Chapter Two: Starlight isn't Bright Enough

Penguin was shivering. It wasn't like him. Being called Penguin and all was for more than the reason his hat labelled him as the flightless bird. The fact he hardly ever got cold was another factor. Yet here he was, shaking like a kitten...but not from the chill...from fear.

The momentary conversation with the man to his left had soothed him for a few moments before the man's blatant lack of care made him think twice about sparking up another chat.

Not everyone around him slept, he could have spoken to them but...he didn't want to. Tears, sweat, blood, mud and all those other gritty substances filled the air with a stale weight and every now and again the young man gagged.

Would his captain have found out by now? Were they looking for him? How the hell would they find him?! Too many questions swirled about in the young man's head, making the gnarled knot in his stomach no looser and he scraped his knees up under his chin, curling his arms around his legs. At least he was warm, he had vaguely seen a lack of attire on the gruff voice man to his side and wondered with sick amusement if he was in the middle of changing when he was caught, or did he always dress like that? He needed the distraction, that's why he was so wrapped up in the antics and aspects of the man he didn't even know and couldn't see. He hid under his tell-tale hat as much as he could which led to the darkness being all that more dominant to his eyes. Penguin sighed. It would be morning soon.

Kid brushed a slow hand over the white and pale brown markings on the ground, Killer's blade in hand and he narrowed his eyes even more with prolonged confusion and frustration.

"Spit? Spit...what the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" the redhead roared and threw his fist into the ground, a few metal objects in the room rattled.

Wire walked forward.

"He's not on the island as we checked so Heat and I will scope out any ships that have left recently"

"Hurry up" Kid spat, unable to curse or yell at his crew. It was hardly their fault. But...who the fuck thought they could capture Killer? Who managed to? It was sickening to think someone was that strong or cunning. It was evidential he had been taken. His shirt lay nearby and both his blades were there. There was sign of struggle, knocked over items and floor scrapings. It was a crime scene. They had interrogated the useless receptionist earlier only to learn no one had come through.

Later after all three had sluggishly left the building, Kid caught sight of a painfully familiar person. But unlike his usual urge to follow after and irritate the surgeon of death, Kid didn't want to even make eye contact.

Yet the gods laughed at him and a known voice spoke behind him.

"Kid"

The redhead spun round, fur coat bristling in the wind, making him appear as a disgruntled animal.

"Law"

The heart pirate captain stood before the magnetic devil fruit eater, but there was no cocky smirk or laid back expression. Kid saw worry in the hat-wearing captain's face.

"Look...this isn't asking for your help so don't get too excited Eustass-ya..."

"Go tell someone else, Trafalgar, I've got my own problems today" Kid snarled and went to turn when a hand caught his coat. Fucking contact? Who did this asshole think he was?

Kid turned to scream abuse and death threats at the lean man but the tight lipped...worry...in the other's eyes threw him off.

"One of my crew mates has gone missing, I'm not accusing you but...but have you seen him? Overalls, wears a pretty distinct hat saying "Penguin"..."

"Yeah, I know who you're on about but no, I ain't seen him, now fuck off, it ain't my problem if you keep losing your shipmates Law" Kid growled. Yet a nipping thought in the back of his mind sparked his interest.

Killer wasn't the only one gone from this stop-off island by the looks of it then. Law was looking downwards, dark circles beneath his eyes more prominent with his cold glare at the ground.

"Okay" was all he muttered before turning to leave.

Then he stopped, clasping a hand on his sword and Kid took a step forward. Law spun round, dark irises shining slyly.

"Where's your masked mate?" he inquired. No smirk on his lips but he knew he had caught the ruthless pirate off guard and Kid's mouth involuntairly fell open.

"Why would you fucking care?" the redhead asked irritably.

"He can't possibly have gone missing too, Eustass-ya?" oh...now he was purring, like a sinful black alley cat the god-damn doctor was purring.

"Like I said" Eustass took that meaningful step forward. "Why would you fucking care?"

