Warnings: Language, Sexual Tension, Sexual Themes, Mentions of past homophobia
Rating: M
Summary: On a voyage to a new land where he hopefully can start his new life in earnest, Eustass Kid, a blacksmith, is looking forward to living his life freely.
He had never expected to wash up on the shores of an island he has heard nothing about. And things only go further down into a wild descent of magic and mayhem from there.
In This Chapter: They arrive to a new town, Kid explores, and there is drinking
I don’t love how this turned out, but if I keep trying to revise it until it’s “right” I’ll go insane, so here it is. Feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Author: fangirlwonder (wordsandwonder on AO3)
Pairing: Kid/Law
Prompt: Parents
Rating: Teen, but only for swearing and stuff, I don’t know I’m bad at rating
Beta’d by: @fitgirlfaith24
Warning: There are a few more mentions of drug and alcohol abuse-ish/kids having to be responsible for their parents in this chapter, continuing the creative liberties I took with Kid’s backstory.
“Why isn’t Law my doctor?”
Even though Kid hadn’t been awake for very long, his patience was already wearing very thin with the doctor standing at the foot of his bed. He knew Law. He trusted Law. He wanted Law to treat him, not this weasel-y faced quack.
“Mr. Kid, it was decided that Dr. Trafalgar is too … close to the situation to be your doctor, and frankly, Dr. Trafalgar is a surgeon, and a pediatric one at that. He does not specialize in cases like yours.”
“Yeah, well he’s still a hell of a lot better than you,” Kid groused. He glared at the man and moved to cross his arms before remembering for about the millionth time in less than 24 hours that he couldn’t; and that realization did nothing to improve his sour mood. “Are we done here?” he asked darkly, staring at the fist clenched in his lap. The single fist.
“We are not, actually. We need to discuss your treatment options. It’s important that we go over the physical therapy you will need, and options you have going forward.”
Kid’s scowl had the man backing away instinctually. “Well I’m not interested in talking about my “options” with you. Just … just get the hell out of the room.”
The doctor nodded and moved quietly toward the door, pausing with his hand poised over the knob. “I know this is frustrating for you, Mr. Kid. It will get better with time.”
If anything had been within his reach, Kid would have hurled it with all his might at the doctor. “Both your arms look pretty fucking real to me, so I’m gonna go ahead and say you don’t know shit, you asshole. Get the fuck outta here.”
Doctor what the fuck ever his name was scurried out of the room with a final sheepish glance, and Kid was left alone. In the three days he’d been awake, he’d realized that he really hated being alone. It had never been an issue for him before the coma, but the blank white of the hospital walls and the steady beep of his heart monitor gave him the creeps and the room just felt so … empty when he was in it by himself.
Luckily, his solitude rarely lasted for long.
“Hey Kid.”
He looked up and gave his sister a halfhearted smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hey sis.”
Bonney shuffled awkwardly for a moment with one hand hidden behind her back. “We went to your place today.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked dispassionately.
“Yeah. The damage is … well, it’s pretty bad, I’m not gonna lie. Found your car in the parking lot, though, and saw this in the back seat so I broke in and grabbed it to bring to you. I figured maybe Law gave it to you and you might like to have it?” She held out a small stuffed polar bear with one eyebrow raised in question. Admittedly, it wasn’t a very Kid-like object.
“Actually, it’s the other way around,” he said, reaching for it and setting it in his lap. “It was part of his anniversary present. He likes polar bears.”
“Really?” the girl asked incredulously. “I wouldn’t really peg him for a stuffed animal kinda guy. Or a … polar bear kinda guy. Although … what does a polar bear guy look like? I guess maybe, but … nah, I don’t see it.”
Kid made a face at his sister as soon as she finished narrating her thought process for him, and patted the toy affectionately. “Well, he is. He likes polar bears and he likes fuzzy things, and this is both. And it’s not like it was his whole gift anyway. It’s only part of it. Although …” The fond smile that had formed while he talked about the surgeon slipped off his face. “I guess the other part is probably gone now, huh?”
“If it was in the apartment?” she asked somberly. “Then yeah. It’s gone.”
“Shit.”
“Mom and Al are already cleaning out your old room, you know. They’re planning on asking you to move back in with us until you can get on your feet again.”
