You knew perfectly well not to tempt fate without someone who had years of experience beside you to prevent the worst from happening. In fact, the whole situation actually put a knot in your stomach, but you understood enough to get an idea of what you two were going to work through together.
Coco had explained it to the best of his abilities, but even he was first to admit that this was unfamiliar territory that you were both treading into. However, he had made it abundantly clear that this was something the two of you were going to work through together, andonlytogether. If you hesitated, then he would give you space to collect your thoughts, and he would only continue if you gave him the go ahead. However, he had basically implored you not to try anything to do with poison when he wasn't with you, and his availability was sporadic at best. Part of you wanted to continue full-steam ahead into the unknown, while an equally large part of you wanted to abandon it all and return to your happy, comfortable life without the risk.
Deep down, you knew that the rest of you wouldn't be able to live without him though, and so, you mustered your courage and talked over your future; mapping out plans and processes that would increase this discovered mithridatism your body possessed. Except, it wasn't so much that you needed to developnewantibodies, but rather, you already had a natural immunity to toxins. The hard part was trying to find out which ones that you were protected against, and how to develop them further. You could focus on developing new ones later once you both had a gauge on your existing abilities.
The two of you agreed that poisons rooted in purple colouring, and highly possibly reds, would have a much higher chance of being negated by your body. Therefore, you both felt it feasible to start in the safest possible spectrum of colours and then you would expand further when you had more conclusive information. What you were intrigued by was just exactly whichpartof you gave you your resistance to the toxins.
"You remember when you cried on me, correct?" Coco asked calmly from the couch, lifting his eyes from the same small snippet of information in his gifted book that he had read time and time again.
"Please don't remind me. I'm still embarrassed over the whole situation." You said, the tips of your ears turning pink with heat as you sprayed water over the little vase of flowers on your kitchen countertop.
"My intention isn't to bring up old negativity." Coco said with an apologetic look. "I'm bringing it up because you did something that had me confused for a very long time."
"My gross sobbing confused you? I didn't realise you were that devoid of interaction." You joked, trying to quell the shame you were feeling inside. You all too vividly remember the way he had cradled you in his arms as you wept uncontrollably.
"Not the crying, but it was your tears specifically." He explained, his own guilt flaring up at the look on your face. "It was more so what happened after."
"What'd they do?"
"Well, they reacted with my skin and when I used my poison, my chest would stay free from it. No matter how much I used, there was always this spot that it wouldn't cross into. Not for a while, anyhow."
"So, my tears hold the power?"
"Well currently, I can say for certain that they do at least, but I'm not sure if the answer is just in your body fluids or if it's deeper than that."
"You have an innate way of making me sound like a weird science experiment. I feel like a petri dish of questions."
You expected some sort of back-and-forth from the King, but an awkward tension responded instead. You looked over your shoulder, surprised to see him staring at the floor with his face taut with concern.
"Hey, everything alright?" You questioned gently, pausing your spraying and focussing your full attention on him. Coco failed to answer once more and you put the spray bottle down and wandered across the space to crouch in front of him.
"Coco, are you there?" You said, putting your hand on his knee gently. Your touch snapped him out of his reverie and his eyes focused on yours.
"Hm? Yes, lots of questions about you." He said, trying to save face and connect his disjointed response back to your earlier remark. He gave you a smile that you could tell didn't reach his eyes.
"What's eating you? Is it something I said?" You asked, not bothering to beat around the bush.
"Oh, no, not you specifically." Coco stuttered, trying to collect his thoughts, which was rather abnormal of him.
"So what is it?"
Coco paused, taking a moment to try and swallow down a small lump in his throat that had developed.
"I don't want you to think I'm experimenting with you." He said.
Oh.
Of course that would give him pause.
"Coco, we're working through this together." You assured him, taking his hands in yours and giving them a small squeeze. "This is all consensual. Promise."
"You'll tell me if it's not, right?"
"Of course. Just like I want you to tell me anything you're uncomfortable with too. Got it?"
"Got it."
This time, he gave you a genuine little smile, and you returned it.
"In the meantime-"
You started, shifting your grip in one hand to then isolate his index finger before taking it into your mouth. You smirked a little at the way his eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed pink so quickly as you sucked on it gently; deliberately dragging it slowly past your lips as your tongue lapped at it gently.
"-try and use your poison now." You said, letting go of his hand to let him remove the green wrapping from around his wrist. He nodded, face still hot with his blush. You both watched as his hand began to swirl with that familiar purple, but his index finger remained his lovely pale hue.
"Guess we can safely say that it's in my saliva too." You concluded matter-of-factly. "I'm going to take a calculated guess that it's in all of my body fluid, so it's in my cells."
"A-Ah, yes, I would consider th-that a fairly reasonable assumption." Coco said, trying to avoid stumbling over his words as he tied his bandage around his wrist. He averted his eyes from you during so, swallowing thickly to try and remove a particularly much more stubborn lump that had developed behind his Adam's apple.
"Wonderful. Well, then I guess I better go out and try and find as many poisons as I can." You said, enjoying the way he seemed to fumble slightly with his actions. "Come home safely, won't you?"
"I promise I will. You're sure that you'll be alright out there by yourself?" Coco's eyes finally connected to yours once again, and your stomach seemed to melt slightly at the genuine care behind his irises.
