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Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters however, Rosalie is my OC.
Here you go! Please enjoy it
Chapter 22
"Mmmm…"
Rosalie and Poison hummed in thought as they both stared out into the dining room. They had their elbows resting on the counter, hands cupping their chins and eyes narrowing onto the eating pirate crew. They said nothing and seemed to have their own conversation in their heads.
"Hey, what are those two idiots doing?" Kid asked as he looked up from his plate, catching sight of the pair. He frowned, his eye twitching slightly. They weren't joining into the feast and merely stood there, watching them.
"Leave them be. It's better not to ask," Killer stated and then slurped up the noodles into the gaps of his mask. He too felt their stares bore into him but decided to pay them no mind. He was going to concentrate on the meal that was served to him.
"Whatever they're doing, it's disgusting. I hate it when people stare. I'm busy eating!" Kid snapped, his temper flaring. He slammed his hand onto the table, the men briefly stopping with their meal. They watched as Kid's agitation rise and his actions didn't even make them flinch. They were used to it.
Rosalie and Poison paid him no mind, not noticing the glowering male on the end of the table. They had their attention strictly on one individual, not letting a moment slip by. If they blinked too long, they might miss something.
"Let me get this straight, he always eats with his mask on. No matter what we serve him, he will always eat through his mask, right?" Rosalie mused, her brows furrowing. Poison rubbed his chin in thought and vaguely nodded.
"Yeah, he's always been like that. He prefers food such as ramen and stuff in the shape that can fit through. I once saw him eat soap with a straw," Poison stated causing Rosalie to gape at his words in disbelief.
"You're kidding…"
"Nope, dead serious!" Poison laughed and briefly broke his stare. "It's always been like that, or rather, since I've known them and started to cook for this crew. I haven't seen him without his mask once," Poison stated and Rosalie raised an eyebrow.
"Poison, I've been meaning to ask you… Are you the only cook? Meaning, have you always been their cook from the beginning?" Rosalie asked, the male briefly glancing at her. He gave her a small smile and shook his head.
"Nope. At first, I was just another crew member and occasionally helped out in the kitchen. Killer was the first cook," he said and Rosalie's eyes widened in surprise. She looked back at the masked male, blinking a few times. That was unexpected.
The image of the male wearing a pink apron popped up in her mind and she paled slightly. Somehow it didn't fit at all. Killer was known for his brutality and quick-witted attacks, not…cooking. Who would've thought?
"Well, I'll be damned. Killer can cook. That means that he basically kept Kid alive until they formed the crew and all," Rosalie thought aloud and snickered in amusement. Not only did Killer take charge when needed, he was also an important figure.
"He really is a mystery behind that mask… I wonder why he wears it. You think that he has some nasty scar behind it? Maybe he wears it to seem more intimidating? Maybe his colour eyes?" Rosalie contemplated possible reasons.
None of them seemed to feel like the right fit. None of the men were embarrassed by their scars. Instead, they wore each of them proudly. Killer didn't seem to be the type to want to look more intimidating and was indifferent about most things.
Poison chuckled in amusement and finally stood up. He turned his back against the counter and towards the rest of the crew. Rosalie watched him as he moved into the kitchen and leaned against the wall, his arms crossing over his chest.
"You should actually ask him yourself. I doubt that he'll tell you. He hasn't shared that with a lot of people." Rosalie raised an eyebrow as the male's tone became serious. She pushed herself off the counter, frowning as she watched the male.
"I heard it from Boss once, after he warned me never to ask out about it. You aren't allowed to tell anyone else what I'm about to tell you," Poison cautioned the female and she reluctantly nodded. If it was this serious, then she rather didn't want to know. Too bad that her curiosity got the best of her.
"Killer hates his own laugh."
Rosalie stared at the male, her lips pressing into a straight line and her eyes showing her confusion. She stayed quiet, expecting Poison to elaborate. The statement had her speechless and anything she could've said would've been offensive.
"He would beat up anyone that made fun of it. He eventually stopped laughing at all and started to wear a mask to hide his face," Poison finished with a sigh. Rosalie frowned, her eyes averting towards the ground.
"Wait, I've heard him chuckling… Now that I think about it… It was more like a huff… You're right, I've never heard him laugh before. That's terrible. He's never laughed since getting the mask? How much self-control does this guy have?" Rosalie's words made Poison sweat drop.
She wasn't asking out how his laughter sounded. No, instead she was praising him for his self-control to not laugh. He watched in amusement as Rosalie tried to wrap her mind around the news. It looked like she was malfunctioning.