"Because if it's the same person...we could help each other out" the sincerity in his voice had returned and Kid didn't know whether he was glad of it or not.

"Oh right, because I need your help, don't even try Law, how do I know this Penguin ain't wasted in a bush somewhere?"

"Because Penguin doesn't do shit like that, if you don't want to even try and share a few clues then fucking fine" irritable now. Law changed moods like the freaking weather.

Kid didn't say anything, only grunted and folded his arms. Like hell he was going to play Sherlock Holmes with the creepy heart pirate.

"See you then" he said, but it was rasped. An untruthful, reluctant farewell. Those potential clues were tugging at him and his tongue practically itched to agree to exchange a bit of information.

"Captain...without...going against you...don't you think we should get what we can about Killer?" Heat hissed behind him, approaching the Kid pirate and Trafalgar's eyebrow raised briefly.

He hadn't left at the taller man's sharp remark "see you then", he was just as aware of the interest in the Kid Captain's voice as Kid was himself.

Though he would never say, Kid was thrilled Heat had pushed the matter, now instead of coming off as indecisive and moody, he could base his agreement off the encouragement of his crew.

He pondered for a moment, for effect before cocking his head up and staring at Law.

"...Fine Trafalgar, you show me yours and I'll show you mine" he sneered and the surgeon of death didn't even roll his eyes, he almost seemed relieved at Kid's acceptance. He was just as eager to find his lost crew-mate as the redhead.

Morning sunlight only just found it's way into the gritty cabin and several roused at it's not so cheerful appearance, others stayed curled up in rags, old barrels and each other. Desperate to stay within the safe land of slumber.

Killer was not one of those people, he didn't care for ignorance and sat; wide-eyed behind his mask, staring in front of him at the bolted door. A stirring muffle from his right distracted him and he turned to the source of the noise.

It was presumably the man from before as he didn't move as far as Killer could gather and had a hat on. Killer momentarily recollected the smudged hat outline on the man's head the night before.

What did catch his attention like a bullet though, was the name scrawled in thin, bold letters on the white material of the attire and the shapes and markings on the rest of his clothing. Specifically his recognisable pale overalls and dark brown boots.

A Heart Pirate, the one by the name of Penguin.

It had been some time since Killer had seen the heart pirates, let alone this minor crew member. One of Law's closer subordinates nevertheless, always tagging along with the auburn haired shady man and the ever annoying white bear. Which begged the question, the hell was he doing on a prison ship?

Still sleeping it seemed, curled on his side, back to the wall and hands safely tucked around his face like a small blockade from the smell and light. Killer looked away from the heart pirate and the thought that Trafalgar Law would also be searching for his crew-mate spurred on the limited hope Killer already felt. Even if the surgeon of death didn't hold his hand over to a safe island or off the bloody ship, he would provide enough distraction to give the blonde the chance to escape. Unlike the infamous devil-fruit eaters, the sea wasn't his enemy and, hell, if he was lucky, he could find a small boat to avoid a swimming trip.

Speaking of non-devil fruit eaters; at least to Killer's current knowledge, the man known as Penguin was stirring properly now, waking. Killer decided to keep an eye on him as he sat up roughly, teeth gritting at the no doubt sore aching in his ribs from the solidity of the salty wood. Keeping his head down he seemed to realise where he was, face going stony (as much of his face as Killer could see) and then he noticed the blonde pirate.

It was a few seconds of momentary, smoke thick tension and silence as Penguin's mouth got wider and wider with a silent gasp and scream, probably realising who it was he was talking to last night and who it was before him right now.

"Y-You're-" Penguin barely managed to finish his hissed speech. His face was going pale and he was trembling way too hard to compose understandable speech.

"I am, and I'm not going to hurt you, so don't make a fuss" Killer told him groggily. Voice thick from the bad night's sleep.

Penguin's lower lip trembled and went slightly wet from the uncontrolled dampness forming in his mouth and he gulped. Removing the spit.

