Transparent (Eustass Kid X reader) (Modern AU)

Eight

"I'm not going to argue with you." _____ spat, shaking her head and turning back to the glass of wine in her hand.

"We aren't arguing." Eustass grit back, trying his best not to raise his voice in the public place. Not that they weren't already the center of attention. With his massive body and her sequined dress, it was obvious they didn't fit in with the rest of the mediocre customers. "I'm telling the truth."

"Of course! Ha, of course, I mean, why would I ever think otherwise?" The giggles in her chest bubbled uncontrollably, hands flailing as her eyes glossed over. He hated seeing her look so broken and weak, but he didn't comment. "Sorry, but I don't trust your sudden change of heart."

"What do you want me to say?" He scoffed, palms open and skyward as if to ask for her answer. She shook her head, blinking back tears. "I told you I would come clean and you haven't even given me a chance-"

"All I've given you is chances!" She cut, sniffling. He let her speak, crystal tears rolling down her puffy cheeks. "You keep fucking up! I keep forgiving you, or letting it go, taking you for who you are and yet-"

She choked.

"Look. I've made my decision." She restored to pursing her lips and nodding resolutely. "I'm taking Law up on his offer and we're going to Punk Hazard. If you have something to say about that, now would be the time to spit it out."

Eustass Kid did not say a single word.

"....and that leaves just the matter of the Revolutionaries."

"Yes, don't worry. I've found myself a lead... fufufu..."

_____ shook her head lightly, continuing to play the piano softly. Why did those memories choose now to pop back up? It had been years, the wound had closed.

Mostly.

She didn't mean to listen into Nile's conversation, so she occupied herself with different thoughts. Or tried too.

Half of her wondered what would have happened if Kid had just admitted he didn't want her to leave. She knew he didn't, she knew him better than either could admit. It honestly wasn't a big deal that he started an up and coming rookie gang, but it upset her that he lied about it. Surely, knowing all that he did about her he couldn't honestly believe he was protecting her.

Of all the things he could be, a liar wasn't one of them.

He tried to lay it all out, but he wouldn't start from the beginning. He had no problem being honest, but he did have a problem with leaving things out. ____ handed him her life like a book, ready to read and understand, was it so bad to expect the same in return?

Maybe it was.

Maybe she had run into his open arms and bloody chest with too much enthusiasm, with too many expectations.

The other half of her fucking hated his guts.

How dare he play her for such a fool? How dare he take such gentle steps towards her heart, only to crush it in his hands. He was a fool, an idiot on all accounts. He cared, but he didn't know how to show it. Whatever it is he wanted from her, she hoped he got it.

Because all the pieces she had to pick up was a lot of work, and she wasn't sure it was worth it.

"Ms. ___," spoke Nile, breaking her from her lamenting. She looked to him with a soft smile, eyes flitting between him and his business's partners. Doflamingo and Big Mom, she knew of them, but had never met. "Would you like to join us for a drink?"

"O-oh, um..." she blinked in that owlish way she did, prompting Nile to offer another charming smile. The dark haired man sent her a playful smirk, and she's knew it was no use turning him down. "Sure. That sounds nice."

"Wonderful." He spun, elbow out to offer her a grip. She rested her palm on his forearm, allowing him to lead her towards the table where they had been discussing business minutes before.

Nile pulled out the chair to the right of his, tucking her in like a gentleman before taking his own seat. He poured her a glass of wine, something none of the others had touched. Briefly ____ wondered if he had planned to ask her beforehand, and set it out specially for her.

"Doflamingo was interested in your career choice." Nile commented warmly, handing her a long stemmed glass. She took it with quiet thanks.

"I simply stated that such a beautiful woman should not be kept to a single mans eyes." The blond hummed, lips turned up in a wicked grin. _____ glanced up to him with bashful eyes, only to find his covered by tinted glasses. "You play lovely music, and I wager you have a lovely voice as well, fufufu..."

"I'm afraid it takes much more than a single glass of wine to prompt me to do so." She laughed, soft and charming, unlike her true chortle. These men she needed to charm, not befriend.

"Oh? Fufufu..."

"Ahem, um, Ms. ____," Nile muffled his chuckle with a finger, turning to her with a light blush on his cheeks. "Are you aware that is there is a video of you on stage at Germa 66, finding it's way across the internet?"

"W-what?" _____'s face instantly shot beet red.

"Indeed. It was posted on their website." Big Mom spoke for the first time, furthering ____'s embarrassment.

"Reiju!" She facepalmed, trying to hide her face from sight.

"Frankly, I'm impressed you managed to get in." Doflamingo hummed, licking his chapped lips in anticipation.

"Yes, I know one of the Vinsmoke's." ____ nodded, slowly recovering from her embarrassing moment. "Ms. Reiju and I are friends, she likes to find any and all reason to put a drink in my hand."

"You know Reiju?" Big Mom scoffed, and suddenly all her embarrassment was replaced with a defensive feeling. ____ didn't let it show, instead opting to try and play it nice and cool.

"Yes, we met at a karaoke bar in the North, and since she's been obsessed with hearing me sing." ____ placed a hand to her cheek, bashful. "That night she was very enthusiastic about me performing."

"Don't be embarrassed, Ms. ____." Nile hummed, pointer finger coming to cup her chin and tilt it in his direction. He offered another painfully flirtatious smile.

"Your voice is just as beautiful as the rest of you."