A Prize to Die For
Spooktober day #11
Fandom: One Piece AU
Ship: Lightly Thatch/OC (Nikia)
Warnings: Murder, light description of blood and a corpse, as well as mention of hypothermia.
Word Count: 6,138
Sometimes Thatch made good investments. Little favors he cashed in at the most opportune times. Favors like convincing his brother, Teach, to accompany him to Winter Isle instead of the neighboring Summer Isle. Mostly for company and as a safety buddy when he gathers local ingredients. It is a perpetually frozen island after all. As strong as he is, he’s still just a man.
And he'd rather not experience frostbite or hypothermia for himself, really.
Thankfully, there was a veritable bounty of unique ingredients he could gather himself both in the market and in the wild. At this point, Teach was just there to look pretty for his own personal cherry pie later. It was nice to not be alone during his exploration though. While there were plenty of booths filled with locals willing to offer advice or explain things, having someone more familiar with his cooking needs was quite helpful. Not that it stopped him from making notes for personal experiments.
The locals were, surprisingly, some offshoot of Skypieans. Their wings were larger and clearly fluffier than any Skypiean Thatch had seen. Personally, he assumed it was because of the year-round climate on Winter Isle. Most Skypieans he’d seen tended to live in warmer climates, even their other counterparts the Shandians lived in tropical locals. Thatch imagined having wings was a hazard in below freezing temperatures, but making them denser and able to hold in heat would be a blessing.
Of course, that wasn’t the only thing he noticed about them either. They tended to be quite watchful of others. Both their own neighbors and the newcomers that explore the island or are there for the hot springs. Likely as a way to thwart unnecessary deaths if someone wanders too far afield. Apparently they even have a team of capable locals that do rescue work when the weather turns suddenly. Knowing how many foreigners are around would be quite helpful if you needed to make sure everyone was indoors suddenly.
Like, for example, the rowdy group of sailors that Thatch and Teach had seen across both islands for some time now. Once twelve men who traveled together and gawked at the unique landscape and people as they wandered around. Occasionally flirting with a few in a fairly obvious ploy to attract a one-night stand during their stay. No one seemed to take them up on it though, which Thatch put down as a consequence of their heavy-handed flirtations and stares. Not many people like being treated that way in Thatch’s experience. Especially when it was obvious the focus was on their more exotic features. Only half of their group went onto Winter Isles
“Would you gentlemen like to participate in a treasure hunt?” Thatch stopped in his tracks and turned at the soft, ‘customer service’ voice too peppy to be natural. It was a local woman, clearly addressing the six sailors with a fixed smile and large, round glasses. Dark brown hair pulled back with a ribbon to reveal a short undercut beneath it. Pale and freckled, she was bundled up in the usual thick jacket he’d seen around the island, a large emblem of wings over a cross on the front—the symbol of the rescue team Thatch assumed. But the most eye-catching detail about her was the massive wings.
Most of the locals had wings that went from head to waist or midthigh, usually in white or a color close to their hair. But this young lady had massive wings that partially dragged on the ground despite being held back and away from her body. From a fair bit over her head to the ground, the feathers were so long. The fluff thick and crowding her shoulders in a sea of white with dapples of gray, not unlike a barn owl. Thatch’s first assumption was that she had a devil fruit. An especially rare one since very few produce wings of any kind. Marco’s devil fruit being an obvious part of that exclusive group. But aside from their massive size, they looked just like everyone else’s wings.
Maybe this young lady was just lucky?
The men goggled at her with obvious interest that made Thatch wary.
“Ooh, a ‘treasure hunt’, huh? Are you the prize?” One of them cackled, his friends jeering with rude laughs.
The lady’s smile turned a little sharp as she held up a bright yellow bag and opened it.
“No. But this is.” She plucked out a massive fruit from it’s depths. Purple with sharp leaves and scales coming off of it, Teach sucked in a sharp breath behind him. The men she was addressing gasped as well, attention instantly moving to the devil fruit. “It’s a bit risky, but for a rare prize, I figured it would be worth it.” She declared. “I’ll hide this fruit near my house and whoever finds it, keeps it. And in case anyone gets lost, a rescue crew is able to be dispatched in short order. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”
Obviously, the men would be stupid to turn down such an offer.