Though it was a nice gesture, the thought made Kid scowl. “My feet aren’t the fucking problem,” he growled, more harshly than he meant to.
“It’s a figure of speech, bro,” she replied, unfazed by his anger.
“Whatever. It’s nice of them and all, but I’ll figure something out. I’m an adult. I’m too old to go running back to mommy.”
Bonney scoffed. “Kid, I can’t remember a time when you ever ‘went running back to mommy.’ If you ever ran to mom it was for her protection, not yours. But she’s stable now, you know. She can be finally be there for you like you always were for her. So maybe it’s time to let her return the favor.”
Let his mom return the favor, huh? That was certainly an interesting idea. It wasn’t really like he didn’t think that she could; she’d been clean for four years now, and her life was on a good track. She had Al, Bonney, and the twins to keep her straight. But he’d been here before. She’d passed the one-year clean and sober mark and he’d moved out, thinking she’d be okay. And she was … until he hit some hard times and moved back in, and she’d fallen off the wagon again. So even if it would mean a lot to his mom to be able to take care of him for once, Kid couldn’t do it. To himself, or to her.
“It’s a nice thought and all, but I don’t think so, sis,” he said finally.
“Why?”
“I’m 23 years old. You think I wanna share a bathroom with a teenage girl and two obnoxious three-year-olds?”
Bonney smirked at him. “Don’t even. You love the shit out of them.”
“Yeah, well, even so. Don’t wanna share a bathroom with them.”
“What, and you think I do?” she asked with a laugh. There was a slight pause before she continued in a much softer voice. “She’s doing good, Kid. She won’t backslide this time.” The seriousness of her tone made him look up, finally meeting her intense gaze. Once again it seemed she saw right through him. Damn kid was too intuitive for her own good.
“Can’t take that chance. She’s got too much to lose now,” he argued gently. Bonney nodded. She’d been there too, even though she was too young to remember the worst of it (thank goodness); she understood where he was coming from.
“Well, she’ll be disappointed.”
Kid shrugged. “It’s for the best, you know?”
“Yeah.” Silence fell between them and Bonney shifted awkwardly for a moment. “So, uh … they gonna hook you up with one of those … bionic arm thingies?”
A part of Kid wanted to be mad that she was able to be so flippant about his amputation, but at the same time he had to appreciate her bluntness. So instead of chucking the stuffed bear at her, like he would at anyone else, Kid just smiled and explained that he’d have to meet with some people before they decided anything. They talked for a while about the options he had, and she even got him to laugh a little when she admitted that she told the twins he’d be part robot when they saw him again and now they were driving their mom crazy begging to come see him. Bonney gave it a day, maybe two, before their mom caved and brought them to the hospital. Kid imagined his small room filled with his rambunctious, loud, dysfunctional family and even though the thought should probably have him cringing, he couldn’t help but smile. Maybe they were a little (or a lot) crazy, but they were his family, and for the first time since waking up, he felt like he had something to look forward to.
+++
“So,” Law said dryly, leaning against the doorframe. “The doctor tells me you’re refusing to do the therapy.” Though he phrased it like a statement, Kid knew his boyfriend wanted to know why he was being stubborn.
He’d been awake for just over a week, during which they’d started him on a rigorous therapy regimen to get him used to life without his arm, and to prepare him for his prosthetic. And it had not been a good week. Kid was tired. He was sick of working muscles he didn’t previously know he had. He was sick of getting poked and prodded and measured. He was sick of feeling pain in an arm that wasn’t even fucking there anymore. But most of all he was sick and damn tired of being under a microscope all the time with people fussing over how he was doing, both physically and (to his dismay) emotionally. No, he didn’t need another pillow. Yes, his pain was tolerable. No, he wasn’t hungry. Yes, he knew that this was a “safe space.” And no, for the love of God, he did not want to fucking talk about it. And up until now he’d been putting up with it and pushing through it, but now, after yet another fruitless physical therapy session, he was just … tired. Which led him to the decision that he didn’t want to do it anymore. He didn’t want to do anything anymore.
“Yeah,” he replied, not meeting Law’s patiently inquisitive gaze. “Cuz I fucking hate it. It hurts and I can’t get it right, so what’s the fucking point? I’m never gonna get used to the stupid arm, and it’s too expensive to wear as a goddamn accessory so why not just forget the whole thing? Fuck it.” He hadn’t really meant to make a speech, but once he got started he found he was unable to stop. “I hate wasting my time doing something pointless that I fucking hate.”
