Gypsy's POV

It was a particularly lazy day for the crew. Your chores had been completed along with your lookout shift. Now you sprawled out on a secluded sun soaked part of the deck warming your skin. The weather had been more fall like as of late due to the archipelago you were approaching, but it wasn't quite cool enough to ditch your shorts and t-shirts just yet.

The atmosphere on board had been fairly lax the last few days as your captain had been holed up in his workshop; while Killer remained rather tight lipped about the origin of the captain's unusual behavior. Well, it was normal for Kid to lock himself away to work on random projects especially if he found something particularly interesting, but he just seemed a bit out of sorts. His mood when he was with the crew was shiftier than usual, everyone walked on eggshells. He ignored you more lately which was disappointing as you'd felt you were finally making some headway with the brute.

With a soft sigh you rolled onto your stomach opening to a clean page in your notebook to doodle. Losing yourself for a few hours you zoned out tracing hastey images over the lineless page. You felt his presence behind you, imagining his arms crossed casually over his chest you continued to draw knowing his affinity for watching you work. 

"Time to wash up," the blond finally called, "dinner will be ready soon."

You nodded acknowledging his order. As you began to pack up he knelt to help. Placing your things in Killer's bunk you kept your regular notepad and a change of clothes.

Once you reached the showers you flipped the pad for him to view.

<Are you washing your hair?>

The blonde chuckled as if the answer were already obvious, "Not if you're here."

Of course not, that would require removing that ridiculous mask. Your biggest foe was an inanimate object. It had been months since he challenged you and though you'd gotten much stronger you still hadn't managed to catch him off guard much less pin him. He did, however allow you to twist his hair and pin it into a bun at the base of his neck. This always made you smile and you wondered how much more adorable he would be without the blue and white obstruction.

After showering he pulled you into the tub to sit between his legs resting your back against his chest. Cupping water into his large palms he doused your exposed shoulders watching goosebumps flash over your skin with the contrast of temperatures. If you could, you would have asked if he was enjoying himself, but you knew he was.

A comfortable silence fell over you save for a dripping faucet and the playful sloshing of your first mate's antics behind you. Suddenly his scarred arm slithered around your body pressing you to him.

"F/N," his tone was low and surprisingly serious, "... if the opportunity ever rose... would you leave the crew?"

You sat in quiet shock for a moment. It's not like you'd ever shown signs of wanting to leave before. As savage as they were this crew saved your life, he saved your life. Slowly bringing your hand out of the water you caressed his neck and fervently shook your head. A sigh of relief puffed through his lips before you heard a familiar click followed by a chaste kiss to your nape.

"Time to get going." he tugged you up and wrapped you in a towel before doing the same for himself.

What a strange moment of insecurity displayed so earnestly by your usually confident first mate.

__________________

"F/N!“ Kai called as you entered the galley, "This arrived a few days ago but I know you like getting caught up."

The brunette waved a news paper as he approached you and Killer. You smiled taking the paper and adding it to the supplies in your satchel.

The crew was already making a mess of the tables scarfing down any scrap of food they could. Kid was also already seated and eating, listening to another crewmate tell a story. Upon reaching the table you realized the subject of the story was you.

Booka waved his hands for emphasis while loudly regailing the tale of how he'd caught you earlier in the week trying to sneak up on Killer to snatch his mask.

He'd spotted you wedged precariously between some stacked boxes and the ceiling in the corner of a hallway leading to the captains shop. You had placed your index finger to your lips silently asking him to help you out by keeping his mouth shut. You definitely wished someone else had found you as he took a deep breath and began to call you out.  

"Honestly I was impressed that she could even get up there," he laughed turning to you as you sat, "bet ya thought you were gonna finally win, didn't ya, birdie?"

Most of the men at the table bristled as the room fell into a deafening silence. All eyes shifted toward your captain who now wore an unreadable expression though his body was incredibly tense. Everyone seemed to wait for a reaction, however after snapping his fork in half Kid simply got up and left the galley.

"Booka," Heat murmured shaking his head.
"Idiot." Someone else piped.

You turned your notepad to Killer, <What was that?>

From what you could tell the man had said nothing offensive, but judging the crews reaction some major slip up had taken place.

