The town was quiet, with rain dripping gently from eaves and through gutters. Aria tipped her hood up, then spotting the tavern ahead, she hurried forward. Her boots splashed through puddles, soaking the end of her cloak. The rain clouds hid the night sky.
Stepping inside the already filled tavern, she flipped her hood back and gazed around. The rest of the crew were already settled into their various spots. Her jaw tightened as she weaved through the crowd, a chill shaking her to the core. Rain thrummed on the roof softly, the sound muted, and tapped sharply on the windows.
She spotted an empty table in the back corner and hurried over, her cloak dripping a trail of water behind her. She stopped at the bar briefly to grab a warm spiced ale, then sat down and sipped it slowly, her eyes closed.
Laughter echoed around the room, glasses clinked, and the thud of heavy mugs on tables. Stretching out her observation haki, she relaxed as she felt most of the crew were here already. There were some back on the ship, keeping an eye on it, and a few had gone upstairs to the rooms, but most were in the main room.
Leaning back as the warmth from her drink finally spread through her limbs, Aria ran a hand through her hair. The beads clacked together, the braids tight and hanging down in a sodden wave. Her main braid was aching, as it had for weeks, but she couldn't have Hongo look at it.
A drunken laugh from the bar caught her attention and she looked over to see Shanks with two women hanging around him. An arm around his shoulders, another around his waist, a hand on his lap. Aria turned away before she saw anymore. Yet, from the corner of her, she missed nothing.
She hadn't been close to him in two years now. Not like she would've hung on him like the blonde currently showing off her body subtly was, or giggled at his jokes like the brunette did, but she missed his closeness. Since losing his arm, he had put a large stretch of distance between them and never explained why.
Aria breathed out slowly and took a long drink. The ale burned down her throat, but she didn't care.
"Bad night?" someone asked.
"None of your business," she retorted sourly. Her bottle clunked against the table sharply.
A low chuckle sounded, sending shivers down her spine. "Sorry. Just couldn't help but notice the unhappy look on your face."
She turned, but a hand grabbed her braid tightly. She froze; they were gripping near the base. "What do you want?" Clenching a fist around her drink, she inhaled slowly. But whoever was grabbing her was bold.
And strangely aware of where to grab that would cause the most pain. An icy shiver snaked down her spine, her muscles tensing.
"Oh nothing. Just came to see the infamous 'N13', miraculously returned to the Red-Haired Pirates," a cloaked figure blocked her view of the bar, their hand still on her braid. The cloak hid his face well, showed nothing of his outfit but shiny black boots.
Aria forced herself to breathe out slowly. "Who said I ever left?"
The grip tightened; she bit back a groan of pain. "I know the Navy caught you. You were sent to the Guardian Prison. But then Red-Hair attacked the base five years later and everyone registered as alive disappeared, with no bodies in the ruins except for Marines. A year later, you're spotted on deck during a storm as he raided a Navy ship."
Aria pulled back her haki but readied herself to flash it out towards someone in the crew. Not Shanks; he was already drunk enough that he would be a hinderance to himself right now. Yasopp might notice, or Limejuice.
She hoped none of them were too drunk to not notice.
"Careful. If you call for help, I'll make sure Red-Hair doesn't leave the bar," the stranger promised darkly. "You're going to get up and leave with me, understand?"
"And why would I do that?" Aria hissed softly, one hand tightening around her dagger's hilt under her cloak.
They jerked her braid and she had to bite her tongue to keep from gasping. "I think you'll find you have little choice."
There was a loud click and the stranger froze. The tavern went silent as Benn raised his rifle to the stranger's head. "You have no choice but to leave her alone."
A rumbling undercurrent could be felt as the rest of the Red-Haired Pirates stood. Shanks stepped up to Benn's side, his eyes dark. "You're outnumbered here. Let her go." His hand rested lightly on his sword.
Aria hissed in pain as the stranger forced her up by her braid and laid a knife under the base, forcing her between everyone and themselves. "I'm afraid you misunderstand something here. She belongs to me."
No.
Shanks' lip curled into the beginnings of a snarl. Benn's fingers turned white around his gun. Eyes flashed around the room.
It couldn't be.
The stranger pulled their hood down, and her heart froze in her chest. Ice shot through her veins. Air still in her chest.
It was.
The hood fell back, revealing short dark blue hair and pale brown eyes glinting with a familiar sardonic gleam. She hissed under her breath, Kaden's grim smile twisting her stomach into knots.
Shanks narrowed his eyes. "She doesn't belong to anyone."
Aria's heart thudded in her ears, her nails digging into her palms.
"You'll find she does, despite having covered up her mark," Kaden said indolently. "After I heard about her escape, I tried to track her down. It wasn't until her Wanted poster I realized she had turned pirate with a Yonko."
Aria bit her tongue as he jerked again on her braid, feeling the knifes sharp edge against her tether.
"But then she got caught by the Navy, treated as a pirate, and I never knew where she was kept until your raid on the Guardian Prison." Kaden's words lowered to a snarl. "She was meant to be returned long before that."