“I understand that …”
“No, fuck that Trafalgar. You have no fucking idea. I know you mean well or whatever, but everyone needs to shut the fuck up talking to me about how they know how I feel. You don’t know shit! None of you do. And I know you want to understand, but I can’t make you understand, okay? I can’t tell you how it feels to wake up into a goddamn nightmare. I … I lost my fucking arm. A whole piece of me is fucking gone. So don’t tell me you understand.” He paused and unclenched the fist he hadn’t realized he’d formed and winced slightly at how loud the silence seemed in the wake of his outburst. And through it all Law stood there, looking at him, taking the yelling without batting an eye. Just like he had been the entire time Kid had been awake. And it was pissing Kid the hell off. Deep down he felt shitty for being so mad, and knew it was irrational, but seeing Law stay so calm and collected when everything in his life was out of control … Kid couldn’t stand it. He wanted Law to react; yell back, argue, insult him, something. But the doctor remained stoic, unflinchingly strong in the face of Kid’s constant mood swings.
“You should just go, Law. I don’t fucking need you here. There’s nothing you can do or say to make any of this better.” Kid glared at his lap where his only remaining hand was gripping the thin hospital sheets so tightly his knuckles were turning white. “It would’ve been better if I’d just stayed in the fucking coma.”
Well, that got a reaction, but not the one he was expecting. He expected a sarcastic tongue lashing like the one the nurse got when he tried to kick Law out after visiting hours. He expected a glare, or at the very least a “fuck you,” like that kind of self-pitying talk would have gotten him in the past. In Law’s shoes that would have been Kid’s response. But instead he watched his boyfriend’s face go from surprised to crushed in a matter of seconds. The man seemed to shrink as his expression crumbled, and it caught Kid off guard. What the fuck? Why did he look so … devastated? What the fuck gave Law the right to be hurt right now? If the doc was gonna act all hurt Kid would give him a fucking reason to be hurt. Before his rational brain could catch up to the whirlwind of emotion clouding his judgement, Kid hissed, “In fact, maybe it would’ve been better if I’d just fucking died. I wish I had.”
Law stiffened, and Kid expected him to finally, finally retort, but once gain the surgeon surprised him. Because instead of yelling, or arguing, or even trying to console him, Law simply turned on his heel and swept out of the room, leaving Kid with only his regrets for company. Well, that was that then. He really didn’t expect to see the doctor again for a long time, if ever. Law had done nothing to deserve what Kid had said; how ungrateful he’d been. No, not only had he not done anything wrong, he’d actually been Kid’s rock through all of this. He had been supportive and caring, even when Kid was in the coma and no one knew if he’d ever come out. And now Kid really wished he’d told the man how much he appreciated that, because he probably wouldn’t get the chance after the way he’d treated Law.
At least, that’s what he thought before Law stormed back into his room not ten minutes later with a determined look on his face and a weird lump in the front of his shirt. He slammed the door closed behind him and stalked over to Kid’s bed, pulling the hidden object out of his clothing.
A loaf of cheap white bread. What the fuck?
“Where-“
“Shut up, Eustass. It’s my turn to talk.” The surgeon’s aggressive snarl stunned Kid into silence. He’d never heard Law sound like that. “I made a promise to you. It’s pointless, and I’m going to hate it, much like you hate your therapy, but I’m going to do it right now.”
“What are you talking about?” Kid asked, subdued by the intensity coming from his boyfriend.
“The past three weeks have been some of the worst of my fucking life, Eustass. And believe me, I’ve had some really shitty weeks. But the night you woke up I promised you I’d eat a whole loaf of bread if you would just open your eyes. And yes, it was a stupid promise, and I know it’s not why you woke up, and I also know that it won’t make anything worse if I don’t keep it, or better if I do, for that matter. I wish like hell there was something, anything, I could do, Eustass. I wish I could take your pain, or get your arm back, or do the damn therapy for you, and it kills me that I can’t and I’m completely useless while you’re hurting. It kills me that I can’t help you. But I can do this. I can keep a stupid promise that I made because I was so desperate to get you back, for you to not fucking leave me alone. So right here, right now, I’m going to eat this entire fucking loaf of bread. And then if you need to yell at me more, or kick me out, or tell me you never want to see me again; fine. You can. After.” With that, Law plunged his hand into the bag, grabbed the first piece of bread, and took a huge bite.