"You're a strange one, you know that?" Rosalie's haze was broken by the male's voice. "Most would've asked, 'how bad was it that he stopped entirely?' Yet, here you are, talking about anything besides that," Poison pointed out and watched as Rosalie's face contorted into one of panic.
"You don't get it? Think about it! Not laughing at anything! As soon as I hear something funny, I laugh and if I'm not allowed to laugh, it's even more funny!" Rosalie told him and Poison paled as she continued rambling on.
"Hey, remember that you aren't allowed to tell anyone about this. No matter how much it bothers you, don't bring it up," Poison reminded her. Rosalie was about to say something else but closed her mouth as she opened it.
Poison was right. This was a very sensitive subject to Killer. She didn't want to get on his bad side, especially since they had started to get along. She decided that it was better for her not to pry. Her lips were sealed.
She glanced back at the dining hall, noticing the amount of men who were missing from the tables. Killer and Kid were both still sitting at the table, conversing freely and comfortably. They had long since finished with their meals and Killer had cleaned the outside of his mask.
They were more sensitive than she originally thought. She knew that Kid would mercilessly kill anyone who laughed at his dream and his crewmates and Killer seemed to be the same. Captain and First Mate, a dangerous combination.
As she thought about it, she realized that she never heard the story about how Law had met Bepo, Shachi and Penguin. All she knew was that they knew each other from the beginning but she didn't know exactly how they met.
She knew how Jambarl joined, or connected the dots with the time when the Straw Hat punched a Celestial Dragon. The prisoner had escaped with the help of Law and the rest was history. She didn't know the stories of the others at all. She made a mental note to ask them when she returned.
"What are you staring at?" Rosalie jumped at the sudden voice and glanced up to find an angry redhead staring back at her. His purple coloured lips were pulled into a sneer and his red-orange eyes narrowed at her.
"Just because you have one doesn't mean you need to act like one. Just saying," Rosalie added as she stepped out of the kitchen. "I was in deep thought and coincidently let my eyes land on you. Don't go and get a big ego just because I saved your life once."
His sneer was soon replaced with a smirk of his own, a chuckle escaping his lips. Rosalie gave him a suspicious look, uncertain as to what he was thinking. He gave nothing away and grinned darkly, leaving Rosalie with an unsettling feeling in her stomach.
Kid then huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, Rosalie eyeing him cautiously. The uncomfortable feeling left as fast as it came. It was peculiar. Kid would usually take it further, one of them storming out and raging. Yet, none of that was happening.
"We'll be arriving at the island in two hours, be sure to get your stuff ready," Kid said as he walked off with a wave of his hand. He left Rosalie staring at his back, her eyes hiding her confusion. She only knew one thing from his statement.
This was going to be trouble.
"What are the chances that you'll be able to save me from Kid?" She asked Poison, her voice having a tone of pleasing in it. Poison gave her a blank expression before he burst out laughing. He gave her a few pats on the back and his answer made her shoulders fall in defeat.
"Zero, my dear."
On the island… Severed Isle…
The group of Kid pirates walked in the busy streets of the bright lit city on the island. There were casino's, gambling places, hotels and bars all around them as they walked. Everything was decorated with various different kinds of lights that illuminated everything in the coming night.
Rosalie's eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open as she stared around in wonder. It was a beautiful city, despite all the dark and devious things that went on behind the scenes. Luckily, she hid herself with a sunhat and sunglasses and hoped it would help somewhat.
To her surprise, Virus joined them and walked next to her. Kid and Killer led the group with Heat and Wire walking behind them, impassive facial expressions. She saw Virus glance at her, then smirk and confused her slightly.
"Here we are. The best and biggest bar there is on the island." Killer's voice reached her ears and she glanced up at the large building. It had three stories and it was the size of two buildings. It was a huge bar and it was named the 'Drunken Mermaid'.
"It's been a while since we've been here." Kid licked his lips as a sick grin came onto his dark features. "They have the best alcohol and women here," Kid said and Rosalie shook her head at the male. That's all he ever wanted to do.
"Goggles, you're not here to get laid," Rosalie told him as she pointed at him, her blue eyes narrowing dangerously. She turned towards the doors of the bar and smirked. She saw a poster on the window and pulled it off.
"Rosalie, remember that you're here to get information. We'll be sitting in one of the corners. If you're having trouble contact us with the transponder snail, we gave you. Do you understand? Rosalie? Are you even listening?" Killer asked the spaced-out female as she looked at the poster.
