Just a heads up: if it's in Kidd's POV, it's in third person. If it's in Sadie's POV, it's in first person. Kidd won't get much POV time, though. And he might be a bit OOC in this one, but it's for humour purposes. Sorry this is so short, next one will be uber long to make up for it!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Chaper Two: Acceptance Couldn't be Cuter
Honestly, Kidd didn't get surprised very often. He'd been through a lot. Encountering a horde of Sea Kings? Big deal. Taking on several marine vessels at once? Child's play. He was, however, not ready, not even close, for the sight of the sleeping girl all cozied up on his sack of potatoes the moment he entered the ship's hold in search for a light snack.
His sack of potatoes! Everyone knew that Kidd loved his potatoes. So why was some wench snuggled up against it like she owned it or something? On second thought, who the hell was she? Unless Doc had finally decided to give up his manhood and had turned himself into a girl – though Kidd doubted that even if he did, he'd look as good as the one before him – then the wench was definitely not a part of his crew. He would have noticed. Really.
Gah, he needed to get laid.
But seriously: back to the matter at hand. Kidd rubbed at his eyes – just to make sure. For all he knew, he could have gotten scurvy or the like and was having hallucinations. But no, the blonde wench was still there, sleeping away, looking the picture of innocence. Not that Kidd particularly cared. Innocent or not, she wasn't getting any less of his wrath.
He grimaced. He really needed some fucking coffee. Or potatoes. He could go for some potatoes – if only some girl wasn't all up in his potato sack's grill. Like seriously! He turned his back for one second and look where it got him…
But he was getting off track. Growling, Kidd toed the girl none too gently in the ribs. It seemed the wench was a light sleeper, thank the heavens, as she bolted upright immediately. Her hand went to her hair, combing it out. Women.
"What the hell? Cool your cheese, grandma."
"What did you say?" Kidd scowled. Who did she think she was, telling him to cool his cheese? And calling him grandma, no less? No, he didn't think he would. Cool his cheese, that is. He didn't even like cheese. Potatoes, on the other hand…
Blonde Chick tilted her eyes upward and froze abruptly upon seeing Kidd looming over her, eyes narrowed. "Shit," she cursed, looking scared. And she was right in feeling so. She should be scared. Kidd just brought out the worst in people, he supposed.
And he was damn good at it, too.
Holy. Shit.
It was all I could think as Eustass freaking Kidd and I had this whole staring contest going on – only a lot more intense that your average, run-of-the-mill competition. As in, one small movement and I could very well kiss the earth goodbye. "Ha-ha, well, hi there Mister Eustass…How's your day so far?" Okay, enough chit-chat. "Please don't kill me."
Well, that seemed to catch him off guard – only for a moment, though. His lips soon curled into a devious grin – they were purple, by the way. The hell? – and his hand shot out, fast as lightning to grab my arm and haul me up into a standing position.
But seriously though. Was this Eustass Kidd? He looked clown-ier than he had in his wanted poster. Bright red hair (that inexplicably defied the rules of gravity) and dark red rimmed eyes, purple tinted lips…This man was worth one-o-one million beli? Then again, he did look a little intimidating. A little. Mostly, he looked like a clown. Eustass raised a brow, very faint but still there as I not-so-subtly eyed him.
His own eyes narrowed. "Who are you? How did you get here? Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?"
Well, considering I'd called him 'Mister Eustass' not a moment ago, "Um…yes? I mean no!" I amended at his glare, "I mean…whatever the right answer is?"
Eustass sneered down at me and raised his first – I cringed, waiting for impact – but out of nowhere, this guy in a mask flashed into the room and managed to somehow stop Kidd from smashing me into oblivion. I recognized him as 'Massacre Soldier' Killer, Kidd's first mate. Massacre Dude placed a hand on his captain's shoulder and the result was so instantaneous that it was almost cute. Kidd's muscles relaxed slightly, and he lowered his hand.
But I was still on edge. One wrong word and I was toast.
"Are you a cross dresser?" I blurted, before blinking and inwardly cursing myself. Okay, I swear I didn't mean to say that – I mean, I was thinking it, but I didn't mean to say it. Shit. But in all honesty, it's plausible. He certainly looked like one. Sort of. Kind of.
Just a tad.
"Excuse me?" Eustass growled. His grip on my arm tightened. "What did you call me?"
"Ow ow ow ow um…the manliest man in all of the Grand Line?" I tried, too busy on loosening his grip. It seriously hurt. I was never good with pain. "Ow ow ow."
