Eustass Kid x Reader Born to run AU

Prologue

Warning: strong language and suggestive themes ahead

Amber eyes roamed over the ship in front of him. Voices yelling around like seagulls screaming at each other. Orders were being voiced here and there, men and very few women alike. Water splashed against his ship with every wave hitting the wood. Wind whipped against the mast, tugging the ropes and sail forward. The clear blue sky contrasted with the captain's foul mood. "Killer, stop it!" Upon hearing those words, Kid's attention turned from one scene to the other with growing frustration. There, near a door was the only 'real' female crewmember pressed against the wooden wall, a plate filled with food still within her grasp. Her face lit up with a small smile, probably because the blond was almost pressed against her smaller frame. Locks of (h/c) danced with the flow of air as it slipped around the corner. The scarred hand from his first mate slowly lifted to caress her cheek before snatching away a sandwich. The captain didn't know whether the both of you exchanged any words as Killer strode away, his lunch clad between his fingers. With a few steps, Killer was gone from his sight. Amber coloured eyes slipped from the disappearing man back to the female that still stood pressed against the wood, eyes closed and brows furrowed, fingers pressing the bridge of her nose. The bracelet Kid had given her months ago glinted in the bright sun, sending down a reflection a few steps in front of her. With a swift motion, she pushed herself from the wall and walked over to the younger crewmates, offering some lunch to them.

Kid huffed, crossed his arms and turned his attention back to his crew, lifting his gaze to watch the empty horizon. No ship to enter, no crew to kill or torture. Nothing. Maybe that was frustrating him even more. Thudding of boots alarmed him of someone nearing him. Kid, however, didn't tear his eyes off of the blue waters ahead. "Nothing out of the ordinary, cap?" Heat said, his voice a gruff as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, only just woken up from after night shift. Kid only grunted, words leaving his tongue without an actual sound. The former speaking man stood next to his captain, a hand running down his knotted hair, eyes slowly going over the lower men. "I see (y/n) has had a good night, going around feeding others." He lowly said, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words as he turned his head to watch his captain. Kid might be good at hiding things, but not that good, especially not when he's more drunk than a sailor, nor when he actually asks for the company of the only female crewmate from time to time just to calm down. A sigh escaped the fire breather's lips. "Just ask her already. Maybe it doesn't mean anything with Killer." Kid's amber eyes slit towards the bluenette, fixing him with a harsh glare. Before the captain could yell at him, Heat had already bounded up to you, grabbing three sandwiches from the plate, and patted your shoulder as you jumped in, what Kid deduced, fear.

The redhead cocked his head in slight suspicion. Former times, he had discarded that behaviour to being new and not used to the crew, but now, Kid thought it strange. You were jumpy, looked horrible after more nights than he could recall lately and ran off sometimes after docking on a new island, only coming back a day or so later. His eyes narrowed as he kept staring at you, watching you every move. Your startled moment appeared more often, like you were fearing something or that something else made you jumpy. Kid may not always act like most captains would, but deep down he cared, for some. The others could just jump off his ship and disappear, but for others, he might just jump after them. Tearing his eyes away from the helping female, Kid walked away towards his workplace, slamming the door shut loudly on his way.

Later that night, just before the clock would hit New Year, Kid had been drinking with some of his crew, seeing if he still had it in him to outdrink all of them. It may not have been with the best intentions and his thoughts were surely not getting any better soon, but in one way, Kid was content. With a drunk grin displayed on his face, Kid stumbled through the corridor past the many rooms of his underlings. Deep in his mind, there were small things that kept replaying like a broken record. The words he muttered to Heat, a promise to not let some crewmates getting hurt. Heat had joked that his captain was apparently thinking of some resolutions to make but was shut up immediately. Kid sighed as his fingers rubbed his temple harshly, skin moving up and down his muscles, following the movements of his fingers.