A/N: Decided halfway through to not be so precious about what I write - otherwise I'd never publish anything. This probably shouldn't be taken seriously.

The aura lifted. Instinctively he knew, before his fingers touched the metal, exactly what she had done. Trip's eyes were lowered as she looked away, unreadable. Or - he amended - resigned?

'What've you done?' Surging into a sitting position, Monkey furrowed his brow at her in his confusion. Of all the moments she could've chosen..

'There's nothing controlling you now,' she confirmed, reluctantly meeting his eyes.

'So I can.. just leave?' The words didn't appear to surprise Trip.

'If that's what you want.'

Monkey searched her, caught for a moment between leaping up and away, and saying something; the thought of which unnerved him completely.

Following a brief struggle, the former won out, in a manner of speaking. His hands shot up, grasping the grooves where he'd previously attempted to forcefully pry the crown from his head. The sudden jerkiness of his movements, and the harsh scrape of his gauntlets against the headband made her flinch. Pausing, Monkey looked her in the eye, before deliberately easing it off.

The clanging of the headband's fall culminated in a short skid where it stopped, finally. Completely useless, and hopefully to never be used again.

Taking in a breath, Monkey found he didn't feel much different without the headband, except.. Trip wasn't there. The constant awareness of her vitals was missing. Regardless, it didn't take a slaver headband to know she was growing anxious, waiting for whatever might be coming.

Taking a moment, he paused to listen to the whirring of the Leviathan, the tremors below them, and the distant explosions of its massive feet. Thinking back, Monkey considered all of the trouble Trip had caused to get them there.

Then there were the things that made him think better of her. Offering him a home. Calling out in concern, even when his grip was sure.

Maybe.. had she not done it, he'd never have known anything beyond the existence he'd led before. Could he regret that? Monkey sighed once again.

And promptly snapped her neck.

The end

I did warn you. Constructive criticism helps, please and thank you.