Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or the characters, they belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Thinking Toward the Future
He was dreaming of pirates. Specifically he was a pirate captain, one of the greatest, naturally, and Nami was a two bit thief trying to steal from his ship. Even in his dreams she steals from him. He had her chained up in his brig and it would have had the makings of a fantastic sex dream except she kept carrying on about this reindeer she was looking for. Why she was searching for a reindeer on his ship was beyond his comprehension, but it was a dream and they rarely made sense.
The whole thing was giving him a headache, so he kissed her to shut her up and maybe get the dream back on track to more enjoyable visions. But then that stupid reindeer came out of nowhere and they weren't pirates anymore, and he was just running away from a monstrous, talking reindeer. He swears it was twice the size of his house and looked like it wanted to eat him.
He woke up just as its hoof came down on him.
He jolted and stiffened when he felt the air rush out of him, his body pinned beneath a weight that hadn't been there before. He was confused. Was he still dreaming? Was he trapped under that monster?
He groaned when the weight moved and raised his head to see Nami attempting to slide off his chest. She looked tired and annoyed as she bit back a groan, rolling off onto his side of the bed. He realized she had been trying to climb over him, and glared at the rude awakening.
She caught his stare and returned it. "I hate you."
Well that was mean, he thought to himself, eyes narrowing. "Fuck you. What'd I do?" He grumbled.
"Everything hurts," she whined and attempted to push herself out of bed.
Oh, he thought, cocky grin spreading as he watched her sway, grab his dresser, and hobble toward the door. Guess I deserved that.
She shot him a venomous glare when she heard him chuckle.
"You enjoyed it," he waved off her annoyance. She huffed and went out to the bathroom without another word.
He stretched out in bed, the movement making him wince as his injuries flared. His back was covered with deep scratches that stung where the sheets brushed against them. He had more of the same on his chest, along with bite marks and hickies he hoped stuck around for a while. His neck was stiff where she bit him hard during their last round of make-up sex sometime before dawn. He was pretty sure he woke his roommates when he yelled a few choice curses until she relinquished her hold, and if he didn't, her screaming a few minutes later probably did.
He was just pushing himself to sit on the edge of the bed when Nami came back in, looking ragged and worn. He almost felt bad, but he warned her, and he couldn't help but appraise his work as he stared at the bruising around her hips and waist, and the markings he left on her breasts and neck. If he wasn't exhausted, he would spend the rest of the day kissing every spot of skin he had marred the night before and take her again.
He was so thoroughly sated, he didn't even twitch when he guided her to straddle his lap. She slumped against his chest with a tired groan, sinking into him as his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He smiled at her relieved sigh, her breath fluttering over his chest. He squeezed her closer and dipped down to nuzzle her hair as her arms wound around him in a loose hug.
"Take it back," he grumbled, leaving a peck on her temple.
"Take what back?" She yawned and hugged tight around his waist.
He chuckled when he saw her eyes were closed, ready to fall back to sleep. "You don't hate me," he prompted, kissing her cheek.
She hummed, rubbed her face against his chest, and settled in his hold with a cute little smile. "No, I don't. But I'm tired and sore because of you."
He snorted. "That's why I said I'd pamper ya today, Princess."
Nami tilted her head up, chin resting on his sternum, and smirked with a brow raised. "I don't exactly see you pulling off breakfast in bed, Kid."
He growled, hand dropping to pinch her waist. "I was gonna try, but just for that yer gettin' cold Pop-Tarts for breakfast."
"Mmm, sounds delicious," she giggled, sitting up to wrap her arms around his neck. She gave him a peck and a teasing smile. "At least I know I won't get food poisoning."
"Tsh, have a little faith in me, ya spoiled brat," he huffed before smacking his lips to hers for another quick kiss, followed by another and another, trailing them over her cheek to her neck. She squirmed and laughed with his butterfly kisses, and her breath hitched when he nipped her ear hard. Maybe he wasn't as sated as he thought.
"Kid," she whined as he turned to push her down in bed. A hand was in his hair, desperately tugging while her other pressed to his forehead as he kissed down her throat. "Stop," she whimpered. He stopped and frowned at her. "I'm too sore," she pouted, hand brushing down his cheek. "Please give me a break today."
He hummed, and then pushed himself up for a hard peck. He wasn't surprised. He'd rather have her when she wasn't aching, and when she was willing. "'Kay," he agreed easily, pulling away to get out of bed. He smacked her thigh as he stood. "I'm makin' no promises on food, but I'll make an effort."
"As long as it's edible, I'll appreciate it," she laughed, foot reaching out to kick him.
He batted the limb away, brushing off her teasing with a cheeky grin as he went to slip on some baggy shorts. "Just be happy I'll bring ya anything at all after ya broke my arm," he said, gesturing to the prosthetic sitting on his dresser. The metal rod that acted as the ulna was sticking out from the composite skin. He still needed to take a closer look at it, see if the rod itself had snapped or if it just disconnected from the joint. He hoped it was the latter. The former would be costly and a pain in the ass to fix.
Nami sat up in bed, tucking her legs in at her sides, and pouted at him. He had a love-hate relationship with that damn pout. He couldn't even be mad at her, and she probably knew it. Technically it was his fault anyway. He could have begged and gotten her to untie him before he broke his arm freeing himself.
"Tsh," he hissed and came over, swooping down to kiss her cheek. "Stop that." Her pout deepened. He kissed it away. When he pulled back to see her bright smile, all he could think about was how much he loved that smile. Glowering, he spun away before he could voice those thoughts. "Sugar in yer tea, right?"
"Yes please," she sang in answer, and he headed upstairs to find something to eat.
The den was empty, the house quiet. He knew Killer and Heat had to work, Wire was probably napping up in his room. He glanced at the clock on the stove to see it was nearly two in the afternoon. He guessed that meant he could get away with making her lunch. That would be easier, especially with only one arm.
He put the kettle on for her tea and pulled a black mug from the cabinet. Crouching in front of the fridge, he looked through what options he had and settled on making her a grilled sandwich. He could usually manage that without burning down the kitchen. At least most of the time he could. If he had steak in there he'd go out back and grill that for lunch. That was something he could definitely do without ruining it, as long as she didn't want it cooked more than medium rare. Knowing her, she'd want it thoroughly cooked. Probably a good thing steak wasn't an option.
