Three [Eustass Kid × Reader]

Eighteen

Kid lours for a moment and blinks away the tears in his eyes. When you touch his face, he realizes that you saw them and tsk-s.

He blushes slightly, wiping his face. When he looks back at you, he smirks as he sees that you're still smiling.

The man runs his hand over your neck, into your hair, then pulls you closer, kissing you without leaving a second to stop him.

You nestle closer to his chest, and he grins against your lips, resting his forehead against your so he can speak.

"Once I told you to choose between life and death," he says with a ragged breath. "I told you to choose and protect your choice with everything you have."

"That's what I need to do if we want to leave this place," you answer, scowling as Killer comes to your mind.

You remember how gently he touched the red flower you gave to him because it meant the same thing for both of you, even if he didn't know.

How calm and wonderful his smile was when he regained part of his true self for a second.

Right now, Kid isn't the only one you are fighting for. And it feels fucking good, something that gives power and hope.

You don't want to be free, you don't want Killer to be free, you don't want Kid to be free.

You want to be free with them.

"I have one wish," you say, holding his hand. "One dream that my ability makes true. If I can get us out of here, we can help your crew, right?"

"As soon as I get my power back," he answers, his incomplete arm moving slightly to the left. The corner of his mouth twitches, but then he stops it. "If that's all it takes, why didn't you awaken it before?"

"Devil Fruits don't work like magic, especially this one," you sigh. "I don't have free will over it. My ability grants me the one thing I want the most in my life, whenever it comes. I don't know what it will be, but I have a chance to make my choice more likely. Like when I search for dreams, but I can't choose an exact one to see, I have the influence to raise its possibility."

"So why do you think it will work?" he scoffs silently, leaning back. You see his arm tensing. You hold his hand so he won't take it away.

"It's the thing I want the most in my life," you smile. "It has to be now. That's my last chance, and they would execute me else way."

"A paradox again?" he grimaces.

"Kind of," you chuckle, but your hand shakes slightly. He looks down at it, and his features relax. He pulls you closer to himself. "It has to come because I wouldn't live long enough to have my wish at another time."

You stop for a second as you feel his lips held by the top of your head as he inhales the scent of your hair.

"It may come at the edge of death, but it will," you murmur, pulling his arm around your body for warmth. You smile softly as you feel the familiar scars over his skin that used to frighten you. "Do you trust me, Eustass Kid?"

He smirks and tightens his hug, nodding shortly. You feel a flower blooming in your heart, especially since you know he was betrayed before.

And he still believes you.

"I didn't think they would bring me back here. I guess King didn't tell anything about us," you whisper.

"I think-"

Kid stops for a second, taking a deep breath.

"He might care about you to an extent, Three," he says silently. You frown and huddle yourself up in his embrace. The man straightens his back, and you shiver from how tiny you are, compared to his figure. He lours when he accidentally touches the bandages over your wound, and you flinch from the slight pain.