Trouble Part Two

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

"I'm very sorry about Scotty," Nicholas apologized as he checked the shiner on Austin's eye, "His parents were killed by raiding pirates and left him an orphan. He was on a ship when it happened and when the pirates were threw, they decided to sink the ship and he wound up here. He's been here for...quite awhlle now,"

I can relate about being an orphan and hating people for bad things, but he really shouldn't wail on a kid for it... Austin winced as Nick touched his shiner.

"It's okay, don't worry. Scotty's a good kid, really, he just has issues, I hope you don't hold that against him?"

Austin shook his head.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Nicholas rose from his seat after looking the boy over and patted him on the head, "So, how does a boy and two animals get lost from their crew and wind-up here?"

Just gimme a pad and I'll tell you what I can, ossan...

"I'm telling you guys, he can't stay here with us!"

"But Scotty, he's nice and he's lost from his group,"

The older kid ran a hand through his light red hair, shaking his head, "No way, no way in Hell are pirates nice and ever get lost!"

"How do you figure that?"

"They live on the seas and they plunder people for their own, personal greed! They spill blood in the name of their sick philosophy, they can't be good!"

"Scotty-,"

"I lost everything, guys, I lost everything! I have no mother, no father, no sisters or brothers, nothing! All I have is this place and you guys to look after. I am the oldest one here aside from Nicholas, and as the oldest one, I have a job to keep you guys are safe but to do that, I gotta make sure no pirates are anywhere near here, so that mute sonofabitch has to go!"

"SCOTTY!"

The red-head nearly jumped out of his skin, as did the other kids, when they heard the familiar voice of the old man on a level they rarely heard. Scotty slowly turned his head to see Nicholas standing in the doorway, a very angry look on his face while Austin appeared behind him.

"What the hell is that brat still doing here?" Scotty pointed a finger at the mute, "He's a pirate, Nicholas, he's gotta go!"

"He is staying!"

"If he is, then I'm leaving!"

"No, you're not leaving, Scotty!"

"Why not, fatman?!"

"Because you'd die out there in three hours tops!" Nicholas barked, his face getting redder by the second, "Go to your room, Scotty and don't you dare come down unless you want to apologize to the boy!"

"But-!"

"NOW!"

Scotty glared hard at the old, fat man, but bit his tongue and stomped past, brushing against Austin hard.

What a jerk... Austin winced a little and rubbed his shoulder, Not like I can help being a pirate...as long as Devon is one, then I'm one! If he doesn't like it, he wants to try and start something, fine! I can take him on easy!

"Nicholas, what are we going to do about him?" one of the younger children, a girl, asked quietly.

"Aw, let him cool down and-,"

"Not Scotty," she pointed at Austin, "Him...the pirate," she said the last two words with fear in her voice, Austin could easily detect that.

Nicholas sighed and beckoned the children to him, "Alright, little ones, alright...here's what's going to happen. Since he lost, we are going to keep him around until his nakama can come to pick him up,"

The children looked fearful at that idea.

"I assure you all that the crew he belongs with are peaceful by nature, so there's nothing to fear. They won't do us any harm, and they won't do anything to our treasure. Eventually, they will come here, we'll find them and we'll help reunite nakama, alright?"

Austin glanced up at him, Treasure? Is that why they're scared of pirates?

"While he is staying here, I am trusting you all to behave and be nice to him. I'm aware most of your histories with pirates, but I promise nothing bad will happen to you,"

"Captain Billy Bob! We got an island, dead ahead!"

The pint-sized pirate rubbed his gloved hands together greedily, "Good, good...," he looked around and scowled when he saw that the railing of his ship was bare, "WHERE THE HELL IS MY BOX?!"

"Sorry sir!" Billy rushed over carrying a large crate, "I didn't mean to move your box, sir, I needed a seat for the poker game last night and-,"

"Enough of your lame excuses!" the pirate runt cut him off as he hopped onto his precious crate, which allowed him to see the island (or as much as he would be able to see since it was now nighttime by the time they reached it), "There it is, boys! Somewhere on that island is a rich, fat guy and his spoiled brats," he rubbed his hands together, an evil grin on his face, "We all know what comes in a few days, right, boys?"

"Uh...," Bob scratched his head, "Um...,"

Billy Bob rolled his eyes, "Idiots...it's Christmas, you fatheads, Christmas! The time of the year when everyone gets free stuff, right?!"

His two subordinates nodded, "Uh huh,"

"Well, with the wealth this guy's got, this is gonna be our best Christmas yet!" he climbed onto the railing and struck a pose, "We move out tomorrow, and by the first light of Christmas Day, we're gonna be filthy, stinking rich!"

"AWRIGHT, BOSS!" Billy and Bob roared and both gave their boss a good slap on his back.

Billy Bob let out a scream as he was forced off his own ship and fell into the icy-cold water below.

Billy and Bob leaned over the railing and looked down at their freezing captain.

"Boss, this isn't the best time to go swimming!"

"Yeah, it's really cold out here, you'll get pneumonia!"

Kilnorc: Alright, I think this is good enough for now, I hope you all enjoyed it. Until the next chapter, folks!