Eustass Kid x Reader Born to run AU

7

Within seconds you were off the ship, leaving the unconscious crewmates behind in a daze, not knowing you had directed your conquer haki towards them as well. Running away from the floating wood, the landscape flashed past you as your clothing shredded under your muscles. Your skin glistened in the sweat as your body grew under the moonlight. With the last bit of human consciousness, you kicked off your shoes and soon ran on all fours. Canine ears picked up the slight movement of an animal a bit ahead. It was the last your human consciousness could register before it was taken over fully by the beast. This time, it wouldn't let you remember a thing of what would happen.

*~*~*~*~

Seconds turned to minutes before at least an hour had passed. The room was dark, but you knew it well by now. You had been here a few days before after all. Your new clothing were tearing under the sheer pressure of your fingers on the fabric. Something had gone wrong while the wolf side had come out and about, yet, as you were turning everything over and over in your head, you didn't exactly know what. Blood had coated your hands as you were found by Killer, yet it wasn't human. The door creaked open and loud thudding of footsteps followed soon after. His scent was overwhelming and the anger from the man was coming in huge waves. Still, he hadn't said a word to you as he stood in front of the metal bars. A shudder shook your back as you felt his gaze burning into you. You didn't say a word, didn't want to turn around and face your captain. You were tired and, as exhaustion crashed atop of you, you didn't care about it anymore. All you wanted to do was sleep and never wake up. "What the fuck was that?" Kid almost yelled, his voice firm and stern. People, new prisoners to torture later, gasped and some started to cry to themselves. "Speak to me, (y/n)!" His voice raised and you closed your eyes.

Bang

Kid must have hit the bars with his hand, as irritated as he is. You didn't even flinch. Still, no word left your dry lips. Others were whimpering before another hit on the bars silenced them all. Kid's voice lowered to a whisper, hurt mirroring from them. "What is happening to you?" It was too quiet and you knew you weren't supposed to hear those words between the renewed whimpering of the others behind bars. Kid sighed heavily, his wristband tingling against the bars keeping you from reach, and left without another word directed to you. "Clean her up." The door closed behind your captain. Another pair of footsteps neared you slowly, cautiously maybe, and after a while you heard the door to your cell open with a creak. Feet shuffled closely before the person sat down next to you, his fingers touching you gingerly. Your eyes opened slowly, acknowledging the person with only a blink of an eye. A small piece of fabric was submerged into water before droplets dribbled in the bowl as stitched up fingers wrung the cloth. It was cold, but most of all, it was nice to feel the cold cloth against your heated skin. Blue dreads slipped from Heat's shoulders as he dipped his head low, his eyes wandering over the cuts littering your arms and legs.

"The whole town was blown away." He muttered softly, Heat's movements stiff. Your silence was probably off setting, but at the moment, you were too tired too care. "Kid thinks you did it." Heat raised his eyes to meet yours and his movements halted. "Where did you go to, (y/n)?" Your brows furrowed at his question, looking away and back to the wall, your head pounding as you wanted to remember. Instead of answering, your lips were sealed and words died in your throat. Heat shook his head and went back to his task at your silence. "You were gone for two days. Kid feared you were taken by the marines before he found their building trashed and painted red. You have no idea how frustrated he was when he couldn't find you, (y/n)." Heat mentioned, still trying to gain your attention. Too emotionally drained, too tired in general, you let your eyes wander and rest on Heat's face. Your voice was raw and sounded foreign to your ears.

"I just wanted to be free for once."

Heat left soon after that.

Hours turned to days and weeks until you had lost count. People moaned in pain and stress around you, some daring to accuse you of things you don't remember doing, maybe haven't even done. Alas, you didn't know. Every day, like clockwork, Little Johnny came and went, leaving you food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a drink. The young one had tried to talk to you, but never got a word out how much he begged for it. He told you that Killer had lost his calm and was irritated with every mishap on the ship. Kid couldn't be calmed down when his anger issues took the better of him. Crewmates were thrown over board an no one could do something about it. Besides his anger management, Kid looked more sickly as days passed. "Please, (y/n), talk to me." The boy begged, his head leaning against the bars separating the both of you, his finger white from the pressure. Your eyes were cast down, sullen, as you faced the wall ever since you were placed here. "Alpha..."

"Leave her alone already! Just give me my food! She doesn't eat it anyway." One prisoner yelled. He was one of the few male prisoners left and occupied the cell to your right. His arm was reaching forward to Johnny and the younger male recoiled shortly before he looked from your form to the male with a shocked expression. With quick strides, Johnny was out of the room, having taken the food with him.

The same evening, the male prisoner was taken away and put back hours after, reeking of blood. The male coughed up blood as he was thrown back inside his cell, the smell getting stronger and stronger. His pulse was rapid, his heart beating faster and faster as seconds passed. Within minutes of being back, his heart stopped, as did his whimpering. His bodily silence was deafening in a room filled with moans and whimpers of pain. A sigh left your lips as you leaned your head against your forearms, you energy and will to live almost completely gone after so many years fighting with yourself.

The door slammed against the wall as Kid entered, his face torn between anger and hurt, his mood sour as he made his way to your cell, yanking the door from his way as it wasn't locked. Your captain crouched down beside you, his hand slamming the wall as his anger overtook the hurt. "Look at me." He growled between his teeth, his eyes hard. You looked up at him slowly, letting your eyes wander over the man next to you with a sullen look. Kid recoiled at the sight, his anger washing off as shock stopped him from talking any more. Kid stretched his arm forward, curling it around your slimmer figure and sat on his bum against the wall. With one swift movement, you sat in his lap, your head tucked under Kid's chin as his arms were wrapped around your form, his hands rubbing to keep you warm. His nude chest was warm against your tattered clothes and with one last sigh, you slumped against him, letting yourself lull to sleep as you heard his heart beating under your ear. "Fuck, why are you doing this to yourself." Was the last thing you heard your friend mutter.

The next morning your startled awake. The warmth was wrong, the blankets were wrong and as you pushed yourself away from the source, your eyes looked around wildly before two strong arms pulled you back down. Not fully comprehending what was happening, you clawed the flesh underneath, ignoring the grunting from the person you were laying on top of. As you drew blood, a firm grasp held your wrists and tugged your arms up, holding you in an awkward position of straddling the person. "Calm down." You heard the person grumble, sleep still edging his voice. Captain Eustass Kid, the man who had a past as red as his hair, sighed as he gained your attention from your primal fear. Your quickened breathing slowed down as his red eyes held your gaze before his trailed down and up, a smirk quick to form on his lips.

Having regained your surroundings, you hung in Kid's grasp, feeling defeated after the whole ordeal. Right now, it felt like a dream, but as your stomach grumbled in protest, you knew it wasn't. Kid's hands lowered you slowly until you laid flat on top of him. Softly, the man, who wasn't afraid to paint his hands red, raked his fingers through your matted strands of hair. His breathing hitting your temple in a constant rhythm. Eventually, he inhaled sharply and sat up slowly, you still laying on top of him. Kid's hands roamed over your figure until he sat you in his lap like the night before. Only now, you noticed the bowl of grapes and glass of water on his bedtable. You moved your lips, yet nothing came from them. However silent you still were, Kid knew what you wanted and moved to grab the glass. The water was lukewarm, but still welcoming. Coughing immediately after taking a few gulps, Kid moved the glass away and waited for you to stop coughing your lungs out before giving the glass once again for you to take some sips instead.

Kid's painted lips touched your temple softly before he leaned his head against his headpost and pushed your form back against his upper body. His legs were spread out in front on him and, as you curled onto him, were soon entangled with yours.