Chapter Six: A Hand beneath the Covers
Kid was vaguely aware of the thrumming in the surrounding machines and the constant submarine bleep. He had fallen asleep on the seats in the control room it seemed, involuntarily but on his own ship he would sleep like a bloody cat, anywhere and any time he pleased in his giant fur coat like a true beast.
Sitting up groggily, rubbing a hand through his hair. His goggles had slipped off some way through his slumber and he reached for them.
"Good morning Eustass-ya"
The voice near made the man fall from the seats onto the floor. With a loud curse and a few moments of composition, the redhead looked up with a glower.
"Try not to scare me to fucking death next time, Law" he hissed.
"I'll try every time" was the snarky reply and Kid was still too busy recovering from sleep to attack him. Last night had worn him out if anything, with his unrelenting rigidity at the thought of Killer missing for the past day or so.
"What time?"
"One AM, a bad time to be awake indeed" Law replied, barely looking at the kid captain from his seat where he continued to navigate.
Looking out the window, there was no sky to indicate but the murky blackness of the sea was enough to conclude the truth of the early hours. Kid shuddered at the frightening abyss of the nightly ocean depths.
"Why the hell are you up then?"
"...I don't sleep much anyway and...I'm checking out the system"
"Explains the eyes then" Kid muttered, stretching against the seat with a satisfying crack of bones and pop of muscles. Despite everything, he had slept considerably well.
"Well I'll take over"
"You don't know how to work it"
"It can't be that hard, just check for the white dot remember?" he growled as he stood up and made his way over, removing his coat as he did, the room was warm enough and he could hardly intimidate the creepy little doctor.
"I'd rather do it myself"
"Well you need some sleep in case something does come up and you're too freaking exhausted to help with the active stuff like fighting and rescuing and shit"
Law turned to him now with surprise hinted in his dark eyes.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were concerned"
"Yeah, I am...concerned for the fact I don't want some lazy-ass captain taking control when the time is dire" he snarled, taking Law by the front of his shirt and all but dragging him to the seats. Law attempted a few incredulous claims of protest but by then he had been slumped down on the soft material. Kid chucked his heavy coat at the man before turning back to the chair. Slipping the speakers on and leaning back.
"Fucking sleep"
"You know I'll kill you if you tell me what to do again"
Kid didn't even turn.
"Kill me in your dreams Trafalgar"
Law would reply with a 'Oh, I will' if not for the fact the soreness of his eyes suddenly kicked in from staring at the bright blinking screens for god knows how long. True he wasn't much of a sleeper and that was one of the reasons for the darkness under his eyes but now he felt genuinely tired. It didn't help that Kid had left the spot nearly unbearably hot and his coat was only adding to that heat. Being from North Blue, Trafalgar appreciated a little coolness and liked a fresh sleeping space but the unusual combination of amber, pepper and leather emanating from his makeshift cover was lulling him into a deep slumber.
Kid looked over a few minutes later and actually found himself blushing on behalf of the other man as he saw Trafalgar wound up in his coat as his sleeping face peered out the top, all with kitten-scuffed black hair. Unlike the kid captain, Law slept with his face above. Eustass had a tendency to bury himself. Being much smaller than the redhead, the doctor didn't need to worry about his legs or feet sticking out as the coat kept them well covered. It was an instinct that Kid threw his coat at the other man, he didn't expect him to fucking respond.
Growling lowly he turned back to the screen and drew his eyes over all the little buttons and levers. With a single gulp he bit his lower lip, probably smudging the red.
Fuck no, he wasn't calling in a navigator for help, he was only looking for a significant white dot on the large pale blue compass. Nothing at the moment, so he just looked out the window for a bit, only to see his reflection in the shadowy glass. His bed-hair was truly terrible. Without thought he turned back to Law. The man was sleeping with not so much as a snuffle, a silent sleeper. They always freaked Kid out, you never knew if they were alive or not. Killer was a silent sleeper and Kid often had to yell at him in the morning to make sure his pulse was going.
Kid's head would always be pulsing after Killer delivered a deserving blow to it for the unwelcome wake-up call.
He missed Killer. The guy was his backbone. Always planting the more rational seeds of thought in his head and his loyalty was admirable. His skills also. It was true he had known the blonde since he was young, the older man had always seemed so wise and powerful to the younger captain. Though Kid would always promote his own prowess and progression, the crew wouldn't be the same without the tassle-Jean blonde. Law no doubt felt same about Pelican. The guy had always hung around the creepy doctor along with auburn haired shades and the white bear.
Oh wait, his name was Penguin.
