Alex's pace slowed as she left the harbour where that man's ship was docked, until she came to an abrupt stop, gasping and panting for air, however her raw dry throat made her choke out a wheezy cough.
She wished she could have finished that orange juice... even if that stupid citrus fruit was all she ever seemed to eat. At one point oranges weren't even in her top 10 most disliked foods, but now... it was at least an 8, just behind green beans and tomatoes.
Stupid Thatch guy! Did he have to threaten her? He had been about to draw his sword, she was sure of it. She stole that food because she was starving, yet he was gonna kick her butt for something that had apparently happened a week ago.
Typical pirate, only got one stupid thing on their dumb greedy brains; treasure! And making people suffer for their own nasty amusement!
Alex of course hadn't actually been listening properly, she'd only heard the bad bits of the conversation. She'd completely skipped what Thatch had said to Haruta, she'd only heard the 'threat' and who the guy was, nothing before or after.
As soon as he announced he was a commander of the Whitebeard pirates, the terrified child had already made up her mind. He was a bad guy, he was dangerous, he said he'd hurt her.
Alexandra had only half-heard what he'd said. Which was "- you steal anymore food out of my kitchen again, I will personally kick your ass! " and not what she thought he'd said " -you stole food out of my kitchen, I will kick your ass! "
When Thatch had reached out to shake her hand Alex had genuinely thought he was going to hit her, she couldn't hear his friendly tone, only words. Words she didn't like the sound of, with that the girl had retaliated with a warning, she wasn't actually going to bite him.
He wasn't the old geezer, the kid had no self control when that man was around. The lion's fearful survival instincts kicked in, that was it, at that point she was just defending herself, even if he wasn't really doing anything. To Alex, the man alone, just being in close proximity to her was danger enough, to warrant an aggressive reaction.
As for Thatch, Alexandra just wanted to surprise him long enough to get herself into gear, quickly figure out what her next action would be. That was until he'd brushed his hand over his sword, by that point the blonde had decided he was going to try and kill her. Without any hesitation or thought really, she was already escaping, having grabbed the last of the pastries and was already running away from the ship.
Though now that she had stopped, she looked back over her shoulder, suddenly hit with a wave of guilt and horror at her actions. She'd just abandoned Haruta and Namur! Just left them with a bunch of pirates. They'd been so nice to her... Yet she'd just done the most cowardly thing possible, she'd just up and ditched them.
Their kind, genuine smiles burned into her mind. A flash of her Grandfather's face appeared, the final image of him, smiling back at her, ready to fight off those people in black, all to protect her. That promise that he'd made to meet her on the next island sounded in her ears... yet she'd waited for him and he never came. If only she'd gone back to Bambora!
I should have never left his side at all... I should have stayed and fought along side him... but instead I ran away like a coward. I left behind the person who raised and loved me, who put up with my existence! All I ever did was make his life a misery! He had to deal having me for a Granddaughter-!
Her face disappeared under her blonde mop of hair, shoulders shaking, pale blue eye burning, as salty tears tried to form at the corner of her eye. But Alex wasn't going to let herself, she didn't deserve the right to shed tears. Not when it was all her fault.
-And I left Papi... all because he said he'd meet me on Calrine Island. All because I thought he'd be okay, that he'd protect me and everything would work out. But I should have protected him. I should have never left him, even if I died trying, it would make up for everything I put him through!
But Alex was repeating that same mistake twice wasn't she? She'd done it again!
NO!
She shook her head wildly, no! NO! Alex was not abandoning them! Not when they'd been so kind to her and for no reason either, they'd been her friends. Her first friends.
The girl turned back, her body quaking with fear, the thought of going back terrified her, however never seeing them again frightened her more ! Alex wasn't going to do what she did with Papi! She was going to help them!
As Alex tried to run back to that man's ship, suddenly she was hit by a chill running down her spine, the mutilated remains of her right eye started to throb, the memory of a knife being driven into her eye-socket surfaced. The girl rolled into herself gagging, holding her stomach tightly as voices from her past began to torment the girl, they rattled around inside her head, echo's of laughter and ridicule.
Disgust, fear, hate and sick twisted vengeful smiles danced in circles around Alex, those expressions however belonged to featureless faces, like theatrical masks mocking her as if she was on a stage. An actress, a character who's story had already been told many times over. The audience already knew the out come of the story, without even watching the play. Yet they still sat in their seats, waiting patiently with their sick twisted amused smiles, watching the miserable painful and slow fall of the character, as she clawed onto any hope that the audience knew she would never achieve.
