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mekachu04Rating: Mature
Warnings: Rape/Non-Con, Underage Sex
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Summary:
Its a light rain, warm fresh water splashing his face, the edge of a tropic storm building on the horizon. It picks at his memory, like a forgotten dream, a lullaby from the few calm points of his childhood; a point of peace where he knew he was going to die, but that was okay. He's thirteen again, and his world is ending, but it's okay, because he wasn't alone anymore.
Corazon is standing at the front of their tiny ship, staring out at the storm with a look of worry. He was just as Law remembered him, large and imposing as equal as soft and kind.
It was a nice dream to die in, Law supposed.
The storm had drifted away and out to sea over the course of the night, letting Corazon greet the day with not yet day-break smoke outside of the makeshift shelter. He was nearly finished with his first one, when he heard Killer shuffling out from under the pile of sleeping children still snuggled together in his boat. Corazon looked back in time to watch him pry a sleeping Kidd's hands off his ripped pantleg, catching Corazon watching him and smiled sheepishly. "Figured I'd go grab breakfast while everyone still out of it... "
Corazon nodded in acknowledgement, as the older teen quietly slipped away, turning back to his smoke to see the ashes had caught on his sleeve. He shook the red hot ciders away before they got worse. Killer hadn't noticed, and the kids in the boat slumbered on, so there was no need to make a show of it.
The sun first started to crest the horizon when he heard the muffled whispers of children - Victoria and Kidd talking quietly in together. Law appeared to still be sleeping, but Corazon was pretty sure the young man was eavesdropping.
Not really a young man, though. Was he not? This time yesterday, his Law was just a baby. Barely a teenager and months away from a premature death. Now. Now he was a man - even if small in stature - who had lived as long a life as Corazon. Earn the title of a Warlord, topped Emperors. Was apparently on the doorstep of Roger's legacy.
Half an hour or so after first slipping away, Killer starting picking his way back down the trashside. Three heads in the boat all perked up as he approached, even if only Corazon could see him from his spot.
The teen beamed with pride, holding out a battered old backpack for Corazon's inspection, displaying a bounty of three small loaves of bread, a half dozen small oranges and a few bruised apples. "Better get yours first, once Kidd get started you're just out of luck."
Corazon gave him a sincere smile, gesturing with the most recently lit cigarette in hand that he was good. Killer frowned, "That quiet thing you did last night - that was a devil fruit, wasn't it?"
He did nod finally - it would be hard to claim anything else. "So," Killer reiterated, "You gotta eat something. I know that shit takes a lot of energy from you; Kidd's passed out on me enough to know. And, no offense, you're kinda a big guy for us to haul around if you pass out on us. Massively tall."
Kidd is 10. Corazon wasn't surprised at all that a 10 year old with a devil fruit overdid it to the point of fainting. He, however, as much as he wanted to point out to the teen, was not a child, and was perfectly capable of managing his own energy levels. Worryingly though, it had been weaker than his usual calm bubbles, had admittedly been harder to create than it should be. Corazon was willing to blame it on being tired, or being wet with the waves from the storm surge, or the storm itself and the skin crawling nature Victoria had also noticed. But there had been something wrong last night when he'd used his ability.
"Cora-san, eat your breakfast," Law said dryly, smirking back from the dingy between Kidd and Victoria, daring the man to object. His face was pure smug delight, but at least Corazon knew that if he ate, Law couldn't find a reason to pretend he wasn't hungry too. Kidd and Victoria just looked confused by the idea that anyone would turn food away.
Killer's expression wasn't much different, looking down at his bag like maybe he'd some something wrong. Corazon hated that look. He glared at Law briefly before reaching in and pulling out a smaller orange from the pile.
"Bread too," Killer shook the bag, "Got those 'specially for you three for using your fruit."
With a sigh, Corazon took a loaf too, looking back at Law warily. His kid's face was flat, jaw clenched, and he moved to pull the med kit back out from the night before.
Killer held the bag out to him next, and Law hated to wipe that hopeful look off his face. He'd retaken his seat, having slipped on a pair of sterile gloves. "I can't eat bread" was all he said, taking an orange instead. Sure enough, Killer frowned again.
"Oh. 'm sorry, didn't know..."
"How could you," Law bit back, looking away to start pealing his orange, bit back the knee-jerk 'you didn't ask' as he was careful not to let any part of his hand that touched the peel touch the soft flesh inside. "It's not like I told you"
Killer thrust the bag back at him stubbornly, "At least take an apple then," his teeth worrying at his blue-stained lower lip in uncertainty.
"Can't. It was touching the bread." He help up one gloved hand as if to further illustrate the precautions he was taking. He could hopefully deal with any accidental cross-contamination with his devil fruit, but he'd also rather spend that energy cutting the Amber Lead out of himself, preferably at some point today. "Unless you got some clean water hiding around here that I can use to wash them off."
