Chapter 18: The Price of a Name

The group walked towards the auction house in Area One. As they made their way, Skyler couldn't help but steal a glance at Killer. He walked like nothing had happened between them – like she hadn't kissed him indirectly.

He was cool as a cucumber while she felt like digging a hole and living in it for the rest of her life.

Her stomach twisted itself into knots, a mix of embarrassment and her period acting up. Her palms felt too warm. What would happen when she met up with Kidd again?

She almost laughed at herself.

She was now leading the life of a pirate, she had fought marines and yet, somehow, a pseudo-kiss had rattled her more than anything else.

It wasn't just because of the kiss. What Killer had told her about him and Kidd, how they were both interested in her. She didn't feel like she could call it a relationship – not yet. Things still felt too recent, too light-hearted. The flirting had been occasional, just teasing, never encroaching on anything deeper – maybe not daring to do it.

But now things had gained another dimension – another weight.

At the same time, Killer had given her something that felt freeing – choice. He had given her authority, freedom to decide what would evolve between the three if she wanted to.

She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself.

Focus.

She had to deal with one thing at a time. First, face Kidd. Then, figure out the rest.

Before she could fully talk herself down, there was movement in the corner of her vision.

"We found it!" Quincy's voice rang out, loud and cheerful, breaking through the fog of Skyler's thoughts. She turned just in time to see Quincy holding a piece of paper in front of her face.

The first thing she noticed was herself – a grainy, brown-tinged photo, frozen in time. Her hair was wild, blood stained her face, and her eyes burned with a focus she barely recognized. Then her gaze dropped lower.

'The Raven' was written beneath her picture.

Then – her stomach plummeted.

"EIGHT MILLION!?" She practically shrieked, yanking the poster closer as if her own eyes were deceiving her.

"I know! For a first bounty, that's amazing!" Emma beamed, practically bouncing as she pulled Skyler into a hug.

"Maybe it's because of our captain that your bounty is higher than average," Quincy mused, looking far too pleased about the situation.

Skyler's heart pounded in her ears.

Eight million.

"It was one fight…" her voice barely came out as a whisper, her gaze fixated on the three little words printed just beneath the bounty:

DEAD OR ALIVE.

A hand rested on her shoulder, making her flinch. She snapped her eyes upward, only to meet Killer's form beside her.

His touch should've been reassuring, but right now her whole body was burning. She was sure her face was red again.

Killer's gaze flicked from the poster to her. "It was one fight against quite a few Marines." His tone was casual, like it wasn't a big deal.

Skyler almost wanted to shake him.

"Which you defeated by yourself – a good handful of them," Quincy chimed in "And you're a new face in the crew, The Marines don't like unknown variables."

"They don't even know my name!" Skyler tried to make sense of the situation.

"They just need a face," Heat spoke up, stoic as ever.

They continued to happily speak, but she barely heard them. Her fingers tightened around the paper as she stared at her own face printed on it – her own bounty.

For better or worse, she was a wanted pirate now.

Killer gave her shoulder a squeeze, pulling her attention back to him. He wanted to offer her reassurance, understanding that this could be overwhelming for her. His face was hidden behind the mask, so he couldn't give her an encouraging look. Instead, he leaned forward, whispering in her ear.

"You made an impact." His voice was soft, intimate. "They've noticed you but that doesn't mean we'll leave you to the wolves."

She turned her gaze up to where his eyes would be, a shimmer of trust and unease flickering in her green eyes. Her fingers clutched the bounty poster, crumpling it slightly. The words DEAD OR ALIVE burned into her mind, louder than anything Quincy, Emma, or Heat were saying.

Her stomach twisted again, but this time it wasn't from embarrassment or cramps – it was the cold realization that this wasn't just a game. She had chosen to stay with the pirates and this was the price to pay – she would have to keep fighting, she would accrue a bounty. She would be hunted by the authorities or bounty hunters or whatever it could entail.

Another squeeze on her shoulder pulled her away from her spiralling thoughts. Killer was still beside her, waiting. He hadn't moved away, hadn't let go, like he was grounding her in the moment.

She swallowed and shook her head. She'd deal with this later.

Skyler folded the paper and tucked it into her pocket, before giving him a small nod. "Let's keep moving."

