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After parting ways with the Straw hat crew and the heart pirates, the Kid pirates start to make their way to Elbaf. A smug still on Kid’s face because of the victory despide the annoyance he felt for losing the position of emperor to Straw hat Luffy and the fastest road to the last island to Trafalgar Law. The crew was still drinking, celebrating and, of course since Wano, laughing. Kid was seated at the table with his drink. It has been two minutes since the waterfall and the other ships are now out of view. Kate slid next to him like she did many times before in a relax position but she was tense. He looked at her and knew something was up. He was sensing her eyes set on him from the moment they took one of those stupid sticks.
-What?
-Where are we going?‒ she asked as she didn’t know. She had hope. Killer sat on his other side and other members were approaching. They had respect for Kate but she talked with Kid so nonchalantly they thought it was gonna be a normal conversation. How wrong they were.
-Elbaf ‒ in his mind he was ready to ask if she was deaf after Wano but she knew him and went on.
-And what are we gonna do when we arrive there?
-Dock ‒ He took another sip without looking at her. He was sensing he would not like what she would say but still didn’t follow her logic. Killer did and his eyebrows went high behind the mask where nobody could see. He nervously laughed a bit. fafafa. He knew this conversation wouldn't go well.
This is Shanks territory.
Eustass let his glass slam on the table. The crew was all there now and some were starting to realize this wasn’t a good idea. Eustass Kid hated Shanks especially after he lost his arm. But not just because he lost an important limb. This almost never bothered him but his pride bothered him a lot. And Eustass hated how much fear Kate felt for Shanks. How much she feared Shanks for him . Since she met Kid, around three years ago and started to fall for him she started to let it go. The fear she had of bad people, corrupt authorities, pirates, sea kings, natural disasters, the government, the celestial dragons, the possibility of being destroyed alongside all she knew despide doing nothing wrong in that messy world. Kid showed there was a way of living your life the way you wanted. Free, fighting your fears, doing something with your life you actually wanted. After Kid lost his arm, she changed. Whenever Kid mentioned defying Shanks again after that she became very quiet, hoping in her mind things would be different. Now he has show on the road to finally do so she was to be once more the voice of reason.
-And?‒ he looked at her. Dared her to keep going. She did.
-It’s an island of giants‒she started. He started to drink again to her surprise- Shanks could be there with his crew and even his allies…
She looked at the rest of the crew. They were just moving from a yonkou to another and really had to be that one of course.
Kid also looks at his crew. He of course saw things different. He just defeated two yonkou. He and his crew was stronger than ever. He lost that time but he wasn’t weak. She couldn’t believe that. He would show that. He was capable of achieving his dream. She had to believe that!
-Yes and we are the Kid’s pirates! Defeating Shanks is our destiny.
Kate will always be more level headed than most of the crew. Kid can appreciate that. Killer thinks that is one of Kate’s traits that made his friend fall for her. Of course, he would not be caught dead by Kid saying this. Kate and Killer were advisors, Kate is someone that thinks before acting despide what her decision to join the Kid pirates and date Eustass Kid can look like to others. He almost always listens to her but this was something that his impulsive nature was desiring for years.
The crew was slowly backing away from the kitchen, trying to make it all less awful. Killer was still glued to his seat with almost the same heaviness in his chest. Killer was Kid’s best friend but was also Kate’s friend and he noticed how happy they were. But he knew he was witnessing a fight that could end it all and he didn’t know how to help. Eustass would not back away even in private and Kate’s hold the table reveal a bigger anxiety about their encounter with Shanks than he could have imagined.
-You are stronger now, but that is not the moment…‒ her eyes showing how afraid she was.
He smashed part of the table with his normal fist.
-I WON’T LOSE!
She didn’t even flinch. She looked at Kiler at the other side of the table. Last hope.
-Killer, please‒ But she often forgot how their friend had more in common with Eustass than his level headed behavior could lead on.
He stayed quiet, kinda uncomfortable. He knew her arguments are valid. He knew the love she felt for the captain. He wanted to comfort her in some way but he knew there was not how. He simply stated trying and failing to hold his involuntary laughter:
-Shanks should be our next target. Fafafafa. Everyone is on their path for the One Piece right now.
She let out a breath and didn't look at them
Kid looked at Killer, annoyed at his pause. Misreading his friend changed his mind.
Kid got closer to Kate.
-This conversation is over.
Eustass hold his glass tight, stand up and scream:
-We are going to Elbaf and we are gonna make Shanks pay!
They raise their glasses except Kate still looking at them like she was seeing a nightmare. They started to drink again.
Kid was gone for a while. She didn't go after him.
Kate was too deep in her worries to notice some minutes pass. Then she looked around. Some of them had booze in their hands.. She sighed.