Rosalie glanced back at him with a bored expression. "Yeah, yeah. Get information. Contact you when I'm in trouble. Can I go now?" Rosalie asked, and imagined that Killer was glaring at her through the mask.
"Listen-!""Go ahead, Rose. We're going to get some drinks, nah, Killer?" Virus interrupted as he slung an arm over his shoulder. He winked at Rosalie who smiled before she entered the bar without any more arguing.
"That woman… I have no idea how she's going to do it and I hope she knows what she's doing. I don't want to bail her ass out of trouble," Kid growled out as they entered the large bar. They were quick to be hit by the strong scent of both alcohol and sex.
"For what it's worth, Boss. She has a nice ass," Virus added and Kid gave him a blank looked before laughing rather loudly. Killer groaned at the male's words and knew he wasn't going to get that image out of his head.
"Do we really have to talk about her ass of all things? I'm going to get a drink, you coming?" Killer asked and they followed the male without saying anything else. The bar was already crowded, the music loud but the stage empty.
Kid caught sight of Rosalie's figure as she laughed at the bar counter while talking with a blonde woman. She had a well make-upped face, a tight number that made the men stare and jewellery that sparkled in the various colours light that shone down on her.
Rosalie pointed at the poster that she pulled of earlier and the female clapped her hands together, obviously excited. She gestured for her to follow and they disappeared after climbing stairs to the second floor.
"Hey, Killer. Do you know what was on that poster she pulled off earlier?" Kid asked and received a shake of his first mate's head. "Whatever it was, she looks like she's already in. She doesn't waste any time, does she?" Kid chuckled and gulped down his beer, and moving to a corner table.
Upstairs, inside a dressing room…
"Here we are!" A feminine voice squealed and opened a door. Rosalie followed the blonde female into the dressing room, her green eyes laughing just as she was. She closed the door behind them and smiled at Rosalie.
"I'm so glad you saw our advertisement! Our girl left us on the last minute and went missing. Never trust a runaway girl looking for money. So, I have to ask you to please take off those glasses and hat. Also, can you do it?" The blonde asked and Rosalie chuckled.
She pulled off the hat, her red hair falling freely down her back and blue eyes shining. She watched as the female's eyes bulged in shock and put her hands on her hips, just above the dagger and leather journal.
"I promise you, I'm the one for the job! I can only help you for tonight though. But I'll be more than enough, Lydia," Rosalie proudly stated at the surprised blonde. Rosalie was lucky enough to find the offer the bar had on the poster.
Wanted Female Singer
No specifics
Pays 35000 Beli
"Y-You're… You're Rosalie! Oh my, you're very famous around these parts and perfect for the job since it's mostly pirates out there. I'll help you get dressed!" Lydia exclaimed and Rosalie snickered at her energetic behaviour.
"Concert Design!" She said as she held out her hands and Rosalie's eyes widened. Her body lit up and before she knew it, she was dressed in new clothing. She wore a long red dress, the material slimming down her body to emphasize her figure and long black boots covered a quarter of her legs.
"Amazing… You're a devil's fruit user?"
Lydia nodded. "Yeah, that's me! I ate the fashion-fashion fruit and became a designer! Quite a stupid fruit to lose the ability to swim but hey! I always look great! Now, just the final touches," Lydia said as she sat Rosalie down and went to work on her hair.
"I must say I was surprised when you suddenly came in at our hour in need. What are you doing on Severed Isle? It's not really a popular place except if you like gambling and drinking," Lydia asked and Rosalie smiled.
"Well, I was hoping to find something interesting here. I'm actually looking for a place where I can buy rare items, like a devil's fruit. I heard there's a place here but I haven't had any luck finding it." She let out a sigh, dropping her shoulders.
"Oh! Maybe I can help you with that!" Lydia quickly replied. "Not many people know this but I'll let you in on a little secret. There's a Black Market that's run downtown. Anyone can enter and leave. You can buy devil's fruits there since it's one of his territories." Rosalie's brows knitted together in confusion.
"My, but you aren't very informed, are you? It's Joker's territory. He's one of the most trusted brokers in the underground dealing. If you're looking for something, he has it… There! All done! You ready to blown them all away?" She asked and Rosalie smirked.
As easy as that… Rosalie nodded and stood up looking over herself in the mirror one more time. She managed to retrieve information in a flash and felt proud of herself. One song and they were out of here ready to get deals done.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
The Kid Pirates…
The small group of four sat in one of the corner chairs near the stage, avoiding all contact with the rest of the bar. They were served by one of the waitresses and waited for Rosalie to return while drinking the time away.
