By the time you all made it back to the base, preparations were in full swing.

Franky and Robin were stocking up the Mini Merry with guns and medical supplies, Zoro and Sanji were bringing out all sorts of things and bickering to top it all off.

Once Luffy entered the building, Jinbe made his way down from the second floor and gave the Supernova a grim expression, "Luffy, this is most likely a trap.."

The raven nodded, but didn't look anymore dissuaded, "we're gonna go help Torao, he's nakama"

Jinbe, most likely having expected this, just sighed in resignation and clutched the grip of his pistol slightly tighter to his chest, "I know, that's why we've already started preparing for battle- but Luffy, just know.. things might already be over by the time we get there.."

You growled before either man could continue the conversation, both turning to you with understanding expressions, "(Y/n).."

'I don't care who it is! I'm gonna punch the shit outta them if they hurt Law!'

Your writing was dark and slightly indiscernible with how worried you were for the Heart gang, but the message was sent across nice and clear, at least you thought it was as Jinbe placed a soothing hand on your shoulder with little trepidation.

"(Y/n).. you may not like this, but we need you to stay here"

He was right, you didn't like it.

With a defiant snarl, you stomped your heel against the ground, causing the wood beneath to snap inward at the strength, once again reminding everyone in the room of your power and hopefully your undeniable use as well.

However, instead of the intimidation bearing the desired fruit, you received another hand on the shoulder from behind, and craned your neck back only to see Luffy give you a firm look.

"Jinbe's right (Y/n), you need to stay here and protect the base with Brook, Nami and Robin" you whined, still not happy with your orders but also not wanting to disobey Luffy to his face.

Seeing the hesitance in your demeanor, Jinbe stole your attention back, "(Y/n), it's very unlikely that the Big Mom family knows about you, so if worse comes to worse, you can be used as our secret backup"

Shit, that made sense.

Deflating at the news, Robin and Nami were quick to comfort you as the rest of the group finished the preparations.

"It's alright (Y/n), you haven't seen these guys in action but they're really strong!" Nami looped an arm around your shoulder, not flinching back even with the drool escaping your drooping maw.

"Mwrph.." always the mom friend, Robin was the one that wiped your face clean and patted your back, "Nami's right, we may not have the strength of the dead, but everyone in this gang is strong in their own right"

You allowed the girls to continue their small comforts as the Mini Merry revved up for action.

"(Y/n)! Nami! Robin! Brook! Protect the base while we're gone!" Luffy shoved the entirety of his upper torso out of the windows to wave you goodbye, and the sight made you settle as the rest of the men scolded him for his childishness.

Like that they vanished down the dirt road through the woods, but Luffy's positivity remained.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The waiting had to be the worst part.

At first you just focused on the small distractions the others tried to entertain you with, but over time you came to realize there was just no use and gave up.

Now here you were, wandering throughout the second floor of the building moaning like the dead, and there was no doubt in your mind Luffy would find this hilarious if he was here.

"Oooaaauuuooorrr..." the only thing answering you was one of Brook's yodels.

Pausing in front of a window, you checked for any signs of the Mini Merry or intruders, but only found empty woods.

Your disappointment was immeasurable at this point.

It wasn't until you were just about to pass the main room did you hear the undeniable sound of a ringing phone.

Freezing up at the sound, you hurriedly stumbled into the room and- yes, the landline was ringing, and considering the only people who knew the number to the base were nakama, you were fairly certain it was Luffy reporting what happened.

Immediately picking up the phone, you grunted loudly into the microphone and listened intently for the report, only to be met with deep, tattered breaths.

"Sh- Shit.. Strawhat..?" That was definitely not Luffy.

"Kiih..?" Why was Kidd calling? He usually only did it twice a week, and he already did so...

Your blood ran cold as the sound of gunfire and shouts of bloody murder rang in the background of the call, "baby doll..? That you..?"

Before you could make another sound, there was another round of gunfire, this time it was louder- undoubtedly in the same room as the call, and there were several screams of pain in response that nearly made you heave.

"Hey.. we're under attack by the Big Mom family here, ugh.. could you get that brat to come over here... and help us out..?" The only thing that frightened you more than his words were the way he said them, it was almost like he was..

Cradling the speaker gently to your ear, in order to avoid destroying it in your panic, you inwardly cursed as tears overflowed faster than you could think and spilled over your cheeks, hiccups forced their way out of your mouth and there was little you could do to steady your voice enough to let Kidd understand.

"Baby doll.. this isn't a time to cry.. get your leader, okay? Most of my crew were able to get away but some of us are in a bit of a-" his voice cut off as an explosion rang out, loud enough that it echoed in your ears for a few moments before you could reorientate yourself.

