Chapter 6 – Let me stay
"Captain! Land ahead!" Wire called out from the crow's nest.
Skyler swallowed dry, feeling her chest tightening with anxiety at the prospect of being left alone in a place she knew nothing about. Kidd had not said anything about her staying with them although he seemed to have warmed up to her being around the ship. By warmed up with her presence meaning constant bickering and teasing but it was a start, a work in progress.
Still, she was not ready for them to arrive at the island so soon. She was hoping a few more days on the ship to allow her to maybe bond with others and, hopefully, that being enough to have Kidd conceding to the idea of her remaining aboard the ship. But it had only been a week and it seemed that it was not enough time.
Quincy approached Skyler, taking her hand to catch the raven-haired woman's attention. She gave the signature warm smile, almost motherly, trying to comfort Skyler.
"It'll be alright sweetie." Quincy spoke out, brushing strands of curls behind her ear. "I'll give our captain an earful if it's needed. Even Dive has warmed up to you!" She looked at the woman in question and she just huffed in response, crossing her arms over her chest. "See? You're practically friends!"
"Quincy, you'll have to tell me your definition of friends." Skyler laughed, still looking at the short woman that was refusing to look at her before turning towards Kidd. He was standing on the second level of the deck, looking at the distance where the small speck of the island was visible. "I hope he won't be stubborn and just flat out refuse for me to stay here…"
"I don't think he'll refuse." House spoke from behind the two, making the women turn to face her.
House had her eyes hidden away behind the huge round sunglasses, but Skyler knew she had that eternal tired look on them. She had talked with House when Quincy had introduced them and learned quickly that House was a chaotic type of person: she could both be completely zen, almost seeming shut off from everyone else and then would do a full one-eighty and become an absolute psycho, obsessed with explosions and fires. A true arsonist at heart.
"How so?" Skyler tested the waters, seeing a glimpse of hope for her.
"The fires of spite have cooled down, leaving only embers. Become the water to put out the adversity." House had gone full zen mode, spouting out what sounded like absolute nonsense and Skyler felt her shoulders slump down in defeat.
"Alright Bruce Lee… Whatever you say." Skyler commented before heading towards Kidd, trying to steel herself for whatever was about to come. As she walked away she could hear Quincy ask a very innocent 'Wait… Who's Bruce Lee?'. Skyler would have to spend some time to explain who the man was and similarly philosophical House could be.
As she approached Kidd, she could feel her chest beating out of her chest and it only got worse when his eyes locked with hers. She choked out a breath but tried her best to calm down.
"What?" He asked coldly, turning his gaze again to the horizon.
Something was bugging him and he couldn't quite understand what it was. It had been an odd week for him ever since Skyler had showed up on his ship. He had thought that she would keep her distance, not engage as much but she seemed to be very involved and willing to help around. She had befriended a few of the members of his crew and, he'd hate to admit it, but he had somehow gotten attached to her as well. Even if it was in the space of a week, she had gone above and beyond what he had expected out of her. Albeit it was not much that he had expected to begin with.
He was trying to understand if this attachment was due to who she was or if it was because she resembled Victoria quite a bit and he was just being sentimental about it. In a way, trying to grab onto what he had had in the past with her and trying to project that with Skyler.
"Let me stay here, on the ship." Skyler was upfront and made the captain look again back at her. "Look, I know you're on your journey to wherever it is, but I think my odds are better if I stay here instead of being left on a random island."
"And why would I allow that?" He raised a non-existent eyebrow at her. At least she was upfront and he could commend that. She didn't beat around the bush, or try to soften him up with sweet nothings and empty promises. Another thing that annoyingly reminded him of Victoria.
"Fuck if I know." Again, she was honest. "Just give me a chance to at least prove myself to you. To show you that, while I'm here, I can prove useful to your journey and, in return, I stay here and look for a way back to my world. You don't need to worry that pretty little head of yours about what I want. I'll do that part myself… somehow…" And she stated that she wouldn't be a burden but, to Kidd, actions spoke louder than words so, he would have to put her to the test.
"The deal was to drop you off on the next island. You're stop is there and you'll be left there." He brushed her off, trying to test her mettle.
"What if I don't find a way back home?" She reached out to the sleeve of his large overcoat, squeezing it tight to the point that her knuckles went white.
"Not my problem." He tried to brush her hand from his sleeve but she snatched her hand away and grabbed onto his wrist, her green gaze locking with his red eyes.
"Well, it's mine and I sure as hell could use some help. I don't want to trouble any of you but you are my only chance of getting back home. Being stuck in some island does not help me at all." Her grasp tightened around his wrist, her nails digging a bit too deep, definitely leaving marks behind. "I have better odds at finding a way back home here, with you." She breathed in deeply, her hold on him loosening as she tried to calm herself down. "I don't know anything about this world. I don't know anything about being a pirate but I can fight. If that's what's necessary then I'll fight to earn my place here."
