~ ~ ~

The warm breeze on my face from moments ago still didn't cease. It remained until the lights went numb. I could hear some gasps within my proximity, but they gradually went silent.

The man stepped in without a hint of hesitation. Bold. No back-up either, which was not something the gang leaders usually did. Of course, not from the information I'd gathered while staying in Kid's mansion.

"Greetings, my dear guests and welcome to my humble home." If any other person would say that, the public would had already laughed at that statement. But just because it wasn't any other specimen, they all remained dead silent.

"I invited you all to this special occasion for a purpose and for one purpose only. If you're not sure if I'm talking to you or not, listen to this. Today I'm annunciating the officially established alliance between our neighbor mafia gangs in South, North and East Blue City."

I scanned the auditorium. So many scowling faces knitted their brows together. But half of the crowd was easily read. They were hungry for excitement after days of enjoyment in riches and never-ending goods that their filthy money brought them.

"There's not so much to say about the contract between us. Except that it benefits us all. We had our ups and downs but today..." He spoke even louder, not having the need to use a microphone. "We are enjoying this reunion of a newfound compromise. Remember that well." Bege lumbered in circles around the stage, with lingering, demanding steps.

"Now please! Let's have a nice remaining of this day!"

As if in some movies, the waiters, without any call of duty, in straight tidy lines, started carrying silver trays of food. The tables were layered with delicacies I had never even see up close, while some were known. Marinated Glenloth chicken, grilled fish, smoked sausages, glazed ham, ragrant wild rice, baked white potatoes...

It ached me for a second. With flashy eyes, I ceased to understand the nostalgia I was so fond to. Only a look on the full table made me think about the childish brothers.

Luffy would have probably eaten all of it in mere seconds. On his own. The same went for Ace. But he would have plausibly fallen asleep, his narcolepsy kicking at any given moment, before he could ingest his fair share of food. And Sabo? He would probably have hidden somewhere in embarrassment.

"Y/n, you are daydreaming."

"Am not!"

"Yes, you are."

The only way for me to continue the argument was just to frown.

I hummed back in response, not really seeing the meaning of any further argumentation from my side. Killer noticed my surrender, so in a way of victory, I presumed, playingly tugged me for the sleeve. But right when he sparsely interacted with my half-exposed skin, a growl interrupted his further intentions. Slightly rotating my eyes up, I was taken aback by the icy glare, to which my mind wasn't ready to react to.

The freezing cold spread from the chest area to the nape and the exposed flesh. The uncomfortable feeling forced me to bit my lower lip but it didn't command me to tear the alluring gaze I was caught in. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Kid's hand wrapped around the glass bottle, which was already caught into a deep pressure and was about to explode in million tiny pieces.

I guess Killer felt the same chilling atmosphere, so he backed up, again trying to lighten up the mood.

"I guess I was right." He hummed playfully, but still let the reluctant tone to hang in his voice.

Killer's struggle was in vain, because I already entered the state of anxious anticipation. When Kid noticed my fidgeting, his demeanor gradually deformed. Startled, I didn't have a choice but to keep the eye contact going.

Punishment.

That word was obviously flashing through his mind.

With puckered forehead, I lowered my eyebrows, clenching the loose part of my dress as if it my life depended on it.

"Excuse me, miss?" A courtesy voice interrupted our table. All our eyes were shifted on the waiter that leaned a bit to my sight and with a delicate gesture, nudged the alcohol to me.

Thank goodness.

"Would you like to drink?" The beverage seemed gold-colored, petite bubbles popping on the surface. I was mentally fighting with myself if I should have taken the offer or just friendly decline it.

"I-I..."

"Fuck off..." With a grunt, the redhead caught my attention. My sudden reaction to his insult made his mouth shift a bit, making wrinkles around the corner of his mouth, as if he silently encouraged me to fight him back.

"You can't drink, mousy. You're still just a kid." Without even giving the man a glance, he bared his teeth, making the waiter stutter a recoil apology and dismissing himself from our spot.

"Eustass, I don't see why..."

"Killer, I didn't ask for your damn opinion. Unless you want to babysit a drunken teenager, I won't allow her to consume any kind of alcohol in my presence. And if you haven't forgotten..." His eyes darkened. "This is Bege's territory. One wrong move and blood will be spilt all over." His eyes lit up. "Not that I'm against it, but we have a certain baggage with us."

With that, he slightly puckered his forehead. "So, if you decide to disobey me...mousy...nothing good will come after that. Got that?"

With an inexplicable hum, I rolled my gaze to the corner of the room. The heavy ambience engaged the redhead to the point of groaning in displeasure. My respond got lost between the engulfing music and light demands that were spreading from the left side of the room, unexpectedly from the pinkette.

Not much time had passed and nonetheless, dozens of emptied plates were hoarding on the cloak decorated dining tables, now with newly made numerous stains.

How is it even possible for someone like her to eat so much?

Just analyzing and focusing on something else, put my mind to ease. It felt like I came back to the solid ground from which I had been pulled from when I spoke to Kid, thinking rationally rather than instinctively.

