kid was impressed by his patience, honestly. He knew that Law had explained his dislike of pasta to the boys several times, and Law wasn’t one to repeat himself.

“No, it not pasta, it bascetti.”

“Right,” Law acquiesced slowly. “But spaghetti is a type of pasta. And I don’t particularly care for it.”

“Oh.” The boy looked troubled for a moment before brightening up significantly. “But, Waw? It not bascetti! It ice cream, see? You jus … you use the-the pointy one? An’ eat it!”

The laughter Kid had been holding back escaped him in a loud guffaw that had Law glaring halfheartedly at him. “Well, kiddo, that was a good try, but Law doesn’t eat ice cream either. It ruins his figure.”

Law discretely kicked Kid in the shin under the table. “I’m afraid he’s partially right, Austin. I don’t eat ice cream or spaghetti. So either way, I think I’ll just eat my salad.”

The boy looked so dejected that Law briefly considered sucking it up and eating the pasta, but a flashback to the loaf of bread meltdown had him shaking the thought away. He was perfectly content with his greens.

“Alright, boys, I think it’s time we clean up, huh?” Kid asked when they’d finished eating. Admittedly, he was pretty sure that more spaghetti had ended up on the twins than had gone in them, but they both seemed satisfied with the meal, so he wasn’t too worried about it. Law had already begun clearing the dishes, so Kid jumped up to help him. Law, however, had other plans.

“No. You stop right there and take those two to the bathroom immediately. And for the love of god, don’t let them touch anything. I’ll clean up this mess. You clean up that one.”

Now that he looked at them, Kid did see where Law was coming from. He made a point to keep the apartment obsessively clean, after all, and two spaghetti-covered three-year-olds running around all over would definitely cause some damage.

“Alright, hooligans! To the bath!”

Austin giggled and tried to escape, so Kid wrapped him up under his arm and carried him, but Kyler seemed more resigned to his fate and let Kid simply lead him by the hand. He got them set up in the tub with these weird little fizzy things his mom had sent that made the whole bathroom smell like lavender and chamomile. Apparently the boys would be impossible to get to sleep without them, and Kid definitely didn’t want that. Law had been great so far, and aside from being a bit frazzled by the condom thing, he hadn’t seemed terribly unhappy about spending time with the boys. Kid didn’t want that to get messed up by Austin and Kyler fighting sleep with all their cranky might. He’d seen it before, and it was not pretty.

Man, Law really had been great, though. The way he handled Austin’s injury had Kid’s heart skipping a beat. He could say it was just his experience with drunk people, but Kid knew better. And seeing his boyfriend engaging with the kids, especially getting Austin to smile through his tears, well … it had Kid feeling things he wasn’t sure he was really prepared to feel.

And then there was the ring thing. Shit, that had been unexpected. Maybe …

“Eustass? Is everything alright in there? There seems to be quite a bit of splashing.”

Kid jerked out of his thoughts just in time to get hit by a massive tidal wave of fragrant water. “Ah shit, you guys, seriously?!” he cursed, leaping to his feet and wiping the water out of his eyes.

“Sorry, Bubba,” Kyler giggled remorselessly.

“Yeah, Bubba. Sooooorrrrrry.”

“Oh you aren’t sorry at all, you little-“

“Eustass!”

Scowling, Kid opened the door and glared at Law. He expected Law to be pissed about the messy bathroom, to snark at him for not paying close enough attention, but instead the surgeon smirked.

“Now who’s the cat?” he asked, obviously far more amused than he should be at Kid’s predicament.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure it’s still you, doc. How about a hug?”

“Don’t you dare,” Law warned, backing away and pointing a finger at him.

Kid grinned. “See? Still you.”

Law clicked his tongue dismissively, but still kept his distance from his soaking wet boyfriend. “Are the boys clean? It’s nearly nine.”

“We clean!”

“Alright, let’s get you dried off and then we can show you where you’re sleeping,” Kid suggested. “And maybe, if you ask really, really nicely, Law will read you a story.”

Kid ignored the raised eyebrow that got him and proceeded to help the boys dry themselves and get into their pajamas. He was kind of excited to see their reaction to the “big boy” bed they’d be sharing. It was huge and soft and he knew from experience that it made for a great night’s sleep. But when he opened the door with a flourish he was surprised to see both boys shrink away at the sight of it.

“What’s wrong, boys?” Law inquired, concern etched into his features.

“Too wisky,” Kyler announced.

“Yeah,” Austin agreed. “It too wisky. We too small.”

“Whisky?” Law mouthed to Kid, confused.

“You guys, it’s not risky. It’s just a bed. Look, it’s really comfy!” Kid threw himself down on it, bouncing slightly before settling into the luxurious sheets.

“Nope,” Kyler insisted. “Too wisky. We sleep wif you.”

“Yeah! We sleep wif Bubba an Waw.”

Shit. Kid knew Law was never going to –

“Alright, then, if you’re that frightened. Come on. But our bed is just as big, you know.”

What the fuck. “Law, you know they want us to sleep with them, right? Like, not just change which bed. They want us to go to bed with them … right now.”

“I understand that, Eustass. But if they’re scared to sleep in the bed alone there’s not much we can do, is there?”

“Well, no, but … I mean, you don’t have to. I can just go to bed with them. You can go do whatever.”

“No! Waw gotta sleep too!” Austin insisted, wrapping his arms tightly, and uncomfortably high, around Law’s thigh.

“Yup,” Kyler confirmed solemnly from their bedroom door.

Kid looked helplessly from his brothers to his boyfriend, but was once again shocked to see no trace of annoyance on Law’s face. Okay then. Apparently they were all going to bed … at nine o’clock at night.

“We can just stay there until they fall asleep and then get up,” Kid assured Law quietly as they changed.

“Mmmhmm,” Law murmured, watching closely as Kyler and Austin helped each other climb onto the bed.

“You really surprised me today, you know.”

Law shot him a quick glance. “Yes, well, I do have some rather enticing motivation. Don’t forget your promise, Mr. Eustass.”

Kid smirked partially at the thought of that motivation, but mostly because he and Law both knew it was more than the promise of Kid doing that that made him so cooperative today.

After their fourth rendition of Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes, Kid and Law finally turned off the bedside lamps and laid in the dark, waiting for the boys between them to settle down.

“Pet him,” Kid whispered.

“I’m sorry?”

“Austin. If you kinda … pet him, he falls asleep.”

“You want me to pet your brother.”

“I’m telling you, he’ll fall asleep way faster if you do it.”

Law reached a tentative hand out and ran his fingers through the unruly mop of hair currently using his arm as a pillow. Austin sighed and tucked himself closer to Law, so the surgeon continued to smooth his hair back. Sure enough, within a few moments the boy’s breathing was slow and even, just like his brother’s.

“You wanna get up?” Kid asked.

“I am currently a human pillow.”

“Right.” Kid let the silence stretch comfortably between them for a moment, thinking. “Hey Law?”

“Hmm?”

“Would it be like, cliché rom-com levels of cheesy if I said I love you right now?”

“Yes,” Law whispered back curtly. “Just go to sleep.”

Kid shrugged and shifted to let Kyler snuggle closer in his sleep, resigned to the fact that he was going to bed for real after all. His eyelids grew heavy in the darkness and he felt the irresistible pull of sleep washing over him.

“I love you too, asshole,” Law murmured, his voice so soft Kid almost thought he’d dreamed it.

He fell asleep smiling.

#Eustasskidweek2017 #eustass kid #trafalgar law #kid x law #Kid/Law #one piece #modern au #original characters #babysitting

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pilawforhire-archived · 8 years ago

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@naughtyredflower [It began with a murder]

This… was real. This was happening.

Eyelids falling shut, he tipped his head back, inhaled deeply and dragged out an exhalation— opening his eyes to the bright lights in the ceiling, gradually uncurling clenched bloody, gloved fists, he let the euphoria and the ecstasy melt into his veins, heightening all his senses, sending blood rushing through his head while his heart drummed an erratic rhythm of exhilaration in his ears.

A high like none other, a satisfaction otherwise unattainable, a feeling of godlike power— there was nothing to do but welcome them all; let himself be overwhelmed in the moment with the thrill and adrenaline. He lowered his gaze back to the body—lifeless, still, growing colder by the second, post-mortem— before flickering his eyes to gaze into his open palms. The latex of the gloves was dyed slick with crimson, the scent of blood all too fresh and pungent.