"I'll be fine." You reassured, rising up and grabbing a pleather jacket that was waiting at the ready by the table and slipping into it seamlessly. "It's cute that you care so much."
"I tend to be protective of the things dear to me." Coco mused, following your lead and collecting his minimal, wayward belongings.
"If this is protective, then I wonder how you'd be if I genuinely was in a crisis." You joked, swooping at an opportunity to plant a kiss on his forehead as he bent over slightly to collect his cape. His mouth pulled into a small smile automatically at the feeling.
"I hope that I'll never have to."
*
"You're absolutely sure that this is what you want to do?"
"Yes. Completely."
"But you must remember not to try any of the foods without me present. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand, I'm not silly."
An exchange between you and Coco had earlier played on repeat in your mind. While certainly not silly, you weren't being particularly successful either and you let out a loud sigh, traipsing through the market, so heartily dubbed the World Kitchen. Indeed, while there were ingredients of all manner that lay before you that all looked deliciously inviting, none of them matched the criteria you were going for. Although, while you suspected that anything poisonous wouldn't be on display for all to buy, you thought you'd at least get a lead on something. Sadly, you were coming up bust and the racket of noise around you was giving you a headache.
You rubbed your temples and backed up against the side of a large steel shed. You groaned, trying to think of what your next move was going to be.
"Are you lost?"
You snapped your head up and were met with a pair of eyes shielded by trendy sunglasses and the easy grin of a man who looked vaguely familiar to you. He scratched a hand through his wild onyx hair to move it away from his face.
"Oh, ah, not physically." You laughed lightly. "Mentally though, that's a whole other question."
"Well, let me see if I can help." The stranger said, leaning his shoulder against the shed and crossed his legs slightly. "Whatcha looking for? I know this market like it's my own house."
"Ah, a few different things, but I'm not sure if I'll find any of them here, truthfully." You smiled gently at him; wracking your brains to stop the gnawing in your mind about why his face was so familiar.
"Try me."
You were hesitant to admit your shopping list to a stranger, but the longer you looked at him, more pieces began to fall into place in your mind.
"I'm really sorry, but we've met before haven't we? You're a friend of Toriko's, right?" You asked cautiously and felt some slight relief at the way the grin on the tanned man opposite you grew a little bit larger. The deep scar that stretched down the left side of his face moved with his skin as his grin split wider.
"I suppose you could say that. Now that you mention it, I think I do recognise your face."
He stood up straight and jerked his thumb at himself.
"The name's Tom." He introduced cheerily.
"Yes! That's right! The wholesaler!" You said, recognition suddenly clicking together. "Well, yes, then I do think you can help me! You can call me, ah, Sugar."
"A name as sweet as the face it belongs to." Tom flirted lightly, and it was enough for you to crack a small smile. If this was the direction he was taking, then you felt no issue playing along to get what you wanted.
"Now, what's a lovely lady like you looking for today?" Tom said, giving you a beaming grin.
"I need poison."
Tom faltered slightly and tipped his face down to peek at you over his frames.
"...I heard that correctly, didn't I?" He said with a highly raised eyebrow.
"You did." You laughed lightly. "And I know it sounds bad, I do, but I promise I'm not planning anything illegal."
"You're not some sort of scorned woman exacting her revenge are you?" Tom joked, still eyeing you off.
"Oh gosh no, not at all. I'm a good girl...for the most part."
You saw Tom's eyebrow twitch slightly on that remark and he grinned once more.
"I see." He said playfully. "But getting back to the original topic, what would a woman like yourself need with poison? Not something you find as a regular pantry staple, honestly."
"I'm doing some research on poisons and antibodies, personally." You said, not wanting to give too much away. "And I wondered if there may have been something here in the World Kitchen that I could practice my findings on."
Tom rubbed his chin in thought.
"Hmm, well, it's not exactly something that you're able to find here usually, even with how vast the choices are." He hummed.
"Somehow I had a feeling." You said, a little deflated.
"That's being said, us wholesalers tend to talk to one another..." He grinned coyly, and it piqued your interest. "A certain one might know of another that occasionally procures goods that are generally seen as, ah, troublesome for the most part."
You feigned ignorance and batted your eyelashes at him sweetly while placing a hand on your cheek gently.
"Do you think this certain wholesaler could help me out?" You said sweetly; a small lilt to your voice as you looked up at him cutely through your lashes. "I'd be ever so grateful to him if he could."
Tom leaned on the shed; his elbow elevated at an angle that flexed his bicep around his white jacket. You made sure to give his display a courteous glance. You didn't know if he was always this forward, but he was falling into your ploy hook, line and sinker at this rate. To his credit, he was in fantastic shape and he had no reason to be shy of his physique; but it did pale slightly to one of a certain Heavenly King. Besides, if Toriko thought well of him, he couldn't be bad, in your opinion.
"I reckon I could get him to do some digging." Tom smiled happily, crossing his leg back over with his other hand on his hip. "Although, 'poisonous' is kind of a broad generalisation, strangely enough. Do you have any specifics?"
"Purples and reds, if he can find them for me. And the cost doesn't matter either." You advised, hoping that would extend your chances of success. From your own experience, people generally made better on their words if there was a sweeter financial addition.
