Chapter 13: Unspoken

The silence that hung between them felt thick, suffocating. She didn't know if she was supposed to leave or stay and pretend nothing happened. She forced herself to take a deep breath and steady her voice, turning back toward him. She was grateful he had placed his mask back on, not wanting him to face any more awkwardness with her.

"It's fine." Killer's voice was low and cautious, not lifting his head to meet her gaze.

Skyler shifted awkwardly, unsure what to do with herself.

"I didn't mean to… I wasn't staring, I just-" She faltered, her voice quieter now, words stumbling as she searched for an explanation.

"Don't." He lifted a hand, cutting her off. "It's reflex. It's what I'm comfortable with."

"Right…" She nodded, exhaling sharply. "I'll just-" She gestured vaguely toward the kitchen before quickly retreating, his silent nod the only response she got. The moment she stepped inside, she pressed a hand to her forehead. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," she muttered under her breath. "Dumbass… Fuckass…" She stomped her feet in tiny, frustrated steps, trying to shake off the tension.

A voice carried through the open space. "You know it's an open kitchen, right? I can still hear you."

Skyler froze. Killer's tone was laced with amusement, and she could picture the smirk behind his mask.

"No, you can't!" She shot back defensively, marching toward the fridge as if that would somehow save her. But when she glanced up, she saw it: an open serving window, wide enough for him to see and hear everything. She groaned inwardly before turning and pointing an accusatory finger at him. "You heard nothing, and I saw nothing. I think that's a fair deal."

Killer let out a snort of laughter, the sound breaking the lingering awkwardness between them.

"You scratch my back, I scratch yours? A classic," he teased, absentmindedly twirling his spoon in his bowl.

"What can I say? I'm into the classics." She smirked, turning her attention back to the kitchen. As she rummaged through the pots, she found one filled with the rich-smelling stew Killer had been eating. Her stomach grumbled at the aroma. "Can I take some?" She asked, glancing up, only to be startled when she realized Killer had basically teleported himself into the kitchen.

"Relax." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

Skyler gave him a sceptical look but reached for a bowl anyway, ladling herself a generous serving of stew. "You're a little too quiet for a guy your size," she muttered, still recovering from the fact that he had snuck up on her.

"A guy my size, hm?" He hummed, holding back a laugh when he saw the instant face of regret at her choice of words. "I'd say it's years of practice." He continued to tease, relishing on how her smile became more mischievous.

"Oh yeah? That's not suspicious at all."

"I like to keep people on their toes." He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.

"Mission accomplished." She joked and took a bite of her food. Her eyes widened. "Damn, this is actually good. Did you make this?"

"Yeah, I told you I can cook." He shrugged.

"Well yeah, I know. I just wasn't expecting it to be this good. You are a dangerous combination Killer. A good cook and a good fighter… should I be scared?" She teased back.

"Terrified." He continued, relaxing as he felt whatever remnant of the awkwardness from before dissipate. "And you haven't seen the half of it." She smiled, taking another bite before her gaze flickered up to his mask. The teasing came easy, but there was something lingering between them. An unspoken weight in the air. She tapped her spoon against the edge of the bowl, debating whether to bring it up. It didn't go unnoticed by the blond and he knew it was about his mask. "Yes?"

"You know, it's kind of unfair…" She stirred the content of her bowl, averting her gaze from him.

"What is?"

"I'm sitting here, eating this suspiciously delicious meal you made," she pointed at him, "and I have no idea what you even look like when you eat. How do I know you're not some kind of kitchen cryptid when you eat?"

"Kitchen cryptid?" Killer asked, amusement in his words and she nodded sagely.

"Yeah! I could've walked in here just before you unhinged your jaw and swallowed the whole thing and I'd never suspected a thing!"

"Would that make you run?"

"Depends. Are we talking snake-level unhinging, or something more terrifying?"

"I don't know… Maybe one day you'll find out." He teased, and was entertained when she feigned surprise, a hand on her chest and mouth agape in wonder.

"One day?" She lifted the hand she had on her chest and rested it on her forehead. "Oh I am ever so lucky." She laughed half-heartedly before turning sombre, and with a heavy sigh, she placed the bowl down and twiddle her thumbs. "Sorry… I'm deflecting with humour and that leads us nowhere." She saw Killer shifting a bit, before settling back against the counter. "I didn't mean to walk in and see you that way… I don't want you to show me your face just because… You don't need to show it at all, if you don't want to."

"It's not about hiding away." He started, making her raise her head, surprised that he was talking about it at all. "I got used to it, I guess… I did wear it because of other people, at the beginning." He pushed away from the counter and walked up to her, so he was standing tall before her. "Now, I guess, I got used to it that it feels weird to have it off." Killer saw her swallow dry.