Being a home studied practitioner of medicine, he’s seen death, though little of it was firsthand. But it was never by his own hands, never so brutally, never for vengeance. Never had he felt so alive. Pupils dilated, his skin was flushed and his eyes were widened like saucers. He shuddered— what had he done?

Bringing a gloved hand to his face, against his better judgment, he lapped a tongue out to lightly brush across a finger, tasting his victim. Blood, naturally, was blood, and would all taste similarly. However, the blood of a kill was spiked with a certain flavour that could satisfy a certain ravenous hunger otherwise insatiable by food alone. Though, he had never intended to seek any form of enjoyment from the act. Death was normal, usual, natural. But killing was different.

With a keen ferocity, his eyes studied the corpse, lying stark naked over large plastic sheets draped across the kitchen table, restrained by layers of cling wrap and duct tape. Several wide gaping wounds decorated the chest area, producing steady streams of blood trickling into the plastic, pooling at the corner of the table, before leaking onto the floor. Initial plans had been to slice the man open, drill through his ribcage, and sever his beating heart. Alas, upon subduing the man, he had been overcome with a certain rage, a certain madness and insanity that he was not proud of, and had proceeded to jab his scalpel in quick, violent thrusts that had hit vital arteries and squirted fountains of blood.

Nerves tingling, he grasped trembling fingers, going over the process of cleanup he had planned in mind when— pad pad pad, something was moving inside the house, drawing close. Was he hearing things? Vergo lived alone, and having surveilled the man for days, he had come to the conclusion that the man never brought any company home. Never had guests either, at least, during the night. He was a loner, which made for a perfect target.

He stuck his ear out straining to listen; tick tick, the hands of the clock counting down seconds; whirrrrr, the air conditioning humming throughout the house; plop plop, droplets of blood fell into a puddle on the ground. The walls, the appliances, the furniture— everything was watching, watching him; they knew, they knew what he did. Guilty, guilty, bad, bad, they echoed. And then, suddenly! A muffled whimper, a sense of movement, a sharp intake of breath— his muscles tensed and his shoulders stiffened. He took a few steps back. Fuck, had he been careless? Did he overlook something? Who was it; who could be there?

“How could y’ do this t’ him, Law?!”

He startled, jumping, banging into the sink behind him, throat constricting. Law? His name?

A chill struck him like lightning. He jerked his head towards the sound calling out. Who? How had he not heard the man enter? Was the intruder already hiding in the house all along?

A sharp stinging pain was starting to throb within his head. How much had the other seen? The hair on the back of his neck stood to attention. Would he have to kill this man too? Another victim? Law hadn’t planned for that. How would he knock out the man? There wasn’t any more of an element of surprise like he had before with Vergo. If he charged at the man, the latter would likely escape through the front door and call for help, or even attack him directly. Maybe the man was armed? Who knew. Things could get so unpredictable.

Fuck, he couldn’t organise his thoughts. They were racing, leaping all over the place. What should he do? His breath came in short gasps. Calm, calm down. The man had witnessed a murder in cold blood, and yet, the man was still lingering within the house, even daring to approach the perpetrator when common sense would have him calling the cops.

The intruder came into view, and recognition pointed him out to be Eustass Kid. The mechanic, the one that slept around, the one that rose to fame and popularity within the country for his skills with automobiles. Clients would pay big money to get their vehicles serviced and tuned up by him. Law had only met the man once, when he had sent his car in for maintenance, deciding to give the big shot a try to see if he was worth what his reputation had advertised.

After moments had trickled by with the both of them engaged in a staring match, Law released his grip of the scalpel in his hand, letting it fall to the kitchen table with a loud resounding clang.

He fiddled with his surgical gloves. Perhaps he should have worn a mask after all— now this man knew who he was and what he’d done. What he’d done, which was having killed a man in cold blood. One down, why not one more? Except, how would he close the distance between them without scaring the man off? Veins popped across his forehead as he strained his eyebrows into a crease. It had been perfect; his first time gone flawlessly well and this asshole had to ruin everything by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. What had Eustass even wanted at 11 in the night? Hanky panky business?

Shooting Eustass a vicious glare, Law kept the rest of his face impassive, wiping his forehead with a hand. He huffed.

“What brings you here?” He willed his voice not to break, cocking his head to the side. “You’re trespassing in on my operation. Look, he’s dead now because you interrupted us.” Law gestured sharply with the wave of a bloody hand towards the deceased lying on the table in between them.

“Come, look at this— look at what you’ve done by sneaking about. Do you know this man? You might want to say your last words, not that he can hear you.” He licked a tongue across his lips that had gone dry. He couldn’t afford to alarm the man. As it was, he was one bad move away from spending the rest of his life incarcerated behind iron bars or scheduled for execution. That could not happen just yet— not before he snapped the head off of that man. His heart pounded in his chest.

“Want a beer?” He asked, after a few moments of silence between them. “Don’t be going anywhere or trying anything, Eustass Kid. I know where you live, where you work, and it would be such a shame for your younger brother to meet his end like dear old Vergo over here. Wouldn’t it?” The corners of his lips twisted into a sly smile, and he shrugged, removing his gloves to replace them with fresh clean ones. He couldn’t have his fingerprints carelessly left about. Carefully avoiding the puddle of blood on the floor, he took slow, deliberate steps towards Kid.

#naughtyredflower #v; murder #v; au

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leenaandkirana · 8 years ago

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Love Light Part 1 - Valentine’s Day

Summary: Every month, 14th is a day of love. Penguin had no idea about it; he was just a new transferred student who was still adapting in this new living place. Killer, his upperclassman, wanted to help him to learn about the country, the cultures, and ... love too, perhaps? A Killer x Penguin story for every 14th Day AU. Enjoy ^^

Other link: FFN || AO3 || Wattpad

Title : [Love Light Part 1] FLY – Valentine’s Day

Genre : Shounen-ai, friendship, a tiny bit of fluff

Rating : T

Length : Oneshot with 5.298 words

Author : leenahanwoo

Pairing: Killer x Penguin

Cast : Kid Pirates (Eustass Kid, Killer, Heat, Wire) & Heart Pirates (Trafalgar Law, Penguin, Shachi), Jewelry Bonney (only mention the name, slightly appear)

Warning : SHO-AI Content ! Don’t like don’t read !! OOC-ness is everywhere !!!

Disclaimer : All One Piece casts are Eiichiro Oda-sama's. This story and OC are mine.

~FLY~

Suwon, South Korea. Penguin had never imagined that he would be transferred to a place he never knew or learned much about. He was forced to move out and follow his father; who was transferred to this country. Staying wasn't an option because, his mother would move with his father, and there was no chance that they would allow him to stay alone. He couldn't ask to stay with any relatives either, because none of them lived in the same area.

He blamed his parents very much- because he must leave his hometown. As a result, now he would continue his studies in Gyeonggi Suwon International School, a school with a very weird system. Although it was an international school that consisted of students from many countries, the school used the country’s educational system that forced the students to study for almost 12 hours a day. The subject’s level is quite similar to what he learned before, but still, he felt that studying at an all-day school didn't suit his style that much.

This difficulty didn’t include the language barrier. He had learned basic Korean, yet he always felt nervous when he went outside in a foreign neighborhood, where most of the people spoke Korean. Studying in an international school might give an advantage because, the school used English as it’s first language for the teaching process ,and socializing, but this situation was only beneficial for him inside the school area- not outside.

He did miss his hometown, He had lived in that place since he was born, and all of his friends were there. He enjoyed walking along the cold streets. He could read some of his books from his collection; at the park near his housing complex: for hours. He liked spending his time with his old friends, and the neighborhood was also nice. He missed them all, and the totally strange country with different neighborhoods, different languages, culture and habit made his yearning feeling worse.

He almost decided to run away from school and go back to Northern Europe where he lived before; but his passport was hidden by his mom and underage students had difficulty boarding a flight without advisory.

And there was a classmate of his, who kept approaching Penguin, saying he wanted to be friends with him. Shachi was a bright, friendly student that - the hatted boy never knew, and he couldn’t reject the friendship because he approached him endlessly. Not only did Shachi help him with his Korean language subjects, but he also kept persuading Penguin to join their private study group; which he declared that it can ‘help him to do the homework, learn other subjects better ,and get along with other students’. In the end, Penguin decided to join the study group and, he might be able to get to know the group members.

When Penguin finally said ‘yes’ to Shachi, he pulled him right to the library where the group usually gathered - after their schedule was over. And now he was sitting with Shachi, on the library chairs surrounding a square table, waiting for the rest of the group members.

