Chapter 15

It seemed that the situation had settled down but the pirates were still on their toes, making sure not to be caught off guard by marines that could potentially show up.

Upon receiving information that the ship was secured, Kidd had ordered his crew to move it to a more secluded section of the island and camp out the remaining time they had for the log pose to stabilize. Fortunately, Killer had managed to get the info of how long it would take for it to settle by the use of unconventional methods of extracting said information.

Eustass had settled several patrols to take watch, making sure that they would not be inconvenienced with unnecessary fighting.

The biggest thing to worry about was the ship that was mildly exposed. Even though the shape of the land managed to provide some shelter, the vessel was still exposed to possible attacks by marine fleet or other pirates that may stop by.

Once everything had calmed down and seemed under control, Skyler decided to do a bit of nearby exploration, managing to find, hidden behind a wall of trees and bushes, a small cove with crystal clear water that washed on the sandy shore.

Looking at the sea, she realized how much her clothes were sticking to her body, result of stray mugs filled with ale that had flown when she had fought the marines back at the bar.

She could just shower back in the ship but she wanted to take a dip in the very inviting body of water.

The black haired woman looked around, trying to spot any pirates but couldn't find any in sight. With a happy sigh, she removed her boots and socks, leaving them by the shore. She caught her long hair in a messy braid, letting it fall over her shoulder, before rushing towards the water.

She dived into it, swimming half-heartedly, her fingers brushing the sand under her. The cool water relaxed her muscles that had been stiff for the past few days. It seemed that the only thing she knew for the time she had been there was tension, making sure she was constantly on her feet. There were very few times where she would allow herself to relax and that'd be when she was with Killer or Kidd.

She let herself float to the surface, facing up towards the sky and took a deep breath, taking in the lovely ocean scent. As much time as she had spent at open sea, she loved that aroma.

"Trying to drift off to open sea without telling us anything?" A male voice spoke out that she instantly identified as being Killer's.

She settled her feet down on the sand, coming face to face with the blond man. He had only removed his gauntlets, boots and log pose so that they wouldn't get rust over time because of the water.

"I am not planning on doing such a thing, Killer." She smiled up at the man, crossing her arms over her chest. "I just wanted to have a swim."

"It's unfair to the other men that you are taking this time to relax while they work." He placed his hand on the back of her neck, and pulled her lightly towards the shore, making her walk towards it.

"The ones that aren't on patrol are relaxing." She slipped away from his grasp, looking at him from head to toe. "You seem to be relaxing as well." She pointed at his wrists that were unprotected. "I am not on patrol at the moment so I am taking the time to try and wash out a bit of the ale that stuck to my clothes." Grimacing, she took hold of the edge of her now soaked shirt and pulled it away from her body. "I prefer the smell of ocean on me than the smell of alcohol." She stepped closer to him, placing her hands on each side of his head. "So, since you're not on patrol, take a second to relax for a bit, no?" Her green eyes asked him the silent question to remove his mask, to which he complied. She clicked on the small protrusions on each side of the mask, making it click open. Removing the mask from his head, she rushed to the shore, setting it down next to her boots and his gauntlets before returning to him.

"Happy?" He asked, raising an eyebrow that was hidden away under his bangs.

"Much happier." She brushed his hair back, her fingers running over his scalp. A huge smile was plastered on her face, making him smile as well. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Skyler splashed water at his face before diving down and pulling his leg, making him fall back.

Laughing, she rushed away from where he was but was quickly caught.

"What do you think you're doing, Sky?" He spoke out, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her up.

"Surprise attacking you!" She shrieked when she was launched into the water by him. She resurfaced, coughing out water that she had swallowed by accident.

"Are you done?" The blond man reached out his hand to help her. With a toothy grin, she took it and pulled him down with her, the two diving underwater. She shook her head in disagreement, her braided black hair floating around her.