"O-Okay" he replied. Curling up again with his knees beneath his chin. Refusing to make eye contact with the terrifying older man. Killer sighed and slumped his head back, deciding not to bother the timid heart pirate anymore and now took his time to look at his surroundings. The slightest weakness in the wood would give him the impression there was places in the ship that could be breached and used as an escape route.

So far there were several badly looked after aspects of the cabin but it seemed like the prisoner's entry room so it was hardly a surprise.

Speaking of rooms for the captives, a couple of squealing metallic sounds screeched into the air and everyone fell still and breathless as several men came lumbering through the doorway.

"Now don't kick up a fuss, keep fucking still, I need to count" one of them threatened. Killer hissed through his teeth when he saw the door was far too packed up with muscular guards to make a charge now. So he waited. He was number "31", Penguin, he noticed, was "32". In the end there were about 66 of them in there, 68 to begin with but two had...passed on. From fear, weakness and blood loss most likely.

"Numbers one to thirteen, come with me" one of them yelled, gesturing a thick, calloused hand toward the door and there wasn't a single movement from anyone.

"If you don't fucking move right now, I'll shoot the nearest fucker"

Poor Penguin, he happened to be the nearest fucker and was startled to say the least when cold metal touched his forehead. Killer watched with mild surprise as the man refused to flinch or beg, just kept his head down and gave a single gulp.

People started moving now anyway, thirteen to be exact, from the further corners of the cabin. They trudged past looking like the devil had whipped them. Pale and solemn.

"Thirteen to twenty-six, up now!"

"Twenty-six to thirty-nine, fucking move it!"

And it went on, until all 66 had been shoved out the reeking cabin and were pushed down the narrow corridors of the ship.

Penguin had obviously been thrown in the group of Killer and his closeness to the man meant he was more than a little uncomfortable with the proximity between him and the "Massacre Soldier".

Killer couldn't care less about the living arrangements, he was spying every single weakness in the ship's formation. He was looking for old wounds and scars, limps and twitches in the movements of the guards. Weapons and keys he could get his hands on, vents and doors he could get through. Nothing surpassed him.

"You'll be bunking in here until we get to...our destination, and if it isn't glaringly obvious by now, you are all to be sold" the man smirked. He was ridiculously pale, much paler than Kid, Killer marveled. With stark black hair and hairy eyebrows. His teeth; like all the other crew-mates, were surprisingly pearly and clean yet the unkempt stubble and thin chin failed to give this single appealing aspect anything else to work with.

"Oi, Gum, quit screwing around, Captain wants us on deck" another guy called from further down. The man sneered and closed, bolted and left the new cabin room door. Killer listened as his steps faded away completely.

Peering around he saw the other captives, no one anything special, most young and sore looking. Gripping one another, a few girls, mostly men. The room was full of unstable, narrow bunk beds, six to be exact which meant twelve beds. The fuck was the thirteenth guy going to go?

"Find a bed" Killer spoke aloud and the others looked up at him, trembling a little at his mass but they simpered off to choose a bed. Killer was pissed off at them all just standing there like cardboard box puppies in the snow and unwillingly ordered them to go do something. At least it would mean organisation and claim of his own bed.

Killer went to the one nearest the door which was hardly call for competition from anyone, no one wanted to be "the nearest fucker" like Penguin had been. The heart pirate looked around, he wasn't eager about sharing with anyone else. He soon chose the top bed of the consecutive bunk to Killer. Deciding to sleep facing away from him at the least.

Killer smiled grimly. It was like some kind of homing device for the heart pirate. He must also have his suspicions Kid was coming to find him and maybe, just maybe, take his sorry hat-clad self with them. That reminded Killer to start up a deal that night, that whoever came first would take them both.

There was hardly anything anyone could use to claim their sleeping arrangements so they left it down to memory. Now was the interesting question of...what now?

Granted they had been given another cramped room and Captain Arabella Mint must be feeling pretty pleased with herself but they couldn't possibly keep 66 decent people down here when there was potential ship work.

