~ Previously ~

"Well, you are partially right. There's something I acquire from you..." His eyes flicked, again landing on me.

"And that is?" Kid impatiently asked, his tone being livid.

"To use Y/n as a bait, of course." He answered in a low cheerful voice, ignoring the terror that promptly incapacitated me. 

~~~

"No!" Kid snarled the word. "I'm the one that can decide this. No way in hell will I let your ugly smug touch something mine." He spat at the shorter man, that continued drifting with a relaxed expression. That angered the redhead even more.

Killer grabbed his arm with a restraining hand, exclaiming: "Kid, calm down! Violence won't solve anything. Not in this case."

"Now, now...don't be so aggressive. Listen to your subordinate. That was just a suggestion. There's no need to get upset over such a trivial thing." Still grinning, he kept ignoring the furious male. "I mean she is just a hostage, right? Even now. It's not like she wanted to be here." His tranquil eyes smiled down at mine, for me impossible to look away. "Isn't that right, Y/n?" That was the first time he addressed my directly.

I could only stutter in response.

Then a certain pinkette decided to force herself into the unpleasant conversation. She slurred, while sweetly fluttering with her eyelashes. "Bege... Let her alone, can't you see she is petrified."

Her comment didn't put me at ease at all. I struggled not to mumble in return. I endured in silence.

"Where did you get the injury?" Bartolomeo randomly acquired, staring at my wrapped hand.

"It's nothing you should worry about." I murmured, my lips set in a grim line.

"I didn't hear you. You should stop being a bitchy snob and speak up."

Everyone stayed silent. Kid's stone face didn't even react to the insult that I was bestowed with. I couldn't deny that it hurt a bit. It felt...bitter-sweet. But what did I expect? For him to defend me? What for?

Not paying the necessary attention which the greenette obviously desired, he again repeated, but more aggressively "Hey, are you listening to me?"

"No." I simply retorted.

"Huh?" He quickly recovered. "Why?" He then chortled. "Oh, I get it. Are you going to run to your daddy?"

The air stiffened even more around me. Wide-eyed I only stared at him.

"Bartolomeo...stop it!" Bonney frowned.

The snarl that was before low, now became more pronounced. "Stay out of this Bonney!"

"Don't be an ass!"

"What now? You are defending that...that bitch? She can't even look at me without weeping. "

Deadpanned, I responded in a neutral voice, wiping the new formed grin from his face. "I have worse nightmares failing AP Calculus. Don't flatter yourself." I didn't know from where the boldness came from, but I couldn't complain about it. At that moment, it was necessary.

"Listen, bitch. I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. I can easily kill you, right here, right now."

"Would that make you pleased?" I slowly choked out.

"Huh?"

"Would that make you pleased? " I repeated. "That I'm, what? Scared? Will that make you...you all satisfied?" I stared at them with my jaw clenched in frustration.

"I shall not falter. No way in hell! You can shove all of that mafia crap somewhere, cause I don't care, no, frankly I don't give a shit! I'm here because I require something that was taken from me. My only parent. And I'm determined to get him back no matter what. Got a problem with that Greeny?!"

He didn't hide the fact that he was pissed. But honestly, so didn't I.

Clapping.

Wha-?

"Well done, Y/n L/n." Bege' s voice boomed. "Splendid indeed. So, Shanks raised you good. Adequate. You've got guts kid. I congratulate you." He then looked over his shoulder, a small smile deforming his face. "You see, Vito? What did I tell you? She is what I have suspected for her to be." he huffed, now twirling the cigar in between his fingers.
"Yes, you were right Bege." he agreed.
"So, you've anticipated this?" a female voice gushed back.
"But of course, Bonney. There is no place for cowards in this battle."

"And this made you sure that she isn't one?" muttered the pinkette, crossing her arms.

"Well of course it is. And..." his gaze drifted to her companion. "I have to say, Bartolomeo. Your threats seemed almost surreal. Of course, if they were just a play. Or was it something more? I wonder." he hummed.

"It shouldn't concern you if they were meant or not. Our alliance has an expiring date." He pointed his case to the man but looking at Law.
"I'm doing this just for myself. So, if that thing..." he pointed at me. "Somehow, in any kind of way, decides to spoil my plan...I indeed intend to kill her."

"All right, asshole." he agreed, suspiciously. "You do that and next thing your men will see, is your dead body floating in the river." Kid said, grinning at the threat.
As both parts were silently processing their next move, Law decided to join the chit chat. "So, Bege, it seems we are all on board. No need for another out-burst."
The raven sighed. "I guess you are right, Trafalgar. Only one last piece of the puzzle is missing."

"And that would be me, I suppose?" I marveled.
My heart was pounding intensely, yet I managed to recoil. "If you promise me you intend to rescue my father, then...I am in." Kid tensed beside me, the nodded in agreement.

"Bege I will take part in this scheme of yours. But listen carefully. If any shit happens during this, I won't hesitate to break the alliance and slice your throat."

"Don't be disturbed." Bege reassured him. "I'm counting on our total success. Now, if no one objects I would like to continue our meeting a bit later. I assume you would all like to take some time for yourselves, see."
"Then we are free to go?" Bonney asked in an even voice.
"Yes." Bege said pleasantly. "But don't forget about dinner, which..." He glanced down to his pricey watch. "...will be held in the Grand Hall at exactly 8 am. Dress to standards."

~~~

As we exited the room one after another, I struggled to avoid any unnecessary contact. Luckily Bartolomeo thought the same thing.

Not even reaching the long corridor, strong steps, that could have only been produced by heels, came to the foreground.

"Kid." she responded in a silky voice, her eyes flickering the red's body.
When she reached us, she had flashed a stunning smile before she wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her face into his chest.

"Bonney, release me." he muttered, clearly annoyed by the over-clingy pinkette.
"Nope Kid! Hehe, I haven't seen you quite in a while! We should go drinking! Like in the old days!" she purred.

At that moment a familiar feeling stung me, but it was even worse. My clenched fists shook uncontrollably, while a hot sensation in my chest threated to rise up my throat.
The tightness even worsened my state.
Why is she close to him? Why isn't he shoving her away? How do they know each other? And... for how long?

In seventeen years of my life I have never experienced something like this.
Jealousy was for me a minor thing, frankly never really close. Being jealous was my trait as a child. But after time I grew out of it. It never crossed my mind... until now.

I read countless of books where characters were consumed only by grudge and cautiousness.

I guess I am just like them now.

"Stop being clingy and I might consider." Kid said, poorly disguising the boredom in his tone.

She clearly didn't notice his reaction as she just jumped on the spot, her eyes sparkling in delight and joy. "Hurray! Finally!" she exclaimed and quickly turned on her heels to catch up with the greenette, leaving me, a total nervous wreck creature and the red beast alone, not including Killer behind us.

"Hmm, she didn't change at all." Killer hummed. That made my head jump in his direction.
"You know her too?" I asked, not even trying to maintain my surprise.

The blond shrugged. "Yeah, it is a long story."
"Which I don't intend to listen to. I am going to my room. Don't disturb me." he hissed, already facing us with his back.

"Alright. See you at eight." The blond shouted after him.

The dark corridor almost consumed Kid, but he halted in his step. My heart skipped a beat, as well as my breath that I held in.

"Y/n..." he hesitated.
"Yes?" I asked in a small voice.

I waited.

"You did a good job." he had uttered before his fur coat as well the lingering steps gradually disappeared.