Rubbing his exposed goatee Killer finally spoke, "If you know what's good for you, stay away from the captain for a while. We'll dock tomorrow so I'm sure you can handle it until we're at port." he turned to you tugging the news paper from your bag, "Some things happened that were complicated."

The men who had finished their meals exited the room a few tugging a still in shock Booka along with them.

Heat had pulled the newspaper across the table turning to a specific page while Killer stared down at you.
 
“Before you, there was a woman on board,” he sighed, “We had taken her as a prisoner and things ...happened between her and Kid.”
 
<Things? What did that have to do with Booka's story?>
 
“Romantic things.” Heat added softly, "Captain often called her birdie, rather than her name."
 
Your eyes widened, <They were in love?! What happened?>
 
The men seemed uncomfortable with your label.
 
“We’ll just leave it at ‘romantic’?” Killer rubbed his neck, "Anyway, she left, which was unavoidable from the beginning."
 
Heat moved the paper back to you. There was an article in the center of the page highlighting the work of a young marine. She was enchanting and judging from the smirk on her face, full of spunk. There was a rifle strapped to her back and a line of shackled pirates behind her. The article spoke highly of her current streak capturing pirates with decent bounties. You noticed the name of the island she’d been on in the picture was the same as the main island your crew was destined for.
 
<We’re going there!> you scribbled excitedly <do you think we can find her?>
 
Killer and Heat glanced at each other and back to you both shaking their heads.
 
“Absolutely not,” The blond asserted, “did you even read the article?”
 
You nodded sheepishly dropping your gaze.
 
<But this is why captain is…moody right?>
 
Killer only sighed.
 
<Then we should make it so they can see each other! Maybe this time she’ll stay?>
 
Killer placed his hand on our forehead, “What has gotten into you?”
 
<Wasn’t he happier?>
 
While both men had to admit things were…different when Y/N was there, they were also just as chaotic in a way.
 
“If she catches you there is a high chance that she’ll just arrest you, have you forgotten you have a bounty now not to mention the crew you belong to?”
“You really shouldn’t.” Heat murmured.
“Besides, she left.” Killer added curtly.
 
With a pout you slouched forward, <Fine.>
 
Killer ruffled your hair and stood, “Now, clean up in here and I’ll catch up with you later.”
 
 
______________
 
 
The next morning when you docked Killer had been in the workshop with Kid allowing you to slip off the ship without incident. Keeping your bag close with your notebook and the clipped article from the night before you set out to find the woman who had captivated your captain.
 
The island was beautiful, a crisp breeze whipped through tall trees cloaked in shades of orange and maroon. Mountains shrouded in a blue haze jutted up passed the forest canopy that surrounded the port town. You traversed winding cobble stoned streets peeking in windows of cafés and opening stores.

Meanwhile, on the ship Killer frantically searched for you. The night before you had agreed to explore the island together but his gut was telling him you’d actually set out to find the navy girl. Not knowing how long you’d been gone, he quickly disembarked to locate you before you got yourself into trouble.
 
Coming around the corner in front of a café on the southern edge of the small city you saw a group of men in uniforms on a quaint patio spattered with red umbrellas. The men parted revealing the woman you’d been searching for shuffling through a stack of wanted posters. Dismissing them with a wave of her hand the small group ducked back through the café doors.
 
You took a few deep breaths to steady your nerves before approaching and climbing over the short fence that framed the space where she sat. Having felt your presence, she stood expression shifting from stern to some version of concern.
 
“You can’t be here.” her words took you by surprise.

It was quite the opposite response Killer had warned you of. One of the men called her from beyond the doorway. She lunged forward brusquely shoving you back over the fence following closely as her name was called again. Grasping your wrist she dragged you into an ally nearby not bothering to keep you from protesting verbally which told you she must have already known who you were.

 
Killer heard Y/N being called as he neared the café from the opposite direction. He caught a glimpse of you both scurrying into the allies and passed through the one adjacent hoping to meet you on the other side; instead he was stopped in his tracks catching sight of four large men baring a familiar jolly roger.
 
“Shit.” he breathed hoping the men hadn't caught your trail.
 
Of course, he couldn’t have been so lucky.