I was sitting on the deck, chores done, with my eyes closed peacefully as I took an attempt at a nap. In the background of my sleepily hazed mind, I could hear Kidd hammering away, repairing a hole- which he'd made out of anger because of a rat biting a hole in his jacket- in the floorboards as he grumbled dark curses to that particular rodent, along with every one in existence. Then....

THWACK!

He shouted in pain and further fueled rage, spitting every curse word I've ever heard, and even some I've never heard, into the suddenly still air. I opened one eye to see Kidd throwing multiple things and creating even more holes in the deck as he raged, and the crew hiding in fear of being caught in the crossfire.

"You've got to be kidding me," I sighed, rising to my feet and going to grab the nearest first aid kits- I'd found and placed multiple kits all around the ship for reasons such as this one. I crossed the deck, ignoring the crew's hushed warnings to turn back and hide.

I stopped behind Kidd, reaching for his shoulder. "Let me see, Ki-"

"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" He roared, whipping around and blindly lashing out. The back of his hand struck my check, sending me skidding across the deck. I slammed into the mast, stunned as I struggled to pull myself up.

I lightly touched my cheek, which stung. Pulling my hand back, I saw blood and blinked. Everything was even more still, because Kidd had realized what he'd done and was watching my reaction tensely.

'Told you~!' A feminine giggle resounded in my head.

'He doesn't care,' a deep chuckle added.

'He will hurt you more, and more,' a childish voice continued.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled, clutching my head before whipping around to glare at Kidd. "YOU SHUT THE HELL UP AND COME HERE!"

Stunned and cautious, he approached. The voices faded as he grew closer, their mocks becoming more and more distant until they were gone completely, when he was standing right in front of me.

Sitting with my legs tucked under me, I growled, "Sit."

He obeyed, still stunned from my outburst, and sat cross legged in front of me.

I held out a hand, not meeting his eyes as I spoke in a dangerously calm voice. "Hand, now."

The wounded thumb appeared in my vision, purple and bleeding around the nail. I dug around in the kit and wiped the digit clean with an alcohol wipe, causing Kidd to hiss and curse quietly before I set a gauze square to absorb any more blood and wrapped the thumb carefully.

Once finished, I just wiped the shallow cut on my cheek with an alcoholic wipe before packing up the kit and standing, staring down at Kidd as he watched me carefully.

"Next time you hurt yourself, I will gladly treat it for you," I said with an uncharacteristically cold tone. "As long as you don't act like a baby about it, lashing out at those who do try to help, I will always be here to help, captain." I turned around and headed towards the stairs. "Be careful when fixing the deck again, captain."

>Kidd POV<

I shocked. Both times, she'd called me 'Captain' so coldly. Not Kidd, or Cap'n in that annoyingly playful way of hers.

Just... Captain.

And I'd hurt her. Not just physically, emotionally. I don't know how I know, but I do.

And all I could do was stare at her retreating figure, feeling like something was tearing through my chest.

"Captain?"

That word again, but not her voice.

"What, Killer?" I replied, staring at the doorway she'd disappeared through.

"Maybe... You should... Apologize?"

I tensed, and he recoiled slightly. Under normal circumstances, I'd have torn off his head and fed it to the fish, and decorated the ship's deck with his blood and entrails for even thinking of suggesting such a ridiculous idea!

But the aching in my chest was stopping me.

"Will that make it stop?" I questioned dully, not looking at him. "This pain in my chest, will it leave if I do?"

He hesitated, probably shocked to find himself still alive. "Y-Yeah. It'll help both of you."

"Both of us," I repeated with a grunt. Standing I started walking towards the doorway. "Suggest something that idiotic again, and you die, understand, Killer?"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

I searched all below deck, and looked in my room last to see her laying on her bed, appearing to be fast asleep as she faced the ceiling, starfish styled and eyes closed.

I entered the room, closed the door, and sat beside her bed, determined not to leave until this awful tearing sensation in my chest left me alone.

"What do you want?" Her cold voice asked.

>Calamity POV<

"What do you want?" I asked, not in the best of moods.

My cheek hurt, my head hurt, and my heart hurt. I thought I could trust him, but he just up and hits me when I try to help? Not. Okay.

He was grumbling something completely unintelligible, and my temper was rising. I opened my eyes to glare at him, about to snap at him to spit it out, but I stopped.

He was grumbling with his head facing to the side, scratching the back of his neck with a scowl and a.... Blush?

"What?" I asked stupidly, stunned that the Kidd Eustass was embarrassed.

He sighed, frustrated, and turned his uncomfortable gaze to me, half glaring. "I said I shouldn't have hit you like that. And... Well... Just hit me back if that'll make you feel better..." He ended in a quiet mumble, turning his gaze to the floor as the pink in his cheeks turned red and crossed his nose as well.

I was probably looking like a gaping fish as I stared at him before I had to fight to keep a stubborn smile away.

He was trying to apologize....

(^\\.\\^) awwwwww~!

"Aaaaaawwwwwweeeeee~!"I yelled, jumping at the larger man and wrapping my arms tightly around his neck as he tensed. I smiled, rubbing my cheek against his burning one. "I forgive you Kidd! You're so cute when you're embarrassed! Awwwwe!"

"Hey, hey, woman, back off," he grumbled, seizing my waist.

I jumped off him with a gasp, holding my sides protectively. "No!" I yelled as he stared at me in confusion.

"What?" He asked.

I sighed. "Sorry, my grandpa always used to tickle my sides when I was little, so they're a bit sensitive," I explained, smiling softly at the floor. "He died when I was very little, but he was the only one who loved me, at all..."

"It made you happy?" Kidd asked.

"I guess you could say that, yeah," I answered, sighing again. "Whenever he'd tickle me, it was like he was saying he cared, that he wanted me to be happy....."

>Kidd POV<

She was so lost in memories, when I poked her side, she nearly fell over as a surprised gasp left her lips.

"Why'd you do tha-PFT! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! K-KIDD! S-STOP! P-PLEASE! UWAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed uncontrollably as my fingers danced across her ribs, waist, anything and everything that could be remotely ticklish. A large smile was on her lips as she laughed, eyes shut tight as she tried to squirm away.

I paused, allowing her to catch her breath.

"Your grandfather was a smart man. Sadness doesn't suit you," I grumbled, not meeting her eyes as I went to stand. Her smaller hands grasped one of mine, and nudged my hurt thumb. I hissed, my hand jerking slightly.

"Sorry," she muttered, kissing the bandaged appendage. Warmth spread across my cheeks and nose as she looked silently up at me, her eyes saying it all.

Thank you...

"Whatever, don't mention it," I said, going to leave. I looked back once before exiting to see her facing me, absolutely beaming.

"You're not so bad, Kidd, you know?"

I left, the warmth in my face becoming hotter.