Chapter 7 – Setback

Skyler had to admit – shopping with Quincy had been fun.

Even Heat had gotten involved, though in his usual, quiet way. He had an unexpectedly keep eye for fashion, offering occasional input before retreating into silence. He seemed almost shy about it, as if unsure whether he should care. Skyler didn't push, but Quincy? Quincy had no qualms. She insisted on dragging Heat along, forcing him to contribute his opinions.

Hip and Hop had joined too, claiming they needed new clothes. What had started as a simple shopping trip had turned into a full-blown endeavour.

Quincy was in her element, surrounded by yards of fabric and pre-made garments, flitting between racks like a woman on a mission. She presented Skyler with a whirlwind of styles – some practical, some absolutely not. They eventually settled on what could best be described as casual streetwear for pirates. Functional, mobile and suited for combat, but with Quincy's signature touch – an added flair to highlight her figure. A fitted corset here, a wide belt there.

By the time they returned to the ship, Skyler had a whole new wardrobe waiting in the shared quarters with the other women of the crew.

With their mission accomplished, they ventured back into town, hunting for Kidd and the others. The search didn't take long – there weren't many taverns to choose from.

The one they stepped into was surprisingly cosy. Warm wooden tones, flickering candlelight, and the soft hum of a trio playing background music. Not that the music was audible – not over the raucous noise of pirates drinking, laughing and shouting across the room.

The staff scurried back and forth, barely keeping up with demand, while the barkeep worked at a more leisurely pace, cleaning glasses behind the counter.

Heat wasted no time. He spotted Kidd, Wire and a few others at a crowded table and immediately joined them. Quincy, Hip and Hop were swept away by different groups. And just like that, Skyler found herself alone but not for long.

She spotted a familiar head of blond hair at the bar – Killer. He sat in quiet conversation with the barkeep, his log pose resting on the counter as he gestured toward it.

Skyler approached without a word but he sensed her.

Turning slightly, he met her gaze and gave a small nod, tilting his head toward the empty stool beside him. She took the invitation, sliding onto the seat.

"Need a drink?" His voice was even, but she could hear traces of amusement in his tone. "I assume Quincy went wild as usual?"

Skyler chuckled, already picturing Killer being dragged from one outfit to the next, subject to Quincy's relentless enthusiasm. The mental image was hilarious – Killer, normally so composed, being forced into whatever wild fashion Quincy deemed acceptable. "Were you one of Quincy's victims too?" she teased.

"I think we all were, at some point."

"And modern cowboy pirate was the choice she landed on?" She joked and saw how Killer's shoulders shook with a quiet laugh.

"What's a cowboy, but a land pirate?" He stretched out one of his legs, showing the jeans with the tassels along the side stitch. "Plus, they are comfortable."

The barkeep slid two drinks across the counter. Killer took his and nudged the other toward her.

She glanced at the glass. Just beer – nothing fancy, nothing suspicious. Hopefully, it tasted like regular beer too.

"And Kidd? Was he also a victim of Quincy?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Killer nodded. "Even Kidd." He took a straw and took a sip from his drink through the holes in his mask. "At first, anyway. But Quincy never pushed him too far."

Skyler let out a genuine laugh. "I would've loved to have seen that." She traced the condensation gathering on her glass, absentmindedly. "You all have very… unique sense of fashion. I'm still getting used to it, honestly." She hesitated for a beat before glancing up at Killer's max, fixing her emerald gaze somewhere near where his eyes would be. "And, if you don't mind me asking… is the mask also a fashion choice?" The moment she said it, she regretted it. His shoulders tensed – just slightly – but she noticed it. "Sorry," she said quickly, cursing herself. "If it's something you don't want to talk about, I get it. That was rude of me."

"It's fine." Killer relaxed just a little, turning his focus back to the counter. "You don't know, and you don't seem to have ill intentions." He exhaled, the tension leaving his body. "It's something I chose to wear a long time ago. That's all I'm willing to share."

"That's okay," she said, offering a warm smile. If he weren't wearing that mask, she would've been able to see the small smile that crept up his lips. "I respect that." She took a sip of her beer before her lips curled in a playful smirk. "What about my little froggy? Did he behave?"

Killer followed her gaze as she scanned the tavern – right up until her eyes landed on Kidd. He was already watching her.

Killer didn't miss the way his captain's expression shifted – something between curiosity and intrigue, though it was clear he was still waiting for something. What, Killer didn't know. But he could always ask later.

