Chapter 14
Chaos ensued when the marines' weapons whirled together into a big mass and soon after hurled down on a group of marines.
Skyler stumbled back from Kidd so that he could move around freely but was quickly pulled back to his body, an arm shielding her and holding her close to his chest.
"You better not get away from me this time. I don't want to deal with your annoying break downs." He smirked down at her before barking out at his first mate. "Hey, Killer, go crazy."
"Gladly captain." The blonde replied, the blades whirling out of his gauntlets. He rushed towards another group of marines, timing his attacks with the hurling of metallic objects that Kidd was controlling.
The woman would tighten her hold to Kidd's torso every time blood would splash their way. She wasn't used to witnessing this level of violence and it would still tightened her stomach. She felt the beer she had ingested return to her throat but she refused to let it out now. She didn't have the luxury of emptying her stomach in a situation like the one they were in.
She caught movement from her peripheral and, slipping away from Eustass's hold, her body responding automatically to the threat of two marines rushing their way but doing a wide sweep with her leg, launching the marines flying against the nearby wall of the bar.
Skyler was surprised by the power of her kick. Sure, she wasn't really worried with measuring the force with which she had kicked but she wasn't expecting to send them flying. What unsettled her a bit was the lack of feeling on her leg from the impact. She panicked for a second, pinching her leg but was relieved to be able to feel the pain from her nails digging into her skin.
"Woman! Get your ass back here!" Eustass called out to her, his eyes never leaving the marines that kept flooding in to the bar.
"Watch your language!" She replied, returning to stand by the red haired man, her back resting against his. "I have a name you know!" She pulled out the gauntlets that had been made for her from her pants' pocket and put them on. "But we'll discuss that later. We need to get out of here!"
"And leave all this fun behind!?" His laughter echoed in the bar, piercing her ears and, to her curiosity, fueled her with adrenaline.
"As much as I'd appreciate to see you in a good mood, I don't think it's a good idea to fight them in such a tight space." Skyler stepped to stand next to Kidd. "It feels like they are being bred like rabbits."
"And what do you suggest? They are covering the entrance in case you haven't noticed!" He roared out after the laughing fit he had because of her statement. "Like you said, they are being bred like rabbits. I keep getting rid of the ones at the entrance but more take their place."
"Then… I don't know… Make an exit for us!?" Her sass made him laugh once more before he gathered more metallic objects around him. "You're the one that likes a flashy entrance… or exit."
"You seem to know me so well in so little time."
"I strive for the best." She kicked off another marine that got too close to the two of them.
"Prepare for a fashionable escape!" He shouted out for his men to hear. "We'll fight these fuckers on open space!"
The men cheered and started to try and push back the lines of marines instead of worrying on taking down individual soldiers. Eustass gathered the metal objects to him, forming a gigantic arm. Whirling around, he smacked the wall nearby the door, the surface shattering on the first impact. The punch was the decisive one that broke it down, sending the marines nearby flying away.
The pirates rushed outside, taking down any soldiers that would stand in their way. Quickly enough they managed to go out to the streets, making it easier for them to dispatch the marines.
Now out in the open, the pirates cleared their path with ease, the waves of soldiers slowing down until only a few were left.
Kidd had more liberty to use his devil fruit ability, clearing the path until, finally all the soldiers had been defeated.
Skyler breathed out in relief once it was done, sitting down on the floor so that she could rest for a second.
She felt a soft smack on the back of her head and, looking up, she saw Killer staring down at her. She couldn't decipher his expression because of the mask he always had on.
"Are you alright?" He asked, reaching out his hand so that he could help her back up to her feet.
"Yeah, I just wasn't ready for all hell to break loose." She took his hand, a gigantic smile plastered on her face. "Is it safe now or will we have to be on our feet whilst we're here?"
"We'll have to stay on watch while we wait for the log pose to set." He informed, his gaze averting to the street they were at. "We don't know if the marines have a base here or if it was just a group that was patrolling this place before leaving."
"A group? That was a full-fledged army! Not to mention that even the people from this island are against us and willing to just murder us without a moment's hesitation." With a heavy sigh, Skyler looked around her, finding most of the pirates exhausted from the fight. "They are already tired, how can we guarantee the safety of all of them if we keep getting attacked?"
"We can't guarantee safety and I'm sure they know that." He was quick to reply, his gaze averting to Kidd who was approaching the two. "But we can't also guarantee that we'll keep getting attacked. These people may have lost their will to try and fight us since the marines were beaten by us."
"Assuming that it was only that… group." She chuckled bitterly at the last word, still surprised by the insane number of soldiers that had appeared.
"Captain, what's the final word?" Killer called out to the red haired man that was now standing in front of them.
"We clear out the building and barricade ourselves in here while we wait. They must have a pantry we can raid."
"Is it a good idea to barricade ourselves?" Skyler asked, her mind running at top speed to try and figure out another solution. "It'd be harder if we get surrounded, no? Plus, do we know how long the log pose will take to set?" Her green gaze turned to Killer this time.
"I can find out how long it'll take." The blond informed.
"I think, instead of barricading ourselves inside, it'd be better to put people on watch just in case there'll be more marines coming our way. Once we get all the information and supplies we need, I think it'd be best to head for the docks." The woman suggested and received a nod of confirmation from the captain. "I think it'd be best to also confirm if the ship is safe as well."
"Very well." Eustass finally spoke. "Killer take some men with you." The blond nodded and shouted out a few names, some pirates rushing to his side. "You'll be with me taking care of the patrols." His copper gaze held seriousness in them, the man focused solemnly on the task at hand. "The sooner we get out of this island the better."
The red haired captain shouted out orders to his men, dividing in groups so that some could patrol while a smaller group went to get the supplies out of the possible pantry that could be inside the bar.
"Wouldn't it be best to send a group to verify the situation at the ship?" She asked, catching his attention. "Not to attack, if need be, but just to scout the situation."
He nodded. "Heat! Take two other men and go check on the ship." The man in question agreed and called out two other pirates. "Don't fight!" Heat was a bit taken aback by his captain's words but nodded his head in agreement nonetheless.
"I said not to attack but I'm surprised you went with it." She smiled widely at the man that towered over her.
"I may be hot headed but I'm not ready to risk my men." His hand reached to the back of her neck, his nails brushing her skin. "They chose to follow me so the least I can do is guarantee their lives."
"God, you are a softie deep down." Her grin was devious and playful, mirroring his own amused smirk.
"If I were you I wouldn't talk about that openly with my men."
"Is that a threat?" She chuckled, her nails raking up his exposed chest, dancing around his toned muscles before reaching up to his throat. A gasp escaped her lips when he took hold of her wrist, his face leaning down closer to her own.
"I wouldn't risk it if I were you."
"Oh my, it is a threat." She found herself amused by his words and, catching him off guard, caressed his fingers with her lips before biting them. He hissed at the pain, surprised that she bit enough to hurt him. "I wouldn't do that, Kidd. I tend to bite."
A/N:
Finally another chapter done.
These past weeks have been chaotic and the following will be as well: Exams are next week along with deadlines to deliver paintings and what not. Hopefully everything goes well and I'll be back on the game by the time vacation kicks in.
I hope you enjoy this chapter! As per usual: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
I only own Skyler and possibly any other characters that may appear further in the story.