"Well, no one can say that you didn't come here without any idea of what you wanted." Tom chuckled. "If you don't mind waiting around for a little bit, I can see what I can do for you."
"I'd really appreciate that." You said, giving Tom one of your most saccharine smiles. "You'll let me know what I owe you for your trouble though, right? Doing all this extra work for little old me..."
"I'm always happy to help out a damsel in distress." Tom joked, tipping the brim of his sunflower yellow GOURMET cap down at you briefly. "And I don't mind a little extra work here and there, especially when it puts such a nice smile on a face like yours."
"Tom, please, you'll make me blush with words like that." You flirted back, playing hard to get.
"Mm, well, red is my favourite colour after all."
"Oh that's so funny, because it's my favourite too." You giggled, stepping in close to him to run your index finger over his chest in a small heart shape on his chest. Tom made a note of amusement and you could see a very faint tint of blush cross over his cheeks at your rather forward action. He straightened himself up before his knee could buckle out from underneath him and he cleared his throat.
"Well, ah, let me make some calls." He said with a grin as one of your hands played idly with a lock of your hair. "Don't go too far now, okay?"
"Not at all." You continued to smile sweetly at him. "Can't leave my saviour hanging, can I?"
"Leave it to me!" Tom gave you an enthusiastic thumbs up and he wandered back into the large metallic shed of his docking port. An embellished emerald and gold embroidered dragon winked back at you on the back of his jacket as he walked away. A pang of guilt smattered through you as you knew you were intentionally toying with someone's feelings that was helping you out considerably. Your flirting was all just to make progress, nothing more, but it did leave you feeling sorry for the wholesaler; he seemed like he might genuinely be somewhat interested in you, if not simply just for your looks.
With a sigh, you leaned against the shed once more and took a few deep breaths to settle yourself; closing your eyes against the late afternoon sun. If Tom could pull through with his contacts though, it would mean that you would be one step closer to being able to find out more about this strange and abnormal ability you seemed to possess. One step closer to being able to share more than just a brief moment of making out with Coco. Perhaps, even, you two might be able to get up close and personal sooner than you thought.
A tempting thought about Coco gently kissing the crook of your neck wormed its way into your mind, with his hands running down your body started to make you feel giddy. There had been plenty of times where you had imagined such scenarios and they were becoming much more frequent. There was a sort of enticing anticipation that was developing because of it; so much of you wanted to act on those impulses soon. You wanted to feel him pressed up against you and to feel his cool skin flush with heat as you touched him to excite him; to give him that intimacy that life had so cruelly taken away from him before.
As you were wrapped up in all of these thoughts, you didn't notice Tom's return before he gave you a gentle little tap on your shoulder and your sight was greeted by his beaming grin once more.
"Thinking about something nice, are we?" Tom asked with a gentle chuckle.
"What gave you that idea?" You questioned, blinking at him slightly.
"Well, it could have been the little smile you had on your face. Plus you didn't answer me when I called your name."
'Oh, I didn't?" You said, scratching your cheek slightly out of embarrassment. "Sorry about that. But you're right, I certainly was thinking of something nice."
"Care to share?"
"Well, perhaps I was thinking about being up close and wrapping my arms around a big, burly gentleman." You winked, giving him a coy smile. "That is, if he had any good news to share with me?"
'Well you're in luck, Sugar, because I think I may have pulled through for you on this one." Tom grinned, standing proudly with his hands on his hips.
"Really?!"
"Yep! When I say I want to help a lady out, I'm good to my word."
Tom produced a small little business card out of his pocket between his index fingers and handed it to you. You looked over the address that Tom had written down on the back of it, and your heart started to drum faster in your chest as you scanned over his bold, slanted handwriting.
"You'll want to go to this place after dark and ask for Goro." Tom said. "The bar is the 'Roasted Shank'."
"Sounds like something you'd find downtown, that's for sure." You hummed.
"Yeah, but it is in the seedy part of town, though." Tom added, concern in his voice. "I was hoping to avoid sending you through that district. It's not the most pleasant at the best of times."
"That's very sweet of you, but I'll be alright." You smiled sweetly up at his caramel-skinned face. "I might not look it, but I can take care of myself pretty well when needed."
"You've got a peppery sort of spunk about you, Sugar." Tom grinned. "I hope you'll be able to find what you're looking for though."
"Well, this is certainly a lot more than I was getting on my own. Now, how much do I owe you?"
"Nothing at all."
"I wouldn't feel right not giving you at leastsomethingin return."
"Honestly it was no trouble. Although..."
"Although?"
Tom scratched the back of his head; a slight air of hesitation to his disposition now.
"Perhaps I could buy you a drink sometime? That is, if you had some free time after all this research that you'll be doing."
The whole action was so endearing that you couldn't help but catch your tongue between your teeth and your lips pulled into a genuine little smile at his forwardness. Perhaps, in another time, one long before your life became so intertwined with Coco you would be inclined to indulge yourself in something more with the wholesaler in front of you. However, time's arrow constantly marches forward, and you were more than sure you were beyond smitten with the Heavenly King. There was no going back for you, but that didn't mean that you couldn't still build a rapport with him that wasn't romantically inclined.