“Hey, Thatch… do you think she might need help?” Teach asks behind him. Thatch was a little surprised by the statement but, considering the borderline predatory behavior of the group they’d both witnessed… he probably wasn’t wrong. Personally, Thatch wasn’t that interested in the fruit. There was no telling what it was or what it would do—there was a lively debate in the medical community about whether or not the fruits affected people’s personality or thoughts. And Thatch didn’t much care to find out himself if the fruit turned out to be particularly morbid. What if it was a poison type fruit and made everything around you poisonous?! How would he be able to run his division focused on food preparation for their massive crew if his presence made every meal deadly?!
“…Maybe. You want to participate in the hunt?” Thatch asked, turning his head enough to properly address his brother while keeping an eye on the men.
“Yeah. Worse case scenario, nothing happens. Something does happen and Pops gets good press when he asks the locals if they want to fly his flag.” Teach grinned. Thatch nodded, approving of Teach’s foresight. Considering how much fun the crew has had here and it’s unclaimed status, it wasn’t a stretch to think Pops would offer his protection. They may not need it much considering the incredibly peaceful lifestyle the locals enjoy, but it couldn’t hurt.
And Thatch knows they make their own local brew that Pops would enjoy holding over Shank’s head, not to mention desserts you wouldn’t find anywhere else to tease Big Mom with, so there was also that.
“Let Marco know where we’re going and I’ll see if I can’t slide us into the event.” Thatch said before slapping on his most charming smile.
Thatch walked over to the young lady and waved. She seemed startled, blue eyes wide as she turned towards him, careful to put the fruit back in the bag.
“May I help you?” She asked politely, head tilting to the side with slightly narrowed eyes. It didn’t escape his notice that the locals had eyes on him, and the group of men were scowling.
“Is there room for two more in the hunt? My brother and I would also like to participate.” Her face fell a little as she frowned, looking away to nothing in particular as she thought for a moment. “I know six is a lot for one person to look over already, but I’m just in it to support Teach.”
She looked back at him for a moment longer, and suddenly she recognized him.
“Ah! One of Whitebeard’s crew? Isn’t this kind of thing a bit… boring for pirates? It’s not exactly a race or a fight.” She frowned, pushing her glasses back up her nose delicately. The men behind her began to look nervous suddenly. A-ha. So there was definitely some plan of foul play involved.
“Not at all! I’ll probably look for fresh ingredients while I’m ‘hunting’. And if there’s any injuries well, I’m not exactly certified but between Teach and I, we can at least carry them inside for medical attention!” Thatch offered, laying on the charm just a bit more than necessary. After a moment, she huffed and smiled reluctantly.
“Alright. I guess I’ll just have to hide it extra well to challenge eight people. I’m Nikia by the way. Premier Rescue Ranger. Where’s your brother so we can make our way up the mountain?” Nikia asked. Thatch looked around and found him a few feet back fixing a bag to his side. Probably supplies. “Oh, goodie. Well, let’s get on our way. I want plenty of daylight for the hunt. If it lasts until sundown, you’re all to immediately return to my cabin. If you think it’s cold right now, you’re in for a nasty surprise at night. Same goes for sudden weather changes. If I tell you to return, you return. No one can help you in a whiteout.” Nikia warned them in a frosty voice.
Thatch knew she was serious. Even as a commander, Thatch had to put on several layers and made sure Teach wore appropriate clothes. Thankfully, the clothes offered in the local stores were top-notch for heat insulation. No one on the ship was particularly prepared for long-term winter weather after all. Occasional blizzards on the grand line? Sure! Regular below freezing temperatures? Not so much.
“Alright, you heard the lady, Teach. Try not to get lost in your head and have to make an igloo to survive the night.” Thatch teased, smacking Teach’s back as they made their way up the mountain. Eyes still on their back as they left.
It was quite a walk up the mountain to a large cabin with a perpetually flashing red light on the roof. There was, thankfully, a path, though it was buried under snow. Nikia lead the front and ensure the way was clear for the group to proceed with little difficulty. Mostly by pushing snow out of the way with her wings. Thatch was very grateful when they reached the enclosed porch with stacks of wood lining the interior. Opening the door, Nikia did a verbal head count of each of them, patting them physically as they went by to warm up from the hike.
