Transparent (Eustass Kid X reader) (Modern AU)

Eleven

"I hate you too." Eustass hummed, and ____ retaliated with a sarcastic sneer over her shoulder. He broke out into snickers, and she turned forward with a roll of her eyes.

"This it?" She asked, gesturing to the shiny metal prosthetic on the table. It was a stupid question, so he didn't answer. She looked it over, eyeing the splint that would connect his nerves. It looked like it was gunna be painful. "Did you build this?"

"Yeah."

Great, short and sweet.

____ wished she'd just ignored him, gone on to have lunch with Zoro. Honestly, she still would, the plans weren't for another hour or so and hopefully she'd be long gone by then. She just gave it as an excuse to leave.

Which was unsuccessful, to say the least.

"I just need you to look at my arm and the splicer and tell me if it can be connected or if I'll just do more damage to myself."

"Alright."

_____ gently undid the bandages on his arm, taking them away so she could see the injury. Thankfully, it was healing up nice. Where she'd burned to stifle the bleeding was healing up pretty good, and the traces of any burn was nearly gone, he was indeed taking good care of it.

She risked a glance up to him, only to find him staring intently at the ground.

She sighed and wrapped his arm back up.

"You should be fine." ____ pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling lightly as she looked back the arm. She picked up the cap like splicer, looking it over. She was careful not to break it. "It's gunna hurt like a bitch, but I don't think it'll mess up the injury."

"I guess your kiss really did make it better, huh?"

____ couldn't help but snicker at that.

"Yeah, next time I'll kiss your attitude." Her giggled comment made him huff, but couldn't keep the smirk off his lips.

"I think it'll take more than just one quick kiss for that." He continued, pleased when she laughed some more. She nodded.

"Oh definitely." Her agreement made him rumble a laugh as well, and for a moment he forgot all about the distance between them. For a moment, they were back in Sabodoy, laughing over a bottle of wine and some shitty vodka. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be kissing that damn thing forever."

"Yeah, you wish you could kiss me forever."

"Kahahah!" She chortled, head thrown back. "Oh, only in my dreams then."

They both laughed at that some more, giggling at their stupid and childish jokes.

And then the atmosphere shattered.

"Feelin' good~ like I shou-"

"Law-kun~!" _____ squeaked, answering the phone with record speed. She pretended not to notice as Eustass scowled. "Good morning~"

"Good morning to you as well, ____-ya. How is work?"

"It's great!" She answered, egged on by his sultry chuckle. Carefully she leaned against Kid's desk, crossing one ankle over the other as she grinned. "I have moved up an impossible amount lately. It's crazy. How's things with Caesar?"

"They're... alright." He sighed, distressed. Or maybe just stressed. "I feel like I'm not making enough progress."

"I'm sorry, I'm sure you are." ____ tried to bring his mood back up. "Don't forget all you did to get there. You've already done so much."

"You're right. Anyway, I hope I'm not bothering you. I know your schedule has been just as hectic as mine lately."

"Well, I'm supposed to be on stage right now-"

"___-ya! What have I told you about prioritizing me over work!"

"Aha~ gomen..." _____ flushed a little in nervousness.

"Get back to work, just text when you aren't busy."

"Okay, okay. Have a good day!"

"You too."

"Why the fuck did you lie?" Kid didn't waste time, spiting his words as soon as the call was dropped. _____ looked up to him with a small frown.

"Do you want me to tell him I was with you?" She returned his sass with equal amounts, a glare in her eyes. She dared him to speak.

_____ gave him a disappointed sigh when he once again made no move to speak up.

"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.

"Some things never change, Eustass." She frowned, and turned her scouring eyes away from his.

"He treats you like shit."

"You don't treat me much better."

That shut him up. She knew it would. Eustass Kid was a man who had both a lot and nothing to say. She shook her head, bringing up a hand to massage her tired eyes.

"I don't expect you too."

_____ pretended not to notice his shoulders droop. Instead she pushed up off his desk, shoving her phone deep in her pocket and leaving the office.

Quickly she put on a charming smile for Killer, but it dropped soon after.

God, just this once she'd hoped he'd say it.

She wanted him to tell her how much she knew he cared, to spit out just how much he wanted her to stay with him. Never once had he stopped her from walking away, never had he voiced his affection. She didn't want constant reassurance, she didn't need to be told over and over again.

Just once.

Just one time she wanted him to stop her, to chase her like she'd chased after him. She wanted him to stake his claim, to prove that he was capable of making things what they should have been. ____ wanted Kid to take hold of her by the scruff, and say in the most irritated and angry voice imaginable :

"Where the fuck do you think you're going without me?"

Or something demanding along those lines.

She'd kept giving him chances. Every time they spoke she gave him the opportunity to say it, yet he never did. But nothing could make her give up hope. Nothing could strip her of the overwhelming patience she had for him, and she didn't know why.

Sometimes she wanted to give up so desperately.

❌Kiddo❌: i need your help connecting the splicer.

"You just won't let me, huh?"