The girl felt sick to her stomach, she was so pathetically scared, her breaths were coming out faster, her thirst having been completely forgotten. Sweat was running down her back as Alexandra forced herself to take a step forward, she wanted to puke.
COME ON YOU STUPID COWARD! YOU STUPID PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HALF-GIANT! Her inner voice screamed, she could almost feel her mental hands hitting the cage doors to her hurting, painful heart.
Alex took another step in the direction of the ship, finally she couldn't take it anymore, halting, her head too dizzy, too deep into drowning in all her problems, walls of darkness were closing in on her, the people walking by were nothing more then blurry undefined shadows.
The girl was just a small hunched over form in a massive sea of people, walking along in their normal everyday lives, all towering over her like titans to a tiny, insignificant bug. Too afraid to move in case she was stepped on, let's be honest nobody would actually notice or care if a bug died, there was plenty more pests out there that could replace this one...
The child stood there, desperately attempting to push through the rushing volcano of bubbling self-loathing, she didn't want to be a coward! She didn't want to be a pathetic little bug! Alex wanted to save Namur and Haruta! It didn't matter if she ended up dead, at least she had done something! The girl didn't want to lose the first friends she'd ever had, those kind people who had tried to take care of her, who had seemed so genuine about giving a damn!
Not only that... Alexandra liked them, she had actually enjoyed talking to them, loved how fun and carefree they seemed! Even with them being kidnapped by pirates, they still seemed happy. Something the kid wanted them to continue being!
She grit her teeth, forcing all her stubbornness into her legs making them obey, Alex took one step and then another, until she was running wildly through the crowd of fish people. Stumbling, her whole body felt like jelly, wobbling all over the place, having no control over what or who she shoved past.
But she was determined to find that dumb old git's ship again, climb back on board and fight every single person if necessary to get her friends back!
There was no doubt in her mind, she was hundred percent sure she was going to die, but at least this was a worthy way, that even the souls of the great Elbafthen warriors would look down upon as acceptable.
That was until she ran straight into someone, they tumbled apart as both parties made contact, falling backwards they hit the cobble stone ground with a thump.
Alex shook her head, tossing her hair around as she got her scattered brain in order. She had been about to wobble to her feet and dash off again, until she finally took notice who the kid was. They were a bit taller with bright red hair, a large recognisable grin gracing their features. Almost as if to confirm her already relieved fluttering chest, the kid cheerfully greeted her. "Hey Al! I found you, man you can really move when you want to, huh?"
"Haru..." Alex's voice cracked, as she practically dove on the other, arms wrapped around their neck hugging them shakily, the girl was just so overwhelmed with relief, fear and mountains of buzzing happiness, that she didn't even think over what she was doing.
She turned her gaze up at Haruta's face, however it made her jump slightly when she saw their expression, which was completely outraged. Deep blue eyes narrowed down into a livid, cold stare, lips turned up into a dark sneer.
What happened? Did I make them mad?
Alex came to the conclusion that her dumb hug had made them angry, she knew that stuff like that annoyed everyone. Mother always used to get angry over how clingy she was too. What was it she used to say? 'Nobody would want a half-breed stinking up the place with their pathetic shows of weakness'
No wonder she left... who would want Alex of all people anywhere near them?
The girl felt ashamed, releasing Haruta from her arms, she opened her mouth to apologise, but was abruptly shocked by what happened next... The red-head suddenly pulled her back into another hug, she could feel their chin brushing the top of her head as they looked left and right as if searching for something.
"Do I need to beat someone up?! Hey Alex, did some asshole try to hurt you, you're all sweaty and hot, were they chasing you!?"
Huh?
Alex went completely still, her eye blinking several times in under a second as her brain started to buffer. She was utterly confused that she made a weird noise at the back of her throat as she tried to speak.
What do they mean? Wha- Uh? What?
"Ugggghhh! There you guys are! Do you know how long I've been searching for?" Namur dragged himself through some adults that had no intention of moving, he received some negative commentary off them and hurried along.
Haruta let a 'still rather puzzled' Alex out of their hold, immediately turning to the shark boy still looking royally mad. "We need to go beat up those guys that made Alex upset! When I found her she was all out of breath and sweaty, so those guys must of been chasing her!"
"What! Where?! I'll bet it was some racist ass wipes! Alex where did they go? I'm not having my little sister being bullied for looking human! Not when those guys are the same ones that get it in the neck from hum‐"
Alex wasn't exactly sure what was happening, though she'd got the gist of it. Her words came out in a fast panicked stutter, the girl had never been good at interrupting people. She didn't want them going off to beat someone up that hadn't even done anything. "W-wwait! N-ono... No. I wasn't being chased..."