“—And eight! Alright, that’s everyone. I’ll restart the fire and bring in more wood. Bathroom is in the back, door’s labelled, and the sauna and hot spring is past the showers. If you want to use it, slide the plaque to warn others and thoroughly wash yourself up as they’re intended to be used naked.” Nikia explained efficiently as Thatch gamely picked up split logs to bring inside while she held the door open in surprise. “Oh. Thanks. Anyway, you’re all going to warm up for an hour while I hide the fruit. When I return, I’ll do a head count again before releasing you all to start the hunt.”
Nikia restarted the fire in the fireplace with practiced motions, packing in balls of old newspaper to catch for the logs. The men eagerly shed their coats and put them on the hangers to dry as they waited.
“I’ll make something warm to drink if you don’t mind me using your kitchen?” Thatch offered, eager to get some more feeling back in his hands. Nikia looked over her shoulder as the fire roared with a smile.
“Sure. Kitchen and pantry is stocked but keep in mind that snowstorms can last several days here.” She warned before going back to the door, bag in hand.
Thatch had a blast exploring the cozy kitchen and whipping up warm drinks for everyone huddled around the fire. One of them downed the drink in one go and made a bee line for the back of the cabin, a brief burst of cool air rushing around Thatch’s ankles as he opened a door. For the bathroom, Thatch assumed, but Teach checked not long after to use the toilet himself and laughingly discovered the man decided to use the sauna instead.
“Zeh-haha! I guess he couldn’t handle the walk up here! Better chances for the rest of us, eh boys?” Teach guffawed as he settled back onto the cushions set around the fireplace. One of the men scowled at the window seat bracketed by massive bookshelves.
“…I thought I saw him outside though…” He muttered before shaking his head and moving away from the chilled seat.
“Might be our host. She’s got… another fifteen minutes before the hours up after all.” Thatch mused as the group of now seven waited. “Hope the guy doesn’t stay in the sauna too long. Bad for your health.”
“Pretty nice digs though, huh Thatch?” Teach accepted a second cup of hot chocolate. Thatch nodded.
“It is. I guess the light on top of the cabin is in case people get lost after nightfall. If you start to get too cold, let me know and we can come back here. There’s no point risking our lives for a fruit. Or our fingers.” Thatch wriggled his around the handle of a mug pointedly. Teach grimaced.
“Yeah, I like my hands as they are.” Teach grumbled, drinking some more with a sigh of relief. Heavy boots knocked on the front porch as Nikia returned. Covered in a fine dusting of snow and shaking. Face red but pleased.
“Alright. Give me a bit to warm up and go over the safety guidelines again and I’ll release you… hey, where’s your friend?” Nikia asked with a scowl, shaking her coat on the porch to remove the snow, a chill wind sweeping through the cabin.
“Sauna, apparently he couldn’t take the cold.” Nikia paused and cocked her head with narrowed eyes.
“…The sauna? Hold on a moment.” Nikia removed her boots and hung her jacket up before stalking to the back of the cabin. Without the jacket, she looked even smaller than before, slight frame eaten alive in a warm sweater and jeans. Thatch felt more than he heard the door being opened. “For fuck’s sake!” Thatch jumped at the loud curse.
“What?! What happened?” Thatch asked, hurrying down the hallway to find Nikia scowling into a room with a ‘occupied’ plaque on it. Ducking his head he found a spacious room with a tile floor built around a natural hot spring. A glass door lead to a sauna on the side. There was a partially opened door at the very back, reinforced but useless as it was clearly left open. Nikia huffed.
“Fuckin’ cheater. Well, I hope he’s happy with himself. What a mess.” Nikia grabbed a small broom and forced the pile of snow back outside before closing the door and forcing the wooden barricade into a locked position. “For that, he can walk around to the front like a proper, responsible adult.”
Nikia rolled her eyes and moved the plaque back into the ‘open’ spot. Thatch couldn’t help but click his tongue.
“He didn’t even take his coat.” Nikia paused and looked at him with a frown.
“Then he’s also stupid.” Nikia dismissed, “He’ll probably come running back when he can’t move his fingers.”
Nikia counted the men still present with a scowl and shook her head, sneezing briefly as Thatch gently braced her. Her wings puffing up with each violent motion, much to his amusement.
“Well, someone got a head start.” Thatch explained when Teach gave him a curious look, handing a warm mug to Nikia to help warm up. She sniffed gratefully and took a sip.