Sourdough bread, mayonnaise, some fancy mustard Killer bought, sliced turkey and ham, and slices of swiss cheese were piled together. He would have put lettuce and tomato on there, but cutting them with only one hand would be a nightmare. He barely managed spreading butter on the outside of the bread while the pan heated. It was a messy task keeping the sandwich together.
"She'd better fuckin' appreciate this," he grumbled to himself as he tossed the sandwich into the pan and listened to it sizzle.
He glanced back when he heard someone shuffle downstairs to see Wire yawning and scratching his chin. His attention returned to the stove to attempt to flip the sandwich, awkwardly balancing it all on a spatula. He managed to get it over without making it an ugly mess.
"What are you doing?" Wire grunted, peering over his shoulder.
"Making Nami lunch."
Wire pulled back to stare in open shock. Kid growled when his friend placed a palm to his forehead.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"Checking to see if you're sick," Wire explained with an exaggerated frown. He chuckled when Kid shot him a glare. "You're doing something nice, plus you haven't burned the kitchen down yet. Couldn't help but worry."
"Fuck you," he muttered, then cursed under his breath when he looked back to the pan to see his lunch smoking. He quickly dumped the sandwich onto a plate to see one side charred. "Tsh. Fucking prick, you made me burn it."
"You had the heat too high," the other man waved as he went to dig in the refrigerator.
"It cooks faster," Kid frowned. He didn't want to sit there waiting for a fucking sandwich to toast. Higher heat meant quicker food.
"At least it's only one side. I'd say that's the best looking thing you ever made." Wire tried to appease. "Still hope you don't plan to give that to Nami."
Kid hummed in thought, staring at the food, and then agreed with a sigh. She'd tease the hell out of him for that burned side.
"Peel one of her tangerines for me," he ordered, nodding toward the bowl of fruit on the counter.
His friend sighed, but went to help despite his annoyance.
"So, what's up with catering to your girlfriend like this? Still makin' up for your fight last night?"
Kid snorted, grinning wide as he put a new sandwich in the pan. "What? You didn't hear us makin' up all night?"
"Killer warned me. I put in earplugs." Wire reached over the stove to turn down the heat, sending Kid a stern look.
"Smart move," Kid chuckled. "Had her screaming at dawn."
"She's gonna kill you if she hears you talking about it."
"Good thing she ain't gettin' out of bed today," he grinned. "She's too sore. That's why I'm bringin' her lunch."
He flipped the sandwich, glowering when the meat nearly slid out. He shoved it all back into place with the spatula, and stood back to watch the other side cook.
"Considerate," Wire nodded, holding out a peeled and divided tangerine for Kid to place on a new plate. He decided he would eat the burned attempt. Waste of perfectly good food to dump it in the garbage after it was singed a little. "Why aren't you wearing your arm?" Wire asked, finally taking notice. The guys were used to him wandering around without it in the morning, but that was usually when Killer was making him breakfast.
"I broke it," he stated. His friend's brow rose at his grin. "Also broke my bedframe and trashed a couple of ties."
"I'm extra glad I put in earplugs now," Wire sighed and went back to foraging for his meal. "And glad you two made up so easily." Kid hummed in question as he dumped Nami's sandwich onto a plate. A little black around the edges of the crust, but not too bad. "You guys have been doing well together," Wire continued. "We're all rooting for you."
Kid laughed quietly and shoved his friend in the back. "Thanks."
Wire returned the friendly push as he came over to turn on the oven, tossing a frozen pizza onto the counter. "Let me know when you guys are going after those fishmen, too. Wouldn't miss helping you beat those shitheads into the ground."
"Got it," he nodded, mood turning somber. That reminded him, he was supposed to go over to Franky's.
He poured the water for Nami's tea and stirred in a few scoops of sugar, grabbed some yogurt from the fridge, set it on the plate, and then stood back to stare at the lunch he managed to not destroy. If they had a 'Best Boyfriend' award, he'd totally own it.
And then he remembered something - How was he going to carry all that down with only one hand?
A heavy sigh from the nearby dinette table drew his confused gaze to Wire who had sat down while waiting for the oven to heat. He stood at Kid's obvious dilemma, disappeared into the pantry, and came out with a large tray.
"I'd help you take everything down, but considering what you guys were up to all night, I doubt Nami's decent," he explained while piling the plates, tea, and a can of cola for Kid onto the tray. It was probably true. She was naked when he came upstairs and didn't look like she'd make an effort to get dressed any time soon. "Just hope you can balance this without falling down the stairs."
"Tsh, I ain't a fucking moron. I can walk down the stairs and carry something," he said, frowning. His friend had a point, though.
He spun away, heading toward the back door, and went out to his workshop. He thought he saved his old prototype and dug through one of the cabinets by his workbench until he found it. The arm was dusted off with a rag, the joints tested to see they hadn't stiffened from disuse, and then snapped into place on his shoulder. The prototype was just a clunky metal skeleton, no skin to hide the bulky joints and bars, but it worked well enough.
Back in the house, he was able to hold the tray with his good hand while the metal arm braced his weight against the wall as he made his way downstairs. It creaked with the effort, but held together until he was in his room where he found Nami curled up in bed with a book. She had slipped into one of his shirts while he was upstairs. Disappointing she wasn't naked anymore, but she always looked cute in his cloths, so he couldn't really complain.
"Sandwiches?" Nami asked, perking up when he set the tray on the bed beside her. "Grilled sandwiches? I didn't even hear the smoke alarm go off."
"Tsh, I only burned the one and it was Wire's fault for distracting me," he grumbled, taking his plate and moving to sit with the tray between them.
"They look good," she smiled, leaning over to flutter her lips against his cheek. He refused to smile, despite the pride welling in his chest. She wasn't finished speaking. "Or… they at least look edible," she giggled.
"Just fuckin' eat yer lunch."
Giggling to herself, she grabbed her plate and dug in. He silently gloated when he heard a quiet approving hum after her first bite, and stole sidelong glances to watch her devour the sandwich as it slowly fell apart in her hands.
"Messy," she commented while licking a dollop of mustard off her finger. "But good. Have you been practicing?"
He shrugged, mouth full of his sandwich. "Kinda," he grunted after swallowing. "How do you like yer steak cooked?" He asked with a thoughtful frown.
"I think Sanji-kun usually cooks mine medium or medium well depending on the cut," she said and popped a tangerine slice into her mouth. "Why?"
"Curious," he answered. "I ain't bad at cookin' on the grill. 'Specially steak."