Killer found himself mesmerized by her, the way she smiled at him and how it felt when she touched him. He felt a magnetic attraction, pulling him to her. Without thinking, he pulled her to him, her frame floating closer to his and, with no hesitation, kissed her. The cool water had chilled her lips but they still felt soft under his touch. What made him pull apart was the taste of salt that reached his tongue when water leaked into their kiss.

They both resurfaced, blue eyes staring intently at shocked green ones.

"Killer… I…" She managed to mumble out, her fingers tracing lightly over her pink lips.

"I had to." He placed his hands on her arms, the fingertips barely touching her skin and yet, she jumped at the contact. "You do realize that I am a man, right?" His blue eyes took in the shape of her face, his gaze staring down at her with such warmth and tenderness that rarely seemed to be in Eustass's copper eyes. "You being in this state… It doesn't help me keep my control."

"But… Kidd will…" She mumbled, confusion clouding her expression.

"He must know how I feel about you." He straightened himself, rolling his shoulders back. "We've known each other since we were kids," He tilted his head off to the side "and it seems we still fall for the same woman."

She chuckled, the sound wavering, almost as if she was unsure of what she would say next.

"So it's a recurring thing, then?" She took a step away from him, an uncertain smirk on her lips.

"This'll be the second time it happens so… should it be considered recurring?" Killer shrugged. Almost as if sensing someone was nearby, he quickly turned his attention to the shore where he found Eustass emerging from between the shrubbery. "Speak of the devil." With a heavy sigh, he turned back to face her. "You can stay here a bit longer, I'll have to go back."

"No…" She called out, grabbing onto his wet blouse. "Stay. I was having fun." Her smile was now more confident. "If you don't want to stay here with me and Kidd then we can call the other men that aren't on patrol to come for a swim. Surely they'll enjoy a bit of down time, no?"

With a comforting nod, Killer agreed and watched her head to shore, towards their captain.

"Kidd!" She ran on the sand, towards the red haired man that seemed to flinch away from her as she grew near. "Come join us for a swim."

"I'll pass." He brushed her off.

"Oh come on!" She took hold of his hand and pulled him with her but he didn't budge. Looking back over her, she grew worried when she saw that all the color from Kidd's face had been drained. "Hey, are you okay?" She placed both her hands on each side of his face, her thumb brushing his cheeks but he didn't speak with her.

"Don't touch him, Sky." Killer had swam ashore and was walking towards them both. "It's the water."

"The water?" She was baffled, looking at her hands that she had removed from Eustass's face.

"It's the weakness all devil fruit users have. I forgot to tell you about it." He continued to explain as he drained out some of the water from his hair by brushing the strands back, revealing his forehead.

"I'm sorry!" Skyler was shocked, and looked back at the red haired captain, feeling a bit of relief when she saw the color come back to him.

"Forget about it." Eustass brushed it off. "What are you two doing here?"

"I went for a swim!" She answered happily.

"And I found her floating away to open sea." He added, laughing when she punched his arm.

"I was not! I know how to swim, you numb skull."

"Sure." He shook his head and looked up at a serious looking captain. "I'll go check if any of our men that aren't on patrol want to join." Killer got a nod of agreement from the red haired man before heading off.

"So I guess you won't be joining us for a swim?" She wrinkled her nose lightly, making sure to keep some distance from him so that he wouldn't get weak again from the water.

"I don't like swimming." He brushed her off once more.

"You don't like it because you can't swim." Skyler raised her eyebrows at his cold demeanor towards her.

"Whatever." Eustass shook off the cloak from his shoulders, setting it on the sand before sitting down. She knelt down in front of him, an inquisitive look on her face.

"Care to talk with me about what got you all grumpy?"

"You and Killer." He spat out the words, making her flinch at the harshness of it. "I know how he feels about you but for fuck sake, at least do it when I am not looking."

"You'd prefer it that way?" She couldn't hide the amused smile that made the corner of her lips quiver.