It had been some time since you had made new acquaintances that had nothing to do with being an escort. However, you had to finish your little ploy off, just to seal the deal and keep Tom in your back pocket for the time being. You'll just have to let him down easy at another, less critical time.
"I'm sure that I can find some time to do that." You said sincerely. "But I'll buy the drinks, okay? After all, it's the least I could do for the help you've given me today."
Tom's smile grew wide.
"I think I can work with that." He said happily. "Have you ever thought about working in the trade business? You're quite good at negotiating."
"Oh, I've worked my way around many people in my life." You laughed. 'But you're a hard one to say no to as well, you know. You're very charming."
"With words like that, you'll make me blush this time, Sug-Oh!"
You looped your arms around his strong frame and pulled him into a small squeeze of a hug; the action catching him off guard momentarily before he followed your lead and gave you a small pat on your back.
"Well, would you look at that? I guess my thoughts did come true," You said slyly by his ear before letting go. "And look! Guess my words aren't the only way to make you blush."
"Aha, well, would you look at that!" Tom chuckled bashfully; his face flushed. "You got me good, Sugar. Can't argue with you there."
"Hm hm! Now, if I was looking for a certain, strong wholesaler with some luscious hair, this is where I'd find him, yes?"
"This is pretty much my usual haunt, yes."
"Good to know. I'll drop in sometime soon and we can have that drink we're booked in for. Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect."
"Great! Well, in any case, I best get going then..."
You stepped quickly back into Tom's personal space and gave him a swift peck on his cheek before gliding gracefully past him. His fingers flew to the place your lips had graced his cheek and he whipped around to look over his shoulder. You peeked over your own and gave him a small, gentle wave with your fingers.
"See you 'round, Tom!" You called coolly, before putting your hands into the pockets of your leather jacket and strolling off into the crowd of the World Kitchen; fingers clutching that small business card as if it were a bank note.
Tom, lost for words, only waved back at you; a goofy grin plastered on his face. Today had certainly been one of the more interesting days in his career in the markets, but there was little doubt that he ranked it in one of the top five. Best of all, he had a very entertaining drink to be looking forward to.
**
The Roasted Shank certainly fit the image you had in your mind when you first heard its name. It was constructed out of a deep coloured wood that seemingly blended into the night around it; its only giveaways being the soft amber lanterns that glowed through the windows as it sat nestled between two cement restaurants either side of it. They almost appeared to be supporting the dark eatery; like makeshift braces that held up its foundations for it.
You made a small note of amusement to yourself, realising that you had passed this specific spot several times in your life, but never particularly paid attention to it because of how well attention was drawn away from it by its surroundings. You'd been in this part of town a number of times; generally as arm candy for past clients. This area, while not completely foreign to you, still gave you the occasional shiver of unease down your spine.
Although, the last time you had been in this district of town, you had left it sporting a black eye and a bruised soul. This could be the reason a brick of ice had settled into your stomach, but you were chalking it up to hesitation.
Generally, you listen to your gut instincts.
The heavy wooden front door pushed open with a small squeak as you slipped inside. Much to your relief, there were only two people you could see in the dining room. A large silhouette of a man, obscured by the shadows of the interior, sat deep in the back corner with his back to the door, while another sat close to the entryway. He had on a black suit that seemed oddly refined than what one could expect to be dining here. He flicked his eyes up at you once before paying you no more heed; returning to his meal without a word. The barkeep acknowledged your presence with a small nod of his head before continuing to wipe out a large tankard in his small hands. He had a small, rat-like appearance; small, beady coal irises and a wide forehead with a small tuft of black hair in the centre of his peculiarly balding head. You stepped up to the bar and he looked at you through his small eyes.
"Hey." You said calmly, trying to quell the unease in your system before you made a fool of yourself.
"You don't look like the usual type to walk in through my doors." The barkeep said gruffly. His voice was somehow deeper than his appearance would insinuate. "You need something?"
"Yeah, I'm looking for someone actually. Was told I could find him here?" You said, feigning confidence.
"You can find many a'people round these parts. Depends on if I know them." The barkeep said, giving you a stern look.
"I'm looking for someone named Goro. Would you happen to know him?"
"Well, that depends. Who wants to know?"
"Tom sent me?"
"Ahhh, you must be Sugar!"
Suddenly, the barkeep's voice changed from that dulcet timbre to a much more nasally tone; like a switch had been flipped.
"Yeah, that's me. Do you know him?"
"Of course I know Goro. That'd be me!"
"Oh, that makes things easier." You chuckled, leaning your arms on the wooden countertop between two stools. "Tom should have called about me earlier?"
"Yes, yes, I know exactly why you're here now. Give me one moment and I'll bring out my wares."
"Sure thing."
While Goro stepped away and into a room behind the bar with his weedy frame, you heard the rumbling of wood scraping upon wood, and the gentleman closest to the door pulled himself up out of his chair and strode out towards the door. You managed to spy a small star-like insignia clipped to the knot of his tie, but he was too far away to make it out clearly. As he moved, you made eye contact with him and gave him a small smile. He said nothing and made his way into the dark street, and you raised your eyebrows briefly with a silent'okay'to yourself. You tapped a finger on the countertop as you waited, taking in the smell of stale alcohol and malt in the air with every breath. The quiet still of the place was broken by the sounds of wet chewing and the occasional release of a burp from the boulder of the man in the corner; which you politely ignored. They reminded you of what a wild beast would sound like after having captured its prey and devouring it without remorse.