She laughed, taking a sip of her tea before setting it back on the tray to return to the last bites of her sandwich. "Then you'll have to make me a steak dinner one of these days."
He hid his gloating smile as he ate.
He liked making plans with her. It meant there was something to look forward to, even if it was a simple meal. It meant there was a future that he was included in, no matter how small. It meant she wasn't looking back at the past, at his mistakes, at her doubts. She was looking ahead to the next day and the next, unworried of what he might do wrong again.
He had noticed over the last few weeks, and especially since she moved in, that she had become comfortable in their relationship. She wasn't holding him at a distance, wasn't walking on eggshells, afraid something or someone would set him off, she was open and honest in the affection she gave him. She accepted that he would have a violent reaction to the gang targeting her, and that meant she was accepting that part of him, the part she was so wary of in the beginning. She took comfort in his presence, valued what he did for her, and showed that she trusted him.
He hoped it stayed that way. He'd do whatever it took to see that it did.
Their lunch finished, Nami helped load their plates onto the tray. He took the dirty dishes out to the basement living area to get them out of the way; he'd take them to the kitchen before he left. When he came back into the bedroom, he went to his dresser to look at his arm, Nami moving to kneel on the side of the bed and watch.
He had a few tools in the arm's storage case that he used mainly to check the joints and circuitry, or help pop a joint back into place if he had trouble doing it on his own. He had a feeling they weren't going to be enough to fix his arm this time around.
He pulled out a box cutter and sliced open the skin of his prosthetic arm. He heard a quiet "ew" from Nami and glanced over to see her grimace. Ignoring her, he went back to the arm to flap the tissue and clip it down to look at the forearm.
"Shit," he hissed, prodding at the broken rod. It had snapped from the coupling at the wrist, and to make it worse, the wire acting as the ulnar nerve was frayed.
"That bad?" Nami asked. He didn't have to look to know she was pouting.
"Yep," he grunted. He unclipped the tissue, letting it fall back into place, and threw his arm into its case with an annoyed growl. Nami whined and he spared her a short look to see her lip quivering. He rolled his eyes at the theatrics. "I ain't mad at you, so stop lookin' at me like that." She gave him a more honest frown in response. He turned away, staring at the arm in thought. There was no way around it, he needed his arm fixed properly and he couldn't do it himself. He might manage well enough to weld the bar back together, but the circuitry was damaged and he could risk damaging it further by replacing the wire on his own. His head fell back with a sigh, and he ran his hand over his face. "I gotta run over to Franky's in a bit. I'll have him look at it. Think he'll do me a favor and fix it?"
"I'm sure he would, but if he gives you trouble, he owes me money. I'll talk to him for you."
Kid snorted, amused. "Ya got everyone under yer thumb, huh?"
"Just about," she chirped. "Never hurts to have a little financial leverage over your friends."
"Yer definitely one sick and greedy little bitch," he said with a bark of laughter. She stuck her tongue out at him, and he grinned. "But, wouldn't have ya any other way, 'specially if I can use it to my own advantage." She laughed, and he turned to close up the case. "Don't know if you'll want to use that leverage with Franky after I tell him how I broke this, though."
Nami's amusement vanished at his remark. She sat up straight and leveled a glare on him. "You wouldn't…"
"What do ya mean?" His brow rose as he schooled his expression into a stoic frown. "He's gonna ask what happened to damage it like that, and I ain't gonna lie."
"You are absolutely going to lie, Kid." She snapped, pointing at him in warning.
"Thought ya said you liked me better when I was honest?" He was having a hard time holding back his grin. He could see her temper thinning rapidly with the subject.
"Not when it comes to discussing our sex life," she hissed, "with my friends."
He couldn't help but throw his head back with a loud laugh at her embarrassment. It was too damn adorable.
"Well tough shit. The guy needs to know what kind of force I put on it, not to mention the torque to make it snap like that. Even if I leave out the sex, he's gonna wonder why I was tied up."
"I don't care if he wonders! You are not going to say a word!"
"Tsh, it's no big deal," he said dismissively, turning away as she ground her teeth. He went to his closet to find something to wear, listening to Nami growl behind him the whole time. "Hell, I was talkin' with Wire about it upstairs earlier."
"You did not!" She shrieked at him. When he sent her a wide grin over his shoulder, she groaned and fell to her side, wrapping her comforter around herself until he could only see a sliver of ginger hair sticking out. "I am never having sex with you again, Kid."
"Liar," he chuckled, slipping on a black tank top and khaki cargo shorts.
"Nope. I mean it. Never again." Her reply was muffled, only making him laugh more as he made his way over to the bed.
He pulled at the blanket, fighting her tight grip until he caught a peek of a brown eye. With another laugh, he yanked the comforter away and stole a hard kiss. "Empty threats ain't enough to keep my mouth shut, Kitten," he teased. "You'll cave in a day."
Her cheeks puffed adorably and he felt his smile relax, warming against his will as he pushed a strand of hair off her face. He was absolutely screwed. He'd fallen too hard for her.
"Damn it," she pouted, admitting he was right. "It's not fair when you look at me like that."
"Oh?" His brow rose. He knew she noticed it every time he sank into those sappy feelings he had for her, but he never thought she was weak to the look he gave her those times. Seemed that he had some leverage of his own over her. "How am I looking at you right now?"
She pursed her lips, refusing to answer, so he took advantage and stole a soft kiss. She pouted when he pulled away. He wasn't about to argue that look and leaned in for another kiss, this time returned with a quiet moan. Nami embraced him as he slid over her, wrapping herself around him as their kisses grew longer and deeper. He chuckled when he dipped to the side, kissing lightly over her neck, making her mewl and arch against him.
"I guess yer right," he grinned, nipping at her ear. "This really ain't fair. You didn't even last five minutes."
She screamed indignantly, and shoved him away as he laughed. "You cheater!" She quickly rewrapped herself in the blanket, glowering at him from the opening she left around her face. "How much?"
"How much what?" He cocked a brow as he leaned back in bed, propping himself up on his metal arm.
"How much to keep you quiet?"
"Yer gonna bribe me?" He smirked. "Yer pretty desperate there, Kitten. But, I don't want yer money, so that ain't gonna work."
He watched her eyes narrow, frown turn thoughtful. She was thinking, calculating, and he was incredibly curious what she would come up with to buy his silence when money wasn't an option. For her, money should get her whatever she wanted, and he was inclined to agree, but with her, he didn't want something so shallow.