-Oi – Kid came back. He came closer to her. His expression hardened like a statue. A set in anger. Determined. Her eyes looked from the floor to his eyes. He was holding something made of cloth Kate couldn’t distinguish. Her eyes focused on his amber eyes piercing her.
The crew stopped and watched for the captain's next movement.
-You don't believe in me.
Kate wanted to argue. She believed in him. She believed he could be the most powerful pirate someday. but she knew for him believe in him include supporting his fight with red haired shanks in days. And she couldn’t do that.
His metal arm threw a bag at her feet like trash. He stared at her confused figure. Kid closed his eyes. Looking like a small young woman that could be just from any island. Just with a punk fashion influence, Kid repeated in his head. He looked at her again.
-Get out of here‒ He didn't scream. But it was loud and clear. The tension on the deck making it easy for anyone to listen.
-What?
-If you don’t support your captain you shouldn’t be in the Victoria punk!‒ He looked her in the eyes. Angry. Hurt. Trying on purpose to bring back his old girlfriend’s memory. Convincing himself that breaking the promise he made to himself of not fall for anyone after Victoria died was a mistake.Meeting Kate was a mistake. Allowing Kate to be around was a mistake. Kissing her was a mistake. Inviting her to be with him was a mistake. Marrying her was a mistake. Being with her was a mistake. Letting her hug him, sleep with him, take care of his wounds and talk to each about their deepest feelings was a mistake. Kid was desperately trying to bury some of his happiest moments while Kate shifted her gaze to the bag.
She tried to swallow. She recognized it and its content. It was hers.
He was throwing things at her. She was no part of the crew anymore. She offended everything he was about. She was not part of his life anymore. It felt like the air was knocked out of her lungs. He trusted her a lot and now was deeply disappointed.
It took her a minute to react but she got up. It shouldn’t be worse than it needed to be. To no one. Though it felt like the worst moment of her life. Kid watched her every move now.
She leaned over the floor and took the bag. Kid turned his back to her. She was just a common girl of a island in paradise, she shouldn’t even be here. Kid told himself. Believing this was gonna last was just foolish. His metal hand closed on itself releasing part of his anger. Mostly directed at himself for letting it all happen. A good portion of it was redirected for another red haired man.
She walked slowly on the deck. Everyone else froze in their places except Kid who also was walking away to distance himself from her. She tried to not look at the rest of the crew, even her closest friends Emma, Quincy, Dive, Heat and Hip. They were on the verge of tears or in shock and she was afraid they couldn’t keep a straight face if she tried to say goodbye. They could get more on Kid skin and she knew it wouldn't be right. They clearly agreed with their captain in his decision.
She reached the ship’s rail. She put her foot on its green top.
She looked back. Her eyes found Kid’s figure farther away removing himself from the scene. Everyone else watching her but avoiding her eyes. Killer was the exception behind the mask nobody could be sure but she felt a compassionable stare from him. He was one of the most affected by her loss.
Kid stopped feeling the eyes of his lover staring at him once again. He did not turn tho.
-Kid, I love you.‒ she said softly. Maybe he didn't believe her anymore. His concept of love undoubtedly involved support for his dream. But she felt like saying it one more time. And now.
She didn’t excepted anything anymore
She looked back at the water and jumped from the deck. The Splash sprayed the walls of the ship. The cold water on her skin making her take in what happened.
Then The Victoria punk started to drift away. Not one soul dare go to the bench to look at her.It was sad to lose her lover and her friends at the exactly same time.
But right now she needed to swim. She strongly stroked the water with her arms. The soaked bag and it’s content more heavy now alongside the tension in her throat that it was impossible to swallow. She was a good swimmer. Kid knew that.
Once as a teenager she spent a whole summer hanging out with mermaids. On the water. Swimming was her emergency route in your small island in case of an attack from the pirates or the corrupt government. She would at least be saved from some devil fruit users. She didn't know if he considered this though when demanding for her departure in the middle of the sea. But in some way Kate prefers to swim and be lost at sea, maybe even die than watch Kid and all their crew die. She knew pirate life was dangerous and she had peace of mind with Kid possibly dying in battle. But in a 1v1 fight against a high rank that was inevitable or even a trap from the marines or a rival crew. It was a natural part of the world they lived in like a natural disaster. She was in peace when Kaido fell from the sky and almost killed them all.
But not in such a stupid way.
Her next hand movement was more of a punch against the water. She was getting tired and should save her strength but she couldn't get over it. Maybe the water should respond to it. Drown her in a true natural disaster. Be another lifeless body sinking into the floor of the ocean. Like so many before her. Soon to be followed…
A ship passed by. They saw her from afar. A God sent maybe. Surprisingly there was a lot of crazy people willing to be on the new world's seas. Including civilians without much fighting power. Well to be honest she kinda was one of them.