“Yeah. Idiot. Anyway! Onto the safety rules! When you start to lose feeling in your fingers or toes, come back here. If it starts snowing steadily, come back here. If you hear an announcement to return, come back here. Hypothermia is a bitch and snow can quickly pile up and obscure your path back. The boys higher up the mountain are good at predicting the next snowstorm too, and the odds for one tonight is high. So absolutely do not stay out when the sun goes down.” Nikia declared. “The intention of this hunt is for some fun. If you think you or someone else is getting too cold, come back here to warm up. The fruit isn’t going anywhere and if you stay out too long, neither will you. I’ll be here keeping an eye out for the weather and starting dinner. Remember, I only had an hour, so any further out than half a mile and you’ve gone too far. I didn’t go to a hot spring. It’s not at anyone else’s house. It isn’t in a cave or in town. That’s as much as you’re getting out of me… go.” Nikia grinned, waving to the front door.
The men scrambled off their seats, abandoning their cups as they shoved on their boots and jacket before racing out of the cabin. Teach was among them but was meticulous in ensuring Thatch was handed back his cup and that his clothes were properly put back on. Within a minute, Nikia and Thatch were the only ones left.
Nikia gave Thatch a questioning glance but he merely smiled and took his time finishing his hot chocolate. He wasn’t in any rush.
When he finished his drink, he made sure to put his gear back on securely, grabbing a bag for any fruit he finds to experiment with. Nikia was a bit flush and still cold but otherwise quite industrious in starting a base for stew.
“Alright, I’m headed out… hey, is the fruit still in the bag?” Thatch asked, looking back at Nikia from the doorway. She snorted.
“Yeah. Had to or I’d risk an animal eating it by mistake. It’s specially scented so any wildlife thinks it smells foul on top of being water proof. We use them to store medical supplies at way points in case of emergencies.” Nikia explained before pausing and smirking at him with narrowed eyes. “Now go on! No more sly tricks from you!” She huffed.
Thatch couldn’t help but laugh as he left.
Clearly, she hadn’t meant to reveal that, even if it was obvious she’d have to keep the fruit in the bag.
Over the course of a few hours, Thatch ran by several of the group as he pilfered wild fruit and berries. Even found Teach a time or two scowling at bushes and trees. If Thatch had to assume how the fruit would be hidden, it would likely be hanging from a tree branch somewhere.
When the sun started to go down, Thatch made sure to find Teach and drag him back to the cabin alongside four others. The sailors were visibly shivering after spending so long in the cold, their jackets not quite up to par with the ones sold on the island.
The cabin smelled divine. Stew and fresh bread spread through the area alongside the warm fireplace. There was a note on the counter explaining that she didn’t feel well and to help themselves.
No one else came in as night fell. Not the man that left out of the sauna and not the missing sailor. When it started to get too dark, one of the men nervously got up and explained that he was going to try looking for his friends while Teach was hogging the hot spring.
He didn’t come back either.
Grimacing, Thatch busied himself with dishes and tried to find where Nikia was. Her bedroom had to be somewhere, but aside from the occupied hot spring, all the rooms were empty. There was a cold breeze across his bare ankles as Teach came back to join them, Thatch sparing a glance at the high ceiling to roll his eyes at the utter satisfaction of Teach’s face. Then he noticed the loft above them.
“Oh!” Thatch looked to the side and noticed the ladder installed next to the coat rack that he’d missed. Thatch waved Teach away with a blush, a little embarrassed he didn’t realize there was a loft above them the whole time. “I’m coming up!” Thatch called out, climbing the ladder in hopes of checking on their host.
Maybe she was outside a bit too long?
The loft was pretty large, taking up half of the room where a mound of pillows and blankets rested. There was also a window on the far side, large enough to exit through if the cabin was buried in snow. Perhaps even for small deliveries from news coo? But the important part was the glasses set on a self with a avian shaped helmet next to the blankets.
The loft had enough space for Thatch to stand as he checked on Nikia. Buried under the blankets as she was, he still managed to hold the back of his head to her forehead. As he suspected. A fever. Gently, he shook her awake. Blearily and with a noise of complaint she scowled blindly at him.
“W’at?” She mumbled. Thatch gave an apologetic smile.