It took you a few moments more to realize that the line was cut, and you were only listening to the buzzing of static now.

With a shrill of despair, you dropped the phone and jumped the railing in the halls, ending up slamming into the ground of the lounge room on the first floor much to the surprise of your crew.

"Oh my God!" You didn't know who shouted that and didn't care, sitting up from where you fell, you ignored the concerns of your friends as you ripped out your notebook and tore through the pages like a madman.

'Kidd!'

Scribbling the name quick and harshly- enough to rip the paper, you didn't bother to wait for them to read it as you promptly shoved it in the closest person's arms and ran headfirst out the entrance, consequently breaking the doors down.

You'd get in trouble for that later but that was the least of your concerns.

Not bothering to stop at the shouts of your nakama, you ripped down the dirt path and rushed to where you knew it eventually met with the highway that led to Kidd's hideout.

'Please.. please be okay!'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time you made it to the castle, the party was long over.

The place looked like it was raided within an inch of its life, the front doors were blown to bits and scattered all over the interior of the main room, some walls were completely collapsed, and the worst was the stench of blood everywhere.

Kidd's hideout was well hidden, but didn't have the advantage of being uphill or incredibly deep in the wood, as such, zombies have already flocked to the massacre and were feasting on the bodies left behind.

Once you caught the sight of the things, you immediately screeched at them and waved your arms crazily like a crazed person, the only thing that kept you from straight-up mauling the things was the fact that you were yet to see them gnawing on someone you recognized.

The zombies began to leave at that, but that in itself did little to reassure you.

If Kidd got caught by one of these things before you showed up.. you took a sharp inhale as the conversation you had with him in the castle spires came back to you, now a chilling memory as you now knew this was the last way he wanted to go.

Strength renewed at the reminder, you charged in the castle and began shouting butchered howls of the redhead's name, only to have no response.

The more stairs you climbed, the less bodies you happened upon, there were a couple that made you double take and blink back tears, but so far most seemed to have belonged to the invaders.

"Hiiiih..!" Rushing through the rubble of the castle, you only felt more and more miserable seeing how many of your favorite memories here would be forced to be the only good things you had of this place.

"Kiiih..!" There was a grunt not too far off from where you were, and seeing as you haven't yet come across any zombies on the upper floors, your hope soared at the sound.

Rushing to where the building was damaged the most, you slowed before the gaping hole left in the once great castle, the entire wall, as well as all the walls in the room beyond it were gone, leaving a vast space that chilled your body.

"(Y/n).." you startled at the voice, only to choke up at the lone figure left for dead, sitting against the only bit of wall left in the whole room.

"Kiih!" Rushing the leader, you began to sob at the sight of his bloodied body and missing arm, oh god his blood was pooling everywhere!

"Hey.. you c- came.." you none too gently palmed his mouth in an attempt to get him to stop talking and save his strength, but the redhead didn't seem to get the hint.

"Did- did you run all the- ugh, way here..? You look so.. hot.." not even bothering to question his choice in words, you swiftly pulled off his coat and began to press it into the bleeding stump.

"Hisssh.." you motioned for him to be quiet as more tears welled up, but this time you were sure Kidd was ignoring you.

"I'm not.. gonna make it, ah, b- baby doll.." you roared at the insinuation, much to his amusement as he allowed a weak smirk.

"Baby doll.. you gotta bite me.." by now the tears spilled down your face as you shook your head, and you could only imagine what Kidd was thinking of you now as you stubbornly groaned nonsense.

"(Y/n).. I- ugh, I.. I don't.. I don't wanna go out.. like th- ah, this.." you only choked up harder, hearing the frustration bleed in the redhead's voice.

"Shit.. I didn't want to go out like this.. I- I still wanted to, ah, get to know you some more.. I thought- ugh! I thought you were gonna be.. the one.."

Not knowing what to say, or being able to see through the tears, you could only dive into the cold fingers brushing against your jawline and forcefully press the hand to your cheek.

Kidd groaned in pain, but still managed to clutch onto a bit of your hair and drag you in to meet him in a kiss.

With all of the desperation of a dying man, Kidd surged all of the passion within him to you, parting your lips none too shyly and tasting you for all you were worth.

Your vision cleared enough at the time to see the smile he wore once he backed away, not nearly content as he deserved, but longing, frustrated.

"I think.. I was ready to really love you, (Y/n).."

The only thing that could be heard in the castle now was your haunting wails, chasing any zombies in the vicinity away as you draped yourself over Kidd's body.