Chapter Four: Salty Stinging Waves

It had been...what...only three days? Not that long but when all you are doing is general labour on a ship you have no loyalty for, in a shirt that only barely fits (too many crewmen were getting jealous so Root organised attire for the blonde) and you have not heard anything from your infamous captain or any other pirate ship, it feels like forever. At least they had taken the heavy chain from his leg. Killer threw his mop in the bucket when the Drill called for all captives to line up on the deck.

Captain Arabella Mint began walking down, observing all her prisoners, explaining as she went.

"It has been a few days since you were brought upon my ship and most of you are involved in general labour...but where we are going...we need more than just workers" she smiled. Glaringly white teeth making Killer flinch for a moment as she came near.

"So we are going to divide you once again, this time into people who will only participate in labour and those who will...how would you say it...hmm-" she paused with a sinful smirk, a finger to her lips in false hesitation.

"Train...for more intimate labour" then she burst out laughing. Some of the captives reeled back and started making worried, whimpering noises.

"Alright Denture, take it away" an older guy with silvery hair and paler eyes stepped forward with a clipboard. He seemed more sophisticated than the others but his hardened expression told of another, darker nature. A few other shipmate's went along the line and started making choices also. Almost all the girls were sent to this new group and they went clinging to one another and crying. The crew only laughing.

Denture came up to Killer who was nonchalantly pulling his sleeves up and coughed. He wasn't bothered about being picked for sex slavery, as if anyone would consider him a suitable partner.

But Denture seemed interested.

"Good physique, nicer hair than most of the girls" he sneered, running a brief hand through the flaxen locks of the massacre soldier who went rigid at the touch.

"But with that inconvenient mask on...we really can't decide anything so remove it" he looked down to mark something on his files. He seemingly didn't expect the gruff response from the captive.

"No"

Denture glanced up, eyes sharp.

"I beg your pardon"

"I won't remove it"

"You will if I say so...by force if necessary" and he leant forward to grab it. Killer ducked flawlessly and the older man flailed uselessly for a few moments.

"Brace!" he yelled and the large guard came over.

"Restrain this man"

Killer lifted his fist's in preparation for combat when someone caught him round the back.

"C'mon Brace, pick up the pace" Drill called from behind with a chuckle and Brace rolled his eyes, walking away.

Killer panicked now, Denture had tucked his clipboard beneath his arm and curled his knuckles menacingly, reaching for the cerulean and white helmet.

His fingertips grazed the under lining and that's when it happened.

"Like hell I'm going to be trained for 'intimate labour'! Get away from me!" a young voice screamed and the man attached to it fell into Denture. Killer and Drill watched in surprise as Penguin struggled to clamber off the older man, a snarl on his lips as some other shipmates went for him.

With little thought or hesitation, Killer wrenched himself free from Drill's shock loosened grasp and yanked the heart pirate up to him, more or less throwing him behind him so the overall-wearing man stood shakily.

"Restrain them!" Captain Arabella Mint shrieked, now aware of what was happening. Killer briefly turned to Penguin before grabbing him and running to the other end of the ship. Dodging crew members. As the blonde kicked one of the ship mates down he grabbed his sword and smirked wildly under his mask. Eyes wide.

Penguin was let go by Killer when the kid pirate got his hands on a sword, and as he kicked and punched at approaching soldiers, he could only watch with awe as Killer mercilessly sliced through his opponents like a demon. Flying into the air with horrific grace before landing fatal blows with the thin blade. Penguin only just managed to keep up with him as they reached the end.

"The boat" the blonde hissed and Penguin went to a small rowing boat tied up on the side, darting over he went to loosen it as Killer dealt with oncoming enemies. Captain Arabella Mint snarled and ripped out her serrated, spinning blade. Approaching the loose captive.

Penguin's hands were trembling and sweaty, he could hardly move them enough to undo the thick knots and only finished one by the time Killer had run over and started helping him.

Penguin didn't even look at him but noticed the sharp, high pitched sound of whirring just quick enough to yell a warning out to the massacre soldier.

SLICE.

The ropes tore and time went still as the crooked little boat went slamming into the ocean below. Penguin watched with down-fallen horror as the captain smirked at her work. Killer watched their escape plummet below and growled. Going for the woman with new-found fury. Penguin desperately leant over the beams, watching the boat begin to float away.

"K-Killer!" he managed before the air in his lungs was knocked out of him by the vicious blow of a Teeth pirate. Eyes losing focus and a rocketing, cracked pain surging through his body. The heart pirate whimpered and fell to one knee. A stinging, unbearably hot blade slit through his shoulder and a choked, silent scream escaped him as the pirate removed the sword.

Killer plunged his own blade into the beating heart of that one man, Penguin watched him fall, drenched in crimson and then slowly looked to Killer who stared at him in the chaos through the small holes in his mask. The blonde then leant forward, yanked him to his feet and pushed him. Penguin couldn't produce a sound as the back of his knees went weak over the barrier and his body was flung back into the air. Everything slowed down and his heart plummeted sickeningly as cold air wrapped round his frame. The blue of the sky behind him was a shocking blur of colour.