For a moment the redhead wondered if Killer and Penguin had been taken by the same opponent whether they had seen much of each other or interacted with one another. Kid doubted it, Killer was too stern for temporary allies or friends, they were burdens in an escape scenario especially someone as seemingly useless as Penguin.
Law stirred momentarily. Kid; for a split second, actually wondered if he had heard his thoughts about his beloved shipmate but it seemed not so as he just turned onto his back and an arm fell over the edge of the seat. Kid's left eye twitched. That was going to fucking bug him.
Sitting solidly for a few moments, watching the screen. He got up with a rough squeak of the seat as he couldn't contain it anymore, striding quietly over to the other man, he knelt down. Taking the slim forearm in his larger, calloused hand he went to place it back under the covers over his chest.
He found himself rubbing a thumb over the bold, striking tattoos on the tanned flesh of the doctor. Some matched the symbols of his crew whilst others were of mysterious origin and reason. Aware of the scenario, Kid shoved Law's arm under the coat with an unintentional roughness and the man whimpered ever. so. Quietly. And yet that was enough to send Kid into a mild and momentary frenzy. Like a fucking cat he could draw the redhead in with a tiny mewl. It pissed the kid captain off to no end. Getting to his feet, he went back to the navigation system.
Penguin liked to consider himself a neat sleeper, he really didn't move that much but the cover always found itself tangled in his legs or arms of somewhere off his body which was irritating since this cover was really freaking soft and lovely. Dragging it back over him he noticed a looming shadow to his side. He turned to see Killer laid on the chair, seemingly asleep. Penguin wondered why he hadn't sorted out his own room but the memory of Killer telling him about their act came back and he shrugged to himself.
About to turn over and sleep some more, an agonising shudder in his shoulder stopped him and he decided he had probably been asleep long enough by now. Slowly and silently stepping from the bed, he pattered his way over to the door to go out and ask for some new clothes or his old ones. Before he went, he looked back at the blonde and hesitated at the handle for a minute or so before sucking his teeth and trudging to the bed where he gathered up the pleasant white cover. Draping it awkwardly over the massacre soldier, Penguin avoided actually falling into him but paused to take note of the fresh smell of the man. He managed to get a wash then, lucky bastard.
Penguin then left, the night air from a nearby window chilling his bare torso but he went down the corridor in search of Dodd or someone else. Just outside the cabin, an older man with dark red hair and pale blue eyes stood outside smoking and noticed Penguin with a start.
"Oh, hey there lad, you alright?"
"Y-Yes thank you...sorry to disturb you but do you know where the clothes are?"
The man laughed softly, taking another drag before replying.
"Wondered why you would be out so late in so little, come with me" he dropped the cigarette and snubbed out the ash and spark with his boot. Penguin followed with keen caution as they went back into the cabin and into a small closet room.
"Yeah, just grab what fits you, there are some blankets in here too if you want, you okay to get back to the infirmary room?"
"Yes, thank you so much" Penguin beamed and the man chuckled.
"The name's Morris, and no problem, night lad" the man waved nonchalantly and went on his way.
Penguin marvelled at the friendliness of the people on this ship and started rummaging through the pale brown and grey clothes. It would do until he made it back onto his ship so he grabbed a pair of black slim fitting trousers and a plain grey, long sleeved top that was a little big on his lean body but he didn't mind the loose comfort. Deciding to just change in the rather spacious area, he finished up and crept out quietly.
Just before he went back to his infirmary room, he looked out the little open window, closing it to block out the chill and as he did he saw lights in the distance. Joy filled him as he figured it must be the island. It wouldn't be long now, he would finally be back with his beloved crew and captain. With a new-found excitement, Penguin wondered what the hell he would do for the next few early hours but as he slipped into his room the energy within him dissipated like melting snow as a hand clasped over his mouth with a firm heat.
Muffling desperately and squirming he nearly missed the urgent 'shh' of his captor and only managed to still himself enough to hear Killer's voice.
"Shut up and keep still" Killer held the young man's back to his chest hard and the proximity alarmed the heart pirate. Wrenching the hand from his lips he inhaled deeply.
"What the hell is going on? What was that for?!"
"If you don't shut your mouth I'll seriously knock you out" the blonde hissed in the dim lighting. Penguin noticed the...fear? In the kid pirate's voice and stood patiently as the mask-covered man seemed to listen out for something.
"Look, I got up to look for you and out the window just across the corridor I saw ship lights"
Penguin's heart dropped and his eyes widened under the shade of his hat.
"W-what if it's Kid or Captain?" he tried hopefully with a whisper and the man shook his head.
"I would recognise it...It's a pirate ship for sure but I can't work it out, just be prepared" he moved away now, heading to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find weapons and tell whoever is awake, I'm not going to alarm them...just tell them, stay here"
"I'll help-" Penguin tried, stepping forward but the blonde had already disappeared behind the door.
