Chapter Text
The night that would alter your course forever started out quietly. You had taken on the first watch in the crow’s nest of your ship, The Mollymark. The sun had just sunken into the dark ocean, painting the horizon in shades of pink and purple. Today you had set sail from the last island before your real destination: In less than two weeks you and your fellow members of the Lark Pirates would finally arrive at The Sabaody Archipelago, your gateway to The New World. The New World. You could almost taste it on your tongue. Every fiber in your body brimmed with anticipation of the new adventure. Especially the thought of all the new medicinal plants you would discover sent a tingle through your chest. Gazing at the sky, you could see the stars slowly taking up the space the sun had previously occupied, scattered around like drops from a spilled liquid.
“Is someone lost in thought?”
The smiling voice of your captain pulled you back to reality. Nikolai Lark, also known as The Golden Lark, sat across from you, legs stretched out, a lazy grin flickering over his handsome freckled face. He was a couple of years older than you, but he hadn’t lost his boyish charms with the years. Tonight he wore his long strawberry blonde hair in a low ponytail. It suited him.
You returned the smile. “Just thinking about what’s to come. We’re so close now.”
“Bet you can’t wait to take on some more of your freaky little experiments, heh?” He teased.
“Is it that obvious?” You couldn’t hold back a wide grin that made your eyes sparkle.
“Nah, not at all,” your captain replied dryly. “Pass the bottle, will ya?”
You handed him the bottle of sake without even looking, too deep into your course of thoughts already. “I’ve almost run out of any special ingredients, not counting the yellowdot mushrooms drying in the infirmary, waiting for me to grind them into a stinky paste. Booring. Besides, you know what the herb vendor in Water 7 said. There are so many plants that never even crossed the border into this side of The Grand Line, meaning no one here even studied them until now. Just think of the possibilities!” You felt your whole face heating up throughout your explanation.
“Someday you will look at a guy like that and he will be very lucky,” Nikolai said, a mocking glint in his emerald eyes.
You blew a raspberry. “Only if there's a rare venom flowing through his veins.”
It looked like he was about to say something else, but instead he narrowed his eyes and got up. “You got the binoculars?” He asked, all signs of playfulness washed from his voice.
You handed them to him. “What’s the matter?” You asked, getting up to stand beside your captain.
“There is a ship,” he murmured.
“Marines?” You asked. So close to Marineford, the base of the navy, running into them was an expected risk. Especially because the headquarters were also close to the Archipelago. Since it was the one stop anyone who wanted to cross the border of the Red Line needed to take, the marines used that to their own advantage in hunting down pirates.
“Nah, it’s—” he squinted. “It can’t be,” he breathed.
A knot was forming in your stomach. “What do you mean, what’s going on?”
Your captain was pale when he turned to face you. “It’s the flag of Eustass “Captain” Kid.”
“Maybe they are just on their way to Sabaody as well?” You offered. A run in with The Kid Pirates was something you could pass on. Their violent reputation preceded them, especially the one of their leader. He wasn’t the supernova with the highest bounty by chance.
“I doubt it. They’ve set their course on us directly. And they’re closing in on us fast. We need to get lost.”
Everyone was up and ready in minutes, though most of your crew hadn’t had enough time to fully recover from the last fight on the island you had just left. Over half of the men and women running around wore bandages, some of them were limping or having their arms in slings. You had done what you could to treat them, but even you couldn’t speed up the healing process of broken bones. Damn it. Of course you had to be the ones to strand on an island full of terrifyingly large and ancient beasts.
Nikolai bellowed orders for getting the ship up to maximum speed. But the night was too calm and the distance between your ship and The Kid Pirates became smaller by the second. You weren’t going to make it and Nikolai knew it. His fingers brushed through his hair repeatedly while he paced over the deck, coming to a halt beside you. Strands of his hair had loosened from his ponytail, framing his now grim looking face.
“What could they possibly want from us?” You asked, trying to keep a clear head.
Nikolai shook his head, eyes dark. “I don’t know. But it won’t be good, that's for sure.”
Your eyes wandered over your crewmates. Scrawny Eagle Eye Darrow, the crew’s best sniper and the bubbly cannoneer Astrid the Ostrich were the first ones to get in position. Of course. They were all readying themselves for battle, everyone a capable fighter, though Captain Lark was the only one who possessed devil fruit powers. Still they were fearless. And they were all going to die if you’d try to take on Eustass “Captain” Kid.