“Shachi, do the others have any other schedules?” Penguin asked.

It was already 7 PM, and the members hadn’t shown up yet. He was really worried he might come home very late.

“Not really. The seniors may have extended studying, but it won’t be too long.The others are the same year as us, so they will come. In the meantime. Just wait.” Shachi, who was already writing his homework, answered.

Penguin, who had finished the homework ten minutes earlier than Shachi, just sighed and continued reading the physics book, because there would be a quiz in physics (class) tomorrow. All textbooks in the school also used English; another advantage that Penguin felt relieved by. Although he could read Hangul, it didn’t mean he was ready enough to read all Korean textbooks; Not yet, anyway, he was still learning it.

Five minutes had passed, and that was when 5 students came into the library. What made Penguin really shocked - was that all of them were very tall. Two of them, who wore their uniform neatly -[Penguin guessed that they were the seniors Shachi talked about before]-, was taller than Shachi and him. One of the seniors was very handsome and attractive; with a spotted hat worn on his head. He brought a very bright yellow backpack, and kept reading the book on his hand while walking. The second one had a very long, silky blonde hair that reached his hips, with his bangs covered half of his face, but he looked as handsome as the first senior. Penguin could imagine how easily those two persons were noticed everywhere by anybody. The other three were even taller. One of them had a very bright red hair, and it made Penguin wondered whether it was his real hair color or not. The last two could draw attention by their height alone. Penguin looked at himself and cursed - why he was not given more height?

“Oh, are we late?” the blonde said after sitting on the chair on the opposite side, from Shachi and Penguin.

“Not at all, Killer sunbae. We just finished our homework.” Shachi answered and proudly showed his homework book. The senior smiled and nodded.

The handsome senior sat on the left side of the square table, followed by the redhead, who sat next to him. The other two people sat on the other side of the table.

“So is this the person you talked about yesterday?” the senior asked.

“Yes, Law sunbae. I asked him to join and he just agreed this morning.”

“Please introduce yourself.” The person with long, blue hair, on the right side spoke warmly.

“Urmm …… I’m Penguin. Nice to meet you all.” Penguin stuttered as he introduced himself, and bowed a bit. He always had troubles with introductions, but he tried his best not to speak shakily.

“Woah, what a sweet name. You know, you’re very ….” The red haired immediately ceased his words; feeling an intense glare from his senior.

“Kid will talk endlessly if sunbae doesn’t stop him.” Shachi whispered to Penguin to explain the situation.

“Hi Penguin. I’m Trafalgar Law, second year, science major, and also the leader of our study group.” Law, the senior, quickly cut off the protest from the red hair. “And this is Eustass Kid, first year, science major. The blonde is Killer, the second year, social major; and they are Heat and Wire from social major, first year. You already know Shachi, so I won’t introduce him anymore. And welcome to our study group.”

Penguin only nodded, because Shachi had briefly told him what kind of study group he joined in. It was a common study group where the members would help each other in doing their homework, papers and other assignments. In some Korean high schools, the classes were divided into two majors, science and social. The science major’s subjects included physics, chemistry and biology, while the social majors were sociology, history, economy accounting and geography. Despite that there were two majors in the school: science and social, the study group would still be able to help each other - in any kind of subjects.

In the school, there was an optional subject the student could choose from the different major, for example, the science major students choose one of the social subjects they wanted to learn, and the social students could also choose to learn one of science subjects. But this was very optional, and the students could choose not to take any subject from the opposite major if they didn’t want to. That was the main reason for the study group to be created, for the science student could help the social ones in learning their optional science subject, and vice versa.

For Penguin’s case, until now, he hadn’t decided what social subject he would take, but since it was only one month left before the final exams, he might choose one after he got into the second year.

The group’s activity continued right after the short introduction session. Shachi, Heat and Wire were discussing about geography subject - seems like Shachi took interest with the subject and had chosen it as his optional subject -, and they were advised by Killer. Penguin was still caught up in the physics subject, helped by Kid. He just knew that the red haired boy was really interested in the subject. Law advised them and only helped if there was any difficult question they couldn’t solve.

Overall, the study group studying session was very satisfying, Penguin felt quite comfortable to get along with them, and he liked to spend his time to study and learn many things from them.

“Hey, will South Beast perform in the Valentine’s Day event?” Shachi brought up the conversation, after the studying session was over.

“Of course we will. The events that allow us to perform, are only the Valentine’s Day and Summer Festival. So yes, we will perform and rock them all.” Kid answered enthusiastically.

“Err … what is South Beast?” Penguin asked. He only transferred to the school a month ago, and he wasn’t the type who always followed the updated news.

“It’s our band. Alternative rock genre, and we perform in events or music festivals.” Wire explained. “Kid, Heat and I started the band a year ago for Valentine’s Day event, and Senior Killer joined a month later after seeing us performed in the joint event.”

“Joint event?” Penguin felt odd, for the event should be a joint one, despite it was only for Valentine’s Day.

“Yes. The junior high level of our school will join the Valentine’s Day event along with us, the senior high. You know, the orange-colored building behind our school area? It’s the junior high school building.” Heat continue explaining.

“And how is the position? I mean, the band.”

“I’m the lead vocalist.” Kid answered proudly. “Killer is the guitarist, Heat is the bassist, and Wire is the drummer. We also have Bonney: from the social major, to perform with us when we need a more feminine voice for the song, or if the song has more than two vocal voices. But of course, she is not an official member, so we only have two vocalists.”

“And the second vocalist is …?”

“Killer, of course. His voice is amazing.”

Penguin nodded. He was suddenly a bit curious of the band. It was a little bit weird since he previously never had a certain favorite singer, band or other idols. The hatted boy enjoyed music, but never had a specific genre for the music he listened to. He guessed his sudden interest was because he never literally listened to alternative rock music genre, and Korean music style in general.

“Just watch their performance on that day. You’ll see how awesome they are.” Shachi suggested while giggling a bit.

~FLY~

Sometimes, Penguin wanted to scream at his asocial habits, or rather his unwillingness to explore the Korean culture much deeper. He was clearly shocked when he arrived at school and saw how the school had been decorated with all pink and red stuff. It was only for the Valentine’s Day event, but the whole soccer field had been filled with a big bazaar. The booths were lining up on one side, and a stage was build on the other side. That was the stage that South Beast would perform on, the one that Penguin was waiting for. Again, the stage was also decorated with pink stuffs here and there.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Shachi suddenly appeared and wrapped his hand around Penguin’s shoulders. “I thought you were at the classroom. I went there, and there are only girls inside.”

“I thought you clearly told me that we don’t have class today. So yes, I don’t go to the classroom.”

“Lucky you haven't gone there. You’ll be more surprised that the classroom has changed into a sea of pink.”

Penguin’s face showed disgust. He might had seen a lot of pink stuff here and there since the morning, but if he was faced with more pink, he might go home already. He was grateful that Shachi had known him much better after being friends for almost a month, and can prevent him from things he didn’t like to see. So now, the only option was to stay at the soccer field where the bazaar was held, and focus on the street food booth.

“When will the performance start?” Penguin asked as they walked to the bazaar area. They could see that most booths sold Valentine’s chocolates, some sold accessories, while the rest sold meals like tteokbokki, twigim, and other kinds of street food.

“Usually it starts from 10 AM to 1 PM, but it depends on how many performers that join the events.” Shachi answered, and his eyes didn’t go away from the booth that sold sundae. “Why? Are you excited?”

“I-I’m not. I’m just curious.”

Penguin did feel curious since the first time he heard about South Beast, but he was too shy to say it aloud.

“It’s normal to get curious. South Beast are quite well-known among the schools. And they join other events outside the school too. I mean, my parents even saw their performance for charity event held in Itaewon last month, and they fell in love with South Beast right away.”

“They do?”

Shachi nodded. “Because there are too many boy bands and girl bands out there, many people will love rare genre and rare performers. Indie bands, especially, are quite rare, yet many of indie bands cannot gain popularity as quick as the boy bands and girl bands. So, if the bands can reach popularity among the majority, it’s practically a miracle.”

They then spent almost an hour going around the bazaar. Shachi bought sundae as he wanted to, from the start, Penguin tried the twigim and odeng for the first time, and they shared tteokbokki (more like Penguin couldn’t finish it because the sauce was too spicy). The accessories were mostly for girls, so they didn’t go near those booths. Penguin also didn’t like the chocolate too much, and Shachi was waiting for the girls to give him Valentine’s chocolate (in which Penguin was really doubtful of the opportunity), so the chocolate booths were ignored as well.