"No!" He grabbed onto the collar of her shirt, pulling her close to him. His hand shook on contact, the water doing its work of draining his powers. "I told you, you are mine."

Skyler took hold of his wrist and sat on his lap, straddling his hips with her legs. It amused her that these small actions would always earn her a look of surprise and awe from a man that always wanted to come across as rough and evil.

"And I told you I'm not something you can just claim as yours." She could see his form shake under her from the strain he was doing to not collapse. The water really had a strong effect on him. She snaked her hand behind his neck, her nails digging into his skin, making him hiss. "Please be sure to remember that." Her lips drowned his own as she kissed him, greedily tasting his mouth. Unlike Killer, Eustass woke a more carnal and animalistic side to her that she found herself relishing in. She broke the kiss so that she could breathe freely, her hazed eyes staring down at copper ones. "You don't need to be jealous."

"Who do you prefer?" He asked, placing a shaky hand on her hip, his fingers gingerly digging into the skin.

She blinked, caught off guard with the question. Over the time she had spent with them, she had found herself being attracted to both men. It was confusing to her since she had received an education that supported a monogamist relationship. To find herself desiring two men equally was something that was foreign to her.

"Both." She didn't stutter with her answer and he didn't make any remark on her reply. He just stared at her, patiently waiting for her explanation, something that was contrary to his normal explosive demeanor. "I can't help but be attracted to the both of you." She started to get off of his lap but he kept her there. Skyler noted his strength had started to return since the water on her had been mostly evaporated by the heat of the sun. With a heavy sigh, she intertwined her fingers behind his neck, her thumbs brushing strands of his red hair. "You're both the opposite of one another but I can't help it. It's like you're this burning fire that destroys everything and Killer is a calming river." She noticed him raising his eyebrow at her use of words. The woman on top of him chuckled. "Don't you give me that look. You're destructive, wild… And he is calm, soothing almost." She felt him hold her closer to him, suddenly realizing the heat that his body gave her, his torso warming her own. "You have that as well but it's so rare… Same as he can be destructive. This is so confusing to me…" She let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head. "Can a person like two people at the same time?"

"Looks like it." He raked his painted nails up her covered back, inching her even closer to him. "I'm not one to share, especially not a woman." Eustass trailed his lips up and down her neck, leaving smudges of lipstick on her skin. "I am someone that gets what he wants." His nails dug into her skin, making her hiss. "But Killer is my first mate for a reason and I don't deny him of pleasures either." A smirk grew on his lips when she pushed him a bit back, a baffled look plastered on her mature face. "Talk with him about this." With that he smacked her bottom, making her yelp. "Also the men are coming."

A deep red tinted her cheeks and she was quick to her feet. Her eyes were fixated on a bemused Eustass Kidd, somewhat disorientated by his words but made a mental note to talk to Killer about… whatever had happened.

Just like the captain had said, the pirates has reached the cove, their rowdy conversations growing louder as they grew nearer. Almost all of them were quick to dispose of clothing, leaving themselves only on shorts or pants and ran to the water.

Killer had stopped next to her, himself now without his boots and blouse, revealing to her an incredibly sculpted chest. He tilted his head towards the water, a devious smile plastered on his lips, a smile that scrunched his nose in the cutest way. Skyler turned her green eyes to Kidd who nodded at her and waved his hand, dismissing her.

"I'll be back for you, Kidd." She said and was about to say something else but was interrupted by Killer picking her up and placing her over his shoulder.

"You're going for another swim." He called out, his knowing gaze staring down at his captain before he proceeded to strut towards the water with Skyler shrieking out complaints that fell on deaf ears.

A/N:

A longer chapter this time because I was m.i.a. for a while now. I've been drowned in work because of college. This whole month will be that way which is… suffocating to say the least.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I had a lot of help from marvelous music to help me focus (a full journey through music of The Cure, David Bowie, Abbey Lincoln and a shit ton of other classic artists)

One Piece and all its characters are owned by Eiichiro Oda.

I only own Skyler.