One Piece x Reader - One Shots, reactions, headcannons, etc. OPEN

100K Special - 1. Eustass Kid

Trope:
Sunny vs grumpy
Word count: 17,649

A/n: Well guys, we have come to the end of my list, and I don't know if you expected it but number 1 is Eustass Kid! I know I know, he's a walking, talking red flag, but damn he's my favourite one, and I even had him on my birthday cake last year! Speaking of birthdays, I just so happened to time this so this chapter landed on his birthday!! (Which is strange because it's also my irl partners birthday today lmao). Anyway, happy birthday to Kid, here is the longest story I've ever written!

The clanging of hammers and the hiss of welding torches echoed through the shipyard, blending with the distant crash of waves along the shore. The Victoria Punk towered over the surrounding vessels, its bold design and battle scars making it stand out like a defiant giant among lesser ships.

You couldn't help but stare as you approached, your tools strapped to you. This ship was a masterpiece of ingenuity, albeit a little rough around the edges. The heavy iron plating, the intricate mechanism of the cannons, it was clear that whoever had built it knew what they were doing. Your fingers itched to explore every detail.

"Oi, who the hell are you?" a sharp voice called out, cutting through your thoughts. You turned to see him, a hulking figure with wild red hair, an unmistakable scowl, and an air of authority that screamed danger. Eustass Kid. Captain of the fearsome Kid Pirates.

You smiled brightly, unfazed by his glare. "Hi! I'm Y/n. I heard you needed some help with repairs?". Kid's eyes narrowed. "We don't need help" he snapped. "The hell do you think we are, helpless?". Before you could respond, a blonde man in a mask, Killer, if you remembered correctly, stepped in. "We're docked for repairs, Kid. The cannon's busted, and we've got no one who can fix it properly".

Kid scowled deeper, his gaze flicking back to you. "And you're supposed to be the solution?". "Sure am!" you grinned, your tone annoyingly cheerful. "I heard about your ship and figured I'd offer my expertise. Cannons, engines, hull repairs, you name it, I can fix it".

Kid crossed his arms, looking you over like you were a particularly annoying insect. "You better not waste my time." You beamed. "I won't. Just point me to the cannon".

It didn't take long for you to immerse yourself in the work. The damage to the cannon was worse than you'd expected, but that only made it more exciting. You hummed to yourself as you worked, occasionally tossing out cheerful comments to the crew members who passed by. Most of them seemed amused by your upbeat attitude, though one or two kept their distance, likely wary of how Kid would react.

Speaking of Kid, you could feel his gaze burning into you from the deck above. Every time you glanced up, there he was, arms crossed and expression set in a permanent scowl. "Does he ever smile?" you muttered to yourself, earning a quiet hum of amusement from Killer, who was nearby overseeing the supplies.

"Not often" Killer replied, his voice low but not unkind. "Don't take it personally. He's just... like that". You shrugged. "Doesn't bother me. I've dealt with grumpier". Killer raised an eyebrow, as if doubting that anyone could out grump his partner.

By the time you finished the cannon repair, the sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the shipyard. You wiped the sweat from your brow and turned to face Kid, who had finally descended from his perch. "All done" you announced, your voice light. "It should work like new now".

Kid inspected the cannon, running his hand along the repaired metal. He didn't say anything for a moment, and you could almost see the gears turning in his head. "Not bad" he muttered finally, though it sounded like it physically pained him to say it.

"Ah I should be honoured" you teased, earning a glare. Before Kid could bark out a retort, Killer, Heat, and Wire approached. Killer spoke first. "You're good at what you do. Ever thought about joining a crew?". You blinked, taken aback. "A crew? You mean... your crew?". Kid's scowl deepened. "We don't need them" he growled, though there was no real venom in his tone.