"Alrighty, here's what I've got for you lil' lady."
Goro came back; carrying two large gourmet cases stacked in his hands which he seemed to be struggling to carry at once. With a small heave, he wrested them onto the countertop and you looked at them with wide, curious eyes. Inside the sunny-yellow cases were roughly-cut hunks of meat floating in a clear, water-like substance that had tinged purple. One of the meats seemed to be bleeding purple poison into the solution, and it bubbled ever so lightly as it did so. The other was an almost marbled piece of indigo and lilac skin and muscle.
"That one there's the Dugamold tripe." Goro said, pointing to the one that was bubbling. "Some sort of a fishy-crocodile thing found in the marshlands, and the other is the hind of a Giga Gila. Both are hard to come by, but I reckon they might suit your tastes."
"How'd you even get these?" You asked, studying the ingredients before you.
"I know some people that know some people." Goro shrugged. "Everyone's got a flavour for something."
"Well, I suppose that's true." You breathed quietly as you continued to look over them both. Queasiness was settling in at the growing thought that you were knowingly going to ingest at least one of these, and so far, neither looked particularly inviting. "Can you tell me which one has more poison in it?"
"The tripe. Seeing as how it's stomach lining mostly, it's where the beast would generate the most toxins from before it spits it out when needed."
"I see..."
The door squeaked open once more and a series of heavy footfalls thudded on the wooden flooring. Goro's eyes flicked up at his new visitors and he gave them a plastic smile.
"Ahh yes yes, I'm so glad to see you sir!" He practically gushed. "For a moment I didn't think you were coming!"
"I had something important to do first."
Something about that gruff voice made your blood turn cold and you stiffened; waiting.
"My deepest apologies." Goro snivelled, tapping his fingers together by his chest. "While Miss Sugar here is still deciding, I'll go and collect your ingredients for you, Nendou sir."
Run.
Goro scampered off into the back room once more and left you at the countertop. You turned ever so slightly to look over your shoulder; your blood now shifting from cold to icy as you confirmed your suspicions. Behind you stood the obese build of the last man that you had offered yourself up to as an escort. He, who had laid his hands on you and left you feeling like a husk of a human.
You steadied your breath and decided that you were going to take the Giga Gila. It was a snap decision, but all of the alarm senses in your system were screaming at you that you needed to leave.The thing was, you couldn't just leave now; not without securing your ingredient properly, and to do that, you needed Goro to come back.
Maybe Nendou hadn't noticed that it was you. He'd only seen the back of you, and he was mostly used to seeing you bent over furniture in the dimly lit nightclub he owned. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't realise who was in front of him and you could leave unscathed-
Nendou pressed his hips up against your ass and gripped his hands on your hips, forcing you to stay wedged up between the wood and his engorged belly. You stiffened further and he kept you close against him.
"You haven't been returning my calls."
The awful stench of his breath breathed over your ear as he folded himself over you; his low voice running a ripple of fright down your spine as your feet felt rooted to the ground now. He had you pinned in a vice and you swallowed deeply.
"I don't know what you're talking about." You said, a small waver in your voice that you hoped he wouldn't detect.
"Don't lie to me!" Nendou growled, bucking his hips against you, pushing you further into the counter and he leaned more heavily over you. "I've been missing my little gourmet slut. Where've you been, Sugar?"
"I don't-I don't do that thing any more!" You choked out, trying not to gag on his halitosis and under his weight.
"You didn't like my money? Or is it that you didn't want to feel cheap anymore, right?"
Cruel malice dripped from his words and you could feel one of his hands toying with the bottom of your shirt and trying to worm its way under the hem. He was thwarted only by the fact that you had tucked your shirt into your jeans and he couldn't quite reach enough distance to pull the fabric out enough with him squashing you.
"I couldn't give a shit about your money any more Nendou." You hissed, trying to push him off of you. "I don't need you any more, and I'm not your plaything, so get off of me."
"Ha, that's not what you used to tell me." Nendou mocked, running his hands instead over the swells of your breast on the outside of your clothing roughly. "You used to tell me all the ways you loved how it felt to have me inside of you."
You could feel yourself beginning to get hot from exerting effort to escape his hold. His hands made your stomach churn with the way they brushed over all of your being. Your heart was beating so hard inside of you and you were starting to take smaller, shallow breaths. Your hands were trapped under both your weight and you started to feel like you were going to be stuck here at his mercy, with your frustration reaching a tipping point that made your eyes water lightly.
"I'd say this is a pretty good spot for you to make it back to me for dodging me for so long, don't you think?" Nendou goaded. "You always did look your best bent over with your ass in the air."
His hands moved from your front and pawed at the edge of your jeans, gripping them with his thick fingers intending to pull them down for access.
"You've got such a pretty little cu-"
Nendou's hands jolted away from your body like a jolt of electricity had zapped through them.
"The fuck?!"
He tried to lay his hands on you once more but the same effect happened; and you could swear that you saw a scarlet hue ghost over your skin as he clawed fruitlessly. Something was barring his assault from continuing, and with every attempt, that scarlet aura buzzed like deep static in your ears.