Nikolai must have had the same thoughts. He gritted his teeth but he still turned on his heels and shouted, “listen everyone! Once Kid arrives, you stand down unless they attack first. Whatever they want, it’s not worth losing our lives over tonight, not when there is still so much ahead of us. But be ready for whatever may come.”
Murmurs of agreement followed the captain’s speech.
“You’re doing the right thing.”
“Do I? Doesn’t feel like it.” Nikolai’s voice was bitter.
“You value the lives of your crew above anything else and always know which battles are worth fighting and which aren’t. That’s the sole reason we’ve made it this far,” you tried reassuring him.
Nikolai grimaced. “Let’s hope I’m right about this too, then.”
A cannonball struck the dark waves beneath you.
You jumped back when the cold water splashed up the railing, your heart hammering in your chest. “Are they—”
“No.” Nikolai pinched his nose. “They could have easily hit us if they wanted to. That was a warning.” He turned around to face the navigator, Manitso the Blue Swallow, who was about to climb up the rope ladder. “Haul in the sails, let’s get this over with,” he shouted.
It was only minutes until the ship of The Kid Pirates had closed in and stopped right next to you. But the time had stretched out like eternity, as if you were silently awaiting your execution. And there was a good chance you were. You could feel Nikolai tense beside you, knowing he was running a dozen different plans through his head at the moment. The railings of the two ships were almost touching now, although The Mollymawk was considerably smaller. Your palms were sweaty around the halt of your daggers. You knew they would be as good as useless in a fight against Eustass Kid, but the cold metal was keeping you grounded. The crew was positioned as Nikolai ordered, with the majority of you on the main deck while your snipers were hidden in the shadows. You felt like you had forgotten how to breathe properly, eying your crewmates only to be met with two rows of grim faces. No one said a word, which wasn’t uncommon for your silent navigator, but usually everyone else was pretty much cracking jokes all the time, especially Nikolai. But not tonight. One could have cut the tension with a knife.
Finally, Eustass “Captain” Kid set foot on your deck, a handful of his men behind him. You hadn’t known how huge he was until this night, since you’d only seen his wanted poster so far. He was massive, more beast than man. A cold breeze brushed through your hair and made you shiver. You could hear Nikolai releasing a long breath. The Kid Pirates didn’t seem set on an immediate attack. At least Eustass Kid hadn’t brought his full force with him. And you were still alive. That’s more than most people could claim who had crossed paths with the infamous red haired pirate.
A wolfish grin played over the painted lips of Eustass “Captain” Kid as his gaze wandered over your crew. “Quite the reception, I’m honored. Almost thought ya were tryin’ to flee. Like little birds.” His voice was dripping with irony. “So who’s in charge of this sorry lot?”
“That would be me,” Nikolai stepped forward, shoulders straight, chin raised.
Kid raised his shaved brows slightly, then he shrugged. “Aight pretty boy, there is no need for this to get ugly. We’re in need of a doc. So hand yours over and we’ll be on our way.”
Your mouth went try, but before you could utter a single word, Nikolai said, “Sorry, haven’t got one on board.” His voice was firm, his posture unshaken.
“That so?” Eustass Kid stepped forward, towering over Nikolai. Your captain didn’t budge although Kid was about two heads taller and invaded Nikolai’s personal space as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Pity, so there’s nothin’ here for us?” The gaze of his amber eyes bore into Nikolai’s.
You were holding your breath, wondering if lesser men would have already crumbled. But Nikolai didn’t retreat an inch, he just crossed his arms, holding the gaze. “That’s right, so how about you go back to your ship now?”
Captain Kid smirked, turning around to his crew. “Whaddaya think guys, I mess this one up? Wasn’t it the fucking Lark Pirates who had this”—He clicked his tongue—“Raven Doc?”
“That’s right, boss,” one of his men said, the others making noises of agreement.
Your stomach sank. They knew. It was over. You briefly locked eyes with Nikolai. He shook his head barely noticeable.
Kid turned to face your captain again. “Still nothin, heh? Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.” And with that, he pulled out a gun. “Last chance, boy,” he said, almost sounding bored. “One, two—”
A shot broke the silence. Nikolai crushed down on all fours, blood gushing from a wound on his right thigh. He groaned, barely able to hold back his pained expression, but he still managed to raise a hand to order his crew to stand back. Everyone halted in their movement.