It was a group of merchants. Mostly middle aged. Some old men. They offered help. She just went along. Got on their smallish kinda boat. Soaked her skirt clinged to her legs. She lost her hair scarf along the way. Her make up was gone. She looked like a lost young woman. Possible escaping an attack. She was thinking what would be their reaction if they would know she just jumped from her husband's ship in the big ocean.
She was careful with them at first. She knew how to incapacitate someone.
They asked her if she was fine.
She was calm despite everything which surprised the men.
She thanked them and asked to be let off in the next place with people.
They didn't ask more of her. She felt relieved. They knew she had a big story but none of them felt compelled to know more.
They stopped at a small City she gave them some gold. They were kinda surprise she had it. She didn't know it was there but was not surprised when she opened the bag to look at her things and their state and found a small purse filled with gold bellis. She wanted to give a bittersweet smile but refuse it afraid it would look too out of place with the merchants watching.
Kid could be a lot of things but he wasn't as inconsiderate like some people would judge him as. Especially with those he loved .
It made her sure he already knew she would jump and he knew she would survive.
Like she knew he would lose to shanks.
Bittersweet for sure. She told herself.
When she thanked the men again and said Goodbye her soaked feet were straight to the docks. First to the closer store that she saw that sold clothes. Second to the man the woman that received the payment for her new dry outfit pointed out when asked where to buy a boat.
She emptied what was left in her bag in his hands.
Well it was for the boat and her new food and water supplies for days. It wasn't a bad deal.
When she Sat down for the first time on her new acquired possession her first thought went to how she could easily get a ticket to the pacific side of the grand line with that money.
For all the arguing she had with Kid she could not deny she was in fact also an idiot. For him especially.
She sailed. Her new outfit was shorts and a tank top. Dark ones of course.
Kid could expel her from the ship, could never see her in the eye again, could divorce her. Heck for all she knows that could be his way of divorcing her. A pirate throwing away their espouse from the crew sure was a way of ending things.
But she still. She would be there. Even after she said she didn't want to. Even after she literally ran away from seeing that happened. She would help pick up the broken pieces and stitch him up and make sure he was fine before she went forward on her path. One last time at least.
When she did see Elbaf. It was too far to see anything else except the big island. When she came closer the situation was clear. Next thing she saw was lots of boats. Every size, every shape. Some really big. And then she saw the victoria punk. In its skeleton of a sea king appearance. She felt a sigh of relief leave her mouth. She thought about going to them. But she knew. She knew him. He were set on it. All of them actually. All of them followed the captain. The fact she didn't is what separated them. She knew Eustass wouldn't budge. He was right in front of shanks. Retreat was not a possibility. He probably even said some stupid thread already.
She sighed again. The relief went away. The situation was not fine. When she came closer the tension was clear in every captain's gesture there. It was the calm before the storm. She went to the other side of the island. Docked there. The security guard was a bit confused to see a young normal size woman or small like the giant would probably think coming to the island while a war is basically happening. He only showed something was wrong for a minute then he was very friendly. He showed where she could deck. Asked her what she came for. She was traveling and looking for a job. Actually not a lie.
He talked with her a little while she made her way into the city. He didn’t need to move a feet to keep track of her. Pointed out things, places and people that could be of interest for a tourist. Including a place that needed small people for work. It was the seamstress boutique.
Then people started screaming. She didn't even try to follow the sound. She just have to go where she saw the ships earlier. She was sure it was there. She saw the water. She saw the Victoria punk. She saw Kid creating an attack with his metal pieces forming a giant weapon. Then she saw another figure. Also a red dash. Another man. Shanks. She saw an explosion and a wave of energy exploding in the sea
She was in shock. Her eyes widened but she didn't pass out probably because she was on the island.. Another explosion and blood in the water. And people being thrown. Parts of people being thrown. Her people. The tension in the air started to dissipate and then she jumped in the water. She was sure she was seen but she didn't care at this point.
Kid? her voice was soft because of the shock. Could he even listen?- Killer? Emma? Dive?
She dives into the water. At surface what was left of Victoria punk on fire.
Could someone be awakened? Could someone be conscious? Could someone survive?
She saw a lot of figures floating in the water. Some of them are sinking fast. She went there. She saw his red hair First. There was his coat. Also red because of the blood.
She let herself take the big figure to the surface first.
It was heavy. She was tired. She didn't have much oxygen anymore but she didn't even feel any of it at the moment.
The gasp for air was so intense she almost thought it was his.
Kid was unconscious. She was holding him by the arm.
She looked behind her. Shanks was still there watching. He saw her despair. She screamed she was sure everyone else didn't notice their smiles but him. Because he was focused on the scene she didnt care if he came to finish the job. He had already taken everything from her. But he just stood there watching her take Kid away praying for him to wake up trying to ignore the emperor's presence.
Trying to fight her tears and anger. trying to hold on for hope.