"Shi-" he whispered before the sea waves engulfed him and his brain compressed by the salty water that flooded through his nose and mouth. Bending back with wide eyes barely catching the sunlight above the water. Penguin simply floated in the depths for a moment. Blinking sluggishly underwater, noticing an unusual crimson cloud floating up before him in the clarity of blue and green. Reality hit him with urgency and he kicked upwards frantically. Face protruding from the blue with a gasp. He choked for a moment, spluttering and spitting, wiping his face and rubbing the stinging salt from his eyes. Glancing down he saw his wound bleeding badly and took in a sharp inhale. Looking around with blurry vision and water clogging up his system. He weakly spotted the boat bobbing nearby on the current. Without thought he swam towards it.

Penguin was a good swimmer. Being a crew-member on a submarine and having the nickname "Penguin" and all. He reached the wooden raft in no time and dragged himself over the edge, sliding in and falling onto his back like a starfish and the painfully hot sun sunk into his body through his drenched overalls. Blinking delicately and shielding the light from him. He caught his breath and tried to ignore the pulsing agony from where he had hit the water.

Sitting up suddenly knowing Killer was still up there, he dismissed his rushing head and looked up, clawing hold of the boat bench to support himself.

Frantic figures from above told the heart pirate a fight was still ongoing. Taking this brief moment of privacy, he slung his hat off his head and wrung out the water, running a hand through his soaking locks before returning the attire to his head and tugging it down to shield his eyes.

That's when through the sun-blinded chaos from above, Penguin saw Killer clamber onto the railings and go for the ocean. Watching his body dive through the air and slip into the water with a splash. He met with the sea with considerably more preparation than the young man and Penguin eagerly watched as the blonde surfaced, looking around until he spotted the boat. Penguin helped the massacre soldier up as he slumped into the boat and lay there breathing heavily. There was silence between the two men. The only sounds heard being the current and the shouts from the "White Knife". Penguin gasped and shuddered when the pain in his arm intensified and he clutched the wound feebly.

Killer sat up and looked at the former captive ship for a moment with a satisfactory smile but then he looked at the heart pirate and Penguin froze. In the madness and rage of being picked as a sex slave (which he was still mad about) he had completely forgotten who he was dealing with.

A kid pirate, the massacre soldier, a man who went by the name of Killer. Penguin stumbled back a bit in renewed fear and tried not to look into the dark holes of the older man's mask. Killer didn't even move, just watched with startled curiosity as Penguin tried to protect himself.

Their boat was drifting from the White Knife now, neither knowing whether the crew would attempt pursuit. Penguin slid off his dark boots and spilled the watery contents from them with a groan. Killer was wringing out his shirt and his scarred back and chest was very visible. The heart pirate even chuckled when Killer squeezed seawater from the tassels in his jeans. But the laughter quickly subsided when the slashing pain returned and Penguin struggled to breathe.

"Let me look" Killer spoke suddenly, words soft if anything. The young man looked up in horror-struck surprise as he noticed how close the opposing pirate was.

"It's fine, I'll be alright"

"It will get infected from the sea-water, let me at least clean it"

"Wi-With what?"

Killer looked at him now, helmet tilted expectantly and without show that he would continue answering these time-killing questions.

"At least look at it yourself" the blonde told him, moving away and sitting on the other side of the boat, collecting the oars up in his hands and hooking them into place. Penguin watched him seemingly work out co-ordinates before looking down at his red splattered clothes.

Tenderly pulling the soggy material from his body, the heart pirate hissed. Unbuttoning the collar and slipping the clothing from his shoulders and chest to reveal a sleevless black tank-top underneath, he tied the sleeves of his overalls around his waist and pulled down the right sleeve to see the injury.

Retching at the sight of ruined, torn flesh that bled profusely, Penguin had to gain his senses for a moment. Now what? Law was a doctor and would know what to do in an instant. Penguin obviously had some understanding of medical care and knew he needed to stop the bleeding and put pressure on the wound but how? With what? Killer was right, the salty-water would only infect it further so he couldn't use his clothes. With a few seconds of hesitation and biting his lip, Penguin waved his hand to remove any excess droplets and pressed his hand into the injury.

Involuntarily yelping loudly, Killer looked over instantly.

"Penguin?" he asked. Voice still low but the softness had gone now, it was impatient urgency.

"I'm fine...it just needs...needs pressure" the heart pirate told him weakly, leaning his head back with a pained sigh.

Killer blinked under his mask and narrowed his eyes. This guy was too stubborn for his liking, and he worked with Captain Kid.

"Let me help you, I'm not going to hurt you"

"Well what are you going to do?"

Killer gestured to his borrowed top that was hung over the edge of the boat, drying in the sunlight.

"When that's dry, I'll bind your injury up in it for now" he told him.

Penguin pondered on this. It wasn't a bad idea and the best thing they had going for them now. Penguin nodded nervously.