“Sorry to wake you up, sweetie. Did you eat anything? I can make some light soup.” Thatch offered before adding on, “No one found the fruit yet by the way. Three men are missing though…” Thatch gave a worried frown.
“Mm… I ate. Thank you, though. Give me a minute and I’ll call the others and put a look out alert.” Nikia huffed, wings stretching out as she sat up. Behind her was a den den mushi, nestled in a heated terrarium. “Up ‘n at em, Sheldon. Just for a bit I promise.” Nikia tapped the snail gently. As sleepy as his owner, the snail scowled as it woke up long enough for Nikia to report the missing men.
“—Alright, we’ll make note of that. The storm is well under way though, so there won’t be many people able to search. It’s going to get nasty out there. Stay safe!” Nikia sniffed.
“You too.” Nikia glanced at Thatch, retrieving her glasses with a scowl, “Head back down, would you?” Nikia asked and Thatch obliged, exiting her space carefully.
To his surprise, she was only wearing a tank top and sweatpants, thick socks the only real concession to the cold as she padded around the room. It was warm enough in the cabin but still… maybe it wasn’t that much of a surprise she was sick. Thatch resisted the urge to smack one of the sailors as they gawked at her cleavage.
This? This was why it was a good idea him and Teach came up here. Rude ass men.
Actually, to his surprise, there was now only two other men besides Teach and himself.
“Did another one of you go outside?!” Thatch asked, shocked at the reckless behavior as he checked the bathroom and hot spring area. The back door was closed but unlocked. The two men grimaced sheepishly. Teach gave a dramatic sigh and stood up.
“I’ll go look for the idiot. He couldn’t have gotten far, zehaha!”
“Don’t stay out too long or go far! The wind’s picking up something fierce.” Nikia called out as Teach left. As she said, the snow and wind were falling harder with every passing minute.
Thatch could hear Teach call outside for several minutes around the cabin. Pausing for a few moments before hollering louder just in case. When he came back in, he was covered in enough snow to turn his hair as white as Pop’s moustache and shivering with a scowl.
“Not a damn sight of the fool!” Teach reported.
Nikia sighed and shook her head, wings puffing out.
“Alright, no one else leaves this cabin until the storm breaks. I’ll keep an eye out just in case.” Nikia threw on her jacket and dragged in several more bundles of wood that Thatch quickly helped her with to lessen the amount of frigid winds she had to put up with. “It’s going to be a cold bitch tonight. Better bundle up too.”
They all curled up in the thick blankets as Nikia lit a candle in the window and read to herself on the window seat. After an hour and a complete whiteout surrounded the cabin, she sniffled and fixed up a special hot chocolate to help everyone sleep.
When Thatch woke up, the fire was roaring still to combat the cold.
And another man was missing.
Predictably by now, the back door was unlocked again. Thatch figured there was a break in the storm and the sailor went out to look, taking his boots and jacket with him.
Thatch shook his head and kept an eye on Nikia, hoping she didn’t blame herself for the reckless behavior of the rapidly dwindling group. Surprisingly, she was in the same mood as the day before. A bit distant but polite and cheerful.
She did sigh though as she repeated the safety warning and allow them to leave the cabin. This time, there was snow up to their knees. The storm having dropped several inches overnight.
It was, much to Thatch’s horror, only an hour after they were let loose that Thatch realized something was horribly wrong.
Picking more berries, Frostburn this time, Thatch marveled at the pristine white among black leaves speckled blue. And then saw one with a dark brown coating. Several, actually. Brushing them firmly with his gloved hand revealed it to be ice. Glancing around the suspect berries, Thatch realized there were several patches of coloration on the snow-covered bush. His stomach dropped as his gaze traveled up the tree the bush was under, following dark smears of frozen blood.
It was one of the sailors from the day before, chest pierced with a broken branch about twelve feet above him. Eyes fixed in shock at the sky, likely frozen quickly after dying.
Thatch knew damn well there wasn’t any animal on this island capable of doing this. He’d specifically asked after local hazards. There were bears and wolves for sure, on top of the dangerous climate, but this? This was something else.
“Shit!” Thatch cursed, turning around and running back to the cabin to report the murder. Snow began to fall slowly, then in thick waves as he made his way to the porch, Teach scowling at the woods.