At 10 AM, the music concert event started, and the two boys, literally ran to get near to the stage, so they could saw the performance much clearer. The MC of the performance stage was a girl with bright orange hair, together with another girl with long, bright blue hair. Shachi said the MCs, Nami and Vivi from junior high school, had been the Valentine’s performance stage Main event, since last year and that everyone loved them.

The stage event started; with the performance of one of the junior high’s girl-bands dance cover. They danced Rania’s Dr Feel Good, in which Shachi said it was really improper for the young girls to perform such a sexy dance for the opening. It continued with the performance of some other boy-band’s dance cover. They performed BTS’s Danger, EXO’s Call Me Baby, GOT7’s Hard Carry, and other dance covers of rookie’s songs. The girls followed with their wide range of girl bands’ dance cover, from SNSD to Blackpink.

Trafalgar Law, came to their spot in the middle of one of the girl dance covers was dancing 4L’s Move, and he wondered out loud in mild confusion and indignance -that the school allowed the girl to perform such sexy -lewd and filthy- dances. He sighed and focused on Shachi and Penguin who was waiting for him at the nearest space to the stage.

“I can’t call Eustass-ya, he broke his phone again last night.” He grumbled. “When will they perform?”

“I texted Wire, and he said they will be on stage after this performance.” Shachi answered. “Bonney will join too.”

“So there, will be the third person - again.” Law snorted.

“I wonder why you never like Bonney to sing with them.” Shachi laughed.

Penguin chuckled on the conversation. Although he didn’t understand about why Law didn’t call Killer or other members instead, or why Shachi said that Law didn’t like Bonney to join their performance, but he could feel that they were now becoming quite closer.

It was really a big change for him who previously couldn't get along well with anyone since he moved out to Korea. It's really nice that now he had some friends to rely on.

“... And now, let’s watch the next performance. Here it is, South Beast.” Nami and Vivi shouted and announced the performance of the band they were waiting for.

Penguin felt his heartbeat increased rapidly. Half excited, half curious, mixed with an odd feeling of wanting to see the friends he had only known for three weeks, but felt so close like family.

The members of South Beast came out from the backstage one by one. Heat was wearing a white shirt and a red tie, black leather jacket and black jeans, while Wire, who was the tallest among them all was in a long black jacket and white low v-neck t-shirt, with black leather pants. Killer walked behind them; he wore a white jacket, stripped white and a black t-shirt under the jacket, with grey pants and black shoes. He held his own guitar on his hand. Kid and Bonney followed, and they looked so awesome in their stage costumes. Kid was wearing an unbuttoned light brown creamy jacket with a thin, white t-shirt underneath, along with, white pants, and toscha and white sneakers. Bonney was very gorgeous, with a white shirt, blue-black sweater with a red strip on the neck ,and arms, & creamy-colored pants, also white and black sneakers.

They took the position for the band -Penguin just knew from Shachi, that the drum was placed the back part of the stage, and it was moved to the front by, moving stage-; Killer and Heat brought their own instruments, so the event’s committee only had to prepare the drums and sound system. Kid and Bonney stood side by side behind their standing mics, and Killer took place behind the third one.

Penguin felt very excited; it was no different from other audiences. He could see Shachi had started cheering up and yelled ‘South Beast, South Beast’ since the MCs announced their turn, while Law smiled -almost like a wide grin- the whole time as he didn’t take his eyes off of Kid.

The bass which was played by Heat was the beginning sign of South Beast’s performance. The crowd quiet down as the intro started playing.

‘Have you sat on the rooftop, singing alone? Using shining stars as audience’.

The first line of the song reminded Penguin about the first time he came to South Korea. He never wanted to move out, but his parents forced him. He didn’t like the new country, didn’t like to learn the language -although, he still learned it or he wouldn’t be able to communicate well-; moreover, he didn’t like to leave his hometown. The boy spent most of his time on the rooftop of the private course where he learned Korean language, because he felt really lonely.

‘Have you ran about on the winding road? Until your shoes’ soles have been worn out?’

Back then, Penguin had created a plan to run away if he still couldn’t adapt to the new environment. He didn’t like to not have any friends, especially when he needed to adjust himself in the new school and subjects. He felt lonely in that big school. He wanted to run as far as possible, and went back to his hometown.

‘Everynight~ Everyday, I’m longing for these precious dreams. Now I’m going to spread my wings’

Penguin had already planned to take his passport from his parent’s bedroom, when Shachi appeared. He had shown to him that he wanted to be Penguin’s friend. At first, Penguin couldn’t believe this bright, cheerful boy wanted to be friend with him. But Shachi proved it, and he even asked Penguin to join the study group he was in. The hatted boy felt so happy because he found a place where he could find new friends and get along with them.

‘It will succeeded, it will be fine. You have told yourself countless times before. Though there are times you feel tired and afraid’.

After Penguin got along with the study group members, everything went so much better and easier, especially when he had to catch up the subjects. Shachi also helped him to start interacting with their classmates. The loneliness he felt before starting to disappear, and he felt less burdened.

‘Even if you are lonely, sad, you haven’t shed tears before. Your warmth comfort has awaken my heart’.

Penguin now had more friends. Although they were not so close yet, but he felt more relieved. The boy didn’t feel lonely anymore, and he slowly felt comfortable on his current place. He sometimes still longed for his old friends, but at least it was not as much as before.

‘Superstar now it is me. Raise your voice loud.

The person who I was, OK. Towards my dream, let’s go

Superstar now it is you. Raise your voice loud

Don’t hesitate, let’s start. Show everyone your own universe’

The refrain made Penguin thought deeper. For the whole time after he moved, he only sulked, grumbled, complained and blamed his parents for making him leave the friends he had, and the tranquility of his hometown. He only felt the bad things kept appearing, and he hated it so much.

‘Come, close your eyes just like what you’ll do in the future’.

The hatted boy didn’t feel any gratitude at first. But then he found new friends, and started to adapt the environment he lived in. He just knew that his previous bad thought was just bad thought. He felt really grateful right now, because he could move out, find new things and cultures to learn, and meet new people to be friend with.

‘Can you see the dreams you had?’

Now Penguin realized what he had to do. He didn’t have to run away when he was totally pissed of after moving out. He just needed to give enough time to adapt, to adjust himself with the whole changes. The burden on his chest had totally gone, and he felt so much free.

‘Let it come true’.

‘Start’.

‘Let’s start now’.

Penguin would start learning the right way. He had to live in South Korea, and he needed to know everything about the country. He could stay and learn about the language, the culture, habit, food, music, everything he wanted to know. He felt confident to do all these things. Yes, he could.

‘Show everyone your own universe’

Penguin felt a burning feeling inside his heart. This was not a very bad feeling though, for he loved when the heartbeat of his increased rapidly, when the music repeated inside his ears and mind; he loved when every single note sung by the band took him to the highest dream he ever imagined.

Watching the band’s performance had given him a clear vision of what he could do in the nearest future, and Penguin knew had fell in love with the: alternative rock indie band in front of his eyes.

~FLY~

Penguin was now sitting on the bus stop, waiting for the bus that would take him to his home in Namchang-dong. The bus should arrive in 20 minutes, so he still had enough time to get rid of the chocolate box on his hand.

He sighed heavily. He had told Shachi that walking through the chocolate booth area would be a bad idea. But Shachi kept pulling him because he was ‘attracted’ by the big sized chocolates, which was sold for half price and, forgot all his previous plan about ‘waiting for the Valentine’s chocolate from the girls’. In the middle of waiting for Shachi - who was still trying to bid the half-price chocolate, -Penguin felt like looking Shachi was no different from his mom when shopping at the local market, and that was a bit creepy-, Penguin was forced to buy the chocolate on the next booth, where one of the sales girl mentioned ‘we haven’t sold any of the chocolate and we will be scolded if someone don’t buy at least one box’. And Shachi made it worse by saying ‘come on, Pen, don’t break the girls’ hearts’; causing him to feel, it didn’t match the situation at all. So the hatted boy palmed his face in frustration, bought a random box of chocolate without thinking, said thank you properly and left them afterwards.

Now he was confused. His parents were not fans of chocolate - just like him. If his mother found out, she might tease him the whole day that ‘her son was popular among the girls, he received a box of chocolate on Valentine’s Day’. This stupid problem certainly would annoy him, because it was a box of chocolate he bought by himself -and his mother wouldn’t care although Penguin tried hard to explain the real situation to her-. He couldn’t give it to the neighbors, since they would tell his mother about the chocolate as well. Giving it to other friends would be a very bad option (they might think he was weird, and to be honest, they were not that close to him), and giving it to strangers would be even weirder.