Several minutes later Killer took the top and wrung it out a few more times for good measure before making his way over precariously as the boat rocked at his movement. Penguin's heart went rapid as the massacre soldier sat in front of him, straddling the wooden beam and reaching forward with the thin top.

"Move your hand" Killer sternly commanded and Penguin slowly removed his grasp, whimpering at the soreness as he pressed out of the gaping injury. Killer shuffled close and started wrapping the material around. It was still damp and the salt stung Penguin immensely but the young man refused to make a noise of pain in front of the kid pirate.

"Why don't we just take my ship?" Kid snarled and Law sighed for the fourth time that afternoon.

"Because mine is stealthier and I have less of a bounty on my head than you so we will attract less attention, I just want this to be a quick, clean operation so quit whining"

"This ain't some surgical procedure Trafalgar, stop it with all that creepy doctor talk" Kid shoved into the lean man who huffed irritably. Shachi and Bepo walked to their captain's left warily as Heat and Wire strode on Kid's right.

"Which way are we heading?" Wire asked his captain and Kid spat.

"Hell if I know, I'm hardly in charge here" he turned bitterly to Law.

"North East, if what those witnesses had to say about the ship and it's direction have anything to do with it" Law replied flawlessly.

Heading over to submarine, Kid stopped just before following Law and his own crew up the small bridge to the main deck.

"Don't expect me to be nice just because we are on your ship"

"I'm sure I can appeal to your better nature Eustass-ya" Law winked down at him with a shadowy eye and Kid's left eye twitched. Storming up the bridge with Wire and Heat he passed the doctor with a snarl, getting up in his face.

"And stop with the creepy flirting Trafalgar, be careful what you fucking wish for"

Law only smiled, despite the angered heat radiating off the frustrated redhead.

"We'll sort out your rooms" he moved away, clinking his sword over his shoulder with a closed eye smile and went into one of the heavily bolted doors at the top. Kid gestured Heat and Wire; who were carrying the luggage, to follow. Shachi and Bepo waited nervously to close the door as the last of the trio made their way in. Bepo slowly slid the tight-suction door closed and headed down the stairs. Shachi told Bepo later that this was their ship and their rules, Law wouldn't let the arrogant kid pirates do anything drastic.

Law took Wire and Heat to their rooms and despite themselves they thanked the heart captain and took their respective baggage with them into their momentary living areas.

"Yours is a little further down" Law told Kid nonchalantly.

"Oh, get prepared did you?"

"It's only hospitable and didn't you say you didn't appreciate flirting?" the surgeon of death shrugged and opened a door at the end of the corridor. Kid had to stop letting the doctor use his words against him, not bothering with thanks and caught Law round the arm just as the hat-clad man went to go to the main control room.

"I'll have the key"

He went to snatch the silver item from Law's hand when the doctor slunk it further behind his back with a smirk. Kid's teeth bared with fury, stretching his crimson lips and his eyes narrowed.

"Little fucker-" he hissed quietly before going for the keys in Law's hand behind his back. Eventually managing to tie him into an unwelcome, awkward embrace. "Oh Eustass-ya, I wonder what shade of red your heart is" Law drew a hard nail on the area of Kid's chest where his heart would be. The redhead made a sound of incredulity and kicked into the doctor's shin, just enough to make the heart captain give way and he took the keys with little satisfaction. Without another word, he disappeared into his assigned room. Law left with an equally as dark scowl on his face. Storming back down the corridor.

Penguin squirmed at the proximity of the massacre soldier who seemed undeterred by the closeness and simply worked on making the material as tight as possible. Scarlet liquid was already soaking through and both of them knew it needed proper treatment. The silence between them was getting more and more intense so Penguin decided to break it with a question he was rather keen on having answered.

"Why did you shove me over the ship without warning? I could have had a much easier landing if I knew what was going to happen, I'm a decent swimmer and diver"

Killer may or may not have smirked under his helmet as he finished knotting and sat back.

"No time and I have no doubt you would be, what with your apparent name and all" the blonde looked over to the horizon, body going rigid at the sight of the white knife in the distance. Seems they had decided not to take chase.

A/N: I've gone rock jumping before now and let me tell you, I know what it's like hitting sea water from a height without preparation. Ahh good times, anyway that's the end of that, whoa an escape! I honestly didn't plan for it, it just kind of happened. Kid and Law need to calm down! Ahaha, I made Law a little too...nicely flirtatious when he can be a cruel surgeon so I hope the characters are in character for the moment. Then again, this be fanfiction.

Anything could happen.

-LAW09

ScarletEden: Thanks so much! I hope you like what I end up doing and I can't wait for this pairing to get more recognition and love! Thanks for the review!

xxXxx: I'm very glad, thanks so much for your continued support and the review :)

yxsong: I think doing Kid/Law actually boosted my chances of this story ever being found because Kil/Pen is very rare so it's amusing you actually made your way into it through Kid/Law and I'm glad you are enjoying it, I will make sure that interaction continues and thank you so much for the review" ahah :)