“Oh! Hey, Thatch! Any luck—what’s wrong?” Teach stopped and frowned in concern. Thatch dragged him inside and closed the door. One last sailor was huddled before the fire.
“There’s been a murder.” Thatch whispered before making his way to Nikia, who was busy making lunch in the kitchen. “Is your snail upstairs still? Who do I call to report a murder?” Thatch asked softly, not wanting to spook the surviving sailor.
In light of the new discovery, the disappearance of the other sailors was… suspect.
Nikia froze, eyes wide in surprise.
“Oh shit… yeah, it is. Here, take over while I call it in. W-Where did you find him? Who did you find?” Nikia asked.
“One of the sailors from yesterday. Stuck on a tree branch through his chest.” Nikia grimaced.
“Yeah, I’ll let them know we need a cleanup. Preferably before a predator finds him and gets a taste for people.” Nikia sighed, scurrying up the ladder.
“H-He’s dead? A-Am I the only one left?!” The sailor leapt up and swore, grabbing his things. “Screw this shit—I’m out! No one said anything about this when I signed on! Just about making good money on—fuck!” Before anyone could stop him, he was running outside and into the growing storm.
“For fuck’s sake! I’ll go get him!” Nikia called out, leaping from her loft and efficiently suiting up in seconds as she headed out the door. “Where do you think you’re going?!”
Thatch wanted to follow but considering her profession, Nikia was a better bet to tracking down the panicked sailor. Considering the worsening weather, the murder isn’t likely to be outside any longer either. There really wasn’t anything around for a good distance to provide shelter, and they’d had to have left fast to not die or be found already. And if they were responsible for the last sailor disappearing, they’d have left by now to prevent getting caught in the growing storm. Instead, he finished the food prep. Nikia returning just as the food was done shaking violently and panting.
“Are you alright?!” Nikia nodded.
“Yeah, just fucking cold. Idiot went running back to town. Might even make it if he slides, but there’s no way I’m catching up to him now.” Nikia swore. “I’m going to call it in so they expect him and warm up in front of the fire… why don’t you enjoy the hot spring? We’re not going to be leaving for at least another day at this rate. Just don’t go outside.”
Thatch was a bit reluctant to leave in light of the murder but Teach grinned at him and winked.
“I’ll keep an eye out, commander! Zehahaha!” Thatch relaxed at that. While not particularly motivated, Teach was no slouch.
And he had been interested in trying the hot spring while he was here. Washing up proved to be an almost religious experience after the last two days spending hours in the snow. The last of the chill dissipating as he sank into the hot spring. The large basin of water had been carved to provide a natural seating around it while remaining deep enough to submerge in.
Thatch almost screamed when something soft brushed his foot. The room was fairly well lit, but the steam gathered along the surface of the water obscured his vision. Even still, Thatch could distinctly see a bright yellow bag in the water. Snorting, Thatch dived in and grabbed it, lifting it above the water to confirm his suspicion.
It was the devil fruit bag. To think they were traipsing about the winter landscape when the prize was literally in reach the whole time.
Well, it seems as though he won. A cold breeze swept through the room.
“Zehehehe… I wondered where she hid it!” Teach laughed behind him. Thatch, a little shocked, turned around and looked. Teach stood in the doorway to the outside with a knife in hand, quietly walking further into the room to close the door behind him. “No need to startle our host! Shame you had to be surprised by the murderer that took out all those sailors. This will be a bitch to clean I’m sure.” Teach mused as Thatch moved to the back of the hot spring. Naked as the day he was born, Thatch had nothing to defend himself with.
If he called out, he risked Nikia getting murdered as well.
“How will you explain your absence?” Thatch asked, hoping to buy time to think of something. Teach shrugged.
“She went back up to her loft to nap. As far as she knows, I’m still eating.” Teach bragged.
“Wow… you’re really going to kill your brother like this, Teach? Over a fruit? I’m literally stark naked here!” Thatch sputtered. Teach frowned.
“Yeah… now that you say that, it seems a shame to kill you like this. You could at least wear some pants… Tell ya what, I’ll throw something on you before your seen. For old times sake!” Teach threw back his head and laughed, a flurry of snowflakes bursting behind him as something slammed into his body, sending him flying into a wall.
Teach was knocked out cold, the door slamming shut with a soft huff.