What you could only describe as a phantom apparition made its way into your vision that chilled you to the bone; more than any threat that Nendou could make towards you. Its large domed head and sharp bat-like ears, and a body the colour of deep moss with blazing gold scars. It pierced your soul with its viridian irises with sheer terror. You felt like you were going to be eaten alive by its gaping maw of sharp crooked teeth before it faded out of your sight; leaving you jelly-legged and your heart on the verge of a cardiac arrest.
You felt Nendou's body wrenched off of yours and you gasped for a deep breath after having the air squashed out of you moments prior.
Run.
Your brain connected with your feet and you pushed yourself away from the counter, abandoning the Giga Gila cutting on the counter. You stumbled past a mountain of a being standing next to the slimy ogre that was Nendou, who had suddenly found himself dwarfed by this other human. Your flight senses were running in overdrive and you neglected to get a good look at who it was that had seemingly come to your aid, because there was always the probability that a far more pressing danger had approached. All you took notice of was a pair of mocha coloured boots as you picked yourself up off of the Shank's floor and escaped into the freedom outside, running as fast as you could away from the danger.
Far be it from Zebra to involve himself in the business of others. He found it bothersome and he always had his own things to do. But he had heard your approach far sooner than you would ever realise and it piqued his interest; why the small baker from the corner coffee shop would tread into such a dingy part of town alone. He was interested, but he wasn't about to disrupt his dinner and call out to you. You could do whatever you wanted, he figured. He was trying to recuperate after a tussle with a beast in the wild. Its venomous spur had left him with a nasty lesion across his temple. Zebra was slower at making antibodies, so he was left with a ringing in his ear because of the damage while he recovered.
There are few things in this world that Zebra had particularly strong feelings about. Filling his belly was always going to be his number one priority, and he would do it by any means he felt necessary. The second, though, was that he could not stand those that thought they were above others. This rule extended long past just simple human beings; beasts and creatures were also held in that same regard. People, however, got under his skin much easier and tripped his anger; generally due to attempts at deceit which he could pick out before a lie came out of anyone's mouth.
This little Sweets Maid, as Zebra had so personally dubbed in his mind, reminded him a lot of the chef Komatsu; that same sort of kind naiveté of the world that rarely was diminished about them. While your food wasn't quite at the same level as his, he wouldn't call it bad by any sense; there was something about you that he just couldn't quite put his finger on, but it kept bringing him back to the café. The thing that he appreciated the most was how quickly you had adapted to him when he happened to wander in. You didn't scamper off like a coward at the sight of him like so many others do, and you understood that he just wanted to eat, which you accommodated. Unlike Komatsu, there was a bite to you that he could only guess was garnered from life experience. He would never openly admit it, but he appreciated the way you treated him and the way you kept him fed.
So when one of his sources of food was currently being threatened, it triggered his aggression and Hell would be damned if he would let anything happen to it. If he could protect it, then he would at all costs. He'd been listening well enough as he cleaned his plate of the rather disappointing 'Boozers Banquet' he'd ordered prior; but he had picked up on the spike in your blood pressure when the new visitor had piped up. He'd abandoned sucking the marrow out of the Bacchus Lamb bones on his plate when his ears detected that trace of desperation in your throat; almost-silent whimpers that had leaked through your cracking shell of confidence. It also pissed him off knowing that the rattish bartender was watching the events in the back room; more than likely stroking himself at it with the way his breath became that familiar ragged hitching and the tiny little words of affirmation he was whispering to himself throughout.
This was, indeed, how Nendou found himself with Zebra's fist around his fat neck and was trying to gasp for air. His ham-sized hands were becoming clammy as he tried to pull away Zebra's larger digits and Zebra glowered at him.
"You wanna explain what that was all about?" Zebra growled and he relished in hearing the other man's heart begin to beat faster still from his earlier intimidation. He loosened his grip slightly and Nendou's feet found purchase on the ground once more while he wedged his hands between Zebra's fingers and his throat.
"I don't...have to t-tell...you anything!" Nendou wheezed and he was once again crushed in Zebra's grip.
"That's fine, then I guess you don't need to breathe if you ain't gonna say anything." Zebra grinned; enjoying the way that this grape of a man was beginning to get progressively bluer in the face.
"Wh-y pro-tect a w-hore an...anyw-ay?" Nendou strangled, drool beginning to leak out from the corner of his mouth as the pressure rose in his head.
"Cocky little shit, aren't you? It's a cheap shot to attack someone from behind."
He could hear the last wisps of air leaving this man's throat, so Zebra once again relaxed his grip; letting Nendou's body crumple to the floor under his own weight. He started to crawl away but found himself kicked in his flabby stomach and he curled up to protect himself from another blow.
Goro had since made his way back with an armful of ingredients, but froze in his tracks at the sight of his largest customer to date glowering at his richest customer getting served in the middle of the restaurant. He had never seen Nendou cowering before, but as his own legs trembled with fright, he could understand why. Zebra's scowl met his gaze and Goro squeaked and stiffened; dropping the ingredients to the ground.
"I'll deal with you next."
Rat-like in both looks and demeanour, Goro scampered back through the door he had entered through and Zebra heard his legs scramble off into the night, and he turned his attention back to growth on the floor in front of him.