“Law …”
“I’m pwiddy sure I tole you ta shu da fuck ub,” Law interrupted through a mouthful of bread. How he still managed to look so fierce with his cheeks bulging and bread crumbs flying out of his mouth Kid couldn’t say, but somehow the doctor was intimidating as hell in that moment.
“Okay, doc. You … want some water or something?”
Law simply growled in retort, stuffing more bread into his mouth without breaking eye contact. For a moment it looked like he was going to throw it back up, but he swallowed a few times and reigned it in before grabbing another piece.
“Law, stop. Stop. I can’t watch you do this anymore,” Kid said, his tone sounding closer to a plea than he would like to admit.
“Unh-uh,” Law managed to refuse. “Imna fwinwish it.”
“Please don’t. Jesus Christ, you’re gonna put me off bread if you keep this up.” When the doctor just shook his head, Kid sighed and looked around the room for anything that might help him. It took him a moment to remember the stuffed bear snuggled safely under his pillow. He wasn’t really sure why he’d been hesitant to give it to his boyfriend after Bonney brought it to him, but now seemed like as good a time as any. “If you stop eating that bread, I’ll give you a present,” Kid offered coaxingly.
The doctor’s frown was both curious and suspicious, but he didn’t immediately lift another piece of bread to his lips after swallowing. “When did you have the chance to get me a present? And why?”
“I got it for our anniversary. Bonney found it in my car when she went with my mom and Al to check out the apartment.” Kid scooched over and patted the space on his bed invitingly. “So just put the devil food down and c’mere so I can give it to you, okay?”
Law still didn’t look 100% convinced, but he set the remaining half loaf of bread down on the rolling table Kid ate his meals from, still within reach, and sat next to the redhead. Kid twisted around, thankful for the railing that kept him from falling out of bed, and pulled the bear free, bringing it into view with a smile. Law reached for it immediately, his eyes lighting up.
“It’s a polar bear,” Kid supplied helpfully.
“I see that, Eustass. I love him, thank you.” Law crossed his arms tightly over his chest, trapping the toy close and burying his nose into its furry head. Kid adjusted slightly and draped his arm over the doctor, pulling him into his side.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing a kiss into Law’s hair.
“No,” the man murmured back. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to lose it like that. Just … just don’t say things like that.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Law snuggled in closer and looked up at Kid, so he placed a gentle kiss on the surgeon’s nose. “I’m not gonna leave you alone, Law. You’re stuck with me.”
Law scoffed, but Kid saw how his lips quirked up in a slight smile. “I suppose there are worse things than being stuck with you,” the man admitted. “For example, I could have to finish that loaf of bread.”
Kid grinned. “Yeah, that was gross. I mean, I love bread, but that was just disgusting. I really thought you were gonna barf.”
“Oh shut up, Eustass.”
Kid leaned back further against his pillows, pulling the doctor along with him and instinctively curling around him slightly. “Yeah, okay, doc,” he replied, his mock contriteness betrayed by the fact that he was still grinning like a fool. “Whatever you say.”
Eustass Kid Week D-Day: Scarlet I can imagine this is taken from his enemy (=victim)'s point of view. While their eyes all red from fear and blood. While he's having his fun. ¯\_(ツ)_/ ¯ Happy Birthday Captain. (Ps: Don't die in the hands of Kaido this year. If anything, please join forces with the Heart-Hat alliance because 1) luffy is the main protagonist so if you take his side you are most likely wouldn't die except if Oda decided to make you a plot driver like Ace. 2) there will be more Kid Law moment and I've been dying for more.)
(Please forgive the old date XD Art is by the wonderful @elyonblackstar !)
Eustass Kid Week: January 4th - 10th
It is that time of year again! For a whole week we will celebrate the kickass character we love so much (and who has finally returned to us in the manga qAq): EUSTASS 'CAPTAIN' KID!
All fanfics, fanart, crafts, etc are completely welcome! Just @ us and tag it 'eustasskidweek'!
For those of you who want a challenge, you can use the letter of the day for word association and inspiration!
The 4th will start us off with the letter E and we will work our way all through Eustass until the final day! What does E stand for to you? I'm thinking it could be 'Earth'!
