Wow, I just received some overwhelming feedback on the last Chapter and some really wonderful prompt ideas as well, that I might use in the future. I'm glad that the pace is alright, now I guess it's time to work on the plot a little more.
By the way guys, if you have any requests for a One Shot or you have a plot bunny you've always wanted to see in writing, don't hesitate to send me a message, either here or on tumblr. Link is in my profile description. I'm happy to fulfil – most – requests if I find the time in between writing Catnip. Don't be shy ;)
Now, thanks again for all your wonderful reviews! Enjoy the new Chapter!
It jingles in his head. Loud and deafening. A sound that sends shivers down his spine and makes the hair on his neck stand up.
Law. Come on now Law. Time to practise.
It won't stop jingling.
The more you practise, the better you will become, eh?
It sounds like a call to arms. A siren. An omen that something bad will happen.
Come here. Look at that. Pretty eh? Ripped her up real good, now go on. Practise.
The jingle comes closer; he can feel it in every fibre of his body. It shatters his nerves and hurts his head.
You're gonna be the best doctor one day. Practise. Go on.
Law wakes with a start, panting heavily. There's nobody there. Only the quietness of the bedroom and the sizzling fire in the hearth. The storm is still howling outside, somewhat soothing, calming his nerves a little. Yet he's unable to move, staring bewildered at the tabby cat sitting next to his pillow. Catnip is grooming and with every move, the bell on the blue collar jingles. It does his head in, nearly drives him mad. Still somehow he doesn't dare to remove the collar. He doesn't even want to touch it.
Kid looks up when he hears the wooden stairs creak and blinks a little irritated, when he finds Law's slim frame by the door, the cat clutched safely in his arms.
"Huh? Scared of a lousy storm?"
The Captain sneers and Law doesn't even bother with a reply. He drops the cat on Kid's belly instead.
"Keep it down here. I can't sleep with the jingling."
"Just take the collar off then."
The claw-like fingers tug at the collar already, when Law's hand dashes forward and firmly grasp the much bigger hand of the Captain.
"Don't!"
It feels like an electric surge running through both their fingers but Law doesn't care; his grip only grows tighter. His gaze lingers on Kid, leaving the Captain in utter confusion.
"Why not? Just take it off if it irritates you so much."
"It doesn't irritate me, it just- I can't sleep like that. Just keep it here."
"But I don't want that fucking cat sleeping down here. It's yours after all."
A minute passes, maybe two, before Law slumps down on the couch next to Kid, sighing deeply.
"Stop being such a pain in the neck."
"That's fucking rich coming from you."
Catnip smugly sinks her claws deep in Kid's naked chest before hopping off and joining Law, causing the Doctor to pull a face at the jingle. It hurts his ears even when he's awake. Kid rubs his maltreated chest, glaring at the kitten and ponders for a while whether to chuck the cat and Law together out into the storm to finally have a quiet night and maybe get a good rest for a change. Something stops him though. Something in Law's empty stare while he eyes the blue collar and the bell.
"You alright?" he asks before thinking about it and only a second later, he feels like slapping himself across the face. What the heck?!
"What do you care?"
"I don't, I just-", that's new. Usually he's not prone to making a fool of himself. "Fuck it."
The wooden deals creak with every heavy step Kid makes as he gets up and grabs one of the last remaining bottles of Whisky and two glasses. He's unsure who needs it more but both of them could probably do with a drink.
"My leg's better already. I'll set off tomorrow to look for my crew."
Law's voice is all calm and gentle, yet Kid stops dead in his tracks, the glass he was about to hand to Law halting in mid air. Tomorrow. That's sudden. Somewhat to be expected really.
"Fine with me. I'll be on my way as well then."
"Good luck."
"Yeah. You too."
They clink glasses and though neither of them can put a finger on it, it simply feels weird. Disgustingly weird. While Kid downs the glass with one massive gulp, Law merely takes a sip, absent-minded stroking the cat in his lap. It's unusual for him, not to know what's going on in his own fucked up head.
"So what is it with you and bells then?"
"Huh?"
The bell jingles once more and Law is pretty much tempted to kick the cat out into the storm himself now.
"Figured you don't like that thing but still you wouldn't let me take it off. Why?"
"I didn't know you had a curious side to you."
"Guess there still is a lot you don't know about me."
Law smiles benignly, slowly spinning the glass in his hands.