"Pictures," she said firmly after a minute of silent thought.
He looked at her, bemused. "Pictures?"
"Five of them." Her hand popped out from her blanket as she sat up to count out her offer. "Three of my most revealing outfits, one in a bikini, and one in a piece of your clothing." His eyes widened as he realized what she was suggesting. "All on your bike."
He blinked, still processing that she was going to give him what he jokingly asked for. He wanted those pictures, but never expected her to humor him, and least of all to keep him from talking about their nightly activities with her friends. There was no way he could pass up the opportunity to have sexy pictures of his girlfriend.
"One in a revealing outfit, one topless, one bikini, one in just my hoodie, and one naked," he gave as his counteroffer.
She smacked him upside the head for it. "Two revealing outfits, one tastefully topless -"
"What the fuck's tastefully topless?" He asked, rubbing his head where she hit him.
She smacked him again. "Don't interrupt," she snapped. "One bikini, and one in your hoodie."
He hummed. At least he got the topless, he could settle with that. "Alright," he nodded, holding out his hand with a grin. "I'll keep my mouth shut for that much."
She snatched his hand up, squeezing it tight as they shook on the deal, and growled "Promise they will never be seen by anyone but you."
"Tsh, promise," he huffed. Like hell he'd let someone see his girlfriend in any sort of provocative poses. Maybe the ones where she's dressed, but the topless one would definitely be for his enjoyment alone. "So, what the hell should I tell yer friend?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "Say you fell or something."
"Yer a pretty shitty liar for a con artist, ya know that?"
"The more elaborate the story, the harder it is to believe, Kid," she explained. "Just keep it simple."
"Got it," he nodded, pushing up for a peck. "Whatever gets me those sexy pictures." He grinned as he pulled away and got out of bed to finish getting ready. "Surprised yer willin' to go that far."
"I was already thinking of taking some as a birthday present for you." She gave him a cheeky smile when his eyes widened. "Now I have to come up with something else. At least I still have some time."
"Naked pictures," he suggested with a grin. She threw a pillow at his head, but he was certain she would have punched him if he was in reach.
"Pervert," Nami hissed.
He cackled, waving off her annoyance as he went to brush his teeth. "Let me tie ya up in my bed for a whole weekend," he called out a minute later around a mouth full of toothpaste. "That's all I need for a present."
"Pervert," she repeated loudly. He nearly chocked on his toothpaste, he laughed so hard.
When he came back into the bedroom, he found her glaring at him from her blanket cocoon. "What are ya thinkin' ahead to my birthday for, anyway?"
She merely shrugged.
It didn't matter that she didn't have an answer, all he cared about was the fact she saw them together long enough to celebrate at least one of their birthdays. They missed celebrating hers that year, Nami having moved back to town shortly before, so he wasn't quite on good enough terms to do something with her. He hoped she still saw a future far enough out that they could celebrate her next birthday together, along with whatever else came along.
"I'll think of somethin' less perverted for you to give me later," he chuckled. He came over to the bed with a black bandana and held it out to her. "Help me with my hair, then I gotta go."
Nami shed her blanket, letting it pool around her, and took the bandana. He knelt down next to the bed and tilted his head so she could wrap the cloth around his forehead. She tied it off at the back of his neck, then adjusted the front so his hair didn't fall into his face. As she gave it a few more tugs to get it in place, he leaned in for one last soft kiss.
"Get some rest while I'm gone," he ordered, standing up. "Need me to grab anything on my way back?"
"Hmm, I don't think so. I'll text you if I need anything," she said with a smile.
"'Kay. Later, Kitten." He reached out to ruffle her hair, chuckling at her shriek. He grabbed the case with his prosthetic, tucking it under his metal arm, and went out to pick up the tray to take to the kitchen before heading out the door.
He couldn't wait to see that robot.
A massive craftsmen house loomed at the end of one block just outside of town. There were three stories filled with windows, trimmed with warm tan oak and light grey stone. A large stone patio and beautifully manicured lawn took over the front of the house, rose bushes and flower beds following a walkway to the French doors at the entrance. The three car garage housed a blue, extended cab pick-up, a clean white sedan, and what he could only guess was supposed to be a lawn mower. The dual spoilers and off-road tires made it look like an altered ATV, but the blades hanging down underneath showed it was for the lawn.
Inside, just to the left of the front foyer, was a small study. Bookshelves were built on every wall save for one corner that housed a large planning table, covered with blueprints and notes, rulers and compasses, and all manner of pens and pencils. The shelves held architecture and engineering texts, models, and awards Franky had earned for his research.
Further into the main floor was the kitchen, built with stainless steel appliances, oak cabinets, and rich tan and black granite countertops. A breakfast bar sat at the center island, open to the dining area and great room, lit up brightly with massive windows facing the backyard. A fireplace sat in the middle of the great room, dividing it from a small reading nook in the corner.
The second floor had four bedrooms, including the master suite, and three bathrooms. The floor above held the library with a wider array of books from fantasy to science fiction to mystery and horror. There was a finished basement with a fifth bedroom, a small bathroom, and a theater and game room where Kid learned Nami's friends spent the majority of their time.
In the backyard was a pool and deck, a massive grill built to one side, and more perfectly trimmed green grass extending out for nearly an acre. The yard ended at a small grove of tangerine trees, the only remnant of Nami still remaining in the house long after she moved out. Kid made a mental note to grab a few before he left.
Kid had noticed a dirt road leading around the side of the house, and from the backyard he could see where it ended at the far side of the three acre lot. A trail wound through Nami's grove from the yard, walking access to Franky's workshop. The building was the size of a small hanger with three garage doors open to a concrete floor filled with cars, trucks, and every tool Kid wished he owned. He had to stand outside at the end of the dirt trail to gape at the building. Luffy had run ahead, laughing and jumping as he called out to Franky to hurry up and show them the robot. The long nosed one – Usopp – followed after his friend, attempting, and failing, to hold him back.
Luffy wasn't allowed in the workshop often from what Kid understood. The young man had a habit of blowing things up that weren't supposed to blow up, or at least weren't supposed to while in the workshop. He realized Franky wasn't kidding as he watched Luffy climb into the cab of a monster truck and proceed to ask his friend what a certain button did… while hitting the button.
He didn't know why the truck had fireworks blasting from chrome pipes on the bed, but he had to admit it was pretty awesome.