"What's taking her so long?" Kid practically snarled out, his voice laced impatience. He slammed his empty mug on the table after finishing his drink. It had been almost an hour and there was still no sign of the female. They haven't received any calls either.
"Maybe we should-""You worry too much!" Virus intervened once again as he sat back and enjoyed his drink. "She said that she'll handle it so let her be. She doesn't have a high bounty for nothing. Just wait it out and relax." His calmness was unsettling to the group but they nodded.
The lights on the stage suddenly lit up and a puff of smoke emerged. A blonde female stepped out, the face immediately familiar to Kid and his eyes narrowed. The people cheered as she blew kisses and smiled at them.
"Good to see we have a full house tonight! It's going to be a night to remember! Are you ready?!" The people cheered, the Kid pirates staring blankly at her. "That's more like it! We only have one performance. Feel free to take it all in!" The blonde exclaimed and then vanished behind the smoke.
"Looks like we're lucky tonight, Boss. We have a free show to watch as well," Wire pointed out and Kid shrugged with a sigh. It didn't matter that much to him. Hopefully he'll be entertained until Rosalie came back.
Another smoke screen emerged from the stage as two dark skinned females walked onto the stage, each wearing glittered black dresses, microphones in hand. Another shadow appeared and was followed by a melodious voice.
I'm drifting through the halls with the sunrise
(Holding on for your call)
Climbing up the walls for that flashing light
(I can never let go)
Cause I'm gonna be free and I'm gonna be fine
(Holding on for your call)
Cause I'm gonna be free and I'm gonna be fine
(Maybe not tonight)
Blue eyes revealed themselves behind the smoke and a smirk on a pair of plush lips came into view. Red hair flowed down her back, complimented by the dress she wore. Rosalie winked at the crowd as she stepped out.
Now the sun is up and I'm going blind
(Holding on for your call)
Another drink just to pass the time
(I can never say no)
Cause I'm gonna be free and I'm gonna be fine
(Holding on for your call)
Cause I'm gonna be free and I'm gonna be fine
(Maybe not tonight)
The group of Kid pirates stared at Rosalie in shock and disbelief. Kid gaped at the scene while Virus laughed. Wire chocked on his drink, Heat helping the male out and Killer groaned while shaking his head in disapproval.
It's a different kind of danger
And the bells are ringing out
And I'm calling for my mother
As I pull the pillars down
It's a different kind of danger
And my feet are spinning around
Never knew I was a dancer
'Till Delilah showed me how
Rosalie sang, the spotlight seeming to be a natural for her to sing and dance in with the other two backup singers. The bar enjoyed her voice as she continued, the melody addictive and her energy making them cheer.
Too fast for freedom
Sometimes it all falls down
These chains never leave me
I keep dragging them around
Now I'm dancing with Delilah and her vision is mine
(Holding on for your call)
A different kind of danger in the daylight
(I can never let go)
Took anything to cut you, I can find
(Holding on for your call)
A different kind of a danger in the daylight
(Can't you let me know?)
Kid sat back in his chair, smirking at the female as she enjoyed herself. One more thing she did that surprised him. He recalled Poison telling him that she could sing but this was on another level! Who would've thought?
Now it's one more boy and it's one more lie
(Holding on for your call)
Taking the pills just to pass the time
(I can never say no)
Now I'm dancing with Delilah and her vision is mine
(Holding on for your call)
A different kind of danger in the daylight
(I can never let go)
Took anything to cut you, I can find
(Holding on for your call)
A different kind of a danger in the daylight
(Can't you let me know?)
Virus whistled at her and laughed when she gave their table a wink. She looked so alive on that stage. Killer merely watched her perform, a smile coming onto his lips beneath the mask. She was full of surprises.
Strung up, strung out for your love
Hang in, hung up, it's so rough
I'm wrung and ringing out
Why can't you let me know?
She finished with the song and heard applause coming from the crowd. She was out of breath, adrenaline rushing through her veins. She enjoyed that. How long had it been since she had this thrill of singing? For her, too long.
"Wasn't that amazing?! Let's hear it for our beautiful singer one more time!" Lydia encouraged the crowd once again and Rosalie laughed. She disappeared behind the smoke screen and emerged not too long after, walking towards the table to the Kid pirates.
Virus gave her another whistle that caused Rosalie to blush. She received smiles coming from Heat and Wire, their faces showing their pleasant surprise. Killer's face was hidden as always while Kid gave her a grin making her return the gesture.
"Well done, Rose! Who would've thought that you had it in you! Imma make you my personal singer now!" Virus teased the female and she playfully rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled softly.