More clicks sounded as others raised their guns, all pointing at Kaden's face.
He smirked. "Do that, and I'll cut her now and everyone loses."
Aria's eyes widened.
Benn's gaze flicked from her eyes to the knife under her braid, then to Kaden. "You'd risk your life to recapture an escaped slave, even if it means her dying with you?"
Shanks watched silently, but she saw the fury in his eyes. If it weren't for the fact there were innocents close by, and she might be killed, he would've already used his haki against Kaden. She pleaded with him silently, meeting his gaze, to not react.
Kaden cocked his head. "She's property of the World Government. Either she comes back with me, or she dies. I'd prefer to bring her back home," Aria closed her eyes at this, "But I'm fine with losing her if I have no choice."
Silence.
"Stand down," Shanks ordered after a short while. Growls echoed as guns were holstered and swords sheathed.
"Good man. But keep in mind, if I find you following us, I'll tie her to an anchor and toss it overboard." Kaden's grip tightened and she let out an involuntary whimper. He shoved her forward, and she moved quickly to avoid stumbling.
Keeping her eyes closed, she let him lead her outside.
The rain had lessened to a light drizzle, trickling down the inside of her cloak. No one was on the street. Aria walked as slowly as she could, but when the knife pressed into her tether, she had no choice but to speed up a little. Puddles sparkled under the nearly full moon, its light breaking through patches in the cloud.
"I must say, I didn't expect you to be alive," Kaden said after a while. "I thought you had been discarded along with the others. Imagine my surprise when your face showed up on a Wanted poster, alongside those of a known pirate crew."
Aria's jaw hurt as she fought to keep it shut. Her braid ached under his grip and she felt her eyes watering from the pain.
A gun went off from the side but she didn't jump. Instead, she pitched herself forward, jerking herself free of Kaden's grasp as he ducked.
"Run!" someone yelled.
She bolted for the docks, but a wall of black-suited men blocked her way. She turned, her feet skidding in the mud. One knee hit the ground, but she pushed herself forward, almost stumbling, and ran for the trees she could see behind the town.
Dodging between buildings, she emerged into a narrow meadow, a buffer between the town and the forest. The rain eased off into a fine mist, the moonlight getting brighter as clouds cleared.
Rapid footsteps behind her forced her into moving, but when she entered the trees, she made a mad dash for the darker parts of the forest. Cursing herself for the shiny beads adorning her hair, she flipped her hood up but immediately tripped. Her knee hit a rock and she gasped in pain. She scrambled to her feet, but almost immediately hit a low branch. She fell back and wanted to curse out loud.
She could feel wet patches in her clothes that were warmer than the rain, as well as the cold mud that clung to her pants. Her cloak was sodden, the fabric already soaked with rainwater but now had mud along the bottom hem and she saw a branch had ripped through.
There were shouts behind her, bouncing off the trees. Panting, she thought. She could hear the ocean lapping along the shore, but that was too far and the meadow was too open. Dashing through the forest at night was dangerous, especially if she stuck to the dark sections. Or she could sit here. But if she stayed here, she would be caught.
That could not happen!
There was no choice. She ripped off her cloak and ran deeper into the forest. She fared little better as she reached the darkness, but she managed to keep running without tripping. Branches clawed at her clothes, the muddy ground sucking at her boots with each desperate step. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
Glancing behind her, she saw no one and turned just before she collided with a stone wall. She hit it full-speed and felt a sharp, staggering feeling across her face as she hit, then fell back. She bit back a cry of pain as she landed on her tailbone.
But she couldn't hold back a groan as she held her nose, feeling it was definitely broken. Looking up, she saw the crumbling ruins of a house. It was old, probably been here a few decades, but she vaulted over the low river stone-edged shape of a window without hesitation as she heard shouts.
Panting heavily, her face burning from the pain of her nose, she sank against the wall. Warmth dripped down her chin. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, her breath coming out in gasps.
"Check over here!" A deep voice boomed from the forest and she groaned as she pulled back her haki, trying to keep herself from being found. Her braid throbbed, an extremely rare occurance, and she saw spots dance at the edges of her vision.
Twigs snapped, branches fell, footsteps crunched through the dark woods. She planted her other hand over her mouth, trying to muffle the sound of her breathing. Her mind scrambled.
Who had shot at Kaden? Told her to run? Where was the crew? She hadn't heard any of them leave the tavern.
Footsteps got closer.
She froze against the wall, straining to listen.
They were too close.
Wildly glancing around the inside of the ruined house, she spotted a curved shape partially hidden under a blanket. Using her foot, she slowly and quietly pulled the ragged blanket off the shortbow.
Not something she was familiar with, but it would have to do.
Her glaive was on the ship, and she dropped her dagger in the forest. Looking around quickly, the steps getting closer, she spotted the bottom of a quiver behind a stone leaning against the wall.
As she pulled it free, a burst of joy threatened to escape her lips upon seeing ten arrows tucked inside.