When Penguin saw a litter bin near the bus stop, he felt a very bright imaginary bulb appearing above his head. ‘Right, just throw it to the bin and the problem will disappear as well.’ He talked inwardly. Just when he wanted to walk and throw the box, a familiar shining blond hair caught Penguin’s eyes. He turned to the right side where the bright blonde hair greeted him

“Killer sunbaenim!”

Penguin was surprised to see his senior, the member of the study group he joined and a member of South Beast, sitting beside him without taking off his previous stage costume.

Killer turned his head as well when hearing Penguin’s shocked voice. He just smiled a little, with a slight view of his blue eyes sneaking under his long bangs. “Hi. Waiting for the bus?”

“Yes.” Penguin awkwardly answered.

Since he joined the study group, they had met for a total of four times until now. And until the last times they met, Killer was the only member he never approached directly. Sometimes Penguin joined the discussion with Heat, Wire and Shachi, but since Killer only advised the discussion most of the time, Penguin never really ‘talked’ to the senior.

“Where do you live, by the way? I always thought you walk home with Shachi.” He spoke again.

“Shachi lives near the school, so he can walk home. I live in Namchang-dong, the center of Suwon. I’d pass out whenever I arrive at home if I walk like Shachi.” Penguin chuckled.

“I live in Sanggwanggyo-dong, the north side, in the same district as Kid. So I need to take a bus to go home too.”

Killer’s explanation made Penguin nodded. ‘So he lived farther than me.’ He thought.

The awkward situation came up after the last sentence. None of them tried to break the silence, nor have any other topic to discuss. Penguin was about to ask on stuff regarding South Beast to get to know the band further, when Killer asked.

“How was our performance?” Penguin didn’t know how to answer it.VHe was a shy person who didn’t really speak aloud what he felt, but he needed to answer his senior’s question. He loved South Beast, loved their performance, and also their song. But how to say it properly without getting embarrassed?

“It was … pretty good.” Penguin answered, but then he slightly panicked because he regretted to give only a plain comment, and the senior might feel upset. “I mean … this may be the first time I watch live performance, but you did a very great job and everyone loves it. So … yes, it was … great.”

Killer kept silent while listening to every word Penguin spoke to him. Penguin could see how the blond smiled. It looked so sweet and calming. The hatted boy was a bit regretful for not speaking more about what he felt for South Beast. It was his own enthusiasm. He didn’t want to hide the feeling, but he was just too shy and didn’t know how to express it well.

“Thank you.” Killer said finally. “I never really listen to what people say about us, but I’m glad to hear your comment.”

“You’re welcome.” Penguin felt relieved that Killer quite satisfied.with his answer. He then saw the box on his hand again. He did want to get up, walked to the litter bin and threw the box of chocolate on his hand quickly, but he was afraid that the senior might see his action.

“By the way, what are you holding?” He asked.

Now Penguin felt more nervous since Killer had seen the box. What should he answer? The boy wanted to say it was a box of chocolate he was forced to buy, but the senior might feel weird if he saw him throwing out the box to the litter bin.

“It is … actually ...”

“A chocolate? Did a girl give it to you?”

“No, it’s not. Actually I ...” ‘Bought this by forced and now I wanted to get rid of this damned box of chocolate from my hand!’ Penguin cursed. But again, he couldn’t say it out aloud.

Penguin could hear the bus getting near, cutting his own words. ‘Thank God it’s the bus I’m waiting for!’ Penguin felt grateful that he could get up and walk to the litter bin as he planned. He just hoped Killer wouldn’t realize what he was doing. He almost arrived and threw the box away until he heard Killer following him and shouted.

“Wait, stop! What are you doing?”

The hatted boy was shocked when Killer held his hand and prevented him to throw the box.

“Why do you want to throw it? You want to waste the gift?”

“It’s … not a gift, sunbaenim. I was forced to buy this box of chocolate, yet I didn’t like it. Bringing this home will make Mom misunderstand the situation. I mean, she may think I get the chocolate from girls, and she will tease me the whole day.”

“It’s still not a good enough reason to waste food. You shouldn’t do that.”

He regretted doing his plan in front of Killer. Now he was scolded by his senior.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll take it. You will waste good food -if I let you throw it to the litter bin.”

Penguin felt more shocked when Killer released his hand and took the box. The blond then stored the chocolate in his sling bag. Penguin suddenly realized the bus almost departed, and he needed to catch the bus if he didn’t want to wait for another 20 minutes.

“Sunbaenim, I’m sorry to trouble you, but I need to go now.” Penguin looked at Killer and bow in a deep regret.

Killer hummed in response. “Be careful. And don’t waste your food again.”

Penguin nodded and got on the bus quickly. He turned around a bit after he paid the bus ticket, and he could see the senior was still watching him from the bus stop, looking at him with an unreadable smile on his face.

He now wondered what the meaning of Killer’s smile is.

END

Footnote:

Hangul: Korean letters

Sunbae: senior

Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes): Rice cakes in a spicy red pepper paste sauce. And the bright red color should be warning enough of how spicy it can be (depending on where you go).

Twigim (Fried Snacks): The same carts that sell you tteokbokki, blood sausages and odeng also have delicious fried goods. These fried foods are dipped in a batter to allow for a flakey shell. Ingredients range from dumplings, eggs, peppers, sweet potatoes, and more.

Sundae (blood sausage): Blood sausages are common foods around the world. Korea’s version of it uses coagulated pigs blood, glass noodles and barley, with pig or cow intestines for the sausage skin. Also, if you’re ordering on the street, each order usually comes with a few slices of liver or lung on the side.

Odeng (fish cakes): At about 500 won a stick, fish cakes are the cheapest street foods you’ll find. They’re skewered on a stick and left in a delicious broth, which happens to be free with any order (not just odeng) and can cures bad hang overs. Put on some soy sauce to enjoy.

Sunbaenim: senior, more formal than sunbae.

From the author ...............

This is the forth time I wrote English fanfic, cool *shivering*

As you know, I write this fic for Valentine’s Day. Yessss, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FOR YOU ALL XOXO KilGuin deserves tons of love in this love day, so yes, please send them a lot of love ^^

For you who doesn’t really get into Korean culture, k-pop world, and other things related to South Korea, I’m so sorry if my fic makes you quite confused. But I have put footnote for the Korean words that cannot be translated / feels very weird if I translate into English, so yeah, I hope everyone will understand.

Again, I will send my biggest gratitude for the persons who has beta read this fic. @elementalcrystals, who always lead me the right way, the lantern in the dark, I will never complete this story without you. @/onepiece_fandom__ in Instagram (my beloved friend, sowwy to always ask for your help when you are so busy) and @stardustgalaxy senpai, my beloved cutie senpai thank you so much for beta reading my fic, you are all the best.

The fanfic cover was made by lovely friend, Kim Sunri, who also has helped me a lot to proofread this fic. Yeah, I don’t have enough time to ask someone to draw the cover, but my friend made it so wonderful, so I regret nothing ^^

Ah, almost forget to say. The title of this part is taken from the real song I use for this fic. Fly, sung by Super Junior KRY, the theme song of Superstar K3 in 2011. I love this song so much, and it's quite suitable for Penguin, who needs more support and encouragement for his life. And the song I present for all the readers too. Don't ever give up, keep walking the path you step on, facing all the barriers to reach your dream, the goal of your life!

Actually it has passed February 14 in my place when I post this, but in other places it is still 14 right? So yeah. I think it’s okay if I’m a bit late XD

Anyway, please enjoy this story. And last, would you mind to leave review?

#KilguinWeek #kilguin #killer x penguin #killerxpenguin #kilpen #one piece killer #one piece penguin #kid pirates #heart pirates #one piece #one piece fanfiction #Love Light

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thefrostfalgar · 8 years ago

Text

Day 7: Seventh

It was not my intention to post everything I have in one go but seems like work will keep my hands full until next few hours so I’ll just give it all for Kid.

also this might a little bit OOC and contain a little fluff and everything but well...

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUSTASS KID!!!

S for Seventh.

Seventh life time and still fall for each other.

It was one of a good day for Kid’s Pirate alliance.

They had just won over a battle against a rather huge pirate. Not in yonko caliber, but that still mattered. Not only they made it to the newspaper─again, even though they didn’t make it to the highlights as the first time they announced the alliance. But still, strategically, it was a good enough move to strike fear to other group. That added to the reputation that Kid had sank two Big Mom Pirate’s subordinate ships and get away with it.