“Sorry about that. Noticed he left and got nosy. Want me to tie him up? He’ll be out for at least a few minutes.” Nikia offered, eyes fixed away from Thatch’s shocked expression.
“Y-Yeah… holy shit.” Thatch muttered, covering himself a bit so Nikia could work in peace.
As Nikia predicted, it was another day before they could leave, Teach spitting mad as he wriggled in his bonds. Thatch felt conflicted about the recent events and decided to turn his attention to the murders.
“I’m sorry Teach ruined the event like this. I… I can’t believe he killed them.” Thatch murmured. Nikia patted his shoulder with a soft smile.
“Hey, it’s alright. It’s over now and that’s all that matters. What’ll happen to him?” She asked.
“Well, trying to murder me alone is enough for an execution. Pops doesn’t mess around with betrayal like that. Taking out the other sailors is icing on the top. At least one got away though.” Thatch sighed. Nikia gave an awkward smile and shook her head.
“All this over a fruit… what are you going to do with it?” Nikia asked. Thatch checked over Teach’s bonds and shrugged.
“Maybe eat it? After I figure out what it is of course. Can’t risk messing with my career for a shitty fruit. You only get one shot after all.” Thatch frowned and hugged Nikia close, marveling at the soft embrace of feathery wings. After a long moment, he pulled away. “But maybe next time be more careful about setting up events like this on your own, yeah? Thank you for having us, Nikia.”
Nikia grinned.
“Anytime!”
The trek back to the town was a bit long and awkward, Teach being thoroughly uncooperative about the affair. But between Nikia and Thatch, there was nothing he could do but squirm and think about his impending death. Thatch hadn’t been kidding when he said Pops wouldn’t take it well. Naturally, the locals had questions when they saw him.
“Uhm… what are you doing?” A man asked with a raised brow when they finally arrived at the town.
“Dragging a traitor. He took out all but one of the sailors we went up the mountain with Nikia. For the devil fruit hunt?” Thatch explained awkwardly. The man frowned.
“Are you sure?” He asked before waving his hand, “I mean, it’s just that I heard about that and… none of the sailors made it here. Is he traveling with you?”
Thatch paused.
He was so sure the murder had to have ran off before the first storm came in but… a man did disappear at night. Likely froze to death really. And he knows for a fact that Nikia said the last one would make it to the town before the storm. It was much faster traveling downhill than up after all.
“No… No he’s not.” Thatch explained, looking back up the mountain.
“Ah. Well, I suppose that’s for the best. They’d been… a bit too interested in our people you know. We usually only see that with undercover slave traders.” The man mumbled before walking away.
Thatch’s head spun.
Teach literally couldn’t have killed the last man… and actually, he couldn’t have killed the man in the tree either. How would he have put the body up there? How would he have killed the men on the first day as he looked for the devil fruit? Or the one that left in the middle of the night?
Thatch looked at Teach with growing horror.
“You didn’t kill any of them, did you?” Thatch asked. Teach paused his struggling to shake his head. He didn’t necessarily believe him of course but… “Then who did?”
Was it possible anyone could have camped around the cabin in that time? Thatch explored the area pretty thoroughly. There really wasn’t anywhere to find shelter in a whiteout. It couldn’t have been the sailors either. At least not all of the kills. And the last one definitely didn’t realize there was any murders happening before he left. Teach was the only one it could be, the only one that Thatch didn’t see long enough to get rid of most of them…
Teach and Nikia.
Thatch didn’t usually sleep that deeply either, how did he miss someone leaving at night? Unless Nikia drugged their drinks save one.
That still didn’t explain the tree… except it really did.
If Nikia could fly with her massive wings.
Thatch realized it was a set up. The whole time it was a set up.
The man just now… he mentioned under cover slavers. Thatch knew some islands suffered from groups of slavers secretly taking people, even this close to Pop’s territory. And no one came up to the cabin as they disappeared either. Nikia went to report a clean up but Thatch only saw one conversation on the den den mushi. Most damning of all, no one was surprised it was just Teach and Thatch returning.
Just that Teach was tied up.
Shockingly, it seems as though Nikia wasn’t in any real danger at all. And neither were they.
Just the undercover slavers the locals picked up on… Thatch wondered if the six that stayed on the Summer Isle were still around. Or if they also suddenly disappeared.