He knew it the moment the words left him mouth - that was the step too far. In the past, some comment like that would have Kidd set off and in his face. But this Kidd didn't have that anger yet, that short fuse and the need to prove that he wasn't some joke. And the Killer Law knew... well, to be honest, Law really didn't know the man. He was Kidd's leash holder for most of the time Law had known the two as adults, and even Law was quick to admit the Killer he'd met in Wano was working though some shit and was unlikely a good representation on the man. This Killer. This Killer was boy only barely older then the child Law was masquerading as. He was 14 - brother and parent, protector and provider, to a 10 year old Kidd and had taken it upon himself to make sure that Law and Corazon - strangers and foreigners - where fed.
Instead of getting upset, Killer's face went completely blank. Empty. If his ability to emote ran on power, Law just pulled the plug. It was like Law found the line Killer had - he refused to be shamed. In another day and age, Law would be contenting with a blade to his throat. Law couldn't see where he was looking because of his bangs, but he feel the stare. Law leaned forward, and carefully took two more oranges. "Thank you for breakfast Killer. We appreciate it." And he did mean that.
"Can I have his bread?" Victoria piped up, reaching for the bag without waiting for an answer, moving the focus off of Law with a practice grace. "Holy shit, Kil' this is fresh! How did you manage that!"
The unease caused by Corazon and Law's wariness with gifted food was gone with a few easy words, and Killer grinned madly at her with pride, his face split between flashed teeth and bangs. Victoria took one of each, before handing the bag off to Kidd. Bread balanced on her knee to save for last, she followed Law's lead and begun to peeled her orange. Killer resumed his perch on the bench next to her, grin still in place as he sat over Law and Kidd.
Law froze in eating his own food when he watched Kidd bite into the last loaf like a rapid dog. The largest bite he could manage, and then shaking his head to rip the piece free. He reached in Killer's bag with his other hand and grabbed one of the apples, shoving it at Killer.
"Nah, ate on the way back," Killer refused, though he did reach in to take out the last orange.
Kidd shrugged, alternating a bite from the apple and his bread. By the time he finished off the first apple - Law watched in horror as he ate it core and all - Killer had unwrapped his orange, flicking the peel over the boat's edge. Kidd's hand was barely empty before Killer was handing off the orange, and Kidd barely paused between bites.
"You peel his oranges for him?" Law mocked, peeling his second orange, the rinds following Killer's example.
"He will eat the peel. And I personally do not want to watch that again. It's more for my sake then his," Killer mussed. That stillness from before was completely gone thank's to Victoria, and Killer regarded Law no differently than before he'd made his clean water comment. Killer reached around Kidd to put the last apple from the bag in his hand newly freed now that the bread was gone.
Law finished off his last orange, gloves carefully pulled off and discarded before studying the hard white patches on his arms. He wasn't really keen on trying to cut it out of himself again outside of a nice sterile room to being with, but it would be better to tackle this sooner rather than later.
Kidd stuck his fingers in his mouth, Law made a face at how utterly gross that was, licking the juice away as he rummaged though Killer's bag like he expected more food to magically appear. No one missed the angry grumble of stomach still demanding more.
Victoria tore her loaf in half, tossing one piece to Kidd before tearing off little bite sized pieces for herself. Kidd's piece was gone before he even had a chance to thank her for it. Corazon passed Law the last half of his own orange.
"Well," Victoria said, brushing the crumbs off her lap outside the dingy as she climbed out, "I really should get back to the girls. Being gone all night probably has everyone worried over nothing."
Killer looked up when she stood, but her focus as on Law and Corazon, "Doc, Hearts. I appreciate you sheltering us for the night. If you stick around, hopefully we can meet up again. Otherwise, enjoy our shitpile of paradise'
"Thanks," Law said dryly, and Corazon nodded politely, "It's our pleasure, Victoria."
Killer took his bag from Kidd, who was picking crumbs out, "I'll walk you back."
She frowned, but Killer was already moving around where Kidd and Law were sat, "Gotta get something real for Mini-Doc to eat anyway."
"What? no, I'm fine," Law lied. Kidd was looking at Killer suspiciously as well.
Killer grinned back as the two teens stepped in to the sun, "Not even remotely true," Killer called Law out, " 'sides, i still owe ya for fixing me up last night, don't worry, food's on me. Just no bread, right?"
"No umeboshi either," Law nodded, even as his frown deepened.
"Hey, Hearts-san, can I leave Kidd with you for a little bit?"
"What, hey, I don't need a babysiter, Killer!" Kidd interjected.
Corazon just flashed Killer a thumbs up, muffling his own snickers, the man finding his own perverse delight in the indignation of the two young - still actually quite hungry - devil fruit user's faces. "I'll look for some smokes for you while I'm at it," Killer called back, "No promises though!"