So it was natural that they threw a party in the island they called safe house.

Three smaller boats had arrived from stocking booze and food from three nearby island. Kid didn’t know whether they buy or rob those. It didn’t matter. What matters now is to party hard, get over the forthcoming hangover, then get back up because in this part of the world, who knew will come up next.

They had partied for at least two days and one night now. Kid didn’t even remember. He only drank from his bottle of wine, chugging and listening to a joke so lame, he couldn’t help but laughing his ass off.

After the random dance, random fake fights among each other (some turned into actual fight), random drumming duet performance by drunk Killer and Apoo, and the poorly executed standup comedy by Apoo’s men, somehow the party had turned into some kind of foretelling by also drunk Hawkins. Kid didn’t know how Hawkins could manage to drunk─he always thought that the stoic man will be the only sober one, judging from his indifference almost in any situation. But well, maybe he couldn’t resist some fun too. And even though Kid sure that he’s just as drunk as he is now, Hawkins was still the only one that was somewhat composed enough not to randomly burst out a laugh on any poor joke thrown out by someone just to keep this party interesting.

Their men was too excited, asking Hawkins to foresee their future and their life in general. They laughed upon bad predictions, mocking and teasing each other on how they deserve such bad luck, and cheering over good predictions. Whichever result comes up, they drink anyway. Either to soothe the bad luck, or to celebrate the good luck that is still to come. Kid started to think that these whole fortune-telling thing is more to keep the party interesting and for them to find another reason to drink above anything else.

After a while, they seemed to run out of people who’s interested to have their predictions. But then Wire shouted.

“Hawkins, do Captain’s prediction!”

The other guys cheered to the idea, pushing Kid closer to Hawkins while echoing what Wire said in the beginning. Hawkins only grinned, while he shuffled his card once more and placed it on the strand of the straw from his devil fruit ability. “Eustass Captain Kid,” he started, while pulling cards after one another. “You’re gonna have a bad luck in the near future.”

The guys roared with laughter. Some cursing at Hawkins, telling that their Captain’s bad luck will result in Hawkins’ bad luck too, given that he’s the best chance for them to get away from any bad things that would come to their path. Hawkins rolled his eyes, gulping drink from his bottle before continuing.

“Hm? This is your seventh incarnation. Although, even in your previous six lives, you are always associated with metal or magnet in one way or another.”

Again, a roar of laughter, with Kid’s crew shouting “that’s my captain” or simply “Pirate King! Pirate King! Pirate King!”

“Can’t remember any of it,” Kid laughed.

Hawkins ignored the shouting and the laughter, while Kid only laughed and gulping the remaining of his bottle. That settled, Kid would drink to every prediction Hawkins read out of him. Not that he would stop if he’s running out of predictions anyway.

The stoic blond opened another card, sticking it into another strand of straw. “Although, you always know, and attracted to someone in the previous lives. It’s like you were on the same line of life,” he stopped for a little bit, eyes focusing on his cards and for a moment, Kid thought that Hawkins suddenly sobered up from all the alcohol running in his system. That’s very unlikely, by the way. Not with his power and abilities. “It is said that you even know and connected to this guy in this life also.”

Kid choked at that words. His face heated up, stomach scrunched while he gripped the neck of his bottle even tighter. This time, he’s also jolted up to full consciousness. His body all of a sudden have the ability to clear up all the fog caused by the hallucinogen he put to his system.

“That gotta be Killer!” someone from Apoo’s crew yelled, followed by the agreeing voices of all three crew. It’s very likely, Kid thought. Killer was his friend from day one. The guy who was always by his side, having his back and vice verca. But Kid got the feeling that Killer is not who the prediction mean.

In fact, Kid might have an idea of who it might be.

“Don’t think so. The connection is similar to friendship but not quite…”

“Okay, that’s enough!” Kid gulped the remaining of his liquor, trying to get the foggy mind back. He clearly knew who the prediction meant. He clearly knew what he would say next, because in fact, he had heard that kind of prediction before.

But Hawkins just wouldn’t stop. Just like Kid, he sensed a little bit dejavu in this prediction. He was rather obsessed with foretelling. He did that since he was young, and did it almost every day. Small chance he would remember every prediction, since for every result told, it could change based on the change of decision. But it occurred to him that he had read this prediction before─or something similar. Not to Kid, of course. Kid wouldn’t asked something like this voluntarily when he’s sober. His defiance made it harder for Hawkins to read him secretly. So no, this is not only belonged to Kid.

“Funny,” Hawkins said. With his drunken state, he could only touch the tip of his memory. He then flipped the card for Kid to see. “This is the next card that appeared.”

Kid didn’t have to see the damn card. He didn’t even bother to wait the card to fully flip in his direction before he snatched the card, whipping the rest down along with the straw strands that held them. “Party’s over,” he stood and announced, much in annoyance than anything else. “Get your ass back to work or I will throw you all to the sea!” he continued, throwing his bottle to the stone until it shattered to make his point, then storming out inside his safe house. Most of his men were automatically stilled, while the men from other crew booing him for being a party pooper. Kid didn’t care at all. He continued to storm out, trying to hold his liquor in his stomach while every cell of him just wanted to puke it all over. Fucking Hawkins. Fucking predictions. Why did he agreed to it the first time? Why didn’t he remember it the first time?

Oh, right. Because he was drunk.

Kid smashed things in his reach till they’re broken, and repelled every metal things he lay eyes on. Kid balled his human fist hard, burying his painted black nails to his palm until it hurts. On his mechanical appendage, he crushed the card that was the main reason of his fury.

He closed his eyes, trying to resist the memory crawling up to his consciousness, demanding to be remembered. But the pitch black darkness offered by his eyelids didn’t bring peace or a sense of security. Instead, the memory won. They painted themselves on the black surface perfectly. His drunken state didn’t help to block it. If anything, it helps the memory to come out as vivid as the day Kid captured them and stored them in his brain.

There’s a heavy monsoon that blew leaves off the trees and causing flood near the port. Then a pair of slate grey eyes with metallic gleam, half lidded by exhaustion and the remnants of lust from their previous activity.

“One more island, then we’ll arrived in Sabaody,” he said softly, almost as if he’s mumbling in his sleep. His lean fingers─the one that didn’t have tattoo over the knuckles, ghosting on Kid’s sweaty pale skin.

“One more chance, then,” Kid said. “Let me say it again─”

“The answer is still no, Eustass-ya,” the man said. “Heart Pirates will not be your subordinate, nor form an alliance with your crew when clearly, we have different vision on the outcome.”

“You’re crazy if you think you can get away with that plan of yours. You’re playing with damn underground, Trafalgar. You don’t know how big it is.”

“Like your plan is any better,” the man, Trafalgar Law of The Heart Pirates, said. “My plan is not even complete yet. There are variables I still reconsider depending on how the situation will turn up. With a little patience, I will get there. We will get there,” he stopped his fingers on Kid’s, rubbing the chipped black nail polish. “If you’re agreed to ally with me. We can beat them. Doflamingo, Kaido.”

Kid laughed half-heartedly. “The answer is still no, Trafalgar. I don’t want to be involved in your clever schemes. Monster with too many limbs is the monster easier to take down. So many things can go wrong.”

“But charging directly with so little preparation?” Law challenged.

“We managed to do it earlier,” Kid grinned. He leaned closer to Trafalgar, the top of his crooked nose ghosting over his sweat-covered skin. But neither bother to close the little gap between them. The mood had changed, ruined. Both dislike each other’s rejection, but neither made the effort to step down from their respective position.

“So we’ll go our separate ways, then,” Trafalgar said─more like an announcement. A challenge for war.

Kid paused for a moment too long. He felt the other’s voice had dissolved too deep into the silence, poisoning the room with something that tasted as bitter as betrayal. “Yeah,” Kid finally replied. He closed the gap between them and peck on Trafalgar’s lips. That declaration was so wrong, was so painful that he decided to savor every little things he can taste while they’re still present. “We’ll be enemies once more.”

“And will stay like that forever,” Trafalgar said. Another words with the bitter taste. Kid pulled himself away, refusing to breathe any of that shit anymore.

Then, silence ruled again. Only the sound of nature howling outside, wiping everything that gets in the way. Infiltrating the room with its destructive power and destroying whatever weak connection they had had.

