I always work alone (Eustass Kid x OC)

Chapter 34 : The return

For the next three years, Lanniya sold the bags with Oma and raised her son as she could. He was a quiet kid, not always easy, but very intelligent and strong. He had some anger issues, that Lanniya tried to control as she could. He had red hair and blue eyes. He was an amazing child to her eyes. She had only one big rule to him : never tell the other children who was his father. She had told him that Kid was his father, but she thought it would be safer to not spread such a thing. She had one of his wanted poster beside her bed. It was to be able to see his face everyday.

One day, while Lanniya was playing with Kodai in the house and that Oma was selling her bags, a pirate came to town. He seemed to ask a lot of people about a person. Suspicious, Oma tried to listen at everything he said. When he finally went close enough to her, she innocently asked :

- Are you looking for someone ?

- Yes, he answered.

He looked at a picture and sighed.

- It's been three years that I've been searching for her. I won't stop until I find her.

- Is it a picture of her that you are holding ?

- Yes.

He handed it to her. It was Lanniya. Different, but her. She gave it back to him, without any particular expression.

- Have you seen her ?

She seemed to hesitate.

- Why do you want to find her ?

- Because I love her, he said with a voice crack. I cannot continue without her.

Oma looked at him in the eyes. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but he seemed to feel so much pain that she couldn't lie to him.

- I know where she is, she whispered. If you want to see her, come tomorrow morning in the little house you see out there.

Kid nodded, surprised, and did as he was told. Meanwhile, Oma had told her that someone would come over. Someone special. The next day, Lanniya woke up earlier to see who it was. She was not just a little bit surprised to see Kid. He hadn't changed. He was older, of course, but there was always that fire and will in him. Her heart started to beat faster. He stopped a few meters away, visibly surprised to see her again. She looked at each other for a few minutes. Suddenly, Kodai came running at the door. Kid saw him and she read the confusion in his eyes. Oma arrived and brought him back inside.

- Come in, she said.

He entered and sat at the table. Lanniya made some coffee for him. It was silent.

- It's been a while, he simply said.

She just nodded.

- You must be asking yourself who is this child, she said as she gave him the coffee.

She didn't want to make things wait. If he was there, it was because he knew what happened.

- I guess that he is the child that you had with another man, he said bitterly as you leant against the sink and crossed your arms. Is it why you left ?

She could tell that he was deeply hurt. Lanniya closed your eyes. Oma had left the house with Kodai.

- No. I've been faithful.

- Does it means that...

- Yes. Kodai is your son.

- Kodai...

He apparently couldn't believe it. It was another shock.

- Let me explain, she said. I knew that you didn't like kids. So when I found out about Kodai, I thought that I needed to flee and raise him somewhere else. I wanted to come back in a couple years, but not now...

Tears started to roll down her face. She hid her face. Kid needed a little bit of time to digest it all. It was hard to learn that he was a father since three years and that he didn't know it. He stood up and went to her. Slowly, he took her in his arms. He couldn't be mad at her. She must've had been so distraught.

- Love, I'm here again. I'm not mad at you.

Outside, Oma smiled. She could see that everything was well. Obviously, Kodai noticed something. Kid spent the night at the house, sleeping on the floor while Kodai was in his mother's bed as usual. The day after, he watched Kodai play. He found himself in this little boy. He remembered his own childhood and how it had not been easy. Kodai looked like himself and Lanniya at the same time. He was ready to do everything to grant him a better childhood than he had. It was a really strange feeling, but not bad at all. Suddenly, Kodai stood in front of him.

- You are my dad ?

- Yes... I am.

- Mommy said that you were the King of Pirates.

Kid couldn't help but smile.

- What happened to your arm ? asked the little boy again.

- Oh it's a long story. Want to hear it ?

When Lanniya came back to see them, Kodai was laughing on Kid's laps. He was telling him stories. That night, Lanniya fell asleep in Kid's arms while Kodai was sleeping in his bed. Kid decided to leave the day after. They both decided that Lanniya would join him in a couple of years. Kodai jumped in his arms to say goodbye. They kissed one last time.

- Take care of our little one, he told her.

- Why wouldn't I ? she teased him. Don't get caught, please.

She was relieved to see that he was liking Kodai. Her son jumped in her arms and they cuddled. Kid was happy. Lanniya and his son laughing was the new image he wanted to see the most. When he arrived at the ship, Killer asked him why he was laughing.

- I need to tell you important things, he said.

Once on the sea, he brought sake and explained everything. He found Lanniya and he was a dad. The whole crew cheered him and even Killer couldn't believe it. They couldn't wait to see the little Kodai that Kid was talking so much about.