The young man knew he was supposed to be quiet but he was so eager to just kick or punch something right now. The hope he had felt when he saw those 'island' lights had been thrilling and now they were crushed.
He couldn't crawl into a dark place just yet, it could just be another harmless supply ship or a small time-pirate crew that was going in another direction. Hell even if it was the marines they wouldn't bother this kind of vessel.
How did Killer even know it was a ship in this lighting anyway? It could be the island! Even if it wasn't, they were so close to it, there was no point getting alarmed now.
Sitting on the bed and curling his knees under his chin, he bit his lip and tugged his hat down. Before he knew it, Killer had come back into the room, this time with a flustered energy about him.
"W-what?" Penguin dared to ask and the blonde did nothing but hook the blades he was carrying into his belt and hand Penguin two guns and ammunition.
"It's a pirate ship, I don't know how much of a threat yet but it's coming into range, keep these close" he told him.
Penguin looked at the weapons in his hand, he wasn't used to fighting with firearms.
"Alright" he uttered sadly.
The silence this time wasn't as awkward, it was cold and fearful. Penguin felt a surge of self-importance as he thought about Captain Arabella Mint's ship and his supposed division of work. He wasn't about to go down by some small time ruffians, he was a god-damn heart pirate. Unbeknownst to him, Killer was feeling similar, he wasn't interested in capture again and was getting gradually more and more pissed at Kid for not finding him sooner. He knew he shouldn't think of his captain like that but really? Four...maybe five days and not a single sign?
The two men slowly left the room, armed and alert. Penguin sticking so close to the blonde that when Killer stopped in front of the window, he walked straight into his back.
"Fuck...it's stopping" he muttered over the kid pirate's shoulder and Killer only nodded.
"What are you two doing?" a sleepy voice called from down the corridor and Dodd stood at the end, rubbing his eyes and pushing back his mass of honey curls.
"We are sorry to alarm you like this but...there is a pirate ship outside" Penguin jogged over to tell the crew member. Ochre eyes widened and he let out a shaky exhale.
"Oh god, I gotta warn the others...are you-" he stopped when he saw the weapons they both held.
"S-Sorry about this by the way...we got wary...we don't often have a fun time when running into pirates" Penguin blushed awkwardly and Dodd only nodded.
"It's good someone knows how to use em" he told them before rushing back down the corridor.
The two watched him go until Penguin blinked under his hat at Dodd's non-suspicious nature before narrowing his eyes.
"Are we fighting?"
"Only if we need to...I'd rather not draw attention to ourselves" he told the young man and carried on looking out the window cautiously.
Dodd, June, Morris and several other unfamiliar members had made their way outside where they watched nervously as the great ship pulled up along side theirs.
Over the darkness, under the dim lighting of the flickering flame torches and lanterns both ships had, a large plank was thrown across to the supply ship. Morris pulled out a cigarette and lit it just as a short, older man made his way over and jumped down onto the deck. On his right was an attractive woman with dusty blonde hair in a huge ponytail heap, what looked like a giant slingshot tied to her back. On his left was a bulky mixed race man with bright green eyes and barrel like biceps.
The older man tipped his hat, his rusty red and grey hair shuffling in the wind for a moment. Sickly champagne yellow irises were only just visible in the sunken shapes of his eyes.
"Greetings, sorry to bother you so late but we're on specific business"
Dodd stepped forward.
"What business is that?"
"Well if it's any consolation, we ain't here for ya supplies, just asking about something"
Penguin and Killer were hidden in the shadows behind the main cabin, away from the lit up area of the main deck but close enough to see and hear. Both of them had never seen the man before and they hoped he hadn't heard of them.
"It's very unlike me to be doing this but for the sake of your safety, I have to ask...have you seen a white and blue masked fella with long blonde hair? He is probably accompanied by an overall wearing man with a pretty distinct hat saying 'Parrot' or something"
"Penguin" Morris breathed and the champagne yellow eyed man turned to him fast.
"So you have seen em...well for your own safety, you should let up where they are...they are a pair of escaped fugitives and I am handing em back to their prison keep"
A/N: Feeling a lot better and I'm on a roll I tell you, the roll of all rolls. It's getting late now – about 11pm - but SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK.
The Kid/Law scenes are getting longer which I will actually begin to avoid in the future as I wanted this to be a very Killer/Penguin centric story so Kid and Law will still be featured but not so much in the future. I am thinking about writing a Kid/Law fic soon anyway so if you like how I write about them, you can look forward to that. Anyway, until next time!
Captain HurstSand Mirage belongs to me.
-LAW09
Thanks to all my favouriters and followers!