Out of nowhere, Law broke the fragile silence with his soft chuckle. Kid glanced at him, raising the nonexistent eyebrow to ask.

“So I guess that’s it, then,” he muttered, more to himself. Before Kid could give any response, Law tilted his head to the other, grey metallic eyes met amber. “You know, before I got to the Grand Line, I met Hawkins-ya. We managed not to attack each other, and even had a little friendly chat.”

Kid couldn’t imagine how Trafalgar could make any conversation at all with Hawkins. The Doc was not the chatty type, and Hawkins is a stoic man─even that reputation was well known long before Kid met him. How did they communicate? Through eyes and sighs?

“He offered me interesting prediction,” Law continued, this time he managed to make Kid snickered.

“You believe in that kind of stuff, now?”

“Not really. While foretelling is an absurd concept unable to be explained by human logic, what he said about me was quite interesting. Do you not want to hear?”

Kid didn’t answer, knowing too damn well that the raven haired captain only asking to make his words more dramatic. Law didn’t exactly looking for his answer nor permission.

Law turned his head from him. “He said that this is my seventh incarnation of life,” he started. “The other might still going on somewhere in the parallel world, or have happened in the past, maybe the world before this…”

“I’m not stupid, Trafalgar. I know what incarnation is,” Kid cut through the other’s words. He had had enough of Law’s smartass attitude today.

Law chuckled again. “Who would’ve guessed?” he teased Kid, but he continued anyway. “Well, he said that in all six incarnations, I always got attached to the same person. A person that I share a deep connection with. Not quite like friendship. But more,” he shrugged, refusing to say the word that they both know and (much to Kid’s annoyance) they both feel. Law then leaned closer to Kid, pecking his skin in a soft, quick kisses before continuing. “You know what card appeared next?”

Kid didn’t want to know. He couldn’t cope with the idea of foretelling, or stuff like that. Not especially in his current state, where his chest was heaved by disappointment, and his mind scrambled from the fact that there are strong possibility that they will not be this close anymore in the future. The declaration had crushed Kid mentally, even though he wouldn’t admit that.

He felt so stupid for ever letting this man get into his skin.

But he turned anyway, offering a little interest to the smaller man.

“The beast card,” Law said. “Always a beast. He shuffled the cards multiple times, but it was always a beast─the kind with raw power and strategic thinking to match. And this beast always attract me like magnet. I’m quoting him down to every letter here.”

Kid paused for a moment, too stunned with the other’s words before bursting out a series of laughter. It’s ridiculous not to. Law stared at him indifferently, as if he didn’t expect any other reaction other than what Kid pulled now.

“I was just saying,” he said.

“Who’re ye kidding? You never were just saying,” Kid said, laughing again before muffled it down. “If you think that such cheesy shit will change my mind, Trafalgar, then tough shit. You make yourself a fool for nothing.”

“It was not my intention,” Law said, turning his face from Kid. “Only stating a fact. Foretelling is something we can’t comprehend, so does reincarnation. But since it was there and it matched the situation, perhaps it is more than just a prediction. Perhaps there are science behind it that we have yet to acknowledge. Fire was once considered magic too, you know.”

Kid muffled his laughter, shaking his head as he ruffled Law’s raven hair. “You know, you’re almost cute right now. I could kiss you.”

The raven haired pirate only rolled his eyes on Kid, then their conversation officially ended. Their mouths were too busy trying to dominate each other in a lazy makeout session. They were too tired to do anything more, so they had to be satisfied with it before they both fell back asleep.

When Kid woke up the next day, Law was already gone. There were almost no trace of him; no vivre card, no denden mushi, nothing. Only the smell of him, faint on the sheets and thick on Kid’s nostrils.

The next time they met each other, fought side by side in Sabaody, Law had become completely stranger. Still lack of manner, but way too distant. Untouchable. He did help save his life, of course, and stating facts that Kid too ignorant to notice about Batholomew Kuma─who turned out is a robot. But it felt different. Law felt different. It felt like the Doc had scrubbed the smallest remnants of their time together away. It felt like he, who confessed his attraction to Kid, now changed his nature and repel him.

And Kid was okay with it, or so he thought. He kept pushing the thought of that day on Sabaody to the corner of his mind, beating it down with the fights or the machines he built. He thought he won. He thought he managed to forget that doc and every inch of him that made Kid’s guard down. But no, of course not. The memories never fade. They never go anywhere or even decreased in number. They were never forgotten. Every second with him. Every touch. Every kiss. They were always there, hiding in the back of his mind for a while. Waiting to attack him in his vulnerable state. Like right now.

The red head opened his eyes in shock when he heard the small series of footsteps behind him. Not Killer, of course. He was too heavy to make those light steps. So Kid turned, and he didn’t surprised at all to see Hawkins there.

“I haven’t finished reading your predictions.”

Kid wanted to hear more. He wanted to hear the continuation of Trafalagar’s words that day. The fate written in the series of card. What will become of them? Second chances are rare, and yet right here, right now, Kid was presented with one. He has the chance to know about what will happen in their seventh incarnation. Will there another after this one? Will they still attached to each other? If all the pirate game over and one comes out as a king, will Kid and Law picked up where they left off? Will they found each other again before death claimed their life?

His mind was heavy with memory and the burning feeling of alcohol. But Kid knew what he wanted. “Don’t need to hear that. Don’t want to.”

“Whatever, Kid,” the stoic blond said. Like Kid, he had been shaken up from his drunken state, and both had turned into angry drunk right now. One step, and there might be a useless, unwanted fight. “But I need my Heart card back.”

#eustass kid week #eustass kid #eustass captain kid #trafalgar law #kidxlaw

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words-and-fangirling-wonder · 8 years ago

Text

I is for Idiots

Wait, what? What is this? Another chapter? A prompt update? Help! Someone has obviously kidnapped the real author and replaced her with an alien who is actually productive!

Ahem. Anyway, here’s a chapter about Kid and Killer being idiots who don’t communicate! Enjoy!

Author: fangirlwonder (wordsandwonder on AO3)

Pairing: Kid/Law

Prompt: Idiots

Rating: Teen, but only for swearing and stuff, I don’t know I’m bad at rating

Unbeta’d

Being in his old room was weird for Kid. After all, he’d made a lot of memories in here. The carpet was still speckled with grease spots where he’d tinkered with various car parts without laying anything down to catch spills or drips. Posters featuring scantily clad women posing provocatively with muscle cars were still stuck to his walls with thumbtacks. Even after he was long gone, his mom hadn’t changed a thing. This was the first room he actually had to himself since Bonney was born, in the first decent house he’d even lived in. He’d spent countless hours flipping through car magazines and reading how-to manuals at that desk. He’d lost his virginity on that twin bed, and it still squeaked like crazy every time he moved around too much on it. But the thing that was currently giving him pause as he packed up his things was the old, battered shoe box he’d just found in his closet. He hadn’t really thought anything of it when he pulled it out. He was a notorious pack-rat, so it wasn’t the first random box he’d come across, and he wasn’t anything particularly exciting or important to be in it.

He was wrong.

Once he cleared the disgustingly thick layer of dust off the lid he could see the messy, faded lettering scratched onto it that read: Kid and Killer’s Time Capsule. Do Not Open For 10 Years!

He remembered making this thing, though he couldn’t quite picture what he’d put in there. Knowing how he and Killer were at thirteen-years-old, he guessed there was probably at least one porn magazine, and probably a bunch of dumb crap with absolutely no explanation. Curious, he began to lift the lid, but something stopped him before he could open it fully. This wasn’t just his, it was his and Killer’s.

And just where the fuck was that asshole, anyway?

He’d been awake for four weeks now, and out of the hospital for one of them. And he knew Killer had been to visit him almost every day when he was in that coma, because Law told him as much. At first, he’d been too thankful that Killer had come out of the fire pretty much unscathed, aside from a concerning amount of smoke inhalation, to be upset at not seeing him. Then he’d been too distracted with therapy and adjusting to life with a prosthetic to think about the absence of his best friend. But when he started searching for apartments he’d tried to call the blonde and see if he wanted to room together again and it had gone straight to voicemail, and Killer never called him back. So now Kid was simultaneously worried and pissed as hell. For all he knew Killer had complications after getting out of the hospital and was really sick. Or maybe he blamed Kid for the fire. Kid knew that Killer was bad with open flames and should be kept to prep work only in the kitchen if there was a gas stove, yet he still left Killer in charge of cooking rice for his anniversary dinner and went to take a nap. How could he have been so careless? The man had lit his own shorts on fire for fuck’s sake. Kid wouldn’t blame him at all if Killer resented him.