"Set your arm over there," Franky hollered over the last few sizzles of the fireworks. The engineer pointed toward a workbench set on a wall to the right. Steel plated magnifiers hung from the wall and a box housing a laser welder sat on the end of the bench. Cabinets and drawers were filled with more tools, and Kid had to battle the urge to play with all of them.
Franky dragged Luffy out of the truck, punching him over the head to get him under some semblance of control, and whistled to signal Kid follow him to the far back corner of the room. A beige tarp hung over what Kid assumed was the robot. It towered over them, just under ten meters in height, and nearly brushed against the ceiling.
"Alright guys. Set your sights on…" Franky trailed off into a dramatic pause as he grasped the tarp and tugged, the sheet falling away to reveal the shiny, silver robot, trimmed with blue and yellow and red, that looked remarkably like him with the bouffant. "Franky Shogun!"
It was the most fucking awesome thing he had ever seen.
"It's so huge!" Luffy shouted, leaping up and down with his arms raised in the air. "So cool! It's so cool!"
"Franky!" Usopp joined. "You're the best!"
Kid's mouth was hanging so far open, he couldn't even begin to voice his admiration as he stared at it. His hands itched with the need to build something, anything. He wanted to make something so huge and glorious and powerful.
He really hoped he wasn't drooling.
The engineer grinned smugly, bowing his head in a vain attempt to hide his pride as he scratched his nose. "Yeah, well, that isn't the half of it. It might look pretty on the outside, but inside it's packed with a ton of fire power."
Franky hit a button on a remote he held, and they all stood back to watch two panels open on the barreled chest to reveal twelve rocket launchers. Kid was certain he was drooling at that point, but it was okay because Luffy was beside him doing the same.
It got even better as dual canons popped out of the shoulders, and the arms extended to reveal small barrels in the palms that Kid desperately wanted to know what they shot.
"Oi, Usopp," Franky called out, breaking the long nose from his spell. "Get that door."
Usopp spun to one of the closed back doors and hit a button to open it. Once clear, Franky began to fiddle with his remote, and Luffy and Kid had to jump back as the robot came to life. Luffy was shouting excited gibberish as they watched it slowly walk out to the lot behind the garage, the young man leaping after it. Kid was right behind him, tempering his excitement as best he could.
"Can we ride it!?" Luffy asked, and Kid found himself curious, too.
"Later," Franky chuckled.
"What do the palms shoot?" Kid asked next, sparing the engineer a glance to see him grin wide.
He chuckled as he turned the robot to face a clearing. As Kid watched, he noticed the clearing was filled with uprooted and burned trees, shattered stones, and a hill about half a mile away looked like it had been blasted a few times. His eyes widened as the robot's hands came together and a laser began to charge between them.
The hill exploded a second later.
"That was the fucking coolest thing I've ever seen!" Kid shouted, Luffy and Usopp hollering their own similar sentiments. "Do it again!"
Franky laughed. "Can't do that one too much. We've already had the cops out here a few times when I was testing it." Kid sulked openly, glad Nami wasn't there to witness it. The other man came to clap him on the back with a short chuckle. "Relax. This baby's got plenty more firepower to show you. First, I want to bounce those ideas about a magnet weapon off of you, and maybe we can start working on a few prototypes for it."
Kid sobered and let Franky wrap an arm around his shoulder to tug him back to the garage. He might get to help build a weapon for a robot. He might get to make the very thing he went to college for.
After an hour of brainstorming, Franky settled on installing a magnet that would be hidden inside the body before extending out on an arm through the robot's back. If the robot was in the presence of metal weaponry, it could rip it right out of its opponents' hands for defense. Kid suggested a repel mechanism by reversing the magnet's polarity; it would act as an offensive weapon that way, and their enemies would have to dodge their own weapons. Simple and crude in many ways, but it would work. To make something more elaborate and fine-tuned would take more planning, and there was the chance it wouldn't work properly in the existing robot.
Franky promised to work with Kid on developing something different, a separate robotic weapon that would utilize some of Kid's other ideas. Kid was ecstatic for the chance, and feeling very grateful to Nami for introducing them.
"Alright, let's take a look at this broken arm of yours," Franky prompted, setting aside the design plans they had been working on.
Luffy and Usopp had been watching them work the entire time. Or at least Usopp was. Luffy bounced between the workbench and some of the cars Franky had in his shop before he was forced to settle in a chair next to Kid after nearly blowing up a wall. The two guys leaned over to watch Franky pull the arm from the case while Kid sat back in his stool.
"Wait! Are you a cyborg like Franky!?" Luffy asked loudly, glancing between Kid and the arm.
Usopp smacked him on the back of the head while Kid and Franky glowered at the oblivious young man. "You just noticed!?" Usopp shouted. "He's been wearing a metal arm this entire time!"
Luffy frowned, rubbing his head, and stared hard at Kid. His eyes widened when he took notice of the metal prosthetic Kid wore in place of his cybernetic arm. "Ah! You're a robot, too!" Kid smacked his hand over his face and Luffy's friends sighed in defeat, heads hanging. "That's so cool!"
Kid's hand dropped away and he smirked at the young man, chuckling to himself. "I ain't a robot," he corrected. "But I guess you could say I'm a partial cyborg."
"That's so cool!" Luffy repeated. "I wanna be a robot, too!"
Shaking his head, Kid turned to watch Franky go back to assessing his arm. Usopp sighed again and pat Luffy on the shoulder consolingly.
Franky whistled as he prodded the snapped ulna bar. Then his eyes went wide when he pulled back the flaps of skin Kid had created earlier to see how bad it was. The man's head shot around to stare incredulously at the red head. "How the hell did you manage to break it like this!?"
Kid pursed his lips and looked to the side. "I fell."
"Like hell you did!"
Kid found the ceiling to be of extreme interest and pointedly kept his mouth shut.
"Why is there a ripped tie hanging from the wrist?" Franky asked knowingly.
Kid's eyes widened. He forgot to take that off. "No reason," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. He bit his cheek to hold back his smug grin when he caught Franky's cocked brow and amused smile. He really wanted those pictures. He wouldn't screw himself out of his deal.
"So you fell, huh?" Franky chuckled, gaze sweeping over Kid, appraising him. "That how you got all those scratches and marks?"
"Might be…" Kid felt his lips twitch with a smile, so he propped his chin in the palm of his hand, fingers covering his mouth to hide the expression.
Franky hummed and turned back to the arm, chuckling again. "Must have been some mighty fall."