"Alright, I understand." She hadn't noticed that she had taken a small step forward, closing the distance between them a bit more. "Thank you for trusting me with that."

Killer's breath caught in his throat, his chest rising with a thought he didn't voice. His hand twitched at his side, trying to fight back an impulse to reach out to her, brush her hair, caress her face. To feel her skin against his hand. The hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Skyler.

"Thank you…" His voice was low, gruff.

The air between them shifted, no longer playful or light. There was something unspoken between them. A pull lingered in the silence, as if the moment itself teetered on the edge of something neither was quite ready to name.

"You… can touch me, you know?" Her voice came out quiet, as if she was whispering a secret only for his ears. "I'm not made of glass."

Killer's breath was slow, measured, but she could see the conflict in the way his fingers curled into a loose fist, how his shoulders tensed like he was bracing himself for something unseen. He had faced danger, countless battles, endured pain, yet somehow, this moment, standing before her, felt like unfamiliar territory.

Skyler held still. She wasn't pushing, wasn't asking for more than he was willing to give. But there was a softness in her gaze, a quiet invitation rather than a demand.

This time, he allowed himself to move his hand, reach out to her, tentatively. A gentle brush of his knuckles against her bandaged hand, so light she might've imagined it. But she didn't move away.

The space between them felt smaller, more fragile.

"…I know." He had been with other women before. Casual encounters, fleeting moments. Simple, uncomplicated. He knew how to touch, tease, how to pull a woman close and make her breath hitch in anticipation. Confidence had never been an issue. He was always calm, collected, kept things under control.

But with Skyler, it felt different. It wasn't hesitation from inexperience or doubt, but rather the unfamiliar weight of something that wasn't just physical. This attraction, the tension that was between the two of them, it was something he had been familiar with, years back. When it was Victoria there and not Skyler. When he had stepped aside for his captain, so they could be together instead of Killer.

There was a quiet understanding between him and Kidd at the time. Maybe it was then that Killer became more pragmatic. He had let the moment slip through his fingers like sand, and in doing so, he had made his peace. But now… this was different.

Kidd and he had been here before, in this place where they both felt the pull of something deeper, undeniable. The same affection for Skyler that they had both shared years ago had come rushing back in waves, as if time had not passed at all. But now, neither of them were stepping aside. Instead, there was a silent acknowledgement that they both wanted her, without bitterness or resentment. It wasn't about making the sacrifice for the other person's happiness. It was about mutual respect and understanding that, if Skyler felt the same, maybe they could both share what they each felt for her, together.

He let his fingers trail gingerly up her arms, leaving goosebumps on her skin, a gentle reminder of how his touch had affected her.

He looked at Skyler again, her gaze so open, so willing. The weight of it settled between them, heavy but comforting. This was something he could never have anticipated, but now that he was here, with her… with both of them… he didn't want to let it go.

Killer wanted to show her his face. Take off his mask, break down the walls he had built just for her. Just as the thought crossed his mind, there was a rush of noise that invaded the galley. Numbers of pirates rushed inside, causing a huge ruckus.

The commotion broke through the bubble that had settled between them. Skyler, like a cat, took a step, almost a leap, back and Killer's lips twitched into a smirk.

"Pirates, huh?" Skyler muttered, looking over at the mess of people piling in. "Always know how to ruin a moment."

Killer nodded, acknowledging the sentiment.

"You get used to it." He didn't sound bothered by it, but his gaze still lingered on her, holding something unspoken.

Skyler gave him an exaggerated eye roll, but there was a warmth in her smile.

"Maybe next time we can have a quiet dinner, just the two of us?" She asked, hesitantly, trying to test the waters.

"Hmm…" He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms, his voice lowering. "I think I could be convinced."

There was a beat of silence, just long enough for the weight of what they didn't say to hang in the air again. But then, with a swift movement, Killer pushed off the counter, walking towards the entrance to the main deck.

"You'll cook though!" Skyler called out. "Or I can help, whatever works for you."

"It'll be a surprise." He said, his tone lighter now, the confident cadence back in his voice. "And bring out that pot of stew for the others. I need to go back out."

"If I don't go running with the whole pot." Skyler laughed, her mood lifting.

As Killer disappeared into the crowd of pirates, Skyler shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her hand and arm, her skin still with traces of goosebumps.

Looking up she saw Quincy on the other side of the serving window giving her a wide grin and a thumbs up. Skyler knew that woman had been plotting something, she was just surprised that she knew that Killer would be there.

Skyler flipped her off and Quincy feigned offence but walked off laughing.

There was something different about this. About Killer. About the way everything felt right for that moment where it was just the two of them.

She would like to see where it went.