But the bastard could still have the decency to at least call.

“Eustass? Dare I ask what that poor shoebox ever did to you to deserve such a look?” Law asked from the doorway. His tone was as monotone as ever, but his eyes were slightly concerned as looked at his boyfriend.

It was only then that Kid realized he was gripping the box so tight he was crushing it a little, and that he was glaring fiercely at Killer’s messy writing.

“This fucker,” he muttered, tossing the box onto the bed and standing abruptly to put distance between it and himself. “What the fuck, you know?”

Law arched an eyebrow at him. “Unfortunately, I do not know, Eustass. Perhaps you could elaborate?”

“He’s my best friend. He’s been with me through some of the shittiest parts of my life, and now I don’t hear from him? No call back? Not even a fucking text? What the fuck is up with that? If he’s pissed at me about the fire he could at least say so, right? I mean, fuck.”

“You could always reach out to him again,” Law suggested.

“Nah, forget it. Whatever. He’s a grown ass man, he can do whatever the fuck he wants. If he doesn’t want me in his life anymore then … then … whatever.” To his horror, Kid could feel a lump growing in his throat and his eyes burning. Because pissed or not, the idea of Killer not wanting to ever talk to him again was … painful.

“I’m sure Mr. Killer wants you in his life. Everyone handles stressful situations differently; perhaps he’s just trying to give you space.”

“I appreciate you trying to help, Law, but you don’t know Killer. This isn’t how he copes or whatever,” Kid explained tiredly. “Let’s just … let’s just forget it. I’m almost done sorting through this shit. Those boxes over there can go to Goodwill or somewhere, if you wanna load them in the car.”

Law looked like he wanted to say something more, but he refrained (to Kid’s relief) and simply picked up the nearest box. “Alright then. I’ll take these to a drop-off.”

“Thanks, Law.”

The doctor nodded once and left, leaving Kid alone with his box full of memories.

++++

“Oh no, please, no one else bother. I’ll get it. Not like I was sleeping or anything,” Kid yelled crankily as he went to answer the insistent knocking on the front door.

Al didn’t even bother to look away from the TV show he was watching with his wife. “It’s probably just that bible salesman that keeps coming around. Can’t seem to take no for an answer,” he reasoned with a shrug.

“So tell him you’re perfectly happy worshiping Satan or something,” Kid spat, yanking the door open a bit more aggressively than was strictly necessary. “Look, we don’t want any … oh. Uh, hey man.”

Killer shifted uncomfortably on the porch, his eyes moving quickly away from Kid’s prosthetic and fixing pointedly on his feet. “Hey Kid.”

Fuck. Killer looked like shit. Since Kid had last seen him the blonde had definitely lost weight, making his eyes look a little too big in his face, and his hair seemed thinner and more disheveled than he usually kept it. He was pale too, except for the twin spots of red burning on his cheekbones. Honestly he looked like a shrunken down shell of the man Kid knew, and Kid hated it.

“Well hey, c’mon in. It’s good to see you,” he said finally, stepping back and gesturing for the man to come inside.

“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

The previously occupied living room was suspiciously empty when Kid led his friend into it. Almost like his sneaky ass family knew it wasn’t a fucking bible salesman at the door. He’d yell at them about that later. Right now he had a very uncomfortable looking Killer to deal with.

“So, uh, how ya been?” Kid asked awkwardly after the two had been sitting in silence for a few minutes.

“Huh? Oh, uh, not bad. You know, just working a lot. How’ve you - I mean, how’re … uh …” Killer trailed off and stared intently at his hands, frowning deeply.

“Okay man, let’s cut the crap. What the fuck is up with you? I don’t hear from you for almost a month and then you show up on my doorstep unannounced looking like shit? Are you drinking again? What’s the deal?”

Killer didn’t lift his gaze from his lap, and Kid had to lean forward to hear his reply. “I just … I came to say I’m sorry,” he whispered brokenly.

“You’re … sorry?” Kid asked blankly. “What - I mean … why?”

“Why?” Killer repeated incredulously, finally looking up at his friend. “Why? Because I almost fucking killed you! Because you almost died saving my life all because I’m a stupid fuck who can’t even make fucking rice, apparently, without burning the fucking house down!”

“Killer, it was an accident,” Kid began, perplexed by Killer’s sudden outburst.

“No, Kid, don’t do that. Don’t say that like it makes it okay. You were in a fucking coma. We didn’t know if you’d wake up! You … you lost your …” Killer’s eyes flicked to Kid’s arm as he drew a shaky breath. “You lost your arm because of me. It’s my fault. I-“

“Wait, no. Shut up a minute.”

Killer’s mouth snapped shut in surprise at Kid’s suddenly rough tone.

“Is this why you didn’t come see me? Why you didn’t call me back? Because you blame yourself for the fire? Because you feel guilty? Well fuck that, Killer. Like, seriously fuck that. That fucking sucks.”

“But how could I possibly face you after-“

“The better question is how could you possibly think I’d blame you? That’s just fucking stupid.”

“But you lost-“

“Killer, you idiot. You think I would rather lose you than my fucking arm? Because that’s fucked up. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, you know? Look, that fire was an accident. It coulda just as easily happened cuz of me. And this?” Kid gestured to his prosthetic. “I don’t blame you at all for this.”

“You’re not … mad?” the blonde asked hopefully.

“Mad? Dude, fuck yeah I’m mad. Are you kidding me? I’m fucking furious.” Killer shrunk back as if Kid had punched him, but the redhead didn’t give him a chance to apologize again. “I’m fucking pissed that you avoided me. I was fucking worried about you, man. Law told me you were okay, but still, when I didn’t hear from you even after I got out of the hospital? That sucked. I’m pissed that you’re obviously not taking care of yourself, too. You look like shit right now. I didn’t fucking save you from that fire for you to let guilt eat you alive, so what the fuck? If you’re gonna come over here all sheepish and shit to apologize you can apologize for not taking care of yourself. You can apologize for not visiting, or calling. But don’t fucking apologize for the fire, man. Don’t apologize that I pulled you out, because no matter what I lost I’m sure as hell not sorry that I did it.”

To Kid’s surprise, his speech made Killer’s lips twitch into a small smile. “Yeah, Law said you’d say that,” he admitted quietly.

“Law?”

“Yeah, when he tracked me down and all but kicked my ass for avoiding you.”

“Huh. And when exactly did he do that?” Kid asked, slumping back in his seat. He wasn’t sure at what point in his little tirade he’d leaned forward and clenched his fist, but he was feeling a little stupid for it now. He’d sounded like his damn mom.

“Yesterday.”

So basically right after Kid had ranted about being pissed and hurt that Killer was avoiding him. That sneaky bastard.

“So … you’re really okay, then?” Killer asked tentatively.

“Yeah, I’m actually doing really well. Packing up all my shit right now cuz I’m about to move in with Law.”

“Wow, congrats. That’s a big step.”

“Yeah,” Kid agreed absently. “I tried seeing if you wanted to room together again, you know.”

Killer had the decency to look ashamed. “Yeah, sorry. I was just …”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, you got a place at least?”

The blonde nodded. “It’s a shitty little studio, but it’s real close to the shop, which is nice. And the rent is cheap so I’m not complaining.”

“Cool. So …”

“Yeah?”

Kid’s expression turned stern. “You calling your sponsor or am I? And don’t you dare try to tell me you’re not drinking. I’ve been around long enough to know the fucking signs.”

Killer heaved a sigh. “I’ll call him.”

“Good.” They sat in silence for a moment before Kid remembered the box he’d found the day before. “Hey, you wanna see something?”

“Uh … sure?”

“Come with me.” Kid led his friend to his room and gestured for him to take a seat on the bed as he fished the box out from the closet again.

“Man, being back here brings back memories, huh?” Killer murmured, looking around at the posters fondly.

“Yeah,” Kid agreed. “And speaking of memories, check this out.”

Killer took the box curiously, turning it so he could read the message. “Oh shit, our time capsule. How old were we when me put this thing together?”

“Thirteen. You wanna open it? It’s been ten years.”

For the first time in far too long Killer gave Kid a genuine smile. “Yeah. Hah … kinda excited to see what our treasures used to be.”

“Ten bucks says there’s porn in there,” Kid challenged jokingly.

Killer laughed. “Alright, you’re on. Let’s open this bad boy up.”

#Eustasskidweek2017 #eustass kid #killer one piece #one piece #one piece fanfic

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