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Killer had never been a sound sleeper, even if he trusted his crew he still had anxiety about his face, on top of having a large bounty on his head and an even bigger one on his captains. But dealing with the aftermath of the battle with Red Haired Shanks made sleep impossible. Very few of the crew had managed to escape without serious injuries, and the ones that had were running around the clock to keep watch over their injured crew mates. He had been left to watch over Kid, who had taken the brunt of the damage. His arm was gone, half his face wrapped in bandages, Kid had been asleep for multiple days now, not quite running a fever, but still too warm for Killer’s comfort given his condition.
Killer sat in the same chair he had been sitting in since he had been sent to his and Kid’s shared room, leg anxiously bouncing as he kept sharp, blue eyes trained on the slow movement of Kid’s chest, barely illuminated by the full moon shining through the window. A shuffle outside the closed door caught his attention in the silence of the night.
(Y/N) hesitated in the hallway, still shaking from the nightmare that had ripped him from his sleep, the sight of his bloody, limp crew mates littering the battlefield burned into the back of his eyelids. He knew he should be in bed, resting, the stiff cast immobilizing his leg evidence enough. And even more important was that he shouldn’t even be thinking of bothering Kid and Killer. But he had still limped his way from his bed outside their door.
(Y/N) nearly let out a sob of pain as he shifted his weight, the crutch he had been given laying forgotten beside his hammock, as he finally decided to turn back and leave Kid and Killer be. He had only recently joined their relationship and they didn’t need him intruding at such a vulnerable time. Though as well as he tried to muffle his sob through his hand and the deep, shaking breath that came after Killer had heard it and was opening the door before (Y/N) could collect himself.
“What are you doing up? You should be resting.” Killer reached out a hand to steady him, giving him a stern once over. “And whe-“
“‘M sorry.” (Y/N) was quick to cut off his scolding, knowing exactly where it was going. He started to shake under Killer’s hand, hot tears burning at his eyes, though unable to blink them away in fear of the sight his mind would create in the dark behind his eyelids. “I’ll go back to bed now.”
Though (Y/N) wanted nothing more than to curl himself into Killer’s strong arms, he moved to step away. Scrubbing at his face with his bandaged hand to also try and scrub away his dreadful thoughts. He flinched when he heard Killer’s tired sigh, turning his head to hide his face in shame, now completely unable to control the shaking of his body.
“All you had to do was ask.” Killer scooped his boyfriend into his arms without another word, mindful of both of their bandage covered bodies to press (Y/N) close to his chest. (Y/N) could only gasp, partially in relief of being off his leg, the other part in surprise, and clutch his hands tightly into Killer’s shirt.
Killer placed him gently at the foot of the bed, then moved his chair to sit close enough to him to keep a warm hand on his knee.
(Y/N)’s eyes finally fell on Kid, still unconscious, his left side nearly unrecognizable with all the bandages, right side not faring much better, and his throat tightened. (Y/N) couldn’t rip his gaze away from what little of Kid’s face he could see, frowning slightly even while asleep, lipstick long gone at this point. He hadn’t realized that the tears had finally started falling until they dripped into his lap.
“Every time I close my eyes, I’m back there. Stuck because of this stupid leg. And I can’t do anything while Red Hair and his men cut us down like we’re nothing.” He still refused to look at Killer, who leaned forward in his chair, moving his hand from (Y/N)’s knee to his hip, rubbing a calloused thumb against the exposed skin. “I’m so scared. Cause what if we didn’t make it? What if this is the dream and we’re all still there? Or worse… What if- what if-“ His voice cracked, throat tightening, as he finally looked at Killer, making eye contact with the blank mask before him. (Y/N) heaved another breath, sniffling and hiccuping as he tried to find the words and will to continue, but Killer stopped him. Grabbing a hold of his hands while moving to sit directly in front of him on the bed.
“Look at me. We’re all here. The three of us made it.” One hand cupped (Y/N)’s cheek, gently turning his face back towards Killer, before going back to his wrists.