He couldn't help but snort in amusement, thoughts drifting to just how hard he fell. "Yep. Pretty big one."
Kid glanced to the side when he felt Luffy's gaze on him, the young man leaning closer. He cocked his brow as he watched Luffy stare, a finger up his nose. "Did you fall into a rose bush? Or a pack of cats? Those scratches look like cat scratches."
He nearly fell off his stool laughing. "Yeah," he grinned. "Definitely a cat that scratched me up."
"Hmmm, that cat must not like you much," Luffy's head cocked to the side.
"Uhhh, Luffy," Usopp said, tapping his friend on the shoulder as Kid hunched over, hand clamped over his mouth before he said anything else. "I think the cat actually really likes him in this case."
"Huh?" Luffy blinked, staring between Usopp and Kid. He was openly confused until Usopp leaned in to whisper in the man's ear. Kid sobered the second Luffy's eyes widened and shot to him. "Nami did that!?"
"If she asks, I didn't say a damn thing. Got that?" Kid growled, pointing in warning. Luffy wasn't fazed, but Usopp shrunk away with an exaggerated nod.
"What's she holding over you?" Franky asked, chuckling and nudging his elbow into Kid's side.
"She'll probably kill me if I tell you," Kid grumbled. "I ain't breaking our deal."
"That good, huh?" Franky slapped him on the back with a loud laugh. "You really did fall hard, bro."
He snorted in amusement. "You have no idea."
"Hope you're not planning to hold that back from her, too," Franky said as he reached for a pair of magnified goggles. Kid's brow rose in question. "Emotions like that… Ya can't keep 'em bottled up forever."
Frowning, Kid slumped over the workbench. He didn't need to be told that, he already knew. He accidentally let it slip out the night before, but luckily she was too distracted with what they were doing to hear the confession he muttered against her lips. He had only realized how he felt two days before, yet those feelings were already welling up inside him, creating a fluttering pressure in his chest that threatened to burst at the wrong moment.
He couldn't tell her, though. Even if Franky said he should, he knew there was no way Nami could feel the same. He had stubbornly pushed at her attraction until she gave in to their relationship, and while they were comfortable and happy now, he knew one step too far and Nami would pull away again. He loved her, he refused to lose her, and if it meant holding back what he felt, then he'd do it for as long as he could.
"It'll take me a few days, but I can definitely have this fixed up and as good as new," Franky said after a few minutes.
"Really?" Kid perked up at the news. Franky nodded. "Thanks," he grinned.
"No problem. Anything to help out the sis' boyfriend," Franky laughed. "Just talk her into skimming a few hundred off my debt."
"I'll see what I can do, but you know how much that woman loves her money. She not taking any off for helping with her apartment?"
"She said to bill her and she'll adjust accordingly. But that just means I'll be sitting through negotiations over how much I charge for my hourly work and still be left with a pretty good chunk of my debt left." He laughed loudly.
"Nami's one ruthless woman, huh?" Kid couldn't help but grin, the look earning another hard pat on his back and knowing smile from the engineer. He brushed off the look, refusing to acknowledge what Franky was hinting at. "Think you can put something explosive in that arm?" He asked with a grin.
"I'll see if I can think up a good feature for you," Franky cackled.
"Perfect. Now can we blow more stuff up?"
"Yeah! Show us the rocket launcher!" Luffy exclaimed beside him.
"Alright, alright. Just a couple of 'em. Usopp – go grab the fire extinguisher. Can't get fined for starting another fire on that hill."
Nami was glad to have a quiet, peaceful afternoon to herself, and it helped she had an excuse to laze around in bed while Kid was gone. Her hips ached, her core muscles were tight, and her whole body felt weak and spent. Just the few yards to the bathroom took most of her energy to walk.
Kid was lucky she thoroughly enjoyed how they made up after their fight, otherwise her earlier threat of withholding sex wouldn't have been so empty.
Without Kid around to distract her, Nami had a chance to catch up on her studies and start researching a paper she had due in a few weeks. By six that night, she heard someone come home and ventured up to find Killer making dinner. It had been slow getting up the stairs, and she collapsed into a chair at the dinette table once she reached the kitchen, ignoring the smirk Killer wore when she groaned in relief.
"Where's Kid?" He asked, chopping tomatoes and onions to add to the pasta sauce simmering in a pot on the stove.
"Franky's. He left a couple of hours ago. Knowing those guys, they'll be blowing things up all night." She rolled her eyes, but wore a warm smile as she imagined how much fun Kid must be having with her friends. She didn't care about robots or any of the things Franky made most of the time, but she wanted Kid to get along with her friends, and she was glad the boys had their shared interests.
Killer hummed, crushing a clove of garlic to add to the pot. "I heard he broke his prosthetic last night," he idly mused. Nami glared in response, prompting him to chuckle. "I take you two made up."
"We did." She hid her smile behind her hand. "I wasn't as mad as he probably expected me to be. I was just upset he tried to lie about something."
"He's a pretty shitty liar, so he would only hide a few details if he thought it was for the best," Killer explained. "I'm not saying it was the right thing to do, but I imagine he didn't want conflict between you two after what happened."
"That's what he told me," she sighed. "I understand, but hopefully he doesn't do that again."
"I'm sure he's learned his lesson. As hard headed as he is, he knows when he's screwed up and will always try to not make the same mistake twice."
"That's good to hear," she said, smiling. She hoped Killer was right. She didn't want to have the same fights over and over again in the future. "Hey, maybe you can help me with something…"
"What is it?" Killer glanced at her. He had finished cutting open a loaf of French bread as they spoke and was spreading butter over the inside. He then sprinkled cheese and garlic on it and wrapped it in foil.
"What would Kid like for his birthday?"
"That's still over a month away," he said, frowning thoughtfully. "Why are you thinking about it now?"
She shrugged. She couldn't tell him that she had been looking forward to celebrating something with him. She was trying to look ahead, plan for things to come. It was becoming easier to forget the past, and the more she thought about times to come, imagined them still happy together, despite the occasional fight, she found herself cherishing their time together more. She wanted to do something special for Kid to show him how she felt, to show she appreciated his resolve and everything he had done for her over the last few months.
Killer smiled at her after a minute, turning back to dinner with a quiet chuckle. "Well, he shouldn't be that difficult. If it's from you, he'll probably like it no matter what it is."