"Humph." Kidd pushed me back with a scowl, his purple lips curved downwards. Phew. It was a good thing Mr. Eustass seemed to not understand sarcasm. "What are you doing here? Who are you? What is your purpose?" Again, the questions were fired at a rapid pace.
I was too terrified to think of anything remotely witty to say. So, I just told the truth. "I was escaping from the marine vessel you fought earlier – how long have I been asleep, anyway? – and my name is Sadie Hawkins my purpose is to get away from the marines which you helped me with thank you for that by the way," I took a deep breath, "And I would really appreciate it if you'd let me stay at least until the next island I would be eternally grateful oh and I like your goggles. Really." I added. It couldn't hurt to be a suck up. Plus, his goggles were kind of cool.
"Repeat that again," Eustass said with a dangerous edge to his voice, "And this time, fuckin' slowly."
"I – I…escaped from the marines you fought earlier," I started tentatively.
"Continue," Kidd gritted impatiently. "You said your name was…?"
"Sadie," I supplied meekly, "Sadie Hawkins."
"'Sorceress' Sadie Hawkins, according to her wanted poster," Killer, who had been silent until now, cut in smoothly, "She's worth twenty-three million beli. A Revolutionary."
Kidd's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized me rather crudely, raking his eyes down my body and back up again. I shivered despite myself, but tensed to lessen what was visible to the two pirates. "A Revolutionary, huh?" he sneered unnecessarily. "Tell me, Hawkins, what are you doing here on my ship, exactly?"
I'd already told him earlier, but I bit my tongue and answered dutifully instead. "I escaped from the marine vessel earlier today. When you fought, it was the perfect opportunity." I hesitated, just for show. "I don't suppose you could use a part-time scout for your crew, could you?" The answering look I received dashed all my hopes instantly.
"Actually…" Killer started, his tone contemplative yet neutral from behind his white-and-blue mask.
Once again, it was sort of cute how Kidd turned to regard his first mate rather seriously, then back to me, seemingly in a new light. "Actually, what?"
Killer stayed silent, and Eustass seemed to get visibly impatient. Just when I thought the captain would burst from the suspense, the masked blonde spoke. "How exactly did you receive the title of 'Sorceress'?" Killer asked, the question directed to me. His tone was calm but there was a curious edge to it.
I blinked, taken aback by the inquiry. "Well, as long as you promise not to blab to any marines, I'll tell you."
Kidd snorted but otherwise stayed quiet, and I realised how stupid my compromise had been. Why would pirates even be conversing with marines in the first place? Killer didn't bother to reply, and I could almost imagine him rolling his eyes behind that mask of his. "I ate the Shrink-Shrink Fruit," I confessed lightly, running a hand through my hair once more, "It allows me to, obviously, shrink any object to the size of an ant."
"Can you shrink humans?" the question was asked after a short pause in which my declaration sunk in.
"No," I replied without hesitation, "It only works for objects; no animals, no people. And they have to be a reasonable size, like I'm not going to be shrinking marine ships left and right." I left out the fact that I kept all my cargo in the band of my pants. There was a small pocket sewn to the inside for the purpose, safe from the naked eye, and I certainly wasn't going to spill all my secrets to pirates.
Killer grunted in response, indicating he'd heard me, but didn't say any more. After a moment, Kidd spoke up with a frown. "Should I toss her overboard?" He appeared to be talking to himself, because he answered his own question a second later. "Yeah, I should."
Eyes wide, I was about to defend myself when Killer cut in calmly. "Maybe she could be of some use to us, Kidd." Saved by the first mate: score!
"How so?" Kidd looked me over with a small sneer, "She looks scrawny, and weak."
"Don't hold back," I muttered, but was ignored.
"Her Devil Fruit…it certainly is interesting. Maybe one day it could help us somehow. You could use her Fruit however you want." Killer said. I couldn't help but be impressed. Killer was making it sound like a mere suggestion. That way, Kidd would think it was his own idea to let me – hopefully – stay for a while. What a smart cookie! What an intelligent biscuit! What a clever cracker! What a…well you get the idea. Killer was cunnning. And while I was sure he didn't have any evil intentions against his captain, and that Kidd had a functioning brain of his own, I was nonetheless impressed.
"You could be right…" Kidd mused after a while. "I could use her to my advantage."
I have said it twice and I'll say it again: it was kind of cute, how Eustass' first mate could bend his captain's decisions so easily. The real dangerous one to look out for was Killer here. Kidd was just a big, old, softie.
I hoped.