Eustass Kid cocked his head, a shit-eating grin spreading over his face. “Oops, sorry, did ya think I’d count to three?” He kicked Nikolai in the stomach, making your captain stumble, but he shook it off. “Not even trying to fight back? Pathetic. Did I break yer wing, little lark?”
The next kick was aimed at Nikolai’s head, making an ugly scrunching sound. You were about to storm forward, when you heard the strained voice of your captain, blood trickling out of his mouth. “Stay back. That’s an order.” His sun kissed face grew pale. He couldn’t hold himself upright any longer, collapsing on the side in a puddle of his own blood.
The redhaired captain looked down on Nikolai’s body on the ground, the disdain clearly painted on his face. “If that’s all it takes to break down a man, he shouldn’t have come here in the first place,” he sneered and spat on the ground.
You clenched your fists to keep them from trembling, eyes glued to the body of your captain. Nikolai was losing too much blood. He had only minutes to live if you didn’t do anything and that was if this brute didn’t take him out before that. This wasn’t the time for following orders. You stepped forward only to be stopped by Eustass Kid’s snarling voice. “Did I say you could move, doll?”
“He’s bleeding out,” you said, barely able to hide the tremor in your voice.
“How’s that my problem?” Kid grunted, scratching the back of his head.
Your gaze flickered to your captain on the ground. His breathing was already shallow.
“Let me through. Please,” you added.
“And why would I do that?” Eustass Kid drawled, eyes cold.
“I’m a doctor,” you said, looking up to the redhead.
The devilish grin split his face in half again. “No shit, could ya repeat that for the class?”
“I’m a doctor,” you repeated, louder this time.
Eustass Kid chuckled but there wasn’t a hint of humor in his voice. “Really? Thought there isn’t one on this ship?”
“I—” your brain seemed to be empty as you saw Nikolai’s body going limp.
“Cat got your tongue?”
You cleared your throat. “I’m sorry. I’ll come with you and do as you wish if you let me tend to my captain.” You realized your mistake too late.
Kid’s expression grew dark. “Makin’ demands now, doc? This isn’t a negotiation, you got nothin’ to bargain with. I’ll take what I came here for and that’s that.”
He was right. You had nothing to bargain with. But if you left now, your captain was probably going to die. An image flickered before your eyes. Nikolai holding his hand out to you, a boyish grin playing over his lips. You’re coming or what? You felt yourself tearing up, thinking of all the times your captain and friend had saved you. And you were unable to save him while his life was washing away, forced to stand by. You looked up to Eustass “Captain” Kid, a silent plea in your eyes.
“Aww, you gonna cry? Thought ya were a brave little pirate,” he cooed. “Fine, convince me. Beg me for it.”
You didn’t hesitate. “Please, Captain Kid, let me save his life. I’ll do anything.”
Kid clicked his tongue. “I know ya will. Now say it like you mean it. I know you can do better.”
You stared at him in disbelief, his gaze unrelenting. So it was true what they said. He really was a monster. You sank to your knees. Someone gasped. You knew you were degrading yourself. You didn’t care. “I’m begging you. I’ll come with you, I’ll do anything you ask of me. Please don’t let him die.”
You felt slightly dizzy. Everything was so absurd. How did you end up here, on your knees, before Eustass “Captain” Kid, begging for the life of your captain who was bleeding out in front of your eyes?
Eustass Kid smirked. “That’s a good look on ya, doll. But you can’t try to fuck me over and expect no consequences. So I got a counter offer for you. You’ll come back with me now and no one else gets shot. Whaddaya say? Clock’s ticking.”
He had been toying with you, like a predator. You’d never stood a chance. A cold fist clenched your heart together. You were left with no choice now. You felt numb as you pulled out one of your daggers.
Kid eyed you from above. “Ya know it’s pointless to try somethin’ like that on me, yeah? But I’ll count that as your answer…”
Before he could pull the trigger again, you had taken your dagger and stabbed yourself in the thigh.
The red haired captain looked baffled for the first time, halting in his movement while you winced through gritted teeth. “The fuck—have you lost your mind?”
You held out one hand, pointing at your captain, the other still on your dagger. “I’ve just punctured my femoral artery. The same artery I presume your bullet hit. Once I pull this dagger out, I’m going to bleed out in minutes. Even with the dagger inside me, I won’t have long if untreated. So let me through now,” you panted.