"Touché."
"So?"
"It just… reminds me of someone."
The cap and bells of a jester.
"I don't like the sound."
"Take it off then."
"It's not that simple."
Kid sighs heavily, letting his head drop back on the backrest. The Doctor can't help but smile a little. He had firmly believed that Kid was a special form of retarded for a while. Dim-witted, not really eloquent, certainly a guy that has never seen a school from the inside. In the past days however Kid has very much managed to surprise Law. Though rude and obnoxious as usual, Law has found him rather pragmatic but there's not much stupidity. Quite the opposite really.
"How about taking the jingle away then but leave the bell on?"
Law raises his eyebrows.
"You mean break the bell?"
"In a way."
Without a minute of hesitation, Kid plugs Catnip from Law's lap, ignoring the hissing and spitting. He taps at the bell and the small, copper ball comes off with ease, not leaving a scratch on the cat. Spinning mid air, the bell cracks open in the middle. Law simply stares, horror written all over his features.
"Dimwit?"
"Hm?"
"That's not a hammer."
Dangling in the centre of the bell is a small copper plate, a bright red light flashing at a frightening pace.
"A bug." A broad grin appears on Kid's lips. "Guess someone's found out that we're still alive and monitors us."
He picks up the small copper bell with two fingers and crushes it like a mere insect.
"Government methods", Law ponders. "Someone wants to know where we're going from here. Someone who knows that we had the cat with us."
"Told you to get rid of that fleabag."
Before Law can retort anything, the wooden front door explodes with a bang, sending splinters flying in all directions and a cloud of smoke gushes through the cottage, leaving both pirates coughing violently. Something clatters and then a constant beeping sound echoes through the room, another red light flashing somewhere in the thick dust. Law stares bewildered, his eyes teary from the dense fog.
"Kid? Kid, get out of here! Now!"
The tincture smells and pretty much looks like blood red slime, yet Penguin ignores Killer's complaints, busy dapping it all over the small cuts and bruises that remain on his chest and arms.
"It stinks. Honestly."
"It would be worse if you took your mask off. Stop grumbling."
Killer sighs, triggering a low whistle from the holes in the mask. Penguin glares up at him and Killer blinks underneath the mask, unnoticed by the Heart Pirate.
"What?"
Penguin casually picks two cotton pads to pieces and before Killer can even attempt to protest, he has straddled the stronger and taller Kid Pirate and stuffs the holes with the cotton shreds.
"Oi!"
"Either that or you take off the mask. That whistling is doing my head in."
The Heart Pirate crosses his arms before his tattooed chest, comfortably sitting on Killer's lap and glares down at him. A deep, yet bemused chuckle resounds from underneath the mask, a little darker than usual since most holes are thoroughly stuffed.
"Guess you gotta live with it."
Penguin huffs.
"Now, on a scale of one to ten, how retarded to I look right now?"
"Fifty. At least."
Killer almost lovingly wraps his arms around the slim waist, pulling Penguin a little closer.
"Take them out."
Gingerly, Penguin begins to pluck the shreds from the holes again when suddenly both of them flinch badly as a massive explosion illuminates the night sky, drowning the thunder out entirely, followed by a tremor that causes the windows to crack and the pictures fall off the walls. Penguin nearly drops off Killer's lap, hadn't it been for the strong arms pulling him even closer protectively.
Once the tremble has ceased, Penguin carefully gets up from Killer's lap and looks out the window.
A few miles outside the city, black smoke rises up into the sky, piling higher and higher with each passing minute.
"What on earth was that?"
Killer steps up behind the Heart Pirate, glancing out the shattered windows.
"Something detonated."
"Thank you Captain Obvious. Do you think you can travel again?"
"You tell me, you're the doctor."
Penguin ponders for a while, before he pushes the curtains closed. No need to catch a cold or let the rain in.
"We should go."
"Right now?"
A flash of lighting lightens up the small hotel room.
"Right now. I have a bad feeling about this."
While Penguin disappears into the bathroom, getting dressed and ready again, Killer carefully pushes the curtains aside a little and glances into the darkness again. It feels like something clutches his heart in an ice-cold grip and a shiver runs down his spine. It's not the first time since their separation that Kid crosses his mind. He's been wondering about the whereabouts of his Captain for a while but right now, a big lump in his throat urges him to find him. Something has gone wrong. Terribly wrong, most likely.