"I'm gonna say this once, so listen very carefully." He threatened in a low rumble. "You don't touch that girl any more, ya hear? She ain't gonna be yours. She's my server and feeds me."
Nendou quivered in a ball and nodded at the face of the most vicious of the four Heavenly Kings. He now understood why most people feared him the way that they did; something he used to mock others for.
Zebra eyed off Nendou and smirked; alcohol-soaked fat glistening off of his exposed teeth from his dinner that made him look ever more sinister.
"Aren't you going to kill me?" Nendou asked pitifully, almost begging at this point so it would stop this torturous intimidation that he felt trapped in. Behind Zebra's Glasgow smile was that grim-faced apparition that had him scared witless; carrying a scythe in its enormous hands.
Zebra made an amused snicker.
"Heh. I'd rather not go back to prison."
The low rumble of his words chilled Nendou to the core. He would have rather preferred him to continue with that booming voice he had before, but it was the animus in his tone that was worse. But it wasn't like he could act quick enough to react because Zebra had gripped his jaw in his hand before he could think.
The catalogue of sounds in Zebra's memory was vast; much more expansive than most people would hear in their lifetime. He had hunted and killed so many creatures, so he was used to the sound of bones crumbling and sinew snapping by his own hand. But as he crushed Nendou's mandible like it was nothing more than wafer, he would say that the ear-splitting screech he let out would be one of his favourites for a long time; the small clicks of teeth knocking against each other a nice little addition to his cacophony of horrors.
Satisfied, he left the weeping, broken mess on the floor and turned his attention to the containers on the counter. He picked up the one containing the tripe and opened the top, wrinkling his nose at the pungent smell that wafted out. He clicked it back together and decided not to do the same with the case of the Giga Gila hide. But hedidcollect both of them in one hand while he bent over the countertop, grabbing two dark bottles of whiskey in his other hand before leaving the restaurant. He figured they would be compensation enough for the events that had just unfolded.
Meanwhile, you had finally collapsed under a tree in a small park quite some blocks away from the Roasted Shank. You gulped down the crisp night air, mentally cursing yourself for leaving behind the ingredients back by the bar. It didn't matter, you supposed. At least you came out unscathed and you wouldn't have to explain to Coco that you'd had yet another run-in when out alone. It was starting to become almost commonplace to you and you could just imagine the stress it would give him.
As you were trying to collect yourself and return your breathing to a normal state, you heard heavy footfalls begin to approach and your anxiety grew tenfold. You started to panic and your heart raced once more; an ache in your ribs from the stitch you had developed burned even moreso.
Run!
You couldn't. You were spent. You wanted nothing more than to curl up at home and sleep but you weren't going to make it at this rate.
But you had to try.
You were in the middle of pulling yourself up from the grass when the scruff of your shirt was gripped and you were hoisted higher; feeling as helpless as a mouse about to be fed to a snake.
"Would ya stop running?"
Before you could blink, you were placed back onto your feet and you turned, wide-eyed to look at the owner of such a big voice.
"Zebra?"
Two gourmet cases were unceremoniously shoved into your arms; knocking you back onto your buttocks.
"Figured you'd probably want these." He said gruffly before taking a seat under the tree with a huff.
"Th-Thank you?" You blinked at him, realising that he had just handed you both ingredients from the restaurant.
"I dunno what the hell you want with 'em, but it seemed important enough for you to risk your neck about them." Zebra responded, before pulling the cork out of one of the bottles in his hand with his teeth and spitting it out waywardly.
"I didn't anticipate that it'd end up the way it did." You said in a small voice, looking downtrodden at the cases in your hands. "But wait a minute, how did you find me so easily?"
"Frankly anyone would be able to hear how scared you are with the way that heart of yours is going." Zebra smirked, downing a large swig of whiskey messily. He wiped some small traces of liquid from his mouth roughly with the back of his hand. "Which by the way, would you calm the fuck down? I ain't gonna do anything to ya and it's getting annoying listening to it."
"You can hear my heartbeat from there?" You balked at the giant King.
"Yeah and it's giving me more of a headache, so could you get that under control?"
"How-?"
"-I just can. It ain't that important."
"Oh..."
You put the cases down at your side and curled your knees to your chest, trying to make sense of everything that had happened in the last thirty minutes. You focussed on your breathing once again to settle yourself back into a normal rhythm, although you were now acutely aware of the notion that Zebra was probably listening to it. You scanned your eyes over him briefly as he drank wordlessly from the bottle; noticing the way that a small amount of liquid would always leak past his torn cheek.
"I could sew that up for you, yknow." You said quietly, pointing at his wound.
"No point. Jus' open up again when I wanna eat somethin." Zebra replied.
"Oh. Okay."
A tense silence developed between you both. Well, tense for you at least. This was strangely the most relaxed you'd ever seen him. You fidgeted with your fingers, your nails making small ticking noises against one another before you could feel a small glower in your direction.
"Sorry..." You whispered, unsure of what to say.
"I thought your name was (Y/n)." Zebra said out of the blue.
"It is." You replied with a shrug.
"So why'd that asshole keep calling you 'Sugar'?"
"It's... it's a name I used to go by."
"Seems pretty cocky to me to pretend you're someone you're not."
"I wasn't pretending to be someone else."