“But-” Killer brought (Y/N)’s hands to the side of his head, pressing his bandaged palms against the sides of his mask. He gently guided his fingers towards the latches that held it in place, smiling at the look of shock that flashed across (Y/N)’s still wet face.
“No! You don’t have to-“ (Y/N) tried to shake his head and pull his hands back, but Killer held firm.
“You’re right. I don’t have to do anything. But I want you to look at me. See that me and Kid are right here, with you.” Killer pressed (Y/N)’s fingers in to undo the latches, taking his hands away when he felt the mask start to slip. (Y/N) brought the mask down to lay it in Killer’s lap, handling it like it could shatter in a moment.
(Y/N) stared at Killer’s face for the first time, taking him in. Thick, blond hair covered his eyes, but (Y/N) could see glances of his blue eyes behind it, soft looking lips painted purple above the beginnings of a goatee. He reached his hands up, but stopped them, eyebrows pinching in uncertainty. Killer smiled softly before nodding, leaning forward more to show that it was alright for (Y/N) to touch him. (Y/N) reached up, carefully cupping Killer’s soft cheeks. His hands started to shake and the tears welled back into his eyes.
“See, right here with you.” Killer put his hand on the back of (Y/N)’s neck, pulling him close enough to rest their foreheads together. “Not going anywhere.”
(Y/N) lurched forward, pressing his lips into Killer’s in a frantic kiss, hands sliding back into his mane of hair. Killer kissed back, moving his mask from his lap to carefully pull (Y/N) into his lap. (Y/N) cried into the kiss, ignoring the ache in his body as he clung closer to Killer.
When they broke the kiss, (Y/N) had managed to stop his crying, hiding his face into Killer’s neck and hair. His eyes drooped as Killer ran his hands up and down his back, soothing any anxiety or fear that remained.
“Why don’t you lay down and rest a while?” Killer’s hands stopped as he tried to get a glance at (Y/N)’s face, who only hummed, pressing his face further into Killer’s neck. “What was that?”
“I wanna stay with you.”
“I didn’t say I’d leave you.”
“Shut up and lay down, God!” Killer and (Y/N) both jumped at the mumbling, staring at Kid who glared through bleary eyes.
“You’re finally awake.” Killer smiled, reaching out to rub Kid’s shin.
“Hard to sleep with the two of you yapping up a storm.” Kid huffed back, making (Y/N) laugh in return as Killer let out a breath. Killer moved himself and his partner in his lap up the bed to sit beside Kid.
“Are you feeling alright?” (Y/N) leaned over Kid, reaching out to push the bright red hair back off his forehead.
“Feel fine. You two look like shit though.” Kid laughed at the two, who both sported deep, dark eye bags.
“Not everyone gets to pass out for multiple days, Kid.” (Y/N) pouted, the hand he was running through Kid’s hair giving a sharp tug. Kid let out a shout of pain, stiffly moving to try and swat the hand away, grimacing with the movement.
“Enough, both of you.” Killer grabbed both sets of hands, pressing them against the chests of each of their owners, though his soft smile canceled out any sternness in his tone. “I hate to say it but Kid’s right, we all need to rest.” Kid let out a triumphant laugh that turned into a pained wheeze when (Y/N) flopped himself out of Killer’s lap to lay against his side.
(Y/N) wrapped himself around Kid’s side, arm carefully resting on his chest, nose pressed into his shoulder. Killer shifted down as well, pressing tight to (Y/N)’s back, reaching over him to also rest a hand on Kid’s stomach.
“Hey who said I’m going to sleep! I just woke up.” Kid’s grouching broke the silence, but he still made no move to leave, pushing his arm under his partners heads.
“Don’t leave.” (Y/N) was already half asleep, pressing tighter to Kid’s shoulder, fingers curling against his stomach. “Please.”
“Well if you’re gonna get so mopey about it.” Kid grumbled back playfully, grunting at the pinch Killer gave him. “And I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. You’re stuck with me.”