Quincy threw an arm across Skyler's shoulders, pulling her close. "Don't worry, we got your back!" She reassured, letting her head rest against Skyler's. "And all the more reason to throw a party for you."

"I swear, I should be worried for your sanity at this point…" Skyler squeezed her temples, releasing a long sight. "But I appreciate that," an earnest smile tugged at her lips, "thank you for being here with me." Her voice had grown smaller, so only Quincy heard her.

Quincy squeezed her closer in their half-hug and placed a light kiss on her head. "We got you, Skyler."

"Yeah," there was such tenderness in Skyler's voice. She was grateful to have the reassurance that, at least, she wasn't alone. Her fingers twitched, resisting the urge to pull the poster back out, to look at it again – as if she needed that confirmation to make sure it was real.

She wasn't the only one with a bounty. The pirates watched out for each other – as ruthless as they could be, they were in it together.

The group pressed forward towards the dreaded auction house. Around them, vendors called out, trying to draw in customers, while pirates and merchants bartered in loud, confident voices. It should've felt lively and welcoming – but as they moved deeper into the district the air grew heavy.

The bright colours of the buildings, the vivid green of the grass they were walking on, should've been inviting, but it felt fake. Everything was a façade hiding what was truly within the bowels of Sabaody.

There it was, in plain view – the Human Auction House.

In bold letters, carved into a wooden board, was the word "Human". The building itself was peculiar – a straw roof over a tiled, rounded roof, white pillars that supported the entrance, covered in light moss. The light greenish tone of the walls would've been soothing if it weren't for the soft murmur of voices that came from the inside.

Skyler swallowed, trying to push back the unease creeping up her spine. She had known what to expect, but seeing it was a whole different beast.

Killer walked behind her, his presence steadying her. He said nothing, but he had noticed the shift in her mood.

Quincy, usually the one to fill the silence, was quieter too. Even she wasn't immune to the weight of this place.

They climbed up the steps, the sound of their footsteps vibrating in Skyler's skull until the interior came into view. Rows upon rows of red velvet chairs, red curtains on the side walls. The floor plan closed off in a cone-like shape, leading Skyler's gaze towards the centre – the stage.

It was wide, with two Jolly Rogers in the background and the large words above them: Human Auction. Again, words that made her skin crawl.

Without thinking, Skyler started looking through the crowd, searching for Kidd. Quincy had said they'd meet up at the auction house but she couldn't find him anywhere.

"Looking for someone, witch?" That familiar voice made her turn towards the source. A few steps away from the main entrance, there he was – Eustass Kidd. The nickname was rough but familiar, slicing through the tightness in her chest.

Arms crossed, that smug smile on his face, gaze unmistakably intense. The dim light reflected off his red hair – he was like a beacon to her. She hadn't realized how much she had needed to see him until now.

Killer had been steady, grounding her, but Kidd was an undeniable presence.

Everything else – the murmurs of the auction house, the soft rustling of velvet curtains, and the weight of the bounty poster still in her pocket – all of it blurred for a fraction of a second.

Killer's words from earlier drifted through her mind.

If you are interested in us both, if you want us both, you can have us.

She had been bracing to face him, expecting the weight of that knowledge to make things awkward between them. Instead, seeing him now, with the looming shadow of the auction house, she no longer felt burdened.

There was such a contrast between him and Killer – both so different from each other. Killer steadied her with quiet understanding, while Kidd challenged her to hold herself together, to be strong.

And maybe that was what she needed right now.

In his gaze, amusement burned within its depths, a flicker of something else hidden underneath.

"Yeah," she answered, feeling herself steady under his copper stare. His grin widened, sharp and knowing. "I was." She stepped towards him, her eyes never leaving his, until she was under his shadow, before his towering height. Her gaze flickered – a silent recognition of how much she needed this. Everything felt tumultuous around her, yet he was here – pulling her into the eye of the storm, where the chaos stilled. "I found him."

"Good." Kidd replied, looking up past her toward Killer. The blond nodded, the quiet exchange between them sending a loud and clear message. With that, Kidd leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Come." His voice was laced with anticipation. "The show's about to start."

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

A/N:

The bounty was a bit tricky to get right. I think the amount is valid for a first bounty. It was one fight against a few marine soldiers, with the addition of her being seen fighting for/with Kidd – who has the highest bounty of the worst generation at the time. This would cumulate to a generous first bounty just because of her captain.