"But you also weren't bein' honest either. Pretty dumb if you ask me."
"I did it to protect myself."
"Didn't do much good protecting you before."
"I know... Um, thank you, by the way."
"For what?"
"Yknow, helping me out back there...rescuing me, I guess."
"Well I ain't always gonna be around to save your ass when things get messy. You gotta adapt to your surroundings a lot better."
"Adapt?"
"Yep. Otherwise the world's gonna eat you alive."
Zebra's brutally honest words may have stung, but he was right. How could you expect to protect yourself on a hunt or the like if and when you went into the wild to hunt with Coco.
"I've done a lot of dumb things in my life then I guess." You said with a deflated smile.
"Yeah like pulling a stupid stunt like that just to get some ingredients that smell like shit." Zebra responded. "Can't even eat 'em or you're gonna die."
"I'm working on something." You said, amused at the simplistic way that Zebra seemed to operate on. He really was always thinking with his stomach.
Zebra had finished the first bottle and flicked the cork off of the second one with a singular thumb, guzzling most of it down noisily. You shivered slightly in your jacket at the cool air that nipped at a small opening on your back, eyes closed as you thought about trying to warm up. You recoiled when a strong scent of alcohol wafted up your nose and you realised that the opening of the whiskey bottle was millimetres away from your face. Zebra was offering it to you and avoiding eye contact; instead looking out into the night with a small grimace of pain on his face. It was only then that you saw the deep cut on his temple just above the ripped flesh of his jaw. You opened your mouth to say something about it but instead he nudged you roughly with the bottle, and you took the hint. You took the large container from him with both hands and took a mouthful; gagging slightly as it burned on its way down your throat and the sheer strength of it made your body writhe a little. It did, however, settle nicely in the depths of your stomach with a warm prickle under your skin.
"Thanks for that." You coughed lightly. Zebra just lazily shrugged in response and you handed the drink to him which he took back in his large hand, swilling the bottle gently.
"What were you in jail for?" You asked, caught off-guard by how the question came out randomly. Zebra, however, had a slight little smile on his face at your uninhibited curiosity.
"Ate too much food." He said simply.
"What?!" You asked incredulously. "What constitutes too much food?"
"About twenty-six species." Zebra grinned slightly at the memory. They all tasted good.
"Well...shit." You said, dumbfounded. "I mean... I knew you liked to eat but I didn't realise you liked to eatthatmuch!"
"I just wanna eat, is that such a crime?!"
"Apparently!"
"Don't get cocky!"
You snorted at the exchange, that tension that you were feeling before ebbing out of your system. Of everything that you knew about Zebra, he was as vicious as a wild beast, and dangerous to boot, but he wouldn't have stepped in to protect you if he didn't have some essence of good in him. You didn't know if he was like this with many people, but you felt lucky to be able to share a small moment with him; even if this may be a once off occurrence. He was even keeping his voice to a relative minimum.
"You're not as bad as people like to say you are." You smiled gently, looking out into the night. You could feel his eyes on you, and while his face seemed to glower, there wasn't any malice in it.
"I never really gave a shit about what people think of me." He grumbled, taking another swig from the bottle in his hand. He noticed a tiny odd flavour this time; a trace of sweetness that wasn't there prior on either of the drinks. It took little over a minute but the throb in his temple dissipated from where the deep gash sat. It was a moment of relief.
"I better go." You said, picking yourself up and dusting loose dirt and grass from your clothes. You let out a small note of amusement as you noticed even in his slouched position, he was the same height as you when you stood. Zebra was truly a giant of a man, and yet he was particularly gentle right now. "You don't think I'll run into trouble with that asshole Nendou again?"
"Doubt it." Zebra said bluntly, wiping his mouth for the last time as he finished off the rest of the whiskey. "But you better get stronger, pipsqueak. Learn to fight your own battles."
"Yeah...yeah I'll do better." You nodded, picking up the gourmet cases and criss-crossing them over your shoulders. "Thanks for knocking some sense into me. I owe you."
"Free food would be good."
"I'll see what I can do." You chuckled, giving him a small wave. "I'll see you soon though, won't I Zebra?"
"I dunno. Maybe." Zebra shrugged, letting out a small belch. "But so help me, if you die on your way back, I'll kill you myself."
You snorted and walked off slowly, leaving the Heavenly King on his own in the dark park by the tree; illuminated by a soft white streetlight.
Zebra's ears pricked up on the sound of running footfalls approaching his direction and he could hear your heartbeat racing, but it was different from before. He rolled his eyes but flinched when your small arms were suddenly wrapped around his thick broad neck.
"Eh?! Ay, ay, get offa me!" He growled, but you planted your lips by his temple briefly.
You had meant to get the free space between his ripped cheek and his wound, but when he jumped and tried to push you off of him, you landed square on the lesion. You wiped your mouth quickly to make sure you hadn't caught any dried blood on yourself and grinned at him.
"Don't die on me either." You said, before truly heading off towards home now.
Zebra's scowl softened and he grinned to himself in secret. Like he suspected, you really were tarred with the same brush that Komatsu seemed to be when it came to interacting with him. While he was being truthful about not caring about what people thought about him, you had clearly adapted to him well enough. He wiped off the place where you had pecked him, and it took him a moment to realise that the ringing in his ear had stopped.