"He did." Killer said simply. Skyler leaned back against the counter, resting her elbows as she flashed a wide grin. "Where'd the frog thing come from anyway? I can't see the resemblance."

"Oh, it's there," she said, with a mischievous glint in her eye. "He called me a witch, so I said I'd cast a curse or two. Maybe turn him into a frog." She wiggled her fingers dramatically, as if casting a spell. "A red-backed poison frog, to be exact."

Killer huffed a quiet laugh. "That's… specific."

"Well, he's red," she pointed out, tilting her head toward Kidd, "and they're one of the most poisonous species out there. So danger is their middle name, and it seems Kidd's on the same league." The mention of poison made Killer pause for a fraction of a second. Did she actually know something about poisons, or was he just being paranoid?

"You into frogs?" he asked casually.

She shrugged. "A girl can have her hobbies." Taking another sip of her beer, she added, "My parents ran a sanctuary – initially for reptiles, but eventually for amphibians and insects too." Her face broke into a melancholic expression. "I always liked the frogs the most." Killer turned his head fully toward her. She noticed the movement and damn it annoyed her that she couldn't read his expression behind the mask. It made it impossible to tell what he was thinking. But she didn't push. If he ever felt comfortable enough to talk about it, he would. "That, and geckos." She added, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Cute little creatures," she mused. What she failed to notice was Killer's instinctively twitching – fighting the urge to brush her hair for her. He shoved the impulse down. "And here you are," she teased, "listening to a woman ramble about frogs. Must be thrilling."

Killer smiled behind the mask. "Riveting."

She laughed, setting her glass down. "What about you? Any hobbies? Or is pirating a full-time gig?"

"Trying to get some reconnaissance before ratting us out?" He meant it as a joke, but there was a sliver of truth beneath his words. If she was suspicious, he'd rather know now.

"Ah yes, to my informants, Dingus and Bingus." She grinned, dripping with sarcasm. "Relax, Killer. I just want to get to know the people I'm stuck with. I highly doubt your hobbies could be used for snitching purposes." She turned slightly toward him, elbow resting against the counter. "But if you don't want to answer, just say so."

"I like to cook."

She blinked. "…Really?"

He nodded. "And playing the drums. But I've mostly been cooking for the gang lately."

Skyler's gaze flickered to his hands. Now that she was looking closely, she could see the typical calluses that drummers get. "I can definitely see you playing the drums," she admitted, tilting her head, "but cooking? That, I did not expect."

Killer leaned slightly to his left, close enough that his shoulder almost brushed hers. "I'm full of surprises."

Skyler beamed. "A Pandora's box, huh?" She studied his mask for a second longer before looking down to her glass, the smile widening. "You'll have to surprise me again sometime, if you don't mind. I'd love to hear you play."

That smile she gave him warmed him from the inside out. It was welcoming, comforting and somehow addictive. He felt like he could watch her smile forever and never get tired of it.

Killer was snapped out of his trance when Skyler was suddenly snatched from her seat. Quincy, cheeks flushed red from drinking, practically picked her up, pulling her toward the centre of the room. The band had just switched to an upbeat tune – at her request, no doubt – and now she was determined to drag Skyler into something resembling a dance.

Skyler shot Killer a desperate look, a silent plea for help.

He just shrugged. He wasn't about to get in the way of Quincy when she was like this.

Instead, he stayed at the counter, watching as Skyler was forced to mirror Quincy's odd, erratic movements – limbs flailing in every direction, sometimes looking strangely robotic. It was ridiculous, but she was laughing, and that alone made the sight entertaining.

Still, Killer couldn't shake the feeling creeping up on him. She had warmed up to him too quickly. Or maybe… he had warmed up to her. Too easily, too naturally. She made him talk more about himself than he was used to, more than he'd like to.

That wasn't him. That was a Kidd thing – his captain had no problem bragging, running his mouth without a second though. But Killer was reserved, careful. He didn't let people in so easily, always kept his walls up, to safeguard himself so nothing could be used against him.

And yet, with her… it unsettled him. But at the same time, he had enjoyed it. He had enjoyed allowing himself to let go, to be vulnerable, even for a fraction. Maybe he could allow himself this with Skyler.

Before he could dwell any longer in this thought, her laughter cut through the noise of the tavern, bright and unrestrained.

Killer's gaze followed her – Quincy had her now, spinning her wildly in a dance that was more chaotic flailing than actual movement. Skyler's expression was a mixture of amusement and regret, like someone who had made a bet and immediately realized they'd lost.

She was trying to match Quincy's erratic rhythm, her limbs moving in odd directions, but she was laughing all the same.