Honestly...ever since he rescued me, maybe even before that, my chest tightens at the sound of his voice.

"Oi, cat caught your tongue? Eat." Even tho he said that with a scowl, his slightly narrowed eyes exposed the amusement.

"The real party will soon begin."

~~~

Dinner ended on a quite high note. The guest seemed all pleased with the asset of tonight's gathering. And as Kid predicted the true nature of this party crept to the surface.

Games.

The first thing I had noticed, besides the luxuriously decorated space, were the diverse tables and billiards scattered around the enormous space. One after another, they seated themselves into the golden cushions and in delight contributed the playing cards.

I thought for a moment that we won't participate in this kind of things, but my silent prayers were unheard, as a slender raven guy leaned on the white table and with a cocky voice, slurred.

"Shall we decide our next gathering with a friendly game of poker? You know Eustass-ya...just for old times sake?" Law tilted his head upwards, his signature smirk plastering his face.

"Or are you just going to drink through the night?"

"Mind your own motherfucking business, you shit..."

"Oh, don't you worry, red. I certainly will. But before that...I would like to invite Y/N-ya to join us. Isn't that right Bonney? How about it?"

She seemed a bit astonished, being mentioned abruptly, while quickly, in the company of the greenette, walking towards us. But nevertheless, she gave a curtsy shrug and swung her neatly kept hair from her forehead. "It's fine. I don't see any harm in it."

I inhaled and nodded in reply. "I would rather just watch."

"If that's so, then I'll just ask Bartolomeo to replace me. I'll stay with her." The pinkette calmly added in a lackluster smile, giving me thumbs up in encouragement.

However, Kid didn't share the same enthusiasm.A vein popped out his neck.

"Bonney, you're walking on a thin line here. Don't. Interfere." He boasted.

"There's nothing to interfere in, Kid. You play your stupid game, while we walk around. Ok? And stop being such an ass...Look..." She reached to her high boots and a metal handgun was pulled. "A pistol. And...." She again leaned to the other boot and took another but smaller object. "Y/n can have one."

I was watching them but appearing not to, but I kept my gait casual with no hint of hesitation.

"I agree."

"What?"

"It's just in case of emergency." I spied at the crowd, jutting my jaw.

"The girl has finally spoken." Remarked Bartolomeo.

"You heard her, Kid. Bonney, give her the gun." Law nudged his head towards her, and she responded.

Before my hand clutched the familiar object, I had made a glance at the redhead. His eyes wandered to my extended hand, expecting me to take this unsaid directive and refuse their offer. But I didn't comply.

My hand was already in mid-air when I let a strangled scream, feeling the throbbing pain. A wave of unbearable discomfort washed over me. It was exquisite. My eyes automatically shut tightly, small tears already glazing on my cheeks. When the firm grip didn't cease to release, I involuntarily peeked to the cause of the unpleasant feeling.

His eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, hard. In that moment I knew he was already far away. Once more I was the enemy.

My pupils dilated.

He was grinning.

The pale, large hand, wrapped around my wrist, increased the strength on the previous wound.

I yelped again. My legs wobbled underneath my weight.

"Stop!"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Let her go, Kid!"

Shouting rent the air. What was before hostile, was now set on another level. Rage. Everyone tensed.

But he was still grinning, whilst initiating and maintaining the contact, Kid's whole face radiated in excitement. My eyes were as wide as if someone was coming to deliver the fatal blow. My mind was demanding for my correspondence. But a frenzy reason made the body function under the influence of fear.

How could I forget...who he was? I obliviously believed he was different.

No.

Stop.

I tore the glim from the place of pain and laid it on Kid's face once more.

Life can become a torture...and it needs to be endured.

"Uggh..." I blinked, furiously.

"If you would just do what you are told, mousy...Look at you...Pathetic." He slurred.

Killer was clearly in no condition to watch this further, as he stepped to the boss and firmly squeezed the hand that captured me. Wire, Heat, Bartolomeo and Penguin, without hesitation, made a wall which disconnected us from the entire party. No suspicious murmuring was detected or interference from the guests.

"Kid, let her go." Law hissed. The aghast breathing caught up to me.

"Oh, I will. Let that be a reminder for her to listen. She has enjoyed too much freedom."

"She is not a prisoner!" Bonney exclaimed, boiling with resentment. "You are in no position to demand something like that!"

"Bonney." I could feel the shiver that came from me, when he whispered her name, ominous as ever.

"You know what I'm capable of. If I want, I can even rip her small delicate throat in two if I wanted."

"You don't..."

"Mean it?" He laughed. "Oh, yes I do." He released me, the sudden reaction making me stumble upon the hard floor. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I would demonstrate it more vividly, but there's a game of poker waiting. Shall we?"

Bonney protectively wrapped herself around my trembling torso.

"Go, mousy. If someone decides to cut you open and sell you...Don't come crying for help."

Kid...why?

"Kid."

Idiot.

I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life

I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind

They talk shit, but I love it every time

And I realize

...

I've tasted blood and it is sweet

I've had the rug pulled beneath my feet.