Though she had no idea why they were suddenly being all- Mad? Upset? She didn't get it? Even if she was being chased, that wasn't something Haruta and Namur needed to worry about, it would have been her own fault probably and a problem she'd have to deal with. Alex wouldn't want them getting in trouble because of her own screw up.
"Then why did Haruta say you were?" Namur questioned, he relaxed a bit, instead turning to glare at the ginger kid in annoyance, he raised his brow just to enhance the growing expression of irritability.
"I thought she was! Al was running around all freaked out, shoving mermaids and Fishmen out of the way. She was like some kind of bull, making them fly everywhere, that's literally how I found her. She looked all scared then just tackle hugged me. You tell me that doesn't sound like someone being chased" Haruta finally breathed, they'd been talking so fast that Alex could barely keep up.
"Why didn't you just ask her, instead of getting all riled up, huh? Haru you need to stop and think before jumping to conclusions." The boy reprimanded, he sounded tired and fed up already.
"I donno, guess I was just mad that Alex was being chased or some shit... which I suppose I should have asked about... but Nam's you gotta admit that sounds like something a chased person would do, right?"
"... Alex are you okay now? We should probably get you something to drink... considering somebody snatched the only drink you've had in a week." Namur snapped.
"But she didn't like it! She shouldn't have to drink something she doesn't like!" Haruta retorted loudly, in response the Fishman bared his teeth, a low growl at the back of his throat, then smacked the ginger around the skull again. "She still needs to drink something dumbass! She was on fluids, but that was yesterday afternoon. So Alex needs to drink something now to stay hydrated and she needs to take her meds! Which let me remind you are for a heart condition that almost killed her!"
"Fuck... yeah... no my bad. Sorry Al." Haruta flinched, though they didn't retaliate to the whack over the head this time, instead looking concerned.
"YOU KNOW!" Alex on the other hand shouted loudly completely shocked, her mind reeling, when- how‐ HOW? The girl never told anyone about her condition, it was a big fat weakness that she didn't want anyone knowing about.
She'd gotten so much flack over it, her mother and Grandmother's family were all so ashamed of her. It was like this big terrible thing to them and as such it had become a big deal to Alex too. Her condition was this big red sign proving that she wasn't just a half-breed runt born to a pirate, it was a weakness... A offensive weakness that an Elbafthien Warrior would be shamed for. It meant that she was always going to be a failure, she was never going to be more than a nuisance and a hindrance that nobody had time for.
At least Papi cared, he never once shamed her for the heart condition. In fact he was almost a little too overbearing. He didn't like her doing anything, not that it had ever stopped Alex, she didn't want to be some sick kid stuck in the house, she wanted excitement and adventure.
"Haruta found your medication lying on the floor. Tam said that If they hadn't found them, then she could have treated you with the wrong drugs and exacerbated your condition. She found out what those tablets did, then was able to figure out the best way to help you. So it was really lucky. " Namur explained calmly, which admittedly did put Alex at ease a bit. But she still didn't like having something so personal being known, especially to those pirates...
Why did they bother to help me?
Honestly, that's what bothered her the most, they had no reason. Maybe to sell out Alex to the Marines maybe? She was wanted alive afterall, so if the girl had died that wouldn't have gotten them her bounty... but then again... was 21.000.000 beli even worth the effort? Certainly not to a Yonko, that old geezer was probably loaded, 21.000.000 beli was most likely chump change in their eyes.
And of course, if they had seen her bounty poster, then they would have seen her- that old geezer's name... which would have probably have gotten her killed faster.
Everyone, whether friend or foe, that learned the truth always said the exact same thing: He'd kill her. Plain and simple...
He was one of the four Yonko for a reason, he was deemed a dangerous evil criminal, worthy of that title... Alex had already experienced the consequences of being his child first hand, people wouldn't try to get revenge on her if it wasn't for that man's wrong doings...
Of course the girl took no notice of what the Marines said, but all the other people that considered him an enemy, well that told her all she needed to know.
Which brought her back to the same damn question, why save her? Well dwelling on it for hours on end wasn't going to do much good.
She looked over to Namur and Haruta, they seemed to be discussing something? Alex had been deep in her own head again, too busy asking questions that she probably wouldn't even get answers to- unless she asked, which did not seem appealing...
The girl had already been through enough emotional trauma today, the thought of getting those answers would probably push her over the edge.
For now she'd rather be in ignorant bless...