Trying to recall the last time she had seen a bow used, she nocked an arrow and pulled back experimentally. The bow was old, the wood creaking terribly, but the string was good enough for now. As long as she didn't pull back too far or overuse it, it should let her escape and make a run for the sea.
Someone stopped outside the window and she didn't hesitate.
Pulling back, she flashed out her haki and the arrow went through his eye neatly. She pulled back her haki immediately as someone's signature flared nearby. Ducking under the ledge, she panted as quietly as she could and nocked another arrow.
She refused to let them take her back.
More footsteps, then someone stepped into the window opening. She tried to flatten herself against the wall. Blood roared in her ears, heart beating a bruise inside her chest.
They jumped down and she let the arrow fly, but Benn whirled around and knocked her hand down with the end of his rifle. The arrow quivered between his feet and she went limp with relief.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she struggled to catch her breath. No wonder she hadn't heard the rest of the crew; Benn alone was enough to find her. But with her haki suppressed, she couldn't detect him.
Benn crouched to the side of the window. "Who was that?"
Aria stretched out her haki, but there was no one else near. Several signatures were moving between them and the sea, and more around the town, but they were safe for the moment. "His name's Kaden."
Benn watched her silently.
"He was the scientist who…" she closed her eyes, unable to finish.
"Aria…he threatened to kill you but he had a hand to your braid," Benn said softly. He reached forward and gentle grabbed the end of her braid where it lay at her feet.
Aria tried to swallow, but her mouth was suddenly dry. No one on the crew knew the truth of her braid. Her heart in her chest, she watched Benn carefully study it for a few seconds.
His eyes flashed as he looked at her again. "You come from Punk Hazard. That means you're an experiment." He said the words slowly, his eyes boring into her. It was silent for several heartbeats. "If your braid is cut, will that kill you?"
She couldn't meet his gaze, choosing to look at the ground. "Not…not directly." It would just cause immense pain, delirium, and make her wish for death enough she might just fling herself into the sea to make it stop. She's seen it happen before.
They had killed the kid before he got worse, thankfully. That was shortly before she left.
Benn said nothing, just let her go.
Aria stretched out her haki. "There's a route clear to the docks, but we might have to swim under them to avoid getting caught."
He nodded and followed her as she leaped back over the window ledge. She clutched the bow in her hand, with the quiver slung around her side, and didn't hesitate as they ran.
Moving through the quiet forest, they met no one. Aria froze as men ran down the dock, all but invisible in black suits. Benn was a step behind her, but waited patiently until she led them to the water.
It was freezing, and swimming with the bow was difficult, but Aria kept up with him easily. Fear drove her on and she knew that the second she was alone, it would come crashing down on her. But she couldn't let that happen yet.
Shanks was waiting on the dock as they pulled themselves up. "Good." Once aboard, he gave the quiet order to push away from the docks. Aria didn't argue when he sent her and Benn below to change into something dry. Afterwards, they were to meet him in his cabin.
Dashing for the door, Aria noted that the entire crew was ducked down behind the rails, guns out. Yasopp and Arthur stood in the crow's nest, their guns raised. A spark of affection warmed her chest briefly.
Below, the ship creaked softly, the sound echoing gently. She placed her bow and arrows below her hammock before retrieving a thick black shirt and pants.
She felt Benn's eyes on her as she changed; she never changed in front of others, not even Shanks now, but they were alone and the crew's quarters were dim. And he was on the far side of the quarters.
Footsteps sounded behind her as she tugged her shirt down and she looked to see Benn approaching.
"Hongo's in the surgery. Stop and have him bandage that before we speak to Shanks," he said. His eyes lingered on her side.
She knew he had seen the tattoo there, something no one knew she had yet. A crow, its wings spread wide as if in flight, but with music notes tipping each feather. She had it modeled after the bird on her neck.
It wasn't the only new one, but it was in a spot that no one would see unless she took her shirt off or wore something that just covered her chest.
"Aria…" he started.
"Benn, don't." The words came out harsh and she closed her eyes. When he spoke like that, he never said what he meant. And tonight, she could not handle that. Not after earlier. "Every time you try to speak to me, you always hide something. You never say what you really want to say."
He said nothing, but she felt his gaze on her.
"Either tell me, or don't," she said, snapping her eyes open and glaring at him.
He looked away, a hand on his neck.
Aria covered her face with one hand and leaned back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
Benn stepped forward and pulled her close, surprising her. The last time he had gotten this close was when he carried her out of the prison.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently leaned against his chest, the familiar scent of tobacco and ash soothing her frayed nerves. She missed this.
His hand trailed down her braid lightly. "It's understandable after earlier." A hand curled into her hair briefly and his other hand pressed against the small of her back, sending a warm shiver up her spine, then he released her and left for the captain's cabin without another word.
Aria watched him, but after another second, pain shooting through her face jolted her into movement. He was right. She needed to have Hongo look at this.
She would try to figure out Benn's embrace later.
More importantly, for the moment, she had to figure out how to deal with Kaden. He knew which crew she was with. He knew she had been imprisoned. And if she wasn't careful, he would find her again.
And she didn't think he would hesitate to kill her next time.