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mekachu04
Feveruary | Chapter 9
Face Masks
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One Piece (Anime & Manga)
English
He's not sure why it feels like he's still asleep, even long after he's woken up, tiny child body curled up under smelly blankets in a dingy back alley. He wonders where Killer wandered off to this early, his friend's body heat sorely missed in the dreary summer rain of Kutzk. The air is wet and cold and he reaches up to pull the blanket higher, water beading and rolling down the wool as he huddles under it. It keeps trying to slip off his left shoulder, the stub of his arm aching, partially the phantom pain that regularly haunts him, and then something deeper driven by the bleak weather.
Things are not what they seem when Kidd wakes up in the wrong place, the wrong time.
- Eustass Kidd & his mom Brichtrede
Tags & Warnings
Baterilla aftermath
Background deaths
injury and death discussions
De-aging
Kutsukku
Character Deaths
some more vague and unconfirmed
Post-Wano Arc (One Piece)
Unreliable Narrator
kidd has terrible dreams|nightmares
Burn injuries
Art Embedded
Chapter 9
Face Masks
He has a purpose now- at least for the time being. He got him and 'Auntie' a job for the moment. Now he looks at housing.
The dockworkers turn out to be the most helpful. The Boss' men might know the city better, but the dockmen are less sketchy. Instead of being amused and patronizing by being questioned by an eight year old; the working men hear him out; his age softens them but they don't treat him as lesser for it.
They're dirty and crass and have little manners, but they are sincere. They mean what they say, they don't hide behind a mask of false smiles or pretty empty words.
The Bossmen would have bullied the few places with open rooms to rent to him. The dock-men explain in simple terms, their references are sound, and Kidd is offered steep discounts. Hearing that his Auntie is Brichtrede Eustace, and he'd helping her recover opens more doors; the loss of the Eustace Tavern and the legacy that ended when it burned was felt by the working class community. Its a side of Kutzk he'd not really appreciated as a snot nose shit-starter the first time around.
Ultimately, he finds a single room on a second floor, the steps sturdy with firm handrails. The couple who own the home will wash Brichtrede's laundry for her, but Kidd will be expected to bring it down on wash day and take it back up to the room later. The lady will not be turning the bed, or cleaning the room once they moved in, so it will fall to them to manage.
Brichtrede and Kidd will also have to provide their own dishware, but the owners have a privy and washtub that are available to them and will provide simple dinners. The other meals will cost extra. But if Brichtrede can provide bread from work- they could work something out.
Kidd will need to hunt down a bed roll for the floor for himself, but the room is large enough for one to fit if they move the small provided table to the side at night.
It's thirty minutes to walk to the Bakery at Brichtrede's current pace. Perfectly doable, and as she gets stronger, the walk will get easier. The level streets between the two are well maintained with few shady alleyways she'd need to pass; he'd walk with her of course, to discourage any iniquitous thugs like himself to harass her.
She makes an appearance at one of the Bossman's Rallies, carted around to be a spectacle as the Crime Lord calls for people to stand up to the invaders. To drive the marines from their shores. She says nothing; her eyes are closed in humiliation for the majority of it. Her participation isn't needed- they're only where to gawk at her after all.
After, the two of them are dropped off at their new home. The next day, Brichtrede will spend with the landlords, and then the day after she and Kidd will start work.
Kidd's never had a reoccurring job before. He's essentially been self employed his whole life - even as a Scrap Rat, he worked at his own terms. He's surprised to find he's nervous.
In the morning, he maps out every other possibly way to the bakery from their room, before learning the streets that branch off from theirs. Learning the services, the shops, the vendors. What streets are filled with the hungry, and which are filled with those of loose pockets. Learns what streets the city guards loiter on, and most importantly, the ones the Marines march on. He hates them both, but seeing Marines marching on his home boils his blood- sees then taking merchandise from vendors without fair compensation, and sees the men and woman of Kutzk bow their head at it.
He wants to rage.
And remembers all the bodies rotting away in the morgue of those who raged before him.
So he too keeps his head down.
Until he sees them. Carts of them.
Marines marching down the street to their ships at the dock. Carts of children rolling behind them.
Catches the fearful blue eyed gaze of one of them and then can only see red.
Author Notes
