Chapter 11: A Rivalry Rekindled

After some time sailing around the island, they finally managed to find a secluded grotto on the opposite end of the docks. Kidd barked some orders for the men to be careful when sailing his ship between the rocks. This ship was his creation, and he wouldn't tolerate anyone damaging it, especially after the destruction caused the day Skyler arrived

The grotto was the perfect pirate hideout – its crystal-clear waters casting shimmering reflections on the ceiling above, where stalactites hung like jagged icicles, varying in size. Some stalactites had fused with stalagmites below, forming thick, natural pillars that seemed to support the cavern's ancient structure. Here and there, the grotto's ceiling opened up to reveal slivers of the sky, allowing the orange glow of the setting sun to filter through.

Despite the breath-taking landscape that surrounded them, there was still a sense of uneasiness that lingered among the pirates. The Marines were probably still after them, scouring the coast but the odds of finding this grotto were low. The entrance was well hidden by dense vegetation, making it nearly invisible to prying eyes.

The crew anchored the ship at a natural rock formation that jutted out like a dock, giving some of the pirates a chance to stretch their legs and step on solid ground. There were still a few hours left for the log pose to set so, until then, they had little choice but to wait.

"Will we be leaving during the night?" Skyler asked, her gaze following Killer as he climbed off the ship.

"Kidd wants to, and I think it'll be the best call." Killer replied, extending a hand to her as she began descending the ropes.

"But we'd have low visibility, no?" She asked, carefully making her way down. Her bandaged hands protested with a sharp sting at every movement. The loss of her nails had become a hassle, and she knew it would only cause more issues if she had to fight.

"So will the Marines." Kidd pointed out as he approached the two, a prideful smile on his face. "Don't underestimate my ship. This beauty is perfect while at sea."

"But what if they find this cave? We're just sitting ducks here." There was a nagging thought at the back of her mind, making her acutely aware of the danger of stopping at a time like this.

"They'll funnel in the cave, and we'd take them down one by one." Kidd puffed out his chest as he prepared himself to brag his ship a bit more. "My ship is more than capable to take down a few marines."

"Don't you think that head of yours is getting too inflated with your ego?" Skyler teased. She braced herself for a snarky remark, but what she saw instead was hesitation from the captain. He held back from snapping at her, still unsure of his stance toward her. His mouth twisted in a frown before he stomped away. She looked at Killer, confused. "What did I do?"

"Nothing." Killer said absentmindedly, as he looked to where his captain had stormed off. He wasn't sure what was bothering his captain but something in his mind told him that it was because of what had happened to Skyler. It had affected him more than Killer thought it would, and he'd have to talk to him about it.

They watched Kidd walk away, his heavy footsteps echoing against the cavern walls. Her brows furrowed as she stared after him. His behaviour was… odd. She was used to his brashness, quick temper and sharp tongue. His hesitation, this restraint he was showing her… it didn't fit Kidd at all.

She glanced back at Killer, his expression hidden behind his mask, his head still turned toward the direction Kidd had gone. He stood like a sentinel, body relaxed yet alert, a slight twitch in his shoulders whenever there was the sound of a droplet breaking the water's surface.

"No… it's something and you know it." She placed her hands gingerly on her hips to avoid hurting herself, the knuckles still tender. "Killer, I haven't known Kidd for that long but even I can tell something's wrong." Her mouth twisted in a frown when the blond finally looked back at her. "He was strange when I returned his knife and now this?" She pinched the bridge of her nose as she let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't have the energy for this."

"You don't need to worry about it." Killer said reassuringly. He looked down at her bandaged hands noticing the smudge of blood seeping through the gauze, and, without thinking, reached out to grab them. "Do you need help changing the dressing?"

He hadn't looked up immediately at her face but, when he did, he was taken aback, his own hand twitching lightly. Her cheeks flushed a dark pink, her eyes wide open in a mix of surprise and shock as her mind reeled to make sense of why his touch felt like a flame through the gauze.

"I-… Uhm…" She mumbled as she tried to form words, any word, but her mind was blank. As if on cue, Quincy came to her side and took her hands in her own.

"I'll take care of that, Killer." Quincy said all perky, in her familiar way of being. "You go guide the others and do what you do best: Talk to our captain." She pointed and wiggled her finger in the direction of the man in question. "He is not himself and we need him in tiptop shape." With that, she dragged Skyler off to a cluster of rocks that could work as a seat while she tended to Skyler's wounds.

Killer watched them walk off, a part of him revelling in how she had looked at him, her green eyes holding a shimmer of something more hidden, though she tried to push it back. The blush had betrayed her. At the same time, he could feel the weight of someone staring daggers into his back. Turning around he saw Kidd glaring at him from a distance but he could see the fire in his gaze.

With a tired breath, he walked towards his captain, composing himself as he approached. Tension radiated from Kidd, reflected in his shoulders that, despite being hidden by the fur coat, were visibly stiff. Killer stood at a distance.

"What happened?" He asked, trying to test the waters.

"Nothing." Kidd spat the word, short and quick.

"I know it's not nothing, captain." He tentatively took a step forward but stop when he saw his captain twitch at the sound of his steps echoing in the cavern walls. "It's about Skyler and what happened at the sick bay. You called me to go in. Are you regretting that now?" Killer had touched a sore spot as he heard Kidd grunt in irritation. "Or is it something else that's bothering you?"

"Killer, I don't do this shit, you know that." He turned to face the blond, his face in a strained expression as he tried to understand what was going on inside his head. Some pieces fit together, but much of the puzzle remained incomplete.