"That isn't helpful," she huffed. "I already used what I thought to give him as a bribe – "
"Bribe for what?" Killer looked at her with his brow raised, and Nami pointedly shut her mouth, glaring. "Nevermind." He waved off her silent warning. "I can safely say Kid would appreciate anything involving sex."
She groaned, slumping over the table. "That's what he suggested earlier, but that's too easy." She pouted to herself, and glanced around to see that they were alone. Leaning forward, she spoke quietly. "I want to show that I appreciate him."
Killer wore a proud grin at what she confided in him. "The fact you're thinking ahead shows as much. Maybe you can plan something for him, something special and intangible that only you two can share."
Nami hummed, thinking over the suggestion. She liked that idea. She could plan a day for just the two of them, maybe a trip somewhere. She knew he'd enjoy that. Take themselves away from everyone else, give him her whole attention. The time of year worked well, too. She would be on break from school, so nothing to distract her. The question was – where would she take him?
She was drawn from her thoughts by the sound of the garage door opening. She turned to look into the den to see Kid come in. He grinned as soon as he saw her in the kitchen with Killer and leapt up the small flight of stairs to join them.
"Have fun?" She asked with a knowing smile.
"Yep," he grunted, bending down to smack a kiss to her cheek. "And Franky's gonna fix my arm for me. He's hoping you'll take a few hundred off his debt for it, though."
"I'll work something out," she giggled.
Kid took the chair next to her, scooting it closer to her to prop his arm on the back of her chair. "What are ya doin' out of bed, Kitten?"
"I heard Killer in here and decided I could use the company," she explained. "I've been studying since you left. Needed the break."
"Are you going to do anymore studying tonight?" Kid asked.
"I don't think so," she hummed. "I was thinking of watching a movie later."
"Sounds good to me. I think it's your turn to pick."
"Of course it's my turn. I still have five picks left before it's your turn again." She stuck her tongue out at him. He growled in feigned annoyance, a hint of a smirk belying his good humor. "I was thinking Pride and Prejudice."
"Fuck," he groaned, "not another sappy romance."
"I like that one," she huffed.
"I don't even own it."
"I found it in the cable listings," she snickered. "Free, of course."
"Fuck," he groaned again. "If ya want to watch romantic shit, at least pick something with explosions."
"I'm sure you've had your fair share of explosions today," she said, patting his knee in consolation. "So no. We're watching what I want to watch. Anyway, you said you'd pamper me like a spoiled princess, and that means putting up with what I want to do."
"Damn it," he frowned, unable to argue her point.
"Make sure you take notes," Killer teased where he stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of chicken stuffed ravioli. "You might learn a thing or two about romance."
"Like any of that crap works. I'm fine without it."
"I don't know," Nami hummed. "Those flowers were awfully roman – "
"Don't fucking bring those up again! I didn't do that to be romantic! I said no fucking roses!"
Nami and Killer laughed at his outburst. He sat growling at them until Nami leaned over to kiss his jaw. He was blushing lightly, his embarrassment charming and cute. She couldn't resist teasing him. When she pulled away, his hard stare made her want to lean in for another kiss, and when she did, he smirked and bowed his head to steal one from her lips.
Killer cleared his throat before they could kiss again. "Dinner's almost ready, so if you two lovebirds can save that for later… and not be in my kitchen…"
Nami pulled away with a quiet squeak, ignoring Kid's wide grin as he wrapped his arm around her and leaned his chin on her shoulder.
"Guess romance ain't so bad," he whispered. "'Specially if it gets you horny."
"Kid!" She screeched and slammed her elbow into his side. He slumped against her, coughing and gasping for air.
"You damn bitch," he groaned as he clutched his side. "Take a fucking joke."
She smacked her hand against his face to shove him away. "Pervert."
"Geez, same insult as this morning. Can't ya think up somethin' better?" He chuckled.
"Creep."
"Oh, haven't used that one in a while," he teased.
She shoved him with an amused snort. "Sleaze."
"Ohhh! Now that's a new one!" He barked out a loud laugh, reaching out to trap her in a loose headlock. She shrieked with laughter as she tried to get free. "Ya might just hurt my feelings with that one."
Killer chuckled quietly to himself from the stove. "You two can be sickeningly cute sometimes, you know that?"
"We're definitely the cutest couple out there," Kid grinned, yanking Nami closer. "Ain't that right, Kitten?"
"Well, at least I'm cute. I'm not sure about you." She stuck her tongue out at his playful growl, and then screamed with his hand drop to poke a ticklish spot. He grinned wolfishly at her reaction, and pinched the spot again. She found the energy to bolt out of her chair. "Don't you dare!"
His chuckle sent a shiver down her spine as he stood. She screamed when he took a step toward her, and flew down the stairs to escape him. As he chased after her, Killer shouted to them.
"Don't get carried away! Dinner will be ready in ten!"
She knew he was going to fall asleep during the movie. She would have been surprised if he even managed to make it three-quarters of the way through.
A half an hour in, he laid down on the couch in his basement and tugged her to lay in front of him. Once comfortable with her wrapped in his arm, his breathing began to even out within minutes, and before long he was snoring softly behind her, his face nestled in her hair and hand comfortably resting on her stomach beneath the shirt she borrowed.
She was content like that.
She didn't like the idea of waking him when the movie was done, but she would have to get them in bed eventually. The couch was too cramped for the two of them to sleep on. He clung to her when she reached for the remote to shut off the television, growled softly when she rolled to face him, and then let out a heavy sigh when she settled in his arm again.
Nami giggled as she peered at his face in the faint glow of moonlight spilling from the narrow windows. His brows were knit with a scowl even in his sleep. She brushed her fingers over his cheek and listened to him hum as his arm tightened around her waist, a leg coming up to wrap over hers and further trap her on the couch. He nestled his head against his shoulder, leaning closer until their foreheads brushed. He took a deep breath through his nose, let it out slowly, and she watched him smile in his sleep as his head tilted up to run his nose and lips over her forehead.
"Kid," she whispered, hand ghosting over his jaw. He hadn't shaven in over a day and his skin was coarse with faint red hairs sprouting up all over. The hairs of his chin scratched against her brow and nose, and she giggled at the ticklish sensation. "Let's go to bed, Kid," she tried again.
He grunted and his hand came up to brush through her hair, pushing her face into his chest. Even in his sleep he was stubborn.
His fingers played through the strands he held, subconsciously trying to lull her to sleep with him. He always liked to play with her hair or run his hand over her back as they fell asleep, and there were many mornings she woke up to his fingers tracing over her shoulders, up and down her spine, while he drowsily stared at her, seeking sleep again.