And then – just as she was getting into it – her fun was cut short.

She felt a firm grip wrap around her arm, stopping her in place. She turned, only to come face to face with Kidd.

He was standing next to her now, his expression unreadable.

"You seemed real cosy with Killer over there," he muttered, tilting his head toward the counter where the blond still sat.

Skyler's lips curled into a sly grin.

"Aww, froggy," she cooed, teasingly. "Are you jealous?" Before he could respond, she grabbed his hands, pulling him into the dance. His body was stiff, the only part of him moving was his arms as she guided him along. "There's no need, Kidd," she added, smirking. "We were just talking."

"I'm not jealous," he corrected, eyes narrowing. "Just being careful.

"Sure… keep telling yourself that," she teased, leaning in slightly. "Maybe you'll actually believe it."

Before she could react, Kidd suddenly yanked her against him. Her breath caught in her throat.

He was like a wall, hard muscle beneath the softness of his fur coat. But it wasn't just that. The teasing smirk she had grown accustomed to – the one he always wore ever goading her, provoking her – was gone.

He wasn't playing around or toying with her. This time, he was serious.

His nails dug lightly into the small of her back as he leaned down, his breath warm against her ear. A cold shiver ran down her spine.

"I meant it when I said before – you're on thin ice." His whisper was low and too close. The heat of his breath should have been warm against her skin, but his words sent a chill through her bones. "You do anything – anything – that makes us mistrust you, or harms anyone from my crew…" His fingers tightened slightly on her waist. "I will personally twist that little neck of yours."

He straightened, looming over her, copper eyes drinking in the sight of her reaction. The grin crept back onto his face, slow and deliberate, as he took in the flicker of fear in her expression. He liked that.

Skyler swallowed, throat suddenly dry. She'd known her footing with this crew wasn't solid yet, but this had been a cold reminded of exactly who she was dealing with. The teasing, the banter, the smug smirks – those had made it easy to forget. But Kidd was a pirate, an outlaw. A man who could flip from playful to lethal in a single breath.

Her fear was brief, a passing moment. Then it hardened into something colder and sharper. Her expression turned unreadable, her emerald eyes dark as she stared him down.

"And I'll earn my place." Her voice was steady as she lifted her hands, resting them lightly on his forearms. "There's no need for threats. I know exactly what you'd do to me if I crossed you."

His grin widened, stretching so far it was almost unnatural. He was enthralled. She had felt fear – he saw it – but she hadn't crumbled. She came back from it.

She let her fingers trail up his arms, featherlight, before settling on his shoulders. Then, she moved. A slow sway to the music, even if it was off-beat. "And just know," she continued, "if you ever try, I'll fight back with everything I have." Her voice dropped, low and taunting. "You'll kill me, sure. But you won't leave unscathed."

For a split second, something unreadable flickered in his gaze – then he roared with laughter, loud and wild.

More and more, she reminded him of Victoria. And yet, she was nothing like her. That contrast made him want to erase those old ghost, to drown Victoria's memory beneath the fire Skyler ignited in him. It wasn't possible, he knew that. Victoria would always have a hold on a part of his heart, clutching it in her cold grasp. But he'd want so much more to have Skyler rip his heart out of his chest and take it all with her.

It was primal and violent. Animalistic.

And he wanted more.

He revelled in teasing her and pushing her, wanting to see her reactions, wanting more from her, wanting her to tear him apart. And this moment solidified his want – his need for her to ruin him.

One of his hands slid up her throat, fingers curling around it – not enough to choke, just enough to feel the rapid beat of her pulse beneath his grip. Her own hand shot up, grasping his wrist in defiance. She lifted her chin, their noses nearly brushing, her breath steady despite the weight of his touch.

Then –

CRASH.

The tavern erupted into chaos. A sudden shatter of glass. The scrape of chairs against wood. The moment between them broke as heads snapped toward the entrance.

A flood of white and blue poured inside, muskets raised. Boots stomped against the floorboards in unison. A wall of iron and authority sealed off the only exit.

"By official order of the Marines," a voice boomed from the backline, "you are all under arrest!"

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

A/N:

So, I've reached the point where a lot of what was written before will be changing quite a bit. There are still some parts that will be similar but from this point on, there will be a lot of changes.

I am hoping that I will be able to finish rewriting what is left by the end of the month, maybe the end of the next month. I have quite a few ideas that I need to organize before I take the characters to Sabaody.

I hope you enjoy what I've written so far and there will be more to come.