"Yes, you don't do 'feelings'," Killer gestured with air quotes, "but I am afraid this, whatever is going on with you, will affect the rest of the crew. We need you at your best." He took another step forward, noticing the captain's shoulders slouch in what seemed like defeat.

"She's not good for the crew." Kidd stated, curt and dismissive, though his tone lacked conviction. Killer crossed his arms, waiting for Kidd to unravel what was really bothering him. "She… she reminds me too much of…" His copper gaze turned downward, towards the ground with a blank stare. "She's so much like Victoria." The words were bitter in his mouth, a tightening in his chest that he refused to unravel him more than what he had already done.

"I know." Killer agreed, empathizing with his captain's feelings. There was a sense of melancholy and longing for what he had had before with that woman. "I've noticed but… she's not Victoria. She is different from her, don't you think?"

"…yes." Kidd admitted, though he frowned as he tried to grasp what continued to gnaw at him.

"So what is it? Just because she brings back those memories?" Killer caught a flicker of something more complex flashing through Kidd's eyes. A deeper understanding of what was truly bothering him. "You're afraid?"

"I-…" And there it was: the realization of what had been nagging at him this whole time. Since the sickbay, a fear of loss bothered him. Kidd wasn't someone that was scared of anything. He'd face whatever came his way, even death. If it came down to it, he'd only allow himself to go to the afterlife only after finding the One Piece. Until then, he'd fight tooth and nail to achieve his goal.

But now Skyler had come along, triggering memories of a past he thought he'd buried. Whatever fear, guilt, or trauma, whatever he had felt before was left in the past and the now was what mattered. And there she was, reminding him again of those feelings.

Killer could see this recognition unfolding before him. There was a quiet understanding between the two, forged over years of camaraderie. They didn't need to exchange words to grasp what the other wanted to say.

"She's tough, Kidd." Killer said, his voice softer than usual. He rarely called the captain by his name. When he did, it was more personal, a way to break through the stubborn exterior.

"I don't know that for sure." Kidd replied, his harsh edges returning as he composed himself.

"You do. I know you do." Killer's insistence held firm as he finally stepped closer, placing a hand on his captain's shoulder. "She came back after what happened. She had never killed, and when she did, she didn't tell you she'd want to leave, did she?" Kidd shook his head, his expression hard "You have your answer there." Killer concluded, stepping back. He sensed he'd done his part as first mate and as Kidd's friend.

"Do you like her?" Kidd asked abruptly, the words cutting through the quiet. It made the blond stop in his tracks.

"I can't say I'm not interested in her." The blond admitted, turning to face his captain. There was a pained smile hidden beneath his mask. "And you?"

"Can't say I'm not interested either." The captain echoed, his tone more measured than usual. His lips curled into the same kind of pained smile.

"We really are repeating the past, aren't we?" Killer's shoulder's slumped as he let out a sigh. "But this time, it's going to be different." There was a newfound resilience in his words, making his captain raise a non-existent eyebrow. "I'm not just going to step aside like I did before." His tone was quiet but resolute, the weight of his statement hanging between them.

"Oh? You think you can keep up?" Kidd asked, leaning closer with an almost predatory grin. His tone was playful, but the challenge in his voice was unmistakable. Killer didn't flinch, standing tall under the captain's gaze. "You've got nothing on me when it comes to charm."

"Charm?" Killer echoed, feigning disbelief. "Is that what you call your obnoxiousness these days?"

"It's confidence!" He replied smugly, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest. "Just sit and watch."

"Oh, I will watch you embarrass yourself. You're good at that." Killer shook his head, a laugh threatening to escape him. "What's that charm? Will you yell her into liking you?"

Kidd barked a laugh, and for a moment, the tension between them eased, replaced by the comforting friendship they had shared for years.

"You're just jealous that she'll pick me before you. And when she does, don't come crying about it." Kidd twirled his finger in front of Killer's chest, a mocking gesture.

"And when she doesn't?" Killer tilted his head slightly, the smirk behind his mask evident in his voice. "Will you?"

"You wish!" Kidd's grin turned cocky as he spun on his heel, his coat swishing dramatically as he walked away. "Get ready to lose again, Killer!"

"Keep dreaming froggy." Killer snapped back, unbothered when Kidd turned back to him, shouting an offended 'Ah!?' at him. The tension was completely gone, Kidd seemed to had gone back to his usual self.

Despite the teasing, Killer knew neither of them would cross the line. Their rivalry might flare up now and then, but it wouldn't become toxic. They both understood what was at stake. It wasn't just the feelings they shared for Skyler, whichever they were, but the trust and friendship they'd built over the years.

Killer turned, his gaze drifting back toward the grotto where Skyler sat with Quincy, laughing at something the woman had said. His chest tightened slightly, but he allowed himself a quiet smile. This time, he wasn't going to hold back.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

A/N:

I'm posting this a day earlier than what I usually do because I'll be leaving for a short vacation. The following chapters are the journey to Sabaody and I will be unravelling little by little all the emotions around Kidd, Killer and Skyler.

During the Sabaody arc I will keep it faithful to the anime, at least the scenes we see. I will be adding other interactions once they are at Sabaody. Mainly from Skyler since she does not know the world.

What comes after Sabaody arc will be interesting to write. I'll have to do some research as to where the Kid Pirates went and what they done in the meantime. Since there's so little about that timeframe, I will be taking creative liberties. I just want to make sure everything works until the final showdown which will be the event where Kidd loses his arm when fighting Shanks. I do not know quite well how I will write that part but… we'll see when we get there.

I'll be taking note of ideas as they come and see where they lead.

Otherwise, hope you are enjoying this and there will be many more chapters to come.