Transparent (Eustass Kid X reader) (Modern AU)

Thirteen

        "He's so cute." Bonney gasped, pretending to whisper to _____. The Kid gang and a few of their allies had been invited to a Newgate party, which none could refuse. Even if they didn't like everyone there, free booze was free booze. "Like, look at him! It's not fair!"

"Go talk to him." _____ sighed, licking her split lip as she tried not to itch it. Eustass had really done a number on it, it had been worse than she thought. "Sabo is like the coolest guy here, you can't possibly make a fool of yourself."

"He has a girlfriend!" Bonny squeaked like it was common knowledge, and ____ put up her hands in defeat. Kid sighed, having heard enough of the girly talk. Killer didn't say anything. "Common, which one of these beautiful boys catches your eye, huh?"

"None." ____ replied instantly, maki the poor pink haired woman deflate.

"Whaaaat? None? There has to be at least one guy that's your type here."

"Hmm.." _____ sighed reluctantly, looking out over the sea of heads. Her eyes flecked from face to face quickly. "Five."

"What?" Eustass snapped his head to her, a scowl on his lips.

"There's five men here who are my type. Looks wise." She repeated with a cocked brow, daring him to say something possessive. He grumbled, but didn't. ____ looked back to Bonney with a half smile. "Really, you just have to go for it. Pick one of them and send it."

"Send it?"

"Yeah like..." ____ tried to explain what she was meaning, but the poor pink haired woman just looked confused. "Okay. Pick someone for me, I'll show you."

"Can't you just pretend? Use Kid!"

Eustass choked on his drink, but ___ busted out laughing.

"N-no, Kiddo is a different breed." She giggled, hand to her cheek in bashful enjoyment. "Common, pick a stranger."

"Hmm..." She looked out, scanning the crowd. "That guy! The big brute wearing the fuzzy scarf!"

"Okay." ____ stood and carefully made her way through the crowd. Bonney frowned when she took the long way, but quickly put together that she was making her way to the bar by passing his small group of friends.

The man with short and dark maroon hair glanced up, and she felt his gaze. _____ caught his eyes and offered a dazzling smile, but quickly kept to her task. She sat down at the bar to get a drink from Thatch, and the brute kept his eyes on her. After a moment, he excused himself to follow her.

"What?!" Bonney shrieked, hands slapping her cheeks. "Karakuri doesn't even fucking look at women! How did she get him to follow her?"

"It's her superpower." Eustass grumbled, watching the tall man introduce himself a bit self-consciously. ____ played sweet, introducing herself as well and offering him the seat next to her. He took it carefully. "She's a fucking witch."

"Hah?" Bonney turned her head, looking with curious eyes towards her friend and ally. She blinked, realizing what was going on. "Oh my god! You?!"

"Me what?" Eustass tore his eyes away from ____'s flirting, incredulous gaze boring down on the pink haired girl. She didn't falter for a moment.

"You like her!" Bonney squeaked in excitement, making both Kid and Killer turn surprised faces in her direction. "You fell under her spell too! ACK my best friend has finally found a woman~"

"Bonney, shut the fuck-"

"Uh oh.." Killer frowned and slapped Kid on the shoulder, getting the monsters attention. The blond pointed toward the bar, and they all looked that way. ____ was a blushing mess, fumbling with her hands as Karakuri swept a strand of stray hair behind her ear. "I think you picked out 'her type', Bonney."

"Son of a bitch." Eustass growled, watching ____'s chin be lifted by the dark haired man. Karakuri spoke something softly, to which she answered back with a dark hue across her cheeks.

Eustass Kid abruptly stood from the table, startling his companions. His metal hand gripped his beer to tight that it shattered, and he grunted in disapproval.

"I'm going to get another beer."

Killer let out a long stressed breath.

"Beer." Eustass grunted through gritted teeth, standing just behind Karakuri at the strip.

"Huh? Kiddo?" ____ leaned to the side, peeking around the massive Charlotte son. He didn't look at her, not even a glance. "Are you alright? You don't look-"

Eustass took his beer from Thatch and stalked away without so much as a sideways glance. ____ could only blink in hazed confusion.

"H-here, this is my number." _____ scribbled her digits down on a napkin, sliding it towards the man she'd been getting to know before hopping off her stool. "Uh, shoot me a text? Sorry, I really have to go make sure he doesn't kill someone."

"Eustass!" ____ called after him, chasing his back through the crowd. He didn't go back to Killer and Bonney, instead choosing to weave past bodies toward the door. ____ ran after him all the way to the truck, where he slung the door open and hopped in. He would have shut it and probably drove off, had ____ not breathlessly put herself directly in the doorway. She panted, out of breath. "Kid, what the hell is wrong? What happened? You seriously look like you're about-"

"What do you want from me?" He spat, gesturing to himself with his metal and flesh hands. _____ gaped in shock, watching as his snarl curled up into a sneer. "What the fuck am I supposed to do for you?"

"Eustass-"

"I'm not cool and calm. I don't have dark hair and tan skin." He looked directly into her eyes, trying to get his point across. "I'm not your type, so what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"You fucking idiot." _____ scoffed, shaking her head at him in what looked like disgust. Eustass threw his hands up, falling back in the drivers seat and turning his eyes towards the road.

"Do you really think I give a shit about type?" She scowled, earning a sideways glance at her clearly frustrated body. "You think that just because you don't fit inside some specified parameters that it means I'm not attracted to you? I just fucking kissed you the other day! I don't go around kissing-"

"Then why won't you be with me?!" He interrupted with a raise of his voice.

"Because you won't ask!" ____'s admittance made him blink, watching her heaving form with confusion. He opened his mouth, but she wasn't ready to hear his voice just yet. "This is what I mean when I say you keep fucking up! I keep giving you chances to speak up! Chances for you to make your move and finally admit to yourself and me that you want to be together!"

"You ask-"

"I'm not asking you!" She cut him off, knowing exactly what he was going to say. "If we're going to be an item you need to understand that I am not going to be the only one doing the chasing! It doesn't work when only one person gives enough of a shit to hang on to the other! You've gotta get a grip, I can't do it by myself!"

There was a moment of silence, and ____ used it to take deep and calming breaths.

"Look, I'll always be there for you, Kiddo." She raised her hands in a gesture to crate space between them, but didn't move. "But you are going to run out of time to be anything more than friends. I'm not waiting on you, I'm not waiting on anyone."

"Figure out whatever you need too, but don't take too long. You'll miss your chance."