"Hey, Sweetheart, sit down. We want to hear what information you got us," Kid said and Rosalie nodded. She went to sit down between Virus and Kid. Worst choice she could make. Kid pulled her closer, covered her body up with his jacket and slung an arm around her shoulder.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm showing what's not to be touched. Didn't you notice the eyes preying on you?" Rosalie glanced at the bar, finding that a lot of people were staring at her. She swallowed thickly and for the first time, she felt safe in Kid's embrace.
"O-Only this once!" She weakly snapped at him and he grunted. She closed herself with his jacket and enjoyed the warmth as her cheeks flushed. A small smile came onto her face and she saw a peculiar gleam in Kid's eyes.
"Now that's settled. What did you manage to find out, Rosalie?" Killer asked as he brought her out of her thoughts and she nodded. He knew she was in a tight spot but said nothing, noticing the expressions of both his satisfied Captain and Rosalie.
"The blonde girl, Lydia, was kind enough to inform me that the black market will be held downtown. She said that anyone can go or leave. It's around midnight tonight, giving us enough time to find it. We'll know it when we see it," Rosalie told them and they nodded.
"That's good news. One more thing, are you going to keep walking around in that dress the entire night long? It's…uh…very distracting," Killer pointed out as he secretly blushed and remembered the comments the crew made on her earlier.
Rosalie chuckled and smirked at the male. "Aw, I was planning on keeping this little number but if it makes you feel uncomfortable…then I'll go change. I just wanted to inform you first." Rosalie was about to stand up, yet was unable to do so with Kid's grip.
She looked up at him in confusion and noticed his tension. It only showed in his eyes, his smirk never leaving his lips. What was his deal? He was more on edge that she ever saw him and she didn't understand why.
"Virus, you go with her and make sure she doesn't take her time. We'll meet you outside," Kid ordered, Rosalie wanting to argue with him. He gave her one look that made her seal her lips and nodded. She left soon after with Virus, the male staying close by her side.
"Kid, what's up?"
"That wasn't the best choice she made by performing. I don't like the feeling I'm getting and I'm sure as hell not taking chances." Kid told Killer, his first mate nodding as he knew his Captain's thoughts. It was a dangerous place and human auction was one of the problems on the island.
"Let's go."
The dressing room…
Virus stood outside the dressing room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and keeping an eye on the corridors. Rosalie was busy changing inside the room and sighed in relief as she put her hair up.
She was back into her white blouse, long dark pants and boots. She clipped her belt around her middle, trailing her fingers over the dagger by her side. It was a good night. It was a night that reminded her of the good old days with her mother. Also, it was a night that she could get the money to pay Killer for their hospitality. It was a win-win.
She was about to leave but heard strange sounds coming from one of the closets. Letting her curiosity overrule her, she opened it only to find Lydia tied up and her mouth gagged. She yelled out muffled in panic towards Rosalie and blue eyes narrowed.
It was a trap.
"Virus-!" Rosalie was suddenly gagged causing her to grow. She hit the person behind her with her head and then kicked him away. She pulled off the gag and threw it to the side. In front of her stood seven men, all in suits and ready to take her.
Virus had his own problems outside as strange men arrived, causing him to raise an eyebrow. His arms shot out and a green substance seeped from underneath his clothing. The men kept attacking until they all ended up on the floor, coughing up blood and sweat dripping down the side of their faces.
"Idiots. There's a reason I'm known as Virus. I ate the disease-disease fruit," he said with a sick smirk before hearing cry inside the dressing room. He cursed and broke down the door, seeing Rosalie held by two men. Five others lay on the ground, unconscious and hurt badly.
"Virus!" Rosalie called before gasping out when she was pierced by a needle. She let out a strangled cry, glaring at the males who held her. Her vision blurred and in another instant, she became limp in their grasp. Virus ran towards them, ready to attack but found that he was too late.
He reached out towards them, his fingers grazing a strangle of red and then nothing as they vanished. He crashed into the wall and scoffed. He pushed himself up and looked around finding the blonde tied up. He ripped the gag off her, the material wet from her tears.
"Where did they take her?! Answer me!" He fumed angrily and veins pulsated out from his skin. He was beyond furious. He was livid. He spooked the female more and she continued to cry, trying to talk through hiccups.
"T-The… A-Auction H-Hou-se…"
"Oh, shit!" He cursed and let her go. They were in trouble. Captain was going to kill him if he found out. Not only that… They needed to get her back as soon as possible. He glanced back at the blonde, his piercing gaze making her quiver in fear.
"You're coming with me."
Song: Delilah - Florence & The Machine
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