She always felt safe when he was sleeping beside her. She felt cherished those peaceful morning she woke to the faintest of touches. She loved those moments, quiet and simple, just as much as she had grown to love the times they were hot with anger and passion. Every morning she woke to find him there, holding her close, she forgot all the mornings she had woken alone. She didn't like sleeping alone anymore.
She pulled back, ignoring his annoyed groan, and went back to watching him sleep. She pushed up so that her face was level with his again, and watched her fingers trace over his skin. She amused herself with making his eye twitch while her fingers ghosted over his brow, trying to make it relax. It did for a split second when her touch traced around the outside of his eye and down his cheek bone. He had a habit of grinding his teeth in his sleep, but as her hands brushed gently over his jaw, she felt his face relax, the joint slackening for a short moment. His lips pursed on instinct when her fingers trailed over them, lightly kissing her. His nose had been broken in the past, at least on three occasions that she knew of. The bridge was bent slightly at two spots where it hadn't been reset quite right. It was hard and jagged on the sides she traced a finger down to the tip of his nose. When her fingers brushed over his lips again, Kid stiffed and stretched, his grip in her hair tightening.
"What the hell're you doin', Kitten?" He rasped out, an eye peeling open to stare at her.
"Trying to wake you up," she said with a soft smile. "The movie's over."
He hummed, his head turning to nuzzle her hand where it came to rest on his cheek. "Weird way t' do that."
"Well, you were too cute asleep. I wasn't sure if I should wake you." Her smile grew as he shut his eye and settled back down on the couch. These moments were definitely her favorites. Just the two of them, completely at peace and comfortable with each other. She had never before imagined it possible, but now that she was there, she never wanted to give it up.
She hoped she would never have to.
His hand moved from her hair, trailing over her jaw, his thumb brushing against her cheek. His eyes were open again, a hint of concern in his gaze as he stared at her.
"Why do you look sad?" He asked.
The question surprised her. She didn't think she was so transparent, but he picked up on the subtle change in her mood better than she thought he would. She shut her eyes, forced a smile, and leaned her forehead against his.
"I'm not," she whispered. "I'm actually really happy right now."
When she opened her eyes again, he was still watching, searching her expression for some clue to what she was thinking. His thumb brushed higher on her cheek as he cupped her face and leaned in for a soft, teasing kiss. The gesture made her stomach flip and her smile warm. He pulled back to glance at her lips, sharing her smile, and met her gaze as he leaned in for another kiss.
"Me too," he grunted between pecks. "Let's just sleep on the couch."
"It's too small," she pouted at the suggestion. "And my arm's falling asleep like this."
He chuckled, kissed her again, and then rolled to his back, dragging her to lay on top of him. "That better for my spoiled princess?"
She hummed as his hand drifted back into her hair, guiding her to nestle her face against his neck. "I guess," she said, the sound turning into a sigh when his hand trailed down her back. It teased its way under her shirt and she melted under his touch as his fingers traveled over her spine. He snorted a quiet laugh when she nuzzled into his neck, and turned his head to rest his cheek on her hair.
"You have school tomorrow, right?" His deep voice echoed in her ear and vibrated in his chest.
"First class is at nine," she answered.
"Too fuckin' early," Kid grumbled. "I'll drop ya off, though. I work at three, won't be done until midnight. I'll send Killer to pick ya up."
"Okay," she yawned. They drifted into a comfortable silence. She smiled when she noticed their breath coming at the same steady pace, and she could feel his pulse in his neck, thrumming against her brow. "Let's go somewhere."
"Hm?" He grunted, cheek rubbing against her hair. "What d'you mean?"
"For your birthday. Let's go somewhere special."
"Like out to dinner or somethin'?"
"No, let's go on a trip. Wherever you want, just the two of us."
His hand slowed at her suggestion, busied itself with examining a ridge of her spinal column. After a moment of thought, he chuckled and his whole hand pressed to her back, running up to her shoulder to squeeze it in a hug.
"I like that idea." She could feel him smiling as he pressed a kiss to her hair. "I like it a lot."
"Thank Killer, he thought that was something you would like other than sex."
He hummed and held her tighter. "Yep, 'cause now I can have sex with you somewhere different."
She giggled and tilted her head up. "Pervert."
"What happened to sleaze? I liked that one," he grinned. The smile softened when she left a fluttering kiss on his lips. "Let's go to the beach, then. Been wanting to see ya play in the ocean ever since ya told me that's where ya grew up."
"Really?"
"Mhm," he nodded, nudging her to lay back down. "We ain't that far from the coast. Could probably spend a weekend at one of the smaller towns."
"That sounds like a good plan."
"Mhm," he hummed with a deep sigh. "Lookin' forward to it, Kitten."
"Me too."
A quiet lull fell over them again. Kid's hand found its way into her hair and she quickly began to nod off at the sensation of his blunt nails scratching over her scalp. He shifted beneath her, rolling slightly to his right side. She became wedged between him and the back of the couch, his warmth surrounding her, his large frame acting as a shield for her.
She vaguely heard him sigh as he dozed off with his lips pressed to her forehead. She felt them move with words spoken at a hush, a faint "I love you" teasing on the edge of her consciousness as she fell asleep.
In the morning, she would wonder if she had only been dreaming.
A/N: So the dream at the beginning - that is literally the only hint to Chopper existing in this world. I know a few of you were wondering where Chopper and Brook might come in, but I very, very rarely include them in real world AU fics like this one. I have a hard enough time writing them into canon based fics, so I tend to leave them out of AUs entirely (with the exception here and there). I love and adore Chopper, but he is just strangely difficult for me to write. Brook - I like the guy, but I also have a hard time writing him. So, hope you guys don't mind their lack of existence.
Oh, I'm curious because I've written a one-shot over on my tumblr with Kid as a father that seems to be well-received. I'm not doing anything with children in this fic - as I stated before, not even broaching that subject a little bit - but would you guys be interested in a KidNa family AU? Just fluff and the walking disaster that is papa!Kid? I can't promise that I'd do it any time soon, but if the interest is there, I will consider the idea more.
And yes, I casually referenced a Fall Out Boy song in this at one point. If you can guess which one, you can give yourself a cookie.
And Eustass fucking Kid is a volcano of emotion, the bastard can't keep it all inside, even if he thinks he can.