Kid grabbed your outstretched arm, pulling you roughly toward him. You winced when he forced you to your feet. “And what makes you think I care about ya bleedin’ out like a pig?” He snarled, face mere inches away from yours, his gaze burning bright behind the dark eyeliner.
“You cared enough to enter our ship and attack us. Seems like you need my help as much as I need yours,” you gasped between ragged breaths. It was a long shot but the only one you had.
Suddenly, you felt another hand around yours over the dagger. For a second, you thought he would rip the blade out, but instead he ground it a few inches deeper into your thigh, making you wince. He was following every little movement on your face, his expression unreadable.
“Aight,” he finally said, yanking you roughly around to face Nikolai. “You got until we’ve readied my ship. So you better make it quick.” He dropped you on the ground, making you crumple like a dried leaf, hissing in pain again.
Someone passed you your medicine satchel. You saw blue hair. “Thanks, Manitso,” you murmured, but your eyes were fixed on Nikolai. His eyes were closed, blood still pooling out of his leg. Was he already…? No, he was still breathing. Once you began your examination, your movements became mechanical and you felt yourself relaxing. This was what you knew best. An image of the bones, muscles and vessels of the thigh appeared before your inner eye. You wrapped a belt tightly around Nikolai’s leg and pressed a clean cloth on the wound. “Manitso, I need further pressure here.” You moved the navigator’s hand where you needed it. The bloodstream stilled. Good. You disinfected your hands and tools with ethanol, barely able to see what you were doing. “I need light,” you bellowed. A lantern was provided. It was still too dark for this kind of procedure. Carefully, you cut open the fabric of your captain’s pants and examined the wound with your fingers, eyes closed. Nikolai let out a small groan but you couldn’t be distracted now. The damage wasn’t as severe as you had expected. The bullet had gone through the leg cleanly and the artery was damaged but not completely ruptured. A little suture would be enough to repair the vessel and to give it time to heal properly. You just needed to be quick. Thankfully, your hands had stopped trembling since you’d started the procedure.
After finishing the stitches and bandaging the thigh, you looked up for the first time. Eustass “Captain” Kid was still standing close to you, leaning on the railing, arms crossed, while his crewmates were already gone.
“You done?” He simply asked.
You nodded. Only then you realized that you were sitting in a puddle of blood and your right leg was puckering with hot pain. As you were readying yourself to get up, you could feel fingers brushing lightly over your hand. Nikolai had opened his eyes and called your name. His voice was a rasp, but you had never been so glad to hear it.
“Nikolai!” You whispered.
“That bad, hm?” He tried a crooked smile but could barely lift the corners of his lips.
“Let’s say you’ve had better days,” you replied. Remembering where you were, you added, “don’t put pressure on the leg for a couple of days, it will hurt like a bitch but it will be fine eventually.”
Nikolai’s hand brushed over yours again. “I’m sorry.”
You shook your head. “Don’t be. I’ll see you in The New World.”
“Don’t make promises you don’t know you can keep, doc,” Kid drawled. You were suddenly yanked up again. “Hate to cut this short but we’re on the clock and time’s up.”
You limped over the deck, glancing one last time at your crew. Your friends nodded, silently saying their goodbyes. You desperately hoped it wasn’t farewell. Nikolai gave you a pained smile and Manitso looked up to your jolly roger, like an unspoken promise. You followed the navigator’s gaze to the skull with the beak, wondering if you’d ever see it again. You shook off the thought immediately, promising yourself that you would make it back, no matter the cost. You turned around, focusing on the way ahead next to the railing.
Eustass Kid walked besides you. “Bold move, doc,” he said, gesturing to your limp.
“Not like you left me much of a choice.”
Kid shrugged. “But you made one. And now yer gonna live with the consequences.”
And with that, he tossed you over his shoulder like you weighed nothing and jumped from your railing onto his own ship. You grunted as the dagger was pressed between his chest and your leg.
“Hurts, heh?” the redhead said.
“Obviously,” you pressed.
“Too bad.”
“Let me down,” you demanded, trying to wiggle free once you landed.
A big hand on your lower back stopped you. “Not gonna happen, doc. I’m not a patient man and this way it’s quicker, so don’t make a fuss.”
And with that, Eustass “Captain” Kid carried you under deck.