And anyway it didn't even matter! It's not like she was ever going back to that ship anyway, she had her frien- "We need to go back to the ship" Namur sighed, Alex's mouth dropped, was he actually being serious right now? They'd just escaped why would he wanna go back?!
"But I don't wanna... we just found Al, can't we just go to this café place!" Haruta whined, they had their arms crossed and were pulling a exaggerated pout.
"Alex's meds are in the cabin and she needs them"
As soon as those words were out of Namur's mouth, Alex went straight to fumbling frantically in an attempt to find the tiny bottle, it wasn't in her cloth sash like it normally would have been... she didn't have any pockets and her hair couldn't store food or anything edible for that matter.
Which meant-"They're on the ship!" The blonde wailed, clutching her forehead as panic was starting to take root again. No! NO! She needed them! No! Maybe, maybe she could live without them for a while... it was one thing going back to that place for her friends, that was a different story. Namur and Haruta were important!
"Relax Alex, we'll just head back and get them, it won't take long." The shark smiled gently resting his webbed hand on her shoulder. The try of reassurance from the older teenager, did nothing to quell the massive freak out that was about to come from of the girl.
Thankfully Alex was abruptly stopped mid the forming panic as the scent of fire and feathers caught her attention. Which was followed by a familiar voice "There you guys are, yoi" Then a second later the shout was accompanied by the sound crackling flames and flapping. It was Marco, his blue azure sparking in the 'sky' as he was flying towards them.
Haruta was bouncing on the spot waving at him as he approached, he elegantly touched down in front of the three teenagers, he wasn't full phoenix this time, only his wings, talons and tail feathers were present. The rest of Marco looked like a normal
palm tree
He flicked away the flames, causing his the phoenix parts to look like an ordinary bird's, then they shrunk, the feathers retreated revealing skin and finally they formed back into human limbs. He was just a pal- human. He was a human...
Why is he here? Is he here to drag us back?! But Haruta is happy to see him... they were fine with last night too... Alex stood there frowning, both worried and confused, she didn't get this at all...
"Oh! Hey Marco what you doing here?" Haruta asked in a chipper tone, Marco sighed giving them a hair ruffle which got a small giggle out of the 13-year-old.
Marco had turned towards Alex, her forehead was starting to get sweaty and was trying very hard to look tough, she grit her teeth, forcing her body to stop shaking The blond man reached out towards her, making her tense, then opened his hand offering her something.
It was her bottle of tablets...
"Tam asked me to deliver these, you guys left in such a hurry that you forgot them, yoi" Marco said lazily giving the girl a calm smile, she found herself lifting her arm up, fingers uncurling from where her claws had been dug into fists. He gently placed them in Alex's sweaty palm which was violently shaking.
"Th-thanks..." The half-giant whispered, the tough guy act completely gone, she just looked like a scared little girl. Quietly trying not to cry, eye stinging, her body hunched over making herself look smaller. The fishman put his arm around her shoulders, steering her towards his chest and held her in a hug.
"Nice timing we were just about to head back to get them." Namur told Marco with a slight worried edge, Haruta on the other hand was oblivious as per usual and cheered throwing their arms into the air in excitement. "Great! Thanks Marco! We can finally go! Thought I was gonna die of boredom!"
"Where you guys headed, yoi" The man asked absently, he was staring at the shaking girl in Namur's arms. The shark smiled, kinda happy for the distraction. "A Mermaid café"
"Mermaid café... the one your mother worked at, yoi?"
"Yup, thought it'd be nice to drop in and see everyone again. And you tell them about- uh, you know. I bet they were worried about me... Also they'd let us have stuff for free..."
"You sound like Pops, Nam's your not gonna start being all cheap like him..." Haruta laughed, making both Namur and Marco snigger a bit.
"Heh! That sounds like a good plan, they were good to you after all. Well I have things to do, don't get in any trouble and make sure Cat takes her meds and has plenty to drink, have fun and be back before dinner time, yoi" Marco tossed over his shoulder as he spun on his heel leaving the kids, he put his hand up in a wave good bye and shifted back into his partial form and flew off back towards the Moby Dick.
"Let's go! Wait what's wrong with Al?"
"She's just tired, you know she's still recovering. I'm just gonna carry her for a while, let her have a rest you know. So don't worry about it, let's just get going." Namur smiled lying through his teeth.
Quickly ushering Alex into a piggyback, once again being stunned by how heavy she felt, but he shrugged it off and took off in a run, prompting their younger sibling to complain loudly and run after him.
Things would be better soon.