When they said they would be sold...would it be human auction house business? Would it be a private meeting with world nobles or a cluster of infamous businessmen? Was it a case of labour? Hell were they being sold of as one entity for a factory? ...fuck...sex slaves? Killer visibly shuddered at that one.

Penguin saw the older, still shirtless older man shudder and flinched at the raw power in those scarred biceps and pectorals. He couldn't possibly be stuck on this prison ship with someone so...beastly. Yet Penguin; being ever curious, wondered what had got under the seemingly indestructible man's skin. The heart pirate clambered up the ladder-less bunk, nodding solemnly to the scrawny kid under him who had curled himself up under the pathetically thin provided sheets. Sitting on the edge, staring at the close ceiling and then to the porthole across the way. He could just about see the lapping waves and a slither of a grey sky. How appropriate the sky be as gloomy and cold as he felt. Reaching a hand under his hat to itch his head he then tugged the flaps down and covered his eyes even more.

God he hopped his captain was on his way. Hell, right now Kid would be appreciated...if he would take him with them. Would he have to become friends with Killer or something for that privilege?

Too much anxiety, it was making him sick. Lying on his back, an arm folded under his head. He listened to the mumbling chatter and whimpers from around the room. At least it smelt better in here, it was considerably fresher and a tad cooler too. The cold had never bothered Penguin much, from North Blue himself and with his name still backing up his reputation.

Seated on a wall on the harbour, the salty air whipped around them. The stone grey sky offered no cheer as Kid and Law looked out to the horizon, not at one another and breathing steadily.

"...Spit, you say?" Law repeated.

"Fucking yes, Trafalgar, don't make me say it again"

"And it was on the floor?"

"What has that got to do with anything?"

"Suggests he was brought to his knees, not restrained against a wall or held out the window"

Kid pondered on this for a moment, blinking a few times before actually facing the Heart pirate captain. Their crew had gone off around the island one more time; separate ways obviously, in hopeful search that either Killer or Penguin really were wasted in a bush somewhere.

"Alright then, so what does Spit mean?"

"...Are you sure it said Spit?"

"You can fucking see if you want"

"It's fine, I believe you"

"This ain't about belief, Law"

Trafalgar chuckled darkly.

"Well...I might go check out the crime scene...see if I can spot anything...we haven't got any leads on Penguin apart from the fact he had finished stacking the crates and didn't prop the bridge back up"

"Well it says that they definitely escaped via ship if they attacked him so near by the water" Kid shrugged."And I thought you believed me about the word spelling, yet off you go" he hissed in addition, realising the lack of trust in the leaner man. Trafalgar stood up and grinned, stretching a little.

"I'm going to check other things out actually...and I thought this had nothing to do with belief, Eustass-ya"

Fucking purring bastard.

A/N: WHOOPS, Law and Kid pairing just threw itself in there. Hope you are all fans. Well this is the last...beginning chapter I guess? Stuff is going to start going down next time so stay tuned, I hope you like what's going on here so far.

I don't know if any of you read my last A/N, where I mentioned my research into the characters and one of the aspects of a site I found of Penguin was that "Like Shachi, he likes women" AHAHAHAHAH I SAY. NOT ON FANFICTION YOU DONT. No-one is safe.

-LAW09

Guest: Thank you! I am glad you think so :)

WolfirePrincess: I love those pairings and am glad you like them too and are enjoying the story, hopefully you will be pleased with what is to come and thanks for the review! :)

"FUCKING PURRING BASTARD" Guest: aHAHAH, I'm hoping you liked that line then? Sorry about the Kidd/Law if you're not a fan. It won't be too centric though! The pairing is so rare that I almost have to include Kid/Law so it can be found ahahah (but I am a fan too), it'd be great to see more on Kill/Pen. The slavery is quite prominent in the story and your negativity toward it is good! Thanks for the review!

Thanks to all my favouriters and followers!