His red eyes glistened with excitement towards her determination. She wasn't just talk, he could see it in her face. She was determined to survive at any cost and that was enough for him to make up his mind, although he would not give that satisfaction to her that easily. She still needed to prove to him through action what she was capable of, in order to stay.
"We stock up on this island, wait for the log pose to set and we'll leave." He stated, looking down towards her hand that was still grabbing at his wrist. She noticed it and immediately snatched it away but he took hold of her wrist instead. He pulled her closer to him, leaned down to her level so he could stare right into her soul. "But if you wind up dead in some ditch, don't expect me to care."
Skyler stared back at him, mouth agape, as she processed what he had told her. Kidd had not said she couldn't stay but he also didn't say that she could. She knew well that he was testing her and she would show him that she was capable.
"You won't get rid of me so easily, Kidd." She spat back, steeling herself to what was to come. With those words, he let go of her and stood up straight to his full height. "Plus, I bet you would miss my company." She relaxed a bit more when she saw the signature smile appear on his features.
"Delusional is not a good look on you, witch." He teased her, casually leaning against the rail of the deck.
"Oh, so now I'm a witch?" She pretended to look offended and rested her hands on her hips. "Be careful, I may cast a curse or two on you. Maybe turn you into a little frog and the only way to break the curse is true love's kiss."
"I'd be one hot frog. That curse would be broken in no time." Kidd looked smug, always managing to keep up with her mockery and bickering.
"Yeah… You do already have Killer to give a little smooch or two." Skyler immediately jumped out of the way when she saw the knife he had resting on his leather belt, that sat across his chest, fly towards her. "Now, now little froggy, play nice."
"Don't push your luck, you witch." Kidd stepped forward, his chest almost bumping against her face. He stood so close to her, she suddenly felt hot all over, his breath not helping, brushing strands of raven-black hair out of her face. She could feel the blush creep up to her face, his smirk only confirming that as she saw it grow wider. This up close she could see that, what she had mistaken as red eyes, were actually copper in tone, a warm copper-like colour but still as intense. "What happened? Cat got your tongue?" He teased again, and chuckled when she just turned around, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Gods, you're insufferable." She muttered under her breath, trying to fight away the embarrassment she was feeling along with trying to calm down the turmoil that her heart was in.
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It seemed almost automatic: the moment the ship docked, the inhabitants from a nearby village scurried to their homes, locking their doors and windows. It was highly plausible that the people had developed a stigma towards pirates, which wasn't all that surprising.
For Skyler, pirates were outlaws, plundering and pillaging, taking with them whatever they needed without care for others wellbeing. The image of pirates was romanticized to a point, because of movies and tv shows, they were always depicted as villains. Despite knowing some historical pirates that were more diplomats rather than actual outlaws. Despite this, it seemed that the villainized image of pirates was perpetuated even in this world.
A rope ladder was thrown over the rail so that the crew could get off the ship and rest their feet on solid ground. Skyler waited for Killer and Eustass to climb down, the red-haired captain going on ahead while the blonde waited for her to go down the ladder. With a smile and a nod, she did so, happy to be able to feel the ground under her feet, the surface perfectly stable, unlike the constant rocking of the ship.
Everyone else followed after, Quincy quickly coming to stand next to Skyler in a protective manner, locking their arms together.
"Come on Sky, we need to get you some clothes! Or at least fabric to make those clothes!" She was immediately jolly, dragging her along the docks.
"Don't take too long." Killer called out, catching their attention. Killer tilted his head, signalling for Heat to follow the women. The strange man nodded and approached the two. "As soon as you're done, just search the bars, we'll be there."
"Alright Killer, don't worry!" Skyler waved at him, a wide smile plastered on her face. "Please take care of my little froggy while I'm away!" There was a sudden roar coming from Kidd, Heat stepping in to block his path while Quincy was dragging a laughing Skyler down the docks and away from Kidd.
As they disappeared into the local shops, whichever were left opened, Killer turned to his captain who was looking a bit more flustered than he had expected.
"So… Little froggy?" Killer warily pointed out, receiving a glare from his captain. He had to contain a laugh that was threatening to come out. He hadn't remembered the last time he had openly laughed either, and Skyler seemed to be able to get him to reach the breaking point.
"Fuck off." Kidd looked away, pouting only for a moment before disguising it behind a strained cough.
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A/N:
Another chapter done and I have already changed quite a bit when compared to the original fanfiction. I want to give a lot more 'screentime' to other members of the crew. It's a bit difficult to figure out personalities for them, given that the main ones are Kidd and Killer. We have a tiny bit more on Heat and Wire but, everyone else is a guessing game, based on their character design.
House was one that I did spend some time thinking how to write her given that we have… nothing about her besides her design. Quincy, for some reason, I have been writing with a southern vibe, a bit more welcoming when compared to the main characters of the crew.
I will be writing more on other members of the crew and their interactions with Skyler. Again, given that we don't have much information on them, if, in the future of the anime, there is more screen time for them, there may be discrepancies on personalities and behaviours.
I appreciate your time reading my work and I hope you enjoy it.